Audrey Arona, M.D.

Dr. Arona obtained her Bachelor of Science at the Univ. of California, San Diego, dual majoring in biochemistry and cellular biology. She graduated with her M.D. license in 1991 from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and thereafter, completed an OB/GYN Residency in 1995 from the University of Southern California. She is a member of and Board Certified with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a member of and previous Board member of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Arona practiced OB/GYN in private practice for 29 years, delivering thousands of babies and specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders affecting women of all ages. She has and continues to mentor and train physicians, residents, nurse practitioners and other clinical staff. Dr. Arona is an entrepreneur and has received a United States patent on a medical instrument.

In 2012, Dr. Arona served as a consultant to the GNR Public Health District and thereafter became their Medical Director. Since 2019, Dr. Arona has served as CEO and District Health Director for GNR Public Health and has worked with many community partners to address areas of need, specifically infectious disease, mental health, substance abuse, and infant/maternal mortality.

Dr. Arona has been instrumental in our fight against the COVID-19 virus, leading our community in collaboration with community partners, churches, non-profit organizations, local county and city officials, healthcare groups and businesses. She has led her team of passionate public health professionals during this pandemic, addressing local community needs, serving as a national model for COVID operations and communications, and working with community leaders to save lives.

Dr. Arona is a Rotarian and serves on multiple Boards including the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army, the Executive Committee for the Community Foundation of NE Georgia, the Latin American Association, the Medical Reserve Corps, a previous congressional COVID-19 Task Force and Gwinnett Ballet Theatre/Sugarloaf Performing Arts.

Dr. Arona was recognized in 2020 in Senate Resolution 233 for Valiant Public Service and has received several awards including the Scott Hudgens Distinguished Citizen Award, the W. Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Public Service Award, Gwinnett Medical Center’s 2021 Physician Champion Award, Gwinnett Municipal Association’s Hero of Gwinnett Cities award, and a Local Hero Award for Blake Shelton’s “Friends and Heroes.” www.omnicoffeeandeggs.com

Felicia J. Elibert RN, BSN

Felicia J. Elibert’s story starts in the small town of LaGrange, Georgia. In that small town, she dreamed big; inspired by strong, female mentors like her mother, to chase her goals with tenacity and determination.

With this support, Felicia, RN, BSN graduated from The College of New Rochelle, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She prides herself on striking a balance between career and personal life, as she is a loving mother of two incredible sons and an amazing partner to her husband Winchel Elibert.

Felicia has held several healthcare positions throughout metro Atlanta where she specialized in Med Surg, Telemetry, and ER medicine. However, her experiences stretch beyond the borders of Georgia, with several travel assignments impacting patient lives throughout the country.

In 2003, Felicia decided to pursue her entrepreneurial career. It all started with a series of her own colon hydrotherapy sessions - the benefits of which changed her life. In 2004, she received her certification at the Awareness Institute and became a member of The International Association of Colon Hydrotherapy, hoping to open doors to a healthier lifestyle for the people within her own community. All of this hard work came to a head when, in 2005, Felicia opened her first wellness center; Cleansing Waters Wellness, located in Stockbridge, GA. which specializes in colon hydrotherapy. Since then, she has opened two more locations in Fayetteville and Peachtree City, Georgia. Cleansing Waters Wellness Center has become one the leading health and wellness centers in the industry, performing over 30,000 colon hydrotherapy sessions since opening and expanding their services to include medical weight loss, vitamin IV hydration, and more. With this success, Felicia’s dreams of franchising soon became a reality. She is happy to announce that Cleansing Waters is set to become a franchise in 2023, which will open the doors for others who want to make a wellness impact in their community.

In addition, her and her husband being a dynamic business couple, also opened a Smoothie King in Fayetteville, GA. which has been a healthy alternative for community members since 2008. Since then, they have continued their endeavors; the most recent venture includes breaking ground on their first commercial plaza in late 2022.

Felicia’s passion is and has always been self-care and self-love. She believes that “true beauty is being the best version of yourself, both inside and out”. Her goal is to spread that message to others, giving them the self-confidence and wellbeing to pursue dreams of their own.

Rep. Alan Powell

Alan Powell is a Representative for the Georgia House of Representatives and is a member of the Homeland Security Board. Born November 10th in Hartwell, Georgia, Representative Alan Powell graduated from Hart County High School. He later attended Georgia Southwestern College, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science. He has been a lifelong resident of Hartwell, and resides on the shores of Lake Hartwell. He is the owner of Red Clay Properties, and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1990. He is a senior member in the Georgia House of Representatives. Prior to his election to the Georgia General Assembly, he served as Chairman of the Hart County Board of Commissioners.

In the Georgia House of Representatives, he has served as Chairman of the Motor Vehicles and Public Safety and Homeland Security Committees. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee and is a standing member of Appropriations, Governmental Affairs, Motor Vehicles, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Rules and Small Business Development Committees. He was appointed to serve on the Board of Homeland Security in 2018 by Governor Deal.

Alan Powell represents District 33. Powell ran for re-election and won the general election on November 8, 2022. He assumed office on January 9, 2023. His current term ends on January 13, 2025.

Major Anna Sanchez, RN

Major Anna Sanchez has worked in healthcare for over 37 years. She is a Clinical Nurse for the 94 Aeromedical Staging Squadron and provides her clinical expertise in the Nursing Officer Core and Senior Noncommissioned Officers. She educates members on the Comprehensive Medical Readiness Program. She delivers a full spectrum of resources to the service members. She educates the Total Force (TF) Airmen that directly influences mental wellness, and deployment readiness.

She is D-SAACP certified and is a subject matter expert in the care for those who experience military sexual trauma She served as the Coordinator for the Sexual Assault and Response Program at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB), Georgia. She single handedly organized a successful event where Distinguished Visitors and guests, Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen learned different forms of therapy for trauma survivors such as Art Therapy, Horticultural Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Pet Therapy, Equine Therapy. She deployed in South Korea to overhaul the SAPR program where she successfully engaged in service members, and the Republic of Korea Air Force.

Major Sanchez began serving the United States Air Force in Aug 2011. She graduated from the Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Montgomery, AL in Sept 2012. She served as Officer-in-Charge at the 908th Aeromedical Staging Squadron Mental Health Section where she educated members on suicide prevention and substance abuse programs. She earned her Master Resiliency Trainer certification and personally trained over 400 service members on three installations as Resiliency Training Assistants.,

In her civilian capacity, Major Sanchez delivers excellent advanced practice care at the VA Hospital in ATL as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department. She is the Executive Director for Hope Center for Veterans and is an active Board Member for VETLANTA where she actively volunteers and engages in the community to empower Veterans. To decrease barriers in mental health, increase access to mental health, she opened up her private telepsychiatry practice, MSICS MENSSANA.com.

Major Sanchez received a distinguished award as the United States Air Force Reserve Command 2020 Company Grade Officer Nurse of the Year. She has received the Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Contribution in Mental Health, Humanitarian Award for Covid Relief and the Air Force Achievement Medal Both as the SARC. Her unwavering efforts were rewarded by being coined by Major General John Hickock, Brigadier General Craig McPike, 22nd Air Force and Col Juliana Olson, Deputy Command Surgeon, Air Force Reserve Command.

Finally, she continues her education through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science for Master’s level program in Public Health.