Our Staff
.
Sometimes you choose your job, other times your job chooses you.
Laura Whitaker began volunteering with ESP as a special ed college student in 2003. She was named Camp Director at just 19-years-old after the sudden passing of our founder, Martha. Over the last 17+ years, Laura has led ESP to growth and the expansion of our mission. She is passionate about leadership and uses her management strengths to manage staff, oversee multiple year-round programs, and raise funds to run programs. Her favorite part of the job is getting to hug the many children who walk through the ESP doors.
Laura’s most important roles include wife to husband Joseph and mother to Owen, Finley, and Tate.
For more about Laura, visit her site:
Executive Team
Laura Whitaker
Chief Executive Officer
laura@espyouandme.org
Ashley Stewart
Chief Operating Officer
ashley@espyouandme.org
Ami Spayd
Executive Assistant
ami@espyouandme.org
Valerie Beeson
Executive Project Manager
valerie@espyouandme.org
Programs Team
Erin Thompson Podvin
Director of Community Programs
erin@espyouandme.org
Hunter Pugh
Community Programs Manager
hunter@espyouandme.org
Matt Waring
Athens Programs Manager
matt@espyouandme.org
Sarah Farriba
Rome Programs Coordinator
sarah@espyouandme.org
Anna Bostwick
Atlanta Programs Coordinator
anna@espyouandme.org
Addison King
Volunteer Coordinator
addison@espyouandme.org
Alex Bruggeman
Statewide Family Support Coordinator
alexb@espyouandme.org
Katie Hill
Athens Family Support Coordinator
katie@espyouandme.org
Madison McCrorey
Java Joy Athens Coordinator
madison@espyouandme.org
Operations Team
Scott Williams
Director of Operations
scott@espyouandme.org
Grant Colquitt
Operations Coordinator
grant@espyouandme.org
Shellie Sullivan
Administrative Coordinator
shellie@espyouandme.org
Hunter Reynolds
Facilities Coordinator
hreynolds@espyouandme.org
Karen Lee
Bookkeeper
karen@espyouandme.org
Development & Marketing Team
Alex Perry
Director of Development & Marketing
alex@espyouandme.org
Steve Argo
Leadership Annual Giving Officer
steve@espyouandme.org
Devon Smyth
Rome Leadership Annual Gift Officer
devon@espyouandme.org
Sarah Kennedy
Marketing Manager
sarahk@espyouandme.org
Brittney Butler
Marketing Coordinator
brittney@espyouandme.org
Mariharden McElheny
Stewardship & Events Coordinator
mariharden@espyouandme.org
Sydney Laughlin
Annual Giving Associate
sydney@espyouandme.org
Kristen Sudge
Creative Content Coordinator
kristen@espyouandme.org
AmeriCorps Team
Meet the AmeriCorps Team that supports the programs at ESP each day! Learn more about each member here.
189 VFW Drive
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Office Hours:
Mon. - Thurs. 9am - 6pm
Fri. Limited, Contact Us
Copyright © The ESP logo is a registered trademark of Extra Special People, Inc. ®
Copyright © The ESP logo is a registered trademark of Extra Special People, Inc. ®
