GEORGIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Atlanta Regional Commission
Job Titles:
- Chief Product Officer at Equifax
Cecilia Mao is Chief Product Officer at Equifax, with a mission of driving new product innovation as the center of the company's business strategy. She leads teams in global data, analytics, decisioning and delivery platforms and the product community across Equifax.
Before joining Equifax, Cecilia was Vice President of Product at Oracle Data Cloud. She led teams in business strategy, product management and delivery for consumer and digital identity resolution, data management platform, consumer behavior analytics platforms delivered through partner data marketplaces. Prior to Oracle, Cecilia held product management roles on decision and analytics products from originations, account management, and collections and recovery for over a decade at FICO and Verisk Analytics. She has deep experience in accelerating revenue through new products and solutions, driving large-scale organizational change, and anticipating market dynamics to create new products and segments.
Cecilia is on the board of Women in Technology (WIT) empowering girls and women to excel in STEAM. Cecilia is also in the Operator Council for f7 Ventures, seed fund supporting women and underrepresented founders.
Cecilia holds a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of California, Berkeley. Cecilia was born in Shanghai, China and grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Relations Manager at the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation
Chad Michael Nash is the Strategic Relations Manager at the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, where he is dedicated to enhancing the organization's impact through strategic partnerships, resource development and stakeholder engagement. His work focuses on bridging the gap between the public sector, academia and the business world to foster inclusive innovation.
With a rich background spanning over a decade of experience in the philanthropic sector, Chad has cultivated a diverse skillset through roles that have significantly contributed to community development and organizational growth. His tenure at The UPS Foundation as a Social Impact Specialist saw him leading collaborative efforts with key nonprofit partners, organizing large-scale volunteer events and facilitating the distribution of over $60 million in grants each year. Before this, his role at Park Pride involved mobilizing Atlanta's business community to support local parks, securing substantial funding and sponsorship for community initiatives. His strategic contributions at EARTH University as the Annual Fund Manager led to a more than 200% increase in direct mail revenue, supporting sustainable agricultural education across Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean.
Chad's professional journey began at Berry College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and established the Save a Student Scholarship Fund, providing vital financial aid to students in need. This initiative has supported over 130 students to date and remains a cornerstone of the college's fundraising efforts. Chad's commitment to his alma mater continues through his active engagement in the alumni council, leadership in career planning seminars and mentorship in the Young Alumni Partner Program, a mentorship program he helped to found in 2015. In 2020, Chad was recognized as the school's Outstanding Young Alumnus.
In his spare time, Nash enjoys volunteering with community organizations. He has served on the planning committee for the Atlanta March for Science, advocated throughout Georgia to increase awareness and support for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Amendment, and has spoken before Atlanta City Council in support of enhancing Atlanta's Tree Protection Ordinance.
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Job Titles:
- Board Chair, President and CEO, Southern Company
- Member of the Board of Directors of Essential Utilities, Inc
Prior to his current role, Chris Womack served as executive vice president and president of external affairs for Southern Company where he led overall external positioning and branding efforts including the company's public policy strategies and oversaw the company's governmental and regulatory affairs, corporate communication initiatives and other external and strategic business engagements.
A native of Greenville, Alabama, Womack joined Southern Company in 1988 and has held several leadership positions within Southern Company and its subsidiaries. He has served as executive vice president of external affairs at Georgia Power and senior vice president and senior production officer of Southern Company Generation, where he was responsible for coal, gas, and hydro generation for Georgia Power and Savannah Electric. Womack also served as senior vice president of human resources and chief people officer at Southern Company, as well as senior vice president of public relations and corporate services at Alabama Power.
Prior to joining Southern Company, Womack worked on Capitol Hill for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC. He served as a legislative aide for former Congressman Leon E. Panetta and as staff director for the Subcommittee on Personnel and Police for the Committee on House Administration.
Womack is a member of the board of directors of Essential Utilities, Inc. He currently chairs the board of the East Lake Foundation, is on the national board of The First Tee and is the incoming chair of the board for the Alliance to Save Energy. Womack has chaired the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau board and the Atlanta Sports Council. He has also chaired the board for Communities in Schools of Georgia and served as a member of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta board.
