On September 15, 2022, Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, and House Speaker David Ralston announced appointments to the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board. Governor Kemp reappointed Mr. Charlie Sutlive to serve as the Board Chairman, effective immediately. Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan reappointed Mr. Teddy Russell and appointed Mr. Dan Buyers who will fill the seat vacated by Mr. Mark Toro when his term expired on September 14,2022. Both appointments are effective immediately. Speaker Ralston reappointed Ms. Charlotte J. Nash, effective immediately. Mr. Earl Ehrhart, whose term expires January 2023, continues to serve as an appointee of the Speaker.
The Council for Quality Growth applauds Lt. Governor Duncan’s appointments of our very own Board of Director members Teddy Russell and Dan Buyers to the ATL Transit Link Authority Board. We send our congratulations to both Teddy and Dan and appreciate their leadership at the Council and the region.
The ATL was created by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2018 legislative session to provide coordinated transit planning and funding for the metro Atlanta region. The ATL is responsible for developing the ATL Regional Transit Plan, as well as identifying and prioritizing the projects and initiatives required to develop region-wide transit. The ATL is also charged with creating a unified regional transit system brand. Effective July 1, 2020, the ATL was legislatively authorized to oversee the state’s Xpress regional commuter transit system and the Atlanta region’s vanpool system.
The ATL is governed by a 16-member Board of Directors, consisting of members elected by state legislators and local government leaders to represent each of the region’s ten ATL Transit Districts, appointed members, and one non-voting member.
Charlie Sutlive, Chairman, Governor Brian Kemp Appointee
Charlie Sutlive is the vice president of corporate communication at Georgia Power. In this role, he is responsible for leading Georgia Power’s overall communication efforts with internal and external stakeholders, including advertising, creative and production services, electronic communications, employee communications, media relations and social media efforts. Prior to joining Georgia Power in 2018 as director of corporate communications, he served as the vice chancellor for communications and governmental affairs for the University System of Georgia (USG) where he led the development and execution of communications, public affairs and economic development plans for USG’s 26 colleges and universities. He has held multiple leadership positions for some of the largest and most recognizable companies in the world, including MCI, which is now part of Verizon Communications, McKesson, and Coca-Cola North America. Sutlive currently serves on the REACH Georgia Foundation board and the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication Alumni Board. He is also a graduate of and previously served on the board for Leadership Georgia. Sutlive earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia.
Teddy Russell, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan Appointee
Teddy Russell is the owner and CEO of Russell Landscape, a family business which his father, Bill Russell, started in 1987. He professionally joined Russell Landscape in 2002 shortly after graduating from the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business. Under Teddy’s leadership, Russell Landscape has over 500 employees with ten locations that cover four states. A hallmark of Teddy’s leadership and the company is the importance of employee and community engagement. He is also involved in many professional and philanthropic efforts including the PruittCares Foundation, the Gwinnett Boys & Girls Club Board, the Community of NE GA Foundation, the Executive board of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and is the Chairman for the University System of GA Foundation and National Association of Landscape Professional Foundation. Teddy and his wife Courtney have three children.
Dan Buyers, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan Appointee
Dan Buyers joined McWhirter Realty Partners in 1994 and became a Partner in 2016. He specializes in land sales, site selection and office/medical office brokerage. Dan is an active member of the community and the commercial real estate industry, serving on multiple boards including the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority (Vice-Chair), the Town Center Community Improvement District (Vice Chair), the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®, the Cobb Community Foundation, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, the Council for Quality Growth, and the Wellstar Foundation. Dan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate from the University of Georgia.
Charlotte Nash, Speaker David Ralston Appointee
Charlotte J. Nash’s career with Gwinnett County spans almost four decades, first as a staff member and then as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. She has been active in multiple civic and governmental organizations at the local, regional, and state level. Her roles have included board member for the Atlanta Regional Commission, board chair for the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, and President of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). She currently serves on the board for the ATL, the regional transit authority, as an appointee of Georgia House Speaker David Ralston. She was recognized by Georgia Trend magazine in 2020 as a Georgia Legacy Leader based on lifetime contributions to the State. Charlotte is a lifelong resident of the Dacula/Harbins area of Gwinnett County and holds a BBA from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Michael, have two children, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.