With much of the United States facing freezing temperatures, many are hoping for an early spring forecast come Groundhog Day 2026 on Monday.
Last year, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Groundhog Day 2025 — predicting that there would be six more weeks of winter. Phil’s forecast was wrong last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. There were near average temperatures in February 2025 and above average temperatures in March 2025 in the contiguous U.S.
But just how accurate has Phil been since he started being used for weather predictions more than 130 years ago?
According to the legend, if Phil sees his shadow on Feb. 2, he predicts six additional weeks of winter. But if he doesn’t see his shadow, he predicts an early spring. Unfortunately, his forecasting track record since 1887 has been a bit spotty.
“Predicting the arrival of springtime for an entire country, especially one with such varied regional climates as the United States, isn’t easy! Phil’s track record is evidence of that,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
What has Phil predicted on Groundhog Day?
Phil makes his prediction every year on Feb. 2, halfway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. More often than not, Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, a sign of more winter.
Between 1887 and 2023, the forecasting groundhog saw its shadow 107 times, according to NOAA. There was no shadow to be seen 20 times. During the late 1800s, 10 years were lost because no records were kept, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. In 1942, Phil had a partial shadow, and the following year, he didn’t make an appearance. Records do not specify why Phil skipped his 1943 appearance.
Groundhog handler AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, who did not see his shadow, during the 134th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2020, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Are Phil’s Groundhog Day predictions accurate?
Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog, not a meteorologist. Between 2013 and 2023, he saw his shadow seven times, and of those seven, he was correct only once.
NOAA’s determinations on Phil’s accuracy are based on temperatures in February and March. Here’s how it breaks down:
2013: No shadow — His prediction was right.
2014: Shadow — His prediction was right.
2015: Shadow — His prediction was wrong.
2016: No shadow — His prediction was right.
2017: Shadow — His prediction was wrong.
2018: Shadow — His prediction was wrong.
2019: No shadow — His prediction was wrong.
2020: No shadow — His prediction was right.
2021: Shadow — His prediction was wrong.
2022: Shadow — His prediction was wrong.
2023: Shadow — His prediction was wrong.
2024: No shadow — His prediction was right.
2025: Shadow – His prediction was wrong.
2026: We’ll find out
On average, Phil has gotten it right 30% of the time over the past decade, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Overall, the Stormfax Almanac says, Phil has only been right 39% of the time going back to his first recorded prediction in 1887.
Where did the Groundhog Day tradition even come from?
Groundhog Day has its roots in both pagan and Christian traditions, including Imbolc and Candlemas. Early Christians believed that clear skies on Candlemas Day, which falls on Feb. 2, meant a longer winter was ahead, according to the National Weather Service. They believed a cloudy day foreshadowed the end of winter.
European weather lore details using a badger to predict the weather during the mid-winter holidays. When Germans came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, they brought along the tradition, but not the badger, the NWS said. They began using a groundhog as a replacement.
The tradition was formalized as Groundhog Day thanks to Clymer H. Freas, the editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit Newspaper, according to the NWS. Freas proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil, the local groundhog, as the official weather forecasting groundhog.
He now makes his prediction each year from Gobbler’s Knob and shares it with what the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club describes as his “Inner Circle.”
“After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in ‘Groundhogese’ (a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world,” according to the club.
This story originally aired on Nov. 30, 2024. It was updated on Jan. 31, 2026.
Before the fire that set Melissa Lamesch‘s home ablaze on Nov. 25, 2020, the day had started with excited anticipation. Melissa was due to give birth to a baby boy in just two days, and Thanksgiving was a day away.
Cassie Baal: She was gonna have a nice private Thanksgiving with dad. So, I gave her a call the morning of the 25th and we talked for about two-and-a-half hours.
Cassie Baal and her sister Melissa had lots to chat about.
Cassie Baal: We talked a lot about the future. We talked about what was gonna come with the baby. … The conversation ended because she looked outside the window. … She said, “you gotta be kidding me.”… She’s like, “he’s freaking here again. I told him he’s gotta stop doing this.”
At the door was 33-year-old Matthew Plote, the expectant father of Melissa’s baby.
Cassie Baal: She said … “I’ll tell you what he wanted. I’ll give you a call right back, bye.” Hung up.
Nikki Battiste | “48 Hours” contributor: Did she ever call back?
Cassie Baal: No, my sister never called back.
“When Melissa first told me she was pregnant, she told me a couple things about the dad,” said Melissa Lamesch’s sister, Cassie Baal. “Matt Plote … they on and off hung out for years and had a similar clique of friends.”
Photography by Angel Studio/Plote defense attorney
Melissa Lamesch and Matthew Plote met and became friends seven years earlier, while each was in college. They maintained a casual relationship. The friendship, says the Lamesch family, cooled off once Melissa let Plote know about the pregnancy. Melissa told her family he did not share her interest in becoming a parent.
Cassie Baal: He wanted her to get an abortion. She didn’t want that. He blamed her, ghosted her. … It did come to … upset Melissa because they were friends for so long.
Nikki Battiste: She thought he’d at least wanna — be involved a little bit?
Cassie Baal: Yes. Melissa thought that he would want something to do with the baby. To that point, she thought he was a pretty nice guy. … then she saw a different side of him and that really upset her.
MELISSA LAMESCH LOOKS FORWARD TO BECOMING A MOTHER
Deanna and Gus Lamesch were fully prepared to help their daughter with whatever she needed for the baby.
Deanna Lamesch: I had said, if he doesn’t wanna be a part of the baby’s life, you know, don’t push, the baby is your child.
Gus Lamesch: I told her, whatever you needed, I’ll help you financially.
Deanna Lamesch: She knew she had plenty of family support. Everything would have been fine.
The Lamesch family was a large one. Melissa had four siblings, she was already an aunt, and was known for following her own path.
Cassie Baal: Melissa was … unapologetically herself, and that is what she was. … She’s a perfect mix of sugar and spice. … Not too spicy, not too sugary, it was just perfect.
Deanna Lamesch: Melissa was strong. She was fierce. She was a go-getter.
Melissa Lamesch, 27, was a devoted EMT. “My daughter, Melissa, she’s very thoughtful,” Gus Lamesch said. “And that’s why she got into … being a paramedic. … She wanted to help people.”
Deanna Lamesch
Melissa liked to reinvent herself — through hairstyles — and careers. Most recently, the 27-year-old had been working as an EMT.
Gus Lamesch: Melissa kind of fell into the line of work. She had an experience in college that that took her to an emergency room. … And … she really appreciated how she was treated and she wanted to do the same for other people.
Nikki Battiste: You were proud?
Gus Lamesch: Yes. … That was her job and she took it seriously.
As her due date neared, Melissa had to stop working. To make things easier, she moved into her childhood home with her dad. Her parents had divorced several years earlier. Melissa grew increasingly excited about becoming a mom, even though she and Plote had little contact.
Cassie Baal: Melissa would continue to send him like, sonograms or things would happen … sometimes he would respond a little bit, but she didn’t know really where he stood exactly. But … Melissa wanted her baby to have the option of having the mother and the father … so she kept the communication with him. He often shut down.
Plote wasn’t just shutting out Melissa. He kept the fact that he was going to be a father a secret — including from his coworkers and Chief Rob Schultz at the Carol Stream Fire District, several counties away from Melissa’s home.
Chief Rob Schultz: We’re here 24 hours a day. And … it’s a — just a normal, uh, course of being a firefighter … that you talk about your family, your personal life, and what’s going on good, bad, or indifferent. … I knew Matt as … a single guy … that didn’t have any kids.
Even Plote’s own parents did not know about the pregnancy — until Melissa told them.
Cassie Baal: Melissa wanted them to have the opportunity to be part of their grandchild’s life.
Nikki Battiste: How did Melissa say his parents responded to the news of a grandson?
Cassie Baal: Melissa said that his parents were very nice, that, um, they said, let me know what you need, I’ll help you any way we can.
Nikki Battiste: How did Matthew find out that Melissa had told his parents they were having a baby?
Deanna Lamesch: I believe that the parents then approached him … but it was not long after that that she had said “he’s mad I told them.”
Nikki Battiste: Because he had kept it a secret?
Deanna Lamesch: Yes.
Melissa celebrated the upcoming birth with family and friends at a baby shower. She had let everyone know she was having a boy. It was a happy time — until nearly two months later, on that fateful Thanksgiving eve.
Deanna Lamesch: It was just all so surreal.
While Melissa’s family tried to process their loss, investigators were hoping to provide them with answers about what had happened.
Lt. Brian Ketter: The fire debris is everywhere.
Brian Ketter, then the lead detective at the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, headed to the kitchen, where Melissa had been found.
Lt. Brian Ketter: Everything’s covered in smoke. … Ceilings, walls, have fallen down and everything’s a mess.
Ketter and other investigators also headed outside, to an ambulance, to view Melissa.
Lt. Brian Ketter: We … noticed that she didn’t have a whole lot of fire damage to her.
Nikki Battiste: What does that say?
Lt.Brian Ketter: That the fire didn’t kill her.
WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE?
Michael Poel, then a special agent with the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, was trying to establish whether the fire at Melissa’s Lamesch’s home was accidental or intentionally set.
Michael Poel: We needed to identify the area of fire origin and what may have caused that fire.
Nikki Battiste (looking at photos): What are you looking for?
Michael Poel: Where the greatest damage is at, where the fire patterns are at. … We’re looking at everything and everything in this picture that may have something to do with the origin of the fire.
Nikki Battiste: Where do you think the fire started?
Michael Poel: Uh, I believe the fires over here. Actually it’s in these cabinets — where these cabinets used to be above the stove area.
Melissa Lamesch was found dead on the floor by the oven in the kitchen. Investigators did not find any electrical issues at the house and learned that the oven and stove burners were all in the off position.
Ogle County State’s Attorney Office
But when Poel examined the stove, thinking that perhaps cooking flames caused the cabinets to catch fire, he saw that neither the oven nor the burners had been turned on.
Michael Poel: All the controls are in the off position and there is no fire damage in the interior of this oven to show that this was some type of cooking fire.
Poel also did not find any electrical issues.
Michael Poel: So, we’re starting to run out of accidental causes … And we could identify at least three very simple and easy ways to exit this residence.
Much of the house, besides the kitchen, remained accessible, so Poel thought Melissa could have found a way out.
Michael Poel: It was what I would call a survivable fire. … This young lady was a paramedic. She is used to dealing with emergencies. … For her to totally lose her perspective and stand there and try and fight that fire. … When you start putting all these things together, you start coming up with, OK, this makes no sense.
While Poel was inspecting the house, investigators talked with the Lamesch family. Ketter learned about the phone call that day between Melissa and Baal, that Melissa ended when Plote arrived at the house.
Lt. Brian Ketter: We learned from the family that he … was a fireman.
Matthew Plote was a firefighter-paramedic with the Carol Stream Fire District. “He was a good firefighter,” said Chief Rob Schultz. “Matt was somebody that was dependable on the fire scene. … He was just one of the guys.”
Carol Stream Fire District
Melissa’s brother Karl Lamesch told investigators he had already spoken on the phone to Plote, telling him he knew he had been at the house that day. Karl Lamesch also told Plote about the fire, and that someone had died, but not that it was Melissa. Investigators did that when they asked Plote to come in for an interview that evening.
DEPUTY: Melissa is deceased.
MATTHEW PLOTE: Oh. OK
Nikki Battiste: As you watched his interview, what did you think about his demeanor, his responses?
Lt. Brian Ketter: Emotionless. Very soft spoken. … Matthew said he went … to talk to Melissa. He wanted to talk about money … about being allowed at the hospital when she was set to be induced in two days. And that’s why he was there.
There was evidence that Matthew Plote had been at Melissa Lamesch’s house the day of the fire — something Plote admitted when he spoke with investigators.
Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office
In that interview, Plote made a reference to a deadline when explaining his decision to go to the house that day:
MATTHEW PLOTE: I mean, there’s a deadline for — for that. So, we were trying to —
DEPUTY: A deadline for what?
MATTHEW PLOTE:For pregnancy there’s a deadline.
It was a phrase that investigators didn’t quite know how to interpret.
Nikki Battiste: Was Matthew, a suspect at that point?
Lt. Brian Ketter: No, He was not a suspect.
Nikki Battiste: What are the next steps in the investigation?
Lt. Brian Ketter: We need to determine the cause of death. We don’t know if — if Melissa had a medical episode or … if somebody did something to her or if the carbon monoxide from the fire killed her, we don’t know.
To get those answers, two autopsies would be performed: one, two days after Melissa’s death, and then another, about two weeks later while lab work was completed. The results: normal carbon monoxide levels, and no soot was found in her system. What was found was evidence of strangulation, including hemorrhages around her neck. Melissa, it was determined, had been murdered.
Deanna Lamesch: We have to plan a funeral and while we were still waiting for things, it was nearly three weeks.
Melissa Lamesch was two days away from delivering her son when she and her unborn baby died.
Photography by Angel Studio
On Dec. 14, 2020, the Lamesch family held a funeral for Melissa and her unborn baby, whom Melissa was going to name Barrett.
Deanna Lamesch: We didn’t get to kiss his forehead, touch his cheek. The first time we got any kind of contact, they were in a casket. And the first time I touched his hand. … I just remember gasping, just (gasps) … and I decided I was going to keep holding his hand, something Melissa didn’t get to do.
Melissa’s family was convinced that Matthew Plote was responsible for their profound grief — that he killed Melissa, simply because he did not want to become a father. Plote, investigators would learn, had been juggling multiple women in his life.
Gus Lamesch: I believe he did it because he’s selfish and it was gonna change his life, having a child.
Nikki Battiste: Melissa wasn’t asking him for anything, no money, nothing. He could have walked away. So why?
Cassie Baal: I think it was his pride. … He wanted to keep it a secret.
With no other suspects, and with Plote admitting to being at Melissa’s home that day, investigators were also circling in on Plote, but were still gathering evidence.
Lt. Brian Ketter: We had collected DNA evidence at the autopsy and we sent that to the crime lab. We had gotten search warrants for phone records. We were in the process of getting that information back.
They were also waiting to get information back from Amazon, about possible recordings from an Echo Dot that Ketter had noticed and was retrieved from the fire damaged kitchen.
Lt. Brian Ketter: We were hoping it would record conversations or … something from the day … between the two of them.
Nikki Battiste: That Amazon Echo Dot could turn this case around.
Lt. Brian Ketter: Could have — it could have recorded Melissa screaming for help, yelling out his name. … We didn’t know what it would be.
QUESTIONING MATTHEW PLOTE
When Carol Stream Fire Chief Rob Schultz returned the call, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Chief Rob Schultz: I was contacted by our police chief … to give him a call immediately that he had something very important, sensitive to talk about. … One of our firefighters was being investigated .. as a suspect in a murder that occurred … about two hours from our fire district’s boundaries.
It was now nine months since Melissa Lamesch’s death in a house fire that had sent shockwaves through the community in Mt. Morris where her home was located. But firefighters where Matthew Plote worked in Carol Stream, about 75 miles away, were unaware of the fire. Plote had said nothing.
Nikki Battiste: When you heard the name Matthew Plote in that call, what did you think?
Chief Rob Schultz: I was you know … there is no way this could be Matt …they have something wrong here.
But that disbelief started to change when Chief Schultz checked to see if Plote worked the day of fire and learned he had called out sick.
Chief Rob Schultz: The knot in my stomach, like literally wanted to throw up.
The fire chief’s sinking feeling only got worse when he learned that investigators believed Plote killed Melissa and their unborn child because he did not want to be a father — and then set the house on fire in hopes of destroying evidence.
Chief Rob Schultz: We had placed Matt immediately on paid administrative leave. … When I called Matt in to — to tell him I just said … “I’m being told that you’re under investigation for a murder of … your estranged girlfriend and the baby that you’re a father of.”
Nikki Battiste: Did you ask him why he hadn’t mentioned it?
Chief Rob Schultz: Didn’t feel that it was, uh, something that he wanted to talk about and … he felt it was a personal matter and didn’t want to disclose it.
While on leave, on Aug. 28, 2021, Plote was called in again for questioning. (BRIAN KETTER 209.01/00:11 My name is Brian. I’m a lieutenant with the sheriff’s office.) Plote willingly appeared without an attorney.
MATTHEW PLOTE (Sheriff’s Office interview): I wanted to contribute to the — in the life of our child.
Over the course of the seven-hour interview, he explained to investigators why he was at Melissa’s the day of the fire.
MATTHEW PLOTE (Sheriff’s Office interview): So, we talked about, you know, what I could pay her and that we’d — we just said we’d work it out later to visiting.
He said when he left that afternoon, Melissa was talking about making lunch.
MATTHEW PLOTE (Sheriff’s Office interview): She talked about cooking some food or something, but I — I didn’t stay around.
Most of the seven hours was filled with investigators asking questions and Plote saying very little.
LT. BRIAN KETTER (to Plote): So, did you go there to kill her, or did you just go there to talk to her and something happened?
Lt. Brian Ketter: We kept … accusing him of things … and he never said I didn’t do it. … He never said you guys got the wrong person. … He was just emotionless and he wouldn’t communicate. … Not once in seven hours, not once did he get upset. … Most people would’ve told us … I’m done, but he just sat and listened to us.
Nikki Battiste: Had you ever experienced an interview … like that before?
Brian Ketter: Never.
During questioning, Matthew Plote said very little, but told investigators, “I had no intention of hurting Melissa” after being asked if he intended to kill her.
Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office
It wasn’t just the lack of communication that made Ketter think Plote was guilty, but on the rare times Plote did talk, the unusual way he phrased things.
LT. BRIAN KETTER Did you intend to kill her?
MATTHEW PLOTE: I had no intention of hurting Melissa.
Lt. Brian Ketter: During that seven-hour interview, at one point, Matthew did say ” I had no intentions of hurting Melissa.”
Nikki Battiste: Did that make you do a double take?
Lt. Brian Ketter: Yes. ‘Cause in our opinion, that means I hurt Melissa, but I didn’t intend to do it.
But it was not an admission of guilt, so Ketter wanted to see if Plote would say anything more and made an unusual request of Fire Chief Schultz.
Lt. Brian Ketter: We asked Chief Schultz if he would wear a … listening device. So that he would have a conversation with Matthew, we would be able to hear it and record it and try to gain some evidence that way.
Chief Rob Schultz: When Brian asks this of me, I’m pretty taken aback … And initially I said, “no way,” and I did some thinking about it and called him back and said “yes.”
Nikki Battiste: You have a lot of responsibilities as a fire chief, but I can’t imagine you ever thought wearing a wiretap would be one of them.
Chief Rob Schultz: No. … and I don’t freely talk about it … It’s not something that I’m proud of. It was something that needed to be done in the hopes of helping the investigation. … There’s a grieving family out there that’s looking for answers.
So, on Sept. 9, 2021, Chief Schultz called Matthew Plote and asked him to come in to talk.
Chief Rob Schultz: And he agreed. He says,” I’d like to come talk to you.”
Plote came in later that day. The fire station was quickly cleared of all other personnel, and Ketter and other investigators headed over. They were able to place a device that just recorded audio on a phone on Fire Chief’s Schultz’ desk and listened in from outside the fire station and from an adjoining office.
Nikki Battiste: How were you feeling?
Chief Rob Schultz: Nervous. Very nervous. A bit scared.
Schultz tried to learn what happened to Melissa, by appealing to Plote on a personal level.
ROB SCHULTZ (to Plote): I’m trying to find answers and I’m trying to help you. … Help me — help me — walk through — I mean, what — what happened?
But the nearly two-hour conversation yielded very little info from Plote, with him again barely speaking about the day Melissa died.
Chief Rob Schultz: I remember saying … “fill in all the blanks for me.” … And “isn’t it odd that no one here knows that you’re going to be a father.” Like that’s — that’s something we celebrate here.
Nikki Battiste: What did he say?
Chief Rob Schultz: Nothing. … Uh, head was down, uh, a lot of the conversation.
Nikki Battiste: Did he ever say I didn’t kill Melissa and my baby?
Chief Rob Schultz: He did not.
With none of the interviews resulting in a confession, there was still no arrest — something that exasperated the Lamesch family.
Gus Lamesch: It was excruciating. And, I mean, we were pestering the police constantly.
There were several reasons for the delay. There was the wait for the fire marshal’s report — which concluded that “the fire cause is most likely incendiary in nature, possibly the result of a fire being intentionally set in an effort to conceal a potential homicide.” And getting information from Amazon on whether Plote’s voice was recorded on that Echo Dot they retrieved from the kitchen took time.
Lt. Brian Ketter: It did reveal voices, but nothing that proved helpful for our case. … It wasn’t even on the day of the murder.
Investigators had also waited to obtain Plote’s DNA until after the August 2021 interview, hoping he would first confess to killing Melissa.
Lt. Brian Ketter: We got the results back saying … that it was his DNA … under her fingernails.
Matthew Plote was arrested and charged more than a year after Melissa Lamesch’s death.
Ogle County Sheriff’s Department
On March 9, 2022, after a year-and-a-half of investigating Melissa Lamesch’s death, Matthew Plote was arrested on charges including murder, the intentional homicide of an unborn child and arson.
John Kopp: The motive that the State painted, was … just an inaccurate portrayal of Matt. By the time of Matthew Plote’s arrest, he had hired attorney John Kopp.
John Kopp: They painted him to be this monster that … at the drop of a hat, after a career of saving people, decided to suddenly start killing people.
John Kopp: The evidence doesn’t show that Matthew Plote murdered Melissa Lamesch or their unborn child.
MATTHEW PLOTE ON TRIAL
Allison Huntley: Melissa Lamesch was loved. … This is not someone who had enemies lined up around the block who wanted to see her deceased. Rather, there was one person and one person only … and that was Matthew Plote.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Allison Huntley and Heather Kruse were part of the team prosecuting Matthew Plote.
Heather Kruse: All signs pointed toward Matthew Plote from the very beginning.
John Kopp: What we wanted to portray to the jury is that he was a — a guy … saving lives for his entire career.
Defense attorneys John Kopp and Liam Dixon say their client was misunderstood — and as a firefighter, was a responsible person, not a murderer.
John Kopp: Matt’s plan was to financially support her. He had offered her money before. … His plan was to be there.
Plote pleaded not guilty to all charges. On March 18, 2024, more than three years since Melissa’s murder, his trial began in Ogle County, Illinois. The prosecution argued that Plote murdered Melissa and their unborn child because he didn’t want to be a father.
Allison Huntley : He was keeping a secret — the fact that he fathered a baby — in the hopes that the child wouldn’t be born.
The defense told the jury there’s no evidence Plote harmed Melissa, and that he had gone to see her that day just to talk.
John Kopp: They discussed their finances; they discussed what would happen with the birth of the child … and then Matt left as she was making some lunch.
Heather Kruse: I believe, from the very beginning, he was trying to set up a story that there was an accidental house fire, that she had been cooking something. … I believe that was how he laid out the scene … which would explain why her body was found in the kitchen.
Fire Investigator Michael Poel testified that he found no evidence of an electrical or cooking fire in the home where Melissa Lamesch’s body was discovered.
Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office
Prosecutors called Fire Investigator Michael Poel to testify about his findings. He told the court that he found no evidence of an electrical or cooking fire.
MIKE POEL (in court): And you start ruling these — these various different things out.
Nikki Battiste: How certain are you that this fire was intentionally set?
Michael Poel: I’m certain that it was intentionally set.
Nikki Battiste: No doubt.
Michael Poel: No doubt.
During cross examination, the defense suggested that Poel was unsure of his findings, citing language in his report such as “most likely” and “it is believed.”
JOHN KOPP (in court): You used the phrase “it is believed” because that’s an uncertain opinion. Correct?
MICHAEL POEL: It’s the way I described it.
JOHN KOPP: But that’s an uncertain opinion. Correct?
MICHAEL POEL: Not to me.
Poel says he was just using standard terms used during fire investigations.
The State also called forensic pathologist Dr. Amanda Youmans, who had performed one of the autopsies.
DR. AMANDA YOUMANS (in court): There was no soot in her airways … And her … measure of carbon monoxide in the blood was within normal limits. So she was deceased prior to the fire.
Youmans testified that Melissa’s body showed evidence of a violent struggle. The jury heard about the hemorrhages around Melissa’s neck — a specific type of broken blood vessels called “petechial hemorrhages” which according to Youmans, is a telltale sign of strangulation.
DR. AMANDA YOUMANS (in court): This is the most petechial hemorrhages I’ve ever seen in a strangulation case.
Deanna Lamesch: To sit through trial was beyond devastating.
Deanna Lamesch came to court every day.
Deanna Lamesch: I had been prepped by the victims’ advocate. … Things were going to be gruesome. I was going to see a lot.
Deanna Lamesch says she always kept Melissa and her baby Barrett in her thoughts.
Deanna Lamesch: She was so strong-willed and had such pride. That baby was gonna be a strong guy.
Plote’s parents also attended the trial.
Nikki Battiste: They’ve been by his side throughout this?
John Kopp: Yes. Every court date.
One of the most important witnesses to testify was Melissa’s sister, Cassie Baal, talking about the day Melissa died and that call which Baal says was interrupted by Plote.
ALLISON HUNTLEY (in court): What was the last thing your sister said to you during that phone call?
CASSIE BAAL: Sorry (emotional).She said she would make the conversation quick and she would call me right back.
ALLISON HUNTLEY: Did Melissa call you back?
CASSIE BAAL: No.
Jurors watched those recorded interviews with investigators, where Plote admitted he was at the house.
DEPUTY: How long were you at the house?
MATTHEW PLOTE: It wasn’t more than an hour I don’t think
Prosecutors wanted jurors to hear that phrase Plote used —
MATTHEW PLOTE: I mean, there’s a deadline for — for that.
— referring to the birth of his son as a “deadline.”
Allison Huntley: He said, there’s a deadline to these kinds of things. That was his deadline to murder Melissa.
Heather Kruse: So, if you think about it logically, Thursday’s Thanksgiving and Friday is her due date, his deadline. The only time to do this was Wednesday. So he took off work and completed his goal.
The prosecutors found even more telling what Plote didn’tsay — especially during that seven-hour interview — four hours of which were played for the jury.
Allison Huntley: What is chilling … is the fact that he never denied murdering Melissa. And he never denied killing her baby boy, not one time. It’s chilling from a personal perspective, but that’s also excellent evidence that the defendant couldn’t bring himself to lie about that fact.
John Kopp: Over the course of multiple interviews for several hours, he was calm and reserved.
His silence, the defense says, actually points to his innocence — not his guilt.
Prosecutors wanted jurors to hear that phrase Plote used —
MATTHEW PLOTE: I mean, there’s a deadline for — for that.
— referring to the birth of his son as a “deadline.”
Allison Huntley: He said, there’s a deadline to these kinds of things. That was his deadline to murder Melissa.
Heather Kruse: So, if you think about it logically, Thursday’s Thanksgiving and Friday is her due date, his deadline. The only time to do this was Wednesday. So he took off work and completed his goal.
The prosecutors found even more telling what Plote didn’tsay — especially during that seven-hour interview — four hours of which were played for the jury.
Allison Huntley: What is chilling … is the fact that he never denied murdering Melissa. And he never denied killing her baby boy, not one time. It’s chilling from a personal perspective, but that’s also excellent evidence that the defendant couldn’t bring himself to lie about that fact.
John Kopp: Over the course of multiple interviews for several hours, he was calm and reserved.
His silence, the defense says, actually points to his innocence — not his guilt.
QUESTIONING THE INVESTIGATION
John Kopp: The State’s expert didn’t do a fraction of what he should have done to properly determine the cause of the fire. … This should have been an undetermined fire.
To try to poke holes in the prosecution’s case, the defense called only one witness: retired firefighter and independent inspector John Knapp. He was not at the scene of the fire but did study reports and photos.
JOHN KNAPP (in court): I felt like there was probably more information that could have been gathered that wasn’t …
He disputed the prosecution’s claim that Plote set the fire. He testified that the evidence collected doesn’t prove that the fire was intentionally set byanyone.
JOHN KNAPP (in court): I couldn’t make that determination to whether or not — what the cause of the fire should be other than undetermined.
Michael Poel: When you’re not there at the scene, you don’t see what we’ve seen, not always does every little tidbit end up in a report.
Poel says the defense’s expert is wrong, and that his investigation was thorough.
Michael Poel: We’re looking for anything and everything that could have contributed to the origins of this fire. … They weren’t there. … You needed to be there when we were doing the examination.
Plote waived his right to testify. During closing arguments, the defense accused investigators of having tunnel vision.
John Kopp: The complete lack of investigation … of any other individual is shocking. I’ve never seen such a poorly investigated case.
Liam Dixon: They didn’t follow-up on any other leads that may have happened. Any other boyfriends, any other — anybody else.
Allison Huntley: If there had been another lead, investigators certainly would’ve followed it. There simply wasn’t..
Prosecutors told the jury that the evidence was clear: Melissa Lamesch was strangled to death by the only person who had a motive to kill her, Matthew Plote, who was juggling multiple women and didn’t want to change his lifestyle.
Allison Huntley: He clearly … did not want to be involved in this baby’s life. This is someone who actively hid the fact that a woman in the community was carrying his child.
John Kopp: He … clearly had made some choices about having … multiple relationships but did not make him a killer.
The trial lasted a week. After two hours of deliberation, the jury returned with a verdict: guilty of all charges.
Deanna Lamesch: I could hear people sobbing and gasping … but like, I — I couldn’t even lift my head …
Nikki Battiste: What did you feel?
Deanna Lamesch: Shock. Shock.
The verdict was a relief for Chief Schultz. He says the case had long weighed on him and everyone at the firehouse who had worked with Plote.
Chief Rob Schultz: There was a huge closure here when Matt was found guilty. … You still have the family out there that lost a daughter or lost a grandson … You’re never going to change that.
Three months later, on June 27, 2024, Melissa’s family and friends gathered at the courthouse for sentencing. Plote listened with little reaction as victim impact statements were read:
GUS LAMESCH (in court): We lost Melissa in the prime of her life. … Melissa and Barrett should still be alive and enjoying life with her loving family.
Cassie Baal looks at Matthew Plote, foreground left, as she gave her victim impact statement at Plote’s sentencing.
CBS News
CASSIE BAAL (in court): I shouldn’t have spent Thanksgiving that year feeling like there was nothing to be thankful for. … This shouldn’t be real, but it is real. It is all real because one man decided to make the decision that Barrett and Melissa weren’t needed or wanted.
DEANNA LAMESCH (in court): None of this had to happen, all he had to do was walk away.
Plote also addressed the court with this brief statement:
MATTHEW PLOTE (in court): To say anything other than I share the pain and the sadness and the loss of Melissa and Barrett.
Nikki Battiste: Do you believe him?
Gus Lamesch: Oh, no, definitely not.
Cassie Baal: For him to … say, “I too have pain and loss for Melissa and Barrett,” like that — what a joke.
Judge John Roe imposed the maximum sentence: life behind bars.
Nikki Battiste: Matthew Plote will likely die in prison. Does that give you any sort of peace?
Deanna Lamesch: No. … I know it’s the justice system and we received our justice, but nothing about this is just. Nothing about this is fair. No punishment in the world brings them back.
Melissa’s sister Julialyn Shedd tries to hold onto fond memories.
Julialyn Shedd: I miss her personality. … I think it’s her sass. … Melissa was — I believe still is the best person that I’ve ever met.
“Melissa was … unapologetically herself, and that is what she was,” Cassie Baal said of her sister. “She’s a perfect mix of sugar and spice. … Not too spicy, not too sugary. It was just perfect.”
Photography by Angel Studio
Nikki Battiste: What do you miss most about your daughter and there’s a grandson you never got to meet?
Gus Lamesch: Where do you start. I mean … he was gonna come into my home. … I was looking forward to raising him.
Through all of their grief, the Lamesch family honors Melissa in many ways.
Deanna Lamesch: We took toys to a local homeless shelter.
Nikki Battiste: To honor Barrett?
Deanna Lamesch: To honor Barrett. … We donated money to the no-kill shelter that Melissa got her cat from.
They also sponsored a tree at a local arboretum that Melissa loved.
Deanna Lamesch: Every year … at the holidays, this tree will always be lit as part of their display.
Shining brightly, like Melissa always did.
Cassie Baal: Melissa was strong. She was fierce. She was powerful. Nothing was gonna stop her. And she was always gonna prove herself and she’d do whatever it take to do it.
“48 HOURS” POST MORTEM
“48 Hours” contributor Nikki Battiste and producer Ruth Chenetz discuss the relationship between Melissa Lamesch and Matthew Plote, the defense’s attempt to cast doubt on the investigation, and the touching story of how Melissa’s family discovered the name she had chosen for her soon-to-be-born baby boy.
Produced by Ruth Chenetz and Emily Wichick Hourihane. Michelle Sigona is the development producer. Michael Baluzy and Phil Tangel are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.
Archivist and music historian Alex Palao worked to restore old tapes by “Sly and Family Stone” that gathered dust for decades. He co-produced the live album called “The First Family: Live at the Winchester Cathedral 1967.” He is now nominated for “Best Album Notes” at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. CBS News San Francisco’s Max Darrow has the story.
Extreme winter weather hit parts of the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, with the Carolinas bearing the brunt. Skyler Henry reports from Norfolk, Virginia.
The march was nonviolent, without incident, and completed at the State Capitol on time. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
At the Atlanta University Center, a march was held in solidarity with recent protests and demonstrations across the country. On Saturday, January 31, students from Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, Morehouse College, and Spelman College met outside of the Robert W. Woodruff Library under the pavilion and prepared their signs for the march.
What began with a dozen students quickly became 50-60 students marching their way from their incubator of education, a safe space for many of them who are from places beyond Georgia, and on to the Georgia State Capitol.
It was snowing during the march from the AUC to the Georgia State Capitol and back on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The three student organizers behind the march told The Atlanta Voice that the purpose of the march was not only in opposition to this country’s immigration policies, but also state-sanctioned violence similar to what has taken place in Minnesota following the deaths of two Americans involved in ICE-related and Border Patrol-related shootings, and policies that harm members of the Black community.
Meyunna Montgomery, a student organizer and the president of the Accountability Initiative, an on-campus organization, made sure marchers checked in via the QR code and picked up hand warmers before the march began. “No sign in, no hand warmers,” she shouted through the megaphone she wielded.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Montgomery is from Atlanta and knew she would participate in an anti-ICE, anti-administration March, rally, or protest at some point. “I have been protesting my whole life. As a woman, as a Black woman, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I’m being targeted every single day,” she said.
Fellow student organizer A’Nija Hughley, a native of St. Louis, said she came to school in the Atlanta University Center for moments like these.
“I want to do this. I feel like it’s a part of our role to be a part of these movements,” Hughley said.
Myanna Garrison of Baltimore was the third student organizer involved. Watching the number of marchers grow from a small group to a small army, she walked around saying to herself, “Wow, wow, wow.”
“As a part of the Atlanta University Center, we’re founded in activism,” Garrison said. “It’s contradictory to not be a part of movements like this. This is what you signed up for.”
Spelman College Public Safety Chief Moses Purdue (above, center) addresses the students before the march. Both campus security and officers from the Atlanta Police Department (APD) provided a security detail for the marchers. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Both campus security and officers from the Atlanta Police Department (APD) provided a security detail for the marchers. A half-hour before the march began, APD Lt. Bailey came over to Garrison, Hughley, and Montgomery to go over the march route and safety plan. The safe word for the day was “claws.”
A female student wearing a black sweatshirt with the words “Black, Bold, Beautiful” picked out a sign to carry and joined her friends, who were waiting for the march to begin. Adeed Boreden, a Morehouse student from Chicago, grabbed a sign and handwarmers. He said he came to Morehouse for what he called “Good trouble” like this.
“There is no way I go to Morehouse, and I’m not participating in this march,” he said. “No way.”
Montgomery stood atop a small wall outside the pavilion and asked for everyone’s attention. She shared the safe word, repeated the march route, and thanked them for participating. She is majoring in political science and has a goal of being a Georgia State Representative or State Senator one day. “This is where I get my experience,” she said of social activism. “When you apply to be a student in the AUC, you have to be included in the movement. I’m always going to be on board.”
The march was nonviolent, without incident, and completed at the State Capitol on time.
Actor Demond Wilson, best known for playing Lamont Sanford in the popular 1970s TV show “Sanford and Son,” has died at the age of 79, his publicist confirmed to CBS News on Sunday.
“The family of Demond Wilson is deeply saddened by his passing,” Mark Goldman told CBS News in a statement. “At this time, they ask for privacy as they grieve.”
He said no further details were available.
Wilson’s son, Demond Wilson Jr., told TMZ that his father died Friday of complications from cancer at his home in Palm Springs, California.
Demond Wilson attends the 2016 Chiller Theater Expo at Parsippany Hilton on April 22, 2016 in Parsippany, New Jersey.
Bobby Bank/WireImage via Getty
Goldman, who worked with Wilson for 15 years, said the actor’s loss is “profoundly felt.”
“He was an unbelievable man and his impact will never be forgotten,” he said. “The family appreciates the support and understanding of the community during this difficult time.”
Wilson, who was born in Georgia, grew up in New York City and studied tap dancing and ballet. He made his Broadway debut at the age of four with William Marshall and Ossie Davis in a revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Green Pastures” and danced at Harlem’s Apollo Theater at age 12. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 until 1968 and was stationed in Vietnam.
After returning to New York, he appeared in several shows on Broadway before moving out to Los Angeles.
In 1971, he appeared on an episode of “All in the Family,” playing a burglar alongside Cleavon Little, who held the Bunkers hostage in their home. That role led him to land the part of Lamont Sanford, the son of aging widower Fred G. Sanford, in “Sanford and Son” alongside Redd Foxx.
Demond Wilson as Lamont Sanford, Whitman Mayo as Grady Wilson in “Sanford and Son”
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
After six seasons — which included five as a 10-ten hit — Wilson turned down an offer to lead the show by himself after Foxx left in a salary dispute. He went on to star in CBS’s “Baby … I’m Back,” but the show only last 13 episodes.
Wilson then starred opposite Ron Glass in “The New Odd Couple,” which only lasted 18 episodes.
In the 1980s, Wilson beat a cocaine problem and became ordained as an interdenominational minister. In 2009, he wrote the book, “Second Banana: The Bitter Sweet Memories of the Sanford & Son Years.”
Wilson is survived by his wife and their six children.
Federal judge Kate Menendez denied Minnesota’s motion for a temporary restraining order to halt “Operation Metro Surge” on Saturday. The court documents, filed on Saturday, say that Minnesota and its cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have not met their burden of proof.
The argument to halt operations, in part, stated that the federal operation is “causing harm to the Twin Cities and State themselves, as well as their residents.” Lawyers with the U.S. Department of Justice have called the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”
In the court documents, Menendez cited another recent case where the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently vacated the preliminary injunction ruling that restricted the force federal agents can use on peaceful protesters, saying that court case had “much more settled precedent” in that case and that “the Court of Appeals determined that the injunction would cause irreparable harm to the government because it would hamper their efforts to enforce federal law.” Menendez also wrote, “If that injunction went too far, then halting the entire operation certainly would.”
“Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments as to motivation and the relative merits of each side’s competing positions are unclear, the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction,” the judge said in the ruling.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released a statement after Menendez’s ruling that stated in part:
“Of course, we’re disappointed. This decision doesn’t change what people here have lived through — fear, disruption, and harm caused by a federal operation that never belonged in Minneapolis in the first place. This operation has not brought public safety. It’s brought the opposite and has detracted from the order we need for a working city. It’s an invasion, and it needs to stop.”
The state of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have sought a temporary restraining order in their lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media Saturday to laud the ruling, calling it “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department on X.
Minnesota’s argument
The state filed the lawsuit claiming the Trump administration has “violated the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” through infringement of police power and unlawful coercion. Minnesota alleges it “has been singled out and targeted by ICE in a way that no other state has experienced.”
In the court filing, Minnesota argues that the operation is not motivated by “a legitimate law-enforcement purpose” but rather serves as a “pretext for leveraging demands and punishing political leaders within the State and Twin Cities who oppose the Trump administration’s immigration policies.”
Court documents also state that the large-scale presence of federal agents has disrupted the healthcare industry, affected local businesses and stopped residents from going to religious services. The state also claims that “federal officers’ use of force and being detained on their way to and from school had had ‘negative impacts on attendance and student focus’” forcing several school districts to temporarily close.
Trump administration’s argument
The Trump administration argues Operation Metro Surge was launched “to address the dangers arising from the presence of illegal aliens in the Twin Cities.” The administration also argues the dangers are exacerbated by Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul’s sanctuary city policies.
The Trump administration also claims that Operation Metro Surge has “strictly been in furtherance of “the enforcement of federal law,” in line with President Trump’s campaign promises.”
Jose Huerta Chuma is a man in hiding — and he’s also a man in distress. He’s been replaying the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti over and over again in his mind, wondering if he could have done something differently and if there’s something that “would have saved that life.”
The 41-year-old immigrant from Ecuador, who said he has been in the U.S. for over two decades, described witnessing the shooting after hiding inside a local business. The Department of Homeland Security has described Huerta Chuma as a criminal living in the U.S. illegally who was the target of the Border Patrol operation that led to the encounter with Pretti on Saturday, Jan. 24.
“I think, maybe if I hadn’t gone to that place, or I don’t know, a little later or a little earlier, I mean, that never would have happened,” Huerta Chuma told CBS News during a phone interview conducted in Spanish.
Asked if he feels some sense of guilt, he said, while crying, his voice fraught with emotion: “I do feel guilty, I do feel bad. I saw stories about the man and I saw a very good person.”
DHS officials have described Huerta Chuma as a “violent criminal illegal alien” on the loose. Documents reviewed by CBS News indicate Huerta Chuma’s record includes traffic violations, and that he pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct misdemeanor offense in 2018. The New York Times reported, citing Minnesota court documents, that the plea was linked to a domestic violence arrest, and that the offense was later expunged.
Huerta Chuma said the domestic violence case stemmed from an argument with his partner at the time. The Minnesota Department of Corrections said in a statement that Huerta Chuma has never been in the state’s prison system and that it did not find felony convictions in his case.
CBS News reached out to representatives for DHS seeking comment about Huerta Chuma’s record and whether officials are still pursuing him.
A shooting witnessed from a hiding spot
In his first public comments, Huerta Chuma told CBS News he immigrated from Ecuador in the early 2000s, in his twenties. Before Pretti’s shooting upended his life, he was raising his American-born children while working as a rideshare driver.
“I’m not a criminal. I just was working that day,” he said. “I was going to pick up the delivery.”
Huerta Chuma said he was on his way to pick up a delivery order around 8:18 a.m. on Jan. 24 in south Minneapolis. (He showed CBS News screenshots of the route from that morning indicating he was in the area where the shooting happened.) It was a routine delivery, similar to the almost 20,000 rides he had done over nearly six years.
As he was driving down Nicollet Avenue, Huerta Chuma said he passed a car driving in the opposite direction.
“One agent was staring at me, but I just blinked my eyes and said, ‘God, they’re immigration,’” Huerta Chuma recalled.
“So, when I looked in the mirror, they turned around immediately.”
Huerta Chuma said the agents, who were in a red car without license plates, started to follow him.
“I didn’t run or anything, I left very calm,” he said. “I saw they were with ICE. I knew in my head they were ICE because they turned around so quickly when they [saw] my face.”
Huerta Chuma said he parked his car, got out, and left the vehicle running. He said federal agents started to follow him, and a man at a local business let him inside,locking the door behind him. Huerta Chuma said he hid there for about 4 hours.
Huerta Chuma said he saw Pretti show up and start filming, and he saw a Border Patrol agent push a woman nearby. He said he saw the agents tackle Pretti to the ground and take his gun.
“It all happened so fast,” he said, noting he did not see Pretti trying to hurt the agents or reach for his firearm.
Then he described the rapid-fire shots: “Tac, tac, tac, tac, tac, tac.”
Huerta Chuma said he watched the ambulance arrive, but knew it was too late. He said he saw federal agents write down his license plate. Then he left.
“It felt horrible. To be watching and not being able to do anything,” Huerta Chuma said. “I don’t know how long I will be like this.”
Initial public statements at odds with evidence, official report
Immediately after the shooting Huerta Chuma witnessed, DHS officials made sweeping statements about Pretti and his actions, some of which have since been directly contradicted by videos, witness accounts and a preliminary government report.
DHS initially said one Border Patrol agent fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “approached” agents with his firearm. The department suggested, without citing concrete evidence, that Pretti intended to “massacre” federal agents.
A report to Congress obtained by CBS News earlier this week found that two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons during the Jan. 24 shooting. The report, based on a “preliminary review” by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, also did not mention Pretti reaching for his firearm.
Video analyzed by CBS News shows an agent had removed the gun from Pretti’s waistband one second before another agent fired the first shot.
Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, who has since been reassigned following the bipartisan backlash triggered by Pretti’s killing, described Huerta Chuma as an “illegal alien” during a press conference hours after the deadly shooting. Pointing to a booking photo, Bovino said Huerta Chuma’s record included “domestic assault,” “disorderly conduct” and “driving without a license.”
In a statement two days later, DHS branded Huerta Chuma a “violent criminal illegal alien” who remained “at large,” asking the public to call a government hotline with any tips regarding his whereabouts.
Huerta Chuma said the government was displaying an older picture from after he was arrested in 2018 during an altercation with his wife.
Out of work and on the run
Huerta Chuma did not reveal his whereabouts to CBS News. He said he was worried about his safety, his work and what would happen to his three children born in the U.S. Huerta Chuma said he has two children, ages 11 and 15, who live with him, and another child, a 3-year-old, who lives with the mother. CBS News attempted to reach the children’s mother but did not receive a response.
Information accessed through the Justice Department’s immigration court system says Huerta Chuma’s deportation case was administratively closed in May 2022. The immigration court records do not list a deportation order. Huerta Chuma said he has since applied for a “U visa,” designed to protect immigrants who are victims of crimes and who have assisted law enforcement investigations.
It’s unclear exactly when and how Huerta Chuma first entered the U.S. Huerta Chuma said he has another child living in Ecuador. Court records indicate that Huerta Chuma does not have a criminal record in his native country.
Huerta Chuma said he started working as a rideshare driver so he could have a flexible schedule and be available for his children. But since the shooting, he said, he hasn’t worked, and is rarely eating or sleeping. He said he is continuing to hide.
Though he’s scared about getting arrested, Huerta Chuma said the main source of his consternation is Pretti’s death.
“I’m very devastated, spiritually. Why did they kill the man? He didn’t do anything,” he said. “I was there. I was there. I saw everything.”
Kevin Blair joined Synovus in August 2016 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He was appointed senior executive vice president and chief operating officer in December 2018 and was named president in December 2019. Blair was elected to the board of directors in December 2020 and became president and CEO on April 22, 2021. He was appointed chairman of the board on January 1, 2023. His financial services career began at Signet Bank in Richmond, Virginia, in 1995 and has included leadership in such areas as corporate strategy, line management, strategic finance, and credit risk management.
EDUCATION James Madison University, George Washington University (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Becoming CEO of Synovus Bank, the largest bank headquartered in Georgia. Father of four amazing children, ages 6 to 22. Led $7.2 million United Way annual fundraising campaign in 2020, a record for the Chattahoochee Valley region. WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Banking is a noble profession. We have the opportunity each day to help our clients achieve their financial goals and objectives.
Photograph courtesy of individual
Raphael W. Bostic President and CEO Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Raphael W. Bostic is the 15th president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and a member of the Federal Open Market Committee, the monetary policymaking body of the Federal Reserve System. In 2017, he was recognized as a Planning Pioneer by the American Planning Association’s Los Angeles section, and he received an Urban Leadership Award from the Penn Institute for Urban Research in 2011. Bostic serves on many boards and advisory committees, including Georgia’s Partnership for Inclusive Innovation. He previously served as the chair of the board of directors of the United Way of Greater Atlanta and chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Bostic is a native of Delran, New Jersey.
EDUCATION Harvard University, Stanford University (PhD) HOBBIES Birdwatching, sports NONPROFITS Affordable housing, Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, Human Rights Campaign BUCKET LIST Visiting the state capitol in Honolulu to complete goal of visiting the state capitol buildings in all 50 states
Mary Beth Coke Atlanta Market Executive Regions Bank
Mary Beth Coke joined Regions Bank in 2023 and serves as Atlanta market executive and Commercial Banking district director for Georgia and the Carolinas. Regions is a leading regional financial institution serving people and businesses throughout the Southeast, the Midwest, and Texas. Prior to joining Regions, Coke was the head of Georgia Middle Market Banking at Truist. Deeply committed to the Atlanta community, Coke serves as board chair for the Georgia Council on Economic Education, an organization promoting financial literacy and economic education to K-12 teachers and students across Georgia. She also serves on the Woodruff Arts Center board of trustees and the executive committees of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Chamber of Commerce among other community roles.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech HOMETOWN Madison, Georgia FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m a ninth-generation Georgian. FAVORITE GEORGIA COLLEGE SPORTS TEAM Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Lullwater Preserve
Cynthia N. Day President and CEO Citizens Bancshares Corporation and Citizens Trust Bank
Cynthia Day provides the vision and strategic direction for Citizens Trust Bank as well as serving on the board of directors of Citizens Bancshares Corporation, the parent company for Citizens Trust Bank. During her tenure, the bank continues to reach milestones including achieving record-level earnings since the inception of the institution. These achievements continue to receive recognition as Citizens Trust Bank has been consistently named one of the top African American–owned commercial banks in the country. In February 2025, the Georgia Historical Society and Citizens Trust Bank unveiled a new historical marker detailing the opening of the bank at the bank’s first branch location. On August 16, 1921, businessmen Heman E. Perry, James A. Robinson, Thomas J. Ferguson, W.H. King, and Henry Dugas (known as the “Fervent Five”), opened Citizens Trust Bank on Auburn Avenue to serve Black Atlantans. Prior to her banking career, Day was an audit manager at KPMG and is a certified public accountant with over 35 years of experience and leadership in the banking and financial sectors.
EDUCATION University of Alabama NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta board of directors (2023)
Kathy S. Farrell Head, Commercial Real Estate Truist Financial Corporation
Kathy Farrell has more than 25 years of experience in real estate finance and banking, including origination, underwriting, capital markets, workout strategies, and risk management. Farrell has served as head of commercial real estate since 2019, and her responsibilities expanded to include premium finance and structured credit in 2024. Farrell has also served at SunTrust as chief risk officer for commercial real estate, head of the REIT banking group, and REIT senior credit officer. Previously, she was executive vice president and credit executive of commercial real estate for PNC Bank. Active in the community, Farrell currently serves as board chair of the Truist Foundation. While board chair of The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership from 2023 to 2024, philanthropic investments in BeltLine implementation led by Atlanta BeltLine Inc. accelerated, resulting in 85 percent of the BeltLine mainline trail corridor being completed or under construction.
EDUCATION College of the Holy Cross HOMETOWN Bridgeport, Connecticut WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE Be patient and work hard at your current job. Careers are a marathon and not a sprint.
Berwyn James “BJ” Green State President, Atlanta Division SouthState Bank
In 2024, BJ Green joined SouthState Bank as group president for the Atlanta division to oversee the strategic development, growth, and profitability of banking activities in the region. Prior to this position, Green was executive vice president at Cadence Bank. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry (Banc of America Securities, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Wachovia). Green is an alumnus of Leadership Georgia’s class of 2012, and is either an active or past board member of the Buckhead Coalition, Rotary Club of Atlanta, Trees Atlanta, Woodruff Arts Center, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Kenan-Flagler Business School Alumni Council, and St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP Georgia – Poverty Alleviation).
EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Emory University (MBA) FIRST JOB Mowing yards in my neighborhood for $10 LESSON LEARNED Every time you get promoted it gets harder, not easier. FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT Lake Rabun
Thomas P. Hackett Chairman and CEO Truist Securities
Thomas (Tom) P. Hackett serves as chairman and CEO of Truist Securities, Truist’s full-service corporate and investment bank. Based in Atlanta, he joined Truist Securities in 2008 and has more than 30 years of corporate and investment banking experience. He has been one of the primary architects of a growth strategy that has led Truist Securities to establish itself as a leading player in corporate and investment banking. Hackett has served many leadership roles at Truist Securities and, from 2020 to 2023, was president and chief operating officer, responsible for the Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, M&A, Capital Markets, and Asset Finance organizations. Before Truist, he was managing director of Healthcare at Citi and head of the London office for Prudential Capital Group and held various roles at First Union. He now serves on the Georgia Research Alliance Board of Trustees.
EDUCATION Auburn University, Emory University (MBA) HOMETOWN Minneola, New York MOST INSPIRING PERSON Paul Liedberg (maternal grandfather) FAVORITE MOVIE The Last Samurai
Hank Halter CEO Delta Community Credit Union
Hank Halter is an accounting and finance professional with more than 30 years of experience overseeing finance and accounting operations at Fortune 100 companies. Since 2013, he’s served as CEO of Delta Community Credit Union, Georgia’s largest credit union, which was originally established by eight Delta Airlines employees who wanted to ensure their co-workers and neighbors had access to fairly priced credit and celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2025. Halter, a CPA, came to the credit union from Delta Airlines, where he held a variety of roles retiring as its chief financial officer. Previously he worked at American Airlines and Ernst & Young. Additionally, Halter serves on the board of directors of The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates.
EDUCATION Villanova University, Duke University (MBA) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I was drawn to the credit union mission. It is deeply rewarding to lead an organization committed to improving people’s financial well-being and strengthening communities. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Leading the credit union through the Covid-19 pandemic, and navigating the consequential economic conditions that challenged the financial markets
Samantha W. Jones Regional President of Georgia PNC Bank
Samantha W. Jones was named regional president of Georgia at PNC Bank after the retirement of Eddie Meyers following a successful 25-year career with the bank. Jones brings to PNC nearly 30 years of experience and impact as a successful financial service executive. She was most recently executive vice president and credit executive for the Commercial Banking Credit Execution team at Wells Fargo, where from her Atlanta home base she oversaw a team of more than 1,000 global employees in support of clients with annual revenues of $10 million to $2 billion. Prior to achieving success in this executive role of global reach, Jones managed the Southern California division for Commercial Banking at Wells Fargo. During her 22 years at the bank, she also served as regional vice president, loan team manager, and relationship manager.
EDUCATION Spelman College, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
Laura King President Georgia United Credit Union
Currently serving as president alongside longtime CEO Debbie Smith, who is retiring effective Dec. 31, 2025, Laura King is poised to assume the dual role of president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2026. This planned transition reflects Georgia United’s confidence in her visionary leadership and ensures continuity as the organization enters its next chapter. Under the direction of King, who joined Georgia United in 2021, the credit union has achieved double-digit growth in member engagement and launched award-winning digital solutions that streamline access to financial services. Previously, King held pivotal roles at Georgia’s Own Credit Union as senior vice president of Retail, Sales and Digital Delivery and spent 19 years at LGE Community Credit Union, rising to executive vice president and serving as both chief operating officer and chief information officer.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HIDDEN TALENT Organizing chaos. Whether it’s a messy closet or a packed schedule, I’ve got a knack for bringing order. WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF How we spend our days is ultimately how we spend our lives. Spend them wisely.
Randy Koporc President and CEO Fifth Third Bank Georgia
Randy Koporc serves as president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank in Georgia, responsible for the growth and strategic alignment of the bank’s commercial, wealth and asset management, and consumer businesses. Under his leadership, the bank has accelerated its growth in the region and worked with many local organizations to strengthen communities in metro Atlanta and beyond. In 2025, Fifth Third Bank celebrated 166.7 years of serving customers. That designation is unique because its name, often displayed as the fraction 5/3, is equal to 166.7 percent. Koporc has been with Fifth Third Bank since 2010; before joining the company, he worked for Wells Fargo. He serves on many boards including the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Atlanta Sports Council, and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta.
EDUCATION University of Florida, University of Central Florida (MBA) HOMETOWN Orlando, Florida FIRST JOB Runway flight crew member for Delta Air Lines in Orlando HOBBIES Coaching my kids in baseball, golf, traveling FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Chattahoochee River
Hodges Markwalter Cofounder and Chief Revenue Officer VIVA Finance
Hodges Markwalter is the cofounder and chief revenue officer of VIVA Finance, a mission-driven fintech company reshaping access to credit for working Americans. Since cofounding the company in 2019, Markwalter has led VIVA’s revenue strategy and played a key role in scaling the business from a concept into a national platform. Before VIVA, Markwalter began his career in investment banking at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, where he worked in equity capital markets. There, he supported capital raises for public companies and developed a strong foundation in financial structuring, strategic execution, and investor relations. In 2022, Markwalter was included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. A born and raised Atlantan and one of five brothers, Markwalter is deeply rooted in the city he now helps serve through VIVA’s mission.
EDUCATION University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I am an entrepreneur at heart and have always dreamed of starting a company. Building VIVA has been a dream not only because of the impact that we have on customers, but also because it is fulfilling to take an idea and turn it into a viable business that employs over 60 people.
Jack Markwalter CEO VIVA Finance
As CEO of VIVA Finance, Jack Markwalter oversees the performance of the portfolio, comanages the product roadmap, and works directly with the finance team to establish and update reporting policies. He built VIVA’s underwriting model from scratch and is experienced in using data analytics platforms such as Tableau and AWS QuickSight in decision making along with a competency in coding languages such as Javascript, Swift, SQL, and React. Markwalter previously worked as the lead analyst managing Third Lake Capital’s consumer finance portfolio. There, he led the growth of TLC’s loan portfolio from $40 million to over $105 million in receivables in a two-year period.
EDUCATION University of Notre Dame NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSForbes 30 under 30; Deloitte Fast 500; Inc. 5000; Inc. Regionals HIDDEN TALENT I won a middle school state chess championship. FAVORITE GEORGIA PRO SPORTS TEAM Atlanta Hawks FAVORITE POWER LUNCH RESTAURANT gusto!
Alfred L. McRae Jr. President Bank of America Atlanta
Alfred “Al” L. McRae Jr. serves as Bank of America’s leader in the local market, responsible for delivering growth for shareholders, clients, and communities. His leadership includes driving business integration and local market share growth by connecting Bank of America’s capabilities across its eight lines of business to people and companies while deploying Bank of America’s resources to build strong communities. Additionally, McRae serves as managing director and Diverse Segments Business Development executive for Bank of America’s Private Bank. Active in the community, he serves on boards for the Woodruff Arts Center, the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, the Georgia State University Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, and Central Atlanta Progress. A member of Leadership Atlanta class of 2023, he’s also a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
EDUCATION Georgia State University HOMETOWN Dublin, Georgia BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Proactively seek out those situations and positions that make you most uncomfortable; that’s where the opportunity for growth and development will reside.
Charles E. Potts Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Independent Community Bankers of America
As executive vice president and chief innovation officer for the Independent Community Bankers of America, Charles E. Potts drives ICBA’s innovation initiatives and financial technology strategies, working with ICBA leadership to develop impactful, value-added solutions that help community banks seize new market opportunities to meet customers’ evolving financial services needs. Potts previously served as executive managing director at First Performance Global, where he led international business and corporate development activities for its card-control and fraud alert platform. Before that, he served as CEO for NetClarity, a start-up in the University of Florida’s Business Incubation Hub.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University FIRST JOB My first job was working on my uncle’s farm in Alabama. I spent the summers working with cattle and harvesting crops. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m an extroverted introvert. WHAT YOU’D TELL YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Buy Apple stock. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC David Hyde Pierce
David Preter President and CEO Georgia’s Own Credit Union
David Preter is president and CEO of Georgia’s Own Credit Union, a $4.3 billion financial services institution. Before assuming his current role in 2011, Preter facilitated growth in the credit union industry by bolstering and executing the strategic plans of several organizations in the Midwest and Southeast. Under his leadership, Georgia’s Own has seen membership grow by 24 percent and assets nearly double. Georgia’s Own Foundation, which Preter created, amplifies the organization’s commitment to the community by empowering local youth.
EDUCATION University of Missouri FEW PEOPLE KNOW Delivering papers at age 13, I learned that if you work harder and longer than others, you get more opportunities and better pay. That worked for my next three student jobs: caddie, fast food cook, and exterminator. It worked in my professional career too. FAVORITE MOVIE The Marvel movies FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT The Varsity
Jai Rogers-Thomas Vice President, Business and Community Development Delta Community Credit Union
Jai Rogers-Thomas joined Delta Community Credit Union in 2012 as vice president of business and community development and leads a team responsible for developing business strategies with metro Atlanta companies and executing a comprehensive community engagement strategy to strengthen civic and educational collaborations. Active in the community, Rogers-Thomas serves as board chair for Trees Atlanta and the City Springs Theatre Company and sits on boards for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and Kennesaw State University’s Bagwell College of Education. She is also the recipient of the 2023 Atlanta Business Chronicle Corporate Citizenship Award.
EDUCATION California State University, Long Beach FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION African holiday to Botswana, Mauritius, South Africa, and Zimbabwe INSPIRING PERSON My mother always encouraged me to pursue my love of travel by FEW PEOPLE KNOW My twin sister and I have the same first name.
Katie Saez Executive Vice President and Georgia Regional President Truist Financial Corporation
As executive vice president and Georgia regional president for Truist Financial Corporation, Saez serves as the senior leader in the Georgia Market, responsible for direction and integrating client management business development efforts with privately-held companies operating in business banking, commercial, middle market, and commercial real estate, as well as nonprofit and governmental entities. A 25-year veteran of the financial services industry, Saez joined Truist (formerly SunTrust) in 2000. Saez is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2024.
EDUCATION University of Florida, Georgia State University (MBA) FEW PEOPLE KNOW As a child, I earned a black belt in karate. INSPIRING PERSON My grandfather who immigrated from Cuba and graduated from the University of Florida WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I was always the banker playing Monopoly as a child.
Jack Sawyer Chair Emeritus Cresset Capital
Chair emeritus of Cresset Capital in the Atlanta region, Jack Sawyer is a fiduciary attorney, specializing in trust and estate management, charitable planning, private foundation administration, and family office services. Sawyer, who serves as board chair for Andee’s Army, has served on the boards of several private foundations and nonprofits, including the nsoro Foundation, the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, Open Hand, the Georgia Museum of Art, and the High Museum of Art. He received the American Jewish Committee’s National Human Relations Award in 2011 and has been honored by the Atlanta History Center Swan House Ball, the National Black Arts Festival, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the United Negro College Fund Mayors’ Masked Ball, Tiffany’s Blue Angels, and more.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Mercer University School of Law (JD) BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, “If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself; something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you.”
