The Council for Quality Growth formally announces its 2025 Board of Directors and Officers. The 2025 Board was ratified at the Council’s 39th Annual Meeting & Legislative Reception, held December 17, 2024 at Cherokee Town Club. The Council was joined by over 200 of its members, state legislators, and local elected leaders to welcome the new leadership and present legislative priorities to the Georgia General Assembly. Courtney English provided welcome remarks on behalf of the City of Atlanta and Mayor Andre Dickens. State Senator Brandon Beach and State Representative Spencer Frye also provided brief remarks on behalf of their legislative bodies. The Council for Quality Growth also unveiled an anniversary logo to celebrate this 40-year milestone in 2025. 

The Council’s outgoing 2024 Chair, Sally Riker, VP of Strategy and Growth at Atlas, handed off the gavel to the new 2025 Chairman of the Board, Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of the Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Higgs is the 38th Chairman of the Council for Quality Growth. He 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. 

Higgs addressed the full Board of Directors at their first official convening of the year last Friday, January 24th and set his strategic priorities and direction for the Council in its 40th year. “Our platform for moving forward is driving growth,” he stated, “growth of our membership, growth of our programs, and growth of our impact on this region.” He discussed his Executive Committee’s intention to programmatically curate the organization’s offerings and advocacy to better serve its members, generate exponential growth, and fuel long-term sustainability in 2025. 

The Council’s core mission is to promote balanced and sustainable growth across metro Atlanta in a way that provides an economically competitive edge and sets the region up for long-term success. The Council delivers this mission to its members and the regional development industry through advocacy, information, and education. 

Higgs is looking forward to how the Atlanta Beltline and the Council for Quality Growth will continue to partner on development issues in 2025. He recalled the establishment of the Beltline’s Special Service District (SSD) in 2021. “I’d like to acknowledge the Council for putting their neck out in the early stages of the SSD. This organization was among the first to publicly support what later became the most important funding source in the Beltline’s history,” Higgs said. The Council works closely with member companies and like-minded organizations to advocate at the local, regional, and state level on key issues that affect development. “Making sure we can get behind key pieces of legislation – from trees to transportation – is going to be helpful in making sure our region grows appropriately,” said Higgs. 

Higgs joined the Atlanta Beltline in 2015 and became President & CEO in 2019. In the 6 years since, the Beltline has seen $9 billion in economic development, completed 11.3 miles of trail of the 22-mile Beltline mainline loop and 10.3 miles of connector trails, and created or preserved more than 4,100 units of affordable housing in the Beltline Tax Allocation District. Higgs is determined to complete the loop alongside many other local development projects in time for the 2026 World Cup. Much of his career has focused on establishing and expanding working relationships across public and private sectors. He brings decades of experience in economic development, government relations, funding, and strategic planning to the Council’s Board leadership. He was recently named “Most Admired CEO” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and included in Georgia Trend’s “100 Most Influential Georgians.” Higgs has been a well-known advocate for small and minority businesses across the region, providing support and resources for many along the Beltline today. His civic involvement extends to many other Boards and organizations, including that of the International Economic Development Council, HouseATL, T&M Associates, and the Mayor’s Cabinet. 

The Council for Quality Growth is fortunate to have had Clyde’s service and leadership on its Board of Directors since 2019. “We are really looking forward to Clyde’s energy and guidance this year,” said Michael E. Paris, President & CEO of the Council. “His expertise of bringing the public and private sectors together for a common goal makes him uniquely positioned to lead the Council. It’s a big year for us, and a big year for the Beltline, and we’re ready to get to work.” 

The 2025 Officers of the Board are Gerald McDowell of the ATL Airport CIDs as Vice Chair, Rob Garcia of Pinnacle Financial Partners as Treasurer, and Ellen Smith of Parker Poe as Secretary. Sally Riker, the outgoing 2024 Chair, will continue to serve among the Council’s executive leadership as Immediate Past Chair. The 2025 Board of Directors will consist of 93 voting members and 3 appointed or ex-officio seats. 

The Council also welcomed 7 newly elected Directors that will each serve a two-year term starting in 2024, including: 

• Mason Berryman, Principal Engineer, Geo-Hydro Engineers 

• Cedric Clark, President, Southeastern Engineering, Inc. 

• Stanley King, Founder & CEO, S.L. King & Associates 

• Matt Kraczon, Associate, PGAL 

• Brian McHugh, Senior Transit Project Manager, HDR Inc. 

• Shayla Nealy, Principal, Public Policy & Programs, Stantec 

• Chris Sizemore, Founder & Partner, INCISIVE 

The Council for Quality Growth’s full 2025 Board of Directors is included below. 

Photos from the Council’s 39th Annual Meeting & Legislative Reception can be viewed here: https://www.councilforqualitygrowth.org/view-photos-from-the-39th-annual-meeting-legislative-assembly/