Michelle Prater

Michelle Prater, an Ohio native, moved to Georgia in 1990 to attend the University of North Georgia where she earned a bachelor’s degree in both marketing and management. She continued her education at Brenau University earning her MBA in Leadership Development.

Michelle started her career in banking. As a vice president at Regions then BB&T, she led a highly successful team earning many sales and leadership awards. After a mission trip to Uganda in 2005, she decided to leave corporate America and move into the nonprofit sector so that she could make a greater impact on those in need. Michelle worked in development for LDI Inc. and Map International before landing at United Way. In her role as Senior Director of Volunteerism at United Way of Greater Atlanta, Michelle created a new synergy around volunteerism launching this division into a lead income producer for UWGA.

In October 2015, Michelle accepted the position of President and CEO with the North Georgia Community Foundation. NGCF helps people and nonprofits invest generously in the lives of all those who call our community home. With Michelle at the helm, the organization has grown from $42 million in assets to its current level. Under her leadership, NGCF has become the go to resource for nonprofit training in North Georgia, offering learning opportunities for nonprofit Executive Directors and their staff on topics designed specifically for their organizations.

Michelle is part of the COVID-19 Community Leadership Coalition and currently serves on the UNG Mike Cottrell College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, the Women of UNG Scholarship Committee, the Boys and Girls of Lanier Board of Directors as well as their Finance Committee. She also serves on the Sisu Strategic Planning Committee. In the past, Michelle has been a member of the United Way Worldwide Volunteerism Engagement Council, The United Way Worldwide NFL Council, and Leadership Forsyth. She has won several awards for her work, most recently being recognized as the recipient of the 2021 Brenau University Community Service Award.

Michelle focuses on making an impact on others in her personal time as well. She has gone on mission trips to China, Romania, Bolivia and as mentioned above, Uganda. She has been a mentor for over 18 years. She started mentoring a first-grade boy named Jay and stayed his mentor through his graduation in 2013. When Jay unexpectedly passed away in 2017, Michelle stepped in to provide support for his infant son and she remains actively involved in his care today.

Lisa Warwick

Lisa Warwick joined the NGCF staff in 2000 and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance. In this role she is responsible for the investment, budgeting and auditing processes of the Foundation as well as for managing the general ledger and distribution of the assets of the Foundation to grantees. Lisa came to the Foundation after working for several years managing the operations for several divisions of Wallace Sheet Metal. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Marketing from North Georgia College, now the University of North Georgia.

Lisa serves as the treasurer of We-Care and is on the Youth Council and Missions Committee at her home church, Trinity United Methodist Church in Clermont. Her church partners with the Georgia Mountain Food Bank for monthly distributions that Lisa coordinates. She also volunteers at Wauka Mountain Elementary School and for the North Hall High School baseball program (and can always be found on a ball field watching her son play ball).

Megan Martin

Megan Martin is a native of Hall County, growing up in the south end of the county where she was in the first graduating class at Flowery Branch High School. Megan earned a degree in Marketing with a minor in Finance from Clemson University and has her MBA from Brenau University as part of the inaugural class of Brenau’s Executive Women’s MBA program. During her time in college, she interned with Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida as well as worked at Stewart, Melvin, & Frost LLP during college breaks. Prior to joining the team at the North Georgia Community Foundation in 2016, Megan was the Vice President of Membership Development & Events at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.

Megan is a graduate of Leadership Hall County, and stays involved in the community as a member and Secretary Elect of the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, member and Treasurer for WomenSource, and Dedicated Listener for Vision 2030.

With her position and involvement at the North Georgia Community Foundation, Megan enjoys giving back to the community that has been so good to her and her family.

Margaux Dolenc

Margaux worked in banking for more than 17 years with BB&T and Regions Bank. During this time, she rose to assistant vice president and won many sales and top performance awards including the Sterling Performance Award. She previously attended Gwinnett Technical College and BB&T University for management and business development courses.

She is an active participant in her community and is currently a member of the South Hall Rotary Club. She formerly served on the board of the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia and also volunteered with the community Light House Project.

Margaux is passionate about the community and impacting others through the work that she does. She enjoys working alongside nonprofits and NGCF fundholders through her role as Director of Grants & Community Partnerships with the North Georgia Community Foundation.

Abigail Carter

Abigail Carter is local to the Northeast Georgia region, having been born and raised in Jackson County and attending the University of North Georgia, where she earned a Bachelors in Business Administration.

While in college and afterwards, Abi worked at the law firm of Whelchel, Dunlap, Jarrard and Walker LLP in Gainesville before transitioning to the nonprofit sector where she was the Vice President of Operations and Finance at the United Way of Hall County. Abi’s role as Director of Strategic Initiatives has her working in all areas of operations at NGCF.

She and her husband live in Hall County with their two young daughters. Abi’s experience in the nonprofit sector and deep roots in the community help her appreciate the NGCF mission to enhance the spirit of community and the quality of life in our region.

Brigette Meeler

Brigette was born and raised in Hall County and has always enjoyed staying active and involved in the community. She earned her associates degree in accounting and stayed in the finance field as she went on to spend over 34 years in the banking industry.

Brigette and her husband reside in Clermont where they raised their two, now adult, children. She enjoys being a part of Grove Level Baptist Church and volunteering in the community. Brigette also discovered she has a passion for living a healthy lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same. She is certified in personal training and is currently working on her nutritional training certificate.

Brigette joined the NGCF team in fall of 2020 excited to apply her knowledge and skills in finance to her position at the foundation, while serving the community and nonprofit world.

Angela Slay

Angela is a lifelong resident of the North Georgia region, having lived in both Hall County and White County. She resides in Cleveland with her husband. They have three adult children along with their spouses and several grandchildren. Angela enjoys volunteering in her church, The Highlands UMC, and in the community with various groups and organizations.

Angela came to NGCF in November of 2020, after 35 years in the banking industry. She is looking forward to transitioning to the nonprofit sector and making an impact on the lives of those in the surrounding communities in a positive way.

Marci Gross

As the newest member on the team, Marci joined NGCF in 2022 to fulfill the role of Executive Assistant to the President & CEO. With a strong background in marketing and communications, Marci provides comprehensive support for all team members within the North Georgia Community Foundation.

With an undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of West Georgia and an MBA in Marketing from Walden University, Marci is passionate about using her skills and education to create opportunities for positive change within her community. Serving others in this capacity, as a part of the NGCF team, allows for a greater impact to meet the needs of families throughout the North Georgia community.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Marci’s professional roles included extensive work serving the public through non-profit programs at the American Cancer Society, marketing and public relations for the City of Lawrenceville Government, as well as Hall County Schools, specifically at Wauka Mountain Elementary.

As a native from Gwinnett County, Marci eventually made her way to the North Georgia mountains, where she and her two young daughters now call Cleveland home. They are active in their respective community groups at Concord Church, Wauka Mountain Elementary and North Hall Middle School.