Historic Savannah Foundation recently unveiled its new strategic plan, trustees, and officers at the organization’s 62nd annual meeting at the Gingerbread House. At this event, which was free and open to the public, HSF welcomed its new leadership and President and CEO, Daniel Carey, delivered his annual report and took questions. HSF’s mission was unveiled: Historic Savannah Foundation saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future.

Shana Copeland, Mike English, Michael McLeod, Kathryn Murph, and Luci Thompson joined the board. Bill Daniel and Gaye Reese were elected to a second three-year term. Brian Felder will serve as the board chair and Josh Brooks will serve as vice chair. Gaye Reese is the new secretary, Susan Clifford is the treasurer, and Gregori Anderson is the parliamentarian.

Following its formation in 1955, Historic Savannah Foundation started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling nearly 370 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. In 2018 and beyond, HSF will build capacity within HSF’s operations, secure new financial resources, improve HSF’s image and visibility, and increase public policy efforts to protect Savannah’s historic districts.

“We are very fortunate to have the skills and support of our outstanding Board of Trustees,” Carey said. “I am excited to work alongside these new individuals and look forward to seeing our organization grow and prosper next year.”

Board Member Biographies

• Shana Copeland received her MBA from Ashford State University and a BBA in marketing from Savannah State University. Copeland is currently employed with Sterling Seacrest Partners with more than ten years of management, sales and client service responsibilities in both the retail and hospitability industry sectors, and previously worked at The Mansion on Forsyth Park. Her expertise include assisting brokerage teams with policy management, underwriting analysis, claims advocacy, and client service for middle-market to large corporate clients.

• Mike English has headed the Coastal Region for Queensborough National Bank and Trust Co. for the past ten years. In this capacity, he has been involved in many notable preservation projects. He is a native of Swainsboro, GA and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran.

• Michael McLeod is currently a Client Advisor with SunTrust Private Wealth Management. McLeod is responsible for providing a range of planning-based financial services to successful individuals and families in the Savannah community. He is a native of Savannah, graduating from the Salisbury School and Washington & Lee University. He is also a graduate of the Cannon Financial Institute and completed the Executive Program for Financial Planning at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. McLeod holds a Certified Financial Planner™ certificate, a Series 7 and Series 66 securities registrations, and has Georgia and Florida insurance licenses for Life, Accident and Sickness, as well as Variable Products. He is active in the community and serves on various boards including the Metropolitan Savannah Rotary Club, Espy Lumber Company, and the Rinky Dink Sailing Club.

• Kathryn Murph is the Present of ABR Digital Office Solutions, a business solution firm serving Savannah, the costal empire and low country. She moved to Savannah to accept a sales position with ABR in 1990 after working several years with the John H. Harland Company in South Florida and Southwest Georgia. She graduated with a BS in psychology from Georgia Southern University and has lived in the historic district of Savannah for over 25 years.

• Luci Thompson has over 10 years of project management and business development expertise in the Architecture and Design filed. Prior to joining J. Banks Design Group, she was the ARB & Community Association Manager for the nationally renowned For Plantation. Thompson possess vast experience with interior and architectural design and urban planning, both nationally and internationally and she holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from SCAD.