About: Board of Directors

Community Volunteer
North Florida Board Member since 2017​

Leslie Redding recently retired from a 30-year career as Bookkeeper and Property Manager for Bud Warehouses, Inc. She is actively involved at St. John’s Episcopal Church, regularly volunteering her time to serve at the church’s Lively Café. In recent years, she and her husband Charley Redding also co-chaired St. John’s Stewardship Committee.

While raising their three children, Leslie volunteered at Kate Sullivan, Cobb and Leon’s PTO as well as football, baseball and volleyball booster organizations. She has been affiliated with Boys Town of North Florida since its inception through her mother, June Strauss. Leslie and Charley played a key role in the establishment of Art Town at Boys Town and Leslie has served on the board since 2017. She is also currently chair of the Birthday Buddy program.

Philanthropist
North Florida Board Member since 2019​

Lisa has been an advocate for children as long as she can remember. When first introduced to Boys Town 15 years ago, she knew the organization would always hold an incredibly special place in her heart. An alumnus of University of Central Florida, Lisa began a career with Leon County Public Schools. While her four children, Emily, Stephen, Maggie, and Sam were growing up, she left the classroom to dedicate her time to her kids and any community volunteer opportunity that presented itself - always finding a way to touch the lives of growing minds. Once her children reached school age, Lisa returned to the classroom at Maclay School until 2017, when she made the decision to spend more time with family and focus on philanthropic opportunities supporting children within the community.

Carrying on the legacy of her late father, Jeff Gabor, Lisa understands that every Boys Town child has the potential to reach the stars when given the support they truly deserve.

Philanthropist
North Florida Board Member since 2017​

Sheri Bryan has volunteered for Boys Town of North Florida in many capacities during the last ten years. She was appointed to the Boys Town Board of Directors one year ago. Sheri helped raise over $500,000 when she chaired the 100 Year Anniversary Gala for Boys Town. Sheri graduated from Florida State University with a degree in communications. She has served as Chief Cabinet Aide for Florida’s Commissioner of Education and helped to create the Florida Education Foundation. She also served as Executive Staff Director for the Department of Labor. Sheri has been involved in many charitable organizations including Trinity Catholic School, Young Actors Theater, Children's Homes Society, Boys and Girls Clubs of Florida and the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Foundation.

Attorney, Carr Allison Law Firm
North Florida Board Member since 2013​

Chris Barkas is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Tallahassee, Florida office where his practice focuses primarily on the defense of commercial vehicle claims, employment-related claims, products liability claims and retail/premises liability claims. An AV-rated attorney through Martindale- Hubbell, Chris has practiced law in the North Florida area for more than 20 years and has conducted jury trials in many of the counties in the area. In the early part of his career, Chris was an Assistant State Attorney under Janet Reno in Miami. During this time, he conducted dozens of felony jury trials involving robbery, narcotics, and homicide. Chris is active in professional organizations including USLAW Network, the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA).

Chris is admitted to practice before all courts in Florida, including the United States District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Currently, Chris serves as Treasurer for the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Tallahassee Chapter. He was recently selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 in the area of personal injury litigation.

Director Public Affairs & Government, Walmart
North Florida Board Member since 2016

Monesia Brown is the Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Walmart. She is responsible for advocating on behalf of Walmart and Sam’s Club in Florida. In addition to engaging legislative and executive officials on issues of importance to Walmart, she is also responsible for supporting the company’s growth in communities across the state and directing Walmart Foundation funds.

Monesia joined Walmart after working as an attorney/government consultant focusing in the areas of economic development, state procurement and education. Prior to joining the private sector, she worked for the State of Florida in several capacities including General Counsel to the Department of Management Services, Director of Legislative Affairs and Chief Cabinet Aide to the Attorney General and concluded her public service as the Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, Florida’s labor agency. As a member of the executive branch, her career focused in the areas of legal, policy and management.

Monesia is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and Illinois State University with a degree in English. She is a member of the Florida and Wisconsin Bar Associations. In addition, she is the Chairwoman for the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend, a member of the Board of Directors Maclay School and the Florida History Museum. She is married to Junious Brown, a mother to two children – Jay and Evan. Their family resides in Tallahassee where they have lived since 1999.

