Board of Directors
Malcolm Kilpatrick
Independent Director and Chairman of the Board
Retired Real Estate Investor and Developer
Malcolm Kilpatrick started developing Affordable Apartments in 1977. He is co-founder of Chase Properties Associates, LLC, CRT Trust Advisors, Inc. and affiliated companies. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina in 1963 and completed advanced training in real estate appraisal from the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. Since 1967, Malcolm initially as a commercial mortgage banker and ultimately as a real estate developer and owner has developed, financed, invested in and managed numerous real estate investments for partnerships in which he was a managing partner. Malcolm has personally negotiated and administered complex real estate contracts, acquisitions and closings exceeding $125 million in value. He is particularly experienced in multi-family developments, commercial land and single-family developments. Malcolm has been a member of the Searles Foundation Board of Directors since 2007.
Philip E. Searles
President, Searles Foundation
Philip heads Searles Foundation. A native of Atlanta, Philip Searles is our leader for the next generation. After earning a degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama, he began working at the Reznick Group. Philip has been President of Searles Foundation since 2008. In July 2022, Lenbrook Square Foundation, Inc. elected Philip Searles to the Board of Directors. Lenbrook is not-for-profit corporation founded on October 8, 1980. Lenbrook is one of America’s most significant and respected Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).Rick’s development company, CRT Realty & Development, initiated the foundation of the Beverly J. Searles Foundation in 2007. His expertise in the Georgia Department of Community Affairs housing program has led to the development of over 2,000 housing units as of 2020.
Richard D. Searles
CEO, Searles Foundation
Since August 1995, Richard has been active in the senior housing industry working with several of the country’s leading providers of senior housing and assisted living. Richard began working with Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. in its Southeast expansion in 1995. Prior to his senior housing development activities, Richard Searles was the Project Manager for a national due diligence contract with Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC), an instrumentality of the United States of America. He owns CRT Realty & Development, LLC.
Patricia Gadson
Independent Director
Patricia Gadson is originally from Palm Springs, California has one son and three grandchildren. Her professional background includes people management in diverse industries and continuously winning various awards due to her unmatched work ethic. Additionally, she opened a resale boutique called “Bottomless Closet” and managed it for seven years. This passion led to her spearheading the opening of the Sundries Shop at Sweetwater Terrace in 2014. She manages the shop and employs two resident volunteers. She has been a member of the Board of directors of the Searles Foundation since June 2013.
Marion Nurse
Independent Director
Ms. Nurse is from New York. She attended two years of college while raising four children to obtain an associate degree and various certifications which led to her work for the State of New York helping mentally challenged people integrate into society. Her work was part of the beginning efforts of the current 811 Program. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Nurse worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a manager of a unit that worked with non-filers. Later she was certified with the Department of Health to work with grandparents who raise their grandchildren, as she has raised her three wonderful grandchildren. She has also served being a Customer Service Representative at Wal-Mart and running the MEME House Day Care as an owner/operator. Ms. Nurse joined the Searles Foundation Board of Directors in June 2013.
Charles Sheron
Independent Director
CEO, The Sheron Group
Charles Sheron has almost fifty years of experience in both domestic and international markets. Born in Rome and educated in Athens, Charles became the youngest licensed real estate broker in the history of Georgia. He has extensive experience in construction, property development, automated car parking systems, manufacturing, aviation, technology, energy related, security related, international motor sports and artificial intelligence companies. Additionally he has served on the board of directors of both public and private companies as well as non for profit organizations. His concentration is on company developments, strategic partnerships and business investment opportunities.
Brian Dickhaus
Independent Director
Senior Account Executive – Strategic Accounts at OpenText
Brain is a aighly ambitious and performance-driven B2B sales professional with an unparalleled work ethic, Enabling business and digital transformation for large, global enterprises. He has deep experience building and executing comprehensive sales processes, structuring multi-million dollar and multi-year enterprise deals to strategic accounts, leveraging executive-level relationships, mentoring team members, establishing partnerships, and enabling customers to be successful in reaching their goals. Now, Brian works with Large enterprises toward the pursuit of business and digital transformation, information governance, customer experience management, digital asset management, business process optimization, and analytics.
Donald Russell
Independent Director
Partner, Sigma 2.0
Don Russell is a partner of Sigma 2.0 with both a deep transactional background as well as operational experience in portfolio companies across several sectors. His years of experience as a board member, investor, dealmaker, and banker have required him to be a trusted advisor to countless CEOs, board chairs, and senior executives in portfolio companies. Don has an extensive background in successfully preparing organizations and their leaders for investment and growth, and is an expert in creating compelling messages for potential investors. Don has also successfully consulted with senior management in litigation situations. He is experienced in leading high-performance teams and brings personal, hands-on business leadership experience to each client engagement.
Alysse Daniels, M. Ed.
Independent Director
Senior Regional Vice President of CENTEGIX
Ms. Daniels is National and Regional Vice President with expertise in high-level account management, business development, consultative sales, and leading sales teams. Extensive experience in urban markets with the ability to meet and exceed sales targets, while maintaining a healthy pipeline to increase market share in school districts across North America. Educator and Administrator with 10+ years in a major urban school district, providing strategic planning, process development, implementation, and internal and external professional development. Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
David S. Searles, Jr.
CFO, Director, Searles Foundation
CEO, Chase Properties Associates, LLC
After undergraduate commencement and summer “camp” at Fort Benning, Georgia, David Searles enrolled at Harvard Business School. Upon graduation with his MBA in 1970, David Searles joined the HBS faculty for one year, then began his real estate career in 1971. He has been a developer, owner, investor and broker full-time since 1971.