Speakers
Speaker | Date | Topic |
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Doug Ellis, Jeanine Chambers | Feb 11, 2025 11:45 AM |
Angel Flight Soars
![]() CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON. Registration closes THURSDAY, Feb 6 at Noon. To View on Zoom: Click Here. 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. INTRODUCTION: Blake Young
INVOCATION: Tom Adams
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Mary Wearn, President | Feb 18, 2025 11:45 AM |
From Stories to Success: Georgia Humanities in the Community and Classroom
![]() CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON. Registration closes THURSDAY, Feb 13 at Noon. To View on Zoom: Click Here. Dr. Mary Wearn is the President of Georgia Humanities, leading the organization’s efforts to inspire curiosity, connection, and lifelong learning across the state. A humanities scholar and academic leader with a deep commitment to community engagement, she brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education and the University System of Georgia, where she served as an English professor, department chair, assistant and associate provost, and ultimately as the founding dean of the School of Arts and Letters at Middle Georgia State University.
During her tenure in higher education, Wearn built a reputation for fostering meaningful partnerships with national, state, and local institutions—including the United States Air Force’s Museum of Aviation, the Ocmulgee Mounds Association, and the historic Douglass Theatre. She played a pivotal role in developing programs that brought arts and culture to life for diverse audiences and helped secure funding to support these public-facing initiatives.
Wearn holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Georgia, a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. She has served in various nonprofit leadership and advisory roles and currently sits on the board of directors for the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon.
INTRODUCTION: Phil Smith
INVOCATION: Michael McPherson
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Bill Crane, Principal, CSI Crane | Feb 25, 2025 11:45 AM |
“2024 Politics: The Year in Review”
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON. Registration closes THURSDAY, Feb 20 at Noon. To View on Zoom: Click Here. 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. INTRODUCTION: Dan Douglass
INVOCATION: John Barge
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Rodney Bullard, CEO | Mar 04, 2025 11:45 AM |
The Same House
![]() CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON. Registration closes THURSDAY, Feb 27 at Noon. To View on Zoom: Click Here. A native of Decatur, Georgia, Rodney D. Bullard is the CEO of The Same House, a public benefit corporation dedicated to furthering economic mobility by bridging social division. The Same House is a community-driven movement that through programs like -- the Beloved Benefit, Youth Lead Georgia, and Tables Across America - is addressing the social and economic challenges facing our world today. Rodney previously served as an Officer at Chick-fil-A starting and leading Chick-fil-A's Global Corporate Social Responsibility, which included oversight of Community Affairs, Community Engagement, Environmental Sustainability, and the Chick-fil-A Foundation. A frequent speaker, he previously served as a JAG Officer in the U.S. Air Force, at the Pentagon as a Legislative Counsel, and as an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice . Rodney was also selected as a White House Fellow working directly for the NASA Administrator. Rodney serves on the boards of the Ameris Bank, the Westside Future Fund, the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation, the White House Fellows Alumni Association, and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is an alumnus of the United States Air Force Academy, Duke Law School, the University of Georgia's Terry School of Business, and the Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. He is the author of a best-selling book, Heroes Wanted; Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out. INTRODUCTION: Mary Pat Crouch INVOCATION: Susan Adams
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Dietmer Exler, CEO, AMB Sports & Entertainment | Mar 11, 2025 11:45 AM |
Atlanta’s Journey to FIFA World Cup 26
![]() Dietmar Exler became Chief Operating Officer for AMBSE in July 2019. In this role he is primarily responsible for operating the Mercedes Benz Stadium. Being a huge sports fan, he enjoys this assignment tremendously. Exler’s career spans more than two decades with international business experience in various leadership roles. He began his career at McKinsey & Co. in 1997 as part of the financial interest group in their German office and later moved to their Midwest office, based in Detroit, Michigan. After five years at McKinsey Exler joined Daimler Chrysler Financial Services 2002 as Senior Manager of Program Development and was promoted to Vice President of Marketing later the same year. In 2004, Exler became Vice President of Customer Services for Daimler Chrysler Financial Services, and then transferred to Germany in 2005 where he serves as Chief Operating Officer for Daimler Financial Services Europe and Member of the Board of Mercedes-Benz Bank in Stuttgart. Exler returned to the US in 2010 being appointed Vice President Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA. In 2014 he took over the position of Vice-President of Sales for Mercedes-Benz USA, with overall responsibility for the company’s sales, volume planning and distribution operations in the United States. In 2016 Exler became Head of Region NAFTA Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars, as well as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA in. In this role, Exler had overall responsibility for sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz Passengers Cars and the smart brand in the United States, Canada and Mexico leading overall more than 3000 employees and 400 dealers in these three markets. Originally from Austria, Exler studied at Johannes Kepler University in Linz, where he received his Doctorate in Law. He also holds a Master of Laws from the University of Chicago and has been a member of the New York State Bar association since 1997. INTRODUCTION: Karen Sheldon INVOCATION: Michael Butkus |
Tomer Zvulun, Stage Director | Mar 18, 2025 11:45 AM |
The Atlanta Opera
![]() 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: Thornton Kennedy INVOCATION: Emily Acker |
Jon Willis, VP, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta | Mar 25, 2025 11:45 AM |
The U.S. Economic Outlook
![]() Jon Willis is a vice president and senior economist in the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He is a member of the leadership team of the Research Department and serves as a monetary policy adviser. Willis' research focuses on labor market dynamics over the business cycle and the relationship between the price-setting behavior of firms and inflation dynamics. His work has been published in journals such as the American Economic Review, the Journal of Monetary Economics, and the International Economic Review. Before he joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in 2020, Willis served as vice president and senior research and policy advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. He joined the Kansas City Fed in 2000. He also served as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 and 2005. Willis has a bachelor's degree in economics from Grinnell College and a doctoral degree in economics from Boston University. INTRODUCTION: Thornton Kennedy INVOCATION: Hank Fellows |
Michael Lucas, Executive Director | Apr 01, 2025 11:45 AM |
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation
INTRODUCTION: Kathy Colbenson INVOCATION: Tommy Herrington |
TBD | Apr 08, 2025 |
Consular Corps Day
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TBD | Apr 15, 2025 11:45 AM |
Annual Easter Program
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Craig Tindall | Apr 22, 2025 11:45 AM |
Whitefoord
INTRODUCTION: Kathy Colbenson INVOCATION: Scott Sikes |
KCA 5th Tuesday Social and Networking | Apr 29, 2025 5:30 PM |
Free Bikes 4 Kids
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TBD | May 06, 2025 11:45 AM |
Law Day
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Richard Harker, Pres, Historic Oakland Foundation | May 13, 2025 11:45 AM |
"Historic Oakland Cemetery: Where Atlanta's History Lives"
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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. INTRODUCTION: David Moore
INVOCATION:
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Dr. Kathyrn McClymond, President | May 20, 2025 11:45 AM |
Oglethorpe University
![]() 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 |
Lee Beckmann | May 27, 2025 11:45 AM |
GA Ports Authority
INTRODUCTION: Karen Carlisle |
Dov Wilker, Regional Director, AJC Atlanta | Jun 10, 2025 11:45 AM |
Israel & Antisemitism in 2025: All That You Need To Know
![]() 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, Pres/CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters | Jun 17, 2025 11:45 AM |
The Power of Mentorship
![]() 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 |