Our Team
Adrienne Mulligan, Founder
Adrienne (Colbert) Mulligan was born in Dublin, Ireland and immigrated to the States at age ten where her family settled in Lincoln, Illinois. She earned a BFA in Industrial Design at The University of Illinois and moved to Chicago after graduating. She worked for Fortune 500 Companies before joining her family back in Europe after meeting her husband Paul Mulligan, also from Dublin. The Mulligans traveled and lived in several countries around Europe and the UKd before settling in Atlanta, Georgia in early 2006. Soon after, Sara Kate was born and the family portrait was complete. From the moment she was born, Adrienne was shocked and annoyed by the lack of information and support for families with children with Down syndrome.
And so she started The SKate Foundation which led her to discover Gigi’s Playhouse and Nancy Gianni. Within five minutes Nancy & Adrienne formed a lifelong bond and friendship. Nine months later and with the help of some other motivated parents & carers, GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta opened its doors. The SKate Foundation will always focus on formula21 & Early Intervention, and will always direct families to GiGi’s to start their journey.
Howie Rosenberg, Executive Director
Howie Rosenberg has served as Executive Director of GiGi’s Playhouse of Atlanta since 2017. Howie has a passion for working with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As Executive Director his responsibilities include strategic development of innovative programs, fundraising, outreach, community building and facilitating relationships to allow GiGi’s Playhouse to be a key factor in the community at large.
Howie is a seasoned professional in the non-profit community as he previously served 20 years at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta in leadership, management and program development. Howie is a graduate from the University of Georgia and lives in Johns Creek, GA with his wife Kim and dog Kody. Their oldest son, Aaron, graduated from UGA as a fourth generation Bulldog with a degree in economics and finance and their youngest son Jonah is studying Astrophysics at the University of Chicago.
Jennifer Rackley, Operations Manager
Jennifer came to GiGi’s in 2021 with 13 years’ experience running youth sports and special events for the City of Chamblee Parks & Recreation Department. She holds a Certificate in Nutrition and Healthy Living from Cornell and has been using that knowledge to lead the GiGiFIT and GiGi's Kitchen elements of our adult EPIC program and GiGi's Kitchen Kids & Teens. While this mother of three does not have a child with Down syndrome, she has a degree in Elementary Education from Converse College and several years’ experience in preschools and daycares. Jen possesses a lifelong love and dedication to caring for and educating children. She and her husband, Chuck, and their three daughters, Mia, Mik, and Charley live in Johns Creek with their bulldog, Brodie
Elizabeth Joyce, Program & Volunteer Coordinator
Elizabeth joined the GiGi’s Atlanta staff in 2023. She grew up in Johns Creek and now lives in Alpharetta with her husband, Hunter, and their two dogs, Sadie & Stella. Elizabeth was a special education teacher for over 6 years and taught both pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. She received a degree in Special Education from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). During her free time, you’ll find her watching or attending sporting events and doing activities with her husband and two dogs, Sadie and Stella.
Kim Knight, Education Director
A former educator of 17 years, Kim taught Spanish for several years before she moved into administration, where she became very involved in the Special Education department. Little did she know then that she would have a child with Down Syndrome. Now she is so grateful for the training she received! She served a 5-year term on the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta Board and she continues to work closely with DSAA to welcome new moms with Jack’s Basket and planning Mom’s Nights Out. What she loves to do is read IEP’s. Many think it’s crazy, but she loves a good (and a bad!) IEP and thrives in helping guide families in the IEP process before they need to seek legal help. She also helps run our tutoring program, matching students with volunteer tutors to set them up for success! Kim has a great passion for helping our families.
Board of Directors
President - Miles Knight
Vice President - Danielle Higley
Secretary – Allyson Mize
Treasurer – Marci Schlemmer
Board Members:
Michael Dunn
Andi Fox
Ainsley Gatlin
Orit Levy-Dor
Cynthia Livingston
Yvette Norwood
Sydney Shine
Self-Advocate Board Member – Myles Henderson
Advisory Board
Adrienne Mulligan
Marnie Plaia
Marti Blincoe
Jill Neff
Scott Jeffries
Gretchen Lehane
Eileen Scofield
Angie Champsaur