Our leadership guides us to prioritize and implement our strategic plan.

Loranne Ausley is an elected Member of the Florida Senate who helped lead the effort to bring Purpose Built Communities to Tallahassee. She has represented Tallahassee in the legislature for over 12 years and is well known as one of Florida’s leading champions for children and families.

“Place matters to how well we live and how well our children live. And when persistent poverty threatens place, we must work together to overcome it. That is why we are working hand-in-hand with the residents of South City and community partners to restore this neighborhood to a vibrant community where neighbors play, learn and succeed together.”

Shonda Knight is currently the Executive Director of Community and Media Relations for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). Under Knight’s leadership, in 2018, LCSO was awarded the top, statewide Community Relations Award from the Florida Public Relations Association and a Judges award from the organization in 2019.

Prior to joining LCSO in March of 2017, Knight served as Executive Producer and Anchor for WCTV-TV in Tallahassee. Knight was the first African American to co-anchor the morning shows at WCTV. Knight is a Florida Associated Press award-winning journalist, several times over, and has served as Vice-President of the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters. Among her many community affiliations, Knight is the Board Chair for Whole Child Leon and serves on the boards of The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the Foundation for Leon County Schools, Salvation Army, and the North Florida Fair Association. She is also a member of the Florida Public Relations Association, the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

“The South City Foundation is an organization making positive change in our community. It is empowering those with great potential but limited resources. It is giving support to our most vulnerable. It is making a difference.”

A native of Wakulla County Florida, Pastor of Friendship PB Church 700 Putnam Dr. Tall.Fl 23201.  Attended FAMU, Lively, and Smith Bible College. Military Veteran, husband and father of three. Holds various leadership positions in the Tall. Area as well as the state of Florida.

“I support this foundation because I see first hand the needs of the people in South City. Being a dedicated Pastor in the Southside community and interacting on a daily basis directly with the people, I hear their concerns. This effort assures a gateway to change and much needed improvements.”

Bridgett Birmingham serves as the Coordinator of the Diversity Resident Librarian Program at Florida State University, where she works to expand access to academic librarian careers to persons from underrepresented demographics. Ms. Birmingham is also a resident of South City.

Rick Kearney has spent years focused on entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts and was named Philanthropist of the Year in 2021 by the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Mr. Kearney is now leading the effort to build Tallahassee’s first sustainable and supporting tiny home community.

Robyn serves as a Principal with The Griffin Group, a Florida based lobbying firm providing a tailored, client-focused approach to government relations, business development, nonprofit management, and public affairs. She leads the nonprofit and education practice at the firm. Robyn has over a decade of experience advocating and developing solutions to improve outcomes for Florida’s most vulnerable children. Robyn previously served as the Director of Special Projects with the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking, and as the Statewide Director for the Open Doors Outreach Network, providing 24/7 care and support to survivors of sex trafficking in Florida. She also served as the Associate Executive Director for the American Children’s Campaign, advocating for policy change on behalf of children in Florida.

Robyn currently serves as a board member on the board of directors for the National Florida State University (FSU) Alumni Association, Statewide Healthy Start MomCare Network, and the South City Foundation – Tallahassee. She has held various volunteer roles with organizations including the Leon County Children’s Services Council, Junior League of Tallahassee, and Guardian Ad Litem and previously served on the FSU College of Social Work Alumni Group board of directors.

Robyn received her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in Social Policy and Administration and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from FSU. She was named a 2020 Notable Nole (formerly 30 Under 30) from the FSU Alumni Association and in 2016 she received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from the FSU College of Social Work.

Originally from Sarasota, FL, Robyn resides in Tallahassee with her husband Michael and her dog Hoyt.

G. Mark O’Bryant is President and Chief Executive Officer of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Inc., the parent corporation of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Florida’s capital city. Mr. O’Bryant assumed the role as leader of the 772-bed regional tertiary facility in July 2003. Prior to his recruitment to Tallahassee, Mr. O’Bryant came from Memorial Health Care System in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he served as Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. O’Bryant is a Diplomat in the American College of Health Care Executives. His undergraduate degree is from Brigham Young University; his Master of Health Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees are from Georgia State University.

