By Emmy Powell, Net News Editor
Rita Maloof, President
Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
Career: Retired
What’s your favorite board game? Monopoly…Is there any other?
What would you be if you had to wear one Halloween costume every day for the rest of your life? That’s not a fair question. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I love costumes. Being confined to one would take the fun out of dressing up aside from the fact that if you wore it every day, it would become a uniform.
Who would you want to trade lives with? No one I can think of. My life is pretty good right now.
What was your favorite childhood book? I loved the Nancy Drew teenage detective books. I still have the whole collection!
Who is the best movie villain? The Wicked Witch. I was scared to death of her and her flying monkeys. As a matter of fact, they still make me a little nervous.
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “With a Little Help from My Friends” by The Beatles.
Loretta Phillips, First Vice President
Birthplace: Adel, GA
Career: Administrative – now retired
What’s your favorite board game? Secret Hitler
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Thailand
Who is the best movie villain? Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
What is something you think everyone should try at least once? Zip lining.
What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received? A four-tier cake made of towels.
What item do you hope will be obsolete in 20 years? Sagging pants!
Susan Levin, Treasurer
Birthplace: New Orleans, LA
Career: Retired Financial Analyst
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? Chocolate-covered ants
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? England
What would you be if you had to wear one Halloween costume every day for the rest of your life? Goldendoodle
What was your favorite childhood book? “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
What are the two things you’d like to ask your pet? “What are you thinking?” “What are you trying to tell me when you bark?”
In another life, I’m pretty sure I was… a race car driver.
Keri Beck, Secretary
Birthplace: Tulsa, OK
Career: Group Manager, Sprint
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? Chocolate-covered ants
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Switzerland
What was your favorite childhood book? “Where the Red Fern Grows”
Who is the best movie villain? Heath Ledger’s Joker
What is something you think everyone should try at least once? Snowmobiling through Yellowstone Park
What item do you hope will be obsolete in 20 years? Vacuum cleaners
Siobhan Schaeffer, Thursday Women’s League VP
Birthplace: Red Bank, NJ
Career: Previously Finance – Currently Real Estate
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Ireland
Who is the best movie villain? Darth Vader
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “One Less Day” by Rob Thomas
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? Tito’s, soda with a splash of cranberry
What item do you hope will be obsolete in 20 years? Cars that aren’t self-driving
Drew Meyer, Men’s League VP
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, UT
Career: HealthTech Product Executive
Who would you want to trade lives with? Maybe an astronaut.
What was your favorite childhood book? Anything Dr. Seuss. I loved them all as a child, and I loved being able to share them with my son when he was young.
Who is the best movie villain? Hannibal Lecter
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
If we held an ALTA volunteer talent show, I’d wow everyone with… I have a passion for Olympic weightlifting.
What is something you think everyone should try at least once? Travel outside the country and experience other cultures.
Diane Royston, Sunday Women’s League VP
Birthplace: Niagara Falls, NY
Career: Operations for 25 years in electronics distribution and 10 years in corrugated
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? Alligator…weird to me…and chewy!
Who would you want to trade lives with? No one
What are the two things you’d like to ask your pet? “Why do you circle around and around when lying down?” “Why do you only growl at other dogs when you are being held?”
Are you known for a “special dish” on the ALTA table, a favorite that teammates request often? Jewish Apple Cake
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? A Cosmo
What is something you think everyone should try at least once? Loving another with all their heart
Rusty Jones, Senior Day League VP
Birthplace: Knoxville, TN
Career: Consumer Product Sales Region Manager and Food Safety Tech
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? A grub in Ecuador
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Grand Cayman Islands
Who is the best movie villain? Darth Vader
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “Colour My World” by Chicago
Are you known for a “special dish” on the ALTA table, a favorite that teammates request often? Smoked pork shoulder or chicken, brunswick stew, cowboy beans, and key lime cake.
What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received? A Squatty Potty
Seth Appelbaum, Senior Leagues VP
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Career: Sales and marketing in the wine industry (42 years)
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
What sport will be invented next? Space Pickleball
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? Muskox in Greenland
What would you be if you had to wear one Halloween costume every day for the rest of your life? Captain Crunch
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Australia or New Zealand
What item do you hope will be obsolete in 20 years? Alexa
David Rowe, Mixed Doubles League VP
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Career: Renovator
What’s your favorite board game? Monopoly
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Italy
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? Gin and tonic
What is something you think everyone should try at least once? Zip lining
If you could meet any author, who would it be and why? Stephen King because I want to know how he comes up with his story lines.
