BOARD MEMBERS

SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

BOARD MEMBERS

SBCA is governed by a board of directors consisting of business leaders and pastors.

Robert Mayes

Chairman

As the Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Southern Education Group, the parent company of Columbia Southern University (CSU) and Waldorf University, Robert Mayes provides strategy and leadership support to the institutions and is responsible for governmental affairs. Mr. Mayes has more than 25 years of experience in distance education. Mayes co-founded Columbia Southern University, an online university headquartered in Orange Beach, Alabama, along with his parents and sister, Chantell Mayes Cooley, in 1993. He transitioned to the role of president of CSU in 2005 and served until May 2018. In his role as president of CSU, Mayes worked closely with leadership to accomplish the goals, objectives and strategies of the university. During this time, the University grew from 7,000 students to 30,000. He was awarded the title president emeritus on May 1, 2018 for his contributions and impact on the University. Mayes also led the acquisition of Waldorf University (previously Waldorf College) in Forest City, Iowa in 2010, a task that included achieving approvals from the U.S. Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission. During his time at CSU, Mayes had direct experience in many areas of online university operations including key roles in accounting, finance, information technology, online course design, outcomes assessment, the development of policies and procedures, accreditation and more. He is chairman of the board of directors for South Baldwin Christian Academy. He serves as a board member of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals Foundation and a board member of the Business Council of Alabama. He served eight years on the board of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission board of directors and served on its executive, finance and nominating committees. In 2017, Mayes was awarded the Distance Education Accrediting Commission’s Distinguished Service Award and was a Boy Scouts of America Golden Eagle Honoree. In 2019, he was named the Distance Education Accrediting Commission’s Person of the Year.

Minnie Mayes

Board Member

Mrs. Mayes is a co-founder of Columbia Southern University (CSU) and serves in an executive advisory capacity at Columbia Southern Education Group. Mrs. Mayes has also been with CSU since its founding, is on the Board of Directors, and follows strict ethical standards. Before CSU, Minnie co-founded a safety consulting company that provided training and services to small businesses nationwide. Mrs. Mayes has much knowledge about CSU through her long tenure as a board member and numerous work and advisory experiences in all aspects of distance study for more than 20 years.

Dawn Cranston

Vice President

Dawn Cranston has spent over 25 years as an educator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis on elementary and early childhood education from Indiana University. She earned her Master’s of Education degree studying Educational Leadership at Concordia University. She has two daughters, one who currently attends South Baldwin Christian Academy (SBCA) and another who graduated from SBCA in 2017. She has worked in both the public and private sectors of education.

Pat Troup

Treasurer

A Mobile, AL., native, Mr. Troup joined CSU in February 2008 bringing more than 15 years of experience in the areas of accounting, information technology and supply chain management. He currently oversees the Departments of Accounting & Finance, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Bookstore operations. Before joining CSU, Mr. Troup was the Senior Manager of Accounting for Southern Progress Corporation, a publisher of lifestyle magazines and books, where his focus was the financial operations of the book publishing and home sales business units. Prior to that, he spent 10 years at Standard Furniture Mfg., Co., where he held a variety of management roles. Mr. Troup began his career as an auditor with Deloitte & Touché LLP. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Alabama and is a certified public accountant. He is a past president and chairman of the board of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and a member of the Mobile Jaycees. Mr. Troup is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Alabama Society of CPAs.

Tara Collins

Secretary

A member of the Columbia Southern University (CSU) team since 1994, Tara Collins serves as the manager of the Office of the Chief Executive Officer for Columbia Southern Education Group, the parent company for both CSU and Waldorf University. Collins assists the CEO who provides strategy and leadership support for both institutions. Before moving into this position in May 2018, she supported Robert Mayes in his role as president of CSU. Prior to 2008, she was the director of student services and retention for CSU and was instrumental in the development of student services processes. Her various roles have provided her experience in institutional governance, policy development, organizational structure and decision-making, accreditation, strategic planning, and events. She is presently the secretary for the following boards of directors: Columbia Southern Education Group, Mayes Education and South Baldwin Christian Academy. She serves in a variety of ministries at Liberty Church in Pensacola, FL and was the nursery director for nine years. Tara lives in Pensacola, FL with her husband and two sons.

Joanna Mayes

Board Member

Joanna Mayes is a Christian writer and blogger with passion for helping ministries reach the lost and hurting. She is the founder of the www.ChristianFreedom.Life, a resource offering Christian resources and encouragement to help believers grow deeper in their faith. She resides on the Gulf Coast of Alabama with her husband and three children. Her oldest graduated from South Baldwin Christian Academy (SBCA) in 2016 and her two youngest are current students. She enjoys volunteering with the school and serving in an advisory capacity to help SBCA fulfill it's mission to help students discover the plans God has for their lives.

