Implementation Oversight Committee (IOC)

In May 2018, an Implementation and Oversight Committee (IOC) was formed, comprised of community members and institutional partners. Like the Steering Committee that preceded it, this group of citizens is reflective of the demographic, geographic, and socio-economic aspects of our community.

The IOC is charged with guiding and supporting the implementation process for the Envision Athens Action Agenda, including keeping the public informed and engaged to ensure that we, as a community, achieve the change that we want.

The IOC meets on the first Thursday of the month from 8:30 AM – 10 AM in the community room of the Athens-Clarke County Water Resources Building located at 780 Barber Street, Athens, GA 30603.

Meeting agendas may be viewed here: IOC Meeting Agendas.

Meeting minutes may be accessed here:  IOC Meeting Minutes.

For a list of all scheduled meetings or to verify the IOC meeting use this calendar on Google. Descriptions have been added to each work group.

In an unprecedented move, the IOC collectively decided to provide financial resources to ensure the successful implementation of the Action Agenda. The key step in doing so involved hiring a Project Manager. On March 29, 2018, the IOC unanimously seleted Erin Barger for this role. For more about Erin, follow this news link.

 

 

 

 

 

Erin Barger

Project Manager
Erin@envisionathens.com

Another equally important decision to ensuring the success of this one-of-a-kind community-wide effort was the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair to lead  the effort. In July 2019, after over a year of exceptional leadership and service from Michele Pearson as Chair and Dr. Roswell Lawrence, Jr. as Vice-Chair, a new Chair and Vice-Chair were chosen to assume leadership. Julita Sanders currently serves as Chair and Solomon Smothers serves as Vice-Chair.

Julita Sanders, Chair

Athens Clarke County Police Department, Neighborhood Service Officer

Solomon Smothers, Vice-Chair

Associate Pastor of Mercy and Worship, Lord of Glory Fellowship


Dodd Ferrelle

Account Representative, Hagemeyer North America
Representing City of Winterville as Mayor

Mariah Parker

Commissioner, Representing Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County

Bonnie Chastain

Development Authority of The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Member

Michael Burnett

Piedmont Athens Regional Health Care System, CEO

Elaine Cook

Piedmont Athens Regional Health Care System, Director of Health and Community Relations

Ann Gomes

St. Mary’s Healthcare System, Director of Orthopedics

Kelly Girtz

Mayor of Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

Sister Margarita Martin

Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Representing Athens as a Citizen


Linda E. Davis

Athens Technical College, Adjunct Instructor
CCSD School Board Member, Representing Clarke Co. School District

Courtney Vickery

St. Mary’s Healthcare System, Director of Corporate Health Services

Nick Chapman

Athens Technical College, Dean of Business and Education

Tim Denson

Commissioner, Representing Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

David Bradley

Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO


Dr. Roswell Lawrence, Jr.

Assistant to the VP for Finance and Administration &
Director of Client Relations, University of Georgia


Alison Bracewell McCullick

Director of Community Relations, University of Georgia

Kay Keller

CEO, United Way of Northeast Georgia


Rick Parker

Executive Director/President, Athens Housing Authority


Greg Waddell

Waddell Realty Group, Principal/Broker

Development Authority of The Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Member

Dr. Demond Means

Clarke County School District, Superintendent


Dr. Xernona Thomas

Chief of Staff, Clarke County School District

Anthony Ferguson

Georgia Power, Northeast Regional Director

Alvie Coes

Athens Technical College, Dean of Technology, Engineering, & Manufacturing Division


Michele Pearson

Edward Jones Investments, Financial Advisor
Representing Athens Housing Authority

Steering Committee

On December 1, 2016, a 38-member Steering Committee was formed to guide the Envision Athens planning process. The make up of the Steering Committee is representative of the great diversity within our community. Specifically, they reflect the community’s demographic, geographic, socio-economic, and diverse interests and perspectives.

The group held its official kick-off meeting in November 2016 and continued to meet regularly throughout the planning process until December 2017 when the Action Agenda was finalized. The Steering Committee was instrumental in helping to guide the substantive parts of the planning process and assisted in spreading the word and inviting citizens to get involved and provide input. The group formed two subcommittees (Outreach and Communications) to ensure that everyone in Athens-Clarke County had the opportunity to get involved and have their voice heard.

Meet the committee members:


Caroline Angelo
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Athens Technical College
33 years in community


Erin Barger
Vice President of Programs, Action Ministries, North Georgia
7.5 years in community


Heather Benham
Executive Director, Athens Land Trust
17 years in community

Alejandra Calva
Community Relations Manager, UGA-Latin American & Caribbean Studies Institute
3 years in community


Lenn Chandler
Electric Utility Vice President, Georgia Power Company, Athens
Works in community


Dr. Andrea Daniel
President, Athens Technical College
Works in community


Linda E. Davis
Adjunct Instructor, Athens Technical College
(Representing Clarke Co. School District)
38 years in community


Sharyn Dickerson
Environmental Consultant, Sharyn Dickerson & Associates, LLC
(Representing Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia)
48 years in community


Susan Dodson
Director of External Relations, Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
9 years in community


Doc Eldridge
President/CEO, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
64 years  in community


Dodd Ferrelle
Account Representative, Hagemeyer North America
(Representing City of Winterville)
24 years in community


Broderick Flanigan
Visual Artist, Flanigan’s Portrait Studio
26 years in community


Houston Gaines
Student Body President, University of Georgia
21 years in community


Bob Googe
Owner, Jittery Joe’s Coffee
18 years in community


Mike Hamby
Office cleaning business
(Representing Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia)
28 years in community


Diana Hartle
Librarian, University of Georgia
25 years in community


Ann Hunter
IT Specialist, USDA-ARS-AFM-EBSC-IT Branch
17 years in community


Marty Hutson
CFO, St. Mary’s Healthcare System
9 years in community


Richie Knight
HW Creative Marketing
7 years in community


Wilson Lattimore
Pastor, Chestnut Grove Baptist Church
32 years in community


Roswell Lawrence, Jr.
Assistant to the VP for Finance and Administration &
Director of Client Relations, University of Georgia
10 years in community


Deborah Lonon
Attorney, Citizen
18 years in community


Dean Mannheimer
Banker, Athens First Bank and Trust
(Representing Athens Area Chamber of Commerce)
18 years in community


Alison Bracewell McCullick
Director of Community Relations, University of Georgia
33 years in community


Humberto Mendoza
Auto Mechanic
17 years in community


Catherine Neace
Co-owner, Barberitos Downtown Athens
32 years in community


Emily Nicholos
Director of Community Impact, United Way of Northeast Georgia
6 years in community


Caroline Paris Paczkowski
Director of Communications– School of Public and International Affairs, University of Georgia
9 years in community


Rick Parker
Executive Director/President, Athens Housing Authority
27 years in community


Nakia Payne
Homemaker
12 years in community


Michele Pearson
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments
(Representing Athens Housing Authority)
35 years in community


Dr. Charles Peck
President and CEO, Piedmont Athens Regional Health System
Works in community


Whit Richardson
Owner, Tazikis Cafe
(Representing United Way)
2 years in community


Danny Riddle
Maintenance Mechanic, Athens Housing Authority
Lifetime in community


Johnelle Simpson
Great Promise Partnership/Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Clarke County School District
5 years in community


Barbara Sims
Recruitment Coordinator, All God’s Children Adoption Agency; Radio Personality, WXAG
19 years in community


Xernona Thomas
Elementary Principal, Clarke County School District
47 years in community