Challenges, Opportunities, and Needs for the State of Georgia

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Mike Thurmond was the youngest of nine children and graduated from Clarke Central High School in Athens. He graduated from Paine College in Augusta then earned a law degree from the South Carolina School of Law before returning home to Clarke County to establish a law practice. At 33, Mike was elected to the Georgia Legislature, defeating a long-term incumbent to become the first African American to represent Clarke County at the Capitol since Reconstruction. 

Mike led Georgia’s Division of Family & Children Services where he earned a reputation as a “turnaround-expert” creating the Work First program that helped 90,000 Georgians move back into the workforce. He then went on to serve as Georgia’s Labor Commissioner, where he created the Georgia Work$ model, that has been copied by more than 30 states. Most recently, Mike served as CEO of Dekalb County where he ended a culture of corruption and debt, turning a $27 million dollar deficit into a $140 million dollar surplus.

Clark Dean is a business leader, civic servant, and gubernatorial candidate known for solving complex multi-stakeholder problems. With a background in biomedical engineering, management consulting, and financial structuring, Clark embraces a multifaceted and forward-thinking perspective that drives discovery, innovation, and effective community-led transformation.

An Atlanta Business Chronicle “40 Under 40” honoree and one of Georgia Trend’s “500 Most Influential Leaders,” Clark’s leadership extends well beyond the corporate landscape. He served as President and Chairman of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, and has an active board seat with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, The Carter Center, the Shepherd Center, and Café Momentum. Clark is an Executive Managing Director at Transwestern and has earned degrees in Engineering & Biological Sciences from Harvard, where he played varsity football.