Leadership
Board of Directors
A.J. Robinson, Chair
President, Central Atlanta Progress
Larry Hanson, Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director, Georgia Municipal Association
Ben Andrews*
Statewide Program Manager, Advanced Technology Development Center
Carrie Barnes*
Community Development Consultant, Georgia EMC
Bill Bolling
Founder and Former CEO, Atlanta Community Food Bank
Amanda Brown-Olmstead
President, Amanda Brown-Olmstead and Associates
Carolyn “Tippi” Cain Burch
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Appellate Division
Deke Copenhaver
Author, The Changemaker and Consultant, Copenhaver Consulting
Ann Cramer
Senior Consultant, Coxe Curry & Associates
Meghan Duke*
Economic Development Director, City of West Point
Amir Farokhi
Director, Corporate Council at CARE and founding Executive Director at GeorgiaForward
Hill Hardman*
President, Routematch Holdings
Cole Posey*
Vice President, Colony Bank
Matt Reed*
Owner and President, GeorgiaCEO
Ben Young
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Georgia Trend Magazine
* Indicates Young Gamechanger Alumni
Managing Director, Brenda Belcher
Brenda Belcher has served as GeorgiaForward’s Managing Director since 2019. An experienced leader in nonprofit management and external affairs, she views her mission to foster greater civic engagement and build statewide partnerships in Georgia as a reflection and outgrowth of her own beliefs. A partner of Georgia Municipal Association, GeorgiaForward works to unite the state of Georgia, strengthen communities, and create a talent pipeline within the state.
Prior to joining GMA, Brenda led government affairs and policy for the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), and programs and development for the ASSP Foundation.
Brenda received a BA in Political Science and English from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and holds two MAs from the University of Chicago, one with the Harris School of Public Policy and one with the Committee on International Relations.
Board of Directors
A.J. Robinson
A.J. Robinson is President of Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID). CAP is a private business association started in 1941, and remains one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the city. ADID represents downtown property owners who invest in public safety operations and capital projects in the area. Robinson manages the overall strategic functions of CAP and ADID, two organizations committed to making the Atlanta community and specifically downtown, more livable, vital, and diverse.
Before joining CAP, Robinson was president of the multi-dimensional real estate company Portman Holdings, where he managed all aspects of the firm’s real estate development processes, including development, property management, and asset management.
In recent years, Robinson has had a hand in the creation of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the new Atlanta Streetcar. CAP is also involved in the redevelopment of Underground Atlanta, the Civic Center, and other major urban initiatives.
Robinson’s articles have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Asian Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, and National Real Estate Investor. He currently serves as on the Board of AmericasMart and the TUFF Foundation. Over the past decade, A.J. has consistently been recognized as one of Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians, as well as one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 100 Most Influential Atlantans.
Ben Andrews
Ben Andrews is the Statewide Program Manager for the Advanced Technology Development Center at The Georgia Institute of Technology. After graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business in 2009, Ben began his career working for the Community and Economic Development Department for the city of Americus. While working for the city, he earned his MBA from Georgia Southwestern State University. In 2013 he was promoted to department director, becoming the youngest senior staff member in the city’s modern history. Ben oversaw a variety of boards and authorities, and worked with recruiting, retaining, and assisting small businesses. He was regularly invited to speak at various conferences about the work being accomplished by him and his team in Americus.
In 2016 he returned to Atlanta to work for the American Cancer Society in the role of Senior Market Manager for Community Engagement. There he worked with various verticals within the Atlanta market, ranging from fundraising to mission delivery. In 2017 Ben joined the ATDC in the role of Community Engagement Coordinator, managing relationships with sponsors and external partners, as well as communications and PR for the ATDC. In 2018 he moved to the role of Statewide Program Manager, taking the lead on the ATDC’s activities outside of the Midtown Atlanta Headquarters.
Outside of work Ben is active in his community. He has served as a board member for several non-profit organizations and has worked to address issues ranging from affordable housing, to childhood literacy, to transportation infrastructure, and cyclist and pedestrian safety. He has also managed capital campaigns for various charitable organizations. Currently, he’s serving as Vice President of the Huntly Hills Swim and Tennis club, and as a member of the board for Tech Alpharetta. In September 2014, Rural Leader Magazine named him one of the top four selections for its inaugural “40 Under 40” publication.
Bill Bolling
Bill Bolling served as Founder and Executive Director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank from 1979 to 2015. In this capacity, he oversaw the distribution of millions of pounds of food and grocery products each year through a network of more than 600 local and regional partner nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry across 29 Georgia counties.
