Lynne Saunders is Founder and Executive Director of Papa’s Pantry, The Master’s Training Center, and Christian Community News. She is also the author of the book “21st Century Keys to Employment,” which will be available this spring.
Born in Miami and raised in South Florida. There she met her husband, Bill, of 30 years. They have three grown daughters and 3 grandchildren, which includes a set of twins. Lynne has Sophie- her beloved dog who is glad to go to work with her every day.
She moved to Woodstock 16 years ago from Charlotte, NC where she was in real estate and magazine publishing. She now lives in Towne Lake, attends Mt. Paran Church of God and sings in the choir.
Lynne founded the non-profit organization, Papa’s Pantry, in 1998 at a time when she still held a full time corporate position with The Home Depot. The pantry was located in her basement during the first 5 years. She delivered the much need groceries to families at their home, but found herself digging in deeper to help families with employment losses, budgetary guidance, nutrition ideas, and much more.
Five years later, Lynne left her job to take Papa’s Pantry from a part-time to a full-time ministry. The mission is to help people get out of financial crisis and into stability using a holistic approach. There are two pantry locations; the main office is in Woodstock, and a satellite in Canton.
The formal education division, “The Master’s Training Center” opened Fall of 2009 at the Woodstock location. This made the stability classes available to everyone in the community, not just food recipients.
Lynne has been life coaching for 13 years. One of the most popular workshops she conducts is on employment strategies. Even in a down economy, she has been able to keep up with the many changes within the marketplace to help people continue to find employment.
Lynne also sits on the Board of Directors for Cherokee FOCUS, an organization devoted to at-risk youth. She is a member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and the Cherokee County Ministerial Association.
Lynne is a life coach, writer, trainer, business developer and creator of the Life Balance Organizer, a time management and goal setting tool. She loves to inspire others and to make a lasting impact in their lives.
Tom Murphy (“Murph”) is the President of Murphy Custom Builders (MCB), a custom design and remodeling company located in Alpharetta, Georgia.
MCB specializes in full turn-key design/build services for Kitchens, Master Bath Suites and Basements. Tom started the company in 2007 after retiring from a successful 29 year career at United Parcel Service (UPS).
While at UPS, Tom held a variety of positions in Engineering, Operations and most recently Regulatory Compliance and Internal Audit where he was Corporate Compliance Coordinator
and Internal Audit Coordinator for all aspects of Regulatory Compliance including the areas of Environmental, OSHA, Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Materials, Transportation and more.
Tom served as United Way Campaign coordinator in the Louisiana District, the Indiana District and West Region (10 States) before coming to Atlanta in 2000. While at the corporate headquarters, Tom served as the corporate-wide coordinator for the United Way Alexis de Toqueville Society (givers of over $10,000 annually) growing the membership from fifteen to over fifty in three years. He also has participated in more than fifteen Habitat for Humanity builds in 6 cities.
Tom served in the U.S. Army for three years and used the G.I. Bill to graduate from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Thermo-Mechanical Engineering . He remains active in the local community, serving Habitat for Humanity and most importantly Shamrockin’ for a Cure, Atlanta’s premier event for the benefit of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For he last three years Tom has been both on the committee of Shamrockin and also a generous sponsor where where Murphy Custom Builders proudly contributes remodeling projects as part of the Live Auction.
Mary Guiney is the Founder and Executive Chairman of ShamRockin’ for a Cure, an annual fundraiser to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Under her stewardship, ShamRockin’ has raised over $270,000 in just 3 years, and expects to exceed more than $250,000 in 2012.
Mary and her husband, Chris, founded ShamRockin’ in 2009 to raise money to fund research for a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Mary’s vision has driven ShamRockin’ to realize the venture philanthropy platform that the CF Foundation pioneered. Mary leads all aspects of the event, including Sales, Marketing, Accounting and Finance, Operations, Press & Media, Social Media, Logistics, and Sponsor Relations. Mary & Chris were recognized by the CF Foundation in 2011 for their Leadership, being named Volunteers of the Year.
Prior to ShamRockin’ for a Cure, Mary worked as an executive for Kemper Insurance and American International Group (AIG), in both Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC, where she led marketing, pricing and negotiation of complex insurance contracts and financial instruments.
Mary graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a degree in Economics. She is active in the local community, serving as VP of the Birmingham Falls Foundation, benefiting Birmingham Falls Elementary School; Grade Level Chair for Science Lab at Birmingham Falls Elementary School; Director of Nursery Ministries at Stonecreek Church; and Booster Club member for the Alpharetta Youth Football Association and Alpharetta Youth Lacrosse. Mary is a licensed real estate agent and enjoys competing in triathlons and marathons, tennis, downhill skiing and waterskiing.
Mary and her husband Chris have three boys and live in Milton, Georgia.
For more information on Shamrockin’ For a cure, please visit www.shamrockinforacure.com