We love watching the leaders who graduate from our program make big moves and big impact for South Georgia. Serving on boards, advocating for regional issues, creatively collaborating and fervently problem-solving, LEADS alumni are a collective force for change.

Jason Dunn | Class of 2016-2017

For the past five years, Director of Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority Jason Dunn has spent every day focusing on advancing rural Georgia. He saw a need for an economic resurgence in his community and through Jason’s revitalization efforts, vast improvements have been made to Fitzgerald. He certainly has deep roots in rural Georgia, and he was eager to share his story with Georgia’s Rural Center.

2016-2017

Owner,
Atwater Insurance
atwaterinsurance44@gmail.com

mlbennett143@gmail.com

Executive Director,
Camilla Chamber of Commerce
jennifer@camillageorgia.com

CEO,
NEOS Technologies, Inc.
robert.collins@leverageneos.com

President,
Lee County Chamber of Commerce & Development Authority
ldavis@lee.ga.us

Executive Director,
Fitzgerald & Ben Hill Development Authority
jasondunn@fbcda.net

VP, Commercial Lender
Colony Bank
briley.edwards@colonybank.com

Owner,
Finnicum Motor Company
darrel@finnicummotorcompany.com

Retired
Curriculum Director, K-5
arthurford@bellsouth.net

Insurance & Marketing Consultant,
Capital City Strategic Wealth

Director of Rural Studies,
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
sgiles@abac.edu

CEO,
Phoebe Worth Medical Center
kgilman@ppmh.org

Key Account Manager,
Georgia Power Company
bdgrogan@southernco.com

Producer,
Houston & Associates Inc.
hayden@houstonai.com

President,
Webb Properties, Inc.
wahancock@webbproperties.com

Owner,
Café Campesino Coffee Roastery

Owner,
Hennesy Insurance Agency
jeff@hennesyinsurance.com

Project Manager, Region 8
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Ahurt@georgia.org

CFO/COO,
Horizons Community Solutions
jennifer.johnston@horizonscommunity.org

Owner,
Mary Ligon, etc.
Mary@maryligonetc.com

Business Development Director,
Cooper & Company General Contractors
betsy@coopergc.com

Retired
Director of Communications & Marketing

Vice President,
Mobley Gin Company
jmmobley03@gmail.com

Sergeant,
Georgia State Patrol
rpeck@gsp.net

Executive Director,
Sylvester-Worth County Economic Development Authority
karen@swcountychamber.com

President & CEO,
Georgia CEO
matt@georgiaceo.com

Director of Sales
Southern Valley
dug@southernvalley.us

GRA Outreach Coordinator,
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
tsimpson75@protonmail.com

President,
Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce
tbwillis@moultriechamber.com

Supervising U.S. Probation Officer,
U.S. Probation Office
kknwillis@gmail.com

Director,
Nashville Main Street
nashvillemainstreet@gmail.com

2017-2018

Manager,
Standard Discount Corporation
quentinbates@gmail.com

Main Street Manager/DDA Director,
City of Cairo
ablakley@cairocity.net

Economic Development Coordinator
Crisp County Industrial Development Council
christybozeman@crispidc.com

Chief Operating Officer,
Albany Area Primary Healthcare, Inc.
Clifton.Bush@aaphc.org

Administrative Assistant to Academic Dean,
Andrew College
kirstencochran@andrewcollege.edu

Administrative Program Director,
Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce
chamber@douglasga.org

Owner,
Sweetly, Shealy
shealydixon@gmail.com

Mayor,
City of Cairo
gainorforga@gmail.com

Downtown Manager,
City of Albany
lgaskins@albanyga.gov

Economic Development Project Manager
Coweta County Development Authority
mgiddens@coweta.ga.us

Vice President,
Southwest Georgia Farm Credit
MHarris@SWGAFarmCredit.com

Executive Assistant to the CEO,
Southwest Georgia Oil Company
Adrienne.harrison@inland-stores.com

Membership Services Manager,
Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce
spersing@gwinnettchamber.org

Lender/Assistant VP,
Colony Bank
jhester@colonybank.com

Wellness Center Coordinator,
Southern Regional Technical College
kholt@southernregional.edu

Project Manager,
Southwest Georgia Project
whitneekay@gmail.com

General Manager,
The Fred Taylor Company, Inc. & Interstate Warehouse Services
jbligon@bellsouth.net

Vice President,
JCI Contractors
jloyd@jcicontractors.com

Lecturer,
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
alukemorgan@abac.edu

