IGEL in the News

Georgia’s Environmental Leaders Making Headlines and Moves

IGELians are working hard to advance and solve environmental issues all over the state. Kudos to these network members.

  • Marc Goncher (IGEL ’11) was elected Chair of the Board of Directors for Birds Georgia, Inc., a non-profit member organization whose mission is to build places where birds and people thrive. Marc was also quoted in a WABE article regarding his leadership of a Board Task Force to conduct a stakeholder engagement process to help determine whether to remove “Audubon” from the organization’s name. 


 
  • Andrea Rimer Brogdon (IGEL ’14) was named President of the Georgia Brownfield Association in January 2024.
  • Alex Bradford (IGEL ’23) wrote an article in the Jan/Feb issue of James Magazine, discussing the Georgia legislative session, agriculture and conservation/resource management initiatives forthcoming. 
  • Rena Ann Peck (IGEL ’19) was quoted in the Macon Telegraph’s story on how Georgia waterways are benefiting from the closure of coal-fired power plants.
  • Jill Andrews (IGEL ’24), Bill Sapp (IGEL ’11) and  Alice Miller Keyes (IGEL ’06) were quoted in The Current GA’s article on a proposed DNR rule change that could affect marshes.

  • Lynette Baker (IGEL ’13) was recently promoted to Senior Director of Delivery Solutions at Jacobs.
  • Bill Sapp (IGEL ’11) was quoted in WABE’s article on coastal Georgia marsh protections.
  • Courtney Reich (IGEL ’17), Alicia Miller Keyes (IGEL ’06) and Bill Sapp (IGEL ’11) were quoted in The Brunswick News’ article on community engagement in marshland protection.

  • LuAnn Craighton (IGEL ’06) was featured in a GPB News article on relocating endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers to Sprewell Bluff.
  • Hannah Palmer (IGEL ’23)’s Ghost Pool art installation was reviewed in Art Papers.
  • Emily Kurilla (IGEL ’17) was recently named Board Chair for the Savannah Riverkeeper, a nonprofit advocacy organization working to better the Savannah River watershed through restoration, protection, and education.
  • Debra D. Lane (IGEL ’23) was recently promoted to vice president of Environmental Affairs at RYAM.
  • Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06), David Dixon (IGEL ’06) and Charles Stripling (IGEL ’07) were quoted in the Albany Herald’s article, highlighting 15 years of the Flint Riverkeeper. It was republished in the AJC December 10.

  • Katherine Zitsch (IGEL ’14) was featured in the AJC’s article on water wars.

 

  • Billy G. Turner (IGEL ’02) was awarded recognition as a Water Environment Federation Fellow at WEF’s annual conference in Chicago. The International Federation recognizes Fellows for their expertise and long and distinguished careers in the water resources field.
  • Steven Brantley (IGEL ’20/21) was featured in a WABE article on restoring the South’s longleaf pine. Jeff Cannon (IGEL ’22) was involved in the research.
  • Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06) and Mike Worley (IGEL ’17) were quoted in a Capitol Beat article on fishing rights.
  • Nathaniel Smith (IGEL ’15) shared his outlook on SURJE and his call to action against systems of injustice in MLK50.
  • Stacey Berahzer (IGEL ’11) recently partnered with Columbus Water Works to host the 2023 Georgia Funders’ Forum Workshop on the benefits and approaches to asset management.
  • Kellie Ballew (IGEL ’20/21) recently spoke at the WELL Summit 2023.
  • Amanda Woomer (IGEL ’21) recently started a new position as Senior Consultant, Nature & Environment at Oxford Policy Management.
  • Nathaniel Smith (IGEL ’15) was quoted in the AJC’s article on Georgia Power’s Vogtle Plant settlement.
  • Kathleen Bowen (IGEL ’21) has joined Impact Public Affairs as the Director of Government Relations.
  • MaKara Rumley (IGEL ’14) and Garry Harris (IGEL ’13) are participating in Drawdown Georgia’s webinar, entitled Growing a Just, Green Economy: Climate Solutions That go Beyond Carbon.
  • Sharon Swagger (IGEL ’15) was recently promoted to Assistant State Conservationist for Water Resources and Easements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  • Ronny Just (IGEL ’05) was designated as a Nonresident Fellow of the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) in the University of Georgia’s School of Public & International Affairs.
  • Abbey Patterson (IGEL ’23) is participating in Beyond Plastics, a Transatlantic dialogue on plastics in Berlin this September.
  • Daniel Johnson (IGEL ’16) was promoted to Managing Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Natural Resources Department and Director of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.
  • Katherine Zitsch (IGEL ’14) was promoted to Atlanta Regional Commission’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer.
  • Sarah Skinner (IGEL ’22) was promoted to Planning Administrator and Manager of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.
  • Kathy Nguyen (IGEL ’09) was elected as President of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Board of Directors.
  • Rena Ann Peck (IGEL ’19) was mentioned in a Georgia Trend article on the Ofefenokee Swamp, written by Publisher Ben Young (IGEL ’12).
  • Jeff Cown (IGEL ’09) was recently announced as the new director of Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division.

