Board of Trustees

Laura Garcia, President

Ms. Garcia serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Georgia Historical Society. 

A graduate of the University of Virginia, she has more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Prior to her work in Savannah, she was deputy director for operations with the National Immigration Forum on Capitol Hill; an English professor in Spain and a consultant for a firm handling Department of Defense contracts in Washington.

“I’m involved in the SCC because I believe in helping small nonprofits to be well-run and compliant in terms of financial, legal, operational, development and other business matters. Strength in these areas leads to increased financial support which makes it possible to create additional programs and opportunities for the children we aim to help.”

Josh Keller, Treasurer

Originally from Louisville Ky., Josh Keller moved to Savannah in 2002 to pursue his career in the communications business. Josh graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Marketing. Mr. Keller has served on the board of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and is also on the board of the Historic Savannah Foundation.

Beth Robinson, Secretary

Beth Robinson is the Human Resources Director for the City of Savannah, Georgia. She is responsible for a full-service centralized human resources department, serving a workforce of 2,600 employees. She has a master’s degree in Public Administration from the College of Charleston, SC and her two decade career has been entirely in the area of public service. Beth holds the designation of Certified Professional by the International Public Management Association for Human Resources.

In addition to her work with the SCC Board of Trustees, Beth is the parent of one the choir’s original members. She is also an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the facility which provides rehearsal space for the Choir.

Curt Bryant

Curt Bryant is the Station Manager for Delta Airlines in Savannah, Ga.

Jamey Espina

Jamey is Hospice Savannah’s Community Liaison, and has worked for Hospice Savannah for over seven years. He has a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, and is a licensed Professional Counselor. He previously served as the Director of Full Circle Center for Education and Bereavement Support at Hospice Savannah.

He is originally from Tampa where he was a therapist for Tampa Aids Network, taught psychology at the International Academy of Design and provided private practice counseling to individuals who suffered from traumas from the medical system. He is also on the board of Savannah Small Business Chamber and serves on the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Education Committee.

Jody Espina

Jody Espina is the founder and president of JodyJazz Saxophone & Clarinet Mouthpieces, and is a highly regarded jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and educator.

Mr. Espina served as the Director of the Jazz Department at the Hoff Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale, New York, and was adjunct professor of Saxophone and Clarinet at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. Prior to this, Espina was professor of saxophone, clarinet and flute, and the Director of the Big Band at the Aula de Musica i Moderna Jazz in Barcelona, Spain. Additionally, he is a conductor in the musical sign language system called Sound Painting.

Mr. Espina has been involved with the Grammys In The Schools program, bringing performing artists to inner city schools and has written and performed “What Is Jazz?”, an educational concert for children.

After majoring in classical clarinet at the University of South Florida, Espina transferred to Berklee College of Music where he won a Phil Woods Performance Scholarship. Espina graduated magne cum laude with a degree in Performance.

Jason Gallegos

More soon!

James Hunt

Owner of a successful downtown boutique, The Hunt Club Custom Clothier, Mr. Hunt is an avid supporter of local arts organizations. Before opening his own store, Hunt had been selling men’s clothing in addition to working as a regional salesperson in the restaurant business. Prior to that, however, he worked around the nation for Ralph Lauren and Ferragamo.

Shonah Jefferson

Shonah P. Jefferson is an attorney with Hunter Maclean. Before joining Hunter Maclean, Ms. Jefferson worked as a lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, where she represented commercial banks and insurance companies as providers of municipal reinvestment products. Ms. Jefferson also worked at AT&T for several years, where she was responsible for managing various financial processes.

Ms. Jefferson represents for-profit and non-profit developers in the area of multi-family housing development. She helps them finance and develop affordable housing projects funded from a variety of sources, including low income housing tax credits, HOME funds, conventional loans and tax-exempt municipal bonds. Ms. Jefferson also represents hospitals and universities as borrowers of tax-exempt bond proceeds and as purchasers of municipal reinvestment products.

Ms. Jefferson has a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Plan II Honors Liberal Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She also has a J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Ms. Jefferson currently resides in Savannah. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Savannah Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Ingrid Lelos

More soon!

Mary Morrison

Mary Morrison is originally from Atlanta, Ga. During her years in Atlanta, Mary was involved in various volunteer organizations, including Atlanta Speech School, a school for children with hearing impairment, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and was chairman of the Atlanta Flower Show.

When she and her husband moved from Atlanta to Savannah, she got involved with the Savannah Music Festival, serving on the board for the festival, as well as serving on the board for the Telfair Museum of Art. Mary became involved with the Savannah Children’s Choir from its inception. She is a former winner of the SCC’s “One Small Voice” award for her contributions to the lives of children.

“The youth are our future, and if you can do something for a child and turn their lives around, it makes a large impact. You can volunteer or give monetary support, but it’s all so important for them to get this experience in music.”

Mary serves as a judge for flower arrangements for the Garden Club of America and spends much of her free time decorating and planting gardens. Mary is also an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Savannah.

Sue Reilly

More soon!

Carol Wirth

Carol Wirth owns and operates TWC Consulting, a practice specializing in strategic communications and public affairs. She provides strategy, planning and execution pertaining to public relations, government relations, grassroots and community relations for corporations and non-profits.

A native of Houston, Texas, Carol now resides in Savannah, Georgia with her husband and two sons.