Charlie Baxter

Board Member

Originally from Chatom Alabama, Charlie Baxter is a retired educator with nearly 40 years of experience in education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and master’s degree in agency family counseling with an education certification in school counseling from University of South Alabama. His educational background also includes a fellowship at University of Mississippi with advanced studies in school counseling. He served in various teaching and counseling positions in Washington County for 30 years before relocating to the Alabama Gulf coast where he worked as a guidance counselor for Foley Middle School and Foley Elementary School before retiring. An active advocate for education, Mr. Baxter continues to offer his services as a substitute teacher at Gulf Shores Elementary School and Gulf Shores Middle School and occasionally drives school buses. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Gulf Shores, a participant on their Child Development Center committee and choir member. He and his wife of 39 years, Bonnie, have two sons and one granddaughter.

Dr. Toni Stanton

Board Member

Dr. Toni Stanton has served as an educator over 25 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Middle School and Secondary Education from the University of South Alabama in 1987 and immediately accepted her first assignment as a classroom teacher. Since that time, she has served as classroom teacher, coach, and assistant principal in Alabama’s public school system and as school administrator in a classical, Christian school. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Education at Liberty University, a position she has held since 2009. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, she holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Alabama and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Stanton states that some of the most exciting and memorable times of her career stem from experiences she had during the startup of three separate schools at three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. “Most educators are lucky if they have the chance to help startup a single school. I’ve been blessed to be involved in the startup of three!” The most rewarding experiences of her career, she adds, have come from the relationships built with students, parents, and colleagues. She is a member of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, the National Council of Professors of Educational Administrators, ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), and Phi Delta Kappa International. Additionally, she is a peer reviewer for Christian Perspectives in Education and reviewer for Choice Magazine. A long-time resident of South Baldwin County, Dr. Stanton has been active with the American Cancer Society, South Baldwin Sports Association, Young Life, Baldwin County Board of Realtors, and First Baptist Church of Gulf Shores, where she is church pianist. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Isaiah 55 Ministry to the Deaf in Reynosa, MX and holds a real estate license with Exit Realty Gulf Shores. She and her husband, Tom, have four children and six grandchildren.

Fred Franks

Board Member

Fred Franks has served in ministry for over thirty years. Ten years as youth pastor in Illinois and Florida in addition to District Youth Director in Illinois. For over twenty years Fred has served as lead pastor in churches in Illinois and California; as well as Vice President of Saul’s Consulting Services in Atlanta, Georgia, a leadership and stewardship firm. Fred currently serves as the Preaching and Vision Pastor of Christian Life…the Island Church – a position he assumed in May of 2011. Fred has served on numerous ministry and district boards including the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board at his alma mater: Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He is known as the ‘leader of leaders.’ Fred has a great passion for life and ministry, having spoken in churches all across America and around the world. He is a family man and has been married to his college sweetheart Liz for thirty years. They feel privileged to have their son Luke, his wife Michele, as well as their daughter Paige and her husband Matt serve in ministry with them.

JP Wilson

Board Member

Pastor JP Wilson was born and raised mostly in a small farming community in northeast Missouri. He attended bible college in New Orleans and has been in full time ministry for over 30 years. While serving as a youth pastor in Mississippi, JP met his wife, Melissa, which he’s been married to for over twenty-five years now. They have three children and live in Gulf Shores, AL. Pastor JP launched the Liberty Church Foley, AL campus in 2009.

Philip Anthony

Board Member

Phillip L. Anthony, CPA is a graduate of the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting (Beta Alpha Psi) in July, 1994 and became a Certified Public Accountant in May 1997. Mr. Anthony became a partner with Anthony Financial Group, CPAs – Mobile / Gulf Shores in 1998. Mr. Anthony served as CFO and member of Executive Board of Management at A.B. Dick Southeastern, Inc. until 2003. Mr. Anthony now serves as Administrative Pastor at Christian Life Church in Orange Beach, AL, while continuing in a consulting role with Anthony Financial Group, CPAs. Mr. Anthony previously served on the Executive Board of Directors of the YMCA of Metro Mobile and on the Board of Directors of Calvary Christian Learning Center. Mr. Anthony married Jenny in April 2004 and they have two sons, Ben and Will as well as a daughter Claire.

Lance Odeneal

Board Member

Lance was born and raised in Alabama. He has served as President of Christian Web Host, Inc. since 1998. Lance and his family have been living in the Gulf Shores area since 2002 and would rather live here than anywhere else. Mr. Odeneal, his wife Pam, and their two sons have been connected with many of these teachers and families since 2004.  They have volunteered and spent much time at the school since the very first day and consider it their mission to help SBCA in it’s vision to minister to the students and their families in love.  Mr. Odeneal’s sons both graduated from South Baldwin Christian Academy.

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