  • Monica Thornton (IGEL ’17) was quoted in a national NPR story on electric vehicle production and climate change.
  • Nathaniel Smith (IGEL ’15) was quoted in the AJC’s article on the Bezos group donating to green spaces in Atlanta.
  • Hannah Palmer (IGEL ’23) and Juliet Cohen (IGEL ’14) are featured in the trailer for a documentary entitled “Keeping Watch: Sally Bethea and the Caretakers of Our Rivers.”
  •  Tish Yager (IGEL ’23) and Katherine Zitsch (IGEL ’14) are quoted in the AJC’s article on Georgia’s first-ever climate plan.
  • Susan Rutherford (IGEL ’19) has joined the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office as Senior Program Director for Neighborhoods.
  • Katherine Zitsch (IGEL ’14) is quoted in WABE’s article on Georgia’s first-ever climate change plan.
  • Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06) was quoted in a Capitol Beat article on the state’s potential partial lifting of an irrigation well moratorium.
  • Deborah Shephard (IGEL ‘12) and her business, Florabundance Gardens, were featured in The Current.

  • Dr. Jeffrey Cannon (IGEL ’22) and Dr. Kier Klepzig (IGEL ’18) were interviewed about longleaf pine resilience at The Jones Center
    on America’s Forests with Chuck.
  • Amanda Woomer (IGEL ’21) co-authored an article on ecosystems and social conflict in ScienceDirect.
  • Rena Peck (IGEL ’19) was featured in a CNN interview on Georgia River Network’s signature event, “Paddle Georgia.”
  • Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06) was quoted in a Georgia Recorder article on a planned rock quarry in Talbot county.
  • Mandy Mahoney (IGEL ’10) started a new job as Director of the Building Technologies Office in the U.S. Department of Energy.
  • Ashby Worley (IGEL ’15) and Courtney Reich (IGEL ’17) were quoted in 11 Alive’s feature on Georgia marshlands.
  • Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06) and Alex Bradford (IGEL ’23) were quoted in GA Recorder’s article on the state Environmental Protection Division’s proposal to allow new water withdrawals from the Flint River.
  • Joanne Mello (IGEL ’22) and Kurt Ebersbach (IGEL’ 22) were featured on a panel at the 2023 Georgia Climate Conference in May.
  • Karen Hays (IGEL ’17) was recently honored with a commendation from Governor Kemp, recognition by the DNR Board and kind words from Director Dunn in celebration of her retirement from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
  • Amanda Woomer (IGEL’21) was invited to attend SIPRI’s Expert Workshop on “Delivering an Environment of Peace: Moving from Policy to Action” in Stockholm.
  • Troy Climer (IGEL ’13) was recently selected to serve as Forest Management Chief for the Georgia Forestry Commission.
  • Susan Richardson (IGEL ’09) was named to the Law360 Environmental Advisory Board.
  • Jeffery Cannon (IGEL ’22) wrote an article on canoeing the Kinchafoonee for the Albany Herald.
  •  An intersection on Highway 400 in Dawsonville was recently named after Mike Berg (IGEL ’07).
  • Jairo Garcia (IGEL ’17) was named as the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program’s Volunteer of the Year.

