Staff
Mike has served as President of CREATE Foundation since 1996. During his tenure, the foundation’s assets have grown from $13.9 million to over $181 million. With a deep commitment to community and service, Mike is passionate about helping donors bring their philanthropic visions to life and supporting local organizations in identifying and advancing community priorities.
With more than 40 years of dedicated service to CREATE, Juanita oversees financial operations and asset management at CREATE. Her long-standing relationships and historical knowledge make her a trusted steward of donor resources.
Suzy Bowman
Director of Regional Impact
Suzy leads the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi. Her work supports grass root community development, education, and workforce initiatives. She collaborates with partners across Northeast Mississippi to expand CREATE’s reach and impact.
Kristy brings nearly three decades of experience as a public school educator to her work with the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund. She is deeply committed to transforming education and career pathways in Northeast Mississippi. Through her leadership, K–12 students gain exposure to career opportunities that strengthen both individual lives and the region’s future workforce.
Stewart manages day-to-day coordination and implementation of programs across CREATE and the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund. She ensures smooth execution of initiatives, working across education, youth, and nonprofit sectors to support impactful outcomes for students and communities.
Dana provides essential support for CREATE’s operations and donor engagement efforts, ensuring high-quality service and fund stewardship. Dana thrives on supporting CREATE’s clients and takes pride in seeing how donor contributions grow and change lives.
Allie Randle
Director of Marketing and Events
Allie leads marketing, communications, and events for CREATE and the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund. She works to strengthen the foundation’s story, presence, and impact.
Katie, a CPA with expansive experience in both public and nonprofit accounting, oversees accounting and reporting for CREATE’s 1,000+ funds, ensuring financial integrity and compliance. Katie is committed to accuracy, transparency, and the evolving best practices in nonprofit financial management.
Lewis Whitfield
Senior Consultant
Lewis provides strategic guidance to education and community initiatives, building on decades of experience in banking, leadership, and regional development.
