Board of Directors

Connie Hudson

President Emeritus

Board of Directors

Robert Adams, Board President

Robert Adams is originally from Salt Lake City. He and his wife Lynne Chronister moved to Mobile when Lynne accepted a position with the University of South Alabama 10 years ago. Semi-retired, Bob is still serving as an arbitrator for labor/management conflicts. Hobbies have included cycling, rodeo (bulls) and rugby but now limited to enjoying golf.

Shelly Bates, Vice President

Shelly Bates is originally from Prentiss, MS. She completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She moved to Alabama after college and began working in the field of recreational therapy. She has over 20 years of experience with older adults in various settings in the field of recreational therapy including veteran centered long term care, geriatric psychiatry, and assisted living. She completed a master's degree in program, tourism, and recreation management with emphasis in recreational therapy in May 2017. Shelly recently graduated with a Ph.D in Instructional Design and Development from the University of South Alabama where she currently serves as Assistant Professor of recreational therapy. In that role she works as an educator, researcher, and consultant. She enjoys connecting the community with students in a different role.

When not focusing on education and research, she enjoys practicing what she preaches by engaging in recreation! She enjoys fishing, kayaking, and boating in the Tensaw River Delta near Mobile, AL. She also enjoys reading, art, and knitting. Time with family and friends is valuable as well as time with her two pups, Benny and Amber. Volunteering is important when time allows.

Joby Robertson, Secretary

Joby Robertson is a fitness instructor at Connie Hudson Mobile Regional Senior Community Center. She is very passionate about her classes and her participants. She takes the time to learn and know about her students. Joby currently teaches eight fitness classes in various formats at our facility. After retiring from being a middle school teacher in 2011, she began her new teaching passion here at the Center in 2012.

Barbara Hattier, Treasurer

Barbara Hattier retired as Assistant Director of the Independent Living Center, a disability service agency, in 2018. She was asked to join the committee, later to become the Foundation, in the planning stages of the Center to represent the disabled community. In addition, she served on the Mobile Advisory Commission for the Disabled representing District 6.
She is married to Anthony “Mike”, and both are originally from New Orleans. The family relocated to Mobile in May 1989 and love the Mobile area. They have two sons both who attended Auburn University, War Eagle! The Hattier’s have been recently blessed with two beautiful daughters-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters.

Nick Matranga, Board Member

Nick Matranga has served on the Foundation board for 12 years and have held the positions of Treasure and President. He is a native Mobilian, and is a 1965 graduate of McGill High School. Nick earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Science degree from Central Missouri State University.
He retired from a duel career as an Airline pilot and as a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. Presently, Nick serves our community as the Mobile County License Commissioner and resides in Mobile with his wife Audrey.

Vanessa Brown, Board Member

Vanessa Ethridge Brown is a 1974 graduate of Williamson High School and 1975 graduate of 20th Century Business College. She was employed in various positions at the University of South Alabama, serving the university for 35 years and retired on September 5, 2014 as Residency Program Specialist in Radiology. Vanessa is a member of the Revelation Missionary Baptist Church where she sings in the choir, member of the Mission Department, Counselor of the Red Circle/YWA Auxiliary and Youth & Young Adult Department. Vanessa is also in charge of the Drama Ministry – coordinates, writes and directs plays/skits for the Easter and Christmas programs. She has served on numerous community committees and boards – currently Board member on the Connie Hudson Senior Center Foundation and Secretary of the Buffalo Soldiers 92nd Infantry Division WWII. Vanessa is past owner of two businesses: One Stop Typing and Air, Ocean & Land Travel. She participates weekly in Zumba, Circuit, Weight & Resistance and Stay Active & Independent Classes at the Connie Hudson Senior Community Center and Line Dance Classes at Springhill Recreation Center.

Vanessa has traveled extensively in and out of the country and enjoys traveling, spending time with family, crafting, reading and relaxing. She is a wife, mother and proud grandmother of two granddaughters

Ann Davis, Board Member

Ann Davis is retired from working with non-profits for over 21 years- the American Heart Association, the Beverly Burton Scholarship Trust (of which she still oversees the Alabama Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Recipients), Women’s Business Center and Young Leaders of America. She also served on the Ladd Stadium Board for 17 years. Before this, she taught school and then taught private piano lessons for 26 years.

Ann has served in an Advisory Board position with the Connie Hudson Senior Center Foundation for several years and recently became a member of the Foundation Board of Directors for the Center.

Ann grew up in Mobile, graduated from Murphy High School and has a BS Degree in Childhood Education, with a minor in music and psychology from the University of Alabama. She has two grown daughters, four grandchildren and is married to Sam Davis. They live in the Mobile Area.

Beth Finch, Board Member

Beth Finch is a Mobile, Alabama native and graduate of the University of Alabama. She has spent her career in nonprofit work focused on health and wellness.

Since 2013, Beth has served at Feeding the Gulf Coast and currently works as the Outreach Director, overseeing programs across Alabama and Mississippi that connect individuals experiencing food insecurity with critical resources. Her work focuses on supporting vulnerable populations, particularly in rural communities. Beth partners with local, state and national organizations to improve access to services for older adults and is actively engaged in advocacy and education around food insecurity. She is a mother of two, active in her church, and serves as Treasurer of her children’s school Parent-Teacher Organization.

Advisory Board

James Manley

Dawn McArdle

Steve Pritchard

Bess Rich (Honorary)

Saijee Ryals