Meet the Team
Executive Director
-
Barbara@CirclesCobb.org
Prior to joining Circles Cobb, Barbara served as Donor Services Manager for Cobb Community Foundation for over five years, building strong community relationships with funders, nonprofit agencies, volunteers, and professional advisors. She achieved the prestigious Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation in 2021, is a steering committee member of Cobb Executive Women, and formerly served on the Estate Planning Council of North Georgia board. Barbara has been a homeschool mom, the Corporate Services/HR Manager for two logistics tech start-ups, and District Manager for a national retail outlet chain.
Barbara has always had a passion for helping others - she is a community volunteer and currently serves as a small group co-leader for regeneration at North Metro Church in Marietta. She has been married to her husband John for 25 years and they have two sons.
Program Manager
-
Cynthia@CirclesCobb.org
With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, coaching and ministry-based development, Cynthia has a deep passion for helping people grow and thrive. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Morgan State University and a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice University, and is a certified personal development coach who uses principles of positive psychology to help individuals move forward with clarity and purpose.
Guided by a strong commitment to equity, Cynthia is passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and able to flourish – an alignment that feels right at home within Circles Cobb’s mission.
Circles Coach
-
Throughout her extensive career in Higher Education and Social Work, Jennifer has focused on applying evidence-
based approaches to cultivating environments where people are able to thrive and make their full contributions. She has
many years of experience in supporting individuals to make personal change and has served in leadership roles with a
focus on influencing change in systems, organizations and communities. She is particularly excited to work as a Circles
Coach because of the relational approach to long-term individual as well as community change. Her certifications in Brain-
Based Coaching, leadership development, mediation and her Social Work experience, enable her to meet people where
they are, while supporting the cultivation of their strengths, and sustained progress toward their goals.
Operations Manager
-
Krista@CirclesCobb.org
Krista is the Resource Coordinator for Circles Cobb, where she oversees volunteer recruitment and coordination, and leads the childcare team. She joined Circles Cobb as part of the childcare team before the first cohort began in 2023. With a wealth of experience and a deep passion for working with children and serving others, Krista is an asset to the organization.
Before her role at Circles, Krista was a preschool teacher at Hillside Preschool and Academy, where she created a nurturing environment for young learners. Additionally, she homeschooled her children for eight years, further honing her skills in child education and care.
Krista is an active member of Revolution Church and supports community initiatives such as Hope for Christmas and Give a Kid a Chance. She has been married to Malichi for 26 years and is the proud mother of two sons.
Krista’s dedication to service and love for children make her an invaluable member of the Circles Cobb team.
Training Facilitator
-
Harli is a Leadership and Executive Coach, Leadership Development Strategist, and founder of Coach to Purpose. With over 15 years of experience in HR, leadership development, and coaching, she partners with organizations and leaders to cultivate purpose-driven leadership and people-first cultures.
Using tools like DiSC, the Energy Leadership Index (ELI), and 360° assessments, Harli helps leaders align values with actions, strengthen communication, and build emotionally intelligent, high-performing teams.
Recognized by Cigna and Aetna for her award-winning wellness and leadership initiatives, Harli is also deeply involved in her community—serving as Chair of the Northwest YMCA Board, a Cobb Chamber mentor, an Ally with Circles Cobb, and an advisor to the Kennesaw Police Department.
Driven by purpose and connection, Harli is passionate about empowering leaders to create meaningful impact through authenticity and values-based leadership.
Childcare Coordinator
-
Vahnesa brings strong experience and a passion for community development to the Circles Cobb team. She holds a Bachelor's in Marketing from the University of West Georgia and a Master's in Human Services from Walden University. She is dedicated to strengthening underserved populations with the use of wraparound services and collaborative efforts within the community.
She is a Human Resources Professional for a local school district focusing on compliance frameworks and budget management. Her previous roles include being a Program Director for a group home, where she worked closely with youth in foster care, and as a Finance Coordinator for her family’s Church. A proud AmeriCorps Alum, Vahnesa has expanded her commitment to community service internationally by working in Haiti, where she established a neighborhood hub that serves as a place for local residents to fellowship.
She is very family oriented, enjoys event planning and crafting, and loves solo traveling. She always has a smile on her face.
Resource Coordinator
-
Intern@CirclesCobb.org
Deja Boney is currently obtaining her bachelor's degree in Information Systems at Kennesaw State University. She has been actively involved with Circles Cobb through the KSU Service Fellowship Program, serving as the Data Operations Intern before being promoted to Resource Coordinator. As a dedicated college student, Deja has taken on leadership roles such as Community Service Director and President of Black Women Empowered. She is also a member of the National Council of Negro Women and Women in Technology and serves as a service site leader, volunteer, and volunteer/community service chair for the Department of Student Volunteerism and Service at Kennesaw State University.
Deja is deeply passionate about serving others and her community. This passion is reflected in her commitment to various service initiatives and leadership roles, where she consistently strives to make a positive impact. Her dedication to community service is a way of life, driven by a genuine desire to uplift those around her and contribute to meaningful change. Through her involvement with numerous organizations and programs, Deja has built strong relationships within her community.
A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors
