Susan and her husband Jim made their Hilton Head their home base in 1990 but have only lived permanently on the Island for a few years. Susan’s career in sales, marketing and business development ended in the mid-90s when moves between Asian countries and the US happened too frequently for her to continue working full-time. Susan has been on several boards overseas in officer capacities and a board member for The Bridge in Atlanta. She currently serves on the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation. Susan has served as a caregiver for the couple’s parents and siblings and currently serves as a Hospice volunteer. Jim and Susan have five children and ten grandchildren and are hoping for an even dozen.
Treasurer
Ray Andrews
Ray Andrews and his wife, Melanie, moved from Delaware to Bluffton in 2015. His career as a corporate accounting and finance executive started at the DuPont Co. and concluded at Checkpoint Systems, Inc., a global small-cap public company where he was Chief Accounting Officer and then Chief Financial Officer. Ray is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He has been actively involved with not-for-profit hospice and palliative care since he joined the board of Delaware Hospice, Inc. in 1993, where he was past President and Treasurer and where he last served as chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee.
Donna Bafundo
Donna and her husband, George, retired to Hilton Head from Northern Virginia thirteen years ago. Donna had been a Professor and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia for thirty-six years. Retirement has allowed Donna to give back through volunteer community service concentrating on small community and non-profit agencies. Donna was a two-term board member on the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, board member and President of AAUW and founder of a church ministry that serves homebound and long-term care residents. She currently serves on the St. Francis School Council. Donna and George have two married children and two college-age granddaughters….all “left coasters”.
Lissa Brown
“Lissa” Brown and her husband, Gary, moved to Hilton Head from the Philadelphia area one year ago. Both Lissa and her husband are ophthalmologists and have transitioned their efforts from private practice to consulting work at The Center for Value-Based Medicine where Lissa serves as President and CEO. The focus of the work is quality-of-life assessment in healthcare and healthcare economics. She currently serves as invited advisor to the Director on the Council of Councils at the National Institutes of Health and is Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University. Lissa and Gary have three married daughters who have gifted them with 6 grandchildren and counting. . . boxer, Gus, completes the family.
Vice Chairman
Jackie Dout
Jackie Dout is President of JD Advisors LLC-a firm specializing in business operational and financial planning. Jackie has been an executive in charge of operations, finance and administrative functions for both profit and non-profit companies during her career. In her specialties, she has been involved with foundations, hospitals, long term care facilities, and educational institutions in addition to medium/large for-profit companies.
Janet Gorton
Janet Gorton first came to Hilton Head in the 70s. She spent most of her adult life in Anchorage, Alaska where she was active in not-for-profits working on literacy and homelessness and cancer research. She moved to Hilton Head permanently in 2002; she enrolled at University of South Carolina Beaufort and completed her degree in 2004. She has been an active volunteer and fundraiser for the Humane Society, Volunteers in Medicine, the Sea Pines Country Club and the Jr Jazz Foundation. Her experience as a caregiver for her sister stimulated her interest in supporting Hospice Care of the Lowcountry.
Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman and his wife, Dena, came to Hilton Head in 2015 from Michigan. Phil Hartman’s career has spanned more than forty years working in the public and private sector. In the field of public education, Phil worked as a Superintendent of Schools, Community Education Coordinator, Adjunct Professor for Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University, and Interim Director for the National Community Education Association in Washington D. C. He has also worked closely with State governments in the bonding of community projects and in the private sector with the design/build process as they relate to community facilities. His work and community experiences include working with, community agencies, local, State, and Federal governments, preschool and early childhood programs, K – 12 education, senior citizen programs and services, adult education and enrichment, college and university extension services, and youth enrichment. Phil is the recipient of the “Outstanding Leader in Community Education” award from the Michigan Association of Community Education.
John Howe
John and his late wife, Carole, moved to Hilton Head in 1992, from Louisville, KY. Prior to their move here, John’s career was in the alcoholic beverage industry, first with Heublein, Inc. in Hartford, CT, followed by Glenmore Distilleries in Louisville. Collectively, they are now known as Diageo, PLC. John held increasingly responsible positions, culminating with Vice President of Business Development and Planning. In 1989, John became a casualty of industry consolidation which prompted a career change and a move to Hilton Head and Merrill Lynch as a Financial Advisor. John retired in 2010. Education includes a BS in Math and Physics from Lincoln Memorial University and an MBA from The University of Hartford. Shortly after John retired, his wife Carole succumbed to metastatic breast cancer after an eight-year fight. She was under the care of Hospice Care of the Lowcountry for the last two months of her life. John has since remarried and he and his wife, Mary, are active in the community. John has held board positions with The Lowcountry Coalition of Human Trafficking and The Children’s Center, serving as their Chair in 2017 and 2018, and has been an active member of The Rotary Club since 1996.
Jim Irwin
Jim Irwin began visiting Hilton Head in 2001, ultimately purchasing a home in Windmill Harbour in 2009. He moved here permanently in August of 2017. His career in business included ownership and management of Ohio Pipe & Supply Inc. and North Coast Instruments Co. He served as chairman of the Planning Commission of Lakewood, OH and as treasurer of Lakewood Hospital Foundation. He also was chairman of fundraising for Laurel School in Cleveland. He was president of the Thistle Class Association, a national sailing organization. He currently serves on the Long Term Planning Committee for Windmill Harbour. He is active in sailing and race management at South Carolina.
Chairman
Janet Porter
Janet Porter and her husband, Jim O’Sullivan, moved to Hilton Head from Boston five years ago. Janet has been a hospital administrator, most recently the Chief Operating Officer of Dana-Farber-Cancer Institute where she was responsible for a large hospice, and the Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she started a pediatric hospice. Janet currently is an adjunct professor teaching healthcare strategy and leadership at University of Miami, University of North Carolina, and Ohio State University, where she also serves on the Board of Trustees. She has been active in end-of-life issues, currently lecturing in Harvard’s Palliative Care Leadership Program, and serving on the board of directors of AARP.
Michelle Wycoff
Michelle Wycoff is a Global Practice Manager with McKinsey & Company. Michelle has more than 20 years of leadership experience. Over her 15 years at IBM and Accenture, she served several executive roles including Global Lead for IBM’s Market Development & Insights practice and Associate Partner, Sales and Marketing Transformation, for Accenture’s Americas region. Michelle Wycoff and her husband, Chris Wycoff, moved to Hilton Head eight years ago and have two children.
