1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

TODD ADDISON
Todd Addison is a Project Manager with Jacoby Development, Inc. He joined JDI in 2007
and assists in all phases of the development cycle for brownfield redevelopment and
mixed-use projects located throughout the United States. Todd is currently a Project
Manager for ONE DAYTONA, a 1,000,000+ square foot mixed-use development adjacent
to Daytona International Speedway; One Porsche Drive, a 220,000 square foot North
American headquarters facility for Porsche Cars North America; the Virginia Renaissance
Center, the redevelopment of Ford’s 100 acre former Norfolk Assembly Plant; the
development of the remaining 17.5 acres of Aerotropolis-Atlanta; and for the acquisition of
a portion of the OFS Plant in Norcross, Georgia.
Most recently, Todd managed the due diligence activities and assisted with the
negotiations that resulted in the development of Porsche Cars North America’s new
headquarters facility at Aerotropolis-Atlanta, the site of the former Hapeville Ford Assembly
Plant. He remains a Project Manager associated with the construction of the Porsche HQ
which is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Todd has an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, with a focus in Real
Estate Finance, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mercer
University. He was a contributing member of Goizueta’s winning team in the 2007 National
Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) case competition, was a Goizueta
Real Estate Alumni Group President and a member of the Goizueta Real Estate Alumni
board. In 2012, Todd graduated from the ULI Center for Leadership and also was a
member of the team that received an award from PEDS Atlanta for their work on sidewalk
maintenance and improvements in the City of Atlanta.
JOEL ALVARADO
Joel Alvarado is the Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Georgia
Piedmont Technical College where he responsible for establishing and fortifying
relationships with community, government, business, non-profit and academic stakeholders
to advance the mission of the college.
Joel previously served as Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DeKalb
County. In this capacity, he was responsible for external relations, managing special
projects, executive staffing, strategic planning, and executive communications for the CEO.
Before being promoted to Senior Advisor, Joel was the Legislative Director for DeKalb
County Government where he served as legislative liaison between DeKalb County and
local, state, and federal agencies and government.
He is co-author, along with Georgia State University Professor Dr. Charles Jaret, of a
report entitled, Building Black-Brown Coalitions in the Southeast: Four African AmericanLatino Collaborations, a yearlong case study on Black-Brown relations in the Southeast.
The Southern Regional Council through funding by the Carnegie Corporation sponsored
the study.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Joel attended Morehouse College where he graduated
with a B.A. in History in 1995. He is a board member of the Civic League for Regional
Atlanta, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia Latino Caucus, and a member of the
Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Joel is an alumnus of several prestigious
leadership programs such as Leadership Atlanta, Leadership DeKalb, Diversity Leadership
Academy of Atlanta, and the Policy Institute for Civic Leadership.
He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado and son.
STEPHEN ARMS
Stephen has managed a wide range of real estate related projects throughout North
America. His experience includes most major property types as well as having overseen
every activity related to the development and asset management process. Stephen began
his career in real estate as the owner’s representative for the pre-Olympic renovation of the
Woodruff Arts Center. Prior to his full time commitment to Marthasville Development in
2002, Stephen acted as CFO for small development firms and oversaw development and
program management activities throughout the Southeast for CB Richard Ellis.
Marthasville focuses on horizontal and vertical development activities with a special
emphasis on sustainable mixed-use and historic preservation projects throughout the
Southeast. The firm’s goal is to create (new town creation) or contribute to (infill) special
places. Stephen also performs conceptual transportation and economic development
consulting services.
Stephen has a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and Masters in
Business Administration degree from Emory University. Stephen is a Certified Public
Accountant and is or has been a volunteer for numerous industry, governmental,
educational and non-profit organizations.
LYNETTE BAKER
Ms. Baker is the Southeastern Transportation Operations Leader with Jacobs Engineering
Group in Norcross, Georgia. The Transportation Group includes highway and structures
design and engineering, aviation, survey, civil engineering, environmental and planning,
landscape architecture, traffic studies, survey, and community and transit planning. In addition, Lynette’s technical experience is as a Senior NEPA Specialist and Ecologist
with expertise in the fields of NEPA compliance, wetlands delineation and mitigation,
threatened and endangered species, cultural resources investigations, as well as
environmental documentation and associated permitting. In conjunction with these studies,
Ms. Baker maintains strong relationships and communication with regulatory agencies
throughout the Southeast, allowing for open dialogue and expedited progress on
environmental projects.
Lynette has been managing environmental projects for the last 10 years and was recently
asked to review and comment on the Georgia Department of Transportation Environmental
Procedures Manual prior to it being distributed. She has completed dozens of NEPA
documents including Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, and
Categorical Exclusions for federal agencies including FHWA, USACE, NPS, USEPA, and
the US Air Force.
JOHN BERRY
John Berry is the CEO and Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Georgia; a nonprofit corporation devoted to helping people in need achieve self-sufficiency
and stability. The St. Vincent de Paul Society has been serving Georgians in need since
1903. The Society’s work is conducted by volunteers at 73 local conferences in Georgia as
well as a central headquarters operation in Atlanta. SVdP Atlanta operates 38 food
pantries, 11 thrift stores, and six Family Support Centers.
John came to the St. Vincent de Paul Society in October 2006 after more than twenty
years in executive management positions in the nuclear power and technology industries
at Fortune 100 companies such as General Electric and Westinghouse. His career has
encompassed both the domestic and international arenas spanning Europe, Asia, and the
Middle East.
John is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and serves on the Public Policy Committee of the
United Way of Greater Atlanta, the Board of Directors of the DeKalb County Chamber of
Commerce and the Board of Directors of The Urban League of Greater Atlanta. John also
chairs the Nonprofit CEO Roundtable for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He has
previously served on the Board of Directors of The ARC of Georgia, The Sullivan Center,
and Catholic Charities of Atlanta. John holds a BS in Nuclear Engineering, and a BBA in
Marketing. He is a member of the American Marketing Association and the Association of
Fundraising Professionals.
John and his wife Debi, a Registered Nurse, have lived in Marietta for the last 21 years.
They have two sons and a daughter.
CRYSTAL BLACK
Crystal Black serves as Vice President of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. She
has worked at the Chamber since August 2008. Prior to that, Crystal was an active
volunteer who worked closely with the business community and local officials on issues
effecting Clayton County and the Metro Atlanta region. She has over 18 years of Sales and
Marketing experience and over 15 years’ experience in Business Development and
Management. Her areas of expertise include revenue management, business
development, account management, project management, human resource management
and financial reporting.
