On February 13, 2025, MAX hosted our first “Learning Day” for our Leadership MAX program with our inaugural Leadership MAX Class of 2025 members. The day started with a primer on how the legislature and legislation works and a review of key legislation of interest from a workforce development perspective. The group also had a chance to hear from key workforce leaders about major policy matters, high demand careers, and special efforts underway to tackle priority concerns.
Our class members are so appreciative to 2025 Leadership MAX Chairs John Helton, CEO, CareerRise, and Breezy Straton, Vice President, Elevate Douglas, and to all who are partnering to develop and deliver the Leadership MAX experience.
Special thanks to MAX board members Tim Cairl, Senior Director, Talent Development, Public Policy, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Daniela Perry, Executive Director, Georgia Chamber Foundation, for their leadership of the planning and execution of Policy and Lawmaking Day. And special thanks to our partners who joined Cairl and Perry to share their timely insights and expertise with our Leadership MAX Class of 2025:
- Katie Duvall, Director of Government Affairs, Georgia Chamber;
- Cosby Johnson, Director of Government Affairs, Georgia Chamber;
- Mark Peevy, Chief of Staff, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG);
- Chris Green, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Georgia Student Finance Commission;
- Chris Kidd, Director of Economic Development, University System of Georgia (USG);
- The Honorable Phil Olaleye, Georgia House of Representatives District 59;
- The Honorable Esther Panitch, Georgia House of Representatives District 51;
- Irene Munn, Consultant, Governor’s Office of Student Achievement;
- Brenda Smeeton, Legal Director, Georgia Justice Project;
- Dr. Hanah Goldberg, Director of Research & Policy, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS).
Our sincere gratitude also to MAX board member Dr. Barbara Wall, Joy Flagg, and the Georgia Department of Education for so wonderfully hosting our group.
And last but certainly not least, another shout out to Amazon for serving as our Presenting Sponsor and to Goodwill of North Georgia for serving as our Silver Sponsor for this year’s inaugural program.
ABOUT LEADERSHIP MAX
As an extension and evolution of our commitment to provide high-quality professional development and network-building opportunities for our members, In 2024, MAX created a competitively selected, cohort-based leadership development program known as Leadership MAX (L-MAX). L-MAX is designed especially for developing leaders in the workforce development field.
