President & CEO

Mike Dobbs

Mike joined the camp team in March, 2016 and is responsible for strategy, development, and leadership. He has over 25 years of leadership experience with companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 and has a broad background in marketing, sales, development, operations, real estate, architecture, construction and general management. He has also enjoyed board and committee roles in working with non-profits such as Skyland Trail, The Westminster Schools, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Zoo Atlanta and Young Life. His passion is in transforming visions into reality and serving others.

Mike has lived in Atlanta for over 30 years, is married to Jenifer and has a son who works in Atlanta as an investment banker and a daughter who is studying interior design at the University of Georgia. He grew up in Mobile, Alabama and holds degrees from Auburn University in both Architecture and Building Science.

CFO, COO

Drake Bivins

Drake joined Camp Southern Ground in early 2012 and is responsible for accounting and finance, operations, human resources and information technology. He brings over 28 years of business experience to Camp Southern Ground. With expertise in areas such as real estate business management, retail management, construction, and professional management, he is proficient in financial planning, budgeting and operations.

Drake earned his B.B.A. in Finance from Mercer University and his M.B.A in Management from Georgia State University. Following graduate school, Drake began his career in management with a national retailer, and later moved into real estate. He began in the commercial real estate market representing Class-A office tenants in Atlanta, rising to managing broker for a national franchised company where he and his partners expanded into the construction arena.

Drake is married and has three children. He lives in Senoia, Georgia and is a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Chief Development & Strategy Officer

Megan S. King

Megan joined Camp Southern Ground in December 2019 as Director of Development, Corporate, Cause and Events and was promoted to Chief Development Officer in April 2021. Prior to joining the team, she served as the Chief Advancement Officer for Team Red, White & Blue, a national veterans service organization. Previously, Megan led the formation of the Oakland Raiders Foundation and led Sponsorship and Resource Development teams for several national non-profits including National 4-H Council, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Susan G. Komen. Prior to her move to the non-profit space, she held leadership roles with Bank of America’s Global Sponsorship Marketing and Global Media teams.

Megan graduated from the University of Notre Dame where she was a member of NROTC and the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team. Upon graduation she was commissioned as a naval officer and served with a Beachmaster Unit, the Naval Networks and Space Operations Command and on a joint forces tour with the US Central Command. Upon leaving active duty, she earned her Master of Business Administration from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. She resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband, a USN veteran, and #twinmafia, Lael and Cade. Megan enjoys running, the outdoors, wine and all Notre Dame athletics.

Chief Program & Culture Officer

Matty Cook

Matthew joined the team in the fall of 2022 and is responsible for continuing to bring the CSG mission and magic to life in all aspects of the programming. Matthew leads the Camp Team in the design and facilitation of a joy-filled and deeply impactful week of adventure, self-discovery, friendship, and a true sense of belonging. He also works to support the overall safety and well-being of the Summer Camp and year-round programs.

Matthew has facilitated, designed, and implemented highly innovative and impactful programs for veterans, children with serious medical conditions, and typically developing teens and young adults dealing with specific life challenges for over 30 years. At the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center (AZ), Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp (CT), Teton Valley Ranch Camp (WY), Sanborn Western Camps (CO), and Camp Korey (WA), he learned from great leaders and has cultivated a servant heart and leadership style. As a thought leader in the Camp industry, he has presented and taught on topics ranging from Mental Health First Aid to backcountry risk management, from behavior development in a residential camp program to adventure-based counseling with seriously ill teens.

The through-line in Matthew’s career is his passion for helping people find what he calls the two most important building blocks of a meaningful life, connection and contribution. Helping others discover their worthiness, and creating the setting conditions for a community of belonging is what he strives for every day.

Joining us most recently from Seattle, WA, Matthew, his wife Marcia, and their three adventurous teens love spending time in the natural world!

Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Jake Dukes

Jake joined the Camp Southern Ground team in March of 2018. He is a leadership coach, speaker and author who served for many years on executive teams of large churches focused on developing staff and overseeing campus operations. Now he uses his unique blend of business and ministry experience to develop future strategy for Camp Southern Ground and help facilitate a strong leadership culture among the staff. Jake brings his passion to every project and he’s not afraid to help teams break free from the rules they’ve inherited and push past the status quo. Jake lives in Senoia with his wife Jackie and four daughters.

