Shallowford Pres. Names McGarrah Director of Operations

Shallowford Presbyterian Church (SPC) recently named Jim McGarrah as the Director of Operations. He joins Senior Pastor Rev. Christopher A. Henry at this growing church of more than 1,000 members located in central DeKalb County.

Mr. McGarrah has responsibility for all operational support functions including finance, facilities, communications, IT support and human resources at the church. For the past eight years, he held the positions of Laboratory Director and Chief of Staff of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).

“Jim brings decades of relevant experience from a broad range of organizations, incredible gifts for leadership and management, and a heart for ministry,” said Rev. Henry. “We are blessed to have him join our staff and our community.”

An honors graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Mr. McGarrah began his career in the U.S. Navy and served in both the active and reserve components for 33 years. He spent over 24 years in the telecommunications industry, primarily in network operational and planning assignments, before accepting the position at GTRI.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to join the team at Shallowford Presbyterian,” said Mr. McGarrah. “I look forward to leveraging my background and experience to support the strong programs and community outreach at the church.”

Mr. McGarrah and his wife, Dr. Nancy McGarrah, a licensed psychologist, live in Gwinnett County. In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, he holds a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Management from Pepperdine University and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. His interests include theater, travel, dining with friends and an occasional game of golf.