Board President

A passionate advocate, entrepreneur, civic leader, and champion of the arts, Shelley Smith has spent decades contributing to Savannah’s creative and community landscape. As the founder of the iconic Venus de Milo Bar, which opened on New Year’s Eve 1999, Shelley created a space that became a beloved gathering place for Savannah’s artists, creatives, and community. Her entrepreneurial spirit continues today through pop-ups and initiatives that promote local artists, makers, and community organizations, including Renegade Paws Rescue and Red Clay.

Shelley’s leadership extends beyond her own ventures. She serves on the Board of Art Southeast, where she helps support and advance the region’s arts community, and is a dedicated supporter of Loop It Up Savannah’s youth programs. Her commitment to community extends to her work with Savannah Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), where she completed rigorous certification to advocate for children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

As Board President of Low Country Grit Collaborative, Shelley brings a unique combination of entrepreneurial experience (including being a top producer with Berkshire Hathaway)

, arts and cultural leadership, civic engagement, and deep community relationships. She provides the vision and guidance to help LCGC connect artists, organizations, and communities through creative experiences that strengthen connection, belonging, and opportunity across the Low Country.

Board Secretary

Board Governance, Compliance & Advocacy Oversight: Natalie Woodward, partner at Atlanta’s Warshauer Woodward Atkins, provides strategic legal counsel, rigorous financial risk mitigation, and robust governance oversight to the Board. Ms. Woodward brings more than two decades of legal expertise in institutional compliance, public policy, and systemic accountability. Her deep commitment to organizational leadership is reflected in her work as an Officer for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), as a Special Master for the State Bar of Georgia, and as a member of the Board of Directors for St. Benedict’s Episcopal School.

As Board Secretary, she draws on her extensive legal and governance experience to maintain comprehensive organizational records, ensure meeting compliance, and uphold corporate transparency.

Beyond her mastery of complex legal and financial frameworks, Ms. Woodward is a dedicated champion for child safety and digital protections. By bridging institutional governance with an active history of community advocacy, she helps ensure the highest levels of fiduciary responsibility, regulatory compliance, and mission-driven integrity for our organization.

Board Treasurer

Board Fiscal Governance, Operations & Strategic Oversight: Rosemary Frame provides comprehensive financial leadership, operational strategy, and robust fiscal oversight to the Board. An accomplished independent business owner, Ms. Frame brings an extensive history of leadership across numerous civic, nonprofit, educational, and business-related organizations. Her diverse private-sector expertise spans financial services, sales and management, real estate development, regional and national marketing, inventory control, and long-range strategic planning.

As Board Treasurer, she leverages deep financial acumen, having previously held various financial security licenses with industry leaders New York Life and MassMutual. Ms. Frame's proven track record in institutional governance includes serving on the Executive Committee of the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Savannah (including its National Marketing Committee), and as Treasurer for the Executive Committee of Colonial Dames in the State of Georgia. Additionally, her public sector and educational oversight experience includes serving on the Executive Committee and Finance Subcommittee of the Chatham County Metropolitan Planning Commission, and as Board Secretary for St. Andrew’s School.

By combining rigorous corporate financial management with dedicated community development experience, Ms. Frame ensures flawless budgetary oversight, strict fiscal accountability, and sustainable financial growth for our organization.

Director-At-Large

Jim Collins brings over 40 years of infrastructure leadership and a deep commitment to regional growth to the Low Country Grit Collaborative board. As a Senior Vice President and Regional Director at Thomas & Hutton, Jim oversees operations for the firm’s Savannah region. His career mastery of infrastructure development and regional planning directly powers the Collaborative's mission to strengthen neighborhoods, connect generations, and empower individuals to build inclusive, sustainable communities.

A proud alumnus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Jim has dedicated his professional life to building the foundation of coastal Georgia. As a licensed Professional Engineer, he channels his technical perspective on sustainable land development into creating accessible experiences. Serving with SAGIS and ULI Savannah, Jim helps design physically connected, resilient spaces where culture and community engagement can thrive.

Beyond engineering, Jim is a central catalyst in Savannah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As Chairman of Startup Savannah, he drives local business growth, directly advancing Low Country Grit’s dedication to supporting creative and entrepreneurial development. Furthermore, his leadership with the Georgia Tech Savannah Advisory Board and the Hibernian Society of Savannah Foundation leverages extensive experience to unite people through creativity and culture.

Director, Programming

Nicholas Patrick brings over a decade of strategic operations, marketing leadership, and a deep commitment to regional heritage to his role as Program Director. Holding a degree from Tuskegee University and an Executive MBA from Johns Hopkins University, Nicholas excels at driving impactful business operations. His background across corporate business development and sales management directly powers the Collaborative’s mission to support creative development and build structurally connected, sustainable communities. A proud Savannah native, Nicholas channels his passion for local culture into smart regional growth. As a member of the Town of Thunderbolt Planning Commission and a Board Member for Savannah Jazz, he designs community engagement initiatives that connect generations through creativity. His environmental leadership as Executive Director of the Longleaf Conservancy further aligns with the Collaborative's dedication to preserving and strengthening Low Country neighborhoods. Beyond civic governance, Nicholas is a vital catalyst for local innovators. As the co-founder of the Low Country Grit brand, he champions Southern storytelling and creative entrepreneurship. At the Collaborative, he leverages this entrepreneurial expertise and his background in youth mentorship to build accessible opportunities, foster local talent, and deliver lasting regional programs.

Founder

A proud Savannah native and passionate advocate, Alexa’s journey began born into a family surrounded by music with a belief that civic engagement is a responsibility. As a mother of two children with significant learning differences, Alexa found her voice, advocating fiercely for their needs in a system that often overlooks the most vulnerable. That fight quickly expanded into a broader calling- to stand up for others facing similar challenges in silence. 

Her activism was deepened when she lost her brother to his mental health battles—a moment that galvanized her on a mission to create spaces for connection, joy, and healing.

While her travels took a linear path from New Orleans to New York,  Savannah called her home, where she is now culminating her work and passion into a bold vision: to build something with grit, soul, and purpose. With Low Country Grit, she hopes to help channel local art, music, and storytelling into a unique accessible platform for change, so that the experience of those creations can be shared directly with you.  This invitation is extended to you to find the grit it takes to build a stronger, more compassionate Low Country for all.