Wendy Stewart President, Global Commercial Banking Bank of America
Wendy Stewart is president of global commercial banking for Bank of America and a member of the company’s executive management team. In this role, Stewart oversees one of the firm’s eight lines of business, which delivers integrated financial solutions to public and private companies with annual revenues of $50 million to over $2 billion across middle market banking; real estate; healthcare, education and nonprofits; and dealer financial services. Stewart serves on the board of directors and executive committee for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the board of directors for Grove Park Foundation, as a director of the Buckhead Coalition, and is a member of the Atlanta Committee for Progress. Stewart was included on Barron’s 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance.
EDUCATION Presbyterian College (BS, BA) HOMETOWN Raleigh, North Carolina FIRST JOB Accessory Lady, also known as a sales associate, at Perimeter Mall FAVORITE SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT Le Colonial BUCKET LIST Trip to Montenegro and Bosnia
Justin A. Sullivan Senior Vice President and Market Leader PNC Private Bank and Hawthorn Family OfficeJustin A. Sullivan helps ensure that clients benefit from a full complement of investment, trust, financial planning, and private banking services to help them achieve their financial goals. He has regularly been featured on local television, national radio, and multiple written publications sharing advice on investments and financial planning and has been recognized and awarded by PNC for consecutive years as a top-performing investment professional. In 2018, he was recognized by InvestmentNews magazine as one of the top 40 financial professionals under 40 years old across the country. He currently serves on boards for the Midtown Alliance and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
EDUCATION University of Pittsburgh HOMETOWN Philadelphia FAVORITE BOOKBorn a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Center for Civil and Human Rights
Todd Tautfest Partner, Managing Director, and Wealth Advisor Cresset
Todd Tautfest is a partner, managing director, and wealth advisor for Cresset’s multi-family office in Atlanta. Tautfest has over 30 years of experience in wealth management focused on the unique needs of high-net-worth families and individuals. Prior to Cresset, Tautfest was managing director, Southeast region for Wilmington Trust, where he worked with high-net-worth clients, business owners, foundations, and endowments. He is a member of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council and the advisory board for Open Hand Atlanta. He previously served on boards of the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia.
EDUCATION The University of Oklahoma HOMETOWN Weatherford, Oklahoma FIRST JOB Sweeping the floor at Tautfest Furniture & Appliance in Weatherford, Oklahoma FAVORITE BOOKThe Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell BEST ADVICE RECEIVED From my dad: “You spend your life building your reputation and you can destroy it in five minutes.”
INVESTMENT ADVISORS & FUNDS
Charles Andros President and Chief Investment Officer Bay Point Advisors
Charles Andros is a founding partner, president, and chief investment officer of Bay Point Advisors, a leading hedge fund specializing in asset-based direct lending, which has deployed over $1.6 billion since its inception in 2012. In his roles, Andros focuses on complex transactions and sectors of the economy that mainstream lenders ignore, and under his leadership, Bay Point has expanded into entertainment financing as Bay Point Media with the growth of production facilities in metro Atlanta. In partnership with Trilith Studios, among pivotal projects to come is the construction and development of the United States Soccer Federation’s new national training center and headquarters, now known as the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, which is expected to open in 2026. Additionally, Bay Point, Trilith, and Four Stones Real Estate partnered to form the Trilith Land Fund to develop more partners and projects in the Fayetteville area. Andros began his career working as a clerk on the floor at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for an S&P futures pit trader.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Dalton, Georgia
Neal Aronson Founder and Managing Partner Roark Capital Group
Neal Aronson is founder and managing partner of Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer and business service companies, with a specialization in franchised and multiunit business models in the restaurant, consumer and business services, and health, wellness and fitness, and education and youth sectors. Roark brands generate approximately $94 billion in annual system revenues from 107,500 locations in 50 states and 118 countries. Prior to founding Roark, Aronson was cofounder and chief financial officer of U.S. Franchise Systems. Previously, he was a principal of Odyssey Partners, a principal and general partner at Acadia Partners (now Oak Hill Partners), and subsequently a managing director of a successor company, Rosecliff. He began his career in the corporate finance department at Drexel Burnham Lambert.
EDUCATION Lehigh University
Andy Berg Chairman HB Wealth
In 1989, Andy Berg and David Homrich cofounded the wealth management firm HB Wealth with the belief that high-net-worth individuals need access to conflict-free financial planning and investment advice. Today, HB Wealth manages over $29 billion for more than 4,600 family relationships nationwide. Serving on several boards including boards for the Atlanta Police Foundation, the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, Inc., and the Atlanta Tipoff Club, Berg is also a contributor to financial media and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and elsewhere.
EDUCATION Purdue University HOMETOWN Milwaukee, Wisconsin NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSBarron’s top independent advisor and Hall of Fame advisor and Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors for high net worth for Atlanta HOBBY Golf
Michael Fierman Managing Partner and Co-CEO Angel Oak Companies
Michael Fierman is the managing partner and co-CEO of Angel Oak Companies, a leading firm specializing in mortgage lending and asset management. Under the Atlanta native’s leadership, Angel Oak has become one of the nation’s top nonbank wholesale and correspondent lenders of non-qualified mortgage loans, operating in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Angel Oak Capital Advisors, the firm’s asset management division, manages over $17 billion in assets and has securitized more than $18 billion in non-qualified mortgages. With Fierman’s guidance, Angel Oak Capital Advisors launched a rapidly growing ETF (exchange-traded fund) platform, which has amassed over $1 billion in assets in under two years, with plans to surpass $2 billion by the end of 2025. Fierman also serves as a member of the UGA Terry College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council and the Buckhead Coalition.
EDUCATION University of Georgia INSPIRING PERSON My mother Hidden talent: I am an instrument-rated pilot. WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Don’t chase money. Find your passion and surround yourself with the smartest people you can find. Good things will happen.
Aziz Hashim Founder and Managing Partner NRD Capital
Aziz Hashim is the managing partner of NRD Capital, a private investment firm he founded in 2014 that invests in companies that offer compelling unit-level economics, as well as in technologies that improve the profitability of operators. Its portfolio includes Experiential Brands, Altitude Trampoline Parks, The Pickle Pad, Harri, and Qu POS.
EDUCATION University of California, Irvine NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS UCI Samueli School of Engineering Hall of Fame (2020), Nation’s Restaurant News Power List (2018), Restaurant Business Magazine Power 20 (2018) FIRST JOB Burger King LESSON LEARNED Have a clear vision of what contribution you want to make in this world, ideally based on your unique skill sets, and then pursue that path with patience, perseverance, and passion.
Donte Miller Cofounder and President Village Micro Fund
Donte Miller is president of the nonprofit Village Micro Fund, which he founded in 2014 with Nathan Jones and Robin McKinnie. The organization offers support and classes to entrepreneurs in underserved communities and uses crowdfunding to invest in small businesses. VMF also created a Worker’s Equity Fund that uses equity investments to turn small businesses into worker-owned cooperatives by selling shares back to employees. Previously, Miller has had work experience at Goldman Sachs, Google, and the Atlanta Micro Fund, and he’s been featured on WABE and in The Bitter Southerner. In 2022, Miller was included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
EDUCATION Morehouse College REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK My late grandmother fed whole neighborhoods. Brilliant hands that could have worn a chef’s whites, earned stars, and commanded kitchens. Instead, she made sandwiches at Subway, one of countless souls whose genius never found its stage, whose gifts were buried in ordinary days. I chose this work to honor all the grandmothers who died as sandwich artists when they were born to be so much more. INSPIRING PERSON Ryan Coogler
David Nicholas CEO and Founder Nicholas Wealth Management
David Nicholas is the CEO and founder of Nicholas Wealth Management, a private wealth management firm that helps clients—from families to corporations—navigate the world of financial markets and economics. A sought-after commentator on financial and economic matters, Nicholas has been featured on CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, Fox & Friends, and CBS News.
EDUCATION Kennesaw State University, University of Georgia (MS) HOMETOWN Kennesaw REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK My mom was a single mom and raised me and my two sisters. She got very bad financial advice from a financial advisor who didn’t take the time to recommend what was in her best interest. She lost almost all of her retirement savings. I made a promise that what happened to her would never happen to any of my clients regardless of how much they had to invest. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Rang the Opening Bell on the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the listing of our Nicholas Fixed Income Alternative ETF (NYSE: FIAX) NONPROFITS My wife and I feel called to help support orphanages in Uganda and Indonesia. Our Hope International takes in disabled orphans in Uganda and cares and provides for them. Mercy Indonesia cares for orphans in extreme poverty and gives them hope.
David Panton Managing Partner Navigation Capital Partners
David Panton is managing partner of Navigation Capital Partners’ SPAC Operations Group, which is focused on building a diversified portfolio of investments in special-purpose acquisitions companies using three strategies: providing sponsor capital, leading investments in SPAC initial public offerings, and investing in and pricing private investments in public entities for SPACs. Panton is also a cofounder of Navigation Capital Partners and the chair of Panton Equity Partners, a private family office he founded in 2012. A former member of Jamaica’s Senate, Panton is also senior advisor–private equity for CEA Group and an adjunct professor of finance at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
EDUCATION Princeton University, Oxford University (PhD), Harvard Law School (JD) HOMETOWN Mandeville, Jamaica FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Chef Rob’s Cafe & Bar
Rashaun Williams Founder and Chief Investment Officer Harbinger Sports Partners Limited Partner Atlanta Falcons Guest Shark ABC’s Shark Tank
Rashaun Williams is the founder and CIO of Harbinger Sports Partners and a guest shark on ABC’s Shark Tank. He is also a limited partner with the Atlanta Falcons and has over 170 investments under his belt with over 50 exits. Williams is the founder of his family office Value Investment Group, and was a general partner in the MVP All-Star Fund. He cofounded venture capital fund Queensbridge Venture Partners where he was an early investor in companies including Robinhood, Coinbase, Casper, Ring, PillPack, Lyft, and Dropbox. Williams started his career at Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs, Wachovia Securities, and Deutsche Bank. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Williams also serves on the board of directors for The Atlanta Opera.
EDUCATION Morehouse College FAVORITE SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT La Grotta Ristorante Italiano GREATEST ACCOMPISHMENT Changing the trajectory of my family in one generation, with my children
John Wright II CEO and Managing Partner Northwestern Mutual Goodwin, Wright
John Wright II is CEO and managing partner of Northwestern Mutual Goodwin, Wright, a premier financial planning security firm known for its strong culture and top-tier talent development. Under Wright’s leadership, the firm stewards over $63 billion in life insurance protection and has expanded its investment arm nearly 20 times since 2005. Earning meaningful awards including Most Admired CEO, Best Places to Work, Atlanta’s Healthiest Employers, Wright is also committed to a culture of respect. Giving back is another core value of Wright and his team. Their generosity has supported countless charities, from funding childhood cancer research to supporting veterans. They also founded IMPACT Day, an annual day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day honoring his legacy. To date, this day of service has led to thousands of volunteer hours, $250,000 in donations for students and families in need, and dozens of scholarships – creating a lasting community impact.
PRIVATE COMPANIES
Photograph courtesy of individual
Paul Brown Cofounder and CEO Inspire Brands
Paul Brown is cofounder and CEO of Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and Sonic locations worldwide. In 2024, its brands achieved more than $32.6 billion in global system sales. Inspire is supported by 650,000 company and franchise team employees. Active in the community, Brown was named chair of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta board of trustees, having served on the board since 2019.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management (MBA), Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (MA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Silver Plate Award (2018 ), Restaurant Business Restaurant Leader of the Year (2017), Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Southeast (2016) CHARITIES Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Tech Foundation, Metro Atlanta Chamber
Andrew T. Cathy CEO Chick-fil-A Inc.
Andrew T. Cathy became the third CEO in the history of Chick-fil-A, Inc. in 2021, following in the footsteps of his father, current chairman Dan T. Cathy, and his late grandfather, founder S. Truett Cathy. With extensive experience working in Chick-fil-A restaurants and serving in multiple support center roles, Cathy is committed to ensuring the future of Chick-fil-A as a healthy, purpose-driven, global organization devoted to making a lasting, positive impact on the people and communities it serves. He is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2020.
EDUCATION University of Georgia MOST INSPIRING PERSON My high school track coach. He made a significant impact on many lives including mine. FAVORITE BOOKThe Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
Susana Chavez Executive Vice President and Partner Park Place
Susana Chavez is executive vice president and partner at Park Place, a national transportation and real estate company with a strong presence in 18 markets across the United States. At Park Place, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024, Chavez spearheaded a corporate initiative to update the technology of the urban markets and become an industry leader in innovative technology. Her strategic approach resulted in a 50 percent increase in revenues within her sector. Formerly, as general manager of parking operations, Chavez managed teams of up to 550 employees at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Parking revenue is the single largest revenue generator at the airport. Over a 29-year period, revenues increased from $12 million to $112 million, with over seven million annual transactions.
EDUCATION University of California, Berkeley NONPROFITS Latin American Association, Atlanta Women’s Foundation, and Families First. Additionally, in 2020, I began picking up trash and cleaning up our neighborhoods, inspired by Ted Turner and others who started the trend. My husband and I pick up trash for one hour daily during our morning walk. I’m also working with Central Atlanta Progress and other organizations, cleaning up trash and planting flowers in an effort to beautify downtown and get to know our neighbors.
René M. Diaz President and CEO Diaz Foods
René Diaz is president and CEO of Atlanta-based Diaz Foods, a specialty-foods distributor to restaurants and grocers in 28 states, with over 400 employees and sales of $200 million. Diaz Foods was founded in 1980 and is a privately owned company. Diaz has served on the boards of Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Leadership Atlanta, and Emory Center for Ethics, among others. Born in Cuba, he came to the U.S. at age six.
EDUCATION Georgia State University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia (2018), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta Legacy Award (2003), Leadership Atlanta class of 1994 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Paris HOBBIES Art collecting FEW PEOPLE KNOW I used to ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Christian Fischer President and CEO Georgia-Pacific
Born and educated in Germany, Christian Fischer became president and CEO of Georgia-Pacific in 2017. He previously served as executive vice president of the packaging and cellulose segment, responsible for GP’s containerboard and kraft paper, corrugated packaging, bleached board, and cellulose businesses. He began his career with the company in 1989 as a market pulp sales manager in Europe. Fischer, who serves on boards for the American Forest & Paper Association, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and The Carter Center, recently announced that Georgia-Pacific is embarking on transforming its iconic 51-story world headquarters and the surrounding city block into a mix of residential living, modern office spaces, retail, restaurants, and a landscaped central plaza for gathering. The proposed development is scheduled for completion in 2027.
EDUCATION University of Hamburg, University of Düsseldorf HIDDEN TALENT I once wanted to become a writer. HOBBIES Listening to music, reading, watching movies, traveling, food
S. Taylor Glover President and CEO Turner Enterprises
Taylor Glover is president and CEO of Turner Enterprises, a private company that manages Ted Turner’s business affairs. Glover has oversight of Turner Enterprises’ landholdings, financial investments, and business interests, and works closely with Turner’s philanthropic and charitable organizations, serving as an adviser to the boards of the UN Foundation, Nuclear Threat Initiative, and Turner Foundation. Previously Glover, a native of Newnan, was a senior vice president at Merrill Lynch, where he retired after nearly 30 years.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOBBIES Hunting, fishing, golf CHARITIES Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Woodruff Arts Center, Nature Conservancy of Georgia
Jim Hannan President and CEO Koch Industries Inc.
Jim Hannan was named president and CEO of Koch Industries, Inc. in 2023. Hannan serves on the boards of Koch Industries and several other Koch subsidiaries. Previously, Hannan served as executive vice president and CEO of Enterprises for Koch Industries, overseeing Georgia-Pacific, Infor, Molex, Koch Engineered Solutions, and Koch Investment Group as well as Koch Communications and Marketing, Koch Logistics, and Koch Public Affairs. His career with Koch began in 1998 in Koch Mineral Services where he was chief financial officer prior to being named president of INVISTA Intermediates in 2004. He joined Georgia-Pacific in 2005 as chief administrative officer and was promoted to CEO and president in 2007. In that role, he led one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of tissue, packaging, pulp, paper, cellulose, nonwovens, building products and related chemicals.
EDUCATION California State University, East Bay NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS American Jewish Committee National Human Relations Award (2016), Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry PIMA Executive of the Year Award (2015)
Photograph courtesy of United Distributors, Inc.
Doug Hertz Chairman and CEO United Distributors
Doug Hertz has been CEO of United Distributors since 1984. Under his leadership, the beverage distribution business has grown to be listed as one of the top 25 private companies in Atlanta. Hertz has demonstrated his commitment to community, having served on many boards including Atlantic Capital Bank, Camp Twin Lakes, Georgia Power, Georgia Ports Authority, Holly Lane Foundation, and the Marcus Foundation. In 2022, Morehouse College elected Hertz to its board of trustees. He has also served as chairman of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and is a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. A native Atlantan, Hertz began his career with KPMG in New Orleans, working in the accounting and consulting services area.
EDUCATION Tulane University (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Hertz is chairman of Camp Twin Lakes, a facility he founded in 1989 for chronically ill and disadvantaged children. He also helped engineer the merger of Scottish Rite and Egleston pediatric hospitals to establish Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, now one of the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the country.
Natalie Morhous CEO RaceTrac
Formerly president of RaceTrac, Natalie Morhous, a third-generation leader in a 92-year-old family-owned business, was named CEO in 2024. Founded in 1934 by Morhous’s grandfather Carl Bolch Sr., RaceTrac is one of the largest family-owned and operated convenience-and-fuel retail businesses in the South. Morhous joined the company in 2012, serving in a variety of roles including vice president of energy dispatch before becoming president in 2019. Previously, she worked as a strategy and management consultant in Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION Connecticut College, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA) HOMETOWN Atlanta NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTConvenience Store Products Retail Leader of the Year (2023) FIRST JOB Camp counselor at Westminster Summer Camps in Atlanta
Farooq B. Mughal Chairman and Managing Partner Mughal Strategies Global Partners
As chairman and managing partner of Mughal Strategies Global Partners, Farooq Mughal focuses his practice on global public policy, economic development, and international trade negotiations. Since founding the firm in 2008, Mughal has built it into a government relations powerhouse that has come to be regarded as one of the state’s best. As a successful government affairs strategist, Mughal has represented over $950 million in public-private economic development projects. His clients include real estate developers, technology firms, global investors, and world leaders seeking business expansion, investment, and regulatory guidance. In 2022, Mughal, who is a member of Leadership Gwinnett’s class of 2021, was elected to represent District 105 in the Georgia House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim man to be elected to the state House. Additionally, in 2025, Mughal was appointed to the Gwinnett County Airport Authority.
EDUCATION Mercer University, Harvard University (Executive Education) BEST ADVICE One thing I’ve learned is to stick to your values, always act with integrity, and work on building resilience. It really makes a difference in your life.
Photograph courtesy of individual
Gregg Paradies President and CEO Paradies Lagardère
Gregg Paradies is president and CEO of Paradies Lagardère, a leading airport travel retailer and restaurateur in North America with over 700 stores and restaurants in more than 90 airports. With expertise in international, national, and local brands, Paradies Lagardère works with airport, brand, and supplier partners to create memorable and positive experiences for travelers. Paradies is responsible for the company’s overall business and ensuring that it continues its strong tradition of providing exceptional customer service, superior design, and award-winning store and restaurant operations and management.
EDUCATION University of Texas at Austin BEST ADVICE RECEIVED You cannot do wrong by doing right. HOBBIES Outdoor sports
Donata Russell Ross CEO Concessions International
Donata Russell Ross is the CEO of Concessions International, a national food and beverage concessionaire that operates and manages facilities in eight major airports across the country. Russell Ross, who has been an integral part of Concessions International’s management team for 42 years and previously served as president, announced her retirement in 2025. She’s also president of the Herman J. Russell Foundation—a family foundation named for Russell Ross’s father, the legendary Atlanta builder—which supports community initiatives and programs focusing on entrepreneurship, youth development, and mentoring. Russell Ross, who was inducted into the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Hall of Fame, currently serves on the boards of Early Learning Property Management, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), and H. J. Russell & Company.
EDUCATION University of Pennsylvania NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT One of a handful of African American women leading a food and beverage company
Tyler Scriven Cofounder and CEO Saltbox
Tyler Scriven is cofounder and CEO of Saltbox, an end-to-end logistics enablement network for small businesses. Some of Saltbox’s core offerings include a growing network of modern co-warehousing facilities and a broad range of small to medium-sized business friendly logistics services. Saltbox opened its first co-warehousing facility in December 2019 and now has 11 facilities across the country. Prior to founding Saltbox, Scriven served as the founding managing director of Techstars Atlanta, a global early-stage venture capital investment fund and chief of staff at Palantir Technologies, a big data analytics software provider. In 2024, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Scriven as a Most Admired CEO. Additionally, Scriven is a member of the board of directors of Serenbe Land Corporation.
EDUCATION University of Virginia HOMETOWN Jacksonville, Florida FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m an amateur interior designer. FAVORITE POWER LUNCH RESTAURANT The Perlant FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Jamaica
Alexander C. Taylor Chairman and CEO Cox Enterprises
Alex Taylor is chairman and CEO of Cox Enterprises, a company with 50,000 employees worldwide. Taylor is the great-grandson of former Ohio governor James M. Cox, who founded the company in 1898. As Taylor is charged with guiding the company through some of the most transformative times in its history, core businesses Cox Communications and Cox Automotive lead in the communications and automotive industries. Additionally, Cox Enterprises is a leading investment platform with strategic positions in emerging technologies driving the future of agriculture, renewable energy, healthtech, and public sector software. The private, family-owned company has already invested more than $2 billion in sustainable businesses and technologies.
EDUCATION Vanderbilt University FIRST JOB Reporter for the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel in Colorado
PUBLIC COMPANIES
Mark Begor CEO Equifax
Mark W. Begor was named CEO of Equifax and a member of its board of directors in April 2018. During Begor’s tenure as CEO, annual revenue has grown from $3.4 billion in 2018 to a record $5.7 billion in 2024. Also, since 2018, the company has become an industry leader in security, is driving AI innovation, and with its North American Equifax Cloud transformation substantially completed in 2024, is on track to become the only global cloud-native data, analytics, and technology company of its kind. Begor served previously as a managing director in the industrial and business services group at Warburg Pincus. Begor also spent 35 years at GE, most recently as president and CEO of GE Energy Management, and prior to that as president and CEO of GE Capital Real Estate
EDUCATION Syracuse University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MBA) INSPIRING PERSON I was lucky enough to join GE right out of college as Jack Welch took the helm. My years working for Jack were some of the most incredible learning experiences – both about business and life.
Adam Chamberlain Head of Marketing and Sales North America and CEO Mercedes-Benz USA
Effective July 1, 2025, Adam Chamberlain became CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA as well as head of Marketing and Sales, North America. He succeeds Dimitris Psillakis, who transitioned into the role of senior strategic adviser. Chamberlain rejoins Mercedes-Benz with extensive leadership experience across the automotive value chain. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at one of North America’s largest dealership groups, Lithia & Driveway, where he was responsible for the operational performance of over 300 dealerships across the U.S., overseeing more than $30 billion in revenue. Prior to that, he was president of Aston Martin The Americas. From 2016 to 2021, Chamberlain served at Mercedes-Benz USA as vice president of Sales and Product Management, helping to lead the brand’s retail and product strategy in the dynamic U.S. market.
Ted Decker Chair, President, and CEO The Home Depot
Ted Decker is chair, president, and CEO of The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer with more than 2,300 stores and approximately 475,000 associates. He is also a member of the company’s board of directors. From 2020 to 2022, Decker served as president and chief operating officer and was responsible for global store operations, global supply chain, outside sales and service, and real estate, as well as merchandising, marketing, and online strategy. While he was in this role, the company enhanced capabilities to blend the online and in-store worlds. Decker joined The Home Depot in 2000 as director of business valuation and has held several strategic positions across the company. Previously, Decker worked in business development, strategic planning, and finance at Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Scott Paper Co. and held various corporate finance, lending, and credit positions at PNC Bank. He has extensive international experience, having lived and worked in England and Australia. He currently sits on the Atlanta Committee for Progress board.
EDUCATION The College of William and Mary, Carnegie Mellon University (MBA)
Eric Hansotia Chairman, President, and CEO AGCO
Eric Hansotia is chairman, president, and CEO of AGCO, the world’s largest pure-play farm equipment manufacturer. Headquartered in Duluth, AGCO is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, delivering customer value through its brands including leading brands Fendt, Massey Ferguson, PTx, and Valtra. Before his current role, he served as senior vice president and COO. Prior to joining AGCO in 2013, Hansotia had a successful 20-year career working for Deere & Company, where he served in a number of global leadership roles, including a tenure in Mannheim, Germany.
EDUCATION University of Wisconsin–Madison (MS). The University of Iowa (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Since becoming CEO in 2021, Hansotia launched a new Farmer-First strategy and has led AGCO’s technology transformation to be the investment of choice for shareholders, partner of choice for farmers, and employer of choice for employees. His results-driven leadership has boosted AGCO’s revenue from approximately $9 billion in 2020 to record results in 2021, 2022, and 2023, before an industry contraction led to lower sales of $11.7 billion in 2024. FEW PEOPLE KNOW My graduate school project went to space in the space shuttle.
Jennifer Mann President, North America The Coca-Cola Company
In January 2023, Jennifer Mann became the first woman to serve as president of The Coca-Cola Company’s North America operating unit. In her role, Mann also serves as corporate senior vice president. Mann formerly served as president of Global Ventures, responsible for globally scaling acquisitions and brands, including Costa Coffee and Coca-Cola’s investment in Monster Beverage Corp. Mann has held a variety of leadership and operational roles, having joined Coca-Cola in 1997 as a manager in the National Customer Support division of North America.
EDUCATION Georgia State University HOMETOWN Atlanta FIRST JOB Chick-fil-A FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION The Bahamas FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Fox Theatre
Chris Peterson President and CEO Newell Brands
Chris Peterson is president and CEO of Newell Brands and a member of its board of directors. With an extensive background in corporate strategy, financial planning, operations and management, and a deep understanding of the consumer goods industry, Peterson joined Newell in December 2018 as chief financial officer. He was named CFO and president, Business Operations in February 2020 and president and CFO in May 2022. He assumed the position of president and CEO in May 2023. Since joining Newell, Peterson has played an integral role in the company’s turnaround by strengthening financial performance, building operational excellence and a culture of productivity, reducing complexity and transforming Newell’s supply chain capabilities. Before Newell, Peterson was the chief operating officer of Operations at Revlon Inc.
EDUCATION Cornell University HOMETOWN Cincinnati, Ohio NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Recognizing Atlanta’s thriving business environment, talent pipeline, and affordable quality of life, I relocated Newell’s headquarters from Hoboken, New Jersey to Atlanta in 2019. I approved an investment in our local communities of $1 million in grants and over $50 million in product donations by 2025. Newell was recognized by Forbes on its list of Best Employers for Women 2023.
James Quincey Chairman and CEO The Coca-Cola Co.
James Quincey is chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. Before becoming CEO in 2017, he led the company’s worldwide operating units as president and chief operating officer. Previously, Quincey was president of Coca-Cola’s Europe Group, comprising 38 countries including the EU, the European Free Trade Association countries, and the Balkans. The United Kingdom native also played a leading role in the merger that formed Coca-Cola European Partners, now the world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler based on net revenues.
EDUCATION University of Liverpool HOBBIES I love skiing. My family and I have been going to Colorado for over 25 years. FAVORITE MOVIEThe Matrix FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Atlanta BeltLine
Jeffrey Sprecher Chairman and CEO Intercontinental Exchange
Jeff Sprecher is founder, chair, and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (NYSE: ICE) and a pioneer of digital networks and the electronification of trading and marketplaces. Reflecting Sprecher’s vision and leadership, ICE, co-headquartered in Atlanta and New York, has grown from a startup in 2000, purely focused on making energy trading transparent, to a diversified, subscription-driven Fortune 500 company with nearly 14,000 employees. From its humble beginnings, a string of innovations and acquisitions quickly followed, beginning with buying the International Petroleum Exchange in 2001, the New York Board of Trade in 2007, Creditex in 2008, the Clearing Corporation in 2009. the Climate Exchange in 2010 and the NYSE itself in 2013. Sprecher became chair of the NYSE following ICE’s acquisition, overseeing a complete overhaul of the Exchange, serving in that role for eight years through 2021. Now in its third decade, the company that Sprecher and his team have built, through organic growth and acquisitions, delivers over $9 billion in annual revenue with market capitalization of $100 billion.
EDUCATION University of Wisconsin-Madison, Pepperdine University (MBA)
Will Stengel President and CEO Genuine Parts Company
Will Stengel has served as president and CEO of Genuine Parts Company since June 2024. He previously held the roles of executive vice president and chief transformation officer, as well as COO, after joining GPC in November 2019. As president and COO, Stengel was responsible for the company’s transformation, operations and strategy as well as all GPC corporate functions. He developed and advanced GPC’s strategic priorities and executed the company’s growth and productivity initiatives. As CTO, he established and led the company’s Transformation Office. Since 2019, GPC simplified its portfolio by selling non-core businesses, attracting and developing talent, accelerating priority growth investments and executing over 300 strategic global acquisitions, including the transformational acquisition of KDG. Prior to joining GPC, Stengel held various roles over his 15-year tenure at HD Supply, an Atlanta-based B2B industrial distributor serving diversified end markets.
EDUCATION Trinity College, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management (MBA)
Carol Tomé CEO UPS
Carol Tomé was named CEO of UPS in 2020, becoming the 12th chief executive in the company’s century-plus history as well as the first woman to hold the top job. Previously, Tomé was executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Home Depot, which she joined in 1995 as vice president and treasurer. A native of Jackson, Wyoming, Tomé began her career as a commercial lender with United Bank of Denver (now Wells Fargo) and then spent several years as director of banking for the Johns Manville corporation. In 2024, Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Historical Society inducted Tomé as a modern-day Georgia Trustee, the state’s highest honor recognizing Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the ideals of the founding body of Trustees.
EDUCATION University of Wyoming, University of Denver (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS At The Home Depot, Tomé helped increase sales almost eightfold to more than $110 billion, and delivered a 450 percent increase in shareholder value.
RETAIL
Ann Mashburn Chief Creative Officer Mashburn
Ann Mashburn, chief creative officer of Mashburn LLC, began her career in New York in 1984 as an assistant to Vogue fashion editor and stylist Polly Mellen. She subsequently served as an editor and stylist for Glamour, then as a stylist for J.Crew—where she met her husband, Sid. The couple moved to Atlanta in 2007 and opened the Sid Mashburn men’s shop. Ann served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer during the first three years, and in 2010 she opened the Ann Mashburn shop as a women’s counterpoint. Ann and Sid shops are also in Houston, Dallas, New York City, Washington, D.C., Nashville, and a forthcoming location in Charlotte.
EDUCATION University of Colorado Boulder
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Sid Mashburn Executive Chairman and Designer Mashburn
Sid Mashburn serves as executive chairman and designer of Mashburn LLC. He began his career in New York as the first men’s designer at J.Crew, and was subsequently recruited to Polo Ralph Lauren. Mashburn went on to serve as vice president of design at Tommy Hilfiger and senior vice president of design at Lands’ End. In 2007 Mashburn and his wife, Ann, moved to Atlanta, where they opened the men’s shop Sid Mashburn. In 2010, they expanded the business with Ann Mashburn, a women’s line and shop, followed by the launch of e-commerce sites in 2011 to serve the brand’s expanding customer base outside of Atlanta. Ann and Sid shops are also in Houston, Dallas, New York City, Washington, D.C., Nashville, Los Angeles, and a forthcoming location in Charlotte.
EDUCATION University of Mississippi
TECHNOLOGY
Kabir Barday Founder, President, and CEO OneTrust
Kabir Barday is the founder, president, and CEO of OneTrust, the AI-ready governance platform utilized by more than 14,000 companies around the globe. Headquartered in Atlanta, OneTrust employs over 2,000 people in 13 offices throughout the world. Since its founding, the company has been awarded over 300 patents. OneTrust has also been recognized in the Forbes Cloud 100 list. Barday sits on the advisory boards for the Future of Privacy Forum, the Center for Information Policy Leadership, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and Georgia Tech. Additionally, Barday was named to the Aspen Institute’s 2023 class of Henry Crown Fellows.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech
Mark Buffington CEO BIP Capital Managing Partner BIP Ventures
Mark Buffington is the cofounder and CEO of BIP Capital and the managing partner of BIP Ventures. Since its founding in 2006, Mark Buffington has led the venture capital firm to its position as the region’s most active venture capital firm and one of the most recognized brands in venture capital outside of Silicon Valley. He has led investment rounds in more than 80 companies in numerous industries: healthcare, digital media, ed tech, enterprise SaaS, fintech, and advanced computing. Notable investments include Vendormate, Ingenious Med, QA Symphony/Tricentis, PlayOn! Sports, Huddle Tickets, Tropical Smoothie Café, Cypress.io, ConnexPay, REACH Health, Trella Health, Shareholder InSite, and Aspirion Health Resources.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business, Tulane University (MBA) LESSON LEARNED In the late 1990s and the early part of the millennium, only a handful of people were talking about “fat tails” – a distribution of stock prices with a higher-than-normal probability of extreme events. Here was the problem: I was putting all my effort into identifying scenarios that were likely to go wrong. I focused on “left side” tails. I shifted my focus and tried to identify “right side” fat tails – extreme positive events. All the work we do at BIP Capital is intended to increase the likelihood of extreme positive events.
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Eddie Capel Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board Manhattan Associates
Eddie Capel serves as the executive vice-chairman of the board at Manhattan Associates. Before stepping into this role in February 2025, he served as president and CEO. Capel also helped lead the company as president and chief operating officer, and previously as COO and executive vice president. Before joining Manhattan Associates in 2000, he held various positions at Real Time Solutions, leading teams that supported the supply chain strategies of companies such as Walmart, Amazon, and J.C. Penney.
FIRST JOB Pumping gas TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Managing through the Covid-19 pandemic INSPIRING PERSON Bill Dixon, A former boss BUCKET LIST Learning to pole-vault WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Bruce Willis
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David Cummings Partner Atlanta Ventures
David Cummings is an Atlanta-based tech entrepreneur who has founded 10 companies collectively valued at nearly $1 billion, including Pardot, SalesLoft, and Terminus. He’s also the founder of the Atlanta Tech Village—the U.S.’s fourth-largest tech hub—and the largest investor in Calendly, the world’s most popular scheduling app. After selling Pardot, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and one of the 100 Most Influential Atlantans by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Cummings is a partner in Atlanta Ventures, which invests in subscription companies in the Southeast. In late 2023, Atlanta Ventures announced the creation of SoDo Atlanta to revitalize South Downtown Atlanta, reimagining more than 50 buildings across at least 16 acres to create a safe, walkable, and livable neighborhood in time for the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta in 2026.
EDUCATION Duke University HOMETOWN Tallahassee, Florida FIRST JOB Mowing yards LESSON LEARNED The importance of corporate culture and building a great team HIDDEN TALENT Wakeboarding and wakesurfing
Allyson Eman CEO Venture Atlanta
Allyson Eman has more than 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, sales leadership, and business development. In 2007, she became executive director for the newly created Venture Atlanta annual conference, and was promoted to CEO in January 2020. Eman has worked with key business leaders across the country and founding organizations—the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Atlanta CEO Council, and the Technology Association of Georgia—to build Venture Atlanta, which is now the largest venture capital conference in the Southeast, with over 1,500 attendees including venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and senior business executives. Previously, Eman was senior vice president of marketing and communications for SouthStar Funding, an Atlanta-based wholesale mortgage lender.
EDUCATION University of Florida FAVORITE MOVIELegally Blonde FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Ponce City Market WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Julia Roberts. People say I look like her—I wish!
Justin Ferrero President and Chief Financial Officer Sharecare
Atlanta native Justin Ferrero has led financial operations at digital health company Sharecare since its founding in 2010. He’s responsible for technology, finance, corporate development, and strategic partnerships. In 2021, he co-led the execution of the company’s public offering, resulting in its Nasdaq debut with a valuation of nearly $4 billion. Since 2000, Ferrero has worked closely with serial entrepreneur Jeff Arnold, Sharecare’s former chairman and CEO and current executive chairman, overseeing all matters related to finance and corporate development for Arnold’s businesses. During that time, Ferrero raised an estimated $2 billion and has bought, integrated, and built approximately 30 businesses.
EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill FIRST JOB Dishwasher at OK Cafe HOBBIES Spending time with my kids, Finn and Banks NONPROFIT Casa de Amor, an amazing charity that supports those affected by child abuse and neglect
JP James Chairman and Founder Hive Financial Systems
JP James is the chairman and founder of the financial technology company Hive Financial Systems. Since its founding in 2017, Hive has achieved exponential growth in profitable enterprise value through proprietary AI risk management of more than $150 million in private lending assets for six lenders and 250,000 microfinance loans and created nearly 400 jobs in Atlanta and internationally. A Senior Fellow at the National War College, James also holds patents, is an author, and lectures on AI at Georgia Tech.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech HOMETOWN Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Choosing to stay on the entrepreneurial path after repeated early failures while watching classmates advance quickly in their careers FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT The bamboo forest—tucked away and a bit hard to find—but the calm hits you the moment you arrive. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT Weekly one-on-one dates with my five children, plus three annual trips with just me and the older kids.
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Paul Judge Chairman and Managing Partner Open Opportunity Fund
Paul Judge is chairman and managing partner of Open Opportunity Fund, a technology venture capital fund focused on investing in and partnering with outstanding overlooked founders. A technology entrepreneur and investor, Judge is cofounder of Pindrop, a provider of voice security for some of the world’s largest banks and enterprises which has received over $200 million of venture capital funding, He is also a cofounder of Greenwood, a fintech company providing banking services for minorities. He previously co-led Panoramic Ventures and TechSquare Labs. He has cofounded three companies that were acquired. He cofounded Purewire which was acquired by Barracuda Networks in 2008. Prior to this, he was the chief technology officer at CipherTrust, which was acquired by Secure Computing in 2006.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, Georgia Tech (MS, PhD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Lead inventor of over 30 patents, member of the 2016 class of Henry Crown Fellows and the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute, Fortune 40 Under 40, MIT Technology Review Magazine Top 100 Innovators Under 35, Black Enterprise 50 Most Powerful Players Under 40, InfoWorld Top 25 CTOs
Lynne Laube Venture Partner Total Technology Ventures
Lynne Laube is a founder and CEO with over 30 years of experience building and scaling businesses. She is currently a venture partner at Total Technology Ventures (TTV). Laube is best known as the cofounder and former CEO of Cardlytics, an advertising platform in banks’ digital channels. After taking the company public in 2018, Laube led Cardlytics through numerous accomplishments, including scaling Cardlytics to $300 million in revenue and expanding its reach to over 180 million monthly users, transforming how financial institutions connect with their customers. Before cofounding Cardlytics in 2008 with Scott Grimes, Laube held many positions with Capital One.
EDUCATION University of Cincinnati, University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Stephen Pair Cofounder and CEO BitPay
Stephen Pair is the CEO of BitPay, the world’s leading provider of bitcoin payment technology. In 2011, Pair cofounded BitPay with Tony Gallippi because he saw bitcoin’s potential to transform payments for businesses and consumers. As CEO, he directs the day-to-day operations as well as the long-term vision of BitPay, from research and engineering to product development and information technology. Pair has over 20 years of experience building software systems in the financial and telecommunications industries. Before founding BitPay, he held various roles including entrepreneur, architect, manager, team lead, and developer. He holds two patents in the field of streaming analytics.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech HOMETOWN Cumming, Georgia FIRST JOB Fry cook at Captain D’s HIDDEN TALENT Wake-surfing FAVORITE MOVIES Star Wars FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Georgia Aquarium
Heather Rocker President and CEO Women in Technology
Heather Rocker served as the organization’s first executive director from 2007 to 2011. Since then, she has served as CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, where she significantly expanded volunteer recruitment and fundraising. She later transitioned to corporate leadership as managing principal at SEI-ATLANTA. And in 2019, she returned to the nonprofit sector as executive director of the Drupal Association. Most recently, she served as the Global Head of Operations for Amazon’s Alexa Prize program, an AI competition for universities. She returned to WIT as president and CEO in 2023.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Board president, Georgia FIRST Robotics; board member, Tech Association of Georgia Diversity & Inclusion Council, TAG Education Collaborative, and Georgia Tech Alumni Association; Leadership Atlanta class of 2019; Inspirator Category Winner, Turknett Leadership Character Awards
Justin E. Samuels Founder and CEO Render-Atlanta
Justin E. Samuels is a technologist and influencer of all things software engineering and underrepresented groups in technology. Having started one of the fastest growing multicultural conferences in the country, Render-Atlanta (RenderATL), Samuels amplifies the presence of technology in the southern United States while emphasizing culture and inclusion. Launched in 2021, RenderATL is described as a software engineering experience featuring good vibes, great music, and expert speakers on tech, leadership, inclusion, and accessibility. Samuels, who was named as a Black Enterprise magazine 40 Under 40 honoree in 2025, is also a full-time senior engineer and tech lead at Intuit Mailchimp, where he helps empower small and medium-sized enterprises on their marketing platform.
EDUCATION Mississippi State University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT RenderATL, an Inc. 5000 company, has become North America’s largest developer-focused technology conference as the company and Atlanta Tech Week recently welcomed 15,000 attendees. INSPIRING PERSON Ben Chestnut. Working at Mailchimp with him before the acquisition allowed me to gain valuable insights into what it would require to build a bootstrap juggernaut. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m a first-generation immigrant by way of my father who is from Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Sanjay Sehgal Founder, Chairman, and CEO MSys Technologies
Sanjay Sehgal is the founder, chairman and CEO of MSys Technologies—which designs, develops, and manages modern distributed systems and complex ecosystem integrations. An entrepreneur, start-up adviser, and motivational speaker with more than three decades of tech experience, Sehgal also cofounded Pramana, Scentric, iVivity, and acquired tech companies, including Clogeny, Mobinius, and DigiFutura. Recognized as a top CEO in Georgia Titan 100, Sehgal, who is a member of Forbes Business Council, has also received a TiE Atlanta Top Entrepreneur Award.
EDUCATION University of Delhi HOMETOWN New Delhi, India HOBBIES Exploring nature and beaches HIDDEN TALENT Being an artist—I enjoy singing and dancing. FAVORITE BOOKSpiritual Anatomy, Meditation, Chakras, and the Journey to the Center by Kamlesh D. Patel
Nashlie Sephus Principal AI Tech Evangelist Amazon
Nashlie Sephus is the tech evangelist for Amazon Artificial Intelligence (AI) focusing on fairness and identifying biases at Amazon Web Services AI. She formerly led the Amazon Visual Search team as an applied scientist in Atlanta, which launched visual search for replacement parts on the Amazon shopping app in June 2018. This technology was a result of former Atlanta startup Partpic, for which she was the chief technology officer, being acquired by Amazon. Prior to working at Partpic, she worked for Exponent, an engineering and scientific consulting firm, in New York City. Her core research areas were digital signal processing, machine learning, and computer engineering.
EDUCATION Mississippi State University, Georgia Tech (MS, PhD) HOMETOWN Jackson, Mississippi FIRST JOB Playing the piano for my church FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Piedmont Park
Rania Succar is Intuit Mailchimp’s chief executive officer and senior vice president of the QuickBooks Money Platform. A strategic leader with a proven track record in driving growth, Succar came to Intuit to build and grow the QuickBooks Capital business, leading the successful launch in November 2017. Today, Succar leads a comprehensive portfolio of money movement businesses at Intuit, including QuickBooks Payments and Mailchimp. In 2021, Intuit acquired Mailchimp, and in 2022, Succar was named CEO after Mailchimp cofounder Ben Chestnut decided to step back from his role. Prior to joining Intuit, Succar oversaw product commercialization and go-to-market strategy for YouTube’s multibillion-dollar advertising business in North America. Succar began her career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch advising technology companies.
EDUCATION Harvard University (MBA, MPA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT In 2011, a few friends and I cofounded Jusoor. It means bridges in Arabic. The mission is to invest in Syrian youth for a brighter tomorrow. We have provided the gift of education to over 10,000 young Syrians since we established the organization and deployed over $15 million toward the effort.
Michael E. Tabb Director, Real Estate Services, Americas Google
Tabb is responsible for Google’s real estate services in the Americas. Before Google, Tabb founded Red Rock Global, making it one of the most creative and successful full-service commercial real estate firms in the United States. Previously, Tabb served as director of real estate asset services for The Coca-Cola Company, where he was responsible for the company’s real estate activities worldwide. Prior to entering commercial real estate, Tabb proudly served the country in the United States Navy as a lieutenant commander in public affairs, and as a surface warfare officer. He deployed to the Mediterranean twice, supporting Operation Desert Storm and serving as an assault boat group commander.
EDUCATION United States Naval Academy, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA) HOMETOWN Oxon Hill, Maryland FEW PEOPLE KNOW I am a Lake Charles-trained gumbo maker and lover
Dawn Whaley President and Chief Marketing Officer Sharecare
Dawn Whaley has been at digital health company Sharecare since its founding. She participates in the development of the overall corporate strategy and is directly responsible for marketing, strategic partnerships, and business development. In 2021, she helped take the company public at a valuation of nearly $4 billion. Previously, Whaley was executive vice president of marketing and strategic relationships for the website HowStuffWorks, where she helped manage operations and corporate development efforts, including business development and creation and execution of the marketing strategy. Selected as an Atlanta Business Chronicle Women of Influence honoree in 2022, Whaley currently serves on the boards of Forbes Travel Guide and the American Heart Association’s Metro Atlanta Division.
EDUCATION University of Georgia TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Raising my wonderful daughter, Spencer FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACES TO VISIT Atlanta BeltLine, Stone Mountain
Larry Williams President and CEO Technology Association of Georgia
Larry Williams is president and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia, bringing to the job more than 25 years of experience in global branding, international trade and finance, public and industrial policy, and administration and management. As former president and CEO of the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partnership, Williams led the creation and execution of a new development framework to help the area grow and secure investments in today’s innovation economy, resulting in $687 million in new investment, 119 company relocations or expansions, and more than 4,500 new jobs. From 2011 to 2014, Williams helped shape Atlanta’s tech sector as vice president of technology development at the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
EDUCATION North Carolina State University FIRST JOB I had a paper route. I learned that I was an independent contractor and had to manage my expenses (costs of the newspapers, rubber bands, plastic bags, etc.), revenue including collections, prompt delivery of service, and customer service.
Joey Womack Founder and CEO Goodie Nation
Joey Womack is the founder and CEO of Goodie Nation, a nonprofit that accelerates relationships for social entrepreneurs and diverse founders, and the founder and CEO of Amplify 4 Good, a mission-driven agency that helps large companies, nonprofits, and government agencies create social impact. With a goal to positively affect 1 billion people by 2039, Womack has worked with clients including Google, Coca-Cola, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Ford Motor Co. He is also the cofounder of the Atlanta Black Tech initiative, serving as colead for the start-ups and K-12 divisions. In 2023, Mayor Andre Dickens presented the TEDx speaker with the Community Icon Award from Google For Startups. The first recipient of this award, Womack also received $100,000 to further his work to support Atlanta’s community of entrepreneurs.
EDUCATION Florida A&M University (MBA) FEW PEOPLE KNOW Both of my parents are from historic neighborhoods in Alabama. My father is from Africatown in Mobile, where the last slaves settled, and my mother is from [Montgomery’s] Centennial Hill, where Martin Luther King Jr. lived while he was at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
Jason W. Young CEO MindBlown Labs Innovation Partners
Jason W. Young is the cofounder and CEO of MindBlown Labs, an Atlanta-based financial wellness innovation lab whose mission is to empower Americans to make better financial decisions and achieve enduring financial wellness as a result. The company partners with financial institutions to develop digital solutions that connect with users on an emotional level, driving positive saving and investing behaviors. The 2024 chair of the board of trustees of the National Endowment for Financial Education, Young was appointed by Barack Obama in 2014 to serve on the newly created President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans.
EDUCATION Harvard College HOMETOWN Inglewood, California WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK My family struggled with money. During my sophomore year in college, those struggles came to a head when, the day after Christmas, my family was evicted. That experience impressed upon me the need to make better financial decisions and help others do the same. FIRST JOB I was nine. I assisted a local plumber.
LEGENDS
Jeff Arnold Arnold founded WebMD and grew it into a $1 billion revenue company. Next came the Convex Group, a media and internet investment organization that acquired HowStuffWorks, then sold it to Discovery Communications, which helped launch his next venture, Sharecare. In 2021, the company went public. Today, he is Sharecare’s executive chairman and chairman of Forbes Travel Guide. Brent Layton, formerly of Centene Corporation, replaced him as Sharecare CEO in 2024.
J. Veronica Biggins Biggins is the managing partner of the Atlanta office of Diversified Search. Previously, she served as director of presidential personnel and assistant to President Bill Clinton. She was also vice chair of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.
Arthur Blank The cofounder of Home Depot has become an iconic figure in Atlanta since retiring in 2001. The Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses portfolio includes the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, West Creek Ranch, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In addition, the Arthur Blank Foundation, along with his family’s personal giving, has granted more than $1 billion to charities, primarily in Georgia and Montana.
Dan T. Cathy Now the chairman of Chick-fil-A Inc, Cathy was the company’s CEO from 2013 until 2021. The son of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, he cofounded the Same House Inc., which hosts the annual Beloved Benefit in Atlanta to foster greater economic mobility in communities across Atlanta.
Michael J. Coles After a career in the clothing business, Coles founded the Great American Cookie Co. with Arthur Karp in 1977. They grew an initial $8,000 investment into the nation’s largest cookie store franchise. He has chaired the Georgia Film Commission and served on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, the Kennesaw State University Foundation Board, and the Walker School Board.
Lonnie G. Johnson Johnson earned his master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Tuskegee University and went on to work for the U.S. Air Force and the NASA space program. Experimenting with high-powered water guns, he invented the bestselling Super Soaker.
Bill Linginfelter Prior to his retirement in 2024, Linginfelter was president of Regions Bank. Prior to joining Regions in 2008, the Saint Simons Island native served as Georgia CEO for Wachovia. He is a past chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Research Alliance.
Sig Mosley As president of Imlay Investments and then managing partner of Mosley Ventures, Mosley has invested in 120 start-ups since 1990—making him one of Atlanta’s most active angel investors. He helped nurture the city’s technology industry.
Tripp Rackley Rackley is an accomplished technology entrepreneur. He’s founded multiple successful companies, including nFront, Firethorn, Experience, and Clutch Technologies. He has been inducted into the Bank Technology News Innovators Hall of Fame, the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia, and the Technology Association of Georgia’s FinTech Hall of Fame.
Douglas B. Ammar Executive Director Georgia Justice Project
Douglas B. Ammar has been an active presence at Georgia Justice Project (GJP) since its beginning in 1986. Starting as a volunteer, then joining as a staff attorney in 1990, Ammar became executive director in 1995. GJP provides holistic criminal defense and social services while seeking systemic change in Georgia law that will reduce the number of people under correctional control and reduce barriers to reentry into society. During his leadership, GJP has helped to change 22 laws in Georgia, such as Senate Bill 288, which enables Georgians to have second chances by expanding access to record restriction and sealing for certain eligible Georgia criminal records.
EDUCATION Davidson College, Washington and Lee University School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Charleston, West Virginia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Growing up poor with an addicted, single-parent father, my childhood goal was to escape and live a life of comfort. But later, before law school, I felt called to return to the places and people I was running from. Being married to a woman of color for over 30 years, and raising our sons, has also reinforced my sense of mission and commitment. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Robert De Niro
Aparna Bhattacharyya Executive Director Raksha, Inc.
Aparna Bhattacharyya is the executive director of Raksha, Inc. The mission of Raksha, which means protection in several South Asian languages, is to promote a stronger and healthier South Asian community through confidential support services, education, and advocacy. Having served as executive director since 1998, Bhattacharyya built the organization’s capacity from a volunteer-run, grassroots organization to a nationally known full-service agency providing counseling, legal advocacy, economic empowerment, training, and technical assistance locally and nationally. Additionally, she increased the organization’s budget by over 400 percent. As a representative of Raksha, Bhattacharyya has served as a founding task force member and board secretary for the International Women’s House, the only shelter in the nation to serve battered women and children of all nationalities, supported by a multicultural and multilingual staff. A member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2010, Bhattacharyya was honored as a White House Champion of Change in 2013.
EDUCATION Georgia State University HOMETOWN Atlanta FIRST JOB Victim Advocate for City of Atlanta Victim Witness Assistance Program
Stephanie Cho Director, Democracy Lab South Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Atlanta
Formerly the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Atlanta, Stephanie Cho leads Democracy Lab South, a new initiative from AAAJA, the organization which advocates for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans in Georgia and the Southeast. Her new project is focused on environmental justice work in Atlanta and AAPI political power-building in a few other southern states. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in labor and community organizing, strategic planning, and fundraising at the local and national levels, Cho was previously the Los Angeles director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center, where she worked to raise industry standards and wages for LA’s restaurant workers. She has been a community organizer, program director for LGBTQ+ youth programming, director of training for a national fellowship program, labor organizer, and organizational consultant.
EDUCATION Portland State University HOMETOWN Pyeongtaek, South Korea FIRST JOB Restaurant Bon Ton TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Being on my own at 17 FEW PEOPLE KNOW I was a welder in college.
Liz Coyle Executive Director Georgia Watch
Liz Coyle oversees Georgia Watch, the state’s leading nonprofit consumer-advocacy organization. Georgia Watch advocates for policies that improve individual and family financial security, increase access to affordable healthcare, and lower the energy burden on struggling families. In addition to her role with Georgia Watch, Coyle serves as board chair of the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy, having served on the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from 2018 to 2019, and as vice chair of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative board from 2018 to 2021. In 2021, she testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to share insights on protecting consumers in a pandemic recovery economy.
EDUCATION University of Virginia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I’ve been standing up for people I think are being wronged my whole life. WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Don’t be in such a hurry! FAVORITE TV SHOW I’m a huge fan of Rachel Maddow. FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT Rural Georgia, especially driving on country roads
Dázon Dixon Diallo Founder and President SisterLove
Dázon Dixon Diallo is the president of SisterLove, the first women’s HIV and sexual and reproductive justice organization in the southeastern U.S., which she founded in 1989. A widely celebrated advocate, Diallo is also a cochair of the Act Now: End AIDS coalition, and a founding member of the SisterSong reproductive justice collective. She has served on the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council for the National Institutes of Health and on the board of the National Women’s Health Network. Diallo has an honorary doctorate from Spelman College and was among 30 Atlantans featured on murals installed citywide ahead of the 2019 Super Bowl.
EDUCATION Spelman College, University of Alabama at Birmingham (MPH) HOMETOWN Fort Valley, Georgia LESSON LEARNED Not everyone is who they say they are, and almost everyone will show themselves. So keep your eyes open and believe what they show you, not what you hear and feel. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED From Miss Johnnie Mae, 75-year-old receptionist, circa 2001: “Baby, you gon’ just have to be happy despite the bullshit!”
Jeff Graham Executive Director Georgia Equality
Jeff Graham is the executive director of Georgia Equality, which works to advance fairness, safety, and opportunity for LGBTQ+ communities throughout Georgia. Graham began advocating on LGBTQ+ and AIDS issues as a college student in the mid-1980s, and has been involved in a wide variety of grassroots and legislative advocacy campaigns since. For over 30 years, he’s served as either executive director or board member for a number of local and national organizations working on issues related to LGBTQ+ rights, civic engagement, access to healthcare, community empowerment, and HIV/AIDS.
EDUCATION Trinity University HOMETOWN Loveland, Colorado NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Stonewall Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), Linda Smith Lowe Health Advocacy Award (2017), League of Women Voters of Georgia Health Advocate Award (2016), Georgia Civil Liberties Award (2013), National Center for Human Rights Education Human Rights Guardian Award (2004) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK Coming out as a gay man during the early years of the AIDS pandemic, I was inspired to devote myself to making sure all people have access to healthcare, dignity, and respect. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m a stepparent to three Boston Terriers.
Kwajelyn Jackson Executive Director Feminist Center for Reproductive Liberation
Kwajelyn Jackson is the executive director of the Feminist Center for Reproductive Liberation, formerly the Feminist Women’s Health Center, overseeing the organization’s operations, abortion clinic, civic engagement, and education and outreach teams. First hired in 2013 as community engagement coordinator, Jackson has led the expansion of the center’s statewide and national programming, deepened community partnerships, and worked to prevent new abortion restrictions. Prior to joining the center, Jackson was the program manager for WonderRoot Community Arts Center. A respected voice on reproductive justice at the national level, Jackson is on the boards of Abortion Care Network, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and The Lola.
EDUCATION Spelman College, Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (MS) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT First Black woman to lead Feminist Women’s Health Center in the organization’s 47-year history INSPIRING PERSON Gloria Washington (maternal grandmother) BEST ADVICE RECEIVED You do not have to set yourself on fire to warm up the room for everyone else.
Santiago Marquez CEO Latin American Association
Santiago Marquez is the CEO of the Latin American Association. Founded in 1972, the LAA is the region’s leading agency representing Georgia’s Latino issues. Marquez, who was born in Cuba and came to the United States in 1971, has been working in the nonprofit sector since 1998, initially with Consumer Credit Counseling Service Inc. After CCCS, Marquez served as the director of Employment and Housing for the LAA, starting the first housing department to focus on Hispanics in Atlanta. In 2004, he joined Boys & Girls Clubs of America, where he worked for four years as the director of Latino Outreach. Marquez became the president of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2017, and, in 2020, he returned to the LAA as CEO, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
EDUCATION Georgia State University, University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business (MNA) HOMETOWN Sancti Spíritus, Cuba WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Born in Cuba, I am deeply grateful that I had the opportunity, with my parents’ sacrifices, to leave and become a U.S. citizen and escape a communist regime. I want to extend the American dream to others. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’ve seen U2 15 times.
Han Pham Executive Director Her Term
Han Pham is the executive director of Her Term, an organization created to encourage women to pursue public office at the state level. Having joined Her Term as a volunteer in 2017, under her leadership, Her Term has emerged as a powerful force for increasing female political participation, transforming Georgia’s politics by championing equitable representation. In 2024, she was one of just two Georgians selected for the Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program. Pham is among 205 changemakers chosen worldwide. She also recently headed operations at the legal e-learning startup, Hotshot. Additionally, Pham founded the Decatur Lunar New Year Festival, which celebrates AAPI cultures, and Badass Asian Women, a group aimed at building a supportive community and empowering AAPI women. For fun, Han runs a microfarm, Phamcliff Farm & Bees, with her husband and kids.
EDUCATION Wellesley College, University of Minnesota Law School
Rebecca Serna Executive Director Propel ATL
Rebecca Serna is the executive director of Propel ATL, a group founded in 1991 to improve biking conditions in the city. Since Serna took the helm in 2007, the coalition has launched the open-streets project Atlanta Streets Alive, created bike valets at Atlanta festivals, and organized successful campaigns for an Atlanta Department of Transportation and a Vision Zero policy, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities. A native Atlantan, Serna was previously an intern with the Georgia Department of Transportation and a Fulbright scholar in Bogotá, Colombia, where she studied participatory planning practices and innovative public transportation projects.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (MS) HOBBIES Wading in creeks, growing food, reading novels, watching great TV NONPROFITS ACLU, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Los Vecinos de Buford Highway, the Bail Project
Azadeh Shahshahani Legal and Advocacy Director Project South
Azadeh Shahshahani works to protect the human rights of immigrants and Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities throughout the Southeast. Her work includes documenting violations at the Irwin County Detention Center, including invasive gynecological procedures without consent. Additionally, her work led to a U.S. Senate investigation and hearing and the removal of all detained migrants from the center. She also played a key role in convincing the City of Atlanta to stop detaining immigrants in the city jail. Shahshahani was also co-counsel in a lawsuit on behalf of detained immigrants subjected to forced labor at the Stewart Detention Center. In 2025, Shahshahani delivered a keynote address on “Migration, Law, and Justice: The Evolving Role of International and U.S. Policies” at Emory Law School’s International Law Symposium. A past president of the National Lawyers Guild, Shahshahani previously worked as the national security and immigrant-rights project director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia.
EDUCATION University of Michigan (MA), University of Michigan Law School (JD) HOBBIES As a devoted foodie, exploring Atlanta’s rich and diverse food scene
Nathaniel Q. Smith Founder and Chief Equity Officer Partnership for Southern Equity
Nathaniel Smith founded and serves as chief equity officer of the Partnership for Southern Equity, which promotes racial equity and shared prosperity for all in metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. PSE focuses on energy equity, economic inclusion, and equitable development, and created the South’s first equity-mapping tool, the Metro Atlanta Equity Atlas. PSE led a coalition of diverse stakeholders to support a $13 million transit referendum that expanded MARTA into a new county for the first time in 45 years. In 2023, PSE received a $3.5 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to support urban greening in the Atlanta region.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, New School (MS)
Tiffany Williams Roberts Director of the Public Policy Unit Southern Center for Human Rights
Tiffany Williams Roberts, a civil rights and criminal defense attorney, joined the Southern Center for Human Rights in 2018 as community engagement and movement-building counsel and became director of its Public Policy Unit in 2022. She has practiced criminal defense since 2008, first as a public defender with the Atlanta Judicial Circuit Public Defender and later as a solo practitioner. A significant portion of her private practice was dedicated to the pro bono representation of activists and organizers. As a community organizer, she cofounded the police accountability organization Building Locally to Organize for Community Safety (BLOCS) in 2008 to promote a holistic approach to public safety. She also serves as chair of the Social Justice Ministry at Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and board chair of Ebenezer ACTS.
EDUCATION Emory University, Georgia State University College of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys’ Barbara A. Harris Award for Service to the Community (2020), Southern Center for Human Rights Gideon’s Promise Award (2018), NAACP Atlanta Jubilee Day Award (2018) INSPIRING PERSON Journalist Ida B. Wells FEW PEOPLE KNOW I sang in Emory’s all-female a cappella group, the Gathering.
