Who We Are
Our President
Michele Rickett CEO, Sisters in Service
Michele Rickett is founder, president and CEO of Sisters in Service (SIS). SIS is an innovative ministry that informs, mobilizes and equips advocates for global outreach to women and children in the least Christian regions.
Michele Rickett brings over 20 years of experience in international women's outreach. She travels internationally to create partnerships with indigenous women and bring their insights and stories to audiences throughout the U.S. Michele is a delightful speaker who helps people to grow in their spiritual walk and co-labor with their sisters who are risking their lives to share God's love.
Michele and her husband, Daniel, committed their lives to international work in 1975. In 1979 they joined Partners International and in the early 80's moved their family to Africa where they worked in five East African countries before returning to the international headquarters.
Michele has taken active leadership roles in women's ministries. She is an engaging speaker who helps women grow spiritually, and work together to make a difference for suffering women and children. Along with an international speaking and teaching ministry, she has developed numerous workshops and retreat presentations including:
- Women In the Hardest Places - A Global View
- Beauty Out of Hardship
- Moving Beyond Your Mailbox
- A Heart of Purpose for Every Woman
- What, Why and How of Mentoring
Michele is co-author of Ordinary Women, a course that guides a developing spiritual life for individuals or groups, and graduates trained mentors. She has also authored Daughters of Hope, Stories of Witness and Courage, published by InterVarsity Press.
Our Board of Directors
Mike Landrum
CEO and owner of Technical Innovation
Mike Landrum is the CEO and owner of Technical Innovation (TI), a holding company of four broadcast and presentation technology companies. TI clients include Turner Broadcasting/CNN, ESPN, TV Azteca, Cox Enterprises, Cingular, Home Depot, and many others. A graduate of the University of Alabama 1974, Mike achieved the CPA certification in 1976 and has served executive roles in the risk management/insurance industry. In addition to SIS, Mike has served on the board of two non-profit organizations. Student Venture Ministry is an outreach to high school youth. Salt and Light International served local, indigenous missions in leadership and organizational development and was later merged with Partners International. Mike lives with his wife and three children in Roswell, Georgia and is a member in good standing at Perimeter Presbyterian Church in Duluth, Georgia.
Beth Birmingham
Ph.D., Assistant Dean, School of Leadership and Development, Eastern University, St. Davids,
Pennsylvania.
Beth Birmingham serves as the Assistant Dean of the School of Leadership and Development at Eastern University. She is responsible for graduate programs focused on the non-profit and international NGO sector delivered on multiple continents. In addition to administration, she is a faculty of leadership for SLD programs. Beth is currently serving as a visiting lecturer of leadership at Cornerstone College in Cape Town, South Africa while on sabbatical from Eastern University.
Michele Rickett
Founder and President, Sisters In Service, Roswell, GA.
For over 25 years Michele has worked extensively to inspire and teach women about investing their blessings in other women. Her international work on behalf of those least-fed, least-educated and least-valued spans Africa (where she lived and worked in the early 1980's) to China, India, Indonesia and beyond. Michele is a published author of two notable books. Ordinary Women – Developing a Faithwalk Worth Passing On is a study that guides and graduates trained mentors. Daughters of Hope – Stories of Witness and Courage in the Face of Persecution, published by InterVarsity Press, remained on their bestseller list for its first three years on the market.
Lewis Abbott
Former President, Ambassadors for Christ, Atlanta, GA
Lewis Abbott served as a Southern Baptist pastor before accepting the presidency of Ambassadors for Christ during the mid-90's. Lewis now works with the National Christian Foundation in Atlanta, GA and is a founding member of the board of directors for Sisters In Service. Lewis and his wife, Alice, teach adult classes at their home church, Johnson Ferry Baptist, Marietta, Georgia.
Millie Clarke
Retired IBM executive, Incline Village, NV
Millie Clarke is an adjunct professor at Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, Nevada, where she teaches management courses. Previously she worked for IBM for 31 years, holding management and executive positions. Millie is on the board of directors of Care Corps, International, a Christian crisis counseling organization; and also on the board of the Presbyterian Women's Thrift Shop in Incline Village, NV. Millie is a founding board member of Sisters In Service.
Barbara Pagillo
Pediatric Physical Therapy business owner, Atlanta, GA
Barbara "Babi" Pagillo has owned a pediatric therapy business since 1997. Her business provides physical therapy in north Atlanta, Georgia. She has served on the mission's board of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA since 2000 and most recently has joined the women's ministry board of FBC. Babi is an active member of the local SIS chapter. She is a founding board member of Sisters In Service.
Carol Shipley Pennington
President of United Stor-All Management LLC
Carol has extensive experience in real estate development and management with a focus on the self-storage industry.
She is President of United Stor-All Management LLC, which operates more than sixty-five self-storage facilities for
partner company United Stor-All Centers, W.P. Carey Opportunity Fund and for third party owners. From 1991-2000,
she served as Senior Vice President of Storage USA, then the second largest self-storage company, leading a variety
of programs and departments including Marketing, Franchise Development, Training, Human Resources and Investor Relations.
Carol has served on various Boards of Directors in the self-storage industry, including serving as President of the
National Board of Directors of the Self Storage Association in 1998. She is well known in the self storage industry
and is an accomplished speaker in the areas of management and marketing.
Carol is Chair of the Church Council at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy, Maryland where she has been
an active member since 1985. She has been very involved in various musical programs at Calvary and is an avid supporter
of Missions projects including Sisters in Service and the Children of Zion Orphanage in Namibia, where she will participate
in her first missions trip in July of 2007.