The Sandy Springs-based Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance (GOCA) announces two new appointments to its board of directors. Richard Taylor and Patrice Peters have joined the board to support the non-profit’s mission to increase awareness and promote education for ovarian cancer throughout the state of Georgia. 

Richard Taylor, the founder and managing partner of Atlanta-based real estate development firm ARRC Capital Partners, has been appointed to the board of directors and will sit on the finance committee of GOCA. He was compelled to take action in the fight against ovarian cancer after watching his mom, Christine (Chris) Taylor, battle the disease for more than six years before passing away in 2019.

"It is such an honor to be selected to serve with a group such as GOCA,” said Taylor. “I look forward to furthering the group’s mission and doing everything in my power to ensure no woman has to endure what my mom did.”  

Taylor’s career focus is multifamily housing with a strong emphasis on affordable housing and homelessness prevention. In addition to his role with GOCA, Taylor is active in the community through his work with the Cathedral of Christ the King and Saint Joseph’s mass community—where his mother worshipped; the Center for Leadership at the Urban Land Institute; and the Emerging Leaders Initiative at the Council for Quality Growth. He studied and earned a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Taylor loves traveling, having backpacked around the world, and is an avid fan of his Clemson Tigers.   

Patrice Peters, owner and operator of corporate wellness facilitator InclusiF Fitness Enterprises, also joins the GOCA board. With 20 years of health and wellness experience, Peters works as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor and health coach, certified by numerous fitness associations. Her talents have led to celebrity collaborations as well as partnerships with prominent health clubs and local community centers.  

Losing a young client to ovarian cancer made a huge impact on Peters and led to her work with GOCA, first supporting the nonprofit through fitness fundraising events. She also serves as an American Red Cross volunteer instructor, certifying others in First Aid, CPR and AED training. She works with the Atlanta Beltline fitness program and serves as the health and wellness committee chairperson for the Caribbean Association of Georgia. In 2020, Peters also earned a paralegal certificate from the University of Georgia and works primarily on cases where an individual's health has been compromised by a process or product. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public administration.  

The mission of the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance (GOCA), a 501c-3 non-profit, is to increase awareness and educate Georgia’s women of all ages and their families, as well as the healthcare community, about the risks and symptoms leading to early detection. GOCA serves the state of Georgia with public outreach programs, education and awareness efforts, and fundraising events.  With no sure way of predicting ovarian cancer and no single screening test to identify it at the earlier, pre-symptomatic stages, awareness and education are an urgent priority for all women in order to protect themselves from late-stage ovarian cancer. For more information, please visit www.gaovariancancer.org.