OUR LEADERSHIP
Board of Directors
Derek is a Vice President and Division Manager for Swinerton, a commercial general contractor in Atlanta. In his 12 years with Swinerton, Derek has been instrumental in developing Atlanta’s interior and aviation business as a market lead. As Division Manager, he focuses on the further expansion of key markets including corporate interiors, aviation, industrial, multi-key, and ground-up commercial markets and corresponding self-perform trades, while maintaining an emphasis on talent development, best-in-class project execution, and building quality relationships.
In his free time, Derek enjoys spending time with his two daughters, wonderful wife, and friends.
Derek joined the Rebuilding Together Atlanta Board of Directors in June 2022.
Suzanne became the first Chief Operating Officer at Patterson Real Estate Advisory Group in 2017. In this capacity, she oversees all areas of operations including marketing, media relations, information technology, human resources/benefits, payroll and 401k administration, budgeting and accounts payable, office lease administration, and insurance. As a member of the senior management team, she plays a key role in strategic initiatives such as short- and long-term business plan development, employee compensation, analysis of peer company performance, and development of the company’s proprietary database system. Suzanne also serves as a liaison to the firm’s board of advisors.
Suzanne joined the RTA Board in 2025
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Prior to joining Patterson, Suzanne was a Vice President at Post Properties (a publicly traded real estate investment trust) for almost 17 years. Prior to Post, Suzanne’s professional history was in media relations, most notably with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Business Administration – Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
Master of Business Administration – Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)
WHY RTA-
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PERSONAL-
Outside of her career and Board service with RTA, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. She is active in her church. She loves traveling and being near the water.
Currently, Jay serves as the Operations Manager for BMA Doors. For over 25 years, BMA has represented excellence in door, frame and specialty hardware installation, serving clients throughout Georgia and the Southeast. Jay possesses more than 20 years’ experience in the construction field in various areas, including: estimating, sales, project management, and operations management.
With a proven ability to lead cross department teams to solve complicated problems, Jay develops, documents, and implements effective policies and procedures. Innovative and driven to move quickly into action, Jay is a skilled leader in problem solving, communication, negotiating, and adapting to change in evolving environments.
Jay joined the Rebuilding Together Atlanta Board of Directors in March 2024.
Combining her love and knowledge of real estate, design, and business, Shanda-Joy Laws is a REALTOR®, broker, and owner of Adara Properties brokered by eXp Realty, an Atlanta-based boutique real estate company that specializes in residential and light commercial. At the heart of her business, activities focus on veterans, public servants, buyers, sellers, investors, business owners, and mentoring agents, contributing to sustainable community and economic development.
Among the many professional certifications and designations from the National Association of REALTORS®, Shanda holds a GREEN designation and is a Military Relocation Professional. In 2018, she received personal training from former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to become a local leader with the Climate Reality Project and is Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) and OSHA 30 certified.
Shanda has the honor of being a proud mother of two sons and a daughter, who are affectionately known as "The Fab 3;" "Gigi" to her granddaughter, grandson, and two grand dogs; and mom to her rescue cat. Shanda is an avid home cook, baker, foodie, and wine aficionado. In her free time, she enjoys reading, antiquing, restoring, and reinventing furniture.
Shanda-Joy joined the Rebuilding Together Atlanta Board of Directors in May 2023.
With 12 years of experience, David brings a unique blend of construction and development background that has enabled him to successfully cement critical relationships in the market, ensuring a more effective, streamlined approach to all projects. Before joining IMPACT, David was a Senior Project Manager, leading the design and construction process with Carter’s equity development and program management teams. He also worked at Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC, where he managed the construction process of several multifamily projects in the metro Atlanta area, including a 28-story high-rise in midtown and two Type 5-A residential wrap deals. Before Greystar, David worked for Turner Construction under their Interiors Division, where he was instrumental in the preconstruction and execution of project turnover.
David joined the Rebuilding Together Atlanta Board of Directors in October 2024.
Dana is a highly motivated and experienced Digital Commerce Operational Process Designer with a proven track record of success in the technology industry. She has a strong understanding of eBusiness processes and is skilled in developing and implementing process improvements that lead to increased efficiency and profitability.
She currently works on projects and develops process improvements that have a significant impact on the various businesses within her company - helping to put the "digital" into their goal of delivering the best digitally enabled human relationships.
Dana joined the Rebuilding Together Atlanta Board of Directors in October 2023.
Introduced early in his career to real estate and construction, Alex Vess began in building management and pivoted to project management in 2016. Primarily focused on the healthcare market, and some on multifamily and hospitality, Alex’s talents translate easily in any environment. Relying on tactful and honest communication, he builds trust and unites project teams to a common goal. Instead of dictating how work gets done, he keys in on critical activities and works in support of each project partner to stay ahead of the game. In his mind, every team presents different dynamics, and every project represents different goals. Alex’s agile, adaptive, and collaborative style plays to an individual’s strengths and fosters complete “alignment” – one of his favorite buzzwords. He proves daily that consensus-building promotes accountability and leads to better outcomes. Alex’s leadership yields tangible results. And to him, the biggest reward comes in delivering improved quality of care and livelihood to communities.
Alex joined the Rebuilding Together Atlanta Board of Directors in January 2023.
