During the MAX 2025 Annual Meeting, the inaugural Leadership MAX Class of 2025, presented by Amazon, officially graduated following a year of intense learning days, site visits, service-learning, and yes, fun, food, and fellowship. Leadership MAX was launched in 2024 as an extension and evolution of MAX’s commitment to provide high-quality professional development and network-building opportunities for our members. Leadership MAX is a leadership development program designed especially for developing leaders in the workforce development field.
The Leadership MAX Class of 2025 was chaired by John Helton, founder and principal of Bright Idea Collab, LLC and Breezy Straton, interim president, Elevate Douglas. Helton – MAX’s past board chair who envisioned this leadership development program for workforce developers – shared how the Leadership MAX experience far exceeded his expectations. Straton, fellow MAX board member and chair of the MAX Member Engagement Council, echoed Helton’s comments and shared her enthusiasm for co-leading the program.
The Leadership MAX Class of 2025 would not have been possible without presenting sponsor Amazon, silver sponsor Goodwill of North Georgia, and program learning day sponsors Georgia Power and Select Fulton. Joining Helton and Straton at the podium was Amazon’s Terreta Rodgers, Head of Community Affairs for Georgia, Rodgers discussed how impressed she was by the Leadership MAX experience throughout the year and how proud she is of the graduates.
MAX congratulates the following graduates of the Leadership MAX Class of 2025!
- 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 Davis, Atlanta Regional Commission
- Chanell Davis, City of Atlanta
- Carla DeBose, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)
- Tiffany “Coach Tip” 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
- 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
Since graduation, several Class of 2025 members have shared how the Leadership MAX experience has made a lasting impact on their lives. Here are are few examples:
One of the greatest gifts of this experience has been the remarkable leaders I now call friends and colleagues. Our inaugural cohort forged bonds that are both personal and purposeful, and I am confident that the intentional networks we’ve built will amplify what we can accomplish together in connecting talent to meaningful careers. (Brenda Johnson)
From the moment I was selected in January, I knew this program would be meaningful, but I had no idea it would become one of the most impactful professional experiences of my career. Over this past year, Leadership MAX has strengthened my vision, deepened my strategic insight, and expanded my ability to serve Georgia with purpose, clarity, and excellence. (Dr. Maxine Cain)
Being part of the inaugural class of Leadership MAX is a milestone I’m extremely proud of. We stepped into something brand‑new and pushed ourselves to grow, lead boldly, and set a powerful standard for future cohorts. Leadership MAX strengthened my skills, clarified my purpose, and reminded me that leadership is both courageous and collaborative. Graduating does not feel like an ending but more like the beginning of a new chapter I’m truly excited to step into. (Angelia O’Neal)
Congratulations Leadership MAX Class of 2025!
WELCOME LEADERSHIP MAX CLASS OF 2026!
The MAX Board of Directors welcomes the incoming Leadership MAX Class of 2026! The Class of 2026 will be led by program chairs Jenny Taylor, chief mission officer and vice president of career services, Goodwill of North Georgia, and Kristin Laarhoven, assistant commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia. Taylor is the 2024-2025 outcoming board chair of MAX and Laarhoven is a MAX board member.
- Mariska Angall, Fulton County Government, Select Fulton, WorkSource Fulton
- Sheri Blight, CareerRise
- Jumoke DeLoach, Beyond Basic Consulting
- Nickell Durham, Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency
- Tomica Felton, Atlanta Committee for Progress
- April Fresh, Wellspring Living
- Megan Heaphy, Georgia Life Sciences
- LaDonna Huggins, WorkSource Cobb, CobbWorks
- Petra Jeffrey, Year Up United
- Dr. Robert Joseph, Team MindShift
- Nate Marsh, MUST Ministries
- Angela Marshall, Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison
- Nicole McQueen, Technical College System of Georgia, Office of Workforce Development
- Kashara Moorman, Talent Circuit Strategy
- Rudi Pangad, Decide DeKalb Development Authority
- Trey Powers, Inspiritus
- Twana Roots, Cobb Chamber of Commerce
- Antonio Sherrell, Atlanta Technical College
- Natalie Williams, Atlanta Mission
- Sooraya Williams, YWCA Greater Atlanta
Class of 2026 members have been enthusiastic to share their news. Here are some examples.
I am truly excited to be a part of the Leadership MAX Class of 2026. I look forward to being engaged in meaningful discussions around workforce solutions and contributing to the innovative ideas that will shape our future. (Nicole McQueen)
I’m excited to learn alongside this new cohort, expand connections across the region, and bring back insights that will enhance the work we do with our partners and communities. (Sheri Blight)
Excited is an understatement! I’m truly honored to have been selected to be a part of the Leadership MAX Class of 2026. We’re going to have an amazing year! (Rudi Pangad)
ABOUT LEADERSHIP MAX
Leadership MAX provides an exciting opportunity for workforce developers to grow within the workforce development community and develop into a community of peer leaders who will solve problems together in the years to come. Designed especially for developing leaders in the workforce development field, this cohort-based leadership development program is as an extension and evolution of our commitment to provide high-quality professional development and network-building opportunities for our members. Click here to learn more.