Brigitte VanBaelen is the Director of Marketing, JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District. Brigitte has vast experience in the fields of public relations, communications, marketing, digital media, community outreach and operations. Brigitte has worked throughout 100 countries managing global, regional and local coordination for BellSouth Europe and A.C. Nielsen. She held the position of Corporate Secretary and Chief Community Relations Officer at E*TRADE during the Tech Bubble in Silicon Valley, where she worked on multiple projects such as private offerings and the Company’s NYSE and NASDAQ listing. As a shareholder of Mutasia, a children’s entertainment company, she assumes the position as Chief Operations Officer. She earned a degree in Communications at COOVI in Brussels, Belgium. A native of Belgium, she lives on Isle of Hope with her husband Elfin. Together, they have a son Tobin who attends middle school at Tybee Island Maritime Academy.

PRINCIPAL

Peter Ulrich has been in public service for 27 years, teaching and education administration for 23 years of that time. Before becoming an educator and administrator, he worked in several areas of counseling including anger management, domestic violence,  family reunification,  and school counseling. 

Peter opened The STEM Academy at Bartlett in 2013, a STEM Choice School in Savannah, Georgia. In 2016, the Future of Education Technology Conference named The STEM Academy at Bartlett the #1 middle grades STEM program in the United States. The school continues that tradition today and is still an Apple Distinguished School, Lighthouse School to Watch, and was the first whole-school middle grades program to receive STEM certification in Georgia.  

Peter was awarded the Georgia PTA Middle School Principal of the Year award in 2016 and chosen as one of Georgia’s visionary leaders for STEM and STEAM education in 2018.  He was selected as a TED Innovative Educator in 2019 and is now the CEO of Inspire Savannah, the regional host organization to the annual TEDxSavannah event.  Peter has been the leader of the Tybee Island Maritime Academy since 2019. 

Peter asserts education is the economic engine of any community. More importantly, he works to have community members see education as its innovation engine. A strong education creates a workforce ready to solve the problems of today, while anticipating solutions to the problems of the future. An impactful education inspires a community who not only seeks to solve problems, but who empathizes, collaborates, and listens to others in order to make the world better. As a leader, his goal is to develop these skills within students, teachers, industry partners and community leaders.

He consistently works to create school cultures that authentically prepare students for the challenges and experiences of life. He has a lot of experience listening and responding to criticism and feedback, how to be transparent in decision making, inspiring others to stand behind decisions in the best interest of schools, and developing and growing a program based on qualitative and quantitative data. He teaches on the power collaboration holds for the future by creating engaging, relevant educational experiences for all levels and perspectives of stakeholders.

According to parents and teachers, Peter continually creates a positive, collaborative culture, where individuals feel supported and everyone has an opportunity to engage in a transformative academic experience. For Peter and his colleagues, STEM is less about the acronym and more about how to access the world as we work together to solve problems. Knowing the foundational role that education, especially public education, has for our communities, he is grateful for the opportunity to play a part in substantive change.

Peter Ulrich is a leader who is always seeking growth, someone who uses skills and qualities to create radical possibilities for the community, and inspires current and future generations to solve problems creatively.

Ron Bossick has lived on Tybee Island since 1995. He has watched our community grow and change throughout the years and has participated in that process through his involvement with his church, the City of Tybee Planning Commission, board membership of the Tybee Island Historical Society, City sponsored committees, and general social involvement with many of the Tybee’s citizens.

Ron has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Engineering. He is a licensed commercial conditioned air contractor and real estate sales person in the state of Georgia. His experience is diversified through commercial, industrial, residential, government, educational, religious, medical, laboratory, childcare, and data center projects. He has participated in operations, maintenance, design, management, construction, and commissioning of this diversified portfolio of projects. His specialties are engineering and management evaluations of facilities, property condition surveys, indoor air quality investigation, operational quality assurance reviews, maintenance management systems development and auditing, energy audits, construction document review, construction project inspection, and system commissioning.

