Board Biographies
Officers
Scott Cleaveland, Chair of the Board, is an active advocate through Citizens Advocacy. He directs urbanFIX, a non-profit advocating for safe housing and accessibility. He has served in professional lay leadership in the United Methodist Church focused on congregational development for 25 years. He is very active in the civic life of the community. Scott is a Georgia native, and a graduate of Emory University and the University of Birmingham, UK. 
Clay Mobley, Treasurer, is a Savannah native with a history of working with businesses and non-profit communities in Georgia and South Carolina. He leads Optimum Water’s Savannah and surrounding region. Clay has been a citizen advocate since 2000, is a past board member, and will serve again as the incoming Treasurer. A graduate of Benedictine Military School and the University of Georgia, Clay lives on Wilmington Island with his wife and two children. 
Brittany Curry, Secretary, is a Graphic Recorder & Facilitator who uses pictures & symbols to capture the messages being shared in meetings and conversations. She has worked throughout the country with corporations, small businesses, non-profits, government entities, and institutions of higher learning, and in 2017 was named to GeorgiaTrend Magazine’s list of “40 Under 40” rising entrepreneurs. Brittany is a native of Savannah and a graduate of Calvary Day school. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville and worked there as the Coordinator of Oconee Area Citizen Advocacy from 2011—2016 before launching her business, InkyBrittany. Board
Stephanie O. Burgess is the owner and managing attorney of the Burgess Law Group. She is a native of Savannah, and returned to Savannah in 2010 after serving as a law clerk for Atlanta Municipal Court and as a staff attorney for Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a member of 2019 and 2020 National Trial Lawyers- Top 100 and National Black Lawyers –Top 100- African American Attorney and Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney. Stephanie is a past president of the Port City Bar Association and serves on the boards for the National Bar Association’s Women Law Division and Savannah State University College of Business Administration. She is a member of The Savannah Bar Association, National Bar Association, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and Savannah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Ms. Burgess attended Clark Atlanta University and earned her Bachelor of Arts from Savannah State University and her Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University. 
Robert Douberly is a Savannah Native. He lived in Texas from the ages of 10-16 and came home to Savannah every summer. He is a boat/yacht finisher and painter, a skill he learned starting in high school, to working @ Palmer Johnson in the early 90’s, traveling in his twenties, to coming back to Savannah in 2006 and starting work @ Thunderbolt Marine Inc, where he still works as the Interior Finishes Foreman. Most of his free time is spent with his life partner Michelle and their 6-year-old Rottweiler Kali, spending time with friends and family, and volunteering for various local clubs and organizations. 
Tawana Garrett, partner at Lead Local Consulting, was a County Field Director for Political Flight Funds, Volunteer Coordinator and Campaign Manager on various campaigns. She has been elected to seats on local, state, and national party committees and affiliations. In 2010 and 2012, Tawana ran for local office and gained invaluable experience as being a candidate. Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, she enlisted the United States Army. While in the Army Tawana had the honor of serving as a Chaplin Assistant. She then attended South Caroline State and she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Later, Tawana attended Georgia Southern and received her Master of Arts in Professional Communication and Leadership. Tawana also serves as President of her HOA, is a member of the Junior League of Savannah, and an advocate for many people in the community. 
Caroline Gregory is a client advisor for Sterling Seacrest Partners. Caroline is based in the company’s Savannah office and concentrates on commercial insurance with a focus on transportation, warehouse and logistics, construction, and manufacturing. Prior to joining Sterling Seacrest Partners, Caroline worked for McGriff Insurance. A native of Savannah, Caroline attended St. Vincent’s Academy and graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance. Caroline is a member of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC). Caroline is an active member of her community and has served with various organizations including the United Way of the Coastal Empire, Chatham Savannah Citizen Advocacy, and Folds of Honor Savannah. She was a participant in the Alzheimer’s Association Dancing Stars of Coastal Georgia and is also a graduate of Leadership Savannah. 
Avi Heyman is a high school student at Savannah Country Day, class of 2023. In addition to school sports and clubs, he is a member of the Bnai Brith Jacob Synagogue. He hopes to attend Stanford after graduation. His brother has a disability so Avi brings the perspective of a family member to the Board of Directors. 
