MCS Board

Metropolitan Counseling Services benefits in countless ways from the leadership and services of its Board of Directors. Comprised of a group of professionals who work both inside and outside the mental health professions, this group helps strategically shape, steer and support MCS to promote its mission and achieve successful outcomes.

Julia Flannery

Julia Flannery is Social Director for the Atlanta Athletic Club, managing special events for more than 1,700 members.  A 2009 graduate of the University of South Carolina, with a degree in hospitality management, Julia’s work experience includes The Masters Golf Tournament and Marriott Vacation Properties in Hilton Head Island , South Carolina. She has been at the Atlanta Athletic Club for the past two years, planning and executing banquet events, including assisting with the 2011 PGA Championship. Julia is also a member of the Junior League of Atlanta and active in the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives, serving on the programs committee.

Charles Howell, CPA

Charles Howell is a member of the Dixon Hughes Goodman Transaction Advisory Services Group, and has close to 8 years of professional experience in both public accounting and industry. Charles assists the firm in navigating transactions for corporate buyers and private equity groups, with a focus on middle-market transactions.

Prior to Dixon Hughes Goodman, Charles was Chief of Staff for the CEO of a healthcare company in Atlanta, GA.  In his Chief of Staff role, Charles served as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and led various strategic projects and initiatives for the organization.  He was also responsible for coordinating various planning and reporting activities with the company’s foreign parent company.

Charles’ background also includes experience in the M&A Tax Services group of a Big Four firm in Atlanta, GA. He has dedicated much of his career in public accounting to conducting buy-side due diligence for clients in a variety of industries with deal sizes ranging from five million to more than four billion.

Chris Kowal

Chris is a senior associate with Homrich Berg, an independent fee-only financial planning and investment management firm based in Atlanta. He attended Wake Forest University, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in business and a minor in international studies. He completed the Executive Program for Financial Planning Certification at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business in 2008 and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™. Chris is also an active member of the Financial Planning Association of Georgia. In his free time, Chris is a volunteer with Operation Hope’s “Banking on Our Future” program. “Banking on Our Future” seeks to deliver financial education to youth ages 9-18 at no cost to school districts, with a focus on urban, under-served communities.

Lisa Prezzano

Lisa Prezzano is a senior at Ernst & Young (EY) in the Assurance practice. Lisa’s main clients are The Coca-Cola Company and Troutman Sanders, LLP. Lisa has worked in the corporate department as well as Coca-Cola North America. Lisa has coordinated and ensured proper reporting surrounding during and after the acquisition of Coca-Cola Enterprises. Lisa joined EY two years ago after receiving her Masters and Bachelors of Accounting at the University of Florida. Lisa has organized numerous EY recruiting events at the University of Florida and local events in Atlanta. Lisa is a member of the Junior League of Atlanta and volunteers at Wesley Woods at Emory.

Dr. Lynn Ranew

Lynn Ranew, Ph.D., LCSW, LMFT has more than 25 years experience in the counseling field.  She is currently in private practice providing care in the areas of women’s issues, couples concerns, adolescent issues, delinquency, substance abuse, reproduction, adoptions, incest and sexual abuse.  She is an adjunct faculty member for Argosy University. She has been the Executive Director of a non-profit counseling center for over 20 years increasing the budget from $250,000 to $2.5 million.  She makes major training presentations throughout the Southeast.  She has acquired funding, designed, implemented and run multi-million dollar clinical treatment programs.

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She received her Ph.D. in Counseling from Georgia State University and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Georgia.

She has served on the Atlanta Mayor’s Domestic Violence Task Force and the Georgia Governor’s DUI Task Force.  She has received awards as Business Person of the Year from the Atlanta Airport Area Chamber of Commerce and a noted “Twenty-five Women to Watch” from Atlanta Women’s Magazine.

Susan B. Reid

Susan has worked at the Atlanta Counseling Center, a private non-profit multi-disciplinary mental health practice, for 30 years. Her roles have included  Practice Administrator, Executive Director and clinician. She is an experienced therapist who has worked with and treated people suffering from depression, anxiety and the effects of chronic illness, including chronic depression.  Susan works with people in life transition, women’s issues and grief and loss (including the loss of faith) as well as with couples in conflict, whether they are married or not.  She is licensed by the State of Georgia as a Clinical Social Worker and a member of NASW and GSCSW, both professional organizations. Susan is experienced in both the clinical and the business components of mental health organizations.