Director of Development, Foundations

Kimberly Walther

Kimberly joined the Camp Southern Ground Team in April 2021 as the Director of Development, Foundations. With over 25 years experience in the non-profit management and fundraising industry, she has a deep passion for making a difference and is excited to bring her experience as an active advocate for inclusion outreach and programming to our team.

Development Manager

Ashley David

Ashley joined Camp Southern Ground in October 2024 as Development Manager. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit development and events, she previously worked at Skyland Trail, an Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on holistic mental health treatment. In her role there, she was responsible for leading fundraising efforts and organizing event initiatives, while also cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with individual and corporate sponsors. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Ashley gained experience in business development for law firms in both Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. She played a key role in managing client relationships, coordinating seminars and speaking engagements, and organizing community outreach programs and high-profile client events.

Originally from south central Kentucky, Ashley graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. After living in Atlanta for over two decades, she now resides in Fayetteville, GA with her husband and two sons. Ashley loves outdoor activities and completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail with her husband in 2018.

Development Assistant

Lisa Caprio

With an extensive background in customer service and administrative roles, Lisa joined Camp Southern Ground as Development Administrative Assistant in September 2017. She is responsible for maintaining the donor database and gift processing and acknowledgement, as well as fundraiser and special event support.

Lisa is married with a daughter and resides in Newnan, Georgia. She is passionate about sports, the beach and anything that makes her laugh.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Kristin Dabson

Kristin joined the Camp Southern Ground team in May 2019. Beginning her career journey as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at Emory’s Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Kristin then spent more than 15 years in Marketing and Communications at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. An Army brat and University of Florida graduate, Kristin brings to the team a passion for people, design, and creative writing. Outside of work, she can be found enjoying life in Smyrna, Georgia with her husband and two kids.

Administrative & Human Resources Coordinator

Desiree Morris

Desiree joined the camp team in December 2011. Her responsibilities include payroll and human resources processing, communications, donor gift acknowledgement and recognition, office management and support, volunteer coordination, and camp and fundraiser event support. With a background in business and creative writing, Desiree possesses extensive knowledge and experience in corporate communications. She brings to the team superior customer service skills and a dedication to community service. In her career of over 20 years at Delta Air Lines, Desiree supported corporate policy while representing the company in strategic communications resulting in customer retention as well as customer recognition. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism/Public Relations from Georgia State University.

Desiree has a genuine passion for the mission of Camp Southern Ground and the people it serves. She is active in her community, and spends her time traveling, enjoying sports, and spending time with family and friends.

Director of Events/Hospitality

Jessica Kilgallen

Jessica joined the Camp Southern Ground team in September 2016. Her responsibilities include event sales, event management, retreat sales and corporate hospitality. She has over 17 years of event expertise from her career at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, where she was responsible for organizing high-profile sporting events each year to benefit the Aflac Cancer Center at Children’s. She has experience in managing event committees, volunteers, vendor negotiation, and event logistics and was responsible for building and maintaining relationships with professional athletes and professional teams. She has a passion and strength for organization, details, customer service, and relationship management.

Jessica graduated from The University of Georgia with a degree in Consumer Journalism and lives in Senoia with her husband, Matt, and two daughters, Reese and Ally. She is active in and leads committees in her neighborhood and community.

Director of Safety, Health, and Security

Jason Trotter

Jason joined the Camp Southern Ground team in 2015. He has a diverse background in landscape architecture, construction, management, safety, and EMS. With a Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia, Jason brings over 20 years of landscape design and management to the camp. Jason joined the fire service and served the local community for almost 13 years as a firefighter. He holds over 20 certifications in fields from high angle rescue to emergency medicine. He further expanded into the safety industry with a Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health in 2015 where he focused on construction safety.

Jason and his wife Sarah live in Newnan and have two children. They enjoy volunteering their time at Camp Southern Ground.

Assistant to the CFO/COO

Christina Stokes

Chris joined the Camp Southern Ground team in January 2018 as Assistant to the CFO/COO. Her experience includes receivables, payables, report creation, reconciliation, and other principal accounting duties. At Camp, Chris is responsible for day-to-day accounting activities, monthly account reconciliation, and preparing packages for senior management approval. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. Chris is a resident of Coweta County and is married to Jeremy and has three children, Jacob, Ruby, and Ellee.

Receptionist

Stephanie Allen

Stephanie joined the Camp Southern Ground family in June of 2019 as “Director of 1st Impressions” bringing her welcoming voice at the entrance gate and her warm smile in the Camp Office for all who visit or call.