Lani Wong Chair National Association of Chinese Americans
Lani Wong is the chair and a founding member of the National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA) in Atlanta. In that role, she has advanced the interests of the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and the citizens of Georgia, as a whole, for over 40 years. A true pioneer, she has devoted boundless energy at the local, national, and international levels to exponentially increase AAPI participation in the American political process and to improve U.S.-China relations. Wong is also a dedicated community volunteer and leader, serving on the boards of influential government, healthcare, educational, and nonprofit organizations such as the Atlanta Women’s Foundation and the Georgia Human Relations Commission. Among her many honors, she has received the Spelman College Legacy of Leadership Award (2010), Mayor Shirley Franklin’s City of Atlanta Phoenix Award (2005), and the National Association of Asian American Professionals 100 Inspire Award (2018). A native of Indonesia, Wong and her husband, Dr. John Wong, have two children and often host civic events in her award-winning garden at their Dunwoody home.
Andrea I. Young Executive Director American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia
A lifelong advocate for civil and human rights, Andrea Young is the executive director of the ACLU of Georgia. Under her leadership, the ACLU of Georgia has used legislative advocacy and litigation to protect Georgia’s multiracial democracy, citizen participation in free and fair elections; free speech, and privacy rights. As a member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2008, Young was inspired to create the Making of Modern Atlanta project, recognizing the people and policies that allowed Atlanta to transition from segregation to a world-class city. The project included an archive, documentary film, and book. She is the author of Life Lessons My Mother Taught Me about her mother, the educator and children’s rights activist Jean Childs Young. A founding board member of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Young has received numerous awards including from the Gate City Bar Association, the YWCA, the Children’s Defense Fund and Roses for Roe.
EDUCATION Swarthmore College, Georgetown University Law Center (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Aide to Sen. Edward Kennedy on passage of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday FEW PEOPLE KNOW I have completed triathlons at Lake Lanier and Callaway Gardens.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Leonard L. Adams Jr. President and CEO Quest Community Development Organization
Leonard L. Adams Jr. is the founder, president, and CEO of Quest Community Development Organization, which invests in affordable housing and provides services to underserved people. The organization has launched Atlanta’s Westside Affordable Housing Trifecta with an investment of $110 million serving Atlanta’s most vulnerable populations to include the unhoused, extremely low-income, 55-plus citizens, and veterans. A native of Detroit and an Army veteran, Adams has years of experience in developing affordable and supportive housing communities in challenged neighborhoods on Atlanta’s Westside and in Knoxville, Tennessee. Adams serves on Knoxville College’s board of trustees and on the Enterprise Community Leadership Council.
EDUCATION Knoxville College, Kennesaw State University (MBA) FIRST JOB Snow-shoveling specialist and newspaper deliverer
John Ahmann President and CEO Westside Future Fund
John Ahmann is president and CEO of the Westside Future Fund, a nonprofit formed by public, private, and philanthropic partners to promote the development of Atlanta’s Westside neighborhood. Ahmann has been driven for more than 25 years to improve the way communities and institutions function in Atlanta. Formerly Ahmann was executive director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress. Following a stint as a U.S. House of Representatives staffer, he worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and later for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2024, Ahmann also has his own public affairs consulting firm and served two terms on the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education.
EDUCATION Emory University, Yale School of Management (MA) HOMETOWN Atlanta
Paige Alexander CEO The Carter Center
Paige Alexander joined The Carter Center as CEO in June 2020, charged with leading the organization through the Covid-19 pandemic and a period of national social upheaval, while envisioning a path forward for the center. In transitioning from an organization that was founder-led to one that is guided by its founders’ principles, Alexander has strengthened the center’s core peace and health programs and led the organization in new directions, including adding programs to address: the global mental health crisis, political polarization in the U.S., and the impact of climate change on global peace and public health. Before joining The Carter Center, Alexander had a distinguished global development career, with more than two decades of experience in the government and nonprofit sectors. She held Senate-confirmed senior leadership positions at two regional bureaus of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), covering missions and development programs in 25 countries.
INSPIRING PERSON My father, Miles Alexander. He got hired at one of the few firms in Atlanta in the 1950s that would hire Jews and then spent his career as the top lay leader for both the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League, fighting to advance civil rights and human rights into his ninth decade.
Terri L. Badour Executive Director American Red Cross of Georgia
Terri Badour leads the American Red Cross serving Greater Atlanta, one of the largest and strongest chapters in the country, in terms of mission delivery, volunteer engagement, and philanthropy. Prior to this, Badour served in a dual role as the first female CEO of the Red Cross of Georgia and as the executive director for Metro Atlanta, leading the organization as it responded to disasters from home fires to hurricanes, offered services to members of the armed forces and their families, organized blood collection, engaged volunteers, and provided health and safety training.
EDUCATION Western Michigan University, Florida State University (MS) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Raising an incredible daughter is #1. Georgia Trend 100 Most Influential Georgians (2024), Atlanta Business Chronicle Women Who Mean Business (2019), YWCA of Greater Atlanta Academy of Women Achievers (2012), president of the Junior League of Atlanta (2001-2002) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK It’s a privilege to meet our clients, blood and financial donors, partners, and volunteers who impact me as a person and change my life. Serving them on behalf of our iconic, worldwide emblem is a humbling honor.
James “Jay” Bailey President and CEO H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs
James “Jay” M. Bailey is the president and CEO of the H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), the world’s largest hub dedicated to empowering Black businesses. Under his leadership, RICE supports over 500 entrepreneurs, generating $234 million in annual revenue, creating 2,500 jobs, and contributing over $500 million in economic impact to metro Atlanta. Recognized by four U.S. presidents for his community leadership, Bailey serves on several boards, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Agnes Scott College, the Atlanta Speech School, the University of Georgia, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, and Invest Atlanta Foundation.
EDUCATION University of Georgia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK To change lives, change my community, and plant seeds that will grow trees whose shade I may never sit under. HIDDEN TALENT I’m a cattle farmer. I drive a tractor and can call the cows with the best of them. FAVORITE BOOKBuilding Atlanta: How I Broke through Segregation to Launch a Business Empire by Herman J. Russell with Bob Andelman BUCKET LIST A trip to Egypt
Maurice Baker Manager, Community Relations Georgia Natural Gas
St. Louis native Maurice “Moe” Baker is manager of community relations for Georgia Natural Gas, which serves nearly half a million customers as part of Southern Company, one of the largest energy companies in the U.S. At GNG since 2002, Baker supervises community relations, philanthropy, and volunteer programs, and has been responsible for millions of dollars in charitable giving for the company. He began his career as manager of WSB-TV/Radio’s Consumer Action Center.
EDUCATION Boston University BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Yolanda King advised me to always bring a tape recorder to an interview. I was working for my high school newspaper at the time. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION South Africa HIDDEN TALENT I’m actually a pretty good painter. FAVORITE TV SHOWSBlackish, 60 Minutes
Meg Blackwood President and CEO InCommunity
Appointed in August 2024, Meg Blackwood is the president and CEO of InCommunity, a 46-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In her short time at the helm, she has made significant strides in key hires and initiating processes to enhance the organization’s community presence and employee experience. Before joining InCommunity, Blackwood had more than 20 years of experience in advising companies, including government entities and Fortune 500 corporations. Her extensive background in operational leadership, litigation, and human resources makes her well-suited to guide InCommunity through its next chapter of growth and service.
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED The best advice I have received is to press the internal pause button before you respond to something. Speaking candidly is a great value, but when you speak as a leader, you have to realize the gravity your words have on your organization and so having that emotional intelligence and discipline to hit the pause button and really think is important.
John Hope Bryant Founder, Chairman, and CEO Operation HOPE Inc. Bryant Group Ventures LLC
John Hope Bryant is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE Inc., the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy services for youth and adults. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to “silver rights” with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved. He is also the founder of John Hope Bryant Holdings, Bryant Group Ventures, and Bryant Group Advisors. Until June 2024, he previously led The Promise Homes Company, which he successfully recapitalized in 2021 with a $200 million credit facility—one of the largest Black-owned capital raises in over a decade.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Led efforts to rename the U.S. Treasury Annex to the Freedman’s Bank Building, recognizing the unfinished economic work of Abraham Lincoln for freed slaves; Author of six books including the Amazon bestselling Financial Literacy for All: Disrupting Struggle, Advancing Financial Freedom, and Building a New American Middle Class; TIME inaugural The Closers List, recognizing Black leaders working to end inequality, Oprah Winfrey Use Your Life Award, American Banker Innovator of the Year; LinkedIn influencer with over 3 million social media followers, amassing over 300 million views across digital platforms through his Straight Talk with John Hope Bryant series.
Rodney D. Bullard CEO The Same House
CEO of The Same House, a public benefit corporation dedicated to furthering economic mobility by bridging social division. Previously, Bullard led community-engagement, philanthropic and sustainability strategy as vice president of community affairs for Chick-fil-A and executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. He also previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting complex criminal cases, for which he received the Department of Justice Director’s Award. Bullard released his first book, Heroes Wanted: Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out, in 2018.
EDUCATION U.S. Air Force Academy, University of Georgia Terry College of Business (MBA), Duke University School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS White House fellow working at NASA, congressional legislative liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Don’t ever let the expectations of others limit your expectations for yourself. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I love to sing. (Whether I can sing or not is a matter of debate.) FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Cyclorama at the Atlanta History Center
Julio Carrillo CEO Hope Atlanta
In 2022, Julio Carrillo was named CEO of HOPE Atlanta, nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness and hunger that was founded in 1900. With more than 17 years of nonprofit management experience, Carrillo joined Hope Atlanta after serving as COO for Families First, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides a spectrum of services for youth, individuals, and families. He has also held executive leadership positions at TechBridge and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. He currently serves on the board of Leadership Atlanta and the governing council of the Atlanta Continuum of Care, and he is a past board member of Agape Youth & Family Center, Atlanta Victim Assistance, and the GreenLight Fund.
EDUCATION Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Columbia University (Strategy and Innovation Certification) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I love to cook and dance. Whether I’m experimenting with a new recipe or dancing around the kitchen while I make it, it’s my way of expressing joy and creativity. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED The best advice I’ve ever received is to “stay curious and stay kind.” It reminds me that growth and connection go hand in hand. FAVORITE BOOKOne Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Deke Cateau CEO A.G. Rhodes
Deke Cateau is the CEO at A.G. Rhodes, a 122-year-old nonprofit organization operating three nursing homes in metro Atlanta. With more than 20 years of experience in long-term care, Cateau is passionate about fostering a greater understanding of and appreciation for the aging population. As a leader in the fields of healthcare and aging, he educates the community – through robust outreach and speaking engagements with local, national, and international audiences – about the complex issues surrounding aging and long-term care. In addition to being a licensed nursing home administrator, Cateau is a certified dementia care practitioner, trainer, and educator. Additionally, he serves on boards for multiple organizations including LeadingAge, the I’m Still Here Foundation, the Georgia Center for Nursing Excellence, New Horizons Community Development Corporation, Advancing Excellence in Long-Term Care Collaborative, and the Moving Forward Coalition.
EDUCATION University of the West Indies, University of the Virgin Islands (certification in global leadership development) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Years ago, I was working in financial services and my wife – who was a dietician in a nursing home – encouraged me to get into the industry because she thought I would find it more rewarding and meaningful. As usual, my wife was right.
Nicole “Nikki” Clifton President, Social Impact and The UPS Foundation UPS, The UPS Foundation
Nikki Clifton leads UPS’s global philanthropy, social impact, and international community affairs, leveraging the company’s partnerships and logistical acumen to respond to the world’s most pressing social, humanitarian, and environmental needs. Clifton has been instrumental in several signature initiatives at UPS. She coordinated the company’s anti-human trafficking awareness and advocacy initiatives to create the largest training initiative in the private logistics industry. Under her leadership, The UPS Foundation advanced the in-kind distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and cold chain freezers to underserved countries, a global effort that called on UPS’s airline, drone, and ground network. Clifton is overseeing a strategic overhaul of The UPS Foundation to align the company’s philanthropic strategy more closely with UPS’s strengths and priorities and to center its work on equity and justice.
EDUCATION Howard University, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS A class of 2022 member of YWCA of Greater Atlanta’s Academy of Women Achievers, Clifton is also a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2008 and serves on the board of directors for Points of Light.
Jasmine Crowe Founder and CEO Goodr
Jasmine Crowe is an award-winning social entrepreneur, TED speaker, and leader. In 2017, after years of feeding people experiencing homelessness from her own kitchen, she launched Goodr, a sustainable waste management company that leverages technology to combat hunger and reduce food waste. Since the launch in 2017, Goodr has been responsible for providing nearly 30 million meals to people across the United States and has diverted over 12 million pounds of surplus food that would have ended up in a landfill. Under her direction, Goodr also launched a grocery delivery program providing weekly groceries to senior citizens and children in virtual school. In 2021, Crowe partnered with recording artist, Gunna, launching the first in-school free grocery store in Atlanta. In 2025, the author of the children’s book, Everybody Eats, launched Community Market on Edgewood, offering affordable, local, and fresh groceries, and Little Loaf Deli, Goodr’s first affordable restaurant concept.
EDUCATION North Carolina Central University FIRST JOB I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. In middle school, I started a business teaching kids gymnastics called Tumble Tots. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED The best advice I received was from my dad. No matter how tough the day was going, he would always say, “Joy comes in the morning.”
Charlene Crusoe-Ingram CEO Meals On Wheels Atlanta
After serving on the Meals On Wheels Atlanta (MOWA) board of trustees for six years, Charlene Crusoe-Ingram stepped into the role of CEO in 2015. As CEO, Crusoe-Ingram leads the organization’s work to end senior hunger in Atlanta, overseeing the delivery of more than 500,000 meals annually as well as MOWA’s social enterprise business, Purposeful Gourmet Foods, which generates revenue to support MOWA’s mission. Crusoe-Ingram, a native of New Albany, Mississippi, brings a wealth of corporate experience to her position, including senior leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories, the Coca-Cola Co., and NDC Health (now part of McKesson Pharmacy Systems). She is an alum of Leadership Atlanta and has been honored as a supporter and leader by the National Black MBA Conference. She has been featured as a strategic human resources professional in Beverage Digest.
EDUCATION Bradley University (MA) HOBBIES Flower arranging FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Paris FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT High Museum
Alicia Doherty Chief Executive Officer American Red Cross of Georgia
Alicia Doherty is the regional CEO of the American Red Cross of Georgia which serves about 10 million people across 159 counties with the support of a large volunteer workforce, blood and financial donors, and community partners. Previously, Doherty was the regional donor services executive for Georgia, within biomedical services of the Red Cross, overseeing blood drive operations and whole blood collections. She also served as the director of national accounts. She started her career at the Red Cross in 2005 in volunteer services before transitioning to donor recruitment, where she held various positions.
EDUCATION Georgia State University (MS)
Photograph courtesy of individual
Curley Dossman Jr. President, Community Relations Georgia-Pacific, Georgia-Pacific Foundation
Curley Dossman Jr. leads the organization’s charitable-giving program, which focuses on four areas: education, environment, enrichment, and entrepreneurship. He also oversees Georgia-Pacific’s community-affairs efforts, including national disaster relief. Previously, Dossman spent a decade as the state vice president of government affairs for AT&T.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, Washington University School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Ville Platte, Louisiana NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Supported Georgia-Pacific’s leadership role in securing funding for the restoration of Ebenezer Baptist Church, past board chair of 100 Black Men of America FEW PEOPLE KNOW I have a law degree. HOBBIES Travel, golf FAVORITE BOOKThe Firm by John Grisham
Photograph courtesy of individual
George A. Dusenbury IV Vice President Southern Region, Georgia and Florida The Trust for Public Land
George Dusenbury oversees The Trust for Public Land’s work on urban parks and green infrastructure in Georgia. Central to this work is TPL’s leadership on the Chattahoochee RiverLands, a collaborative effort with the Atlanta Regional Commission and other stakeholders to create a master plan for a 100-mile stretch along the Chattahoochee River. Proud of its partnership with the City of Atlanta to build the 16-acre Rodney Cook Sr. Park in Vine City, TPL also is working with metro school districts and community partners to reimagine and redesign schoolyards as community parks outside of school hours. Additionally, Dusenbury serves as an advocate for parks, sustainability, and good urban design as a part of Decatur’s City Commission.
EDUCATION Cornell University, Emory University School of Law (JD) PREVIOUS POSITIONS Commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, executive director of Park Pride, legislative director and district director for Congressman John Lewis FEW PEOPLE KNOW I am an identical twin. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Get in the way. INSPIRING PERSON Congressman John Lewis
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David Eidson President and CEO Coxe Curry & Associates
David Eidson is president and CEO of Coxe Curry & Associates, a fundraising consulting firm that works with major local institutions including the Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Grady Health Foundation, Trees Atlanta, and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. He joined the organization in 2012 after 27 years in the financial sector; previously Eidson was chairman and CEO of the SunTrust subsidiary RidgeWorth Capital Management, where he worked with nonprofit boards and finance committees to oversee the management of their organizations’ investable assets.
EDUCATION Auburn University HOMETOWN Birmingham, Alabama WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK The first 27 years of my professional career I worked in various parts of the SunTrust organization, and I was introduced very early in my career to the non-profit community. SunTrust encouraged me to be involved in leadership roles—on various boards and on committees of nonprofits. That exposure to those organizations created a desire to be more involved, and I decided I wanted to turn my avocation for the nonprofit world into my vocation.
Frank Fernandez President and CEO Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Frank Fernandez has served as president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta since 2020. Under his leadership, the foundation has advanced bold initiatives in affordable housing and economic mobility—connecting donors, nonprofits, and civic leaders to create a more equitable and prosperous Atlanta. Previously at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, he spearheaded the Westside Neighborhood Prosperity Fund, a program designed to contribute to the revitalization of Vine City, English Avenue, Castleberry Hill, and adjacent neighborhoods. Prior to his work in Atlanta, he served as executive director of Green Doors in Austin, Texas. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2024 and the LatinX Alliance, Fernandez remains committed to building lasting solutions that strengthen communities and expand opportunity for all.
EDUCATION Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs (MPA) FIRST JOB Landscaper for my high school to pay for tuition HOBBIES Reading, watching sports, hiking FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
Jai Ferrell CEO Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
Appointed in July 2024, Jai Ferrell is the CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. Ferrell, an Atlanta native and former Girl Scout, has strong ties to the area’s business, government, and cultural leaders. Her professional experience spans complex, multi-stakeholder environments, most recently serving as the chief commercial/revenue officer for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Ferrell is the first person of color to lead the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Council.
EDUCATION Spelman College, Georgia State University (MA) FIRST JOB Summer camp counselor for the City of Atlanta’s Best Friend Program FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Grant Park
Nancy A. Flake Johnson President and CEO Urban League of Greater Atlanta
Nancy Flake Johnson returned to Atlanta from Detroit in 2008 to become president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta and engage her passion for promoting economic development and equity by empowering African American youth, adults, and families. By building partnerships, Johnson increased the League’s impact on housing, education, business development, and employment in underrepresented communities. The League partnered with the City of Atlanta to create a Youth Development Grant program for local community-based organizations that serve Atlanta students in grades K-12 as so many Atlanta youth were adversely affected by the pandemic. Johnson started her career as an accountant and was the first woman to lead the Howard University Small Business Development Center.
EDUCATION Howard University, DePaul University (MS) HOMETOWN Detroit, Michigan NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTAtlanta Business Chronicle Women Who Mean Business (2020) INSPIRING PERSON Congressman John Lewis for his courage, unwavering strength, and commitment to breaking down systems of oppression and institutional racism, and fighting for justice and voting rights.
Maria Fundora Owner and General Manager Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant Founder Purple Pansies
Maria Fundora is the owner and general manager of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant in Alpharetta and founder of nonprofit Purple Pansies. She opened Casa Nuova in 1998 with her late husband, Antonio, master chef and founder, and owned five restaurants in Atlanta previously. Fundora founded Purple Pansies in 2009 following her own mother’s death from pancreatic cancer. To date, Purple Pansies has raised over $5 million to fund emergency financial aid to patients and their families, scholarships for children from families affected by pancreatic cancer and groundbreaking research and clinical trials, through Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope. Purple Pansies funding has been instrumental in the creation of three out of the four key regimens used to treat pancreatic cancer today. In 2022, Fundora was appointed to the National Pancreatic Cancer Council.
FIRST JOB Cashier HOMETOWN Chicago, Illinois FAVORITE MOVIEPretty Woman BUCKET LIST Being able to put my restaurant dressings on the market WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Maria Bilbao or Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Grant Warner President and CEO Fernbank Museum
Jennifer Grant Warner, president and CEO of Fernbank Museum, is on a personal mission to ignite a passion for science, nature and human culture through exploration and discovery. While it is a private nonprofit, Fernbank succeeds with an entrepreneurial mindset. Fernbank fuels growth through a business model that leans on admissions and diverse revenue streams, welcoming more than 400,000 guests annually, including more than 50,000 students from more than 250 schools and community organizations. Grant Warner also helped lead Fernbank’s expansion into an indoor-outdoor cultural destination by introducing “WildWoods,” which features adventurous, artistic, and educational outdoor exhibits that connect the museum directly to Fernbank Forest, the largest urban Piedmont old-growth forest in the United States. With a focus on community impact, Fernbank has also launched a STEAM Lab and the mobile museum, “Fernbank on the Go.” Believing education and fun are not mutually exclusive, she fosters a vision to create unique, engaging, immersive, and fun experiences that people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy.
Education: University of Kentucky, Georgia State University Robinson College of Business (MBA)
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F. Sheffield Hale President and CEO Atlanta History Center
F. Sheffield Hale became president and CEO of the Atlanta History Center in 2012. Previously he was chief counsel of the American Cancer Society and a partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, where he practiced corporate law. An Atlanta native, Hale is a trustee of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Buckhead Coalition, Midtown Alliance, and The Westminster Schools. He is chair of the advisory board of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, an ex-officio member of the board of the Old Salem Museums and Gardens, and a member of the advisory board for the Center for the Study of the American South.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, University of Virginia School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Governor’s Award for the Arts & Humanities (2021), Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Mary Gregory Jewett Award for Lifetime Preservation Service (2014), State Bar of Georgia Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service (2001) FIRST JOB Clerk at Brookwood Hardware BEST ADVICE RECEIVED It’s the last five percent that counts.
Michael Halicki Executive Director Park Pride
As president and CEO, Michael Halicki leads Park Pride, the Atlanta-based nonprofit that engages communities to activate the power of parks. During his 13-year tenure, Park Pride has received a four-star designation by Charity Navigator and Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency. Halicki, who has been included on the Georgia Trend Notable Georgians list, serves on The Livable Communities Council of the Urban Land Institute – Atlanta, is a member of the Atlanta Civic Collaboratory, and recently joined the board of Atlanta Way 2.0.
EDUCATION Indiana University, Georgia State University (MPA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Graduate of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (2013) and the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute (2009) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I care deeply for our city and the role parks can play in strengthening neighborhoods and communities. Neighborhoods without parks aren’t neighborhoods—they are just housing. FIRST JOB Newspaper delivery boy
Angela Harris Executive Artistic Director Dance Canvas, Inc.
Angela Harris is the executive artistic director of Dance Canvas, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing career development opportunities for emerging professional choreographers and youth, while expanding the reach of professional dance in metro Atlanta. Harris founded Dance Canvas after witnessing the difficult path and lack of professional opportunities available for emerging choreographers. Harris, who is also an adjunct professor at Spelman College and Emory University, has developed youth dance/career development programs for the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs, recording artist Usher’s New Look Foundation, and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. Since 2008, through Dance Canvas, Harris has presented and produced work from over 200 choreographers, with performances that have reached over 25,000 Atlanta audiences.
EDUCATION City College of New York NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Arts Advisory Task Force; Suzi Bass Award – Outstanding Choreography; National Visiting Fellow – School of American Ballet; Synchronicity Theater – Women in Arts & Business Honoree WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Zoë Kravitz with Ariana DeBose jumping in for the dancing segments. I would be the choreographer, of course!
Abiodun Henderson Founder The Come Up Project featuring Gangstas To Growers
Born to a Liberian mother and a Black Panther Party member father, Abiodun “Abi” Henderson is the founder of The Come Up Project, which features a cooperative business training program, based in agriculture, entitled Gangstas to Growers. Geared toward at-risk and formerly incarcerated youth, the program, which provides employment, empowerment, and entrepreneurship opportunities, enables graduates to join the Atlanta hot sauce cooperative Sweet Sol. Program participants grow and harvest the ingredients, then make the hot sauce themselves. Additionally, Henderson has been a community organizer in Westside Atlanta for over 10 years. Under her leadership as garden coordinator, the Westview Community Garden is now community owned after being bulldozed in 2015. In 2020, Henderson received a James Beard Leadership Award which spotlights the important and complex realms of sustainability, food justice, and public health.
MOST INSPIRING PERSON My ancestors of the Kru tribe in Liberia, who were known as the hardest to enslave, taught me to fight for freedom by any means necessary.
Jennifer Hidinger-Kendrick Founder Giving Kitchen
Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, along with her late husband, Ryan Hidinger, founded Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that helps food service workers in crisis. She advises on brand awareness and community involvement, with Giving Kitchen being named one of Fast Company magazine’s Brands That Matter in 2022. Additionally, as GK’s spokesperson, she has received the Community Hero Award from the Atlanta Braves and Fox Sports South, and has been featured on the covers of Entrepreneur and Atlanta magazines. As cofounder of the acclaimed Staplehouse Restaurant, she was a key member of the team that earned Bon Appétit magazine’s Best New Restaurant in America in 2016. Joining GK full-time in 2019, Hidinger-Kendrick, a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2024, was proud to share the stage with colleagues in receiving the James Beard Foundation’s 2019 Humanitarian of the Year award.
EDUCATION Indiana University TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Getting food service workers to ask for help BUCKET LIST Being part of a team helping 100,000 food service workers annually find stability
Clyde A. Higgs President and CEO Atlanta BeltLine
As president and CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine since 2019, Clyde A. Higgs leads the executive team in overseeing the design and construction of transit, trails, and parks, plus affordable housing, economic development, real estate, external affairs, and procurement. Higgs joined the BeltLine organization in 2015 as chief operating officer; previously he served as executive vice president of a collaborative, multibillion-dollar revitalization and economic development effort led by the state of North Carolina and real estate developer Castle & Cooke. He has 20 years’ experience in economic development, real estate, intellectual property, technology, strategic planning, design, real estate development, grant and donor funding, government relations, and urban innovation.
EDUCATION University of South Alabama, East Carolina University (MPA) FIRST JOB Shrimp boat laborer HIDDEN TALENT Ping-pong champion NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Emerging Technology Venture Fund for early-stage companies working on innovations in the fields of biotechnology, healthcare, energy, and information technology
Raphael Holloway CEO Gateway Center
Raphael Holloway is CEO of the Gateway Center, which provides services and stable housing for people experiencing homelessness. Holloway has more than 25 years of experience in the social services arena, specializing in the behavioral health, corrections, homelessness, and public health sectors. Before joining the Gateway Center in 2016, he was chief operations officer for Families First and, prior to that, director of the HIV unit of the Georgia Department of Public Health. Holloway, who is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2020, serves on the advisory council for Agape Youth and Family Center.
EDUCATION Bowling Green State University (MA) HOMETOWN Toledo, Ohio INSPIRING PERSON Muhammad Ali TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Being temporarily homeless at 15 FAVORITE BOOKThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Kimberly Jackson Executive Vice President, Southeast Region American Cancer Society
Kimberly Jackson is executive vice president of the American Cancer Society’s Southeast Region, which serves communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. Under her leadership, the Southeast Region serves thousands of cancer patients and caregivers, engages volunteers to support community-based programs, inspires and equips companies to provide healthy workplaces, and raises more than $82 million to fuel cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. A member of Leadership Atlanta class of 2023, Jackson is also involved with the Junior League of Atlanta and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, organizations that share her passion for empowering communities and expanding opportunities for the next generation.
EDUCATION North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University HOMETOWN Waldorf, Maryland TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Hands down—parenting adult children. When they were little, the job was exhausting, but straightforward: keep them fed, safe, and in bed at a reasonable hour. Now? I’m learning the fine art of offering advice without giving lectures, supporting without smothering, and letting them make their own choices—even when I see the potholes ahead. WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I lost my mom to colorectal cancer and was her caregiver.
Erik S. Johnson President Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
Erik S. Johnson was named president of the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation in 2025 after the retirement of longtime leader Russ Hardin, who is now a trustee of the foundation. Johnson directs a broad range of charitable giving as president of the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, Lettie Pate Evans Foundation, and Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation. The foundations primarily support organizations in metro Atlanta. They were created by Robert W. Woodruff, a philanthropist and former president of The Coca-Cola Co., and the family of Joseph B. Whitehead, one of the original Coca-Cola bottlers. Johnson joined the foundation staff in 2006, became treasurer in 2014, and vice president in 2021 before becoming president.
EDUCATION Emory University, University of Georgia School of Law (JD)
Kwame Johnson President/CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta
Kwame Johnson is president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta, overseeing the largest and most effective youth mentoring agency in Georgia. Prior to his current position, Johnson served as executive director of the Greater Atlanta Region for PowerMyLearning, where he increased the organization’s revenue by 65 percent and program reach by 115 percent within three years. Johnson has received national recognition for his work including the Social Entrepreneur Program of the Year Award from the Manhattan Institute. In 2023, Johnson was recognized as a top CEO in Georgia Titan 100. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2020, Johnson received the Atlanta Business Chronicle 2020 Most Admired CEO Award and the Atlanta Business League 2020 Men of Influence Award.
EDUCATION University of Maryland; NYU, Babson, and Harvard University (Executive Education Certificates in Nonprofit Strategy and Fundraising) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I found my passion while incarcerated during my senior year of high school. During this challenging time, I decided to change my life and made history by becoming the first youth ever to take my SAT in jail. I was accepted into Hampton University, and, at 19, decided to leave college to become a social entrepreneur and help others through service.
Cheneé Joseph President and CEO Historic District Development Corporation
Cheneé Joseph is the president and CEO of the Historic District Development Corporation, Atlanta’s oldest surviving community development corporation, which has spearheaded nearly four decades of urban revitalization work in Sweet Auburn. Joseph is past chair of the Atlanta BeltLine Affordable Housing Advisory Board, which provides guidance to Invest Atlanta and the City of Atlanta on the goals and policies related to the use of the BeltLine Affordable Housing Trust Fund and monitors the location and availability of affordable housing throughout the BeltLine. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2026, Joseph also serves as chair of Clean Sweep Frederiksted in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
EDUCATION Georgia State University, Georgia Tech (MA) FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION London, England FEW PEOPLE KNOW I grew up in the beautiful Virgin Islands as the eldest of two siblings. Living on the islands, we were surrounded by natural beauty that greatly influenced my interests and passions. This led me to develop a love for architecture and agriculture. FAVORITE ATLANTA PODCASTArchive Atlanta
Jay Kaiman President The Marcus Foundation
As president of The Marcus Foundation, Jay Kaiman’s role is to facilitate the philanthropic vision of Bernie Marcus, cofounder of The Home Depot. Marcus died at the age of 95 in 2024. The foundation focuses its giving on children, medical research, free enterprise, Israel, and Jewish causes. Kaiman joined the foundation in 2002. He moved to Atlanta in 1996 to become Southeast director of the Anti-Defamation League.
EDUCATION University of Florida HOMETOWN Pensacola, Florida
Bernice A. King CEO Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
A global thought leader, orator, and peace advocate, Bernice A. King advances her parents’ legacy as CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Since taking the helm in 2012, she’s guided an expansion of the center’s Nonviolence365 education and training initiative, engaged young people around the country in interactive virtual talks, launched a series of Beloved Community conversations on difficult racial issues, and updated the King Center campus. In 2020 the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation gave King its Phoenix Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society. King’s second Phoenix Award was received in 2023 from the City of Atlanta. It recognizes outstanding achievements and service to the city, state, nation, and world, and is the highest award an individual or group can receive from the mayor of the City of Atlanta.
EDUCATION Spelman College, Emory University (MDiv, JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Spoke in her mother’s stead at the United Nations at age 17, spearheaded the global event Let Freedom Ring and Call to Action to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, authored Hard Questions, Heart Answers FIRST JOB Summer camp counselor BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Don’t make a decision in anger.
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Raymond B. King President and CEO Zoo Atlanta
In 2010, Raymond King became president and CEO of Zoo Atlanta, the city’s oldest cultural institution and one of its largest. During his tenure, King has grown attendance from 675,000 to 1 million annually, and led the institution in raising more than $63 million in philanthropic support to modernize the facilities—more than was raised cumulatively in the past 25 years. King previously spent 22 years with SunTrust Banks, most recently as senior vice president for community affairs in Atlanta, and has chaired and served on numerous boards.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS United Way Chairman’s Award (2009), Woodruff Arts Center Charles R. Yates Award for Outstanding Service (2003)
Lauren Koontz President and CEO YMCA of Metro Atlanta
The first female president and CEO in the history of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Lauren Koontz leads the organization’s efforts to ensure that all people—especially children—experience an equal opportunity to fully reach their potential. She works to make the YMCA a best-in-class provider of education, wellness, and youth development programs designed to strengthen Atlanta communities. Koontz joined the organization in 2012 as its chief development officer and became executive vice president in 2016. Previously she served in leadership roles at Coxe Curry & Associates, Emory University School of Medicine, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Georgia State University Robinson College of Business (MBA) HOMETOWN Saint Simons Island NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS 2016 recipient of the YMCA’s highest honor: the “Sully” Award, named for Thomas Sullivan, YMCA’s founder in the U.S. Koontz was one of Atlanta magazine’s Women Making a Mark in 2020.
Gaurav Kumar President Andrew J. Young Foundation
Gaurav Kumar is president of the Andrew J. Young Foundation. In this role, he has worked closely with Ambassador Andrew Young to further their mission to feed the hungry and heal the sick. He leads the research, design, and engineering of advanced aquaponics systems and Lemna protein extraction technologies. As Ambassador Young turns 93, he is also leading the foundation to preserve the legacy of Andrew Young in perpetuity. A native of India, Kumar previously worked at the National Monuments Foundation, where he developed the initial plan of the $45 million Rodney Cook Park in Vine City, which opened in July 2021. He also oversaw the construction and placement of the statue of U.S. Rep. John Lewis in the park.
EDUCATION Birla Institute of Technology and IRIMEE, Jamalpur, India; Georgia State University (MS); IGNOU, India (MA) FIRST JOB Engineer at Indian Railways BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Self-discipline is the most important discipline. HIDDEN TALENT I’m a very good singer and play guitar. BUCKET LIST To write a book
Renée Kutner President and CEO Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
Renée Kutner is the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. A native Atlantan, Kutner has been a driving force within the federation since joining in 2015 as vice president of marketing, where she brought nearly a decade of experience in advertising and marketing to enhance the federation’s reach and impact. She advanced to chief operating officer in 2021, where she not only helped shape the federation’s strategic direction but also oversaw critical operational functions, including finance, internal operations, and governance. The first female CEO of the federation, her achievements have played a crucial role in positioning the federation as a central convener of Atlanta’s dynamic Jewish community.
EDUCATION University of Michigan, UCLA (MBA) FIRST JOB Hebrew school teacher FAVORITE SONG ABOUT GEORGIA “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band BEST ADVICE RECEIVED You’re only in the right line of work if you can sit at the dinner table and tell your kids about how you are the luckiest person in the world to do what you do…no matter how hard your day may have been.
Terence Lester Founder and Executive Director Love Beyond Walls
Formerly a high school dropout, gang member, and an inmate, Terence Lester is now a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, author, and the founder of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. Additionally, he serves as the director of public policy and social change and as a professor at Simmons College of Kentucky. Additionally, Lester has spoken about his work on several media platforms including Good Morning America, NBC, and The Bright Side with Katie Couric. His latest book, published by InterVarsity Press, titled, From Dropout to Doctorate: Breaking the Chains of Educational Injustice, was released in 2025.
EDUCATION American InterContinental University, Atlanta Bible College, Liberty University (MA, EdM), Union Institute & University (PhD) FIRST JOB A shoe store in Greenbriar Mall BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Never be a public success and a private failure. FAVORITE MOVIEComing to America FAVORITE POWER LUNCH RESTAURANT Paschal’s, for its iconic history and the way it brings people together around vision and conversation BUCKET LIST Have a film made about my life!
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Milton James Little Jr. President United Way of Greater Atlanta
Milton J. Little Jr. became the first African American president of United Way of Greater Atlanta in 2007. In that role, he’s helped raise more than half a billion dollars for local community needs and redirected the organization’s focus to increasing the well-being of the region’s children. Before joining United Way of Greater Atlanta, the largest United Way in the U.S., Little served as chief operating officer and interim president of the National Urban League. In 2024, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Little as a Most Admired CEO.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, Columbia University (MA) HOMETOWN Roosevelt, New York FIRST JOB Busboy at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, New York. The lesson: Don’t be disagreeable to people who are preparing your food! WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK To live a life of service in honor of my parents, who taught me the value of making a difference in the lives of others. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’ve studied Eagle Claw kung fu and the Israeli fighting style Krav Maga for many years, and I meditate.
Mary Pat Matheson President and CEO Atlanta Botanical Garden
Its leader since 2002, Mary Pat Matheson has built the membership of the Atlanta Botanical Garden to more than 42,000. She spearheaded a $55 million capital campaign, completed in 2012, that doubled the garden to 30 acres and added a visitor center, parking facility, canopy walk, and edible garden. A more recent $50 million campaign provided other enhancements, including a new restaurant and renovated children’s garden. Set to be completed by 2027, as part of a $150 million project, the garden broke ground on its eight-acre expansion which will connect the Atlanta BeltLine to the garden. Matheson was also responsible for the development of a 185-acre satellite garden in Gainesville. She was named board chair of the Midtown Alliance in 2022.
EDUCATION University of Utah (EMPA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS American Horticultural Society Professional of the Year (2005), Public Broadcasting Atlanta Lexus Leader of the Arts. Past president of the American Public Gardens Association. Responsible for introducing Atlanta to the work of internationally acclaimed artists such as Dale Chihuly, Henry Moore, and Niki de Saint Phalle through garden exhibitions.
Rosalyn Merrick President and CEO Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
Appointed in 2024, Rosalyn Merrick is the president and CEO of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Prior to her current role, as the chief development officer, Merrick successfully generated diverse, record-breaking funds that helped the organization emerge from the pandemic with ample resources to ramp up production and expand its programs. Merrick was at the helm of fundraising efforts when Atlanta Habitat received a $13.5 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in March 2022. A native Atlantan and a graduate of Georgia State University, Merrick’s 25-year career includes previous leadership roles at Georgia Community Foundation, Mount Vernon School, The Ron Clark Academy, and United Way of Greater Atlanta.
FIRST JOB Ruby Tuesday, as a hostess BUCKET LIST Now that my husband and I are nearly empty-nesters, I covet vacations with our two beautiful sons more than ever. As their lives become fuller and busier (without us), these moments are rarer and more precious.
Carol R. Naughton CEO Purpose Built Communities Foundation
Carol R. Naughton is the CEO of Purpose Built Communities Foundation, which supports local leaders who are implementing resident-centered, holistic, and cross-sectoral neighborhood revitalization initiatives that create pathways to prosperity for all neighbors. Previously, she served as the executive director of the East Lake Foundation and general counsel and deputy executive director of The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta where she was a key member of the team creating the legal and financial model to develop mixed-income housing. She started her career as a commercial real estate lawyer in private practice in Atlanta.
EDUCATION Colgate University, Emory University School of Law (JD) FIRST JOB Camp counselor at Tawasentha Park in New York BEST ADVICE RECEIVED When someone offers to help, let them. WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Train yourself to become a morning person. You’ll get so much more done that way! LESSON LEARNED Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Fail forward and fast.
Photograph by Caroline Joe/CARE
Michelle Nunn President and CEO CARE USA
Michelle Nunn joined CARE USA as president and CEO in 2015 and leads a global team of more than 8,000 people working in more than 100 countries to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. During her tenure CARE has taken its fundraising and impact to new levels, including fiscal year 2021 revenue that was the highest in the organization’s history and programs that reached more than 90 million people. Nunn has devoted her career to public service, cofounding the volunteer-mobilization organization Hands On Atlanta, growing it into a national network, and overseeing its merger with the Points of Light Foundation. She served as CEO of the resultant organization, Points of Light—the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service—from 2007 to 2013.
EDUCATION University of Virginia, Harvard University (MPA) FIRST JOB Park ranger. I operated the elevator of the Washington Monument one summer. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Entering into the political arena in my run for U.S. Senate in 2014 was the hardest thing I have ever done. And it was awfully tough to lose. Fortunately, I had family and friends to lift me up and put things in perspective.
Lily Pabian Executive Director We Love Buford Highway
Lily Pabian joined We Love Buford Highway in 2019 as the agency’s new executive director, bringing over 30 years of experience of bridging businesses, consultancy, and nonprofits. As the mission of We Love Buford Highway is to preserve the multicultural identity of Atlanta’s Buford Highway, Pabian is passionate about all things related to culture, diversity, and engagement. As a Chinese American and Atlanta native, she felt like the Buford Highway corridor—an approximately ten-mile stretch of state road internationally recognized for its sizeable immigrant and refugee population, restaurants, and shops—was her family’s first home in the city. Under her leadership, WLBH has raised over $1.6 million to support immigrant communities through food security initiatives, cultural storytelling, youth arts programs, and small business advocacy.
EDUCATION Georgia State University FIRST JOB Chinese Combo King, Lenox Mall NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS In 2021 and 2022, Pabian was recognized as one of Georgia Asian Times’ 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in the state. Additionally, Pabian was named a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award honoree by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2021 and noted among its Power 100, Atlanta’s most influential advocates, in 2022. Pabian is also a wife and mother of three young adults.
Carlos Pagoaga Vice President, Global Community Affairs The Coca-Cola Company President The Coca-Cola Foundation
Carlos Pagoaga is vice president of Global Community Affairs for The CocaCola Company and president of The Coca-Cola Foundation. In this role, he manages all foundation operations, which includes grant making; financial requirements; and regulatory compliance for domestic and international philanthropy. Previously, Pagoaga served as the foundation’s senior director of circular economy, where he was responsible for directing global recycling initiatives. Pagoaga joined the foundation in 2007. He has directed multiple large grants, such as for Replenish Africa Initiative, Project Last Mile, and the Atlanta Beltline. Pagoaga joined CocaCola in 1990 in Corporate Latin Affairs, where he managed relationships with Latino organizations and elected officials across the United States. He previously served as chairman for the National Hispanic Corporate Council, The Latin American Association and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2009, Pagoaga was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Atlanta.
EDUCATION Georgia State University (MBA)
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Keith T. Parker President and CEO Goodwill of North Georgia
Keith T. Parker is president and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the Southeast. The organization, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, spans a 45-county territory with 70 stores, 53 attended donation centers, and 13 career centers. Goodwill employs over 3,000 team members, each of whom plays a direct or supporting role in the organization’s donated goods retail operations and its career services. Store revenue enables Goodwill to connect tens of thousands of North Georgians to jobs every year. Before joining Goodwill in 2017, Parker served as CEO of transit systems in several cities, including San Antonio, Charlotte, and, most recently, Atlanta.
EDUCATION Virginia Commonwealth University (MURP), University of Richmond (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Member of the Department of Homeland Security’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council since 2016, American Public Transportation Association Outstanding Public Transportation Manager (2015), Texas CEO of the Year (2011 and 2012) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I love the purity of Goodwill’s mission to put people to work. Nothing changes a person’s life more than finding sustainable employment.
Eric Paulk Chief of Staff ProGeorgia
Committed to advancing racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and the dignity of communities impacted by HIV, Eric Paulk serves as the chief of staff at ProGeorgia, the state’s progressive civic engagement table. In this role, Paulk oversees organizational strategy, staff leadership, and multi-sector partnerships aimed at building power for historically marginalized communities across Georgia. Prior to joining ProGeorgia, Paulk served as deputy director at Georgia Equality, where he led the organization’s advocacy portfolio, playing a central role in the successful effort to reform Georgia’s HIV criminalization law and pass nondiscrimination ordinances in municipalities statewide.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (JD) HOMETOWN Fitzgerald, Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Soros Justice Fellow, Open Society Foundations; Yearlong fellowship, Rockwood Leadership Institute; Georgia Trend 40 Under 40; Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia’s Distinguished Service Award; Created the Tyron Garner Memorial Scholarship at the National LGBTQ Bar Association TOUGHEST CHALLENGE My toughest challenge came during the Covid-19 pandemic when I lost my grandfather, all of my uncles, and an aunt all on my mother’s side. I found myself stepping into the role of a male elder.
Gigi Pedraza Founder and Executive Director Latino Community Fund
Gigi Pedraza is the founding executive director of the Latino Community Fund Georgia, a grantmaking public charity dedicated to catalyzing investment and promoting collaborative work in the Latinx/Hispanic community. With 39 member organizations across the state, LCF Georgia amplifies the diverse voices within the community through advocacy, research, and leadership development; builds capacity in community-based organizations, and directly invests in families and Latinx-led member organizations through scholarships and grants. Playing an active role in Georgia’s Latinx community, Pedraza is a social entrepreneur and experienced professional in the areas of general management, strategy, operations, marketing, and development.
EDUCATION College of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (MA) HOMETOWN Lima, Peru NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Business Chronicle Corporate Citizenship Award (2025), Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame (2020), National Football League Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award (2018) FIRST JOB I made clay figurines with my mom to make money in Peru when I was 12-14 years old.
Dantes Rameau Cofounder and CEO Atlanta Music Project
Dantes Rameau is the CEO of Atlanta Music Project, which he cofounded in 2010. AMP provides world-class music training and performance opportunities for youth in under-resourced communities. He leads an organization serving over 1,000 students annually and offering tuition-free programming in band, orchestra, choir, and private lessons. AMP also provides college scholarships and career counseling. AMP’s youth music ensembles and faculty members perform over 60 concerts each year at venues across metro Atlanta, from community centers to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In 2024, the AMP Senior Youth Orchestra embarked on its first concert tour abroad to Ottawa, Canada. Also, in 2024 the AMP Senior Youth Choir was crowned the winner of the Youth Choir category at the World Choir Games Open Competition in Auckland, New Zealand.
EDUCATION McGill University, Yale University School of Music (MM), Carnegie Mellon University (performance certificate) HOMETOWN Ottawa, Canada FIRST JOB My first job in high school was as a lifeguard at the local YMCA. Having people’s lives in my hands, I learned how to be prepared, how to prevent bad scenarios, and how to take on extreme responsibility. FEW PEOPLE KNOW My first language is French.
Jonathan T.M. Reckford CEO Habitat for Humanity International
Under the 20 years of leadership of CEO Jonathan T.M. Reckford, Habitat for Humanity International has greatly expanded its impact. Since taking the role in 2005, local Habitat organizations in all 50 states and in more than 70 countries have seen 100-fold growth in the number of individuals impacted through shelter solutions, with the global Christian housing organization now having helped more than 62 million people. Before coming to Habitat, Reckford was executive pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church near Minneapolis. He spent much of his earlier career in executive and managerial positions at for-profit companies including Goldman Sachs, Marriott, Walt Disney, and Best Buy.
EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA) INSPIRING PERSON I had the privilege of calling President Jimmy Carter both a role model and a friend, and he always showed the world what true integrity looked like. President and Mrs. Carter began working with Habitat in 1984, leading a team of volunteers to renovate a NYC apartment building in what became known as the first Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. We will continue their legacy by bringing the 2026 Carter Work Project back to Atlanta for the first time since 1988, as it coincides with Habitat’s 50th anniversary.
Anthony Rodriguez Executive Director South Forsyth Community Improvement District Cofounder and Artistic Director Emeritus Aurora Theatre
Anthony Rodriguez is the executive director of the South Forsyth Community Improvement District. He previously served as the inaugural executive director of HUB404 Conservancy, a nine-acre “cap park” that will be above GA 400 between Peachtree and Lenox roads and provide a direct connection to MARTA’s Buckhead rail station. HUB404, an estimated $270 million project, is expected to be complete by 2028. At Aurora Theatre, which Rodriguez cofounded more than 20 years ago with Ann-Carol Pence, Rodriguez negotiated Aurora’s $35 million, 59,500-square-foot expansion into the Lawrenceville Arts Center, which opened in 2021. An Atlanta native, Rodriguez is a graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute, and in 2016 was the first Latino and the first arts leader to serve as chair of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Vice president of National Alliance for Musical Theatre, Leadership Atlanta class of 2022 FIRST JOB Running a jackhammer HIDDEN TALENT I’m an excellent cook. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Being diagnosed with cancer at 27 FEW PEOPLE KNOW I jousted at the Georgia Renaissance Festival.
Karen Romaine Thomas CEO National Housing Compliance
Karen Romaine Thomas serves as the CEO of National Housing Compliance, an organization that provides professional training and compliance services to the affordable housing industry. NHC is also the performance-based contract administrator (PBCA) for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in Georgia and Illinois. In her role as CEO, she sets the strategic direction and coordinates the activities of a talented executive leadership team responsible for the oversight and compliance of approximately 900 federally assisted multi-family properties in Georgia and Illinois. Inspired by her years as a caretaker for her mother, Romaine Thomas is a senior care advocate and serves on the board of Labor of Love Adult Care, a senior care organization headquartered in North Georgia.
EDUCATION Washburn University, Mercer University (MBA) FIRST JOB McDonald’s FAVORITE MOVIEBeaches FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m a grammar fanatic. LESSON LEARNED Not all relationships are worth saving.
Carol Sargent Collard Founder, CEO CaringWorks Inc.
With a background in marketing and residential real estate, New Orleans native Carol Collard became a passionate participant in the fight to reduce homelessness while working for a nonprofit developer. In 1998, Collard returned to school to study social work and ultimately earned a PhD in the field. She has worked for more than 20 years in supportive housing and in grappling with the complex issues that can result in homelessness. Her combined expertise has given her the ability to operate a nonprofit agency with a caring heart and a mind for business. At CaringWorks, which she cofounded in 2002, Collard oversees a nonprofit agency that operates supportive housing and behavioral health services, helping nearly 1,000 people escape chronic homelessness a year. A licensed master social worker, the Leadership Atlanta class of 2019 member has also served as a professor of social work at various universities, including Kennesaw State University. Additionally, Collard is the chair of the Georgia Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council.
EDUCATION Loyola University, New Orleans; University of Georgia (MSW, PhD) HOBBIES Travel, reading, discovering new restaurants
Jill Savitt President and CEO National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Jill Savitt, president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, is a longtime human rights advocate with special expertise in genocide prevention. Savitt joined the center in 2019 after working as acting director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Having led the center through the pandemic, Savitt is focused on helping the center fulfill the vision of its founders, evolving from an Atlanta attraction to a national cultural institution focused on rights. The evolution includes an expansion. The center has added two new wings to its iconic building and invested in a range of programming: including civil rights history education, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) experiences for workplaces, human rights training for law enforcement, and commemorations for buried or neglected history.
FIRST JOB Radio reporter INSPIRING PERSON Eleanor Roosevelt LESSON LEARNED Change is the only constant.
Carla Smith Executive Director American Heart Association of Metro Atlanta
Carla Smith serves as executive director of the American Heart Association of Metro Atlanta, the oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Under her leadership, the Metro Atlanta affiliate delivers lifesaving CPR education and training to thousands, connects patients with clinical resources at hospitals and community clinics, advances sustainable community-based initiatives, provides workplace health solutions, and advocates for mission-aligned legislation. Her team also works alongside residents to develop and implement evidence-based, community-driven solutions and is investing more than $8 million in innovative cardiovascular research across the region. Additionally, Smith is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2026.
EDUCATION Paine College, University of Georgia (MSW) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women, more than all forms of cancer combined. My father lived with a pacemaker; my grandmother died from a stroke—it’s personal. Collectively we can change the trajectory, now, and for generations to come. FAVORITE SONG ABOUT GEORGIA “Georgia on My Mind” by Ella Fitzgerald
Artis Stevens President and CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Artis Stevens is president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, its first African American president since its founding in 1904. Under his leadership, BBBSA has more than doubled its annual revenue, positioning the organization among the top 10 most trusted nonprofits in the country while dramatically expanding its reach considerably to serve more underserved communities. A key highlight of this momentum was his leadership in securing the largest-ever single donation in the organization’s history – $122.6 million – from MacKenzie Scott. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Stevens was named among the inaugural Time100 Philanthropy 2025 and delivered the 2025 Holmes-Hunter Lecture, named in honor of Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes Sr., the first Black students to attend the University of Georgia. He and his wife are parents of two daughters.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Valdosta State University (MPA)
C.J. Stewart Cofounder and Chief Visionary Officer L.E.A.D. Center for Youth
A former Chicago Cubs outfielder, C.J. Stewart founded the nonprofit organization L.E.A.D.—which stands for Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct—with his wife, Kelli, to empower an at-risk generation to lead and transform their city. For young men who have completed L.E.A.D.’s Ambassador program, 100 percent have graduated from high school and 91 percent have enrolled in college. As founder and CEO of the player development firm Diamond Directors, Stewart has worked with clients including Jason Heyward (former Atlanta Brave), Andruw Jones (former Atlanta Brave), and Peter Alonso (New York Mets).
WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Baseball can provide valuable life lessons and access to educational and civic engagement opportunities. Kelli and I committed our lives in 2007 to using baseball as a vehicle to help Black boys in the inner city of Atlanta overcome three curveballs that threaten their success: crime, poverty, and racism. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I had the incredible honor of modeling for the nine-foot bronze statue of baseball legend Hank Aaron, sculpted by the renowned artist Ross Rossin. The statue stands proudly in Monument Garden at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, celebrating Aaron’s legacy for generations to come.
Kelli Stewart Cofounder and CEO L.E.A.D. Center for Youth
Kelli Stewart is the CEO of the nonprofit organization L.E.A.D. Center For Youth, which she cofounded with her husband, C.J. Standing for Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct, L.E.A.D. uses the methodology of sports-based youth development to eliminate racism and advance equity and well-being in youth sports. To date, L.E.A.D. Ambassadors have achieved a 100 percent high school graduation rate and a 91 percent college enrollment and scholarship rate (academic, athletic, and need-based). Stewart also oversees the baseball player development firm Diamond Directors with her husband. Born in Atlanta and raised in rural Oglethorpe County, Stewart is also the first nonprofit leader to serve on the executive board of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta where she also cochairs the community impact committee.
EDUCATION Kennesaw State University Coles College of Business WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF That all the kids who are bullying you are going through their own special hell at home too. Their attacks are not about you. You are good enough as you are. You don’t have to hang with this crowd and do the degrading things they do to be accepted. And every bit of hell that you’re going through right now won’t kill you, Stay the course. It all works out amazing for you on the other side of childhood.
Cati Diamond Stone President and CEO CHRIS 180
As president and CEO of CHRIS 180, Cati Diamond Stone is committed to making trauma-informed mental health services for children, youth, and families accessible to the Atlanta community. Stone joined CHRIS 180 after more than 11 years with Susan G. Komen. As Komen’s vice president of Community Health and a member of the senior leadership team, she developed and executed a national community health strategy that resulted in the development and deployment of focused, best-in-class programming and direct patient support services, positively impacting over 200,000 people. She also previously served as CEO of the Komen Greater Atlanta Affiliate. Prior to her tenure at Susan G. Komen, Stone was an attorney, holding positions including assistant general counsel at Nash Finch Company and litigation & corporate counsel at Unisource Worldwide Inc. She is also a mom to an amazing 16-year-old daughter.
EDUCATION The University of Southern Mississippi, The University of Alabama School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Guntersville, Alabama (a hidden gem right off the Tennessee River) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’ve been to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. HOBBIES I’m an unapologetic Shakespeare nerd.
Laura Turner Seydel Director Turner Foundation
Laura Turner Seydel serves on the board of the UN Foundation, a strategic partner that helps the United Nations mobilize people and resources for collective action. She is also a board member of Project Drawdown, the world’s leading resource for climate solutions. She cofounded Chattahoochee Riverkeeper to help protect the drinking water of more than 5 million Georgians and cofounded Mothers and Others for Clean Air to improve air quality for at-risk populations in metro Atlanta. Turner Seydel is an executive producer of the documentaries Common Ground and the forthcoming Groundswell, which promotes regenerative agriculture as viable solutions for wellness, water scarcity, and the climate and biodiversity crisis. She also serves on the boards of the Turner Foundation, the Waterkeeper Alliance and holds the title of chair emeritus of the Captain Planet Foundation.
EDUCATION Oglethorpe University HOMETOWN Atlanta
Fay Twersky President and Director The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
As president and director of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Fay Twersky leads the foundation’s grantmaking in five collective giving areas: Atlanta’s Westside, democracy, environment, mental health and well-being, and youth development, as well as a portfolio of giving from Chairman Arthur M. Blank’s personal interests, titled founder initiatives. To date, the foundation has provided more than $1.5 billion in grants to organizations nationwide, mostly to organizations that serve Atlanta and Montana. Twersky also serves on the executive leadership team of the Blank Family of Businesses, which includes the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. The Philadelphia native joined the Blank Family Foundation from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in Menlo Park, California, where she served as vice president. In 2023 and 2024, Twersky was named to The NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence list.
EDUCATION University of California-Berkley, MIT (MA) HOBBIES Swimming, Cycling FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Jerusalem BUCKET LIST Travel to Morocco
Jason Ulseth Executive Director and Riverkeeper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
A Georgia native who grew up fishing and boating on the Chattahoochee River, Jason Ulseth developed an early love for the waterway and the natural environment. In 2015 he took on the role of riverkeeper for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organization, serving as spokesperson and lead advocate for river protection. Previously he was CRK’s technical programs director. Ulseth also serves as CRK’s patrol boat captain and is licensed as a merchant marine officer by the U.S. Coast Guard.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HIDDEN TALENT I can juggle swords. WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE Public speaking is not as hard as you think it is. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area BUCKET LIST Catching a record brown trout
Pat Upshaw-Monteith President and CEO Leadership Atlanta
Pat Upshaw-Monteith became president and CEO of Leadership Atlanta in 2005, having started with the organization in 1992 as co-executive director. In her time at the helm, she’s participated in the present and future growth of Atlanta by imparting to new generations of leaders the values that have traditionally been central to the area’s success. Previously Upshaw-Monteith served for 13 years as associate general manager of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
EDUCATION Albany State University, Bowling Green State University (MA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT When appointed to my position with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, I had the distinct honor of being one of the first African Americans hired in management by a major symphony orchestra. FAVORITE BOOKDavid and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
Belisa M. Urbina CEO Ser Familia Inc.
Belisa M. Urbina is the CEO of Ser Familia Inc., which she co-founded with her husband of 40 years, Miguel Urbina, in 2001. Since then, it has become one of the largest Latino organizations in Georgia. Ser Familia is the leading organization in Georgia providing coordinated multidisciplinary family, social, and mental health services to Latinos. The organization was founded as a response to the lack of resources for Latino families in the areas of family support services and mental health counseling, domestic violence prevention, and crisis management. She has been widely honored and recognized for her work. In March 2023, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff recognized Urbina and her husband, who were inducted into the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame in 2021, for their work with a resolution.
EDUCATION University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus HOMETOWN Guaynabo, Puerto Rico FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m adopted. My biological mom was German, but I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, adopted by a Puerto Rican mom and a Dominican dad. My genes are not Latino, but my heart is 100 percent Latino.
DePriest Waddy President and CEO Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia
DePriest Waddy was named president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia in 2022. CFNEG connects philanthropic individuals to nonprofit and community causes that matter to them in metro Atlanta and across the globe, providing nearly $150 million in grants since the organization started in 1985. Previously, Waddy was the CEO of Families First, an organization which was founded in 1890 and seeks to build resilience in underserved communities. Under Waddy’s leadership, Families First improved outcomes for more than 17,000 individuals and families annually by providing them with mental health support, coaching, foster care, adoption, early education, parenting skills, and supportive housing. Waddy joined Families First after serving as executive director of the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity, a community action agency in Alabama.
EDUCATION University of Alabama, Kennesaw State University (MBA) HOMETOWN Birmingham, Alabama NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Leadership Atlanta class of 2022, Georgia Titan 100 (2022), Leadership Gwinnett class of 2016 FEW PEOPLE KNOW I love to write fiction.
Kyle Waide President & CEO Atlanta Community Food Bank
Kyle Waide is president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, overseeing the distribution of approximately $280 million in food and resources each year through a network of 700 local and regional partner nonprofit organizations across 29 Georgia counties. The food bank now operates four Community Food Centers, a growing home delivery program, and a food pharmacy program, in partnership with Grady Health System. Prior to being named CEO, Waide served for three years as vice president of partner operations, leading the organization to record-breaking years of food distribution to the hungry. Prior to joining the food bank, he held several management roles at The Home Depot Inc. Waide currently serves on the board of directors of Feeding America.
EDUCATION Harvard University, University of Arizona (MFA) FIRST JOB As a grown-up, 8th grade teacher in Compton, California HOBBIES Golf, Peloton, kid taxi-driver
Doug Widener President and CEO Piedmont Park Conservancy
In October 2023, Doug Widener assumed leadership of Piedmont Park Conservancy. As president and CEO, he is leading the Conservancy as it embarks upon a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand the park’s acreage, increase public amenities, and implement a master plan to reimagine the park’s 200+ acres while launching a corresponding capital campaign. Officially revealed in 2025, the plan, envisioned to span 10 to 15 years, includes a major expansion at Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive, a full restoration of Lake Clara Meer, a redesigned Active Oval and the new Clear Creek Walk—a nature-based corridor aimed at easing Beltline congestion and enhancing north-south connectivity. Prior to joining PPC, Widener served as the executive director of Chicago’s Lincoln Park Conservancy and, before that, as the East North Central Regional Director for the U.S. Green Building Council.
EDUCATION Ohio University (BBA, MS) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I love nature and feel that access to nature and open space is a basic need of all of humanity. It connects us to our deeper selves, each other, and other living things. FAVORITE BOOK AND MOVIECatcher in the Rye and Dead Poet’s Society FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Mountains of any kind
RELIGION
Jonathan C. Augustine Senior Pastor Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
In May 2025, Jonathan C. Augustine was named senior pastor of Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest Black church in Atlanta, following the retirement of John Foster. Prior to Big Bethel, for six years, Augustine pastored St. Joseph AME Church in Durham, North Carolina, while serving on the faculties of North Carolina Central University School of Law and Duke Divinity School, where he was a chaplain to the Duke football team. Prior to leading St. Joseph, Augustine served as senior minister at Historic St. James AME Church in New Orleans. An accomplished author, his most recent books are When Prophets Preach: Leadership and the Politics of the Pulpit; and Called to Reconciliation: How the Church Can Model Justice, Diversity and Inclusion. Inducted into the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers in 2024, he also served eight years as the general chaplain of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
EDUCATION Howard University, Tulane University Law School (JD), United Theological Seminary (MDiv), Duke Divinity School (DMin)
Photograph courtesy of individual
Peter S. Berg Senior Rabbi The Temple
Peter Berg became senior rabbi of The Temple, a Reform synagogue in Atlanta, in 2008—its fifth leader since 1895. An advocate for social change, he is committed to teaching, building community, and addressing the needs of his congregants. A chaplain for the Georgia State Patrol, Berg also serves on numerous boards and works with advocacy groups on issues including civil rights, the death penalty, gun safety, and hate crimes.
EDUCATION George Washington University, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (MA and rabbinic ordination) HOMETOWN Ocean Township, New Jersey FIRST JOB Cashier at a thrift store HOBBIES Skiing FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Jerusalem WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Actor and filmmaker Peter Berg
Louie Giglio Pastor Passion City Church
Louie Giglio is pastor of Passion City Church and the original visionary of the Passion movement, which exists “to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus.” Since 1997, Passion has gathered college-aged young people in events across the U.S. and around the world. Giglio is the bestselling author of Seeing God as a Perfect Father,Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, Goliath Must Fall, Indescribable 100 Devotions about God & Science, The Air I Breathe, The Comeback, I Am Not but I Know I Am, and more.
EDUCATION Georgia State University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) HOMETOWN Atlanta, Georgia FIRST JOB While in college, I was the person who photocopied articles for researchers and doctors in the Centers for Disease Control (pre-computers) in a tiny room under a stairwell in the back of the library. I learned to do my work as to the Lord knowing He saw it all, and I wanted to do my best! Plus, I may have unknowingly been a part of a major medical breakthrough somewhere in the world.
Michael R. Griffin Public Affairs Representative Georgia Baptist Mission Board Public Affairs Ministry
In 2014, Mike Griffin became the public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Convention, representing 1.4 million Georgia Baptists at the Capitol and speaking on religious issues around the state. In April 2010, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article on “Georgia Influencers” ranked Griffin at 11th among Republicans with the most influence at the Capitol. Having served as a Southern Baptist pastor for over 35 years, Griffin is also a former president of the board of Ten Commandments Georgia and a past vice president of Georgia Right to Life, where he also served as a lobbyist and state field director. He is the former senior pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell. Griffin and his wife, Liza, have been married for 47 years; they have four children and ten grandchildren.
EDUCATION Baptist College of Florida WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK The very unique work of being a pastor and a lobbyist goes back to when God called me to preach when I was 16. I preached my first sermon at Dawson Street Baptist Church in Thomasville, Georgia, in 1977. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS I have served as a senior pastor in four Baptist churches in the state of Georgia for 35 continuous years. I have served on various denominational positions within the Georgia Baptist Convention in the associational and state level.
Richard Kannwischer Senior Pastor Peachtree Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Dr. Richard Kannwischer has served as senior pastor of Peachtree Presbyterian Church since January 2017. Before he arrived at Peachtree, Richard was lead pastor at Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California, for seven years. He has served as a trustee of all undergraduate and graduate schools he attended, and currently serves on the board of the Fox Theatre.
EDUCATION Trinity University, Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv), Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin) HOMETOWN Waco, Texas WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK To help reveal the delight and impact of a life with God BEST ADVICE RECEIVED From former professor Dallas Willard: “God’s primary aim is not getting us into heaven as much as getting heaven into us.”
Herman “Skip” Mason Jr. Senior Pastor West Mitchell Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Interim President Interdenominational Theological Center
In 2024, Skip Mason was appointed interim president of Interdenominational Theological Center. In addition to his role as senior pastor of West Mitchell Street Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Mason is also a historian, an author, and an educator. He has served as a professor of history, a college archivist, and other positions at Morris Brown College and Morehouse College. A historical consultant on numerous PBS documentaries, he previously served as the director of library services and as an assistant professor of African American history and religion at Voorhees College. He has written more than ten books including Black Atlanta in the Roaring Twenties. The 33rd general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., he was on the national board of directors of the Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C., which led to the completion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in 2011. Additionally, Mason is the founder of Skip Mason’s Vanishing Black Atlanta Facebook page, which has approximately 65,000 members.
EDUCATION Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University (MLS), Interdenominational Theological Center (MDiv, DMin)
Photograph courtesy of North Point Ministries
Andy Stanley Senior Pastor North Point Ministries
Andy Stanley cofounded the nondenominational North Point Community Church in Alpharetta in 1995 with a vision of creating churches that “unchurched people love to attend.” It’s now one of the largest churches in the nation. North Point Ministries encompasses eight churches in the metro Atlanta area and a global network of more than 180 churches. Stanley’s online messages and sermons are accessed over 10.5 million times a month, and he’s the author of more than 20 books.
EDUCATION Georgia State University, Dallas Theological Seminary (MA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Named one of the 12 “most effective preachers in the English-speaking world” in a national survey by the George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University
Robert C. Wright Bishop Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Robert C. Wright is the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, which encompasses 120 worshipping communities in North and Middle Georgia. Wright has been a vocal opponent of the death penalty and an advocate for Medicaid expansion. Additionally, he has addressed the Georgia legislature on gun control. The first African American to become bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Wright helped establish the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. Before his election as bishop in 2012, he served as rector of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
EDUCATION Howard University, Virginia Theological Seminary (MDiv) LESSON LEARNED The best evidence of strength is the combination of perseverance wrapped in genuine kindness. HIDDEN TALENT I am a certified aircraft mechanic with an FAA license. HOBBIES Rebuilding old cars FAVORITE BOOKThe Fire Next Time by James Baldwin WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE Reach out! Ask questions! Relax and stay positive. BUCKET LIST A trip to Ethiopia
Photograph by Rich Fiallo
Michael Youssef President Leading the Way
In 1988, Michael Youssef created Leading the Way ministry “for people living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ.” What began as a small, Atlanta-based radio ministry now transmits across the globe in 20 languages on television as well as radio. Youssef also founded the evangelical congregation Church of the Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adult members; today it has a congregation of over 3,000. He is the author of more than 50 books.
EDUCATION Moore Theological College, Fuller Theological Seminary (ThM), Emory University (PhD)
LEGENDS
Billye Aaron Originally an English teacher, Aaron launched her TV career in 1968 as a cohost for WSB’s Today in Georgia, which made her the region’s first Black woman to cohost a daily, hour-long talk show. She also held many leadership positions with the Atlanta branch of the United Negro College Fund. After retiring in 1994, she and her late husband, baseball icon Hank Aaron, started the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to help low-income children with education.
Sally Bethea Bethea was the founding director and riverkeeper of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper for two decades—helping downstream communities sue the City of Atlanta and forcing it to clean up the river. She has served on the national boards of Waterkeeper Alliance and River Network, the Georgia Board of Natural Resources, and EarthShare of Georgia.
Bill Bolling Bolling founded the Atlanta Community Food Bank in 1979 and directed it until 2015. During his tenure, the Food Bank distributed more than half a billion pounds of groceries across 29 Georgia counties. As a charter member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, he also helped launch food banks across the country.
Ann Q. Curry Curry purchased Coxe Curry & Associates, a fundraising consulting firm, from prior owner Frankie Coxe in 1993, and helmed it until 2015. She has also held leadership positions with the League of Women Voters, the board of Research Atlanta, and Atlanta-Fulton Public Library.
Plemon T. El-Amin El-Amin became imam (now emeritus) of Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam in 1985, growing its membership from 200 to more than 2,000; it’s now one of the largest and most progressive mosques in the country. A leader in Atlanta’s interfaith community and a close aide to the late W. Deen Mohammed, El-Amin is former director of Sister Clara Mohammed Elementary and W. Deen Mohammed High schools.
James Kennedy Kennedy is the chairman emeritus and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation. He is the former CEO of Cox Enterprises, the media company founded by his grandfather.
Charles H. “Pete” McTier For many decades, McTier led the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and several other Atlanta foundations funded by the corporate and bottling arms of Coca-Cola. He played a role in the creation of Centennial Olympic Park and the Chattahoochee River Greenway.
Ingrid Saunders Jones A past national chair of the National Council of Negro Women, Jones was formerly a senior vice president of the Coca-Cola Co. and directed many of the company’s philanthropic efforts, including overseeing contributions of more than $460 million for community initiatives.
Bryant Wright Wright is the founder and chairman of Right from the Heart Ministries, an international media ministry, and president of international relief organization, Send Relief. He retired as the founding senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in 2019, where he had pastored for 38 years and grown the church to more than 7,300 members.
Jennifer Barlament Executive Director Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Since assuming the leadership role at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2016, Jennifer Barlament has transformed the institution. After years of budget deficits and labor strife, the ASO has now enjoyed consistent annual budget surpluses, multiple successful contract negotiations with the orchestra’s musicians, and audience growth. She has also expanded community programming, completed an endowment campaign, and enhanced ASO’s Talent Development Program for pre-college Black and Latinx classical musicians. Barlament’s crowning achievement has been the naming of international star Nathalie Stutzmann as the ASO’s music director in 2022. The ASO will commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026 with a series of concerts featuring works by American composers, including Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, and Aaron Copland, as well as pieces by Duke Ellington and Artie Shaw. Prior to coming to Atlanta, Barlament was general manager of The Cleveland Orchestra.
EDUCATION Emory University, Eastman School of Music (MM) FIRST JOB Indexing historic land deeds in the Liberty County Clerk of Court’s Office BUCKET LIST Taking the ASO on a concert tour in Europe
Susan Bridges Owner and Director Whitespace Gallery
For more than 15 years, Atlanta native Susan Bridges curated off-site projects in unusual spaces throughout the city, including shipping containers, an underground parking garage, a church, and a U-Haul storage facility. In 2006, she opened Whitespace Gallery, which is housed in an 1893 carriage house behind her Victorian home in Inman Park. Today, the gallery represents over 35 local, regional, and national artists practicing in all disciplines. Additionally, three project spaces are reserved for emerging and underrepresented artists.
EDUCATION University of Tennessee at Chattanooga FIRST JOB Receptionist, ad agency WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Everything’s going to be okay. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I love to dance. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT My garden
Yehimi Cambrón Álvarez Artist
Yehimi Cambrón is a multidisciplinary artist, activist, and public speaker born in Michoacán, México. She immigrated to Georgia at age seven, she grew up undocumented in Atlanta, and has been a DACA recipient since 2013. Cambrón’s work centers on immigrants and predominantly reflects the experiences of undocumented Americans. Her series Family Portrait was displayed at the High Museum in 2019 and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia in 2020. In June 2020 she completed her tallest mural to date, We Give Each Other the World, a community-responsive piece cofunded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Hapeville. In August 2020, Cambrón completed Monuments: Atlanta’s Immigrants, a mural at the Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. She has had solo exhibitions at the USC Upstate Art Gallery and Oglethorpe University Museum of Art and has exhibited at MOCA GA, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, and Agnes Scott College’s Dalton Gallery, among others.
EDUCATION Agnes Scott College NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT 2023 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow
Photograph by Kim Link
Annette Cone-Skelton President, CEO, and Founding Director Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia
Annette Cone-Skelton founded the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia in 2000 with a mission to support the state’s artists. MOCA GA is currently home to more than 1,600 pieces, as well as a library and a voluminous archive. In 2024, the City of Atlanta invested $2 million to support MOCA GA’s capital campaign to help build its new state-of-the-art facility at The Goat Farm, which is slated to open in 2026. Additionally, Northside Hospital and MOCA GA are developing a groundbreaking arts therapy program “Art for Healers,” which recognizes the unique challenges and post-pandemic environment of Georgia’s nurses, medical technicians, and physicians. A longtime educator, curator, and editor, Cone-Skelton is also a respected artist whose work is collected in the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the High Museum of Art, among other places. She received the Governor’s Award for the Arts & Humanities in 2012 and Atlanta Contemporary’s Nexus Award in 2019.
EDUCATION Atlanta College of Art HOMETOWN LaGrange, Georgia HIDDEN TALENT Played the French horn in high school FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Atlanta Botanical Garden
Ariel Fristoe Artistic Director Out of Hand Theater
Ariel Fristoe is the artistic director and founder of Atlanta’s Out of Hand Theater. Her company, Out of Hand Theater, was named Best Theater of 2020 by The New York Times and has received the Governor’s Award for the Arts & Humanities 2021, and the Bloomberg Public Art Challenge 2023. Out of Hand works at the intersection of art, social justice, and civic engagement. Based on the pillars of racial justice and economic justice, its programs include Equitable Dinners, Shows in Homes, Community Collaborations, Creative Kids, and the Institute for Equity Activism. Fristoe leads the Concentration in Arts Management at Emory University and is an Innovator in Residence at Emory’s Hatchery Center for Entrepreneurship. Selected as an Atlanta Business Chronicle Women of Influence honoree in 2024 and Emory’s Entrepreneur Award winner for Social Impact 2025, Fristoe is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2022 and a LINK Trip delegate.
EDUCATION Emory University FEW PEOPLE KNOW My husband and I have been foster parents to three children. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT The Atlanta Journal-Constitution named Fristoe one of its Everyday Heroes. Harvard Business School published a case study on her business model titled Out of Hand Theater: Monetizing Creativity.
Shanequa Gay Artist
Artist Shanequa Gay has exhibited her works and had residencies within the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Africa. She is a Do-Good Fellow recipient and an Emory University Arts and Social Justice Fellow (2020). Gay’s accomplishments include selection for Off the Wall, a city-wide civil rights and social justice mural initiative led by the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee (2019). Gay’s recent exhibitions include Four Women, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, Mass. (2024); Atlanta Biennial, Atlanta Contemporary (2021); Le Monde Bossale, Montreal, Canada (2021); Adorned, McColl Center for Arts and Innovation, Charlotte (2020); and Holding Space for Nobility, Ackland Museum, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (2020). In spring 2026, Gay will unveil a new work of art in celebration of the Repossessions exhibition at the Spelman Museum.
EDUCATION Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia State University (MFA) HOMETOWN Atlanta
Nena Yvette Gilreath Cofounding Director Ballethnic Dance Company
A ballerina, an entrepreneur, and an artistic director, Nena Gilreath has spent her career immersed in dance. Gilreath danced with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Atlanta Ballet. Seeing the need for greater racial diversity in ballet, Gilreath and her husband, choreographer Waverly T. Lucas II, cofounded Ballethnic Dance Company and Academy of Dance in 1990 to provide superior instruction and performance opportunities to underrepresented communities. Honored with the Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities in 2023 along with her husband, Gilreath has produced Ballethnic’s performances at The Alliance Theatre on the Coca-Cola stage and as one of three Black professional ballet companies to perform in the Reframing the Narrative ballet performances at The Kennedy Center.
EDUCATION University of North Carolina School of the Arts HOMETOWN North Wilkesboro, North Carolina BEST ADVICE RECEIVED “Fight until the end,” as witnessed by my best friend, Gloria Bowden, who worked until the day before her death from cancer FEW PEOPLE KNOW I learned to chocolatize nutcrackers for our Urban Nutcracker from my mother Louella—there were no Black nutcrackers when we started in 1990.
Angelica Hairston Harpist Founder Challenge the Stats
Angelica Hairston is a harpist who serves as an Artist in Residence at the Palm Heights Resort in Grand Cayman and has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and others. In 2016, she founded Challenge the Stats, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering artists of color. She also serves as an artistic consultant for Atlanta’s Urban Youth Harp Ensemble. She is one of the youngest recipients of the Georgia Governor’s Awards for the Arts & Humanities and received Atlanta magazine’s Women Making a Mark Award in 2020. Hairston earned a Master of Music Industry Leadership from Northeastern University as a 2015 MLK Fellow and a Bachelor of Music from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Omari J. Henderson Partner ZuCot Gallery
Omari J. Henderson has managed to fuse his educational background, business acumen, and love of art to strike a delicate balance between his passion and personal and professional life as a partner and co-owner of ZuCot Gallery. Through his leadership, ZuCot has become the largest African American art gallery in the Southeast, endeavoring to elevate the careers of artists while providing a unique customer experience for collectors, corporations, and private consultations. A Decatur native, Henderson is also the founder of The Art Brothers Foundation and Youth Challenge Inc., which strives to enrich young minds with entrepreneurship, art, and technology. Having served on boards for several organizations, Henderson currently serves as chair of boards for True Colors Theatre Company and Park Pride and as a board member of Elevate Atlanta.
EDUCATION Tuskegee University WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Since my youth, art has always been a real passion. I was not skilled in creating work, but really appreciated what I saw my father and other artists create (across many platforms). I’ve always been an innovator with an entrepreneur mindset. LESSON LEARNED Lean into ambiguity, and always be open to pivot when new or better opportunities are presented.
Onaje Henderson Partner/Gallery Director ZuCot Gallery
Onaje Henderson is a partner and gallery director of ZuCot Gallery in Atlanta. Under his leadership, ZuCot has advanced the careers of countless African American artists and currently stands as the largest African American fine arts gallery in the Southeast. A community educator, Henderson regularly collaborates with art enthusiasts, high-end collectors, and corporate executives to promote the necessity of owning one’s culture and has also advised countless clients on art selection. The Decatur native is also a member of the Fulton County Arts Council formed by Mayor Andre Dickens in 2023.
EDUCATION Tuskegee University BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Talk less, listen more. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Building a business that has the ability to adapt and pivot with the times or circumstances is paramount to staying viable and profitable. FAVORITE MOVIEComing to America NONPROFITS Hammonds House, Art Papers, Youth Challenge Inc.
Donovan Johnson Director Johnson Lowe Gallery
Donovan Johnson has more than a decade of experience in world-class contemporary art galleries, in both New York, having worked at Lisa Cooley Gallery, and in Atlanta, at Hathaway Contemporary and Bill Lowe Gallery, where he worked very closely with its founder as assistant director, directing exhibit operations and sales before becoming the gallery director in 2021. He has experience in art curation and collection; more notably, he has curated shows such as Michael David’s The Mirror Stage and Jimmy O’Neal’s An Introspective. In 2023, Bill Lowe Gallery announced a rebrand as Johnson Lowe Gallery under the new leadership of Johnson. Additionally, Johnson serves on the board of Art Papers.
FIRST JOB Intern, Bill Lowe Gallery HOMETOWN Newnan WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Art has always been and will be my first true language. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED FROM BILL LOWE “Know who you is and who you ain’t.” TOUGHEST CHALLENGE The passing of my friend and mentor, Bill Lowe. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Parent’s home NONPROFIT Nsoros
Tinashe Kajese-Bolden Co-Artistic Director Alliance Theatre
Tinashe Kajese-Bolden was named co-artistic director of the Alliance Theatre in 2023. An award-winning director, actor, and producer, Kajese-Bolden’s directing credits include Toni Stone, The Many Wondrous Realities of Jasmine Starr-Kidd, Nick’s Flamingo’s Grill,School Girls, Or the African Mean Girls Play, Ghost, Native Gardens, Pipeline, and Eclipsed. She has also worked as a director and actor regionally and on and off Broadway. As the BOLD associate artistic director at Alliance Theatre, Kajese-Bolden stewarded the Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab, cultivating new works for Atlanta-based artists, and oversaw the Spelman Leadership Fellowship, the first mentorship program of its kind partnering a regional theatre with a historically Black college and university to offer paid career opportunities for students interested in arts leadership positions. In addition to her work as a director, her television and film appearances include Strays, Hawkeye, Valor, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Greenleaf, Cherish the Day, and The Bobby Brown Story.
EDUCATION University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS 2020 MAP Fund Award grantee for the development of ALL SMILES for children on the autism spectrum as a part of The Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young program, 2020 Princess Grace Award for directing
S. Karimah McFarlane Founder and CEO Buckhead Art & Company
S. Karimah McFarlane is the founder and CEO of Buckhead Art & Company, one of the Southeast’s only fully self-funded, Black-owned, woman-owned art galleries, located in Atlanta’s prestigious Buckhead district. In under 24 months, McFarlane curated more than 30 major exhibitions spotlighting underrepresented artists and reshaping Atlanta’s cultural and fine arts landscape. Additionally, she built a powerful combined online presence of nearly 30,000 followers across social media and newsletter subscribers, amplifying underrepresented artist voices and cultural programming to national and international audiences. McFarlane brings over 20 years of executive experience at top-tier companies, including Google and Workday, where she works in human resources. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, McFarlane serves on boards for Chris 180 and Workforce Fulton County and on the corporate leadership council for Fernbank Museum of Natural History. McFarlane is also a 2021 Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 honoree.
EDUCATION Howard University (MPA) BUCKET LIST A gorilla trek. I’ve dreamed for years of standing in the misty forests of Rwanda or Uganda, coming face-to-face with one of the world’s most majestic, endangered creatures. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Lupita Nyong’o
Hala Moddelmog President and CEO Woodruff Arts Center
Hala Moddelmog is president and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center. She has spent more than a decade serving in volunteer leadership at the Arts Center. She served on the Woodruff Arts Center Board of Trustees from 2011–2017 and has served on the Woodruff Governing Board since 2017. She also served on the Alliance Theatre Board of Directors from 2011–2020 and led the Alliance Theatre Board as co-chair from 2017–2019. In 2024, Woodruff Arts Center kicked off its $67 million capital campaign Experience Atlanta, Experience Woodruff with a groundbreaking ceremony for two additional spaces: the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families and PNC PlaySpace, with the spaces set to open January 2026. Throughout her career, Moddelmog has served in top executive roles and has served as a corporate director for four NYSE companies and a Carlyle Group private portfolio company board. In 2014, she became the first female president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Previously she was president of Arby’s Restaurant Group, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the first woman to lead an international restaurant company as president of Church’s Chicken.
EDUCATION Georgia Southern University, University of Georgia (MA)
Christopher Moses Co-Artistic Director Alliance Theatre
Christopher Moses was named co-artistic director of the Alliance Theatre in 2023. During his more than two decades at the Alliance, Moses has overseen the Alliance Theatre Institute, Theatre for Youth & Families, and the Acting Program. Also, under his leadership, the Alliance launched The Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young program, which provides fully interactive professional theater experiences for children of all abilities from ages newborn through five years old; the Alliance Teen Ensemble, which performs world premiere plays commissioned for and about teens; and Alliance@work, a professional development program designed for the business sector. In 2024, the Alliance launched the Imagine Campaign, establishing a $10 million endowment fund exclusively dedicated to sustaining theatrical programming and removing access barriers such as ticket and transportation costs for young audiences of all backgrounds in the new Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families. Moses received the Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities in 2023.
EDUCATION Pennsylvania State University HOMETOWN East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Noguchi’s Playscape in Piedmont Park. It’s as beautiful as it is dangerous. A perfect metaphor for life.
Gennadi Nedvigin Artistic Director Atlanta Ballet
In 2016, Gennadi Nedvigin became the fourth artistic director in the then 87-year history of the Atlanta Ballet. Born in Russia, Nedvigin was accepted into the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy at age 10, and joined the Moscow Renaissance Ballet upon graduation. He joined the San Francisco Ballet in 1997 and was promoted to principal dancer three years later. Nedvigin has performed as Albrecht in Giselle, Nutcracker Prince in The Nutcracker, and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. Since joining Atlanta Ballet, Nedvigin, with choreographer Yuri Possokov, assembled a world-class design team and created a world premiere production of The Nutcracker for Atlanta Ballet in 2018, followed by the company’s debut performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2019. Under Nedvigin’s guidance, the Company has grown to 40 dancers and has established the Academy training program and Atlanta Ballet 2, a top-tier performance ensemble.
EDUCATION Bolshoi Ballet Academy FIRST JOB Soloist dancer at Moscow Renaissance Ballet NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (2001, 2010, and 2017), Erik Bruhn Prize (1999)
Ann-Carol Pence Cofounder and Producing Artistic Director Aurora Theatre
Ann-Carol Pence is the producing artistic director of Lawrenceville’s Aurora Theatre, which she cofounded more than 20 years ago with Anthony Rodriguez. Under their leadership, the theater grew from 120 to 5,000 season subscribers; it produces 800 events annually for 80,000 visitors, and is the second-largest theater in Georgia by membership and budget. In 2021, the company moved into its new $35 million, 59,500-square-foot Lawrenceville Arts Center. Pence continues her work as an advocate of radical inclusion, creating space where people of all backgrounds gather to celebrate the arts. She’s also been a pianist and/or musical director in productions nationally and in Atlanta.
EDUCATION James Madison University HOMETOWN Harrisonburg, Virginia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK As a musician by trade, I believed Gwinnett County deserved and could sustain a professional theater, capable of producing world-class musicals in a way I had not seen produced in Atlanta. FIRST JOB Church organist at age 12 INSPIRING PERSON Oprah Winfrey
Michael Rooks Wieland Family Curator of Contemporary and Modern Art High Museum of Art
Since joining the High Museum in 2010, Michael Rooks has curated or managed dozens of exhibitions and increased the museum’s collection by a quarter, including work by Julie Mehretu, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, and Kara Walker. In 2025, Rooks curated the first American museum exhibition featuring the work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak. Kim Chong Hak, Painter of Seoraksan will travel nationally after its debut at the High Museum. Rooks was also commissioner and cocurator of the U.S. pavilion at the 12th International Architecture Exhibition at the 2010 Venice Biennale. A 2015 Atlanta Contemporary Nexus Award winner, Rooks previously held curatorial positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Honolulu’s Contemporary Museum, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
EDUCATION School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MA) HOMETOWN Ottawa, Illinois FIRST JOB Paper route LESSON LEARNED The necessity of compromise to enjoy the pleasure of consensus-building
Photograph by Jeoff Davis
Lauri Stallings Founding Artist glo
As the founder of the dance company glo, conceptual artist and choreographer Lauri Stallings has transformed the Atlanta dance scene, collaborating with artists including Robert Spano, Janelle Monáe, and Big Boi. Stallings’s work has been commissioned and presented by venues including the Center for Civil and Human Rights, the High Museum of Art, Art Basel Miami Beach, and the Zuckerman Museum of Art. In 2018, she received the Hudgens Prize from the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning. She is also a MOCA GA Fellow (2017) and Rome Prize nominee (2013). In 2019, Stallings was the first choreographer in residence at the High Museum of Art and shared her choreographies in the XII Florence Biennale, where she was one of 400 artists representing 55 countries. In 2022 Georgia Trend included Stallings in its list of 100 Most Influential Georgians, and in 2024, Stallings and glo launched The Blooming City, a new citywide social sculpture in Palmetto, Georgia.
EDUCATION Point Park University HOMETOWN Gainesville, Florida
Photograph by KatMax Photography
Randall Suffolk Nancy and Holcombe T. Green Jr. Director High Museum of Art
Randall Suffolk became the High Museum’s director in November 2015. Since his arrival, he has championed a commitment to community engagement, placing particular emphasis on collaboration, inclusivity, and access. To support these objectives, the museum has reduced admission fees, focused programmatically on the demographics of its audience, reinstalled its entire collection, and added numerous important acquisitions.
EDUCATION Connecticut College, Columbia University (MA), Bryn Mawr College (MA) HOMETOWN Tallmadge, Ohio FIRST JOB Waiter BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Always live within walking distance of the office. HOBBIES Cycling
Troy T. Taylor Founding Partner and Owner ZuCot Gallery
Troy T. Taylor is a founding partner and owner of ZuCot Gallery, the largest African American-owned fine art gallery in the Southeast. Its mission is to promote original works of art by living African American artists. Taylor has helped to develop a go-to-market strategy that was highly focused on attracting the growing wealth of the city’s young African American professional population. He has amassed a client list of over 1,000 collectors and a social media following of over 10,000 followers. He has also developed an educational program with Atlanta Public Schools where over 2,500 students visit the gallery during the school year. In 2025, the Georgia State Senate adopted a resolution recognizing Taylor for his contributions to the art and culture scene in Atlanta.
EDUCATION Penn State, University of Pennsylvania (MS) FAVORITE HOBBY Boating FAVORITE MOVIEStar Wars FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Singapore
Allan C. Vella President and CEO Fox Theatre
Allan C. Vella has worked in the facility management field since 1986, managing theaters, arenas, amphitheaters, and exhibition facilities. His experience spans a wide range of events, including NCAA tournaments, MLB and NHL games, ballet, concerts, and presidential visits. As president and CEO of the Fox Theatre, Vella is responsible for all operations and programming. The Fox hosts more than 150 performances and 750,000 guests annually, with events ranging from rock concerts to Broadway, ballet, comedy, and movies.
EDUCATION University of Iowa TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Assisting with recovery efforts for Southeast Texas after Hurricane Rita HIDDEN TALENT I’m an amateur rock drummer. My realization that a future as a successful musician was highly unlikely led me to my career. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Saint George Island
Anna Walker Skillman Owner Jackson Fine Art
Anna Walker Skillman is the owner of Jackson Fine Art, a Buckhead gallery that emphasizes a mix of 20th-century and contemporary fine art photography. With a degree in art history, Walker Skillman began her career at the Haines Gallery in San Francisco, moving to Atlanta in 1993 to manage the studio of artist Todd Murphy. Joining Jackson Fine Art in 1998, she purchased the gallery in 2003 from Jane Jackson, who founded it in 1990. Jackson Fine Art’s clients include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
EDUCATION University of Georgia
John Welker Artistic and Executive Director Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre
With four other veterans of the Atlanta Ballet, John Welker cofounded Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in 2017 after a long career in dance. Debuting as a professional dancer at age 16, the Ohio native spent 22 years as a principal dancer for the Atlanta Ballet, where he performed lead roles in productions including Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, The Four Seasons, and Seven Sonatas. In 2010 he founded the contemporary dance company Wabi Sabi, which commissioned 35 new works over seven years.
EDUCATION Kennesaw State University (MBA) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Dance combines athleticism, spirituality, science, and art into the human form, and when combined, dance becomes a powerful communicator—there is nothing else like it. FIRST JOB Newspaper route with the Columbus Dispatch HIDDEN TALENT I can hit a high G-flat into an F-sharp with my voice. It’s extraordinarily terrible. FAVORITE MOVIEThe Godfather: Part II
Tomer Zvulun General and Artistic Director The Atlanta Opera
Tomer Zvulun has been general and artistic director of The Atlanta Opera since 2013, directing more than 30 new productions including Dead Man Walking and The Flying Dutchman. During Zvulun’s tenure the opera has tripled its fundraising and doubled its annual number of productions; his focus on innovation has led to a Harvard Business School case study, a TED Talk, and an International Opera Awards nomination. In 2024, Zvulun announced that The Atlanta Opera will transform the historic Bobby Jones Clubhouse, located on the Atlanta Beltline, into a home for opera and the performing arts in a multidisciplinary arts center. The $45 million arts center is expected to be completed by 2027. A celebrated director, Zvulun has staged work at the Washington National Opera, the Seattle Opera, for the Los Angeles Opera, and internationally; prior to coming to Atlanta, he spent seven seasons on the Metropolitan Opera’s directing staff.
EDUCATION Open University of Tel Aviv, Harvard Business School (Executive Education) HOMETOWN Ashqelon, Israel WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Opera’s combination of music, theater, and design is the most powerful artistic style I was ever exposed to. FIRST JOB Worked in the Israeli opera in every entry position imaginable: usher, stagehand
FILM, MUSIC, & ENTERTAINMENT
Photograph courtesy of individual
Kenny Blank Executive Director Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Kenny Blank is executive and artistic director of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival—the largest film festival in Atlanta and the world’s preeminent Jewish film festival. To commemorate its 25th anniversary in 2025 and to honor Blank, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival launched the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, a $2.5 million growth campaign designed to expand AJFF’s impact as a year-round hub for cultural engagement, education, and storytelling. A communications and journalism veteran, Blank worked for Atlanta mayors Maynard Jackson and Bill Campbell in the early 1990s, and won an Associated Press award for special coverage of the 1996 Olympics as a producer at WSAV-TV in Savannah. Most recently, Blank was an executive producer for WXIA-TV, where he received an Emmy for breaking-news coverage.
EDUCATION New York University BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Four things that can never be recovered: the stone after it’s thrown, the word after it’s spoken, the occasion after it’s missed, and the time after it’s gone. FAVORITE MOVIELawrence of Arabia FAVORITE VACATION DESTINATION Hilton Head Island WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Jake Johnson
Kandi Burruss Entertainer and Entrepreneur
Burruss is an Atlanta-born and -bred singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and TV personality who got her start when she cofounded the all-female R&B group Xscape, as a 14-year-old student at Tri-Cities High School in East Point. She went on to write hit songs for Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Pink, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, ‘N Sync, Mariah Carey, Usher, Alicia Keys, Boys II Men, and TLC, including the latter’s Grammy-winning smash “No Scrubs.” Having starred in 14 seasons of Bravo phenomenon The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Burruss is also a restaurateur; she opened Old Lady Gang in the city. In 2025, Burruss was part of the production team behind Broadway’s Othello, which starred Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal and generated a record-breaking $2.8 million in one week of previews
Danielle Deadwyler Artist, Actor, and Filmmaker
An Atlanta native, Danielle Deadwyler is rooted in theatre, dance, and creative writing. Hometown institutions such as Gate City Heritage House, Total Dance Theatre, Gary Harrison Studios, Atlanta Street Theatre, Henry W. Grady High School, and Spelman College shaped her Southern sensibilities. As a professional actor, Deadwyler has performed in productions with Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, Horizon Theatre Company, Synchronicity Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, and the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre. Deadwyler has since performed in numerous television and film roles, presented nationally and internationally, including Watchmen (HBO), Atlanta (FX), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Being Mary Jane (BET), and as Quita Maxwell on Tyler Perry’s The Haves & The Have Nots (OWN), along with a host of independent films and experimental works. Deadwyler’s portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley in the 2022 biopic Till earned her a 2022 Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Lead Performance and award nominations from several organizations, including the Screen Actors Guild, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the NAACP. After starring in the Denzel Washington-produced The Piano Lesson in 2024, Deadwyler starred and served as an executive producer in the post-apocalyptic thriller 40 Acres in 2025.
Jim Farmer Festival Director and Executive Director Out on Film
Jim Farmer has served as the festival director of Out on Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ film festival, since 2008. Under his leadership the festival has won the ArtsATL Beacon Award for Community Engagement and the Center for Civic Innovation’s Civic Impact Award, and received an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences grant for its visiting-filmmaker series. It was also named an Oscar-qualifying festival in 2020, one of only six such LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world. MovieMaker magazine listed the festival in its “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” list in 2022. Farmer has been an Atlanta Pride grand marshal and is an arts writer for outlets including Atlanta magazine, ArtsATL, Georgia Voice, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Milledgeville, Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Leading Out on Film’s growth from a seven-day film festival to its current incarnation as an 11-day festival and becoming one of the most respected LGBTQ+ film festivals in the country FEW PEOPLE KNOW I am incredibly shy. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Dan Levy
London Holmes (London on da Track) Producer
As a teenager, London joined a rap crew called Dem Guyz and developed his musical skills by playing piano at his local church. In 2011, he released his first track, “Curtains,” with Young Thug. In the next few years, he collaborated with Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane, and Rich Homie Quan before signing with Cash Money Records. He’s become known for breaking new artists and has produced hits for artists such as 21 Savage, Summer Walker, Saweetie, G-Eazy, and more. He was the executive producer of Jamaican artist Shenseea’s album Never Gets Late Here, which was nominated for Best Reggae Album for the 2024 Grammy Awards. He was also the producer of Irish rapper Jordan Adetunji’s song “Kehlani,” which was nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance for the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Photograph by Getty/Dia Dipasupil
Janelle Monáe Musician
With albums including The ArchAndroid, The Electric Lady, and Dirty Computer, Janelle Monáe creates music that pushes the boundaries of rock, funk, hip-hop, R&B, and electronica. As a musical innovator, the 10-time Grammy nominee has been influenced by Prince, Stevie Wonder, and George Clinton, and is the founder of the Atlanta record label Wondaland Arts Society. Monáe is also an actress (Moonlight, Hidden Figures, Harriet, The Glorias, and Antebellum), CoverGirl model, author (The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer), and activist who’s spoken up on behalf of LGBTQ+ rights and raised money for Flint, Michigan, following the contamination of its water. Her fourth album The Age of Pleasure was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album in the 2024 Grammy Awards. In 2025, The ArchAndroid, Chapter 1 of the upcoming graphic novel starring Monáe, was released.
Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas
Paula D. Murphy Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Soul Circus Inc.
Paula D. Murphy is the executive vice president, chief operating officer, and co-owner of Soul Circus Inc., producer of UniverSoul Circus, one of the top family-focused entertainment touring shows in the world. Founded in Atlanta, UniverSoul Circus celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. With over three decades of proven business experience in dozens of countries around the world, Murphy has played a key role in navigating the growth of Soul Circus Inc. One of her career highlights includes helping create a training program for roadies of color to get experience in the live entertainment industry. A dedicated advocate for education, Murphy is chair of the board of directors of Resurgence Hall Charter School in metro Atlanta.
EDUCATION Georgia State University HOMETOWN Fairfield, Alabama BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Listen to be heard. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I speak sign language. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Tracee Ellis Ross
Will Packer Producer Will Packer Productions/Will Packer Media
Will Packer has produced and executive produced a wide range of movies that have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide at the box office, including 10 films that have opened at number one. Packer’s films Girls Trip and Night School were the highest-grossing comedies for 2017 and 2018, respectively. Packer’s television, digital, and branded-content company, Will Packer Media, produces episodic scripted and unscripted series including Queens Court, a reality dating series which debuted in 2023 on Peacock; That Girl Lay Lay on Nickelodeon; Ready to Love and Put a Ring on It on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network; and Fight Night and Lower Bottoms podcasts on iHeartRadio. Packer produced the 2022 Academy Awards 94th Oscars Ceremony—receiving an Emmy Award nomination as Producer, Outstanding Variety Special Live, for the 2022 Oscars. In 2024, Packer executive-produced the Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist and was named a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. In 2025, Packer became a New York Times bestselling author, releasing Who Better Than You? The Art of Healthy Arrogance & Dreaming Big.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS National Black Arts Festival Trailblazer in the Arts Award (2023), NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture (2018), BET Award for Best Movie for Think Like a Man (2013)
Frank Patterson President and CEO Trilith Studios
Frank Patterson is the president and CEO of Trilith Studios, where the films Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Passengers, and the latest iteration of Superman (released in 2025) were produced, among others. He led the transition of the studio from a facilities business to an ecosystem intentionally built for the creative industries. Prior to Trilith, Patterson co-founded and served as the CEO of Pulse Evolution Corporation, a technology company that produces hyper-realistic digital humans for live and virtual reality applications. While at Pulse, Patterson produced the immersive live production of Michael Jackson’s “Slave to the Rhythm” at the Billboard Music Awards, which featured an original performance by Pulse’s digital human likeness of the late Michael Jackson.
EDUCATION Baylor University (MA)
Photograph by Getty/Jamie McCarthy
Tyler Perry Actor, Director, and Producer Tyler Perry Studios
One of the most commercially successful African American filmmakers in history, Tyler Perry created his famous character Madea on the stage before bringing her to the screen in 2005’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which grossed more than $50 million. In 2008 in Atlanta, he opened Tyler Perry Studios—the country’s first major African American-owned film studio. In 2019 Perry opened a new production facility, one of the nation’s largest, on the site of the former Fort McPherson. Perry has also created television shows including Divorced Sistas, served as an executive producer of the Lee Daniels film Precious, and starred in David Fincher’s Gone Girl, among other acting projects. Perry’s documentary for Amazon Studios Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story debuted in 2023. In 2024, Perry extended his exclusive multiyear linear and streaming content partnership agreement with BET Media Group through 2028.
HOMETOWN New Orleans
Usher Raymond IV Entertainer, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist
Usher Raymond IV, who is professionally known as Usher, is a singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, and entrepreneur with over 75 million records sold worldwide and eight Grammy Awards. Headliner of the 2024 Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, Usher also released his ninth album Coming Home in 2024. His Las Vegas residency My Way kicked off in 2022 and concluded in 2023, and his Usher: Past Present and Future world tour started in 2024 and ended in 2025. In 2024, Usher’s New Look, a nonprofit organization founded by Usher in 1999, hosted its seventh annual UNL Disruptivator Summit for 500 students on the campus of Oglethorpe University. Through his foundation, 100 percent of UNL students graduate from high school and 95 percent go on to college, with 61 percent being first-generation college students. A 2024 recipient of the City of Atlanta’s Phoenix Award, the highest award an individual or group can receive from the mayor, Raymond delivered the commencement address to Emory University’s class of 2025. In the address, Raymond, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, revealed how he was initially placed in remedial classes after arriving in Atlanta but persevered in his education.
Photograph courtesy of individual
Michael Render (Killer Mike) Musician Run the Jewels
Michael Render might be as famous for his activism as he is for his music: Raised in the Adamsville–Collier Heights neighborhood, the Grammy-winning rapper served on Keisha Lance Bottoms’s mayoral transition team and was a prominent supporter of Bernie Sanders. Render’s advocacy on behalf of the #BankBlack movement helped move an estimated $60 million to Black-owned banking institutions, and he was appointed to the board of the High Museum of Art. In 2020, he partnered with Bounce TV founder Ryan Glover and former Atlanta Mayor and civil rights activist Andrew Young to create Greenwood Bank, a Black-owned online bank that caters to economically underserved Black and Latino communities across the United States. Render performs as Killer Mike in the hip-hop duo Run the Jewels. In 2023, he won three Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for his song Scientists & Engineers featuring André 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane and Best Rap Album for his latest album Michael. The Georgia State Senate adopted a resolution recognizing Render for his music career, political advocacy, and work supporting historically marginalized communities in Georgia on 404 Day 2025.
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Alice Mary Johnson, an executive of the Atlanta Area Commission on Children and Youth, taught me how radical Martin Luther King Jr. was.
Alyssa Michelle Stephens (Latto) Rapper
Latto won the first season of the reality television series, The Rap Game, in 2016, when she was going by Miss Mulatto. She notoriously did not sign with Jermaine Dupri, breaking through as an independent artist with her 2019 single, “Bitch From Da Souf.” She released her debut album, Queen of Da Souf, through RCA in 2020. That same year, she was nominated for Best New Hip Hop Artist at the BET Hip Hop Awards. In 2023, she was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Melodic Rap Performance at the Grammy Awards. In 2025, on the heels of her hit single “Big Mama,” which earned Latto a 2025 Grammy nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance, she traveled across Europe as part of her Big Mama Takes Europe tour.
NONPROFIT Win Some Give Some Foundation
Michael Williams, II (Mike WILL Made-It) Producer
Michael Williams grew up in Marietta surrounded by music. His mother was a recording artist, his father DJed in clubs, and one of his sisters was a drum major. As a high school student, he started supplying tracks for Gucci Mane. He attended Georgia State but soon had his first hit with Meek Mill and Rick Ross. The multiple Grammy winner’s many hits include “No Lie” by 2 Chainz, “Bandz a Make Her Dance” by Juicy J, “Pour It Up” by Rihanna, “Body Party” by Ciara, “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus, “Formation” by Beyoncé, and “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar. As lead music producer, Williams curated music throughout the 2023-2024 NBA season in a partnership with ESPN’s custom NBA music strategy. In 2025, Williams and his Making Wishes Matter foundation hosted their first annual ‘Made-It Day’ golf classic in Milton, Georgia, to benefit his Making Wishes Matter foundation, which was created to give back to youth and impact the community.
SPORTS
Kimberly Beaudin President and CEO College Football Hall of Fame
Named president and CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame in March 2020, Kimberly Beaudin is the first female CEO of the storied institution, which was founded in 1951 by the National Football Foundation. Beaudin’s primary focus is driving revenue through sponsorship and philanthropic development, while leveraging her vast experience in partnership sales, strategic marketing, community and public relations, and event and group sales. Before joining the Hall, Beaudin served for seven years as the vice president of Marketing and Communications for Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators. Prior to Arrow, Beaudin’s career spanned a who’s who of sports and entertainment including Disney, CNN, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Atlanta Thrashers. Appointed to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority, Beaudin also serves on boards for the Atlanta Sports Council and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
EDUCATION University of Central Florida HOMETOWN Auburndale, Florida NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEOs (2024); Atlanta Women in Sports Trailblazer Award (2023) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I am a true crime junkie. FAVORITE ATLANTA PODCASTUp and Vanished
Dawn Churi Executive Director BlazeSports America
Dawn Churi is the executive director of BlazeSports America, formed as the legacy organization of the 1996 Paralympic Games held in Atlanta. Churi joined BlazeSports America in 2020 with a background in executive leadership in both the nonprofit and sports industries. Since then, Churi has helped the organization expand the programs it offers to both youth and veteran athletes. Most notably, Churi expanded veteran programs to include those veterans who suffer from PTSD rather than focusing solely on those with physical disabilities. In 2025, BlazeSports celebrated the five-year anniversary of the Peachtree Paragames event, an adaptive sports competition for youth, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities. Before her time at BlazeSports, Churi was the vice president of marketing, communications, and fundraising for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
EDUCATION University of Florida (MS) HOMETOWN Mount Dora, Florida FIRST JOB Disney’s Wide World of Sports FAVORITE GEORGIA COLLEGE SPORTS TEAM Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Almost too many to name! Currently, I am obsessed with Chattahoochee Food Works, seeking out farmers markets all over metro Atlanta and the Beltline.
Photograph courtesy of individual
Dan Corso President Atlanta Sports Council
Dan Corso is president of the Atlanta Sports Council, the arm of the Metro Atlanta Chamber that serves as a recruiter for major regional, national, and international sporting events. Additionally, Corso is president of the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee, the local organizing committee for the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the city in 2026 and is one of 16 host cities across North America. The ASC was also instrumental in the selection of Atlanta as the site for Super Bowl LXII, marking the city’s fourth time as a host city. The game will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in February 2028. Recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a Most Admired CEO in 2024, Corso serves on the boards of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and the College Football Hall of Fame. Prior to joining the ASC in 1999, Corso was vice chair of the festival division for the 1998 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
EDUCATION Florida State University
Steve Koonin CEO Atlanta Hawks
As CEO since 2014, Steve Koonin oversees all business, financial, and strategic operations of the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and State Farm Arena and represents the owners as the head of the organization. Under Koonin’s leadership, State Farm became the new naming-rights partner for the team’s venue; following a $192.5 million renovation, the rechristened State Farm Arena was named Best New Concert Venue by Pollstar in 2020, and the Hawks ranked first in the NBA for Overall Game Experience. The team also built a state-of-the-art practice and training facility at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in Brookhaven. An Atlanta native and a veteran of the entertainment and marketing industries, Koonin previously served as president of Turner Entertainment Networks.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Atlanta Sports Council Lifetime Achievement Award (2020) BOARD MEMBERSHIPS Koonin is chairman of the board of the Georgia Aquarium, and he is on the board of the Atlanta Police Foundation. Additionally, he serves on the executive committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
Garth Lagerwey President and CEO Atlanta United
Garth Lagerwey was named president and CEO of Atlanta United in 2022. Lagerwey oversees the leadership of Atlanta United, Atlanta United 2, and the Atlanta United Academy, bringing more than 17 years of experience as an executive in Major League Soccer. In July 2025, Atlanta United announced Lagerwey will be taking an indefinite leave of absence after being diagnosed with cancer, and that the prognosis for a complete recovery is encouraging. Lagerwey was named winner of the Best Executive Award by the World Football Summit in 2022 and MLS’s Sporting Executive of the Year in 2019. After graduating from Duke University in 1994, Lagerwey played five seasons as a goalkeeper in MLS with the Kansas City Wizards, the Dallas Burn, and Miami Fusion FC. Following his playing career, Lagerwey went on to earn his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2004. Lagerwey joined Real Salt Lake from the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP, where he served as an associate in the corporate department of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
EDUCATION Duke University, Georgetown University Law Center (JD) HOMETOWN Elmhurst, Illinois FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Georgia Aquarium FAVORITE ATLANTA PODCASTThe History of Atlanta Soccer
Rich McKay CEO AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO Atlanta Falcons
Rich McKay has been a fixture in the National Football League for more than 30 years. One of the league’s most influential executives, McKay joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2004. During McKay’s tenure, the Falcons, which celebrated their 60th birthday in 2025, have been to the playoffs seven times, been to four NFC Championship games, and participated in Super Bowl LI. McKay was hired by owner and chairman Arthur M. Blank in 2004 and served his first four years as the team’s general manager. He was promoted to president and chief executive officer in 2011. McKay was promoted to his latest role in January 2023. In addition to his Falcons duties, McKay played a central role in the development, opening, and operation of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Additionally, McKay serves as the 2026 Metro Atlanta Chamber board chair.
EDUCATION Princeton University, Stetson University College of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTAtlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEOs (2022)
Renee Montgomery Co-owner and Vice President Atlanta Dream
Renee Montgomery is part owner and vice president of the WNBA Atlanta Dream. Montgomery has won three Girls’ State Basketball Championships and graduated from the University of Connecticut as a two-time All-American in 2009. She was drafted fourth in the WNBA and won two WNBA championships while also being named an All-Star and Sixth Woman of the Year in her 11-year professional career. She retired in 2021 after sitting out the 2020 season to focus on social reform and justice. That same year, she became co-owner and vice president of the Atlanta Dream, making her the first WNBA player to become an owner and executive of an WNBA team. Her documentary, A Radical Act: Renee Montgomery, was released in October 2024 on Roku. In 2025, CBS launched WNBA Tip Off, a pregame show ahead of the network’s first-ever nationally televised primetime WNBA regular season game, featuring Montgomery and Dawn Staley as analysts and Sarah Kustok as the host.
EDUCATION University of Connecticut FIRST JOB My first “real job” was being a broadcaster for NBA TV. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Control your controllables. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Opting out of the 2020 WNBA season FAVORITE MOVIELove Actually
Raheem Morris Head Coach Atlanta Falcons
Raheem Morris was named the 19th head coach in Atlanta Falcons history in 2024. Morris, who is the first Black head coach of the Falcons, took over the club after spending three seasons, 2021 to 2023, as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. During his tenure with the Rams, Los Angeles made two postseason appearances and captured a title in Super Bowl LVI. Prior to Los Angeles, Morris spent six seasons, 2015 to 2020, with the Falcons in a variety of roles including assistant head coach. Morris made his NFL coaching debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive quality control coach in 2002, when the club won Super Bowl XXXVII. Morris was also a college coach at Hofstra University and Cornell University. Morris played safety at Hofstra University from 1994 to 1997.
Education: Hofstra University Hometown: Irving, New Jersey
Amy Phuong Vice President, Government Relations Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena
Amy Phuong is vice president of government relations for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena—a position that signifies an expansion of the Hawks’ efforts to unite the broader Atlanta community through basketball while deepening the organization’s relationships with local and state leaders. Prior to joining the Hawks in 2019, Phuong spent nearly a decade in public service. As parks and recreation commissioner, she oversaw some of Atlanta’s most ambitious park projects, including Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry, the Grant Park Gateway, and the largest strategic expansion to date of Piedmont Park. An Atlanta native, Phuong was also the city’s first chief service officer. In 2024, Phuong was one of 70 women named an inaugural Georgia Tech Pathways to Progress Honoree, representing 70 years since women were enrolled at Georgia Tech.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 (2017), Georgia Asian Times 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia (2015) FIRST JOB Server at Baskin-Robbins FEW PEOPLE KNOW I went tandem skydiving to brainstorm innovation solutions to a political/organizational issue I was stuck on . . . and it worked!
Derek Schiller President and CEO Atlanta Braves
As president and CEO of the Atlanta Braves, Derek Schiller manages all business functions of the front office and sets the strategic vision for the Braves organization. Schiller joined the Braves in 2003 as senior vice president of sales and marketing and became executive vice president of sales and marketing in 2007. As part of the Braves’ executive leadership team, he was instrumental in creating the vision for what is now Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta and played a pivotal role in the design and execution phases of the transformational project. He has also been integral in the organization’s split from Liberty Media into MLB’s only publicly traded team (Nasdaq: BATRA, BATRK).
EDUCATION Vanderbilt University HOMETOWN Colorado Springs, Colorado FIRST JOB Selling ice cream sandwiches—Chipwiches, to be specific. I think I ate more than I sold! FAVORITE MOVIES Anything with Clint Eastwood, including the old spaghetti westerns CHARITIES Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation BUCKET LIST Heli-skiing in Canada or Alaska WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Clint Eastwood (the version from High Plains Drifter)
Morgan Shaw Parker President and CEO Atlanta Dream
Morgan Shaw Parker serves as president and CEO of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, overseeing day-to-day business operations and revenue growth, and working closely with ownership to set the direction of the organization and build their strategic vision. She came to the Dream in 2021 during a pivotal year in which the organization welcomed new ownership and leadership, a head coach, and a brand vision to become the best place to work and play in all sports (not just women’s sports). Prior to the Dream, Shaw Parker served as chief marketing officer at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment where she led marketing and communications initiatives for the Atlanta Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Prior to joining AMBSE, Shaw Parker spent more than a decade at Nike, Inc.
EDUCATION University of Nebraska-Lincoln, The University of Kansas (MEd) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS First female vice president of communications for an NFL team; Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO (2023); AdWeek Most Powerful Women in Sports (2019), Sports Business Journal Game Changer (2020); led her AMBSE team in earning nine regional Emmy Awards, three platinum and two gold AVA Digital Awards, two Webby Awards, and one Hashtag Sports Award.
Kirby Smart Head Coach Georgia Bulldogs
In 2015, Kirby Smart was appointed head football coach at the University of Georgia, his alma mater. At press time, he had claimed six SEC Eastern Division championships, three SEC titles, and seven bowl victories, and had led the Bulldogs to back-to-back National Championship victories in 2021 and 2022. Smart’s 2019 Bulldogs became the first team in Bulldogs history to win 11 or more games in three straight seasons. Previously, Smart was a defensive coordinator at the University of Alabama, and has coached at Valdosta State University, Florida State University, and Louisiana State University. The son of a high school football coach, Smart played defensive back during his college career.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Florida State University (MS)
Damon Stoudamire Head Coach Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Damon Stoudamire became the 15th head coach in Georgia Tech men’s basketball history in 2023. During his first year at Georgia Tech, Stoudamire became the first Georgia Tech coach in the Yellow Jackets’ then 45-year ACC history to defeat Duke University on his first try. Stoudamire came to Georgia Tech after most recently serving as an assistant coach of the Boston Celtics. He was with the Celtics for nearly two seasons, from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023, after a successful five-season stint as the head coach of the Pacific Tigers at the University of the Pacific, from 2016 to 2021. At Pacific, he was named West Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 2020 after leading the Tigers to a 23-10 record in 2019 to 2020, a third-place finish in the WCC. Stoudamire began his coaching career as director of player development at Rice University from 2008 to 2009. Named the 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year, Stoudamire played with the Toronto Raptors before moving on to the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs.
EDUCATION University of Arizona HOMETOWN Portland, Oregon
Alex Urban Executive Director TOUR Championship PGA Tour
Alex Urban became the executive director of the PGA’s TOUR Championship in 2022. Formerly, he had served as general manager and executive director of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii, and was instrumental in Sentry Insurance’s onboarding as the event’s new title sponsor and subsequent extension. A Tour employee since 2013, Urban previously held roles in the Corporate Partnerships and Communications departments. In 2025, the TOUR Championship announced it raised a record $7.2 million contribution from the 2024 event to be allocated to Atlanta nonprofits, specifically five key community organizations: East Lake Foundation, First Tee – Metro Atlanta, Focused Community Strategies, Grove Park Foundation, and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, among others.
EDUCATION Clemson University, University of Georgia (MA) HOMETOWN Powell, Ohio (outside Columbus) BEST ADVICE My dad had a very successful career in business, but I’ll always remember him telling me that pursuing passions in life is more important than chasing a paycheck. If you have passion for what you do, the rest will fall into line. NONPROFITS The First Tee of Metro Atlanta, East Lake Foundation, Purpose Built Communities, and more
Rayford Trae Young Guard Atlanta Hawks
Acquired by the Atlanta Hawks from the Dallas Mavericks, Trae Young officially signed a contract with the Hawks in 2018. Young was a unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team selection as he averaged 19.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 30.9 minutes in 81 contests during the 2018-2019 season. In the 2020-2021 season, Young led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals, the team’s first appearance since 2015. In November 2023, Young returned to his hometown in Norman, Oklahoma where the new Trae Young Drive was dedicated by the City of Norman. The new street is in front of the Young Family Athletic Center. Additionally, the Young Family Athletic Center Multisport and Swimming Complex opened in 2024. Young is a four-time NBA All-Star as he played in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
MOST INSPIRING PERSON My grandfather who passed away when I was 10.
LEGENDS
Vincent Anthony Now retired, Anthony founded the Center for Puppetry Arts in 1978. Under his leadership, the center received a record 12 Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, the U.S. division of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the international organization for the art of puppetry. A native of Sarasota, Florida, Anthony has also received a personal Citation of Excellence from UNIMA-USA—puppetry’s most prestigious award.
Christopher Bridges (Ludacris) One of the first Dirty South rappers to achieve mainstream success, Ludacris rose to the number four slot on the U.S. Billboard 200 with his 2000 major-label debut, Back for the First Time. He founded the Atlanta record label Disturbing tha Peace and has won Screen Actors Guild, MTV Video Music, and Grammy awards.
Alton Brown After spending eight years directing TV commercials, Brown enrolled in culinary school in the early 1990s. The Food Network star has picked up two James Beard Awards and a Peabody. He is the author of 11 books, including Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations.
Ryan Cameron A member of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, Cameron hosts the #1 afternoon show on WAMJ Majic 107.5/97.5 and is nationally syndicated by Urban One Inc.’s Reach Media. He was also the first Black announcer in the history of the Atlanta Hawks.
Pearl Cleage Cleage is the author of 15 plays, eight novels, two books of poetry, two books of essays, a book of short stories, and a memoir. She worked in politics as speechwriter/press secretary to Mayor Maynard Jackson and as a consultant in many local political races. She is currently an Artist in Residence at the Alliance Theatre.
Peter Conlon As president of Live Nation Atlanta, Conlon books the city’s top venues, from Chastain Park to State Farm Arena. He cofounded Music Midtown in 1994 with the late Alex Cooley, whom he befriended in the 1970s while arranging concerts for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. The longtime collaborators became the city’s most powerful music promoters.
Bobby Cox A former infielder, Cox led major league teams for three decades, racking up more than 2,500 career victories. In the 1990s, he led the Atlanta Braves to 14 straight division championships, five National League pennants, and a 1995 World Series title. He is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Radric Davis (Gucci Mane) Born Radric Davis in Bessemer, Alabama, the rapper known as Gucci Mane moved to East Atlanta at the age of nine and is considered one of the architects, along with T.I. and Jeezy, of trap music.
Jermaine Dupri A renowned producer, singer, and songwriter, Jermaine Dupri founded So So Def Recordings in 1993 as a joint venture with Columbia Records—and helped put Atlanta on the national hip-hop map. Dupri has produced and written hits for Kris Kross, Monica, Usher, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey, and released several albums of his own. In 2018 he joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame as the youngest songwriter ever inducted, at age 45—and only the second hip-hop artist following Jay-Z.
Donald Glover Glover is not only the guiding force behind the FX series Atlanta that garnered multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards, he has also won four Grammys for his music. Raised in Stone Mountain, Glover is now at work on a Star Wars project based around his portrayal of Lando Calrissian.
Fay Gold Gold pioneered contemporary art in Atlanta. For more than 30 years, she has staged groundbreaking exhibitions of artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cindy Sherman, Robert Rauschenberg, Alex Katz, Keith Haring, Irving Penn, Andres Serrano, and Robert Mapplethorpe.
Indigo Girls Performing together since high school, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers released a self-titled record for Epic in 1989 that became the first of six consecutive gold- and/or platinum-certified albums. One of the most successful folk duos in history, they have enjoyed a 35-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta.
Tom Key Now retired from his longtime role as artistic director of the Theatrical Outfit, Key has appeared on many national stages as well as those of the Alliance Theatre, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, and non-singing roles with The Atlanta Opera. He has received the Governor’s Award in the Humanities and the Georgia Arts and Entertainment Legacy Award.
Chuck Leavell A conservationist, sustainable-development advocate, tech entrepreneur, and the Rolling Stones’ musical director for more than 30 years, Leavell cofounded the Mother Nature Network, which he sold in 2020. Leavell owns a tree plantation south of Macon. He’s also a Grammy-winning keyboardist who has recorded with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and the Allman Brothers Band.
Kevin Lee Kevin Lee, aka Coach K, is the cofounder and chief operating officer of Quality Control Music and the manager of some of Atlanta’s biggest hip-hop stars. His roster of acts has included Migos, Lil Yachty, Jeezy, and Gucci Mane. With his Quality Control partner, CEO Pierre “Pee” Thomas, Coach K also runs the music and entertainment management firm Solid Foundation.
Kenny Leon Leon is the former artistic director of Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Company, which he cofounded with Jane Bishop in 2002 following 11 years as artistic director of the Alliance Theatre. Leon is a Tony Award–winning film and theater director whose Broadway credits include Fences, A Raisin in the Sun starring Denzel Washington, and The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett.
Terry McGuirk The chairman of the Atlanta Braves since 2001, McGuirk is the bridge between Ted Turner’s ownership of the team and current owner Atlanta Braves Holdings Inc. He oversaw the team’s move to Truist Park in 2017, and the 2021 World Series Champions.
Antwan Patton (Big Boi) Patton was part of the iconic Southern hip-hop duo OutKast, which won six Grammy Awards and sold more than 20 million records.
