Meet the Board of Directors
Maria Baugh ’87
New York, New York
Chair, Awareness Committee
Executive Committee
Maria Baugh graduated from Auburn University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Law Speech Communication and in 1987 with a bachelor’s in Journalism.
A New York City-based content strategy and operations consultant with decades of experience in editorial leadership and content development at the leading magazine publishers in the industry, Baugh most recently was head of operations for content and campaigns at WeWork, which she joined after holding a variety of roles at Hearst including executive managing editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and Women’s Health magazines. She was also managing editor of Food Network Magazine and scout for HearstLab, where she advised a community of early stage, women-led startups.
In 2005, Baugh created the Maria Baugh and Liz Zale Endowment for Scholarships in the Journalism Program in the College of Liberal Arts, named for her and her spouse, Liz Zale. Baugh is a member of the Samford and Foy Societies and member of the Association’s Circle of Excellence.
Frederick R. Blatchford ’85
Tampa, Florida
Chair, Involvement Committee
Executive Committee
Fred Blatchford graduated from Auburn University in 1985 with a bachelor’s in Industrial and Operations Management. Currently, he serves as Area Vice President for Ethicon, the $4 billion subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson responsible for sales and marketing of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical devices.
Ethicon’s surgical technologies and solutions include sutures, staplers, energy devices, trocars and hemostats to treat serious medical conditions like obesity and cancer. Blatchford leads the sales organization that provides clinical professional education and economic solutions to hospitals and clinicians. He started his career at Johnson & Johnson 27 years ago as an operating room sales representative, and has overseen numerous hemicolectomies, gall bladder removals and other procedures, as surgical device sales representatives are often in the operating room during procedures.
Blatchford has established three scholarships and an endowment supporting PhD programs in the Harbert College of Business. He has received multiple Johnson & Johnson Standards of Leadership Awards throughout his career, and was the 2011 Ethicon Johnson & Johnson United Way Chairperson. Blatchford is a board member of the Tampa Bay Auburn Club. He is a member of the Athletics All-American Society, the 1856 Society, the Petrie Society, and the Foy Society and a member of the Association’s Circle of Excellence.
Frederick “Freddy” D. Daniell ‘11
Huntsville, Alabama
Daniell graduated from Auburn in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. He is commercial banker with Truist Financial Corporation (formerly BB&T). Daniell was selected to attend the BB&T Banking School at Wake Forest University. He is highly involved with community service organizations such as the Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Development Council and the American Heart Association. He currently serves as a career mentor at The University of Alabama Huntsville “Mentor a Charger” program and as a member of the North Alabama Advisory Committee for the Alabama Policy Institute.
Daniell served as Young Alumni Chair for the Huntsville-Madison County Auburn Club. He served as Vice President in 2017 and 2018 and led the club as President in 2019 and 2020. He is life member of the Alumni Association and a member of the Circle of Excellence and Foy Societies.
Dr. Charmaine “Char” K. Dennis ’98
Franklin, Tennessee
Dennis graduated from Auburn in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She received an MBA from the University of Alabama. She is the owner and proprietor of 1KMEG, a boutique public relations firm specializing in high exposure clientele such as ultra-luxury brand influencers and exclusive music labels. She handles strategic partnerships with brands in Nashville, California, and Atlanta. Char has served on multiple nonprofit board and has volunteered her time with organizations including the Chuck and Mary Person Lung Cancer Foundation.
Dennis is a life member of the Alumni Association and a member of the Foy Society and the Association’s Circle of Excellence.
Eric Dunlap ’06
South Pasadena, CA
Dunlap graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2006. He currently serves as a civil engineer with the Los Angeles County Public Works. Dunlap has been a life member of the Auburn Alumni Association since 2007.
Eric is President of the Los Angeles Auburn Club and served as the inaugural Chair of the Auburn Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council. Eric is a member of the Circle of Excellence Society Orange Level and the Foy Society.
Ronald “Ron” D. Dyson ‘01
Houston, Texas
Dyson graduated from Auburn in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Logistics. He is currently completing a master’s in business administration. He is a supply chain profession with 20 years of progressive leadership experience across various business units for Shell Oil Company. He serves as a contract manager for terminal distribution assets along the East Coast of the United States. Dyson volunteers as an elementary school basketball coach and served on the board of a golf tournament for a local school.