She maintains the camp office, supports staff with various duties, and welcomes visitors. She has 35 years of hospitality, customer service, and sales. In Florida, she was a floral designer and store manager in the largest floral shop in Palm Beach County, front desk clerk and Concierge Manager at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott where the Atlanta Braves would reside during Spring Training. After graduating college she was a Cost Accountant at an airplane parts distributor at the Fort Lauderdale Airport.

Stephanie moved to Fayette County, GA in 2000 and soon after obtained her real estate license which she keeps current since 2005. While helping with Locations for TV/Film in 2012, her creative side took over and has worked on over 100 productions and became a member of S.A.G. as an actress and joined the I.A.S.T.S.E. Local Union 479 and served as Key Craft Service for talent and crew. Within this time also worked as Manager and Programmer of 2-way radios rentals for events and TV/Film Production. Deciding to step away from TV/Film she gravitated back to the Real Estate world and worked as Assistant Director of First Impressions at one of the most prominent Closing Attorney office in South Metro Atlanta.

Following that she wanted to share in Camp Southern Ground’s passion and vision to serve our nation’s veterans and children.

Security Guard

Mark Pharris

Mark officially joined Camp Southern Ground October 2022 but was previously contracted with Camp through Zac Brown Collective for 10 years. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark’s family relocated to Alabama where in his school years he got a taste for what would be his career. He co-created the local Junior Firefighter and Auxiliary Police Officer pilot program, while participating and recruiting. After graduating he moved to Georgia and began his successful career in Safety and Security. His career spans over 35 years which includes:

Safety and Security for multiple Hotels, Condos, Office Buildings, Commercial Properties, Hospitality Events, TV/Film, Live Entertainment such as Zac Brown Band and LiveNation, and Assistant Director of Safety and Security for Special Events at Atlantic Station.

During the 1996 Olympics, he supervised over 20+ Security Officers while working closely with Local Law Enforcement Agencies, the Secret Service and the GBI.

In 2003, he worked with and traveled extensively domestically and internationally with all the U.S. Women’s, Men’s, and Youth National Soccer Teams. He is highly esteemed internationally due to all of the collaborations needed with multiple cultures, embassies, and local law enforcement in China, Japan, Guatemala, Honduras, Portugal, Italy, England, Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Thailand and more. With all of this, he was honored with 3 World Cup Gold Medals and many other accolades during tenure.

Assistant Camp Director

Hope Blaszczynski

Hope first joined the Camp Southern Ground family in summer of 2019 as a summer staff member and joined the team full time in 2020. Hope has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Auburn University, and many years of experience serving children of diverse ages and backgrounds. As Assistant Camp Director, Program Hope’s main responsibility is planning, scheduling, and executing the summer camp program and all the activities that includes. She brings with her great passion for the populations Camp Southern Ground serves and the opportunity camp presents to impact campers.

In her free time, Hope enjoys playing games, being outside, and is very involved at her local church.

Assistant Camp Director, Cabin Life

Brooke Benson

Brooke joined the team in the spring of 2023 and is responsible for overseeing cabin life operations for the Summer Camp Program. She began working in the summer camp industry in 2011 and has worked at residential camps across the country in a variety of roles. She has a strong background in program development and challenge course management. While working for the YMCA, Brooke designed programs in partnership with Abilities Unlimited HI, the US Navy, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources. She grew up in Boca Raton, FL and holds a B.A. Degree from Colorado State University. Brooke is a passionate surfer and environmentalist.

Admissions and Inclusion Manager

Melissa Zehe

Melissa first joined the Camp Southern Ground team in 2018 as a summer staff member and joined the full-time team in May 2023. Melissa has a B.S. in Early Childhood Special Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). As a former public school teacher, Melissa has over 9 years experience working and serving the neurodiverse population. As Admission and Inclusion Manager, Melissa’s responsibilities include recruiting and evaluating all camper applications as well as overseeing all aspects of the inclusion program. Melissa is originally from Cleveland, Ohio but has spent the last nine years living in Culpeper County, VA. She is very excited about Atlanta exploring all that it has to offer.

Director of Veteran Programs

Jennifer Selke

Dr. Jennifer Selke is a UC Berkeley-trained psychologist and strengths expert helping veterans and individuals maximize their strengths to reach a goal, solve a problem, get direction, and figure out life. In 2018 she started her journey with Camp Southern Ground to bring her expertise in strengths and program development to support veteran’s transition to civilian life and enhance post-traumatic growth.