Crystal currently serves on the Advisory Board for Leadership Clayton. She also serves on
the Public Image Committee of the University of Georgia/Clayton County Archway
Partnership Project as well as the Executive Board for Closer Look Ministries, Inc. She is a
graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and Leadership Clayton.
She is the recipient of the Leadership Clayton Leadership Award (2007). Crystal is also the
2007 recipient of the Chairman’s Award for the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce.
In 2005, 2006 & 2007, Crystal was awarded the Chamber Partner of the Year by the
Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in
Liberal Arts and Sciences and Spanish from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State
University in Blacksburg, Virginia.
She has one daughter, Kaleigh and resides in Jonesboro, Georgia.
JIM BROOKS
Jim Brooks is from Macon, GA where he completed high school at Willingham Sr. High. He
joined the Marine Corps in 1967 where he served until 1971. While a Georgia State
Trooper, Brooks began his college career which resulted in his receiving a BS in Criminal
Justice and a
Masters’ Degree in Public Administration from Georgia College and State University.
Jim has served in a variety of top executive positions including City Manager, Police Chief,
and other public service positions. He has traveled throughout the United States and
abroad for the U. S. Department of Justice and the State Department. After a short stint as
the Interim CID Director, he was named Evermore CID’s permanent director in September
2009 and again in September 2011. Evermore CID is the first CID in Gwinnett County.
Jim’s background also includes serving on state and national Boards and Treasure of the
Macon Cherry Blossom Festival. His commitment to excellence in government has focused
on redefining the mission and function of large and small governmental entities. He has
served on his Church Board for more than 30 years.
He has received numerous recognitions from the U. S. Department of Justice as well as
state and local jurisdiction for excellence in governmental performance.
DARYL BROWN
Daryl Brown is the regional manager for Georgia Power’s Atlanta Metro South operations.
As manager, Brown has the overall responsibility for sales, customer service, operations
and economic and community development for a region serving more than 255,000
customers.
Brown previously served as Meridian Division Manager at Mississippi Power, a sister
subsidiary of Southern Company. Brown began his career at Mississippi Power in 1993.
Since then he has held positions in marketing, region management and supply chain
management at both Georgia Power and Mississippi Power, including supply chain
manager, area sales manager and Assistant to the President.
In addition to his civilian career, Daryl served 17 years in the United Sates Army Reserves
where he held several leadership roles including Battalion Communications Officer,
Company Executive Officer, and Platoon Leader. He achieved the rank of Major before
being honorably discharged in 2004.
A graduate of Mississippi State University, Brown holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
industrial engineering. He and his wife Gaydrea reside in Fayetteville with their two
daughters, Sarah and Samantha.
KELLIE BROWNLOW
Kellie Brownlow serves as the Director of Economic Development for the Gwinnett
Chamber of Commerce. In this role, Kellie oversees business recruitment and retention
efforts across 4 target industries. She also manages Corporate Headquarters and
Professional Services projects and all efforts of the Partnership Gwinnett Redevelopment
Task Force. Prior to her role in Economic Development, Kellie spent 11 years working for
the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). Her most recent role with ARC was as the
Division Chief of Government Services. As Division Chief, Kellie was responsible for
leading a team that provided direct services to cities and counties in the areas of urban
planning and management and operations. This role also involved leading the two
premiere regional leadership development programs, the Regional Leadership Institute
(RLI) and Leadership Involvement Networking Knowledge (LINK). Kellie earned a
Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Political Science from Rhode Island College
and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Georgia.
CANDACE BYRD
Candace L. Byrd is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and was educated in the Fulton County
Public School System. She received her B.A. from Georgia State University in 1991 and
her Juris Doctor Degree from the Howard University School of Law in 1994.
In June 2003, she was appointed as the Acting Chief Public Defender for the City
Court of Atlanta. In January 2010, Ms. Byrd was appointed as Chief of Staff of the
City of Atlanta. She is responsible for providing advice and guidance to the Mayor on
legislative and political issues and serves as liaison to the public and private sectors in
fostering partnerships and the development of revenue generating initiatives. She also
provides supervision and policy direction over External Affairs & International Relations,
Constituent Services, Communications, Human Services, all festivals/special events and
special projects. Ms. Byrd is a member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Georgia
Bar Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also an alumnus of
Leadership Atlanta Class of 2012. In 2013, Ms. Byrd was recognized by Women Looking
Ahead Magazine as one of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Female Lawyers as
well as a Women of Excellence by Atlanta Daily World. Ms. Byrd has been a mentor in the
EverybodyWins! Atlanta, a program that partners professionals with elementary students to
encourage reading.
KEVIN CARMICHAEL
In the position of Vice President, Strategic Partners & Investor Services for the Georgia
Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Carmichael serves as a business development and
community relations liaison between C-level leadership, annual investors, and corporate
volunteers. He has assumed total responsibility for retention, the Local Chamber Small
Business Alliance, and membership benefits - maximizing relationships and increasing
engagement of the investor services available to all members. Kevin manages the Board of
Directors pertaining to their involvement, participation and support.
Kevin earned an ABJ in Public Relations from the University of Georgia, along with a
Speech Communications minor. He is an alumnus of the 2011 - 2012 Leadership
Gwinnett class. He and his family are annual team participants for the Gwinnett March of
Dimes’ March for Babies. A native Georgian, Kevin resides in Dacula with his wife and their
three daughters.
MIKE CARNATHAN
Mike Carnathan is a researcher with the Atlanta Regional Commission and is one of the
founding principles of Neighborhood Nexus, which is a community intelligence system for
the Atlanta region, providing data, tools and expertise as a catalyst to create opportunity for
all of the region’s citizens. The goal is to foster a data-driven decision-making culture in
the Atlanta region. Mike compiles a host of demographic data about the Atlanta region.
One of his primary tasks is to get the relevant data in the hands of the non-profit
community so they can make their case as strong as possible for positive action.
Mike has a varied background that includes public relations and journalism. This
experiences comes in handy as one of the critical uses of data is to tell the right story
about our community to help community leaders make better decisions.
A native of Georgia, Mike holds degrees in History and Journalism, along with a Masters in
Public Administration from the University of Georgia. Mike and his family reside in
Decatur, Georgia. BETH CAYCE
Beth Cayce is the founder and CEO of CaraVita Home Care in Roswell, Georgia. Founded
in 1998, CVHC provides professional in-home care with the goal of keeping our clients
independent in their homes for as long as possible. Beth is the SBA’s 2013 Small Business
Person the Year and CVHC was named among 2012’s Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Best
Places to Work”. Beth is a board member at Georgia Watch and played a critical role in the
passage of the Aging in Place Bill (SB178).
