Our Board of Directors

Pocketbook Brigade is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors who oversee the organization's mission, finances, and operations. Our board meets regularly to review programs, ensure financial accountability, and guide PBB's work in the community.

Christine Staskiewicz

President & Founder

Christine has more than 25 years of Sales and Recruiting experience in the IT (Information Technology) consulting industry. She founded and owned the Conrado Consulting Group before she retired. Christine has served as a Board Member on six non-profits in her volunteer career, in various roles including the President of the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Software Association (SSA) which is part of The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) She has also worked as a volunteer with several other nonprofits as well.

Christine is the founder of the Pocketbook Brigade. She founded the Pocketbook Brigade to provide an outlet for people to voice their opinions about how we can improve the American way of life by organizing marches, food, clothing, school supply and toy drives and providing seminars on financial literacy and career and job search advice as well as seminars for small business owners.

Christine was raised in a small town in Central Florida. She is a Disney kid. Her father retired from Walt Disney World after 42 years. Christine’s mother was a nurse. Growing up their home was the neighborhood gathering place. Christine’s parents were emergency foster parents for a couple of years. During that time Christine saw how a family can break apart and how that affects the children in a broken family. As a result, she has been involved in volunteer work for most of her adult life.

She has lived in Georgia for sixteen (16) years. She is married to John Staskiewicz. She has two children, Kevin and Tori. Tori is married and she has a daughter named Blake with her husband Connor.

Austin Haines

Senior Vice President & Staff Photographer

Austin Haines has proudly served as Vice President of the organization for the past year, bringing his enthusiasm for community service and his belief in the power of people coming together to make a difference. He joined the organization with a desire to give back and quickly found a home among individuals who share a commitment to helping others. Through his leadership and volunteer efforts, Austin works to support initiatives that strengthen the community and create opportunities for people from all walks of life.

In addition to his role as Vice President, Austin serves as the organization's photographer, capturing the moments, milestones, and stories that reflect its mission. He enjoys documenting the connections, acts of kindness, and sense of belonging that make the organization special. Through his photography, he hopes to showcase the impact that neighbors helping neighbors can have and highlight the value of compassion, inclusion, and community engagement.

Outside of the organization, Austin is pursuing his aspiration of becoming a firefighter, a goal inspired by his passion for service and helping others in times of need. Whether he is volunteering, taking photographs, or preparing for a future career in public service, he is motivated by a desire to make a positive difference. Austin believes that strong communities are built through empathy, mutual support, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to feel valued, connected, and empowered.

Lynn McWaters

Vice President

Lynn brings a lifelong commitment to education and community service to her role as 2nd Vice President of the Pocketbook Brigade and Chair of the Grant Writing Committee. After earning her teaching degree at the age of 50, she dedicated 12 years to teaching Pre-K and has taught all subjects through the eighth grade. She currently serves as a substitute teacher with GC Schools.

An active volunteer and advocate for community outreach, Lynn has supported the Pocketbook Brigade for the past year through her leadership and service. Her passion for helping others extends beyond the organization through participation in food and clothing drives that provideassistance to families and individuals in need. Lynn’s dedication to education, service, and strengthening communities reflects the values and mission of the Pocketbook Brigade.

Rachel Rose

Treasurer

Rachel serves as Treasurer of Pocketbook Brigade, bringing over a decade of experience as a public school educator in the Clarkston/Tucker community. Her work in co-taught, inclusive classrooms has given her a front-row view of what families in our area need to thrive—and a deep conviction that meeting those needs is everyone’s responsibility. She handles the organization’s finances with the same care and attention she brings to her students, ensuring that every dollar donated translates directly into community impact.

Rachel believes in showing up for people without conditions or judgment. Whether it’s organizing the annual school supply drive or keeping the books in order, she’s guided by the idea that a strong community is one where neighbors look out for one another. She’s proud to be part of an organization that turns that belief into action, one outreach effort at a time.

Cathy Soller

Secretary & Chief Information Officer

Cathy serves as Chief Information Officer and Secretary for Pocketbook Brigade, bringing decades of experience in process, syetem admin, enterprise technology testing tools, and SDLC oversight. This is her first nonprofit role, and she chose it intentionally as a way to use her technical superpowers to strengthen a community she cares about.

Her maternal family’s story has always shaped her sense of purpose. Cathy’s grandfather arrived at Ellis Island at seventeen with only a few years of formal education, a rucksack, and a divining rod. Her grandmother the first Prota born in the United States and born on the Fourth of July, worked as a nurse at a local factory, and her mother later entered nursing as well. Service has been a steady thread in her family for generations, and it continues to guide Cathy’s work today.

Growing up as a Navy Brat, Cathy learned early what resilience, service, and loyalty look like. As CIO at Pocketbook Brigade, she builds and maintains the systems that support the organization’s mission of empowering people to understand the impact of their everyday choice economic and civic. She approaches the work with clarity, care, and a commitment to helping people recognize the power they already hold.

Pocketbook Brigade is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 33-3913871).