Shepherd Center Advisory Board Welcomes New Leadership

ATLANTA - (March 31, 2009) - Shepherd Center announced today the newest leaders of its Advisory Board.

James Calise, vice president of Thompson Technologies, Inc., will begin serving as chairman in April, alongside community volunteer Jayne Lipman, who will serve as vice-chair. Both will serve a three-year term, ending in March 2012.

Calise replaces Advisory Board chair Marnite Calder, who accepted a position as a trustee on the Shepherd Center Foundation Board of Trustees. Under Calder’s leadership, the Advisory Board grew to 84 members who advocate for Shepherd Center in the business and civic communities. The Board develops new relationships for the Center and the Foundation. It introduces hundreds of new volunteers and donors to Shepherd and is instrumental in raising funds for the Center’s capital expansion projects.

“Shepherd Center is deeply grateful for Marnite Calder, who offered her vision and leadership as chairman of the Foundation Advisory Board from 2003 until March 2009,” said Scott Sikes, vice president & executive director of Shepherd Center Foundation, Inc. “Marnite, Jim and Jayne have dedicated many years of service to the Center and our patients and families, and we are deeply grateful for their support.”

Calder is the executive director of the Halle Foundation, a public grant-making charity founded by the late Claus M. Halle. The Halle Foundation has an international focus and mission of promoting German-American and European-American relations.

Calder has served in numerous leadership positions in prominent Atlanta civic, business and philanthropic organizations. She is a life member of the Shepherd Center Auxiliary, serving as president in 1996.

The incoming chair, Calise, has been served as vice-chair of the Advisory Board since 2007. He began serving on the Advisory Board as an ex-officio member in 2002 and joined as a member in 2004. He is a long-time supporter of Shepherd Center’s annual Derby Day. He joined Shepherd’s Junior Committee in 1995 and co-chaired the event in 2002. Calise is also a charter member of The Shepherd Center Society. He is experienced in leading large volunteer groups and has long-supported the Center both as a volunteer and a donor.

Lipman has served on the Advisory Board since 2005. Before joining the Advisory Board, Lipman was recognized for her support and investment of time as a Shepherd Angel in 2002 and 2003, and served as co-chair of the 2003 Legendary Party and chair of the 2004 Legendary Party. She is also a former member of the Peachcorps and an active member of the Auxiliary. Lipman has been a vital supporter of Shepherd Center for many years.