Beth co-found Care to Learn International, a NGO in Kenya devoted to developing a selfsustainable mission model that will train marginalized Kenyan leaders. They have reached
72,000 people in their communities through bible studies, personal counseling, marriage
training, tribal reconciliation messages, care of orphans and HIV victims, and microfinance
training. Beth and her husband, Mark, live in Roswell with their dog Struppi. Beth has two grown
daughters that also reside in Roswell.
KEN DAVIS
Ken Davis has more than 28 years of experience in the finance and banking industries.
After serving six years in the United States Army, Ken began his banking career with Bank
South. After working for Bank South and South Trust Corporation, Ken joined Bank of
North Georgia as Senior Vice President in Corporate Banking with specific responsibility to
establish and grow the Bank’s presence in Gwinnett County. He served as Manager of the
Commercial and Industrial Lending Division, and finally as Executive Vice President and
Regional Market President. In his roles, Davis was responsible for team development and
growing the Bank’s deposits and loans in North Fulton County and DeKalb County,
overseeing the operation of the Alpharetta, Crabapple, Dunwoody, Roswell, Sandy Springs
and Tucker markets.
Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wake Forest University and is a
graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Active
in the community, Davis is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Ensemble Theatre and the
North Metro Miracle League. He also serves as President of the Historic Roswell
Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has served on March of Dimes of North Fulton, the Ed
Isakson Alpharetta YMCA and the Chattahoochee Nature Center. He is a graduate of
Leadership Gwinnett.
Ken and his wife, Miriam, have three daughters, Kate, Elizabeth and Rebecca. Ken and his
family attend North Point Community Church and reside in Roswell, GA.
MIKE DAVIS
For the past 22 years Dunwoody Mayor Michael Davis and his family have called
Dunwoody home. He was elected Mayor in 2011 and ran on a platform of creating and
running small, efficient and responsible local government. Based on more than thirty years
of experience leading and managing businesses of varying sizes, Mayor Davis promotes a
strong foundation of city governance and a balanced approach to growth and development.
He was previously the President of My Georgia Doctor, Inc. He also worked with Johnson
Financial Group where he was responsible for promoting, marketing and sales for various
life insurance and 401k packages primarily targeted at small businesses. In addition he
was a sales executive at Vulcan Performance Chemical and has more than 25 years of
sales experience in the Chemical industry.
Mike has been married to his wife Mary Pat Davis for more than 19 years and is the father
of four girls, two daughters and two step daughters, all of which are graduates of St Jude
and St. Pius. He was previously president of the Mill Glen Swim and Tennis club and the
past Chairman of the Mill Glen Building committee. Mike has always been an active
community participant and volunteer serving on the Board of Directors at Murphey Candler
Girls Softball Association and he has coached 19 girls softball and basketball teams over
the years.
BRANTLEY DAY
Brantley Day is the Director of Operations with the Cumberland Community Improvement
District, located in Cobb County. Joining the CID in July 2011, he oversees daily
operations, short and long term projects and planning, while also managing the capital
improvements program currently valued at roughly $200 million. Prior to his employment
with the CID, Brantley was the Community Development Director with the City of Holly
Springs, Georgia for six years.
Brantley began his career with the City of Riverdale in 1998, interning for the city manager.
In 2000, he was named City Planner, the first for Riverdale, promoted two years later to the
position of Director of Community Development. He has also worked with Athens-Clark
and Oconee Counties as well as the City of Williamson, Georgia.
Brantley attended the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
in 1998 and in 2000, Master’s Degree in Public Administration. In 2007, he was
credentialed as a certified planner with induction into the American Institute of Certified
Planners (AICP) of the American Planning Association.
Brantley enjoys time with his family, fishing, camping, and working outside. Originally from
Jonesboro, Georgia, Brantley and his family reside in Cherokee County.
DEBRA EDELSON
Debra A. Edelson is a Senior Program Director with the Trust for Public Land where she
directs initiatives in Georgia that promote resource conservation, public access to
greenspaces, and oversees land acquisition for urban park programs including the Atlanta
Beltline. Debra has a varied background and spent four previous years directing the real
estate program for Habitat for Humanity, in Atlanta. Before she moved to Atlanta in 2001, Debra lead the development of the New York City
Highline park project in her role representing CSX-- the railroad company which owned the
deteriorating viaduct. She was schooled in NYC transportation and land use policy from
her two previous positions in City government where she advised New York City Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani on environmental and transportation policy matters and managed a
portfolio of City waterfront and transportation projects. Debra is a Deans’ List Graduate of
Barnard College, Columbia University and holds a Master’s Degree of Urban Planning from
New York University. Debra’s community commitments include her role as an appointee to the DeKalb County
Planning Commission, and a member of the Board of Directors of the South Fork
Conservancy. She lives in DeKalb County with her husband Michael and dog Toby.
DURIYA M. FAROOQUI
Duriya M. Farooqui serves in the role of Chief Operating Officer in Mayor Kasim Reed’s
administration, where she is responsible for oversight and executive management over city
departments including Aviation, Fire, Police, Corrections, Parks, Recreation and Cultural
Affairs, Planning and Community Development, Public Works, and Watershed
Management. She has successfully led major Reed Administration initiatives within city
operations and across agencies to improve public safety and performance of city services. Farooqui managed development of Mayor Reed’s first budget proposal in 2010, which
included funds to hire 100 police officers and re-open all of the city’s recreation centers and
pools. She spearheaded the Atlanta Streetcar project for the City that was awarded a
$47M federal grant and will become the first segment of light rail transit within the Atlanta
region in 2013.
Prior to joining the City of Atlanta, Farooqui focused on international economic policy and
held positions with the World Bank, The Center for Global Development and the Center for
International Development at Harvard University.
Farooqui holds a Masters in Public Administration and International Development from the
Kennedy School at Harvard University and was awarded a fellowship on merit of
professional promise. She received a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Hampshire
College. Farooqui moved to Atlanta from the Boston area in 2004 and lives near Candler
Park with her husband and two young sons.
FRAN FOREHAND
Fran Forehand was selected as the Metro North region manager, effective January 2012.
Her responsibilities include providing leadership for the company’s operations, sales,
customer service, economic and community development, and external affairs activities for
about 322,000 Georgia Power customers in an area that includes Gwinnett, Forsyth and
north Fulton counties, and Doraville and Chamblee in DeKalb County.