Jennifer brings a diverse experience to Camp Southern Ground having been at the University of California at Berkeley since 1994. She ran a large summer day camp on campus that served about 2000 campers each summer. Over her tenure, camp doubled in size, she created a nationally recognized skateboard program, and developed a social skills inclusion program for youth and teens. Dr. Selke also served on the faculty in the Graduate School of Education in the School Psychology Doctoral Program and she is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach.

Wellbeing Director, Veteran Programs

Lacy Gunnoe

Lacy joined the team in spring of 2023 as the Veterans Programs Director of Wellbeing. He is a transitioning Air Force Officer with over 22 years of service and most recently served as the Inspector General for the 117 ARW, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, AL. Lacy has served as an Assistant Professor, an Operations Officer, and a Recruiting Officer for Samford University’s AFROTC program. He is a former 106^th Chief of Operations Group Standardization and Evaluations, Assistant Director of Operations, Evaluator/Instructor Pilot, and Command Pilot with more than 4,200 hours in the T-37, T-1, KC-135R, and T-6 aircraft. He has flown combat missions in operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel. Lacy attended the inaugural Warrior Week veteran program in 2018 as cadre, returned as a guest speaker, and has had a heart for Camp Southern Ground’s mission ever since. He is grateful to return to serve with his wife Kaleigh and their son, Rowan.

Program Manager, Warrior Week

Megan Murphy

After experiencing incredible life-altering changes in her family through the work at Camp Southern Ground, Megan joined the team in March of 2021. She brings with her a deep passion for this nation’s military veterans, with over a decade of supporting and mentoring both active duty and veterans on their journeys. She is responsible for the management of logistics for our signature 12-month veteran transition and wellbeing program, Warrior Week.

As the mother of five children, Megan adores any quiet time she can carve out alongside her fountain pens, journals, and a hot cup of coffee. Married to a retired Marine, she and her family enjoy the golf cart lifestyle of Peachtree City, Georgia, usually in pursuit of wildlife sightings.

Assistant Program Manager, Warrior PATHH

Kyle Butcher

Kyle Butcher is a combat veteran injured in the line of duty in Iraq as an Army Airborne Ranger. Kyle is a Warrior PATHH Guide and Program Coordinator for the Warrior PATHH program at Camp Southern Ground. Warrior PATHH is the nation’s first non-clinical program to cultivate and facilitate post-traumatic growth among post-9/11 active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders with combat trauma.

Kyle served in the Army as a member of the 3rd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, where he was trained as a Saw Gunner (Squad Automatic Rifleman) and Infantryman. He was in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 2003-2004 and then Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 2004. Kyle was wounded in action in Mosul, Iraq, in November 2004 and was awarded the Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medals.

After transitioning out of the service, Kyle began working as a Landman in 2006 in the oil and gas industry in the Dallas/Fortworth Area. He navigated the complexities of land acquisition and leasing, ensuring successful oil and gas exploration ventures while fostering positive relationships with landowners and stakeholders. In 2015 Kyle moved back to Georgia, where he was born and raised, and took a job as a freight broker, negotiating contracts and connecting shippers and carriers to optimize complicated logistics and facilitate the delivery of goods.

In January 2023, Kyle participated in Warrior PATHH, which had a profound impact on both his life and his family’s well-being, inspiring him to dedicate himself to bringing this transformative program to as many veterans as possible. In May 2023, he joined the PATHH team at Camp Southern Ground full-time.

Kyle lives in Brooks, GA, with his wife Kaley, who was named Fayette County’s Realtor of The Year. They have two daughters, ages 10 and 5, and enjoy fishing, hunting, and anything outdoors.

Warrior Wellbeing Manager

Brandon Healy

Brandon joined Camp Southern Ground in 2024 as the Warrior Well-Being Manager, bringing deep experience within the Veteran Service Organization (VSO) space and managing multiple programs that support the veteran community in various crises. A former U.S. Army service member, Brandon was medically retired in 2015 after over six years of service. He initially pursued a career in Information Technology before transitioning to veteran advocacy in 2020, driven by a passion for reconnecting with the veteran community. Brandon is a Young Leaders Council Alumni and has served on the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services’ Homeless and Food Insecurity committee. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking and playing hockey.

“Joining Camp Southern Ground is a dream come true, and I’m excited to work alongside the team to build a brighter future for our veterans.”

Executive Chef, Culinary Team

Collins Woods

Chef Collins Woods is the executive chef of Camp Southern Ground. He is a graduate of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) and studied culinary arts at Johnson + Wales – Charlotte.

