“Our goal is to do everything we can to make JFJC the leading student safety organization in the nation. We do this to honor the memory of our friend and save the lives of generations of young men and women to come—one decision at a time.”
– Brett Rousch, JFJC Board of Directors
The John Fontaine, Jr. Charity is led by experienced nonprofit professionals and a deeply committed, passionate board of directors, alongside founders Jack and Nancy Fontaine.
For us, becoming part of the JFJC movement was one of the easiest decisions we ever made. Many of us had the privilege of knowing John, Jr., and looked forward to the man he would become. His tragic loss to an alcohol-related car accident called for decisive action in his memory.
Founder, President and Board of Directors
No one knew John, Jr. better than his parents. For 16 years, Jack and Nancy Fontaine watched their firstborn child become a smart, funny, and ambitious young man. His sudden passing was an overwhelming shock that turned their world upside down. To make sure other parents never have to experience the same nightmare, they created a way to honor John’s legacy and help others.
Jack and Nancy founded the John Fontaine, Jr. Center for Alcohol Awareness and Education at the University of Georgia in 2006. Ten years later, they created the John Fontaine, Jr. Charity to develop and support early prevention and intervention programs for secondary school students.
Jack and Nancy met and married in 1981. They’ve brought three beautiful children into this world: John, Harris, and Elizabeth. Their passion for supporting healthy decision-making stems from a life that’s been affected by substance misuse and a commitment to ensure that far fewer families ever experience a tragic midnight phone call.
Executive Director
Before joining JFJC, Rene spent over 15 years as an executive director in the non-profit sector. All of her professional experiences offer one important commonality: empowering people through awareness and education.
During her time with the Greater Houston Restaurant Association, René worked to promote the local restaurant industry, provide educational programs for high school students, shepherd public awareness campaigns, and lead grassroots government affairs initiatives and advocacy. While at HITS Theater, she managed business development and provided educational, cultural, and civic-minded theatrical experiences and performances. In 2017, René created a non-profit organization for the exclusive purpose of leading Harvard Elementary School’s largest capital campaign effort to date, supporting the design, management, and reconstruction of the school’s 12,000-sq-ft garden, playground, and outdoor classroom space.
René holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of St. Thomas. When out of the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three boys, gardening, friends, and watching baseball.
Secretary
“How can I help?” Those were Sandi’s first words after learning about John’s story and Jack and Nancy’s vision for the charity. Sandi’s involvement has been critical in establishing the organization and achieving the family’s goal of raising awareness around high-risk behaviors and saving lives.
A Louisiana native, Sandi graduated from Nicholls State University (known as “Harvard on the Bayou”) with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She then moved to Houston, taking a position with JP Morgan Chase as VP of Recruitment, Marketing, and Communications. During that time, JP Morgan Chase’s career site was among the “Top 25” of Fortune 500 Companies.
In 2005, Sandi joined James Edward and Companies Inc. (JECO), where Jack Fontaine is an owning partner. As Director of Organizational Development, she oversaw communications, employee training, health & welfare benefits, HR and operational development. In 2014, Sandi assumed the role of COO / Senior VP of Development at JECO.
Board of Directors
Harris is John’s younger brother. He currently lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Alden and their newborn son Conway. Harris graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in History. He continues to manage Fontaine Investments, a business he co-founded with his father, which focuses on real estate and private equity in the Southeast. He is committed to furthering the JFJC mission and, hopefully, bringing the charity services to the Greater DFW area at some point. Harris and Alden are also passionate animal advocates and volunteer with the SPCA.
Board of Directors
Elizabeth is John’s younger sister. Born in Houston, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in English. She then worked at the Georgia Museum of Art as an editing intern before returning to Texas. Elizabeth now works in HR at James Edward and Companies and is very passionate about serving on the Board of Directors to forward the cause.
Board of Directors
After graduating from Vanderbilt with a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and Spanish, Alden moved to Houston to join a nonprofit consulting firm where she met her husband, Harris. She continued to work in fundraising before pursuing an MBA at the University of Georgia, concentrating in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. After graduation, she and Harris moved to Dallas so that she could join AT&T, where she works as a financial analyst. Alden and Harris are proud parents to a newborn son, Conway, and two pugs, Mac and Cheese.
Board of Directors
Having witnessed firsthand the damaging effects alcohol and substance abuse can have on all aspects of a person’s life, Coy accepted a position on the JFJC board without hesitation. Since joining, he’s actively worked to ensure that the Charity fulfills its mission and offers young minds the life skills and tools to make better decisions around alcohol.
Coy graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in history. After completing his first year of a master’s degree in history, he chose to attend law school at the University of Memphis. Currently residing in Nashville, Coy works as the in-house legal counsel for a family office. Prior to that, he was a private practicing attorney in transactional-based law with a heavy focus on intellectual property, business and banking matters.
Board of Directors
Time with family and friends is essential to Brett who has a twin sister — together they are the youngest of ten children in his family. Currently, Brett is a CPA and head of a family office, ELD Associates, LLC, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he focuses on tax and estate planning, investments and family-owned operating businesses.
In addition to his CPA practice, Brett serves as a trustee for the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga’s endowment committee and has been a board member of the Policy and Taxation Group (PATG) in California and Washington, D.C. He’s also a member of a client advisory board for Northern Trust Bank in Chicago.
Brett grew up in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He loves the outdoors: hiking, snow skiing and traveling as much as possible.
Board of Directors
Kim was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she attended The Bright School and then graduated from Hollis University in Roanoke, Virginia. As a cousin to Jack Fontaine, Kim has deep roots in Chattanooga and worked closely with her father, Thomas A. Lupton Jr, on some of his endeavors with his company, Stone Fort Land Company.
Kim has been a licensed Real Estate Affiliate Broker in Tennessee and Georgia for eighteen years. She is a Life Member of the Crye-Leike Multi Dollar, Premier, and Million Dollar Producer Clubs and has been recognized as Agent of the Year and Top Producer.
Kim is married and a mother of two grown children, Brad and Leland. Kim joined The JFJC Board in 2019 and is also actively involved in the Chattanooga community by serving as Chairman of Baylor’s Annual Fund, a six-year member of the Baylor School Board of Trustees, a member of the Lookout Mountain Garden Club of America, and a member of the Junior League of Chattanooga. Kim enjoys jogging, fresh water and deep-sea fishing, gardening, and helping people with their real estate needs.
Senior Director of Programs, BrainAbouts
Teandra Gordon, PhD, is licensed marriage and family therapist with extensive experience in behavioral health and education, most recently serving as the Vice President of School Based Health at the largest federally qualified health center in Texas. As a former elementary school teacher, she also brings a wealth of knowledge about education and school systems. Dr. Gordon has been invited to deliver testimony to the Texas Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security and to the Texas House Committee on Public Health. She has also authored several academic articles and a book on parenting.
Dr. Gordon is the mother of five children and enjoys using both professional training and practical experiences in dynamic presentations to help educators, parents, and students live healthy, purpose-filled lives.
Senior Director of Technology and Operations, BrainAbouts
Born and raised in Houston, Zach graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with dual concentrations in Psychology and Business. He has a deep passion to help people live consciously healthy lives. Zach serves to ensure BrainAbouts functions smoothly, managing the internal implementation of the program, and coordinating the day-to-day operations. Zach is pursuing a master’s degree in cognitive sciences, focusing his research on the role of the prefrontal cortex on impulsive behavior. In his free time, he enjoys laughing, thinking, conversing with others, and living spontaneously.