I am a 28 year veteran of the banking industry. I met my husband in North Carolina and moved to Georgia and worked in several locations with United Community Bank the last being here in the Gilmer County market for 3 years. I have completed numerous financial courses throughout my career. I graduated from Commercial Lending School and Advanced Commercial Lending School.

I am active in the community where I currently serve on the Appalachian Children’s Center Board of Directors. The March of Dimes for Gilmer, Pickens and Fannin County as well as being active with the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce and serving on the Ambassador Committee with the Chamber.

I am married to Robert Fernandez and reside in Jasper and have one daughter Amanda Greene and one step son Wesley Fernandez who reside in Canton as well as three wonderful grandchildren Colby, Ethan and Caitlyn. In my off time I enjoy traveling and gardening with my husband as well as spending quality time with my family.

Greg Arp, Vice-President

Greg Arp is the Chief of Police for the East Ellijay Police Department. He is a native of Fannin County living in the Epworth Community with his wife Julie and their three children. Greg graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He holds both a law enforcement certification and executive certification from the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council. Chief Arp has a deep seeded interest in the safety and welfare of children. He volunteers for the ACC Board and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children through the Appalachian Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court. He brings ten years experience to the board working with children, teens and the juvenile justice system in addition to his law enforcement background. He is an active member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and has served two terms as a representative of the 11th district of GACP.

Pat Key, Secretary

Pat is retired with 32 years experience in the field of education. Most recently Pat worked for the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit.

She is married to Bill Key; and they have two grown children and two grandchildren. The Keys have lived in Gilmer County since 1979 moving from Nashville, Tennessee.

In her work with CASA, Pat became aware of the invaluable work the Children’s Advocacy Center does for the children and their caregivers in Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens Counties. By serving on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Center, Pat hopes to continue to be involved in improving the lives of children in this area.

Mark Holden, Treasurer

Mark is a lifelong resident of Gilmer County.  After 15 years at Ellijay Telephone Company, he made a career change to the banking industry.  For three years he has served as a lending officer at New Horizons Bank.  Mark and his family also operate a poultry and cattle farm.  In addition to serving on the board of ACC, Mark also serves on the Advisory Board of the Southern Farmers Association, as Treasurer of the Gilmer County Kids Kottage Commission and as District Supervisor for the Limestone Valley Soil and Water Conservation District.  He is also a past Vice Chairman for the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce and past President of the Southern Farmers Association.

Will Beattie, Board Member

Will Beattie is currently the Public Relations Director for ETC Communications, LLC in Ellijay, Georgia. His interest in the Appalachian Children's Center, Inc. is driven by the need this community has for such an organization to help children. Will is a graduate of the Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina with a B.S. in Business Administration. He is also a graduate of the International Studies Program at Kells College-Santander, Spain; a graduate of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Academy-Basic Law Enforcement; and a graduate of the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce “Leadership Gilmer II.” Will has previous experience as a State Law Enforcement Agent in South Carolina as well. Currently, Will is involved in the local community as the President Elect (2007) for the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce; is on the Board of Directors for North Georgia Hospice; Appointed to the Georgia Academy for Economic Development (2006); the ETC Representative for Gilmer County Builders Association; the ETC Representative for the Dedicated Ellijay Merchants Association; has served as a Chaperone for the Rotary International High School program; and serves as a Gilmer County Emergency Management Search and Rescue Technician with the local K9 Dog Team.

Leslie A. Bechtel was born in New York State, graduated cum laude from Syracuse University, and she completed her Art History Masters degree work at the University of Maryland. She came to Georgia in 1980 to attend Emory Law School. Then she practiced law in Atlanta, GA from 1983-2006, most recently as Deputy Commissioner for Legal and Consumer Affairs at the State Department of Banking and Finance. Mrs. Bechtel also performed volunteer work in Atlanta as a facilitator for group meetings for victims of domestic violence. Retiring from state service in April 2006, Mrs. Bechtel relocated to Morganton, GA, with her husband, to a log cabin they have had since about 1987. Her interests include Art, writing, gardening, reading, cooking, cabin improvements (they never end!) and travel. Currently, she is working with Tiffany Brown with the North Georgia Mountain Crisis Network, on an elder abuse project.

Larry Callahan, Board Member

Larry Callahan is the Chief of Police for the Ellijay Police Department. He is a 20 year Law Enforcement veteran and has served as Chief since February 2000. Larry resides in Epworth (in Fannin County) with his wife Angie and their children Steven, Megan, Hunter, and Heather. Larry is a POST Certified Peace Officer and holds a Chief Executive Law Enforcement Officer Certification from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. In addition to his duties as chief, Larry is also very active in the community, serving as an officer at his church, as well as, on several boards including being on the Board of Directors for the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force. Larry is an active member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and has served two terms as a representative of GACP District 11.

Tammy Daniels, Board Member

Tammy was born in Marietta, GA. She worked at Hewlett Packard Company for 14 years before relocating to Ellijay in 2003. She and her husband Ralph own RTD Contracting, Inc. They build homes, develop land & invest in real estate. They also have 3 dogs named Toby, Smokey & Lucky. In 2005 she became very interested in the ACC and did volunteer work until she became a board member in 2006.

Amber Davenport, Board Member

Amber Davenport was born and spent most of her childhood in Statesville, North Carolina before moving to Ellijay, Georgia in 1995. Amber is Vice President / Marketing Manager of United Community Bank in Ellijay. She has attended both Dalton State College and Appalachian Technical College pursuing a degree in Business Management and is a graduate of the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Gilmer.

Amber is very active in her community. Along with serving as a Board Member and being involved with the Appalachian Children’s Center she also serves as a Board Member for the Northeast Georgia Chapter for the American Red Cross, Committee Chair for the Gilmer County Relay for Life, Committee Member for the North Georgia Tri-County March for Babies and Board Member for The Douglas Lee West Foundation, Inc. She also volunteers with the Special Olympics, Boy Scouts of America and serves as an ambassador for the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce.

Amber resides in Ellijay (Gilmer County) with her husband Teairlton and their son Braden.

Amber says that she has been blessed with the gift of a child and wants to help advocate for the safety and happiness of all children.

Dave Garner, Board Member

Dave is a 1996 graduate of Kennesaw State University where he earned a B.S. in Communications. He and his wife Jana have two children, Reagan and Dalton. Dave serves as the Sports Director for ETC 3 and has maintained a professional relationship with Georgia Public Broadcasting as a play-by-play announcer for the GHSA State football and basketball championships. Dave also serves on the Board of Directors for the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce. He is an active member of First Baptist Church of Jasper; where he also serves on the Public Relations Committee and as an ordained Deacon. His genuine desire to reverse the cycle of child abuse is fueled by his passion for children. Dave was recently accepted into the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communication.

Beth Houk, Board Member

Bio coming soon.

Cindy Prillaman Hall, DMD, Board Member

Cindy Hall has been involved with the ACC since its very first board meeting. She has served in each officer position, including serving as Board President from 2005-2008. "Caring for the children of our judicial circuit is the most important community service I can imagine." Cindy is committed to the advocacy for children both through her efforts at the ACC as well as her profession as a dentist. She has practiced general dentistry for over a decade here in Gilmer County, following 3 years as a soldier and dental officer in the US Army. Cindy has been married to Jud Hall since 1995 and they were blessed with a daughter, Madison, in 2008. "I have always felt the need to help and protect anyone as vulnerable as a child, but becoming a mother myself just brings it that much closer to my heart."

David Lillard, Board Member

Bio coming soon.

Melissa Lillard, Board Member

Bio coming soon.

Alan May, Board Member

Bio coming soon.

Allen Wigington, Board Member

Bio coming soon.