Events

Andre Dickens in the Mayor of the City of Atlanta. Please visit the KCA speaker page for complete bio information!

Luncheon fee is $25, payable by cash, check (made payable to Kiwanis Club of Atlanta), Zelle to @KiwanisClubAtlanta@gmail.com  or bill to member account.

Registration is Free for Regular and Corporate Members.

Associate, Satellite, Emeritus and Honorary Members who make a reservation by Thursday, Noon, prior to the luncheon, will receive a $5 discount.

Parking Fee is $1.50.  Please park in the parking deck adjacent to the Loudermilk Center.  If you don’t have a parking card, bring your parking ticket inside to receive a validation.

Quarterly Meeting of the Kiwanis Foundation Investment Committee

Monthly KCA Program Committee Meeting

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON.  Registration closes THURSDAY, Jan 23  at Noon.

To View on Zoom:  Click Here.

Emily Acker, CEO of Hillside, leads one of Atlanta's most respected mental health treatment centers for children and adolescents. With over three decades of experience, Emily has committed her life to helping young people in crisis understand their worth, find their strengths, and live healthier lives. Her career began in a counseling role for troubled teen boys, where she discovered her calling to support at-risk youth. Now, as a mother and grandmother, her mission has evolved to include empowering entire families
navigating the challenges of serious mental illness.

Under Emily's leadership, Hillside has gained national recognition as the first residential facility in the U.S. to receive program certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) from the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, a specialized approach that equips children with emotional regulation and coping strategies. Emily's dedication to this approach reflects her deep understanding of child neurodevelopment, helping kids build resilience during their formative years. Hillside's treatment options are comprehensive, spanning both inpatient and outpatient services, including virtual programs, to support families at various stages of need.

Beyond treatment, Emily is a tireless advocate for reducing the stigma surrounding youth mental health, encouraging parents to seek intervention early and educating communities that mental health issues are not matters of discipline but medical concerns. Her message to families is rooted in hope: with the right care and environment, children can thrive. Emily’s personal philosophy, “Every child matters,” shapes every aspect of Hillside’s work, reminding families and communities alike that each child has the potential for a bright and fulfilling future. Her vision, expertise, and compassion have positioned her and her team as a trusted authorities in children’s mental health.

Emily Acker is President of Hillside. Please visit the KCA speaker page for complete bio information!

Luncheon fee is $25, payable by cash, check (made payable to Kiwanis Club of Atlanta), Zelle to @KiwanisClubAtlanta@gmail.com  or bill to member account.

Registration is Free for Regular and Corporate Members.

Associate, Satellite, Emeritus and Honorary Members who make a reservation by Thursday, Noon, prior to the luncheon, will receive a $5 discount.

Parking Fee is $1.50.  Please park in the parking deck adjacent to the Loudermilk Center.  If you don’t have a parking card, bring your parking ticket inside to receive a validation.

Annual Meeting of the Kiwanis Foundation of Atlanta Trustees

Robby Gulri is Head of Office for Rapidscale. Please visit the KCA speaker page for complete bio information!

Luncheon fee is $25, payable by cash, check (made payable to Kiwanis Club of Atlanta), Zelle to @KiwanisClubAtlanta@gmail.com  or bill to member account.

Registration is Free for Regular and Corporate Members.

Associate, Satellite, Emeritus and Honorary Members who make a reservation by Thursday, Noon, prior to the luncheon, will receive a $5 discount.

Parking Fee is $1.50.  Please park in the parking deck adjacent to the Loudermilk Center.  If you don’t have a parking card, bring your parking ticket inside to receive a validation.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON.  Registration closes THURSDAY, Jan 30  at Noon.

To View on Zoom:  Click Here.

Robby Gulri is a cybersecurity and cloud professional, currently serving as Field CTO at RapidScale and a board member for Atlanta Technical College. With over 30 years of experience, he has launched multiple SaaS products generating $250M+ in annual revenue. Gulri runs the nonprofit SevaSecurity to combat digital inequality, raising $11M in grants and providing $1M in pro-bono services annually. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Business, is fluent in four languages, and frequently speaks on technology’s role in business and social impact.

Monthly Board of Directors Meeting

Each month club members greet the troops at the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.  Two shifts of volunteers needed:  10 am - 1 pm and 1 - 4 pm.