Dyson has been an active member of the Greater Houston Auburn Club since 2008. He served as president from 2008-2012 when membership increased from 50 to 500 active members. He is currently serving as Treasurer. Dyson helped to create the Auburn license plate for the state of Texas in 2009 and 2020. He is serving as an alumni mentor for the Harbert College of Business and created a family endowment for naming two of the study rooms in Horton-Hardgrave Hall. He is life member of the Alumni Association and a member of the Circle of Excellence, 1856, Petrie, and Foy Societies.
Kim Evans ’81
Auburn, Alabama
A 1981 graduate of Auburn University and past member of the women’s golf team, Kim Evans is one of the most successful coaches in Auburn Athletics history, leading the program to eight Southeastern Conference Championships, 20 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and seven top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championship. Evans coached seven SEC Golfers of the Year, one NCAA Freshman of the Year, six SEC Freshmen of the Year, 29 All-Americans and 57 All-SEC performance awards. Evans was awarded the National Golf Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 2002 and was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008.
Prior to her tenure at Auburn, Evans was the assistant men’s golf coach at Georgia Tech from 1988-94 while simultaneously serving as the Associate and Executive Director of the Atlanta Junior Golf Association. After graduating from Auburn University, Evans served as the Assistant Golf Professional at Sandestin Beach Resort (1982-88).
Evans was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May 2013, just before the Tigers were set to begin postseason play that brought home a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championship. She completed surgeries and chemotherapy at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and has been cancer-free since September 2013. Following her retirement from coaching, Evans was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Vice President Office of Student Affairs and worked closely with the Veterans Resource Center at Auburn University. Evans regularly works with the Auburn student veteran population, volunteering her time to head the annual Auburn Veterans Golf Classic, and offering golf clinics that pair community leaders with student veterans.
Coach Evans currently serves on the Tigers Unlimited Fund Board of Directors, the Auburn Alumni Association Board of Directors, and is the president of the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation Board of Directors. Kim gives her time to numerous organizations and cancer charities around Auburn and the region.
Michelle M. Granberry ’92
Auburn, Alabama
Treasurer
Executive Committee
Michelle Granberry graduated from Auburn University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration—accounting. Granberry is currently managing partner of Lovoy, Summerville & Shelton, LLC, in Auburn, where she concentrates on the affordable housing industry and provides service to more than 500 clients in a wide range of industries, nonprofit organizations, businesses and individuals throughout the Southeastern U.S.
Granberry is a member of the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Society of Certified Public Accountants and the AICPA Government Audit Quality Center. Granberry currently serves as treasurer of the Auburn Alumni Association. At Auburn, she is a life member of the Auburn Alumni Association, a member of the Auburn University School of Accountancy Advisory Board, Circle of Excellence Society and the Foy Society.
She is married to Glen Granberry ʼ94 and lives in Auburn.
LuAnne Hart ’80
Eufaula, Alabama
President
Executive Committee
Luanne Lockwood Hart graduated in 1980 with a bachelor’s in psychology and currently serves as senior vice president, human resources and marketing director for MidSouth Bank, a community bank headquartered in Dothan. Hart holds the designation of senior certified professional through the Society of Human Resources Management. A sustaining life member of the Auburn Alumni Association, she has been involved with the Barbour County Auburn Club for more than 20 years as a director, secretary-treasurer and treasurer.
Hart facilitated the Barbour County Auburn Club’s first scholarship auction in 2006, which led to the club’s first endowed scholarship in 2012, and later endowed a second scholarship in 2014 in honor of her father.
She was recognized by the Auburn Alumni Association as the 2013 Club Officer of the Year, Hart is a member of the Circle of Excellence Society, the James E. Foy Loyalty Society and the Samford Society. She is married to Charlie Hart ’78 and they have two children, Will Hart ’10 and Rebecca Hart Harris ’12.
Metrick Houser ’93
Collierville, Tennessee
Executive Committee
Chair, Traditions Committee
Metrick Houser graduated from Auburn in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. He currently serves as director for energy and raw materials sourcing for International Paper, a company he has been with since 1999.
Houser has held various positions with International paper, including manufacturing manager, plant general manager and complex general manager. In 2014, he moved to Memphis, Tenn. to serve as manager of supply chain for the North American Container Business. In his role, he is responsible for procuring $1.5 billion in commodity chemicals and energy for the North American facilities. He also has strategic responsibility for EMEA and Brazil.
Houser has been active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated for the past 30 years, currently serving as the District of Tennessee Executive Director. He has also served on the board of directors for both the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County. He is a current member of the Circle of Excellence Society. He and his wife, Jackie Houser, have three children—Morgan, Lindsey and Alex, currently a freshman at Auburn University.