She began her Southern Company career at Alabama Power in 1991 as an engineering
co-op student and then later served as an engineer in distribution. Since joining Georgia
Power in 1996, she has served in various leadership roles of increasing responsibility in
transmission. She most recently served as land acquisition manager where she was
responsible for securing property rights for placement of distribution, transmission and
generation facilities.
Fran earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of
Alabama and a Master of Business Administration degree from Augusta State University.
In the community, she volunteers with Wilderness Works and is a board member of the
Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, the Gwinnett County Chamber of
Commerce and Executive Committee, the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation,
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, the Cumming Forsyth Chamber and Gwinnett Technical
College. She also serves on the North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State
University’s College of Engineering Advisory Board, and is a member of the Society of
Women Engineers.
MEAGAN HANSON
Meagan Hanson is the General Counsel for the American Institute of Architects, Georgia
Association. While she handles all legal matters for the Association, she also lobbies the
Georgia General Assembly and relevant state agencies in addition to managing the AIA
Georgia PAC fundraising efforts. Outside of work, Meagan spends her time volunteering
with the Junior League of Atlanta and serving as Chairman of the Georgia Young
Republicans. Originally from Alabama, Meagan and her husband, David, who is also an attorney, live in
Brookhaven. They are the proud parents of two chocolate Labradors, Beau and Lucy.
AILEEN HARRIS
Aileen Harris is currently working in communications for the Georgia Municipal
Association, a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy,
educational, employee benefit and technical consulting services to its more than 500
municipal government members. Aileen also provides event coordination, communications
and meeting support for the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association, an affiliate of GMA.
Prior to joining GMA, Aileen was the publisher and co-founder of GoDeKalb.com, an
interactive news website covering the news, events and people of DeKalb County,
Georgia. In September 2006, GoDeKalb.com was named a finalist in the DeKalb County
Office of Economic Development’s first annual Innovative Concepts in has interviewed
leading newsmakers in the political, entertainment and business fields Business Award.
She is a summa cum laude graduate of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with a
degree in Communications. A native of Buffalo, New York, Aileen has lived in DeKalb
County since 1993.
GARRY A. HARRIS
Garry A. Harris is the president of HTS Enterprises, a consulting firm that provides diverse
energy engineering and power generation technical services including research, policy and
education services. He is the founder and Director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy; Executive Director of the Southeast Energy Education Initiative,
Managing Director of the Energy Horizons Laboratory and Research and Development
Center and Energy Horizons Power Generation Service Division. He is also the founder
and Managing Director for the Center for Sustainable Communities.
Mr. Harris holds a BS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia, a MS in
Technology Management and a MS in Quality Engineering and is PHD candidate in
Energy Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has also completed post
graduate course work at both Harvard and Emory Universities. He is a 2009 Graduate of
Leadership Atlanta, and a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the 100 Black Men
of Atlanta. He has two sons, Garry Allan (Morehouse) and William Avery (Georgia
Southern). He was selected to the 2013 Class of the Institute for Georgia Environmental
Leadership (IGEL) In his spare time Mr. Harris enjoys cooking, physical conditioning
(triathlon) community and faith based activities.
LEE HARROP
Lee J. Harrop is the Program Management Officer for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. As PMO, Mr.
Harrop works directly with Project Managers from ABI, the City of Atlanta, and outside
partners to ensure that projects are properly supported and moving forward as scheduled.
Prior to joining the Atlanta BeltLine, Mr. Harrop worked in engineering consulting in Atlanta
and New Orleans. While working in the private sector, he specialized in community
improvement, infrastructure and environmental remediation projects throughout the
Southeast and in the Caribbean.
Mr. Harrop studied at Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of New Orleans.
He holds a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as a Masters of Business
Administration from Georgia State University. Mr. Harrop lives two blocks from the Atlanta
BeltLine corridor in Ormewood Park.
KYLE HOOD
Kyle Hood is currently the Town Manager for the Town of Tyrone. A Georgia native, Mr.
Hood grew up in the City of Jonesboro. He earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and a
Master’s Degree from Georgia College, in Milledgeville.
Mr. Hood worked in Wilkinson Co. as a Project Manager until, at the age of 24, he became
the youngest County Manager in the State of Georgia, accepting a position with the Upson
County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Hood has served on the Board of Directors for the
United Way Campaign, the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy and was Presidentelect of the Thomaston SERTOMA Club when he moved to the Town of Tyrone to become
Town Manager.
During his short time in local government, Mr. Hood has been able to earn the certified
local government official designation through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at
the University of Georgia and worked with the County Managers Association as District
Chairman and Scholarship Coordinator. Mr. Hood is also a two-time graduate of the
Georgia Academy for Economic and Leadership Development, where he served a term as
a member of the curriculum committee. In 2011, he was presented the Outstanding Recent
Alumni Award by the Georgia College Alumni Association.
He currently resides in Fayetteville with his Fiancé, Courtney Burch, a Fayette County
native, and their two dogs. He is very active in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for
Life and enjoys playing golf, going to Braves games and grilling out.
LYNETTE HOWARD
Lynnette Howard is currently Commissioner for Gwinnett County. An active Girl Scout
leader for the past ten years, Lynette serves as Program Developer and Specialist at the
Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center until her election in in 2010. She worked 8
years as a research chemist for Puritan Chemical Company and later became head of
marketing at ATCO Chemical.
Lynette is a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett, a current member of the Viewpoint Health
Board and the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lynette received a Bachelor of
Science degree in Chemistry from Georgia State University. Lynette lives in Peachtree
Corners with her husband, Pat, and their children, Nathalie (17) and Alex (15).
ALEXA HUSTON
Alexa Huston is currently the Executive Assistant for the Cherokee County Marshal’s
Office. She works with each department in the Marshal’s Office Organization including E
9-1-1, Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Animal Shelter, and the Recycling Center and
acts as a liaison between each department and the Chief Marshal/Director of E 9-1-1. In
this role, she is responsible for designing and publishing quarterly and annual reports for
the agency, assisting with budget planning and management, and participating in outreach
events. Prior to joining the Marshal’s Office, she was a Procurement Specialist for
Cherokee County. She has been active in civic organizations including Students in Free
Enterprise where she served as Project Manager, Treasurer, and Communications
Director.
Alexa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Reinhardt University in
2011 and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree from
Mississippi State University.