Billy Payne A lawyer, real estate developer, and former UGA football star, Payne is best known as CEO of the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games and then president and CEO of the games themselves. He chaired Augusta National Golf Club for more than 10 years, during which women were first admitted to membership.
Camille Russell Love A former art gallery owner, Love retired as executive director of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs, a job she held since 1998. In her role she oversaw programs such as Chastain Arts Center, the city’s public art program (including Elevate), and the Atlanta Jazz Festival.
John Schuerholz A Baltimore native, Schuerholz began his baseball career with the Orioles, helping build a Kansas City Royals team that won the World Series in 1985. In 1991, he teamed up with Bobby Cox to help the Braves go from “worst to first” and win the National League pennant. Then from 1991 to 2005, the Braves finished first in their division in every completed season. He was the first general manager whose teams captured World Series titles in both the American and National Leagues.
Mary Stanley Stanley founded her eponymous studio in 2004 and has long been a vibrant presence on the Atlanta art scene—as a private art consultant, artist representative, and curator who’s organized shows at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Hathaway Contemporary Gallery, and Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia.
Dominique Wilkins A basketball legend, the former Atlanta Hawks star now serves as the team’s vice president of basketball and special advisor to the CEO. An 18,500-pound bronze statue of Wilkins is at the entrance to State Farm Arena.
As a founding partner of ai3 in 2004, Lucy Aiken-Johnson has helped lead the firm to more than 50 awards for architecture, interior design, and product development. The firm has designed more than 50 restaurants and clubs around Atlanta. Aiken-Johnson also helped establish the Day One Workshop, a vision session developed to listen deeply to clients’ stories and imagine the possibilities. A practicing interior designer since 1994, she is known for her ability to discover stories deeply informed by the client’s vision and articulate design solutions by telling the meaningful stories behind them.
EDUCATION Auburn University HOMETOWN Tucker, Georgia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK My AP art teacher recommended the Studio Op Design Program in Auburn’s school of architecture. I’m fortunate my passion for storytelling has aligned to make this a lifelong career. FIRST JOB Chick-fil-A, North DeKalb Mall TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Being the youngest and only woman in the room
Jordache K. Avery Founder and Principal Architect XMETRICAL
Jordache Avery is the founder and principal architect of the architecture firm XMETRICAL, which specializes in high-design residential and urban infill commercial development. His modern homes have been featured on multiple tours, and his work has garnered multiple design awards. Additionally, in response to Atlanta’s housing crisis, Avery has worked with companies and agencies within Atlanta to help provide affordable housing solutions. A member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Avery serves as the state representative for the AIA’s Small Firm Exchange.
EDUCATION Florida A&M University HOMETOWN Jacksonville, Florida FIRST JOB Youth mentor at a summer camp TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Navigating the 2008 financial crisis with a new wife, a new house, and no job. WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I’ve loved buildings and cities since I was a kid. My father was a city planner and brought home plans of things to come.
Photograph courtesy of individual
John Bencich Founding Principal Square Feet Studio
John Bencich is the founding principal of Square Feet Studio and an architect and interior designer with over 30 years of experience creating the spaces that make our neighborhoods great. His career includes leading studios at Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State University, serving on design reviews at schools across the Southeast, and advising thesis projects. Active in the community, Bencich has mentored high school students and performed years of volunteer work with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), serving as Atlanta chapter president in 2012. Additionally, he is a member of the board of trustees of The Paideia School. His work has been recognized by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, the Urban Land Institute, the International Interior Design Association, and the AIA. Square Feet Studio’s design of the new Ramblin’ Reck Garage opened in 2023, and the studio was awarded AIA Atlanta Firm of the Year in 2024.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Do what you say you are going to do, do the work well every time, and clients will come. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT The campus of Emory University is full of so many wonderful buildings and spaces, and hidden gems. BUCKET LIST Hiking along the Via Dinarica in Croatia
Vivian Bencich Founding Principal Square Feet Studio
Vivian Bencich and her husband, John, founded Square Feet Studio in 2001 with the desire to seamlessly combine interior design and architecture in one distinctive practice. A registered interior designer with a background in architecture, Bencich strives in her work to honor the relationship between interior design and the larger context of a building’s history and urban environment. A skilled listmaker and confirmed Luddite, the North Carolina native enjoys guiding clients through the design process with determination, passion, and humor.
EDUCATION Vanderbilt University, Georgia Tech (MArch) HIDDEN TALENT I’m pretty good at ping-pong. HOBBY Yoga FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Nantucket or Paris FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Kimball House
Photograph courtesy of individual
G. Niles Bolton Chairman Niles Bolton Associates
G. Niles Bolton is chairman of Niles Bolton Associates (NBA), an architecture, planning, and interior design firm founded in 1975. Headquartered in Atlanta, with an additional office in Washington, D.C., NBA has completed projects in 49 states and 16 countries. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, its notable work in Atlanta includes the 1996 Olympic Village. Bolton has played an active role in shaping both his profession and his community, serving on the Georgia Board of Architects & Interior Designers, as chair of the Buckhead Coalition, as an emeritus trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation, and on the advisory board of Georgia Tech’s College of Design.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Relationships matter. Invest in them. HOBBIES Photography, travel, hunting, fishing NONPROFIT Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, Scouting America
Smith Hanes Owner Smith Hanes Studio
Smith Hanes is the owner of his eponymous studio, a studio of interior designers, architects, and industrial designers. Hanes founded his studio in 2004, and since then, his work has been featured in restaurants, hotels, retail, and personal residences nationwide. He is an expert at adaptive re-use and smart architectural details, and his design aesthetic is known for elegantly proportioned rooms, dramatic spaces, and beautiful lighting. Additionally, his studio commissions local artisans and artists to build and finish his spaces. In 2020, when one of his longtime employees moved to New York, he opened the second Smith Hanes Studio location.
EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill HOMETOWN Thomasville, North Carolina FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Any Soho House location FAVORITE SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT Lyla Lila INSPIRING PERSON Ben Pundole, who is working to end single-use plastics for the hospitality business worldwide
Eric Kronberg Head Zoning Whisperer Kronberg Urbanists +Architects
Eric Kronberg is a zoning whisperer, specializing in demystifying zoning ordinances to find ways to make great projects possible and helping others navigate through the zoning swamp. Using his skills for the force of good as a principal at Kronberg Urbanists + Architects, Kronberg leads the firm’s pre-development efforts by combining skills in planning, development, architecture, and zoning. This combination enables Kronberg to chart the course of best possibilities for each site’s redevelopment.
EDUCATION Tulane School of Architecture HOMETOWN Findlay, Ohio FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Iceland FAVORITE EVERYDAY RESTAURANT El Tesoro NONPROFITS Propel ATL, MicroLife Institute
Photograph by Simon Upton
Bobby McAlpine Architect, Founder, and President McAlpine
Envisioning home as a timeless, graceful, and emotionally evocative place, Bobby McAlpine designed his first house at the age of five and hasn’t stopped since. He founded his firm in 1983 and has designed homes for clients around the world. Today, with offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and New York, the McAlpine firm comprises an eclectic family of architects and interior designers. Bobby McAlpine has authored four books, including McALPINE: Romantic Modernism, which was released in 2023.
EDUCATION Auburn University HOBBIES Raiding Europe for antiques and artifacts FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Lake Martin, Alabama BUCKET LIST Bali WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Colin Firth
Matthew Quinn CEO Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio
Matthew Quinn is the CEO of Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio and founder of the Matthew Quinn Collection boutique showroom. He and his firm have worked with renowned designers and architects throughout the world. Finding inspiration through his frequent travels, Quinn narrates each design, working with designers, architects, homeowners, and craftsmen. His current product lines are designed with Art for Everyday, AKDO, Francois & Co., La Cornue, MTI Baths, the Rubinet Faucet Company, and Hafele America. In 2020 Quinn opened the second location of Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio in the Nashville Design Collective in Tennessee. He has published Quintessential Kitchens by Matthew Quinn: Volume One and Quintessential Kitchens and Spaces by Matthew Quinn: Volume Two, and his third book Quintessential Kitchens and Collaborations by Matthew Quinn: Volume Three was released in 2024.
EDUCATION University of Florida, Art Institute of America FIRST JOB Dishwasher TOUGHEST CHALLENGE The recession NONPROFIT Meals on Wheels Atlanta
Kyle Reis President and CEO Cooper Carry
Kyle Reis joined Cooper Carry in 2006 and was made principal in 2019. He led Cooper Carry’s Urban Design and Planning Studio until 2021, when he became the firm’s president and CEO. His architecture background and over 15 years of planning experience have led to his passion for quality urban design, community building, and his holistic perspective of the industry. Reis is responsible for guiding Cooper Carry’s strategic vision and for the overall success of the company. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Association of Certified Planners, the Georgia Planning Association, and several others. He was a member of the ULI Center for Leadership class of 2016, previously chaired the ULI Mentor Program, and was appointed District Council’s chair for Mission Advancement of ULI Atlanta in 2025.
EDUCATION University of Notre Dame, Georgia State University (MBA) FIRST JOB Delivered newspapers FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Italy WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A BIOPIC Jay Leno
Janet Simpson President tvsdesign
As the third president to serve at tvsdesign in its 58 years, Janet Simpson is implementing new programs to empower more voices and encourage new ideas around servant-leadership, young leaders, and the company’s culture and values. In more than two decades as a workplace interior designer, Simpson spearheaded three “career-building” projects: the 400,000-square-foot renovation and consolidation of Fiserv’s headquarters in Alpharetta, the new headquarters for Mattress Firm in Houston, and the first Cox headquarters building at the Perimeter in Atlanta. Current projects include The Mitchell, a residential tower in Centennial Yards, a $5 billion mixed-use development in downtown Atlanta. Additionally, in 2023, the International WELL Building Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council announced tvsdesign as the first organization to achieve both WELL and LEED certification at the platinum level for its new office.
EDUCATION Auburn University HOMETOWN Montgomery, Alabama NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Staying in the same profession I got my degree in. How many people can say that these days?
Ben Watkins Regional Director, Atlanta The Beck Group
As regional director, Ben Watkins manages The Beck Group’s architecture and construction operations in Atlanta. With over 20 years of experience, his responsibilities include strategic planning, operations, client relationships, business development, project execution, staffing, and safety for the Atlanta office. Additionally, Watkins has continued to grow Beck’s 80- plus-year legacy in Atlanta as Beck has worked on key integrated architecture and construction projects in the region, including the award-winning The Hub at Peachtree Center, the renovation of the historic Candler Hotel, and the transformation of Phipps Plaza. Watkins also chaired the committee that exclusively funded and provided pro bono services to build a pavilion at the Ronald McDonald House of Atlanta.
EDUCATION Auburn University, Dartmouth University (Leadership and Strategic Impact Executive Program) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Emory Nursing Learning Center, IIDA Best of the Best Award, Best of Education; AGC Build Georgia, $10M-$20M Design-Build (Renovation); CMAA Georgia Project Achievement Award, Renovation, Higher Education; DBIA Southeast Project Award, Educational Facilities; Phipps Plaza Mixed-Use Development, AGC Build Georgia, $100M-$250M Design-Build.
Tory Winn Principal, Co-Managing Director Gensler Atlanta
Tory Winn is a principal and managing director of the Gensler Atlanta office where she leads talent development, client relationships, office operations, and business development. Her success as a leader stems from her ability to connect with and inspire people. A native Atlantan, Winn was the first employee of the Gensler Atlanta office, leading the project team for NationsBank Headquarters, now Bank of America Plaza. After spending several years running her own firm, she returned to Gensler and became managing director of the Atlanta office in 2019. A 2024 graduate of Leadership Atlanta, she is also an active member of ULI, Rotary Club of Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Chamber, IIDA Georgia, and CoreNet.
EDUCATION Florida State University FIRST JOB Nursing assistant in a hospital. I learned to listen to people when they are most vulnerable. REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK For me, design is the vehicle for human connection. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I was in The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre as a child. FAVORITE RESTAURANT FOR DINNER BoccaLupo
COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS
Kali Bonnell Business Unit Leader, Atlanta DPR Construction
Kali Bonnell joined DPR Construction in 2009, supporting operations and management roles across the Southeast. Bonnell was named operations leader for DPR’s Southeast Region in 2019 before being named Atlanta Business Unit Leader in 2023. Bonnell’s extensive background in DPR’s core markets of healthcare, higher education, and life sciences led her to be a natural fit for leading the Atlanta business. Bonnell is responsible for leading business operations, development, innovation, and sales in Atlanta with a focus in the Advanced Tech, Commercial, Healthcare, Higher Education, and Life Sciences Markets.
EDUCATION Auburn University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS First female business unit leader for Georgia, youngest regional operations leader for DPR Construction FEW PEOPLE KNOW I love to be on the water and received my ASA sailing certification on Monohulls and Catamarans. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Finding integration between motherhood and career and having the courage to know when I need to ask for help in both avenues.
Doug Davidson Chairman New South Construction
Atlanta native Doug Davidson is chairman of New South Construction, which he founded in 1990 and has grown into one of Georgia’s most respected construction firms. Davidson was Associated General Contractors president in 2008 and Construction Education Foundation president in 2001. New South’s recent projects include Atlantic Yards, a two-building office complex overlooking I-75/I-85 at Atlantic Station; Emory University’s new Rollins School of Public Health, Building III; Pace Academy’s Lower School addition; and Isakson Living’s luxury 55-and-over community at Peachtree Hills Place.
EDUCATION Auburn University FIRST JOB Pike Nurseries BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. HOBBIES Golf, boating, and skiing FAVORITE BOOK The Bible FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Truist Park
Albert G. Edwards Founder and CEO Corporate Environmental Risk Management
Albert G. Edwards is the founder and CEO of Corporate Environmental Risk Management, one of the nation’s largest minority-owned and operated engineering and program management firms that he launched with his childhood friend, the late Marcus L. Reese, in 1995. Edwards’s responsibilities at CERM include chairing the firm’s advisory board and executive committee, and providing vision and strategic direction to its business management, project delivery, and client management functions. With more than 25 years of experience in the industry, Edwards has helped organizations throughout the country manage environmental, engineering, infrastructure, and capital projects. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a quartermaster officer and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
EDUCATION Mississippi Valley State University, Southern Polytechnic State University (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Atlanta Technical College Bridge Builder Award (2025), Atlanta Business League’s Inaugural Thomas W. Dortch Jr. Leadership Award (2023), Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Legacy Leadership Award (2021), CERM’s Job Shadowing Program (20+ Years), U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Minority Construction Services Firm of the Year (2020)
Michael Hatcher President and CEO Sovereign Construction & Development
Michael Hatcher is the president and CEO of Sovereign Construction & Development, which specializes in commercial interior renovations and construction management. Hatcher, who founded the firm in 2007, brings a wealth of experience related to integrated project delivery and collaborative construction practices, and believes construction should be a vehicle for innovation and a platform for inspiration.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, Georgia Tech (MS, PhD) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Construction is the most creative profession in the world, and I always wanted my talents expressed on the canvas of the built environment. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Time will either promote you or expose you. FIRST JOB Shoveling snow in New Jersey HIDDEN TALENT I am a grill master.
Dan Kaufman East Region President JE Dunn Construction
Dan Kaufman began his career at JE Dunn (formerly R.J. Griffin) in 1997 as a project engineer, working his way up to division manager by 2007. Under his leadership, the Atlanta South Division of R.J. Griffin completed over $523 million worth of construction projects and planted seeds in markets that helped bolster the company through the global economic downturn. In 2010, Kaufman was promoted to president of JE Dunn’s East Region, comprising offices in Atlanta, Savannah, Tampa, Charlotte, Raleigh, Charleston, and Nashville.
EDUCATION University of Florida (MA) FAVORITE TV SHOWCBS News Sunday Morning FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION A little island in Belize: Cayo Espanto FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Mujō date night BUCKET LIST Complete a challenging endurance event every year
Photograph courtesy of individual
Meredith Leapley Founder and CEO Leapley Construction
In 1999, at age 26, Meredith Leapley came to Atlanta from Washington, D.C., and founded a commercial contracting firm in a city where she had few professional connections. Now one of Atlanta’s top interior general contractors, Leapley Construction reaches over $205 million in annual revenues and serves clients including Coca-Cola, Kaiser Permanente, and Norfolk Southern.
EDUCATION University of Maryland HOMETOWN Silver Spring, Maryland BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Believe! I could not have built Leapley without believing in the vision. BUCKET LIST To share my story and bring more connections, ideas, and inspiration to others WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC A 40-something Diane Keaton
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C. David Moody Jr. President C.D. Moody Construction
C. David Moody Jr. founded C.D. Moody Construction in 1988. Now one of the U.S.’s largest African American-owned construction companies, Moody’s firm has appeared every year for more than two decades on Black Enterprise magazine’s list of the nation’s top 100 Black-owned industrial/services companies. The firm has undertaken more than 200 commercial projects valued at over $2 billion, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the new home of the Cyclorama at the Atlanta History Center, and the Maynard Jackson International Terminal.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, Howard University INSPIRING PERSON My grandfather James Moody Sr., who came to America at 17 in 1901 from British Honduras. He knew no one here. I admire his courage and thirst for education. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Overcoming the trauma of childhood sexual abuse FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Stone Mountain Park NONPROFITS Boy Scouts, CHRIS 180, Morehouse College, Georgia Center for Child Advocacy
Brent Reid CEO Winter Companies
Brent Reid is the CEO of Winter Companies—the parent of Winter Construction, which does commercial building, and Winter Environmental, which works on abatement, sustainability, and decontamination projects. Reid joined in 1984 as a project engineer and has worked in a variety of capacities, opening an office in Denver and helping create Winter Environmental. He took over as head of Winter in 2001; in 2009, Reid and the other members of the senior management team purchased the former owner’s full interest, and Reid has continued as CEO since. Additionally, Reid is a partner and executive committee member in the land investment, development, and marketing firm Artisan Land Companies.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, University of Chicago (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Leadership Atlanta class of 1998, emeritus board member of Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, past chair of the Council for Quality Growth, treasurer of the Midtown Alliance
Chondra Webster Myers President WEBMyers Construction
Chondra Webster Myers is president of WEBMyers Construction, the largest woman/minority–owned interior general contractor in Georgia, specializing in commercial interiors. Since founding the business in 2016, Myers has grown it into an enterprise that generates more than $10 million annually, with clients including Grady Health System, Kaiser Permanente, and Walgreens. A native of Inglewood, California, Myers has more than 25 years of industry experience, and previously held leadership positions at H.J. Russell & Co. and Leapley Construction.
EDUCATION California State University, Los Angeles LESSON LEARNED Protect your children at all times. HOBBIES Traveling, bowling, tennis FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Spain FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT My bed WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Sanaa Lathan or Tiffany Haddish
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS
David Birnbrey Chairman and Co-CEO The Shopping Center Group
David Birnbrey is chairman and co-CEO of TSCG, an Atlanta-based retail real estate service provider with 20 offices throughout the U.S. He is responsible for strategic planning, geographic growth, and the overall direction of the tenant representation team. Birnbrey began his career in 1980 as a general commercial real estate broker specializing in industrial real estate, joining TSCG in 1984. A member of ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and the Commercial and Retail Development Council of ULI (Urban Land Institute), he’s a frequent speaker at industry events and nonprofit institutions. Appointed by Governor Brian Kemp, Birnbrey is a member of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Atlanta NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Father of three. Grandfather of nine. Happy marriage to wife, Karen, for 42 years.
Monetha Cobb Chief Marketing Officer Franklin Street
Monetha Cobb, who joined Franklin Street in 2010 as a founding member of its Atlanta office, is the company’s first-ever chief marketing officer. In this role, she is responsible for shaping and implementing Franklin Street’s national marketing strategy to support growth initiatives throughout all business lines. Prior to this position, Cobb served as the regional managing director of Franklin Street’s Atlanta office. The Manchester, Georgia, native continues to serve as a member of Franklin Street’s board of directors, which guides the company’s overall direction and growth strategy. Prior to joining Franklin Street, Cobb launched her real estate career at The Shopping Center Group, ending her tenure there as partner. Today, she banks nearly 25 years in the commercial real estate industry with career transactions totaling over $350 million.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NONPROFIT Serving on the board of trustees for Marcus Autism Center is deeply meaningful to me because I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work happening right here in Atlanta. This is where world-class experts are changing the way we understand, diagnose, and treat autism — not just for local families, but for children across the globe.
John Ferguson President, Advisory Services, Atlanta CBRE
As leader for Advisory Services in Atlanta, John Ferguson oversees operations of CBRE’s Atlanta office and drives its growth strategy for all Advisory Services lines of business, including advisory and transaction services, investment sales, debt and structured finance, property management, valuation and advisory services, and project management. His team includes more than 640 professionals in the city of Atlanta. In 2023, CBRE’s Atlanta office closed 1,903 deals, generating $28.9 billion in sales and leasing transaction volume under Ferguson’s leadership. Along with stellar performance metrics, CBRE has also maintained leading market share in Atlanta for both leasing and investment sales. He has been awarded CBRE’s President’s Award three times.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Athens, Georgia
Nathan B. Knowles Executive Managing Director, Principal, and Market Leader, Atlanta Office Colliers International
In June 2022, Nathan Knowles was appointed executive managing director, principal, and market leader for Atlanta, leading 17 different business lines for this full-service commercial real estate advisory firm. He is responsible for driving the growth, strategy, operations, and financial performance of the region. Colliers Atlanta has over 300 real estate advisers, managers and staff, generating more than $3.3 billion in annual transaction volume. Earlier in his career, Knowles held multiple leadership roles at Electrolux Major Appliances. He also has previous leadership experience at LG, Booz Allen Hamilton, and General Electric.
EDUCATION University of Arkansas, Wake Forest University, Emory University (MBA) HOMETOWN Atlanta FEW PEOPLE KNOW While in college, I was a member of multiple NCAA championship teams and an All-SEC and All-ACC selection.
Tim McCarthy Vice Chairman and Atlanta Market Broker Lead JLL
With more than 20 years of experience, Tim McCarthy provides overall leadership for JLL’s Atlanta market, focusing on supporting existing client accounts, developing new business opportunities, and enterprise management across service lines. McCarthy has served as Atlanta brokerage lead since early 2020, navigating the Atlanta brokerage business through the pandemic. Earlier in his career, he was vice president of The Staubach Company, vice president of real estate and facilities at Equifax Inc., and senior asset manager for the Southeast region at AT&T.
EDUCATION Georgia State University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors Top 10 Producers, Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors Phoenix Award, JLL Lifetime Top Gun, JLL Champion of Excellence
Pamela J. Smith President and CEO Smith Real Estate Services
Pamela J. Smith is the president and CEO of Smith Real Estate Services, a full-service commercial real estate and construction services firm with core competencies such as right-of-way land acquisition services, commercial brokerage, development management and consulting, agency construction management, and project management services. Smith established the real estate services business in 1984, adding Smith Construction Services in 1999 to address a public- and private-sector need for quality agency construction management services. As a commercial real estate broker, she has negotiated leases valued at over $20 million on behalf of the U.S. General Services Administration for federal agencies around the country. Additionally, Smith is a member of the Georgia State University Advisory Council for the Women’s Philanthropy Network. In 2021, Smith was named an Urban Land Institute Atlanta WLI Leader and one of Atlanta Business League’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2022, she was reappointed to the Fulton County Board of Assessors.
EDUCATION Rutgers University, New York University (MPA), Georgia State University (MS)
T. Dallas Smith President and CEO T. Dallas Smith & Company
T. Dallas Smith is CEO of T. Dallas Smith & Company, which since its 2007 founding has grown to be the largest African American–owned pure tenant representation firm in the country, having effectively negotiated projects nationwide exceeding $16 billion in value. Smith began his career in commercial real estate in 1982, working under Thomas W. Tift at Atlanta Air Center Realty; in 1989 he became the first African American broker at Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia. In 1995, he joined the African American–owned construction and management firm H.J. Russell & Company. The first African American president of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors in its 114-year history, Smith was appointed chair of the Westside Future Fund’s board of directors in 2024 and was elected to chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia for a one-year term in 2025.
EDUCATION Georgia State University FIRST JOB Dishwasher at Steak ’n Shake on Old National Highway in College Park
Chris Ahrenkiel Managing Principal Cushman & Wakefield Atlanta office
Now managing principal at Cushman & Wakefield, Chris Ahrenkiel previously led Selig Enterprises’ office division as an executive vice president. His recent efforts with Selig included the development of 1105 West Peachtree, which is anchored by Google’s Southeast headquarters and is one of Atlanta’s largest office buildings. A dedicated community leader, he serves as president of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors and as board chair-elect of Leadership Atlanta. Additionally, he serves on boards for Invest Atlanta (vice chair), the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Committee for a Better Atlanta, the Buckhead Coalition, Central Atlanta Progress, Atlanta Real Estate Career Alliance, Atlanta REALTOR Foundation, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Foundation, of which he is a cofounder and vice chair.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Georgia State University Robinson College of Business (MBA) HOMETOWN Dortmund, Germany LESSON LEARNED The best leaders listen more than they talk.
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David Allman Founder and Chairman Regent Partners
David Allman is owner and chairman of Regent Partners, an Atlanta real estate investment and development company that has developed or acquired more than $2.5 billion in real estate assets—including the $500 million, 2.2 million-square-foot Concourse Complex and the Sovereign, a 50-story mixed-use project in Buckhead and the tallest building to be built in Atlanta in 30 years. An Atlanta native, Allman is active in numerous real estate, civic, and ministry initiatives, and has been in the commercial real estate business since 1980. In 2023, Allman received the ULI Atlanta Industry Impact Award, and in 2025, he received the Atlanta Business Chronicle Best in Atlanta Real Estate Visionary Award for his lifetime contributions to the real estate development field.
EDUCATION Dartmouth College NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Founding and former chairman of the Buckhead Community Improvement District, past chairman of the Atlanta District Council of the Urban Land Institute, former member of the board of councilors of The Carter Center NONPROFIT Opportunity International Nicaragua
Steve Baile Chief Development and Operating Officer Selig Development
oversees Selig Development’s commercial, residential, and mixed-use development platform. With Selig since 2014, Baile is recognized as one of Atlanta’s leading developers, with a dossier accounting for more than seven million square feet of commercial, hospitality, residential, and mixed-use developments and acquisitions. Selig and Baile delivered the mixed-use 12th & Midtown initiative including the Loews Atlanta Hotel and 1105 West Peachtree, which features Google’s Southeast headquarters and the Epicurean Atlanta hotel. The Works, an 80-acre adaptive mixed-use development, is beginning its second phase. Baile’s ventures represent more than $4 billion in the Atlanta region since 2000.
EDUCATION Auburn University HIDDEN TALENT I love to tinker and fix things. My kids think I can fix anything (a little preemptive propaganda hasn’t hurt). HOBBIES Golf, travel FAVORITE MOVIE The Outlaw Josey Wales WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Younger Clint Eastwood
Ambrish Baisiwala CEO and Chairman Portman Holdings
With over 32 years of global real estate experience, Baisiwala oversees the corporate management and real estate investment of Portman Holdings. In 2020, Portman Holdings added two business platforms: Portman Residential and Portman Industrial. Prior to joining Portman, Baisiwala was development director of Aldar Properties in Abu Dhabi, responsible for a portfolio in excess of $20 billion. Previously he was development manager for the Greater Union Organization, and has held senior positions with Coopers & Lybrand Consulting and the Tata Group.
EDUCATION University of Rajasthan, Melbourne Business School (MBA) BOARD MEMBERSHIPS Rowen Foundation, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Midtown Alliance, Atlanta Police Foundation, Central Atlanta Progress
Vivian Barnes joined Ackerman & Co. in 1996. She directs asset and property management services, financial services, and day-to-day operations, overseeing the financial administration of the company, its developments, and the properties it manages. Barnes began her career in commercial real estate and financial services more than 25 years ago. Prior to joining Ackerman, she managed financial services for commercial, retail, industrial, and construction projects with Carter and Cushman & Wakefield.
EDUCATION Georgia Southwestern State University HOMETOWN Dawson, Georgia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I enjoy my diverse job responsibilities and the ever-changing dynamics of commercial real estate. INSPIRING PERSON Charles Ackerman TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Surviving the loss of my 24-year-old son
Matt Bronfman Principal and CEO Jamestown
Matt Bronfman is a principal and the CEO of Jamestown. He joined the company in 1998 as general counsel, and in 2002 was named managing director and chief operating officer. Bronfman became CEO in 2012. During his tenure, Jamestown has executed more than $40 billion in transactions, grown its portfolio of assets in the U.S., and expanded into Latin America and Europe. As of Dec. 31, 2024, Jamestown has assets under management of $14.2 billion. He’s led the acquisition and repositioning of many large-scale, mixed- use projects, including Chelsea Market in New York City and Ponce City Market and Buckhead Village in Atlanta. Bronfman is board president for the Jamestown Charitable Foundation. Additionally, he serves on boards for the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, the Atlanta Committee for Progress, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.
EDUCATION Tufts University, Northwestern University (JD) INSPIRING PEOPLE Jamestown chairman Christoph Kahl and my father, Alan Bronfman WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF It’s better to be tired than bored.
Rahim Charania Founder and Managing Partner Woodvale
Rahim Charania is the founder and managing director of Woodvale, an alternative investment firm based in Atlanta with deep experience in special purpose real estate development, equity capitalization, and debt restructuring. Over a career that spans more than 20 years, Charania has formed and grown multiple organizations that have made significant impact in their respective industries and in Georgia, including American Fueling Systems—one of the largest alternative fueling companies in the United States—and the media campus Three Ring Studios in Newton County. Charania serves on the board of Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, as well as on the advisory council of GSU’s Center for International Business, Education, and Research. Also, in 2023, Charania received a GSU Robinson College of Business Alumni Award for his impact in business and the community.
EDUCATION Georgia State University (MBA) LESSON LEARNED When things are at their toughest and life seems to be hopeless, that is the time you need to work the hardest and when you need to recommit yourself to your goals and your vision.
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Colin Connolly President and CEO Cousins Properties
As president and CEO of Cousins Properties and a board member, Colin Connolly is responsible for the business’s new investments, dispositions, asset management, market leadership, development, and operations. He joined Cousins in 2011 as senior vice president, became senior vice president and chief investment officer in 2013, executive vice president and chief investment officer in 2015, executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2016, and president and CEO in 2019. Prior to joining Cousins, Connolly worked at Morgan Stanley as an executive director and, before that, vice president.
EDUCATION Washington and Lee University, University of Virginia Darden School of Business (MBA) FAVORITE BOOKThe Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett FAVORITE DESTINATION Any beach WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Have a plan but write it in pencil not pen so you can make changes.
Photograph courtesy of Fuqua Development
Jeffrey S. Fuqua Founder/Principal
Fuqua Development L.P.Jeffrey S. Fuqua is the founder of Fuqua Development L.P., which has completed many notable projects including development of The Battery Atlanta at Truist Park, the Exchange @ Gwinnett, Decatur Crossing, Glenwood Place, Kennesaw Marketplace, Lindbergh Place, Peachtree Corners Market, Sugarloaf Marketplace, Madison Yards, Peachtree Corners Town Center, Edgewood Retail District, Lenox Marketplace, Perimeter Place, the Prado in Sandy Springs, Town Brookhaven, Park Place, and Lindbergh Plaza. Fuqua has developed more than 20 million square feet in over 100 projects valued at $15 billion dollars.
EDUCATION University of Denver (BSBA, MBA)
Jack N. Halpern Chairman and CEO Halpern Enterprises
Jack Halpern is chairman and CEO of Halpern Enterprises, where he has been employed since 1978. The family-owned business leases, manages, and develops shopping centers as long-term investments. An Atlanta native and a graduate of the Westminster Schools, Halpern has served as chairman of the board of the Epstein School, chairman of the board of trustees of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, and cochair of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and is active in numerous other nonprofits. In 2024, Halpern received the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
EDUCATION Harvard University, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK After practicing law for three years, I received an offer from my father, Bernard Halpern, to become in-house counsel at our family’s company. Unfortunately, my father died two years later, and I had to assume greater responsibility. Real estate proved to be a great way for me to apply both my legal training and analytical skills, and with the help of talented colleagues, our family has been able to build upon the solid foundation that my father created.
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Jim Irwin President New City
As president of New City, Jim Irwin directs the company’s real estate development and consulting operations as well as new business pursuits. Irwin’s project Forth, which opened in 2024, is located in the Historic Fourth Ward along the Beltline’s Eastside Trail and combines a hotel and social club. Over the course of his career, Irwin has been responsible for nearly $2 billion of new investment nationwide. Prior to founding New City in 2016, the Atlanta native was senior vice president at Jamestown, leading the development of Ponce City Market—one of the largest and most significant historic renovations then underway in the U.S.
EDUCATION Dartmouth College, Emory University Goizueta Business School (MBA) FIRST JOB Worked in a bike shop FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Oregon WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Take more art classes
Shaneel Lalani CEO Lalani Ventures
In 1990, Shaneel Lalani immigrated to the United States with his family from Mumbai when he was nine years old, settling into metro Atlanta. After high school graduation, Lalani took over his family’s gas station business. In 2012, he founded Lalani Ventures, buying, developing, and leasing gas stations, medical offices, and retail locations throughout Georgia. A few years later, he began leasing coin-operated amusement machines in gas stations, which benefited the Georgia Lottery. By age 31, the CEO had amassed over one million square feet of real estate in Georgia. In 2020, Lalani bought Underground Atlanta and is leading the overhaul of the 400,000-square-foot property. In 2025, Lalani announced its partnership with Ravine on a new two-stage, 181,000-square-foot live music and performance venue at Underground Atlanta called Ravine at Underground. Under Lalani’s leadership, Lalani Ventures has completed more than 150 transactions valued at approximately $750 million.
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Robin C. Loudermilk Jr. President and CEO The Loudermilk Cos.
Robert C. “Robin” Loudermilk Jr. is president and CEO of the Loudermilk Cos., an asset-based real estate development, investment, and management company. Prior to founding LCO, he served as president, CEO, and director of the retailer Aaron’s, and before that worked for Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate Services and Stratton Construction. An Atlanta native, Loudermilk is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta. Formerly chairman of the Atlanta Police Foundation, he also founded the Buckhead Alliance, a public safety organization.
EDUCATION University of Alabama WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK To follow my passion for changing real estate in Atlanta HOBBIES Hunting, fishing
Brian McGowan President Centennial Yards
Brian McGowan is the president of Centennial Yards—building the most exciting sports, entertainment and business district in the country—in the heart of Atlanta. In 2025, Centennial Yards announced it selected Live Nation to operate a new 5,300-seat capacity venue that will anchor the district. McGowan has over 20 years of economic development experience working at all levels of government. He was appointed by President Obama as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and also served as Economic Solutions Team lead in the National Incident Command activated by the president to respond to the BP oil spill. Prior to that, he was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as Deputy Secretary of Commerce for the State of California. In Atlanta, he served as CEO of Invest Atlanta and CEO of the Atlanta Beltline.
EDUCATION University of California, Riverside, Claremont Graduate University (MA) HOBBIES Mountain biking and fitness
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Egbert L.J. Perry Chairman Integral
Egbert L.J. Perry, a native of Antigua and Barbuda, is chairman of Integral, which he cofounded with a mission to “create value in cities and (re)build the fabric of communities.” A community development, commercial real estate, and construction professional since 1979, Perry spent the 1980s and early ’90s helping grow an Atlanta real estate and construction company into the nation’s third-largest African American–owned business. Since its founding in 1993, Integral has become respected for its expertise in affordable, workforce, luxury, and mixed-income housing, often as components of master-planned, mixed-use, and transit-oriented developments. In 2024, Integral was selected by Wellstar Health System to lead the redevelopment of the former Atlanta Medical Center campus.
EDUCATION University of Pennsylvania (MS), Wharton School (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS In 1990, Perry was the 11th graduate in the University of Pennsylvania’s history to be named to the Gallery of Distinguished Engineering Alumni.
Tim Perry Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer North American Properties
Tim Perry is a managing director and the chief investment officer at Jamestown, as well as a member of the firm’s executive committee. He is responsible for developing and leading the firm’s investment strategy. Perry has more than 25 years of experience in financial and investment-related positions. Prior to Jamestown, he joined North American Properties (NAP) in 2009 as partner and vice president of acquisitions. Over the years, he held various financial roles, including director of investments and chief investment officer, before becoming managing partner of NAP’s Atlanta office in 2020. Under Perry’s leadership, the commercial footprint of the NAP Atlanta office had tripled, with a portfolio spanning 5.3 million square feet at a value exceeding $2.5 billion.
EDUCATION Rhodes College
Michael Phillips Principal, Chairman, and President Jamestown
As a principal, chairman, and the president of Jamestown, Michael Phillips is a driving force behind celebrated adaptive-reuse developments including Chelsea Market in New York, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, and Ponce City Market and Westside Provisions District in Atlanta. A member of the firm’s executive committee, he’s nationally recognized for his creative leadership and his ability to build unique, iconic urban centers.
EDUCATION American University HOMETOWN Atlanta FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Paris FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT La Grotta Ristorante Italiano
Norman Radow CEO The RADCO Cos.
When he established the RADCO Cos. in 1994, Norman Radow’s vision came from a lifelong passion to improve both neighborhoods and people’s lives. RADCO’s first project was the redevelopment of a distressed 53-story hotel, office, and condominium tower that later became the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta. Since then, RADCO has invested in about 30,000 units in 15 markets, acquired 11 hotels and completed more than 100 deals totaling $3.3 billion. Returning to its roots, in 2025, RADCO launched RADCO Property Solutions, a new platform to help lenders, investors, and equity owners stabilize and recover value from underperforming multifamily assets. While chairman of the Kennesaw State University Foundation Board of Trustees, Radow oversaw the expansion of the more than 47,000-student university in metro Atlanta. The campus doubled in size during his 13-year tenure, with the addition of $500 million in new buildings that Radow helped finance and develop. The State of Georgia named the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences at KSU in his honor.
EDUCATION SUNY Plattsburgh, New York Law School (JD)
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H. Jerome Russell Jr. President H.J. Russell & Co.
As president of H.J. Russell & Co. and Russell New Urban Development, H. Jerome Russell’s focus is on the firm’s strategic direction and new business development. Over his more than 30-year career, Russell has experience with beverage distribution, consumer marketing, banking, construction, and real estate, which has led him to his current role as the lead owner over the $250 million real estate portfolio and chairman of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE). In 1997, he was named to the board of Citizens Trust Bank, and was part of two successful mergers taken on by Citizens Trust Bank. He’s a member of the Urban Land Institute, Atlanta Rotary, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Young Presidents’ Organization, and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
EDUCATION Georgia State University BOARD MEMBERSHIPS Citizens Trust Bank Loan Committee chairman, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Central Atlanta Progress, Georgia Historical Society, Concessions International, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), H.J. Russell & Co.
Michael B. Russell CEO H.J. Russell & Co.
Michael B. Russell became CEO of H.J. Russell & Co. in 2003 and also serves as vice chair of its sister company, Concessions International. He worked for Portman Architects for three years after graduating from college. Russell has spent most of his career with H.J. Russell & Co., serving in a variety of executive and nonexecutive positions such as cost estimator, project manager, business developer, and division VP. As CEO, he is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the two major divisions within the company (construction and program management), which is recognized as one of the largest minority-owned construction and commercial real estate companies in the country. The Atlanta native has been involved in the construction industry in one way or another since his youth.
EDUCATION University of Virginia, Georgia State University Robinson School of Business (MBA) INSPIRING PERSON Developer and architect John Portman NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Past president of the Association of Builders and Contractors of Georgia, co-chair of the Grady Hospital committee that led to a new governance structure (Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation), Georgia State University Young Alumnus of the Year
Tim Schrager Founder and CEO Perennial Properties
Tim Schrager is the CEO of Perennial Properties, an Atlanta real estate development and property management company he founded in 1988. Meeting what Schrager saw as a need for quality housing choices in older neighborhoods with deteriorating rental stock, Perennial Properties has focused on infill development in gentrifying areas, specializing in high-end apartment projects with street-level retail. Over more than three decades, Schrager and Perennial have been responsible for the development of numerous multifamily communities, as well as multifamily and retail mixed-use developments, in Georgia and Florida. Perennial also owns and operates Midtown Bowl. In 2024, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Schrager as a Most Admired CEO.
EDUCATION University of Southern California HOMETOWN Omaha, Nebraska FIRST JOB Picking weeds and digging ditches for irrigation HOBBIES Art collecting, visiting art museums and galleries FAVORITE BOOKThe Alchemist by Paulo Coelho FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION New York City
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS
Glennis Beacham Owner and Founder Beacham & Co., Realtors
Even though she is the principal of her own firm, Glennis Beacham continues to sell real estate full-time by choice. A managing broker runs the day-to-day operations of the company so Beacham can focus on what she loves most: selling houses. Beacham founded Beacham & Co. in 2006, and in 2024, partnered with Compass, a national residential real estate brokerage. Prior to founding Beacham & Co., Beacham was the top agent for 13 years at one of Atlanta’s oldest and largest real estate companies. She’s sold more homes priced $1 million and higher than any other agent in Atlanta real estate history, and in 2011 was the 13th realtor (and the first Georgian) to be inducted into Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate’s Billionaires Club. Beacham began her real estate career in 1982.
EDUCATION Auburn University TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Regaining my financial footing after my divorce FAVORITE BOOK I love all the Harry Potter books. NONPROFITS Winship Cancer Institute, in honor of my father WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Meryl Streep
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David Boehmig President, CEO and Founder Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
As president, CEO, and founder of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, David Boehmig has a hand in every aspect of the company’s work. His more than 25 years of experience in residential real estate is complemented by an additional decade in commercial banking, where Boehmig focused on real estate and small-business financing. The Atlanta Realtors Association named him Realtor of the Year in 2006 and a Captain of Industry in 2010. In 2022, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Boehmig as a Most Admired CEO. Boehmig serves on the board of directors of Atlanta Mission.
EDUCATION Georgia State University FIRST JOB Mortgage loan officer for Georgia Federal Bank HIDDEN TALENT I speak Korean. FAVORITE BOOKNever Split the Difference by Chris Voss BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Lake Como, Italy
Jenni Bonura President and CEO Harry Norman, Realtors
As president and CEO of Harry Norman, Realtors, Jenni Bonura oversees the operations of 12 sales offices, managing partnerships in the mortgage, title, and insurance ventures, and planning for the company’s future. Bonura became the CEO of the Atlanta luxury real estate firm before the age of 40, joining a rare group of women CEOs in real estate. Taking an active role in every aspect of the business, the Miami native particularly enjoys luxury-home marketing and sales, new-home and high-rise marketing and sales management, and coaching the current and next generations of sales leaders. A recipient of the Atlanta Agent magazine Industry MVP Award in 2025, Bonura started her career in real estate in 2002 as a sales agent.
EDUCATION Samford University FIRST JOB I had two jobs the summer that I was 16: as an intern at an engineering firm and a server at an ice cream shop. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Don’t judge a book by its cover. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT South City Kitchen BUCKET LIST Hang gliding
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Kay Evans Co-owner and Cofounder Keller Williams Realty International, Southeast Region
Kay Evans received her real estate license in 1978, marking the beginning of a long and successful career in sales, brokerage, and real estate education. In 1999, with Bob Kilinski, Evans cofounded Keller Williams Realty’s Southeast Region, helping grow the company to the top organization in the metro Atlanta residential real estate market since 2011. In multiple years, the Southeast has been Keller Williams’s top-performing region. Evans and her husband, Glen, have a son, a daughter, and five granddaughters.
EDUCATION University of Louisiana at Lafayette FAVORITE BOOKThe Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Meryl Streep or Bette Midler! Why not?
DeAnn Golden President and CEO Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties
Appointed in 2022, DeAnn Golden is president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties and leads over 1,300 associates with 27 locations across the state of Georgia. The company, which has a 62-year history in Georgia, is a real estate market leader and generated $3.9 billion in sales in 2024. Golden joined the company in 2004 and is a 30-year real estate veteran with vast leadership, training, coaching, and marketing experience. In 2023, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Golden, who served as president of the Atlanta Realtors Association in 2019, to the Georgia Real Estate Commission for a five-year term.
EDUCATION Tulane University, University of Georgia (MBA) HIDDEN TALENT I was a competitive swimmer, reached national levels, swam in college, and later became a coach and certified water aerobics instructor. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE The toughest challenge wasn’t in the boardroom – it was rebuilding life after losing my husband while raising our two young children. At the same time, our industry was being upended by economic, technological, and structural change. I now lead with a deeper sense of purpose – knowing the most powerful leadership doesn’t come from perfection, but from perseverance.
Ben Hirsh Broker and Owner Hirsh Real Estate, Buckhead.com
At the age of 18, Atlanta native Ben Hirsh sold his established landscaping company to a competitor and set out to travel across the globe. His excursions led him to more than 40 countries. Upon his return, Hirsh turned his focus to real estate in Buckhead, founding Hirsh Real Estate. He was soon named one of Realtor magazine’s 30 Under 30 top real estate agents in North America. According to the Atlanta Realtors Association, Hirsh was the top-producing individual realtor in Atlanta based on sales volume in 2018 and 2019, and he is consistently among the top real estate agents in Buckhead. In 2024, Hirsch sold a Buckhead mansion for $19.8 million, setting a residential real estate transaction record in the city.
FIRST JOB I started a lawn care company at the age of nine and sold it to enable world travels at 18. HOMETOWN Atlanta TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Being told that I was “not Buckhead enough” for a premier listing assignment by a prominent potential client was the rejection that pushed me to buy Buckhead.com and become the top real estate agent in Buckhead. HOBBIES I love gardening and hope to have my own little farm in Buckhead one day.
Christa Huffstickler Founder and CEO Engel & Völkers Atlanta
In 2017, Christa Huffstickler joined the Engel & Völkers international network to open Engel & Völkers Atlanta, which has two dedicated divisions: traditional brokerage sales and new development sales and marketing. In 2024, Engel & Völkers expanded through the acquisition of AtHome & Co. and Davis & Hawbaker Real Estate Group. In 2025, Engel & Völkers announced its partnership with Curbio, a national residential general contractor that prepares homes for sellers and buyers. Huffstickler has specialized in residential real estate for more than two decades, and has worked on some of Atlanta’s premier condominium, townhome, and single-family-home communities.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Altoona, Pennsylvania INSPIRING PERSON My husband. He is the most hardworking person I know, yet always puts what is best for the people around him above everything else and always does the right thing, no matter what.
Brandi Hunter-Lewis Director of Luxury Keller Williams West Atlanta
Formerly with Compass of Buckhead, where she ranked as the number one individual agent in 2021 and 2022, Brandi Hunter-Lewis was named the director of luxury at Keller Williams West Atlanta in 2025. Hunter-Lewis began her career with Keller Williams and since then has secured designations including Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS). She created a niche by becoming the go-to realtor for pro athletes and for Atlanta’s high-profile entertainers and reality TV stars including Kandi Burruss formerly of The Real Housewives of Atlanta; Grammy-nominated hip hop artists Offset and Cardi B, who initially starred on Love & Hip Hop: New York before becoming a breakout star; Angela Simmons of Growing Up Hip Hop; Jamaican Dancehall artist Spice; and a host of others. Having sold more than $200 million worth of homes over her career, Hunter-Lewis is a lifetime member of the Atlanta Board of Realtors’ Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Phoenix Award from the Atlanta Realtors Association; with UGA women’s basketball team: two SEC Championships and NCAA Women’s Final Four twice
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Kevin Levent President and CEO Better Homes & Garden Real Estate Metro Brokers and Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers
Kevin Levent, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers and Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers, has been in the business for more than 40 years and is recognized nationally as an industry leader. He manages both brands as well as the mortgage, insurance, and title divisions of Metro Brokers, which has more than 2,400 sales associates in 27 offices throughout the region. An Atlanta native, Levent is a licensed broker in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina.
HIDDEN TALENT I have a contractor’s license for residential and light commercial structures. HOBBIES ATV riding FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Stone Mountain BUCKET LIST Getting my kids married
Egypt Sherrod CEO Indigo Road
Egypt Sherrod is a real estate broker and CEO of the Indigo Road family of companies, which includes Indigo Road Realty, Indigo Road Design Group, and Indigo Road Home Furnishings. In 2025, Sherrod announced the launch of the Indigo Road by Egypt Sherrod Capsule Collection, with exclusive styles coming to over 300 JCPenney stores nationwide and online. Sherrod was also the host and executive producer of HGTV’s hit show Married To Real Estate, which aired in more than 82 countries and garnered more than 34 million viewers across the globe, and she’s also hosted Flipping Virgins and Property Virgins. Additionally, Sherrod is the author of Keep Calm . . . It’s Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide to Buying a Home. Before real estate, there was radio. Sherrod’s radio broadcast career spanned 20 years, as she scored interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, and more, and was syndicated in more than 60 cities throughout the country.
EDUCATION Temple University HOMETOWN Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS
Richard Aaronson President and CEO Atlantic Residential
Richard Aaronson formed Atlantic Residential, a private real estate development and management company based in Atlanta, in 1995. As company president and CEO, Aaronson is responsible for all Atlantic Residential’s operations throughout the Southeast and Midwest — overseeing development, leasing/sales, and management assignments. Through affiliated entities, Atlantic Residential currently owns and manages over 3,000 apartments and has developed mixed-use and residential projects with over 6,000 apartments and condos and an aggregate value of over $1.5 billion since inception. Previously, he served as development partner for Paragon Group and cofounded Jason Property Company, a regional apartment development and management firm based in Atlanta. A licensed real estate broker in the state of Georgia, Aaronson is also a frequent instructor of management certification courses.
EDUCATION University of Wisconsin, Emory University Goizueta Business School (MBA) NONPROFITS Atlanta Community Food Bank, Hands on Atlanta
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Steven DeFrancis Founder and CEO Cortland
Steven DeFrancis has over 30 years of experience in multifamily development and management opportunities. He founded Cortland in 2005 to focus on in-town, mixed-use, multifamily developments. Since then, Cortland has expanded into a global, vertically integrated, multifamily investment, development, and property management company. With a focus on providing a hospitality-driven, consumer-centric, and technology-forward approach to apartment living, Cortland is one of the largest multifamily owners in the U.S. as it owns and manages nearly 80,000 apartment homes nationwide. Additionally, DeFrancis is a member of the Buckhead Coalition, the Real Estate Roundtable, the Urban Land Institute, and the National Multifamily Housing Council.
EDUCATION University of Georgia Terry College of Business FIRST JOB Busboy at Fuddruckers FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Harbour Island, Bahamas FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Mercedes-Benz Stadium FAVORITE POWER LUNCH RESTAURANT Downwind Restaurant and Lounge
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Tom Hill East Region President D.R. Horton
As East Region president of Texas-based D.R. Horton—the country’s largest new-home builder by volume—Tom Hill is involved in all aspects of land acquisition, development, construction, sales, and operations for more than ten D.R. Horton divisions across the Southeast. A native of Mount Olive, North Carolina, he’s been in the homebuilding industry for more than 20 years, joining Horton in 1997.
EDUCATION Georgia State University WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I have always had a passion for real estate, dating back to my early days, when my parents would look at homes for themselves. That fortunately led me into a career where I have been able to do what I enjoy each day. We build a lot of homes each year, but knowing that we are building them one at a time for a particular family, where their dreams and children will flourish, is a great feeling. FIRST JOB Bussing tables at a Chinese restaurant. A tough boss at a young age will shape you. INSPIRING PERSON My father, who always worked hard and taught me to value every dollar, dime, and penny, and the importance of family
Photograph courtesy of Pulte Group
Ryan R. Marshall President and CEO PulteGroup
In 2016, Ryan R. Marshall was promoted to president and CEO of PulteGroup, one of the nation’s most geographically and product-diverse homebuilders. With operations in 26 states, the company serves all major consumer groups through its family of national brands, which includes Pulte Homes, Centex, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West, and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods. Marshall most recently served as PulteGroup’s president, with responsibility for the company’s homebuilding operations and its marketing and strategy departments. Previously he was executive vice president of homebuilding operations, and he’s also served as Southeast area president, Florida area president, division president in both South Florida and Orlando, and area vice president of finance. Additionally, Marshall is the 2025 board chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
EDUCATION University of Utah, Arizona State University (MBA)
Rod Mullice Managing Partner Windsor Stevens
Rod Mullice is the managing partner at Windsor Stevens, a development firm that aims to create vibrant, walkable, and livable urban communities close to mass transit. Since 2009, Mullice has closed more than $150 million in transactions in urban development, financing, and acquisitions, and he led the team that renewed the lease of a 217,000-square-foot office building in College Park for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Southern Region headquarters. He also conceived, planned, financed, and managed the construction of the Pad on Harvard, a $20.9 million apartment community next to the College Park MARTA station. Mullice is developing The PROCTOR, a 142-unit apartment complex, which will include designated affordable units, near the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. Construction of the $55.6 million development is expected to be completed in May 2026.
EDUCATION Savannah State University, Harvard Graduate School of Design (AMDP) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK During college, I became fascinated with building and infrastructure and the impact it had on our community, so I got a job working with an engineering firm that was rebuilding the Atlanta sewer system. It was a natural progression to structures as we seek to maximize clean water and share the many benefits of urban-core living.
Cherie Ong Cofounder and Principal Good Places
As a real estate developer and business consultant working to create innovative, sustainable, and equitable communities in Atlanta, Cherie Ong is cofounder and principal of Good Places, a firm that develops properties with mission and community impact at its forefront. Having previously managed a more than $40 million private real estate foreign investment fund, Ong now focuses solely on driving social impact catalytic efforts. This includes developing Atlanta’s first 100 percent affordable micro-housing apartments, converting a historic department store into an incubator for creative and socially conscious businesses, and launching a main street initiative promoting local businesses and economic investment.
EDUCATION The University of Melbourne, Securities Institute of Australia (GradD), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (MA) HOMETOWN Melbourne, Australia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Wells Fargo Growing Diverse Housing Developers 2022 Cohort Participant, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Michael Rubinger Community Fellowship Award (2020) FAVORITE TV SHOWIndian Matchmaking
Pam Sessions President Hedgewood Homes
As owners and operators of Hedgewood Homes, Pam Sessions and her husband, Don Donnelly, have designed and built more than 4,000 houses in the Atlanta region since 1985, including award-winning, smart-growth homes in neighborhoods such as Vickery Village, Woodstock Downtown, Alpharetta City Center/Voysey, and Manchester. Prior to beginning her homebuilding career, Sessions—who received her bachelor’s in fine arts from the University of Georgia—studied photography with Ansel Adams and worked with the landscape photographer and writer Dave Bohn.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Atlanta NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Agent magazine Developer of the Year (2023), Congress for New Urbanism Charter Award (2008), Urban Land Institute Development of Excellence Award (2006), Professional Builder National Builder of the Year (2003) FAVORITE BOOKAngle of Repose by Wallace Stegner FAVORITE TV SHOWThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Donald R. Washington Jr. Founding Principal Bolster Real Estate Partners
Donald R. Washington Jr. oversees all phases of real estate investment and development for emerging communities throughout the Southeast and beyond for Bolster Real Estate Partners, which he founded in 2021. With over 15 years of finance, strategy, and business development experience, Washington leverages strategic partnerships and local market knowledge to design, finance, permit, construct, and rehabilitate high potential communities. He is a member of LEAD Atlanta, ULI (Urban Land Institute) Atlanta and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.
EDUCATION University of New Orleans, Georgia Tech (MBA) FIRST JOB Bagger at H-E-B grocery store FEW PEOPLE KNOW I played inside linebacker and won an SEC and NCAA College Football Championship under Nick Saban. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Derek Luke BEST ADVICE RECEIVED I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
LEGENDS
Antonin Aeck Aeck is chairman emeritus and a founding principal of the architecture, interiors, planning, and preservation firm Lord Aeck Sargent. His career began in Paris, where he worked on completing the late Le Corbusier’s final unfinished design commissions.
James R. Borders Borders is CEO of Novare Group, an Atlanta-based real estate investment and development company. In 1992, he founded the predecessor to Novare Group; since then the firm has developed more than 16,000 multifamily residences in 50 communities, including Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, and Tampa.
Robert L. Brown Jr. Brown established his firm R L Brown & Associates in 1984. He has held leadership positions with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and many other organizations. He is a former chair of the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Jerome M. Cooper In 1960 Cooper cofounded Cooper Carry, an architecture and design firm based in Atlanta. Cooper has received the Rothschild Award, the highest honor granted by the Georgia chapter of the American Institute of Architects; in 2018 the AIA named Cooper Carry its Architecture Firm of the Year.
Lawrence L. Gellerstedt III Gellerstedt joined Cousins Properties in 2005 when it acquired his firm, and later led the company as chairman and CEO. Through high-profile urban deals and a major merger with Parkway Properties, he led z from an equity market cap of $665 million to more than $3.8 billion.
Oscar Harris A notable architect, fine artist, and author, Harris founded Atlanta’s Turner Associates, which designed parts of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the iconic Centennial Olympic Park light towers, the MLK Visitors Center, and Georgia State Student Center, among many other prominent projects. He now spends much of his time painting and encouraging students to enter the fields of architecture, construction, and engineering.
Bill Johnson Founder of the Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry and now design adviser, Johnson is an architect and interior designer lauded for his highly personal approach to restaurant design. Since launching his restaurant-design career with Atlanta’s Peachtree Cafe in the early 1980s, he’s worked on local projects including Chops Lobster Bar, Seeger’s, Aria, and Rathbun’s.
Robert Maricich The chairman and CEO of ANDMORE from 2011 to 2024, Marichich transitioned to executive chairman of the board. As CEO of World Market Center in Las Vegas, Maricich helped raise more than $1 billiion to purchase a spate of showroom properties in High Point, North Carolina, merging them into a single entity that’s the world’s largest operator of showroom space home decor.
Lew Oliver Oliver is an Atlanta-based urbanist, master planner, and designer who has helped advance New Urbanism and residential design. The principal of his eponymous firm, Oliver is a preferred design consultant of the renowned New Urbanist firm DPZ; he was instrumental in the design and development of downtown Woodstock, Vickery Village, and Serenbe, and has worked on scores of other projects nationally and internationally.
Steve Selig During Selig’s tenure as president, Selig Enterprises has helped develop key projects such as the Buckhead Triangle, Logan Circle, the Plaza Midtown, the District at Howell Mill, 12th & Midtown, and the Works at Chattahoochee. From 1976 to 1980 he served as President Carter’s chief liaison with the business community, and he chaired the host committee for the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. His family endowed the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia.
William J. Stanley III & Ivenue Love-Stanley Since 1978, Stanley and Love-Stanley have focused on integrating architecture and interior design. As one of the largest Black architectural practices in the South, they have been responsible for many landmark projects in Atlanta and throughout the region. Their award-winning projects include the Olympic Aquatic Center at Georgia Institute of Technology and Ebenezer Baptist Church.
John Wieland Over five decades and with more than 30,000 homes, Wieland established his company as the Southeast’s leading builder of semi-custom homes. His community service includes chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, chairman of the High Museum of Art and head of the Emory University Board of Visitors. His art collection, focused on house, home, and domesticity, encompass more than 400 museum quality pieces in nearly all medium.
Adam Beauchamp CEO and Cofounder Creature Comforts Brewing Company
After a year and a half of pursuing a PhD in genetics and molecular biology at Emory University, Adam Beauchamp decided to follow his dream of opening a craft brewery. He spent seven years at SweetWater Brewing Company, working in every production department while also homebrewing on the weekends to develop his craft. Since launching in 2014, Creature Comforts Brewing Company has become one of the fastest growing and most recognized new breweries in the United States. In 2021, he took on the role of COO, and in 2024, he was elevated to the role of CEO. Beauchamp and his wife, Katie Beauchamp, director of hospitality at Creature Comforts, are parents to their daughter, Jane.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Lawrenceville, Georgia FAVORITE SONG ABOUT ATLANTA “ATLiens” by OutKast FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Tokyo, Japan BUCKET LIST We are going to brew beer in Southwold, United Kingdom. We’ve brewed beer with international partners in the past, but I’m excited about this one. This is a very old U.K. brewery in partnership with JD Wetherspoon, the largest chain of pubs in the U.K. We are assigned to an old English brewery, and they will sell our beer across the country.
Federico “Fred” Castellucci III President and CEO Castellucci Hospitality Group
Federico “Fred” Castellucci III is the president and CEO of Castellucci Hospitality Group. He has been working in the restaurant business his entire life, holding his first job as an 11-year-old in a bakery in Rhode Island. As a teenager, he held various roles in the family business before going on to study hospitality at Cornell University. Following graduation, he assumed the reins of the family business and has since expanded to open and operate: Mujo, an Edomae-style sushiya that received one Michelin star in 2023 and 2024 and was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America in 2023; three locations of The Iberian Pig including two in Atlanta, one in Nashville, and a fourth location in Charlotte slated to open in 2026; 2024 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality Cooks & Soldiers, Double Zero, and Sugo. Additionally, Castellucci is actively involved as a mentor, adviser, and investor in various early-stage hospitality technology companies.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSFSR magazine’s 32 Rising Restaurant Stars (2020); Restaurateur of the Year at the GRACE Awards (2018); Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 (2018); Atlanta Business Chronicle Small Business Person of the Year award in the Family-Owned Business Category (2018)
Aisha “Pinky” Cole Founder and CEO The Slutty Vegan Bar Vegan
Bringing vegan options and food awareness to Atlanta’s West End has always been a life dream of Pinky Cole, founder and CEO of The Slutty Vegan. Opening the conversation on vegan food options for people who have never considered them in the community that has such a high prevalence of hypertension, cholesterol, obesity, and a host of other food-borne ailments, was momentous. Cole launched her business from her apartment on Instagram in July 2018. In a few weeks’ time, she was serving burgers from a food truck. By October, the first Slutty Vegan restaurant location opened to legendarily long lines of fans and eventually expanded to seven restaurants in Georgia and locations in Birmingham, Alabama; Brooklyn and Harlem, New York; and Dallas, Texas. However, in 2025, Cole revealed that following financial challenges, her company went through a restructuring, and she no longer owned the company. Still, just over a month later, Cole bought her business back and has since opened Voyages, a vegan hoagie concept. Prior to becoming a restauranteur, Cole was a casting director for Iyanla: Fix My Life and a senior producer for Paternity Court. The Jamaican American restauranteur is also an author.
