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

CALL US

229.245.4377 or 229.219.3527

EMAIL US

apply@SGLeads.org

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/southgeorgialeads

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