2007 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Father Joe Shippen,
Vice President/Spritual Advisor
joseph.shippen@stjamesmarietta.com
St. James Episcopal Church, Marietta
Church - (770) 428-5841
The Rev. Joseph Shippen is the Assistant Rector at St. James’ Episcopal Church since June of 2006. He graduated from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church on May 17th, 2006 with a Master of Divinity degree. Before going to seminary, Father Shippen attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, where he studied physics and electrical engineering in a dual degree program. He then joined his sweetheart, Suzanne Hobby-Shippen, in Mexico to direct an after-school program for children ages six to sixteen. After a year in Mexico, he and Suzanne were married on July 20th, 2003 and then moved to Manhattan for Joseph’s three years of seminary at General. Joseph’s interests include hiking, playing guitar, and theater.
Susan Cates, Recording Secretary
celtic_goddess@mindspring.com
Cell - (770) 309-2966
Government worker by day and Celtic rocker by night, Susan Cates has been involved in the local Celtic music community for several years. Deciding that 2007 was the year to give back to the community, Susan threw her lot in with Ulster Project Atlanta to revive the organization’s spirits and effectiveness. Putting her talent to find the perfect adjective for any situation to good use, she has been invested as the Recording Secretary for the Board of Directors in 2007. Her interests are listening and performing most kinds of music, reading, ministering to sick and aging animals, and generally finding fun in all that she does.
Melinda Shannon
Freels, Treasurer
mglfreel@bellsouth.net
Home -(770) 509-0752
Cell - (404) 660-0317
Originally from East Tennessee, Melinda Shannon Freels is a former H.R. executive with BellSouth and is a professional writer and career consultant for Execume Corporation. Melinda has worked on several different historical and conservation projects, including John Anderson's musical "On Eagle's Wing." She is presently the Associate Producer of “America’s Other Irish,” a new PBS documentary about the Scotch-Irish in America. Freels is an expert genealogist and has traveled extensively through Ireland and Scotland. She graduated from Maryville College with a Bachelor's Degree in History and is the Vice President of the Ulster-Scots Society of America. She is also a member of the Scotch-Irish Society of the United States, the East Tennessee Historical Society, the Morgan County Tennessee Genealogical and Historical Society, the East Cobb Civic Association and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
Father John C. Kieran, Spiritual Advisor
pastoroffice@spxconyers.com
Saint Pius X Catholic Church
Home - (770) 760-7234
Church - (770) 483-3660
Father John Kieran is a native of Ireland where he attended school. He comes from a family of six brothers and two sisters. He graduated for All Hallows Seminary in Dublin and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1967. He served at several parishes in North Georgia and in the Atlanta area before becoming the pastor of Saint Pius Catholic Church in Conyers. He was also the founding pastor of Christ Our Hope Catholic Church in Lithonia. Father Kieran is an active member of the Rockdale Hospital Chaplaincy and serves and the Boards of Refuge Pregnancy Center, and Keep Conyers Beautiful. He is the Co-Chaplain of the Rockdale County Jail. His hobbies include woodworking and gardening.
Business Address for Donations &
Inquiries:
Ulster Project Atlanta
2905 Hembree Rd. NE
Marietta, GA 30062
General Inquiries: ulsterprojectatl@aol.com
