P.A.L.S. Board of Trustees


Jerry Friday
Conference Events Manager
The Salvation Army Southern Territorial Headquarters

P.A.L.S. Volunteer for 7 years, P.A.L.S. board chairman for 3 years, Bingo Committee (caller)
Jerry graduated and was ordained in 1983 from the Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta, GA.
Jerry Served in various communities as Pastor/Executive Director in The Salvation Army until appointed to the Florida state office where Jerry operated a residential camp for at risk and underprivileged youth and oversaw The Salvation Army's youth services for the state of Florida.

Jerry has served on the board of directors for the Okmulegee County, OK Child Guidance Center, the Miss Atlanta Scholarship Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency in three different states and as an officer of various civic organizations such as the Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis Club. Jerry has also been recognized for volunteer service by the city of Okmulgee, the
Rosalyn Carter Institute and F.E.M.A.

Michael Vinson
Director of Information Technology
P.A.L.S. Board Trustee, Secretary, Bingo Committee Chairman
Years with P.A.L.S. - 7 years

Michael Vinson has 16 years of I.T and infrastructure management experience. Jacksonville
State University, Bachelor of Science with a dual major in math and computer science.

Michael Anderson, CPA
Controller, Carter Real Estate
P.A.L.S. board member and treasurer
Years with P.A.L.S. - 8 years

Anderson has 18 years of Accounting and Financial Reporting experience; University of Georgia graduate- BBA in Accounting and BA in Journalism

Dr. M. Lance Hirsh
Dr. Hirsh is a 1991 graduate of The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
As part of his training, he completed an externship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston Massachusetts. He attended the University of Georgia as an undergraduate, where his field of study was Physics. Dr. Hirsh is a graduate of The Galloway School here in Atlanta, and resides in Grant Park with his wife Teresa and his twelve-year-old daughter Molly.

The Hirsh household also includes Oskar and Remi (the two rescue pugs), Teddy (the French Bulldog), and Sweety Poo the bird. In 1992, after working for a short time in Cobb County, Dr. Hirsh started The Veterinary Center of Buckhead. He has had the privilege of working with many associates and animal professionals over the years and currently works with his associate Dr. Greg Jenkins.

Dr. Hirsh is active in many charitable organizations including PALS (Pets are Loving Support) where he as a major fundraiser. Dr. Hirsh is on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Humane Society. His interests include Marathon running, cooking and Travel. Dr. Hirsh grew up in the Buckhead/Chastain Park area, and is committed to staying and working in the community.

James Parker
Commercial Banker
James has been involved sponsoring events for P.A.L.S. for 3 years, board of trustees

My partner and I have been in Atlanta for 20 years. We both feel that it is important that people in need be able to keep the bond with their companion without worry. Originally from Austin, Texas, Parker's background is in the financial industry.
Parker has volunteered for several organizations over the years and has sponsored many non- profit functions. "I really like P.A.L.S. because I can actually see the difference the organization has made in peoples' lives and how caring the people who are apart of P.A.L.S. are."

Laura Kay
Laura has served P.A.L.S. for 6 years

Laura Kay has lived in Atlanta for 10 years and is very involved with Peachtree Road United Methodist Church including various local non-profits such as Project Open Hand, Breakthru House, Relay for Life, Atlanta's Woman and Children Day Shelter.

Thomas K. Sparkman- DDS
Dentist
Thomas has been with P.A.L.S. for 2 years, Vice Chairman for 1 year

Thomas Sparkman has been associated with P.A.L.S. for over 10 years (Bingo sponsor for at least 10 years) In 1981 Thomas graduated from F.S.U with a BS in Chemistry, 1985 graduate of Emory University School of Dentistry. Sparkman has lived in Atlanta since 1981, he was raised in Mulberry, FL

Vincent Martinez
Teacher- Fashion Design Instructor, Grady High School, Atlanta, GA

Vincent has been working with P.A.L.S. for over a year, starting back in 2008 with his annual charity event for P.A.L.S. called "Doggies On The Catwalk"

Five years ago Vincent Martinez launched Grady High School's first fashion design class with 40 students. Today, realizing his dream of turning his fabric and design classes into a self-sustaining fashion line where students are the top designers…from that Urban Couture (UC) was born.

Kenneth Malik
Manager Clinical Systems Client Configuration (IT Manager)

Kenneth Malik attended his first bingo in 1998. Malik began his volunteering for P.A.L.S. in 2004.
Malik received his BA in Advertising from Michigan State University, 1994.
Malik moved to Atlanta to pursue his masters in Advertising Copywriting.

Jeff Oxner
Jeff Oxner has lived in Atlanta for 11 years and has been a volunteer with PALS for 7 years. Originally from South Carolina, Jeff graduated from the College of Charleston in 1986. He moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1988 and lived there for ten-and-a-half years. Moving to Atlanta, Jeff went to work for Carlson Wagonlit Travel, working with large corporate accounts. Jeff is currently employed with TSYS Loyalty and Prepaid in Alpharetta; working in account management and business operations.

Jeff and his partner, John, recently celebrated 17 years together. Jeff and John live in Marietta and enjoy working in the yard and spending time together cooking. Jeff is an avid college sports fan with a passion for all things USC (the East Coast one).

Dennis Dean
Owner/President Of Dennis Dean Catering in Atlanta, GA

Dennis Dean is originally from Madison, Wisconsin and has resided in Atlanta, Georgia since 1984. Dean has been involved in the catering business for 20+ years and is the owner and president of Dennis Dean Catering, an upscale off-premise catering company, serving Atlanta and the southeast.

Dennis has been associated with P.A.L.S. for four years and is a current board member. He and
his partner, Drew Brown, editor of Peach Magazine reside in Midtown and are raising three dogs: Olive, Ivy and Porter.