Leadership Perimeter, the premier organization in developing and inspiring leaders to serve their communities for a lifetime, recently graduated its inaugural class, the Class of 2024. The group includes 43 outstanding leaders that showcase the region’s diverse and dynamic leadership. Graduates include members that live, work and/or serve in the cities of Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. The program was previously known as Leadership Sandy Springs, which has graduated almost 1,000 members since it began in 1986.
Throughout the year, participants took part in immersive curriculum that included discussions with local and statewide leaders and experiential learning about current challenges throughout the region. They also met with business owners, nonprofits and environmental organizations to gain insights into their roles, offerings and needs in the communities.
Community Impact
Members were put into six different groups to develop service projects that would impact their local communities. This spring the following improvements were made throughout the perimeter region:
A Little Less Lonely: Connecting Generations Through Entertainment & Technology
With many senior citizens experiencing loneliness and statistics showing that it can contribute to other medical issues, the group found ways to spread some cheer with local senior citizens. Members collaborated with elementary schools in Sandy Springs where students created more than 300 handmade Valentine’s Day cards that were delivered to residents of Mt. Vernon Towers, a senior living community in Sandy Springs. They also hosted an afternoon of entertainment for Mt. Vernon residents that included 11 different performers. During this time, there were also volunteers assisting interested residents in navigating technology issues with cell phones, iPads and other devices.
Canopy Construction
The canopy that covered the outdoor eating area at the Sandy Springs Fire Department on Spalding Drive was 15 years old, had issues with its structural integrity and did not fully cover the outdoor dining and grilling area. The group worked with the firefighters to construct a larger and more durable structure that fully covers the eating and grilling area while also being more integrated into the firehouse.
Career Workshops for High School Students
The team worked with three high schools on career workshops tailored to the needs of each school. These included assistance with writing resumes, interview skills and career development. They provided career assistance to 40 students at Riverwood High School, 30 students at Dunwoody High School and 30 students at North Springs High School.
Community Reading Initiative
This initiative’s focus was preventing the “summer slide” where students lose reading skills if not kept up during the summer, as well as other literacy initiatives. Through a book drive to keep free little libraries in Sandy Springs stocked, they collected 1,625 books. At Riverwood High School, they created a reading nook, to be an inviting area for teens that are striving to surpass their current reading levels. To support the Woodland Elementary School’s Book club, they donated five sets of books to allow more students to participate.
Dunwoody Elementary School’s STEAM Garden
On Earth Day, group members partnered with Dunwoody Elementary School faculty, parents and teachers to construct an outdoor edible STEAM garden with raised beds. This involved prepping the area alongside the school, laying foundations and building six beds which were filled with dirt and mulch. For years to come, students will be able learn from and be a part of the growth process of plants that they eat throughout the school year.
Prosecco Period Project
Due to the number of women and girls missing work and school due to lack of access to period products, the group addressed this issue with collections and a period kit packing event. 6,000 items were collected through an Amazon registry and community collection sites, with thousands more collected at the event. The period kit assembly party was held at Arnette’s Chop Shop where more than 70 volunteers put together more than 1,700 kits that were distributed to public schools in Brookhaven and the Brookhaven-based Latin American Association’s community closet. Also attending the event were John Park, the Mayor of Brookhaven, and Brookhaven City Council members Madeline Simmons and John Funny as well as Dunwoody City Council member Catherine Lautenbacher.
Rosalyn Putnam, Executive Director of Leadership Perimeter, shared her excitement for the recent graduates, “It’s been an incredible year getting to know each member of the class and see their enthusiasm to not only learn more about our region, but also how to use that knowledge to make a bigger impact in their communities. Their curiosity, dedication and drive to be members of the inaugural Perimeter class as well as ensure that their group is ‘first class’ is inspiring. I anticipate seeing all that they will accomplish and how our communities will benefit from them in the future.”
Catherine Lautenbacher, Program Director at Leadership Perimeter, noted, “It’s been an honor to navigate the program experience for these leaders and be a part of their development on a personal and professional level. Watching them come together as a network and see the impact that they’re already making through their outreach projects and personal initiatives showcases the impact that Leadership Perimeter has not only on its participants but in our communities as a whole.”
Presenting the Leadership Perimeter Class of 2024:
• Donovan Adams – Financial Advisor, Sandy Springs Private Wealth Management
• Josh Brown – Senior Consultant, Guidehouse
• Ariana Bryant – Community Development Officer, CHOA
• Sandra Bryant – City Clerk, City of Brookhaven
• Andrew Chinsky – Attorney, Aaron’s Company Inc.
• Natalie DeLancey – Executive Director, City Springs Theatre Company
• Laura Deupree – Senior Communications & Marketing Manager, Community Assistance Center
• Brent Dodson – Global Real Estate Advisor, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
• Jennifer Dunaway – Founder, J Dunaway Public Relations
• Jeremy Duvall – Founder/CEO, 7Factor Engineering LLC
• Treasure Edwards – Vice President, Head of Regional Strategy, Morgan Stanley
• Kara Epstein – Assistant Team Leader, Keller Williams Realty
• Elizabeth Fite – Transition Partner, Kutak Rock
• Mary Ford – Chief Marketing Officer, CENTEGIX
• Adam Forrand – President/CEO, Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber
• Mark Galvin – Director of Marketing, Discover Dunwoody
• Jennifer Gilbert – Manager, HR Operations, Northside Hospital
• Andrew Gillespie – Senior Director – IT, Kaiser Permanente
• Francine Goodman – ESOL Teacher, Dunwoody Elementary School
• Amy Harmon – Attorney, Law Firm GC
• Anna Holder – Director – Human Resources Business Partner, The Coca-Cola Company
• Jose Jimenez – Owner, AlphaGraphics Dunwoody – Sandy Springs
• Kate Kratovil – Horizons Site Director, Holy Innocents’ School
• Nehemiah Lamb – Founder/CEO, Unique Individual Inc.
• Ryder Leary – Keep North Fulton Beautiful
• Jennifer Long – Executive Director, CREATE Dunwoody
• Gloria Mattei – Owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Alan Mickelson – Principal, Draffin & Tucker LLP
• Tywana Minor – Senior Director, Global HR Business Partners, Habitat for Humanity International
• Phyllis Mitchell – Owner, Phyllis Mitchell State Farm Agency
• Stephen Moore – CEO, RCS Productions
• Sandy Paul – Managing Director, 20/20 Foresight Executive Search
• Tracy Reznik – Director, Jabian Consulting
• DaMon Ross – Founder & CEO, Cyber Defense International, LLC
• Maia Samb – Owner, Puttogo Global Group
• Barbara Scarlette, Founder and President, Scarlette Economic Development Corporation
• Charles Sharper – Executive Director. Healthy Youth USA
• Kit Simelton-Treminio – Bioethicist/Consultant, P&P Consulting
• Sheldon Staples – Director of Student Activities and Community Service, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School
• Jamie Temple – Senior Director, Results Management Office Executive, VMware
• Andrew Ten Eyck – Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia Tech-Emory
• Isaac Toney-Schmitt – Associate Pastor for Faith Formation, Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church
• Danielle Zimmerman – VP of Business Development, Pathbuilders
About Leadership Perimeter
Leadership Perimeter is the premier organization in developing and inspiring leaders to serve their communities for a lifetime. For nearly 40 years, we have delivered educational experiences, interactive workshops, motivational speaker series, and networking opportunities designed to inspire leaders to drive positive change within their communities. Members represent the cities of Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.
For more information about Leadership Perimeter and the Class of 2024, please visit www.leadershipperimeter.org.