Director of Member Services,
One Sumter
ivy@onesumter.org

Community Support Specialist,
Georgia Family Connection Partnership
roliver@gafcp.org

President,
Royce’s Towing & Recovery, Inc.
Larry@roycestowing.com

Project Manager,
LRA Constructors, Inc.
JakeReese@lraconstructors.com

Board Member,
Grady County Board of Education
lb.register916@gmail.com

Finance Director,
Randolph County Board of Commissioners
rcbocassistant@gmail.com

Loan Officer/Network Security Administrator,
Bank of Alapaha
tschultz@bankofalapaha.com

Service Manager, 
SafeAire Heating & Cooling
jsiskey@gmail.com

Owner,
Broadleaf Trucking
steadman@broadleaftrucking.com

Retired
neesawilliams@mediacombb.net

Assistant Dean,
Wiregrass Technical College
michael.williams@wiregrass.edu

COO/Co-Owner,
Innovative Senior Solutions
jetwright05@hotmail.com

2018-2019

Dean, Stafford School of Business
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
relad@abac.edu

Principal,
Marion Academy (Alabama)
marionacademy@hotmail.com

Executive Director,
New Horizons Habitat for Humanity
loriclmns@aol.com
lgadson@newhorizonshabitat.org

Field Engineer,
Grady Electric Membership Corporation (EMC)
t.gainous@gradyemc.com

Building Services Supervisor,
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
shedrick@uga.edu

Retired
(North Carolina)

Program Services Director,
Moultrie Chamber of Commerce
chatcher@moultriechamber.com

Executive Director,
Appling County Development Authority

Director,
Valdosta Main Street/Central Valdosta Development Authority
ehill@valdostacity.com

Talent Acquisition Partner,
Phoebe Putney Health System
savannahrhughes@gmail.com

Vice President/Branch Manager,
Colony Bank
amber.jenkins@colonybank.com

Marketing Consultant
anna.r.ligon@gmail.com

Business Consultant,
UGA Small Business Development Center
robmartin@georgiasbdc.org

donlmeeks@gmail.com

Broker/Owner,
Premier Group Realty
rollinsm@premiergrouprealty.com

Coordinator of Development,
Andrew College
courtneymilliron@andrewcollege.edu

Manager/Instructor,
Camilla Gym and Tan
kgnoble@valdosta.edu

Vice President/Regional Lending Manager,
Ag Georgia Farm Credit
jpeters@aggeorgia.com

Local Manager,
Georgia Power Company
llporter@southernco.com

Director of Library Services/Educational & Technology Coordinator,
Andrew College
mckenzieragan@andrewcollege.edu

Administrative Assistant for Development & Public Relations,
Andrew College
hallahsauls@andrewcollege.edu

President, Douglas-Coffee County EDA
mseale@douglasga.org

President,
New Hire Solutions
landis@newhiresolutions.net

President/Owner,
Shutters Plus, Inc.
chadwarbington@shuttersplus.com

2019-2020

Market Analyst,
Webb Properties, Inc.
fbird@webbproperties.com

Assistant Vice President,
Family Bank
kblackburn@familybankonline.com

Editor,
THBoyd Communications
thressea@thboydcomm.com

City Manager,
City of Cairo, GA
jbrown@cairocity.net

Fred Taylor Company, Inc.
TBrown@FredTaylorCompany.com

Assistant Professor of Respiratory Therapy,
Andrew College
kathrynbrown@andrewcollege.edu

Assistant Professor of Leadership,
Andrew College
malanieburnett@andrewcollege.edu

Director, Agricultural Technology
Georgia Centers of Innovation
CChammoun@Georgia.org

Superintendent,
Sumter County Schools
tchoates@sumtercountyschools.org

Coordinator,
Sylvester Worth County Family Connection
ldylinski@cityofsylvester.com

Partner, Account Executive,
Denham Edwards Forshee, Ins.
wedwards@definsure.com

Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations,
Albany State University
AL.Fleming@asurams.edu

Vice President and Chief Development Officer,
South Georgia Medical Center
hilary.gibbs@sgmc.org

Downtown Development Authority Director,
City of Bainbridge
amandag@bainbridgecity.com

Councilman,
Tifton City Council
Mim’s Kids
collinstiftonga@gmail.com

Commissioner,
Ben Hill County Commission
hope.harmon@benhillcounty-ga.gov

Department Head / Associate Professor,
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
wharrison@abac.edu

Regional Manager, Tifton Office
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
tholmes@gachamber.com

Director, Mainstreet and Downtown Development Authority
City of Douglas
dhughes@douglasga.org

