Leadership DeKalb has announced its class of 2026, which includes 60 professionals with backgrounds in education, technology, law, and government.
The leadership development program marks its 40th year with the upcoming class of 2026.
“DeKalb County is a place of immense potential and opportunity, and I am honored to chair an organization that consistently invests in developing strong, visionary leaders for our community,” Dorian DeBarr, chair of the Leadership DeKalb Board of Directors, said in a written statement. “I am particularly excited to welcome the Class of 2026. Their talent and dedication will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of our county.”
The cohort is selected from a competitive pool of applicants in a variety of industries including business, education, government, healthcare, law, nonprofit, public safety, and utilities. The spectrum of experience spans from seasoned executives to emerging leaders.
The class of 2026 officially launched on Aug. 14 with an orientation at the Chamblee Public Safety Complex. Over the next year, members will explore DeKalb County from multiple perspectives, examining its history, diversity, government, justice system, arts and culture, education, healthcare, and economic development.
The Class of 2026 includes:
• Jarvis Adams, chief operations officer, City Schools of Decatur
• Ana-Helena Rodriguez Allen, senior trial attorney, Allstate
• LaShun Atwaters, chief of staff, District 3, DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
• Asia Baysah, deputy district attorney
• Brenda Baham Domestic Violence Unit, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
• Morgan Birch, director of programs and operations, Scottdale Early Learning, Inc.
• Dr. Lenise Bostic, head of schools, DeKalb Preparatory Academy
• David Bouchard, partner, Finch McCranie, LLP
• Robyn D. Brown, attorney, Fulton County Office of the Child Attorney
• Burt Buchtinec, chief of police, Emory Police Department
• Natalia Cales, CEO and principal consultant, Cales and Company Consulting, LLC
• Lindsey Cambardella, CEO, Translation Station
• Denise N. Carter, board member, SwemKids International, Inc.
• Stefani Carter, division director – community health, DeKalb Public Health
• Tracy G. Carter, human resources director, City of Decatur
• Destorian Cash, senior implementation consultant, Tyler Technologies
• Cindy Cheatham, president and leadership coach, Good Advisors, LLC
• Christy Collins, CEO/managing partner, Keys Medical Staffing & Services
• Janikqua Cutno, director of violence prevention, Emory Healthcare
• Janel Davis, managing editor, lifestyle & culture, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Tracey L. Enderson, chief investigator, DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office
• Awet Eyasu, board member, DeKalb County Board of Education
• Felix Floyd, assistant public works director, City of Decatur
• Bennett Foster, managing director, mobility services department, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Caitlin Hagan Fox, vice president, transformation & org effectiveness, CNN
• Nicole Goshorn, manager, state affairs, Troutman Strategies –Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
• Joshua Grizzle, marketing campaigns manager, Kaiser Permanente
• Neshieka Hancock, senior IT project manager, Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Kevin Harper, senior project manager, Northside Hospital
• Carlandria Hayes, membership director, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
• Chris Henshaw, city council member, City of Doraville
• Dolan Jablonski, principal, The Oak Insurance Group
• Sherry Jackman, executive director, Decatur Tourism Bureau
• Shari Amour Jones, deputy chief assistant solicitor-general, DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office
• Sandra Kruger, executive director, Olmsted Linear Park Alliance
• Dr. Justin M. Lee, Sr., CEO & founder, J.M Lee Construction Company
• Thomas Leslie, manager – bulk system planning, Georgia Transmission Corporation
• Terri L. Lewis, teacher, DeKalb County School District
• Geoffrey Loften, equitable economic development program manager, Decide DeKalb Development Authority
• Vickie Logan, chief deputy of administrative operations, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
• Beoncia Loveless, director, DeKalb County’s Medical Examiner’s Office
• Taren Manning, communications and public relations manager, Discover DeKalb
• Osborn Murray III, executive director, The Calalus Group
• Temika Williams Murry, chief judge, DeKalb County Juvenile Court
• Terry Owens, education coordinator, Georgia Power
• Anisa Palmer, executive director, I Will Survive, Inc
• Rebecca Parshall, director of strategy and development, Learn4Life
• Tonya Raines, director of talent relations and compliance, Chick-fil-A
• Virginia Rece, council member, City of Tucker
• Remington A. Rolé, senior business manager, VAAS Professionals
• Heather Salters, branch operations coordinator, DeKalb County Public Library
• Dionna Smith, chief communications officer, Office of the CEO, DeKalb County
• Dr. Danielle Stewart, president, iChange Collaborative
•Andre Thomas, customer service manager, Rockdale County Government Water Resources
• Abby Turano, vice president, strategic communications, Metro Atlanta Chamber
• Derrick C. Turner, assistant city manager, City of Tucker
• Fabio van der Merwe, chief executive officer, Claratel Behavioral Health
• Antwan Walker, accountability court director, DeKalb County Superior Court
• Isaac Washington, senior vice president, Truist Bank
• Ty Welch, assistant chief, DeKalb County Fire Rescue
• Kirenski Wilkerson, victim advocate specialist, Department of Juvenile Justice