He has received numerous honors, including the Johnny Morrow Endowment Foundation "Man of the Year" (1996); SCLC Leadership Award (1998); Distinguished Alumni, Western Michigan University (2003); Black Enterprise 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America (2012) and Black Enterprise Magazine's 75 Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America (2005). He also received the Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young Award for Public Service (2007); the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award (2010); the Black Enterprise/Porsche Intelligent Performers Award (2010); the National Award of Merit from Alpha Phi Alpha (2011); and Let Us Make Man Community Service Award (2019). He is a member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2000 and the Leadership Birmingham class of 1990.
He holds a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University and a master's degree from The American University. He completed the Stanford Executive Program in 2001 and is currently pursuing his doctorate degree in political science at Clark Atlanta University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Growth Officer
- Board Vice Chair, Chief Growth Officer, Inspire Brands
Christian Charnaux serves as Chief Growth Officer of Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 4,700 Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Rusty Taco locations worldwide.
As Chief Growth Officer, Charnaux is responsible for identifying and integrating strategic additions to Inspire's brand portfolio as well as developing emerging brands.
Charnaux is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a Bachelor's of Arts degree, with Highest Distinction, in History and Political Science and was a Morehead Scholar. He also received an MBA, with Distinction, from Harvard Business School.
Job Titles:
- Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs
- Commissioner, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Christopher Nunn was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in 2017. He leads the State's community development efforts to support local leaders in their efforts to build strong, vibrant communities. DCA has a broad reach that includes comprehensive planning, safe and affordable housing, downtown development, community infrastructure, and economic development finance.
Prior to DCA, Commissioner Nunn led a regional professional services firm as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he was responsible for all business aspects of the 150-person firm, including strategic planning and growth. Previously, he spent 15 years as a business consultant with two global firms, Arthur Andersen and Russell Reynolds Associates, focused on strategic planning, operational improvement, leadership development, and executive recruiting.
A native of Perry, Georgia, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University with a B.A. in Political Science. He earned his Master's degree in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Commissioner Nunn serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Wesley Woods, and he serves on the Boards of Advisors for the Robert T. Jones, Jr. Scholarship Trust at Emory University and the Center for Family Business at Kennesaw State University. He and his family are also active members of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
Commissioner Nunn and his wife, Nancy, have two children and live in Atlanta.
Job Titles:
- Founder and CEO of Angelle Consulting
Claire Angelle is the Founder and CEO of Angelle Consulting, a boutique PR and consultancy firm founded in 2018, with extensive international experience working with government agencies, influencers and companies large and small.
Job Titles:
- Workforce Development Manager
Clarence Anthony Jr. is serving as the inaugural Workforce Development Program Manager for the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation. His goal is to develop initiatives that engage current and emerging talent, and the underserved/unserved in capitalizing on their strengths and developing new skills to build a strong workforce within the state of Georgia.
Clarence has 12 years of experience in higher education, working in career services and student affairs. Prior to joining the partnership, he served as the Assistant Director of Graduate Career Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he led the strategy and execution of career services for masters and PhD students at Tech, and he also managed the graduate internship program-the largest co-op/internship program at the graduate level in the nation. Prior to working at Tech, Clarence worked at the University of Michigan (U-M) where he served as a Career Coach working with student-athletes, racial minorities, and graduate students. He later served as the Coordinator of Graduate Student Advancement for U-M and is responsible for brainstorming and execution career service offerings that serve graduate students.
Clarence has an entrepreneurial mindset that motivates him to remain curious, continuously improve, and to devise solutions to address pain points. Further, Clarence is a strong proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Clarence holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Florida, a Master of Arts in psychological counseling from Columbia University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in counseling and counselor education from the University of Florida. Currently, Clarence is enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In his free time, Clarence enjoys the artistic events that take place around metro-Atlanta, sports (baseball, football, hockey, basketball, and formula 1), and spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Financial Officer for Cox Enterprises
Dallas Clement is President and Chief Financial Officer for Cox Enterprises, a leading broadband, automotive services and media company with nearly $20 billion in annual revenues and nearly 50,000 employees worldwide.