Transportation & Environmental Director,
Southern Georgia Regional Commission
hullcorey@gmail.com

courtneysalapaking@icloud.com

Mainstreet & Marketing Director
Cairo Mainstreet
alacy@cairocity.net

Financial Services Representative,
Strategic Wealth Group
joshualovett@financialguide.com

Dean of Student Affairs,
Andrew College
jamesmccoy@andrewcollege.edu

Business Development Manager,
IFCO Seedlings
pmobley@ifcoseedlings.com

English Instructor,
South Georgia Technical College
ravenep@gmail.com

Director of Sales and Marketing,
Wild Adventures Theme Park
ppearson@wildadventures.com

AVP of Human Resources,
Phoebe Sumter Medical Center
wpeterson@phoebehealth.com

Owner,
Georgia Grown Citrus, LLC
lindylamarsavelle@gmail.com

Agency Director,
Ascend Inbound
anne@ascendinbound.com

Coordinator,
Lee County Family Connection
patsy@leecountyfamilyconnection.org

Main Street Manager,
City of Sylvester
Ksingletary@cityofsylvester.com

HR Specialist and Executive Assistant,
Innovative Senior Solutions
allison.stewart97@yahoo.com

President/CEO,
Ocilla-Irwin Chamber of Commerce
ocillachamber@windstream.net

AVP of Program Development,
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
joe.sumner@wiregrass.edu

Host,
The Game Changers
thegamechangerswithangela@gmail.com

Executive Director,
Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority
randolphcountychamber@gmail.com

CEO & Partner,
Southern Point Staffing
bwilson@spscareer.com

2020-2021

Archway Professional,
Colquitt Archway Partnership
dawg7@uga.edu

Work-Based Learning Coordinator/
Career Counselor
Cairo High School
w.brannen@grady.k12.ga.us

Assistant Supervisor of Cemeteries,
City of Valdosta
maestrobraswell@gmail.com

SW Regional Director,
Georgia Power Company
jabrownl@southernco.com

CEO / Fashion Designer,
T31 Activewear
elena@tepuyactivewear.com

Marketing & Public Relations Director,
Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority
jcatlett@vlpra.com

Director of Compliance,
Colquitt County Board of Commissioners
justin.cox@ccboc.com

Executive Director,
Fitzgerald Ben Hill Chamber of Commerce
melissa.dark@fitzgeraldchamber.org

Talent Resource Coordinator,
New Hire Solutions
chandler@newhiresolutions.net

President,
Adel-Cook County Chamber of Commerce
hrgreen604@gmail.com

Lender/Officer,
Planters and Citizens Bank
vance@pcbank.net

Communications Coordinator,
Colquitt Regional Medical Center
jordanhammack@colquittregional.com

Assistant Director,
ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture
sfhand@abac.edu

Chief Executive Officer,
Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy
chris.hatcher@4cacademy.org

CEO/Executive Director,
United Way of Colquitt County
caroline@uwccga.org

Coordinator of Family Services / Operations Manager,
New Horizons Habitat for Humanity
ejackson@newhorizonshabitat.org

Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology,
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
eric.larson@abac.edu

Market President,
Peoples South Bank
joseph_magaddino@yahoo.com

Chief Executive Officer,
Tift College and Career Academy
tmark@tiftschools.com

Federation Manager, 2nd District
Georgia Farm Bureau
KAmurray@gfb.org

President,
ANS Signs, Inc.
chris@anssigns.com

Assistant Branch Manager,
Ameris Bank
summer.richmond@amerisbank.com

Funeral Director,
Barnum Funeral Home
darrellsabbs@gmail.com

Founder,
K.E.Y.S. to Transformation
jsinclair@keystotransformation.org

Vice President,
Adams Exterminators
bridges@adams-ext.com

Chief Information Officer,
Planters First Bank
rslade@bankpfb.com

Executive Director,
Greater Valdosta United Way
msmith@unitedwayvaldosta.org

AVP for Advancement,
Georgia Southwestern State University
stephen.snyder@gsw.edu

Senior VP of Operations,
Phoebe Putney Health System
tsullivan@phoebehealth.com

Tri County Ready Mix
knwall@live.com

Associate Director for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving,
Valdosta State University
emwall@valdosta.edu

Chief Executive Officer,
Ignite College and Career Academy
dgilman@sumterschools.org

2021-2022 | SGL 2.0

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Elena Carne
Rob Collins
Renata Elad
William Hancock
Eric Larson
Patsy Shirley
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Bridges Sinyard
Michael Smith
Andrea Ward
Tommie Beth Willis
Brianna Wilson

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