Personal-
Outside of the office, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and two young kids.
Grace is the Principal Owner and Designer of Grace In Design Services, a boutique interior design and project management company specializing in both commercial and residential projects. As Principal Designer, she also provides aging-in-place and WELL Certified building services.
Grace joined the Rebuilding Together Atlanta Board of Directors in July 2023.
Darlene Donlan has been fortunate enough to have spent 27 years at TEKsystems where most recently she served as the Executive Director of Operational Risk and Compliance. In the role of Executive Director, she oversaw 13 cross-functional teams/programs (the main teams/programs were Information Security, Wage and Hour, Third-party Vendor Management, Security Clearance, Backgrounds, Credit, and Contract Compliance), consisting of over 500 employees that directly managed operational risk and compliance.
Darlene joined the RTA Board in 2025.
WHY RTA?
"By contributing to Rebuilding Together Atlanta,I hope to ensure that vulnerable communities have a foundation of security, dignity, and opportunity. The mission of RTA to provide safe and healthy housing speaks to my core values of compassion and community. Being part of RTA will allow me to contribute to making sure those in need has a safe place to call home."
PERSONAL-
Outside of her career and RT Board Service, Darlene is working to become a wine sommelier. She enjoys exercising, golf, tennis and any outdoor activity, especially if it involves family or friends.
Stefan Glover currently serves as Operations Manager at Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC since June 2016. Between 2007 and 2016, Stefan worked at The Lemoine Company, LLC, Manhattan Construction Company, and Linbeck Group, LLC in various roles, including Senior Project Manager, Project Manager, Project Engineer, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. Stefan holds a Master of Building Construction and a Bachelor of Industrial Design, both from Auburn University.
Stefan joined the RTA Board in 2025
WHY RTA-
"I enjoy focusing on local needs. While in graduate school, I worked for a small builder, and we undertook many church-funded projects. Those included roofs, ramps, and general house improvements, among others. It was great to see the impact these simple projects made on people's lives."
PERSONAL-
Outside of his work with RTA and his career, Stefan's hobbies include
attending his son’s sporting events, golf, fishing, cooking, spending time with family and friends.
David Pye, CCM, LEED AP, BDC is an accomplished construction and development leader with decades of experience delivering complex projects and building strong cross-sector partnerships. With deep expertise in construction management, sustainable building practices, and business development, David brings a strategic and solutions-oriented approach to advancing community-focused initiatives. He has led multidisciplinary teams, overseen large-scale projects from concept through completion, and worked closely with public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders to achieve lasting impact. Passionate about service and the built environment, David is committed to leveraging his professional experience to support Rebuilding Together’s mission of creating safe, healthy, and stable homes and communities.
David joined the Board in January of 2026.
Shelly Schwerzler is an accomplished leader in business development, community relations, and strategic partnership building, with a career spanning the construction, nonprofit, and public service sectors. She currently serves as Business Development Manager at Swinerton, where she is responsible for cultivating client relationships, advancing strategic initiatives, and strengthening the company’s presence across the Atlanta market. Her work emphasizes collaboration, community impact, and long-term relationship building.
Prior to Swinerton, Shelly held senior roles in government and community relations and nonprofit development, including serving as Director of Development and Community Outreach for the Gwinnett County Public Library, where she led fundraising efforts, major gift strategies, and community engagement initiatives to support public services. Her earlier experience also includes business development and real estate roles, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of organizational growth, customer engagement, and operational strategy.
Shelly holds both a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Georgia, a unique combination that informs her people-centered leadership approach and strategic mindset. She is passionate about leveraging her professional experience to support mission-driven organizations and is proud to serve in leadership advancing Rebuilding Together’s work to create safe, healthy, and stable communities
.Shelly joined the Board in January of 2026.
Roni Imbeaux is a senior leader in corporate finance and investor relations with extensive experience in strategic financial management and capital markets within the real estate industry. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations at Cousins Properties. In this role, Roni leads key financial planning and analysis initiatives, supports capital markets activities, and oversees external investor communications that help advance the company’s growth and shareholder value. She has been with Cousins since 2012, beginning her career in corporate finance and playing an integral role in major strategic transactions throughout her tenure.
She holds both a Master of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Alabama.
Roni is committed to community impact and service. She joined the Board of Directors in 2026. RTA’s mission to repair homes, revitalize communities, and rebuild lives aligns with Roni’s values of civic engagement and supporting vulnerable neighbors through strategic nonprofit governance and advocacy. oni’s blend of financial expertise and community leadership reflects her dedication to both professional excellence and meaningful social impact.
April Cline is a mission-driven nonprofit professional committed to improving the quality of life for vulnerable, under-served populations. She was formerly the Executive Director of Entryway in Atlanta. Entryway is a national 501(c)3 organization that transitions individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness to economic self-sufficiency. She has over 20 years of experience in the Atlanta philanthropic community, and has worked for the American Red Cross, the Grady Health Care system, and was the executive director for the Georgia Radio Reading Service. April has worked for an international NGO in Ghana to combat
human trafficking and is a licensed social worker in the state of Georgia. She is currently a Disaster Mental Health volunteer for the American Red Cross, where she provides emotional and psychosocial support to the victims of disasters.