He is responsible for the company's treasury, financial reporting and control, tax, audit, strategy and corporate development, and financial planning and analysis functions. He also oversees sustainability operations, information technology, risk management, government affairs and legal.
Previously, Clement served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Cox Automotive, the largest automotive marketplace and leading provider of software solutions to auto dealers throughout the U.S. He led all finance, legal, real estate, technology, strategy and corporate development functions across Cox Automotive's financial services, wholesale auctions, digital media, software-as-a-service and international businesses. In addition, Clement had accountability for Cox Automotive's financial services unit, NextGear Capital. Prior to the formation of Cox Automotive, Clement served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Autotrader Group for three years.
Clement also spent 20 years at Cox Communications, where he held a variety of roles, including executive vice president and chief strategy and product management officer.
In 2004, he received the National Cable Television Association Vanguard Award for Young Leadership. He serves on the boards of Truist Financial Corporation, Atlanta Beltline Partnership, Technology Association of Georgia, Caffeine.tv, Atlanta Esports Ventures, Junior Achievement of Georgia and A+ Squash.
Clement received a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and economics from Harvard College and a master's degree in engineering economic systems from Stanford University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Association County Commissioners
Job Titles:
- Founding Director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation
- Founding Executive Director, Partnership for Inclusive Innovation
Debra Lam is the Founding Director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a statewide public-private partnership committed to investing in innovative solutions for shared economic prosperity. She continues to lead smart communities and urban innovation work at Georgia Tech.
Prior to this, she served as Pittsburgh's inaugural Chief of Innovation & Performance where she oversaw all technology, sustainability, performance, and innovation functions of city government. Before that, she was a management consultant at a global engineering and design firm, Arup. She has received various awards, including being named one of the top 100 most influential people in digital government by Apolitcal.
She has worked and lived in the United Kingdom, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of California, Berkeley, Debra serves on the board of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and was most recently appointed by the U.S Department of Commerce to the Internet of Things Advisory Board.
Job Titles:
- Student Engagement Manager
Dr. Cody M. Cocchi (co-key) serves the state of Georgia as the Student Engagement Manager with the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation. Dr. Cocchi is a Georgia native, received all his education in Georgia, and is enthusiastic about facilitating high-quality, collaborative experiences for students to live, grow, and thrive within the state.
As the Student Engagement Manager with the Partnership, Cody acts as an innovation catalyst for all Georgia communities by supporting student internships through the signature program, the PIN Summer Internship. By placing the best and brightest students with organizations throughout the state and region, these communities and organizations have an opportunity to innovate, build capacity, and impact the lives of those they serve.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Dr. Cocchi served the Golden Isles and surrounding coastal counties while working with the College of Coastal Georgia. Cody worked collaboratively with students, faculty, and community partner agencies to aid the College's mission in support of "every student, every time" through service-learning, undergraduate research, and developing a competency-based student engagement program, Endeavor.
Cody is an extremely positive lifelong learner who is enthusiastic about helping people make their lives better. He is a firm believer that mutually beneficial partnerships, that provide students experience while helping organizations build capacity to reach their internal and external goals, are critical growing opportunities for all involved.
Dr. Cocchi earned his Doctorate in leadership from Valdosta State University, Master of Arts in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Georgia State University. Cody also serves on multiple boards and committees that contribute to the well-being of the local and state-wide communities. Outside interests include playing ice hockey, attending sporting and cultural events, gardening/landscaping, going to the beach, and spending time with his lovely wife and two dogs, Elvis and Gemma.
