Many of the challenges facing our regions are not that unique from region to region. The difference-maker is whether and how a region’s leaders decide to work together to address these challenges in a positively impactful manner, and follow through on their commitments.
In the metro Atlanta region, this is exactly what began to happen when a small group of regional leaders started coming together during the summer of 2013 to discuss the importance of having a workforce in this region that is more ready and aligned to meet employer needs in order to sustain and grow their operations. The small group was initially led by leaders serving with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, CareerRise, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber and grew to a group of 40-plus who joined together to launch what we know today as MAX.
During our MAX Annual Meeting on December 10, 2024, we had the opportunity to recognize some of our founders who launched MAX in 2014 and could join us on this special day as we commemorated our 10 years of service together: Todd Greene, Dr. Cinda Herndon-King, Margaret Lacy, Karen Leone de Nie, and Chuck Meadows. In addition, we recognized Amy Lancaster-King, our MAX past-chair who led our board to create our MAX Membership Association in 2021, as a fellow MAX Founder.
Special thanks to all of our founders…who served with the following key partners for our region and state:
- Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
- Atlanta Gas Light
- Atlanta Regional Commission
- Bobby Dodd Institute
- CareerRise (United Way of Greater Atlanta)
- Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
- Georgia Center for Nonprofits
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Georgia Department of Education
- Georgia Department of Human Services
- Georgia Department of Labor
- Georgia Power
- Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
- Goodwill of North Georgia
- Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
- Governor’s Office of Workforce Development
- Invest Atlanta
- Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
- State Workforce Development Board
- TAG Education Collaborative
- Technical College System of Georgia
- The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
- The Essential Economy Council
- The University of Georgia
- University System Board of Regents
Our keynote speaker for our annual meeting was Rodney Bullard, CEO, The Same House. Bullard’s call for each of us to see each other as part of the “same house” and how we shouldn’t accept the decades-old problems we see today as something we cannot solve together was especially on point as we celebrated why MAX became MAX in the first place!
Following Rodney’s inspirational talk, Leadership MAX Program Chairs John Helton, CEO, CareerRise and Breezy Straton, Vice President, Elevate Douglas, excitedly announced our Leadership MAX Class of 2025, presented by Amazon:
- Autumn Andrews, Gwinnett County Government
- Rachel Ash, Elevate Douglas Economic Partnership
- Dr. Chuck Barlow Jr., Saving Our Sons & Sisters International aka SOSSI
- Ann Burris, Georgia Department of Human Services
- Dr. Maxine Cain, STEM Atlanta Women, Inc.
- Lisa N Davis, Atlanta Regional Commission
- Chanell Davis, City of Atlanta
- Carla DeBose, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)
- Tiffany Francis, Urban League of Greater Atlanta
- Nate Futrell, CareerRise
- Sergio Galeano, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
- Brenda Johnson, The Collaborative Training Company
- Jason Martin, ThrivalED
- Dr. Ubani Ogbonnaya, Atlanta Technical College
- Angelia O’Neal, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
- Ashlee Phillips, First Step Staffing
- Anggie Pope, City of Refuge
- Dr.Susan Simmons-Stevenson, Americans Thrive, LLC
- Jahari Soward, NPursuit Career Partners
- Paul Terlemezian, Georgia LEARNS Now, LLC
- Jordan Troutman, Newton County School System
- Michelle Vialet, WorkSource Fulton
- Joshua Williams, Decide DeKalb Development Authority ; WorkSource DeKalb
- Toya Williams, STRIVE Atlanta
- Olivia Wilson, CobbWorks Inc. / WorkSource Cobb
During the MAX business portion of the meeting, Jenny shared remarks about the integral role that MAX plays in our region and state and facilitated timely updates from vice chair of MAX Dana Inman, President & CEO of the Atlanta Center of Self Sufficiency, on the progress of the MAX Leadership Network; from chair of the MAX Provider Council Jeannie Ross, Director of Workforce Development, City of Refuge, on the work of the MAX Provider Council; chair of the MAX Data Council Marion Phillip, Research Manager, Georgia Power Community & Economic Development, on the work of the MAX Data Council; chair of the MAX Member Engagement Council Breezy Straton, Vice President, Elevate Douglas, on the work of the MAX Member Engagement Council; MAX facilitator Joy Wilkins on other MAX achievements in 2024; and MAX treasurer Tim Cairl, Senior Director, Talent Development, Public Policy, Metro Atlanta Chamber, for a brief report on MAX’s financial condition. Following these business updates from MAX leaders, Jenny presented the 2025-2030 MAX Strategic Plan and shared her vision as board chair for MAX for the year ahead. Attached is the presentation slide deck with details shared by Jenny and fellow MAX leaders.
Last but not least, Jenny presented the MAX Wendell Dallas Excellence in Leadership Award for 2024. The MAX Wendell Dallas Award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond in providing leadership in workforce development through the Metro Atlanta eXchange for Workforce Solutions (MAX) and/or MAX partners. An individual recognized through this award is known for leading with integrity, devotion, and selflessness in service to others in the workforce development sector. On behalf of MAX, Jenny proudly presented the 2024 MAX Wendell Dallas Award to…drum roll…Dr. Barbara Wall, Deputy Superintendent, Georgia Department of Education.
Special thanks to Tim Cairl and the Metro Atlanta Chamber for hosting our 2024 MAX Annual Meeting!