Leadership

Cross-sector leaders committed to improving education in Georgia

Board Officers

Lisa J. Smith, Chair

Senior Vice President of Region External Affairs and Community Engagement, Georgia Power (Retired)

Lee Jarboe, Vice Chair

Chair, Talent and Ed Committee, Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Laura Komarek, Secretary/Treasurer

Senior Associate - Atlanta, Alston & Bird

Burt Fealing, Chair

Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Southwire Company

Board Members

Mark A.B. Carlson

Chief Growth Officer, Baker Donelson

Chris Clark

President and CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Kathy Clemons

Global Head of Talent Development, BlackRock & Head of HR, Atlanta Innovation Hub

Clint Dixon

Chair, Education & Youth Committee, Georgia Senate

Greg Dozier

Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia

Chris Erwin

Chair, Education Committee, Georgia House of Representatives

Sharon Goodwine

Chair, Talent and Education Committee, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (EVP Chief Human Resource Officer, Synovus)

Craig Harper

Executive Director, Professional Association of Georgia Educators

Amy M. Jacobs

Commissioner, Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning

Rich Johnson

Assistant Vice President, External Affairs,  AT&T

Katie Kirkpatrick

President & CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Anthony Lewis

Chief Human Resources Officer, Phoebe Putney Health Systems

Sonny Perdue

Chancellor, University System of Georgia

Dana Rickman

President, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education

Nick Slappy

Vice President, Safety & Resource Management, Southern Company Gas

Dawn Stastny

President, Georgia PTA

Ben Wiggins

Executive Director (Incoming), Georgia Association of Education Leaders

Crystal Wilde

SVP, Direct to Consumer Lending Segment Leader, Truist Bank

Valarie Wilson

Executive Director, Georgia School Boards Association

Holly Witcher

2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year

Richard Woods

State School Superintendent, Georgia Department of Education

John Zauner

Executive Director, Georgia School Superintendents Association

Past Board Chairs

Mike Donnelly (2019-2021)
Region Bank President, North Georgia, Wells Fargo

Milford McGuirt (2017-2019)
Atlanta & MidSouth Area Managing Partner, KPMG

Kevin Greiner (2015-2017)
President & CEO, Gas South

Shan Cooper (2013-2015)
VP & General Manager, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

W. Paul Bowers (2012-2013)
President & CEO, Georgia Power Company

Ann W. Cramer (2010-2011)
Director, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs for the Americas, IBM Corporation

Robert L. Brown, Jr. (2006-2010)
President & CEO, RL Brown & Associates, Inc.

Philip S. Jacobs (2004-2006)
President, BellSouth Georgia/AT&T Southeast

David M. Ratcliffe (2001-2004)
President & CEO, Georgia Power Company

Gary Lee, Jr. (1999-2001)
Executive Director, UPS Foundation

Ann W. Cramer (1997-1999)
Director, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs for the Americas, IBM Corporation

Carl E. Swearingen (1996-1997)
President, BellSouth Georgia

Roy Richards, Jr. (1994-1996)
President & CEO, Southwire Company

William C. Gaston (1991-1993)
President & CEO, Gold Kist, Inc.

Presidents Emeritus

Steve Dolinger, President Emeritus
Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education

Tom Upchurch, President Emeritus 
Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education