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ABOUT SGNN
HISTORY.
SGNN was formed in 2018 to provide professional development opportunities for leaders of nonprofit organizations serving South Georgia.
In September of that year, more than 100 nonprofit managers and staff attended SGNN's inaugural Nonprofit Leadership Conference at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA. This unique training event focused on the best practices for strategic planning and the engagement of volunteers and donors across all generations.
Sponsoring partners included the Harley Langdale, Jr. Foundation, Mauldin & Jenkins LLC, McLane Funeral and Cremation Services, Valdosta State University Office of Student Affairs, and the Greater Valdosta United Way.
MISSION.
We provide vital resources to South Georgia nonprofits so they can thrive and transform their communities forever.
Our Mission Will Be Accomplished By:
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Increasing awareness of what other community nonprofits are doing.
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Identifying and providing training and information.
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Identifying areas of expertise in the non-profit community.
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Identifying gaps and overlaps in services to help us work more effectively as individuals and communities.
WHO WE ARE
SGNN Board members are volunteers from nonprofits here in Southeast Georgia.
They meet four times annually to give governance to the organization.
SGNN is always looking for interested leaders willing to serve. Willing to serve? Let us know!
2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Oaks
Board Chair
Through the Bethlehem International School Foundation David Oaks leads the mission to raise up the next generation of leadership in the Middle East. He also is a nonprofit/fundraising coach at his own firm, WorldStage Development where the vision is to release the most generous generation in the history of the world. He and his wife Anne live in Thomasville, Georgia.
Kristoff Cohran
Board Member
As a kid, he faced insurmountable odds. He should be a statistic but he never stopped dreaming of giving other kids like him a helping hand. Morbidly shy, and born on the wrong side of the tracks, Kristoff secretly believed he could overcome. And as he began to overcome, he began to dream of helping others to do the same.
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Today, he is establishing a psychiatry residency program at Colquitt Regional Medical Center to help alleviate the shortage of mental health professionals in South Georgia.
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He has also founded his own nonprofit, Mission 3E where marginalized kids like himself get elevated in school, life, and career.
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Jodie Snow
Board Member
The multiple scholarship opportunities at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College convinced Jodie Snow that it was her school. After graduating from ABAC, UGA, Stetson College of Law, and Stetson University, she became a practicing attorney. “But I never forgot what ABAC did for me. I achieved my dreams because of the scholarships I received.” That gratitude led her to accept the role of Chief Operating Officer of the ABAC Foundation, where she works to give others the gift given to her.
Rebecca Cannady
Eva Freeman
Secretary/Treasurer
Eva Freeman loves learning about the different nonprofit organizations in the South Georgia Area. Her job as office manager and administrative assistant at the Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation gives her that opportunity. She especially loves being an active part of the foundation that supports these organizations and their mission. She and her husband Jef live in Valdosta, Georgia.
Laura Maxwell
Board Member
Laura Maxwell's journey began as a middle school teacher, where she witnessed firsthand the challenges many students faced at home - from food insecurity to lack of proper clothing. This experience led her to found Called to Care in 2013, initially operating from a church in Tifton, Georgia. Under her leadership, Called to Care has grown into a vital nonprofit organization serving twenty-two counties across South Georgia, providing essential support to families in need through clothing donations, housing assistance, healthcare access, and employment resources. Laura's background in education combined with her passion for helping children makes her a valuable asset to SGNN's mission of strengthening our nonprofit community.
Michael Smith
Board Member
Michael Smith serves on the South Georgia Nonprofit Network Board, bringing his deep roots and commitment to the region as President & CEO of the Greater Valdosta United Way. A proud graduate of Valdosta High School and Valdosta State University, where he excelled in both basketball and baseball, Michael's connection to the community runs deep.
His vision for South Georgia extends beyond his professional role, as he works tirelessly to create opportunities that will allow future generations to thrive locally. "I believe that if the community can come together to help address any areas of need, we can achieve great things," Michael says, embodying the collaborative spirit that drives SGNN's mission. His expertise in nonprofit leadership and passionate advocacy for mental health awareness makes him a valuable asset to our organization's commitment to strengthening South Georgia's nonprofit sector.
Board Member
Rebecca Cannady serves on the South Georgia Nonprofit Network Board, bringing over two decades of nonprofit leadership experience as the Executive Director of United Way Thomas County.
Her journey in community service, shaped by her mother's example as one of Georgia's pioneering female State Farm agents, has deep roots in Thomasville. Rebecca's professional path through DFCS and the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce prepared her for her current role, where she oversees 18 partner agencies providing vital services from shelter and daycare to disaster relief. "What's great about my role today with United Way is I get to help people with shelter, daycare, school programs, safe environments for the abused, training programs for the disabled as well as disaster relief," Rebecca shares, demonstrating the comprehensive impact of her work. Her 21-year tenure at United Way Thomas County and dedication to SGNN's mission reflects her lifelong commitment to strengthening South Georgia's communities through collaborative nonprofit leadership.