Born in Savannah to a Georgia Tech graduate and UGA graduate, Mary went out-of-state to get a bachelors degree from Furman University. Enticed by friends to move to Hotlanta after graduation, she had full intention to move back to Savannah after a couple of years but still hasn't been able to tear herself away from the big city. Following six years in the hotel industry, she began working for The Commerce Club, Atlanta, in 1994, where she remained for 17 years, handling communications, marketing, programming, events and membership. During the same time frame, she lived in the same Buckhead condo, drove the same Honda Accord, and saw the same hairstylist. However, the past five years have brought lots of exciting changes, including meaningful career moves, a marriage with children, new (larger) car and a new home.
Having served 10+ years as a Sunday School and youth leader, primarily at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Mary credits teenagers for teaching her as much as she taught them, despite having spent four years in University of the South's Education for Ministry (EfM) program. She's been on the Advisory Board of Shepherd Center since 2005 and is a graduate of Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional Leadership Institute (RLI) and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits' High Potential Diversity Leadership program. In addition to her husband, Hugh, she loves her two stepchildren, Hayes and Elizabeth, and two cats, Spooky and Tugger. And, in case you were wondering, she's still seeing the same hairstylist.