Events

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As Executive Director, Michael is responsible for AVLF’s day-to-day operations, managing its relationships in the community, fundraising, and overseeing all of the Foundation’s provision of legal and social services. Michael previously served as the Deputy Director and, prior to that, the Director of Housing and Consumer Programs at AVLF, managing a variety of programs that provide legal representation to low-income individuals and litigating in the areas of landlord-tenant law, unpaid wages, debt-defense and debt collection. Michael, who holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, spent his final year of law school studying at Harvard Law School and clerked for the Honorable Catherine C. Blake of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in Baltimore before beginning his legal career. In addition to his work at AVLF, Michael sits on the Board of Directors of HouseATL and the Steering Committee of the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (archi).

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Trevor Williams is Managing Editor of Global Atlanta and Publisher of Grounded Global Media.

Trevor has spent more than 15 years reporting on Atlanta’s ties with the world, undertaking journalism trips to more than 30 countries to uncover stories on the perils and promise of global engagement. A sought-after moderator for events focused on international business and policy, Trevor spearheaded the Consular Conversations series to drive dialogue with Atlanta's diplomatic corps through journalistic inquiry. His animating goal is to tell stories that foster cross-cultural understanding and make a complex world a little less confusing. His freelance work has appeared in AramcoWorld, Khabar, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, China Business Review, Nuernberger Zeitung and many other publications. 

A lifelong Bulldog, Trevor earned degrees from the University of Georgia in Magazine Journalism and Religion, with a minor in Chinese Language and Literature. He is the proud father of three sons and editor of the books Making Men: Five Steps to Growing Up and the recently released Civil Sights: Sweet Auburn -- A Historic Journey Through Atlanta's National Treasure by Gene Kansas. 

INTRODUCTION: Jennifer Richardson

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Bill Bolling: Bill Bolling is co-founder, board chair and senior advisor of Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance, a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build community gardens and urban farms across metro Atlanta. Prior to co-founding Food Well Alliance in 2015, Bill founded the Atlanta Community Food Bank in 1979 and served as its executive director for 36 years. Under his leadership, the Food Bank distributed more than half a billion pounds of food to feed the hungry. As a charter member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, Bill played a key role in launching food banks across the country and was instrumental in starting the Georgia Food Bank Association. Bill serves on the boards of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Inspire Brands Foundation, and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. He has facilitated the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum since founding it in 1984. Most recently, he co-founded and serves as board chair of the Atlanta Civic Circle, a new organization addressing civic journalism.

Plemon T. El-Amin, Imam Emeritus of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam: In addition to leading one of the most progressive Mosques in the United States,  Imam El-Amin is the former director of Atlanta's Clara Mohammed Elementary School and W. Deen Mohammed High School. Imam El-Amin has traveled the nation and the world representing the concerns and interests of Muslim Americans,and is the co-founder and director of World Pilgrims, an interfaith organization that engages people of various faith identities with one another through international travel, dialogue, and interaction. He has served on various religious and civic councils, and presently serves on the boards of the Atlanta Masjid Majlis, the Elijah Interfaith Institute in Jerusalem, the ISB (Islamic Speakers Bureau), the National Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, and Interfaith Community Initiatives.

Beth Schafer, Buntzl Cantorial Chair of Temple Sinai:  Beth Schafer is the Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair of Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs. This is her 10^th year serving on Temple Sinai’s clergy team. The areas in which she does the most work when not designing and leading worship are, grief support, mental health initiatives, LGBTQ advocacy, women’s rights and refugee support. She serves on the advisory board of SOJOURN, Atlanta’s Jewish LGBTQ advocacy organization as well as the board for the National Council for Jewish Women. Beth has been a composer of contemporary Jewish music for over 30 years, shaping the sound of Reform Jewish music in America. Her compositions are used widely in worship and gatherings around the country and have appeared in numerous publications.

The Rev. Winnie Varghese Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: A national leader in the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Winnie Varghese is known for her inspired writing, teaching, and preaching. Winnie has been a leading voice on issues including mass incarceration; systemic racism; gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ issues; and immigration, among others. She is the 23rd rector of St. Luke's, Atlanta. Prior to St. Luke’s, Winnie served at Trinity Church Wall Street, St. Mark’s in the Bowery in New York City, and St. Alban’s, Los Angeles. Winnie has also served as the Episcopal Chaplain at both Columbia University and the University of California Los Angeles.