Job Titles:
- Investor
- Managing Partner, Panoramic Ventures and Co - Founder & Executive Chairman, Pindrop
Dr. Paul Judge is an entrepreneur and investor based in Atlanta, Georgia. He has cofounded three companies that were acquired and has invested in over 60 tech-enabled companies. This economic development work has helped create over 1,000 jobs. He is currently Co-Founder & Partner of TechSquare Labs and Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Pindrop. Pindrop's voice security technology protects some of the largest financial institutions and enterprises in the world and has received over $200 million of venture capital funding. TechSquare Labs is a company building studio and venture fund based in Atlanta.
Previously Judge was cofounder of Luma Home that was acquired by a Fortune 500 in 2018. Judge was also cofounder of Purewire, a web security company, that was acquired by Barracuda in 2008. Judge served as Chief Research Officer at Barracuda through its billion dollar IPO in 2013. Prior to this, Judge was Chief Technology Officer of CipherTrust, a leader in email security, that was acquired by Secure Computing for $270 million in 2006. Judge is the lead inventor on over 30 patents.
Judge has received many awards including being named to Fortune Magazine's "40 Under 40" list, MIT's Technology Review Magazine's "Top 100 Innovators under 35," Atlanta Business Chronicle's "40 Under 40" list, Atlanta Business League's Trailblazer Award, Black Enterprise's "50 Most Powerful Players Under 40," and InfoWorld's "Top 25 CTOs." Judge has served on the advisory board for Georgia Tech's College of Engineering, Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), and Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC). He is a member of the 2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows and the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Job Titles:
- Board Chair Emeritus, President Emeritus and Regents Professor
G.P. "Bud" Peterson served as the 11th president of the Georgia Institute of Technology from April 1, 2009 to August 31, 2019. He led the campus wide development of a 25-year strategic plan, which has served as an important framework for many of the advancements and accomplishments during his tenure.
Before joining Georgia Tech, Peterson served as chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
A distinguished scientist, he was appointed in 2008 by President George W. Bush, and again in 2014 by President Barack Obama, to serve as a member of the National Science Board, which oversees the NSF and advises the President and Congress on national policy related to science and engineering research and education.
Peterson earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, a second bachelor's degree in mathematics, and a master's degree in engineering, all from Kansas State University. He earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Val, have four adult children, two of whom are Georgia Tech alumni, and three grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Founding Board Member, Partnership for Inclusive Innovation
A former professional baseball player and successful entrepreneur, Geoff Duncan was elected Georgia's Lieutenant Governor in November of 2018.
Geoff graduated from Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta where he met his wife, Brooke. Geoff and Brooke both attended the Georgia Institute of Technology where Geoff was a scholarship pitcher. After a successful career at Georgia Tech, Geoff was drafted by the Florida Marlins' organization. Geoff spent six seasons playing baseball in the minor leagues, advancing as high as AAA before a shoulder injury forced his retirement in the early 2000s.
After retiring from baseball, Geoff and his wife Brooke started a small marketing firm in their living room. The company experienced tremendous success which allowed Geoff and Brooke to sell the business and move on to multiple other entrepreneurial ventures. Geoff most recently served as the CEO of a health technology startup.
Geoff's faith inspired him to a life of leadership and prompted his upstart run for political office. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2012. During his time in office he authored several important pieces of legislation. These include HB 749-The Cargo Theft Act, HB152-Michael's Law and most recently SB258- the Rural Hospital Tax Credit.
Geoff and Brooke are married and have three sons: Parker (17), Bayler (13), and Ryder (9). Geoff has coached 23 different youth sports teams, and also leads a weekly bible study with his wife Brooke. The Duncans attend Browns Bridge Community Church, an affiliate of North Point Community Church.
Job Titles:
- Commissioner, Technical College System
Job Titles:
- Economic Opportunity Manager
With more than 10 years of extensive experience in marketing, branding, project management and most notably, economic development - Jamal Lewis is known to drive business results, enact positive change and processes, and most importantly be a resource to help create and prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
A strategic problem solver driven by the desire to improve access to resources in underserved communities, Jamal's current role as Economic Opportunity Manager for the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation at Georgia Tech allows him to help create spaces and opportunities for those who are often under-resourced. Understanding that inclusion is an imperative struggle, Jamal is focused on igniting and equipping current and future leaders with the capital, partnerships, and resources conducive to business success.