“The health and well-being of our community is defined by its whole, not by its component parts. With that in mind, the South City Foundation / Purpose Built Project will be a much needed vehicle to bring resources to a part of our community that has historically been sorely underserved. A focus on education, infrastructure, social support and health care will create a platform for new opportunities for our South City residents. Not only will it prove to be a smart investment for all of Tallahassee, but more importantly it will change lives for the better.”

Daryl D. Parks is an accomplished lawyer and businessman who received an undergraduate degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and a law degree from Florida State University (FSU). His motto, “Advocate for the Least of These,” is embodied in his zealous advocacy and activism in civil rights. Attorney Parks is the managing partner at Parks Law, L.L.C., a law firm with a national reputation. As part of our civil rights activism and commitment to community, Attorney Parks has represented families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Corey Jones. The reputation gained by Attorney Parks and his firm has led to his appearances as a legal expert on national television broadcasts such as MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN.

“Our volunteering in South City is a wonderful opportunity to assist our neighbors. The effort will be a game changer in education, housing and socially.”

Darnell Smith serves as Florida Blue’s market president for the North Florida region. Mr. Smith has ample experience with nonprofit work through leadership experience with organizations such as the United Way of Northeast Florida, First Coast YMCA, and Feeding Northeast Florida.

Before moving to Tallahassee, Susan Thomas was active in community affairs in her hometown Atlanta. While teaching at Pace Academy, she volunteered extensively in numerous community projects. She was co-author of Troubled Children in Georgia which was given to members of the Georgia legislature. She served as Community Vice President of the Junior League of Atlanta supervising over $200,000 of League community grants to nonprofits. She was a founder of the Atlanta Children’s Shelter which is going strong after over 30 years serving homeless children and their families.

When Susan moved to Tallahassee, she first became involved with the effort to build the main branch of the Leon County Library and chaired the grand opening celebration of the library. She served as Chairman of the Tallahassee Preservation Board and on the Board of the Governor’s Mansion Foundation. In 2000 she joined the Lawton Chiles Foundation to follow children’s issues in the Florida legislature. She also served as contract manager for the four pilot county projects of the Foundation’s signature project—the Whole Child Project. She remains committed to improving the lives of children in our community and beyond.

She taught history, government and writing at Maclay School and Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee.

Wendy served as president of Leadership Florida for 28 years, retiring in 2017. In addition to serving on the South City Foundation’s Board of Directors, she also currently serves on the boards of the United Way of the Big Bend, the State College Foundation, and WFSU’s Community Advisory Board. She is married to Dr. Tom Haney, and has two daughters, Beth and Julia, and a brilliant seven year old grandson, Luke.

“I’ve lived in Tallahassee for 50 years and have watched parts of our community thrive and others wither. We can become a world-class city, a destination for high-wage industries and a sought-after lifestyle, but only if we ensure that EVERY neighborhood provides a healthy and safe environment for our children to grow and prosper. I have personally witnessed the transformation possible if we use the Purpose Built Communities model. PBC has seen the collaboration our foundation has created and because of OUR work, they have committed to work side by side with us to change lives, to change the future of Tallahassee. I couldn’t be more excited about what we accomplish together.”

Dr. Iris Wilson is a retired educator living in Leon County. Her long career spanning over 40 years included serving as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent for Leon County Schools. Dr. Wilson also served as Deputy Chancellor for the Florida Department of Education. Her passion for supporting educational equality on all levels is evident in her career and continued community service. Dr. Wilson is married, with three adult children and three grandchildren.

“I support the South City Foundation because of the focus on community and education. SCF listens to the voices of the community and values the diversity, as well as the history of South City.”

An experienced businessman and mentor, Steve Evans has been making waves in Tallahassee since he moved to the city in 1986 to lead IBM’s state government operations in Florida. Since then, Mr. Evans has earned a reputation for his mentorship skills and passion for community service.