Fathers Association

If you’ve been to a Cyclone football game, you've seen the Fathers Association in action. Members of the Fathers Association sell concessions throughout the football season. They publish sports programs supported by local advertisers. They also organize opportunities for PG fathers to get together at various social events throughout the year.  While enjoying the camaraderie of other fathers, they raise funds for athletic and other programs. They've carved out an important niche for themselves, enriching the life at Porter-Gaud. The purpose of the Association is to cooperate with the Administration and Faculty in every effort to broaden and strengthen existing programs.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Fathers Association is to support programs that result in a more rewarding experience for Porter-Gaud student-athletes.  These programs are aimed at improving student and Parent participation and enjoyment of athletics at Porter-Gaud, and include both fund raising and non-fund raising activities.

The PGFA also cultivates a sense of community among the fathers who join and actively participate in PGFA events by maintaining a core operating principle of having fun while serving Porter-Gaud and its families.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

President – Tim Walter

PG Connection: Carly (2014) and Cole (2016), both started PG in the first grade. Tim has also coached the class of 2016 boys basketball team for the past four seasons. Job Experience: With 25 years in real estate, Tim is currently Chief Executive Officer of Ziff Properties, Inc., a southeastern regional full service commercial real estate firm with offices in Charleston, Charlotte and Wilmington, NC and Savannah, GA. Tim is formerly the CFO and with the firm since its inception in 1992. Prior to this, he owned and managed Lower East Redevelopment in New York, and built a solid analytical foundation at Touche Ross CPA's in New York. Background: Born in Ft. Wayne, IN, and moved to Charleston from New York City in 1992. Married to Page Walter (Colgate 1982, University of Chicago MBA 1984). Education: Tim holds a bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University (1983) and a Master's in Real Estate Development (MSRED) from the Columbia University School of Architecture in New York City (1989). Affiliations: Tim is a Certified Financial Planner and a South Carolina real property broker, and currently sits on the Board of Operation Home, Inc., after having served as their Treasurer for 10 years, as well as previously on other non-profit Boards. In addition to coaching basketball at Porter-Gaud, Tim has coached youth baseball for the past five seasons with Mt. Pleasant Rec Department.

Vice President – Jim Hirni

PG Connection: Caroline Reagan Hirni, Class of 2021
Background:
Born and raised in Hollis, NH (Married Tzeitel Fetter of Suillivans Island)
Graduate of Lawrence Academy, Groton MA. '91
'95 Graduate, Wheaton College, Norton MA
Present: President, The H2 Group, LLC, South Carolina political consulting, fundraising, public relations and event planning firm
Current community involvement and interests include: Board of The Porter-Gaud Father’s Association, Board of The Porter-Gaud B2B Networking Group, Board of Charleston Toys for Tots, Leadership Team Seacoast Church Fatherhood Ministry, Board of The Daniel Island Swim Team.

Treasurer – Michael J. Stolarczyk

In December 2009, Michael J. Stolarczyk joined the team at Kontane Logistics in as President. Kontane Logistics is an industry leader in Third Party Logistics.
Prior to joining Kontane Logistics Stolarczyk served as CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in Toledo, Ohio. Founded in 1955, the TLCPA was the first port authority in Ohio and operates the Port of Toledo, Toledo Express Airport and Toledo Executive Airport.
From 2005--2009, Michael worked as Senior Director for Exel, a leader in supply chain management that provides customer-focused solutions to a wide range of manufacturing, retail, and consumer industries in over 500 sites in the Americas.
Current Board Positions:
In 2004, Michael joined the Board of Directors of Navismart Hungary, Ltd and VenJuvo, Inc. He was also appointed to the Board of Advisors for West Virginia University’s School of Business and Economics that same year. Additionally, Michael serves on the Board of Governors at West Liberty University in West Virginia.

Secretary – David Wheeler

Dave Wheeler is the father of Porter-Gaud students, Forrest Wheeler (2012) and Max Wheeler (2017) and his been a member of board the Fathers Association since 2004. He is a member of the Moore and Van Allen Law Firm where he practices in the areas of bankruptcy, creditor rights and homeowner association law. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and has lived in the Charleston area since moving here from Greenville in 1985. Dave lives in Mount Pleasant.

Past President – Martin Skelly

Background
Born in Roanoke, Virginia and married to Kelly Vest Skelly, also from Roanoke (Roanoke College, 1988).
Graduated from Patrick Henry H.S. and then Harvard College with degree in Economics and State Teacher’s Certificate. Earned MBA in Finance from Virginia Tech (1995).
He has two children at Porter-Gaud--Angle, Class of 2013 and Ann Martin, Class of 2017.

