Board Member Biographies
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Parent Category: About Us
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Rebecca F.M. Brubaker currently serves as Chief of Staff and Operations Officer for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), and is responsible for organization strategy, finance, operations, and board management. Ms. Brubaker has more than 30 years' experience working with organizations in Atlanta including the Atlanta Police Foundation and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She is dedicated to building relationships, creating results-driven programs, and evolving volunteer and sales initiatives to accomplish success in a dynamic environment. Ms. Brubaker holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. She was nominated to the Board by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
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Todd A. Gray is Director of Supplier Diversity for Kaiser Permanente NFS. In this role, Mr. Gray is responsible for system wide Supplier Diversity for National Facility Services, the nation's largest vertically integrated healthcare delivery system. Prior to, he served as Director, Supplier Diversity at Grady Health System and Head of Supplier Diversity at CVS Caremark. As a Metro Atlanta native, he is an active participant in civic and state level initiatives impacting diversity and community. He has partnered over the last decade as a mentor through the State of Georgia's Mentor/Protege Program for small business development. He supports youth minority entrepreneurship through his partnership with the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance Construction Skills Development Institute and founded an Atlanta community youth development initiative called P.O.L.I.S.H.E.D. to help you men in the Atlanta community develop life, social, and community involvement skills through ongoing tutoring and mentorship. Mr. Gray received a Bachelor's of Science in Network Communications Management from DeVry University, and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from DeVry's Keller Graduate School of Management. He was nominated to the Board by the Atlanta Business League.
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Natalie S. Lewis is a Senior Vice President in the Economic Damages & Valuation practice at J.S. Held, LLC, a global consulting firm. She specializes in assisting clients with various forensic accounting and fraud investigations, damage calculations, and litigation support services. With over ten years of experience, Natalie has worked with businesses ranging from small family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies. She has held senior manager and manager positions at global and national accounting and consulting firms. Ms. Lewis holds several certifications including being a Certified Fraud Examiner, a Certified Public Accountant and being certified in financial forensics. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds an MBA from Brenau University. She has published numerous articles and has served as an expert witness in cases involving funds tracing. Ms. Lewis was nominated to the Board by the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
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Nichola R. Hines serves as Chair of the Board and is currently the Assistant General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for Delaware North, a contracted food and beverage company. Ms. Hines oversees 12 restaurants located on Concourse T and D and has worked for 13 years in the hospitality industry. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Social Science (emphasis in economics) from the University of Southern California. After graduation, she found a career in advertising and worked for Ogilvy and Mather as a media planner. During the recent economic downturn, Ms. Hines decided to follow her passion and went to culinary school. She graduated from The Art Institute of New York City with a discipline in Restaurant Management. She is Vice President of the USC Alumni Club of Atlanta and an active member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving on multiple committees. Ms. Hines was nominated to the Board by the Atlanta-Fulton County League of Women Voters.
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Richard Taylor is the founder and managing partner of ARRC Capital Partners, a real estate development firm with a focus on affordable housing, homelessness prevention and community advocacy. Prior to founding ARRC, Richard worked at a private equity fund and as an investment banker before that, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and strategic corporate advisory for public companies. As a developer, Richard is the only person to win the Regional Excellence Award from the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Community Impact Award from CoStar in successive years. Richard is a member of Lambda Alpha International—an international honor society that recognizes professionals for their contribution to the field of land economics—for his innovative approach to solving both the affordable housing crisis and homelessness crisis. He’s been inducted to Outstanding Atlanta—the premier honor society for community involved people in Atlanta. He was nominated to the Governing Board by the Atlanta Planning Advisory Board.
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Cecily V.M. Welch is a licensed CPA in both Illinois and Georgia, and the owner of Welch Financial Advisors, specializing in tax preparation and financial planning for individuals with complex financial structures. Ms. Welch began her career as a national and international auditor and has provided accounting and financial expertise for over 25 years for both large and small CPA firms in the Atlanta metro area. Ms. Welch is a member of several non-profits and professional associations including the Georgia Society of CPAs, the IRS Advisory Council, the American Institute of Certified CPAs, and the National Black MBA Association. She is adept at helping people understand how their financial decisions help them meet their life goals. Ms. Welch was nominated to the Board by the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants.
