Get to know the leaders of FJC!
CO-CHAIR | BRIAN HOWELL
Brian graduated in 2008 from Georgia Tech with a BS in Business Management and certificates in Finance and Marketing. After college Brian worked for five years in asset management for public and private commercial real estate owners. Brian now serves as a Vice President in Stream Realty's Atlanta office. His primary focus is the marketing and leasing of commercial properties and identifying investment opportunities for the firm and its clients. Growing up in Atlanta, Brian has seen first-hand the positive effect CHOA has on the community. After college he was looking for opportunities to get involved and joined FJC at the suggestion of a friend. |
CO-CHAIR | LAURA NEELY
Laura is originally from Louisville, KY and is a huge Cardinals fan. She attended The University of Georgia for both her undergraduate and graduate studies, completing her first stint in 2006, followed by a Masters in Business Administration in 2014. Laura now works in the Marketing division at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and was previously at Group CSE for over 8 years in marketing, with an emphasis in sports, entertainment and philanthropy. Upon finishing her MBA, Laura put her energy into FJC and is very excited to serve as Vice President of the organization with goals of increasing membership and donations to our beloved kids at CHOA. In her spare time, Laura enjoys traveling and hanging out in and around Piedmont Park. |
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR | JESSICA HAYES
Jessica is an Atlanta native who grew up in the Brookhaven area. She went to Westminster for high school and then traveled to Wake Forest University for her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Accountancy (go Deacs!). After graduation, Jessica began working for Ernst & Young (EY) in Atlanta and is being promoted to manager this year. During her time with EY, she has primarily worked on the Coca-Cola engagement In her spare time, Jessica enjoys running at Piedmont Park, playing tennis, trying Jessica has helped with Cheers for Children in previous years and she now serves as the membership vice chair. As membership vice chair, she is excited promote FJC and bring in new members! MEMBERSHIP VICE-CHAIR | SARAH SUCHARSKI
Sarah graduated from Southern Polytechnic State University in 2007 with a degree in Construction Management. Sarah has close to 10years working in the risk management and commercial construction industry in Marietta, GA and now Buckhead GA. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, attending concerts, sporting events, and exploring the great city of Atlanta! |
MEMBERSHIP VICE-CHAIR| ROBERT BAIRSTOW
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As a true Atlanta native and proud Eagle Scout, Robert attended The Lovett School and later graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor's degree in business and marketing. Before entering the residential real estate market at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, Robert had a successful career in sales as a manufacturer's representative at Whitehead & Assoc. He is an active member in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Atlanta Alumni Association and participates on various softball recreational teams. He enjoys the outdoors and loves to mountain bike and hike. Robert may also be found volunteering with Speedway Children's Charities, Habitat for Humanity, The Atlanta Mission, Shepard Center, Student Ministries at PRUMC and Start with One Kenya, Africa. HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER CHAIR, SCOTTISH RITE | ANNE STORRS
Anne joined FJC as a Cheers! committee member in the Spring of 2012. In August 2013, she transitioned into the role of Scottish Rite Hospital Volunteering Chair where she is bringing creativity and new ideas to her role. Anne graduated from Auburn University in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration and minor in Spanish. Anne currently works as an Analyst at Dominium Benefits, a privately held health and welfare benefits consultancy. Here she is responsible for providing support to her clients with their medical and ancillary benefits as well as partnering with other consultants on special projects for a larger client base. She was previously with MetLife in their Group Voluntary and Worksite division, where she was introduced to FJC by a co-worker. In her spare time, she enjoys running, hiking, reading books for her book club, cooking with her supper club, decorating her condo and playing with her continuously growing number of little cousins! HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER CHAIR, EGLESTON | KEELY JONES
Keely graduated from Georgia Tech in May 2015 with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management. She currently works as a Project Manager at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in Strategic Planning and is pursuing a Masters in Health Administration/Masters in Business Administration from Georgia State University. Keely began volunteering with Children's during her freshman year of college through For the Kids at Georgia Tech. She was so inspired by the family's stories shared during their Dance Marathon that she served as the Family and Hospital Events Chair throughout the remainder of college. Keely joined Friends in May 2015, and in August, she transitioned to the role of Hospital Volunteer Chair at Egleston and Hughes Spalding. She is so excited to continue serving Children's post-graduation. In her spare time, she enjoys trying new coffee shops around Atlanta, catching up with friends, and cheering on the jackets! CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP CHAIR | JOHN ROSS
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John grew up in Columbus, GA and moved to Atlanta in the fall of 2013. During his senior year at Auburn University in 2010, he worked in digital media for the Southeastern Conference and began raising money for various charities in Alabama and Georgia. John currently works as a Capital Finance and Fundraising Consultant for OmegaFi, a financial management service company serving fraternal organizations nationwide. MARKETING CHAIR | CARLY LOUX
Carly is a native Atlantan. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2012 with BBA in Marketing and currently works in advertising at 22Squared.Carly became a member of FJC in 2014 through coworkers, after attending (and loving!) several FJC events she joined a planning committee for Cheers for Children and then joined the board. This is Carly's second year on the board.
