Cameron Gilliland

President / Event Chair

Cameron is a Middle Georgia native and has always loved local events and festivals, especially those in Historic Downtown Macon. Spring is her favorite season, and the derby’s incorporation of community, creativity, food, music, and education is an unbeatable combination to her and many others. Cameron has never missed a derby, and she began volunteering for the Sponsorship committee in 2016. She served as the Sponsorship Chairperson beginning in 2018 and was elected Vice President in 2021. In her opinion, one of the best parts of Derby Day is the kids’ Big Wheel Race – especially now that her son, Orson, is old enough to participate! Cameron is a claims supervisor at GEICO and enjoys using her free time to explore everything the world has to offer with Orson.

J.D. Dunston III

Vice President / Co-Chair / Vendor Chair

J.D. Dunston has served on the Derby board since 2018 as our Vendor Chair. He is responsible for making sure that our Derby-goers are fed and happy during the event, and he also helps to plan how Washington Park will be utilized each year. His favorite part of the Derby is seeing the Macon community come together each year for this family-friendly event! Outside of the Derby, J.D. is a Talent Development Coordinator for GEICO insurance, where he has been employed since 2017. J.D. lives in Macon’s Beall’s Hill neighborhood with his husband, Paul Griffin, and their 2 dogs, Harley and Paulo, and 2 cats, Leo and Luna.

Mariana Furlin

Secretary / Volunteer Coordinator

Mariana moved back to Macon in November of 2014 after having attended Wesleyan College 1988-1992. She is currently working at her Alma Mater in several ways - feet firmly planted in the areas I love; Education and Art. She is also an artist and enjoy coming up with new art projects.

This is her eighth year being involved with the Magnolia Soapbox Derby. In the early days, she began by helping with registration and t-shirts. Currently, she is secretary and volunteer coordinator, so in addition to documenting all the meetings, She assists the Derby in finding and scheduling enough volunteers to help on race day (setting up and cleaning up are not for the faint of heart!). Having friends who live on Magnolia and seeing the Derby for the first time is what initially interested her in this amazing and unique event. When she moved to Magnolia nine years ago, it only felt natural to become a supportive member of the community by serving on the board. Please volunteer! It makes such a positive impact in one's own life when you show up for your community!

One of Mariana’s favorite aspects of Derby Day is that the people-watching is amazing!! There are so many people who come out for the event, the cars are great to see, and everyone is there to have a great time so the energy on the street and in the park is palpable! There are so many new updates to this event; pit row, ALL our food trucks, STEAM Zone, Art in the Park! Not to mention our all-time faves: Hayiya, Streetline…did we mention the races?!?

Watching how excited the kids and adults are when they register for their team or the big wheel races is such a wonderful thing. This event is the sort of experience that touches upon that nostalgic, childlike quality: For that one afternoon you remember how to be excited like a child.

Charlotte Storey

Team Registration

Charlotte came to Macon for school in 1989 and realized 30 years later she had forgotten to go home. She has a new home now and loves it!

Born in Newnan Georgia, raised in both Newnan and Dublin California, Charlotte arrived in Macon in 1989 to attend Mercer University. She completed her undergraduate program at the College of Liberal Arts and her graduate program in the School of Engineering. Like Macon, she chose to not leave Mercer and has worked there for 26 years. She has recently purchased a home in the beautiful, historic North Highlands neighborhood with her wife and five dogs. She has a fervent appreciation of the wonderful destination Macon has become in the last 10+ years. She has become an active advocate on social media support sites for downtown Macon.

Charlotte first heard about the Magnolia Soap Box Derby through a team of Mercer students who had entered. She loved attending as a spectator, the competitive nature, the humor, the simple fun coming from very educational concepts, and the energetic crowd. She was overjoyed to be able to become a volunteer for the event, eventually leading to a role on the board as Registration Chair.

In addition to serving as Registration Chair on the board of Magnolia Soap Box Derby, Charlotte also serves on the board of the Macon Beer Fest, serves on the board of Macon Pride, runs a Macon youth group, and is an active member of the Macon Hype Team. She enjoys travel, live music, festivals, local/college/professional sports, art, and cooking. She coins herself the wearer of hats and taker of selfies … she takes A LOT of selfies.

Jorge Roque

Operations

Jorge O. Roque Jr. moved to Georgia in 2011 with his family to pursue a change in career as a full-time instructor after being a firefighter for ten years in the South Florida fire service. They moved to Forsyth with his family but always found themselves in Macon all the time. The schools of choice for their boys are in downtown Macon. So in 2014, they moved to Macon and have only grown to love it even more. His wife, Barbie, is the Director of Human Resources for the Moonhanger Group, and Jorge opened Pillar EMS Academy, which provides initial and continuing education for first responders. Having enjoyed the derby as a spectator for many years, Jorge decided to get further involved within the community and join his favorite Macon event. The truth is that it was the derby that initially drew us to Macon.

Sonja Tillman

Sponsorship

Sonja Tillman is a force to be reckoned with. As the resident foul-mouthed unicorn, she has a reputation for shaking down people for money, earning her the aptly titled role of “Resource Development” at Cherokee Brick, where she is also the Director of Marketing. Her unique personality has helped her excel in her field and secure countless deals for the company.

Born and raised in a small town in the Midwest, Sonja always had a rebellious streak. She was never one to follow the rules and always had a knack for finding creative solutions to problems. This led her to pursue a career in marketing, where she could use her unconventional approach to make a real impact.

After graduating from college, Sonja moved to Atlanta to start her career in marketing. She quickly made a name for herself as a rising star in the industry, known for her bold ideas and fearless attitude. When she joined Cherokee Brick, she knew that she had found her true calling

As the Director of Marketing, Sonja is responsible for overseeing all of the company’s advertising and promotional efforts. She works closely with her team to develop innovative marketing campaigns that showcase the quality and craftsmanship of Cherokee Brick’s products. Her unique style and approach have helped the company stand out in a crowded market and attract new customers.
When Sonja isn’t busy shaking down people for money or working on marketing campaigns, she likes to unwind with a good book or take a much-needed nap. She is also a proud mother to two dogs, Luna and Otter, who are her constant companions and a source of joy in her life.

Despite her tough exterior, Sonja is known for her kind heart and generous spirit. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, whether it’s a colleague struggling with a project or a friend going through a tough time. She believes in treating others with respect and kindness, and this philosophy is reflected in everything she does.

In conclusion, Sonja Tillman is a unique and dynamic individual who has made a name for herself in the marketing industry. Her ability to think outside the box and get results has earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues and clients alike. With her fearless attitude and kind heart, she is a true inspiration to all who know her.

Garrett Sisk

STEAM Chair

Garrett moved to Macon from Atlanta in 2016 and has been involved with the derby in some capacity ever since! From helping a race team build their car in 2017, to becoming an actual volunteer in 2018. Today, Garrett heads the STEAM Committee and is working towards improving the quality of the Gravity Racing Challenge for both participants and spectators alike! He currently works as a Technical Specialist for Blue Bird, and is completing a graduate degree with a research focus in AI. More about Garrett can be found on his website: gsisk.com