Board of Trustees
2023-24 Board of Trustees
Read more about each Trustee:
- Chair: Mrs. Shara Sanders
- Vice Chair: Mr. Austin Jowers
- Treasurer: Mrs. Jennifer O'Leary
- Secretary: Mr. Vince Vitti
- Mrs. Barbara Adler
- Mr. Greg Benoit
- Mrs. Kate Bobb
- Mr. Brad Ferrer
- Mrs. Autumn Francis
- Ms. Tracy Gibson
- Dr. Lori Hart
- Mr. Roger House
- The Rev. Monica Mainwaring
- Mr. Jon Parise
- Ms. Betsy Sawyer
- Mr. Ivan Shammas
- Mr. Mike Stewart
- Mr. Ed Zunzunegui
Chair: Mrs. Shara Sanders
Shara has been active with the St. Martin’s Episcopal School PTO since her daughter, Jillian, started Kindergarten in 2013. Shara served as the Peach of a Party Fling Acquisitions Chair in 2013-14; Havana Nights Fling Chair in 2014-15; Co-Vice-President in 2015-16; and Co-President in 2016-17 and Illuminate Fling C-Chair in 2018-19.
Shara graduated from Emory School of Law in 1999. She earned her B.A. degree in English from Presbyterian College in 1992 and her B.S. degree in Biology from Florida State University in 1995. After practicing Labor & Employment and General Litigation law for over 10 years, Shara left the world of law to stay at home with Jillian. However, Shara returned to the practice of law in January 2018 with Sugarman Law.
Shara, her husband Garrett, and Jillian live in the Decatur/Oak Grove area. Garrett is a dentist in Tucker, and the family attends Oak Grove United Methodist Church (OGUMC). At OGUMC, Shara served on the Finance Council, as President of the Parents’ Council at the Young Children’s School, and worked part-time as the Associate Youth Director from 2012-2017.
Shara has also been a member of the Junior League of DeKalb County since 2010. Shara’s positions with the JLD include Assistant Chair of the Derby Party Fundraiser; Chair of the Tour of Kitchens Fundraiser; Treasurer; Vice-President of Finance; Secretary; President-Elect, and President of JLD. In addition, Shara is a member of the Leadership DeKalb Class of 2017 and was recently named to the Leadership DeKalb Board of Directors. Finally, Shara is happy to support her love of reading by being a DeKalb Library Foundation Board Member since 2017.
Vice Chair: Mr. Austin Jowers
Austin Jowers is a partner at King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta, where he is a member of the Financial Restructuring practice. Austin has extensive experience in bankruptcy matters, with a focus on representing lenders in connection with commercial workouts and restructurings.
Austin graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Rhodes College in 2000 and received his J.D. from Washington & Lee University in 2003. He is a Director of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute, the Secretary of the Georgia State Bar Bankruptcy Section, and Past Chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Annual Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop.
He and his wife, Sarah, live in Garden Hills and have two children, Claire and Hank, both at St. Martin’s. Sarah has been an active volunteer at the school, serving as room mom for both Claire and Hank and volunteering for various roles for PTO-sponsored events.
Treasurer: Mrs. Jennifer O'Leary
Jennifer first became involved with St. Martin's PTO in 2014 by serving on the PTO Executive Board, and from there was PTO Member at Large, Co-VP and Co-President. Mother to Tate, 15, Cullen, 13, and Maggie, 11, she is excited to continue her involvement with the St. Martin's community.
Jennifer previously spent 7 years at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey in Corporate Investment Banking. She earned a BBA from the University of Georgia in both Finance and Management and is currently employed by Elk Brokerage LLC as VP of Human Resources. Jennifer and her husband, Tim (Managing Director, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey), live in Brookhaven and love skiing, wine country and managing all their children’s activities and adventures.
Secretary: Mr. Vince Vitti
Vince is currently the VP of Business Development, and Digital Strategy for infinitee Communications, Inc. infinitee is an Atlanta-based, strategic branding and marketing firm, and in his role, Vince lead's the agency’s business development and sales efforts, as well as assisting in growing its digital department and service line. Vince is responsible for generating new business from existing and new/prospective clients as well as participating in developing marketing plans for clients, special project initiatives, and digital campaigns. Before joining infinitee, Vince spent 20+ years in the employer branding and recruitment marketing space with global firms such as TMP Worldwide and Hodes Symphony Talent. Vince is a graduate of Liberty University with a Bachelor of Religion.