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Whitefoord Chief Executive Officer Craig Tindall started his tenure with Whitefoord in October 2020 and is a seasoned non-profit and healthcare leader with over thirty-five years of leadership experience, including more than thirty-one years directing the operations of multiple hospital programs within Grady Health System, metropolitan Atlanta’s safety net hospital, premier Level 1 Trauma Center, and teaching hospital for Emory and Morehouse Schools of Medicine. He held many leadership positions during his Grady tenure from 1988-2019, starting as the Director of Facilities Planning and advancing to Vice President of General and Ancillary Services, interim Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President of Operations and Facilities, and Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations leading the major clinical service lines of Neurosciences, Cardiovascular, Oncology, Behavioral Health, Pharmacy, and Ambulatory Care/Community Medicine. He has dual master’s degrees with a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University (GSU) and was awarded the 2019 Max Holland Distinguished Alumni Award by the GSU Institute of Health Administration. Additionally, Craig has a Bachelor degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is also a graduate of Leadership Atlanta (2010) and Leadership Georgia Hospital Association (2006).

On the personal side, Craig grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and attended Baylor School before his undergrad time at UNC.  He has lived in Atlanta since 1985, a resident of Inman Park since 2004 and enjoys everything UNC Tarheels and Atlanta United soccer. 

INTRODUCTION: Kathy Colbenson

INVOCATION: Scott Sikes

Larry D. Thompson serves as Counsel to the Atlanta law firm of Finch McCranie, LLP.

In 2017, Mr. Thompson was appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice as the Independent Corporate Compliance Monitor and Auditor for Volkswagen AG. Mr. Thompson previously served as PepsiCo’s Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary until his retirement in 2014. At PepsiCo, he was responsible for the company’s worldwide legal function, its government affairs and public policy organizations and its global citizenship and sustainability team. He also oversaw the company’s global compliance function and served as President of the PepsiCo Foundation.

Mr. Thompson’s government career includes serving in the U.S. Department of Justice as the former U.S. Deputy Attorney General under George W. Bush (2001-2003). In 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft named Mr. Thompson to lead the National Security Coordination Council. Also in 2002, President Bush named Mr. Thompson to head the Corporate Fraud Task Force. He led the Justice Department’s Enron investigation.

Previously, Mr. Thompson was a partner in the Atlanta, Georgia law firm of King & Spalding. From 1982-1986, Mr. Thompson served as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. In that role, he directed the Southern Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and served on the Attorney General’s Economic Crime Council. In July 1995, Mr. Thompson was appointed Independent Counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development Investigation by the Special Panel of U.S. Circuit Court Judges appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In April 2000, Mr. Thompson was selected by Congress to chair the Judicial Review Commission on Foreign Asset Control.

Larry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Culver-Stockton College, a Master’s degree from Michigan State University and a Law degree from the University of Michigan, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pace University in New York, and an Honorary Doctorate from St. Louis University. Larry’s first book, Quiet Counsel, was released in November 2024.

Dr. Richard J. W. Harker is the President & CEO of Historic Oakland Foundation at historic Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, GA.

Since joining Historic Oakland Foundation in 2019 Richard has served as the organization’s Director of Programming & Volunteers (2017-2019), Co-Executive Director with long-time Executive Director David Moore (2019-2020), and as Executive Director and President & CEO since January 1, 2022.

Prior to working at HOF, Richard worked at the Museum of History & Holocaust Education at Kennesaw State University and Educational Cultural Exchanges in London, England. Richard has a Ph.D. in History from Georgia State University and Masters degrees in History from Durham University, England, and the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.

Originally from Croydon, England, Richard also serves on the Boards of Civil Bikes and the Cherokee Garden Library.

Ariel Fristoe is a national leader in community engagement and business model innovation in the arts. Ariel is the founder and Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater, winner of The New York Times Best Theater of 2020, the Bloomberg Public Art Challenge 2023, and the Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities 2021. Ariel advances social justice through programs that combine theater with information and conversation. She leads Emory’s Concentration in Arts Management and she’s been an Innovator in Residence at The Hatchery. Ariel is published in the International Journal of Arts Management and American Theater Magazine. Harvard Business School published a case study on Out of Hand’s business model. Ariel is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and a LINK Trip delegate. The AJC named her an Everyday Hero, and she’s won the Women of Influence Award and Emory's Entrepreneur Award and been named one of Georgia’s Most Influential Leaders and Atlanta's Most Powerful Leaders. 

INTRODUCTION: Kathy Colbenson

INTRODUCTION: Karen Carlisle

INTRODUCTION: Tommy Herrington

A proud Jew and Zionist, Dov Wilker has been Regional Director of the American Jewish Committee Atlanta since 2011 and AJC's National Director for Black Jewish Relations since 2018. After earning his International M.B.A. from Tel Aviv University, Dov worked for an Israeli software start-up. Dov began his career with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Southeastern United States and previously served as AJC Atlanta’s Assistant Director. Dov is currently a board member of BAMAH, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and an advisory board member for the Atlanta Ballet.

In 2023, Dov was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a Civic Diversity Champion and has been previously recognized as a 40 under 40 by both the Atlanta Jewish Times and the Atlanta Business Chronicle and received the Asian American Heritage Foundations Distinguished Service Award. Active in the community, Dov is an alum of LEAD Atlanta (2015) and the Wexner Field Fellowship (Class 5). He is married to Julie Jacobson and together they have two daughters.

