The Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees is proud to announce Mitchell Tatar has been selected for the organization’s Class of 2026. Tatar is the general manager at CJB Applied Technologies and director of innovation for CJB Companies, both based in Valdosta. Each year, Leadership Georgia seeks out emerging leaders from every corner of the state and selects 63 participants from a pool of several hundred applicants to participate in the year-long leadership program. Participants can bring a guest to all program activities, and Andre Tatar, general manager of Salvus, a member of CJB Companies, will join Mitchell.

Leadership Georgia Class of 2026:

Heather Abbott, Thomasville; Tasha Allen, Dacula; Rick Anderson, Atlanta; Alyssa Baskam, Atlanta; Will Beasley, Watkinsville; Phil Bonelli, Gainesville; Joseph Brannan, Columbus; Ben Chambers, St. Simons Island; Matthew Chancey, Monroe; Amy Cheng, Atlanta;Rob Clifton, Evans; Alvie Coes, Athens; Adriana Collins, Gainesville; Laura Lyn Coody, Perry; Omari Crawford, Decatur; Kade Cullefer, Atlanta; Jesse Dillon, Savannah; Gala Jackson Dobbins, Valdosta; Ken Eason, Eastman; Corey Ferguson, Mableton; Salvia Fox,Jonesboro; Houston Gaines, Athens; Garrett Green, Augusta; Marshall Guest, Decatur; John Hardman, Atlanta; Ray James, Atlanta;Wendi Jenkins, Midland; Tal Johnson, Statesboro; Will Keyes, Macon; Megan Kocikowski, Roswell; Kaitlynn Kressin, Macon; Katie Leonard, Cumming; Josh Lovett, Moultrie; Angel Maldonado, Tyrone; Marissa Maldonado, Smyrna; John Manly, Savannah; Tiffany McBride, Midland; Arthur McPhaul, Gainesville; Jocelyn Merisca, Newnan; Shaun Mock, McDonough; Aprille Moore, Decatur; Arren Moses, Uvalda; Creshema Murray, Atlanta; Clay Neely, Newnan; LaRhonda Patrick, Warner Robins; Christy Payne, Dalton; Mark Pettitt, Gainesville; Lizzie Piazza, Sea Island; Josh Pittman, Vidalia; Britney Pooser, Augusta; Malini Reddy, Watkinsville; Russ Richards, Atlanta; Tyler Riddle, Tifton; Stuart Sinyard, Albany; Haley Smith, Rome; Jamelia Smith, Smyrna; Brad Stockton, Rome;Randell Trammell, Cartersville; Sarah Watchko, Roswell; Mitchell Weltman Tatar, Valdosta; Natalie Williams, Atlanta; Champa Woodham, Martinez; Bo Wren, Newnan

The mission of Leadership Georgia is to prepare strong and effective leaders for the future development of our great state. Over the course of the program year, the class participants will experience five immersive programs that examine critical issues facing rural and urban communities of Georgia. Together, the class participants of Leadership Georgia seek mutual understanding of the challenges of the state and the solutions developed and implemented to drive change and success for all Georgians.

The 2026 Leadership Georgia Class will be led by President Chandra Harris of Atlanta. “Resilient – Resourceful – Rising Higher” is the 2026 program theme.

Previous participants from the family of family-owned CJB Companies include owners Jeana (participant) and Clinton Beeland (guest), Tiffany Stewart (CJB Industries), Randall Walton (CJB Industries) and James Ferrier (CJB Applied Technologies). 

Leadership Georgia is the country’s most prestigious statewide leadership organization. The organization was founded in 1971 and graduated its first class in 1972. Since then, more than 5,000 leaders – from elected officials to business owners to non-profit leaders – have participated in the program. Leadership Georgia is a volunteer-run organization governed by its Board of Trustees and is an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at leadershipgeorgia.com.