• Darrell Naylor-Johnson, Vice President for SCAD Savannah
• Michelle Gavin, Executive Director of Communication
• Katie Holderness, Executive Director, Friends of SCAD, presented to the club about SCAD’s economic impact on Savannah.

Darrell Naylor-Johnson joined SCAD in 1992 as a Professor of Foundation Studies. In 2000, after several years of leading community art and mural collaborations throughout Savannah, Naylor-Johnson was appointed Dean of the School of Fine Arts. Since then, he has impacted the SCAD community as a leader in numerous roles including Academic Programs Manager, Senior Director of Library Services, Assistant Vice President for Academic Services, Vice President for SCAD eLearning, and Interim Associate Vice President for SCAD Atlanta. Naylor-Johnson currently serves as Vice President for SCAD Savannah. In his capacity as Vice President for SCAD Savannah, Naylor-Johnson is responsible for the leadership of the university’s location in Savannah. As an active contributor to the Savannah community, Naylor-Johnson has served on numerous organization and agency boards, including the West Broad Street YMCA, Beach Institute African American Cultural Center, and the Georgia Department of Children and Youth Services. He currently serves on the Board of Visit Savannah, the Mayor’s REAL Taskforce, the Advisory Board of the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, and the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 

Michelle Gavin is the Executive Director of Communications for SCAD's PR and marketing department. She works with local and national media to produce features on SCAD student and alumni success, amazing events like the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, and university initiatives such as SCAD SERVE and SCADpro.  Prior to joining the SCAD family in 2018, Michelle was the head of communications for the city of Savannah and was a news reporter for WTOC and WJCL TV.

With a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia, Katie Holderness brings a wealth of design experience to her role as Executive Director of Friends of SCAD. Over the years she has honed her professional skills working in garden, floral, and event design in London and New York City. Returning to Georgia in 2017, Holderness joined SCAD and today, she leverages her expertise in a new role leading the Friends of SCAD team members in Savannah and Atlanta. Katie fosters creativity, community, and collaboration in all of her endeavors to achieve the collective goals and mission of SCAD.

Darrell started out asking the room if anyone had ever been his student: Emily & Cari both stood up!

He then asked if anyone worked at SCAD, went to SCAD, has family members who did either and a number of people stood up as well. He wants to highlight that SCAD isn’t just a bunch of buildings, it's an organization made up of many, many wonderful people. ONE SCAD = inclusion with Savannah, Atlanta, Lacoste, SCADnow (online) creates one institution for all of their students.

Darrell has been a part of SCAD for 40 years (SCAD is celebrating 45 years). His entire class fit into the social hall of IPC. Now there are more than 17,500 from all over the world: students from all 50 states and 120 countries. 99% alumni employment rate (40+ majors and 75+ minors) and their employment rate speaks volumes for SCAD staff. One fiscal year economic impact study in 2023 was $1B in the Savannah region alone. They bounced back from COVID and have advanced in capital investments, operating and visiting. 

• Employs more than 2,300 people
• Impacts 12,256 jobs in GA
• Alumni: 17,940 - many still living and working in GA (i.e. Cari’s business- employees, who have families, who rent or pay taxes on properties…great pull to stay or return to Savannah)
• Visitor Spending: $127.8M from tours, Film Festival, Summer Seminars, Rising Star (HS students) etc. Plus family and friends visiting and falling in love with Savannah.
• SCAD invested $10M dollars in 2023 in safety and security, thus making Savannah and Atlanta safer areas to live. Includes camera access and shot spotter technology.

As SCAD grows, they spend more funds locally. Capital projects, both new and ongoing maintenance of current properties, and using local contractors for work pumps our local economy.

SCAD Serve which launched Spring 2023, is all about providing innovative solutions to solve problems their neighbors have; including Tharros Place, Emmaus House, Habitat for Humanity, etc. Applications are 2-tiers (second round currently taking place now) and the final recipient will be announced in January 2025 focusing on innovation and lasting impact with a focus on capital (not overhead). If you want to apply now, you would be in the running for the 2026 award. 

SCAD is also the largest provider of fresh products to America’s Second Harvest - their farm is across the bridge in SC.

Another project includes resurfacing parks and playgrounds with art: beautification project that allows the SCAD students to work with the students at the school they are serving.

Michelle Gavin came to the podium to discuss SCADpro, their in-house design studio where they partner with mega brand name companies to reimagine new ideas.

Southern Cross Hospitality's Doki Doki is one of their clients. They worked on design ideas with direction from the client, and within 24 hours they had a design concept which was implemented. They also took on a 24-hour design challenge that Perry Lane implemented at their re-design in Feb. 2024. In 2011, Chick-Fil-A came to SCAD to ask for their ideas to improve their drive through customer service. SCAD students were the ones who came up with the concept to have people in the aisle with iPads to personalize and expedite the process. Another big-name collaboration was with David Yurman (jewelry designer) who used SCAD facilities and students to create their recent advertising campaign.

SCAD has also worked hard to create “hubs” within the vastness of SCAD to minimize transportation/parking needs and allow the students more time to be engaged with classmates and studies.

SCAD Film Studio backlot continues to grow on Louisville Rd. Take a tour and see just how much SCAD has been doing!! They love hosting visitors and welcome us all to tour! Cecilia gave a testimonial encouraging us to take a tour and have your mind blown.

During Q&A, one of our members asked what would it take for SCAD to sit down with the city to discuss pilot agreements? Darrell pointed out that the economic impact SCAD has is the first step, then consideration for SCAD paying taxes on their properties.