2025-2026
Harnessing the talent, resources and passion around key issues in South Georgia, we celebrate the efforts of our Alumni-Mentor Teams to identify solutions in workforce development, community & regional capacity, and health & wellness across South Georgia.
South GeorgiaLEADS 2.0 (SGL 2.0) was a call to action for SGL alumni from our first five years of programming (2016-2021). Bringing together alumni to address real issues facing South Georgia in an action-oriented approach is a first of its kind for leadership development and alumni engagement in Georgia. One of SGL’s original objectives, this approach offers the opportunity to make an impact in the region in which we live, work, and call home.
SGL 2.0 represents a “capstone experience,” that is robust, ambitious, and nimble in its intent. Guided by the leadership development expertise of the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia and with regional support from Valdosta State University’s Center for South Georgia Regional Impact, South GeorgiaLEADS 2.0 is catalyst for change in the region.
The purpose of South GeorgiaLEADS 2.0 is to create action around South Georgia’s most pressing issues and challenges by:
- Building on SGL’s values to establish robust, multi-faceted teams to address the regions greatest needs from among SGL alumni, Board members and key stakeholders;
- Identifying dynamic and cross-functional solutions that link assets and resources holistically across South Georgia;
- Utilizing strategic action plans and leveraging implementation partners to go beyond the program to make an impact where it is most needed; and
- Committing to sustainability and advocacy on behalf of the region.
Keetra Barnes
Worth County
Kayla Burns
Ben Hill County
Orson Burton
Dougherty County
Timothy Craig
Lowndes County
Jennifer Culpepper
Tift County
Pranell Freeman
Early County
Channtee Gamble
Coffee County
Cherysh Green-Caldwell
Terrell County
Tonia Hendricks
Ware County
Chris Hewitt
Crisp County
Kristi Hill
Lowndes County
Chris Hughes
Lowndes County
Miriam Jordan
Tift County
LaSonja Linder-Bentley
Dougherty County
Chelsea Lindsey
Thomas County
Keith Lyle
Decatur County
Aaron Matthews
Lowndes County
Michelle McBroom
Early County
Kayla McDaniel
Turner County
Colton Mims
Sumter County
Benjie Nobles
Colquitt County
Nicholas Perry
Lowndes County
Jennifer Price
Brooks County
Lindsay Ray
Lowndes County
Logan Seagroves
Ben Hill County
Andrew Sheffield
Miller County
John Waters
Cook County
Dana Watson-Green
Dougherty County
Jessica Zurheide
Lee County
2025-2026 Schedule
2025-2026 RLI Class Dates
Thursday & Friday, August 7-8 | Kick-Off Retreat
Sylvester, GA (Worth County)
Understanding Regional Leadership and Its Importance to the Future of South Georgia
Friday, September 5
Albany, GA (Dougherty County)
Selling Your Message: Authenticity & Communication as Essential Leadership Tools
Thursday, October 1
Tifton, GA (Tift County)
Rural Prosperity Summit
Friday, November 7
Nashville, GA (Berrien County)
Thinking & Acting in a Regional Context: How the Ag Economy Continues to Drive South Georgia & the State
Friday, January 16
Douglas, GA (Coffee County)
Multi-Generational Tourism: More Than an Economic Development Strategy
Monday & Tuesday, February 2-3
Atlanta, GA
Getting to Know the Legislative & Policy Influencers of South Georgia: What Regional Leaders Need to Know
Friday, March 6 | Graduation
Valdosta, GA (Lowndes County)
Leadership, Responsibility & Legacy: Empowering What Comes Next
South GeorgiaLEADS © 2022-2025 | Site Design by J. Dell Advancement Group

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