PLENARY SESSIONS

Jeff Cown, Director

Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Jeff Cown was appointed Director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources effective August 2023. Georgia EPD protects Georgia’s air, land, and water resources through the authority of state statutes and major parts of five federal environmental statutes. These laws regulate air quality, water quality, hazardous waste, water supply, solid waste, surface mining, underground storage tanks, and other areas.

Jeff first began his career with the DNR’s Environmental Protection Division in August of 1990. He started as a permit reviewer for solid waste handling facilities. In 1995, Jeff was promoted to lead the Municipal Solid Waste Handling and the Surface Mining Units.

In 2005, Jeff became the lead of the Solid Waste Management Program which handled permitting, closure, and reclamation, technical assistance for all solid waste handling facilities, and surface mining facilities for the state. In 2012, Jeff was promoted to Assistant Land Branch Chief and then to the Land Branch Chief in 2013. In his Branch Chief role, he led all land-based programs within the EPD. was also responsible for overseeing the Underground Storage Tank, Solid Waste, and Hazardous Waste Trust Funds.

In September of 2018, Jeff was appointed to Director of the State Parks and Historic Sites Division of DNR. The Parks & Historic Sites Division manages 70 properties that preserve the state’s environment and history. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Colonial Coast, these sites offer an exceptional variety of activities, such as hiking and biking, fishing and boating, picnicking, ranger programs, historic enactments, and golf for nearly 14 million people each year.

Jeff is a 1986 graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering (Go Dawgs!) and a 2009 graduate of the Institute of Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL), Georgia’s environmental leadership program.

Jeff lives in Monroe and has 2 grown sons and 6 grandchildren.

Kevin McOmber, P.E., Regional Administrator

U.S. EPA Region 4

Kevin’s impressive 37-year career is distinguished by his dedication to community service and a deep commitment to environmental and municipal development. As a Professional Engineer (PE), he has led the design and execution of numerous large-scale public works projects across Georgia and the Southeast, focusing on sustainability, quality control, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Notably, Kevin has been a trusted partner to local and state agencies, navigating complex permitting processes and fostering collaborative relationships that drive impactful outcomes. Prior to joining the EPA, Kevin served as Executive Vice President and National Community Practice Leader at CPL Architecture, Engineering, and Planning.

Ronald J. Sturgeon, Commander and District Engineer, Savannah District

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Colonel Ronald J. Sturgeon assumed command of the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on August 4, 2023.

As District Commander, Sturgeon oversees the Savannah District’s military and civil works programs valued at approximately $1 billion. The construction mission alone involves an extensive program at 11 Army and Air Force installations throughout Georgia and North Carolina. The civil works mission consists of wetland protection oversight for all of Georgia and management of three hydroelectric dams and reservoirs that provide more than half of the peaking hydropower supply in the Southeast region. He will also oversee the water resource mission for the entire Savannah River Basin, which is a freshwater resource for eastern Georgia and western South Carolina down to the Savannah Harbor. He will oversee work on Georgia’s second deep-water harbor in Brunswick. As commander, Sturgeon is also responsible for the district’s work in military design and master planning, and the district’s mission for hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste clean-up at formerly used defense sites and manages real estate activities for the Department of Defense. Further, the Savannah District functions as a resource in emergency operations in Georgia as well as other federal agencies.

Sturgeon was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Engineer Officer from Youngstown State University in 2001. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University, a Master of Science in Construction Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS). Sturgeon is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

His assignments include service with airborne engineer and heavy construction units. He worked as a project engineer in St. Paul District, Minnesota and strategic planner at Headquarters US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. Additionally, he served as a security forces assistance advisor and human resources manager. His commands include the Company Commander of Alpha Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg (known as Fort Liberty since 2023), North Carolina; Battalion Commander of 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood (known as Fort Cavazos since 2023), Texas; and Battalion Commander of 5th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Sturgeon has three combat deployments, one in Iraq and two to Afghanistan. He took part in the humanitarian relief mission to Louisiana in support of Joint Task Force Katrina. Lastly, he has deployed to multiple security forces assistance missions to build military capacity with our partners in Africa.

