Meet Lisa

I was born in Groton, Connecticut, and have called St. Marys home for nearly three decades. With a rich background in finance and a passion for community service, I am proud of the remarkable career I have had.  Coming from a military family, I learned the value of hard work and dedication which brings both professional success and a positive impact on our community.  I have a BS in Finance with minor in Business Administration from Jacksonville University.  I am currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy at Jacksonville University as well.

As a Mom and Navy wife, I spent 21 years alongside my husband while he served in the submarine force.  That is what brought us to St Marys.  Like most Moms, I wanted my children to have an example, so I volunteered.   I became involved in various organizations and activities within the community, from PTO president organizing school events to Girl Scout "cookie mom".  I found fulfillment in giving back and being a positive role model for not only my own children, but for the other kids in the neighborhood as well.  It was important to me to show them the value of service and dedication, just as my husband had done through in his military career.  My experience as a navy wife taught me the importance of strength, resilience, and the power of coming together as a community.  Through my volunteer work, I hope to instill these values in the next generation.

Once my children were in school full time, I began my career in financial services.  My financial career spanned several key roles at Bank of America, where I was able to hone my skills in banking center management, business development, and wealth management. I learned a lot about collaboration and relationship building over my 20 year career there.

In 2014, I embarked on a new chapter starting my own business as a Financial Services professional with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial. I am honored to have become a trusted advisor to families and businesses throughout the Southeast Georgia community, helping them achieve their financial goals. I am passionate and committed to providing financial education to those that need it most. I still spend a lot of time facilitating numerous workshops and presentations. One of my proudest moments was being recognized as the NE FL/SE GA 2022 and 2023 Modern Woodmen Financial Representative of the Year.

I've always been drawn to public service and took it a step further when I was elected to serve on the St. Marys City Council in 2021.  I quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Mayor Pro Tempore for three consecutive years. My leadership and commitment to learning and growing as a leader has earned me multiple awards and recognition from the University of Georgia Carl Vincent Institute of Government.

My involvement extends beyond the local level as I actively serve on the Georgia Municipal Association Board of Directors.  I was recently appointed as the Community Development Chair.  I was appointed to the National League of Cities Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee (FAIR) in 2023. While I have a finance degree, what I'm learning about in finance and policy has proven invaluable as I work through financial issues within the city.  It has given me the knowledge to help shape the future of our community as well as state and federal policies.

When I'm not busy serving our community, I enjoy spending time with my husband Malcolm, a retired US Navy submariner, and our five adult children and seven grandchildren. Our love for St. Marys runs deep, and we are proud to call it home.

I am truly inspired by the people that I have met during my tenure as a councilperson. It takes a lot to balance professional achievement and community engagement, but it's all worth it in the end as we grow, we grow together!

This is just the beginning. I'm ready to use my experience and passion to lead St. Marys towards a brighter future.