The Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hamilton Health Care System, announces the appointment of 14 new trustees to the foundation board.
Chaired by Bryan McAllister, vice president of finance for Brown Industries Inc., the foundation’s mission is to encourage charitable gifts that support and advance the quality of health care provided by Hamilton Health Care System and its affiliates.
Established in 1975, The Foundation is guided by a board of 75 trustees serving on one of six committees — Annual Support, Business Relations, Planned Giving, Signature Gifts, Special Prospects or Trust.
The Annual Support Committee, which solicits new donors and gifts on an annual basis through programs such as Westcott Associate, Hamilton Club, Love Light Trees, Golf Invitational and Speedy Recovery, also sponsors various community outreach educational programs including Pediatric Orientation, Brown Bag Luncheon, and Wellspring for Women.
New to the committee are Justin T. “J.T.” Finley, Stephen H. Laird and Carolyn S. Roan.
J.T. Finley, co-owner of Dalton’s Maryville Jewelers, attended Dalton High School. He is active with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and was a small-team leader on the Downtown Dalton Development Authority. He is a member of First United Methodist Church of Dalton and his wife is Ali.
Steve Laird is director, contract administration with Shaw Industries. He received a bachelor of science in accounting and finance from Florida State University. Steve is a member of First Baptist Church of Dalton where he serves as a deacon. He and his wife, Bett, have two children, Daniel and Beth.
Carolyn Roan, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker-Kinard Realty received a bachelor of arts from Penn State University. She serves as chairperson of the Dalton Historic Preservation Commission and is a member of the Carpet Capital Association of Realtors.
As a member of Dalton’s First United Methodist Church, Roan participates in the Chancel (Adult) Choir, the Canterbury Ringers (hand bell group) and is director of the Alleluia Chimers (fourth- and fifth-grade hand bell group). She and her husband, Stephen, have two children, Katie and Michael.
Joining the current roster of the Business Relations Committee, which serves as liaison to the business and professional sector of the community and the medical center and recruits financial support through the Hamilton Business Alliance, are Anthony Eugene Carroll, Kelly McDonald Jones, Jeffery Scott Tatum and James Steven White Sr.
Tony Carroll is vice president of electric/gas engineering and operations with Dalton Utilities. He received a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama and a master of science in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Carroll is a member of the Rotary Club and the United Way Funding Panel and is of the Protestant faith. Tony and his wife, Mitzi, have two children, Cameron and Rebecca.
Kelly Jones, vice president of human resources, safety and training and administrative services at Dalton Utilities, received a bachelor of science from the University of Georgia. Jones is past president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and currently holds memberships with the Rotary Club of Dalton, Dalton Junior Women’s Club and the Department of Labor Employee Committee. She is an alumnus of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Dalton. Kelly holds the designation of senior professional in human resources, is a certified workers compensation professional and received the American Business Women Association’s Professional Development Award and 40 Under 40, Dalton Young Business Leaders. She and her husband, Patrick, are the parents of twin sons, Colton and Walker, and they attend Grace Presbyterian Church.
Jeff Tatum attended Dalton High School and Dalton State College and is part-owner and vice president of E&T; Converters. He is active with the American Heart Association and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jeff attends the First United Methodist Church and he and his wife, Katie, have two children, Wilson and Lucy.
Steve White is president and CEO of Challenger Industries Inc. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dalton and is married to Melissa. They are parents to six children, Steve Jr., Andy, Taylor, Matthew, Tyler and Haley.
Robert D. Jenkins Sr. and Cheryl Sherrill join the Planned Giving Committee which assists in implementing programs that will produce financial support for the foundation in the major areas of planned giving, such as wills and bequests, life income agreements, life insurance, annuities and charitable remainder trusts.
Dalton attorney Bob Jenkins received a bachelor in business administration from Georgia Southern and his juris doctor from Mercer. Also, Jenkins is CFO of Toys in the Attic LLC, attorney for Victims of Domestic Violence, Guardian ad Litem for the Conasauga Judicial Circuit and truancy court judge for Murray County. Jenkins’ community activities include Boy Scouts of America, Georgia Southern Alumni Association, Exchange Club of Dalton and First Baptist Church of Dalton where he has served as both a trustee and a deacon and where he is currently a member of the adult choir and is director of the Royal Ambassadors. He and his wife, Kathy, have two children, Katie Beth and Robby.
Cheryl Sherrill holds a bachelor of arts and is a financial consultant with Wells Fargo. She is a member of the Eastern Star and Rockbridge Community Church. Cheryl has two sons, Leland and Gary.
The Special Prospects Committee, which is responsible for the procurement of individuals for membership in the Westcott Fellowship giving program, adds Judith M. Buchanan, Robert W. Fallis, Henry H. Long, Thomas L. Rennie and Betty B. Sponcler.
Judy Buchanan, returning for a second term as a foundation trustee, attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She attends First United Methodist Church and currently serves on the Friendship House Christmas Gift Program. She a past board member of Friendship House, Creative Arts Guild and the American Heart Association, where she served as the first co-chairperson of the Heart Ball. Judy and her husband, Bob, have two daughters, Meredith Renk and Sarah Lewis.
Bob Fallis is owner of Vogue Enterprises Inc. and has an associate of science degree. Fallis enjoys the game of golf and has been a participant in the foundation’s annual Golf Invitational for several years.
Hal Long, executive vice president of operations with Shaw Industries, attended Georgia Tech where he received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. He also received a master of business administration from Berry College. Long is a trustee of the Dalton Education Foundation and attends Dalton First United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Brenda, have two children, Jason and Zac.
Tom Rennie is president and owner of TLR Consulting LLC and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He serves as president of Roman Open Charities and director of the Dalton Golf and Country Club. Tom’s wife is Pearl.
Betty Sponcler received a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Georgia. She is a current member of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and she chaired the fundraising event in May 2009. Betty is a past president of the Creative Arts Guild, served on the Dalton Alumni Association, served six years on the Royal Oaks Board, for many years she served on the Family Support Council as a literary volunteer and as a Kids’ on the Block puppeteer. She is married to Maurice, and they have two daughters, Lisa Norman and Dori Jones. Sponcler is a member of First Presbyterian Church where she serves as elder.
“I look forward to serving with these new trustees and I applaud their willingness to be representatives of the foundation within our community,” McAllister said. “We, as members of the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation Board, endeavor to help provide the financial support needed to ensure Hamilton’s ready response to the changing health care environment. As we work together toward this goal, we realize that philanthropic support is critical to the future of health care.”
