Save Noah's Ark Locust Grove Georgia
Leadership at Noah's Ark 2022 to Current
Leadership Status - As found on pubic information sites.
Glenn S. Ross Chairman of the Board at Noah's Ark
Glenn S. Ross joined the Board of Directors at Noah's Ark in April 2018 after attending the book signing of Founder Jama Hedgecoth's memoir Share the Dream, and attending a board meeting as a guest. Ross portrayed himself as a wealthy, experienced and accomplished business man whose personal values aligned with the mission of Noah's Ark. In actuality, nothing was further from the truth.
Ross became Chairman of the Board a few months later and began to recreate already existing policies and procedures under the guise of a superior entrepreneur, frequently pointing out founder Jama Hedgecoth's weakness in accounting. NOTE: Founder Jama Hedgecoth created and developed Noah's Ark into one of the country's top animal sanctuaries and a multi-million dollar nonprofit over a span of 3 decades. Hedgecoth wasn't bad with money, but her lack of a formal education in this area led to self doubt.
By 2019 Ross recruited 3 of his close friends to join him on the board of directors (Clyde Tant, Marty Allen, Jay Allen), as well as Lynn Henkel, a very close friend of Noah's Ark's largest donor. At the time, these members appeared to genuinely care about animals and align themselves with the mission of Noah's Ark.
In 2020 Ross hired professional consultants to help take Noah's Ark to the next level of success. The decisions made and policies they with the help and guidance of these so called non biased experts set a plan in motion to remove the founding family from Noah's Ark tightened his grip on the organization and with the help of the consultants He became very bitter and angry after Jama Hedgecoth (founder RIP Nov 2023) rescued 180 chihuahua's in August of 2020. Every dog found a forever home brought in $40,000 in adoption fees to Noah's Ark. Things continued to become stressed, unraveled and implode Aug 2022 after mishandling the bird flu outbreak. It's been downhill since. He had Jama and the family fired in fall of 2022.
Glenn S. Ross and Associates Real Estate
2495 Kings Arms Pt NE
Atlanta, GA 30345
Since the public 990 forms were filed Sept of 2021 to current - 2 board members quietly quit. 3 board members were removed on a zoom call in 2022 by Glenn. The entire founding family (4 members) of over 30 years was fired and were served eviction paperwork to vacate their home on the sanctuary. The on premise FREE Veterinarian Doctor Karen Thomas was fired from the board and her FREE no pay job of over 20 years. Doc T was the second largest donor to Noah's Ark. According to 990 forms the first is Cox Foundation.
Michelle "Shelly" Lakly
Shelly was hired as a "President" in November of 2021 by Glenn Ross without the full approval of the approximately 10 active board members at that time with a $144,000 per year salary.
Shelly Lakly has 22 counts pending of animal cruelty charges and 1 reckless conduct in Henry County State Courts. Shelly Lakly was fired from her last job at Save The Chimps in Florida. According to her LinkedIn profile, she never had the type of "hands on" animal experience needed to fill this position. 100's of animals have suffered removal, from their promised forever sanctuary home and many have died on the property.
**Noah's Ark website has removed Shelly and Jay Allen's pictures and bio??
Jay Allen, VP of Operations
Jay Allen has 8 counts of animal cruelty pending in Henry County GA state court.
Jay was a friend of Glenn Ross and non paid board member. He was moved to a salaried job (undisclosed to the public) and a title of VP of Operations. Jay Allen did not have the full background needed to care for so many different species of animals at a facility like Noah's Ark.
**Noah's Ark website has removed Jay and Shelly's pictures and bio??
Jo Ellen Costanzo, Board Member
Jo Costanzo is an active board member who remains after others were fired from the board in 2022. She was previously a volunteer at Noah's Ark. She worked with Shelly to move all the hooved animals off from their forever home. She is the most active board member that does appear at Noah's Ark on opening days. Glenn Ross hides behind her and Shelly Lakly to speak to the public.
Lynn Henkel, Board Member
Lynn Henkel is an active board member who remains after ALL OTHERS quit or were fired from the board in 2022. Unknown any real value she has added since being on the board. She was one of the newer board members. Her roll appears to fit a needed number of board members to agree with Glenn.
Marty Allen, Board Member -Grandbridge Real Estate Capital
Marty Allen is an active board member who remains after ALL OTHERS quit or were fired from the board in 2022. Marty too has not been vocal or present. Not sure of his roll or value to Noah's Ark. No reports of him being on site or actively helping. His roll appears to fit a needed number of board members to agree with Glenn.
Marty Allen
Grandbridge Real Estate Capital
271 17th St NW Suite 750
Atlanta, GA 30363