Betsy W. Covington  Executive Director

Betsy Whitaker Covington is the executive director of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc.  Since joining the Community Foundation in 2001, Betsy has worked with the board to lead the organization’s fundraising, endowment management, grantmaking, and consultation to donors and nonprofit organizations.  Under her leadership, the organization has grown from $7 million in assets to over $50 million.  Since its inception, the Community Foundation has made grants totaling more than $31 million to efforts across the area from its donor-advised, donor-designated, organization and discretionary funds.

Previously, Betsy served for more than ten years as the director of development for the Columbus Museum, where she was responsible for the museum’s efforts in fundraising, membership and audience development. 

A native of Columbus, Betsy is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.  She is a past president of the Georgia Council of Community Foundations and is a member of the membership committee of the Souheastern Council of Foundations, the Association of Fund Raising Professionals and the Planned Giving Council of Georgia.

A graduate of Leadership Columbus and Leadership Georgia, Betsy is the president of the Rotary Club of Columbus.  She has served as the Lay Leader of St. Luke United Methodist Church, where she is currently a member of its administrative board.  She also serves on the board of the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation and the Executive Committee of the Columbus Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee.  She is member of the Junto Study Club and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Columbus.  In 2007 she was honored as a Woman of Achievement by the Girl Scouts of the Concharty Council.

Betsy and her husband, Rick, have helped teach the senior high Sunday School class at St. Luke United Methodist Church for more than 18 years.  They are the parents of a daughter, 21, and a son, 18.  

  

Lawrence R. (Larry)Heisler, CPA Controller

Lawrence R. (Larry) Heisler joined the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley as Controller in Summer 2006.  Prior to that, Larry served as Controller of Enterprise Communications Partnership in Columbus for eight years. 

His extensive business experience includes service as Controller for McClendon Trucking Company in Lafayette, AL; Controller and Operations Manager at Dixie Beverage Company in Columbus; and Internal Auditor at First Federal Savings and Loan in Phenix City, AL.  

Larry is a graduate of Auburn University, where he received a B.S. degree in business administration.  He holds his CPA certification in the state of Georgia and is a member of the Georgia Society of CPAs.  He is married and is a proud father and grandfather.

Larry is thrilled to be able to work for the Community Foundation because it allows him to use his business experience to help make a difference in his community.

Ellen M. Brooks Administrative Assistant

Ellen M. Brooks joined the Community Foundation in November 2008 as Administrative Assistant.  Prior to that Ellen served for five years as Office Manager and Client Relations Manager at Jenkins Architecture.

A native of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Ellen is a graduate of Northwood University in Midland, Michigan.  Her husband's job in television media has taken their family around the country -- she lived in Dallas, TX; Evansville, IN; Jackson, MS; and Montgomery, AL; before coming to Columbus six years ago.  Her work experience includes television sales, advertising account work, retail management and office management.

Ellen believes in the importance of giving back and has served as a member of the Junior League in Evansville, Jackson and Montgomery.  She has served on the mission committee and children's education committee at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and is currently serving as president of her P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) chapter, raising money to support college educations for women.

Ellen and her husband, Mike, are the proud parents of an adult son and a daughter in college.