Biographies: Board of Directors
KELLY FIELDS, Chair
Kelly Fields is the National Executive Director of StandUp for Kids since 2010. Kelly has 25 years of non-profit experience, 15 years working with StandUp for Kids, coupled with over 10 years in corporate human resources with companies such as the Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Bausch and Lomb and Novell.
Kelly’s non-profit service began with her selection by Georgia-Pacific to be the Loaned Executive to the Olympic Committee Organizing the Games in Atlanta (ACOG) in January 1995. Following the Olympic Games in August 1996, after returning to G-P, she was asked to work with United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta through Georgia-Pacific. She stayed for five years and went on to work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Atlanta, and The Georgia Transplant Foundation.
She has worked with a wide variety of volunteer groups, community partners and corporations to implement new programs, develop resources and train volunteers.
MAGGIE MCWHORTER, Board Secretary
Maggie McWhorter began her involvement with StandUp for Kids in Oceanside, California as a center volunteer in 2008.
Maggie is a 10 year Veteran of the United States Army and has over 25 years of experience managing supply chain, fleet maintenance, and warehouse operations. Maggie currently is the National Director Fleet Safety, Compliance and Environmental for Reyes Fleet Management, a division of Reyes Holdings, a Food and Beverage distributor providing support to Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Miller, Coors, and Constellation Brands.
Maggie has a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Colorado, where she majored in Organizational Development. She also holds a Green Belt certification in Lean/Six Sigma.
KEDRIC SLEDGE, Member at Large
Kedric Sledge is a state licensed mental health professional that has turned around some of the lowest performing schools in metro Atlanta. He is a certified national dropout prevention specialist who mentors numerous at promise youth. He is a native of Saginaw Michigan. Mr. Sledge began his journey in 2004 working with children and families. His educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University and a master’s degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University.
During his tenure in Fulton County Schools, Mr. Sledge has worked diligently implementing attendance protocols and social emotional support programs that have assisted in many schools significantly increasing their graduation and promotion rates. He has won many awards, including Volunteer of the Year for 2024 with StandUp For Kids
Mr. Sledge has worked with organizations such as Chris 180, Access Mental Health, Stand Up For Kids, Holy Cross Children Services, and Kairos Health Care. He has also facilitated workshops and trainings with the School Social Work Association of Georgia, National Dropout Prevention Center at the National Youth at Risk and Reaching the Wounded Student conferences. Kedric has one daughter.
Lori Waters, Member at Large
Lori Waters is a Creative Director and co-founder of WEST – Waters Elliott Studio, an Atlanta-based brand and marketing firm. With over 30 years of experience, she has led strategic work for global brands including UNICEF, the CDC, and UPS. Through her Brand Positive® approach, Lori specializes in aligning an organization’s core values with its marketing actions, ensuring that strategic goals are met with thoughtful design and clear, impactful communication.
Her commitment to StandUp For Kids began in 2015 through her service on the Country Club of Roswell’s Pro-AM Committee, which supports nonprofit organizations empowering youth. As a long-time creative and strategic partner for our mission, Lori brings a deep understanding of the challenges facing at-risk youth. On the Board, she focuses on brand strategy, creative direction, and message alignment to help the organization tell its story and reach new heights.
Lori is also a dedicated educator, having taught graphic design and advertising at Georgia State University and The Portfolio Center. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation and believes in the power of combining purpose with effective action. Her background in high-level corporate leadership, combined with her heart for community service, makes her a vital asset to our national leadership team.
TIM MCCORMICK, Vice Chair
Tim McCormick is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of operations and management experience. He currently serves as the President of LA Hydro-Jet and is the Owner of Zip Marketing Solution. Tim has a proven track record of building high-performing teams, optimizing business operations, and driving strategic growth across multiple industries.
With a leadership approach rooted in Servant Leadership, Tim excels at developing talent, leading process improvement initiatives, and implementing innovative solutions that drive efficiency and impact. His career includes key roles at industry-leading organizations, where he consistently delivered operational excellence and built strong partnerships across teams, clients, and vendors.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Human Communication from California State University, Fullerton, and a Green Belt certification in Six Sigma. He resides in Southern California with his wife and their four children.
NATALIE HOGG, Chair: Marketing Committee
Natalie Q. Hogg is a veteran marketing leader with over a decade of experience in content, demand generation, public relations, and marketing strategy. With a strong communications background and a deep curiosity, Natalie leverages her journalism background to distill complex messages into engaging, compelling stories that drive results. She graduated from Georgia State University with degrees in journalism/public relations and public/political communications.
Natalie is the founder and president of Method Q, an outsourced marketing management agency servicing business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and nonprofit organizations across a variety of industries. She started Method Q in 2021 and over a short amount of time, turned it into a multi-million-dollar business that gives back to the community.
Natalie has worked with StandUp for Kids since 2020 and has made it her mission to dedicate time to changing the trajectory of kids’ lives. She has been certified to serve with impact on nonprofit boards through United Way’s VIP training program, Young Leaders Network.
KIM SISSON, Member at Large
Kim Sisson is the Executive Director of StandUp For Kids – Tucson, works part-time with National Staff as Manager of Chapter Development and is the Youth Ministry Coordinator for Our Mother of Sorrows. She began her involvement with StandUp for Kids as a street outreach volunteer in 2008 and within a few months moved into the role of Director of Outreach. In 2016 she became the Executive Director and in 2017 accepted an additional position on the StandUp For Kids National Advisory Council.
Kim maintains an active role of advocacy and mentoring for youth and young adults in Tucson. She is a member of the Homeless Youth Committee and is a strong force at homeless events and forums. She loves truth, growing in knowledge and understanding and has a passion for people and doing the right thing. Kim travels to Central America annually to volunteer at Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos. She and her husband, Rick have 4 sons.
SUSAN PICK, Treasurer
Susan Pick is a CPA and has extensive tax controversy experience. She currently focuses on assisting clients navigate the IRS maze, including interest and penalty issues, IRS account issues, resolution of IRS notices, review of IRS tax examination reports and general tax controversy issues. She has assisted individual and corporate clients in reviewing their accounts to identify errors in the taxing authorities’ interest and penalty assessments.
Prior to joining BDO Seidman, Susan was a Managing Director in the Washington National Tax Office of a large multinational public accounting firm and lead that Firm’s IRS Interest and Penalty Practice. She also worked at the IRS as a revenue agent and senior reviewer in quality review staff and for a Big Four accounting firm.
ADRIAN RAMIREZ, Chapter Director
Adrian Ramirez began his involvement with Standup for Kids in San Antonio, Texas as an outreach volunteer in 2016. What started out an opportunity to observe what StandUp for Kids was all about, turned into a passion of wanting to make a difference in young lives. He has served in various capacities in San Antonio and is now providing assistance as the Director of Public Relations for the San Antonio Program.
Adrian has over 20 years’ experience working with non-profit organizations and is no stranger to working hard and wishing to make a difference. He is the Real Estate Manager for the Public Works Department of the City of San Antonio, where he has worked for over 8 years. Working for the city, he has had the opportunity to speak before city council to talk about StandUp for Kids and bring awareness to the city on Homelessness Awareness Month, and meet directly with city officials to discuss the issues impacting the youth homeless population. He continues building relationships with city representatives and organizations to help make a change.
Adrian has a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Management and Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.