Albert G. Edwards

Albert G. Edwards is the Founder and CEO of Corporate Environmental Risk Management (CERM), a national award-winning Program Management, Engineering, and Environmental services firm. Headquartered in Tucker, GA, CERM also has offices in Mobile, AL, as well as Orlando and Tampa, Florida. The firm provides a broad spectrum of professional services to federal, energy, water resources, transportation, and facilities clients in the public and private sectors. The common thread woven through each of Mr. Edwards’ corporate, civic, and community endeavors is inclusive, sustainable development that forges a path for present and future leaders.

At every turn, Edwards has been a champion for workforce development, youth education, and corporate accountability for community programs like the very one that introduced him to this industry. This passion for sustainable economic and community development extends beyond Mr. Edwards’ efforts and can be seen through the community-focused culture of CERM. The firm recently launched the CERM Legacy Foundation to help formally carry out its philanthropic initiatives. This work demonstrates Mr. Edwards’ belief that intentional leadership, collaborative insight, and meaningful partnerships are an authentic habitat for building communities.

Last year, Mr. Edwards served as Chair of the Atlanta Business League and Chair of Council for Quality Growth where he was the first African American to hold the position. In these positions, Mr. Edwards took on the role of convener and connector by facilitating private and public partnerships that aligned with each organization’s vision for development, diversity, and overall success in the post-COVID environment. Mr. Edwards has also been honored among Atlanta Magazine’s Top 500 Influential People for three consecutive years and on Georgia Trend’s inaugural list of 500 leaders around the state driving economic success throughout the state.

Mr. Edwards earned his MBA in Technology Management from Kennesaw State University and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology from Mississippi Valley State University. Additionally, Al holds specialized engineering, environmental, real estate management, and business management training from Georgia Tech, Dartmouth, and Harvard Graduate School of Design. As an advocate, mentor, and friend he brings together the nonprofit, government, education, workforce, corporate, and community sectors to solve real problems.

Natalie Hall
Fulton County Commissioner, District 4

Natalie Hall is the Fulton County Commissioner of District 4. Commissioner Hall is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of the citizens of Fulton County. She previously served Fulton County faithfully for six years as the Chief of Staff to the late Fulton County District 4 Commissioner Joan P. Garner and has served 6 years as Fulton County Commissioner of District 4. She also has over 30 years of management experience in the public and private sectors.

An honors graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, Natalie earned her master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management in Atlanta, Georgia. She received Executive Management Certification via the Caliber Learning Center from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.

In September 2017, Natalie received the Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia. In 2018, Commissioner Hall earned her certification as a Certified County Commissioner through the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

Commissioner Hall is a member of several boards including the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the Atlanta Homeless Continuum of Care Governing Council, and the Carver YMCA Board.

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Michael Johnson is a skilled and veteran litigator, having tried more than 75 trials, with extensive experience serving as a representative for civil defendants, plaintiffs, and criminal defendants in federal and state white-collar investigations. Mr. Johnson joined the firm after serving nearly seven years as a Superior Court judge in Fulton County, as well as seven years as a prosecutor in DeKalb and Fulton counties. He was also an assistant attorney general and specially appointed federal prosecutor for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.

During his time on the bench, Mr. Johnson presided over thousands of civil and felony criminal cases and gained tremendous experience and insight in handling class-action cases, real estate and restrictive covenant matters, health care fraud, and complex business and tax litigation cases. Several noteworthy cases presided over by Mr. Johnson both as a judge and practicing attorney is Thurbert Baker v. Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Inc., et. al., relating to revealing the bid proposals for the 2009 NASCAR Hall of Fame and the 2009 Super Bowl; The State of Georgia v. Arthur Tesler, which involved the murder of Kathryn Johnston; and Southern Center for Human Rights v. The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC), which concerned an action seeking to enjoin the execution of a defendant convicted of a capital offense. Mr. Johnson has also successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Georgia in the matter of Fantasia v. The State, 268 Ga. 512 (1997), which revolved around the issue of self-incrimination.

Additionally, Mr. Johnson has represented individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and Fortune 500 corporations. Specifically, he has focused on representing commercial clients in multiple areas, including airport vending compliance and contracts, business disputes in diverse areas, and licensing issues. Mr. Johnson also handles complex class action suits and recently served as lead attorney and settled a $100 million class action dispute. Moreover, Mr. Johnson has a wide-ranging government relations practice, having represented clients before federal, state, and local agencies, as well as clients involved in state and federal investigations. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Johnson has served in numerous leadership roles such as Chair of the City of Atlanta Board of Ethics where he helped steward and implement some of the toughest ethics legislation in the city’s history as well as appoint the city of Atlanta’s first ethics officer. Mr. Johnson also served as a board member of the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution and currently serves as Vice-President of Flight Buddies, Inc., (a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing kids to the aviation field). Mr. Johnson was recognized by the Fulton Daily Report in 2004 as an “On the Rise” lawyer and is a member of numerous organizations including the 2012 Class of Leadership Atlanta, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta Bar Association (Former Litigation Board Member), the National Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Inc. and Gate City Bar Association (Formerly of the Executive Board).

