STAFF AND
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A dedicated staff and board manage Deep Well's programs and volunteer efforts.
This has long been a hallmark of Deep Well — a spartan staff, supported by an incredibly active and involved Board of Directors, many of whom serve as volunteers themselves. Board members each have unique backgrounds and real-world experience, either in business or other non-profit organizations.
To contact our Board, please email DWBoard@deepwellproject.org.
The Staff
Sandy Gillis
Executive Director
Director@deepwellproject.org
After a 29-year career in advertising and marketing on Hilton Head Island and a five-year stint on the Deep Well Project board of directors, Sandy joined the staff as the executive director when Betsy Doughtie retired in early 2018. As Director, it’s Sandy’s job to make sure all programs run effectively, to work with the board on ideas for program expansions or new programs and to do community outreach to educate and improve awareness about the organization and its programs. Grant-writing and other forms of income generation are also a big part of her job, as well as hosting site tours and maximizing public speaking opportunities — all designed to spread the news of Deep Well to clients, donors and volunteers. Sandy and her husband, Bubba, are long-time island residents, and they have twin daughters. In her spare time, Sandy loves playing tennis, walking the beach and trying valiantly to train her high-energy rescue dog, Shadow.
Rita Jones
Assistant Director /
Island Livable Housing Program Coordinator
IslandLH@deepwellproject.org
Rita is a native of New York City. She has strong ties to our community, since both of her parents are Hilton Head Island natives. Rita is a retired naval officer, and she has seen the island transform over the years. She started at Deep Well as a volunteer. As Island Livable Housing Program Coordinator, she gathers home repair requests and makes home visits to assess the projects. Then, she prioritizes and schedules work for our Livable Housing volunteers or contractors.
Sherry Pritchard
Operations Manager
Office@deepwellproject.org
Sherry has lived on Hilton Head for 38 years, coming from Pennsylvania with her husband, three children and a grandchild on the way. Sherry came to Deep Well twelve years ago with an extensive human resources background; she had also been a faithful school volunteer for decades. She's responsible for vetting and approving clients’ aid requests and handling all day-to-day accounting tasks. Sherry is also the point person for ordering school supplies and coordinating Christmas toy registration along with the Santa Shop team. In her spare time, Sherry loves spending time with her grandchildren.
Kathy Mills
Pantry Manager
Pantry@deepwellproject.org
Kathy joined the Deep Well staff in October 2021 after seasonally volunteering in the pantry for the past 5 years. She brings knowledge and experience in managing volunteers and inventory after seven years with New Life Furniture Bank of Massachusetts, a nonprofit furniture bank in the Boston area. Kathy and her husband Barry have three adult children, who are working, studying and living in MA and CT. Hilton Head Island became the Mills' full-time home base in 2021 after they were part-time residents for years. Kathy’s diverse background also includes teaching preschool and children’s ministry work during the years her children were younger. Kathy enjoys her two book clubs, walking and going to the beach as she settles into her new Island life full time.
John Wilson
Mainland Livable Housing Coordinator
MainlandLH@deepwellproject.org
John and his wife, Susan, relocated to Hilton Head Island six years ago from the Washington, DC area. After a successful career in marketing and sales for large engineering and construction firms in DC, John founded his own real estate re-development company, bringing abandoned and blighted buildings back to life, doing much of the construction work himself. John joined the Deep Well Project team in March 2021, and his role is to coordinate Livable Housing home repair projects on the mainland. This includes assessing and budgeting out the project, working with the client on the plan, procuring the necessary supplies, and lining up volunteer as well as contractor labor to execute the repairs on owner-occupied homes. In his spare time, John is a renowned bird dog trainer and judge, with his two well-mannered German shorthair pointers being beloved members of his household.
Lori Alexander
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@deepwellproject.org
Lori had been visiting Hilton Head Island as a tourist for 50 years, until she and her husband, Mike, happily moved to Hilton Head Plantation in November 2020 from Charlotte, NC. Lori spent the majority of her professional career in the community college sector of higher education administration, where she specialized in workforce and economic development initiatives and partnerships. Lori joined Deep Well in March 2022 as the new Volunteer Coordinator and views this position as a wonderful opportunity for her to combine her vocation and avocation interests. As Volunteer Coordinator, Lori will be responsible for the recruitment, scheduling, communication, onboarding, training and retention of volunteers. She will also provide administrative support to staff and program committees as needed. In her spare time, Lori prefers to get her exercise outside and enjoys all kinds water sports, riding her bike, walking the beach, and playing bocce and pickle ball. Socially, Lori and her husband love the culinary scene on the island, and they love hosting themed dinner parties for family and friends.
