Board Members

Annie is a multicultural entrepreneur, respected Board member, and talented organizer. She and her husband Nick have lived in eight countries, and she has made a societal impact in many of them.

Born in Sweden to Swiss parents, as a baby her family moved to Argentina where she grew up and completed her education in four languages (Spanish, English, French and Swiss-German). Soon after her marriage to Nick in 1973, they moved to Switzerland, where her work for an international finance institution enabled Nick to complete his MBA studies.

Thereafter, Nick’s career allowed them to live an international life. During her years in Mexico, Annie decided to put her languages to work and, together with two other like-minded women, founded a successful translating/interpreting Company which existed for many years. When their lives took them to Spain, Annie became a free-lance translator.

Annie and Nick spent two more stints in Switzerland; during the first (1989-1992) she and a few other young mothers started the Parents Association in their children’s Commonwealth American School in Lausanne. During their last period living in Switzerland (2000-2008), Annie founded the Tetra Laval Women’s International Group (TWIG) to support and guide wives of expatriate executives within the Tetra Laval Group, who were typically not able to work due to visa restrictions; she was the President of TWIG for its first three years.

When they first moved to the United States in 1992, Annie joined the Board of UNICEF, became a volunteer for the non-profit organization Families First, and was on the Board – and also President – of the Atlanta International Women’s Club. After Nick’s retirement, they moved back to the United States and settled permanently in Dahlonega. There, she met Della Lago and knew immediately that, in joining CASA, she would fulfill her passion for giving, and for changing the lives of children. Currently, Annie is on the Board of, and a volunteer for, Enotah CASA. Annie will always be passionate about the children for whom she advocates!

Annie and Nick have two happily-married sons and five grandchildren that keep them quite busy and entertained. Annie’s principal hobby is sculpting, where she discovered a latent and exciting talent. In addition, for many years Annie has enjoyed hiking, bareboat sailing, SCUBA diving, kayaking, and playing tennis.

John Seymour has over 40 years of experience focusing on financial management, process improvements and information technology in the oil industry and non-profit sectors.

John volunteers with the Towns County Sheriff’s Auxiliary and enjoys woodworking, walks and playing pickleball.  John grew up in NYC and moved to Atlanta following high school.  He graduated from the University of Georgia with an accounting degree. He has been married to Jill for over 40 years, and has two sons and five grandchildren.

He retired to the beautiful mountains in Hiwassee GA in 2016. While not initially familiar with CASA, a recommendation from the Towns County Commissioner put him in touch with Liz Ruf and he has served on the board since 2018.

B.S. Early Childhood Education-Georgia Southwestern State University
M.A.-University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Liz is a retired Human Resources Executive who worked for 25 years for Bellsouth and was introduced to CASA through an associate. One of her subordinates saved her paid time off to attend juvenile hearings for her CASA children and Liz recognized how valuable CASA work was and wanted to devote her time in retirement. “I always knew that I would get back to working with children in some way and when a former subordinate mentioned CASA to me, I knew it was my place to give back to the community”.  Liz began as a volunteer advocate with Enotah CASA in 2007 and has had an opportunity to work with over 50 families and served over 70 children in that time.  She joined the Board of Directors of Enotah CASA in 2015 and has served as Chairwoman of the Board, Chairwoman of the Personnel/Governance Committee and serves on the Fund Raising Committee. She was the Producer of  CASA’s premiere fundraising event, Dancing with North Georgia Stars in Blairsville for four years.  Liz enjoys volunteering to help with any and all fundraising events including the Mountain Arts Festival, Sorghum Festival and most recently the Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.

Liz currently is working two cases and just passed the 4-year mark with a case that is had many ups and downs.  These children will have a forever home soon and they are happy and thriving with their current placement. Liz and Joe built their home in Hiawassee in 1997, but moved here permanently in 2006.  They also spend time in St Simons Island/The Golden Isles in the winter. They love to travel and just returned from a trip to the Pacific Northwest.  A barge trip in the Loire Valley of France is next in September.  Liz sings with the Grace Notes, a small ladies’ ensemble at Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church and she volunteers to help the Towns County Chamber of Commerce at events.