Local Leaders – Cheryl Neal, Cole Porter, Donnette Sturdivant, Jan Lupuloff, and Lindsay Taylor – Will Lend Their Talents to the Nonprofit Dedicated to Ending Homelessness One Family at a Time
Duluth, GA – February 4, 2025 – Less than three months after launching its “Building Homes, Building Hope” Capital Campaign, Rainbow Village is proud to announce the addition of five new members to its Board of Directors. With a mission to bring Help, Hope, Housing, and Healing to families experiencing homelessness, the nonprofit welcomed Cheryl Neal, Cole Porter, Donnette Sturdivant, Jan Lupuloff, and Lindsay Taylor. These Metro Atlanta leaders will lend their time and talents to the realization of Rainbow Village’s three-year strategic plan to more than double its capacity and improve the quality of its programs to ensure better outcomes for the families it serves.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cheryl, Cole, Donnette, Jan, and Lindsay to the Rainbow Village family,” said Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner. “Each has a rich career history and incredible individual talents to bring to the team. Undoubtedly, they will leave their mark on our organization, especially at such a historic time. Rainbow Village is poised for incredible growth, and – since our start 34 years ago – our board has been integral to our evolution. Our board members bring big ideas to the table and create connections that fuel our progression from one chapter to the next. Of course, the most important element they bring to the team is endless empathy for families in need. They never lose sight of the fact that we’re here to serve families who are homeless or have recently experienced the trauma of homelessness. They’re determined to help us create REAL, lasting change within our community.”
The newest members of the Rainbow Village Board of Directors include:
Cheryl Neal: Neal is the Founder and CEO of B The Now, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on voter education and engagement, and Co-Founder of RCN Global Investment Group, LLC., which invests in Science, Film, and Technology companies. She has been a consultant in the field of Urology for over 20 years, currently with AbbVie, Inc. In addition to her service on the Rainbow Village Board, Neal serves on the B The Now, Inc. Board as Co-Chair, the Edwin Moses Brand Advisory Board as a Member, and the Smithsonian National Board as Board Chairman. She has previously served as Co-Chair for the Smithsonian Atlanta Regional Council and Executive Advisory Committee Member for Communications and Force for Racial Justice Council Member, a subcommittee under EED&I, for AbbVie, Inc. Additionally, she was appointed to the Ambassador Leadership Coalition for National Museum of African American History and Culture and awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her continued contributions and work in communities across the country.
Cole Porter: Porter is the President and Owner of Porter Steel, Inc., a structural steel and miscellaneous metals subcontractor for construction projects across the Southeast – with facilities in Lilburn and Athens, GA. Born and raised in Georgia, this UGA grad is proud to work in and be involved in the community where he grew up. He is very involved in industry associations and civic service organizations. In addition to serving on the Rainbow Village Board, Porter is on the Board of Directors for the Gwinnett Medical Foundation, Gwinnett Tech Foundation, Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia, and the 1818 Club. He also serves on the Gwinnett Chamber Executive Board of Directors and is the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Duluth. Passionate about legislative and government affairs, he is proud to serve on the public policy committees for both the Gwinnett Chamber and the Associated Builders & Contractors of Georgia.
Donnette Sturdivant: Sturdivant is Manager for the Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta, GA, where she’s been employed for 20 years. Before joining federal service, Donnette served as a high school science teacher in Gwinnett County and Guilford County, NC. Active in the community, she volunteers and serves in various leadership positions for nonprofit organizations, including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, PTA, and Gwinnett Church. She is also a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, where she has volunteered at the Atlanta Mission, Partnership Against Domestic Violence, and Atlanta Botanical Garden. As a United Way Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP) graduate, she received extensive training in nonprofit board governance. Sturdivant hopes to bring her strategic planning, financial oversight, and fundraising skills to Rainbow Village.
Jan Lupuloff: This Atlanta native and devoted Community Servant boasts a life committed to service, dating back to her time in college when she served as a B’nai Brith youth advisor at the Jewish Community Center to inspire and teach young girls. Since then, Lupuloff and her husband, Aaron, have dedicated their lives to giving back and instilling that belief in their children. In addition to her service on the Rainbow Village Board, Lupuloff has served on the Board at Camp Twin Lakes and was Chairperson for Gwinnett’s Neighborhood Meals on Wheels. She also dabbled in fundraising efforts and helped build programs such as Taste of Atlanta, the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of Atlanta, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, YMCA Peachtree Corners, and Hope Thru Soap. Lupuloff is a Founding Trustee of the Jewish Women’s Funds and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for Norcross High School’s Foundation of Excellence for her community service.
Lindsay Taylor: A member of the Primerica team for nearly 17 years, Taylor now serves as VP of Securities Licensing and Training. She grew up volunteering in a variety of service organizations, and that continued at the University of Georgia, particularly with the Lions Club, where she met her husband. She holds an MBA from Saint Leo University and a bachelor’s in history from the University of Georgia. In addition to her service on the Rainbow Village board, as a proud mom of two, Taylor continues to enjoy the opportunity to volunteer through various PTA board roles and committees.
Conner and the rest of the staff at Rainbow Village also wish to thank those who have served selflessly for several years and rolled off the board this year, including:
- Jill Edwards, Senior Vice President, United Community Bank
- Jan Trantham, EVP Operations, Primerica
- Michelle Livingstone, Vice President – Transportation, The Home Depot (Retired)
- C.G. McBride, Vitalysys Technologies, Owner
- Jackie Neilson, Executive and Leadership Coach, Jackie Neilson Coaching, Owner
- Deon Tucker, Regional Director, Georgia Power Company
- Deborah Latham, Former CEO, Georgia Tank Lines
Anyone interested in learning how to become involved with Rainbow Village is encouraged to visit https://rainbowvillage.org/get-involved/. For more information about the “Building Homes, Building Hope” Capital Campaign, please visit https://rainbowvillage.org/capital-campaign-building-homes-building-hope/.
About Rainbow Village: Established in 1991, Rainbow Village is a transformative 501(c)3 nonprofit program located in Duluth, GA, that serves families currently experiencing homelessness. Its unique model provides safe housing, education, and community support systems that allow families to confidently embark on the journey to self-sufficiency and thrive beyond the Village. To learn more about the mission at the heart of Rainbow Village, make a tax-deductible donation, or register as a volunteer, visit www.RainbowVillage.org. To stay up-to-date on the latest Rainbow Village news and events, the nonprofit invites you to connect with them on social media, including Facebook @RainbowVillageInc, Instagram @rainbowvillageinc, X @rainbowvillage1, and LinkedIn @rainbow-village-inc.