Condace Pressley
Director of Community and Public Affairs, WSB-TV

Condace Pressley is an Emmy® award-winning journalist. She is a two-time Hall of Fame member – inducted in 2019 into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and in 2016 into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame.

As Director of Community Affairs for WSB-TV, Condace drives the Family 2 Family Project and leads the station’s community efforts across its broadcast platforms including WSB-TV and the company’s four radio stations. She’s the executive producer of People 2 People on WSB-TV and interviews community leaders weekly during the show’s “One on One” segment.

Condace began her career in radio, first in Athens while studying journalism and political science at The University of Georgia and later in Atlanta at WGST, the Georgia News Network, News 95.5 WSB, KISS104.1 and B98.5. For more than 30 years she’s hosted the Sunday morning public affairs program “Perspectives” where she’s interviewed hundreds of community and thought leaders.

The University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication honored Pressley with the John H. Drewry Outstanding Young Alumna Award in 1992. In 2015, Grady College named Pressley to its Centennial Class of Journalism Fellows - the college’s highest honor. She has been profiled by The HistoryMakers, the world’s largest African American oral video history archive for her significant contributions to media. Condace is former President of both the National Association of Black Journalists (2001-2003) and the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (1991-1995). She was the chapter’s 2012 Pioneer Black Journalist. She is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta.

Condace has a passion for community and is strongly committed to the empowerment of women and girls. Her volunteer efforts include service on the boards of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Chris 180, and Moving in the Spirit. Condace loves to travel and supports the arts.

PASTOR PAUL THIBODEAUX

Believer. Minister. Builder. Impactor. These are just a few attributes that define the call and
ministry of Pastor Paul Thibodeaux.

Paul currently serves as the Lead Pastor at Impact Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Whether it’s
through his leadership, volunteering, organizing outreach, discipleship, or just caring for people,
he helps others discover and develop their gifts so that they can boldly and confidently go forth to
do the work of serving in God’s Kingdom.

A native of Chicago, Paul was a star athlete who received a full-ride scholarship to play football
at Iowa State University. After completing his undergraduate studies and earning his Bachelor
of Arts in Architecture in 1990, Paul went on to work in his field where he not only achieved much
success but also learned many valuable lessons in life and purpose.

Around 1998, Paul had reached a turning point in his life that started him on a soul-searching
journey similar to that of Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Eventually, Paul found himself
transitioning out of architecture and doing more work with kids and families through substitute
teaching and working with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of metro-Atlanta. Those experiences were
pivotal in ordering Paul’s steps toward his destiny. It was during this time that he received and
accepted the call to shift from building buildings to building people.

In 2007, Paul earned a Master of Divinity (M. Div.) in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Gammon
Theological Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. From
there, he went on to become the Youth Pastor at Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta,
Georgia, (2006-2010); the Associate Pastor at St. James UMC in Alpharetta, GA (2010-2013);
the Pastor at Sacred Praise in Lovejoy, Georgia; the Associate Pastor of Contemporary Worship
at Snellville UMC in Snellville, Georgia (2015-2017); and currently the Lead Pastor at Impact
Church, in Atlanta, GA.

Today, Paul has maintained and expanded his mission to enhance the lives of people with Jesus
Christ. His work, knowledge, and resourcefulness have been extremely instrumental in serving the
Impact congregation and community, and his heart for people provides nurturing, patient, and
welcoming support to those who seek Christ, connection, community, and consistency. He
continues to help people discover and relate to God through Worship, Scripture, Prayer, and their
personal life experiences.

Paul is a strong leader whose guidance fuels the forward momentum of a true and loving ministry
- a purposed ministry that is intended to spiritually continue to transform lives and communities.
He is married to Yvette Thibodeaux, and together, they have six sons.

Ryan Wilson is the co-founder and CEO of The Gathering Spot, a private membership
network that serves as a hub for collaboration, connections, and experiences; the
Chief Community Officer of Greenwood, a digital banking services platform for Black
and minority individuals and businesses; and a principal at A3C Conference and
Festival. Ryan and his business partner opened The Gathering Spot in Atlanta in 2016,
and have since expanded nationally. In 2022, The Gathering Spot was acquired by
Greenwood, Inc, creating the largest fintech and community platform for Blacks and
minorities with a combined community of over 1 million people.

A native of Atlanta, Ryan has been named Small Business Person of the Year by the
Atlanta Business Chronicle, one of the 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under
Forty honorees and one of their 100 Most Powerful leaders, one of Goldman Sach’s
Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs, one of the country’s most influential African-
Americans in The Root 100 and the Ebony Power 100, one of Atlanta’s 500 most
powerful by Atlanta Magazine, and has received Atlanta’s highest honor, The Phoenix
Award.

Ryan is currently an active participant in several Atlanta civic and community
organizations. He proudly serves on the boards of Usher's New Look, The Woodruff
Arts Center, The Atlanta Business League, The Community Foundation for Greater
Atlanta, Peace Preparatory Academy, and The Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce.
He is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the 100 Black Men, Atlanta Rotary Club and
has previously served as Co-Chair for Black Men Count Initiative of Fair Count. Ryan
graduated from Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center
where he proudly serves on the Board of Regents. He currently resides happily in
Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and two children.