Vince is very active in the life of St. Martin's Episcopal Church. He has served three terms as Senior Warden and currently serves on the Endowment Committee. Vince is a certified Stephen Minister and Eucharistic Minister. He and his wife Ann Martin, have been married for 30 years and have two daughters who graduated from St. Martin's Episcopal School.
Mrs. Barbara Adler
Barbara comes with extensive experience in church and school leadership. She is retired from serving as Head of School at King’s Ridge Christian School and at Wesleyan School. She also served as Interim Head of School at Mt. Pisgah, where she oversaw the establishment of the high school. Further, Barbara is utilized as a school board and school consultant, valued for her expertise in education and her fair and balanced leadership.
Barbara has been a member of St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal church for over fifty years and most enjoys co-leading Education for Ministry, a rich theological program sponsored by the University of the South, Sewanee. She is also a Eucharistic Visitor and was Chair of the church’s Nominating Committee in 2018-2019.
Barbara earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, and her Master’s in Educational Administration at Georgia State. The mother of two daughters, and grandmother of five, she lives in Johns Creek and enjoys baseball, reading, and cooking.
Mr. Greg Benoit
Greg Benoit is the CEO of QGenda, a healthcare software company with over 400 employees specializing in automated workforce management, currently serving over 300,000 clinicians in more than 4,000 hospitals.
Upon graduating from Miami University in 2006 with a B.S. in Computer Science, Greg started QGenda to provide scheduling software to healthcare practices across the country. Since that time, Greg has leveraged his unmatched 15 years of healthcare software experience to establish QGenda as the industry’s leading vendor of automated physician scheduling software with offices in Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, and Burlington, VT. As CEO of QGenda, Greg also won a Glassdoor Employees Choice Award honoring the Top 50 CEOs of 2018 in the United States.
As an active participant and investor in Atlanta’s entrepreneurial community, Greg founded TechRise Ventures in 2016 to give back to early-stage software companies. He is a regular presenter at local software and innovation networking events, and often helps mentor early-stage software startups. In 2018 Ernst & Young honored Greg’s efforts as they presented him with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Greg has shown his commitment to the Atlanta community by starting QGenda Cares, a program designed to provide employees with an opportunity to make a difference in their own community. QGenda employees nominate a local non-profit to support and complete an impactful service project. Examples include: organizing events for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), building a local park (Loridan’s Park), and participating in an internship program through Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Most of all, Greg enjoys family time with his daughters McKinzie (8 y.o.) and Gabi (6 y.o.) at their home in Buckhead.
Mrs. Kate Bobb
Kate Bobb is the Director of Engagement for Oglethorpe University, where she is responsible for presidential engagement and advancement initiatives. Kate is an attorney with a background in non-profit management. She worked for over 10 years at an Atlanta-based non-profit providing legal and advocacy services to children and victims of gender-based violence. Kate received a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communications and History from Elon University and a Juris Doctorate from Elon University School of Law. She is a member of the Georgia and North Carolina State Bar Associations.
Kate lives in Brookhaven with her husband, Jon, and daughter, Margo. Kate has been an active volunteer with the St. Martin’s PTO since 2018 serving as a room parent, committee volunteer, and Fling Chair in 2021-2022.
Mr. Brad Ferrer
Brad Ferrer served as Executive Vice President and CFO for Warner Media News and Sports from March 2019 through June 2022.
He was based in Atlanta, Georgia and was responsible for all financial matters for CNN Worldwide as well as Turner Sports and AT&T's Regional Sports Networks. Previously, since June 2000, Ferrer was executive vice president of finance and administration for CNN Worldwide. Earlier career positions include corporate finance roles at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. since 1995, and from 1981-1995, Ferrer was a CPA for Price Waterhouse in the accounting and auditing group.
Ferrer has served in several leadership roles at Georgia State University's Foundation and Advisory Boards. He served as Trustee of the Georgia State University Foundation Board of Directors from 2012 until 2021 (including Chair, 2014-2016), and again beginning in 2022. Ferrer also serves as a Trustee of the Endowment Fund of the Episcopal Church of St. Martin in the Fields, as well as a Trustee of St. Martin's Episcopal School.
Brad has been a member of St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church for more than 50 years. He attended local public schools (Montgomery School and Chamblee High School) and graduated from Georgia State University with a BBA (Accounting) in 1981
Mrs. Autumn Francis
Autumn Francis has been active in the St Martin’s Episcopal School community since her youngest started attending in 2020. Autumn currently chairs the Orientation and Inclusion committees with PTO and volunteers at school events during the year. Autumn has a heart for service and has been active in various organizations that focus on STEM education. She mentors first-generation college students, recent graduates, and loves to help the next generation get excited about careers in science and technology. Autumn is active in her church and has led discipleship groups and volunteers with various children’s programs.
