GAEA

Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson is President and Chief Executive Officer for the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance. As President/CEO of the Alliance, he administers programs such as the Georgia Department of Transportation DBE Supportive Services Program and the United States Department of Transportation Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Utilization Southeast Minority Resource Center. Mr. Jackson also serves as a consultant for various transportation entities to ensure greater capacity of DBE programs.

Mr. Jackson is also Supplier Diversity Director for the multi-billion dollar Hartsfield-Jackson Development Program, the largest public works project in Georgia’s history. He is responsible for ensuring that the Atlanta Airport’s capital improvement program meets or exceeds the City of Atlanta and the Department of Aviation’s Equal Business Opportunity participation goals.

He has over 20 years of corporate experience in business development and operation management pertaining to growth and profitability, business mergers and acquisitions in the transportation industry.

Mr. Jackson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Mass Communication with a minor in Coaching Psychology. He has also completed executive leadership programs from Harvard Business School and attended Executive Business Programs at Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Edward W. Davidson, Jr.,

Edward W. Davidson, Jr., serves as Chairman of the Greater Economic Alliance and Chairman and a consultant to International Aviation Consultants. He is also Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Rosser International, Inc.

As a professional of 40 years, Mr. Davidson has extensive experience in all areas of electrical building design and high voltage electrical distribution systems. His electrical design has included projects for airline hangars, research laboratories, educational facilities, detention facilities, and military installations.

Mr. Davidson is considered a leader in his profession and has received recognition among his peers. He is a past Vice President and a “Fellow” of the American Consulting Engineers Council, past President of the Georgia Consulting Engineers Council, and in 1991 was named “Engineer of the Year” by the GCEC.

Mr. Davidson is a graduate of Southern Polytechnic State.

Thomas W. Dortch, Jr.

Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., co-founded the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TWD, Inc., a consulting firm with emphasis on business development, public relations and fundraising as well as President and CEO of other companies serving the transportation and diversity management industries.

Mr. Dortch’s professional career began with writing proposals and developing fund raising projects for the State of Georgia. Later became the State Director and served as chief administrator over five field offices and one state office and was the first African-American to serve in this capacity.

He graduated from Fort Valley State University with a degree in Sociology and earned a graduate degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Clark Atlanta University.

Dave Butler

Dave is the Vice President and General Manager for Turner Construction Company’s Atlanta Business Unit. During his 28 year career with Turner he has progressed through a variety of both field and office assignments. Mr. Butler continues to lead the Atlanta Business Unit to notable success. This is reflected in the long-term relationships this office has established with clients such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University, Turner Properties and the City of Atlanta.

He received a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Douglas C. Davidson

Douglas C. Davidson is founder and president of New South Construction Company, Inc. Mr. Davidson¹s unique and proven leadership skills have enabled New South Construction to experience rapid yet controlled growth, while providing uncompromising service in the construction industry.

New South Construction has been recognized as one of Atlanta¹s 50 fastest-growing, private companies.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Auburn University.

Ben DeCosta

Benjamin R. DeCosta is Aviation General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Mr. DeCosta is currently overseeing Hartsfield-Jackson’s $6-plus billion Capital Improvement Program comprised of a fifth runway, the Maynard Holbrook Jackson International Terminal, a consolidated rental car complex, upgrades to the existing central passenger terminal complex, and a proposed south gate complex.

Recognized nationally as a leader in aviation, Mr. DeCosta serves on the board of directors for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the largest professional organization for airport executives in the world, and Airports Council International, one of the world’s largest airport organizations. He received his Accredited Airport Executive designation from AAAE, an achievement that further demonstrates his leadership as an airport management professional.

Prior to taking the position of Aviation General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson, Mr. DeCosta worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and served as the general manager of Newark International Airport.

A native New Yorker, Ben DeCosta received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics at Queens College before earning his Juris Doctor from New York Law School.

Hebrew L. Dixon, III

Hebrew L. Dixon, III is President and CEO of Circle D Enterprises, a construction management and support services company. He is past president of the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance.

With over seventeen years of leadership experience in economic development and construction management, Mr. Dixon has created and implemented programs that facilitate partnerships with professionals and educators to provide on-going training to minority contractors. He also created an interactive program for the community’s youth, introducing them to the exciting opportunities available to them through a construction career. Mr. Dixon’s passion for Supplier Diversity led him to manage the largest participation goal (100M) of record directing a nationwide network of supplier diversity coordinators and procurement specialists. He also designed and implemented the strategic vision for supplier diversity for the multi-billion dollar Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport expansion program.

Mr. Dixon graduated Cum Laude from North Carolina A&T State University School of Engineering, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering.

Darrell A. Fitzgerald

Darrell A. Fitzgerald, FAIA is a Principal with the firm of Gensler Architecture, Design & Planning Worldwide, the world's largest design firm. Within the firm he works in the Corporate Buildings and Campuses, Retail, Aviation and Education practice areas. He has over 30 years of experience in planning, design and implementation of both small and large-scale facilities.