Kwame Johnson was named the “Most Admired CEO” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Kwame serves as the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta, overseeing the largest and most effective youth mentoring agency in the state of Georgia. Kwame has drastically transformed the organization’s operations, programs, and fundraising, increasing overall revenue by 200%.

Kwame is also the award-winning author of The Hope Inside: Harnessing the Power of Mentorship in Life and Career. Kwame is a highly sought-after public speaker and consultant in the areas of fundraising, leadership development, strategy, marketing, and program innovation. Kwame found his passion while incarcerated during his senior year of high school. During this challenging time, he decided to change his life and made history by becoming the first youth to ever take his SATs in jail. Kwame was accepted into Hampton University and decided to leave college at the age of 19 to become a social entrepreneur. He has dedicated his life to service.

Kwame’s passion led him to Washington, DC, where he served as the National Program Director for the Woodson Center, which focused on helping residents of low-income neighborhoods address the problems of their communities. Kwame also served as the Director of Corporate Relations for the national office of Communities In Schools, the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization.

Kwame moved to Atlanta in 2015 to serve as the CEO of PowerMyLearning Atlanta, focused on improving educational outcomes for students, where he increased the organization's revenue by 65% and program reach by 115% within three years. Kwame has received national recognition for his work, including the Social Entrepreneur Program of the Year Award from the Manhattan Institute. Kwame received the highly distinguished Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO Award and the Atlanta Business League Men of Influence Award. Kwame has received both the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Georgia Trends 40 Under 40 Award. Kwame was recently named one of Atlanta’s Top 500 Most Powerful Leaders by the Atlanta Magazine and featured on WSB-TV Channel 2 as a Georgia Game Changer.

Kwame is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and an Executive Education Certificate in Nonprofit Strategy from Harvard University.

INTRODUCTION: Raphael Holloway

Kathryn McClymond was appointed as the 18th President at Oglethorpe University in November 2023 and is the university’s first female president. She previously served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Oglethorpe University as well as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University. Dr. McClymond is a scholar of comparative religions. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including a co-edited volume exploring how humanities disciplines contribute to research on moral injury among veterans. She has served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Religion and the American Society of the Study of Religion, and she currently sits on the Southern Athletic Conference Executive Committee as Incoming Chair and Treasurer.

Intro: Thornton Kennedy

General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera since 2013, Israeli born Tomer Zvulun is also one of opera’s most exciting stage directors, earning consistent praise for his creative vision, often described as cinematic and fresh. His work has been presented by prestigious opera houses around the world, including The Metropolitan Opera, the opera companies of Israel, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Montreal, Wexford, Glimmerglass, Houston, Washington National Opera, Seattle, Dallas, Detroit, San Diego, Minnesota, Boston, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Wolf Trap, as well as leading educational institutes and universities such as The Juilliard School, Indiana University, Boston University, and IVAI in Tel Aviv.

Since taking the leadership in Atlanta a decade ago, he personally directed thirty of the company’s productions. He increased the operations of the company from three to six productions per season, while stabilizing the financials and in the course of his first decade tenure, secured Atlanta’s position as one of the top 10 opera companies in the US. Some of his noted achievements includes launching the successful Discoveries series, creating the first young artist program in the company’s history, tripling the company’s annual fund raising, launching the company’s first RING cycle, creating The Atlanta Opera Film Studio, and building a theatre in a circus tent where performances were conducted safely during the pandemic.

His work at The Atlanta Opera attracted international attention by earning numerous awards and prizes including the nomination of The Atlanta Opera for the International Opera Awards in London and the selection of his production of Silent Night as both the Irish Times and Atlanta Journal-Constitution production of the year. His focus on innovation led to an invitation to deliver a TED talk as well as a case study that is being taught at Harvard Business School. His productions travel the world and bring wide exposure to the company. Next season his productions of Rigoletto travel to Los Angeles Opera, his La bohème returns to The Dallas Opera, and his acclaimed production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs will make its Kennedy Center debut at the Washington National Opera.

Mr. Raphael Holloway serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Center. He is an accomplished leader with over 30 years of experience in the social services sector, specializing in behavioral health, re-entry, homelessness, child welfare, and public health. He possesses strong nonprofit and business acumen and has a deep understanding of how to create and manage organizational change when change is difficult.

Mr. Holloway is a proven professional with expertise in mobilizing communities, cultivating resources, and fostering collaborations between multiple stakeholders—both private and public—with seemingly divergent objectives and priorities, all working toward a common goal. He serves on several local nonprofit boards, including Open Doors, T2S C.A.R.E.S. and the Community Advisory Board for Agape Youth & Family Center.

