Board of Directors
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| From left to right: Kellie Frissell, Su Berland, Ray Pelosi, David Batley, Stan Schnitzer, David Knope |
David Batley — President
David Batley joined the Freelance Forum in June 2007. A photographer and digital photography instructor with more than 40 years experience in leadership, David is eager to serve our diverse membership. His main goal for 2010 is to bring value to the Freelance Forum organization through relevant programming, which in turn should build membership. Working closely with the board and the membership committee, David is developing a proposal for a mentoring program for new members. Additionally, to increase membership, he is proposing that every member actively enroll one new member.
David began freelancing part-time many years ago. In 2007, he decided to make freelance photography a full time endeavor. He primarily serves non-profit organizations.
David was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After completing a 26-year career as a lieutenant colonel, he re-tooled himself to enter a second career as a writer, editor, graphic designer, photographer, and photography instructor.
David majored in business communications and journalism at Ohio University, but earned his bachelors degree in English from Mercer University. He also earned his masters degree in Technical & Professional Communication from Southern Polytechnic State University. David has served on board of directors of several organizations, including as president of Mercer University Atlanta Alumni Association, and as president of Technical Communication Advisory Board at Southern Polytechnic State University. Additionally, he is a retired senior member of the Society for Technical Communication. His hobbies and interests include photography, art, tennis, cycling, hiking, traveling, and enjoying grandchildren. He is married with two children and five grandchildren.
Su Berland — Vice President
Su Berland, a creative director and designer based in East Cobb, is the principal of Su Berland Design.
Su is a graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, Israel. She started her career in 1980 at JK Art Directions, a design firm in downtown Milwaukee, WI. Su became CEO of the company in 1993 and then moved to The Scan Group in the fall of 1998. In the summer of 2000 she established The Scan Group's Atlanta design office, which she directed until mid-December 2009. Su launched her own business in January 2010.
Su is married with one daughter and a cute Westie puppy named Sophie. She is a member of PRSA-Atlanta. Su is looking forward to a great year on Freelance Forum’s board, and hopes to learn and share a lot this year with fellow members.
Kellie Frissell – Secretary
Kellie joined Freelance Forum in December 2004 and has applied her graphic design skills to our email campaigns and note-taking skills to performing secretarial duties for the Forum board.
Kellie began designing 20+ years ago and became a full-time freelancer and graphic design consultant in 2005. Kellie particularly likes making smaller companies shine and says client satisfaction is the best reward she receives. She loves reading, music, doing church projects, and helping promote bands.
Stan Schnitzer — Treasurer
Stan Schnitzer joined the Freelance Forum in 2005. He got involved immediately, serving on the membership and marketing committees. His strong networking skills and desire to make new people feel welcome make him a valuable resource to the board and the Forum. Still, Stan says the biggest strength he brings to his role as treasurer is having a wife who is a CPA.
For 27 years, Stan has provided public relations services to a clientele comprised mostly of high-tech and industrial companies in the B2B area. He serves small businesses that reach global markets.
“I am a writer by trade,” Stan says. “My strength is being able to work with editors to get publicity for my clients.”
Perhaps this business strength is what has made his company successful; leading to what he considers his biggest accomplishment — staying in business.
Stan, along with his wife and daughter, moved to Atlanta in 2005 to join other family members. His immediate family here in Atlanta now includes a son-in-law and grandson. In his spare time, he enjoys photography and sports. He also participates in a number of networking groups, such as BNI, International Business Academies Ltd., Southern Resources Group, Georgia Medical Leads Group and the Asheville Jewish Business Forum.
Ray Pelosi — Member at Large
Ray has previously chaired Freelance Forum committees for programs, food and membership. He is currently a business-writing consultant working primarily with nonprofits and businesses that provide services to nonprofits. A 35-year resident of metro Atlanta, Ray has been a freelancer since 2002. Prior to that he was— in order of most recent employment— a personal chef, a sauté chef for a country club, senior public affairs officer for Fulton County, a trade magazine editor and a newspaper editor and reporter. Ray is a resident of Decatur, has two grown children and likes bowling, long walks, anything with chocolate, bad puns and the acoustic guitar wizardry of Leo Kottke.
David Knope – Past President
David Knope is an award-winning writer with nearly 40 years in marketing and corporate communications. After 19 years in a corporate setting, he freelanced for nine years. Then, in 2002, he officially launched Knope Communications, Inc. His experience on both sides of the business makes him the consummate professional and a great mentor for newcomers and experienced Atlanta freelancers.
Having been a member of the Freelance Forum since its inception, David has held many board and committee positions during his tenure.
David earned his bachelors in journalism from the University of Wisconsin and his masters in film from London Film School. His membership in the Forum goes back to when meetings were held at the Hampton Inn in Marietta. He is also a member of Media Communications Association International.
In his spare time, David enjoys photography, spending time with his son, and playing with the Prius he bought just before the economy collapsed.