As a charter member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, Bill was instrumental in the start-up of food banks across the country. He is a frequent speaker on topics related to hunger, poverty, regionalism, affordable housing, and public policy reform. Prior to his association with ACFB, he served as director of community ministries for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
Georgia Trend Magazine named Bill their 2012 Georgian of the Year, and in January 2015, he joined Georgia Trend’s Most Influential Hall of Fame. His recent awards include the 2015 Dan Sweat Award presented by Central Atlanta Progress, the 2015 Heroes, Saints and Legends Award presented by the Foundation of Wesley Woods, the 2014 Award for Distinguished Service presented by the Atlanta Business League, and the 2009 Beacon of Light Award presented by BoardWalk Consulting.
Amanda Brown-Olmstead
On June 1, 1972, Amanda Brown-Olmstead founded a full-service public relations firm to serve clients in the Southeast. Before long, her firm had grown to be the largest independent organization of its type in the Atlanta market, with client services spanning local to international programs.
Today, the full service agency serves such clients as The Georgia Ports Authority, Hannah Solar, CEA Fresh Foods, Chancellor’s House (a new hotel brand), the Beltline Partnership, The Epsten Group, and Ocean Exchange.
Carolyn "Tippi" Cain Burch
Carolyn “Tippi” Cain Burch is an attorney with the Atlanta law firm Chalmers Burch & Adams LLC. In 2015, she was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to serve a five-year term on the Board of Georgia Department of Community Affairs and currently serves as Secretary to the DCA Board. She is also on the board of trustees for the Georgia Legal History Foundation, the executive board of the Atlanta Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society, and the administrative board of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Burch is a member of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2014 and was selected as a member of the 2015 class of lawyers “On the Rise” by the Fulton County Daily Report. Burch earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a law degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Sam, have one daughter and reside in Atlanta, Georgia.
Deke Copenhaver
Deke Copenhaver currently serves as Principal of Copenhaver Consulting, LLC. Prior to his current role, Deke served as Mayor of Augusta, Georgia from 2005 through 2014. His past experiences include working with Nations Bank Securities in Atlanta, principal in the firm of Huffines, Dukes, and Copenhaver LLC, and Executive Director of the Central Savannah River Land Trust. His career has been marked by a deep and thoughtful commitment to public service.
In 2004, Mr. Copenhaver was appointed to the Georgia Land Conservation Partnership Advisory Council by Governor Sonny Perdue. In 2005, the Council’s work resulted in the setting aside of $100 million in state funding for statewide land conservation through the passage of the Georgia Land Conservation Act.
Deke currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Augusta Warrior Project while serving on the boards of GeorgiaForward and Child Enrichment. He has served on the boards of many other organizations including the Georgia Municipal Association, the Georgia Conservancy, the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Deke is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Georgia and a 2011 graduate of the Mayor’s Institute on City Design. In 2003, Deke was recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia’s Top 40 Under 40. He is the 2003 recipient of the Family Y of Metro Augusta’s “Linda H. Walter Leadership Award.”
In 2006 and 2008, he was named a Notable Georgian by Georgia Trend Magazine and in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians by the same publication. In 2012, Deke was named by Southern Living Magazine as one of their “Heroes of the New South.” He received a B.A. in Political Science from Augusta College. Deke and his wife Malisa live in Augusta with their three dogs, Sarah Bet, Gracie Lynn, and Buddy.
Ann Cramer
Ann W. Cramer is a Senior Consultant with Coxe Curry & Associates after retiring from a career at the IBM Corporation, where she was Director for IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs for the Americas. Ann’s commitment to and involvement with children and youth has been a lifelong journey.
In support of those priority faith and focus areas, Ann chairs the ARC Education SubCommittee, the boards of Public Broadcasting Atlanta (PBA) and the Georgia Public Education Foundation; serves on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber Education Workforce Committee, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, and Learn4Life; and completed her term on the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta. She serves on several other non-profit organization boards including the Council on Foundations, Woodruff Arts Center, the Alliance Theatre Company, and GeorgiaForward.
Meghan Duke
Meghan is a next-generation economic developer who is passionate about collaborating with others to create healthier and stronger communities in which to live, work, play and learn. As the Economic Development Director for the City of West Point, Meghan develops, organizes, and executes strategic plan designed to achieve the City of West Point’s economic development goals and objectives to stimulate expansion of existing industry and effective recruitment of new business.