He is an alumnus of Leadership Atlanta’s 50th Anniversary Class of 2020 and a member of the Atlanta Kiwanis Club. In 2021, he received the TechBridge Bill Bolling Non-Profit Leadership Award and was recognized by Atlanta Magazine’s "The Heroes Who Inspire Doctors." He has also been named one of Atlanta Magazine’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders from 2021 through 2025. Additionally, in 2024 he was recognized by Georgia Trend as one of Georgia’s Most Influential Leaders and in 2023 and 2024 he was honored as part of Georgia’s Titan 100 for his leadership. Mr. Holloway is a proud member of W.C. Thomas Lodge No. 112, PHA and the Atlanta Chapter of 100 Black Men. He is a native of Toledo, OH and earned his B.A. in Child and Family Services and M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Bowling Green State University.

James “Jay” M. Bailey serves as the President and CEO of the H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), where he leads the world's largest entrepreneurial hub dedicated to growing, scaling, and developing Black businesses.

In just five years, under Jay's visionary leadership, RICE supports more than 600 entrepreneurs full time, sustaining 4,125 jobs in the community, and sparking a staggering $557 million of new economic impact in the Metro Atlanta area. Jay and his team have transformed RICE into an economic empowerment and innovation powerhouse.

Jay is an Atlanta native, three-time TED Talker, and die-hard Georgia Bulldog. He has been recognized with the prestigious National Point of Light Award, named one of Atlanta's "Most Admired CEOs" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, ranked on Atlanta Magazine's "POWER 100" list of the most dynamic leaders in the city, and honored by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential” leaders in the State. His leadership and commitment to the community have been recognized by three U.S. Presidents. In 2012, he was one of eight Americans honored at the White House as a "Champion of Change: Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

Currently residing in East Atlanta, Jay shares his life's journey with his wife, Dateline NBC correspondent Blayne Alexander, and their cherished daughters, Sage and Skylar.

Lane Strickland (she/her) has served as the Director of Development for Global Village Project (GVP) since December 2023. GVP is the only middle school in the U.S. dedicated to meeting the educational needs of refugee girls, preparing them for success in the American high school system and beyond. In this role, Lane leads the school’s fundraising, marketing, and communications efforts, driving strategic initiatives to strengthen GVP’s impact and reach.

Lane brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit development, with a focus on organizations committed to empowering youth and advancing health equity. Her passion for youth, human rights, and health equity stems from her time as an HIV/AIDS Outreach Specialist with the U.S. Peace Corps in South Africa.

Lane holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management from The University of Alabama and is an alumna of Leadership Austin’s Emerge Program (2018). She is also a Team Co-Captain for her cycling team, “All Ride, All Ride, All Ride.”

Delvecchio S. Finley, FACHE, is Georgia Market president for Atrium Health and holds responsibility for providing leadership and strategic direction for meaningful and measurable goals that will position Atrium Health Navicent and Atrium Health Floyd for strategic growth and success. Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States and a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care.

With more than 20 years of health care leadership experience, Finley joined Atrium Health Navicent in 2021, following Navicent's strategic combination with Atrium Health. Previously, Finley served as chief executive officer of Alameda Health System. Additional leadership positions held throughout his career include chief executive officer of LA County/Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and interim chief operating officer for Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.

A Georgia native, Finley received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Emory University in Atlanta before obtaining a master’s degree in public policy from the Sanford Institute for Public Policy at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Through hard work and a solid educational foundation, Finley quickly established himself within the health care industry, becoming a first-time CEO in his mid-30s.

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Finley currently serves as Immediate Past Chair for the organization and as Nominating Committee Chair. In 2024, he was appointed to serve as a board member for Georgia’s newly created Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission which is tasked with assessing access and quality of health care for Georgia’s low-income and uninsured populations, and making recommendations for opportunities for improvement.

Finley is also a former board member for the American Hospital Association, a member of the Council on Healthcare Spending and Value and the past-chair of the America’s Essential Hospitals Institute. He serves on the Georgia Hospital Association's board of trustees, on the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals’ board of directors and executive committee and is a board member for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Central Georgia Health Network, Secure Health, Phoenix Healthcare Management Services, and the Georgia Research Alliance.

He has previously served as chair-elect of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems and a member of the California Hospitals Association board of directors, as well as multiple locally based health boards, prior to his selection to lead Atrium Health Navicent.

Finley has been recognized by industry peers for several awards and commendations, including Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minorities in Healthcare Watch List and its Up and Comers Award, Becker’s Hospital Review Top Healthcare Executives under 40 and received the Robert S. Hudgens Young Healthcare Executive of the Year Award by the American College of Healthcare Executives organization. He was also named one of Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Diversity Leaders in Healthcare for 2021 and 2023, and was included on Georgia Trend’s GEORGIA 500 list of most influential leaders of 2022, 2023 and 2024.