Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Board of Directors Adds Members, Names New Chairman

The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership (ABP) has announced the addition of the following six new members to its Board of Directors:

  • Matt Bronfman, Principal, Chief Executive Officer, Jamestown
  • Althea Broughton, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP
  • Michelle Fisher, Chief Strategy & Performance Improvement Officer, Piedmont Healthcare
  • Katie Kirkpatrick, Chief Policy Officer, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
  • Melissa Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer, Atlanta Hawks
  • Michael B. Russell, Chief Executive Officer, H.J. Russell & Co. (term begins January 2018)

 “The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is thrilled to welcome six new distinguished business and community leaders to its Board of Directors,” said Rob Brawner, ABP’s Executive Director. “They provide additional leadership to advance our efforts to raise funds and build partnerships that enable the Atlanta BeltLine project, engage the public, and empower residents in surrounding neighborhoods.”

The Partnership also announced that Dallas Clement, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Cox Enterprises, Inc., has succeeded Mike Donnelly, Executive Vice President and Atlanta Regional President for Wells Fargo, as Chairman of the Board. Donnelly had served as Board Chair since 2015 and will remain on the Board.

“I appreciate Dallas Clement for his invaluable service and welcome him to his new leadership role on the Board, and I am grateful to Mike Donnelly for his two years of dedicated and inspirational leadership as Chairman,” Brawner added.

Clement takes the helm of the Board of Directors as ABP prepares to launch a significant capital campaign in 2017 to enable construction of new portions of the Atlanta BeltLine, leveraging public funding approved last year through the TSPLOST, MARTA sales tax, and Atlanta BeltLine TAD bonds. In addition, the organization will continue to strengthen its ongoing programs and initiatives, including support for partnerships, policies, programs and funding to address affordability in Atlanta BeltLine neighborhoods.

“2017 will be a critical year for the Atlanta BeltLine project,” Clement said. “I am both honored and humbled to begin my term as Chair of this talented and diverse group of Directors, and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the Board and staff to support the Atlanta BeltLine project and the communities it connects.”

A complete list of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership’s Board of Directors can be found here. Following are brief biographies of the Partnership’s new Directors:

Matt Bronfman

Principal, Chief Executive Officer, Jamestown

Matt BronfmanMatt Bronfman is a Principal and the Chief Executive Officer of Jamestown. When Mr. Bronfman first joined the company in 1998, he served as General Counsel working with the acquisitions and management departments.  In 2002, Mr. Bronfman was named a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. He has lead the acquisition and redevelopment of iconic projects from Chelsea Market in New York and Ponce City Market in Atlanta to the Innovation and Design Building in Boston and Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco.  Prior to joining Jamestown, Mr. Bronfman began his law practice at what is now Holland & Knight in Atlanta, specializing in real estate development and acquisitions.  He currently serves on the board for AFIRE, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.  Mr. Bronfman graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Tufts University in 1988 and attended law school at Northwestern University, graduating magna cum laude in 1991.

Althea Broughton

Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

Althea BroughtonAlthea Broughton is a partner in Arnall Golden Gregory’s Real Estate Practice. Ms. Broughton is co-chair of the Real Estate Practice Group and Housing Team. She is also a member of the Mixed-Use Development and Healthcare Real Estate Teams. Ms. Broughton previously served as Senior Vice President/Chief of Staff at the Atlanta Housing Authority. Ms. Broughton is on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Affordable Housing Network, and is a member of the Georgia Affordable Housing Coalition and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Atlanta. She also serves on the Governing Committee for the American Bar Association Forum for Affordable Housing and Community Development Law, and is also a recipient of the national 2014 CREW Network Impact Award for Economic and Community Improvement for her work on the National Center for Civil and Human Rights museum. Ms. Broughton graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University in 1988 and attended law school at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1991.

Michelle Fisher

Chief Strategy & Performance Improvement Officer, Piedmont Healthcare

Michelle FisherMichelle Fisher joined Piedmont Healthcare in February 2003 and currently provides oversight for four functions across the healthcare system:  Strategic Planning, Corporate Business Development, Project Management, and Performance Improvement.  During her tenure at Piedmont, Ms. Fisher has contributed to the organization’s growth and strategic direction.  She has focused her work on developing strategic partnerships; assessing and acquiring new hospitals; aligning and educating the organization on PHC’s strategic direction; building an internal consulting/project management team; and initiating, directing and tracking major strategic initiatives throughout the year. In addition to the thirteen years at Piedmont, Ms. Fisher worked as a healthcare consultant for four years and spent an additional two years in the BJC Medical Group at the BJC Health System in St. Louis.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC-Chapel Hill.  After working for the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC Hospital for two years, Ms. Fisher earned her Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Washington University School of Medicine.  She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and served as the inaugural President of Piedmont’s Women’s Leadership Alliance.

Katie Kirkpatrick

Chief Policy Officer, Metro Atlanta Chamber

Katie KirkpatrickKatie Kirkpatrick is the chief policy officer for the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC), leading the Public Policy team which focuses on public policy, government affairs and political action. Kirkpatrick joined MAC in 2007 as vice president of Environmental Affairs, overseeing the Chamber’s work on sustainability, including water, air, energy, and quality growth issues. Following her environmental role, she served as senior vice president for Business Higher Education, which focused on driving discovery, innovation, and entrepreneurship through collaboration of business and higher education. Before joining MAC, she served as director of environmental engineering for Gold Kist, Inc. Her duties there included regulatory compliance, strategic planning, external affairs, and designing various treatment systems. Kirkpatrick graduated from Auburn University and is a registered professional engineer in several states. She is currently vice-chair of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and past board chair for the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership. She is a 2011 recipient of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s prestigious “40 Under 40” award and is an active alumna of Leadership Atlanta. She serves on the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and is the chair of the Government Relations Division. She is also a member of the Northern District of Georgia Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel.

Melissa Proctor

Chief Marketing Officer, Atlanta Hawks

Melissa_Proctor_Headshot_2016Melissa Proctor joined the Atlanta Hawks in June of 2014 and is the Chief Marketing Officer for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and Philips Arena. Ms. Proctor began her career with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., serving in senior brand development and strategy leadership positions for Turner Entertainment Networks (including TNT, TBS, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), truTV, and Peachtree TV), Cartoon Network and Turner Media Group. Ms. Proctor holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in design studies/branding from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design at The London Institute.

Michael B. Russell

Chief Executive Officer, H.J. Russell & Company

Michael Russell (New)Michael Russell was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of The Russell Companies in October 2003 succeeding his father, Herman Russell, who founded the company in 1952 and led it for fifty years.  Prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer, Michael spent most of his career with H.J. Russell & Company serving in a variety of executive positions, most recently as Executive Vice President where he was responsible for the management and strategic direction of the construction and program management divisions. Michael is also Vice Chairman of Concessions International, an innovator in the airport food and beverage concessions industry. Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia and earned his MBA from Georgia State University.  He serves on the boards of various organizations including the Metro Atlanta Chamber (Executive Committee), Commerce Club, SunTrust Atlanta Bank Advisory Board, Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business Advisory Board, and University of Virginia Foundation Board.  Michael is also a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club and 100 Black Men.

Media contact:

John Becker, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership

(404) 446-4409, john@atlblp.org

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