Kim Freeman, Junior Leagues VP
Birthplace: Columbus, OH
Career: President and CEO of the Freeman/Knight Family
What sport will be invented next? Another Padel/paddle sport where you can play the ball off the walls and ceiling!
What’s your favorite board game? Candy Land
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? New Hampshire fried clam
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Italy
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? Meiomi Pinot Noir
If we held an ALTA volunteer talent show, I’d wow everyone with… my synchronized swimming!
Gina Woods, Junior Challenge Ladder VP
Birthplace: Fort Wayne, IA
Career: Agape Tennis Academy Training and Development Manager
What are the two things you’d like to ask your pet? “Do you understand what I’m saying when I talk to you?” “Does my snoring bother you?
What was the best year of your life? 2011 when my daughter, Isabella, was born.
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “Listen” by Marvin Sapp
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? Ice-cold beer in a chilled glass.
If you could meet any author, who would it be and why? Franklin Covey. He’s all about making positive changes that last, guiding you to be your best self and improve your interactions with others.
Greg McAfee, Pickleball League VP
Birthplace: Dayton, OH
Career: Life Insurance Sales, Real Estate Sales, Tennis Court Resurfacing and Construction
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Belize
Who is the best movie villain? Darth Vader
What was the best year of your life? The current one
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “Crazy Luck” by Better Than Ezra
Are you known for a “special dish” on the ALTA table, a favorite that teammates request often? Dayton Style Pizza
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? Pretzel Bites and Mozzarella Sticks
Mark LaRotonda, Special Programs VP
Birthplace: Seaford, NY
Career: Retired – Cell Phone industry
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? I’m not that adventurist when it comes to food, but I would say seaweed.
What would you be if you had to wear one Halloween costume every day for the rest of your life? The Grinch
What was your favorite childhood book? “Curious George”
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “My Way” by Frank Sinatra
If another life, I’m pretty sure I was… a baseball player.
What item do you hope will be obsolete in 20 years? Cancer
Carol Brasher, Events and Tournaments VP
Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
Career: Business Software until tennis and PTA took over my life
What are the two things you’d like to ask your pet? “Are you happy?” “What is your most favorite thing to do?”
What’s the weirdest thing on your bucket list? Swim with otters
Are you known for a “special dish” on the ALTA table, a favorite that teammates request often? Hawaiian roll sliders or guacamole
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? Bourbon and diet ginger ale or Michelob Ultra, but let’s not limit that to Happy Hour!
What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received? A rubber chicken or paper shredder — both from my loving mother!
Chequetta Allen, 2024 President
Birthplace: Raleigh, NC
Career: I’m a Fleet Management Professional
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Curacao
What was your favorite childhood book? “Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry” by Mildred D. Taylor
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “Glory” by Common and John Legend
What item do you hope will be obsolete in 20 years? Paper files
If you could meet any author, who would it be and why? Paul Coelho. I found his book, “The Alchemist,” to be very uplifting, and I would like to ask questions about how he developed the storyline and what was his inspiration for the book.
Linda Shepherd, 2023 President
Birthplace: Long Island, NY
Career: I worked at The Shepherd Center for 17 Years in Engineering and Facilities
What’s your favorite board game? Monopoly. I’d love to own Park Place and Boardwalk in real life.
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Great Britain
What is the best song to describe your life right now? “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
In another life I’m sure I was… a nurse. I’m a natural caregiver.
What is something you think everyone should try at least once? Being an ALTA volunteer. There is an opportunity for everyone!
Karen Harris, ALTA Foundation Representative
Birthplace: Copperhill, TN
Career: Global Executive Relations at Amazon
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Japan to be with my family and enjoy the cuisine.
Who is the best movie villain? Darth Vader and Maleficent
What two things would you like to ask your pet? “Are you happy?” “What is your favorite human food?”
Are you known for a “special dish” on the ALTA table, a favorite that teammates often request? My gluten-free brownies are nearly famous!
If we went to happy hour, what would you order? Moscow Mule, Corona Light with lime, or Sauvignon Blanc, along with an appetizer.
Peggy “Gidget” Kettle, President’s Appointee
Birthplace: Silver Spring, MD
Career: Registered Nurse – Neonatal Intensive Care, Urgent Care, Clinical Research
What’s your favorite board game? Life
Where would you relocate if you had to leave the country? Italy
What’s the craziest bet you have ever made? I bet $200 on the singer of a song.
What was your favorite childhood book? “The Velveteen Rabbit”
What was the best year of your life? Hopefully yet to come!
