The Hard Work of Happiness: Finding Hope, Meaning, and Joy in Service

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Rebekah Perethian serves as the Executive Director of the South Enotah Child Advocacy Center, an organization dedicated to protecting children and supporting families across both White and Lumpkin Counties in Georgia. Since 2018, the Center has operated its primary office in Cleveland, and as of summer 2025, it expanded its reach with a satellite office in Dahlonega to better serve children closer to home. Rebekah oversees all programs, services, and strategic initiatives, ensuring the Center fulfills its mission with compassion, effectiveness, and financial sustainability. Rebekah joined the organization in 2018 as a Family Advocate before stepping into the Executive Director role in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Georgia and is trained in ChildFirst, strengthening her understanding of trauma-informed forensic interviewing. She also provides child sexual abuse prevention trainings to youth-serving organizations, schools, and parents—empowering communities to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse before it occurs. A graduate of both Leadership Lumpkin County and Leadership White County, Rebekah is deeply connected to the communities she serves. These programs strengthened her understanding of local needs, fostered regional collaboration, and enhanced her ability to lead meaningful, community-based change. Today, she gives back to the program by helping co-chair the Community Culture Day for the Leadership Lumpkin County class, supporting the development of future leaders in the region. She also chairs the White County Safe and Stable Families Strategy Team, advancing efforts to support nurturing parenting practices and family stability. As a mother to an almost two-year-old, Rebekah’s dedication to child protection has taken on an even more personal meaning. She believes strongly in the importance of service, connection, and purpose—values that shape her leadership and her work. Guided by the belief, “We change the world when we simply meet the needs of another,” she strives each day to bring hope, meaning, and joy into the lives of the families and communities she serves.

Anthony Poponi is the CEO and founder of Focus on the 40 and is an expert in positive psychology, the applied science of human happiness with a niched focus in workplace culture and leadership for public service professionals. Anthony is a professional speaker, facilitator and executive coach working regularly with community corrections and has presented at conferences hosted by probation organizations such as the American Parole and Probation Association, California Association of Probation Service Administrators, Chief Probation Officers of California (4x), Probation Business Managers Association and Sacramento Area Training Managers Association and has worked directly with multiple state and county Probation Departments in California including Contra Costa, Kern, Napa and Tulare Counties as well as the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. He is also a certified provider with California BSSC that offers trainings specific to corrections. Anthony specializes in showing his clients a path to more joy, fulfillment and success in our workplaces through live and virtual programs including keynotes, retreats and team-buildings that lead to deeper trust, better conversations and more collaboration – the results are both surprising and inspiring, leading to a different way of approaching the challenging work of probation. His latest book, The Little Book of Workplace Happiness is little because it gets to the point about what actions can have a big impact on workplace culture. His other publications include: Head to Toe Happiness, Combatting Stress and Resilience Guide, High Trust Cultures Tips & Techniques and 52 Tips for a Happier and Productive Workplace.