Leading the Future Environmental Leaders of Georgia

The Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 corporation that acts as IGEL’s governing body. 

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors establishes IGEL’s vision and goals, and develops the broad policies that guide the organization. The Board of Directors develops the resources needed to support IGEL, including subsidized tuition, provides fiduciary oversight and evaluates program success.

The Board of Directors consists of no fewer than nine and nor more than 25 members. It must always include the Board Chair and recent IGEL program graduates. The Board fixes a precise number of directors by resolution, set by a majority consensus of all current directors.

IGEL’s Board members, who are all program alumni, bring exceptional, unique knowledge, hands-on experience and leadership skills to the organization’s management, mission implementation and programs. Our people are leaders in government, non-profit organizations and industry in every part of our state. They are passionate about the work we do: developing and challenging the future environmental leaders of Georgia.

For a list of the current Board of Directors, see below.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

The racial and ethnic makeup of staff, leadership, boards and participants in environmental programs and organizations remains overwhelmingly under-represented by people of color.

In October 2019, the IGEL Board of Directors established the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee as a permanent standing committee to address this issue within the organization. The purpose of the Committee is to provide oversight and review of the organization’s activities for ensuring our leadership, classes, programs, and operations are diverse across a broad range of metrics (including those related to ethnic and cultural participation and perspectives) as may be reasonably achievable under the circumstances. The DEI Committee works in alignment with the Board to create and fully implement outreach efforts to ensure a diverse network of environmentally educated leaders throughout the state of Georgia.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is comprised of individuals who are passionate about advancing racial equity in the environmental sector and the membership reflects at least three members of the Board of Directors selected by the Chair, one of whom shall be appointed to chair the Committee, and may also include non-Board members whose skill, expertise or experience will help the Committee in its work.

Georgia State University Partnership

IGEL, Inc. has partnered with the Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business to develop and operate the curriculum and leadership program, as well as the administrative support for the Board. IGEL qualifies as an elective program for the Certified Commissioner for Advanced Training Program for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.

Program Team & Facilitators

Our dedicated team brings the highest-quality programs to our class participants each year. IGEL, Inc. partners with the Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business to develop and operate our carefully designed curriculum and leadership program. Meet the program team

Executive Director

Learn More

• Program Overview
• Program Schedule
• Program Team
• What Participants Can Expect
• Who Participates in IGEL?
• Participant Selection Process
• History

List of Board of Directors:

Richard Wingate, Chair – Hallman & Wingate LLC

Howard Lalli, Vice Chair – HL Strategies

Bo Davis III, Treasurer – Integrated Science & Engineering

Gwen Ruff, Secretary – Columbus Water Works

Mary Anne Lanier, Past Chair – Ray C. Anderson Foundation

Nick DiLuzio, Resource Development Chair – NewFields

Rob Williams, Program Committee Chair – Triangle Associates

Stephen Bailey – Pond Co.

Mark Berry – Georgia Power Company

Rodney Brooks – United States Department of Agriculture

Pam Burnett – Georgia Association of Water Professionals

Ryan Burtt – Southwest Georgia Farm Credit

Ric Felker – Felker Advisors LLC

Mark Masters – Albany State University

Tyronda Minter – Urban Strategies

Tom Driver – Geotechnical & Environmental Consultants-A Terracon Company

Clarence Mitchell – Retired from Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Stephanie Valdez Streaty – Cox Automotive

Patricia Barmeyer – King & Spalding

Kim Ajy – R2T, Inc. 

Casey Cox – Longleaf Ridge Farms