Douglas Ellis, Jr. is the retired CEO of Southern Mills, Inc. And he is a commercial pilot for Angel Flight Soars.  His military service includes a couple of years in the U. S. Navy on a Pacific Fleet Destroyer. He is active in the community serving a the Chairman of Trustees and Elder for First Presbyterian Church, as well as a director for Angel Flight.  He previously served in leadership roles with the Metro Atlanta United Way, Atlanta Rotary Club and the American Textile Manufacturers Association.  He received his AB Degree in Economics from Princeton,  BS from Georgia Tech and his MBA from Harvard.  He and his wife, Florida, have three daughters and eight grandchildren.                            

While working on her BA in Finance from the University of West Georgia, Jeanine Chambers became involved with Angel Flight Soars (AFS), a non-profit organization that coordinates free air transportation to treatments for individuals with medical needs and financial constraints. She began as an Earth Angel volunteer, then served as a member of the 1997-1998 Board of Directors, and received the Outstanding Community Service Award 1998. She went on to earn an MBA with a CIS concentration from Georgia State University in 1999, then taking the helm as the Executive Director of Angel Flight Soars, overseeing the expansion of mission flights serving those in need from 272 in the year 2000 to 4,058 in 2024.

Jeanine has led the charitable organization through an overall restructuring and built public awareness to unprecedented levels, racking up 10 industry and government awards recognizing the organization’s contributions to community service and disaster relief. Most recently, under her direction, AFS coordinated 804 flights for COVID-19 test specimen delivery to testing facilities, And in 2024, after Hurricane Helene ravaged Western North Carolina, AFS coordinated the delivery of nearly 10,000 pounds of donated supplies via truck and air to the region. Building Angel Flight Soars’ mission and her personal and community involvement fulfills her lifelong dream of helping others. Jeanine is an Atlanta native living in North Atlanta where she spends most of her free time with her adopted daughter and new grandson.

INTRO: Blake Young

Monthly KCA Program Committee Meeting

Bill Crane is nearing 30 years as a senior communications strategist. He began his career in broadcasting, later serving in senior communications staff positions under Georgia’s Gold Dome as well as on Capitol Hill, working for two U.S. Senators and one Governor, in both major political parties.

Crane also has significant economic development experience, serving as Vice-President of Marketing and Communications for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce during Atlanta’s Olympic years.

During the 2000 decade, Crane was a Senior Vice President with the GCI Group, a global public relations firm, where he helmed client engagements for AFLAC, Cousins Properties, Deloitte Consulting, InterContinental Hotels Group and Johnson & Johnson to name a few.

Since the 2000 Presidential Election, Crane has become one of the southeast’s most visible political analysts and commentators, first with 11Alive News, Atlanta’s NBC affiliate, and since 2011 with Channel 2’s WSB-TV Action News.  Crane added radio in 2006, since providing commentary for WSB-95.5FM and 750AM.  In 2009, Crane began a weekly political column, carried initially by The Champion, DeKalb County’s legal organ, and now by almost 50 other media outlets across Georgia.  Crane’s poltical analysis can also be seen on Georgia Public Television, “The Lawmakers,” as well as CNN International, China Global Television Network (CGTN) and AlJazeera English.

During 2009, Crane opened his own firm, CSI Crane, LLC providing a full-range of marketing, public affairs and communications services to individuals and corporations, specializing in crisis management, corporate reputation and executive visibility as well as the communications and governmental challenges of highly regulated industries.

Crane is a graduate of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia.  He remains an avid Bulldog fan, as well as the proud father of two daughters, and grandfather of twin boys.  He lives in Scottdale, Georgia. 

Intro: Dan Douglass

Monthly Meeting of th eKCA Board of Directors

Each month club members greet the troops at the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.  Two shifts of volunteers needed:  10 am - 1 pm and 1 - 4 pm.

Intro: Karen Sheldon
 

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.

INTRODUCTION: 

Monthly KCA Program Committee Meeting

Intro: Kathy Colbenson

Quarterly Meeting of the Kiwanis Foundation Investment Committee

Kiwanis Kids Cultural Challenge is Back!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 19th.

Annual Meeting of the Kiwanis Foundation of Atlanta Trustees

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.

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

INTRODUCTION: Karen Carlisle