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STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHIEF JOHNNIE JOHNSON, JR., Member At Large

Chief Johnnie Johnson, Jr. was born in Birmingham, AL. Mr. Johnson is retired as Chief of Police for the Birmingham Police Department. Chief Johnson dreamed of becoming a police officer, but was told by his father that he would have to leave the south to do so because colored people would never be hired for that position. His father died three years before Chief Johnson’s dream became a reality. He began his law enforcement career in 1966 as the department’s second black officer. He advanced through the ranks as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and chief.

Chief Johnson is a graduate of University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Criminal Justice Program, FBI National Academy and the National Executive Institute (NEI). His past professional experiences include: Civil Defense Officer; member of the Alabama Board of Pardon’s and Paroles; and Bessemer Chief of Police. He is a founding member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Birmingham Guardians Association (past president and treasurer), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Leadership Birmingham Alumni Association. Other organizations of which Chief Johnson is a member include: Community Affairs Committee (CAC); Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education; Children First Foundation Board of Directors; Leadership Birmingham Steering Committee; Birmingham Rotary Club; and Northeast Branch of YMCA. Chief Johnson has received the following awards for his dedication and service to the community: Police Officer of the Year; Excellence Citizen’s Award; Community Service Awards; Police Outstanding Achievement Award; Man of the Year, 1993; and 1998 NAACP Honors Award.

Chief Johnson and his wife, Brenda, have four children: Natalie Woodall; Johnnie, III; Geoffrey; and Dawn. They have five grandchildren. They are life long members of Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church where Chief Johnson serves as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, church financial secretary and chairman of the church’s building program.

MARIAN LOFTIN, SECRETARY

Marian Loftin served as the Director for the State of Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, which oversees the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama (CTF) funding 200 community-based prevention programs. After 17 years as an elementary classroom teacher, Mrs. Loftin worked in government relations for the University of Alabama for 13 years. Prior to her appointment to the current position with CTF, she was Director for the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Loftin has long been actively involved in child and family advocacy. She served on the founding boards of the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center of Dothan, the first “one stop” for human services in the state of Alabama, and the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center. In March 2004, Alabama Governor Bob Riley appointed her to his Task Force for Strengthening Alabama Families. In April 2007 Mrs. Loftin was awarded the Commissioner’s Award from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families for Alabama for her significant contribution toward the prevention of child abuse and neglect. 

Other Board memberships have included VOICES for Alabama’s Children, the Alabama Partnership for Children (the state’s zero-5 initiative), the A+ Education Foundation; the Children First Foundation; and on a national level she is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds.

Mrs. Loftin, a Rotarian (first woman inducted into the Dothan-Houston County Rotary Club) and a Paul Harris Fellow, has also been involved in her state and community as past chairman of the Wiregrass United Way; Alabama Citizens for Constitution Reform Board; the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation Board (Volunteer Hall of Fame, 1998) and Past Chairman of the American Heart Association, Alabama Affiliate. Due to her civic involvement, Mrs. Loftin ran as an Olympic Torchbearer in the 1996 Olympics and was selected for Leadership Alabama in 2002.

An Alabama native, she holds a BS in Education from the University of Alabama (named the Distinguished Alumna in 1988) and a MA in Education/Reading from Troy University Dothan (named the Outstanding Alumna in 1993). She is a graduate of John Carroll High School (recognized as Outstanding Alumna 2002). Marian Loftin has 4 children and 6 Grandchildren. Her husband of 46 years, Jim Loftin, is deceased.

ROBERT "ROBBIE" MCGHEE

As an enrolled member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Robert McGhee has been involved in an advocate for Native American issues at all levels of government. Mr. McGhee is currently serving his second term on the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Council. In this capacity Mr. McGhee is honored to represent his people "government-to-government" at the Local, State, and Federal levels regarding issues of Education, Health Care, Economic Development and Sovereign Immunity.

Prior to moving back to Atmore, Robert McGhee worked in Washington, D.C. for approximately five years at the Department of Interior-Beureau of Indian Affairs, the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Troutman Sanders LLP-Indian Law Practice Group.

Before accepting the position of Governmental Relations Advisor for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Mr. McGhee served in several capacities for the Tribe. He was employed by the Tribe as the Tribal Administrator, Governmental entity of the Tribe, and President of Creek Indian Enterprises (CIE), the Economic Development entity of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Mr. McGhee received a bachelor's degree from the University of South Alabama and a BSW from the University of Alabama. He also holds a MSW from WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis, MO. Mr. McGhee has also completed the Georgetown Executive Leadership Program in Washington, D.C. and a course at American University Public Policy Institute regarding Congress and Effective Lobbying Practices. During his tenure in DC and here at the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Mr. McGhee has had the opportunity to serve on numerous White House Initiatives and boards. Currently he serves on the Tribe's Governmental Affairs/Rules Legislative Committee, the Budget/Finance Committee, the Creek Indian Enterprises Board and the United South and Eastern Tribes as Secretary. Civically, he has served as the Vice President of the Atmore Chamber of Commerce and the Vice Chairman of the Episcopal Council of Indigenous Ministries.