Autumn attended Vanderbilt University where she earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering and a Master of Science in Management of Technology with a concentration in Systems Engineering. She built an award-winning engineering services business that was acquired by her current employer, Alutiiq, LLC, where she currently serves as the Subsidiary Growth and Acquisition Executive. Mrs. Francis and her husband, Dr. Oral Francis, have lived in Brookhaven for almost 15 years. They are parents to three boys; ages 6, 7 and 21. The family enjoys running, trying new restaurants, and traveling together.
Ms. Tracy Gibson
Tracy Gibson is a Zaxby’s Franchise Owner. She is currently utilizing her leadership and finance experience to ensure growth and operational excellence at her restaurant. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Tracy worked at Turner Broadcasting System for 13 years, and last served as an Executive Director of Finance. She has also worked at Deloitte & Touche and Lanier Worldwide. Her expertise is in accounting, finance, audit, management and strategic planning.
Tracy is a graduate of Howard University with a B.B.A. in Accounting, Georgia State University with an M.B.A. in Information Systems, and a CPA. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Jack and Jill of America - Greater Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter and past Advisory Board Member of Kennesaw State University School of Accountancy and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
Tracy’s son, Turner, attends St. Martin’s Episcopal School, where she is an active volunteer. They worship at Buckhead Church.
Dr. Lori Hart
Dr. Lori Hart travels throughout the country speaking on college campuses in areas of leadership, prevention and healthy relationships mixed with intense humor and honesty. She has been recognized for her work by Campus Activities Magazine, the North American Interfraternity Conference, Delta Chi Fraternity, Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity, Alpha Delta Pi Fraternity and Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
Lori has an undergraduate degree in Education from Auburn University, a master’s degree in Education from the University of Montevallo and a doctorate degree in Higher Education from Georgia State University.
Mr. Roger House
Roger is the President and CEO of Axiom Corporation. He is a retired officer from the U.S. Navy. His 20 years of service included duty on three different ships, numerous shore commands and overseas assignments. He held many leadership, management and administrative positions, and is a veteran of the first Gulf War. During his time in the Navy, Roger was part of the surface warfare department and the medical department.
He spent five years at the Navy recruiting command headquarters, where he was responsible for recruiting officers into the Medical Department of the Navy.
After retiring from the Navy in June 2003, Roger transitioned to a government job, serving as the Deputy Director of the Vital Records Branch, Division of Public Health, Department of Human Resources for the State of Georgia. From there, he went to work for Axiom Corporation in August 2004 as the Director of Business Development. He later became Vice President of Axiom Corporation and then purchased the company from the previous owners on February 1, 2007.
Currently, Roger also serves on the Board of Governors for the Buckhead Club, the Board of Directors for KIPP South Fulton Academy School, and the Board of Advisors for Golf for Kids benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Roger holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Troy State University. He is a Credentialed Fellow (CFAAMA) in the American Academy of Medical Administrators (AAMA). He is originally from Montgomery, Alabama.
Roger and his wife Jennifer have lived in Atlanta for 16 years and have three daughters. Amber is a graduate of Howard University, Apryl is a graduate of the University of Miami, and Stella is a 6th grader at St. Martin’s Episcopal School
The Rev. Monica Mainwaring
The Rev. Monica Mainwaring is the Rector of St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church. Previously she served as Vicar of Church of the Common Ground, a worshipping community on the streets of downtown Atlanta serving those experiencing homelessness, and as Dean of the Mid-Atlanta Convocation of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. Monica also served as Assistant Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Coronado, California, and on a number of diocesan committees in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.
She has twenty years of lay and ordained ministry experience in church, school, hospital, and camp settings in California, Virginia, Massachusetts, and abroad. Monica moved to Atlanta in the summer of 2017 with her husband, The Rev. Dr. Simon Mainwaring, Rector of All Saints’ in Atlanta, and their three children. They live in Midtown and take every opportunity to be outside, amidst the trees or in water.