DEBORAH JACKSON
Deborah A. Jackson was elected as the Mayor of the City of Lithonia, Georgia in
November 2011. She has served the citizens as a member of the Lithonia City Council and
city attorney. Before moving to the City of Lithonia in 2006, Mayor Jackson worked with the
residents and other stakeholders as a project consultant to help shape a vision for
redevelopment during the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Study in 2003. As a Council
Member, she used her professional skills and passion to lead a citizens’ committee to
prepare the Lithonia Comprehensive Plan Update for 2010 – 2026. She established a
partnership with the Georgia Conservancy that led to the Blueprints for Successful
Communities project with Georgia Tech in 2011.
She is a member of the board of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance and serves as
President of CrossRoads News Foundation, Inc. and DeKalb Lawyers Association
Community and Education Fund, Inc.
Mayor Jackson received a M.A. and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Community Economic
Development from Southern New Hampshire University. She has a J.D. from Rutgers
School of Law; M.A. in Political Science from Rutgers Graduate School; and A.B. in History
from Princeton University.
STEVE KENNEDY
Steve Kennedy serves as the City Manager of the City of Kennesaw. He has served the
City since May 2002. Steve has previously served the cities of Thomasville and Cartersville
during his 35 year Municipal Management career. Originally from Waycross, GA, Steve
also lived in Washington DC and Thomasville, GA. He received his BBA Degree in Finance
and Accounting from Valdosta State University in 1975. Steve is involved in several
organizations in the Cobb Community some of which are, Kennesaw Business Association,
Cobb Chamber Chairman’s Club, Member of the KSU MPA Advisory Board, Georgia
Municipal Association City Managers Advisory Board, Honorary Commanders Alumni and
a Leadership Cobb Alumni. He also serves in positions with the Georgia City County
Managers Association and the International City County Managers Association.
Steve and his wife Cheryl have two sons, Caleb and Mitchell. When not working, Steve
likes to play golf, hunt and support his Church.
KYUNG-HWA KIM
Kyung-Hwa Kim is the Model Application Manager at the Atlanta Regional Commission
(ARC). Before she joined ARC, she worked at Metro in Portland, Oregon for 20 years as a
modeler. She joined ARC as the Model Application Manager of the Transportation Access
and Mobility Division in October of 2008. She manages the Air Quality and Climate Change
program, Congestion Management Planning, Safety Planning, Data Management/
Monitoring/Analysis, Social Equity Planning, Health Impact Studies, Performance
Measurement, and Model Support for Regional Policy Analysis.
She has served on numerous peer modeling review committees, and was a member of the
Oregon Modeling Steering Committee, Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Transportation Survey Methods Committee, and the TRB Task Force on Moving ActivityBased Approaches to Practice Committee.
SHELLEY LAMAR
Shelley Lamar has over 14 years of aviation planning experience at Hartsfield-Jackson
where she has worked both as a consultant and since 2004 a Department of Aviation
employee. Since joining the Department of Aviation Ms. Lamar has held the position of
Aviation Planning Manager and is responsible for a variety of projects and initiatives
ranging from land use and community development to cargo planning.
In 2011 Ms. Lamar took on dual management roles, assisting the Planning &
Environmental Division as well as the new Division of Asset Management and
Sustainability (AMS). In her role in AMS, Ms. Lamar is responsible for areas such as the
Capital Improvement Program process and the development and coordination of the multijurisdictional Southern Crescent Development Coordinating Committee.
Shelley has recently taken on the role as Airport representative to the formation Board of
the Airport West CID and is working with the Atlanta Regional Commission on the
formation of an “Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance”.
Ms. Lamar has received several awards including a 2007 Women’s History Month
Outstanding Achievement Award presented by Mayor Shirley Franklin and the 2011
Woman of the Year Award from WTS – Atlanta Chapter.
HOLLY LANG
Holly Lang joined Piedmont Healthcare in March 2012 as the director of community
benefits and external affairs, and is charged with the oversight and execution of strategic
initiatives to support the system’s government and community benefit goals. Her work is
particularly focused on ways to help broaden access to care through proactive programs
that are responsive to community need and collaborative in approach. Lang came to
Piedmont from Georgia Watch, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization
headquartered in Atlanta, where she headed the group’s Hospital Accountability Project.
Within that role, she worked closely with national stakeholders and federal policymakers in
establishing standards for the community benefit obligations of nonprofit hospitals.
Previously, Lang was a health policy and government reporter for several news
publications and outlets, including the Associated Press, Scripps Howard News Service
and the Birmingham Power-Herald. She currently serves on two nonprofit boards, and
actively works with other nonprofits on developing strategic initiatives as to further their
mission. Lang lives in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood with her husband.
JON MANTAY
Mr. Jonathan Mantay is employed by CH2M Hill as the Regional Director of Operations in
Atlanta, Georgia. In this role, Jonathan is responsible for the delivery of all services to
CH2M Hill’s municipal clients in Georgia and the Panhandle of Florida. Mr. Mantay has an
extensive background in city and county operations having served in senior leadership
positions in Georgia, Florida, and Oregon. His expertise includes public works, community
development, parks and recreation, economic development, library services, public safety,
administrative services, human services, business and community services, wild animal
parks, and emergency management. He has incorporated sustainability into his
management approach and has developed strategic plans for fire services, wastewater,
water, transportation, storm water, and public safety to enhance service delivery through
long-range planning techniques resulting in significant annual savings to municipal
operating budgets.
Mr. Mantay has a Bachelor of Arts degree with emphasis in International Relations and a
Masters of Public Administration from New Mexico State University. He graduated from the
University of Denver – Rocky Mountain Senior Leadership program and the University of
Virginia – Senior Executive Institute (SEI).
Married to the former Shannon Santos in 1988, the couple has two children - daughter
Morgan, 19 attending the University of Georgia and son Kyle a senior at Cambridge High
School in the city of Milton.
ELLEN MENDELSOHN
Ellen Mendelsohn is a manager in the Real Estate Development Advisory practice in the
Atlanta office of CohnReznick. She provides market-based strategies for the acquisition,
development, or repositioning of property assets and neighborhoods. Ellen advises public
and private sector clients to ensure their investments are supportable in the marketplace
as well as financially feasible. Prior to joining CohnReznick, Ellen was Vice President of
Economic Development at Central Atlanta Progress (CAP). She developed and executed
collaborative initiatives that enhanced the real estate development climate in Downtown
Atlanta. While at CAP, she was loaned as a project manager to the National Center for
Civil and Human Rights, where she focused on the design, construction, public financing,
and operations plan of this upcoming cultural facility. Ellen previously worked as a project
manager at RCLCO where she analyzed real estate opportunities for developers and
communities throughout the Southeast.
