Eastside Trail Dedication

On October 15, 2012, Mayor Kasim Reed officially dedicated the Eastside Trail, followed by a quick, two-wheeled tour.

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The Atlanta BeltLine

Connecting Atlanta's rich history to a vibrant future. Learn more

 
 
Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Staff & Board

Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Staff

The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership staff is a dedicated team working to raise awareness and funding for the Atlanta BeltLine project. The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership staff works closely with Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. the City of Atlanta, and Partner organizations to make the Atlanta BeltLine vision a reality.

Valarie Wilson

Executive Director

Valarie Wilson serves as Executive Director of the BeltLine Partnership, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to fostering support for Atlanta’s BeltLine, the largest urban revitalization project in America. As executive director, Ms. Wilson is responsible for a capital campaign to raise $60 million in private funds to meet critical BeltLine needs, and she oversees an extensive program of public education and community outreach initiatives.

Read more about Valarie Wilson

Ms. Wilson has a 20-year background in public service and meeting community needs. Before being selected to lead the BeltLine Partnership in August 2006, she served as Director of the Fulton County Human Services Department, responsible for an annual budget of $26 million and directing programs that serve the elderly, children and youth. During her tenure as director, she developed initiatives that secured millions of dollars for service delivery and spearheaded the creation of three non-profit agencies that deliver aging programs throughout Fulton County. Before her role as department director, she served as director of the Office of Aging from 1991-96.

Ms. Wilson is a graduate of Clark College who holds a bachelor of arts in communications, and she completed graduate studies at Troy State University in public administration. She is an elected member of the City of Decatur’s Board of Education, serves as President Elect for the Georgia School Boards Association, is a member of the Decatur Education Foundation, serves on the board of the Decatur Arts Alliance, and is a board member of the National Community Land Trust Network. Ms. Wilson is a native of Swainsboro, Georgia but now lives in Decatur with her husband, Carter; her son, Nicholas, is a junior at Georgia State University.

Rob Brawner

Program Director

Rob Brawner serves as Program Director for the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. The Atlanta BeltLine will improve the quality of life and spur new economic development in Atlanta by connecting diverse communities with new transit, trails, parks, public art, and affordable housing. As Program Director, Rob guides the Partnership’s efforts to cultivate broad-based support for the Atlanta BeltLine, generate private sector investment in the project, and address the social and economic impacts resulting from its development.

Read more about Rob Brawner

Prior to joining the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Rob built his operations and management expertise during an eight year career at McMaster-Carr, which included roles as Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Physical Distribution. He graduated with honors from Princeton University in 1996 with a degree in Economics and two NCAA National Championships in lacrosse. He received his MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University in 2006.

Rob has been actively engaged with many local non-profit organizations since moving to Atlanta in 1996 and currently serves on the board of the Poncey Highland neighborhood, where he lives with his wife Stephanie and their son Nathan.

Howard Lalli

Communications Director

Sharron Sylvain

Volunteer Programs Manager
Sharron Sylvain is the Office Manager and Volunteer Programs Manager for the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. In this capacity Sharron coordinates the over 1000 volunteers to staff events, canvass neighborhoods, and share the Atlanta BeltLine message.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ms. Clara Axam - Finance  Committee Chair
President
Clarification and Mediation, Inc

Mr. Mike Donnelly
Regional President
Wells Fargo Bank

Ms. Jennifer Dorian - Communications & Marketing Committee Chair 
Senior V.P., Branding & Networking
Turner

Mr. Curley Dossman - Development Committee Chair
President
Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Mr. Walter Dukes
Senior Vice President
Georgia Power Company

Dr. Gerald L. Durley
Senior Pastor - Retired
Providence Missionary Baptist Church

Mr. Ralph Edwards, Jr.
Managing Director
EBS Real Estate Investments

Mr. William “Bill” Fowler
Chairman, PATH Foundation

Mr. Ryan Gravel
Urban Designer
Perkins + Will

Ms. Helen Hatch
Senior Principal of Client Relations
TVS Design

Mr. Harvey Hill
Alston & Bird LLP

Mr. Phil Kent
Chairman and CEO
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Mr. Kerry Kohnen
President
Kaiser Permanente

Ms. Rebecca Lynn-Crockford
Senior V.P. - Total Rewards Center of Expertise
SunTrust Banks, Inc.

Ms. Penny McPhee
President
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Jim Morgens
President
Morgens Property and Investment Co.

Mr. Ken Richards
President
Resource Mosaic

Mr. Charlie Shufeldt
Senior Advisor
Brown Brothers Harriman and Co

Mr. John Somerhalder
President and CEO
AGL Resources

Ms. Mtamanika Youngblood - Programs Committee Chair