Meet our Board of Directors:
Dale Champion, Executive Director
Dale grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in industrial engineering. He has held numerous management positions in industry and has also owned his own company. He has been a youth Sunday School teacher, "Big Brother" and board member, Mt. Bethel UMC administrative council member, president of the Wisconsin chapter of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers, and has coached youth sports for 20 years. In 2003, he began working with disadvantaged youth by developing and delivering programs that would help children prepare for their adult lives. Key areas addressed in those programs include leadership, teambuilding, finance, diversity, conflict resolution, and life skills sessions His commitment stems from the fact that a dire need for help exists in the at-risk population as less than 20 percent will graduate from high school. Such children absolutely require additional support with opportunities for them to be successful citizens in their communities.
Born and raised in the Wichita, Kansas area, Sam graduated from Wichita University (now Wichita State University) with a B.S. in business. After serving as an officer in the military for two-and-a-half years, he entered business as a private accountant. During his career, he worked for Boeing Aircraft, Santa Fe Railroad, and Cabot Corporation. In 2002, he retired from Cabot after 28 years of service. Sam has since been active in a number of ways—teaching Sunday School; volunteering with Mt. Bethel United Methodist Men and Habitat for Humanity; serving as a church advocate for Samaritan House of Atlanta and volunteering with Mt. Bethel Older Adult Center. He has mentored three young men with Opportunity Knocks for Youth and earned the 2009 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Heart in Hand Volunteer of the Year award for his work with the organization.
Bill Spell, Director of Mentor Recruitment
Having begun his broadcast career in 1969, Bill retired on December 31, 2007 as vice president of sales and marketing for Cox Television, Inc. He previously served as director of sales for WSB-TV Channel 2, Atlanta, from 1990 to 1996. Among his professional activities, Bill is a member of the Atlanta Ad Club and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is past president of the Atlanta Broadcast Advertising club. Active in the community, Bill is a member of the Cobb YMCA, of which he is a former director. He is past president of the Izaak Walton Conservation League, and he was a member of the1992-93 Class of Leadership Atlanta. He is also a member of NATAS, The Flint River Sportsman club, and the Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church. A native of Wrightsville, GA, he earned his B.B.A. and M.B.A. from Georgia State University. Bill enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, tennis and reading.
Marjorie S. Preston-Ward, Director of Programs
Marjorie is an information technology (IT) consultant with more than 25 years of experience in various industries and roles. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, traveling, reading and participating in outdoor activities with her son and daughter. Marjorie has volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, a tutor, an IT mentor, and mentor for Opportunity Knocks for Youth.
.
John is a graduate of Denison University (Granville, OH) with a BA. In addition, he graduated from Emory University with an MBA. John has a career in real estate with experience in 2 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and extensive experience with Cousins Properties and Tri-South Investments. John is currently a license Real Estate Broker as Logan Properties, Inc.
John is an active member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church as well as an avid tennis player and golfer.