Why do I find parks imperative? Friendships are built in parks. Memories are built in parks. Fun is had in parks. Life is meant to be filled with friends, memories and fun.

A native of Mississippi, Marianna has lived more than 40 years in Atlanta, 35 of those in North Buckhead. Her Atlanta-based volunteer service began in 1985 with the Junior League and continues today as board chair for the North Buckhead Civic Association’s Parks Liaison & Events committee, as a member of Livable Buckhead’s Auction Committee and Development Committee, and as an advocate of women and women’s health through her service to BeLoved Atlanta. She’s a recent graduate of Park Pride’s Park Stewardship Academy program where she studied grantmaking, program development, and neighborhood involvement.

Knowing how to tell a compelling story began with her Mississippi roots and serves her well today as stories drive action. Marianna has mastered a background that blends advertising sales with large scale event planning and execution. She has a proven track record of turning complex logistics into successful high-impact outcomes for both corporate and community-focused organizations. With a knack for connecting people to causes, Marianna has spent her career mastering the ‘art of the ask’ in professional sales and in grant writing.

When she isn’t in a meeting, you will find her playing mahjongg or pickleball with friends, cooking with her family, traveling with her husband, Ashley, walking every square inch of Metro Atlanta, signing up for another certificate program or an online course, or binge-watching Netflix.