Barbara Garner Appointed As Executive Director
MARIETTA, Ga., January 18, 2023—Circles® Cobb, a chapter of Circles USA, has appointed Barbara Garner, CAP®, as Executive Director effective immediately. Barbara will lead Circles Cobb forward by building a solid foundation and growing its market presence through her collaborative leadership style and commitment to accountability to the Cobb County community.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are pleased to appoint Barbara as the first Executive Director of Circles Cobb,” stated Holly Tuchman, Circles Cobb Board Chair and Co-Owner of RobertKent Galleries. “Barbara is a proven nonprofit leader with a successful track record of engaging community donors, serving as a dedicated community volunteer and developing programs that support the needs of our community.”
Prior to joining Circles Cobb, Barbara served as Donor Services Manager for Cobb Community Foundation for over five years, building strong relationships with funders, nonprofit agencies, volunteers and professional advisors. She achieved the prestigious Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation in 2021, is an active community volunteer and formerly served on the Estate Planning Council of North Georgia board. Barbara, her husband John, and their two sons, have lived in Cobb County for more than 30 years combined.
Circles Cobb, formed in 2022, focuses on building community to end poverty through a proven model that gathers people who are motivated to move out of poverty and matches them with middle-income and high-income volunteers who can support and encourage them on their journey.
Through online or in-person training and weekly meetings, participants (called Circle Leaders) build friendships with volunteers (called Allies). Over time, these relationships help families climb out of poverty and achieve financial stability. The opportunities and obstacles families experience are shared with the larger community, so successes can be celebrated and barriers can be overcome. Data from Circles in 80+ communities shows that participants who stick with the program achieve a 78% increase in income after 18 months and a 121% income increase after three years.
The founding Board of Directors is comprised of business, nonprofit and community leaders, including:
Chair) Holly Tuchman – RobertKent Galleries
(Vice Chair) Jeri Barr – Community Volunteer, former CEO of the Center for Family Resources
Bud Darr – North Metro Church
John Griffin – St. Vincent de Paul
Elliott Hennington – Powder Springs Community Task Force
Jeff Jernigan – Pinkerton & Laws
William Johnson – Four Corners Group, Mission 1:27
Shari Martin – Cobb Community Foundation
Alan Nicely – Smyrna First United Methodist Church
Lisa Olens – Georgia Power
Daryl Price – Noonday Association of Churches
Angie Smith – Mission 1:27
Andy Starnes – Moore Colson
Bill Wagner – Argos Concrete
“It is an honor to serve alongside such dedicated philanthropic leaders as we bring the Circles' proven model to our community,” shared Barbara Garner, Executive Director for Circles Cobb. “This initiative has been transformational in dozens of communities, helping participants move from simply surviving to thriving. We look forward to partnering with the community and local leaders and nonprofits, to implement poverty reduction solutions that will make a positive impact in the lives of so many throughout Cobb and beyond.”