Speakers

National and regional experts address diverse topics, including ingredients of a successful region, community collaboration, transportation, water, land use, education and economic and social trends.

Speakers for 2011 (PDF)

Regional Leadership Institute 2011 speakers included: 

Hon. Stacey Abrams,
Representative & House Minority Leader
Georgia General Assembly

Hon. Buzz Ahrens
Chairman
Cherokee County Board of Commissioners         

Mr. Mike Alexander
Research Division Chief
Atlanta Regional Commission    

Ms. Renay Blumenthal
Sr. VP of Public Policy
Metro Atlanta Chamber                                     

Hon. Mike Bodker
Mayor
City of Johns Creek                                        

Mr. Bill Bolling
Executive Director
Atlanta Community Food Bank

Ms. Anita Brown Graham,
Director
North Carolina Institute for Emerging Issues       

Mr. Adam Bruns
Managing Editor
Site Selection Magazine

Ms. Helen Butler
Executive Director
Coalition for the People’s Agenda

Mr. Jeff Dickerson
President
Dickerson Communications

Mr. Steve Dolinger
President
Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education

Hon. Burrell Ellis
CEO
DeKalb County

Hon. Rich Golick
Representative
Georgia General Assembly

Mr. Jim Hartzfeld
Managing Director
InterfaceRAISE

Mr. Matt Hauer
Public Service Associate
Carl Vinson Institute of Government

Mr. Harry Hayes
Sr. Public Service Associate
Carl Vinson Institute of Government     

Mr. Wayne Hill
Marketing Executive
Moreland Altobelli Associates

Mr.  Doug Hooker
VP & District Director, Southern States
ATKINS

Hon. Bucky Johnson
Mayor
City of Norcross                               

Ms. Maureen Kelly
Business & Community Liaison, Aging Division
Atlanta Regional Commission

Ms. Shelley Lauten
President
Myregion.org

Mr. Brian Leary
President & CEO
Atlanta BeltLine Inc.                                       

Mr. Craig Lesser
Managing Partner
Pendleton Consulting   

Hon. Ron Littlefield
Mayor
City of Chattanooga, Tennessee              

Mr. Todd Long
Director of Planning
Georgia Department of Transportation 

Mr. Tim Lowe
CEO
Lowe Engineers                               
               
Mr. Nick Masino
VP of Economic Development
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
                               
Hon. BJ Mathis
Chairman
Henry County Board of Commissioners

Hon. Sam Olens
Attorney General
State of Georgia                                                              

Mr. Dan Reuter
Land Use Division Chief
Atlanta Regional Commission    

Ms. Maria Saporta
Journalist/Columnist
Atlanta Business Chronicle/Saporta Report                         

Ms. Pat Stevens
Environmental Planning Division Chief
Atlanta Regional Commission
               
Hon. Curt Thompson
Senator
Georgia General Assembly         

Dr. Roger Tutterow
Professor of Economics
Mercer University          
                                               
Mr. Mike Worley
Community Development Manager
Georgia Power Company