Dr. Cora Thompson served in the P12 sector for 32 years in the capacity of classroom teacher, Early Invention Program Lead Teacher, District Differentiation Specialist, and 21st After School Site Coordinator. She is endorsed in three areas: Reading, Gifted Education, and Teacher Support Specialist. Dr. Thompson is a published author and conference presenter. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Savannah State College, Masters of Education from Troy State University and a Doctorate of Education from Nova Southeastern University. She presently serves as a faculty member of Savannah State University where she is an Associate Professor of Middle Grades Education, Field & Clinical Experience Coordinator, Post Baccalaureate Program Coordinator, and Interim Dean of the College.

Frank Peluso is a writer and producer for the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has worked at the University for the past four years. During that time, he has helped produce commercials and worked on many of the documentaries that SCAD has produced. Before SCAD, Frank worked in Hollywood on a number of feature films including The Notebook, My Sister’s Keeper, and Alpha Dog.

Prior to his work in show business, Frank Graduated from Pepperdine University in 1999. He lives on Tybee with his three TIMA Tide children, and his wife, Meredith, (née Reeve,) who grew up on the island just a few doors down from where they currently reside.

Marie Gooding served as the first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from March 2011 to her retirement in June 2018. In this role, she managed daily operations at the Atlanta Fed’s headquarters and branch offices in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, and New Orleans. She was vice chair of the Bank’s Management Committee, a member of the Discount Committee, and the backup to the Atlanta Fed’s president in monetary policy responsibilities.

In addition to her Atlanta Fed role, Gooding served as the retail payments product director for the Federal Reserve System, overseeing check collection and Automated Clearing House (ACH) services. She was part of the Conference of First Vice Presidents, contributing to system-wide efficiency enhancements.

During her 32-year tenure, Gooding used collaborative leadership, holding various officer positions, including interim president in 2017, representing the Atlanta Fed at the Federal Open Market Committee.

Before joining the Bank, she taught secondary math and remains dedicated to education, having chaired the boards of Communities in Schools of Georgia, the Georgia Council on Economic Education, and serving on LeapYear Atlanta’s board.

After retiring, Gooding became a permanent resident of Tybee Island, serving on the Planning Commission and as Chair of Trustees at her church. A graduate of Old Dominion University, she holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary math education, completing advanced management programs at Duke University and Harvard.

Rob Weisel is a higher education professional currently serving as an Assistant Director of Student Success and Advising at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), in Savannah, Georgia. A Pennsylvania native, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Piedmont College (now Piedmont University) and a Master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University.

Rob has focused on several areas of higher education throughout his eighteen year-career at SCAD, including college athletics, enrollment management, financial aid, and student retention. On the soccer field, he’s been a staple of youth coaching in coastal Georgia since 2004, working with all ages and levels of competitiveness. Along with his wife, Anne, he’s also worked closely with student-athletes and the college recruitment process.

Rob and Anne live in Savannah and have two school-aged children, Ben and Grace.

LaToya Brannen is a native of Savannah, Georgia. She has obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Community Leadership from Armstrong State University. LaToya believes women should have access to affordable quality healthcare regardless of their citizenship and socio-economic status.

A lifelong learner, LaToya is a Master Trainer of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor. LaToya is the owner of LS Brannen Consulting, LLC in addition to being a Certified Life Coach and Certified Professional Workshop Facilitator.

LaToya has always been passionate about helping others. She volunteers for several organizations in the Savannah area. LaToya enjoys educating people about organ donation, voter registration, suicide prevention, policy issues and women’s health concerns.

LaToya is a graduate of Step Up Savannah’s Neighborhood Leadership Academy. She currently serves Keep Savannah Beautiful and on the United Way of the Coastal Empire’s Community Investments panel. LaToya is a member of the Savannah (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. In 2019, she was nominated by her peers as the Advocate in The Beacon Magazine.

LaToya has one son, Tyler. When she is not working and volunteering, LaToya loves to keep learning by listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Tom Gillespie is a maritime and coastal engineer with over 10 years of professional experience. Tom holds a dual-bachelor’s degree from the University of New South Wales majoring in civil engineering and finance. Originally from Australia, Tom has been living and working in the USA for last 5 years (2018-2020 in Baton Rouge, LA; 2020-present in Savannah, GA). Tom brings technical and practical experience in the maritime industry locally, domestically, and internationally.

Tom and his wife Natallie live in Savannah.