Our Founder

Executive Director Jody Sandwick

Jo Ellen (Jody) Sandwick was born and resided in Spring Lake Michigan until moving to Georgia ten years ago.

Jody has two children and six grandchildren.  The two youngest grandchildren are adopted because they were abandoned by their birth parents.

She volunteered for fifteen years for the March of Dimes in both volunteer and executive positions.  She also volunteered for ten years in the Hackley Hospital Mental Health Unit in Muskegon, Michigan.  She was President of the Hackley Hospital Lobbyside Auxiliary from 1984 – 1986.  She was a licensed broker for ING Brokerage Firm and had her own branch office servicing many clients for 23 years.  She retired from the financial field in 2013.

Board of Directors

Jonnie Ghetti

Retired, GA State Department of Education

Jonnie grew up in Wrens, GA (Jefferson County). She graduated from GA Southern College with a BA in History and a Master of Educational Leadership. She earned an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership degree from Augusta College. During her professional career, Jonnie served as a teacher, building level administrator, and system administrator. She was Associate Superintendent when she retired from the Columbia County School System. Jonnie then worked for the GA State Department of Education, School Improvement Division and later as an educational consultant. Jonnie is an active member of an international professional educators’ organization where she has held various positions at the local, state, and international levels.

Jonnie has two daughters, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. She has been blessed with a loving and caring family and has a heart for children less fortunate. Jonnie believes that Circle Ranch will provide the stable family support system for abandoned, homeless children and looks forward to serving on the Board.

Denise Segell

Denise Ferrari Segell is a fairly recent transplant to Greensboro, Georgia. She grew up as the oldest of 4 children in the Midwest, moving to the great state of Texas and has lived in Georgia for over 20 years. Denise has always had a passion for helping children to feel safe, loved and desired to be a part of a big family. At a young age that wish came true, when her parents compassionate hearts led them to become a foster care family. In the course of 20+ years they helped raise and love over 28 children in the foster care system.

She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Radio Television Film. Denise has worked as a digital video editor and videographer for over 30 years on short films, documentaries, corporate films, music videos, children television shows and live action/dance performances.

Denise, a veteran  nonprofit fundraising  volunteer has achieved proven success in mid-level donor fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship for nonprofits including, Autism Speaks, private school Parent’s Associations and Booster Clubs.

While Denise loves the creative world of film and video, she has a strong desire to help children in need. She has joined the Board of Directors for Circle Ranch to give foster children hope and a future. Denise and her husband, Scott Segell love living in the Lake Oconee community and have three children - Taylor, Katherine and Trace. Denise knows the importance of family and a stable home. Every child deserves to be loved and allowed to thrive. 

Skipper Hudson

Retired

Skipper was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated from Belhaven College in 1975 and from Reformed Theological Seminary in 1978. He worked in loss control for Harford Insurance and the Chubb Insurance Company.

Skipper retired after 26 years of employment.  Skipper and his wife Lynn and two grown children and also have cared for two young boys for two years as part of the Department of Child and Family Service Foster Parent program.

They live in Putnam County and are very active at many different levels in Lakeside Church in Greensboro Ga.

Skipper believes we should all give back and to look after the orphans in need.

Joyce Kender

Real Estate Agent, American Realty Lake Country

Joyce E. Kender was born in Crossville, Tennessee.  She grew up in Dayton, Ohio, moved to Decatur, Georgia in 1972, and to Greensboro Georgia in 1993.

 Joyce was employed by three federal government agencies from 1972 to 1995.  In 1995, she was employed as an Executive Assistant to the Greene County Chamber of Commerce. She obtained her Georgia realtor license in 1997 and is currently employed by Keller Williams Realty Lake Oconee.

She was past President of the Lake Country Board of Realtors and is currently President of the Lake Oconee Ladies Auxiliary, Elks Lodge 2849.

Barbara Torbet

Barbara Torbert is a long term resident of Greensboro in Greene County, Georgia.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education from the University of Georgia.  She served as a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agent in Morgan and Greene counties during which time she was County Extension Director of Greene County.  She also served as Home Economics agent for Greene, Morgan and Putnam counties.

Barbara served as a court appointed member of a Judicial Panel assisting in overseeing the wellbeing of children in the foster care system in Greene County.  She served five years on the Board of the Greene County Hospital Authority and was instrumental in establishing the first Empty Stocking benevolence program in Greene County. Both she and her husband Gerald were foster parents for Greene County and they have two natural children and one adopted child.

Jeff DeHaven

Jessica Vaughn

Jessica Vaughn was born in Dayton, OH, and raised in Conyers, GA. Jessica is a graduate of Shorter University with a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education in 2011.

She is married to her husband, Jason, and they have two daughters and one son. Jessica is passionate about God, the family unit and children, clean food and health & nutrition. 

Advisor & Financial Consultant

Mardel Kolls

Historian

Mallette Cook