Current Responsibilities
Senior Advisor to UFG Asset Management Group, a Moscow based asset manager specializing in private equity and illiquid assets
Facilitator for Alpha in the Workplace, a Charleston, SC program to encourage spiritual development
Coach/Parent to Charleston City Parks and Recreation's MicroSports program.
Board Member, Porter Gaud Fathers Association, promoting volunteerism among parents and community members through athletics and special events
Facilitator, Carolina’s Listening Club, promoting discussion about economic and financial developments within the proximate neighborhood gentleman
Board Member, Charleston Wine and Food Festival, promoting Charleston as a tourist destination
Board Member, WINGS for KIDS, helping children develop social skills for a positive attitude towards school

At Large Members

Richard Barry

Richard Barry is a graduate of Valdosta State University '88 (Valdosta, GA) and current owner of Atlantic Publication Group, LLC, a Charleston-based custom print, electronic and digital publishing firm. Richard and his wife Maggie, moved to Charleston in 1997 from Athens, GA. They have a son Michael in eight grade and a daughter Lucy in fifth grade. Richard a volunteer coach for both middle school basketball and football. Richard's primary volunteer activities for the Porter Gaud Father's Association include work on the Fall & Winter Sports Programs respectively. Richard will also be involved with the annual Basketball Classic hosted by Porter Gaud each December.

Brook Bennett

Mike Doyle

Connection to Porter-Gaud: Child, Michael (Class of 2018).

Mike has worked with the PG Fathers Association for four years, working his way up the ladder to become a PG concession stand specialists.

Background:

Mike was born in the Bronx, NY. He is a 1980 graduate of the University of SC, with a degree in marketing management. Mike was recruited to USC by basketball coach Frank McGuire. He was team captain his junior and senior years, and was a 5th round draft pick by the NBA Hawks. Mike is married to Lavonda Miley (USC 1986, PhD)

Mike has been a corporate bond broker for the past 23 years, 19 of which have been with his current employer, Murphy Durieu, an inter-dealer brokerage company (120 John St, NY,NY). He began his financial career at Merrill Lynch in NY in 1986.

Andrew Dupps

Born in Murfreesboro, TN, Graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy '91 and then University of Mississippi '96
Married to Anna Liz Moss Dupps of Beaufort, SC. Moved from Beaufort to Charleston in 2008.

Drew, PG Class of '22 and Hogan, O'Quinn School

President of The Greenery of Charleston (commercial landscape maintenance and construction)

Shawn Holland

PG Connection: Lillian (2019), and this is her first year at PG.

Job experience: With 15 years experience in financial services and risk management, Shawn is currently Managing Partner of Arete Advisors, LLC, a firm which he started in 2007. There are two focuses of the company: 1. Captive Insurance Company implementation, formation, management and ownership structures 2. Life Settlement investments, both individual policies and pooled assets of this class. Shawn moved his family and his company to Charleston in August of 2011. He is married to Jennifer Holland, and they also have a son, Gray, who is in kindergarten at Sullivan’s Island elementary. Shawn graduated from Presbyterian College in 1989 with a degree in Business and minor in Computer Science. He was also a four-time All-American tennis player for PC. Jennifer attended the University of Alabama for both undergrad and graduate school in early childhood education. Current interests include a broad range of sports with his children, including soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis and golf. Shawn has participated in the Porter Gaud B2B meetings and volunteered regularly for football concessions with the Father’s Association. In his spare time, he is an aspiring television and movie producer with a project scheduled for a fourth quarter 2012 launch.

Phillip Horn

Married to Caroline K Horn.

Son- Hunter Horn, PG Class of 2018
Daughter- Bailey Horn Class of 2015 Ashley Hall

President of RoHoHo, Inc—owns and operates Papa Johns Pizza and Jersey Mikes Subs in Southeast

Graduated University of Kentucky in 1987

Justin Kahn

Porter-Gaud Connection

Graduate 1984; Parent of Rebecca (Class of 2018) and Ben (Class of 2019) and Anna who attends O’Quinn School.

Education

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA – BS Psychology, BS Communication graduated in 1988


University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC - Juris Doctor 1992.

