RUSS CROFT
Board Chair
Russ Croft is a Gainesville transplant who has called the city home for the last decade. He is the Finance Director for John Megel Ford and has been in the car industry almost as long as he has lived in Gainesville. Growing up, Russ found himself struggling with a sense of community and substances. Since going through treatment and picking up his last white chip on May 5th, 2011 he’s had a passion for helping those in the recovery community. Russ works to be in service to those in recovery and those still struggling.
ALAN HAMILTON
Vice Chair
JOHN LEWIS
Treasurer
John Lewis is a native of Atlanta, but has lived in Gainesville for over 10 years. Mr. Lewis works at Willis Investment Counsel where he is a portfolio manager and provides support to the firm’s corporate and institutional clients. Mr. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia with a concentration in finance. He is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Atlanta.
Along with serving on the J’s Place board, Mr. Lewis serves as the treasurer of a family foundation, a founding member of the Oaks Society and works with other non-profits on investment and finance-related topics.
Mr. Lewis enjoys spending time with his wife and children, traveling, and being outdoors.
HEATHER HERRINGTON
Secretary
Heather Herrington earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from North Georgia College and State University and her master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Argosy University. Ms. Herrington is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Master Addiction Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor for both addiction counselors and licensed professional counselors. Ms. Herrington currently serves as the Director of Hall County Treatment Services, which encompasses all the accountability court programs in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. Ms. Herrington is responsible for the daily agency operations and oversight of clinical and administrative staff. She has served in the field of substance use treatment and accountability courts for nearly 18 years.
Cindy Gay
Cindy Gay is a person in long term recovery. She has lived in Gainesville for 29 years with her husband Jeff. They have two sons, Jeffrey and Chris. They lost Jeffrey six years ago to an accidental drug overdose.
“I was two years sober when Jeffrey died,” she says, “and had it not been for the love and support of my family and the fellowship of AA, I might not be here. Having had time to heal, I want to give back to others what was so freely given to me. I love volunteering and working with others who struggle with addiction, as well as sharing experience, strength and hope with families and loved ones of those who struggle.”
Cindy and several other parents started the Parent Support Group that meets weekly at J’s Place. Cindy is a teacher by trade and loves spending time outdoors.
JAY PARRISH
Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish is a lifelong Hall County resident and 1995 graduate of North Hall High School. He earned a BBA from North Georgia College & State University and a Master’s in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University. A U.S. Marine Corps Reserve veteran, Chief Parrish is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Georgia Law Enforcement Command College. He began his career with the Gainesville Police Department in 2000 and has served as a detective, patrol supervisor, training director, and deputy chief before being appointed the city’s 35th Police Chief in 2019. Active in the community, he also serves on the boards of Gateway Domestic Violence Center, Good News at Noon, and the Salvation Army advisory board. In his spare time, Chief Parrish enjoys fly-fishing in North Georgia and chasing redfish in Apalachicola Bay.
Raleigh T. (Rob) Robinson
Walters Mgt Co./Loan South Finance Corp.
Originally from Bainbridge, GA, Rob graduated from Bainbridge High School and studied economics at Bainbridge College. He worked in the family consumer finance business from 1984-1996 until founding Loan South Finance Corporation in 1996, operating 13 locations in Georgia and Alabama. Rob joined Walters Management Co. as CEO in 2007 with over 100 operations in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Alabama.
He is married to the former Kelly Walters, has 4 daughters: Paige, Ivy, Peaches, and Georgia and enjoys hunting and fishing, golf, boating and playing the drums. Rob is a member of Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Gainesville Kiwanis Club, and has served on numerous boards and civic organizations throughout Georgia, including Past President of Georgia Installment Lenders Association, Texas Consumer Finance Association, Alabama Lenders Association, Tennessee Independent Finance Association, Lakeview Academy Board of Trustees, Elachee Nature and Science Center, and Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia Board of Directors.
GlenN Smith
Wayne Farms
Glenn B. Smith has been the Director of Feed Ingredient Procurement since 2011 for Wayne Farms LLC, Oakwood, GA, purchasing and coordinating delivery of all feed ingredients for the 6th largest poultry processor in the USA. An Atlanta native, Glenn and his family reside in Flowery Branch. He holds a BA in History from Washington and Lee University, 1988. Glenn feels blessed to have a sobriety date of January 4, 2007.
DAVE SMITH
Dave is a retired HR executive who now focuses his time on a number of volunteer boards. He and his wife, Beckie, live in Gainesville and attend Gainesville First United Methodist Church. They have two children and three grandchildren all of whom live in the Denver, CO area. Apart from his board work, Dave enjoys woodworking, singing in their church choir and time with friends.
