About Us
Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the long-term well-being of people with brain injury-related disabilities and their families through skills development, support, and advocacy.
Our Vision
We envision a world where people with brain injury-related disabilities have access to services that assist them in managing health and well-being so they can contribute interdependently and safely at home, work and in the community for the best possible quality of life. To learn more about Side by Side's strategic plan to achieve this vision, we welcome you to read the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan Overview.
Our Philosophy
Side by Side is a community based, voluntary, member-directed program which builds on strengths to optimize the social, financial and vocational success of members and guarantees their right to meaningful work and a place to return.
Our Model
Side by Side follows the Clubhouse model of rehabilitation, where participants are considered ‘members’ of a community. Side by Side follows a set of standards from the International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA) which was adapted from Clubhouse International. The model ensures member involvement in every aspect of the organization.
Our History
Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, Inc. addresses the powerful need for people with brain injuries to have a community that provides a place to physically gather, work, support one another and belong. This need became painfully obvious to Cindi Johnson when she volunteer-directed a weekend camp for the Brain Injury Association of Georgia in the 1990s. Cindi, then a program director at Atlanta’s prominent Shepherd Center, was already an expert in the field and understood a brain injury is treated but never really “cured.”
People living with brain injuries have a myriad of issues that can be episodic, recurring and/or permanent but the brain injury always remains. Shepherd Center and Emory Healthcare are experts at treating the brain injury but the support continuum all but stopped with a discharge. With their extraordinary partnership, Cindi founded Side by Side in July 1999 and opened the doors to participants in March 2000. Nearly 25 years later, Side by Side operates in Stone Mountain Village and has served over 800 individuals in their journey of recovery.
In May 2024, Cindi retired, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service and compassionate care. Under the new leadership of interim Executive Director Bryan Schroeder (effective Oct 2024), Side by Side remains committed to its founding principles and is still the only program of its kind in Georgia.
Regulatory Bodies
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
This accreditation represents that an organization has put itself through a rigorous peer-review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable and accountable.
Side by Side received our fifth CARF three-year accreditation award for Community Services: Community Integration, Governance Standards awarded in April 2024.
For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org, or contact Side by Side at 770-469-9355.
Georgia Department of Community Health
In addition to our CARF accreditation, Side by Side is licensed and regulated by the Georgia Department of Community Health to operate as an Adult Day Center.
If you believe you, your client, or caregiver received poor quality care from us, you may file a complaint here or by calling the Division of Healthcare Facility Regulation at 1-800-878-6442.
Staff and Board of Directors
LEADERSHIP
Bryan Schroeder
Interim Executive Director (CEO)
bryan@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Bryan Schroeder is an award-winning nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience in leadership, governance, strategic planning, program building, assessment, storytelling and relationship driven fundraising.
Notably, Bryan led Giving Kitchen through unprecedented growth, notoriety, expanded impact and success. During Bryan’s leadership, Giving Kitchen served over 19,000 food service workers in crisis, provided $12 million dollars in direct financial aid and prevented over 7,000 food service workers and their children from experiencing eviction and potentially homelessness.
Viviana Finol, MPA
Finance Director
viviana@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Viviana develops and monitors Side by Side's budget and oversees the audit process. She is responsible for keeping senior leadership and stakeholders abreast of the organization's financial status. With over six years of experience at Side by Side, Viviana has gained exposure to various areas of the program, providing her with the background needed to lead the organization's financial health and growth.
Laura Pettit
Resource Development & Operations Director
laura@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Laura looks for opportunities to partner with those in the community who want to make a positive contribution in the lives of people with brain injury and their families. She is responsible for resource development and assists the administrative team with program and organizational quality assurance processes by developing and monitoring policies and procedures. Laura also provides backup to key leadership roles as needed.
PROGRAM STAFF
Fernandas Robinson, MA
Clubhouse Manager
fernandas@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Fernandas oversees all aspects of our programming. He also provides life skills training and service coordination for Side by Side members. His background in neurobehavioral rehabilitation and hands-on brain injury experience since 2000 made him a strong leader for such a unique program.
Melissa McDonald, CBIS
Work Unit Coordinator
melissa@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Melissa engages directly with members each day at Side by Side. She excels at connecting with each person at our day program because of her background in both psychology and human services.
Judy Wissing, MS, CRC, CBIS
Intake Coordinator & Vocational Specialist
judy@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Judy assists members in employment services which include job development activities and volunteer placements. Before joining, Judy helps people determine whether Side by Side is a good fit for them. Members also benefit from her support as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
Heather Rosa
Work Unit Coordinator
heather@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Heather highlights the power of the Clubhouse-model every day. Her background in psychology and human services paired with previous Clubhouse International experience molded Heather into a champion at supporting members on their journey of recovery.
Patrick Medley, Sr.
Work Unit Coordinator
patrick@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Patrick brings over two decades of experience working in various family oriented nonprofit agencies. The positive “can do” philosophy he embodies at Clubhouse is central to his success engaging members and stakeholders. Patrick fosters impactful relationships within the community critical to the mission and truly feels Clubhouse culture is second to none.
Rosanna Santana
Work Unit Floater
rosanna@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Rosanna promotes diversity at the clubhouse. She combines her expertise as a neurobehavioral tech with the clubhouse culture in helping individuals on their recovery journey. Her bilingual skills enable her to connect with diverse members and families, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF
Candace Salisbury, CBIS
Compliance & Billing Manager
candace@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Candace multitasks the needs of Side by Side's three work units and intuitively assists members and staff. Her understanding of Exercise Science and experience in neurobehavioral settings taught Candace how and when to step in to provide support.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Long, Esq.
Board Chair
Miranda Smith, CPA
Treasurer
Tracey Wallace, MS, CCC-SLP
Vice Board Chair
Chinny Law, Esq
Board Director
Heather Miller, MS, CCC-SLP
Secretary
Brick Johnstone, PhD, ABPP
Board Director
Sue Dunlap, MBA, SHRM-CP, PHR
Board Director
Mark Gannon, Esq.
Board Director
Elizabeth George, Esq.
Board Director
Katherine Creek, SPHR SHRM-SCP GBA CMS
Board Director
George Brammeier, MA, MBA
Board Director
Sarah Duffy
Board Director
Michelle Thompson, Esq., CFP, CDFA, CTFA
Board Director
Annie Tran, MPH, PMP
Board Director
Bryan Schroeder
Ex-officio