![Shavonne Vasquez[8517].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/31730f_c5db2a3f6ba34485b1092cf19c21cb98~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_298,w_1796,h_1798/fill/w_139,h_139,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Shavonne%20Vasquez%5B8517%5D.jpg)
Shavonne Vasquez. BSW
Circles Chapter Manager
Circles@deepwellproject.org
Shavonne, bilingual social worker, recently relocated from New York to continue her pursuits of equity and social justice. For the past eighteen years, she’s remained committed to the human services field in the form of direct care and advocacy. As the Circles Chapter Manager, Shavonne’s primary task will be to support program participants and their allies while also conducting outreach, facilitating meetings, coordinating training and delegating tasks to resource teams. Shavonne herself has experienced a life in poverty and can therefore offer insight into the challenges faced by Circles participants. Three generations ago, her family settled in New York from Puerto Rico in search of opportunity and success. Today, she continues to find ways to deconstruct ancestral patterns of oppression and encourages others to do so as well. In her free time, Shavonne enjoys reading, theatre and spending time with her pet parrots.
Ella A. Chisolm
Furniture Room Manager
Ella is a native of Jasper County but has lived on Hilton Head for the last 47 years. She works part-time at Deep Well, assisting clients with picking out donated furniture once they’ve been approved to receive “new to them” furniture, appliances and household items. Ella also works part-time at Marriott’s Hilton Head Beach Resort in the kitchen/pantry. Ella loves meeting new people and helping them select items for their home from Deep Well’s donated inventory. She has one adult married son in Charleston, and she's also an Evangelist at the Historic First African Church on Beach City Road on Hilton Head. In her free time, Ella loves plants and gardening, a perfect fit for her nurturing, kind heart.
Gabrielle Husband
Circles Coach & Facilitator
ghusband@deepwellproject.org
Gabrielle, Master of Social Work, goes by Gabby. She relocated to the area last year from Wyoming with her husband, Joseph. Originally from Pittsburgh, Gabby is excited to be back on the East Coast. Gabby joins Deep Well with a passion for helping others and a background in group facilitation, family intervention, and counseling. She has previous experience in small and large nonprofits, volunteer management, and the education system. Gabby will be our new Circles Coach and Facilitator. This includes supporting both Leaders and Allies in the program and facilitating training for new cohorts joining the Circles Program. Gabby will join Shavonne and others in continuing the amazing work and progress that Circles Hilton Head has made thus far. In her free time, Gabby enjoys running, cooking, and going to the beach with her husband, Joseph, and their rescued Jack Russell terrier, Graham.
Adriana Antunez
Operations Coordinator
aantunez@deepwellproject.org
Adriana holds a Bachelor of Family Science and Human Development degree, with a concentration in Family Services. She is bilingual and relocated to the Lowcountry in 2023 from New Jersey because her fiancé Christopher is serving in the United States Marines Corps. Adriana’s parents migrated to the United States from Honduras. She has previous experience working with welfare agencies and is familiar with federal/state programs such as SNAP and TANF. Adriana has experience working with families from diverse backgrounds and at-risk youth. As Operations Coordinator, Adriana will support our Livable Housing program, coordinate Project Safe and Town of HHI Sewer Grant applications, and oversee Deep Well’s Furniture program, plus other administrative assignments. She also works closely with our office volunteers assisting with client intake with Spanish-speaking clients. Adriana is excited to be part of the Deep Well team as we help neighbors in need. In her free time, Adriana enjoys going to the dog park with her dog Tucker, taking long walks, and visiting family.
2024 Board of Directors / Bios
This group of dedicated people provides support not only through active guidance and governance of the organization, but by bringing their range of professional skills to bear. Their personal volunteer work is extensive and saves the cost of additional staff.