Vice President, Merrill Lynch Private Client Group
North Florida Board Member since 2015

Robert “Bobby” Dick joined Merrill Lynch in 1990 and has over 20 years of experience in working with high net worth individuals, including business owners, foundations, and institutions. He is an experienced professional who takes a “hands on” approach to financial guidance as he aims to assist clients with every aspect of their financial lives.

Bobby has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Masters of Business Administration from Barry University in Miami, Florida. Since 2007, he has played a significant role in developing and mentoring Financial Advisors within Merrill Lynch. He also holds the Series 7, 9, 10, 31, 63 and 66 FINRA registrations, as well as Life and Variable Annuity licenses.

He is very active in the Tallahassee community and has volunteered or served on the boards of Boys Town, Leon High School Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest and St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Bobby currently serves as Chair of the Boys Town Nomination Committee. He and his wife Sue, enjoy spending time with their two children, sports and staying active within their church.

Co-Owner, JTKE Strategic Research & Communications
North Florida Board Member since 2016

Gannon Hunt is a native Texan and has lived in the North Florida / South Georgia area for the last 15 years. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University, a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, and graduated from the Brooks School in North Andover, MA.

Gannon Hunt is an experienced interior decorator and accredited staging professional (ASP) who began her career as an intern at Christie’s Auction House in New York in the Contemporary Art Department. In 2013, Gannon launched Hunt and Hunt Interiors. In addition to running her own interior decorating firm, Hunt is a licensed Real Estate agent in the state of Florida and has experience creating and styling homes appealing to a wide range of buyers. She is also the co-owner of JTKE Strategic Research & Communications.

Gannon believes in service to the community and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Boys Town North Florida and volunteers at Maclay School. In her free time, Hunt enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Josh, cheering on her son at the ballpark, listening to live music, and traveling the globe with friends and family.

President-CEO, Ghost Controls, LLC
North Florida Board Member since 2013​

Joe has been in Tallahassee since 1977 when he had the opportunity to red- shirt for the Florida State Seminoles Football Team. He graduated from FSU in 1980 and worked with the Florida Department of Commerce as a business recruiter attracting Fortune 1000 firms to expand to the State of Florida. After seven years, he accepted a position as the President of the Capital Region Economic Development Council and later became the President of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.

For the past 21 years, Joe has been in the Access Control business. In 2015 he decided to improve the market of manufacturing Do-It-Yourself gate openers and founded Ghost Controls LLC. Within the first 15 months of filing the corporation, Ghost Controls designed 15 unique products (18 patents), now 4 1/2 years later Ghost Controls is on track to be the #1 in the category of Do-It-Yourself Gate Openers in the United States. Ghost Controls can also be found in HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Tractor Supply.com and over 900 farm and Feed stores from the east to west coast and Hawaii.

Joe is married to Annie Kelley and has three children, Katelin, Ian and Joey. Joe and Annie are members of Good Shepard Catholic Church and are active supporters of Boys Town of North Florida and Big Bend Hospice. Joe is also a former member of the Boys Town North Florida Board of Directors. He graciously stepped in to resume the remainder of Annie’s 3rd 3-year term when she had to resign in 2019.

Child Advocate
North Florida Board Member since 2015​

Anne Martin has served on the board since 2015 and also previously served as the Birthday Buddies Committee Chair for many years. She and her husband, Greg Martin, have been dedicated long-time supporters of Boys Town.

Anne has served as a volunteer with the Guardian ad Litem program for seven years. In this role, she has enjoyed the unique privilege of advocating for children who reside at Boys Town. She also serves on the Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Advisory Committee and helps train new volunteers. Anne helped design the program and curriculum for the Life Connectors program and has served as a mentor with the program. Anne was an active volunteer at Maclay School, acting as Chairperson of the Maclay Parents Organization for several years. Anne helped form the Local Care Committee at Four Oaks Community Church and spearheads efforts to recruit more volunteers to support foster and adopted children and the families who care for them.

​ In her professional life, Anne has enjoyed a career in management consulting and project management in many cities and industries around the country. Currently, Anne owns and operates two rental property businesses. Anne and her husband have resided in Tallahassee since 1999 and have raised two children and a few dogs while enjoying life in the sunshine state.

Attorney, McBurrows Law, PLLC
North Florida Board Member since 2020​

Derrick J. McBurrows is the owner of McBurrows Law, PLLC where he practices family, civil, criminal, and business law.

