Volunteers serve on the Family Promise of Gwinnett Board (FPOG) of Trustees. They usually serve for three years, but it is possible to serve in short-term roles. For information on becoming a Board member, e-mail info@familypromisegwinnett.org.

Executive Committee

Ron Thomas

Ron Thomas is Board Chairperson. He has 43 years of experience in the building/construction supply business. He worked years as a Technical Project Representative for the Sika Corporation, 10 years as an Industrial Representative and National Account Manager for Hilti USA Corporation, and 8 years as a Sales Representative and Regional Manager for Puritan Chemical Company. In 2006, Ron was President of the Georgia Chapter of the International Concrete Repair Institute.

Ron graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky where he was a student athlete (football).

Ron and his wife enjoy traveling, working on special projects, and volunteering for their church. They live in Lawrenceville and are members of First United Methodist Church. Their two adult children also live in Georgia.

 

Melissa Kennebrew is Treasurer. Melissa Kennebrew has 20+ years of tax return experience ranging from individual and family returns, small business returns, corporate returns, and estate returns. She works with a variety of clients both big and small, across the United States and ex-pats as well.

Melissa received a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and a Master’s degree in Mathematical Risk Management from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Melissa volunteers in multiple nonprofit organizations and has served in various leadership and service roles within these organizations.

Personally, Melissa is the mother of two talented and outgoing boys – Ryan and Aiden. Ryan is 16 and attending Peachtree Ridge High School, with plans to attend college and ultimately law school. Aiden is 12 and attends Hull Middle School. He has a diverse set of interests and has taught himself crochet, sewing and even guitar. They are both a joy to know and love.

 

Alisa Ensley is Board Secretary. Alisa Ensley’s professional career includes working for Georgia Power in various Corporate Communications positions during her 26 years with the company. Roles included managing marketing communications, brand advertising, company sports marketing, and sponsorship activities.

Her volunteer work includes serving on Georgia Power’s employee non-profit board, Club of Hearts as Vice-Chair of Communications, member for Collins Hill Education Foundation, board member for the Adaptive Learning Center, and Gwinnett Fund Development Committee member for Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV).

Alisa is a longtime volunteer with Family Promise of Gwinnett, serving on the annual Golf Tournament Committee since 2017. She is a proud graduate of the University of Florida, though it is challenging rooting for her Gators “deep in enemy territory.”; Her other interests include playing golf with her husband Russ and visiting family in Florida. Daughter Erin is a University of Georgia graduate and lives in Atlanta.

Trustees

Jeannette Best-Nunez

Jeannette Best-Nunez, Chairperson of the Public Relations Committee, joined the Family Promise team as a volunteer coordinator in 2007 following her relocation to Georgia from New York. The attraction was immediate and, as a member of St. Edward the Confessor Episcopal Church in Lawrenceville, she has served as is Family Promise of Gwinnett volunteer coordinator ever since.

Jeannette currently works as a freelance editor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English/Education from Queens College (CUNY). Prior to becoming semi-retired, she was Managing Editor of the international peer-reviewed journal of the non-profit American Health Foundation, Preventive Medicine, before moving to corporate as Assistant Communications Director at JP Morgan (AC).

An avid supporter of the arts, Jeannette was a founding member of the Caribbean Theatre for the Performing Arts where she performed as a dancer/ actor/poet for 25 years and now serves on their Board. Jeannette is an active member of St. Edward’s and chairs the Outreach Ministry, Social Justice Committee and sings in the choir. She has two adult children and two absolutely wonderful granddaughters. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling with her husband, and cooking.

Jason Bright

Jason Bright earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He spent most of his career working as a business development leader in the mining and oil and gas industries then in 2018, he started his own practice as a financial advisor with Thrivent. He and his wife are raising five children and a 95-pound Catahoula.

An active member of 12 Stone Church in Lawrenceville for 15 years, Jason has served in the worship ministry as well as marriage support and recovery ministries. For the past five years, he has also served on the board of directors for Bearings Bike Works, a youth skills development organization in southwest Atlanta. Jason is passionate about using his time, talent, and treasure to serve the community as well as about finding ways for his family to give of themselves.

Beth Copeland

Elizabeth Bailey Copeland has been self-employed since 1998, empowering people to be leaders in her role as a leadership/team development coach and business consultant. Currently, she serves as Executive Director of Georgia Christian Business Network and God’s People Ministry, Inc.

Beth has a passionate desire to enlighten individuals of their awesome responsibility to walk in leadership. Beth is a magnetic presenter; captivating the audience and stimulating action for positive change. She has successfully partnered with local and national organizations to facilitate cultural change, acquire next-level leadership skills, and to develop a champion attitude. Beth’s number one objective in ministry is to lead every individual to realize that God has a plan, and they are part of it.

Beth has been a resident of Lawrenceville for 49 years. She and husband have four children and three grandchildren.

Trenton Dockery

Trenton Dockery is the Senior Pastor at Grayson United Methodist Church, and has a heart to serve people in his community.