Ellen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Emory University and a
master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Tech. Ellen sits on the
Advisory Board of the Atlanta chapter of the Urban Land Institute and is past chair the
organization’s Center for Leadership program. Ellen graduated from the 2010 class of
LEAD Atlanta, a program of Leadership Atlanta focused on improving the city, and remains
involved in its alumni association. She is a board member of VOX Teen Communications,
a youth development organization that empowers local high school students through the
writing, editing, and publishing of a newspaper. Ellen volunteers a historic Downtown
Atlanta tour guide with the Atlanta Preservation Center.
BEV MILLER
Following more than 12 years of community service experience in the Johns Creek
community, Bev Miller joined Emory Johns Creek Hospital in 2006 and is the Director of
Community Relations for the hospital, part of the Emory Healthcare System. In that
capacity, she serves as the liaison between the hospital and the community, manages the
Volunteer Auxiliary Program, coordinates community event sponsorships, outreach
programs, and hospital events.
She wears several hats in the community, including Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Johns
Creek, having served in that capacity since she was elected to the City Council in 2006.
Additionally, she serves as Chair of the Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau, a
Charter member of the Rotary Club of Johns Creek-North Fulton, Board Member and Past
President of the Johns Creek Business Association, Board Member of the Johns Creek
United Methodist Church Preschool, and a member of the Career and Technology
Education Advisory Committee for Northview High School in Johns Creek.
A native of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Bev and her husband have lived in the Shakerag
community of Johns Creek for 19 years with their three daughters.
She holds a BS in Accounting and a MS in Taxation from Drexel University in Philadelphia.
DAVID MILLIRON
David Milliron is City Manager for the City of Stockbridge in Henry County. He is a Georgia
Certified Finance Officer and a graduate of the Regional Economic & Leadership
Development Program and the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. His
government experience includes having served as the Treasurer and CFO for the City of
Stockbridge; President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer of the DeKalb Municipal
Association; and Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Avondale Estates in
DeKalb County. His eclectic background includes serving as an investigative journalist and
editor for 20 years while also teaching journalism at Emory University for half those years.
He left the journalism profession in 2007 to become Vice President of an internet start-up
company based in the Silicon Valley.
JEFF MOON
Jeff Moon began serving as City Manager for the City of Woodstock, GA on April 15, 2008.
From February 2001 until April 2008, he served as City Administrator for the City of Orange
Beach, AL. He assumed the additional duties of Emergency Management Director for the
City of Orange Beach in March, 2004. From 1996 until February 2001, Moon served as
City Manager for the City of Riverdale, Georgia, a community of 15,000 people in MetroAtlanta located less than five miles from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International
Airport. From December 1991 until June 1996, Moon was Assistant to the Mayor of
Daleville, Alabama, his hometown.
Moon holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Economic Development from the University of
Southern Mississippi and a B.S. Degree in Social Science Education from Troy University.
He has been married to his wife Nancy since August 1990 and they have two daughters,
Kayla (age 19) and Cheyenne (age 17) and one son, Chason (10).
EMILY POOLE
Emily Poole, Manager of Business Retention and Expansion, joined the Fayette County
Development Authority (FCDA) in 2012. Her charge is to facilitate business growth and
better community-corporate partnership with Peachtree City’s leading industries.
This includes acting as an ombudsman, working to address all needs an existing industry
or company might have including serving as an intermediary and resource coordinator
between companies and divisions of city, county and state government; assisting existing
companies with securing bonds and financing for expansion of facilities and equipment;
and connecting with legislative and business networking resources.
Prior to joining the FCDA team, Emily worked as Public Relations Manager at Allan Vigil
Ford of Fayetteville. During her seven-year stint there, she also handled retail and fleet
vehicle sales, bringing her in regular contact with numerous Fayette County businesses.
Awarded Young Professional of the Year for 2011, Emily has an impressive record of
community service and partnership. The 2012-2013 President of Young Professionals of
Fayette County, Emily also serves on the board of the Fayette Chamber, Fayette Senior
Services, Main Street Fayetteville and the Steering Committee of Fayette College and
Career Academy.
Emily is a native of Peachtree City, where she graduated from McIntosh High School. She
currently resides in Fayetteville and is an active member of Fayetteville First United
Methodist Church.
TREVOR QUANDER
Trevor A. Quander, a Washington DC native, is Manager of Community Relations and
Economic Development in the Governmental and External Affairs department at Atlanta
Gas Light Resources. His responsibilities include generating strong, positive public
presence, establishing brand awareness, as well as supporting the state of Georgia and all
its municipalities in their efforts around strategic planning, marketing, branding and
business recruitment.
In his role, Trevor speaks to many different community associations providing them with
information about multimillion dollar natural gas infrastructure projects that impact where
they live and work. Currently he is overseeing all communications for the Eastside pipeline
project, which runs through 3 counties from Riverdale Georgia in Clayton County through
the City of Atlanta and Fulton well into DeKalb County.
Trevor previously served as a regional facilitator for the Governor’s Statewide
Economic Development Strategic Planning initiative, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s
(ARC) Economic Development task force, and was a board member of Creative
Community Services (CCS). He currently serves on the board for the Georgia Downtowns
Association (GDA) and is a leadership donor and volunteer with United Way of Greater
Atlanta, where he is an active member of the Cole Society and African American
Partnership Affinity Group.
TYRONE RACHAL
Tyrone Rachal is Managing Director of Redevelopment at Invest Atlanta. He is responsible
for managing, marketing and overseeing the City of Atlanta’s tax allocation district program
and serves as director for commercial, retail and mixed-use projects applying for tax
increment finance funding. Mr. Rachal also has the responsibility of directing Invest
Atlanta’s controlling entity interest as President of Atlanta Emerging Markets, Inc., a New
Markets Tax Credit program Certified Community Development Entity and multi-round
allocatee ($110 million).
He leads all equity investor and leverage fund discussions in Qualified Equity Investment
transactions and directs CDE investments to real estate development projects.
