As a true not-for-profit health system, Phoebe is operated by a volunteer board drawn from the community it serves. They serve without pay, volunteering time and expertise. They set policy, create goals, evaluate management’s performance, and ensure Phoebe operates in the best interest of the community. Below you can learn more about our volunteer governing board members for Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.
Frederick McLaughlin, EdD, is a professor of biology at Fort Valley State, where he teaches microbiology.
He has earned numerous degrees, including Doctor of Education from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida. He and his wife, LaVerne, have one child.
Sandra Daniel, Ph.D., RN, is the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA.
She is actively involved in community service organizations and state/national professional organizations. Currently she serves on the Board of Directors of SOWEGA-AHEC and the Sumter Faith Clinic.
Brian Church, is chief financial officer and chief administrative officer for Phoebe Putney Health System.
He joined Phoebe in 2014 after 12 years at a large not-for-profit healthcare system in southwest Florida. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
John Crisp, is the President and CEO of Georgia Cold Storage Co. and Gulf States Cold Storage Co, which operates freezers and coolers in South Georgia and Alabama.
He has served on the Southland Foundation Committee, the Sheriff’s Youth Homes Golf Tournament committee, and the Sumter One Committee for Sumter County, GA PDA.
Angela Holt, was born and raised in Americus, Georgia. She spent 10 years serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Munitions Systems Craftsman where she also received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Serving as Chief Munitions Control Officer.
After an honorable discharge, she moved back to Americus in 2000 and was hired at Middle Flint Health and Wellness in 2003. After more than 20 years and many roles there, she is now Chief Executive Officer of Middle Flint HW. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia Southwestern State University and an MBA – Executive Option from the University of North Alabama.
Bardin Hooks, is an Americus native. He received a B.A. in History from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 2003. He received his Juris Doctor from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2007.
After practicing estate planning, real estate, and corporate law in Americus for many years, Bardin joined Edward Jones as a Financial Advisor in 2023, where he helps clients plan for their financial futures. He currently serves on the boards of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Phoebe Sumter Foundation, and the Americus Housing Authority. He is a former board member of the Americus-Sumter County Hospital Authority. He and his wife, Hayden, are members of Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus, and they are proud parents of a son, George.
Rene Smith, is President/CEO of Sumter EMC in Americus. He joined Sumter EMC in 1988, and has progressed through the ranks to his appointment as CEO in January 2020.
He has served on various committees representing Georgia’s electric cooperatives and serves on the boards of affiliated statewide organizations. He is active in the local community, serving on several boards including the One Sumter Economic Development Foundation and the Ignite College and Career Academy. He is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Americus, is a recipient of the Rotary Sheffield Presidential Leadership Award and has served as an Assistant Governor for District 6900 of Rotary International. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Auburn University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology from the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering at Kennesaw State University. He and his wife, Angela, reside in Americus, Georgia, are members of Cornerstone Church, and have five adult children and eight grandchildren.
Scott Steiner, joined the Phoebe family in March, 2019.
He previously served as CEO of four Tenet hospitals in Detroit, MI. He began his career in healthcare administration as Director of Physician Network & Development for a hospital in East St. Louis, IL in 1992. Scott and his wife, Tracy have two daughters. Scott is a member of the Phoebe Health System, Phoebe Hospital, Phoebe Sumter, Phoebe Worth, Phoebe Health Ventures and Phoebe Physicians Boards.
Sandra Zornes, MD, is chief of pathology and director of the clinical laboratory at Phoebe Sumter.
She is a fellow of the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and is a member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, the Sumter County Medical Society, the College of American Pathologists, and the Georgia Association of Pathologists.
Dr. Michelle R. Johnston joined Georgia Southwestern State University as the 12th president and first female president in June 2024.
During her over 30-year career in higher education, she has led three institutions as president, as well as serving in faculty and other administrative roles. Johnston was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Marine Corps University Board, where she served two terms as the chair. She has been a leader at state and national levels on campus sexual assault response and prevention, including invitations by the Obama and Trump administrations for meetings at the White House and with the U.S. Secretary of Education.
She is a Leadership Georgia alumna and currently serves on the Sumter Strong Steering Committee, the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Board, the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center Governing Board, and the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) Board.
Johnston holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in piano performance from Louisiana State University, a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Mississippi State University, and a post-doctorate in marketing and management from the University of Florida. She and her husband, Dr. Gene Pierce, call Americus, Georgia their home and have four adult children and three grandchildren.
Jill Olek, MD is a board certified family medicine physician who joined Phoebe in 2007, where she did her family medicine training at the residency program at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.
She spent the first six years of her career as a hospita list at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and transitioned into outpatient medicine in 2016. Dr. Olek also moonlights in the Emergency Room at Phoebe Sumter. She has a servants heart and has made a nonprofit organization named One Hope Ministries, INC, which focuses on meeting individuals physical and spiritual needs while sharing the love of Christ. She has served several times in Haiti, Costa Rica, and Kenya, leading medical mission trips. She is married to Ricky, and has two beautiful children, Aiden and Gabby. Originally from upstate New York, Dr. Olek and her family now call Americus home and continue to be involved in the community.