President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Dr. Raphael W. Bostic took office June 5, 2017, as the 15th president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He is responsible for all the Bank's activities, including monetary policy, bank supervision and regulation, and payment services. In addition, he serves on the Federal Reserve's chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta serves the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which covers Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The Bank has branches in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, and New Orleans.

Bostic worked at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 1995 to 2001, first as an economist and then as a senior economist in the monetary and financial studies section, where his work on the Community Reinvestment Act earned him a special achievement award.

He serves on many boards and advisory committees, including the Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Georgia's Partnership for Inclusive Innovation. He is also a member of Harvard University's Board of Overseers. He served as the 2021–22 chair of the board of directors of the United Way of Greater Atlanta and the 2022 chair for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Kwame Johnson serves as President & CEO of BBBSMA. Kwame brings 15 years of experience to the position, having worked for a number of national and local nonprofit organizations, beginning his career as the National Director of Programs with the Woodson Center and Director of Corporate Relations at Communities in Schools, both based in Washington D.C. Before joining BBBSMA in March 2018, he served as the Executive Director of the Greater Atlanta Region for PowerMyLearning, where he increased the organization's revenue by 55% and program reach by 110%. He has been an active member of the nonprofit sector for many years, serving on numerous professional boards and committees. Kwame has received national recognition for his work including the Social Entrepreneur Program of the Year Award from the Manhattan Institute, 40 Under 40 Most Influential People in Washington, DC Award, and the 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO Award. Kwame is from Syracuse, NY, and he holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.

Executive Director, Georgia Justice Project

Douglas B. Ammar has been an active presence at Georgia Justice Project (GJP) since its beginning in 1986. Starting as a volunteer, then joining as a staff attorney in 1990, Doug has led GJP as Executive Director since 1995.

GJP has sought to be advocates for our clients not only by providing holistic criminal defense and social services; but also seeking systemic change in Georgia law that will reduce the number of people under correctional control and reduce barriers to reentry. During his time as Executive Director, GJP has help change 22 laws in Georgia that have worked to reduce barriers to reentry for people impacted by the criminal justice system, including the following major pieces of legislation passed in the last few years:

SB10, which reduces the number of Georgians whose driver’s licenses are automatically suspended for Failure to Appear in traffic court by increasing judge’s discretion over license suspension.

SB105, which expands access to early termination of felony probation for Georgians who meet certain criteria.

SB288, which allows Georgians to find second chances by expanding access to record restriction and sealing for certain eligible Georgia criminal records.

GJP has continued to grow and expand its capacity to serve its clients directly and through broader policy initiatives with support from local foundations and national funders who have acknowledged our work. In 2020, GJP assisted over 6,000 Georgians with criminal justice issues and received a $5 million capacity from the Kendeda Fund, a national funder based in Atlanta.

Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, Doug earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Davidson College in 1984, and then a law degree from Washington and Lee University in 1989. Doug has received numerous awards for his leading voice in criminal justice reform and reentry, including but not limited to: Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Heritage Dinner 2022 Awardee; Nonprofit Times 2019 Power & Influence Top 50; Urban League or Greater Atlanta’s Man of Empowerment & Distinction; Davidson’s College’s 2016 Game Changers, Emory University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award, Milner S. Ball Working In the Public Interest Lifetime Achievement Award; Georgia Center for Nonprofits’ Evelyn G. Ullman Innovative Leadership Award; Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Indigent Defense Award; Davidson College’s John W. Kuykendall Award for Community Service; and Georgia Indigent Defense Council’s Commitment to Excellence Award. In addition to these recognitions, Doug is also an Omicron Delta Kappa Alumni inductee at Washington and Lee University and an Annie E. Casey Foundation fellow.

President & CEO, YWCA of Greater Atlanta

Danita V. Knight assumed the position of president and chief executive officer for the YWCA of Greater Atlanta on January 3. She previously served as vice president for communications and marketing at Agnes Scott College. Prior to joining Agnes Scott, Knight was a marketing, communications, public relations and fundraising consultant for various non-profits, colleges and political campaigns in Atlanta.

Knight is a past board chairperson of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation (and the first Black board chair of that foundation). She was also chairperson of the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Atlanta Women’s Foundation “Numbers Too Big to Ignore” fundraising luncheons. The 2011 luncheon raised $1 million - at that time, the largest amount raised for a luncheon in the organization’s history. Other activities include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Women’s Solidarity Society; Advisory Board Member for Lending Hearts, a non-profit in Pittsburgh focused on recreational activities for adolescents with cancer, and various political campaigns and committees. Knight was part of the original group of “seed funders” responsible for bringing the women’s professional basketball team - the WNBA Dream – to Atlanta.

Knight has also served as vice president for public affairs and community relations at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Indianapolis, Indiana; director of public relations at Anthem, Inc.(Indianapolis, Indiana); director of communications for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce; deputy director for communications and public affairs for the Council of State Governments (Lexington, Kentucky); director of media and public relations for the United Way of Central Iowa (Des Moines, Iowa); assistant, speech writer, scheduler, and public relations director to Iowa’s first female Lieutenant Governor (Jo Ann Zimmerman); information specialist for the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women; and public relations manager for the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs. She started her career as a student morning news anchor and reporter at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Missouri.

Knight is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism, where she majored in broadcast (television) journalism. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, former Atlanta Hawks General Manager Billy Knight. The Knights have two adult daughters: Erika and Olivia and “wonderful grandchildren.”

Regional Director, Georgia Power

Misty Fernandez is a Regional Director for Georgia Power with over 23 years experience in the energy industry.

In her current role, Misty leads Georgia Power’s external activities for the City of Atlanta and the Metro South region, including customer service, sales, region operations, charitable giving, and community and economic development for Fulton, Clayton, Henry, Butts, Spalding, Fayette and Coweta counties.

Prior to her current role, Fernandez worked as an Area Manager in External Affairs, where she led operational, economic, community and charitable giving strategies for the North Fulton and North Dekalb regions.

Fernandez has held multiple leadership roles within Georgia Power, including Assistant to Georgia Power’s Senior Vice President of Charitable Giving and President and CEO of the Georgia Power Foundation, where she helped to lead charitable giving, volunteerism and community relations efforts across the state of Georgia. She’s held leadership roles within Georgia Power’s Customer Service organization, supporting the delivery of superior customer value across the company’s customer service channels and she’s held leadership roles within Georgia Power’s Environmental Affairs organization, ensuring the company’s compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.

Fernandez is a graduate of several leadership programs and was recently recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Latino Leaders in Georgia by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She was also recognized by the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility as one of 40 high-achieving Hispanic professionals in the United States.

In the community, Fernandez serves as chair of the board of directors for the Latin American Association and chair of the board for Caminar Latino. She also serves on the board for the Grove Park Foundation, Fulton Education Foundation, Clayton State University Foundation, Aerotropolis and the Midtown Alliance. Fernandez previously served on the boards for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, North Fulton Community Charities, Roswell Inc., and Amana Academy.

Fernandez is a member of the Citizens of Georgia Power and was the inaugural recipient of Georgia Power’s A Citizen Wherever We Serve Community Impact Award. Fernandez is also a former C.A.S.A (Court Appointed Special Advocate), having advocated for foster children who are victims of abuse and neglect.

Fernandez has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Oglethorpe University. She and her spouse, Gavino Padilla, have three children and reside in Roswell, Georgia. Regional Director - Georgia Power Misty S. Fernandez 03.21.23