In August 2020, the Groundwork Atlanta Board of Directors appointed Heather Hussey-Coker as Executive Director. For fifteen years before joining Groundwork Atlanta, Heather worked to advance sustainability projects and grow resilient communities through the implementation of the Atlanta BeltLine, both at the project’s advocacy organization, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, and later at the implementation agency, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. She helped to transform underutilized land into one of the most impactful place-based projects in Atlanta’s history. Hussey-Coker studied cultural anthropology at Emory University and regional planning at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She, her husband and two children live in Riverside, one of Groundwork Atlanta’s target areas just blocks from the Chattahoochee River.

Maurice Small is a farmer, trainer of farmers, soil alchemist and worm whisperer in Atlanta Georgia. As a consultant, Small cultivates organic food in urban spaces, creates vibrant soil and nurtures youth leadership in local food system development. For more than 25 years, Small has applied his love and appreciation for the earth, a value he received from his parents, to his work of creating meaningful work for new farmers and communities that care about vibrant local food access. Maurice Small was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and most recently has invested his energy in food and farmers in the Southeast. As an innovative creator of national models of sustainable food cultivation and distribution Small is on the cutting edge of transforming our food systems for the better.  Maurice was awarded the Organic Pioneer Award by the Rodale Institute in its inaugural year, 2011. Maurice is a founding and active member of the Farmer x Farmer Coalition.