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Lisa K. Liang is a Staff Attorney in the State Court of Fulton County, primarily assisting with the civil case load, consisting largely of torts, business disputes, consumer debt cases, and appeals from Magistrate Court. After graduating from Georgia State University, College of Law, Lisa worked for Atlanta Legal Aid in the Health Law Unit which provides free civil legal services to low-income cancer and HIV/AIDS patients and survivors in metro-Atlanta. Prior to law school, Lisa wore many hats – she taught elementary school and worked as a pediatric social worker. Lisa is active in the legal community. She serves as a Board of Governors Member for the State Bar of Georgia. Lisa is active in the Atlanta Bar Association – on the Board of Directors; as Co-Editor of the Atlanta Lawyer; with the CLE Board of Trustees; and recipient of a Distinguished Service Award and Rita A. Sheffey Public Interest Award. She is co-chair of GAPABA’s Women’s Leadership Network. Lisa is active with the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Lisa is a graduate of the ADL’s Glass Leadership Institute; GAWL’s Leadership Academy; and the State Bar YLD’s Leadership Academy. In the Atlanta community, Lisa is the Chairwoman of the Ethics Commission of the Atlanta Board of Education. Lisa coached the Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse team at Marist School and now coaches at Grady High School. Lisa lives in Midtown with her spouse and their dachshunds. She was nominated to the Board by the Atlanta Bar Association.
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Andrew I. Cohen is professor and chair of philosophy at Georgia State University, where he has worked as a scholar, educator, and administrator for over 20 years. Cohen earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Cohen’s research and teaching interests are in ethics, social/political philosophy, and applied ethics. He speaks regularly to lay and professional groups about themes in applied and practical ethics and social philosophy. He is the author of Apologies and Moral Repair: Rights, Duties and Corrective Justice (Routledge, 2020), and Philosophy, Ethics, Public Policy (Routledge, 2015). He is also editor of Philosophy and Public Policy – (Rowman & Littlefield International, 2018), and, with Christopher Heath Wellman, Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics (Wiley Blackwell, 2005, 2014). At Georgia State University, Cohen is the Director of Research for the Jean Beer Blumenfeld Center for Ethics. He also serves on GSU’s two Institutional Review Boards, including as the Vice Chair of the convened board. Cohen was elected to the Board of Directors of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, where he is Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. He was nominated to the Governing Board by the Seven Major Universities of Atlanta.
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Terri Simmons is an attorney with over twelve years teaching experience at the law school, graduate and undergraduate level. She currently serves as the Staff Attorney to the Honorable Asha F. Jackson of the DeKalb County Superior Court. Prior to becoming a Staff Attorney, she practiced primarily in the area of family law. She currently sits on the faculty of Concord Law School at Purdue University Global where she teaches Estates, Wills & Trusts, Legal Research, and Legal Analysis and Writing. She also serves on the faculty of Southern New Hampshire University in both their Criminal Justice and Business Departments. She has previously served on the faculties of Clayton State University and Herzing University. At Herzing, she served on Advisory Board for the Legal Studies and Paralegal Department where she played an active part in the planning and development of the program’s curriculum, course development and design, retention and student success missions. She is active in the legal community as a member of the Gate City Bar Association where she was the past Judicial Reception Committee Chair. She’s also been active with several legal organizations including NewRock Legal Society, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the DeKalb Lawyers Association, the DeKalb Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Terri earned her BS in Mathematics from Spelman College, her JD from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was nominated to the Board by the Gate City Bar Association.
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Former Board Members:
Chris Gilmore, Gate City Bar Association, 2019-2022
Wesley Tharpe, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 2018-2021
Todd A. Gray, Atlanta Business League, 2016-2021
Kate Wasch, Seven Major Universities, 2011-2019
Jessica Stern, Atlanta Bar Association, 2015-2019
Mecca Anderson, Gate City Bar Association, 2018
Riah Greathouse, Gate City Bar Association, 2015-2017
Brent Adams, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 2011-2017
Carol Snype Crawford, Atlanta Planning Advisory Board, 2010-2016
Kai N. Williamson, Atlanta Business League, 2012-2016
Shukura Ingram Millender, Gate City Bar Association, 2010-2015
Pat Upshaw-Monteith, Atlanta-Fulton County League of Women Voters, 2014-2015
Caroline Johnson Tanner, Atlanta Bar Association, 2008-2014
De’Lonn Brown, Atlanta-Fulton County League of Women Voters, 2013-2014; 2015-2016
MaryAnne Gaunt, Atlanta-Fulton County League of Women Voters, 2007-2012
Charmaine Ward, Atlanta Business League, 2008-2011
Cathy R. Daniels, Six Major Universities, 2008-2011
Charles B. Crawford, Jr., Metro Atlanta Chamber, 2008-2011
John Lewis, Gate City Bar Association, 2005-2010
Jacquee Minor, Atlanta Business League, 2005-2008
Kenyatta Mitchell, Atlanta Planning Advisory Board, 2005-2008
Lawrence Levin, Ph.D., Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 2005-2008
John D. Marshall, Jr., Six Major Universities, 2002-2007
Leah Janus, Atlanta-Fulton County League of Women Voters, 2002-2006
Robert B. Remar, Atlanta Bar Association, 2002-2005
Chuck Barlow, Atlanta Business League, 2002-2005
Michael D. Johnson, Gate City Bar Association, 2002-2004
Gloria Bromell-Tinubu, Atlanta Planning Advisory Board, 2003-2004
Seth Lynn, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 2002-2004
Myrtle Davis, Atlanta Planning Advisory Board, 2002-2003
Ethics Office
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Parent Category: About Us
The Ethics Office is an independent city office headed by the City Ethics Officer. The City Ethics Officer is appointed by the Governing Board of the Office of the Inspector General and Ethics Office for a period of five years, subject to confirmation by the City Council and approval by the Mayor. The Ethics Officer must be a city resident and an active member of the Georgia Bar Association with at least five years' experience in the practice of law. The City Code of Ethics prohibits the Ethics Officer from being involved in the City's partisan political activities or political affairs.