EDUCATION Clark Atlanta University
Stephanie Fischer President and CEO Georgia Restaurant Association
With more than 25 years of hospitality experience, Stephanie Fischer was named the Georgia Restaurant Association’s new president and CEO in 2023, succeeding longtime president and CEO Karen Bremer. Fischer had already worked closely with Bremer and the GRA board of directors for six years. After joining the board in 2017, she was elected to the executive committee two years later and then served as chairman of the board in 2022. GRA serves as the unified voice for one of the largest industries in the state, representing more than 23,000 food service and drinking places in Georgia, with total sales over $30.1 billion and more than 500,000 jobs. Fischer has spent her entire career in the hospitality industry, beginning at KFC during high school culminating in her most recent role as the vice president of corporate operations of Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail Dining Division, where she led strategic planning and support of dining operations with a focus on new store openings, food safety, back-office systems, and the guest experience for more than 80 brands across 170 locations in 43 airports.
EDUCATION University of Hawaii, Stetson University (MBA)
Photograph by Patrick Heagney
Kevin Gillespie Owner, Chef, Cookbook Author, and Speaker Red Beard Restaurants (Gunshot, Nàdair)
Chef and restaurateur Kevin Gillespie signed up to compete on Bravo’s Top Chef in 2009 to save Woodfire Grill, his acclaimed but financially struggling Atlanta restaurant. Today Gillespie’s brand continues to grow. His 2013 cookbook debut, Fire in My Belly, earned a James Beard Award nomination; Gillespie’s best-known local restaurant is Gunshow in Glenwood Park. In 2023, Gunshow was included as a recommended restaurant in the first-ever Atlanta Michelin guide and was recommended again in 2024 alongside Nàdair, Gillespie’s latest restaurant which opened in March 2024. In 2025, Gillespie was appointed to the Meals On Wheels Atlanta board of trustees.
EDUCATION Art Institute of Atlanta NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Gillespie was a 2022 finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur Award and was a finalist and the fan favorite on Bravo’s Top Chef season six and a finalist on Top Chef All-Stars. He was named a 2015 and 2017 semifinalist and 2016 finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: South Award and has previously been a semifinalist for the Rising Star Chef of the Year Award for three consecutive years. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Join a gym and go three times a week. This came from my first culinary instructor. This is a very physically demanding job. I wish I had listened!
Linton Hopkins Chef and Owner Hopkins and Co.Linton Hopkins is the internationally acclaimed chef and owner of Hopkins and Co., the Atlanta-based restaurant group that includes Holeman and Finch Public House, Holeman and Finch Bottle Shop, H&F Burger, Hop’s Chicken, and C. Ellet’s Steakhouse. The Atlanta native is known for his deceptively simple cooking style that celebrates local produce and community-driven cuisine, with restaurants that embody his Southern heritage.
EDUCATION Emory University, Culinary Institute of America FIRST JOB Dishwasher at the Easy Way Out, right near Peachtree Battle TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Remaining relevant and connected in the everyday individual lives of all our team members—in a company that’s always growing FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Saint George Island with my wife and two kids
Ron Hsu Culinary Director and Partner Lazy Betty
Since opening in March 2019, Lazy Betty has received many regional and national awards. The restaurant was awarded one Michelin Star in 2023 and 2024 and has received two James Beard Award nominations: one for Best Chef Southeast and a semifinalist nomination for Best New Restaurant. In 2025, Lazy Betty was featured in a one-night-only dinner, titled “A Night of Luxury with Michelin-starred Lazy Betty”, at Pier 57 in New York City as part of the James Beard Foundation’s Platform Dinner series. Previously, Hsu, who was featured on Netflix’s cooking series The Final Table, worked at New York City’s Michelin-Starred Le Bernardin. Beyond the restaurants, Hsu is involved with KultureCity, helping those with non-visible disabilities, along with being on the steering committee at RAISE High Road, raising the minimum wage and fighting for equitable pay.
EDUCATION University of Georgia FIRST JOB Onion peeler at Hunan Village, my parents’ restaurant when I was growing up HOMETOWN Stockbridge, Georgia HIDDEN TALENT I’m a good ping pong player. BUCKET LIST Write a cookbook, open a Chinese restaurant WHO SHOULD PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Simu Liu
Nate Hybl Founder and CEO gusto!
Nate Hybl is the founder and CEO of gusto! Hybl grew up in small-town Hazlehurst, Georgia before taking on the big stage as a quarterback at The University of Oklahoma before playing for the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars. Once he was done with sports, he had a burning passion to become more than a “former athlete,” with an unshakeable vision for creating a new version of healthier fast food. For four years, he obsessively researched cuisines and ingredients, discovering his passion for global flavors and unique combinations, and learned the restaurant business by working a variety of jobs. Through this journey, gusto! was born – an eclectic menu selection of bowls and wraps that feature bold flavor combinations and fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared in record time. In 2014, Hybl single-handedly raised $600,000 to open his first gusto! restaurant on Peachtree Street, and since then, Hybl and his team have expanded to thirteen locations throughout metro Atlanta.
WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Take the Enneagram personality test, study yourself candidly, and then make early life decisions based off what you discover. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Kevin Costner
Niko Karatassos Co-president Buckhead Life Restaurant Group
For nearly four decades, Niko Karatassos has been a driving force behind one of Atlanta’s most storied restaurant empires. As copresident of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, he oversees a portfolio of award-winning restaurants that have helped define the city’s dining culture—from Chops Lobster Bar and Pricci to Bistro Niko, Kyma, Corner Café, and Atlanta Fish Market. The son of I. Pano Karatassos, the visionary founder and CEO of Buckhead Life, Karatassos grew up in the business—bussing tables at the Atlanta Fish Market at just 14 years old. Since officially joining the company in 1986, he has held nearly every position in the front and back of house, rising through the ranks to become director of operations before being named president in 2014. Under his leadership, the company has not only sustained its local legacy but has also expanded into key Florida markets, including Boca Raton, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.
EDUCATION Florida International University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Founding chairman of the Georgia Restaurant Association and is chairman emeritus, GRACE Award Restaurateur of the Year finalist (2023)
Pano I. Karatassos Co-president and Culinary Director Buckhead Life Restaurant Group
A second-generation leader in one of Atlanta’s most iconic hospitality families, the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Chef Pano I. Karatassos has helped shape the city’s culinary landscape for over two decades. As copresident and culinary director of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Karatassos carries forward a legacy built by his father, legendary restaurateur I. Pano Karatassos, whose groundbreaking concepts—including Chops Lobster Bar, Pricci, Bistro Niko, Kyma, and Atlanta Fish Market—have defined fine dining in the city since the 1980s. A Culinary Institute of America graduate, Karatassos opened Kyma, a contemporary Greek restaurant acclaimed for its innovative approach to Mediterranean cuisine, in 2001.
EDUCATION Florida State University, Florida International University, Culinary Institute of America (AOS) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS GRACE Award Restaurateur of the Year finalist (2023); competed on the Food Network show Beat Bobby Flay and defeated Flay with his signature dish lamb pie (2019); author of Modern Greek Cooking: 100 Recipes for Meze, Entrées, and Desserts (2018) WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF I wanted to go to the Culinary Institute of America after high school, but my parents wanted me to go to college. So, I was a loose cannon at FSU and wish I enjoyed my classes more.
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Michael Lennox Owner Electric Hospitality Co.
Michael Lennox is the CEO and founder of Electric Hospitality Co., on a mission to create “electric experiences” for their guests. A true visionary, Lennox opened Ladybird in 2014 as the first new restaurant on the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Since then, he has opened multiple award-winning concepts that have received accolades from Bon Appetit, Travel + Leisure, and Eater, including Golden Eagle, a retro cocktail bar (since closed), Muchacho, an all-day, all-night West-coast inspired coffee and taco shop, as well as Ranger Station, a cozy cocktail lodge situated above Ladybird. In 2024, Ranger Station was named as one of Esquire’s “Best Bars in America,” Electric Hospitality also opened its newest concept, Strangers in Paradise, a tropical cocktail bar inspired by Florida beach bars of yesteryear; and Ladybird celebrated its 10th year anniversary.
EDUCATION Hampden-Sydney College, Wake Forest University School of Law (JD) HOBBIES Hunting for antiques and vintage pieces, playing and collecting music, riding the emotional rollercoaster with our Atlanta sports teams
K. Rashid Nuri Founder and CEO The Nuri Group
K. Rashid Nuri founded and leads The Nuri Group as the continuation of a 50-year career dedicated to building communities on the foundation of agriculture. The Nuri Group advocates for urban agriculture at the local, regional, and national levels, working not just with urban farmers and farming organizations but also educators, legislators, urban planners, and others. In 2006 Nuri founded the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture, which has grown into Atlanta’s premier urban agricultural organization, growing food, providing jobs, and educating communities on nutrition and self-sufficiency. Previously, Nuri oversaw 2,200 employees as deputy administrator in the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Clinton administration.
EDUCATION Harvard College, University of Massachusetts Amherst (MS) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK My work chose me, through what I experienced as a calling from God. The call answered my quest to contribute to the full liberation and prosperity of Black people in America. TOUGHEST CHALLENGES White supremacy and capitalism
Aaron Phillips Executive Chef and Partner Lazy Betty
Since opening in March 2019, Lazy Betty has received many regional and national awards. The restaurant was awarded one Michelin star in 2023 and 2024, and has received two James Beard Award nominations: one for Best Chef Southeast and a semifinalist nomination for Best New Restaurant. In 2025, Lazy Betty was featured in a one-night-only dinner, titled “ A Night of Luxury with Michelin-Starred Lazy Betty,” at Pier 57 in New York City as part of the James Beard Foundation’s Platform Dinner series. Additionally, Lazy Betty has received sensory-inclusive certification. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with a degree in culinary arts, Phillips formerly worked in New York City at Bouley, Jean-Georges’ The Mark Restaurant, the Four Seasons Hotel, and Le Bernardin.
EDUCATION Culinary Institute of America HOMETOWN St. Louis, Missouri GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT Receiving a Michelin star has been my greatest professional accomplishment. HOBBY Playing the guitar ADVICE FOR A RECENT GRADUATE Work for the best places, not just the best wages.
Photograph by Eric Vitale
Todd Richards Chef, Owner, Culinary Director, and Author Jackmont Hospitality
Todd Richards is known for his contemporary cooking style rooted in soul and Southern cuisine. A self-taught Chicago native, he’s twice been a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast award. Richards is the culinary director of Jackmont Hospitality, overseeing award-winning restaurants One Flew South and Chicken + Beer at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He’s previously helmed the kitchens of prestigious Atlanta hotels and restaurants including the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton, and Villa Christina. His 2019 book Soul was an IACP Cookbook Award winner, and in 2024, his book, Roots, Heart, Soul: The Story, Celebration, and Recipes of Afro Cuisine in America, with Amy Paige Condon, was released.
EDUCATION University of Illinois at Chicago HIDDEN TALENT I’m a musician and a DJ. NONPROFITS Wholesome Wave Georgia, Edna Lewis Foundation BUCKET LIST Buying a boat WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Forest Whitaker
Photograph by Heidi Geldhauser
Steven Satterfield Chef and Co-owner Miller Union and Madeira Park
Steven Satterfield is the executive chef and co-owner of Miller Union, located in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhood. Since opening in 2009, the restaurant has been recognized by national publications such as Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Esquire. Deeply committed to Atlanta’s progressive culinary community, Satterfield holds leadership positions with Chefs Collaborative and Slow Food Atlanta. In 2017, he won the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast award, and Eater included Miller Union on its annual list of the country’s Most Essential Restaurants. In 2023 and 2024, Miller Union was included as a recommended restaurant in the Atlanta Michelin guide. His second offering, Madeira Park, a wine bar and restaurant, which opened in 2025, was recognized in Bon Appétit as of one of the 9 Best Bars of 2025.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT In 2015, Satterfield released his first cookbook, Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks through the Seasons, to broad acclaim. HIDDEN TALENT Singer, songwriter, guitarist with indie rock band Seely NONPROFITS Southern Foodways Alliance, Georgia Organics
Gee Smalls Executive Chef, Co-owner, and Author Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar, the Breakfast Boys
Born into the Gullah Geechee culture of Charleston, South Carolina, Gregory “Gee” Smalls is the co-owner of Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar and The Breakfast Boys. With a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University and a master’s degree in project management from DeVry’s Keller Graduate School of Management, Smalls worked for 20 years in the information technology industry. In 2019, Smalls became an executive chef and restaurateur and opened Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar alongside his husband Juan. Named after Smalls’s father, the restaurant has three locations: College Park, West Midtown and Olde Town Conyers. The duo also co-owns The Breakfast Boys in College Park. Additionally, in 2014, Smalls and his husband created The Gentlemen’s Foundation, with the mission of promoting the holistic development of Black men in the SGL (Same Gender Loving) and LGBTQ+ community.
WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I chose to open a restaurant because I wanted to provide a space in Atlanta where people like my husband and I could be seen, loved, and affirmed. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Jussie Smollett
Juan Smalls Co-owner Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar, the Breakfast Boys
Along with his husband Gee, Juan Smalls is co-owner of Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar and The Breakfast Boys. Named after Gee’s father, Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar has three locations: College Park, West Midtown, and Olde Town Conyers. The couple also co-owns The Breakfast Boys in College Park. Additionally, in 2014, Smalls and his husband created The Gentlemen’s Foundation with the mission of promoting the holistic development of Black men in the SGL (Same Gender Loving) and LGBTQ+ community. As chairman, Smalls has led the foundation in awarding scholarships, establishing mentorships, and advocating health and wellness through media outreach and support groups. The nonprofit foundation attracts corporate sponsors and partnerships from organizations such as UPS, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, AARP, New York Life Insurance Company, Home Depot, and more.
EDUCATION University of California, Los Angeles HOMETOWN Los Angeles, California FAVORITE ATLANTA PODCASTAtlanta Monster
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM
Justin Amick CEO and President Painted Hospitality
Justin Amick, CEO and president of Painted Hospitality, has redefined the restaurant experience, inspiring a generation of professionals to think beyond the traditional restaurant model. Raised in the hospitality business via his family’s restaurant group, Concentrics Restaurants, Amick joined Chef Tom Colicchio’s Craft Restaurant Management Training Program in New York City after graduating from college. He then relocated to Napa Valley to work with the winemaking team at Trinchero Family Estates. Returning to Atlanta, Amick joined the family business, managing TWO urban licks, serving as general manager and beverage director for PARISH Foods & Goods, and later as general manager and advanced sommelier of Chef Richard Blais’s The Spence. In 2014, Amick left Concentrics to found Painted Hospitality with partner William Stallworth. Painted Hospitality creates and operates one-of-a-kind, entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, and hospitality ventures.
EDUCATION Tulane University Freeman School of Business NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40, Buckhead Entrepreneur of The Year by the Buckhead Business Association, Rudd Scholarship recipient for highest combined score on the Advanced Sommelier Exam by the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Frederick W. Cerrone Founder and Chairman Hotel Equities
Frederick W. Cerrone is founder and co-chairman of Hotel Equities, a development, ownership, and management company with more than 300 hotels in its present portfolio. Cerrone began his five-decade hospitality career as a desk clerk at Boston’s largest hotel; a general manager by the age of 21 and twice recognized as general manager of the year by national hotel franchises, he launched Hotel Equities in 1989. Cerrone is past chairman of Marriott’s Fairfield Inn and SpringHill Suites franchise advisory boards. Before embarking on a hospitality career, Cerrone served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
EDUCATION Miami Dade College, Georgia State University Robinson College of Business (MBA) HOMETOWN Westwood, Massachusetts NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT HotelWorld Network Hotelier of the Year (2009) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Hospitality is a people-centered business and people are my passion.
Kevin Duvall CEO Georgia World Congress Center Authority
Appointed in September 2024, Kevin Duvall is the CEO of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, where he provides direction and leadership for the authority, aligning strategic goals with daily operations, and enhancing decision-making processes across the 220-acre campus. Duvall began his GWCCA journey as the assistant general manager of the Georgia Dome from 2002 to 2006, moving to assistant general manager of the GWCCA from 2006 to 2009. In 2009, he became chief operating officer, a position he held for 15 years, demonstrating exceptional skill in facility and event management.
EDUCATION University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University (MSA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT GWCCA’s opening of Signia by Hilton Atlanta in January 2024, a project 10 years in the making TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Covid FAVORITE SPECIAL OCCASION RESTAURANT The Optimist BUCKET LIST Trip to Napa Valley wine country with my wife
Kristi Martin President and COO Ted’s Montana Grill
As the president and COO of Ted’s Montana Grill since 2010, Kristi Martin is a seasoned executive and respected leader in the hospitality industry with more than three decades of experience driving strategic growth and operational excellence in restaurant companies. Martin began her career at Fresh Choice Restaurant Group as a server while in college, where her passion for hospitality was first ignited. She quickly rose through the ranks and left the company as director of training in 1997. Since then, Martin has served at RARE Hospitality International as director of training for LongHorn Steakhouse, Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse as president and CEO, and LongHorn Steakhouse as senior vice president of operations.
EDUCATION California State University FIRST JOB My family owned a chain of 10 liquor stores and delis in California called Kavanagh Liquors. I began “working” in the stores at a very young age, often tagging along with my dad. He’d give me a penny for every bag of ice I filled or let me pick out a candy bar for dusting the wine bottles. HOBBIES I enjoy working out, spending time with my husband on our boat, wakeboarding, and wake surfing. FAVORITE TV SHOWYellowstone, of course. One of our restaurants is in Bozeman, Montana, and I constantly recognize so many scenes from the show.
Erica Qualls-Battey Area General Manager/General Manger Marriott International/Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Erica Qualls-Battey is the area general manager for Marriott International with responsibilities for the Atlanta market and general manager of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. She is responsible for ensuring guest and associate satisfaction, managing the hotel’s finances and assets, owner relations, and fostering business alliances that promote Marriott International. The Philadelphia native joined Marriott in 1993. Honors include General Manager of the Year by Marriott International, YWCA Women of the Year, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Hospitality Hall of Fame, Atlanta Business League’s Leadership Award, Atlanta Business League’s Women of Influence Hall of Fame, and Atlanta Technical College Bridge Builder Award. Additionally, in 2025, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s board of directors elected Qualls-Battey as its chair.
EDUCATION San Jose State University TOUGHEST CHALLENGE The Covid-19 pandemic. The disruption to our business and the rhythm of life. FAVORITE BOOKS All Philippa Gregory and Beverly Jenkins novels FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Zoo Atlanta with my grandchildren BUCKET LIST Trip to Africa and Singapore
Mit Shah CEO Noble Investment Group
Mit Shah is the founder and CEO of Noble Investment Group, a real estate investment manager focused on travel and hospitality. Since 1993, he has led the firm’s strategic vision and chaired its investment committee, guiding more than $6.0 billion in investments across the U.S., including a strong presence in Atlanta. The Penn State School of Hospitality Management and the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society named Shah 2023 Hospitality Executive of the Year, and he was honored by UJA-Federation of New York in recognition of his professional and philanthropic achievements. Shah is serving his fifth term as a member of the board of trustees for his alma mater, Wake Forest University, where he is chairman of its investment committee.
EDUCATION Wake Forest University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Youngest trustee and youngest officer of the board of trustees for Wake Forest University FAMILY Married 28 years to Dr. Reshma Shah, a family practitioner; they’re parents to adult children Arjun and Roshni. LESSON LEARNED Never delay gratitude.
Jamey Shirah CEO Revival Restaurant Group
Jamey Shirah is the CEO of Revival Restaurant Group, a multiconcept hospitality company based in Atlanta. The group includes high-end restaurants such as Little Betty Steak Bar and Luella, as well as wellness ventures such as Wellhaus Boutique Wellness Studio. Shirah is actively involved in leadership development, financial planning, concept launches, and operational strategy across all businesses. Additionally, he emphasizes team member development, operational excellence, values-driven leadership, and long-term growth.
EDUCATION University of Georgia FIRST JOB Growing up on a farm taught me that there is no substitute for hard work. It simply takes what it takes and sometimes that’s all you have. LESSON LEARNED Clarity is a superpower. Knowing what you want, why you want it, and what it will take to get it and jumping in with both feet to make it happen will give you a head start on most things, people, and competition in life.
James Tsismanakis Executive Director and CEO Discover DeKalb DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau Sports DeKalb
James Tsismanakis serves as the executive director and CEO of Discover DeKalb, the DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Sports DeKalb. The mission of Discover DeKalb is to promote DeKalb County, Georgia as a destination for leisure travel, meetings, group tour and travel, sport/recreation events, and family reunions. Georgia’s third largest county with nearly 750,000 residents spanning across 11 unique local cities, communities, and neighborhoods, DeKalb is home to some of Georgia’s best attractions such as Stone Mountain Park, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, David J. Sencer CDC Museum, and Buford Highway’s international corridor. Tsismanakis, who was an adjunct professor at Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality, also hosts the podcast DeKalb Talks Tourism, where he delves into tourism trends and developments. Tsismanakis and his wife, Bethany, are parents to three children.
EDUCATION Marshall University, Georgia State University Robinson College of Business (MGHM), Clemson University (PhD) HOBBIES Inner Trekkie as a devoted Star Trek superfan
Ryan Wilson Cofounder and CEO The Gathering Spot
As CEO of The Gathering Spot, which he cofounded with T.K. Petersen, Ryan Wilson oversees a private membership club that serves as a home for Atlanta’s creative class, business professionals, and entrepreneurs. In 2025, Wilson debuted a second location in Atlanta, Retreat by The Gathering Spot, which features a rooftop pool, two full-service restaurants, flexible workspaces, and more. The club has additional locations in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and membership communities in several other cities. Wilson currently serves on or has served on the boards for the Atlanta Business League, Usher’s New Look, the Woodruff Arts Center, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Georgetown University Board of Regents, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Goodwill of North Georgia, the Fox Theatre, and The Carter Center.
EDUCATION Georgetown University, Georgetown University Law Center (JD) FIRST JOB Working at my parents’ first company, Ryla Teleservices, at the age of 14. I was responsible for updating the business records for one of their largest clients. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Overwhelm the problem. Work aggressively to find solutions. FEW PEOPLE KNOW In the last couple of years, I’ve gotten into long-distance running. It’s become a way for me to challenge myself physically and mentally.
LEGENDS
Bob Amick As a partner in Peasant Restaurants, Amick grew the company to dozens of locations nationally before selling. He helped create concepts such as Mick’s and City Grill. Next came Killer Creek Chophouse, which he also sold. Finally, Amick launched Concentrics restaurants, which have been nominated for several James Beard Awards including Outstanding Restaurateur and Best Restaurant.
Tony Conway Conway formed Legendatry Events in 1997, with clients ranging from Tyler Perry to Elton John to Oprah Winfrey. The company has planned high-profile events honoring the likes of Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Legendary Events owns and operates the special events venues the Estate and Flourish in Buckhead.
Ford Fry The Atlanta culinary icon has a long list of Atlanta restaurants to his name, including JCT Kitchen, Marcel, Little Sparrow, the Optimist, and Superica. Marcel was a recommended restaurant in the first-ever Atlanta Michelin guide in 2023. In 2024, Superica was awarded a Bib Gourmand, and Marcel and Little Sparrow were included as recommended restaurants. The Texas native trained at Vermont’s New England Culinary Institute.
Atsushi “Art” Hayakawa Atsushi “Art” Hayakawa started training at the age of 15 in the city of Sapporo on his native island of Hokkaido. For 15 years, his restaurant, Sushi Hayakawa, was a staple on Buford Highway, where reservations were infamously difficult to obtain. He relocated his operation to the Star Metals complex and shortened its name to just Hayakawa. In 2023, the restaurant won one of Atlanta’s first Michelin Stars.
Eddie Hernandez A native of Mexico, Hernandez and partner Mike Klank launched the first Taqueria del Sol on Atlanta’s Westside. In 2018, he released his first cookbook, Turnip Greens & Tortillas.
Pano Karatassos When Karatassos opened Pano’s and Paul’s in 1979, he revolutionized Atlanta’s dining scene. As founder and CEO of the Buckhead Life group, he has gone on to open more than a dozen eateries in Atlanta, as well as in South Florida. He earned the National Restaurant Association’s Legend Fine Dining Award in 2008 and has been named to Nation’s Restaurant News’s Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
Gerry Klaskala Klaskala came to Atlanta after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1976. With George McKerrow, founder of LongHorn Steakhouse, he opened Canoe in 1995 and then Aria. And, as a consultant, Klaskala helped launch Buckhead Diner, Horseradish Grill, Atlas, and Murphy’s. He supports the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Georgia Organics, the High Museum of Art, and Southface.
Robby Kukler Recently retired, Kukler was the founding partner of Fifth Group Restaurants—which include South City Kitchen, La Tavola, Ecco, the Original El Taco, Alma Concina, and Lure.
George McKerrow McKerrow opened his first LongHorn Steakhouse in 1981 and grew it into RARE Hospitality International, which owned LongHorn Steakhouse and Capital Grille. Cofounder and CEO of Ted’s Montana Grill with Ted Turner, he is also cofounder of Aria and Canoe. His many honors include the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Restaurant Association.
Tom Murphy While Murphy was a student at Georgia State University, he did a feasibility study on opening a neighborhood deli. He ended up getting financing for the project, which over four decades has grown into the iconic Murphy’s Restaurant on Virginia Avenue.
Steve Nygren Nygren opened the Pleasant Peasant in 1972 and grew the company to 34 restaurants in eight states. In 1994, he, his wife Marie, and their three daughters relocated to Chattahoochee Hills, where they helped design the award-winning Serenbe community.
Anne Quatrano Quatrano has helped steer the trajectory of Atlanta’s dining scene for more than two decades. She was one of the city’s first chefs to showcase local ingredients. Much of what she serves at her restaurants—Bacchanalia, Star Provisions, and W.H. Stiles Fish Camp—comes from her Summerland Farm in Cartersville. In 2003 Quatrano received the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast award, and in 2023 Bacchanalia received a Michelin Star.
Ray Schoenbaum The son of Shoney’s founder Alex Schoenbaum, Ray founded his Marietta-based restaurant group, which includes Ray’s on the River, Ray’s in the City, and Ray’s at Killer Creek, in 1984.
Virginia Willis Georgia-born, French-trained chef Virginia Willis is the author of Secrets of the Southern Table: A Food Lover’s Tour of the Global South and Lighten Up, Y’all: Classic Southern Recipes Made Healthy and Wholesome, which won a 2016 James Beard Award in the category Focus on Health.
Chloe Barzey Office Managing Director Accenture Atlanta Global Client Account Lead Accenture
As office managing director for Accenture Atlanta, Chloe Barzey leads Accenture’s vision and operations across Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. The first woman and African American in this position, Barzey works with clients to identify and target superior business value and to achieve and sustain that business value while increasing customer satisfaction and business agility. Leveraging digital capabilities, she leads programs focused on transformation and rapid earnings expansion and has worked with her clients through all phases of transformation, from strategy through implementation.
EDUCATION Cornell University, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA) Hometown Harlem, New York NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Trailblazer Award (2025), Atlanta Business League Lottie H. Watkins Female First Award Honoree (2024), Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEOs (2022), Technology Association of Georgia DE &I Impact Tech Leader of the Year (2021), Atlanta Business Chronicle Women Who Mean Business (2020) TOUGHEST CHALLENGE As a breast cancer survivor, my toughest challenge was navigating the uncertainty and fear that comes with such a diagnosis. It taught me resilience, the power of faith, and the importance of leaning on the support of loved ones.
Jeff Call Managing Partner Bennett Thrasher LLP
Jeff Call, a veteran of more than 20 years at Bennett Thrasher LLP, serves as the managing partner and CEO, overseeing the firm’s strategic plan, growth, and the advancement of its culture. With a specialization in wealth transfer/estate planning, investment, tax and financial planning, Call provides expert counsel to high-net-worth individuals, family business owners, and executives. His extensive experience encompasses a wide range of financial matters, including income tax, estate and gift tax, investment, insurance, charitable and retirement planning. Call is well-versed in individual, partnership, S corporation, and fiduciary taxation. In 2023, Call was named an Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO, helping Bennett Thrasher earn $100 million in revenue. In 2024, Call was recognized by Forbes as a part of its inaugural America’s Top 200 CPAs list.
EDUCATION Auburn University (MAcc) HOMETOWN Springfield, Illinois TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Went through the collapse of Arthur Andersen, which at the time seemed very stressful to have one of the world’s largest accounting firms go out of business nearly overnight at the time my first child, Jackson, was only one month old. It worked out as I landed on my feet briefly at Deloitte then came to Bennett Thrasher to launch the PFS practice.
Will Herman Atlanta and Birmingham Managing Partner Deloitte LLP
Will Herman is the managing partner of Deloitte’s Atlanta and Birmingham practices, which employ more than 4,200 local professionals. He drives the market’s strategy for growth, business development, social impact, and other strategic initiatives. With 30 years of public accounting experience, Herman provides services to large, complex organizations in the real estate, hospitality, and technology industries. For seven years, he served as the partner-in-charge of Deloitte’s Atlanta and Birmingham audit & assurance practices. A Leadership Atlanta class of 2019 member, Herman is involved in many community organizations, including serving on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and leading various aspects of Deloitte’s relationship with the University of Georgia.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Under Herman’s leadership, Deloitte made a significant community impact this past year, contributing nearly 28,000 local volunteer hours, donating more than $2 million to local organizations, and supporting over 155 Georgia nonprofits. NONPROFITS My wife and I are cochairs of the Parents Leadership Council at the University of Georgia and raised over $1.5 million during the 2024-2025 academic year to support student-led programs.
Richard Kopelman CEO and Managing Partner Aprio
Richard Kopelman is the CEO of Aprio, a nationally recognized business advisory, tax, and accounting firm. He leads a team of over 2,100 professionals who serve clients in all 50 states and more than 50 countries, speaking over 60 languages. Since Kopelman assumed the CEO role in 2013, Aprio has experienced significant growth, including securing at least 26 strategic mergers and acquisitions, and expanding its footprint to 26 U.S. offices and two international locations. In 2025, Aprio and Radix Law, a law firm based in Arizona, announced they will join together as Aprio Legal, LLC, an Alternative Business Service (ABS) law firm. Aprio is the first national accounting and advisory firm to open an ABS law firm. In 2024, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Kopelman as a Most Admired CEO.
EDUCATION University of South Florida FIRST JOB Selling funeral services (age 12) with my mother HOBBIES Traveling, skiing, sailing FAVORITE MOVIEThe Imitation Game
F. David Leiter Jr. Managing Partner, Atlanta Offices and Mid-South Hub KPMG
David Leiter Jr. is the managing partner of KPMG’s Atlanta offices and leads the accounting firm’s mid-South hub, which includes Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham, Knoxville, and Jackson. In addition to leading the more than 2,200 people in these offices, Leiter is a partner in the firm’s business tax services practice and oversees the firm’s Atlanta Ignition Center, a technology-driven space where innovative solutions are crafted to help clients transform their businesses. In 2025, KPMG LLP launched KPMG Law US, a subsidiary of KPMG LLP, marking a milestone as the first law firm owned by a Big Four firm to serve the U.S. market. With over three decades of experience in the field, Leiter was named an Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO in 2023.
EDUCATION University of Georgia (MAcc) HOMETOWN Marietta NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Leadership Atlanta class of 2009 WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Accounting is the language of business. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Put people first. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Paris
Regenia Sanders EY Atlanta Office Managing Partner Ernst & Young LLP
As the EY Atlanta office managing partner, Regenia Sanders is responsible for leading EY Atlanta’s more than 2,500 people in building a better working world. At EY, Sanders has held several pivotal leadership positions. She served as the Business Consulting practice leader for the US-Central Region in North America and spearheaded initiatives that enhanced operational efficiencies and drove business growth. Prior to this, she served as EY’s Supply Chain & Operations leader for the Americas, where she played a critical role in establishing EY’s Supply Chain Planning capability as a leader in analyst rankings. Over her more than 25-year career, she has led business development and delivery efforts totaling over $50 million and has managed large, cross-functional teams dispersed across various geographies. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2023, Sanders is a guest lecturer and instructor at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.
EDUCATION Auburn University (MS) BOARD MEMBERSHIPS Served as first Black president of the Auburn University Alumni Board of Directors, EY Foundation, National Minority Supplier Development Council, National Society of Black Engineers, Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education (AWESOME), Emory University Board of Visitors, Motherhood Beyond Bars
LAW
Theodore I. Blum Managing Shareholder and Chair, Atlanta Corporate Practice Greenberg Traurig
Ted Blum is the managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Atlanta office, as well as chair of the Atlanta corporate practice. With decades of experience in corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and venture capital, Blum works closely with clients to counsel them through complex transactions with clarity and strategy. He is chair of the Atlanta Jewish Foundation and serves on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) – Atlanta Chapter. He is past chair of the Chick-fil-A Foundation advisory board and the Rotary Club of Atlanta’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and a past board member of the Woodruff Arts Center.
EDUCATION University of Michigan, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (JD) FIRST JOB Bussing tables in my parents’ restaurant. It taught me the value of service and attention to detail. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Rotary Club of Atlanta Ivan Allen Club Service Award (2019), Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEOs (2016), The Best Lawyers in America (2007-2025), Georgia Super Lawyers (2006-2025) TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Writing my book, Calculated Risks, taught me that true growth comes from embracing risk.
Althea Broughton Partner Arnall Golden Gregory
Althea Broughton is a partner at Arnall Golden Gregory. The Atlanta native, who is chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, has played a critical role in the creation or preservation of tens of thousands of units of affordable housing. In 2025, she was appointed the general counsel for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity board of directors. Additionally, Broughton serves as chair of the board of trustees at Cascade United Methodist Church and is on the board of National Church Residences. Other board memberships include Drew Charter School, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Broughton has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and Georgia Super Lawyers.
EDUCATION Emory University, University of Virginia (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Atlanta Women’s Affordable Housing Network Hyperion Award (2022), GlobeSt. Women of Influence (2021), HOPE Atlanta Heroes for HOPE Honoree (2021), Leadership Atlanta class of 2013 WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Don’t let fear hold you back.
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Janine Brown Partner in Charge, Atlanta Office Alston & Bird
Janine Brown is the partner in charge of Alston & Bird’s Atlanta office, with experience handling multi-billion-dollar domestic and international transactions focusing primarily on M&A, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Additionally, Brown served eight years as chair of Alston & Bird’s corporate technology practice group. She’s also on the boards of Spelman College, Duke University School of Law, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
EDUCATION University of Michigan, Duke University School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Featured in The Best Lawyers in America continuously since 2001 FIRST JOB Counter clerk during high school at the Fannie May candy shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan FEW PEOPLE KNOW My husband, daughter, and I have traveled across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. to see all of Shakespeare’s plays.
Amy B. Cheng Partner Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Amy B. Cheng is an experienced litigator who helps clients from early-stage startups to multinational corporations in healthcare and other industries with employment, commercial, white-collar, and government investigations. She regularly advises clients on critical business matters including employment agreements and regulations, termination and grievance procedures, state and federal agency charges, breach of contract, and tortious claims. In 2023, she became the first individual of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander descent to be elected president of the Atlanta Bar Association since it was founded in 1888. In 2025, she was appointed to the Atlanta Board of Education Ethics Commission. Cheng has been recognized in Georgia Super Lawyers every year since 2019.
EDUCATION Emory University, University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health (MPH), Emory University School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Charleston, South Carolina FAVORITE EVERYDAY RESTAURANT LanZhou Ramen FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION 30A to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my husband NONPROFITS Atlanta Bar Association, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Georgia Lawyers for the Arts, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Mawuli Mel Davis Founding Partner Davis Bozeman Law Firm
Mawuli Mel Davis leads the civil rights division of Davis Bozeman and has represented and helped organize legal support for activists engaged in protests including the Occupy movement, Moral Mondays, and Black Lives Matter. He is a cofounder of Let Us Make Man and The Black Man Lab. In 2019 Davis received the Ben F. Johnson Jr. Public Service Award, the highest honor given by Georgia State University College of Law. In 2022 Davis delivered the commencement address for the Georgia State University College of Law.
EDUCATION United States Naval Academy, Bowie State University (MPA), Georgia State University College of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Named humanitarian of the year by the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, the Kappa Alpha Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, and the Atlanta alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, and an outstanding advocate of the year by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Urban League, the Southern Center for Human Rights, and the Gate City Bar Association. The DeKalb Lawyers Association named the Mawuli Davis Legal Warrior Award in his honor.
Jonathan E. Eady Chairman and Partner Arnall Golden Gregory
JJonathan E. Eady is Arnall Golden Gregory’s chairman and a partner in the Real Estate practice. Formerly the firm’s managing partner for two consecutive four-year terms, he was named chairman in 2024. Eady maintains a prolific practice counseling business and real estate clients as they make important financing, investment, acquisition, development, and operational decisions. Clients select Eady for his expansive knowledge of joint ventures, asset purchases and sales, mergers, entity governance, commercial agreements, leases, workouts, capital restructurings, and numerous types of debt and equity financing. Developers, owners, and investors count on Eady’s steady counsel through all phases of the real estate development process. Eady has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and Georgia Super Lawyers.
EDUCATION Emory University, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Oxford, Georgia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I like solving complex problems involving people and money. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Worked on developing the legal and financial model that helped transform the face of public housing revitalization in Atlanta and across the U.S.
Erica V. Fleetwood Labor & Employment Partner Akerman
Over two decades ago, Erica Fleetwood left a successful career running a multimillion-dollar record label to attend law school. Today, she is a nationally recognized employment law partner whose business experience helps her defend clients in federal court litigation or advise executive leadership teams on how to protect their three biggest assets: employees, company culture, and brand reputation. In 2019, Fleetwood joined Akerman’s newly minted Atlanta office, where she leads a diverse, multilingual team that assists clients with everything from employment law issues to routine HR advice to class actions. Clients range from startups to Fortune 100 companies. She has received numerous awards recognizing her pro bono and community service and served as president of the Hispanic National Bar Association from 2017 to 2018.
EDUCATION Georgia State University, University of Pennsylvania Law School (JD) LESSON LEARNED Your toughest boss or those who seemingly give you the hardest time are often those who teach you the most.
Sharon Gay Senior Counsel Dentons
As senior counsel of the Atlanta office of the world’s largest global law firm, Sharon Gay works at the intersection of government, business, and public policy. She helps governments and businesses do business with one another, especially in the areas of land use and zoning, tax allocation districts and other economic development incentives, transportation, public-private partnerships, and state and local government affairs. She’s worked with public- and private-sector clients to amend state and local laws to facilitate brownfield redevelopment, community improvement districts, and water and wastewater privatization projects. Additionally, Gay served as cochair of the transition team for Mayor Andre Dickens.
EDUCATION Vanderbilt University, Emory University School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Coordinated the successful effort to amend the Georgia Constitution to confirm that school systems could participate in tax allocation districts to support community redevelopment FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Saint Barthélemy FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Atlanta Botanical Garden
Kevin A. Gooch Partner Holland & Knight LLP
Kevin Gooch is a financial services partner at Holland & Knight LLP. With a diverse practice, he has the most experience serving as outside general counsel as well as negotiating and documenting large debt transactions on behalf of financial institutions or corporate borrowers. Over the course of his career, Gooch has closed loan transactions and restructurings worth over $20 billion. He worked previously for McKenna Long & Aldridge (now Dentons), Alston & Bird, and DLA Piper. A past board chair of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, he served as an adjunct professor at Emory Law School and is a guest lecturer at the University of Georgia School of Law. Gooch, who was recognized in 2025 as a business leader in Georgia Titan 100, is a member of boards for The Carter Center and the University of Georgia Alumni Association.
EDUCATION Emory University, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Success is leased, not owned, and rent is due every darn day. FAVORITE SONG ABOUT ATLANTA “Player’s Ball” by OutKast FAVORITE EVERYDAY RESTAURANT Taqueria del Sol
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Robert D. Hays Chairman King & Spalding
Robert D. Hays is the fifth chairman in King & Spalding’s more than 130-year history, currently serving his seventh term. During his tenure, the firm has opened 23 offices and created a global platform. It has launched offices in Miami, Chicago, Brussels, and Sydney and marked a number of milestones, including $2 billion in revenue and 1,100 lawyers. A nationally recognized trial lawyer, Hays led the firm’s tort and environmental practice group for 12 years. He is a summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead scholar. Hays earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was selected to the Vanderbilt Law Review and was a Patrick Wilson scholar.
EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University Law School (JD)
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Michael E. Hollingsworth II Managing Partner, Atlanta Office Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
When Michael E. Hollingsworth II was named managing partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough’s Atlanta office, he was 38—one of the youngest lawyers to hold such a position at a large Atlanta firm. In the decade since, Hollingsworth has led the growth of the office from 83 to over 150 lawyers. He’s also cohead of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions group and its investment management group, focusing on middle-market corporate transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures.
EDUCATION Tulane University, Samford University Cumberland School of Law (JD), University of Alabama School of Law (LLM) FIRST JOB Sales clerk for my parents’ sporting-goods store FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Gulf Coast beaches NONPROFITS Empty Stocking Fund, Woodruff Arts Center, City of Refuge BUCKET LIST Family trip to Africa at some point WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Jason Bateman
Candis Jones Smith Partner Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith
Candis Jones Smith is a partner in the Atlanta office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith and a member of the firm’s general liability practice. Since 2011, Smith’s practice has focused on insurance defense, premises liability, personal injury, and medical malpractice; she has a strong track record in automobile liability and tort/premises liability trials with demands of $1 million or more. Her clients have included several Fortune 500 companies, numerous insurance carriers, and a major metropolitan transit authority. She has successfully tried and won federal and state jury and bench trials.
EDUCATION Spelman College, Georgia State College of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Atlanta FIRST JOB Party City NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Super Lawyers Rising Star (2019-2024) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I won the Dirty Bird Dance Contest hosted by a local radio station when the Falcons won the NFC Championship Game in 1998 and was headed to the Super Bowl.
Jen Jordan Partner The Summerville Firm
Consistently recognized as one of the top lawyers in the state, Jen Jordan is an attorney who specializes in complex civil cases and stands up for those the system has failed. In 2015, Jordan brought suit against then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp over a data breach that exposed the personal information of Georgia voters. She was elected to the Georgia legislature in a 2017 special election—breaking a Republican supermajority in the state Senate—and won reelection in 2018 and 2020. She was the 2022 Democratic nominee for Georgia’s Attorney General. In 2023, Jordan joined The Summerville Firm as a partner.
EDUCATION Georgia Southern University, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT In 2019, with the legislature debating a bill that would strictly limit access to abortion, Jordan delivered a dissent that went viral, drawing more than 3 million views on a single platform. FIRST JOB Historical extra at Mossy Creek Festival. I would put on period clothing and be a hostess for visitors to the arts and crafts festival in Middle Georgia.
Wab Kadaba Global Chair Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
Effective July 1, 2024, Wab Kadaba was named global chair of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, leading the technology-focused law firm with more than 650 attorneys in 24 offices worldwide. For more than 11 years, Kadaba served as the global chair of the firm’s intellectual property department, leading a team of more than 300 attorneys in offices across the U.S. and Asia. Kadaba concentrated his practice on litigation related to intellectual property as well as strategy and management of intellectual property and technology issues; his experience in patent, trade dress, and trade secret litigation matters has involved technologies as diverse as software, telecommunications, e-commerce, medical devices, footwear, and chemical compositions.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, Case Western Reserve University (MA), University of North Carolina School of Law (JD) FIRST JOB Dunkin’ Donuts at age 14 BEST ADVICE RECEIVED My father told me to complete my education because it is that which no one can ever take away from me. BUCKET LIST A bike-riding trip through Tuscany
Linda A. Klein Senior Managing Shareholder Baker Donelson
Linda A. Klein is senior managing shareholder at Baker Donelson and a past president of the American Bar Association, the world’s largest voluntary professional association. As the first woman to serve as president of the State Bar of Georgia, she devised a proposal and advocated for the state to allocate funding for lawyers to help indigent victims of domestic violence. Klein served as managing partner of Gambrell & Stolz beginning in 2001, leading the firm’s 2007 merger with Baker Donelson. In 2024, Klein was named an Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO.
EDUCATION Union College, Washington and Lee University School of Law (JD) HIDDEN TALENT I collect Shirley Temple memorabilia and can even impersonate her. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Center for Civil and Human Rights FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS Big city: Toronto; leisure: Hawaii; Old Europe: Zagreb, Croatia
Ernest LaMont Greer Co-president Greenberg Traurig
Ernest Greer is copresident of Greenberg Traurig, an international law firm with over 2,850 attorneys in 49 offices. He helps lead the firm’s global strategy and operations and also chairs its Washington, D.C. office. He previously served as managing shareholder of the firm’s Atlanta office, where he directed strategic growth while maintaining an active litigation practice. Greer is also deeply committed to civic and community engagement, serving on the boards of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Equal Justice Works, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the Buckhead Coalition.
EDUCATION Harvard University, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Georgia Firm of the Year, Benchmark Litigation (2025); Swan House Ball honoree, Atlanta History Center (2024); Georgia Trend 100 Most Influential Georgians (2023); Anti-Defamation League Southeast Region Lifetime Achievement Award (2022); 2022 inductee into the Junior Achievement of Atlanta Hall of Fame FEW PEOPLE KNOW I met my wife on the first day of college. We’ve been together ever since—more than three decades and counting. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Success is temporary—significance lasts. Strive for significance.
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Simon R. Malko Managing Partner Morris, Manning & Martin
Simon R. Malko brings more than 20 years of courtroom and law firm experience to his leadership role at Taft / Morris Manning. Taft Stettinius & Hollister, one of the fastest growing law firms in the nation, and Morris, Manning & Martin, a highly regarded firm with offices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., announced their plan to merge effective Dec. 31, 2025. The merger will bring more than 100 lawyers and nearly 50 years of exceptional client service to the Taft platform, expanding its position in the Southeast. Malko began his legal career in New York City, where he represented Fortune 50 companies and large investment banks.
EDUCATION Emory University, Fordham University School of Law (JD) FIRST JOB Mowing lawns HIDDEN TALENT I am a very good cook. LESSON LEARNED Never let your ego get in the way of your success. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Soccer at Liga Guinguard on Saturday mornings BUCKET LIST Learning to play the bagpipes WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Edward Norton
Ceasar C. Mitchell Jr. Partner Dentons
A partner at Dentons, Ceasar C. Mitchell Jr. is a member of the firm’s Regulatory, Public Policy and Government Affairs team as well as the head of its interdisciplinary Local Government Solutions practice, which bridges the public and private sectors to meet the challenges facing local and state governments. Mitchell is past president of the Atlanta City Council, where he served two four-year terms as an at-large member while maintaining a legal practice in which he brought his policy advocacy, regulatory compliance, and real estate experience and relationships to bear. An Atlanta native, Mitchell has been active on several boards including boards for Hands On Atlanta and the Midtown Alliance.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) BEST ADVICE RECEIVED What people are fussing about ain’t always what they are mad about. LESSON LEARNED The best way to get your next initiative done is to tell people about your last initiative. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I have to keep a box of tissues handy when watching romantic comedies.
Chuck Palmer Partner, Atlanta Troutman Pepper Locke
In three decades of practice, Chuck Palmer has advised clients in a range of industries, helping them navigate their interactions with government. His work on behalf of major corporations, including Delta Air Lines, Emory, Verizon, and others, has earned him a reputation as a skilled advocate and a positive leader in Atlanta’s business community. Palmer is grateful to have played a role in the revitalization of Atlanta’s famed East Lake Golf Club, which, through its East Lake Foundation, has revitalized the surrounding community. He is currently serving as chair of the Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation board and volunteers with a number of Atlanta civic and cultural organizations.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Emory Law School (JD) HOMETOWN Lindale, Georgia FIRST JOB Central Maintenance Department at the West Point-Pepperell cotton mill INSPIRING PERSON Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, elected the same day as George Wallace in Alabama. He led Georgia in a completely different direction, making the state a magnet for business and professional sports.
Gerald L. Pouncey Jr. Chairman Taft/Morris Manning
Gerald L. Pouncey Jr. is chairman of Taft / Morris Manning. A senior partner in the firm, he also heads the environmental and infrastructure practices. His primary focus is the acquisition, disposition, and/or the redevelopment of properties with significant environmental impact; mergers, investments, and financing related to such properties; and the development and implementation of green energy technologies and strategies. The Opelika, Alabama, native has led efforts in the permitting, financing, acquisition, redevelopment, and regulatory closure of numerous industrial properties, mines, and landfills throughout the United States. In 2025, he was selected as the recipient of the 2025 International Council of Shopping Centers (ISCS) Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award, ICSC’s highest honor. Additionally, Pouncey is the past chairman of the board of directors for the Council for Quality Growth, the Georgia Brownfield Association, the Walker School, and Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society.
EDUCATION Auburn University, University of Georgia (JD) HOBBIES Golf, fly fishing FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION London
Steven H. Sadow Criminal Defense Attorney Steven H. Sadow PC
Steve Sadow is a nationally known criminal defense attorney who has practiced law for 46 years. Sadow’s criminal trial and appellate practice focuses on white collar crimes, including healthcare fraud, political corruption and RICO, as well as general crimes, including conspiracy, drugs, and murder. Notable high-profile representations have included President Trump, rappers/entertainers T.I., Rick Ross, Usher, and Gunna; Howard K. Stern (Anna Nicole Smith’s attorney); and Steve Kaplan (owner of the former Gold Club).
EDUCATION Marietta College, Emory University School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Trotwood, Ohio WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK It was a calling. I knew I wanted to be a criminal defense attorney at age 11. HIDDEN TALENT College pocket-billiards champion INSPIRING PERSON Bobby Lee Cook FAVORITE MOVIEMy Cousin Vinny
Michele Stumpe CEO and Cofounder Ardis Dispute Resolution, PBC
With over 31 years in practice, Michele Stumpe is an experienced lawyer, mediator, negotiator, leader, and speaker. In 2025, Stumpe cofounded Ardis Dispute Resolution, PBC, an Atlanta-based firm that offers a strong foundation of services including litigation, employer and executive counseling, commercial real estate, leasing and lending services, creditors rights and bankruptcy, and a robust hospitality, alcohol and regulated products practice. In addition to negotiations in her career as a lawyer and mediator, Stumpe served as the international president of the Great Ape Project and was instrumental in petitioning the Spanish parliament to grant legal rights to great apes in 2008. She negotiated a reconciliation between the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance board and 19 of its discontented member sanctuaries on the verge of withdrawing from the organization.
EDUCATION University of Florida, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law (JD) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I was a theatre major in undergrad, and my boyfriend was taking the LSAT. He wanted to hang out so I took it as a fluke without studying. I ended up doing really well on it, so I applied to law school and was accepted three weeks later. I realized that my theatre background was actually ideal for a career in litigation as I was completely at ease in front of judges and juries.
Travis Townsend Jr. Partner Townsend & Locket LLC
As cofounding partner of Townsend & Lockett and group leader of its business and transactional law practices, Townsend services businesses and supports their growth through the facilitation of financing, asset acquisition, and relationship management. Townsend led the corporate, securities, transactional, and banking practice groups at Townsend & Lockett, resulting in the firm closing over $18 billion in transactions for clients. Founded in 2010, the firm’s practice areas include mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, commercial real estate, intellectual property and technology, private equity and venture capital, and commercial litigation and arbitration in four locations: Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Townsend, who is the president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Black MBA Association, is a member Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2023.
EDUCATION University of Michigan, University of Michigan Law School (JD) HOMETOWN Muskegon Heights, Michigan WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Through a mentor, I learned about corporate law. She told me, “If we are advocates in this space, it will improve the community.”
J. Henry Walker IV Chair Emeritus and Partner Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
J. Henry Walker IV is the chair emeritus and partner of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, an international law firm with more than 600 lawyers in 22 offices. During his tenure as chair and CEO of Kilpatrick from 2014 to 2024, the firm increased revenues and profits every year, and seven new offices were opened. Walker is a recognized leader in the legal and business communities, including serving as an active member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber executive committee, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and the State Bar of Georgia board of governors. In 2019, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named him one of the city’s Most Admired CEOs and honored him as an Executive Champion of Corporate Citizenship in 2024.
EDUCATION University of Virginia, Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Griffin, Georgia
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Mark D. Wasserman Managing Partner and Co-CEO Eversheds Sutherland
With more than three decades of experience in corporate law, Mark Wasserman served as managing partner of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP from 2005 to 2025. He also held the position of global Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland Limited from 2017 to 2025, providing strategic leadership to the firm. He’s represented and advised private and public companies in the U.S. and internationally, and has counseled clients on a range of business matters, especially mergers and acquisitions and issues relating to federal and state securities laws. He has served as chair of the Emory Law Dean’s advisory board and has been named in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of corporate law. Additionally, The Daily Report and Law.com selected Wasserman as a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree as part of its annual Southeastern Legal Awards.
EDUCATION Clemson University (MA), Emory University School of Law (JD) FIRST JOB Owned and operated my own lawn service HIDDEN TALENT I was an all-American fencer in college. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT The BeltLine
John C. Yates Cofounding Partner Gunderson Dettmer/Atlanta Office
John C. Yates has practiced exclusively in the technology law field for more than 40 years. He is one of the founding partners of the Atlanta office of Gunderson Dettmer, the leading law firm in the country representing emerging growth companies and technology funds. Gunderson Dettmer officially launched its Atlanta office, its 12th global office, in 2025 after more than a decade representing clients in the Southeast. Having launched Morris, Manning & Martin’s technology practice, under the leadership of Yates, the firm represented more than 1,000 tech companies and offered comprehensive legal and corporate services to start-ups, growing tech companies, and investors. In 2025, Yates was inducted into the Computer Museum of America’s Hall of Fame.
EDUCATION Duke University, Duke University School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS A prolific author and leading voice in technology law, Yates has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and quoted in publications including The Wall Street Journal and The Economist.
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Sally Q. Yates Partner King & Spalding
With the Department of Justice for 27 years, Yates rose through the ranks of assistant United States attorneys to become U.S. attorney in Atlanta, deputy attorney general, and acting attorney general. As deputy AG from January 2015 through 2017, she was the second-highest-ranking official in the department. She directed all U.S. attorneys’ offices and DOJ law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Prisons. Having served as a visiting distinguished lecturer at Georgetown University Law Center, she has specialized in white collar crime and tried high-profile public cases such as the ones against former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell and Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS A fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, Yates has received the Luminary Award from the Southern Center for Human Rights.
MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vaughn Alvarez Founder and CEO CR8 Agency
Vaughn Alvarez is the CEO of CR8 Agency, an entertainment and lifestyle PR and marketing agency which Alvarez founded in 2016. His client roster has included TV One, Entertainment One, RCA Inspiration, Lifetime, WE tv, BET, as well as entertainers Rickey Smiley, Brandy, Ray J, Kierra Sheard, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Wendy Raquel Robinson. HuffPost recognized Alvarez as one of the Top 25 African American PR Millennials to Watch, and he has been a significant figure in promoting Black and LGBTQ+ voices in entertainment. Additionally, Alvarez provides PR and marketing at his church, The Vision Cathedral of Atlanta.
HOMETOWN Ashburn, Virginia FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Los Angeles, California NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Atlanta Black Pride Weekend Honoree (2023), Black Media Honors Agency of the Year (2021) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I am a professionally trained tap dancer. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Dyllón Burnside
Kristin Cowart Pierce Founder and CEO Brave Public Relations
With expertise in media relations, reputation management, crisis communications, new product launches, and partnership marketing, Kristin Cowart Pierce founded the boutique firm Brave Public Relations in 1999. The company has worked with notable Atlanta brands including mall developer Simon, Pike Nurseries, PGA Tour/Tour Championship, Fox Theatre, and Legoland Discovery Center. Before founding Brave, Cowart Pierce worked in London for the global public relations firm Edelman, directing campaigns for clients including Ericsson and IMAX. Prior to that she was an account supervisor at Golin in Atlanta. In 2024, Newsweek included Brave Public Relations in its inaugural list of America›s Best PR Agencies.
EDUCATION Boston College HOMETOWN Tampa, Florida FIRST JOB Waitress. I was horrible! INSPIRING PERSON My grandfather. He started as a busboy at Morrison’s Cafeteria and worked his way up to CEO of the company—with only an eighth-grade education.
Gina Espinosa-Meltzer CEO Hope Beckham Espinosa Inc.
became CEO and majority owner of the marketing and communications company formerly known as Hope-Beckham Inc., which added her name to become Hope Beckham Espinosa. An award-winning communications strategist, she has worked with for-profit companies and nonprofits to elevate their brand, increase sales, and enhance messaging to both the Hispanic and mainstream markets. Originally from Mexico City, she has advised such organizations as the Latin American Association, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, and Ser Familia. Her media relations expertise stems from her years as a journalist — with the BBC, CNN and Mundo Now, among others. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2025, she serves on the boards for the International Women’s Forum, Hope Atlanta, and Prospera USA.
EDUCATION Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS YWCA Academy of Women Achievers Class of 2024, Women of Influence, Atlanta Business Chronicle 2023; Top Women in Communications, PRNews 2022; Top Women in Communications, PR Daily/Ragan Communications 2022; 50 Most Influential Hispanics in Georgia, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2022
Jenn Hobby Brand and Communications Director CURE Childhood Cancer
In 2025, Jenn Hobby was named brand and communications director at CURE Childhood Cancer. The mission of CURE Childhood Cancer, which was founded in 1975, is to conquer childhood cancer through funding innovative research and providing comprehensive support to children and their families. Hobby’s firsthand experience as a parent navigating a child’s cancer journey gives her a unique and deeply personal understanding of the challenges these families endure. Hobby is a former radio host on Atlanta’s Star 94 and a television host of The Daily 2 and House 2 Home on WSB-TV. A well-known Atlanta personality for more than 20 years, her radio career has included WBTS-FM (95.5 The Beat), WWWQ-FM (Q100), and WKHX-FM (Kicks 101.5), and her television work has included HLN, CNN, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and Fox 5 Atlanta.
EDUCATION Florida State University HOMETOWN Saint Petersburg, Florida NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Hobby earned two Gracie Awards for her work in radio and an Emmy for her TV work at GPB.
Genna Keller Co-CEO Trevelino/Keller
A PR and marketing practitioner for more than 30 years, Genna Keller served in executive leadership positions with global public relations firms for 16 years before launching Trevelino/Keller with longtime colleague Dean Trevelino in 2003. In 2025, Trevelino/Keller won four Hermes Creative Awards from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals for outstanding work across the marketing and communications industry. With a wealth of B2B and B2C and nonprofit experience, Keller is also passionate about the tech industry and innovation, serving in advisory roles with Tech Alpharetta and Atlanta Tech Angels, among others. A member of the Buckhead Coalition, Keller’s expertise is often sought for company launch strategies, M&A communications, crisis work, and campaign development.
EDUCATION Wake Forest University FIRST JOB Gift wrapping in a department store where I learned the importance of customer service and speed. And the importance of “the small stuff.” WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Invest in your personal and professional network. Over the years, those contacts will become invaluable resources, colleagues, and friends.
Williams Mills CEO William Mills Agency
A native Atlantan, William Mills III joined the William Mills Agency in 1983 and launched the firm’s public relations practice in 1989, which now accounts for 90 percent of agency revenue. He serves as lead consultant for the agency’s clients and has personally advised more than 500 C-level executives on marketing strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions, company branding, and public relations. His other responsibilities include agency financial management, overseeing the agency’s business development, as well as the agency’s creative and marketing services. In addition to serving on the agency’s board, Mills is an advisory board member for Atlanta-based Sionic, a digital payments provider. He and his wife are parents of two daughters and are grandparents as well. Mills is an active musician, 10-K runner, and foster parent for children prior to their adoption.
EDUCATION Florida State University REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK Following in my parent’s footsteps TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Surviving and prospering through six recessions and Covid-19
Tara Murphy Founder and President 360 Media Inc.
Tara Murphy is a seasoned communications powerhouse and the visionary founder of 360 Media Inc., one of Atlanta’s most respected public relations and digital marketing firms. Before founding 360 Media in 1996, Murphy served as public relations director for two major independent record labels and was deeply immersed in the concert promotions world. Today, 360 Media represents an influential roster of clients that includes award-winning chefs, luxury hotels, global brands, nonprofits, music festivals, and high-profile food and wine events. She is a board member of Georgia Music Partners, a board of trustees member for the Georgia chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), and founding member of The LOLA.
EDUCATION Elon University NOTABLE ACHIEMENTSGeorgia Titan 100 (2022), Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO (2020), Atlanta magazine Women Making a Mark (2020), Rolling Out “Top 25 Women of Atlanta BEST ADVICE Always trust your gut—it rarely steers you wrong. Another piece of advice that’s stuck with me came from my dad, during a tough moment with a client. He told me, “Never let anyone back you into a corner or force you into a decision that isn’t truly yours.” It’s a reminder I’ve carried with me ever since.
Allyson Park Chief Communications Officer Walmart Inc.
As the chief communications officer for Walmart Inc., Allyson Park is responsible for leading and developing a world-class team that advances the company’s reputation and meaningfully contributes to Walmart’s business strategy. Her portfolio includes media relations, external, employee, executive, financial, and legal communications, social media content and events.Previously, Park was the chief corporate affairs officer for Yum! Brands Inc., with global responsibility for reputation, stakeholder engagement, environmental and social governance, government relations, sustainability, communications, social media, philanthropy, social impact, creative services, meetings and events. Before joining Yum! Brands, Park held executive leadership roles at Mars (Mars Wrigley, Wrigley, Mars Chocolate, and Mars Petcare) and The Coca-Cola Company. She began her career in consulting in New York and Atlanta.
EDUCATION University of Florida
Carolyn Sloss Vice President Allied Integrated Marketing
As vice president of Allied Global Marketing, Sloss has expertise in marketing, communications, digital initiatives, and business development. Her client list includes The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV+, Cirque du Soleil, and GPS Hospitality. A Florida native, Sloss creates and manages integrated campaigns and brand strategy with an entrepreneurial spirit. She has been honored with the Synergy Award given by the African American Film Critics Association for her impactful commitment in the arts and entertainment community.