Before joining Georgia Tech, Jamal served as Director of Business Development for the Henry County Development Authority where he was successful in attracting $500 million in investments and 2,706 jobs, and created processes designed to develop new business opportunities. Prior to this role, he served as a Project Manager on the Corporate Solutions and Cyber Security team at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Marketing Manager in GDEcD's Marketing and Communications division, and Marketing and Advertising Manager for Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.
Throughout each of these roles, Jamal has maintained the belief that partnerships and equitable access are crucial. He has been a longtime advocate for entrepreneurship, and economic and community development and affordable housing, all of which influence his professional endeavors.
Jamal earned both his Masters of Public Administration and Bachelors of Sports Management and Marketing from Kennesaw State University and is an active member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and Urban League of Greater Atlanta - Young Professionals.
Job Titles:
- President, Georgia Independent Colleges Association
Job Titles:
- Chairman in Governance and the Public Enterprise at the Sol Price School of Public Policy
Dr. Raphael W. Bostic took office June 5, 2017, as the 15th president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
From 2012 to 2017, Bostic was the Judith and John Bedrosian Chair in Governance and the Public Enterprise at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California (USC). From 2009 to 2012, Bostic was the assistant secretary for policy development and research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In that role, he was a principal adviser to the secretary on policy and research, helping the secretary and other principal staff make informed decisions on HUD policies and programs, as well as on budget and legislative proposals.
Bostic was born in New York City in 1966 and grew up in Delran, New Jersey. He graduated from Harvard University in 1987 with a combined major in economics and psychology. He earned his doctorate in economics from Stanford University in 1995. He has previously served on many boards and advisory committees, including the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, Abode Communities, NeighborWorks, the National Community Stabilization Trust, the Urban Land Institute, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, the National Economic Association, and Freddie Mac.
Job Titles:
- Community Research Manager
Katie O'Connor, AICP, is the Community Research Manager with the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (PIN). In this role, she is responsible for advancing community research through meaningful engagement between municipalities and researchers, utilizing the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge and similar programs as a vehicle to improve the human condition. These projects are initiated at the local level and carried out by those who can practically apply the research, with a focus on inclusivity for access to technology and innovation across the state and beyond.
Before joining the Partnership and Georgia Tech, Katie served as Deputy Director of Community Development and Senior City Planner for the City of Woodstock. Working in Woodstock for over a decade, Katie's local government and planning experience helps her to facilitate the research/government relationships that are crucial to the success of community research projects.
Katie earned both her Master of Design for Sustainability and Bachelor of Fine Art in Sculpture from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She earned the AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) credential in 2017 and is an active member of the Georgia Planning Association. Katie serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Woodstock Arts, a nonprofit arts organization doing amazing things. An Augusta, Georgia, native, Katie is passionate about all aspects of local success for communities and is grateful to continue to serve the public, widening her scope across state of Georgia and beyond.
Job Titles:
- Senior Operations Manager
As Senior Operations Manager, Kayla oversees the development and implementation of the Partnership's programs and operations. She works with research, academic, and administrative staff, along with vendors and sponsors, as well as other internal and external partners.
Kayla enjoys using her event management, organizational, and operations expertise to work with the team to bring the creative vision of the Partnership to life. She has over a decade of experience in business development, program management, and operations, most recently for BlueSprig, which offers services to children with autism.
She is currently pursuing a master's degree at the University of North Georgia in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer, Digital Channels & Innovation, Truist
- Divisional Chief Information Officer for Digital Channels & Innovation at Truist Financial Corporation
Ken Meyer is the Divisional Chief Information Officer for Digital Channels & Innovation at Truist Financial Corporation. In this role, Meyer is responsible for all digital applications and integration, enterprise CRM, intelligent automation, mobile and online banking, open banking, internal APIs, marketing technology, emerging channels and innovation.
