The Atlanta Regional Commission today announced that leaders from metro Atlanta’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors have been selected to participate in the 2026 class of the Regional Leadership Institute (RLI).

RLI is an immersive experience with hands-on opportunities to connect active learning to real-world planning and policy throughout the region. Unified around improving economic mobility in our region, this year’s class will delve into topics including housing affordability, transit and transportation planning, water, aging, community resilience, workforce development, and investments in the region’s future. These issues reflect ARC’s core functions and key priorities. Over the course of the program, participants hear from some of the region’s top leaders and subject matter experts while exploring policy and planning through a regional lens.

Program Goals

• Educate leaders about core challenges impacting the region using a regional lens.
• Foster a network of regional leaders across sectors who are invested in working collaboratively to create a region that serves all its residents.
• Create a space for inquiry, discussion, and sharing of knowledge, approaches, tools, and resources to help leaders better tackle regional policy concerns.

ARC will host RLI 2026 at its offices in Downtown Atlanta and at Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier. The program includes presentations, group discussions, leadership activities, and interdisciplinary and interactive simulations.

“We are excited to welcome a new group of regional leaders to RLI this year. Aligning with ARC’s commitment to improving economic mobility throughout the region, the class will spend time addressing the most pressing barriers to opportunity,” said Anna Roach, ARC’s Executive Director & CEO. “The class will dive deep into the histories and complexities of our region, examining ways to make sure that everyone has the chance to succeed and thrive.”

Applications were solicited from 11 counties in the Atlanta region – Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale. Each applicant was selected for their unique set of leadership attributes.

2026 RLI Participants

Zachary Adriaenssens, Gresham Smith, Senior Transportation Planner

Sunny Anderson, Decide DeKalb, Director, Economic Development

Ronald Applin, Atlanta Public Schools Police, Chief of Police

Julia Areh, Douglas County Government, District 2 Chief of Staff

Kelley Balkcom, Georgia Power Company, Metro North Region Executive

Jason Barringer, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Research Manager

Haley Berry, Atlanta Regional Commission, Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Olandria Bing, Rockdale County Parks & Recreation – Conyers, GA, Project Manager

Brittany Brewster, Atlanta Beltline, Inc., Community Engagement Manager

Dr. Kaycee Brock, Atlanta Public School Board/Educational Consultant, Board Member At-Large/Founder and Principal

Jennifer Bronner, Cox Enterprises, Senior Director, CSR & Community Impact

Stacey Chapman, CROFT & Associates, Inc., Principal | SVP

Rashida Cloud, Georgia Municipal Association, Managing Director, DeKalb Municipal Association

Crystal Danley, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Principal

Marci Fluellyn, City of Lovejoy, Mayor & City Manager

Dr. Robert Gaines, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Chief of Staff

Danielle Gray, Zeist Foundation, Associate Director

Dr. Vivian Greentree, Fiserv, SVP, Head of Global Corporate Citizenship; President Fiserv Foundation

Kaela Hammond, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Program Officer, Housing Funds

Regan Hammond, VHB, Managing Director – Atlanta

Kamaria S. Hill, Former Senior Technology Advisor, Microsoft Government Affairs

Corey Hines, Atlanta Gas and Light, Director of Growth and Retention

Deana Holiday Ingraham, Holiday Ingraham Law, LLC, Attorney at Law

Christy Griner Hulsey, GeorgiaForward, Georgia Municipal Association, Manager of Strategic Partnerships

Femi-Ama Johnson, Achieve Atlanta, Senior Director, College Access

Amit Khanduri, Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund, Director of Programs

Nicole Lawson Doll, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Vice President, Regional Operations

Kevin Lewis, Henry County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner

Andrew Long, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, Project Manager

Yolanda Mack, DeKalb County State Court, Judge

Daisy Mills, Sugarloaf Community Improvement District, Director of Operations

Kiana Morris, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Chief Strategy Officer

Alana Outlaw, Public Policy Attorney & Government Affairs Strategist

Dr. Lawanna Owens-Twaites, Union City Government, Councilwoman

Dr. Sara Patenaude, Reinvestment Fund, Southeast Director, Policy Solutions

Robert Patrick, DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, District 1 Commissioner

Maryum Phillips, Status: Home, Inc., President & CEO

Adah Pittman-Delancey, Partners for HOME, VP, Marketing and Communications

Audrea Rease, Star-C, Executive Director

Cara Schroeder, City of Tucker, City Council Dist. 2 Post 1

Dr. Chalonda Smith, Purdue Global, Adjunct Professor

Jamilia Smith, Brighten Academy, Inc., Governing Board Chair

Marcie Smith, The Children’s Haven, Executive Director/CEO

Alex Wan, City of Atlanta, City Council Member

Booker Washington, Techie Homes Inc., CEO

Christopher Williams, Clayton County Board of Commissioners, Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Natasha Williams-Brown, City of South Fulton, Councilwoman

Erica Wyatt, Thyssenkrupp Materials North America, Director of Occupational Safety and Health

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