Darryl Howell ’92
FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND
Howell is Vice President of the Systems Engineering Division at Powell Consulting Group, which provides cutting-edge organizational development, systems engineering, and training services to corporations, federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and professional associations. He is responsible for leading all activities related to growth and execution of engineering services. Darryl is also a Principal Systems Engineer supporting the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering/Engineering Enterprise. He serves as the lead contractor support for the Digital Engineering Strategy and Engineered Resilient Systems program.
For the last 26 years, Darryl has also served the United States Navy on Active Duty and as a Reservist. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2016. He was recalled to Active Duty in 2008 to lead a team of 48 highly talented engineers in the design and acquisition of cutting-edge technologies totaling $23M. In 2014, Darryl was recalled to active duty to serve as the Deputy Director – Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and Deputy Chief of Staff Commander Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) – Djibouti, Africa. He is a member of the National Eagle Scout Association, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the International Council on Systems Engineering.
C. Henry “Hank” Jester ‘82
Arlington, Georgia
Jester graduated from Auburn in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Health. He is the Owner, President, and CEO of Cornerstone Insurance Group. He began his career in banking as Vice President and Compliance Officer at Botswick Banking Company. He served as Vice President for three other banks between 1991 and 1998. In 1998 he founded Financial Services of the South and later developed Rock Realty and Land Company. In 2013 he purchased an insurance company and renamed it as Cornerstone Insurance Agency.
Jester is highly active in his community. He has served on the Blakely/Early County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2000. In 2020 he was elected Chairman of the Board. Jester is currently serving as President of the Southwest Georgia Auburn Club. He is life member of the Alumni Association, member of the All-American, Petrie, and Foy Societies and a member of the Association’s Circle of Excellence.
Rebecca “Becky” S. Liner ’81
Tallahassee, FL
Becky Liner is the Executive Vice President of The James Madison Institute and the Director of the Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for American Ideals. As the Director of the Center for American Ideals, Becky is responsible for JMI’s civics education initiatives, internship program and campus representative programs at colleges and universities in the State of Florida.
Joining the JMI staff in January 2005 as Membership Director, Becky became the Director of Operations in January 2008 before assuming her current position in April 2012. Becky brings to JMI over twenty years of experience in public service at the national and state levels, having worked seventeen years for the United States Senate as an aide to Senator Bob Graham and four years in Florida’s Executive Office of the Governor during the Graham administration.
A native Tallahassean, Becky has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Auburn University and did her master’s work in Public Administration at Florida State University.
Becky’s commitment to community service and voluntarism have provided her with leadership opportunities in a number of organizations, including as a member of the board of directors of the Auburn Alumni Association, president of the Junior League of Tallahassee, chair of Leadership Tallahassee and president of the Tallahassee Auburn Club. Becky is a graduate of Leadership Tallahassee Class 12, a Lifetime Member of the Auburn Alumni Association, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Tallahassee and co-founder of the non-profit organization A Full Summer, a community food packaging project to help feed hungry and food-insecure school-aged children during the summer months. She is a past member of the Board of Trustees of The Maclay School, where she also served two years as president of the Maclay Baseball Boosters. She has served terms on the Boards of Directors of the Friends of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library, the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, the Brogan Museum, the Tallahassee Symphony and Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition, Becky has held local, regional and national positions for Delta Delta Delta sorority and is a member of the Tallahassee Tri Delta Alumnae Chapter. In 2008, Becky was named one of the “25 Women You Need to Know” by the Tallahassee Democrat.
Becky has one son, Will, who is a fourth-generation Auburn graduate. She is a member of the Association’s Circle of Excellence. She enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on the Auburn Tigers.
Jeffrey Moore ’88
Poolesville, MD
Vice President
Executive Committee
Moore graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1988. He received an MBA in finance from Duke University in 1997. He currently serves as the managing director of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Moore served as a commissioned officers in the United States Marine Corps. He achieved the rank of Captain and is Desert Storm veteran.
Moore previously served on the Auburn Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2016-2020. He is a member of the Samford Society, Foy Society, and the Association’s Circle of Excellence Society Orange & Blue Level.
Dawn L. Oliver ’97
Houston, Texas
Oliver graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1997. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama in 2000. Oliver currently serves as an attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Oliver has served as the Diversity Chair for the Greater Houston Auburn Club and is a Past Vice President of Scholarship/Recruitment for the Orlando Area Auburn Club. She is a life member of the Alumni Association and a member of the Samford Society and Foy Society, and the Association’s Circle of Excellence Society.
