The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire Announces 2026 Board Officers, Welcomes New Board Members
Monday, March 23rd, 2026
The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire – Savannah, Ga.’s leading organization dedicated to helping citizens proactively manage conflict and creating a more conflict-resilient community – is pleased to announce the elected officers who will lead the organization’s 2026 Board of Directors and to welcome eight new board members.
“We’re delighted to announce our new board leadership, who will help us to foster conflict resiliency in Savannah throughout our 40th anniversary year, expanding our legacy of peace in the Savannah community,” said Dr. Aimee Bellmore, executive director of The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire. “Our new board members truly represent a cross-section of leaders from across the local community who are united by a shared passion for conflict resolution and peacebuilding.”
Elected officers for The Mediation Center’s Board of Directors for 2026 include:
● President – Marianne Ganem Poppell, President/Owner of Savannah Master Calendar and Simply Savannah Marketing
● Vice President – Flora Devine, Vice President and Chief Legal Affairs Officer at Savannah State University
● Treasurer – Sean Vega, Loan Officer at Small Business Assistance Corporation
● Secretary – DeAnna Hall, Executive Director of Human Resources at Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
The Mediation Center’s new board members include:
● Todd Baiad, Partner at Bouhan Falligant
● Leesa Bohler, Volunteer Mediator and Retired Judge/Attorney
● Kelly Crosby, Retired Internal Auditor
● Robert Gavin, Assistant Chief at Savannah Police Department
● Maria Justus, Attorney at Lasky Justus Law
● Megan Lane, Owner of Howard Barker Lane
● David “Bobo” Mullins, Partner at Oliver Maner LLP
● Zachary Riddle, President of Riddle Technology Solutions
Since its founding in 1986, The Mediation Center has conducted nearly 30,000 mediations, resolving conflict throughout the region and taking pressure off the local court system. The Mediation Center has also trained nearly 14,000 local students through innovative youth programs, helped more than 5,000 residents through family law classes and assisted area residents with nearly 4,000 family law filings.