Mr. Jon Parise
Jon Parise is the co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at GigLabs, leading growth, sales and marketing. In this role, Jon has worked with leading enterprise brands to launch campaigns that build brand loyalty and customer engagement through innovative technology. Prior to starting GigLabs in 2018, Jon was the head of customer marketing at Kabbage, a fintech company that was later acquired by American Express. Additionally, Jon also worked as Client Strategy Partner for rDialogue, an independent marketing firm where he worked across multiple clients and industries in strategy and customer marketing.
Jon received a BA from Marquette University in 2002 and an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2010. The combination of the two experiences has made Jon a huge college basketball fan. Jon was born and raised in Chicago but has called Atlanta home since 2010. Jon and his wife Diana live in Brookhaven with their two children, Lincoln and Livia, both students at St. Martin’s. The entire family are active members at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.
Ms. Betsy Sawyer
Ms. Betsy Reedy Sawyer graduated from Georgia Tech with a Business Management degree and holds a Master's in Sports Administration from Georgia State. Her experience and strengths are in logistics, analysis and management. She brings to the board personal experience navigating five different school systems across the country.
Betsy lives in Brookhaven with her husband, Ryan, and their four children: Tyler, a Westminster and Georgia State graduate, Eli, a Westminster graduate currently attending Santa Clara University, and daughters Sidney and Paige, who attend St. Martin’s. They worship at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, where Betsy serves as a Stephen Minister and co-facilitates a Divorce Recovery group.
Mr. Ivan Shammas
Ivan Shammas is President, and General Manager of Univision Atlanta & Univision Raleigh, NC, the U.S Spanish-language television network broadcaster now owned by the newly formed TelevisaUnivision Inc. Ivan is a bilingual and bicultural media executive experienced in leading premier Spanish-language television stations that provide award-winning local news and programming to the expansive Latinx population. He has worked in Spanish-language media and within the Hispanic community for over 20 years, including 8 years as the General Manager for Telemundo Atlanta.
Ivan and his wife Gopi continue to be active at SMES through committees and events, including serving as past chair of the St. Martins Annual Fund. Ivan grew up in Atlanta and currently resides in Brookhaven with his wife and three children, Lucia, Bodhi and Kash, who have been attending SMES since Pre-K.
Ivan serves on various Boards of Directors around Georgia, including the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the Fox Theatre, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerc
Mr. Mike Stewart
Mike Stewart is a partner at Bain & Company, where he helps lead Bain's technology & digital offerings for consumer products companies. He has extensive experience in technology, rooted in strategy and seen all the way through execution. In recent years this has involved helping clients to radically accelerate their consumer and customer-facing digital capabilities, leveraging modern architecture, agile delivery methods, and the latest technologies, including generative AI. Beyond technology, Mike has worked on a wide range of broader business strategies ranging from corporate transformations to major mergers and acquisitions.
Mike graduated with a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He and his wife, Lindsay, live in Morningside and have three children, Colin, Owen and William, who attend St. Martin's.
Mr. Ed Zunzunegui
Ed is currently the Chief Customer Officer for QModo AI and the founder of FlyTopPilot. QModo AI is a software solution that provides the right information, at the right place, and at the right time, and Ed is responsible for ensuring customers realize the value of the software solution. FlyTopPilot allows flying enthusiasts to fulfill their love of flying in a safe virtual reality simulator. In the past, Ed was COO for GPA Learn, an online education startup company. He has held executive positions in three startups and has over 30 years of consulting and management experience. In his previous role as the VP of Operations for both Digital Assent and Vendormate, he built and managed customer support, implementation, and account management teams. Prior to Vendormate, he spent time with Borland Software, Deloitte Consulting, and Lexmark. He has had the opportunity to work at multiple levels of many companies, learning from great mentors, and working with amazingly talented people.
Ed is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering. He was born in Cuba, lived in Spain, and came with his family to the US as a young child.
Ed and his wife Heather have been married for over 22 years, live in Brookhaven, and have one son. Aaron has been a student at SMES since Pre-K, and all three are members of St. Martin's Episcopal Church.
Ex-Officio Members
Mrs. Maria Croley Madden, Head of School
Dr. Jodie Guest, Vestry Liaison
Mrs. Katie Danyo , PTO Liaison
Mrs. Lauren Middour, PTO Liaison
Strategic Planning
The Board of Trustees has updated the school's strategic plan to provide the necessary framework for carrying out the school's mission. The goals outlines in the strategic framework cover educating students, developing and retaining excellent teachers and administrators, stewarding, governing and community building, with specific priorities and measures for each area.
It includes a summary of the school's identity as an Episcopal School as well as its unique configuration as a preschool-8th grade school.