Regenia R. Sanders ’95
Atlanta, Georgia
Past President
Executive Committee
Chair, Nominating Committee
Regenia Sanders is a Principal at Ernst & Young LLP (EY) and serves as the America’s Supply Chain Leader for the Advanced Manufacturing & Mobility Industry Market, as well as Supply Chain Planning leader at EY. She has 20 years of experience delivering supply chain assessment and transformational projects, from sourcing and procurement to planning and fulfillment for Fortune 500 and Private Equity portfolio companies.
The majority of her experience is in Industrial Manufacturing, where she advises and helps clients to innovate their supply chains. Sanders finds efficiencies through process improvement, while leveraging analytics and advanced technology point supply chain solutions and has authored thought leadership in the area. At Auburn, Sanders is a member of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s Alumni Council and serves on the steering committee for the EMERGE Leadership program recently launched by Student Affairs.
She is engaged in efforts with the Office of Inclusion & Diversity at Auburn and funds an endowed scholarship for females pursuing their undergraduate degrees in engineering. Regenia is also a member of the George Petrie Society, a recent inductee into the Samford Society, and a member of the Circle of Excellence Society. Sanders was awarded Distinguished Auburn Engineer from the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering in 2021.
Denise N. Slupe ’86
Birmingham, Alabama
Chair, Support Committee
Executive Committee
Denise Nix Slupe graduated from Auburn in 1986 with a bachelor’s in international business. Since 2010, Slupe has owned a Yogurt Mountain franchise in Hoover, Ala. and has been awarded Franchise of the Year, a community involvement award and an Owner Achievement Award. In 2015, she became the owner of CBF Properties, a real estate investment company.
A former Tigerette, Slupe is a life member of the Auburn Alumni Association. Along with Auburn University Trustee Sarah B. Newton and Katie Basden, Slupe co-founder of the EAGLES Foundation, a non-profit foundation with the goal of raising awareness and funding in support of the EAGLES program at Auburn University. She also helped spearhead the EAGLES program planning committee and is a member of theCircle of Excellence and a life member of the Auburn Alumni Association.
The daughter of former Auburn quarterback Lloyd Nix ’59, she and husband Frank Slupe have four daughters: Caroline’14, Abigail ’18, Auburn University senior Olivia and Lauren.
Evan Thomas ’07
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Originally from Dothan, Ala., Evan graduated from Auburn in 2007 with a degree in communication. Following graduation, he worked as the first in-house recruiter for the College of Liberal Arts then as Development Associate for the College of Architecture, Design, & Construction. During his two-year tenure in CADC, he raised over $100,000 through annual gifts and sponsorship donations.
In 2018, Evan joined his twin brother, Elliott, in real estate in Nashville. The Thomas Twins Team has now grown to three agents, one admin assistant, and a transaction coordinator. They are a multi-year award-winning real estate team, the top producing agents in their office, and in the top 10% of their company and the Greater Nashville Realtors Association. Evan has created a philanthropic relationship between his real estate business and the Greater Nashville Auburn Club by donating a portion of his commission from Auburn alumni clients to the club’s scholarship endowment. To date, he has donated $5,250 after helping over 20 alumni with real estate transactions since 2019.
Anthony “Tony” M. Torbert ’90
Atlanta, Georgia
Torbert graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 1990. He serves as the Digital Core Accounting Leader for Georgia-Pacific Corporation.
Torbert is a life member of the Auburn Alumni Association and is actively involved with the Atlanta Auburn Club where he has served as Treasurer, Vice President, and President. In 2010 he received the Most Outstanding Club Leader award. He is a member of the Samford, Petrie, and Foy Societies as well as the Association’s Circle of Excellence Society.
Jacob Watkins ’10
SANTA ROSA BEACH, FLORIDA
Watkins graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and MBA in finance, both from Auburn. While a student, he was involved with a number of organizations and served as Student Government President.
After graduation, Watkins joined the firm of Ernst & Young in Atlanta as a financial consultant. With clients across the US, he gained years of understanding in the finance, accounting, and software world. After moving to Santa Rosa Beach, Watkins used his experience in several startups and investment opportunities in which he still participates in an advisory role. He began his real estate career with a small boutique firm out of Miramar Beach in late 2015. Specializing in the luxury, new construction and new development segments, he has assisted his clients and partners in designing, constructing, marketing and selling their investments.