STAFF

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Proutt - Administrative Assistant

Lizzy is an office administration specialist with a background spanning education, sales, bookkeeping, and social media management. Georgia’s Friends is her first foray into the nonprofit world and aligns with her commitment to support women in the community. Lizzy felt an instant connection with Georgia’s Friends and she is excited to serve as a collaborative voice and grounding presence within the organization. Lizzy is focused on keeping Georgia’s House, Georgia’s Cottage, and our buildings and grounds in shape and she ensures that we are operating efficiently as an organization. She also spearheads our volunteer engagement efforts as a member of our community outreach committee and more recently, our development committee. Lizzy graduated from Guilford College with a bachelor’s degree in the arts.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Laura Farrell - President

A 1988 UVA graduate, Laura has been actively engaged in church leadership roles as a lay eucharistic minister at Christ Episcopal Church in Alexandria, as a Vestry member at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Greenwood, and as a member of Grace Church in Greenwood. She also headed many volunteer organizations as a parent in her children's schools. As a second career, Laura became interested in sustainable farming techniques and she now employs regenerative farming best practices at her property in Ivy, Virginia. Laura breeds San Clemente Island goats, a critically endangered heritage breed, and describes herself as “deeply engaged in what heals, what connects, and what engenders joy in others”.

Ashley Barlow, LPC - Vice President

Ashley graduated from St. Lawrence University with a B.A. in government and environmental studies and worked for 12 years as an environmental consultant. She is a 2007 graduate of the mental health counseling program at UVA. Ashley worked for 11 years at Virginia’s maximum-security prison for women, The Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women (FCCW), as a therapist and then as the director of mental health. She then served for five years as the clinical services director at The Women’s Initiative (TWI), a nonprofit agency that provides counseling, social support, and education to women and members of the gender expansive community who are either uninsured or underinsured. She is currently Director of Counseling and Wellness Services at the Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center at UVA. Ashley has served as the co-chair of the service systems committee of the Mental Health and Wellness Coalition and continues to provide clinical supervision for licensure to residents in counseling.

Andrew McGehee - Treasurer

Andrew is a director in central finance at the University of Virginia and brings 15 years of financial experience in nonprofits to Georgia’s Friends. Before his time at UVA, Andrew worked for a public accounting firm in Charlottesville performing audits and tax services for nonprofits. Andrew holds an MBA from James Madison University, and a BS in Accounting from Virginia Tech. When Andrew isn’t working, he spends time with his family and loves fishing.

Joanne Blakemore - Secretary

Joanne Blakemore is an experienced nonprofit management executive with policy, fundraising, marketing, and community engagement expertise and has been a dedicated supporter of Georgia’s Friends since its inception. She has directed efforts to raise awareness about humanitarian causes around the globe and currently serves as an advisory board member for the University of Virginia Cancer Center and as a director of the Charlottesville Committee on Foreign Relations. She has led the International Women’s Group in Qatar, St. Anne’s Guild in Paris, and the ASEAN Children’s Foundation and the American Association of Singapore, both in the Republic of Singapore. Her diverse nonprofit experience and dedication to service, equality, and justice are a great asset to Georgia’s Friends.

Charlotte Chapman, LPC - Past President

Charlotte is a licensed professional counselor with a master’s degree in counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. She recently retired from a 40-year career of counseling, program administration, and teaching. Her most recent position was director of counseling for the Women’s Center at UVA. She was also on the faculty of VCU’s Rehabilitation Counseling Program. While teaching at VCU, she was involved in national research projects in addiction treatment, providing training and consulting to public sector treatment programs. Charlotte specializes in trauma-informed treatment and addictions treatment. In retirement, she is enjoying gardening, reading, traveling, and volunteering.

Dorothy Tompkins, MD - Founder

Dorothy earned an MD from the University of Virginia and BA from the College of William and Mary. She is certified by and a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of Cardiology. She was a co-founder and is the retired medical director of Blue Ridge First Step. She is a retired associate professor at the UVA School of Medicine, founder of Pantops Methadone Clinic, and past associate medical director of The Farley Institute.  She is a master gardener, master naturalist, and tree steward. Dorothy has served on numerous community nonprofit boards and is the founder of Georgia’s Friends, Inc.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Diane Brownlee

Diane studied at Furman University, the University of Northern Iowa, Georgia State University, and the University of Virginia. She holds a BA in Spanish, M.ED. in reading disorders, and an MA in special education. Diane served in teaching and special education positions for more than 30 years in Charlottesville and Albemarle County schools. She served in numerous leadership positions, including as team leader in both the city and county and several other capacities. Diane has been a dedicated volunteer with community organizations including First Presbyterian Church, CASA, the Senior Center, and Martha’s Market Committee.

