Leadership

Leading Georgia’s Environmental Leaders

IGEL’s Board of Directors actively steers the IGEL vision, setting goals, and developing policies that move the organization forward. Our board members have all completed the core leadership program, so they bring first-hand knowledge and personal experience to every decision to foster and challenge Georgia’s environmental leaders.
Hidden Toggle
Kim Ajy

IGEL Board Role: Chair, Finance, Treasurer

IGEL Class Year: 2015

Job Title: President

Organization: R2T, Inc.

Stephen Bailey

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2016

Job Title: Associate Vice President

Organization: Pond

Kellie Ballew
IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2020-2021

Job Title: Vice President of Global Sustainability & Innovation

Organization: Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: It is my personal obligation, my honor, and my career choice to do all that I can to preserve the environment for future generations. To be an environmental leader means to speak up on behalf of the environment in all decisions in our state.

Patricia Barmeyer
IGEL Board Role: Chair, Resource Development

IGEL Class Year: 2017

Job Title: Senior Counsel

Organization: King and Spalding

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To play a significant role in addressing environmental issues facing our State, on behalf of any public or private institution.

Mark Berry

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2017

Job Title: Sr VP of R&D

Organization: Southern Company Services

Rodney Brooks

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Ryan Burtt

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Job Title: Chief Financial Officer

Organization: Southwest Georgia Farm Credit

Casey Cox Kerr

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2016

Job Title: President

Organization: Longleaf Ridge

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To openly share perspectives and represent one’s community / background while being respectful of others’ lenses with the ultimate goal of collaboration and problem-solving.

Nick DiLuzio

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2019

Job Title: Vice President

Organization: Georgia Forestry Foundation

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To be someone who is both knowledgable about the space as well as someone who can facilitate connections within the environmental space.

Tom Driver
IGEL Board Role: Member

Job Title: Regional Manager/Senior Principal

Organization: Terracon Consultants, Inc.

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To be someone that has knowledge of and respect for the environment and can convey the environmental concerns of the state in a neutral manner.

Ric Felker

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Job Title: Principal

Organization: Felker Investments, LLC.

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: Environmental leadership recognizes that the human race is part of a greater world. It requires (1) respect and reverence for the earth, its systems, and resources (2) a willingness to stand up for advance protection, mitigation, and restoration.

Howard Lalli

IGEL Board Role: Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2005

Job Title: President

Organization: HL Strategy

Mary Anne Lanier
IGEL Board Role: Past Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2016

Job Title: President

Organization: Ray C. Anderson Foundation

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To be able to meet people where they are, and to be able to share and facilitate their growth through knowledge transfer and shared experiences about environmental issues, with equal priority on achieving and maintaining equity.

Mark Masters

IGEL Board Role: Program Committee Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2014

Job Title: Executive Director

Organization: Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center; Albany State University

Tyronda Minter
IGEL Board Role: DEI Committe

IGEL Class Year: 2015

Job Title: Consultant

Organization: Self Employed

Gwen Ruff

IGEL Board Role: Secretary; Chair, Governance

IGEL Class Year: 2015

Job Title: SVP, Administration and Community Outreach

Organization: Columbus Water Works

Stephanie Valdez-Streaty
IGEL Board Role: Vice Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Job Title: Director R&D

Organization: Cox Automotive

Richard Wingate

IGEL Board Role: Immediate Past Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2014

Job Title: Lawyer

Organization: Hallman & Wingate, LLC

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To apply my training and experience in the environmental space for the maximum benefit of my clients and society as a whole.

Hidden Toggle
Kim Ajy

IGEL Board Role: Chair, Finance, Treasurer

IGEL Class Year: 2015

Job Title: President

Organization: R2T, Inc.

Stephen Bailey

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2016

Job Title: Associate Vice President

Organization: Pond

Kellie Ballew

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2020-2021

Job Title: Vice President of Global Sustainability & Innovation

Organization: Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: It is my personal obligation, my honor, and my career choice to do all that I can to preserve the environment for future generations. To be an environmental leader means to speak up on behalf of the environment in all decisions in our state.

Patricia Barmeyer

IGEL Board Role: Chair, Resource Development

IGEL Class Year: 2017

Job Title: Senior Counsel

Organization: King and Spalding

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To play a significant role in addressing environmental issues facing our State, on behalf of any public or private institution.

Mark Berry

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2017

Job Title: Sr VP of R&D

Organization: Southern Company Services

Rodney Brooks

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Ryan Burtt

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Job Title: Chief Financial Officer

Organization: Southwest Georgia Farm Credit

Casey Cox Kerr

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2016

Job Title: President

Organization: Longleaf Ridge

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To openly share perspectives and represent one’s community / background while being respectful of others’ lenses with the ultimate goal of collaboration and problem-solving.

Nick DiLuzio

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2019

Job Title: Vice President

Organization: Georgia Forestry Foundation

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To be someone who is both knowledgable about the space as well as someone who can facilitate connections within the environmental space.

Tom Driver

IGEL Board Role: Member

Job Title: Regional Manager/Senior Principal

Organization: Terracon Consultants, Inc.

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To be someone that has knowledge of and respect for the environment and can convey the environmental concerns of the state in a neutral manner.

Ric Felker

IGEL Board Role: Member

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Job Title: Principal

Organization: Felker Investments, LLC.

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: Environmental leadership recognizes that the human race is part of a greater world. It requires (1) respect and reverence for the earth, its systems, and resources (2) a willingness to stand up for advance protection, mitigation, and restoration.

Howard Lalli

IGEL Board Role: Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2005

Job Title: President

Organization: HL Strategy

Mary Anne Lanier

IGEL Board Role: Past Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2016

Job Title: President

Organization:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To be able to meet people where they are, and to be able to share and facilitate their growth through knowledge transfer and shared experiences about environmental issues, with equal priority on achieving and maintaining equity.

Mark Masters

IGEL Board Role: Program Committee Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2014

Job Title: Executive Director

Organization: Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center; Albany State University

Tyronda Minter

IGEL Board Role: DEI Committe

IGEL Class Year: 2015

Job Title: Consultant

Organization: Self Employed

Gwen Ruff

IGEL Board Role: Secretary; Chair, Governance

IGEL Class Year: 2015

Job Title: SVP, Administration and Community Outreach

Organization: Columbus Water Works

Stephanie Valdez-Streaty

IGEL Board Role: Vice Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2018

Job Title: Director R&D

Organization: Cox Automotive

Richard Wingate

IGEL Board Role: Immediate Past Chair

IGEL Class Year: 2014

Job Title: Lawyer

Organization: Hallman & Wingate, LLC

In your own words, what does it mean to be an environmental leader?: To apply my training and experience in the environmental space for the maximum benefit of my clients and society as a whole.

Committees

Leaders within the IGEL network are called to lead in different ways based on their background, experiences, and knowledge. Our board is organized in seven committees that help define programs, ensure diversity and inclusion, and foster support.

DEI:

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important values that inform IGEL’s programs – and the composition of its core classes.

Engagement:

The core leadership program is just the beginning of career-long – hopefully lifelong – engagement as a member of the IGEL network.

Finance:

Sound financial management is the foundation of any organization.

Governance:

Drawing from an increasingly diverse network of IGELians, board service is a key component of good governance.

Program:

At the heart of IGEL is its core leadership program – an ever-evolving, world-class experience.

Resource Development:

For every dollar invested in IGEL by individuals, corporations, and foundations, the organization creates exponential value.

Selections:

Dozens of applicants compete each year for 30+ places in the core leadership program.