Robert McGhee currently resides in Atmore, Alabama.

DR. MARTHA MORROW, vice chairwoman

SHERI MCKEAN

Sharon (Sheri) Paulk McKean was born in Montgomery, AL and graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Speech Communications. Mrs. McKean is currently a member of the following boards: Junior League of Montgomery Sustaining Advisor; Children First Foundation; Montgomery Area Council on Aging; Montgomery County Department of Human Resources Quality Assurance Committee; Auburn University’s Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority Parent’s Club (Chairman). Mrs. McKean was previously a member of various community boards: Leadership Montgomery President; Success by Six; Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama, BONDS (Building Our Neighbors for Development and Success); Montgomery Area United Way Community Council Chairman; Alabama Promise Initiative Chairman; Montgomery Promise Chairman; Junior League of Montgomery President; Trinity Presbyterian School Parent Teacher Organization President; VOICES for Alabama’s Children President; Alpha Gamma Delta Alumnae Province Director; First Baptist Church Youth Sunday School Director; Squires Board; Camellia Ball; Montgomery Area Cancer Society; Children’s Trust Fund Statewide Advisory Committee; State Public Affairs Committee Chairman for Junior League of Alabama and Governor’s Commission on Child Welfare Services.

Mrs. McKean has received numerous awards for her volunteer efforts. These awards include: Girl’s Scouts 2005 Women of Distinction Award; Montgomery Chapter of Daughters’ of the American Revolution Outstanding Community Service Award; Rose Award for Service and Leadership to Alpha Gamma Delta Alumnae; 2000 Mathews-Altheimer-Smith Award from Montgomery Area United Way Community Council; 2000 Friend of Children Award from Child System of Alabama; 2001 Sustainer of the Season for the Junior League; 1997 Alpha Gamma Delta Outstanding Alumnae Award; one of the Jaycees’ “Outstanding Young Montgomerians” for 1990.

Mrs. McKean and her husband, Rory, have two children, Landon and Rory. Landon is a senior at Auburn University and serves as Miss Auburn for 2006. Rory is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi majoring in biochemistry on a baseball and academic scholarship.

Sheri serves on various State Committees dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Alabama.

DR. MARSHA RAULERSON, Vice Chair

Dr. Marsha Raulerson, came to Brewton in 1981 and began a pediatric practice. At that time, there was a real need for an organized Child Health Services program in the Escambia County Health Department. The Alabama Medicaid program left many children in rural areas without the advantage of pediatric services. She volunteered to conduct a free monthly child health clinic at the Health Department in Brewton and began what continues to be the medial home for hundreds of children in the county. The open door policy at her office has enabled many children to receive care who otherwise would not have access to pediatric services. She never turns anyone away. Funding availability is not the major question with which she or her staff are concerned.

In 1990, she began a county wide visitation program for newborn infants and established the “Partners for Tomorrow” program. The program makes available prenatal and postpartum home visits by community workers during which parenting skills are taught to new parents. This program has fostered positive early childhood development for the parents of newborns in the county. Known as the pediatrician that mothers an entire community, those who work with her say that she and her work are “awesome.” Her generous contributions of her time, insight and pediatric expertise continue to enrich this important program.

Four years ago, in view of her great concern over the dentally under-served children in the area and state, and aware that there would soon be a new health department constructed in Brewton, she initiated the involvement of two local foundations. Working with the local and area health department staff, the foundations contributed approximately $400,000 to add a three operatory dental clinic as a part of the new building. Further, through the collaborative efforts of a federally qualified health center in the area, funds were obtained for the staff, including an experienced dentist and support staff. The dental clinic began operations on March 19, 2001. This is a tremendous addition to the public health services offered in this public health area and Dr. Raulerson was at the helm of the planning effort.

She has also been, throughout her tenure in the state, a major support for and advocate of the public health system, both organizational public health and community based public health activities. She is a charter member of the Coalition for Healthier Escambia County, and has been instrumental in identification of major activities, which have served to improve the quality of life for citizens of Alabama and Escambia County. Her philosophy and the motivation for all that she does, simply stated, are that “every child deserves to be wanted and loved, and a family needs to see their child as a wonderful gift from God to be nurtured and cherished.” 

MARC REYNOLDS

Marc Reynolds was born in Fairfax, Alabama. He received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Auburn University and his Juris Doctor Degree from the Jones Law Institute.

Marc began his employment with the Retirement Systems of Alabama in 1975 with the teacher’s benefits section and moved to the position of Legislative Counsel in 1979. In 2001 he was named Deputy Director and recently retired from RSA in 2012.

Marc serves on the Board of Directors of the Capital City Club and the Alabama Prescription Cost Initiative Board. He has also served on the Board of Directors of The Children’s First Foundation and the Capital City Senators Girls Softball Program.

He has one child, Joanna.