Board of Advisors

The Herring Foundation of Hope has assembled a board of volunteer advisors to guide the organization.

Mark Blount

Mark is Vice President of Marketing for Brightree, a Home Medical Equipment (HME) software solutions company headquartered in Duluth, GA. He has held marketing and sales management positions with Fortune 50 corporations as well as start-up and medium-sized companies, including Emergency Visions, ExecuTrain, BellSouth, AT&T, and Home Wireless Networks. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Communications and has an MBA in Marketing, with honors, from Mercer University.

Irene E. Brown

Irene is Coordinator of Health Information at the Devereux Georgia Treatment Center, a residential psychiatric treatment center for children and adolescents. She graduated from North Park College in Chicago and is a member of the Incarnation Lutheran Church.

Sharon Burton

Sharon owns two transportation-related businesses and her industry affiliations include the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, and the Council of Logistics Management. Through The Robart Companies, Sharon donates time and funds to The Herring Foundation of Hope, the Walton County Humane Society, Make A Wish Foundation, Gwinnett County Meals on Wheels for Seniors, Challenged Child Inc., and the Norcross City Schools Mentoring Program. Sharon chairs The Herring Foundation of Hope Charity Ball Committee and volunteers for all activities relating to the Foundation.

Elisa Herring

Elisa is a consumer sales customer business manager for Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a Fortune 100 global consumer products company. Since joining Kimberly-Clark in 1988, she has received numerous sales achievement awards. Before joining Kimberly-Clark, Elisa worked for Pepsi-Cola Corporation. She has played an active volunteer role in community projects such as Providence Place Homeowner's Association Board of Directors and Wills Park Playground. Elisa received a BS degree from The University of Georgia.

Donna Kohlbacker

Donna is the Client Services Manager for Career Systems International (CSI), a Beverly Kaye Company. Prior to joining CSI, Donna held various sales and sales management roles in the technology industry. Many of those years were spent with ExecuTrain.  Donna has been involved with The Herring Foundation of Hope since its inception, assisting with the execution of the Charity Ball/Silent Auction event. She is an active member of North Point Community Church.

Andrea O'Brien

Andrea is Manager of Human Resources & Administration at Casey Gilson Leibel, a law firm in Atlanta. She has worked on all of The Herring Foundation of Hope fundraising events, as well as being active at Our Lady of the Assumption School, St.Pius X High School, and as a past President of the Dunwoody Newcomers Club.

Robert O'Brien

Bob is Vice President, National Director of Production & Sales Development for Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company (HRH), the 8th largest insurance intermediary in the USA. Before joining HRH, Bob was a Regional VP and GM at ExecuTrain. He holds a BS in Marketing from Fairfield University and is a licensed insurance broker in Georgia and Alabama. He has served as Chairperson for The Little Moments in Time Charity Golf Tournament and has worked in various capacities in all Foundation fund raising activities. Other community involvement includes volunteering at Our Lady of the Assumption School, St.Pius X High School, and as a Kiwanis Club Past President and Fund Raising Chairman. Bob currently serves on the Advisory Council for the HRH Charitable Foundation, which funds and staffs Habitat for Humanity projects across the country.

Roger Ware

Roger is President and CEO of Genesee General Corporation (Alpharetta, GA), a specialty commercial insurance organization. Prior to Genesee, Roger was Regional Vice President of Crum & Forster Insurance Company. Roger graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and has a MBA from the University of Colorado along with holding an Associate in Risk Management Degree from the Insurance Institute of America. Roger currently sits on two insurance boards for Interstate Insurance Group and Nautilus Insurance Company. Roger has been active with The Herring Foundation of Hope since it's formation and is active with coaching youth football.