The main phone number at Rhodes Hall is 404-881-9980. You can also contact staff members at Rhodes Hall state headquarters directly. The last four digits of the direct line also serve as the staff member’s extension when calling the main phone number. As always, we welcome your phone calls and invite you to stay in touch with us by phone, fax (404-875-2205), or contact us through the website.
President & CEO
Mark C. McDonald has served as President and CEO of The Georgia Trust since June 2008. Since that time, The Georgia Trust has dramatically improved its budget performance and extended its programs and revolving fund activities. Mr. McDonald has over 25 years of professional involvement in historic preservation and a strong business background. He has served as the executive director for three preservation organizations in the Southeast, including the Historic Salisbury Foundation in North Carolina from 1986-1990, the Mobile Historic Development Commission in Mobile, Alabama from 1990-1998 and the Historic Savannah Foundation from 1998-2008.
Senior Director of Communications
Traci Clark is responsible for the Trust’s communications strategies, media relations, marketing materials and promotions. A sixth-generation Georgian and native of coastal Georgia, she holds a master’s degree in historic preservation and a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with a focus in advertising and public relations, from the University of Georgia. Traci has been working in the marketing field for more than 20 years. Her hobbies include running, gardening and visiting historic sites with her husband, Joe, and their son.
Senior Director of Development
Bryn Chanudet moved from West Palm Beach, Florida to Atlanta in 2011 and began her career with the Trust. She received a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Tennessee and started her nonprofit career in Florida with a children’s healthcare organization. Bryn was promoted from Director of Special Events to the Sr. Director of Development with The Georgia Trust in 2016. Bryn resides in Marietta with her husband, Anthony and their two sons, Knox and Nash. She enjoys cooking for friends and family, being outdoors, cheering on the Tennessee Vols and learning about historic preservation.
Director of Special Events
Brittany has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with a history minor and a certificate in special event management from Georgia State University. Prior to the Trust, Brittany was a sales associate at Ashton Gardens, a wedding venue in Sugar Hill. While a student, Brittany was an intern in the Development Department where she assisted with special events for several years. Brittany lives in Duluth with her husband, Kendon, and their children, Avery and Mason.
Director of Preservation
Ben Sutton has been with The Georgia Trust since 2014, becoming Director of Preservation in 2018. Ben has a master’s degree in heritage preservation from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University. He is a certified Historic Real Estate Development Finance Professional and has a background in history, education, and outdoor leadership. Ben was drawn to preservation because of its interdisciplinary nature and is motivated by the complex challenges that historic buildings can present. He lives in historic Grant Park with his wife, Katie, and two young boys.
Historic Properties Coordinator
Dennis joined the Trust in 2018. As the Historic Properties Coordinator, Dennis Lovello works directly with The Georgia Trust’s Revolving Fund and Endangered Properties program. Dennis previously worked with Cobb Landmarks as the program coordinator. His past experience includes preservation work with East Atlanta, the Avary-Fulton House in Decatur, and the Hardman Farm State Historic Site in Sautee Nacoochee. Before his work in historic preservation, Dennis was a journalist at CNN for 18 years. Dennis holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Hawaii and a master’s degree in heritage preservation from Georgia State University. In his spare time, Dennis enjoys his newfound passion for running, traveling around the world and listening to jazz with a very dry martini.
Preservation Communications Coordinator
Danielle Meunier joined The Georgia Trust in 2017 as the Preservation Communications Coordinator. In this position, she assists with preservation assistance and the organization’s related communications. She also works with the Trust’s Preservation Awards and Places in Peril programs, and manages Inherit GA, the Trust’s young supporters. Previously, she spent seven years with Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) as the Preservation & Education Coordinator. Her work with HSF encompassed spearheading and expanding the organization’s educational programming to include a year-round Hands on History Program for schools, as well as representing HSF in matters concerning preservation issues and architectural review. Danielle holds a BFA in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and is very passionate about architectural history and particularly the stories that buildings have to tell. She also enjoys sharing this passion through education, especially with younger generations.
Membership and Finance Manager
A graduate of Savannah College of Art & Design, Chrystal Butts holds a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation and architectural history. Before coming to the Trust, she worked for Revival Construction in Atlanta. She resides in her hometown of Fayetteville, Georgia with her husband, Will, an electrician whose services have been used at Rhodes Hall many times by special request from his wife and their daughter, August.
Director of Finance and Administration
Dana Ponder graduated from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida and upon graduating relocated to Atlanta. She began a nine-year career in banking, earning her CPA before she left her position as CFO for Southern Bank Group Roswell, Georgia. Dana transitioned to public accounting as an Audit Manager for Brooks, McGinnis & Co. She spent 13 years auditing non-profit clients while she continued to consult and perform accounting services for a select group of her own clients.
In 2014, she became the Director of Finance for Desire Street Ministries, where she streamlined the accounting processes and managed several large rebuilding projects associated with the Hurricane Katrina disaster. She joined the team at The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation at the end of 2019 and continues in the role of Finance and Accounting.
Dana and her husband Bill attend Buckhead Church. They have a grown daughter, Adelaide Douglas Ponder. Dana and Bill love animals and give a good home to several dogs and cats.
Rhodes Hall Events Coordinator
Caroline is responsible for coordinating and managing private events held at Rhodes Hall. Prior to the Trust, she served as the Catering and Events Manager at the Peachtree Club in Midtown Atlanta and has worked closely with hundreds of couples on their wedding days.
After graduating from Campbell High School in Smyrna, Caroline majored in Religion and minored in History and Spanish at Ohio Wesleyan University. In her free time, Caroline enjoys trying as many of the different restaurants in Atlanta as she can, practicing yoga and playing her piano.
Director of Hay House
Hay House Operations Manager
Originally from Gray, Georgia, Clint comes to the Trust with many years of management experience that he gained while working at Geico and Birch Communications. After spending 24 years in numerous positions with Geico in Macon as well as Lakeland, Florida, he moved back to Macon to be closer to his family.
Hay House Manager of Collections and Education
Erin Evans is a graduate of Georgia State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Art History in 2012. She began her career by working for the Atlanta Historical Society as a docent at the Margaret Mitchell House. In 2016, she moved to Los Angeles and took on the role of programs scheduler and volunteer outreach coordinator for Kidspace Children’s Museum. Most recently, she had the pleasure of working at the Getty Research Institute in special collections. It was there that she learned how to handle fragile and rare documents, books, architectural drawings and more. Erin became a stay-at-home mother in November 2019 when she and her husband, Adam, welcomed their son, Remy. She and her family moved to Macon, Georgia, in July of 2020 to be closer to family. She eased back into work life as a part-time docent at the Trust’s Hay House. Now, she is excited to apply the knowledge gained from previous positions to her role as Manager of Collections and Education.