team members
Past Chairman Wendy O’Brien is an accomplished equestrian with a lifelong dedication to equestrian disciplines, farm life, business ventures, and community causes. Her equestrian pursuits include Radnor Hunt Pony Club, horse showing, foxhunting, steeplechase racing, three day eventing, breeding and training. She is a competitive Combined Driver, and was on the U.S. Pony Team in
Vice Chairman Michael Sullivan served on Great Oak’s predecessor board and he is interested in helping Great Oak grow to a scale sufficient to serve a broad population. Michael is a graduate of Williams College and he received his MBA from Vanderbilt University. After Michael graduated, his interest in finance took him back east, where
Chairman Duncan has held senior leadership positions across multiple industries, including retail, advertising, technology, manufacturing, and finance. He began his career as an officer in the U.S. Army, spent ten years as a hedge fund CFO in New York and most recently was the CEO of the United States Polo Association. Duncan has served on
Shawna Dietrich grew up in Houston, Texas, “on the back of a horse.” When her family moved to Kentucky, she started showing hunters and jumpers in the Midwest, graduating into teaching and training on a professional level. Personal events led to a change of direction, and into the business world of equine insurance. Dietrich &
BonnieAnne Osbon Fulghum is a lifelong Aiken resident. She earned her bachelors degrees in speech communication and theater/vocal performance from the University of South Carolina and is currently working on finishing her master’s degree in special education. She grew up working in her family business, Triple O Printing Company, until it was sold. Bonnie and
Jeannie grew up in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and attended Hiram College, studying history and art history, and performing in musical theater and concerts. Her marriage to Stephen Groat brought her to Aiken, where Steve taught at the Aiken Preparatory School and Jeannie studied at the University of South Carolina. In 1971, the Groats moved
Mary Guynn was born in Aiken. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and thereafter obtained her juris doctorate degree from Emory University. She is a partner in the law firm of Smith, Massey, Brodie, Guynn & Mayes, where she practices in the areas of residential and commercial real estate
Judy McConnell joins Great Oak after 18 years of involvement at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, including three years as the President. She and her husband, Chuck, have three children and six grandchildren. They retired to Aiken and reside in Three Runs Plantation with her two horses and Schnoodle. Judy actively hunts
Tony Rickard is a life-long resident of Aiken. Many of you may recognize Tony from Osbon’s Laundry and Cleaners, which he owns along with his uncle and cousin. Tony is also the President of the Western Carolina State Fair Foundation. He has been married to his wife, Ashley for ten years and they have two
Jesse Waters Jesse Waters has been a resident of Aiken since 2010 along with his wife, April, and two sons William and Jackson. Jesse attended the US Merchant Marine Academy with a congressional nomination from the Hon. Floyd Spence. Following his 2005 graduation, with a BS in Marine Transportation & a USCG 3rd Mate’s license, Jesse
