Intown Cares Announces Five New Appointments to its Board of Directors

New directors bring strong operational, financial, and social impact leadership experience from major industries

ATLANTA – November 2, 2023 – Local nonprofit organization Intown Cares, a leader in addressing homelessness and hunger in Atlanta, today announced five new appointments to its Board of Directors: Alexandra Kirk, Vice President of Development and Construction, Jamestown; Rob Shields, Owner, Acadia Shutters; Kelly Goldston, Chief Digital Officer, Spanx; Lindsey Barranco, PhD, Behavioral Scientist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Dara Simmons, Assistant to the Head of School, Paideia School. The directors, all of whom bring significant experience in operational excellence and driving financial performance and social impact, have each been appointed to serve a three-year term, with an optional term renewal.

“We are honored to welcome these extraordinary leaders as new colleagues on the Intown Cares Board,” said Intown Cares Board Chair Joanna Genser. “Each of these new directors brings a unique perspective and expertise from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors that will add tremendous value to the organization.”

Founded in 2010, Intown Cares operates one of the largest, most innovative low-barrier food distribution programs in the Atlanta area. The organization also deploys one of the largest, most effective Homeless Services teams in the city that supports individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in navigating the journey to permanent housing solutions.

“As we continue to serve neighbors who face the greatest obstacles through our dual programs, I look forward to the collective energy and dedication to our mission of preventing and reversing homelessness and hunger these leaders will contribute,” said Intown Cares Executive Director Brad Schweers.

About Alexandra Kirk

Based in Jamestown’s Atlanta office, Kirk currently manages development, overseeing each project’s vision, providing financial analysis, securing entitlements, and hiring and managing design teams through project completion. Previously, she worked in Skanska USA Commercial Development’s Boston Office on several of the company’s multifamily projects, and as a project designer for Gensler in Washington, D.C. Kirk earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University’s School of Architecture, and an MBA specializing in Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business.

About Rob Shields

Rob Shields founded Acadia Shutters, Inc., a specialty retailer of window treatments serving Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville, in 2003. Acadia Shutters has won numerous awards for providing excellent customer service and was named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the US in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Prior to his current role, Shields worked for CheckFree, now Fiserv, as the Senior Product Manager for New Products. He also served in Business Development roles at various tech startups. Shields began his career as an Associate at the Boston Consulting Group’s Atlanta Office.

About Kelly Goldston

Since joining Spanx in 2020, Goldston oversees all performance marketing, ecommerce, and digital product for SPANX.com. Previously, she led digital marketing for two consumer-facing brands acquired by Walmart and Amazon. Most recently Goldston served as the VP of Performance Marketing at ELOQUII (women’s fashion, sizes 12-28) overseeing acquisition, retention, and customer analytics teams. Prior to ELOQUII, she led customer acquisition for Diapers.com, the flagship ecommerce company of Quidsi Inc., an Amazon company. Goldston holds an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College of Chicago.

About Lindsey Barranco

As Associate Chief of Program in the Prevention Practice and Translation Branch within the Division of Violence Prevention at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Barranco provides leadership and technical assistance around implementation science, adaptation and evaluation. In her role she also helps to develop tools and resources to support the implementation of evidence-informed violence prevention strategies. Prior to her current role, she provided technical assistance to states and local communities addressing homelessness, and before that worked at the Georgia Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless. Barranco received her Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina where her dissertation explored different models of Permanent Supportive Housing.

About Dara Simmons

A volunteer with organizations working to alleviate hunger and homelessness in Atlanta for over 30 years, Simmons enjoys front-line contact with those in need, but has also served on several fundraising teams to ensure support for various causes. She previously served on the board of the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children and was also a trustee at Paideia School, where she is currently the Assistant to the Head of School. Simmons is a graduate of Emory College and University of Michigan.

The new appointees will join the following existing members: Joanna Genser (Board Chair), Aaron Chaiken (Board Vice Chair), Melanie Palumbo (Board Secretary), Sunil Ghatnekar (Board Treasurer), Bill Humphries (Immediate Past Board Chair), Brad Schweers (ex officio), Randall Allen, Roman Arman, Ashley Carter, Mayuri Joshi, Timothy Lee, Alex Romeo, and Rebecca Wallace.

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About Intown Cares

Intown Cares is the nonprofit that goes the extra mile to help intown Atlantans meet their most essential human needs, food and housing. We specialize in serving those who have the hardest time getting housing make the transition to their own homes; and we provide easy access to food for any who need it. Intown Cares is defined by persistence. The people we employ, the process we follow, and the perspective we share are all guided by a single, unifying idea: solving hunger and homelessness requires imagination, flexibility, and a willingness to take the extra step.

Learn more: intowncares.org

Connect on social media: @intowncares

MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected]