Board of Directors & Staff
Our Board of Directors
- Jim Long, Esq. – Board Chair
- Debbie Berens, PhD, CRC, CCM, CLCP – Vice Chair
- John Cleveland – Secretary
- Stephen Holleman, MBA – Treasurer
- LuRae Ahrendt, RN, CRRN, CCM, CLCP
- Karen Baker
- Jennifer Broom, MPH
- David Burke, MD
- Betsy Fox
- Mark Gannon, Esq.
- Ron Seel, PhD
- Joanne Smith
- Ex-officio: Cindi Johnson, MA – Executive Director, Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse
Our Staff
Astrid Fachisthers agreed to join our staff as an Interpreter in 2007 after providing Spanish-English medical interpretation through an agency for 7 years She floats in every work unit making sure that all members are fully participating and their voices are heard.
Cindi Johnson, MA is our Executive Director. Cindi has worked with people disabled by brain injury as a cognitive rehabilitation therapist, administrator and author since 1986.
Douglas Penn, BS became a Work Unit Coordinator in early 2011 after previously volunteering & working part-time hours at the Clubhouse. His years as an educator with Fulton County School System have helped prepare him for facilitating the Business Unit here, and he is enjoying the folks in this new chapter of his career!
Emma Kiser, BA joined Side by Side as our Quality Assurance Coordinator after graduating from UGA in 2004. She also backs up work unit and administrative staff so she is expert in assuring our quality in every area.
Greta Ann Hurst, BA has been our Office Manager since 2004. Her extensive background in administrative support and her other full time duty of caring for her brother who has a brain injury make her a great resource for members, staff, and families.
Judy Wissing, MS, CRC is our Vocational Specialist. She assists Clubhouse members in our work preparation program including job development activities and volunteer placements. She has worked in brain injury rehabilitation and taught psychology coursework at the college level before coming to Side by Side.
Ken Foster, BA, BSW joined the staff after completing a social work internship at Side by Side. He brings a wealth of professional support experience such as a foster care case manager, corrections officer, teacher, and military service member. He brings such patience, competence, and compassion to his work that we asked him to change career plans and join Side by Side full time.
Renn Judin, BA joined our staff as a Work Unit Coordinator right after graduating from Agnes Scott with a major in psychology in 2006. Renn volunteered with Side by Side throughout her college years.
Teresa Little, MS is our Program Coordinator who also provides life skills training and service coordination for Clubhouse members. Teresa’s educational background is in psychology and she began working in brain injury rehabilitation in 1995.
Tom Tedards, M.Ed., a retired CRC, was the state Vocational Rehabilitation counselor for many of our Clubhouse members prior to his retirement in 2002. He loved the Clubhouse so much that he started a second career with Side by Side.
Virginia Vaughan, MSW has been a social worker since 1971. As our Resource Coordinator she supervises interns, brings volunteers into the Clubhouse, leads our efforts to raise charitable funds, and assists new members in joining the Clubhouse.
Testimonials
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Just had to send you a note for sending Colleen our way. We have never had anybody as conscientious and dedicated to her work as Colleen. She is always on time and goes out of her way to accommodate others in the Office. Thanks for sending Colleen and the wonderful work done at Side By Side.
Candler Broom, CEO, Austin Brown Inc. -
The Clubhouse is a treasured and unusual resource. It provides experiences that I, as a professional, cannot. Working as part of a community, a person learns to value others, to value him or herself. The Clubhouse provides a safe and respectful space in which patients become people again.
Dr. M. Rusin, psychologist serving brain injured clients -
As regards staff and volunteers the Clubhouse offers a terrific opportunity for meaningful service to our fellow man. Families and society are well served when a member who was providing meaningful contributions to his family before his accident or set-back is re-empowered and regains his self worth.
Irvine, Clubhouse volunteer -
The Clubhouse produces winners on all sides. Those who provide service and those who receive service benefit from the Clubhouse. It provides a positive environment where every member is treated as an individual and where the member is invested in the therapy offered to get that member sufficiently functional for him to re-enter society as a functioning individual.
Irvine, Clubhouse volunteer -
Side By Side means so much to me and my family. As the wife of a member, I am so thankful for the role Side By Side plays in my husband’s continued growing and adapting to life with a brain injury. As a volunteer, my family is rewarded ten fold every time we do something for the clubhouse in smiles alone!
Laurie, wife of Clubhouse member -
Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse is a true gem within the field of rehabilitation and community support for adults with traumatic or acquired brain injury. Side by Side helps members regain their sense of self and move forward to become productive and contributing members of society, with the support, love and care of the other members, staff and volunteers, family members, and even the community.
Dr. D. Berens, rehabilitation consultant -
The Clubhouse has been a wonderful place for her to re-learn socialization skills that were lost due to her traumatic brain injury. The Clubhouse has been a lifesaver for my daughter.
Mother of a Clubhouse member -
My husband began attending Side by Side 1½ years ago, and after a long nine year journey with brain injury, Side by Side was a breath of fresh air. When he is helped, it benefits our whole family.
Wife of a Clubhouse member -
I found a place where I can belong. It means a lot to me to have friends, comrades who have been through similar experiences.
Richie, Clubhouse member -
The members and staff are steadfast support to me and I feel great on a day when I have accomplished my goals.
Frank, Clubhouse member
