Telfair Museums Welcomes Four New Members to Board of Trustees
May 24, 2022Contact: Bri Salley
Director of Marketing & Communications
salleyb@telfair.org
SAVANNAH, GA (May 24, 2022) — Telfair Museums’ Board of Trustees graciously bids farewell to Jan H. Dorman, Robert F. Faircloth, Dr. William Moore, and David Paddison and thanks them for their years of service. Moore and Faircloth have been named Honorary Trustees and have contributed immeasurable support to the institution. Faircloth served as Telfair’s Acting Director in 2020 and supported the staff when faced with challenges caused by COVID-19.
“We owe special thanks to our four outgoing trustees, who have served Telfair Museums in many capacities through times of transition, challenge, and growth,” said Swann Seiler, Telfair Board Chairman. “All four embraced the spirit of servant leadership that is the hallmark of service to the museum and our community. We are especially pleased to announce that Bob Faircloth and Ted Moore have joined the ranks of Telfair’s Honorary Trustees for their extensive service in many roles and capacities.”
Added Benjamin Simons, Telfair’s executive director/CEO: “We are so grateful for the service of these stalwart trustees who have given so much for the institution. I join Swann in thanking them all, and in congratulating Bob and Ted for becoming Honorary Trustees. We are also thrilled to welcome an incredible class of new trustees to the board. We look forward to working closely with them to deliver on all of our exciting plans for the future.”
On Thursday, May 19, Telfair’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to induct four new members to support the institution. The new members are John E. Cay IV, Stephen D. Taylor, Kimberly Ballard-Washington, J.D., and Matthew A. West. Additionally, Betsy McCullar will join the board as an Ex-Officio member as Chair of Telfair Academy Guild, which works to strengthen community relationships through its generous support of education and outreach programming, exhibitions, and more.
New Board of Trustees Members
John E. Cay IV
John E. Cay IV serves as CEO of Palmer & Cay, the 150-year-old insurance brokerage firm that he successfully re-launched in 2010. Cay’s professional experience includes serving as a London broker, specializing in risk management strategies for the Private Equity industry, establishing and managing de novo operations in New York City, and serving as president of one of the largest privately-held insurance brokerage firms in the nation.
Stephen D. Taylor
Stephen D. Taylor is the owner and chairman of the Taylor Automotive Group. Taylor started his career as an automotive dealer in 1979 when he opened Taylor Buick in downtown Toledo. In 1988, he launched Taylor Cadillac. By remaining focused on providing his valued customers with the best experience and value in the industry, he has grown the Taylor Automotive Family to eight dealerships: Taylor Cadillac, Taylor Kia of Toledo, Taylor Hyundai of Perrysburg, Taylor Kia of Findlay, Taylor Kia of Lima, Taylor Hyundai of Toledo, and Genesis of Perrysburg. The Taylor Automotive Family currently employs more than 350 people.
Kimberly Ballard-Washington, J.D.
Savannah State University President Kimberly Ballard-Washington was appointed by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on May 13, 2021, after serving as the university’s interim president since July 1, 2019. Ballard-Washington has practiced law in the state of Georgia for 20 years and most recently served the University System of Georgia (USG) as associate vice chancellor for Legal Affairs and as the assistant secretary to the Board of Regents (BOR). She honed her skills as an advocate for fairness and justice, serving as the BOR’s primary legal advisor on student, faculty, and employment issues. This role also gave her the opportunity to work directly with and provide advice and counsel to the USG university presidents and their leadership teams. She was also tasked with leading USG’s efforts in (the Education Amendments of 1972’s) Title IX administration.
Matthew A. West
Matthew West is the President of West Construction Company and founded the company in 2014. Originally from Moultrie, West and his wife, Courtney, moved to Savannah in 2007, where he worked with a local general contractor for eight years in various roles before establishing West Construction. He has worked on numerous successful projects throughout Georgia and South Carolina, including the award-winning Bouhan Falligant building, and for clients such as the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, Colonial Oil, Hargray Communications, and Optim Orthopedics among many others.
Ex-Officio Member Board of Trustees
Betsy McCullar
Betsy McCullar is President of Telfair Academy Guild, raising friends and funds for Telfair Museums since 1976. A former New Yorker, her management consulting practice, The Hilltop Alliance LLC, has expertise in marketing, communication, strategy, and M&A in the global fashion industry. Among other community-based volunteer activities, she is also on the Executive Committee of the Chatham County Family Justice Center here in Savannah.
About Telfair Museums
Opened in 1886, Telfair Museums is the oldest public art museum in the South and the first U.S. museum founded by a woman. The museum features a world-class art collection in the heart of Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District and encompasses three sites: the Jepson Center for the Arts, the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, and the Telfair Academy. For more information on Telfair Museums, visit telfair.org.