EDUCATION Auburn University FEW PEOPLE KNOW I start every morning with a Coke Zero. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Greece FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACES TO VISIT Atlanta BeltLine, Fox Theatre, and Truist Park NONPROFITS Atlanta Film Festival, VOX ATL, and Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
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Vince Thompson Founder, Chairman, and CEO MELT
Vince Thompson founded MELT in 2000 and built the company into one of the nation’s leading events and sports marketing agencies. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, MELT has produced thousands of events and experiences throughout the country, and has worked with nearly every major sports organization and or league in the country including the NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, PGA Tour, NASCAR, FIFA, NFHS, and more. Thompson also built MELT University into one of the industry’s most successful internship and career development programs; his book Build Brand You: Insights for Pursuing Your Dreams, a guide to building personal brands, was published in 2020. In 2018, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Thompson one of its Most Admired CEOs.
EDUCATION Auburn University HIDDEN TALENT I played the saxophone in high school. HOBBIES Exercising, fishing, fine wine, cigars FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Chops Lobster Bar FEW PEOPLE KNOW I recently helped reopen the famous dive bar the War Eagle Supper Club at my alma mater. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Jeremy Piven
Alicia Tillman Chief Marketing Officer Delta Air Lines
An executive leader with more than two decades of experience in global marketing, sales, and strategy, Alicia Tillman is Delta’s chief marketing officer and a member of the Delta leadership committee. Tillman’s marketing credentials include leadership experience as the global chief marketing officer at SAP and an 11-year tenure at American Express, where she led the travel division’s Marketing, Public Affairs, and Business Services. Most recently, she was chief revenue officer of Capitolis, a leading fintech company.
EDUCATION Lycoming College, Kellogg School of Management NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Forbes The World’s Most Influential CMOs (2025)
Dean Trevelino Co-CEO Trevelino/Keller
Dean Trevelino had 16 years of experience in executive leadership positions at global public relations firms before he and longtime colleague Genna Keller launched Trevelino/Keller in 2003. Together they created a growth public relations and marketing firm that has been ranked as high as the fourth fastest-growing firm in the U.S. by O’Dwyer’s, and recognized as one of the best North American firms to work for by PRovoke Media. In 2024, the firm acquired Marsden Marketing to expand its growth marketing capabilities. Trevelino is a member of the Forbes Agency Council; he’s also a competitive ultrarunner and former Division I college wrestler.
EDUCATION Pennsylvania State University, University of Alabama (MA) TOUGHEST CHALLENGE 33-hour run in the hills of No Business, Tennessee HIDDEN TALENT Modern design enthusiast DE-STRESS AND RELAX Running distances me from stress. It’s less about relaxing, but there’s a sense of peace my mind gets in part because I’m not randomly choosing a street to run but rather a trail that sets the tone for my escape. BUCKET LIST Trek across Costa Rica
Caroline Wilbert President The Wilbert Group
Under Caroline Wilbert’s leadership, The Wilbert Group has grown consistently since its founding in 2009 and now ranks as one of the largest PR firms in metro Atlanta. Passionate about defining clients’ stories, The Wilbert Group consistently tells those stories in the marketplace through a variety of channels, including traditional news and social media. While Wilbert stepped away from her role as president in 2025, she will continue to remain involved in the firm. Wilbert began her career in journalism, including seven years as a business reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and two years at the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Having won awards for both breaking news and feature writing, Wilbert’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Atlanta magazine, and many other publications nationwide.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Chattanooga, Tennessee WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Jodie Foster
MEDIA
Donald Albright President and Cofounder Tenderfoot TV
Donald Albright is an entrepreneur, producer, and CEO of the content creation company Tenderfoot TV, which he cofounded in 2016 with Payne Lindsey, and which produces an array of entertainment media including podcasts, live shows, television, film, and other digital platforms. Since its launch, Tenderfoot TV has released multiple award-winning podcast franchises including Up and Vanished, Atlanta Monster, and To Live and Die in LA, amassing over 800 million downloads. Through Tenderfoot TV, Albright has forged partnerships with media companies including Apple, Spotify, iHeartMedia, Cadence13, NBCUniversal, HBO, Audible, Netflix, and Issa Rae’s label Raedio. Additionally, Albright serves as a founding governor of The Podcast Academy
HOMETOWN San Jose, California NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS iHeartRadio Audible Audio Pioneer Award (2020), Webby Crime & Justice Podcast Award (2020), iHeart Best True Crime Podcast (2019)
Blayne Alexander Bailey Dateline NBC Correspondent NBC News
Blayne Alexander Bailey has gone from being a one-man-band reporter and photojournalist at WRDW-TV in Augusta to a correspondent for Dateline NBC, the longest running primetime show on NBC. Previously, she was an Atlanta-based correspondent for NBC News, where she reported for all platforms including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, TODAY, and MSNBC. During her time with the network, she has reported on the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 elections, and the death of Congressman John Lewis. A former reporter and anchor with Atlanta’s 11Alive News and four-time Emmy Award nominee, her work has been honored by the Atlanta and National Associations of Black Journalists, the Atlanta Press Club, and the Alliance for Women in Media. She also enjoys making an impact in her community as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America. A proud Oklahoma City native, she has loved making Atlanta home with her husband, James Bailey, and their two daughters, Sage and Skylar.
EDUCATION Duke University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 (2025); Gracie Award Honorable Mention – Outstanding TV Reporter/Correspondent (2023); Daily Point of Light Award honoree (2016); Atlanta Press Club – Rising Star Award (2016)
Brandon Butler CEO Butter ATL
Brandon Butler is the CEO of Butter.ATL. Since its launch in 2019, Butter—a 2020 Webby Award nominee—has developed original programming featuring Atlanta figures such as Killer Mike, Goodie Mob, and DJ Scream, and gained more than 70,000 followers, including Chrissy Teigen, Big Boi, and Tim McGraw. A seasoned marketing and creative leader, Butler, who is a cofounder of the 404 Collective, has previously led successful creative and digital teams at Accenture, Edelman, Public Broadcasting Atlanta, and NBA Digital.
Spencer Bynes is the metro president of a six-station cluster in Atlanta for iHeartMedia, the nation’s leading audio company. The first Black metro president appointed in Atlanta, Bynes oversees all programming, marketing, and operations efforts, while developing and managing key partnerships across the company’s platforms. Previously, Bynes served as iHeartMedia Texas area president from 2021 to 2023, where he drove revenue growth and delivered the highest sustainable profit margins for five community markets. His leadership in Beaumont, Texas earned the team the Community Market of the Year award in 2022 for the highest year-over-year revenue growth. His journey also includes roles as director of Talent Management and Talent Acquisition at iHeartMedia and talent acquisition manager for Coca-Cola North America.
EDUCATION Sam Houston State University HOMETOWN Corsicana, Texas WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF People’s opinion of you is none of your damn business. Run as hard as you can, son. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Michael Colter BUCKET LIST Safari in Kenya!
Leroy Chapman Jr. Editor-In-Chief The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A journalist for nearly 30 years, Leroy Chapman is the editor-in-chief of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, which will be strictly digital as of Jan. 1, 2026. Chapman began working at the newspaper in 2011, originally as a story editor. Through a series of promotions, he went from managing a single local news reporting team to managing several reporting teams to being named managing editor in 2020, where he oversaw the daily news production in print and on ajc.com. Named editor-in-chief in March 2023, he is the first African American to hold this position since the newspaper was founded in 1868. Prior to his work in Atlanta, Chapman, who is a U.S. Navy veteran, worked at several newspapers in South Carolina primarily covering politics.
EDUCATION The University of South Carolina HOMETOWN Greenville, South Carolina NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS At 28, became the first African American named to The Greenville News’ editorial board. Led the reporting team that broke the news of former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford’s whereabouts when he disappeared to Argentina in 2009.
Jennifer Dorian President and CEO WABE 90.1FM and WABE.org
As president and CEO of WABE, Jennifer Dorian oversees Atlanta’s original, independent, nonprofit source for national NPR/PBS news and impactful local stories and programming. Since taking over the helm in 2021, Dorian has led the consolidation of NPR station WABE-90.1, PBS station ATL-PBA, and digital-content hub WABE.org under one umbrella WABE brand and made significant, strategic investments in the newsroom and digital transformation to better serve Atlanta audiences. A recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Marketing Association Atlanta chapter, Dorian came to WABE after a 20-year career at Turner Broadcasting.
EDUCATION Emory University, University of Texas at Austin (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Dorian led the creation of WABE’s Digital Transformation Capital Campaign dedicated toward growing and strengthening WABE’s ability to deliver independent news and programming to the next generation of Atlantans. In just nine months, she raised $6 million, including the largest single gift.
Erick Erickson Host, The Erick Erickson Show WSB Radio
Author and nationally syndicated columnist Erick Erickson is one of the most popular local hosts in the country and was the voice of evening drive time on WSB for 10 years. His show airs live noon to 3 p.m. each weekday. He has been a frequent panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press, HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, and other programs. The Atlantic called Erickson the most influential conservative in America. He’s currently working on his master of divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary.
EDUCATION Mercer University, Mercer University School of Law (JD) FAVORITE BOOKTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I didn’t. I fell into it by accident when a local host got arrested in Macon and his station needed a fill-in, but it is now the longest job I’ve ever had, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. LESSON LEARNED Build relationships with people, including listeners, instead of just climbing a ladder.
Photograph by Getty/Jonathan Leibson
Sanjay Gupta, MD Neurosurgeon Chief Medical Correspondent CNN
Emmy-winning chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta plays an integral role in CNN’s reporting on health and medical news for all of the network’s domestic and international shows, and he contributes to CNN.com. His medical training and public health policy experience inform his reporting from war zones and natural disasters. Gupta is also a member of the staff and faculty at Emory University School of Medicine and an associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital, and he regularly performs surgery at Emory University and Grady hospitals. An author, his latest book, It Doesn’t Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life, was published in 2025 with Simon & Schuster.
EDUCATION University of Michigan, University of Michigan Medical School (MD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Author of four New York Times bestselling books: Chasing Life, Cheating Death, Monday Mornings, and Keep Sharp: Building a Better Brain at Any Age. Named one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive in 2003.
Jeremy Heilpern CEO and Founder Ammunition
Having founded his first advertising agency when he was 14, Jeremy Heilpern is the CEO of Ammunition, a full-funnel advertising agency which he founded in 2017. One of Atlanta’s only genuine full-service agencies, Ammunition has been recognized on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. Ammunition’s client roster includes LG, the Atlanta Hawks, and Georgia-Pacific. In 2023, Heilpern led the acquisition of Mad Hat Creative, an Emmy Award-winning video production company, and he served as president of Morrison in Atlanta before resigning to start Ammunition. Additionally, Heilpern was included in Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 class of 2025, which represents Atlanta’s best and brightest young professionals and emerging leaders.
EDUCATION The Art Institute of Atlanta HOMETOWN Detroit, Michigan NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Ammunition is in the midst of a deliberate transformation. While others are tacking on AI, Heilpern is rebuilding the agency from the inside out. He restructured the agency’s creative leadership by promoting Jonathan Hayes to chief creative officer after acquiring his studio, Mad Hat Creative. He also formed an internal AI Committee among other initiatives. By the close of 2025, every department will be AI-enabled without losing an employee.
Hilton Howell Jr. Chairman of the Board and CEO Gray Television, Assembly Atlanta, and Atlantic American Corporation
Hilton Howell Jr. serves as chairman of the board and CEO of Gray Media and is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Assembly Atlanta. He also serves as chairman of the board, president, and CEO of Atlantic American Corporation. Under Howell’s leadership, Gray Media developed from a small, regional broadcaster based in Albany, Georgia to be an owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets throughout the United States. Through strategic acquisitions and mergers following the purchase of Gray Communication Systems in 1992, its television stations now serve 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of U.S. television households. Now headquartered in Atlanta, Gray Media has been a trailblazer in the broadcasting space, owning video program and production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. CBS’ Beyond The Gates, which debuted in 2025 and is the first daytime drama to premiere in over 25 years, is filmed at Assembly Atlanta.
EDUCATION Baylor University (JD), University of Texas at Austin (MBA)
Bert Wesley Huffman President and CEO Georgia Public Broadcasting
Bert Wesley Huffman was named CEO of Georgia Public Broadcasting in 2023. Huffman joined GPB in 2014 when he became the company’s first vice president for Development and Marketing. In 2016, he was promoted to serve as the senior vice president of External Affairs, and in 2021 was named president of GPB. Prior to joining GPB in 2014, Huffman held top roles in development operations for arts and education institutions including, most recently, The Atlanta Opera and Emory University. He has used his experience in the arts and educational worlds to create a culture of philanthropy at GPB and elevated the organization’s foremost role to being a partner in the community that serves its viewers and listeners in ways that commercial broadcasting does not.
EDUCATION Tennessee Wesleyan University, Kennesaw State University (MPA) HOMETOWN Blue Ridge, Georgia FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Atlanta Botanical Garden WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF Hang in there. It gets better
Tharon Johnson Founder and CEO Paramount Consulting Group LLC
Tharon Johnson is the founder and CEO of Paramount Consulting Group, a bipartisan government affairs and communications firm based in Atlanta. A nationally recognized political strategist, Johnson appears each week on Fox 5 Atlanta’s longest-running public affairs program, The Georgia Gang, and on WABE 90.1FM’s popular Political Breakfast podcast. Most recently, he served as a senior advisor to the Biden-Harris campaign in the battleground state of Georgia. Additionally, he has served on campaigns for President Barack Obama, Congressman John Lewis, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. He appears regularly as a contributor on CNN, MSNBC, and WSB-TV and is frequently quoted in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Johnson is married to Dr. Chynna Johnson and is the father of Tyeson Johnson.
EDUCATION Clark Atlanta University HOMETOWN Athens, Georgia
Payne Lindsey Cofounder Tenderfoot TV
Payne Lindsey is a director and documentary filmmaker who cofounded the content-creation company Tenderfoot TV with his friend and business partner Donald Albright. The company has launched several hit podcast series including Up and Vanished, Atlanta Monster, and Radio Rental, all of which Lindsey hosts. In 2020 he brought Up and Vanished to the small screen as a docuseries for Oxygen, and he partnered with Disgraceland host Jake Brennan on the podcast Dead and Gone, which investigates the cases of Grateful Dead fans who have died or gone missing. In 2025, Lindsey joined a panel of crime experts on FOX television docuseries America’s Most Wanted: Missing Persons, an all-new format that centers on finding missing people and reuniting them with their families
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT iHeartRadio Best True Crime Podcast for Up and Vanished (2019) FAVORITE TV SHOWBreaking Bad FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Maine BUCKET LIST Direct a film or TV series
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Mike Luckovich Editorial Cartoonist Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Following stints at South Carolina’s Greenville News and The Times-Picayuneof New Orleans, Seattle native Mike Luckovich became an editorial cartoonist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1989. His work has garnered him two Pulitzer Prizes as well as a Reuben Award, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cartoonists Society. Luckovich’s cartoons are syndicated in 150 newspapers, and his latest collection, The Twisted History of the GOP, was published in 2022.
EDUCATION University of Washington NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award (1994), Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning (1995, 2006) HIDDEN TALENT I’m a pretty good dancer. FAVORITE BOOKNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass LESSON LEARNED Some people you can’t change.
Darian Morgan (Big Tigger) Television/radio producer
Currently host of The Big Tigger Morning Show With Jazzy McBee on V-103 (WVEE-FM), Tigger is well known as host of the longest running, nationally televised hip-hop show on BET, Rap City. In 2003, he created Live in the Den with Big Tigger, a three-hour, syndicated show that aired for more than 10 years in 67 markets and three countries. His television show, Direct Access with Big Tigger, won an Emmy Award in 2013. He’s also hosted BET Awards and Soul Train Awards and has appeared on the Dave Chappelle Show. He’s worked with both the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Dream.
EDUCATION University of Maryland NONPROFIT Big Tigger Foundation, which targets HIV/AIDS and illiteracy
Wes Moss Managing Partner and Chief Investment Strategist Capital Investment Advisors Host Money Matters
Wes Moss is the managing partner of Capital Investment Advisors, a more than $6.5 billion registered investment adviser in Sandy Springs. He’s also the longtime host of Money Matters on 95.5 WSB, host of the Retire Sooner podcast, and the author of What the Happiest Retirees Know: 10 Habits for a Healthy, Secure, and Joyful Life. Barron’s has named him one of its top 1,200 independent financial advisers every year since 2014, and Forbes listed him as a Best-In-State Wealth Advisor in 2025.
EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill HOMETOWN Coatesville, Pennsylvania WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK When I was growing up, my dad was a large-animal vet. After going with him on a 5 a.m. farm call, I decided there was no way I wanted to do that for a living. So I picked up a copy of the Wall Street Journal, and I was hooked. DE-STRESS AND RELAX Visit Lake Michigan MOST INSPIRING PERSON My original business partner, Mike Reiner (who recently passed away), taught me about loyalty, humility, and the importance of family
Tom O’Brien President Weather Group
Tom O’Brien is president of Weather Group, the parent company of both The Weather Channel and the over-the-top streaming service Local Now, and Pattrn (TWC’s brand dedicated to climate and the environment). As network president, O’Brien works to ensure that The Weather Channel remains the top-rated and most widely distributed weather network in the U.S. A longtime television and digital business executive, O’Brien was previously a corporate officer for Nexstar Media Group, where he led digital and revenue growth efforts. Prior to that he spent 14 years at NBCUniversal, including stints as president and general manager of NBC’s flagship station, WNBC, and executive vice president and chief revenue officer of CNBC.
EDUCATION Syracuse University WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I’ve been fascinated with television and the outdoors my entire life. I can’t think of a better place to combine these two passions than The Weather Channel.
Michael Ouweleen President Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Discovery Family, and TCM
Michael Ouweleen is president of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and Discovery Family. He is responsible for all aspects of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and Discovery Family, including content development, production, and franchise management. His oversight includes programming, creative, digital, and live events related to these brands and their properties globally across all company-owned platforms and third-party partners. Ouweleen was a key member of the small team that championed and launched Adult Swim. While serving as creative director for the block, he also co-created, co-executive produced, and co-wrote one of the first Adult Swim shows, Harvey Birdman, Attorney-at-Law, starring Gary Cole and Stephen Colbert. He and his wife have three grown sons.
EDUCATION Georgetown University HOBBIES Running, skateboarding, painting; co-hosted a weekly radio show focused on the popular arts LESSON LEARNED It’s not about you, so don’t make it about you.
Lisa Respers France Reporter CNN
Lisa Respers France is a reporter for CNN in Atlanta. A veteran of CNN’s entertainment team and with a sharp instinct for where culture and news intersect, she interviews and reports on celebrities and trendsetters, from Oprah to Taylor Swift; and she contributed to the timely 2023 CNN FlashDocs Taking on Taylor Swift with her insights. She is the former host of the Lisa’s Desk franchise, founding author of the Pop Life Chronicles newsletter and co-host of the CNN podcast Lisa, Sandra and Kristin Go to the Movies, which ran in 2019. France previously served as an editor of the alumni magazine for Saint John’s University and, before that, as a journalist for The Baltimore Sun. She got her start in journalism in 1994 at The Los Angeles Times. Her short stories have appeared in two anthologies.
EDUCATION University of Maryland, Baltimore County FEW PEOPLE KNOW I once appeared on an episode of America’s Most Wanted. Not as a criminal, though—as a journalist.
Rashad Richey Radio and Television Personality Rolling Out, TYT Network, Agents & Strategies LLC
The youngest inductee into the National Black Radio Hall of Fame as of 2022, Rashad Richey is also an Emmy-nominated political analyst, a political commentator, and a professor at Morris Brown College. Formerly the host of the Rashad Richey Morning Show on News & Talk 1380 WAOK for nearly a decade, in 2024, Richey signed multimillion-dollar national syndication deal with Agents & Strategies LLC to broadcast his morning show The Dr. Rashad Richey Morning Show on radio stations throughout America and Canada. He’s also the host of Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey on the TYT Network and a regular commentator on MSNBC and Fox News. Additionally, he is president of Rolling Out and serves on Piedmont Atlanta Hospital’s board of directors. Previously Richey was the political director and chief strategist for the Democratic Party of Georgia.
EDUCATION Beulah Heights University (MBA), Clark Atlanta University (EdD), Scofield Graduate School & Theological Seminary (PhD) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I had a tough life growing up. Despair, poverty, and a general lack of access surrounded the communities I lived in. Today I seek to transform the narrative of those same communities through education, mentorship, civic engagement, and economic empowerment.
Maria Saporta Founder SaportaReport.com
An Atlanta native who began her full-time journalism career in 1980 with the Macon Telegraph, Maria Saporta is a former Atlanta Business Chronicle columnist and reporter and the founder of SaportaReport, where a stable of veteran contributors provide updates on business, urban, and civic issues in metro Atlanta and beyond. In 2008 she wrapped up a 27-year career with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, during which she was a business and civic columnist for more than 17 years.
EDUCATION Boston University, Georgia State University (MA) FEW PEOPLE KNOW My first language was French, and I didn’t know English when I entered kindergarten.
Rose Scott Journalist and Executive Producer WABE 90.1FM
Rose Scott is a journalist, host, and executive producer of midday news program Closer Look heard on Atlanta’s NPR station WABE 90.1 FM. In her role, Scott has interviewed foreign heads of state, cabinet members, U.S. ambassadors, numerous consul generals, state, and local elected officials as well as civic and social leaders. Closer Look has become a signature broadcast for the community and brings together viewpoints from all sectors of society. Scott leads the Closer Look team in presenting discussions mostly centered around quality-of-life topics and segments. Scott has been honored with several awards including a Southeast Emmy Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, an Atlanta Association of Black Journalists award, and numerous awards from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.
EDUCATION Indiana State University HOMETOWN St. Louis, Missouri WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE Learn to budget! FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Lionel Hampton Park BEST ADVICE RECEIVED From Robin Roberts: “Atlanta is a place where a lot of people can help you. The key is to surround yourself with people willing to help you.”
Photograph courtesy of individual
Kim Severson National Food Correspondent New York Times
Kim Severson is a national food correspondent for The New York Times, and previously the paper’s Southern bureau chief and a staff writer in the dining section. Severson has won several awards for news and feature writing, including the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for her contributions to the team that investigated workplace sexual harassment and abuse against women, four James Beard Foundation Awards, and the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for her work on childhood obesity in 2002.
EDUCATION Michigan State University FIRST JOB Cleaning cages in a vet’s office HOBBIES Cooking and trying to understand the South FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Any farmers market BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Always raise your hand when someone offers an opportunity, and do the thing that makes you uncomfortable.
Ivan Shammas President and CEO Hispanic Plug
Ivan Shammas is president and CEO of Hispanic Plug, a multimedia marketing agency dedicated to integrating businesses into the fast-growing and dynamic Hispanic market. Having witnessed Georgia’s Hispanic population boom since his family moved to the state in 1987, Shammas has been a part of the Spanish media growth of Atlanta for the past 26 years starting with his first job out of college selling television advertising on Spanish cable networks. Most recently, Shammas was TelevisaUnivision’s chief revenue officer for Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In 2024, the Georgia General Assembly honored Shammas, who serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School, with a resolution highlighting his impact in the Georgia Latinx community. Additionally, Shammas serves on boards for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the Fox Theatre, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and The Same House.
EDUCATION Georgia State University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Atlanta Falcons Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award presented by the NFL and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation; Atlanta Business Chronicle Power 100; Georgia Trend 100 Most Influential Georgians; Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia.
Steak Shapiro CEO Bread n Butter Content Studio / Atlanta Eats Radio and Television Host
Steak Shapiro is one of the most recognized media personalities in Atlanta history and the founder and CEO of Bread n Butter Content Studio, a full-service video agency that partners with some of the city’s most respected brands. A lifelong entrepreneur, Shapiro has launched multiple media ventures, including Big League Broadcasting, Atlanta Eats, and American Eats. He currently hosts The Steakhouse, one of Atlanta’s most popular radio shows, airing weekdays from 9 to 11 a.m. on Sports Radio 92.9 The Game. Known as a “force of nature” for his larger-than-life personality, Shapiro has spent over 30 years influencing Atlanta’s media and business communities, building a reputation as a dynamic voice and connector across the region.
EDUCATION Tulane University HOMETOWN Newton, Massachusetts NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Founded two Atlanta media/content companies, four Emmy Awards, four GABBY Awards WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Vince Vaughn — Heard the comparison multiple times
Susan Sim Oh Vice President of Strategy and Operations Gray Telemundo Station Group
Susan Sim Oh is the vice president of Strategy and Operations for Gray Telemundo Affiliate Station Group. In this role, she strategizes, develops, and promotes overall strategy and best practices for news, programming, digital, marketing, and sales for Gray Telemundo Affiliate Station Group, which is comprised of 44 markets across the United States. In 2022, Gray Media acquired Telemundo Atlanta. Oh, who established Telemundo Atlanta with her brother Coline Sim in 2009 after realizing one million Hispanic people in metro Atlanta had no credible source of news information, continues to oversee the strategic direction of the station. Under Oh’s leadership, Telemundo Atlanta has garnered more than 65 Southeast Emmy Awards since 2012, and in 2025, Oh was inducted into its Silver Circle, which honors 25 years of work in the broadcast industry.
EDUCATION University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Georgia State University (MBA) HOMETOWN Atlanta WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF You are right where you are supposed to be because God has a plan. Use your God-given talents for his will.
Shelley Wynter Host, The Shelley Wynter Show WSB Radio
Shelley Wynter is the host of The Shelley Wynter Show, which airs from 7 to 9 p.m. each weeknight. Neither a Republican nor a Democrat, Wynter is a staunch conservative who calls it like he sees it. A reformed sinner who goes to church on the big three days, his mother, Valerie G. Wynter, still loves and protects him from Heaven; however, she still does not know where his opinions come from, as she has said, “they certainly did not come from her.” Wynter’s heroes are Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Star Parker, Jack Kemp, and he has always admired Donald Trump, way before he became president. A member of the Georgia Black Republican Council, Wynter is also the founder of The Valerie G. Wynter Foundation, which hosts an annual Mother-Son Dinner Dance around Mother’s Day.
LEGENDS
Joel Babbit Babbit is CEO of Narrative Content Group, which he founded in 2009 with Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, and which launched the sustainability website Mother Nature Network (sold in 2020). Narrative has created and distributed content for many of the world’s leading brands, including Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, and Subway.
Emmet Bondurant A partner at Bondurant Mixson & Elmore, Bondurant has been recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the top 10 trial lawyers in the United States.
Amanda Brown Olmstead Olmstead founded her eponymous agency in 1972, making it one of the longest-serving full-service public relations firms not only in metro Atlanta but also in the Southeast. Her firm has won more than 70 awards.
Xernona Clayton Media pioneer Clayton worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and launched the Trumpet Awards in 1993.
Bob Hope President and cofounder of Hope-Beckham-Espinosa communications firm, Hope was public relations director for the Atlanta Braves in the Hank Aaron era.
Clark Howard A leading consumer advocate for more than 30 years, Clark’s podcast boasts around 2 million downloads per month. Previously, he hosted a nationally syndicated radio show. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2015 but retired from radio in 2020.
Glen Jackson In 1995, Atlanta native Jackson cofounded the marketing communications agency Jackson Spalding with Bo Spalding, and he continues to provide leadership for many of its clients. He’s also the author of the book Preeminence: What It Means and How to Sustain It.
Valerie Jackson The radio host was the wife of Mayor Maynard Jackson and helped prepare the city for the 1988 Democratic National Convention and the 1996 Olympic Games.
Tom Johnson Under Johnson’s leadership, the Los Angeles Times won six Pulitzer Prizes. As CNN president, he worked with founder Ted Turner to pioneer the 24-hour news cycle.
Hank Klibanoff The Pulitzer-winning author is now a professor in Emory’s Creative Writing Program. He coauthored The Race Beat.
Stephen E. Lewis Lewis is chair of Troutman Pepper and has been a partner in the firm’s corporate law practice group since 1999. He serves as outside general counsel to several closely held companies and is particularly experienced in advising family-owned businesses. He served as firmwide chair of the corporate practice prior to becoming the managing partner of predecessor firm Troutman Sanders in 2011.
Bill Nigut For five decades Nigut has covered local, state, and national politics in Georgia. He was inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2021.
Monica Pearson Pearson was the first woman and first minority to anchor the daily evening news in Atlanta, where she worked for 37 years at WSB-TV. She has won more than 33 Southern Regional and local Emmy Awards.
Lois Reitzes Reitzes began working at WABE-FM 90.1, the National Public Radio affiliate in Atlanta, in 1979 as a music programmer and announcer, becoming program director in 1992. She retired last year.
Alexis Scott Retired as publisher of the Atlanta Daily World, founded by her grandfather in 1928, Scott was a longtime member of FOX 5’s Georgia Gang.
Frank Ski Described as a rainmaker of urban radio, Ski began his career as a disc jockey and recording artist and has evolved into a radio, film, and TV personality, motivational speaker, journalist, and philanthropist. Over twenty years ago he launched the Frank Ski Kids Foundation, which exposes young people to science, technology, athletics, and the arts.
Georgianne Thomas Dr. Thomas has worked with the City of Atlanta Municipal Court as a program manager assisting victims of domestic violence, as a trainer with the City of Atlanta, as a trainer with Delta Air Lines, and as an instructor in Atlanta Public Schools. Executive producer of the award-winning documentary, Footsoldiers: Class of 1964, she was recently honored at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Ted Turner Founder of CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies, the avid environmentalist donated $1 billion to fund the United Nations Foundation.
Leona Barr-Davenport President and CEO Atlanta Business League
Leona Barr-Davenport is president and CEO of the Atlanta Business League, Atlanta’s oldest minority business development and advocacy organization. As president, she works with the board of directors to increase access to business opportunities for minorities, with specific emphasis on the development of businesses owned or operated by African Americans. In 2024, the Atlanta Business League began the first phase of its renovation of the historic Ashby Theater, which opened in 1934 and was one of the first theaters to serve African Americans in the city. The project is supported by the Historic Preservation Fund’s African American Civil Rights grant program of the National Park Service. Barr-Davenport has more than 25 years of experience in customer service, program development, organizational management, and fundraising for associations and youth-oriented programs.
EDUCATION Benedict College, Clark Atlanta University School of Business (MBA) HOMETOWN Johnsonville, South Carolina NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame (2019), Carver College honorary doctor of divinity (2014) LESSON LEARNED The first step is showing up. BUCKET LIST Tour of Africa and becoming an adjunct professor
Chris Clark President and CEO Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Chris Clark is the longest-serving president and CEO in the century-plus history of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Previously he served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and as deputy commissioner for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In 2024, Clark received the GACCE (Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives) Legacy Award, the most prestigious prize awarded by the organization. Additionally, the Leadership Georgia graduate has frequently been named one of Georgia Trend’s 100 most influential Georgians and one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s most influential Atlantans.
EDUCATION Georgia Southern University, Georgia College & State University (MA) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m a huge, massive Parrothead. I’ve seen Jimmy Buffett over 25 times. FAVORITE BOOKThe Old Man and the Boy by Robert Ruark FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Fly-fishing below the Lake Lanier dam!
Jim Durrett President and CEO Buckhead Coalition Executive Director Buckhead Community Improvement District
Jim Durrett, who is president and CEO of Buckhead Coalition and executive director of Buckhead Community Improvement District, has announced his retirement effective early 2026. Buckhead Coalition is an invitation-only membership organization while Buckhead CID is a local government entity. Buckhead Coalition’s mission is to advocate on behalf of the community within the city of Atlanta and the metropolitan region. The mission of Buckhead CID is to create and maintain a safe, accessible, and livable urban environment in the heart of the Buckhead commercial area. In 2024, Buckhead CID received $10 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program to help construct an elevated pedestrian and bicycle bridge across Lenox Road where it intersects GA 400. This work is part of the Lenox Road Complete Safe Street project, which is expected to be complete by January 2028.
EDUCATION University of Virginia, University of Georgia (MS) HOMETOWN Atlanta REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK Believing I can contribute to making a meaningful difference TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Effectively navigating opposition to the Buckhead Cityhood effort
Photograph courtesy of individual
Jerry E. Gonzalez CEO GALEO
Jerry Gonzalez is the founder and CEO of GALEO, formerly known as the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, a statewide nonprofit and nonpartisan organization with a mission to increase civic engagement and leadership development in the Latino community across Georgia. A native of Laredo, Texas, Gonzalez also leads the GALEO Latino Community Development Fund, which promotes voter registration and education, community education, and leadership development, and the GALEO Impact Fund, which was established in 2019 to organize the growing political power of the Latino community in Georgia.
EDUCATION Texas A&M University, Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (MPA) FIRST JOB Closer at Wendy’s LESSON LEARNED Social justice and racial equity work is a marathon and not a sprint. Pace yourself accordingly while striving for quicker results. HOBBIES Travel the world with my husband BUCKET LIST Travel to the Northern Arctic to see polar bears WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Matthew McConaughey because I wish I had his hair
Photograph by David Kidd
Ryan Gravel Founder Sixpitch
Chamblee native Ryan Gravel is best known for his Georgia Tech master’s thesis, which presented a vision for what would become the Atlanta BeltLine. But he’s also a planner, designer, and author whose work centers on the cultural aspects of urban design, exploring how its intimate relationship with our way of life can illuminate a brighter path forward for cities. The founder of the urban design consultancy Sixpitch, Gravel was the lead author of the Atlanta City Design and is the author of the forthcoming book American Land: Exploring the Landscapes of a New Social Contract.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech (MA) FIRST JOB Typing bar codes into a computer in the back room of a music store at Ansley Mall. I guess it was Turtle’s, but I’m not sure. FAVORITE MOVIEBlade Runner 2049 LESSON LEARNED The ideas we need are often unpopular, unwanted, and underfunded. BUCKET LIST Skydiving
Photograph courtesy of individual
Kevin Green President and CEO Midtown Alliance
Kevin Green joined the Midtown Alliance as president and CEO in 2011. Previously, he was executive director of the Clean Air Campaign, a Georgia nonprofit working in partnership with transportation management associations and public and private institutions to improve air quality and reduce traffic. Green was formerly vice president of environmental affairs for the Metro Atlanta Chamber and practiced law for a decade; his litigation experience includes state and federal trial and appellate courts across the Southeast.
EDUCATION James Madison University, Emory University School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT I am the drummer in my daughter Mia’s band. FIRST JOB Delivering Sheetrock off a flatbed truck FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Vietnam (so far) WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE When the alarm clock rings and you aren’t excited to go to work, it’s time to do something different. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Oakland Cemetery (it’s strangely affirming)
Shannon W. James Sr. President and CEO Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance
Shannon James Sr. is president and CEO of the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, a public-private partnership working to improve the regional economic competitiveness of the area around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A native of Albany, Georgia, James accepted the top job at AeroATL in 2018 following a successful 15-year career in banking. Beginning his career as a part-time teller and customer service representative, James later became the first African American accepted into the management trainee program at the Park Avenue Bank, then went on to serve as vice president of commercial banking for both SunTrust and BB&T.
EDUCATION Valdosta State University INSPIRING PERSON My mother TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Becoming a father, because I’ve never met my father FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Center for Civil and Human Rights FAVORITE SONG ABOUT GEORGIA “Georgia” by Field Mob and Ludacris ft. Jamie Foxx WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Michael B. Jordan
Kali Kirkham Boatright President and CEO Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Kali Kirkham Boatright is the president and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber where she has served since 2018. The chamber has seen many changes during that time including the creation of The North Fulton Economic Alliance as a public-private collaborative in 2025. The focus of the alliance is regional branding and marketing, expanding the talent pipeline and elevating regional economic development. The chamber also created the Alpharetta Business Council this year, in addition to its Milton Business Council, which is celebrating five years of success. The chamber has new offices at 10000 Avalon in Alpharetta and is 5-Star Accredited. Prior to coming to North Fulton, Kirkham Boatright served as CEO of the Douglas County Chamber.
EDUCATION University of Missouri REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I was never an athlete, but I was that kid who joined every organization. I loved student government, service clubs, and anything leadership based. The addiction to join, then lead, started early and continued into college, so it just made sense that my entire professional career has been in the nonprofit organization world. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED It was actually some advice I read late in life: If it isn’t a hell yes, it’s a no.
Katie Kirkpatrick President and CEO Metro Atlanta Chamber
Katie Kirkpatrick is president and CEO of the 166-year-old Metro Atlanta Chamber, which represents businesses, colleges and universities, and nonprofits across the 29-county metro Atlanta region. A seasoned public policy leader, she led the adoption of a new framework for the chamber, focusing on the three strategic imperatives of economy, talent, and community. Before joining the chamber in 2007 as vice president of environmental affairs, she worked as director of environmental engineering for the poultry producer Gold Kist.
EDUCATION Auburn University REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK To make a difference where I live. In a previous job, I was working in 14 states, traveling most of the time – I was always working somewhere else. When I had children I felt this little tug: how can I make the place where we live better? That’s what ultimately drew me to the chamber: I felt like I could make an impact in the community where I was raising my family. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED One piece of advice I return to often is simple but powerful: give yourself grace. As a working professional and a mom, I’ve learned it’s impossible to be at 100 percent in both roles all the time. The goal isn’t perfect balance: it’s high-level execution over time.
Veronica Maldonado-Torres President and CEO Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Veronica Maldonado-Torres is president and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. With over a decade of experience as a small business champion and supplier diversity advocate, Maldonado-Torres is a catalyst of growth for both small businesses and large corporations, bringing thought-leadership and innovation to the supplier development space. Prior to joining the GHCC, she successfully guided the development and growth of more than 150 firms across multiple industries ranging from $1 million to $100 million in annual revenue in her role as program director for the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection. In 2025, Maldonado-Torres was named to the board of directors of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
FIRST JOB My first official job at 15 was as a hostess in a restaurant. That experience served me well. I love making people feel welcome and valued. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Cartagena, Colombia. My family hometown!
Rohit Malhotra Founder and Executive Director Center for Civic Innovation
Rohit Malhotra is the founder and executive director of the Center for Civic Innovation, which seeks to eliminate inequality by empowering people to design public policy from the ground up. With a background in social entrepreneurship, digital communication, open data, and community organizing, Malhotra was an Ash Innovation Fellow in the Obama White House’s Office of Management and Budget, working on social impact bonds and pay for performance, and in 2015 was awarded the prestigious Echoing Green Global Fellowship. In 2020, Malhotra was named to the Emory Alumni Association’s annual class of 40 Under 40.
EDUCATION Emory University, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government (MA) HOMETOWN Atlanta BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Call your mom.
Nick Masino President and CEO Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett
Nick Masino is the first Gen X president and CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett. He has shepherded in the most diverse board of directors in Chamber history, reinvigorated its public policy focus, implemented a new strategic plan, and is currently overseeing a massive renovation to Georgia’s largest chamber of commerce facility. He also led the Chamber to receive its first-ever five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2022) and its first-ever global title for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Chamber of the Year (2023). Appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in 2024, Masino is a member of the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority. Before joining the Chamber as chief economic development officer, he was an executive in the staffing industry, while serving as Georgia’s youngest mayor in the City of Suwanee.
EDUCATION Ohio State University FIRST JOB Dishwasher HIDDEN TALENT I can sleep anywhere: planes, trains, boats, etc. FAVORITE GEORGIA TEAMS Atlanta Vibe, Georgia Swarm, Gwinnett Gladiators, the Stripers, the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies
Sharon Mason President and CEO Cobb Chamber of Commerce
Sharon Mason has held six different leadership positions with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce since 2005; she climbed to president and CEO in January 2018, bringing more than 18 years of chamber and nonprofit leadership experience to the position. In 2025, the chamber received a 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its sound policies, effective procedures, and positive community impact. In addition to sitting on multiple boards, Mason serves on the Regional Business Coalition executive committee, the Council for Quality Growth board of directors, and was named by Governor Nathan Deal to the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Board (GRTA) in 2018 and continues to serve on this board.
EDUCATION Samford University FIRST JOB Special Times Gift Shop in Snellville GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT I’m so proud of what we accomplished through starting our economic development partnership strategy SelectCobb 13 years ago that has now led to more than 48,000 high quality jobs, $6.3 billion in private new investment, establishing major strategies such as Cobb Workforce Partnership and Team Dobbins, and leading economic recovery during each stage of the economy following the pandemic.
William Pate President and CEO Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
As president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, William Pate promotes one of the city’s top economic drivers: tourism. He was vice president of the host committee that managed the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship and a board member of the host committee for Super Bowl LIII in 2019. In 2020, the American Marketing Association’s Atlanta chapter awarded Pate its Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2019 he was honored as the Herman J. Russell CEO of the Year by the Atlanta Business League. In 2023, through a gift from Pate, the William C. Pate Chair in Strategic Communication in the College of Arts & Sciences at Georgia State University was established. Pate, an Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO for multiple years, is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2024.
EDUCATION Georgia State University (MA) HOMETOWN Decatur FIRST JOB When I was 12 years old, I raked leaves for Mrs. Brumbeloe at $2 an hour.
Anna Roach Executive Director and CEO Atlanta Regional Commission
Anna Roach is executive director and CEO of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), which facilitates community and development strategies to enhance the metro region’s growth and quality of life. Prior to joining ARC in 2022, she served as the chief operating officer for Fulton County, where she oversaw 4,500 employees in 38 departments with a budget of $1.2 billion. Roach also served as Fulton County’s chief strategy officer and assistant county manager. A lawyer by training, Roach has held several key legal leadership positions during her career, including assistant deputy general counsel for the government of the District of Columbia and administrative law judge in the City of New York. She is a current member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta and the American Bar Association and serves as an advisory board member at Tyler Technologies and Avenu Insights and Analytics. Roach, the first female CEO in ARC’s history, is also a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2024.
EDUCATION State University of New York, College at Cortland; St. John’s University (JD)
A.J. Robinson President Central Atlanta Progress and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
Since 2003, Knoxville, Tennessee native A.J. Robinson has been president of Central Atlanta Progress—a private business association and advocacy organization started in 1941—and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District. Both groups are committed to making the Atlanta community, specifically downtown, more livable, vital, and diverse. Previously Robinson was president of the real estate company Portman Holdings for 22 years, where he managed all aspects of the firm’s real estate development operations.
EDUCATION Emory University, Harvard Business School (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Being a founder of the Center for Civil and Human Rights FIRST JOB Forklift driver for my father’s company FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT My favorite place to visit in Atlanta are the streets of downtown, which I traverse every day. It is only here that one can feel the real beginnings of our city’s history and origin. They are the most visible part of our city, the metro area, and the state of Georgia, and thus requires our attention and care.
Melinda C. Sylvester President and CEO Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce/Melinda the Bridge Builder
Melinda C. Sylvester is the president and CEO of the Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce, which she founded in 2016. She also established the chamber’s Bridge Builders Accelerator Academy, which fosters economic growth with equity, diversity, and inclusion. Under Sylvester’s leadership, the Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce was named National Black Chamber of the Year 2025 by the National Black Chamber of Commerce for its Bridge Builders initiatives. Sylvester’s chamber career started when she led the Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce in the early 2000s. The St. Martinville, Louisiana, native is also the founder and publisher of Tel-Mel Media & Publishing Co. LLC and publishes Faith & Soul News Magazine. She also does public relations and branding.
FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT The King Center FAVORITE GEORGIA PRO SPORTS TEAM Atlanta Dream FAVORITE POWER LUNCH RESTAURANT This Is It! Southern Kitchen & BBQ WHO SHOULD PLAY YOU IN A BIOPIC Kerry Washington
Kathy N. Waller Executive Director Atlanta Committee for Progress
Kathy N. Waller is the executive director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP). ACP, founded in 2003, provides leadership on key issues important to economic growth and inclusion for all Atlantans and includes more than 40 chief executives, university presidents, and civic leaders. Waller retired in March 2019 after 32 years with The Coca-Cola Company where she was the executive vice president, chief financial officer, and president of Enabling Services. As CFO, she led many sectors of the business including mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and account and controls. In addition to her C-suite role, Waller, a CPA, was the founding chair of The Coca-Cola Company’s Women’s Leadership Council.
EDUCATION University of Rochester (MBA) FIRST JOB At 16, I worked at the Georgia Department of Revenue in the Tag and Title Office. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Induction into the Junior Achievement Atlanta Business Hall of Fame established by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Junior Achievement of Georgia (2023), Savoy’s Most Influential Black Corporate Directors (2016, 2017, and 2021), Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Changing the World Award (2015)
Kyle Wingfield President and CEO Georgia Public Policy Foundation
As an opinion columnist for nine years at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kyle Wingfield wrote often about state politics and policy, focusing especially on education and school choice, transportation, healthcare, and state and local taxation. In April 2018, he joined the Georgia Public Policy Foundation as president and CEO, gaining a hands-on role in helping shape public policy at the state level after having written about it for many years.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT GPPF has received State Policy Network’s Bob Williams Award for Outstanding Policy Achievement in consecutive years: 2023 for work on housing affordability, and 2024 for healthcare reform. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Everyone needs an editor! REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I’ve been working in some capacity to promote economic freedom for 21 years. The reason is simple: Of all the ways to help others, empowering them to succeed as others have done – instead of treating them as if they can’t succeed – gives them the best opportunity and treats them with the most dignity.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Liliana Bakhtiari Council Member City of Atlanta
Liliana Bakhtiari is serving their first term as a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing the citizens of District 5. Bakhtiari identifies as gender fluid and uses “she/her” and “they/them” pronouns. Bakhtiari is the first queer Muslim person to be elected in the state of Georgia, and the first nonbinary person elected in the city of Atlanta. Bakhtiari served as the public affairs manager of Planned Parenthood Southeast and lobbied for voting rights with ProGeorgia. Additionally, Bakhtiari served as a consultant for Echo Market Research as it built out its Social Justice Division. Bakhtiari also collaborated with Partners for Home to establish a hotel program housing Atlanta’s at-risk unsheltered population during the pandemic. In 2023, Bakhtiari was named a David Bohnett Leader Fellow by LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and, in 2022, was named Next Gen Leader of the Year by OUT Georgia Business Alliance.
EDUCATION Georgia State University HOMETOWN Lilburn, Georgia FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Back deck at Dr. Bombay’s Tea Room
Sherry Boston District Attorney DeKalb Judicial Circuit
District attorney for the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit since 2017, Sherry Boston oversees the prosecution of felony offenses filed in the Superior Court of DeKalb County. She’s the second female district attorney in the history of the office. Previously, she served as DeKalb County solicitor general—the elected official overseeing the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes—and was the first woman appointed as municipal court judge for the City of Dunwoody. Boston has also worked in private practice handling thousands of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases in metro Atlanta.
EDUCATION Villanova University, Emory University School of Law (JD) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I have a twin sister. Yes, really! FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Mexico
Jon Burns Speaker Georgia House of Representatives
Burns is the 75th speaker of the state House, replacing long-time speaker David Ralston, who died shortly after stepping down in 2022. Elected majority leader in 2015, Burns has served in the state House since 2005 and represents the 159th legislative district of Georgia that includes Screven County and portions of Effingham and Bulloch Counties. He has sat on the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs; Appropriations; Economic Development and Tourism; Ethics; Game, Fish & Parks; Rules; and Transportation Committees and has been an ex officio member of all other House committees. He lives on his family farm in Effingham County.
EDUCATION Georgia Southern University, John Marshall Law School (JD)
Lorraine Cochran-Johnson CEO DeKalb County
The first Black woman to be elected CEO of DeKalb County, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson was sworn into office in January 2025. Previously, she served as a DeKalb County commissioner. In this role, Cochran-Johnson spearheaded the big box store ordinance requiring mandatory distance requirements to stop the proliferation of Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, and Dollar General in DeKalb County – now used in nine states. Additionally, she authorized the DeKalb video surveillance system ordinance requiring mandatory video surveillance at gas and service stations. As the chair of the public works and infrastructure committee, she successfully allocated over $1.4 billion in revenue – the highest dollar amount overseen in the history of DeKalb County through any standing committee leader. She has required a mandatory audit of all contracts above $3 million resulting in over $92 million in revenue savings to DeKalb County taxpayers and was named the 2023 Elected Official of the Year by the American Public Works Association.
EDUCATION Troy University (MS), Auburn University (MPA) HOMETOWN Greenville, Alabama
Lisa Cupid Commission Chairwoman Cobb County
Lisa Cupid has served on the Cobb Board of Commissioners since 2013. Some of her accomplishments include expanding transit service, improving citizen education and engagement, and advocating for enhanced public safety measures. Cupid is an attorney and former mediator, policy analyst, and manufacturing process engineer. On the Atlanta Regional Commission board, she is also a member of the Transportation & Air Quality Committee, the Ethics Subcomittee, and the Senior Policy Group of the Urban Area Security Initiative. She is the first Black and first female chairwoman of Cobb County.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, Georgia State College of Law (JD)
Andre Dickens Mayor City of Atlanta
Andre Dickens is the 61st mayor of Atlanta. Since being sworn in as mayor in 2022, his accomplishments include the establishment of the Nightlife Division to address bars and clubs with a high history of crime, the reestablishment of the Pothole Posse to rapidly respond to residents’ reports, and leading the successful coalition to keep Atlanta whole in opposition to a de-annexation effort. He has been a member of the Atlanta City Council and is also a businessman, nonprofit executive, engineer, speaker, deacon, and father. An Atlanta native, Dickens is the former chief development officer for TechBridge, a nonprofit that drives community impact by bringing affordable technology and business expertise to other nonprofit organizations. In 2018, he cofounded TechBridge’s Technology Career Program, which prepares unemployed and underemployed people for careers in technology by teaching high-demand skills while helping participants land jobs in IT departments across Atlanta. In 2023, the Atlanta Regional Commission board elected Dickens to serve as chair of its board of directors. He is the first Atlanta mayor to serve as ARC board chair.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, Georgia State University (MPA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Coauthored and passed resolutions establishing a $15 per hour minimum wage for Atlanta and affordable housing requirements around the BeltLine
Carmalitha L. Gumbs Councilwoman City of South Fulton
Carmalitha Gumbs is a member of the South Fulton City Council. Throughout the pandemic, Gumbs worked to make sure seniors had access to food and other supplies while sheltering in place. The winner of multiple awards and a frequent featured guest speaker, Gumbs was recognized by State Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague for her outstanding public service and her role in ensuring the welfare of the citizens of Georgia.
EDUCATION Norfolk State University, Strayer University (MBA, MPH) FIRST JOB In the country working at a potato grader WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I love people. I love being a resource, and I am passionate about my community. LESSON LEARNED Everyone and everything is not for you, and you cannot force it. FAVORITE MOVIESGrease, Grease 2
Eloisa Klementich President and CEO Invest Atlanta
Eloisa Klementich is president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, Atlanta’s economic development authority. As CEO, she is leading an economic mobility strategy which has generated 2,900 new jobs and $774.4 million in total capital investment, supported 445 small businesses, and created 525 affordable housing units across the city at press time in 2025. Previously, she worked as special assistant for economic development at the U.S. Economic Development Administration and served as California’s assistant deputy secretary for economic development and commerce. She also worked as a consultant for Mexican president Vicente Fox.
EDUCATION Pitzer College, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (MBA), University of California, Los Angeles (MA), University of La Verne (DPA) HIDDEN TALENT I enjoy speaking three languages. INSPIRING PERSON Sister Stanislaus TOUGHEST CHALLENGE The demands of being a mom and a CEO FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Pullman Yards FAVORITE POWER LUNCH RESTAURANT Republic Social House (burger)
Nicole Love Hendrickson Commission Chairwoman Gwinnett County
Nicole Love Hendrickson was elected chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in 2020, making her the first African American to hold this position. In her role, she leads the board in setting the direction and formulating policies for county government, overseeing the creation and adoption of the county’s more than $2 billion budget, and ensuring Gwinnett’s services reach all its nearly 1 million residents. Hendrickson is active on several local and statewide boards including the Atlanta Regional Commission, leading the launch of its Local Leaders Housing Action Committee, now known as the Housing Leadership Assembly, which is responsible for developing a region-wide plan to address the Atlanta region’s housing affordability challenges.
EDUCATION University of Rhode Island, University of Georgia (MSW) HOMETOWN Providence, Rhode Island FEW PEOPLE KNOW I have an identical twin sister and younger identical twin brothers. FAVORITE MOVIE The Color Purple WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Viola Davis or Taraji P. Henson
Dawn Luke Arnold Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Invest Atlanta
As executive vice president and chief operating officer of the city’s official economic development agency, Dawn Luke Arnold oversees Invest Atlanta’s community development, finance, information technology, human resources, operations, and investment services departments. Previously, she served as the organization’s senior vice president of community development, responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction in the successful execution of a shared vision of comprehensive community development, quality affordable housing, and economic growth in Atlanta’s 10 tax allocation districts. Arnold also managed and operated Invest Atlanta’s multifamily and single-family housing bond portfolio of approximately $1.8 billion and more than 20,000 units of housing.
EDUCATION Spelman College, Georgia State University (MBA) HOMETOWN LaGrange, Georgia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK After having been homeless for a short period of time, then living in substandard housing, I made it my life’s mission to ensure that people are able to have decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing.
Scott McAfee Judge Superior Court of Fulton County
Scott McAfee is a judge for the Superior Court of Fulton County. McAfee was first appointed to his position by Governor Brian Kemp in 2023 after Chief Judge Christopher Brasher retired in December 2022. McAfee won an election to serve a full four-year term in 2024. Prior to this position, McAfee served as Georgia’s inspector general. Additionally, McAfee worked for eight years as an assistant United States attorney for the Department of Justice in the Northern District of Georgia and as an assistant district attorney in Fulton County. As an assistant United States attorney, McAfee investigated and prosecuted major drug trafficking organizations, fraud, and illegal firearms possession. In the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, McAfee handled hundreds of felony cases ranging from armed robbery to murder.
EDUCATION Emory University, University of Georgia (JD)
Lauren “Bubba” McDonald Commissioner Georgia Public Service Commission
Following 20 years as a state representative, Lauren “Bubba” McDonald was appointed to the Georgia Public Service Commission in 1998 by Governor Zell Miller, and then reelected in a special election later that year. He held the seat until 2002. McDonald returned to the commission in 2008 and served as chairman. He was reelected to the commission in 2014 and 2020. He is also a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Committee on Electricity and an executive member of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Started funeral home business with son in 1997 and now own three funeral homes. WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Zell Miller talked me into it. FIRST JOB Soda jerk in Commerce Drug Company FEW PEOPLE KNOW Won first place in Georgia boys choir solo at age 12 FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT The Varsity
Bee Nguyen State Director Office of U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock
The Democratic nominee for Georgia’s Secretary of State in 2022, Bee Nguyen was named state director for U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock in 2023. In this role, she is responsible for advising the senator and managing his Georgia-based team. She had been the first Asian American Democratic woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly, serving House District 89, the seat formerly held by Stacey Abrams. She’s also served as a national policy adviser for New American Leaders, which promotes the political participation of first- and second-generation Americans. Prior to being elected in 2017, Nguyen served as chief of staff for Georgia Representative Sam Park. She’s also worked for the resettlement agency Boat People SOS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute. Nguyen is the founder of Athena’s Warehouse, which supports high school girls in Atlanta.
EDUCATION Georgia State University (MA, MPA) FIRST JOB I bagged groceries and pushed carts at Winn Dixie in Augusta when I was 15. The summer heat was suffocating, and I weighed about 90 pounds soaking wet. I now always push my grocery carts back into the store, or into the parking lot drop-off area. I also learned to thank the labor movement for my 15-minute mandatory break!
Photograph courtesy of individual
Russell K. Paul Mayor Sandy Springs
Elected mayor of Sandy Springs in 2013, Russell K. “Rusty” Paul brings more than 40 years of government experience to the job. A former state senator, he was elected to Sandy Springs’ founding city council in 2005 and has served on the city’s charter review commission and development authority. Paul also worked for the first Bush administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development as assistant secretary for congressional and intergovernmental relations.
EDUCATION Samford University FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m a chick-flick aficionado; I’m addicted to the Hallmark Channel. FIRST JOB Picking cotton at age six LESSON LEARNED Politics is a team sport, and you have to build relationships, looking for common ground with people who disagree or have a different set of solutions than yours. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION My cabin at the farm on which I grew up [near Birmingham]—land that has been in my family since 1880
Photograph courtesy of individual
Robb Pitts Chairman Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Robb Pitts was elected in 2017 as chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, having previously served on the board from 2002 to 2014. Pitts also served two decades on the Atlanta City Council, including a stint as president from 1997 to 2001. As a Fulton commissioner, he advocated for diversification of revenue sources to relieve tax burdens on property owners. Pitts is also a former college professor and registered real estate broker.
EDUCATION Ohio University, Academia Hispano Americana, Kent State University, La Universidad Interamericana, Emory University (MA) HOMETOWN Haddock, Georgia WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I wanted to effect positive change and ensure that taxpayers receive the services they pay for in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.
Sheikh Rahman State Senator Georgia State Senate
Senator Sheikh Rahman, a Democrat, is the first immigrant and first Asian American to serve in the Georgia State Senate. He is also the first Muslim Georgia legislator. Elected in 2018, he represents the 5th Senate District in the heart of Gwinnett. Rahman is the former chairman of the Gwinnett Senate Delegation. In the Georgia State Senate, he serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, Government Oversight, Natural Resources and the Environment, and Urban Affairs. In 2025, led by Rahman, the Georgia State Senate adopted a resolution recognizing Bangladesh, specifically highlighting a 2024 student-led movement advocating for civil service quota reforms and a call for a more democratic government. Rahman grew up in Bangladesh, where his country was devastated by the Bangladesh Liberation War of Independence in 1971. At 13, Rahman was kidnapped at gunpoint as a prisoner of war. He came to America in 1981, becoming a citizen in 1995.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta 100 Most Influential Georgia Muslims (2022), National Caucus of Environmental Legislators Rising Environmental Leader Award (2021), Georgia Asia Times 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia (2019)
Doug Shipman Atlanta City Council President City of Atlanta
Elected president of the Atlanta City Council in November 2021, Doug Shipman comes to public office after a long history of demonstrated leadership in Atlanta for Atlantans. Completing his term in 2026, Shipman’s work has been recognized by many civic, civil-rights, and human-rights organizations, including the Atlanta Business League, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Atlanta Urban League, the Junior League of Greater Atlanta, and the Buckhead Rotary Club. His civic appointments have included the Atlanta Cyclorama Task Force and the Xernona Clayton Street renaming commission. Shipman joined the council after serving three years as the CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center. Prior to the Woodruff, Shipman served eight years as the founding CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Before being named its CEO, Shipman led the center’s $100 million fundraising campaign, and efforts to design, build, and launch the center. He also supported the effort to secure and pay for the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Collection at Morehouse College.
EDUCATION Emory University, Harvard Divinity School (MTS), Harvard Kennedy School (MPP) HOMETOWN Bull Shoals, Arkansas FAVORITE EVERYDAY RESTAURANT Bomb Biscuit Co. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED From Mayor Shirley Franklin: “Work on something that matters 50 years from now.”
Lee Thomas Deputy Commissioner, Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Georgia Department of Economic Development
Lee Thomas is a deputy commissioner at the Georgia Department of Economic Development and division director of the Georgia Film Office. She’s helped Georgia become one of the top filming locations in the world, with $4.4 billion in direct spending during the fiscal year 2022, a record for the state. A native Atlantan, Thomas pursued doctoral studies in New York before returning to the city in 1996 to work for the Georgia Film and Videotape Office as a project manager, becoming a location specialist for the office in 1998 and director of the film division in 2010.
EDUCATION University of Georgia, Georgia State University (MA), New York University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTGeorgia Trend Georgian of the Year (2019) INSPIRING PERSON Jimmy Carter FEW PEOPLE KNOW We owned a restaurant and campground in Rabun County from 2010 until January 2020. It was initially an adventure renovating and running it, but it became way too much to handle!
Long Tran Representative, District 80 Georgia House of Representatives
In 2022, Long Tran was elected to represent District 80 in the Georgia House of Representatives. Additionally, he chairs the AAPI caucus, which was created in 2022, and is the secretary of the DeKalb House Legislative Delegation. In 2025, he hosted the AAPI LEAD conference, the largest conference of AAPI elected officials in the nation, and Tran is a member of the host committee bringing the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures) Legislative Summit to Atlanta in 2027. A small business owner, Tran opened Peachy Corners Cafe weeks before Covid hit. Aside from his political and business pursuits, Tran’s journey from being an extra on the set of Ant-Man to becoming a SAG-AFTRA actor and stunt driver showcases his adaptability, determination, and deep ties to Georgia’s vibrant film industry.
EDUCATION The Ohio State University HOMETOWN Kettering, Ohio NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSGeorgia Asian Times 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia (2023, 2024,2025), AJC Best Dressed Georgia Lawmakers of 2024 REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK As Asian hate continued to rise because of Covid-19, the Atlanta Spa shootings made me realize I needed to step into the public forum and engage on a policy level to create a safer state for everyone to live in.
Fani T. Willis District Attorney Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
Fani T. Willis is the district attorney for Fulton County. She is the first woman to serve in the position. As a career trial lawyer with deep and broad prosecutorial experience, she has led over 100 jury trials and has prosecuted hundreds of murder cases. Willis has prosecuted many other serious crimes, including crimes against women and children. Her 19 years of experience as a prosecutor have given her a deep commitment to focusing her office’s prosecutorial efforts on the most dangerous offenders and removing them from society. She has also served as chief judge of the city of South Fulton.
EDUCATION Howard University, Emory University School of Law (JD) FIRST JOB Cashier at Bradley’s department store in Laurel, Maryland MOST INSPIRING PERSON My dad, who was a Black Panther, civil rights activist, and criminal defense attorney. FAVORITE BOOK AND MOVIEThe Godfather
Photograph courtesy of individual
Pat Wilson Commissioner Georgia Department of Economic Development
As commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Pat Wilson leads the agency responsible for creating jobs and investment opportunities in Georgia through business recruitment and expansion, workforce development, and international trade and tourism, as well as the arts, film, and music industries. Before being appointed to the position in 2016 by Governor Nathan Deal, Wilson served as the organization’s chief operating officer, and was previously director of government affairs in the administration of Governor Sonny Perdue.