Louise B. Gilliam

Louise B. Gilliam is a Charlottesville native who graduated from St. Anne’s Belfield and Sweet Briar College. She is the Associate Director of Leasing, Real Estate and Leasing Services at the University of Virginia. Louise has raised three sons, two of whom still reside in Charlottesville. Working in real estate and leasing services at the University for the past 16 years has helped her solidify long-term, deep relationships in the community. When not at work, you’ll find her walking every square inch of the City or at the barn, having picked up horseback riding again after a 36-year absence.

Robert Gray

Robert is a visionary entrepreneur and social activist from Albemarle County, VA, deeply committed to criminal justice reform and economic empowerment. With a bachelor’s degree in political Science from Saint Augustine's University, he has over a decade of experience in community engagement and youth advocacy. Robert's accolades include the Elaine Marshall Award and recognition from Saint Augustine’s University. He's also been honored by Charlottesville City Council for his community service efforts, including organizing back-to-school and toy drives. Currently, Robert serves on various committees and task forces, focusing on financial resilience, juvenile justice, and Black male achievement, showcasing his ongoing dedication to social change and empowerment.

Carla Hallman, SHRM-SCP 

Carla Hallman, SHRM-SCP, is the Human Resources Manager at Farmington Country Club. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Carla lived a nomadic life as a child of Barbadian immigrants and a U.S. Army service member before moving to Charlottesville. She eventually settled in Charlottesville and transitioned to human resources following her own career in intelligence analysis. Since being in Charlottesville, she has pursued a degree from the University of Virginia and completed her SHRM-SCP. Carla has enjoyed being an active community member for the past 14 years, serving on numerous boards and as a past president of the Junior League of Charlottesville. Carla's local ties include her husband, sister, and son. When not working or volunteering, she enjoys dance, the arts, and veteran's advocacy.

Helen Karls

Helen’s professional expertise spans nearly 40 years in the health care arena and during the last 25 years she’s focused on Medicaid managed care and how best to serve low income and underserved individuals. Helen currently works as an independent consultant for Medicaid insurers in capture management and proposal development. She’s served numerous volunteer, committee chair, and board responsibilities to include work with the NIH pediatric AIDs/cancer floor, Junior Federated Women’s Club of Chester, and Moderator of the Diaconate with Chester Presbyterian Church. Helen has exercised a breadth of volunteer and leadership roles with Hospice of the Piedmont since 2014, and she’s currently also serving as a board member of a Charlottesville women’s club since 2021. Originally from Maryland, Helen graduated with a BA from the University of Maryland and also holds an MBA from George Washington University.

Albe LaFave

A UVA graduate with a degree in psychology, Albe first worked in clinical roles in psychiatric hospitals and then as a probation and parole officer in Louisa County. In 1998, he joined the Charlottesville-Albemarle Office of the Public Defender as sentencing advocate and served as prisoner advocate with the UVA Institutional Review Board. Albe served on the Region Ten board and was a founding board member on the local Therapeutic Docket, chairing its advisory committee until his retirement in 2022. Albe enjoys building and renovating homes, restoring classic automobiles, sailing, skiing, and playing guitar and harmonica.

Kathy Murphy

Kathy brings extensive financial and nonprofit expertise to Georgia’s Friends. She has more than 30 years of financial experience in technology and venture capital sectors including 18 years as CFO of early stage and public software companies. Her knowledge of financial management best practices is a great asset to Georgia’s Friends. Kathy holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BS from Georgetown University.

Elaine Oakey

Elaine Oakey has been active personally and professionally in the Charlottesville community for nearly 50 years after moving to the area with her husband Ted in 1973. Prior to moving here, Elaine worked in a congressional office during the Watergate and Vietnam eras. In Charlottesville, she worked for several years for A.E. Dick Howard. Starting in 1991, Elaine worked for 25 years with AG Edwards in administration, account management, and compliance and later with Wells Fargo Advisors. While raising her two sons, she remained active in numerous community organizations including her church, local garden club, and speaker’s group and now with Georgia’s Friends as an active volunteer and supporter.

Annie Sartori

Annie serves on the board of directors of the Charlottesville Symphony. She founded Insiders Network to College, an advisory service for college bound students with learning disabilities. Annie has also served on several boards and has volunteered in organizations supporting scholarships for students.

Stephanie Snell

Stephanie is a Charlottesville native and graduate of UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce. After “retiring” from a 20+ year career in commercial banking, she now owns and operates Charlottesville Skin and Laser Center.  Stephanie has had an active volunteer career serving on numerous boards, often in leadership positions, including UVA Children’s, Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Live Arts, Association of Junior League International, Junior League of Charlottesville, Sexual Assault Resource Agency, First Night Virginia, Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville, and numerous committees within Albemarle County Schools.  She is the mother of twin daughters and grandmother to five.

Brooke Spencer

Brooke is a design professional who has owned and managed several Charlottesville businesses over the past two decades. In addition to her ongoing business activities she remains active in several community organizations and has served on numerous nonprofit boards and executive committees. In her spare time, Brooke enjoys hiking, gardening, and travel.