  • Nathaniel Smith (IGEL ’15) is quoted in a WABE article on federal funding for climate projects.
  • Daniel Blackman (IGEL ’11) recently changed jobs within the EPA, becoming the Senior Advisor for STEM recruitment and diversity. Jeaneanne Gettle (IGEL ’22) was named as the interim successor of his previous position, Region 4 Administrator.
  • Michael Haliki (IGEL ’13) and Stacy Funderburke (IGEL ’15) were quoted in the SaportaReport’s article on Atlanta’s ParkScore index ranking.
  • Mike Worley (IGEL ’17) and Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06) were quoted in Georgia Recorder’s article on access to fishing on the Flint River.
  • John Lanier (IGEL ’14) was quoted in Georgia Recorder’s article on the decline of greenhouse emissions in Georgia.
  • Aaron Mitchell (IGEL ’18) recently started a new position as Vice President, Pricing and Planning at Georgia Power Company.
  • Glenn Martin (IGEl ’21) was recently promoted to Associate Vice President | Environment + Water Resources at Pond & Company.
  • PJ Newcomb (IGEL ’14) started a new position as Director of Sustainability for Golden State Foods. In this role, he will be working to advance the organization’s sustainability programs to meet 2030 goals of Carbon reduction, water and energy efficiency and Zero Waste to Landfill.
  • Jill Gambill (IGEL ’13) was recently named Executive Director of Georgia Tech’s new Coastal Equity and Resilience (CEAR) Hub in Savannah. She will also be a Senior Research Associate in Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology.
  • At the College of Coastal Georgia 2023 Service Learning Symposium, Robin McLachlan (IGEL ’23) was recognized as the Outstanding Service Learning Faculty, and Jim Renner (IGEL ’13) was recognized as the Outstanding Community Partner.
  • Doug Haymans (IGEL’15) was featured in a Playmaker Profile in State Affairs.
  • Katherine Moore (IGEL’ 15) was quoted in a Georgia Recorder article on the conservation of Georgia farmland.
  • Katherine Zitsch (IGEL’14) was featured in an interview about water supply in North Georgia on WSB-TV.
  • Michael Halicki (IGEL ’13) was quoted in Axios Atlanta’s article on Atlanta parks.
  • Rena Ann Peck (IGEL ’19) was quoted in Georgia Recorder’s article on the Okefenokee Swamp.
  • Mike Worley (IGEL ’17) and Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06) were quoted in Axios Atlanta’s article on access to fishing.
  • Rena Ann Peck (IGEL ’19) was quoted in Atlanta Magazine’s article on the Okefenokee Swamp.
  • Hannah Palmer (IGEL ’23), Mikita Browning (IGEL ’22) and Katherine Zitsch (IGEL ’14) are quoted in Atlanta Magazine’s article.
  • Howard Frumkin (IGEL ‘02) was featured in a SaportaReport article on the healing power of parks.
  •  Hannah Palmer (IGEL ’23) wrote an article for Atlanta Magazine, titled The Scent of Water: Searching for Hidden Springs in Downtown Atlanta.
  • Shana Jones (IGEL ’18) wrote a poem featured in Ecotone Magazine, entitled “The River in Pieces.” The poem was inspired by her visit to Little St. Simon’s Island with IGEL.
  •  Bill Sapp (IGEL ’11) and Lewis Jones (IGEL ’09) were quoted in the Georgia Recorder’s article on a potential lawsuit in regard to mining in the vicinity the Okefenokee Swamp.
  • Terry Norton (IGEL ’09), founder of Jekyll Island’s Georgia Turtle Center, recently retired after 15 years at the Center’s helm.
  • Cyrus Bhedwar (IGEL ’17) accepted an offer to join Emory University‘s Office of Sustainability Initiatives as director of sustainability.
