The Council for Quality Growth formally announces its 2024 Board of Directors and Officers. The 2024 Board was ratified and formally welcomed at the Council’s 38th Annual Meeting & Legislative Reception, held December 7, 2023. The Council was joined by over 200 of its members, state legislators, and local elected leaders for a cocktail reception at the Cherokee Town & Country Club to welcome the new leadership and present legislative priorities to the Georgia General Assembly. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens provided welcome remarks on behalf of the City of Atlanta. State Senator Frank Ginn and State Representative Shea Roberts also provided brief remarks on behalf of their legislative bodies.

The Council’s outgoing 2023 Chairman, Rob Ross, Vice President of Kimley-Horn, then handed off the gavel to the new 2024 Chairman of the Board, Sally Riker, Founder & CEO of Terminus Transformation Group. Riker is the 37^th Chair of the Council for Quality Growth. She has been part of the Council Board’s Executive Committee since 2021 and has played an integral part in the organization’s strategic planning over the last three years.

Riker is focused on infrastructure this year, or what she calls “the foundation” of our region’s success. Over her 25 years in Atlanta’s architecture and engineering industry, she has grown passionate about smart investment in our region’s infrastructure. “We are moving into a critical time for our region,” said Riker. “We need to work together to solve our large challenges for future generations to come.” The Council for Quality Growth’s core mission is to promote smart and sustainable development that provides metro Atlanta with an economically competitive edge and sets the region up for a successful future as the population of residents and businesses continues to grow. With Riker’s leadership and expertise, the Council will prioritize a key part of this mission – infrastructure investment. “If we continue to develop good infrastructure, it will be the foundation to help our region and our state remain a top place to live and do business in America,” she said. “The first step to securing our future is strengthening our foundation.”

Riker is also working on the Council’s organizational foundation. “Everything the Council does, everything we advocate for, is because of who we represent,” she said. Riker is focused on finding new opportunities for member engagement. As the organization and industry continues to grow, she has set her sights on strengthening the Council’s membership. “By providing more opportunities for our members to engage and collaborate, we’re able to advance the Council’s mission and continue to impact the region,” she said.

Much of Riker’s career has been in developing new business and building key relationships. In addition to her success in her private practice, Riker has served many industry and civic organizations, including the Society of American Engineers where she is a Fellow, SAME Foundation Board, ULI Atlanta, Chair of ULI Atlanta’s Center for Leadership, ULI WLI Americas, Mt Paran Northside Citizens Association, Chattahoochee Nature Center, and UGA Board of Visitors. She’s been an advocate for women in the A/E/C industry and has received numerous recognitions for her leadership, most recently being named one of four “Agents of Change” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2023.

The Council for Quality Growth is fortunate to have had Riker’s service and leadership on its Board of Directors since 2016. “We are really looking forward to Sally’s leadership and guidance this year,” said Michael E. Paris, President & CEO of the Council. “She has always been a great resource for the Council, and she’s wasted no time making things happen for us in 2024. Sally is a strong leader with a clear vision, and I’m grateful for her dedication to our organization.”

The 2024 Officers of the Board are Clyde Higgs of Atlanta BeltLine as Vice Chair, Gerald McDowell of the ATL Airport CIDs as Treasurer, and Rob Garcia of Pinnacle Financial Partners as Secretary. Rob Ross, the outgoing 2023 Chairman, will continue to serve among the Council’s executive leadership as Immediate Past Chair. The 2024 Board of Directors will consist of 93 voting members and 3 appointed or ex-officio seats.

The Council welcomed six newly elected Directors that will each serve a two-year term starting in 2024, including:

• Alyssa Davis, Executive Director, Sugarloaf CID
• Andrew Kohr, Principal & Director of Landscape Architecture, Pond & Company
• Melinda Little, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Comcast
• BJ Martin, Director of Operations, W&A Engineering
• Pamela Monastra, Vice President of Acquisition & Development, Clark Construction Group
• Kevin Norton, Vice President of Acquisition & Development, Empire Communities

The Council for Quality Growth’s full 2024 Board of Directors can be viewed and downloaded here or in the attached PDF version of this release.