Mary Stuart Alderman, Board Chair
Mary-Stuart Alderman is a long-time community volunteer with a particular interest in supporting organizations that provide education, enrichment opportunities, and assistance for those in need. She has held leadership roles with Junior Leagues and Rotary Clubs in NC and SC and is a founding member of Women in Philanthropy, a women’s giving circle. An active member of First Presbyterian Church and its Social Witness and Global Outreach ministries, she has served as Elder and Deacon and Sunday School teacher. A native of Winston-Salem, NC and magna cum laude graduate of Meredith College, Mary Stuart moved to Hilton Head Island from Charlotte in 2003, and she and her husband Jack enjoy visiting children and grandchildren in NC, NY and FL.
Karen Bittman
Dan Clare,
Executive Committee
Karen Bittman is the Circles liaison to the Deep Well Board and the Circles Meals chair. She was a tremendous resource in launching the whole Circles initiative to move clients from cyclical crises to more sustainable living situations. Karen has completed the Circles training and incorporates her leadership experience in both administration and facilitation to aid in this self-sufficiency program’s growth and success. She also recruits about 90% of the food/meal donations for the weekly dinners, and when she’s not landing donations, she’s doing her own cooking for Circles.
Dan Clare serves as Chair of Deep Well’s Human Resources Committee and as a construction projects volunteer and member of the Livable Housing and Finance Committees. Other community volunteer involvement has been with Second Helpings, Beaufort County School District Construction Referendum citizen oversight committee, Ribaut Island POA Board President. His forty years of experience across varied industries and geographic locations involved financial oversight and leadership roles with General Electric, Liberty Technologies, General Dynamics, and Gulfstream Aerospace.
Jeff Ernico
Jeff Ernico is an attorney with 54 years of legal practice in taxation, estate planning and nonprofit corporations, with prior experience as Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving as Chief Legal Offices of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. His leadership in the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s legal services to the poor prompted the creation of a “Jeffrey A. Ernico Award” for excellence in pro bono services to those who couldn’t afford an attorney. Many years ago Jeff defeated F. Lee Bailey in a trial on behalf of the Office of the PA Attorney General.
Jeff Farmer
Jeff Farmer serves as the chairperson for Deep Well's Fund Development Committee and also volunteers on the Circles Jobs and Education Committee. Jeff is the Director of the Farmer Family Foundation which focuses on charitable giving in Beaufort County and along the East Coast of Florida where Jeff was raised. He is also very active in supporting both the financial aid needs and the athletic programs at his alma mater, Boston College. Jeff retired from full time employment in 2019 following a 32-year career in sales and management for employee benefits companies.
John Forlines
John is a certified public accountant (CPA) that served in multiple executive roles during his 33-year career at Fannie Mae, including chief risk officer, chief audit executive, and chief credit officer. John is actively involved in his community, serving as a member of the board, chair of investment committee and member of finance committee for Deep Well Project in Hilton Head Island, SC. He is involved with other nonprofits currently serving as chair of the board of Public Tennis, Inc. and as a member of Berkeley Hall’s Architecture Review Board. Previous board and finance committee roles include Friendship Place in Washington, DC, National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, the Partnership Federal Credit Union in Arlington, VA, Unique Learning Center in Washington, DC and Housing Crisis Center in Dallas, TX.
Charlotte Gill,
Board Secretary
In 2019, Charlotte Gill began volunteering in the Deep Well Food Pantry leading their outreach program with the Children’s Center on HHI. She joined the Deep Well Board in 2020 and serves as a member of the Executive Committee as Board Secretary as well as representing the Pantry needs to the Board. Prior to moving to Hilton Head, Charlotte spearheaded the community outreach programs for Christ Redeemer Catholic Church in Dawsonville, GA. She also served as a Board of Director holding the position of Secretary for the county’s food pantry. For 20 years she delivered Meals-on-Wheels.
Marc Grant
Tom Henz
Marc is an entrepreneur on Hilton Head Island. He is a co-owner of Grant’s Mini Mart (Exxon) located at 651 William Hilton Parkway on the corner of Singleton Beach Road. This convenience store has served the community for over 40 years providing quality gas, beach supplies, beverages, snacks, and great customer service. Marc has been active in the community since he moved home from Athens, Ga. He worked in the Beaufort County School System as a School Administrator. He also served as town council member for eight years as Ward 1 representative.
