Changing Lives One Kick At A Time
Board of Directors
Brian Sauls
President
I have been married to my wife Sheena going on 12 years. We have a 10 year old daughter named Lucy. I own an exterior cleaning company called Sunco that we started in 2010. Myself And My family all train at Pooler Karate. We live in Guyton, GA. I am very proud to be a part of the Special Kicks Organization and hope to make an impact on the community.
Millie Orme
Executive Director
Millie has been the Director of Special Kicks for over four years. She works diligently with all fundraising, event planning, community outreach, networking, and resourcing for our Special Kicks students and their families. She is a huge advocate for our students and has a great passion for her position. Millie has a BA in studio art from Georgia Southern University.
Chelly Davis
Treasurer
Chelly is the parent to four amazing children, has the best son-in-law, and two rambunctious grandchildren. Her reason for involvement with the Special Kicks program is her youngest, Maddox. He is the reason she was introduced to Carson Fortner through a mutual acquaintance about seven years ago. What this program has done for Maddox and her family has been nothing short of life changing. Maddox has Cerebral Palsy, a seizure disorder, is nonverbal, and is in a wheelchair. He attended summer camp last year for the first time ever. Chelly also volunteered and was able to experience on another level what this program is truly all about. During camp week, she was able to witness a level of commitment to not only her child but to all of the other students/campers. The children that attended the camp came with a plethora of diagnoses and not one child was treated differently than any other. Everyone was included in the way that “they” needed to be. Chelly brings twenty plus years of experience in banking and finance and is the owner of Low Country Bookkeeping and Payroll Services LLC. Her hope is to be able to be a part of this organization for many years to come.
Joseph Bouchard
Board Member
"Chappy" is a retired Army Ranger. Chappy has been teaching Krav Maga since 2016 and has since earned his 2nd degree black belt in Krav Maga. His entire family of five trains at our facility along with his daughter, Jacqueline, who is in the Special Kicks program. He has experience working with students with PTSD as well as students with amputations.
Tristram Meyers
Board Member
Tris is married to Christina and has five children, Caleb, Casey, Caitlin, Aiden, and Natalie, a daughter-in-law, Quinn, two son-in-laws, Charlie and Noah, and one foster son that is in the Special Kicks program. He also has an amazing grandson and granddaughter. Tris is an Army Veteran and works for Ross Systems and Controls in Savannah, GA.
Dr. Frances Mercado-Rodriguez
Board Member
Dr. Frances Mercado-Rodriguez is the Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor for the Respiratory Therapy Program at Georgia Southern University. With over a decade in the healthcare field as a registered respiratory therapist, she has not only contributed to the care of critically ill patients but has also educated and mentored current and new clinicians entering the field. Her greatest accomplishment is being the best mother to her amazing son Alexis Mercado who is a member of Special Kicks. Frances currently resides in Savannah, Georgia with Alexis and her husband Luis
Timothy Goros
Board Member
Timothy Goros has been a part of Pooler Karate for almost seven years. His son trains Tang Soo Do, Krav Maga, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Tim started volunteering with the Wild Game Dinner fundraiser for Special Kicks, which had a huge impact on his life. He loves seeing how this event helps and enables special needs children to achieve all things they were told were impossible.
Emili Lee
Board Member
Emili and her husband, Henry, have two children - Gensen and Xander. Emili works in a highly specialized department of a fortune 5 company that caters to the needs of patients with Hemophilia, Von Willebrand Disease, and other rare Bleeding Disorders. Emili and her children have Hemophilia B, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and Sensory Processing Disorders which has led her to become a passionate advocate for those with unseen disabilities.