In her free time, Carly enjoys cheering on the Dawgs between the hedges at UGA, attending concerts, finding new restaurants in Atlanta and cooking.
MARKETING VICE-CHAIR | JAMI HOROWITZ
Jami previously served as the marketing chair for the Young Atlanta Leadership League and was introduced to FJC through friends. After volunteering to support the Cheers for Children event she now serves as the marketing co-chair. In her spare time you can find her exploring Atlanta, on the tennis court, or in Athens cheering on the Dawgs! |
MARKETING VICE-CHAIR | KRISTIN KINGSMORE
Kristin grew up in Winston-Salem, NC and graduated from NC State in 2007 with a degree in Communications & Public Relations. She worked in Raleigh, NC in marketing and advertising before moving to Atlanta in 2014. She currently works at Turner Broadcasting, marketing new and returning series for TNT and tbs.
In her free time, Kristin enjoys spending time with her pugs, Phoebe and Henry, exercising, going to concerts, trying new restaurants and walking the beltline.
Kristin became a member of FJC through friends and is excited to get more involved with CHOA.
SIGNATURE EVENTS CO-CHAIR | MARIA RIGBY
Maria is originally from Nashville and moved to Atlanta after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2013 with a degree in finance.
Maria joined FJC in January 2014 because she wanted to get involved with CHOA and meet new people. After having a great experience serving on the Cheers for Children committee, she now serves as a Signature Events Vice-Chair.
Maria works in development at The Walker School, and in her spare time, she enjoys live music, brunch, and warm southern weather (especially after surviving northern Indiana winters for 4 years). She loves bringing people together for a great cause and is excited to help plan this year’s signature events!
SIGNATURE EVENTS CO-CHAIR | EMILY CONNOLLY
After many fulfilling years as a middle-school teacher, Emily decided to make a career change and follow her passion for event planning and coordination. Inspired by the Brazilian culture of celebrations, Emily is thrilled that she gets to organize and execute special events that create lasting memories everyday. Currently, she works as an Event Coordinator for Bold American Catering. In her free time, Emily loves to paint, run around Piedmont Park and cook! She heard about FJC from a friend and is excited to get more involved with CHOA. |
Originally from Houston, Texas, Emily graduated from Wake Forest University in 2008 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish. She taught 6th grade in Charlotte for two years and moved to Atlanta with her husband in 2011. After two years teaching 6th grade in Atlanta, Emily and her husband, Brody, had the amazing opportunity to live in Sao Paulo, Brazil for two years ,where she taught 5th Grade at an American School. SIGNATURE EVENTS VICE-CHAIR | ADHITI NARAYAN
Adhiti joined FJC in early 2015 after researching options to get more involved in the community. She volunteered on the Cheers for Children event committee, and after such a great experience with the organization, is excited to be serving as Vice Chair for the upcoming term! In her free time she enjoys traveling to different countries, practicing yoga, live music, spending time with friends, and going to Piedmont Park with her yellow lab. |
Adhiti was born and raised in West Palm Beach, FL and moved to Atlanta, GA to attend Georgia Tech. She graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering while completing the co-op program with Delta Air Lines in 2010. Upon graduation she began working as an Implementation Consultant for CoStar Real Estate Manager, a leading cloud based solutions provider of corporate and retail real estate operations management. SIGNATURE EVENTS VICE-CHAIR | NATALIE WIRTZ
In her spare time Natalie enjoys cheering on the Dawgs and adding to her menagerie of dogs (if she brings one more stray home to her parents they may disown her – those Sarah McLachlan commercials get her every time). |
Natalie is an Atlanta native who attended the University of Georgia after graduating from Walton High School. With a degree in Publications Management, Natalie currently works in Marketing for Choate Construction Company. Having been involved with CHOA since High School, Natalie is thrilled to join FJC. Having planned some of Choate’s largest philanthropy events to date and helping raise over $2 million for local non-profits she is excited to hit the ground running and help organize and execute FJC’s signature events. SOCIAL CO-CHAIR | MARGARET COATS
In her free time, you can find Margaret cheering on the Crimson Tide with her friends and family, piddling in her garden, or exploring around the city in search of new places to adventure (and brunch on dog friendly patios) with her goldendoodle, Atticus! SOCIAL CO-CHAIR | MEGAN HARNEY |
Margaret is a native Atlantan and graduate of The Westminster Schools. She received a bachelor's degree in healthcare management and marketing and a master's of applied economics from The University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and will finish her master's of healthcare quality and safety from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She currently works for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as the Surgical Services Project Manager and is excited to have the opportunity to give back to the hospital through FJC!