Meghan serves on a variety of professional boards and associations including the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Troup County Center for Strategic Planning, ThINC. College & Career Academy, The Valley Partnership Joint Development Authority, GeorgiaForward, and the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) Young Professional Committee Chair.
She is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and participated in GeorgiaForward’s Young Gamechanger Dublin-Laurens County program in the Spring of 2014. Meghan is a recipient of Southern Economic Development Council’s 2015 Chairman’s Award as well as Georgia Economic Development Association’s Penn Worden Professional Development grant.
A native of Georgia, Duke was born in Albany and raised in Leesburg. She holds a Mass Media Arts degree from Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and Terry College of Business Certificate in Music Business at the University of Georgia.
Amir Farokhi
Amir Farokhi is VP of Strategic Initiatives at Briteweb. Previously, he served as Operating Officer at College Advising Corps (2013-2015) and Founder and Executive Director of GeorgiaForward (2010-2013).
A ninth generation Georgian, Amir lives in Atlanta where he serves on The Galloway School and the Charles R. Drew Charter School boards. He is a term member with the Council on Foreign Relations, a 2011 Marshall Memorial Fellow, and a graduate of LEAD Atlanta and Leadership Atlanta. Amir is a graduate of Duke University and Duke University School of Law.
Mike Ford
Mike Ford’s career has been shared between the medical industry and community development. A CPA by trade, he spent the first half of his career in the finance side of hospitals throughout Tennessee and Georgia, finally serving as Chief Financial Officer for Macon-based Charter Medical Corporation.
In 2002, Mike started the second phase of his career as a volunteer with the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail. Soon after, he was named CEO of NewTown Macon. During his tenure at NewTown, Ford oversaw the completion of a $21 million campaign and the launch of an $18 million campaign to fund NewTown’s third revitalization phase. Some of his notable accomplishments while at NewTown’s helm include building 11 miles of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail and securing the management of a $5 million bond fund from the Development Authority of Bibb County to serve as gap financing in residential projects.
Mike currently serves as the Chairman of Board of the Historic Riverside Cemetery and is the President of the Ocmulgee Land Trust. He remains extremely active in Central Georgia and throughout the state connecting people and ideas.
Judge Britt C. Grant
Judge Britt C. Grant was sworn in to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on August 7, 2018. After graduating from Wake Forest University as an Honor Scholar and receiving her Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in English and Politics, Judge Grant worked in the Washington, D.C. office of then-Congressman Nathan Deal. Shortly before September 11, 2001, she began serving in the White House under President George W. Bush. She held several domestic policy roles in the Administration, including in the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Cabinet Affairs. Judge Grant graduated from Stanford Law School in 2004. After law school, Judge Grant served as law clerk to the Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh of the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, then practiced at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Washington, D.C. In 2012, Judge Grant and her family returned home to Georgia where she began service in the Office of the Georgia Attorney General as Counsel for Legal Policy, before being appointed Solicitor General, where she served during 2015 and 2016. In January of 2017, prior to her appointment as a federal judge, Judge Grant was appointed as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Georgia. Judge Grant currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their three children.
Hill Hardman
Hill Hardman is the President of Granite Holdings, where he provides strategic and corporate oversight for companies within its portfolio, including Routematch, a leading public transportation technology company, Geofields, an oil and gas pipeline data and integrity management solution provider, and Okabashi, a shoe manufacturing company in Georgia. Previously Hill served as President of MotionLink, a mobile resource management technology focused on Smart Cities. Prior to joining Granite Holdings, Hill was an attorney at King & Spalding, worked at Synovus Financial Services, and taught school in the Dominican Republic.
Born in Atlanta, Hill is active in the community and in addition to serving on the board of Georgia Forward, serves on the Emory University Board of Visitors Executive Committee, Dad’s Garage Board, Skyland Trail Board of Advisors, and Woodruff Arts Center Corporate Committee. He a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a 2013 Marshall Memorial Fellow, a LEAD Atlanta graduate, a 2017 Regional Leadership Institute and a 2013 Georgia Forward Young Gamechanger. He received a B.A. from Duke University, a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, and a M.B.A. degree from INSEAD in France and Singapore.
