Meet our Board of Directors

Rhonda Brock

Rhonda has been on the Three Basketeers Board since its inception. Being the Godmother of one of the original Basketeers (Brett Swanson) allowed her a front row seat to the need of having meaningful employment to the adults with special needs. An Atlanta native, she graduated from Georgia State University where she met her husband of 36 years, Dick Brock. Rhonda and Dick established their own Accounting practice that provides consultation and tax return preparation to small businesses and the people that own them since 1989.

The experience in working with small businesses allows her unique insight in serving Three Basketeers. As a mother to five adult children, Rhonda understands the importance for all adults to have an opportunity for meaningful work and believes that Three Basketeers can provide that opportunity.

Mary Brown
(Photo coming soon)

Mary is a Certified Speech Language Pathologist currently working in private practice at Essential Therapies in Cumming Georgia.  She has provided services in Florida and Georgia for more than 25 years. She specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder but presently serves students struggling with a variety of issues including ASD. She has served on two other boards, The Magnolia School in Tallahassee Fl. and the Tallahassee Museum.

Mary lives in Gainesville Ga. with my husband and have two grown sons. She has many other hobbies and interests including teaching primitive skills courses and participating in educational demonstrations. 

Tom Brunner

Tom, in the most recent years, has had the opportunity to safely transport special needs students as a school bus driver for Fulton County Schools. His work with special needs families began as a volunteer with the Nashville area Muscular Dystrophy Association as a camp counselor and vice president of their local volunteer group “MAD, Marching against Dystrophy.”

 He is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and a resident of Johns Creek GA. Tom is married to Dr. Mary Brunner of Atlanta and they have resided here since 1990 and have two daughters and two sons. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Southern Technical College, Marietta, GA. For the majority of his professional career he has been a sales and rental representative of personnel access and safety equipment for the industrial, construction and property management industries. Historically focusing on effective relationship building, selling and promotional growth, this resulted in increased business development and revenues. His interests and vocation are as a husband, father, worker, volunteer in service to others and boating. Tom is honored and humbled to be on the board of directors of the Three Basketeers and looks forward to continued collaboration and developing successful solutions with the leadership team.

Julie Butler

Julie worked in the field of Special Education for over 35 years.  Her career included 4 years living in and managing a group home with 4-5 adults with developmental disabilities, 11 years as a resource and self-contained Community Based Instruction Teacher and 20 years as a Transition Specialist. Her role as a Transition Specialist included working with high school students and their families to navigate and plan for life after high school.  Julie developed and managed numerous off campus vocational training sites, assisted with public transport training and investigating and securing supported employment, independent living options and funding for adult services.  She retired from Fulton County Schools in 2017 and began a new career as a Realtor where I help people make the biggest financial decision of their lives. 

Julie finds it very rewarding to work with people from all walks of life in the transition of selling their house and finding the next perfect home to meet their needs.  She continues to volunteer in the Disabilities Community with Special Olympics and non-profits.  She is honored to serve on the Board for The Three Basketeers!

 

Jamie George

Yvette Graves, Co-founder and CFO

Yvette provides administrative support to Three Basketeers, Inc. within the financial and operations side of things.  She is a native Floridian but has lived in Cumming Georgia since 1995.  She received her B.S. in Business Administration from William Jennings Bryan College in Tennessee.  This is where she met her husband, Lee.  They have been married for 26 years, have 3 children and work together at Graves Overhead Doors, Inc., a local family-owned business. 

Their middle son, Luke, was diagnosed with autism in 2003 and this was the catalyst for her deep commitment & devotion to help individuals with special needs and their families in whatever way possible. Yvette learned (by necessity) to advocate for her son in various settings.  She now has a strong desire to promote Luke’s strengths and abilities as well as those of others like him to their community and beyond. 

Josh Hall

Josh volunteers at the shop during the week, when he can and not working his day job in sales.  He and his wife, Amanda, both Georgia natives live in North Forsyth, with their 2 rescue dogs and 3 rescue cats.  They both love their Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Falcons! He enjoys golf, tennis, cooking on his big green egg and spending time with his family and friends.  

Regina Kirkham, Board Secretary

Regina graduated from Georgia State University in 2014 with a Business degree in Marketing. Since then she has spent the majority of my career with Whirlpool Corporation, working across multiple functions of the business including Sales, Product Training, Consumer Services and Retail Merchandising. With her experience and passion for the customer, she contributes fresh ideas, merchandising strategies and offer support to Three Basketeers.

On the personal side, she is one of those crazy humans who likes to run and tries to get in a couple miles each day to clear her head.  She and her husband Cory recently finished the Boston Marathon!  She is excited for the opportunity to serve Three Basketeers as a member of the board, and believes the experience is far more rewarding than the work she contributes.

Sue Swanson, Co-founder and CEO

Sue is the proud mom of Basketeer Brett.   She graduated from LSU (Geaux Tigers!) with a Business Degree many years ago and worked for IBM until 1991, when she chose to stay home with her kids.  She earned her RN license in 1997, and worked part-time as a nurse in a variety of medical settings until "retiring" to Three Basketeers.  Sue and her husband Cort raised their six children in Alpharetta, then moved to their home on Lake Lanier in 2016.  After 34 years of marriage, Cort passed away suddenly in 2018. He would be extremely proud of Brett and the work of the Basketeers.

Sue is very grateful to our co-founders for joining together to make Three Basketeers a reality.  Her goal is to expand Three Basketeers so that we can employ ANY adult with Special Needs in Forsyth County who would like to work with us.  Sue also serves on the board of Perfect Harmony Health, a nonprofit Music Therapy provider in Roswell, GA.  She spends her free time playing with her adorable grand babies and enjoying lake life.

Sandra Tanner, Co-founder and Vocational Director, Advisor to the Board

Sandra is the Director of Vocational Training for Three Basketeers Inc. She is currently doing what she has been wanting to do since 6th grade- working with people with developmental disabilities. She was a special education teacher for 30 years, teaching in the Atlanta Public and Fulton County school systems.

Sandra lives in Cumming with her husband, Scott, and their 2 children, Nolan and Cayce. As a family, they enjoy Alabama football and traveling- with the goal of visiting all 50 state capitals (to date having visited 41). She feels privileged to be working with these young adults and looks forward to continuing this journey with them.

Margaret Tingley

Margaret volunteers as the bookkeeper for Three Basketeers. She met Luke and Yvette Graves several years ago while volunteering as a special needs coach at Luke’s church. She was mesmerized by the musical and artistic talents of the students with special needs. She wanted a way to continue to be involved with these amazingly talented young adults.

Margaret graduated from Villanova University. Over her career she worked as a financial software programmer, bookkeeper, small business owner, and office administrator. The past 11 years she has worked for non-profits in the arts community in various capacities. She is currently the COO at Timeless Tartans and the bookkeeper for ASMA. She and her husband, Keith, have two children and two grandchildren. She loves traveling, spending time with the grandchildren, photography, and an occasional art project.