Tom Henz is Vice President, Public Policy & Small Business for the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, and adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. He was market president for Synovus Bank locally from 1992 until retiring from banking in 2020. Tom is a graduate of Miami University (B.S. in Business Administration), The University of Dayton (MBA), and The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He has served on numerous local boards including United Way of the Lowcountry (past chairman), Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines Property Owners Association, Leadership Hilton Head, Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, Miami University Hilton Head Alumni Club, the Port Royal Sound Foundation, and the Greater Island Council. He now serves on the Town of Hilton Head Island Planning Commission and the Gullah Geechee Land & Cultural Preservation Task Force. He is chairman of the advisory committee for the USCB Center for Strategic Planning and serves on the board of the Deep Well Project and the Don Ryan Center for Innovation.
Jan Johnson,
Board Treasurer
Jan Johnson is a retired tax director from Verizon Communications Inc. who specialized in corporate tax matters including strategy, compliance, reporting, tax advice, risk management, audits, communications and staff hiring, training, and supervision. This role required a strong understanding of tax laws and regulations, financial reporting rules, budgeting processes as well as proficiency in tax and accounting software. A former licensed certified public accountant, Jan has served as the treasurer for Deep Well since November 2021. Jan was previously the treasurer of Phinney’s Friends, a Massachusetts non-profit, for 11 years.
Nancy Johnston
Nancy Johnston was the art director and co-owner with her husband, of a graphic design firm in Baltimore, MD for 37 years. Prior to that she worked as an illustrator and graphic designer for another design studio for 7 years. Nancy has an Associate’s Degree from York College of Pennsylvania and a Commercial Art degree from York Academy of Arts. She was a volunteer at the Baltimore Museum of Art for several years before moving to Hilton Head Island in 2017. She has been an on-going volunteer at Heroes on Horseback, a non-profit providing therapeutic riding for special needs children in Pritchardville, SC. Nancy began volunteering in the pantry at Deep Well since coming to the island, and has since joined the Board and chairs the PR/Marketing committee, as well as serving as an Ally with the Circles Program.
Chuck Kotler
Jeff Rogers
Chuck Kotler has been interested in technology starting with short wave radio and other electronic devices in the 1950s. He was working in a headhunter’s office when the first IBM personal computers were released and purchased a PC clone for the business which needed constant attention and repair. From there Chuck leveraged his knowledge and experience into a career of over 30 years in business technology building and supporting PCs, large and small networks and ushering in the Internet for his clients.
Jeff Rogers brings a specific expertise to the Deep Well board that leverages a strong background serving the needs of commercial interior architects. For 40 years, Jeff worked on a national sales management level providing guidance to commercial architects focused on the field of commercial interior design. During his career, Jeff worked closely with Disney Properties, Cardinal Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Johnson & Johnson, Four Seasons Resorts, Marriott Resorts, AT&T, Lucent Technologies and many others. Jeff recently received the Mayor’s Honored Islander award thanks to his commitment to the community.
Bruce Siebold,
Board Vice Chair
Bruce Siebold is a graduate of the University of Illinois with at 34-year career with YMCA in executive and management positions, 21 years as CEO. He served on the National YMCA Board for 9 years, 3 years as Chair, and was a risk management consultant before retiring. Over a 40 year period, he has held various leadership roles in the United Methodist Church, including Chair of Council, Trustees, Communications, Personnel and Endowment. He has been an active Rotary member for more than 40 years, serving as President of his clubs in Kalamazoo, MI and Hilton Head Island, SC, and chairs the local Rotary Club’s Charitable Foundation. He currently chairs the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Planning Commission.
Angie Stone
Tosha Suggs
Angie Stone is the Assistant Town Manager responsible for the Town’s external affairs, ADA compliance, inclusion efforts and cultural affairs. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in human resources, both from the University of South Carolina. Angie volunteers with a variety of organizations including the Hilton Head Firefighters Association, the Outside Foundation, and the Deep Well Project.
Tosha Suggs was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, but her roots grounded her in the Palmetto State of South Carolina, the town of Hilton Head, SC. Tosha considers her faith and family the most important things to her. She is currently the facilities office manager at Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort for the last three years. As an employee of the Hilton Head community, she brings great insight to Deep Well as a board member. If she isn’t spending time with her friends and family, you can find her nurturing and mentoring future writers on their journey to authorship, as she is a published author of four books. She is filled with pure joy for her community and is excited to be a vessel for many people.