Board of Directors:
The seven-member board of the Light House Village has worked with effective diligence over the past eighteen months to develop the vision, by-laws, incorporation process and strategies to launch this special initiative. They are supported in an advisory capacity by the Executive Directors of the three participating nonprofit organizations.
Jeff Beech, The Beech Foundation
Founder, Chairman of the Board
Conyers, Georgia
Jeff serves as president for Light House Village, leading the organization in its growth and development. He enjoyed an international consulting career as a part of a leadership team responsible for creating and growing the largest Supply Chain Strategy practice in the world as a Global Managing Partner for Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting). This position included work with some of the world’s largest name brand companies to advice them on expanding operations beyond their borders. His accomplishments have been highlighted in multiple trade publications, the Financial Times, the New York Times and through several international business conferences.
Always an avid volunteer in the philanthropic community, Jeff has combined his business experience and commitment to Christ and his community by serving on several nonprofit boards. He is active with FOCUS, R.O.C.K. Bridge Ministries, Inc., Young Life, Dream House, MedShare International, The ASPIRE Coalition, Smyrna Presbyterian Church and a variety of areas at Georgia Tech. In 2000 he and his wife Greta began The Beech Foundation, a 501©3 operating foundation that provides assistance primarily to Christian nonprofit causes in business model formation, board and leadership structure, long range and strategic planning, fundraising and community outreach.
Alton H. Coleman
Retired Colonel, United States Army
Representing Rockdale Emergency Relief
Col. Coleman has been a dedicated volunteer and advocate for the displaced in our community through his board membership at Rockdale Emergency Relief. He is a member of Salem United Methodist Church, currently serving as the chair of the Parish Relations Committee. He also serves on the board of directors of the Rockdale County Foundation for Excellence in Education. He is a member of the Rockdale Rotary Club, and has served for six years as the District Lay Leader for the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford districts of the United Methodist Church. In addition to serving as his homeowner's association board president, he is a member of the American, Atlanta, Gwinnett and N.E. Georgia Rose Societies. Married to Mary until her passing in 2004, Col. Coleman has three children and three grandchildren
Laura Moore, R.N., M.N.
Founder and Executive Director,
Dream House for Medically Fragile Children
Lilburn, Georgia
Laura, a pediatric nurse for more than 20 years, received her B.S. in Nursing from Auburn University and her Masters Degree in Nursing Education from Emory University. During her nursing career, Laura served medically fragile children on the Egelston campus for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as a staff nurse, clinical educator and Staff IV administrator. She also taught pediatric nursing for nearly a decade and was the Pediatric Course Coordinator for Georgia Perimeter College. She has served on several local and national committees, is a speaker on many topics relating to children's health and development and in 1994, she founded the North Georgia Chapter for the Society of Pediatric Nurses.
Laura's dream of providing loving and nurturing care to abandoned, neglected and abused medically fragile children became her reality in 2001 when, with the support of her husband and two children, she founded Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. In addition to providing support resources for foster and adoptive families caring for these special-needs children, the organization provides unique educational and skills lab training for caregivers and acts as advocates in the community to bring awareness to this group of needy children. Laura currently is the foster mother for several fragile children in the home she and her family renovated to welcome children into their family, in Lilburn, Georgia
Catherine Roberts Vaughn, MA
At-Large Member
Conyers, Georgia
Catherine worked as a schoolteacher for more than 30 years during which time she had the opportunity to work directly with special-needs children. She is a member of the Smyrna Presbyterian Church where she has been an Elder. She plans on playing an active role in leading the LHV chapel in providing residents and caregivers with enriching spiritual opportunities. She is a member of the Pilot Club of Conyers, an organization aiding individuals with brain-related disorders.
Sonny Gallman
At-Large Member
Conyers, Georgia
Sonny is the Senior Pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church.
Neil Joseph Young
President, Accent Decorating, Inc.
At-Large Member
Conyers, Georgia
Neil has lead a group of companies in and around the construction industry for several years in Rockdale County. He has also provided leadership as a Board member for both Habitat For Humanity Rockdale and HICOR. Neil is an elder at Smyrna Presbyterian Church and works tirelessly throughout the community to help those in need.
Hillman Allen Moon
Hillman has been a board member for Rockdale Cares for several years, working closely with Barbara Kilpatrick. He is a long time resident of Rockdale County and retired from Uniroyal. He has worked with Starcrest Nursing Home in Lithonia and has experience in and knowledge of the purpose of nursing and respite care along with architectural design needs and standards for care facilities.
Nonprofit organization executives supporting the LHV Board of Directors:
Barbara Kilpatrick
Executive Director
Rockdale Cares, Inc.
Barbara has been an advocate of the special-needs community for over 30 years. Before being named Executive Director at Rockdale Cares as executive in 2003, she served on the board and worked as a volunteer for the agency. She has worked with the Stacy Smith Home for Birth Defect Children and served on their board as well. She has taken on many special projects beyond her scope professionally to aid the disabled, such as launching a Sunday School and Bible Study class for the special needs population in 1984 and aiding in the creation of a monthly respite care program for disabled children and youth at her church. On a personal note, Barbara was the guardian of her mentally challenged cousin for nearly 10 years. She has done much to promote her conviction that all citizens should be treated equally, regardless of their mental or physical abilities.
Joy T. Jones
"Immediate Past" Executive Director
Rockdale Emergency Relief, Inc.
Joy Jones brings an extensive background in non-profit leadership to the LHV project. Before beginning her 12-year tenure as Executive Director of Rockdale Emergency Relief, she was Assistant Director for Camp Fire USA for 15 years. In addition to her work with RER, Joy is a professional workshop instructor and speaker, With local and national appearances, she teaches on multiple topics, including "stress management" and "building self-esteem in children".
An active community volunteer, Joy has served on the board of the Rockdale Advisory Board for the United Way; Rockdale Food Bank; Beginning Anew; Rockdale Clothes Closet and the Rockdale Rotary Club, where she is the Past President. Additionally, Joy is on the Pine Street Elementary School Council.
Her awards for excellence in community service and professionalism are numerous. Among the many she has received: in both 1998 and 2003 she received the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Award by the Rockdale Rotary Club. She was named "1995 Outstanding Professional" by the Rockdale County Jaycees. She was elected to the Professional Staff Roundtable for the National board of Camp Fire for three years.
She and her husband Ted have been married for 37 years and have three married daughters and five grandchildren. Residents of Rockdale County for 35 year, they are members of Crosspoint Christian Church.
