GNFCC 2024 BOLD Award Winners: Kathy Swahn, The Drake House, and Natalie DeLancey, City Springs Theatre Company
This edition of the GNFCC 400 Insider showcases the contributions of two Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce BOLD Award recipients for 2024. Kathy Swahn received GNFCC’s BOLD Businesswoman Legacy Award, and Natalie DeLancey was named GNFCC’s 2024 BOLD Businesswoman Dedicated to Good. Kathy and Natalie, along with several other individuals and companies, were named BOLD Award winners during a luncheon held on March 20, 2024. Kathy Swahn, formerly of the Drake House, discussed her work with single mothers and children, highlighting the importance of community support and affordable housing. Natalie DeLancey of City Springs Theatre shared how the arts enrich the community by offering high-quality performances and educational programs. Both guests explored their leadership journeys, the impact of their organizations, and the vital role of community engagement and women’s leadership in fostering a vibrant, supportive environment. Rebekah Anderson was the host for this episode.
The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.
What is BOLD?
The mission of Businesswomen Organizing for Leadership and Development is to connect businesswomen to build outstanding networks and spheres of influence, to collaborate amongst themselves and with their partner organizations to develop their businesses, and to celebrate and recognize the women of North Fulton. Sarabeth Stein is the 2024 BOLD Committee Chair.
Kathy Swahn, President Emeritus, The Drake House
Kathy Swahn was named GNFCC’s 2024 BOLD Businesswoman Legacy Award.
Kathy has resided in the North Fulton area for almost 45 years. She has watched the community evolve from what was “unincorporated Fulton County” to a six city bustling suburban community. Her history has been surrounded by a focus on children: a stay-at-home mom raising two daughters, years of leadership in Girl Scouting and school PTAs, the National Charity League, chairing the North Fulton Council of PTAs, and chairing the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.
Kathy transitioned back to work by jumping into the non-profit world. She joined the team at North Fulton Community Charities, running their Holiday Program, becoming Development Director and successfully managing the $3M capital campaign for their Elkins Road location. Along the way, she also served on the DFACS Board and chaired the board of the Fulton County Continuum of Care for four years.
After having the opportunity to join in the GNFCC Leadership Program, Kathy was surrounded with a dynamic group of folks who worked to create The Drake House. Since 2004, she served as board chair for the first four years, executive director for nine years, and is now retired. Over those years, The Drake House served over 500 single mothers with over 1,000 children and grew the assets of the organization to over $4M.
She continues to serve TDH on the Advocacy Committee, and for the past ten years, she has served as a volunteer for the North Fulton Improvement Network. This is a think-tank of civic leaders studying the need for “missing middle” housing answers for first-time home buyers, senior housing for those who wish to downsize, as well workforce housing for essential workers in the healthcare, education, safety and hospitality industries.
She spends much of her time traveling to the DC area, where her children and grandchildren reside.
The Drake House
The Drake House is a 501(c)3 organization that works to respond to the growing number of women and children experiencing homelessness in North Fulton. They involve members of our community in the effort to keep single mothers and their children united under one roof as they work toward self-sufficiency.
The Drake House helps women with children overcome the circumstances of homelessness with dignity while keeping their families intact. In response to the changes in our post-COVID world, The Drake House has adapted its programming to help the families we serve acquire housing and achieve financial self-sufficiency.
Graduates of their program work, pay taxes, rent apartments, purchase groceries, attend faith-based organizations, and hopefully, one day, become homeowners. They are equipped to be good employees, tenants, and neighbors. When given the opportunity, some even use their story to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and take advantage of all the services The Drake House has to offer them. As they continue their work to improve their program and campus, The Drake House does so with the expectation that the results will lead to more graduates, more resilient children and teens, and ultimately, a stronger community.
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Natalie DeLancey, Executive Director, City Springs Theatre Company
Natalie DeLancey is GNFCC’s 2024 BOLD Businesswoman Dedicated to Good.
Natalie became the Executive Director of City Springs Theatre Company (CSTC) in 2021 after previously helping to form the company as the Managing Director beginning in 2017. She is responsible for overseeing overall operations, fundraising, and artistic vision for CSTC, including raising over $2 million annually for the organization and serving roughly 50,000 patrons and students each season.
Before City Springs Theatre Company, Natalie was the Director of Arts Education & Community Outreach for ArtsBridge Foundation, the arts education outreach arm of Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Natalie managed four types of programs including: Field Trips, Master Classes, Family Performance Series & the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards – Shuler Hensley Awards. In addition, Natalie produced and directed the annual competition for the Shuler Awards and she received the program’s first-ever Southeast Regional Emmy Award for her 2017 Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards production.
Prior to ArtsBridge, Natalie served as the Artist Partnerships Manager at Young Audiences, Woodruff Arts Center. Before joining Woodruff, she served as the Manager on Duty at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in the Cobb County Civic Center complex. Natalie has a performance background in musical theatre and received a BA in Theatre & Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University’s College of the Arts.
Natalie was a member of Leadership Cobb’s Class of 2016, selected for the inaugural 30 Under 30 program with the International Association of Venue Managers in 2015 and a member of the 2014 Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta class. Natalie was also the recipient of the 2016 Ernest Barrett Award from the Cobb Chamber for her commitment to excellence. She currently serves as the Chair-Elect of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a member of the 2024 Leadership Perimeter class.
Natalie is passionate about high-quality entertainment and arts education, and she is thrilled to be in a community that fully supports those initiatives!
City Springs Theatre Company
City Springs Theatre Company is dedicated to entertaining, educating, and enriching lives by creating world-class theatre experiences and innovative arts education programs that drive cultural richness and economic vitality.
City Springs Theatre Company (CSTC) was formed in 2017 by Sandy Springs residents Jan Collins, Steven Hauser, and Peggy and Jerry Stapleton in response to the needs and desires for high-quality musical theatre produced locally and highlighting regional talent. As a Presenting Partner of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, City Springs Theatre is committed to artistic excellence, community engagement, and educational initiatives for all ages.
City Springs Theatre Company would not have become a reality without the generous support of Ken and Trish Byers and the Sandy Springs Foundation.
Led by Executive Director Natalie DeLancey and Tony Award winner and Atlanta native Shuler Hensley as Artistic Director, CSTC has served over 174,000 patrons and 135,000 students through mainstage musicals and educational programs.
City Springs Theatre Company, launched a Conservatory program in 2018 dedicated to training the next generation of performers and technicians in musical theatre. The Conservatory offers private lessons, a pre-professional company, summer musicals for high and middle school students, and participates in the Junior Theatre Festival. The Conservatory’s pre-professional company is a unique training program dedicated to students age 12-18 who are looking to pursue a career in the performing arts.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Welcome to the GNFCC 400 Insider!
00:29 Introducing Our Esteemed Guests
01:17 Celebrating Leadership and Achievements
02:01 Inspirational Journeys: Kathy Swahn’s Story
03:23 Natalie DeLancey: A Pillar in the Arts Community
05:21 The Significance of the Bold Recognition Award
07:09 Challenges and Triumphs in Supporting Women
14:37 Empowering the Next Generation
19:30 Retirement? Not Quite! Kathy’s Continued Advocacy
21:55 Exciting Upcoming Productions at City Springs Theatre
23:15 How You Can Support Our Guests’ Organizations
24:59 Wrapping Up: The Impact of Leadership and Community Support
About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider
The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) is the sponsor of the GNFCC 400 Insider, and Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC, is the show’s host.
The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.
As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.
GNFCC promotes the interests of their members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.
For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.
