BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Crystal Johnson

Crystal Johnson left the corporate world and moved to Cumming with her husband and 2 small children in 2000. Soon after, she became a Forsyth County Certified Master Gardener and managed the installation of 2 outdoor classrooms and established the first environmental education and recycling programs at Dave’s Creek ES. When her children were redistricted, she dedicated more time to Keep Forsyth County Beautiful and started school wide recycling programs at Shiloh Point ES and Piney Grove MS. She started Crystal Johnson Health in 2007, and continues to help people improve their health through nutrition. She is a Forsyth Chamber of Commerce member, Leadership Forsyth graduate, and is active in community charity organizations. She enjoys yoga, gardening, biking, hiking, reading and spending time with her family.

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Ross Gericke

Ross grew up in Stone Mountain and moved to Forsyth County in 2005. After teaching high school for two years, he began working with the Forsyth County Public Library, eventually becoming the Branch Manager of the Hampton Park Library. As an Eagle Scout, Ross has a lifelong interest in finding practical ways to preserve the environment. He joined the KFCB board in 2020 after being impressed by the organization’s outreach and events. Like any good librarian, Ross likes reading books but also enjoys hiking, birding, vintage computing, and dragging his daughter to NASCAR races. 

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Michelle Goldy

Michelle is a dedicated education professional. A graduate of the University of South Africa, she has worked with learners of all ages - from young children to adults- throughout her career. In 2020, she founded Goldy Ventures, a corporate training business specializing in professional development and technical certifications. Originally from South Africa, Michelle  immigrated to the United States in 1994 and settled in Forsyth County with her family in 2011. She enjoys spending time with her children, reading, knitting, listening to live music, and exploring new travel adventures. She is passionate about volunteering, growing plants, and giving back to the community.

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Catherine Allen

Catherine grew up on the Georgia coast and moved to Forsyth County in 2001.  A love of the water never left her so Lake Lanier provides many diversions such as paddle boarding or boating out for a sunset. Travel beckons and Catherine is often out discovering new places. Daily pursuits include practicing yoga, reading, and cooking. As a middle school teacher in Forsyth county for twenty years Catherine’s focus was hands-on learning. Since leaving the classroom, she has focused on family and community. She feels that the opportunities Keep Forsyth Beautiful offers promote life long learning and appreciates being a part of building ecological awareness here in Forsyth. 

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Sean Purdy

Sean is a native Tennessean who has lived in Forsyth County since 2007. After working as pharmaceutical executive for most of his career, Sean started his own small business, Dump the Junk, a junk removal and hauling company in 2022, headquartered in Forsyth County. His passion is to provide superior customer service in an efficient and professional manner. He also believes that it is his responsibility as the owner of a junk removal business, to divert junk and other unwanted items away from landfills, when possible, by recycling, scrapping, and donating reusable items to local charities. It’s also one of the reasons he wanted to be involved with Keep Forsyth County Beautiful. Sean and his wife have three older children and in his spare time, Sean enjoys hanging with his church group, cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers, tennis, and poker. 

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Andrew Malphurs

Originally from Boca Raton, Florida, Andrew has been calling the creeks and timber of Forsyth County home since he was a small child. His studies of stream health and herpetology at the University of North Georgia, where he earned a B.S. in Biology, sparked a passion for sustainability and natural resource protection. While at UNG, Andrew also held leadership positions with Baptist Collegiate Ministries and currently serves with the Concord Baptist Church on their praise, tech, and student ministry teams. He was previously Co-Owner and VP of Muse Cabin, an art and music studio and now works as a biologist for Mill Creek Environmental. With a passion for building a healthier environment locally and globally, Andrew joined KFCB to help preserve the natural beauty of our county. ​

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Leslie Price-Bennett

Leslie grew up in South Carolina and moved to Forsyth County in 2001 with her young family.  She and her husband Bob raised three children here, with lots of memorable family outings exploring Georgia waterfalls.  Making it through many years of PTA and Sport Teams, she then became the co-owner of the Cumming location of Dream Dinners in 2012.  After successfully building the business, she retired to enjoy more time travelling (preferably with a beach involved), making jewelry, and reading.  As a big believer in recycling, she joined the KFCB Board to support their education initiatives in this area.  She believes “Everyone can do something” and that getting involved where you live is the key. 

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Heather Hayes

Heather Hayes is a dedicated educator at Brookwood Elementary where she has been fostering curiosity and connection with Science/STEM students since 2012.  She received her BA in Early Childhood Education at North Georgia College in 2007 and taught 5th grade Math and Science at Big Creek Elementary before finding her home at Brookwood. She completed an MA in Early Childhood Education at Piedmont College and added a Science Endorsement to her certification in 2012.

A life-long learner, Heather acquired a Master Naturalist Certification in 2017 and continues to be involved with the Forsyth County Extension Frog Monitoring program. An avid environmentalist, she is passionate about water quality and protecting our aquatic animals.  In her spare time, she enjoys all things nature including hiking/walking, fly fishing, and camping, and spending time with her family and her much beloved cats.

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​Beth Vanderhoff

​Beth Vanderhoff grew up on Roswell, GA and moved to Cumming in 2001. She is a Realtor and business owner. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and running races. Beth and her husband Michael are raising two beautiful young children.  Her love of the outdoors and desire to clean up our roadways- especially around Lake Lanier where she resides- are two of the many reasons she joined the KFCB Board. A creative, committed, and passionate team player, Beth is always ready with a positive attitude and a smile while volunteering at KFCB events.