 

 

 

 

Andy Ivey

Andy Ivey is Vice President for Advancement at TMS Global where he leads the financial development and marketing teams. There is He serves on the executive leadership team to develop and implement the organization’s strategic goals. Andy previously worked for Compassion International, The Grizzard Agency, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Habitat for Humanity International, and Operation Mobilization.

The Atlanta native earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Andy is passionate about the outdoors, baseball, fishing, boating, golf, and soccer. He and his wife have two teenagers and one adult child.

Bill Lawyer

Bill Lawyer is member of the Fund Development Committee. He is a business development strategy professional in the aerospace industry where he’s worked for over two decades. In 2019, he volunteered in both the FPOG Bed Race and the Golf Tournament, peaking his interest in Family Promise. That interest, paired with an international mission trip, drew Bill to raising awareness about homelessness in the community and around the world.

Bill and his wife have four daughters. He is active in their church as well as serving their community as a coach and as a board member for youth athletics. Bill hopes to positively impact many lives in our county by raising the awareness of the important mission of Family Promise of Gwinnett and by supporting its guests.

 

Deleasa Brown’s professional career spans over 30 years of service in tactical operations in various healthcare domains. In her current assignment, DeLeasa serves as an AVP of Health Information Management Operations for a leading innovator in hospital revenue cycle management. A Gulf War veteran with a decade of service in combat hospital operations, she discovered her passion for leadership development and consensus building. Leveraging these skills, she fosters operational efficiencies and enhancements, that support peak performance. Beyond her professional endeavors, DeLeasa is a fervent advocate for women empowerment and Christian entrepreneurship. As one of the founding members of the Atlanta Chapter of NACWE (National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs) and a member of GCBN (Georgia Christian Business Network), she embraces faith in business and champions diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as a Culture Ambassador Captain for her company’s “SWAG” committee (Serving with Attitude and Gratitude).

Adding to her portfolio, DeLeasa serves as the founder and Chief Joy Officer for her passion project, Jireh Java House. Through this endeavor, she aspires to curate experiences that transcend beyond excellent coffee, infusing joy, community, and spiritual nourishment into the lives of those served. DeLeasa holds a B.S. in HIM from the Medical College of Georgia and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Faith and family are central pillars of DeLeasa’s life. Married to her Army sweetheart, Greg (fondly known as Bro. Brown), for 32 years, they are blessed with three children: Jordyn (26), Kalib (24), and Roman (21). In her downtime, DeLeasa finds solace in island travel and gardening, replenishing her spirit and fueling her zest for life.

 

Diane Degaetano describes herself as a Retired Professional Nurse and a Current Professional Volunteer. She worked in Occupational Health Nursing for Scientific Atlanta (now Cisco) and Merial (now Boehringer Ingelheim) and for Genex Services as Worker’s Comp Nurse Case Manager during the last 30 years. She retired in 2018 after 44 years as a nurse. Now she spends her time in bible studies, volunteering with the Lilburn Woman’s Club, Nursing Home Ministry. Before Covid, she worked in the Prison Ministry. She sings 2nd soprano in 3 choirs and is most proud of her relationship with the Arch Diocese of Atlanta Choir. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family, quilting, jewelry-making, gardening, and reading (2 book clubs). Sal, her husband, and she have 2 lovely daughters who own a home together in Lilburn and who both work for the Gwinnett County Public Library. God has a plan and we must trust!

 

Dr. Dawn Marie Kier is the founder of New Dawn Consulting based in Atlanta, Georgia. The boutique firm specializes in the architecture of multi-generational people strategies that impact engagement and culture. She couples business strategy and organizational leadership to help align people to the heart of the organization. She draws upon nearly 30 years of experience in Organizational Change and Talent Management.

Dr. Dawn holds a doctorate in organizational leadership and works with globally recognized brands, across multiple industries, to achieve new behaviors and outcomes. She specializes in Values Based Leadership where she shows leaders and organizations how to “walk the walk not merely talk the talk.” In addition to being a licensed and ordained Pastor, Dr. Dawn is a certified Coactive and Executive Coach.

Prior to New Dawn, Dr. Dawn worked for various corporate and franchise organizations, including specialty retailers such as The HoneyBaked Ham Company, The Disney Stores, Macy’s, and Washington Mutual (now Chase Bank).

 

Carol Love, Executive Director (non-voting member) came to Family Promise of Gwinnett from Wilbanks Partners where she focused on marketing, events, and client relationship management. She was the founding Director of the former SaltLight Center and is excited to come back and work with the churches, donors, and volunteers. Her business career began with Ernst & Young as an analyst in the fraud and investigative disputes services group, and she subsequently became a marketing associate in the firm’s financial services advisory group.

Carol earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Carol’s pride and joy is her son Tristan, who recently gave her the title of soccer mom. She is grateful that the Lord has led her back to Family Promise and is enjoying the adventure.

Smitty Thomas, Past President has been involved with Family Promise at it’s inception. He started serving as a truck driver moving beds once a month from one church to another. He faithfully served as chairman of the board from 2020 to 2023. Smitty retired in 2019 from Sonoco as their Divisional General Manager. He received his Bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina, Ashville. He is the owner of Smitty’s Chicks and enjoys his retired life on the farm. Fun fact is that Smitty has visited all 50 states!