DUTIES
The Ethics Office provides general and targeted ethics training to city officials, employees, and contractors on the City's Code of Ethics; provides written and oral ethics advice to city officials and employees; investigates complaints falling under the jurisdiction of the Code of Ethics, prosecutes violations of the Code of Ethics, coordinates the City's ethics and compliance hotline (Integrity Hotline), and manages the City's financial disclosure system.
STAFF
JABU M. SENGOVA, City Ethics Officer
Appointed by the Board of Ethics in February 2017, Ms. Sengova serves as the City of Atlanta's Ethics Officer. In this role, she provides leadership and direction in the areas of ethics advice and training, public education and outreach, financial disclosure filings, and enforcement of ethics cases. She brings her passion, experience, and commitment to building a strong ethical culture in city government and was instrumental in developing and producing the City’s pilot ethics e-learning course. During her tenure, Ms. Sengova has legislated for significant amendments to the Atlanta Code of Ethics to strengthen and improve the City’s ethics program. She has over 21 years’ experience in the legal field, including criminal practice, ethics, and government. Prior to joining the Ethics Office, Ms. Sengova worked for several years in the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office where she successfully represented criminal defendants in felony trials. She previously served as an assistant public defender in the Atlanta Municipal Court’s Public Defender’s Office. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from South Carolina State University and her law degree from the University of Florida. Ms. Sengova is barred in Georgia and Florida and is a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP). She is a member of both local and national ethics and compliance organizations. Ms. Sengova received the Atlanta Bar Association's prestigious Public Service Award in October 2017.
CARLOS R. SANTIAGO, Deputy Ethics Officer
Mr. Santiago serves as the Deputy Ethics Officer. In this role, he reviews and investigates ethics complaints, monitors the City's compliance hotline, conducts ethics training for city officials and employees on the City's Standards of Conduct (Code of Ethics), provides written and oral advice to officials and employees, recommends changes to the Code of Ethics or Board Rules, assists with the City's mandatory annual disclosure filing requirements, and manages the financial disclosure enforcement process. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University and his Juris Doctor from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School. Mr. Santiago is a Member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Bar Association, various local and national ethics and compliance organizations, and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP).
SHERRY H. DAWSON, Business Manager II
Ms. Dawson serves as the office administrator. In this role, she manages the day to day operations of the Ethics Office, assists users in filing online forms in the Electronic Disclosure System, and researches and compiles data for reports. Previously, she worked for the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia for 13 years, serving as its finance director and office manager. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Alabama State University.
RAYMOND ROBINSON, Program Manager
Mr. Robinson serves as the Program Manager for the Ethics Office. His role involves managing programs and projects impacting the internal operations of the Ethics Division. Mr. Robinson bring his experience, knowledge, drive from having over 35 years of program and project management experience working in various industries. Prior to joining the Ethics Division, Mr. Robinson worked for the City of Atlanta Information Management as their IT Program Manager for 5 years. Before joining the City of Atlanta, Mr. Robinson was the Acting Manager of the PMO Office for MARTA, Director of IT Risk Management for US Bank, Vice President-Global Oracle Finance Technology Worldwide Production Support for JPMorgan Chase, and operated Robinson Management Consulting Group, LLC. Mr. Robinson is a certified Project Manager Professional (PMP) and certified Information System Auditor (CISA). Mr. Robinson received is BBA in Accounting from Pace University and Master’s in Information Systems and Technology Management from Capella University.
