Jeff Butterworth 

Mr. Butterworth currently serves as the Georgia Power Area Manager for Cherokee and Paulding Counties. His work with Georgia Power focuses on promoting the company's strategic business interest while ensuring world-class service to customers. This role is not his first with Georgia Power as he has worked with them for over 22 years in 12 different roles. Mr. Butterworth serves on several boards in various capacities including the Cherokee Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee and Leadership Cherokee Co-chair, Cherokee Office of Economic Development, Cherokee by Choice Board of Directors Board Secretary, and Regional Business Coalition Board of Directors.

He is a product of the Cherokee County School district and has two daughters who are presently Cherokee High School students. Mr. Butterworth has excellent leadership skills and works closely with education as it is a key focus area in his position at Georgia Power.

Judge Jennifer Davis 

A product of Etowah High School, Judge Davis has held close ties to Cherokee County throughout her career as the very beginning of her journey in law began with internships under a Canton-based law firm and the Cherokee County District Attorney. She has worked intently within Juvenile Law for Cherokee and surrounding counties, working cases involving dependency and delinquency up to Family Law issues with divorce, adoptions, and more. In 2019, Ms. Jennifer Davis was promoted to Judge Davis in Cherokee County Juvenile Court, presiding over Dependency, Delinquency, and Children in Need of Services filings and hearings in Juvenile Court. 

Judge Davis earned her Bachelor of Business Administration, Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia and her Juris Doctorate from Samford University. Her husband has been a teacher and coach with CCSD for over 20 years, and they have three children attending CCSD schools. She has seen the sacrifice school staff makes and hopes to support those professionals to better achieve their goals.

Jason T. Dickerson 

Being born in Canton, Georgia, Jason is a native to our county and has had a long history with Cherokee County and our school district. He attended Hickory Flat Elementary, Dean Rusk Middle School, and graduated from Sequoyah High School. He started a consulting company at age 19, working primarily with transportation companies to optimize the efficiency of their fleets through data and patterns. He later purchased a trucking company that quickly grew to over 500 employees and is now the sixth-largest employer in Bartow County.

Beyond his accomplishments, Mr. Dickerson has given back to our community in countless ways, which led to the creation of the Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation. This foundation works closely with Goshen Valley, The Children's Haven, CCEF, Wreaths Across America, animal shelters, and other similar charities. He has a huge heart for our community, and we're so thankful for all the ways he and his foundation help those in need. 

Whitney Doss Spear 

Ms. Spear is currently the Project Coordinator at Quantum Installation Group leading management initiatives and works with regional operations managers to draft and submit bids for government Task Order Requests. She previously worked in the healthcare industry first as a Clinical Care Partner and then as a Revenue Cycle Analyst. Ms. Spear earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Services Nonprofit Management and is currently working towards a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Administration at Kennesaw State University. Her various experience with nonprofit organization management makes her an asset to the CCEF board. 

Ms. Spear is a parent to four children who are in the Cherokee County School District and even served as an intern for CCEF, making this organization near and dear to her heart. She is passionate about education and the need for teachers to have the necessary resources to successfully engage with our students. 

Dr. Gary Sullenger 

Dr. Sullenger has had a long career in the education sector. He spent the last 5+ years of his career at Life University serving as the Executive Director of Enrollment Management and then as Coordinator of Articulation Agreements. Prior to Life University, Sullenger served as President at the United Education Institute of San Diego and Westwood College. During his time at these schools, he was able to grow the student population, lead expansions, and meet an array of service needs. Earlier in his career, he served in a variety of capacities from teacher and community school director to district director in Flint, Michigan. One highlight of his career was the honor of being part of the college administration at Mott Community College and being responsible for lifting their "college foundation" off the ground.

Dr. Sullenger retired in 2016 but is still passionate about education and is excited to put his years of education experience to good use at CCEF. He is active in the community and has served in the Towne Lake Rotary Club as president, and now treasurer.