Prior to the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, Banks, Inc. in December 2019, Meyer was the Consumer Chief Technology Officer for SunTrust, responsible for the technology strategy, delivery, and support of SunTrust Mortgage, Retail Banking, and Private Wealth Management. Meyer also had responsibility for Marketing technology and enterprise-wide digital assets. Meyer was previously the Enterprise Solutions Chief Technology Officer for the bank, overseeing enterprise architecture, shared services delivery, governance and execution methodology, investment planning, strategy, and the financial oversight of SunTrust's Enterprise Information Services (EIS) organization.
Meyer also held multiple positions in SunTrust's Wholesale segment, most recently as Head of Wholesale Lending Operations, where he was responsible for supporting Small Business Banking, Commercial and Business Banking, Private Wealth Management, Equipment Finance, and Commercial Real Estate, Letters of Credit and Trade Services, Syndicated Loan Servicing, and the Lending Operations Back Office. Prior to that position, Meyer led the Wholesale Administration team, overseeing Wholesale Operations strategy and execution, mobilization of outsourcing initiatives and operational excellence. He worked closely with the Wholesale leadership team on strategic initiatives inclusive of process and technology enablement, location consolidation and targeted outsourcing.
Meyer joined SunTrust in December 2013 from Accenture, where he gained experience working with leading financial institutions, including four years supporting SunTrust. Other clients included Santander, Farmers Insurance, BB&T, Toyota Financial Services, Wachovia/Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley. His industry experience has centered on retail and commercial banking clients, leading large transformation and business process design programs, and large system implementations.
Meyer currently serves on the board for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and FinTech Atlanta while also volunteering for TechBridge Atlanta and the United Way.
Meyer is a graduate of the University of Georgia and lives in Atlanta with his wife, Bridgette, and their four children, Oliver, Olivia, Nora and Stella.
Job Titles:
- President, Chief Executive Officer, Synovus
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer, the University Financing Foundation Inc
Kindred Lane is a holistic leadership & well-being company offering coaching, retreats and executive development for leaders and change-makers seeking purpose, growth & wellbeing. It guides like-hearted leaders & change-makers on their path of work life abundance and regenerative growth.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Georgia Municipal Association
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
- President and Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Association
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Technology Association
Larry K. Williams | President and Chief Executive Officer Larry K. Williams is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and has served in this role since October 2016. As part of Mr Williams responsibilities, he leads the NTSC (National Technology Security Coalition) and TAG Education Collaborative benefiting youth in STEM and technology development. A recognized leader in economic development, Mr. Williams brings more than 20 years of experience in international trade, finance, public and industrial policy and marketing. Throughout his career he has guided organizations connecting local and global initiatives and most recently, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Beacon Council Inc (one of 36 accredited economic development organizations in the nation). Williams' effort at the Beacon Council led Miami-Dade County to greater competitiveness.
Prior to joining the Beacon Group, Williams shaped the vision for the Atlanta tech industry as Vice President of Technology Development at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Mr. Williams has held similar roles including serving on Washington State Governor's Global Competitiveness Council, leading Washington State's Tourism Commission and Director of Operations of International Trade for the North Carolina Department of Commerce to name a few. In these roles, Mr. Williams honed his strategic and operational expertise and led economic development emphasizing innovation, international trade and sustainable policy. Resilient and battle tested, Williams has advised and worked alongside 5 US Governors and dozens of foreign officials.
Mr. Williams stays actively connected to the community serving on a range of boards, including Lt Governor Geoff Duncan's Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, Atlanta CIO Advisory; TECNA, the Economic Development Board, City of Brookhaven, the Buckhead Club; FinTech Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Chamber and Venture of Atlanta. For many of these Mr. Williams is a founding member and establishing vision, purpose and governance for good. Williams graduated from the Darlington School (Rome, Georgia) and holds degrees from North Carolina State University.
Job Titles:
- Director and President and Chief Executive Officer of Invesco
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Invesco Ltd. USA
Martin Flanagan has been a director and President and Chief Executive Officer of Invesco since 2005. He is also a trustee and vice-chairperson of the Invesco Funds, the company's U.S. open- and closed-end funds. Flanagan joined Invesco from Franklin Resources, Inc., where he was president and co-chief executive officer from 2004 to 2005.
