The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) is pleased to announce its Board of Directors. John Bogardus, who co-founded the organization in 2006, will serve as President. Bogardus is a medical device distributor for Zimmer Biomet. He and his wife Candy have three teenage children.

Michael Holton Jr. will serve as Vice President. He has been on the board since 2016 and is the first differently-abled person in an executive role with LDSS. He is also President of Holton Industries.

Joe Marchese, CEO of Marchese Construction, LLC, will serve as the board’s Secretary. Joe and his wife, Molly, have three daughters.

Stephen Greene, a board member since 2018, will serve as Treasurer. He is a commercial banker with South State Bank and is married with one son.

Additional board members include:

Nicole Allen, mother of four and assistant manager of Ole Times Country Buffet;

Jason Ambrose, a sales representative with Moore Industrial Supply and father of six;

Brian Hussey, a commercial relationship manager with Bank South who has been on the board since 2006;

Kayla Johnson, an administrative assistant at Savannah Country Day School’s upper school and mother of three;

Tom Kenkel, father of two and president of Kenkel Design;

Harris Martin, an attorney with Bouhan Falligant and father of two daughters; and

Dr. Ben Spitalnick, managing partner and pediatrician with Pediatric Associates of Savannah.

LDSS serves people with Down syndrome and their families through a variety of programs. Among the best known are the Buddy Walk, a support walk that will be in its 15th year this fall; Night of Champions, an event to recognize workplace success stories of differently abled people and their employers; and Camp Buddy, a summer camp for children with Down syndrome.

“We are thrilled to have such a strong board bringing us into this new decade. We welcome all the fresh ideas and new perspectives this team will bring to LDSS,” said Bogardus. “It has truly been a joy to watch this organization evolve, and we look forward to the continued growth of our programs and community advocacy in the coming years.”