Jessica Kelly, partner with Engel & Volkers Realty, is a licensed real estate broker in Georgia and South Carolina and specializes in property sales in Historic and Metro Savannah. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina in 1999, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 2007, Jessica earned her Associate Broker’s license in Georgia. Jessica also owns a small boutique in Downtown Savannah’s City Market and enjoys exploring the Savannah’s thriving art and music scene. She lives in the historic Gordonston neighborhood with her husband Joachim and owns investment property in the Historic, Victorian and Eastside Districts. She volunteers in her community and proudly serves on boards of several community organizations. 
LeAndrea Mikell is the Programs and Community Relations Coordinator at World Trade Center Savannah, an economic development organization with the mission of helping companies in Southeast Georgia do business internationally. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Mass Communications from Savannah State University, and she is a native of the Low Country. Mikell is currently the President of the Savannah Jaycees, and she serves on the boards of directors for the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home and Future Minds Literacy and Adult Education, a program designed to assist individuals in obtaining a diploma or GED. She serves on the Master of Public Administration Advisory board at Savannah State University and is a community advisor for Gulfstream’s Student Leadership Program, a community program designed to equip high school students with tangible skills to explore options beyond the classroom. LeAndrea also serves on the Ambassador’s Council for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, and she was selected as Ambassador of the Year in 2017. She was selected as a GenerationNext Rising Star of Business honoree by Business in Savannah in 2018. 
Billy Norse is an attorney with Weissman and practices in the areas of real estate, estates, probate administration and personal injury. He was a member of the Georgia Leadership Academy Class of 2011 and the Leadership Savannah Class of 2009. He currently serves as a member of the Chatham County Board of Voter Registration and on the Chatham County Law Library Board. He also serves as a member of the board for St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church (Past President) and the Savannah Chatham Citizens Advocacy. He is a former member of the Savannah Code Enforcement Appeals Board, the Mediation Center of Savannah, the Savannah Area Humane Society, and is past Past President of the Savannah Area Family Emergency shelter (S.A.F.E. Shelter). 
Kristin Mulzer came to Savannah in 2006 as a graphic design grad student at SCAD. Originally from Santa Claus, Indiana, she attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and is has been a visual arts teacher at Savannah Country Day School since 2012. Kristin is a ceramicist, woodworker, and avid outdoorswoman. She has been on the board of Citizen Advocacy since 2014 and recently has joined the board of the Telluride Mountainfilm in Savannah. 
Kirsten Parent is a Massachusetts native who has made Savannah her home for the past 12 years. As such, she has worked with numerous grass roots organizations, including Starfish Community Garden, Ogeechee Riverkeeper and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia as a board & committee member. For the past 10 years, Kirsten has been a loyal employee of Chatham Steel Corporation where she works as an inside sales rep. To further her community efforts, Kirsten joined the Citizen’s Advocacy board last year and has since been an advocate/representative payee. She lives in Gordonston with her daughter, who looks just like her, and their two dogs, which do not. 
Tania June Sammons is a writer and museum consultant. She has been a citizen advocate for more than 20 years, and currently serves on the Board of Directors. She lives in Savannah with her husband Rich and daughters Surrena and Virginia. 
Chris Steiner was born in Portugal and has lived in many places around the world. He loves to travel and see new places. He moved to Savannah 19 years ago with his family and has been here since. Chris is a member of Asbury Memorial, United Methodist Church, volunteers and serves on a nonprofit board, and works at Employability. 
The Reverend Kelly Steele is an Episcopal priest serving St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Georgia. She’s a resident in the Starland District and got involved with Citizens Advocacy through God’s work in her ministry by meeting someone from Mixed Greens and coming with them to the Potluck in 2015. Steele is fond of saying that “the Citizens Advocacy potluck is the closest I’ve come to seeing the Kingdom of God manifest in Savannah.” Steele was ordained a priest in 2016 in Savannah. She’s a summa cum laude graduate of Duke Divinity School, Duke University in Durham, NC as well as a 2012 summa cum laude graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She enjoys roller skating, Bull Street Taco, and long walks throughout Savannah with her dog, Reina, and husband, The Reverend Guillermo Arboleda.