Previously, he held numerous positions of increasing responsibility at Franklin, including co-president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and senior vice president from 1993 - 2003. Flanagan served as director, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger, Ltd. before its acquisition by Franklin in 1992. Before joining Templeton in 1983, he worked with Arthur Andersen & Co.
Flanagan serves on the Board of Governors and as a member of the Executive Committee for the Investment Company Institute and is a former Chairperson of the association. He also serves as a member of the executive board at the SMU Cox School of Business and is involved in a number of civic activities in Atlanta. Flanagan is a CFA charter holder and a certified public accountant.
Flanagan earned a B.A. and B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University (SMU).
Job Titles:
- Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development
- Commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development
- Deputy Commissioner for Global Commerce
Pat Wilson was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in November 2016. As Commissioner, he leads the state agency responsible for creating jobs and investment opportunities in Georgia through business recruitment and expansion, small business growth, international trade and tourism, as well as the arts, film and music industries. Pat is responsible for leading the GDEcD team in planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Under Governor Brian P. Kemp and Commissioner Wilson's leadership, Georgia was named the No. 1 state in the nation in which to do business for the seventh consecutive year in a row by Site Selection and sixth year in a row by Area Development. GDEcD was also rated as the nation's best state-level economic development organization by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2017.
Mr. Wilson previously served as Chief Operating Officer of GDEcD from January 2011 until his appointment as Commissioner by former Governor Nathan Deal. As COO, he managed the daily operations of the agency, directed long-term strategy, managed the agency's legislative priorities and served as the department's liaison with the Georgia Congressional delegation and federal government partners. In addition, Pat served as Executive Director of the Georgia Allies.
Mr. Wilson joined GDEcD as Deputy Commissioner for Global Commerce in 2010. Prior to that, he served on the staff of Governor Sonny Perdue as the director of government affairs. In that position, he led efforts to promote Governor Perdue's legislative agenda at the State Capitol and managed federal affairs for the state of Georgia. He previously served as director of federal affairs for the state, opening the Washington, D.C., office in 2005. There he worked to promote the state's agenda with the U.S. Congress and federal agencies as the Governor's representative to the Georgia congressional delegation.
Prior to his work in state government, Mr. Wilson was director of governmental affairs for Greenberg Traurig, LLP, in Washington. He served under the late Sen. Paul Coverdell and under then-Rep. Nathan Deal.
He is a Franklin Springs, Georgia, native, and holds an undergraduate degree in political science with a focus on international relations from the University of Georgia. He and his wife Melissa and their two children, Padgett and Carter, reside in Sandy Springs.
Job Titles:
- Program Associate
- Economic Opportunity Associate
Rachel Cronin serves as a Program Associate in the Economic Opportunity pillar. She is passionate about providing resources to underserved communities and promoting social equity in her environment.
Rachel has a diverse range of experience, including early childhood education, institutional research and marketing content development. She gained her Bachelor of Science in International Affairs with a concentration in diplomacy from Kennesaw State University in 2014. She then obtained a master's degree in public policy with a concentration in public health in 2021.
In her free time, Rachel enjoys volunteering with LifeLine Animal Project and spending time with her pets and plants.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University
As the chief academic officer at the University of Georgia, the senior vice president and provost guides campus efforts in promoting excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Hu oversees instruction, research, public service and outreach, and information technology. The vice presidents of these four areas report to him, as do the deans of UGA's 17 schools and colleges and the campus dean of the Augusta University/UGA Medical Partnership. The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Strategic University Initiatives, as well as associate provosts for academic fiscal affairs, academic programs, faculty affairs, global engagement, the honors program, and the libraries, also report to him.
Prior to joining UGA, Hu was vice president for research at the University of Michigan overseeing research, tech transfer and commercialization.
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal Counsel, Flowers Foods, Inc
Job Titles:
- Workforce Development Associate