Chattahoochee Hills, GA – Today, Art Farm at Serenbe announces the appointment of new board members for the year 2024. Gary Cassis, Bill Sisson and Anne Pratt will join the board as directors; additionally, Anne will serve as Film Council Chair. Previous Facilities Chair Garnie Nygren and Vice Chair Penny McPhee will be stepping into the roles of Board Co-Chairs for the 2024 year. Additionally, Rob Kirsch, previously the Environmental Council Chair, has also been elected Treasurer while continuing to serve as Environmental Council Chair.

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“We are very excited about the new additions to Art Farm’s board. Each of them brings exceptional insights and experience, and we look forward to Art Farm’s growth under their leadership. We are also very grateful for the dedicated work of our outgoing board members, whose contributions and guidance have created a strong foundation for us to build upon,” said Madalyn Mentor, Executive Director of Art Farm at Serenbe. 

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Gary Cassis is a seasoned financial services executive who retired with a wealth of experience in global treasury management operations, digital banking, and various e-commerce payment initiatives. Throughout his career, Gary played a key role in leading cross-cultural marketing and business development initiatives across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, collaborating with major banks in the United States and France. Beyond his professional endeavors in the financial sector, Gary is deeply passionate about music, art, and history. His special affinity for the American music art form, jazz, has been a consistent thread throughout his life. Notably, he has dedicated his time to the Atlanta Jazz community, serving on the board of the Atlanta Jazz Society and securing Philadelphia’s National Register Historic Landmark House – John Coltrane. 

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Anne Pratt joins the Art Farm board after a successful career in the fashion and film industries. A graduate of NYU, Anne worked alongside young and upcoming designers to establish and grow their presence in the United States as well as Europe and Japan. Transitioning into the film industry, Anne found herself behind the camera as Assistant Director in the early days of independent filmmaking in NYC. Stepping back from the film industry to start a family, Anne worked to increase educational opportunities for children with philanthropic organizations such as Teach for America, while also dipping back into documentary production and distribution. This interest led to her joining the team at SnagFilms, a free online platform dedicated to increasing access to independent filmmaker and documentarians’ work. Throughout her career, Anne has always been drawn to “the story well told” in all its creative forms and is excited to collaborate with the Art Farm’s Film Council in support of their mission and vision. 

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Bill Sisson is the President and CEO of William B. Sisson & Associations, an economic and community development consulting business located in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Prior to starting his business, he served as the President and CEO of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce in Mobile, Alabama and Executive Director for the Mobile Airport Authority, 2008 through 2013.  Before joining the Airport Authority, Bill served as Vice President of Economic Development at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and as Vice President of Business Development at the Birmingham (Alabama) Regional Chamber of Commerce.  Bill earned his MBA from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  He is a member of Rotary International and has served on the boards of various local community organizations, including Mobile Area Education Foundation, Mobile Symphony Orchestra and United Way of Southwest Alabama. He has also served on the board of directors of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Committee of 100 of the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Council of Alabama, and is a past chairman for the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.

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The Art Farm team welcomes Gary Cassis, Anne Pratt, and Bill Sisson to the board and looks forward to their valued leadership and guidance as Art Farm continues to develop its programming and community relationships in the year 2024.

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View the full 2024 list of board members here.