Atlanta, Georgia – Thirty-three leaders from agriculture, forestry, business, education, environmental organizations, government, and civic groups have been selected for the seventh class of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL).  The program has created a diverse and better informed network of environmental leaders who will help resolve Georgia’s environmental challenges.

“The 2008 class will join the ranks of the 185 leaders from across the state who have previously completed the program since its inception in 2001” said Ross King, Immediate Past-Chair of IGEL and also Deputy Director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.  “IGEL is rapidly developing a strong network of key decision makers who are leaving their imprint on the development of state and local environmental public policy.  The consensus-building skill sets reinforced at IGEL programs has, and will continue to, lead towards a stronger sense of the key importance of collaboration in environmental decision making,” he said.

Participants selected for this year’s Institute are:

• Judy Adler, Turner Foundation
• Jon Ambrose, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
• Matthew Baker, Matthew R. Baker, ASLA
• Doug Baughman, CH2M Hill
• Scott Boylston, Savannah College of Art and Design
• Sean Brandon, City of Savannah
• Beth Brown, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
• Rhoda Brown, Melaver, Inc.
• Pete Conroy, Jacksonville State University
• Debra Dlugolenski, Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget
• Glenn Dowling, Georgia Wildlife Federation
• Doug Fulle, Oglethorpe Power Corporation
• Pat Gardner, Georgia State Representative
• David Gault, Jones County Board of Commissioners
• Woody Hicks, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center
• Wayne Jenkins, Georigia ForestWatch
• Jill Johnson, Georgia Conservation Voters
• Ed Klaas, Southern Sprinkler Systems, LLC
• Tim Lowe, Lowe Engineers
• Lamar Paris, Union County Sole Commissioner
• Harold Reheis, Joe Tanner & Associates
• Buford Sanders, The Georgia Forestry Commission
• Andrew Schock, The Conservation Fund
• Robb Stanley, Stanley, Esrey & Buckley, LLP
• Sandy Tucker, US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Shana Udvardy, The Georgia Conservancy
• Fitzgerald Veira, Troutman Sanders, LLP
• Randy Waskul, Whitfield Co. Board of Commissioners/Mohawk Industries
• Jacqueline Welch, Rock-Tenn Compancy
• Mary Wilkes, U.S. UPA, Region 4
• Paul Wolff, Tybee Island City Council
• Mark Woodall, Associated General Contractors
• Stone Workman, USDA Rural Development

The program is facilitated by faculty of the Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia. "These participants are already leaders and experts in their own fields.  IGEL provides them with an opportunity to explore the role of their leadership skills and expertise across boundaries to address complex issues in the state," said Rob Williams, Fanning Institute, University of Georgia who facilitates the Institute.

IGEL participants will attend four sessions held in different locations throughout the state beginning in May and concluding in November 2008. Nominations are now being accepted for the Class of 2009.