Affiliations

United States Supreme Court;

South Carolina Supreme Court;

District of Columbia;

U.S. Court of Appeals, Second, Third and Fourth Circuits;

American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (Treasurer);

National Board of Trial Advocacy;

Charleston County Bar Association;

American Bar Association;

South Carolina Bar (House of Delegates, 1996-2008; Chairman, Practice & Procedure Committee, 1998-1999);

American Association for Justice;

South Carolina Association for Justice;

Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference permanent member

Dale Lanford

PG Connection: Son, Jake, class of 2018.

Dale Lanford is a partner at Cognetix Advertising, Marketing and Graphic Design. Cognetix is a full-service advertising and marketing agency providing services in TV, radio, billboard, print, online and social media. Dale serves as the head of the creative department and is in charge of all design and creative services. Dale has over 25 years of direct experience in advertising and served as Director of Operations for South Carolina’s oldest ad agency (ASA) for 10 years prior to becoming a founding member of Cognetix in 2001. He serves as the current creative lead for all projects.

Dale has worked on many marketing campaigns with local and regional clients in various business sectors such as Medical (MUSC, Trumpf, Belimed, Berchtold, Trident Medical Center, Head & Neck cancer Alliance, Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital), Hospitality (HarbourView Inn, The French Quarter, Vendue Inn, Old South Carriage, Andrew Pinckney, King Charles Inn, Seaside Inn), Food Services (Just Fresh, Tommy Condons, AW Shucks, Triangle, Hanks, Mercatos, Sticky Fingers, Vickerys, Bretts ), Education (The Citadel, The College of Charleston, Erskine College, Charleston Southern), Homebuilders & Real Estate (DR Horton, Summerville Homes, Sunburst Homes, The Beach Company, Sadler), Technical (Innerlogic, Berenyi, Biometric), Corporate (PGI, Santee Cooper, The Port of Charleston), Boating (Key West Boats, Seaparts), Financial (Bank of SC, Automated Trading Desk, AP Recovery), Automotive ( McElveen GMC/Buick/Chevy, Truckville, TruAuto), and Adult Care ( Bishop Gadsden, Winyah Hospice), Political (Authur Ravenel, Maurice Washington, Jonathan Brown).


Dale has a daughter in 11th grade at Ashley Hall. His wife , Sally is owner of Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital. They live on James Island.

Ryan Miles

Ryan Miles is the father of John Miles, Porter-Gaud class of 2021, and Renny Miles, class of 2024. His youngest daughter Libby attends St. Andrew's Day School and will join her brother and sister at Porter-Gaud for first grade.

Ryan is married to Tris Miles. He grew up in Greenville, SC, and graduated from Christ Church Episcopal School. Ryan received his BA from Davidson College.

Ryan is a 757 pilot for FedEx and is based in Memphis, Tennesee.

John Rama

John Rama1465 Winton RdMount Pleasant SC 29464 Maureen (2015) William (2017)Board Member Father Association
President - Sonitrol Security Systems

Joe Salvo

Joe Salvo is the father of Joseph, Porter-Gaud Class of 2019, and husband of Mary Elizabeth Salvo.

Born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin and a graduate of Marquette University, Joe is currently Broker in Charge

of the Seabrook Island Real Estate Company. He has been a real estate professional for over 25 years, as Sales Executive, Sales Manager, Broker Owner of his own company, trainer, speaker, and as a business and marketing consultant to Real Estate Companies throughout the country. Before becoming Broker In Charge of Seabrook Island Real Estate in the spring of 2004, Joe spent eight years as a consultant with Cendant Corporation. Cendant is the world’s largest real estate company and owns the Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA and Sotheby brand names nationally.

Cliff Woods

Cliff has two sons at Porter-Gaud: Connor (Class of 2016) and Kevin (Class of 2017).

He has an active history with community and business-related non-profit organizations in the Cayman Islands and California. In Grand Cayman, where Cliff and his family lived until August 2010, he served as Treasurer of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), and served on the Boards of Directors and Executive Committees of that and predecessor organizations since the early 1990s. In California (where Cliff and family lived from 1996-2004), Cliff served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Financial Advisory Committee for the Burlingame Public Schools. He was also a founding Director of the non-profit, community group, Citizens for a Better Burlingame.
Cliff and his wife, Sue Woods, have enjoyed developing for-profit entities too, also in Grand Cayman and California, where they created and owned restaurants and real estate entities. Their restaurants include Chicken! Chicken!, Cimboco – A Caribbean Café, and Breezes By the Bay – Tropical Grill & Rhum Deck.
In a previous life, Cliff was Research Analyst for the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). He studied at Kenyon College and Columbia University, among others.

Volunteer to help

Contact us at:
Tim Walter 
Email