Collins served as personal chef to the Brown family for seven years and has spent the last three years heading up the cuisine for Camp Southern Ground. His culinary style infuses his southern roots with a wide scope of ability. Currently Woods is focused on a holistic, anti-inflammatory lifestyle and his recipes reflect as such.

If Woods had a dinner party he would prepare…great conversation! More than whipping up his favorite meal, he loves to bring people together. For him that means cooking up a storm and gathering friends and family around the dinner table for good old fashioned quality time together.

Food Service Director

Promise Farnsworth

Promise joined the Camp Southern Ground team in 2022, bringing with her 20 years of diverse experience in food service: everything from bussing tables to managing large teams of over 30 people, from catering big events to tailored meal service for private schools and camps. Originally from Colorado, Promise discovered her love of the culinary arts at a young age through baking: creating homemade treats for her sisters, friends, and neighbors. She then went on to work in various restaurants, learning all aspects of what it takes to create the gourmet experience for clients.

Since leaving the Rocky mountains she has spent the last 15 years in the South, giving her experience with a wide range and diversity of food cultures. Her adventures in the South began in Alabama, where she worked with her sisters to start up an inclusive children’s theatre company, as well as submerging herself in the delights of Southern food through her chef work there.

Now well established on the food scene in Georgia, Promise continues working with children in a number of ways: through music, in choir and band, as well as theater, and as always, at camp. Summer camp has always been one of her favorite places since she was a kid, and she’s delighted to now be a part of the Camp Southern Ground team. In addition to music & kids, Promise loves to feed people more than anything. She lives with her entire family right here in Fayetteville – three generations under one roof! – and spends her free time cooking at home, working with kids in the community, and visiting tiny houses up in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Chef de Cuisine, Culinary Team

Chris Hudson

Chris Joined the camp team in 2018 and brings with her over 18 years’ experience in the food Industry, from management to co-owner/operator of a restaurant in Henry County, Ga. She is especially passionate about baking and the labor of love that comes with it.

Chris lives in Hampton, Ga with her husband Scott where they have owned a Produce Company for over 25 years, they have 2 daughters Celia and Maggie and a granddaughter, Leia. She loves to spend time with family and friends, travel to new places, try new foods, and go on adventures.

Sous Chef, Culinary Team

Cherita Cunningham

Cherita joined the Camp Southern Ground staff as a member of the culinary team in May of 2018. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. After graduation she moved to volunteer with a non-profit she connected with in college, which led her to Georgia, and eventually led her to Camp Southern Ground.

It was in her grandma’s kitchen that she learned the joy of serving others by serving a meal. She learned that no matter what dish you make, every meal should be filled with love, so that it doesn’t just nourish the body, but the soul.

These lessons are at the heart of how Cherita approaches serving participants at Camp Southern Ground. Whether it is a summer camp student, a veteran, or someone attending an event, it’s important to Cherita that people feel cared for. No allergy or food preference is an inconvenience, but rather an opportunity to ensure people that CSG is committed to serving the whole individual and that includes their food needs.

In her free time, Cherita loves enjoying the arts (music, theatre, movies, and more), spending time with her friends, watching sports, and All Things Charcuterie!

Facilities Manager

Michael V. Jackson

Michael joined Camp Southern Ground in February 2023, and brings extensive knowledge of HVAC, commercial refrigeration and building automation systems. He holds national certifications in boiler repair and holds a 4^th Class Engineer’s license from the Georgia State Association of Power Engineers. Previously, Michael was the Commercial Refrigeration Lead at Four Seasons Environmental, assigned to the Centers for Disease Control. Also, he operated his own business providing residential HVAC and refrigeration services, and maintained heating, ventilation and refrigeration apparatus at Georgia Institute of Technology. Michael earned an associate degree in HVAC and an associate degree in commercial refrigeration from Georgia Piedmont Technical College, where he is now an adjunct lecturer in building automation systems.

Crew Leader

Rick Recchio

Rick joined Camp Southern Ground in October of 2021 as a Crew Leader on the Grounds Team. He was previously employed by the City of Peachtree City as a Grounds Leader for 7 years. A native of Western, New York, Rick developed his passion for landscaping and gardening at age 10 when he began helping his grandfather.

Rick and his wife Shannon live in Sharpsburg and have three daughters, Marissa, Bobbi and Rylee, who is a high school senior in the delayed deployment for the Marine Corp. They enjoy trips to Biloxi and beautifying their own yard.