The Atlanta Regional Commission today announced that 54 leaders from metro Atlanta’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors have been selected to participate in the 2023 Regional Leadership Institute (RLI).

The immersive program provides local leaders with the opportunity to explore key regional issues and potential solutions while building their leadership skills. This year’s RLI program will take place in two phases: Aug. 29-30 at ARC’s downtown Atlanta conference center; and Oct. 8-11 at the Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier.

The 2023 RLI class will look at issues including transportation planning, infrastructure investments, climate mitigation, workforce development, and place a special focus on housing affordability.

“We are so excited to bring these talented leaders together and offer the opportunity to collaborate with peers from across metro Atlanta and tackle common challenges from a regional perspective,” said ARC Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach. “These are the decision-makers who will help move our region forward in the years to come.”

For more information about RLI, visit www.atlantaregional.org/rli.

2023 RLI Participants

Colin Ake — Director of Incubation + Commercialization, Kennesaw State University

Caroline Angelo – Executive Vice President, Atlanta Technical College

Kimberly Blass – Chief Impact Officer, Marietta City Schools

Rasheed Bracey – Representative, Community, Planning, and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Christopher Brazelton – Executive Director, Woodstock Arts

Rita Breen – Executive Director, Southern Company | Georgia Power

Angela Cain – General Manager, Delta Air Lines

Michael Caldwell – Mayor, City of Woodstock

Kyethea Clark – Director of Planning & Projects, Cumberland Community Improvement District

Kate Conner – Executive Director, Food Well Alliance

Omari Crawford – Assistant County Attorney, DeKalb County Law Department

Roman Dakare – Economic Development Director, Gwinnett County Government

Amity Farrar – Executive Vice President, POWER 10

Jesus Garcia – Manager, International Tourism, Atlanta CVB

Judge Gardner III – Assistant to the President & CEO, Atlanta Gas Light

Natalie Giurato – Director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Cox Enterprises

Jadrien Grimes – Community & Civic Engagement Manager, Hands On Atlanta

Natalie Hall – Commissioner, Fulton County

James Hammond – Managing Partner, Ikon Filmworks LLC

Alana Hardison – Chief Marketing Office & Vice Principal, Still Waters International Academy

Carlotta Harrell – Chairwoman, Henry County Board of Commissioners

Leroy Tre Hutchins – Board of Education, Cobb County School District

Danny Johnson – Manager, Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, Atlanta Regional Commission

Chaundra Johnson – Senior Director of Community Impact, Compudopt

Chad Jones – Fire Chief, City of South Fulton

Melanie Kagan – CEO, The Center for Family Resources

Adria Kitchens – Director of Equity Activism, Out of Hand Theater

Judy Kruger – Federal Coordinating Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Swapan Kumar – Managing Principal/CEO / Turnkey Tech Consulting LLC

Becky Kurtz – Director, Aging & Independence Services, Atlanta Regional Commission

Catherine Lautenbacher – City Council Member, City of Dunwoody

Elise Lockamy- Kassim – Assistant Vice President, Community Health and Center for Health Equity, Wellstar Health System

Brenda Lopez Romero – Senior Assistant District Attorney, Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office

Santiago Marquez – CEO, Latin American Association

Mike Mason – Mayor, City of Peachtree Corners

Margaret Moore-Jackson – Technology Services Director, Rockdale County Government

Yvette Morton Williams – President, CEO and Chief Inspiration Officer, Conyers Best Laundry

Martha Revelo – NE Outreach Director, U.S. Senate

Andrea Rivera – CEO, H3 Media

Terreta Rodgers – Head of Community Affairs, Atlanta Region, Amazon

Gabrielle Rogers – Director of Marketing, Growing Leaders

Joseph Santoro – Director, Policy & Government Affairs, Council for Quality Growth

Amanda Seals – Executive Vice President, Cobb Chamber

Aarti Sharma – Vice President, Policy & Strategy, redefinED Atlanta

Carla Smith – Region Senior Vice President & Executive Director, American Heart Association

Rashad Stallings – Director, Community Engagement, United Way of Greater Atlanta

Drew Todd – Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management, Southern Crescent Technical College

Carson Topping – Senior Manager, Jabian Consulting

Sasha Ugi – Vice President, Croy Engineering

Derrick Vincent – Vice President, Sales, Jacobs Solutions

Franchesca Warren– School Board Member, Fulton County Schools

Santana Wright – Atlanta City Council Staff Director, City of Atlanta

Taos Wynn – Chief Operating Officer, Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation

Anqi Zou – SVP, Artificial Intelligence Innovation Leader, Truist Bank