NASSAU COUNTY–The Board of Directors of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Community Trust Inc. (GGCCT) announced today that it has named John F. Holliday as its Chairman. Holliday officially stepped into his new role on July 22, 2024.

As GGCCT’s Chairman of the Board, Holliday will elevate the organization’s mission to sustain Gullah/Geechee culture and expand its efforts and its impact by leading the board in growing its memberships and donor base, said Founder and Executive Director Glenda Simmons Jenkins.

“We are excited for John to apply his expertise as a successful technology entrepreneur, in addition to his work as an ambassador for ‘a global culture of care, compassion and justice,’ to  the launch of the next phase of GGCCT’s environmental, economic and social initiatives,” Simmons Jenkins said. “As a Gullah/Geechee whose matrilineal heritage traces to the Sea Islands near Savannah, Ga., John appreciates and understands our culture. He has a heart for our people and for all perpetually resilient communities that strive and triumph over experiences of collective trauma. He understands that, in order for us to sustain our culture, it is imperative for Gullah/Geechee people to exercise self-determination in creating solutions that protect generational land ownership.”

In addition to more than 30 years of experience as an information architect and software engineer, Holliday brings to GGCCT more than 20 years of leadership in nonprofit management. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Holliday & Associates. He is also co-founder and Executive Director of the social enterprise Works of Wonder International (WOW) in partnership with the International Association for Human Values.

“I am honored to serve as Board Chairman and I am eager to use my skills and experiences to further the mission,” Holliday said. “The work GGCCT is doing to protect natural resources, secure access to burial grounds, and support the Gullah/Geechee community through various programs is commendable. These programs, including legal aid for heirs’ property to environmental cleanups and the Climate Captains initiative, demonstrate a comprehensive approach to community support and development. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to work alongside the Board to advance these goals.”

Holliday takes over from Founding Board Chairman A. Prince Albert III. Under Albert’s leadership, GGCCT built community engaged relationships and partnerships around environmental stewardship and climate resilience, earned a $50,000 state grant award and advanced efforts to open access for descendants to burials on private property. Albert stepped down as chairman in July to pursue endeavors under his cultural sustainability firm Goldwater Ventures.

Holliday graduated with honors from Harvard University earning a degree in applied mathematics. He earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

Holliday volunteered in disaster and humanitarian relief, while building his professional career as an architect of cutting-edge cloud computing, information frameworks, and data governance solutions for clients across various industries and platforms.

For six years Holliday was honored to serve as a Microsoft MVP (Most Valued Professional) for SharePoint Server, helping clients and professional developers maximize their return on investment. The annual award “recognizes exceptional technology community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with users.” With fewer than 5,000 awardees worldwide, Holliday joined “a highly select group of experts” who share a deep commitment to community and a willingness to help others.

The benevolence that has been central to Holliday’s personal and professional achievements aligns with GGCCT’s core values, Simmons Jenkins said.

Holliday and his wife Alice live on Amelia Island, his northeast Florida hometown where culture, history and heritage play an important role in the community’s identity.

Local media coverage since 2022 has drawn the public's attention to the need to protect African American cemeteries in Nassau County.