Mr. Fitzgerald earned his Master of Architecture Degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. While at Harvard, he was the winner of the Jose Luis Sert Award for two consecutive years. He was awarded the Architecture Prize at the Lawrenceville School, a college preparatory school founded in 1810; and was the first African-American admitted to the Lawrenceville School. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Henrietta Kisseih

Henrietta Kisseih is founder and owner of Kissberg Construction Inc., specializing in demolition, sidewalk and driveway construction, hauling, grading and airfield spall repair. She also owns Signworks Inc., a sign fabrication and installation company.

Notable among these demolitions is the demolition of the old FAA Tower, which was imploded in August 2007.

Henrietta Kisseih believes in less talk, more action and results, results, results! She will tell you she has been in business this long because she “DELIVERS”!

Charles David Moody, Jr.

Charles David Moody, Jr. is the President and Chief Executive Officer of C.D. Moody Construction Company, Inc. The company provides a wide range of construction services including design/build, new construction, renovation, and construction management at-risk. C.D. Moody Construction has been involved in many commercial, industrial, institutional, and hospitality projects.

In addition, the C.D. Moody Construction Foundation provides scholarships to minority students. Over 80 scholarships have been awarded since the Foundation’s inception in 1989. He has endowed scholarships at Morehouse College, Howard University, and Central State University. Howard University has named their design studio after him.

Mr. Moody received his B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture and five year professional degree from Howard University.

Michael Russell

Michael Russell is Chief Executive Officer of H.J. Russell & Company. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Concessions International, another Russell company and one of the leading food service management companies in the country.

A 20-year veteran of the construction and real estate industries, Mr. Russell has focused on improving the efficiency of the company’s processes and systems and fully integrating its offerings to provide clients seamless end-to-end services.

Mr. Russell spent most of his career with H.J Russell & Company, serving in a variety of executive positions as well as cost estimator and project manager.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and earned his MBA from Georgia State University.

Arthur Queen

Mr. Queen and EGM Services, Inc. have received public recognitions as the Atlanta Regional Minority Construction Firm of the Year, the Atlanta Business League Leadership Award, the National Association of Minority Contractors Leadership Award and Atlanta’s Fastest Growing Company.

He attended Prince George’s Community College and Delaware State Teacher’s College.

Inga Kennedy

Inga Kennedy is the President of Planners for Environmental Quality, a local urban planning consulting firm she started in 1992. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in from Spelman College and a Master's degree in City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology, both in Atlanta, Georgia. She has over 25 years of national experience in the field of urban planning with primary emphasis on transportation, environmental, land use, and citizen participation and awareness. She has been involved in the conduct of a variety of planning projects at the local, county, state, regional and federal levels. Inga has advised more than 200 government agencies on various planning issues. As a skilled meeting facilitator, she is experienced in managing and facilitating large meeting groups and is able to easily communicate technical planning terms and processes into lay terms for the general public.

Inga is very active in the South Fulton community where she resides and works. She is President of the Old National Merchants Association. She served as the first female Chair of the Fulton County Community Zoning Board (Planning Commission) for four years and on the Clayton County Development Authority for six years.

She serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Chapter of the WTS (Womens Transportation Seminar) and is a member of numerous organizations including the American Planners Association (APA), Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and many others.

Jan Bryson

Jan Prisby Bryson is president of BenchMark Management, LLC, a quality solution provider specifically meeting and answering the inclusion goals and requirements associated with government and commercial contracts.

Ms. Bryson has extensive experience in government affairs. In particular, she has over 20 years experience promoting minority inclusion in federal, state and municipal governments through her active involvement in social and economical activities. Her successes are demonstrated by the history of the companies she has formed and supported. Through Ms. Bryson’s leadership, the entities with which she has associated have always exceeded the established minority participation goals of the City of Atlanta and other governmental agencies. Her specialty is the development of harmonious business relationships within the area of race, economic and social inclusion.

Ms. Bryson received a degree in Business from Youngstown State University in Ohio.

Clay Thomas

Clay Thomas is a Senior Vice President of Georgia Commerce Bank, a leading Atlanta-based Community Bank. He is an active part of a Senior Management team that contributes the bank’s success on growing, privately-held companies. Mr. Thomas’ background includes relationship management, product development, financial/market analysis, corporate policy development, and marketing.

His interest in entrepreneurialism has proven to be more than those who he supports through banking, as he is the co-founder of companies in technology, manufacturing, investment, and hospitality. In 2000, he co-founded a technology engineering development firm in Atlanta that worked with several fortune 1000 companies in the areas of custom software development, business intelligence, and integration.

Mr. Thomas has a bachelor's in Economics and a Masters in Business Administration, both from Clemson University.