Mr. Rachal joined Invest Atlanta from Red Rock Global, which is an Atlanta-based real
estate development and Brokerage Company he co-founded. Prior to that, he served as
Senior Associate with the Private Equity Group of Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York. Prior to
Merrill Lynch, Mr. Rachal served as a Consultant within the Dispute Analysis and
Corporate Recovery Services Group of Price Waterhouse LLP in New York. In addition, he
has held positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Chapman & Cutler and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Mr. Rachal is a graduate of Dartmouth College with degrees in Economics and
Government, as well as the University of Chicago Law School and Booth School of
Business, where he received his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration
degrees, respectively. He currently serves as Chair of the Public-Private Partnership
Council of the Urban Land Institute and was a participant in the Atlanta District Council’s
Inaugural Center for Regional Leadership Development. Mr. Rachal also proudly serves on
the Board of Directors of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Black Alumni
Association, the Frazer Center, the Architecture Foundation of Georgia, the Metro
Resource Center, the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition and serves on the Advisory Board
of SunTrust CDE. In addition, Mr. Rachal is a graduate of the 2012 Class of Leadership
Atlanta and a current participate in the 2013 Class of Leadership Georgia.
CALEB RACICOT
Caleb Racicot is Senior Principal with the community planning and architecture firm of
Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates (TSW) where he focuses primarily on public sector
planning efforts. His focus areas include preparing community master plans, form-based
zoning codes, and downtown revitalization efforts – most of which promote the creation of
compact, walkable, and mixed-use communities scaled in relationship to their location in
the region. Racicot has helped dozens of Atlanta area communities plan for a future with a
little less driving and a little more walking, bicycling, and transit use.
Caleb attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he received a Bachelor
of Science in Environmental Design. In 1997, he worked with the City of Atlanta in the
Urban Design Studio of the Bureau of Planning while pursuing a Master of City Planning
from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Racicot has been recognized through awards from the Congress for the New Urbanism,
the Georgia Planning Association (GPA), and the Arkansas Chapter of the American
Planning Association. His most recent recognition came in September 2011, when the
2010 Doraville Downtown Master Plan received a GPA Chapter Award in the category of
Outstanding Planning Document, Large Community. Racicot served as the chair for the
Atlanta chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism from 2009 to 2012.
ED RIEKER
Ed Rieker is the current Mayor of the City of Avondale Estates, Georgia. He is a business
owner and entrepreneur who has a successful track record starting, building and selling
software businesses. During the last 25 years, he has been the founder or co-founder of
four healthcare software firms, two of which have been acquired by public companies. He
experienced another success when PbNation.com, an online community he acquired in
2003, was purchased by a public company in 2011.
He is a member of the Atlanta Technology Angels and a TiE Charter Member/Mentor. His
current primary focus is with very early-stage technology startups. He regularly
participates as a coach/teacher in several programs offered by local incubators,
accelerators and university business school programs. He is a mentor at Flashpoint @
Georgia Tech. Ed has served on the staff of the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at
the Georgia Institute of Technology, as a Venture Catalyst and has served as an
Entrepreneur in Residence three times. He is currently an ATDC Executive in Residence.
He founded 151 Locust, a co-working and business incubator, located in the heart of the
commercial business district of Avondale Estates to help emerging tech companies grow.
Ed is a co-inventor of the 1998 patent for an “Automated System and Method for Providing
Real-Time Verification of Health Insurance Eligibility.” He received his MBA from the
Goizueta Business School at Emory University.
ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ
Anthony P. Rodriguez is the Producing Artistic Director of the Aurora Theatre in Gwinnett
County. Under his leadership, the theatre grew from 120 season subscribers to the 3,500
subscribers Aurora Theatre currently boasts. His success led to an ABBY Award
nomination in 2002 for Arts Professional of the Year. Mr. Rodriguez’s greatest
accomplishment to date was the successful negotiation to relocate Aurora Theatre to
downtown Lawrenceville Georgia where it serves as the cornerstone for their revitalization.
This nearly $7.5 million complex houses 2 theatres, rehearsal space and offices and
opened in the spring of 2007. Aurora’s accomplishments include: Learning Library an
educational theatre program, Aurora Academy and Conservatory where students learn
about theatre from working professionals, Aurora’s Musicals by Moonlight an annual
outdoor summer concert, Cabaret Series musical evenings between main stage events,
and Teatro del Sol, a professional Spanish-language theatre company that was created to
preserve Hispanic cultural heritage through the presentation of Latin plays and musicals.
Mr. Rodriguez serves as Vice Chair of Arts on the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce board
of directors, is a member of Screen Actors Guild, Theatre Communications Group, Duluth
Rotary Club, and the Atlanta Coalition for Performing Arts. Mr. Rodriguez is a graduate of
Marist High School and the University of Georgia with a BFA in theatre. Mr. Rodriguez is a
Cancer Survivor and has been cancer free for 23 years.
EMIL RUNGE
As Chairman Eaves’ Senior Policy Advisor, Emil Runge works with commercial,
government and community leaders to forge the best solutions for our county’s residents
and businesses. Emil also works with the Atlanta Regional Commission, Grady Hospital,
universities, the region’s Chambers of Commerce and businesses on behalf of the
Chairman to collaboratively move our county, region and state forward. He spearheaded
the Chairman’s successful effort to create county Department of Economic Development.
He advised the Chairman on project selection for the $8.5 billion Transportation
Referendum. He also led the Chairman’s successful effort to ensure Grady Hospital
received $3.9 million in funding.
Prior to this position, Emil served in communications, research, and policy roles in federal,
state and municipal campaigns since 1999, working in over 25 states, and served as a key
advisor to candidates for state and federal offices around the country including multiple
Presidential campaigns. He worked on two campaigns for Governor Roy Barnes, serving
most recently as his Communications Director in 2010.
JAMES E SHELBY
James E. Shelby began his career as the Commissioner of Planning and Community
Development (DPCD) for the City of Atlanta in 2008. In his capacity as Commissioner, Mr.
Shelby manages the day-to-day operation of the Offices of Buildings, Housing and
Planning. He routinely advises Mayor Kasim Reed and the City Council on historic
preservation and the physical development and redevelopment of the City of Atlanta
through effective planning, design review, construction plans approval and housing
assistance/economic development.
Mr. Shelby hails from Jackson, Mississippi, where he served as Planning Director
for six years and was recognized throughout the region for his leadership in city
planning and affordable housing. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Jackson
State University.
He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in City and Regional
Planning from Illinois Institute of Technology. Mr. Shelby served as a Board Director for the
National American Planning Association where he served as Secretary-Treasurer. He is a
member of several professional associations including the Georgia and the Missippippi
Planning Association Chapters where he served as Secretary, Treasure, Vice President
and President of the Mississippi Chapter.
GREGG SIMON
Gregg D. Simon is Director – Technology Industry Development for the Metro Atlanta
Chamber. In his role Mr. Simon works to build Atlanta’s technology cluster in the areas of
internet and network security, mobile communications, software development and
engineering, transaction processing, and digital media and content.
