Committed Partners in Creating Connections

Michael Paris, a Cobb County native, took the Council’s helm in late 2003 and has worked to expand the Council and to spread its mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth throughout the metro region and the state. With a degree in real estate from Georgia State University, Michael has more than 45 years of experience in real estate development, brokerage, land-use planning, and association management. Michael is involved in numerous community and professional activities. His affiliations include the Board of Directors for, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the Urban Land Institute, an Association Member of the Board of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, and a graduate of both Leadership Cobb and Regional Leadership Institute. Michael and his wife Kim live in Marietta and have two grown children.

As Vice President of Membership & Operations, Kathryn is responsible for the Council's overall membership strategy and member relations, including ways to grow, retain, and engage current and prospective member companies. She oversees member engagement initiatives, including strategic programming, the Emerging Leaders Initiative for young professionals, and the execution and communication of all membership benefits. Kathryn also directs the Council's marketing and communications initiatives, both internally to externally, to broaden our offering to our members and our reach across our industry and the metro Atlanta region. She's worked to establish and maintain a uniformed voice and brand for the Council as a leader in advocacy and education of the issues impacting our members. As Vice President, she is also responsible for strategic planning, financial oversight, office operations, and other daily activities of association management. Prior to joining the Council in January of 2021, Kathryn worked in media, marketing, e-commerce, and sales in both the publishing and interior design industries. She transitioned to the not-for-profit sector with the Council to pursue meaningful work in her hometown community. She was born and raised in Atlanta, leaving only to attend college at UGA in Athens. She received her bachelor’s degree in advertising and communications from UGA’s Grady College of Journalism. At work, Kathryn enjoys team development, writing, and graphic design projects. Outside of work, she values time spent with her husband and their two dogs, trying new foods and restaurants, and cheering on the Dawgs. She is a recent graduate of Leadership Gwinnett. She currently resides in Lilburn, GA.

Matt leads our policy team in formulating, developing, and communicating policy positions for the Council related to infrastructure planning, legislative initiatives, regulatory issues, land use, transportation, and environmental planning policies while building and strengthening the Council’s relationships with elected officials, citizen advisory groups, policy makers, and other industry, business, and environmental organizations. Matt comes to the Council with many years of experience in the political and government affairs arena across the region. Matt brings strong policy expertise, research analytic skills and communication abilities to this position. He has collected extensive press and media relationships around the region and been a regular commentator and contributor on numerous important and topical issues related to our region’s challenges. A 2016 graduate of UGA with degrees in Political Science, International Affairs and History and a M.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado-Boulder, Matt brings a great combination of education and experience to the Council. He is a metro native, growing up in Woodstock, and a graduate of ARC’s RLI Program, Leadership Gwinnett, and the Cobb101 Citizens Academy. He also serves as Chair of the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation Board of Directors and as a member of the Gwinnett Coalition Board of Directors.

As the Council's Membership Services & Operations Manager, Christina brings a wealth of experience from her background in hospitality and nonprofit operations. Her expertise and passion for cultivating strong relationships are instrumental in supporting our members and advancing the Council's mission. She thrives on connecting with members and member organizations, ensuring their needs are met with efficiency and care. Originally from Cumming, GA, Christina relocated to Atlanta to earn a BBA from Georgia State University and has called the city home ever since. Outside of work, she enjoys audiobooks, the Atlanta Braves, and public transit. In her down time, she can be found exploring state parks, taking a Peloton class, and or finding a entertaining dining experience.

Carson serves as the Policy Analyst for the Council, where he analyzes and interprets local and state policies related to infrastructure planning, legislative initiatives, regulatory issues, land use, transportation, housing, and environmental planning. As a member of the policy team, he works with local and state elected officials to promote balanced and responsible growth in metro Atlanta and Georgia. Prior to joining the council, Carson worked as a Urban Planner with Pond & Company, helping design long range plans and code updates for communities across metro Atlanta, as well as serving as a member of the Council’s Emerging Leaders Initiative. Carson is a graduate of the University of Georgia, with a Master’s in Urban Planning and Design and Bachelor's in History and Political Science. Outside of work, Carson enjoys cheering on the Dawgs, as well as Atlanta’s sports teams, and he serves on the Alumni Board for Whitefield Academy as the Chair of the Fundraising Committee. He grew up in Smyrna, Georgia and currently resides in the City of Atlanta in the Upper Westside.

Morgan Peek serves as the Council’s Membership Development Executive, where she focuses on the recruitment and retention of new members to the organization. Morgan works daily to grow the Council’s membership geographically across the region and state and across the sectors of private development. She brings 6 years of business development experience and a proven history of building strong relationships to her role. Most recently, Morgan was the Director of Marketing and Business Development for a general contractor, and prior to that, she was the Brand Strategist behind Atlanta’s Fetch Park. Morgan has spent much of her life in Atlanta, and she’s a graduate of Kennesaw State University. Her interest in the Council was generated from her passion for the future of the city. In her free time, she can be found fly fishing and searching for arrowheads along the Chattahoochee River with her dogs, Blueberry and Cowboy.

Kristen serves as the Council’s Events Manager, where she is responsible for planning all the Council’s many annual programs and other events. Prior to joining the Council for Quality Growth team, Kristen worked as a paralegal in both real estate law and family law. In her free time, she pursued her passion for event planning by working part time for an event company in Savannah, as well as designing and coordinating weddings for family and friends. What once was a hobby for Kristen has now turned into an exciting transition to the non-profit sector where she can use her skills and talents to make a difference in the greater Atlanta community. Kristen grew up just a little south of Atlanta in Forsyth, Georgia, but also spent a good amount of her life in Statesboro. She enjoys spending her time outside of work with her husband and their two dogs. They are both graduates of Georgia Southern University and die-hard Atlanta United fans.

Anna Frances serves as the Marketing Coordinator for the Council, where she supports the development and execution of the Council’s marketing and communications strategy. In her role, she manages digital and print materials, oversees website and social media content, and ensures consistent branding across all member-facing platforms. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, she relocated to Atlanta after earning her B.B.A. in Marketing and Communication Strategy from the University of Mississippi. Anna Frances brings experience in public sector communications and real estate marketing, having previously served in marketing roles with the City of Irondale and Collegiate Realty. Her background includes launching digital campaigns, designing creative assets, writing press releases, and supporting brand development. Passionate about storytelling and community engagement, she is dedicated to advancing the Council’s mission and visibility across the region. In her free time, she enjoys baking, playing guitar, and going for walks with her dog, Zeppelin.