JANET R. KEENE, Ethics Analyst
Ms. Keene serves as the Ethics Analyst for the Ethics Division. In this role, she assists with ethics investigations and helps to identify potential conflicts of interest through the proactive auditing of the annual City Financial Disclosure Statements filed by city officials and employees. She has worked with the Ethics Division dating back to the original Ethics Officer, Ginny Looney. Ms. Keene is a Certified Fraud Examiner. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park, her Master of Public Administration degree from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and attended the Georgia State University College of Law.
IBIDAPO S. ONABANJO, Ethics Advisor
Ms. Onabanjo serves as the Ethics Advisor for the Ethics Division. In her role she researches, writes and interprets ethics laws, provides oral and written ethics advice, conducts ethics training for new employees on the city’s Code of Ethics, drafts ethical opinions, assists with ethics investigations and the city financial disclosure process. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management from Clayton State University and her Juris Doctor from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Ms. Onabanjo is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, and a Registered Neutral in the State of Georgia.
LARRY MASON, Investigations Manager, Sr
Mr. Mason serves as the Investigation Manager for the Ethics Division. His role involves investigating complaints falling under the jurisdiction of the Code of Ethics and managing the City’s ethics and compliance hotline (Integrity Hotline). Mr. Mason has more than 15 years of investigative and security consulting experience. Prior to joining the Ethics Division, Mr. Mason worked as a private investigator and a security consultant in the private sector. Mr. Mason received his Private Investigator Certification in 2015 from the Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agency, is an active member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and continues his education through the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE).
ARIYAN MARSHALL, Management Analyst
Ms. Marshall serves as the Management Analyst for the Ethics Division. In this role she assists users with filing various online forms, manages the office internal CityNet and Ethics internet websites, and assists with developing projects. Ms. Marshall brings her creativity, knowledge, and ambition to aid the team as it continuously expands. Ariyan is currently finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and hopes to continue to gain experience and knowledge in her field of work.
JOE HINES, Management Analyst
Joe Hines serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Program Manager for the Ethics Office. In his role with the Ethics Division, Mr. Hines composes educational and training documents that assist with programs and projects impacting the internal operations of the Ethics Office. Mr. Hines brings his experience in education to the work he does with the Ethics Division. Mr. Hines is currently fin finishing her Bachelor of Arts in History.
FARRAH SIMS, Executive Assistant
Farrah Sims serves as the Executive Assistant for the Ethics Department. Her role involves managing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the Ethics Division. Ms. Sims brings her experience and knowledge from providing 12+ years of support to C-suite executives. Before joining The City of Atlanta Ethics Department, Ms. Sims was in the Quality Assurance department and was responsible for the Training and Documentation of 500+ staff at InCommunity; she spent ten years as Executive Assistant to the CEO of InCommunity. Outside work, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Ms. Sims is an active member of the Service Providers Association for Developmental Disabilities (SPADD).
LaDamian Boatwright, Management Analyst, Sr
LaDamian Boatwright performs a wide variety of analytical and data management work related to the Ethics Office’s operations and management systems, supports and assists with the financial disclosure process, and assist in reviewing and conducting financial disclosure audits. Previously worked for the DeKalb County Government Finance Department as a Management Analyst. Preformed audits, research, and analytical assistance for departmental operations. Received Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Jacksonville State University.
Juan D. Hernandez, Investigator Specialist
Mr. Hernandez serves as the Investigator Specialist for the Ethics Division. In this role, he works closely with the Investigations Manager, Sr. and supports the investigative arm of the office. Mr. Hernandez graduated from Georgia State University in 2019. Subsequently, he obtained his Private Investigator license in 2021 from the Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies. While obtaining his license, Mr. Hernandez worked in the private sector for a felony criminal defense investigation firm. Currently, Mr. Hernandez is expanding his knowledge of ethics and compliance investigations through work experience and professional development.
Kevin T. Schukle, Ethics Advisor I
Kevin Schukle serves as an Ethics Advisor I for the Ethics Division. His role involves researching and interpreting ethics laws, providing oral and written ethics advice to City of Atlanta employees and vendors, conducting ethics training for new employees on the city’s Code of Ethics, and assisting with the city’s financial disclosure process. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society, and his Juris Doctor from Georgia State University, where he was involved in the Criminal Law Society and the American Constitution Society. He has previously worked with executive compliance personnel at Aaron’s, Inc. as a Corporate Compliance Specialist and is a former Assistant Solicitor General out of Cobb County, Georgia, where he prosecuted criminal misdemeanor and traffic offenses.