Mr. Simon brings almost 20 years of economic development experience to the Metro
Atlanta Chamber. Prior to his current role, Mr. Simon was Manager of Business
Engagement for the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) where he worked to help
existing businesses in the City of Atlanta and to attract new ones. Before coming to
Atlanta, he was the Director of Business Services for the Massachusetts Alliance for
Economic Development, a private non-profit economic development organization
dedicated to business growth in Massachusetts. He also worked for Empire State
Development, New York State’s economic development agency with a focus on business
retention and expansion in the Buffalo regional office.
Mr. Simon has worked with businesses such as Panasonic Automotive Systems of
America, Ernst & Young, Novelis, Kemira, Invesco, Wipro, Bristol Myers Squibb,
Straumann, Target, General Motors, 3M, Ford, Delphi, and many others to support
business expansions resulting in job retention and creation.
Mr. Simon is a graduate of the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY and lives in
Atlanta with his wife and three children.
ANDREA N. SMITH
Andrea is the Director of Development for Grady Health Foundation and in that
role is responsible for the planning and management of major donor gifts and events
for the Grady Health System. Through creative events and projects, she has successfully
implemented a $1.7 million dollar major gifts campaign and has worked with her team
to successfully complete a $325 million capital campaign that has allowed Grady to
create new trauma and stroke centers, reduce patient wait times and other improvements
to the hospital.
Prior to her work with Grady, Andrea served as the Southeast Region’s Director of
Business Development for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Andrea was responsible
for generating millions in gifts and producing the Atlanta broadcast of the MDA Labor Day
Telethon. She also served as the Executive Director for MDA, managing fundraising
programs, special projects and campaign trainings in Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia. She
has implemented Grady’s first $1 M black tie event, the annual White Grady Coat Gala,
which honors the regions healthcare heroes.
She is the President of the Atlanta chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s
Association, is an active member of Junior League Atlanta and a member of the
Associations of Fundraising Professionals and Healthcare Philanthropy.
Andrea is a graduate of Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with majors in both business
management and computer-based information systems.
JIM STOKES
Jim Stokes is President of Sustainable Solutions Georgia (SSGA). SSGA works to
protect the public interest in transportation, urban planning, environment and sustainability,
and energy.
Stokes previously served as the Executive Director of the Livable Communities Coalition
of Metro Atlanta (LCC), which was founded to provide smart growth leadership in metro
Atlanta. From 2005 to 2008, Stokes served as President of the Georgia Conservancy (GC),
whose mission is to protect Georgia’s natural resources and advance sustainable growth
practices. Prior to that, Stokes’ 33-year career at Alston & Bird, where he was a senior
partner, included chairing the national law firm’s management committee and founding the
environmental practice group, which he chaired for 20 years. While at Alston & Bird,
Stokes led successful actions to obtain Georgia Environmental Protection Division
approval of an innovative risk-based cleanup of the former Atlantic Steel site in Midtown
Atlanta, which made possible Atlantic Station, one of the largest and most important
brownfield redevelopments in the U.S.
In 2005, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Stokes as the sole environmental community
member of the Future of Forestry Joint Legislative Study Committee, which began Stokes’
work to bridge the gap between Georgia’s environmental and forestry communities. In
January 2010, Stokes became a member of the Georgia Forestry Association Board on
which he still serves.
Stokes received an A.B. from Davidson College in 1966 and an LL.B from Yale Law School
in 1969. He and his wife, Esther, live in the Brookwood Hills neighborhood in Atlanta and
have two grown daughters.
RAYE VARNEY
Raye Varney is the Executive Director of ArtWorks! Gwinnett, which serves as an umbrella
organization for the arts in Gwinnett County, raising the profile of the arts and
strengthening county arts nonprofits. In the past, she has served as Managing Director for
Theatre in the Square, in Cobb County, and for 7 Stages, in Little Five Points. She has a
background in marketing and served as marketing director for Georgia State’s Rialto
Center for the Arts, and for Georgia Shakespeare. She has a B.A. from Wake Forest
University and attended the Executive Program for NonProfit Leaders in the Arts at
Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in 2004. She is a graduate of the 2009
class of Leadership Cobb and has lived in DeKalb County for over 25 years.
STEPHEN VAULT
Stephen Vault is Director of Strategic Planning & Business Development for WellStar
Health System in Marietta, GA, where he facilitates the planning of new business
development and manages market intelligence for the healthcare company. Stephen is
also responsible for regulatory compliance issues, including the Certificate of Need (CON)
program and associated licensure.
Prior to joining WellStar, Stephen served as Senior Health Systems Analyst of the Georgia
Department of Community Health and Administrative Resident of Central Arkansas
Veterans Health System, where he helped manage a turnaround in the company’s patient
satisfaction efforts.
Stephen serves as a board member for the United Way Young Professional Leaders,
Families First Family Sustainability and Empowerment Community Advisory Board, and the
American Homeless Veterans Foundation (AHVF), a non-profit dedicated to eradicating
homelessness amongst those who have served our country. He is also an active member
of the Junior Chamber International – Atlanta (Jaycees), 100 Black Men of North Metro,
Inc., the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives, and is a 2013 New Leaders
Council Fellow.
Stephen earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Masters in
Health Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before completing the
Ph.D. Program in Strategic Management at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
LESLEY DENISE WALKER
Lesley Denise Walker is the Assistant Director of Community Affairs in Emory University’s
Office of Governmental & Community Affairs (GCA) dealing with projects/issues impacting
the Clifton Corridor and issues of critical importance to Emory at the Georgia General
Assembly—including Transportation, Healthcare, Education, and Economic Development.
She served as a Housing Planner at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA)
within the Housing Finance Division and in the Office on Smoking and Health at the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a Visiting Fellow/Program Analyst. Prior to that, she
served as Legislative Officer in Fulton County’s Intergovernmental & Interagency Division.
Denise is a registered lobbyist on behalf of Fulton County and works closely with members
of the Fulton County Delegation on key legislative initiatives.
Denise is a 2009 Graduate of Leadership DeKalb, Vice Chair of DeKalb County’s
Workforce Investment Board, Board Vice President of Rowley Residence Group Home
(DeKalb County), The Chauncey Davis Foundation, Fulton County Elections/Vote Review
Panel Chair, The League of Women Voters of DeKalb/Georgia, Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Incorporated, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, and various mentorship programs.
Denise attended the University of Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in
Governmental Affairs, and completed a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) at the
University of Georgia. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Denise resides in Gwinnett
County, Georgia.