Drew graduated from Pepperell High School in 1997. He is married to Dawn Cole Taylor and has 2 sons Tyler & Drake. He enjoys sports and spending time with friends and family in his free time. Drew found a passion for helping adults with disabilities through volunteering with Skills for Life and working part-time at… Continue Reading Drew Taylor, Executive Director
A native of Rome. Graduated East Rome High 1967. Georgia Institute of Technology, Textile Management 1971. Served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Married to Suzanne Barnett Schroeder and father to Three Children Christian, Cory, Caleigh. Served on Board of Directors of Parent to Parent of Ga. including terms as Treasurer and President. Served… Continue Reading Charlie Schroeder, President & Treasurer
Barbara is a mother of two sons with speech/language problems. Due to their disabilities, Barbara returned to school and earned her degree in Speech-Language Pathology and CCC. She worked in the field for 25 years serving students in a variety of school-based settings. Her one son, Tom, cannot live independently and she is concerned about… Continue Reading Barbara Monday, VP & Activities Director
Pat is a local genealogist and cemeterian. She has been researching her and her late husband’s families for over 35 years. She is a member of the DAR and UDC. Pat is the widow of Ronald Millican, to whom she was married for 31 years. They are the parents of Justin & Patrick Millican. Her… Continue Reading Pat Millican, Secretary
Jean is a retired teacher of 32 years from Pepperell High School. She is married to a wonderful husband of 43 years with two wonderful sons and a grandson. Jean has served with Habitat for Humanity during the years 1988-90. She has also served in many other areas in her community including a co-president of… Continue Reading Jean Battle (founding)
Linda was raised in South Carolina. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Psychology. She’s married to her husband CQ Blackwell and they have three lovely daughters. Their oldest daughter has a developmental disability. It was discovered when she was 7 months old that she had bilateral schizencephaly, which meant… Continue Reading Linda Floyd Blackwell (founding)
John Fricks is a dedicated educator and director with Rome City Schools, bringing over a decade of experience in the field of education. Originally from Fyffe, AL, he pursued his passion for teaching after graduating from Shorter University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, specializing in Secondary Mathematics and holding a minor in… Continue Reading John Frick (board)
Linda is a founding member of DIGS. She has worked in the field of Special Education for 32 years. Eighteen of those years were in Floyd County as a special education teacher and administrator. She is currently working for the Georgia Department of Education. Linda and her husband Carlos have been married for 33 years… Continue Reading Linda Castellanos (founding)
Harley Gambrell was born, raised, and continues to reside in Silver Creek, Georgia with his wife and three children. His educational history includes Pepperell High School, Floyd College, and Berry College and he is nearing the completion of his master’s degree at Harvard University. Harley has been involved in multiple businesses within the Rome /… Continue Reading Harley Gambrell (board)
Dan Gitomer retired in 2020 after almost 25 years at Duke University. Dan held various roles in I.T. with the Health System and the Law School. Previously, he was the Lighting Director and Network Administrator for the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Pennsylvania for 10 years, and a touring Production Stage… Continue Reading Dan Gitomer (board)
Laura is a DIGS, Inc. founding member. She has had a variety of interesting occupations to include small business owners, bridal consultants, and activity directors for assisted living. Laura has been active with DIGS because of her grandson Justin. She is glad he has activities to do and is hopeful he will one day have… Continue Reading Laura Harrison (founding)
Julian Mark “Pop” Harrison is a retired U. S. Navy veteran. Mark or “Pop” as he is known in the community as president of Harrison & Sons dba as Happy Day Chrysler-Plymouth, Coosa Motor Co. dba National Car Rentals, and Julian Harrison Finance. He also presided as Vice President of Julian Harrison Ford. Pop is… Continue Reading Mark (“Pop”) Harrison (founding)
Joy is a life-long resident of Floyd County. She worked as a nurse for 36 years and was the director of Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd Hospital. Joy also contributes her time in the community as volunteer for America Cancer Society and on the Board of Directors of Network day Services, Inc. She has 2 daughters,… Continue Reading Joy Wyatt Jones (founding)
Mary relocated to Floyd County when her daughter, Katie, became a student at the Georgia School for the Deaf. She spent two years teaching at GSD before accepting a position as a Pre-K Special Education teacher with Floyd County Schools. After more than three decades of teaching and supporting children with diverse learning needs, Mary… Continue Reading Mary Sheppard Kimbrough (board)
Tracey is a 1994 graduate of Pepperell High School. She attended the University of North Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1998. She continued her education at the University of West Georgia, where she earned a Master of Education in Speech-Language Pathology in 2002. Likewise, she also earned her Education… Continue Reading Tracey Koehler (board)
Kimberly has been involved in special education for some 19+ years. Because of her own daughter’s life journey of living with deaf autism, Kimberly has stepped up to become an activist for deaf and hard of hearing citizens and other individuals living with developmental disabilities. Because of her strong will in making a difference in… Continue Reading Kimberly McGuiness (founder | web content | board)
Kelly is a native of Chattooga County and graduated from Tron High School in 1995. She graduated from Shorter College with her BSBA. She also graduated from GNTC as a Master Cosmetologist. She is a classically trained pianist and also studied piano while at Shorter. Kelly loves all things hair and makeup, crafting, shopping, and… Continue Reading Kelly McDowell (board)
I graduated from Lake Forest College in 2019 after 4 years of playing basketball and studying business and entrepreneurship, with a focus in marketing. My experience working with adults with autism began when my basketball team at Lake Forest volunteered for the annual Special Olympics our school hosted. After graduation, I moved to Atlanta and… Continue Reading Hannah Oday (board)
Mary was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Atlanta Public schools and Graduated from Reinhardt Junior College with an AA degree in 1974. Mary is married to S. Stephen Patton. Mary’s past experience has been working with the Cerebral Palsy Center, which is now known as Network Day Services and has managed an in-home daycare… Continue Reading Mary Patton (board)
Lamar was born and raised in Plains, GA. In 1969, he moved to Rome with his wife, Barbara, and their five children. He helped in the construction of many power plants in GA, TN, and Alabama and was a member of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 766 of Rome, now local 72 of Atlanta. He… Continue Reading Lamar Paul (founding)
Josh Salas, a native of Woodstock, GA, holds degrees in Music and Psychology from Kennesaw State University. He is currently a Senior HRIS Analyst at Advocate Health and has dedicated 15 years to the healthcare industry, working in various roles including direct patient care, Information Services, Planning, and HR administration. He currently resides in Rome… Continue Reading Josh Salas (board)
Suzanne retired from Delta Air Lines after working for more than 32 years as a flight attendant. She is married to Charlie Schroeder and they have three children Christian, Cory, and Caleigh and three grandchildren.
Laurie Steber has a degree in Psychology from the University of the South. She was a bed and breakfast owner before finding her passion for Senior Living 25 years ago. Laurie and her husband, Dan Gitomer, moved to Rome in October 2019 for the construction phase of The Spires at Berry College, where Laurie is… Continue Reading Laurie Steber (board)
Mary is a retired school administrator. She was a special education teacher before becoming an administrator. Mary became involved with DIGS because of her sweet son, Noah. She had no idea of all the blessings she and Noah would receive from being part of the DIGS family. As Mary and Noah constantly participate in fundraising… Continue Reading Mary Williams (founding)
A Cartersville native, a graduate of Woodland High School in 2015, and a graduate of Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School. She was a part of the Rome Braves Brigade starting in 2015. Working there, along with the Challenger Brigade team, is where her passion for serving the community began. She enjoys her career, spending time with… Continue Reading Marie Wilson (board)