EDUCATION University of Georgia NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT Georgia has been named the number one state in the nation for business for ten consecutive years by Area Development magazine. FIRST JOB Picking peaches FEW PEOPLE KNOW I love karaoke. HOBBIES Baseball, football, softball, and my kids’ sports at Northside Youth Organization FAVORITE BOOK In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson
Allison Ausband is executive vice president and chief people officer for Delta Air Lines. She leads the company’s global talent management, total rewards, and HR service delivery functions in support of the 100,000 employees who fuel Delta’s success. In her most recent role as chief customer experience officer, Ausband oversaw the end-to-end customer experience and the team of 70,000 who deliver those experiences. Previously, as senior vice president of in-flight service, Ausband led a global team of more than 20,000 flight attendants and supervisory and support personnel, as well as Delta’s onboard global food and beverage operations. Ausband began her career at Delta in 1985 as a flight attendant. She is also the immediate past chair of the University of Georgia Foundation board of trustees.
EDUCATION University of Georgia FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Saint Barthélemy NONPROFIT I lead Delta’s efforts in the fight against human trafficking. WHO’D PLAY ME IN A BIOPIC Diane Lane
Ed Bastian CEO Delta Air Lines
As CEO of Delta Air Lines since 2016, Ed Bastian helms a team of 100,000 global professionals. Under his leadership, Delta, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, has become the world’s most awarded airline, named top U.S. airline by the Wall Street Journal, most admired airline worldwide by Fortune, and most on-time global airline by FlightGlobal. In 2018, Fortune named Bastian among the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. In 2019, he was elected to the membership of the Council on Foreign Relations. Bastian was named among the Top 10 CEOs of 2021 in Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards as a leader who excelled at supporting their people throughout a global pandemic. Finally, in 2025, he was named among the TIME100 and was a recipient of the Tony Jannus Award, which is given to individuals who have made major and lasting contributions to commercial aviation.
EDUCATION Saint Bonaventure University HOMETOWN Poughkeepsie, New York FEW PEOPLE KNOW I was 25 before I first stepped foot on an airplane. NONPROFITS Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, Polaris Project
Ed Elkins Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Norfolk Southern Corporation
With over 35 years of service at Norfolk Southern, Ed Elkins serves as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the freight transportation company that has been in operation since 1827. Elkins leads Intermodal, Automotive, and Industrial Products business divisions while overseeing Real Estate, Field Sales, and Customer Logistics business groups. Appointed CMO in 2021, Elkins’ journey with Norfolk Southern began in 1988 as a road brakeman after serving in the United States Marine Corps. He then progressed as a conductor, locomotive engineer, and relief yardmaster before taking on roles in operations and intermodal marketing, vast experience across the organization that gives him a unique perspective on the complexities of rail logistics. Beyond his corporate roles, Elkins serves as vice chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and sits on the board of the East Lake Foundation.
EDUCATION University of Virginia, Old Dominion University Strome College of Business (MBA)
Mark George President and CEO Norfolk Southern Corporation
As president and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation, one of the nation’s largest freight transportation companies, Mark George oversees all business areas, building a customer-centric and operations-driven organization where everything starts with safety. Since joining Norfolk Southern in 2019 as chief financial officer, George has played a crucial role in guiding the company through significant strategic shifts. His leadership has strengthened the company’s focus on productivity, cost management, and safety by leveraging over 30 years of experience in financial management and business development across industries. Prior to joining Norfolk Southern, he served as the global CFO for the Otis Elevator Company and, from 2008 to 2019, the Carrier Corporation. George also serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Georgia.
EDUCATION Central Connecticut State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MBA)
Roderick McLean Vice President and General Manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions Lockheed Martin
Roderick McLean is vice president and general manager of the Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Marietta, responsible for the C-130 Hercules transport, which was commemorated for the 70th anniversary of its first flight with a resolution by the Georgia Senate in 2024; the C-5 strategic airlifter, and other aircraft. McLean is also site general manager for the more than 5,000-employee Marietta facility. Since joining in 1994 as a radar systems engineer, McLean has held a variety of roles in the company, most recently as vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s F-16/F-22 Integrated Fighter Group programs in Fort Worth, Texas. He serves on the board of directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
EDUCATION North Carolina A&T State University, Georgia Tech (MA), University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business (MBA) HOMETOWN Jacksonville, North Carolina FIRST JOB Drove a school bus in high school at 16 and a half years old HIDDEN TALENT I enjoy playing classical music on the piano.
Russell R. McMurry Commissioner Georgia Department of Transportation
In 2015, Russell R. McMurry was appointed by the State Transportation Board as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation—the over $3.5 billion, almost 4,000-employee state agency responsible for building, maintaining, and operating the 10th-largest transportation system in the country. The Georgia DOT launched its podcast in November 2022 and McMurry talked about his life and career in the inaugural episode. McMurry began his career with the department in 1990 as an engineering trainee and has served in a variety of roles including construction project manager, district engineer, director of engineering, and chief engineer. The American Road and Transportation Builders Association named McMurry its Trailblazer of the Year in 2024.
EDUCATION Georgia Southern University NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTGeorgia Trend Georgian of the Year (2018) FIRST JOB At 13, stocking shelves and taking inventory for a building-supply company FEW PEOPLE KNOW I race motocross. I began riding at the age of 10 and still ride today.
Jeremy Rainwater Chief Executive Officer, Americas TK Elevator
As CEO Americas for TK Elevator, Jeremy Rainwater leads the development and implementation of TK Elevator’s overall strategy and operations in the company’s $4 billion North and South American businesses, with over 16,000 employees in 17 countries and across multiple lines of business, including manufacturing and new installation, modernization, as well as service and repair. Rainwater, who also serves on the Global Senior Leadership Team, joined TK Elevator in November 2022. A graduate of Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program, Rainwater also serves on the board of directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
EDUCATION Cardinal Stritch University, Rutgers University (MBA) FIRST JOB Umpire for Little League Baseball WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I grew up in a family of hard-working elevator mechanics and played competitive sports up through college. I see a lot of similarities in sports and business, so I knew fairly early that I wanted to be in business and lead teams to success. FAVORITE GEORGIA PRO SPORTS TEAM Atlanta Braves NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS My two incredible daughters
Ricky D. Smith Airport General Manager Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
As the airport general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the world’s busiest and most efficient airport—Ricky D. Smith is responsible for the overall governance, strategic direction, and operational oversight of an airport that serves more than 108 million passengers annually, facilitates over 2,700 daily aircraft operations, and generates more than $750 million in annual operating revenue, reinforcing ATL’s status as an economic powerhouse. With more than 30 years of aviation management experience, Smith most recently served as executive director and CEO of Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), where he was responsible for the management and operations of Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Martin State Airport, and regional aviation activities throughout the state of Maryland.
EDUCATION Howard University, Loyola University Maryland (EMBA) TOUGHEST CHALLENGE The toughest challenge I faced was losing my mother a few years ago. Heading a major airport sometimes comes with very complicated and difficult situations and decisions. My mother was a common sense confidant.
UTILITIES
Annalisa M. Bloodworth President and CEO Oglethorpe Power Corporation
In 2025, Annalisa M. Bloodworth became president and CEO of Oglethorpe Power, which is among the nation’s largest power supply cooperatives and is one of the largest energy producers in Georgia. She succeeded Michael L. Smith, who retired after a distinguished career of 40 years in the energy industry and more than a decade leading the company. Bloodworth transitioned from the role of senior vice president and general counsel, which she had held since 2017. Bloodworth joined Oglethorpe Power in 2010 and served in various roles prior to her current position. Before joining Oglethorpe, Bloodworth was in private practice at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP.
EDUCATION Trinity University, Emory University School of Law (JD)
Riley Blount President AT&T Georgia
As president of AT&T Georgia, Riley Blount is responsible for leading AT&T’s economic development, public policy, philanthropic, and community engagement objectives across Georgia. Blount works closely with state and local policymakers and business and community leaders to foster an environment that welcomes investment and innovation and creates opportunities to improve the quality of life for all. In Georgia, Blount helps drive nearly $3.4 billion in annual network spend. This financial investment has expanded AT&T’s fiber footprint, providing broadband access to more than 1.8 million customer locations in more than 150 Georgia communities. It has also propelled the expansion of AT&T’s 5G wireless network to more than 90 percent of Georgians. Under Blount’s leadership, AT&T’s investments in network infrastructure are enhancing connectivity and helping drive economic development opportunities across the state. Blount is also the proud mother of two sons.
EDUCATION Auburn University BOARD MEMBERSHIPS Metro Atlanta Chamber, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Grady Health Foundation, Atlanta Police Foundation, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Atlanta, Council for Quality Growth
Michael Braswell President, Retail Energy Southern Company Gas
Michael Braswell is president of retail energy for Southern Company Gas, responsible for ensuring the expansion and continued success of the company’s retail energy operations in multiple states. Braswell is also CEO of SouthStar Energy Services, which serves nearly 650,000 customers; in Georgia it conducts business as Georgia Natural Gas. A Dunwoody native, he has more than 30 years of experience in the natural gas industry and has worked in both regulated and nonutility environments.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, Georgia State University (MBA) FIRST JOB At the Georgia Tech Research Institute while I was a student at Georgia Tech HOBBIES I’m a bicycling and exercise enthusiast. FAVORITE MOVIEThe Shawshank Redemption FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Antigua
Michael Chanin Founder and CEO Cherry Street Energy
Michael Chanin is one of Georgia’s leading experts on solar energy. His company, Cherry Street Energy, is the largest non-utility provider of renewable energy in Georgia, powering operations for customers such as Delta Air Lines, Porsche Cars North America, Synovus, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, and the City of Atlanta. Chanin created Cherry Street Energy in 2015, after the Georgia General Assembly passed a law allowing third-party providers to sell power. He started his career at Goldman Sachs, ran finance and operations for a San Francisco-based technology company, and has invested in renewable energy markets since 2013. Chanin is also a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2025.
EDUCATION Northwestern University, University of Cambridge (MPhil) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK My parents instilled a belief in me that we should leave things better than we found them. I saw that lived out in my grandparents’ store on Cherry Street in Macon, a place built on reliability, service, and community. That legacy inspired me. Energy offered a way to carry that forward. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT Being a husband, father, son, brother, and friend has shaped every part of my life. Those relationships give meaning to my work and keep me grounded in what matters most.
Bentina Chisolm Terry President and CEO Southern Linc and Southern Telecom, Inc.
Bentina C. Terry is president and CEO of Southern Linc and Southern Telecom, Inc., Southern Company subsidiaries that provide mission critical LTE network wireless and dark fiber networks and services to Southern Company electric utilities and public sector customers. Terry has held senior executive positions at Georgia Power and other Southern Company subsidiaries and began her career practicing law with Troutman Sanders in Atlanta. Past chair of the board of directors for Leadership Atlanta and The Beltline Partnership, she serves on the board of the International Women’s Forum—Georgia, and is a member of several organizations including The Links, Incorporated and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Additionally, Terry was named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Women of Influence for 2024.
EDUCATION North Carolina State University, University of Michigan Law School (JD) HOMETOWN Fayetteville, North Carolina FIRST JOB Selling women’s clothes in the mall FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT The neighborhoods on the east side of Atlanta
Kimberly S. Greene Chair, President, and CEO Georgia Power
Kim Greene was named chair, president, and CEO of Georgia Power in 2023. She leads Georgia Power in serving its 2.8 million customers across the state. The company is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s leading energy providers. Prior to her current position, Greene served for five years as chair, president, and CEO of Southern Company Gas. In this role, she ensured the delivery of clean, safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas to more than 4.3 million utility customers in Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia, and to over 600,000 retail gas customers served by SouthStar Energy Services in 10 states. Greene serves on numerous boards including boards for the Atlanta Committee for Progress, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Georgia Research Alliance, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Woodruff Arts Center, and the Georgia Historical Society. Additionally, Greene is a member of the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame.
EDUCATION University of Tennessee, University of Alabama at Birmingham (MS), Samford University (MBA), Harvard Business School (AMP) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT In 2022, Greene was awarded the Edison Electric Institute’s inaugural Thomas F. Farrell II Safety Leadership and Innovation Award by her industry peers for her significant contributions to improving safety in the utility industry.
Photograph courtesy of individual
Kevin Greiner President and CEO Gas South
Kevin Greiner has served as Gas South’s president and CEO since the company’s founding in 2006. Gas South is one of the Southeast’s largest energy marketers, providing natural gas to nearly 500,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in competitive markets in 13 states. Gas South also operates a growing wholesale energy marketing operation and is an owner/investor in several solar energy projects. Since its founding, Gas South has doubled its customer base, while growing its sales volumes and workforce by over 400 percent. Additionally, in 2025, Greiner was the recipient of the Bransby Christian Leadership Award, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s highest recognition. Gas South has been a steadfast supporter of the YMCA, contributing over $1.3 million in lifetime giving along with numerous hours of volunteer time and projects.
EDUCATION Wesleyan University, University of Michigan (MBA, MS) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT YMCA of Metro Atlanta Volunteer of the Year (2017); board chair there in 2021 and 2022 FIRST JOB Working in a bagel shop on Long Island
Christine Whitaker President, Central Division Comcast
Christine Whitaker is president of Comcast’s Central Division, headquartered in Atlanta. The division is home to approximately 16,000 Comcast employees with more than 21 million combined video, high-speed internet, voice, home security, and mobile customers throughout the 12 states that comprise the Central Division. A more than 25-year veteran of the cable industry, Whitaker most recently served as senior vice president of finance and administration for Comcast’s Northeast Division. Whitaker has been repeatedly named one of the Most Powerful Women in Cable by Cablefax: The Magazine and recognized as a Wonder Woman by Multichannel News. Whitaker was named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Women of Influence for 2023. Whitaker has completed executive education programs for telecommunications through Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business.
EDUCATION George Mason University REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK The opportunity to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve. At Comcast, we’re fortunate to be involved in many initiatives that uplift and empower—especially in underserved areas where connectivity can be life-changing.
Christopher C. Womack Chairman, President, and CEO Southern Company
Chris Womack is chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Southern Company, one of the nation’s leading energy providers serving 9 million customers nationwide. Prior to his current role, he served as chairman, president, and CEO of Georgia Power, leading Southern Company’s largest subsidiary. A native of Greenville, Alabama, Womack joined Southern Company in 1988 and has held several leadership positions within Southern Company and its subsidiaries. Prior to joining Southern Company, Womack worked on Capitol Hill for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. He is past chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, past chair of the board of the East Lake Foundation and is on the national board of the First Tee. In 2022, Atlanta Business Chronicle named Womack one of its Most Admired CEOs.
EDUCATION Western Michigan University, American University (MPA) FIRST JOB Capitol Hill legislative aide HOBBIES Fishing, hunting, gardening
LEGENDS
Nathan Deal Deal served as a prosecutor, judge, state senator, and U.S. congressman for Georgia’s 9th District before being elected Georgia’s 82nd governor in 2010 and reelected in 2014. Under his leadership, Georgia was recognized as the top state for business five years in a row. Deal’s tenure was marked by efforts in transportation, criminal justice reform, and education reform.
Pat Epps In 1965, Epps bought a small fixed-base operation at DeKalb Peachtree Airport and launched Epps Air Service. He grew the original facility into a hub serving local and international businesses. His many honors include the National Business Aviation Association’s American Spirit Award and Lifetime Achievement award. Epps has also been inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.
Shirley Franklin Inaugurated in 2002, Franklin became Atlanta’s 58th mayor. She was not only the city’s first female mayor, but also the first African American woman to helm any major Southern city. A former protégé of mayors Maynard Jackson and Andrew Young, she helped bring the Olympic Games to Atlanta. She received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2005.
Keisha Lance Bottoms In 2018, Bottoms took office as Atlanta’s 60th mayor—only the second woman to hold the city’s highest municipal government seat. She’s also the only mayor in city history to have been elected to all three branches of government, serving previously as a judge and city councilmember. She served as an advisor on international trade to President Biden.
Patrise Perkins-Hooker Formerly the county attorney for Fulton County, Perkins-Hooker is now an administrative partner with Johnson & Freeman, LLC. In 2014, she became the 52nd president of the State Bar of Georgia—the first African American and third woman to fill that role.
Kasim Reed Reed served two terms as Atlanta’s 59th mayor, beginning in 2010. Prior to that, he spent 11 years as a member of the Georgia General Assembly, first elected in 1998 as a state representative, then serving from 2002 to 2009 in the state Senate. He is now a partner with the McDermott Will & Emery law firm.
Andrew J. Young A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Young was a leader of the SCLC. He helped draft the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was Georgia’s first Black congressman since Reconstruction. President Carter tapped him to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He served two terms as mayor of Atlanta and helped bring the 1996 Olympics here. His accolades have included the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Morehouse College’s Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership is named for him, as is Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.
As CEO of Communities in Schools (CIS) of Atlanta, Frank Brown oversees the organization’s mission of surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. The organization offers initiatives such as emergency financial assistance for students and families and programming supporting college students, Latinx populations, and foster care youth. CIS of Atlanta has programs in 72 public schools in Atlanta and Fulton, Clayton, DeKalb, and Spalding counties, reaching more than 49,000 students daily. Previously, Brown was the first executive director of the Butler Street Community Development Corporation (formerly the historic Butler Street YMCA).
EDUCATION Johnson C. Smith University, University of South Carolina School of Law (JD) INSPIRING PERSON Neal Aronson TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Expanding CIS of Atlanta’s College/Career Alumni Program to serve 1,000 students by the year 2026 WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE Great leaders are great adapters.
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Ron Clark Founder, Mathematics Teacher, and Author The Ron Clark Academy
“America’s educator” Ron Clark is the cofounder of The Ron Clark Academy, an Atlanta middle school that serves as a demonstration school for educational best practices. Clark and his staff have provided professional development for more than 100,000 educators. Ninety-one percent of the school’s alumni attend college. Known for his innovative teaching methods and work with children from various educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, Clark is the author of The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator’s Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child, a New York Times bestseller which has sold over 1 million copies.
EDUCATION East Carolina University HOMETOWN Chocowinity, North Carolina NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Andrew J. Young International Leadership Award (2017), NAACP President’s Award (2011) LESSON LEARNED As long as I am helping others and seeking to be a good person, what others think isn’t worth a hill of beans. FEW PEOPLE KNOW I won the Showcase Showdown on The Price Is Right.
Brandon P. Fleming Founder and CEO Veritas School of Social Sciences
An at-risk youth and college dropout turned award-winning educator, Brandon P. Fleming is the founder, president, and CEO of the Veritas School of Social Sciences. Veritas, formerly known as the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, is expanding to Washington, D.C., in 2026 and Los Angeles in 2027. Fleming, a former teacher at The Ron Clark Academy and debate coach at Harvard University, has raised over a million dollars to enroll over 150 students of color into the Ivy League’s international summer debate residency on full scholarships since the project’s inception in 2017. He recruits underserved youth with no debate experience and trains them to compete against elite debaters from all over the world. In 2018, Fleming’s students became the first all-Black team to win Harvard’s summer debate tournament. His students have now matriculated to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the like. Fleming’s story, which begins with a failed suicide attempt, is told in Miseducated: A Memoir, published by Hachette Books.
EDUCATION Liberty University, University of Georgia (MFA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Commencement speaker for Western Governors University (2024), Forbes 30 Under 30 (2020), The Root 100 (2020), Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 (2019) FIRST JOB Factory assembly line worker
Chris M. Freer President Woodward Academy
Chris M. Freer became the eighth president of Woodward Academy on July 1, 2025. Freer came to Woodward in 1994 to teach U.S. government and economics, coaching at the varsity level for football, wrestling, and track and field. Since then, Freer has served in several roles including dean of student life in the upper school, upper school assistant principal, vice president and dean for student life, principal of the upper school, and vice president for advancement. As vice president for advancement, Freer raised more than $7 million in capital gifts, established new endowment funds, and led the design and development of the Stephen A. Belin ’72 GMA Woodward Academy History Center. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2014, Freer serves on the board of directors for The ATL Airport Chamber, and is past president of the Atlanta Airport Rotary Club.
EDUCATION Davidson College, University of Georgia (MEd), Harvard Kennedy School (Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership) FIRST JOB At the age of 22 at Woodward Academy as a teacher and coach. I was originally going to law school, but quickly fell in love with the teaching profession, and 31 years later, I was recently elected the eighth president in Woodward Academy’s 125-year history.
Tori Jackson Hines Founder and Executive Director Lead with Excellence Founder and Executive Director Resurgence Hall Inc.
Tori Jackson Hines founded Lead with Excellence, a values-driven leadership development program in 2022 to empower Georgia charter school founders to lead community-based schools. Since 2022, Lead with Excellence has supported founders across eight public charter schools in Georgia. Additionally, in 2016, she founded Resurgence Hall Charter School, which has been recognized as a Title I Distinguished School by the Georgia Department of Education with over 91 percent of scholars performing at or above grade level in literacy.
EDUCATION University of Maryland, Loyola Marymount University (MA), Teachers College, Columbia University (MS) HOMETOWN Richmond, Virginia FIRST JOB My first job was as a grocery bagger at Ukrop’s. It taught me how to engage with people from all walks of life and to treat everyone with respect and curiosity. REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I was inspired by the power of an excellent education to transform communities. Atlanta is a world-class city, and it deserves world-class leaders who reflect its potential. It’s a true joy to help raise the next generation of those leaders.
Bonnie Holliday President and CEO Georgia Charter Schools Association
Bonnie Holliday began her new role at the Georgia Charter Schools Association on July 1, 2024, succeeding Tony Roberts. Previously, Holliday served as the chief strategy officer at GCSA where she oversaw all organizational programming and service offerings. She also led GCSA’s policy and advocacy work for five years and successfully shepherded the passage of critical legislation to increase charter school funding, autonomy, and flexibility. Recognized as a leading education policy expert, she has advised top elected officials at the state level for over a decade. During the 2023-2024 school year, there were 64,579 students enrolled in Georgia’s 96 charter schools. And there are more than 21,000 known students on waiting lists to attend these charter schools.
EDUCATION University of Georgia (MEd, PhD)
Bryan Johnson Superintendent Atlanta Public Schools
Bryan Johnson serves as superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, bringing a unique blend of corporate and educational leadership to the role. Prior to this role with APS, he served as the executive vice chancellor and chief strategy officer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has also served as chief transformation officer for U.S. Xpress Enterprises. While serving as superintendent of Hamilton County Schools from 2017 to 2021, the district became the fastest-improving school district in Tennessee. Johnson has received numerous accolades, including the 2021 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, National Superintendent of the Year finalist, and 2020 Outstanding Young Alumnus by Austin Peay State University.
EDUCATION Austin Peay State University, Belmont University (MA); Trevecca Nazarene University (EdD) HOMETOWN Nashville, Tennessee FIRST JOB Burger King HOBBIES Watching my son play baseball FAVORITE GEORGIA PRO SPORTS TEAM Atlanta Braves
Mike Looney Superintendent Fulton County Schools
Mike Looney became superintendent of Fulton County Schools in 2019, having served in similar positions in Williamson County, Tennessee, and Butler County, Alabama. Under his leadership in Butler County, the school district realized significant student achievement gains, improved the graduation rate, and established its first magnet school. A public educator since 1994, Looney has also been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Prior to entering education, Looney was a finance manager and served for seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
EDUCATION Jacksonville State University (EdM), University of Alabama (EdS, EdD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) Superintendent of the Year (2016), Greenville, Alabama, Citizen of the Year (2008) HOBBIES Skydiving, wing-walking
Angira Sceusi Executive Director RedefinED Atlanta
Angira Sceusi began her new role in 2024, following the retirement of RedefinED Atlanta’s executive director, Ed Chang. A public education nonprofit that engages communities, advocates for equity, and funds critical work to drive systemic level improvement in K-12 public education, RedefinED Atlanta was founded in 2016 by Chang, and Sceusi joined as the second employee not long after its launch. RedefinED Atlanta is the culmination of a series of gatherings in 2015 that included Chang and many of Atlanta’s education champions seeking to promote positive, equitable, and lasting change within Atlanta’s schools and districts. Since then, the organization has grown to 12 staff members and has expanded its impact to include Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Henry counties. Prior to stepping into the role of executive director, Sceusi was the vice president and chief of staff for RedefinED Atlanta. Sceusi began her career as a fixed income analyst and spent 10 years in energy finance. Additionally, Sceusi is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2026.
EDUCATION Carnegie Mellon University (MISM), The Broad Center at Yale School of Management (MEd)
HIGHER EDUCATION
Raheem Beyah Dean, College of Engineering and Southern Company Chair Georgia Institute of Technology Cofounder Fortiphyd Logic
Raheem Beyah is the dean of the College of Engineering and Southern Company Chair at Georgia Tech. In this role, he works with the associate deans and chairs for each of the college’s eight schools while providing leadership to more than 500 faculty members and more than 18,000 students. Prior to this role, Beyah served as vice president for interdisciplinary research, executive director of the online master’s of cybersecurity program, and as a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. An internationally recognized expert in the areas of cyber-physical systems security, network monitoring, and network security, Beyah is also cofounder of Fortiphyd Logic, an industrial cybersecurity company. A native Atlantan and a graduate of Atlanta Public Schools, Beyah is also a graduate of Leadership Atlanta.
EDUCATION North Carolina A&T State University, Georgia Tech (MS, PhD) FEW PEOPLE KNOW I’m a huge fan of mindfulness meditation. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE The myth of meritocracy HOBBIES Weight training
M. Brian Blake President Georgia State University
M. Brian Blake was named Georgia State University’s eighth president in June 2021. He came to Georgia State after serving over six years combined as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at George Washington University and Drexel University. His research has received more than $12 million in funding, and he is an author of more than 200 scholarly publications in the areas of software engineering and internet computing. The first Black president in the university’s then 114-year history, Blake is a member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2024. In 2025, the Association of College Unions International named Blake President of the Year. Blake grew up in Savannah and attended Benedictine Military Academy. He and his wife, Bridget, have two sons, Brendan and Bryce.
EDUCATION Georgia Tech, Mercer (MA), George Mason University (PhD) FIRST JOB My first full-time role was a software engineer at Lockheed Martin. FAVORITE MOVIEInception FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Miami BUCKET LIST Trip to Scotland to explore the wonders of single malt
F. DuBois Bowman President Morehouse College
F. DuBois Bowman, a 1992 graduate of Morehouse College, was named as the college’s 13th president following a national search effective July 15, 2025. Bowman previously served as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, a top-ranked school of public health with more than 1,300 students and an annual sponsored research portfolio exceeding $100 million. A nationally respected scholar, innovator, and academic leader, Bowman is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a fellow of the American Statistical Association, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Prior to his deanship at Michigan, Bowman held academic and leadership positions at Columbia University and Emory University. A member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Bowman has remained closely connected to his alma mater as a two-time Morehouse parent.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, University of Michigan (MS), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (PhD)
Rosalind “Roz” Brewer Interim President and Chair Emerita Spelman College
Roz Brewer is a renowned corporate executive celebrated for her visionary leadership, transformative impact, and unwavering dedication to advancing positive change in global business. As one of the few Black women to reach the C-suite in a Fortune 100 company, her groundbreaking career has cemented her status as one of today’s most influential figures. As president and CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, she redefined the company’s strategic direction, guiding it through the complexities of the Covid-19 pandemic and expanding access to essential healthcare services. Brewer also served as chief operating officer of Starbucks and president and CEO of Sam’s Club. As a limited partner in her hometown team, the Atlanta Falcons, the Spelman College graduate is one of only three Black women with an ownership stake in an NFL team, reflecting her far-reaching influence across corporate and community arenas.
Ángel Cabrera President Georgia Institute of Technology
In 2019 Ángel Cabrera became the 12th president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the leading and most research-intense public universities in the nation. During his first year as president, he steered the institution through the Covid-19 pandemic and produced a new strategic plan focused on impact, access, and inclusive innovation. Previously Cabrera served a seven-year stint as president of George Mason University. From 2004 to 2012 he was president of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, which is now part of Arizona State University. Born in Madrid, Cabrera is the first native of Spain to serve as president of an American university.
EDUCATION Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Georgia Tech (MS, PhD) WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK Education is the best tool we have to shape the world for the better. I have always been an educator at heart and have always known I would be in education one way or another. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Carnegie Corporation of New York Great Immigrant (2017), Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow (2008), Businessweek Star of Europe (2004)
George T. French Jr. President Clark Atlanta University
In 2019, George T. French Jr. became the fifth president of Clark Atlanta University, the largest United Negro College Fund institution in the country. Prior to his appointment, French served for 13 years as the president of Miles College. A nationally recognized leader in higher education and educational policy, French has served three secretaries of education under two presidents as a congressional appointee to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. He is a three-term board member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges.
EDUCATION University of Louisville, Miles Law School (JD), Jackson State University (PhD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Under French’s leadership Clark Atlanta University has exponentially exceeded all fundraising records in the history of the university; maintained stable enrollment in the midst of the global pandemic; and developed corporate and community relationships to position the university for unprecedented growth. His awards include Birmingham Spotlight Man of the Year, NAACP Man of the Year, and the Higher Education Leadership Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Dan Immergluck Professor, Urban Studies Institute Georgia State University
Dan Immergluck, a professor in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, is the author of five books, more than 120 journal articles, book chapters, and research reports. An expert on housing, neighborhood change, real estate, and community development, he’s been a consultant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Justice, testified several times before Congress, and served as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. His latest book is Red Hot City: Housing, Race, and Exclusion in Twenty-First Century Atlanta.
EDUCATION Northwestern University, University of Michigan (MPP), University of Illinois at Chicago (PhD) HOMETOWN Detroit, Michigan WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I have a passion for making cities more just and equitable. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE Raising teenagers FEW PEOPLE KNOW I once wrote a press release for Illinois state senator Barack Obama. FAVORITE ATLANTA PLACE TO VISIT Buford Highway
KevinJames President Morris Brown College
In 2020, Kevin James became president of Morris Brown College, a historically Black college founded in 1881, where he had been interim president since 2019. James, the college’s 19th president, is responsible for the leadership and management of all aspects of college operations and for the college’s strategic direction. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, James has served in various executive-level roles in higher education and within the nonprofit sector. Immediately prior to joining Morris Brown, he was interim CEO of 100 Black Men of America, whose mission is to improve the quality of life and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. Additionally, James was named an Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO in 2023.
EDUCATION South Carolina State University, Winthrop University, Troy University (MS), Nova Southeastern University (EdD) FIRST JOB Cook at McDonald’s FEW PEOPLE KNOW As an avid motorcycle rider, I rode my Harley-Davidson motorcycle from South Carolina to California alone. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED If possible, find a way to say yes.
Michael L. Lomax President and CEO UNCF
Since 2004, Dr. Michael L. Lomax has served as president and CEO of UNCF, the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students. Under his leadership, UNCF has raised more than $4 billion and helped more than 300,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers. Annually, UNCF’s work enables 50,000 students to go to college with UNCF scholarships and attend its 37-member historically black colleges and universities. Before joining UNCF, Dr. Lomax was president of Dillard University in New Orleans and a literature professor at UNCF-member institutions Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. He also founded the National Black Arts Festival, was a founding member of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and served as chairman of the Fulton County Commission in Atlanta, the first African American elected to that post. In 2025, Lomax received the distinguished GSV (Global Silicon Valley) 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award during the ASU (Arizona State University) +GSV Summit.
EDUCATION Morehouse College, Columbia University (MA), Emory University (PhD)
Linda A. McCauley Dean Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
A global leader in environmental health, Linda A. McCauley is the dean of Emory University’s Woodruff School of Nursing. For decades, McCauley has spearheaded innovative research on children’s environmental health, vulnerable workers and occupational health, environmental justice, and the impact of climate change on human health. In 2020, McCauley joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee and was named an honorary fellow in the Royal Academy of Nursing. She was also elected to serve on the National Academy of Medicine’s Governing Council and received the academy’s David Rall Medal, which is awarded to members who demonstrate distinguished leadership as chair of a study committee, in 2024.
EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing (MSN), University of Cincinnati (PhD) INSPIRING PERSON My mother was a nurse, and I grew up seeing how her work was such a defining factor of who she was.
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD President and CEO Morehouse School of Medicine
Valerie Montgomery Rice is the sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and the first woman to lead the freestanding medical institution. Before joining MSM in 2011 as executive vice president, Montgomery Rice was the founding director of the Center for Women’s Health Research at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, one of the nation’s first research centers devoted to studying diseases that disproportionately affect women of color. A renowned reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, Montgomery Rice was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2016, and in 2022, she was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve on the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science.
EDUCATION Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard Medical School (MD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Montgomery Rice has doubled MSM’s medical student class size from 55 to 110 annually, expanded degree programs from eight to 16, and grew graduate medical education (GME) programs from seven to 14. She also established MSM’s Master of Science in Medical Sciences program, which has produced 233 graduates and become a national model. Her awards include the Atlanta Business Chronicle Health Care Champion Lifetime Achievement Award (2025).
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Jere W. Morehead President University of Georgia
Jere W. Morehead became the University of Georgia’s 22nd president in 2013. Previously he held other key administrative roles, including senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. Morehead has been a faculty member of the Terry College of Business since 1986, coauthored several books, and published scholarly articles on legal topics ranging from export controls to jury selection. He was an assistant U.S. attorney from 1980 to 1986.
EDUCATION Georgia State University, University of Georgia School of Law (JD) HOMETOWN Lakeland, Florida NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Chief Executive Leadership Award, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District III (2021); William M. Burke Presidential Award for Excellence in Experiential Learning, National Society for Experiential Learning (2019); Josiah Meigs Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Georgia (2001); Teacher of the Year Award, Terry College of Business (1998, 1988); Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, University of Georgia (1995) WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE Never compromise your integrity or trust.
Kathy “Kat” Schwaig President Kennesaw State University
Kathy S. Schwaig became the sixth president of Kennesaw State University in 2022 after serving as interim president. Under her leadership, KSU launched the “Taking Flight” strategic plan, the FLIGHT student success program, and dozens of new academic programs. KSU has also made significant investments in academic and research infrastructure, more than doubled research expenditures, and boosted annual fundraising by more than 300 percent. Schwaig has led KSU’s move to Conference USA and relaunched HatchBridge, a business incubator. Schwaig is also a professor of information systems with research focused on the strategic and ethical implications of computer technology. Additionally, Schwaig is the proud mom of her high school daughter, Emma Grace.
EDUCATION Baylor University (MBA), Johns Hopkins University (MLA), University of South Carolina (PhD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Cobb Chamber of Commerce Mack Henderson Public Service Award (2023), Oscar Burnett Award for Distinguished Achievement in Business from the Morris Brown College Foundation, the Cobb Executive Women’s Glass Ceiling Award, and Atlanta magazine’s Women Making a Mark Award
Victoria Seals President Atlanta Technical College
Victoria Seals became the sixth president of Atlanta Technical College in 2016. Under her leadership, the college has established effective industry partnerships and student success initiatives—boasting a 100 percent job placement rate. Her service and leadership were recognized in 2020 by the Association of Community College Trustees, who named her Southern Region CEO of the Year. The Atlanta Business Chronicle has twice recognized her as one of their Who’s Who in Education and as a Most Admired CEO in 2020. One of Atlanta Business League’s Top 100 Women of Influence, she has received the South Fulton Chamber Educator of the Year and the Year Up Atlanta Urban Empowerment Awards. She has also been honored by the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. President of Atlanta West End Rotary Club, Seals also serves on boards for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation, the Georgia Public Defender Council, Learn for Life Leadership Council, the ATL Airport Chamber, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Horizons Atlanta, the Aerotropolis Atlanta, Work Source Atlanta, and Hands on Atlanta.
EDUCATION Spelman College, University of Georgia (MA, EdS, EdD) HOMETOWN Norwood, Georgia HIDDEN TALENT I am a grill master.
Jagdish N. Sheth Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Business Emory University Goizueta Business School
Jagdish N. Sheth is the Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Business at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. The author or coauthor of numerous books and hundreds of scholarly papers, Sheth is known globally for his work in consumer behavior, relationship marketing, competitive strategy, and geopolitical analysis. His latest book, India’s Road to Transformation: Why Leadership Matters, coauthored with the late Gyanendra Singh, was released in 2024. He has over 60 years of combined experience in teaching and research, including at the University of Southern California, Columbia University, and MIT. Sheth and his wife, Madhu Sheth, established the Sheth Family Foundation to support charities in the U.S. and India. In 2020 Sheth received the Padma Bhushan award, one of the highest civilian honors bestowed by the Indian government. In 2025, Goizueta Business School established the Dr. Jagdish N. Sheth Endowed Professorship in Marketing to honor Sheth as a global marketing visionary.
EDUCATION Loyola College, University of Pittsburgh (MBA, PhD) HOMETOWN Chennai, India WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK I chose the field of marketing and consumer behavior because I was very interested in what motivated consumers to buy certain products and brands.
Paula S. Wallace President and Founder Savannah College of Art and Design
Paula Wallace founded the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1978; and as president has led the university’s expansion to locations in Atlanta and Lacoste, France, and pioneered SCADnow, which provides virtual instruction. Wallace founded the university’s collaborative design studio, SCADpro, and leads one of the foremost community service studios, SCAD SERVE, which harnesses the university’s expertise to address the world’s most pressing social challenges. In 2021, with the opening of the Lofts of Pulaski in Savannah, SCAD SERVE provides affordable workforce housing for frontline workers in its community. Additionally, Wallace created the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the world’s largest university-run film festival. Widely respected as an author, filmmaker, and podcast host, she is also the founder of four teaching museums including the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah, SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, and SCAD FASH Lacoste in France. In 2025, Wallace received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian award in the United States.
Leah Ward Sears Interim President Emory University
Leah Ward Sears, current Emory board of trustees member and former chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, was appointed interim president of Emory University in 2025. Ward Sears has been a part of the Emory community for 48 years, starting as an Emory Law student in 1977, then as an adjunct professor at the school, and for the past 15 years, as a valued member of the board of trustees. Ward Sears, who is now a partner with Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP, has had a distinguished and groundbreaking career in the Georgia judiciary. Mayor Andrew Young appointed her to the City Court of Atlanta in 1982. Three years later, she became the first African American woman to serve as a superior court judge in Georgia. In 1992, Governor Zell Miller appointed her to the Georgia Supreme Court, where she served for 17 years, including four years as chief justice.
EDUCATION Cornell University, Emory University School of Law (JD), University of Virginia School of Law (LLM)
Leocadia I. Zak President Agnes Scott College
Leocadia I. Zak was appointed the ninth president of Agnes Scott College in 2018. Under her leadership, the school has achieved record enrollment and fundraising, launched graduate programs and expanded graduate programs to include those with a focus on medical sciences, established the Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience (SCALE), and been recognized as the most innovative liberal arts college in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Zak has an extensive background in international economic development and international project finance and served as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University School of Law. In 2010 she was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
EDUCATION Mount Holyoke College, Northeastern University School of Law (JD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Business Chronicle Power 10 in Education (2023), YWCA of Greater Atlanta Academy of Women Achievers (2022), INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award (2022, 2021)
HEALTHCARE
Chris Appleton Founder and CEO Art Pharmacy
Chris Appleton is the founder and CEO of Art Pharmacy, a healthcare services company that provides social prescribing services to address the dual mental health and loneliness crises in the United States. Appleton and his work have been featured by The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, CNN, ABC, CBS, NPR, TEDx, Fast Company, and more.
EDUCATION Georgia State University, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management (MBA) HOMETOWN Atlanta NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTSAtlanta Business Chronicle Health Care Champion Award, Americans for the Arts National Emerging Leader Award, Emory Center for Creativity & Arts Community Impact Award, Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40, Georgia Trend 100 Notable Georgians, 2025 Top 40 Innovative Companies in Georgia – TAG Online, World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers, New Leaders Council Alumni Award, 2019 class of Leadership Atlanta, 2014 class of Outstanding Atlanta REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I chose this field because mental health touches everything — our ability to live, connect, and succeed. It’s too important to silo, and too complex to solve through one lens alone.
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Kevin Brown President and CEO Piedmont Healthcare
Kevin Brown joined Piedmont Healthcare as president and CEO in 2013. Through an operating model that places the patient at the center of decision-making, Piedmont has produced outcomes that rival some of the best in the country. Under Brown’s watch, Piedmont has frequently earned more A grades from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit industry watchdog that rates hospitals on quality, than any other system in Georgia. Since 2013, the Piedmont system has quintupled in size, growing from five to 26 hospitals, now serving over 4.5 million Georgians in more than 2,100 locations across the state. During his tenure, net revenues have grown from $1.5 billion to $8.8 billion in fiscal year 2025. Piedmont provided more than $607 million in community impact in fiscal year 2024, expanding access to care and improving the health of those who live in Georgia. He serves on boards for the Buckhead Coalition, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.
EDUCATION University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Arizona State University (MHSA)
Robert H. Bunch President Anthem BlueCross BlueShield of Georgia
Robert Bunch was named president of Anthem BlueCross BlueShield of Georgia in 2022. He joined Anthem, Inc. in 2001 and most recently served as chief operating officer and chief client officer for Anthem National Accounts. Previously, he was the regional vice president of sales and account management, where he was responsible for profitable membership growth for the individual and small group market and the state of Georgia health benefit plan. Throughout his career at Anthem, Bunch has held various leadership positions including sales, account management, and product development; government and regulatory compliance; systems integration; and business migration activity, along with responsibility for various systems and application programming teams. Before coming to Anthem, Bunch was a consultant in the government and public services sector, working with multiple state Medicaid agencies. He also previously worked as an application programmer in the banking and credit card industries.
EDUCATION Columbus College, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University (MBA)
Nkem Chukwumerije, MD President and Executive Medical Director The Southeast Permanente Medical Group
Nkem Chukwumerije, MD, MPH, FACP, serves as president and executive medical director for The Southeast Permanente Medical Group (TSPMG). TSPMG is one of Georgia’s largest multi-specialty medical groups, with more than 1,000 clinicians caring for approximately 325,000 Kaiser Permanente members. Chukwumerije also serves as the national leader in access to care, health equity, and innovations in hospital medicine for the Permanente Medical Groups. Additionally, he serves as president and chair of the board of directors of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas. He is a senior lecturer with the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine and a member of the 2026 class of Leadership Atlanta.
EDUCATION University of Nigeria (MD), UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (MPH) NONPROFITS Faith Alive USA and the Isuochi Progressive Union, organizations providing medical care and support to underserved areas of Nigeria
Douglas Graham, MD, PhD Chief, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Douglas Graham is chief of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. A physician-scientist with clinical expertise in the treatment of leukemia, he has been actively involved in the design of clinical trials for pediatric cancer. One of the drugs developed by Graham’s research team has advanced into clinical trials for children with relapsed and refractory leukemia. He is a past president of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and was recently elected to the Association of American Physicians. As leader of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Graham is committed to developing a comprehensive program that will provide outstanding clinical care for children in Georgia and throughout the Southeast. He is responsible for recruiting cancer and hematology clinicians and researchers who will be able to improve the outcomes for children with cancer and blood diseases.
EDUCATION Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina (MD, PhD) HOMETOWN Carthage, North Carolina HIDDEN TALENT I play the alto saxophone.
Andre Greenwood Market Lead, Georgia Interim CEO Aetna Better Health of Georgia
Andre Greenwood serves as market leader and Georgia interim CEO for Aetna Better Health of Georgia, a diversified, multibillion-dollar healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs. Most recently, he held the role of chief operating officer at Aetna Better Health of Louisiana. He has significant experience in healthcare operations for both the insurance and provider sides of the industry. He previously held the role of vice president of Field Network Management at Centene Corporation. He led the network’s contracting and expansion strategies for Georgia, including identifying and cultivating strategic alliances and building new network models with over 35,000 provider organizations to ensure that the healthcare needs of Centene members were met. Prior to joining Centene he was executive director of Managed Care for WellStar Health System in Atlanta, where he was responsible for 11 hospitals and over 2,500 physicians. He has also held multiple leadership roles with WellCare of Georgia and Humana. Outside of professional interests, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Naima, and their daughters, Ava and Aubree.
EDUCATION Florida A&M University (BS), Georgia State University (MBA)
Gulshan Harjee, MD Cofounder Mosaic Health Center
Following three decades in private practice, Gulshan Harjee cofounded Mosaic Health Center, formerly Clarkston Community Health Center in 2015. Mosaic Health Center is a nonprofit free health clinic serving the immigrant, refugee, and uninsured populations of metro Atlanta. The clinic has since had more than 10,000 patient visits, provided free mammograms, insulin, and dental care to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants, and offered educational experiences to hundreds of area medical and nursing students. Harjee and Mosaic’s executive director Jeremy Cole were Health Equity Leaders of the Year honorees for Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2025 Health Care Champion Awards.
EDUCATION Morehouse School of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine (MD) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK I grew up in a village in Tanzania, a healthcare desert, acres to vaccines could be a challenge, survived deadly cases of malaria, typhoid: It was a realization how fortunate I had been. WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF My 18-year-old self would be very naive. She would want to know not to be afraid to speak your mind, and to hold your cool no matter how urgent a task may be. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT My greatest accomplishment is to have raised my kids to be good human beings and to be community and charitable minded.
Corwin Nathaniel Harper Regional President Kaiser Permanente Georgia
Corwin Nathaniel Harper is the president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia. As regional health plan president, Harper leads the organization’s focus on providing integrated, high-quality healthcare and coverage for more than 327,000 Kaiser Permanente members in Georgia. He has held multiple leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, including senior vice president, medical group administrator, area manager, and director of hospital operations with The Permanente Medical Group. Most recently, Harper served as CEO of Ochsner LSU Health North Louisiana, an integrated academic health system with three acute care hospitals, a behavioral health hospital, and 20 clinics with over 600 students, residents, and faculty. He is also a preceptor for the U.S. Army Baylor Residency Program.
EDUCATION The Citadel, Baylor University (MHA) REASON FOR CHOOSING THIS WORK My desire to serve and to help others gain access to healthcare. My own bout with asthma at an early age ignited a fire in my parents to help shepherd me in the path of healthcare. DE-STRESS AND RELAX Prayer, gospel music, and walking along the beach with my wife of 36 years, Terrye. LESSON LEARNED Honor your mother and father all the days of your life, and your life shall be long. The first commandment with a promise.
Photograph courtesy of individual
John M. Haupert CEO Grady Health System
As CEO of Grady Health System since 2011, John Haupert leads the safety-net healthcare system that serves DeKalb and Fulton Counties and operates the primary Level I trauma center and burn center for metro Atlanta. Previously chief operating officer at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Haupert began his career in healthcare management at Dallas’s Methodist Health System, where he became president of one of the system’s hospitals and executive vice president for corporate services and business development. A 2023 Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO, Haupert was named chair of the board of directors for The Atlanta Opera in 2025.
EDUCATION Trinity University (MS) HOMETOWN Fort Smith, Arkansas NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS 2023 board chair of the American Hospital Association, Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, recipient of the ACHE Regent’s Award, 2018-2019 board chair of the Georgia Hospital Association, former board chair of America’s Essential Hospitals
Jason Hudgins Senior Consultant – Leadership Development Wellstar Health System Lead Pastor Calvary United Methodist Church Atlanta
Jason Hudgins serves as a leadership development senior consultant for Wellstar Health System, contributing to the Coaching Development Program, a strategic initiative designed to enhance leadership capabilities across the organization. His work emphasizes key performance indicators such as retention rates, internal promotions, coach match satisfaction, and behavioral change outcomes. In addition to his corporate leadership work, Hudgins serves as the lead pastor of the 153-year-old historic Calvary United Methodist Church in Atlanta, where he applies his expertise in leadership training to develop church governance models, mentor emerging leaders, and facilitate community engagement initiatives.
EDUCATION University of Louisville, Howard University (MBA) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Pharrell’s Black Ambition Prize – Expert Evaluator, Tony Hsieh Award finalist, 2024 Counter Narrative Project Service Award winner, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Executive Leadership Council Committee, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Social Action Director, Inaugural Truist Inspire Award winner BEST ADVICE RECEIVED At 23, someone here in Atlanta told me something I’ll never forget: “Build a life and not a lifestyle.”
Monica A. Hum, MD CEO Piedmont Rockdale Hospital
Monica Hum is a pioneering colorectal surgeon who became CEO of Piedmont Rockdale Hospital in 2023. She previously served as chief medical officer, successfully improving the hospital’s quality and safety scores. During her time as managing partner of ATL Colorectal Surgery, a specialized practice she founded in 2007, she was the first woman elected as president of the medical staff of Piedmont Atlanta Hospital dating to its founding in 1905. A native of New York, Hum began practicing in Atlanta in 2003 after fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic Florida and general surgery residency at Saint Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital.
EDUCATION Boston University, Emory University Goizueta School of Business (MBA), State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine (MD) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals 2024 Outstanding Woman in Healthcare. The first in Atlanta to perform transanal endoscopic microsurgery in 2008 and first in Georgia to implant an Interstim sacral nerve stimulator for bowel leakage in 2011 WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK During my freshman year in college, my mother quit smoking. One year later, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She died during my senior year.
Donna W. Hyland President and CEO Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Donna Hyland has overseen monumental growth and achievement at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, first as chief financial officer, then as chief operating officer, and now as president and CEO. She was instrumental in the 1998 merger of Egleston Children’s Health Care System and Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center, the additions of Hughes Spalding Hospital, Marcus Autism Center, Center for Advanced Pediatrics and, most recently, the opening of Arthur M. Blank Hospital, creating what is now one of the preeminent and largest pediatric healthcare systems in the country. Under Hyland’s leadership, Children’s and Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics has achieved top-five ranking in federal research grant dollars from the National Institutes of Health since 2018. Hyland is also a Class of 2025 member of YWCA of Greater Atlanta’s Academy of Women Achievers.
EDUCATION Western Kentucky University FIRST JOB An intern for a judge FAVORITE BOOKS Anything on personal growth, either mental or physical FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Mountains or beach WHAT I’D TELL A RECENT GRADUATE Try new experiences and push yourself to keep learning. Build relationships.
Kim H. Jones Executive Director NAMI Georgia
Kim H. Jones is the executive director of NAMI Georgia and, more importantly, the proud mother of a child with a mental health condition. NAMI is the largest grassroots advocacy organization representing people affected by mental health conditions. Jones is also a cofounder of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership. Appointed to the state’s Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Committee by late Speaker of the House David Ralston, her expertise drives policy and legislative reform efforts statewide, including the landmark passage of the Mental Health Parity Act. Previously Jones was part of the senior-level management team of Goodwill of North Georgia. Jones has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, education, training, marketing, and business development.
EDUCATION University of Georgia HOMETOWN Dunwoody, Georgia BEST ADVICE RECEIVED What gets measured gets done.
Kathryn Lawler CEO Saint Joseph’s Health System
Kathryn Lawler is CEO of Saint Joseph’s Health System and Mercy Care, Atlanta’s federally qualified health center. Lawler came to Saint Joseph’s Health System from the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (ARCHI), where she had served as executive director since 2017. She is known for helping both health systems and local organizations remain agile and relevant in their service delivery. With a background that integrates strategic planning, partnerships, and policy, she is implementing a strategy that addresses both the direct needs of clients and communities and social determinants of health.
EDUCATION University of Notre Dame, Harvard University’s J. F. Kennedy School of Government (MPP) NONPROFITS Advisory positions include Atlanta Neighborhood Development; Enterprise Community Partners, Southeastern Council of Advisors; Greenlight Fund, Atlanta Site Review Team; Hope Atlanta, Advisory Council; Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Atlanta Advisory Team
Joon S. Lee, MD CEO Emory Healthcare Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Emory University
Joon S. Lee joined Emory Healthcare as the CEO in July 2023. In July 2025, Emory University unified its leadership under a more streamlined structure, naming Lee executive vice president for Health Affairs of Emory University and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare board of directors, along with continuing his current position as CEO of Emory Healthcare. Lee came to Emory after a 27-year career at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) as a clinician, clinical researcher, academic leader, and physician executive. While there, Lee’s scope of responsibility continuously increased, culminating in his position as the executive vice president, UPMC, and president, UPMC Physician Services. He was responsible for more than 5,200 employed physicians, including all clinical faculty of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and over 3,500 advanced practice providers. As a full-time faculty member, he served as the vice dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
EDUCATION Dartmouth College, Duke University School of Medicine (MD) FAVORITE MOVIEE.T. The Extra-Terrestrial WHY I CHOSE THIS WORK My father is a physician, which drove me to and made me wary of medicine at the same time. While my father’s profession had some influence, I was always interested in science.
Jayne Morgan, MD Vice President of Medical Affairs Hello Heart Owner and Creator The Stairwell Chronicles
Jayne Morgan is a cardiologist and the vice president of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, a digital leader in preventive heart health. Most recently, Morgan was the executive director of Health and Community Education at Piedmont Healthcare where she played a pivotal role in addressing health literacy and disseminating information both within the organization and to external stakeholders. Widely recognized for her exceptional skills in interpreting complex medical data, Morgan created the popular social media series, The Stairwell Chronicles, through which she delivers scientific and medical information in a brief and easy-to-understand format to a multitude of followers. She covers topics from Covid, to cardiology, to women’s health, to clinical trials, and more. A recognized medical expert for several media outlets including CNN and Scripps News, with over 500 media appearances in recent years, she is also an adjunct associate professor at Morehouse School of Medicine.
EDUCATION Spelman College, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MD) HOMETOWN Atlanta FIRST JOB I was a Break Girl at Six Flags Over Georgia. I walked around and gave people on ice cream carts their breaks and filled in while they were away. Then later I got my own ice cream cart to work.
Ketul J. Patel President and CEO Wellstar Health System
Ketul J. Patel was named Wellstar Health System’s president and CEO in 2025 following the retirement of Candice L. Saunders earlier in the year. Patel previously served as CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) and president of the Pacific Northwest Region of CommonSpirit Health, where he was responsible for 12 hospitals, more than 300 patient care locations, and 20,000 team members, including more than 5,600 employed and affiliated providers. Under Patel’s visionary leadership during the global pandemic, two of the Pacific Northwest’s leading healthcare organizations – CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason Health System – merged to form Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in January 2021. VMFH is one of Washington state’s largest premier healthcare providers, and under his leadership, VMFH became the only health system in Washington state to earn all “A” Leapfrog patient safety grades, ranking among the best facilities in the nation.
EDUCATION Johns Hopkins University, University of Pittsburgh School of Business (MBA), University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health (MHA)
Robert Quattrocchi President and CEO Northside Hospital
Robert Quattrocchi is president and CEO of the Northside Hospital health system, which provides care to more than 5.5 million patients annually; Quattrocchi oversees a system reaching across 25 counties with five acute-care hospitals, over 300 outpatient facilities, 4,000 providers, and 32,000 employees. In 2017 the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Quattrocchi one of the area’s Most Admired CEOs, and he was included in a list of the country’s top 100 CEOs in the 2019 Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards. He was also one of the best CEOs for diversity in 2022, ranked by employees of color across large companies, on the career website Comparably. Quattrocchi has been part of Northside Hospital’s senior management team since 1987; prior to assuming the top job in 2004, he served as chief operating officer and executive vice president of finance and administration, chief financial officer, and director of fiscal services.
Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD Executive Director Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Dr. Suresh Ramalingam serves as executive director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Additionally, Ramalingam serves as associate vice president for cancer at Woodruff Health Sciences Center. Ramalingam is past president of the Georgia Society of Oncology and a member of the board of Georgia CORE. He is a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar. The Chennai, India, native’s present research involves developing immune checkpoint inhibitors and improving outcomes for patients with EGFR mutation. He has authored more than 350 scientific publications. He serves as editor-in-chief of Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Additionally, he was named among the Time100 Health 2025.
EDUCATION Kilpauk Medical College, India (MBBS) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Developed new treatment options for lung cancer MOST INSPIRING PERSON Mahatma Gandhi LESSON LEARNED No success is everlasting, and no setback is permanent. FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION Alaska NONPROFIT India Literacy Project
Bassam Tomeh, MD CEO First Medical Care
Bassam Tomeh became the CEO of First Medical Care after acquiring the practice from his mentor, Dr. Gulshan Harjee. Tomeh, whose practice serves refugees and immigrants from Middle Eastern, African, and Asian countries with cultural sensitivity and care, has a special interest in disease prevention and primary care for ages 15 and up. An Atlanta native, Tomeh served as an active voting member on the Emory Healthcare Board of Managers and DeKalb Physicians Hospital Organization board and is an active member and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a member of the National Arab American Medical Association. He was an assistant professor at Mercer University School of Medicine.
EDUCATION Emory University, Medical College of Georgia (MD) INSPIRING PEOPLE My father, Dr. Mohammed Tomeh, and Dr. Gulshan Harjee. These two invaluable public servants taught me that it is vitally important to be an active part of our patients’ lives and that compassion and commitment should be foremost in our daily work. NONPROFITS Al Farooq Masid of Atlanta and RAKSHA, which advocates for the South Asian community
Kathleen E. Toomey, MD Commissioner and State Health Officer Georgia Department of Public Health
As commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, Kathleen E. Toomey oversees 159 county health departments in 18 health districts and helped lead the response to the coronavirus pandemic in Georgia, fostering critical partnerships with hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare organizations, business leaders, the agricultural community, and statewide public health and community organizations. Formerly she was director of Fulton County’s Department of Health and Wellness. She is an epidemiologist and board-certified family practitioner with a long career in national and global public health, including a stint as Botswana country director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
EDUCATION Smith College, Harvard Medical School (MD), Harvard School of Public Health (MPH)
Jonathan Watkins President and CEO City of Hope Atlanta
Jonathan E. Watkins serves as president of City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta, which is part of City of Hope, a world-renowned institution. Under Watkins’ leadership, City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta is bringing many of the most promising and groundbreaking cancer therapies to the local region. Previously, Watkins was CEO of Broward Health Imperial Point in Florida and COO with Kaiser Foundation Hospitals & Health Plan in California and Methodist North Hospital in Tennessee, where he drove strategic growth and daily operations. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and has garnered honors including NAHSE Young Healthcare Executive of the Year and recognition in Legacy Magazine. Active in the community, he serves on multiple boards, including chambers of commerce, the American Cancer Society Georgia Area board, and local youth organizations.
EDUCATION Tennessee State University (MPA) DE-STRESS AND RELAX Popcorn and a family movie with my wife and 7-year-old daughter WHAT I’D TELL MY 18-YEAR-OLD SELF I would tell 18-year-old Jonathan that it’s perfectly fine to outgrow not only clothes, but relationships as well. Doing so will assist him in realizing his full potential and accomplishing his goals.
Sandra L. Wong, MD, MS Dean Emory University School of Medicine Chief Academic Officer Emory Healthcare
An accomplished surgical oncologist and researcher, Sandra L. Wong joined Emory University School of Medicine as dean in March 2024. Wong, who is the first female medical school dean at Emory, also serves as the chief academic officer for Emory Healthcare. Prior to joining Emory, Wong was the chair of the Department of Surgery at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. During her tenure at Dartmouth, she developed an interest in studying and eliminating rural health disparities, and her efforts helped spur the creation of the federally funded Center for Rural Health Care Delivery Science, which provides infrastructure to train junior investigators focused on solving challenges associated with the provision of equitable healthcare. As a surgical oncologist specializing in the management of soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, Wong is among the most widely recognized health services researchers in academic surgery.
EDUCATION University of California Berkeley, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (MD) HOMETOWN Stockton, California FIRST JOB Sold ceramic tile BEST ADVICE RECEIVED Adopt a mindset of curiosity.
LEGENDS
James Curran, MD Curran was formerly dean of Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. Previously, he spent 25 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reaching the rank of assistant surgeon general. In 1981, he was tapped to lead the investigation into the first cases of AIDS. The author of nearly 300 scientific publications, Curran led the CDC’s research in response to the worldwide HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Walter J. Curran Jr., MD Curran is the former executive director of Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, the first and only cancer center in Georgia designated by the National Cancer Institute; Curran was also the first radiation oncologist to serve as director of an NCI-designated cancer center.
William Foege, MD, MPH Considered a titan of epidemiology, Foege was instrumental in the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. At Emory University, he holds the title of Presidential Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Health, in addition to being a Gates Fellow and former Carter Center leader.
David Satcher, MD, PhD A renowned physician, public health leader, and scholar, Dr. David Satcher is best known for serving as the 16th U.S. Surgeon General. Prior to that, he was director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is the founding director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Alana Shepherd Shepherd and her husband Harold cofounded Atlanta’s Shepherd Center in 1975. The facility has grown from a six-bed unit to a world-renowned hospital specializing in research, medical treatment, and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord and brain injuries and other neurological conditions.
Louis W. Sullivan, MD With the exception of his four-year tenure as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which ended in 1993, Sullivan was president of Morehouse School of Medicine for more than 20 years. He also founded the Sullivan Alliance (now part of the Association of American Medical Colleges), which aims to increase the numbers of ethnic and racial minorities in health care, and is chairman of the Georgia Global Health Alliance.
Beverly Tatum A noted scholar, teacher, author, administrator, and race relations expert, Tatum was the ninth president of Spelman College. Tatum is a licensed clinical psychologist with an MA and PhD from the University of Michigan, as well as an MA in religious studies from Hartford Seminary, and is the author of the acclaimed 1997 book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race.
Crowds gathered across the U.S. on Friday to protest immigration enforcement actions. Thousands have taken to the streets in Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and beyond as activists call for a nationwide strike to protest ICE. CBS News’ Ian Lee reports on protests in Minneapolis.
Mary Beth Coke
Cynthia N. Day
Jai Rogers-Thomas
Jack Sawyer
Wendy Stewart
Charles Andros
Mark Buffington
Allyson Eman
JP James
Han Pham
Tiffany Williams Roberts
Meg Blackwood
Deke Cateau
Alicia Doherty
Jai Ferrell
Maria Fundora
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Usher Raymond IV
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Kevin Duvall
Richard Kopelman
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Travis Townsend Jr.
J. Henry Walker IV
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Donald Albright
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Ed Elkins
Mark George
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Kimberly S. Greene
Tori Jackson Hines
Bonnie Holliday
Rosalind “Roz” Brewer
Kim H. Jones
Sandra L. Wong, MD, MS