Georgia Right to Life (GRTL) will head into 2016 energized by a new Executive Committee that will serve through 2017.
They are:
- President—Ricardo Davis
- Vice President—Shannon Vogt
- Secretary—Charlie (Charles) Greenewald
- Treasurer—Linda Powell
- GRTL Director to Personhood Alliance—Karen LaBarr
“I am humbled by the opportunity to build on the legacy that Dan Becker left,” Davis said. “My goal is to ignite a groundswell of community support for advancing Personhood, the most effective way to protect all innocent human life at every stage of development.”
Davis said he also wants to nurture GRTL’s position as the pro-life thought leader in public policy, ethics and law, as well as nurturing the next generation of pro-life leaders.
Becker, who has headed GRTL since 2007, said he is honored to have had the opportunity to have led the organization. “And while I will greatly miss my daily involvement, I leave with absolute confidence that GRTL is in good hands.”
Becker will now devote his time to working with the Personhood Alliance, which GRTL founded last year.
A brief look at the new members follows.
Ricardo Davis
Davis, who desires to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in his service to fellow board members and supporters by leading GRTL’s efforts to advance personhood, has a long and successful pro-life and business background.
The former information technology director for GRTL, Davis has been serving as Vice President.
He is also an advisor to the Personhood Mississippi Board of Directors and is Chairman of the Constitution Party of Georgia.
He was a petitioner with the Unborn Child Amendment Committee; worked with Texas Rescue in conducting protests at Austin abortion facilities; and was a volunteer and board member of the Augusta Care Pregnancy Center.
Most recently, Davis has taken part in efforts to close the Alpha Gynecology and Consultants in Marietta. The facility is the new home of disgraced abortionist Daniel McBrayer.
He is owner of Ricardo Davis & Associates, LLC, a healthcare information systems consulting firm.
In the past, he has held technology positions with numerous organizations including: the Select Medical Corporation, Regency Medical Corporation, and Power Systems Information Management, Inc.
From 2006 to 2010, Davis served as voter and communications consultant to the Paul Broun for Congress Committee. He played a critical role in Broun’s stunning 2007 upset victory in winning a seat in Congress.
Davis and his wife Shelia have been blessed with three children: Rebekah, Micaiah, and Hadassah.
Shannon Vogt
Vogt said her goal is to help Davis and chapter leaders by encouraging them, analyzing ideas and suggestions they present and giving feedback on ideas. She also plans to present her own ideas about how GRTL can positively affect Georgia on the sanctity of life.
She hopes to be a face and a voice for GRTL that is effective with friends and foes alike, as well as one that highlights the fact that God has already provided the victory.
A former clerk for a Cobb County Superior Court judge, Vogt worked for two well-known law firms before establishing her own in 2013. Specializing in estate planning and probate, her skills are analyzing, writing, administration and making people feel comfortable in difficult situations.
Vogt worked for 20 years as a volunteer and staffer at the Atlanta Care Center, and as a volunteer for the Atlanta Pregnancy Resource Center’s fundraising banquet in 2013. She also has been active in writing letters to the editor and to elected officials.
She and her husband Chuck have three children: Claire Turner, Jack Vogt and Nicholas Vogt.
Charlie (Charles) Greenewald
As secretary, Greenewald’s goal is to contribute to the solid growth of GRTL as measured by memberships, donations and representation in government. He stressed this will be accomplished without compromising GRTL’s firm stand on Personhood.
A Georgia Tech graduate, Greenewald works as a search consultant with an executive recruitment firm. He has learned greatly by helping clients build high- performance companies by finding them the right leaders and would like to use what he has learned for the benefit of GRTL.
He has been a part of 40 Days for Life, protested outside Planned Parenthood, represented Gwinnett Right to Life at the Gwinnett County Fair, and received formal Personhood training.
Greenewald and his wife Lydia have a four-month-old son, Knox.
Linda Powell
Powell ended her role as GRTL Director of Finances in October and will now take on the position of treasurer.
Powell said the Board needs someone who understands the fiduciary responsibility of the organization and can help ensure GRTL is a good steward of the donations it receives.
Powell said she will look at new ways to conduct fundraising, and find better ways to keep chapters involved and active.
Inspired by her Catholic faith, Powell serves as secretary of Columbiettes, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus Council #13229. She has also served as secretary of the Women’s Club at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church and on the Board of Directors of Come Alive Ministries, the Barrow County Pregnancy Resource Center.
Karen LaBarr
A graduate of Virginia Tech, LaBarr will serve as GRTL’s representative to Personhood Alliance, which was founded last year by GRTL.
After graduating from college, LaBarr worked at the headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ for 12 years. She was then transferred to Atlanta serving in two ministry offices.
Involved in the pro-life movement since 1987, LaBarr has served on GRTL’s Board of Directors for 10 years. She also serves on the Choose Life Board of Directors, as well as coordinating pro-life prayer and praise services on behalf of GRTL and others at Georgia Republican conventions for several years.
Since 1989, LaBarr has helped with pro-life citizen lobbying efforts, and has served as recording secretary for the Republican Party in DeKalb and Fulton Counties.
She and her husband Jim have two adopted children and she is passionate about honoring birth mothers for sacrificially loving their babies enough to entrust them to adoptive couples.
By Wayne DuBois
Media Relations Advisor