He is passionate about serving the needs of his community and providing resources to those in need. Growing up without the presence of his biological father, Derrick is uniquely positioned as a resource who can relate to the youth of Boys Town North Florida.

Apt to serve, Derrick volunteers on the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Advisory Board, as well as Tallahassee Barristers. He was also awarded Participant of the Year as a graduating member of the Tallahassee Thunderdome Class 6.

Derrick is also the proud father of his thirteen-year-old daughter, Ava.

Sheriff, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
North Florida Board Member since 2017​

Walter A. “Walt” McNeil was elected Sheriff of Leon County in November 2016. In his distinguished 35-year career as a public servant, Sheriff McNeil has led the fight against crime in Tallahassee, has been tapped to lead two state agencies under former Gov. Charlie Crist, and has advised the Obama White House, and other governments around the globe, on law enforcement strategies and tactics.

For 10 years at the helm of the Tallahassee Police Department, then Chief McNeil was recognized for his progressive voice and his effective response to citizen concerns. His community policing efforts to control gangs, drugs and juvenile crime earned him numerous honors, including the Tallahassee NAACP Humanitarian Award, Public Sector Business Person of the Year and the United States DEA Award.

At the same time, he's been a good neighbor - giving his time and talents to organizations that make a difference in our lives. He has chaired the Heart Walk for the county chapter of the American Heart Association, been honorary co-chair of Leon's March of Dimes Walk America campaign, and served on the boards of the local Boys Town, Chamber of Commerce and Refuge House. The Sheriff and his family are active members of New Mount Zion AME Church.

Director of Operations & Administration, Florida State University Alumni Association
North Florida Board Member since 2020​

During the past 13 years as an educator, Marcus Nicolas has served as a teacher at Amos P. Godby High School, assistant professor and associate dean at Tallahassee Community College, and currently serves as the Director of Operations and Administration for the FSU Alumni Association.

After earning his undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University, Marcus moved to Tallahassee to pursue his first of two graduate degrees from Florida State University Film School. Like so many others, Marcus found the Tallahassee charm so endearing, that he decided to make Florida’s capital city his permanent home.

Along the way, Marcus has served as a board member for several community organizations including the Ernie Sims BIG HITS Foundation, the Southern Shakespeare Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Leon County Schools Foundation. Moreover, Marcus founded ASPIRE Capital Region, a collective impact effort that convenes stakeholder groups around post-secondary education for underserved populations.

While his professional life is rewarding, Marcus mostly enjoys spending time with his wife, 11-year-old son, and 9-year-old daughter.

Strategic Initiatives Lead, Truist
North Florida Board Member since 2020​

Abby Pichard was born in Columbus, GA, and spent her childhood throughout the Southeastern United States. Upon graduation from Clemson University, Abby relocated to Tallahassee, FL, to serve as Membership Director for the University Center Club at Florida State University. Upon learning about the Boys Town mission, Abby felt immediately drawn to the cause and began her support of children and families through Boys Town North Florida, where she also volunteers as a Birthday Buddy.

After exceeding expectations in her role at University Center Club, Abby was hired by American Express to lead Commercial Cards sales in the Florida Panhandle and South Georgia. After 10 successful years with American Express, Abby accepted a position with Truist (formerly Sun Trust) where she currently leads Strategic Commercial Card Initiatives.

Abby enjoys spending time with her husband Will and their daughters, Lilly and Camden. She is also involved in the Horse Show jumping community and serves on the board of the Southern Hunter Jumper Associate (SHJA).

Attorney, DBPR Office of General Counsel
North Florida Board Member since 2019​

Ryan Sandy is an attorney with the State of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation. His college career started at Central Florida Community College, then moved on to Florida Southern College before earning a master’s degree in international politics from American University, which led him to obtain his law degree from Florida State University.

He and his wife Sara, daughter of Chair Elect Leslie Redding, are following in the family’s footsteps of supporting Boys Town North Florida. Ryan’s support began through attending fundraising events, and volunteering in the Birthday Buddy program. Over the last few years, Ryan’s dedication has led him to support Boys Town on a larger scale by joining the Board of Directors in 2019.

​In his spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah and their son, Flynn.