Speakers

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Andre Dickens is the 61st Mayor of Atlanta, bringing a lifelong commitment to the city and a dynamic vision to drive its progress as a global city of opportunity. A native Atlantan and product of Atlanta Public Schools, Mayor Dickens is focused on expanding opportunities, equity, and prosperity for all residents.

As Chief Executive Officer, Mayor Dickens oversees the largest budget in Atlanta’s history, managing billions of dollars in general, enterprise, trust and pension funds. Under his leadership, the City of Atlanta achieved a historic upgrade to a AAA bond rating, the highest in the city’s history. Well known for his goals of being a model employer, each of the city’s nearly 10,000 employees received pay increases annually and a $17.50/hr minimum wage.

Mayor Dickens has implemented major advancements in public safety, economic development, and community support since taking office in 2022. With a vision of One Safe City, Mayor Dickens has championed initiatives to reduce crime, such as establishing the Nightlife Division to improve safety in higher crime nightlife areas. His approach also includes community-focused programs that led to a 21% reduction in homicides in 2023, with trends indicating further reductions in 2024. Through his Light Up the Night initiative, Atlanta’s street lighting network expanded with 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights installed over three years, significantly improving visibility and safety across neighborhoods. The Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction has been instrumental in gang prevention, conflict resolution, domestic violence reduction, and more. Additionally, Mayor Dickens launched programs like the Midnight Basketball League and Year of the Youth, which provide Atlanta’s youth with positive outlets and skill-building opportunities, correlating directly with the city’s reduced crime rates.

In economic development and housing, Mayor Dickens has advanced Atlanta’s affordability and inclusivity through a $58.7 million housing bond to create and preserve affordable housing, targeting homelessness and housing instability. He set an ambitious goal of establishing 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030, including innovative projects like The Melody, which uses repurposed shipping containers to offer sustainable housing for the unhoused. The city has also established a historic $60 million Homeless Opportunity Bond, the single largest investment addressing homelessness in Atlanta’s history. These initiatives reflect his commitment to creating stable and accessible housing for all Atlanta residents.

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Dr. Bryan Johnson, a former corporate executive and accomplished K-12 leader, serves as Superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools. He brings a unique blend of corporate and educational leadership to the role.

  

As Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, he led bold initiatives that have been recognized nationally like HCS EdConnect and Future Ready Institutes. In 2021 he was named Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and was 1 of 4 finalists for National Superintendent of the Year. 

 

During his first year serving APS, Dr. Johnson supported the district achieving the highest graduation rate in its history at 90.5%. Additionally, APS improved its Georgia Milestones results in every grade 3-8 content band. He is currently spearheading a innovative facilities plan called APS Forward 2040 which aims to position the district to become more efficient with its resources and deepen academic programming like establishing the Atlanta Schools of the Arts at Carver and expanding workforce development opportunities for students.  

 

INTRODUCTION: Michael McPherson

 

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Caylee Noggle was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) in August 2023. With extensive leadership experience spanning healthcare, state government, and higher education, she is a strong advocate for Georgia’s hospitals and works strategically to improve health outcomes for communities across the state. In her first two years at GHA, Noggle has led the organization in advancing a clear strategic vision focused on key priorities, including access to high-quality care, behavioral health, healthcare liability reform, rural health, and workforce sustainability.

Prior to joining GHA, Noggle served as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health, overseeing a complex healthcare portfolio that included Georgia Medicaid and the state’s largest employer-sponsored health insurance plan. Noggle has also served as a member of Governor Brian P. Kemp’s senior leadership team, holding several key roles with broad operational responsibility across state government.

Noggle serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2022. She has been recognized with GASFAA’s Outstanding Service to Students Award and NASPA’s Graduate and Professional Student Award. She holds a master’s degree in college student affairs from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a bachelor’s degree from Millikin University, which honored her with the 2025 Alumni Merit Award. Noggle and her family live in Atlanta and are members of Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

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Ambassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. A career foreign service officer at the U.S. Department of State, Shapiro served as Ambassador to Venezuela, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs.

In 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the Council, he taught international business at Georgia State University. Shapiro has published op-eds in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Toronto Star, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the Miami Herald, the San Diego Union Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON.  Registration closes THURSDAY, February 26  at Noon.

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Tricia Pridemore was elected to the Georgia Public Service Commission in 2018. Pridemore serves on many boards in the energy industry, and works on constructive solutions to our nation’s electric transmission, pipeline safety and diversified energy generation including natural gas, nuclear, solar and American coal:

• President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). 2024-2025
• Past Chair, Board of the Financial Research Institute (FRI) at the University of Missouri
• Member, National Petroleum Council
• Member, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Advisory Board
• Member, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) Public Interest Advisory Council
• Member, New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council
• Member, Critical Consumer Issues Forum (CCIF) Executive Committee

Pridemore is recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. She served on both the 2019 Transition Team of Gov. Brian Kemp and the 2011 Transition Team of Governor Nathan Deal. She co-chaired both of Governor Nathan Deal’s Inaugurals. Pridemore is a member of the Rotary Club. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University.

 

INTRODUCTION: Michael McPherson

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.

INTRODUCTION: Kathy Colbenson