Cole Posey
Cole Posey joined the Technical College System of Georgia as Director of Marketing, Communication, and Public Relations for Southern Regional Technical College in 2014. In 2015, he and his team began a comprehensive re-branding and philosophical shift in their approach to the College’s messaging. This moved the College into digital-forward advertising and helped grow enrollment at a rate above state averages. In 2018, he moved into the role of Director of Economic Development at the College, where his primary duty is to liaise between resources provided by the College and local business and industry. Prior to joining SRTC, Cole was the Executive Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s middle Georgia district, where he and his team were responsible for fundraising, community outreach, patient services, and business development. Cole is an alum of Georgia College and State University’s J. Whitney Bunting College of Business where he earned a B.B.A. in 2008. He recently completed his M.B.A. in Strategic Leadership at Amberton University. Cole is a Spring 2016 Young Gamechanger, chair-elect of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the WorkSource Southwest Georgia Workforce Development Committee. He is actively involved in the YMCA, Colquitt County Archway Partnership, and the Hope House. He and his wife, Julie, along with sons Liam and Wyatt, reside in Moultrie, Georgia.
Kenita Williams
Kenita Williams joined the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) team in 2017 and serves as the Director of Leadership Development. In her role, Kenita oversees SEF’s signature leadership program for emerging leaders in the education equity space, the Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI), as well as a new initiative, the Racial Equity Leadership Network (RELN), an intense cohort-style fellowship for C-level leaders from school districts in the South committed to equity-centered systems change as a solution to addressing racial and economic disparities. Prior to joining SEF, Kenita was the Partnerships Manager for the Atlanta Public Schools’ (APS). Kenita earned her B.A. in Political Science from Yale University, her Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and a teaching certificate from Georgia State University. She is a Spring 2016 Young Gamechanger. Kenita lives in Peachtree City, Georgia with her husband, Adam, and daughter, Kennedy.
Ben Young
Ben Young is Co-Editor in Chief and Publisher of Georgia Trend Magazine. He joined the magazine in 2002 and has written the Sustainable Georgia column about social and environmental issues impacting the state since 2005.
Born in Dalton, Young attended college at Wake Forest and graduated with double art scholarship honors in 1994. He has worked on a number of Southside newspapers and was a founder of the Atlanta gallery Eyedrum. In 2014, his column “Surf’s Up” won the bronze award from the Association of Area Business Publications.
Young serves on the boards of GeorgiaForward, the Georgia Trust for Historical Preservation, and the United Methodist Children’s Home. He has graduated from Leadership Georgia, Regional Leadership Institute, and the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership. He lives in Avondale Estates near Atlanta with his wife Temple and son Holden.
Larry Hanson
Known for his work in local government and building strong civic, business and federal relationships, Larry Hanson currently serves as the executive director of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). Founded in 1933, GMA represents all of Georgia’s 538 cities through its lobbying, training and technical consulting services. Larry also serves as the secretary-treasurer for both the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System and the Georgia Cities Foundation. Prior to his employment with GMA, Larry served as city manager for the city of Valdosta for over 22 years.
In addition to his daily responsibilities, Larry is spearheading the association’s new headquarters project and the creation of Georgia City Solutions, a 501 (c)(3) subsidiary of GMA which has been created to fund initiatives to build vibrant, economically prosperous and well-managed cities.
Larry is a graduate of Valdosta State University and Valdosta High School. He is also a graduate of Leadership Georgia and a charter member of Leadership Lowndes, serving twice as its president.
Larry currently serves on several national and state committees. He was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee in 2017 and was reappointed in 2019 to an additional two-year term. He served on the Model Code for Municipalities Working Group as vice chairman and on the Rates and Fees subcommittee. Larry currently serves as immediate past president of the Valdosta State University Alumni Association and on the VSU Foundation Board. He previously served on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Board as vice chairman and currently serves on the Board of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. He is also a past president of the Georgia City-County Management Association.
Larry supports the United States military and frequently interacts with Air Force leaders and Georgia’s congressional delegation on various military matters. He was appointed by the Air Force to the Air Combat Command Commander’s Group. He serves on U.S. Senator David Perdue’s Military Community Group and on the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Military Advisory Committee.
Throughout his career, Larry has received numerous awards for his leadership and public service, including the 2003 Outstanding Public Official Award from Valdosta State University, the 2004 Carl Vinson Institute of Government/Georgia Trend Magazine Excellence in Public Service Award and the 2010 Georgia City-County Management Association Pillar of Professional Management Award for outstanding leadership and professional service to the local government profession. In 2011, Larry was inducted into GMA’s Municipal Government Hall of Fame. In addition, Georgia Trend recognized him in 2017 as a Notable Georgian and in 2018 and 2019 as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.
Larry is the proud father of two children, a son and a daughter. He is a long-time member and serves as an Elder at First Christian Church and is a past chairman of the church board.