  • Kathleen Bowen (IGEL ’20) was quoted in The Augusta Chronicle’s article on the Soil Amendment Bill.
  • Andrea Rimer (IGEL ’14) was elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Membership is limited to just 1% of #lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction.
  • David Weitinauer (IGEL ’10) was named a Distinguished Fellow with the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP), following years of service as an NCFP board member.
  • Matt Harper (IGEL ’11) recently joined Bentley Systems as a Project Manager.
  • Monica Thornton (IGEL ’17) and Nancy-Clair Laird McInaney (IGEL ’14) were recently featured in a WABE article on Cumberland Island.
  • Michelle Hamner (IGEL ’22) started a new position as Senior Development Manager, Coastal Flyways at National Audubon Society.
  • Several IGELians were recently named to the City of Atlanta’s relaunched Clean Energy Advisory Board, including Blair Beasley (IGEL ’23), Ciannat Howett (IGEL ’04), James Marlow (IGEL ’23), LaToria Whitehead (IGEL ’14) and Odetta MacLeish-White (IGEL ’23)
  • Mark Masters (IGEL ’14) was recently elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Conservation Districts. He is the second person from Georgia to hold an elected NACD officer position.
  • Ryan Gravel (IGEL ’11) and Doug Hooker (IGEL ’03) participated in an Atlanta Talks Roundtable panel, titled Reimagining Regional Scale Infrastructure Systems.
  • Ryan Gravel (IGEL ’11) and Monica Thornton (IGEL ‘17) were featured in a SaportaReport article on green solutions for the South River Forest public safety training center.
  • Doug Hooker (IGEL ’03) was named CEO of The MCP Foundation, the non-profit supporting efforts to build a park across I-75/I-85, linking Midtown to Georgia Tech.
  • Mark Masters (IGEL ’14) is heading The Georgia Flow Incentive Trust (GA-FIT)’s work with Georgia farmers in the Flint River Basin. The GA-FIT Advisory Board includes several IGELians, including David Dixon (IGEL ’06), Gordon Rogers (IGEL ’06), Jayme Smith (IGEL ’13) and Dr. Stephen Golladay (IGEL ’14).
  • Jason Ulseth (IGEL ’16), Ryan Gravel (IGEL ’11), Kevin Green (IGEL ’03), Katie Kirkpatrick (IGEL ’07), Alton Brown (IGEL ’13), Alice Rolls (IGEL ’03) and Odetta MacLeish-White (IGEL ’23) were named to Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500: Our City’s Most Powerful Leaders in 2023.
  • Stephen Bailey (IGEL ’16) was recently promoted to Coastal Strategic Growth Lead at Pond. With a recent relocation to Pond’s Savannah, GA office, he will focus on continuing to expand Pond’s services and staff in the coastal Georgia, Florida and South Carolina regions – one of the fastest growing markets in the country.
  • Lindsey Wilkinson (IGEL ’21) was a featured speaker at #GreenBiz23, in Scottsdale, AZ. Feb. 14-16.

  • Andrew Morris (IGEL ’19) started a new role as the Senior Manager for Policy and Programs at the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
  • Karen Hays (IGEL ’17) will retire as Chief of the Air Protection Branch at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, effective May 1, 2023.
  • Doug Hooker (IGEL ’03), who recently joined The MCP Foundation as chief executive officer, was featured in Atlanta Business Chronicle.
  • Daniel Blackman (IGEL ’11), Southeast Region 4 Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recently spoke at Southface’s Leadership series.
  • Susan Pavlin (IGEL ’18) was recently named Executive Director of Global Growers Network, an organization she co-created in 2010.