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Carriage Tours of Savannah hosts summer campers for a unique learning experience

Carriage Tours of Savannah hosted a city-sponsored group of summer campers, providing them with a unique opportunity to learn about horse care.

“One of the highlights of the camp is sharing our love of horses with the next generation,” explained Cara Marshall, owner and operator of CToS. “During their time at here, the campers, ranging in age from 8 to 18, including those with special abilities, learn about various aspects of horse care and grooming. They see how much the horses eat every day, and even get to try on different-sized horseshoes themselves to see how big the horses’ hooves are.”

Marshall says campers especially enjoy meeting the animals, such as Teddy, a beloved horse with a distinctive mustache, and Sushi, a budding barn cat. The interactive experience concludes with a scenic carriage ride through historic Savannah, providing campers with the chance to see the city from a unique perspective.

“It allows us to teach the next generation about the world of horses and how to care for these lovely animals,” said Marshall. “Horses and humans have known each other and worked together for thousands of years. They are part of Savannah’s past as well as her present, working as valued members of the police department, on farms, and in the vibrant tourism industry.”

CToS’ educational program will also welcome a group of adults with different abilities, for a similar two-hour educational experience this summer.

“This initiative is a testament to the support and collaboration that has developed between Carriage Tours of Savannah and the City of Savannah,” said Marshall. “We appreciate the city’s commitment to providing enriching experiences like this for Savannah’s youth.”

For those interested in learning more about Carriage Tours of Savannah or booking a tour, please visit carriagetoursofsavannah.com or call 912-236-6756.

Telfair Museums appoints David Brenneman as New Executive Director and CEO

Telfair Museums is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David A. Brenneman as its new Director and CEO, effective September 1, 2024. Brenneman brings a wealth of experience in museum leadership and a deep commitment to cultural stewardship, positioning Telfair Museums for continued growth and community engagement.

Formerly the Director of the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, Brenneman supervised the transformational $30 million renovation of the museum’s signature I. M. Pei building and found ways for their substantial collection of more than 45,000 works of art to become more accessible and engaging for the Indiana University community and residents of southern Indiana. Prior to his directorship at the Eskenazi Museum of Art, he spent 20 years in various curatorial leadership positions at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, serving as the Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the time of his departure in 2015.

Brenneman has forged a number of important institutional partnerships, and was the project leader for Louvre Atlanta, a multi-year series of exhibitions that brought many of the Louvre’s treasures to the U.S. for the first time. In 2008, he was recognized for his work on this project with one of France’s highest cultural honors, Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres). At Indiana University, he created groundbreaking partnerships with the Tsinghua University Art Museum in Beijing, China, and the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.

Brenneman is passionate about building art collections; developing appealing and important special exhibitions; and expanding the reach and impact of art museums as educational institutions. During his 30-year career, he has overseen the acquisition of a broad range of art, from ancient to contemporary, including work by such artists as Claude Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Elizabeth Catlett, Julie Mehretu, Anila Agha, and Samuel Levi Jones. He has organized and overseen numerous special exhibitions, including the First Emperor’s Terracotta Army from China, Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and highlights of the costume collection of the actor Glenn Close. At Indiana University, he helped to establish full-time positions for Kindergarten through 12th-grade outreach and the first art therapist in an American university art museum.

Brenneman studied art history at Penn State and then attended Brown University, where he received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Early in his career, he worked at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard, and as an Assistant Curator at the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven.

“I am deeply honored and excited to lead Telfair Museums, Georgia’s oldest art museum, into its next chapter. The museums’ rich history, dedication to artistic excellence, and community impact present a remarkable opportunity. I look forward to collaborating with the staff, board, patrons, and the Savannah community to further enhance Telfair’s reputation as a cornerstone of cultural life in Georgia,” said Brenneman.

Telfair’s Board of Trustees selected Brenneman after a comprehensive search process after the departure of Benjamin Simons, the previous executive director and CEO, in March.

“We are delighted to welcome David to Telfair Museums,” said Josh Keller, Board Chairman. David’s visionary leadership and proven track record make him the ideal leader to guide Telfair into the future.”

Judge Realty hires Ryann Keller as Property Manager

Judge Realty—a leading commercial, residential and property management firm proudly headquartered in Savannah—recently hired Ryann Keller as a Property Manager. In her new position, Keller is responsible for overseeing residential property management and leasing for Judge Realty’s property management division.

Originally from Olympia, Washington, Keller is a licensed Realtor who brings four years of experience in the real estate industry to her position. Before joining Judge Realty, she worked as a Property Manager at Olympic Rentals and Landlord Services in Olympia, where she helped the team manage more than 800 properties, prepared lease agreements for owners and new tenants and managed maintenance projects. Earlier in her career, she served as a Virtual Transaction Coordinator and Administrative Assistant at RE/MAX Parkside Affiliates in Olympia.

“We’re delighted to welcome Ryann to the talented property management team at Judge Realty and are extremely impressed with her work ethic, commitment to customer service and attention to detail,” said Lori Judge, founder and CEO of Judge Realty. “She is an excellent resource for property owners as well as tenants and has a proven track record in the property management field.”

Keller is currently completing an online degree in business administration with a specialization in leadership and management at Central Washington University. She is a licensed real estate agent in Georgia and Washington.

Tharros Place hires Jenn Steele as Education Coordinator

Tharros Place, a nonprofit providing residential services for girls ages 12 to 17 who are survivors of human trafficking, announced recently that it has hired Jenn Steele to serve as its Education Coordinator. In that role, she will provide a culturally responsive instructional program, regularly assess the learning and behavioral needs of students, and provide an environment conducive to students’ intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development.

“We are thrilled to have Jenn become part of the Tharros Place team,” said Julie Wade, Executive Director of Tharros Place. “She has a rich background in counseling, advocacy, and human rights, and she will help us achieve our ultimate goal of transforming our girls from victims to young women brimming with confidence, self-respect, and courage.”

Upon admission to Tharros Place, girls will be assessed for reading and math achievement and develop a personalized education plan that focuses on their strengths and interests, as well as chart a path forward beyond K-12 education. Girls will attend school online through Georgia Cyber Academy, with supplemental learning by Steele and support from an Education Mentor.

Steele originally served Tharros Place as its Compliance Manager, where she created, reviewed, revised, and compiled all policies and procedures to meet required state licensure standards. Prior to coming to Tharros Place, she worked as a substitute teacher, a career counselor, and a school counselor, where she provided counseling for victims of childhood sexual abuse and trauma, connected students and families with necessary community resources, and wrote scholarship and grant applications to secure financial resources supplementing school counseling programs. 

Steele, who lives in Thunderbolt with her husband and two daughters, recently graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Arts degree in human rights. She also holds a Master of Science degree in counseling from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama.

This article appears in Connect Savannah I July 2024.