The Zell Miller Foundation is excited to announce the distinguished participants selected for the Zell Miller Leadership Institute Class of 2019. The nonpartisan leadership development program explores the core values former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller felt were essential to becoming a more effective leader and decision maker.

“Our team is extremely proud to announce the members of the Class of 2019,” said Bryan Miller, Executive Chairman of the foundation. “I am confident that we have assembled 54 of the most talented and brightest emerging leaders from all across Georgia.”

“Zell always believed that the future depended upon investing in the next generation. Now in its second year, this program has proven itself to be a central pillar in the legacy he wished to leave behind,” said former First Lady Shirley Miller.

The Zell Miller Leadership Institute was launched in January 2018 with 40 members in the inaugural class. The year-long program consists of five weekend summits held in Athens, Macon, Augusta, Columbus, and Savannah.

The class selection process, which began in October, included a nomination and application phase. The following members of the Class of 2019 were selected from over 100 nominees and 75 applicants:

Margaret Alabi
Shire Pharmaceuticals
Senior Medical Science Liaison
Atlanta

Sarah Beck
State Charter Schools Commission
Operational Accountability Manager
Atlanta

Ashton Blackwood
Georgia State Senate
Policy Director
Atlanta

Leanna Brown
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Director, Government Affairs
Bishop

Christopher Bruce
American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia
Policy Counsel
Atlanta

Nicholas Buford
Transition Office for Governor-Elect Brian Kemp
Deputy Policy Director
Sandy Springs

Amber Carter
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Deputy Director of Public & Government Affairs
Villa Rica

Merry Hunter Caudle
Georgia Institute of Technology
Program Manager for Economic Development
Atlanta

Chris Chammoun
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Division Director, Rural Initiatives
TIfton

Collier Collier
Technical College System of Georgia
Director of State Board Operations
Atlanta

Christopher Collier
Williams Teusink, LLC
Associate Attorney
Atlanta

John Herbert Cranford
Coweta Judicial Circuit
District Attorney
Newnan

Christopher Denson
Memorial Health University Medical Center
Director of Outreach
Savannah

Buck Dixon
Troutman Sanders LLP
Associate
Atlanta

Leah Dixon
Georgia Conservancy
Advocacy Director
Atlanta

David Dove
Transition Office of Governor-Elect Brian Kemp
Director
Robbins Ross Alloy Belinfante Littlefield Attorney
Marietta

Wells Ellenberg
Southern Company
Government Relations Manager
Washington, DC

Lauren Greer
McGuire Woods Consulting, LLC
Assistant Vice President and Counsel
Atlanta

Caulder Harvill-Childs
Georgia House of Representatives
Policy Advisor, Office of the Majority Leader
Atlanta

Sheronn Harris
The Harris Firm, P.C.
Founding Principal
East Point

Elizabeth Harwood
AT&T
Regional Director, Legislative Affairs
Atlanta

Kevin Holder
Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia
Executive Director
Fairburn

Kyle Hood
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Director, Community Development Division
Atlanta

Benjamin Jarrard
University of North Georgia
Director of State Government Relations
Dawsonville

Adam Johnson
Jabian Consulting
Manager
Atlanta

Alisha Johnson
Rockdale Judicial Circuit
District Attorney
Conyers

Jasmine King
Office of Governor Nathan Deal
Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff
Atlanta

Ashlyn Martin
Chisholm Leadership Academy, Inc.
Founder
Atlanta

Christie Haynes Moore
Dawson County Chamber of Commerce
President & CEO
Dawsonville

Michael Moore
Dieffenbacher
Financial Business Analyst
Dawsonville

Shaunae Motley
Quest for Change, Inc.
Director of Programs
Albany

Anna Nuckolls
Coweta Charter Academy
School Enrollment Administrator
Newnan

David Nuckolls
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Global Account Manager, Marketing & Operations
Newnan

Jeff Reynolds
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Associate Attorney
Atlanta

Chelsey Ruppersburg
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Director of State & Political Affairs
Atlanta

Harry Sanders
Sanders Logging Company, Inc.
Vice President
Danville

Rachel Santos
University of Georgia, College of Agriculture
Director, Policy, Government, Corporate Affairs
Bishop

Trevor Santos
National Shooting Sports Foundation
Director, Government Relations-State Affairs
Bishop

Jacinta Smith
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Health Scientist
Lithonia

Talmage Smith
U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency
State Executive Director
Bogart

Everett Steele
Atlanta City Council – Post 3 At Large
Chief of Staff
Atlanta

Justin Strickland
Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission
President
Albany

James Taylor
Kennesaw State University
Executive Assistant to the President
Smyrna

Annaliza Thomas
Technical College System of Georgia
Director, Certified Literate Community Program
Gainesville

Grant Thomas
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Government Affairs Manager
Roswell

Hillary Thrower
Emory University
Assistant Director of State Affairs
Atlanta

Robert Thrower
Georgia Department of Corrections
Legislative Liaison
Atlanta

Randall Toussaint
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Senior Project Manager
Gainesville

Brian Tukes
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Director of Government Relations
Atlanta

Josh Waters
Walker, Hulbert, Gray & Moore LLP
Associate Attorney
Perry

April Williams
Brock & Scott LLC
Associate Attorney

Miranda Williams
Transition Office of Governor-Elect Brian Kemp First Lady’s Transition – Mansion Coordinator and Family Ticketing
Atlanta

Joseph Wozniak
Mile 22 Associates
Co-founder and Managing Partner
Atlanta

Emily Yoga
Georgia Dental Association
Director of Health Policy
Atlanta