Each year, United Way of the Coastal Empire organizes a fundraising campaign to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. The success of this effort depends greatly on the generosity of area residents and businesses. But the impressive results are also made possible due to the year-round work of hundreds of volunteers.
One particular group of volunteer leaders is already doing their part to make sure that this year's fundraising effort will again be a success. Under the direction of 2008 Campaign Chair, Dale Critz, Jr., President of Critz, Inc., 51 TEAM UNITED volunteers gathered together to begin the "behind the scenes" preparations for the upcoming campaign. These 52 cabinet members first met on Wednesday, May 21 at Georgia Power to find ways to support the United Way efforts within the community.
“Our TEAM UNITED truly is a United Way campaign champion. This diverse and enthusiastic group of dedicated community leaders volunteers their time and expertise to help increase community participation in the United Way fundraising campaign,” said Dale, Jr. “We are committed to do whatever it takes to create opportunities and inspire hope for a better tomorrow.”
Campaign Cabinet members recruit additional volunteers to work within their respective divisions. They meet once a month formally to provide feedback and progress updates on their assigned divisions. They also develop and implement plans to support the overall objectives of the campaign.
Special thanks go to Joe Buck and Bill Kelso, with Armstrong Atlantic State University, for facilitating and conducting the team building training during this meeting; Liz Longshore with MedBank for sharing her insights on the importance of the United Way fund to the community; and to Georgia Power for generously providing the facility.
Campaign Chair
Dale Critz, Jr., Critz, Inc.
Campaign Vice-Chair
Jeff Kole, Kole Management
Pacesetters
Kay Ford, SunTrust Bank
Marketing
Craig Harney, WTOC-TV
Training
Joe Buck, Armstrong Atlantic State University
Loaned Associates
Walter Chastang, International Paper
Beacon Society
Doug Marchand, Georgia Ports Authority
Tocqueville Society
Dale Critz, Sr., Critz, Inc. (Retired)
New Business Development
Lynn Pitts, Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA)
Walk the Walk 5K
Patty Jensen, Gulfstream Aerospace
Golf Tournament
Rex Cress, Community Volunteer
UNIT I -- CORPORATE
Chair:
Julian Miller, Coastal Region Properties
Major Firms I
David Paddison, Seacrest Partners
Greg Harb, St. Joseph/Candler Health System
Major Firms II
Dale Holloway, Georgia Power
UNIT II -- SERVICES/TRANSPORTATION
Chair:
Rob Roberts, Colonial Chemical Solutions
Auto/Trucking
West Beaver, Vaden Automotive Group
Shipping
Jamie McCurry, Georgia Ports Authority
Tourism
Mark Dana, Prince, Bush, Smith Hotels
Insurance
James Hamrick, Thomas J. Sheehan Insurance
Finance/Miscellaneous Services
Pam Parker, SunTrust Bank
Construction/Real Estate
Jimmy Christopher, EnviroFOAM Technologies
UNIT III -- MANUFACTURING/WHOLESALE/RETAIL
Chair: Christy Ryan, Georgia Power
Manufacturing
Brad Ashton, Tronox Pigments Savannah
Maureen Hoke, O'Brien & Geve
Wholesale
Osman Bholat, Georgia Power
Retail
Joe Driggers, Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire
Food
Mary Jane Crouch, America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia
UNIT IV -- PUBLIC SERVICE
Chair:
Sonny Dixon, WTOC-TV
Government (City)
Jerry Flemming,
City of Savannah
Government (County)
Capt. Kim Middleton, Chatham County Sheriff's Department
Clergy
Rev. Billy Hester,
Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church
United Way Agencies
William Oakley, Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire
UNIT V -- RESIDENTIAL/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Chair:
Cecil Abarr, Maloney Mitchell & Denton, LLC
Small Business
Chris Miller, Creative Cities Consulting
Skidaway Island
Cecil Abarr, Maloney Mitchell & Denton, LLC
Individual Gifts
Verna Gillikin, Community Volunteer
UNITE VI -- EFFINGHAM COUNTY
Chair:
Stan Sparks, Georgia Power
Co-Chair:
Adam Kobek, Effingham County Government
UNIT VII -- PROFESSIONALS
Chair: Gerald Kramer, D.D.S., Gerald E. Kramer, D.D.S.
Doctors / Health Care
John Paletta, M.D., The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery
Patricia Shapiro, M.D., SouthCoast Medical Group
Dentists
Gerald Kramer, D.D.S., Gerald E. Kramer, D.D.S.
Engineers/Architects
Mark Pickering, Thomas & Hutton Engineering
Attorneys
Tim Roberts, Oliver Maner & Gray LLP
Bates Lovett, Hunter Maclean
Accountants
Shannon Brett, Holland, Henry, & Bromley, LLP
Medical
Adelle Burnsed-Geffen, Ph.D., Psychological Resource Center
UNIT VIII -- EDUCATION
Chair: Otis Brock III, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
Public Education
Bucky Burnsed, Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education
Private Education
Tom Bonnell, Savannah Country Day School
Colleges
Bill Kelso, Armstrong Atlantic State University
UNIT IX -- BRYAN COUNTY
Chair: Tony Greeson, Pembroke City Council
UNIT X -- COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC)
Chair: James T. Roberts, Department of Justice/US Marshals Service
UNIT XI -- LIBERTY COUNTY
Chair: Kimberly Thomas, City of Hinesville
