FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Atlanta, August 7, 2023 – Georgia Community Trust (GCT) of Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI) announced the appointment of a new board chair and added two new board members. With that, the GCT Board of Directors now has a total of nine members.
Chris Rosselli assumes the position of a Board Chair after serving on the board for five years. He serves as counsel at Eversheds Sutherland. Chris has 20 years of experience advising clients regarding complex business matters. His practice covers a variety of domestic and international transactions for companies and funds, including mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, commercial contracting, and joint ventures. Chris has practiced law at a high level for his entire career. Prior to Eversheds Sutherland, he was deputy general counsel at Mohawk Industries and, before that, held positions at Alston & Bird as well as Delta Air Lines. He began his professional life as a teacher and coach at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
Chris has been highly involved in the community and knows well the challenges that the individuals living with disabilities face, particularly when it comes to finding a meaningful employment. He has a family member living with significant developmental disabilities. “Special needs trusts are an important tool for families supporting people with disabilities, but they are super technical, complicated, and expensive. I am really pleased to be working to make them accessible to regular Georgia families,” commented Chris Rosselli.
He highlighted the fact that the services offered by BDI have grown a lot since he first joined the organization. “We provide so many kinds of support in addition to employment services. Adding affordable tax and estate planning through GCT is just one example,” Chris added.
To further expand the GCT mission, two new board members join forces with the team – Lynn Smith and Stan Hill.
Lynn Smith is the current CEO/President of Easter Seals Inc. of East Georgia. She serves as a member of GATES and has served as GATES Past President. She is a strong advocate of the disability community.
Stan Hill is the Senior Director and lead Labor & Employment counsel for Floor & Décor. Previously, Stan was an employment law partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Polsinelli PC. He volunteers locally and nationally for Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. Stan previously served on the Fulton County Board for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and on the Young Professionals Council of Georgia Appleseed. Stan is the proud parent of daughter Avery and August, who has special needs.
“Stan and Lynn both have impressive backgrounds, and we believe that they are going to be terrific contributors. We are looking forward to having them on the team,” says Chris in his welcome message to the new board members.
The board has set high expectations for the next 12 months. Among the goals for the upcoming year is for GCT to serve even more people by expanding community outreach and connections. “The need is greater than the number of people we serve, and I hope that more people in the community can take advantage of what we offer,” says Chris Rosselli.
In addition to the new Board Chair and the two new board members, currently serving on the GCT of BDI Board of Directors are also the Former Chair Linda Pulin Wilson and Dave McKenney, Former Vice Chair. Marla Aronson, serving as a Treasurer, Laurin McSwain, John Ralls, and the current Secretary Charlotte Combre are also part of the Board.
About Georgia Community Trust of BDI
The Georgia Community Trust of BDI is a Pooled Special Needs Trust (PSNT) available to any Georgia resident living with a disability. The PSNT offers individuals and their loved ones a vehicle to save money for the future needs of the beneficiary, without losing eligibility for public benefit programs such as Medicaid and SSI. Established in 1997, it has been helping families ensure a quality of life without risking their eligibility for government benefits. The Georgia Community Trust of BDI currently manages over 600 accounts. 260 of these accounts are actively managed each month by the Bobby Dodd Institute Team.
