The Council for Quality Growth officially introduced its 2025 board of directors and officers this week after ratifying them during its 39th Annual Meeting and Legislative Reception back in December of last year.
This year’s board consists of Gerald McDowell (ATL Airport CIDs) as vice chair, Rob Garcia (Pinnacle Financial Partners) as treasurer and Ellen Smith (Parker Poe) in the secretary role.
The board will be overseen by the board’s newest chair, Clyde Higgs, who takes over for the Council for Quality Growth’s previous chair, Sally Riker.
Higgs, president and chief executive officer of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., steps into the leadership role after serving on the Council of Quality Growth board’s executive committee since 2021.
Speaking at the board’s first convening of 2025, Higgs laid out the Council for Quality Growth’s vision for the year — the Council’s 40th as an organization.
“Our platform for moving forward is driving growth,” said Higgs. “Growth of our membership, growth of our programs and growth of our impact on this region.”
In addition to growth, Higgs also said that the board’s executive committee aims to “programmatically curate the organization’s offerings and advocacy to better serve its members” and “fuel long-term sustainability in 2025.”
Higgs has served as president and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. since 2019, and in those six years since has helped the multi-use corridor generate $9 billion in economic development, 11.3 miles of completed trails and over 4,100 affordable housing units, according to a release.
The Council for Quality Growth’s new chairperson said that he hopes to continue the nonprofit’s partnership with the Atlanta BeltLine, with plans including the completion of the BeltLine’s loop and the development of several projects in advance to the 2026 World Cup’s arrival in the city.
“We are really looking forward to Clyde’s energy and guidance this year,” said Michael E. Paris, president and chief executive officer of the Council for Quality Growth. “His expertise of bringing the public and private sectors together for a common goal makes him uniquely positioned to lead the Council. It’s a big year for us, and a big year for the Beltline, and we’re ready to get to work.”
In addition to announcing its board leadership, the Council for Quality Growth also revealed its 40th anniversary logo and the seven new directors joining the board for 2025.
The new additions were Mason Berryman (principal engineer with Geo-Hydro Engineers), Cedric Clark (president of Southeastern Engineering, Inc.), Stanley King (founder of S.L. King & Associates), Matt Kraczon (associate with PGAL), Brian McHugh (project manager with HDR Inc.), Shayla Nealy (principal of public policy with Stantec) and Chris Sizemore (founder of INCISIVE).
