Teresa Manning is an experienced and compassionate professional with a diverse background in counseling, social work, and vocational rehabilitation. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, along with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and Psychology, and brings more than 20 years of expertise in vocational rehabilitation consulting and expert testimony through Teresa Manning & Associates. Prior to that work, she spent years in corporate management within the vocational and medical rehabilitation fields. After caring for aging parents and navigating personal loss, Teresa and her husband made their permanent home near St. George Island. The area had long been special to them through years of vacations, and they were drawn back by its sense of peace, healing, and community.

Susan (Sue) Fritz Powell serves as treasurer of GLOW. A retired middle and high school teacher, she brings a lifelong commitment to supporting and empowering young people. Originally from Florida, Sue spent many years in Ohio, where she worked as a teacher, political campaign manager, and school district administrator. In 2023, she and her husband relocated to Saint George Island after living in Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Iowa to stay close to their three children. Sue proudly considers her most important role to be a mom and “Gray” to three grandchildren.

Jody serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for GLOW Illuminating Futures. With a deep personal connection to the mission, she is passionate about expanding opportunities for young women, shaped by her own experience growing up in a low-income household. A retired veterinarian, Jody splits her time between St. George Island (October through April) and Duluth, Minnesota, where she and her husband, Tom, enjoy walking the shoreline with their dogs and tackling DIY projects.

Tom is a retired sales and marketing leader whose career included roles with Sears, U.S. Steel, and Pfizer. He and his wife, Jody Berquist, split their time between Duluth, Minnesota, and Saint George Island. Tom is passionate about volunteerism supporting women, girls, and education, and has led efforts such as providing refurbished laptops to graduating students and mentoring young professionals. He holds a degree in Industrial Administration, Transportation, and Logistics from Iowa State University.

Sophia joined the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in 2022 as Community Outreach Coordinator. She helps connect individuals struggling with substance use to treatment, plans community events, serves as handler for Therapy K9 Valentine, and supports victim advocacy efforts. Sophia holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Psychology from the University of West Georgia, and previously worked as a teacher and cheer coach. In 2023, she became certified and brought Therapy K9 Valentine to the department to support victims, veterans with PTSD, schools, and trauma-based calls.

Abby is a marketing and communications leader known for strategic storytelling across diverse industries. A former journalist for 11 years and an award-winning TV anchor, she transitioned to communications and marketing, leading initiatives at national nonprofits. In 2023, she founded APT Communications, Marketing, and Media. In 2024, she joined the Northeast Iowa Food Bank as Director of Development, Marketing, and Communications. Abby holds a degree from Belmont University and enjoys family life with her husband and daughter.

Tanya and her husband, Scott, moved to St. George Island from Illinois in 2024, fulfilling a long-time dream of living on the Gulf. With a professional background spanning IT software development, retail operations, and patient services, Tanya also spent more than 20 years serving as a church wedding coordinator. A dedicated volunteer and community leader, she has held roles such as PTA treasurer, Girl Scout leader, and church program coordinator. Since moving to the island, Tanya has become involved with Backpack Buddies, the SGI UMC thrift store, and the SGI Turtle Patrol, and looks forward to supporting the girls on the Youth Advisory Board.

Sharon fell in love with the Forgotten Coast in 1995 after many years in Atlanta. A U.S. Air Force veteran, she spent 31 years with Oxford, parent company of Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer, supporting a busy midtown office in roles ranging from executive assistant to receptionist and facilities support. Sharon and her husband, Lee, have lived on the Island since retiring in 2018, and she loves helping create fun, safe, and supportive spaces for Franklin County girls through volunteer work with Bring Me A Book Franklin, Backpack Buddies, and GLOW.

Julie began her hospitality career in college as a front desk clerk in Charleston, South Carolina, and has since grown into leadership roles from hotel operations to Regional Director, including an international secondment in London. In 2020, she moved to St. George Island, Florida after vacationing there since 2005, drawn by her love for the people and the area. As a mother and mentor, Julie is passionate about empowering the next generation of girls and supporting the opportunities and guidance they need to thrive, which aligns closely with GLOW’s mission. Outside of work, she enjoys time with family and friends, exploring new cultures, and her love of people, dogs, reading, and the beach.

Kay is a native Georgian who, after vacationing on St. George Island for more than 20 years, made SGI her permanent home with her husband, Greg. She retired from customer service with Thermo Fisher Scientific and has lived on the island for the past six years. Since relocating, Kay has enjoyed spending more time gardening, photography, and visiting her daughter and grandchildren. She is an active volunteer in Franklin County, supporting ECCC, the SGI Thrift Store, Reading with Kids, and GLOW, and has fully embraced her community.

Paula, Jane, and Janie are the dedicated fundraising and event planners for GLOW. Their creativity, organization, and attention to detail are essential to creating welcoming, meaningful experiences that reflect GLOW’s mission and make each event successful.