People in the News

Savannah Business Journal Staff Report

February 22, 2019 - Savannah Jaycees recently announced their 2019 Board of Directors and Executive Officers. LeAndrea Mikell is the incoming President for the nonprofit organization and serves in this capacity until 2020. Mikell is the first African American woman to serve as the Savannah Jaycees President.

Mikell is currently the Programs and Marketing Coordinator with the World Trade Center Savannah, which helps regional companies do business internationally and helps facilitate foreign direct investment opportunities for the coastal Georgia region.

Mikell also serves on the Board of Directors for the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism, the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home and Future Minds Literacy and Adult Education. Additionally, she serves on the Ambassador’s Council for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and is a mentor for the Gulfstream Student Leadership Program. Last year, she was a GenerationNext honoree by Business in Savannah.

As president, Mikell will supervise the organization’s affairs and activities, as well as, represent the organization within the community and announce all projects of the organization to the public.

“I plan to work with the entire Savannah Jaycees membership to continue to advance the mission of our organization, focusing on personal, professional and community development," said Mikell.

Gordon Hunter, Director of Development of Calvary Day School, will serve as Vice President of Management Development. Hunter attended Georgia Southern University where he received his BA in Public Relations and Master of Science in Sports Management. He previously served as president for the Statesboro Jaycees and the West Chatham Jaycees. Hunter is also a member of the Savannah Exchange Club. As the Management Development Vice President, Hunter will work with the Mikell on such affairs of the organization as finances, community involvement and leadership development. He shall preside at the membership and Board of Directors’ meeting in the absence of the President and the State Director.

Alice Ball will serve as Vice President of Communications. Ball works as a clerk at the US Attorney’s office in Savannah, Ga. She is a recent graduate of the Savannah Law School and also serves as the Assistant Chapter Advisor for the Georgia Southern chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau. As the Vice President of Marketing & Communication, Ball is responsible for handling all internal and external communications involving the chapter. She will oversee the chapter’s website, public relations, newsletters, brand identity and corporate culture.

Terrass “Razz” Misher, owner and founder of Podcast On The Go, will serve as Vice President of Community Development. Misher graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As the Vice President of Community Development, Misher will serve as the leader in “community advancement,” identifying needs within the community that the chapter can effect and determining the best way to fulfill those needs.

Jared Orton, president of the Savannah Bananas, will serve as Vice President of Membership, a role he has filled for two consecutive years. Originally from Burlington, NC, Orton graduated from Belmont Abbey College. As Vice President of Membership, Orton is responsible for attracting and activating new members, as well as communicating and encouraging their involvement in the chapter.

Hillary Bradbury, marketing and communications director of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, will serve as Secretary. Bradbury has a master’s degree in arts administration from Savannah College of Art and Design. She also serves the Savannah community as a program volunteer for the Savannah Children’s Museum and as the coordinator for Fresh Express, a monthly produce distribution event. As the Secretary, Bradbury will take care of all written documents of chapter activities, including meeting minutes, agendas, and correspondence.

Donna McMahan, Ledesma Sports Medicine, and Griff Surrency, Pike Appraisal Inc. & Parker Scott Properties, will serve as Co-Treasurers. McMahan graduated from Georgia College University, Milledgeville with a focus in exercise science and minor in psychology. She also holds a graduate degree from Armstrong State University and a doctorate of Physical therapy, as well as, a specialty certificate for Neurological Rehabilitation following graduation from a residency at Brooks Rehabilitation. Surrency graduated from Georgia Southern University with an undergrad in Logistics in 2002 and then went on to earn his MBA in 2005. He was recognized in 2017 as the Appraiser of the Year for Pike Appraisal.

James Hall, Research Analyst at Chatham County Juvenile Court, and Sarah Martin, Vice President of Commercial Lending at CoastalStates Bank, will serve as directors. Antwan Lang, LegalShield, will continue on the board as Immediate Past President.

Comprised of local young adults age 21 to 40, Savannah Jaycees’ mission is to “inspire leadership growth through community involvement.” Since receiving its Charter in 1942, the organization strives to uphold the national and international vision to be the leading global network of active young citizens. For more information, visit savannahjaycees.com.