His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal, among others. He also earned the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, graduate of the Sapper Leader Course, the Parachutist Badge, and the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal. He is a certified Project Management Professional.

Tyler J Harper, Commissioner

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Tyler J Harper is Georgia’s 17th Agriculture Commissioner, a 7th generation farmer, a small businessman, and a proud native of rural South Georgia. A lifelong resident of the Peach State, Harper is a champion for Georgia’s #1 industry, the farm families who fuel its success, and all of rural Georgia. He knows that for Georgia’s farmers and producers, agriculture is more than just a job or a hobby – it is our way of life. Harper grows peanuts, cotton, and timber and runs a small cow-calf operation on land that has been in his family for over 100 years in Irwin County, Georgia.
The Georgia Agriculture Commissioner is elected statewide by the people of Georgia and plays a vital role in protecting consumers and ensuring the continued success of Georgia agriculture – the state’s largest industry, employing nearly 400,000 Georgians and
contributing $91.4 billion to our state’s economy each year. The Agriculture Commissioner is charged with overseeing the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s wide-ranging operations and has a broad mandate to “to examine and investigate any matter relating to or affecting the welfare of farmers and consumers of the state.”
Since being sworn in as Commissioner in January 2023, Harper has helped deliver numerous wins for Georgia farmers and consumers and the state’s #1 industry. These include establishing the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund; banning Adversarial foreign nations, like China, from buying Georgia farmland; restoring the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s status as a Law Enforcement Agency; protecting Georgia consumers and children by establishing much needed guardrails for consumable hemp products. At the same time, Harper has worked closely with the General Assembly to increase funding for the Department to improve operations, investing in new technology, increase staff salaries, and better serve Georgia farmers and consumers. At the Commissioner’s direction, the Georgia Grown program has entered into exciting new partnerships with the Atlanta Braves and University of Georgia Football and was recently named the title sponsor of the “Georgia Grown Bowl” played annually between Georgia State and Georgia Southern.
From 2012-2022, Harper represented Southeast and South-Central Georgia in the State Senate where he served in leadership on the Public Safety, Natural Resources, and Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committees. Harper sponsored dozens of pieces of legislation to benefit farmers and rural Georgia that became law. These include Right to Farm, expanding Agricultural Education opportunities, improving rural healthcare, expanding rural broadband access, reducing tax burdens on farmers and producers, and more.
Harper’s passion for Georgia agriculture started on the family farm where he learned to drive on his grandaddy’s Massey Fergusson 135 as a boy. He was actively involved in Georgia 4-H and Georgia FFA during his childhood and continues to champion both programs. Harper is a proud graduate of both Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. He has held leadership positions in numerous organizations from his local Rotary club to the Georgia Young Farmers Association.
Commissioner Harper is an avid hunter, musician, and pilot – rated for both fixed wing and rotor aircraft. When he is not working at the family farm or in his capacity as Commissioner, you can find Commissioner Harper enjoying the outdoors, in the cockpit, or at Satilla Baptist Church – where he still plays in the band on Sundays when at home.

Katherine Moore, AICP, President

Georgia Conservancy

Katherine Moore, AICP, serves as Georgia Conservancy’s President. She has worked in the community development and natural resources fields for 26 years, including the past 15 years at Georgia Conservancy. Her professional experience spans regulatory work to public engagement to legislative advocacy. Her project management experience encompasses the spectrum of Georgia’s landscapes:  rural, suburban, and urban. Katherine’s passions are helping people explore the outdoors, teaching why natural resources matter, and working with communities to protect what makes Georgia special.

Georgia Conservancy is the oldest statewide conservation organization promoting sustainability in the built and natural environments, pursuing a Georgia where all people and the environment thrive. For 57 years, Georgia Conservancy has sought and achieved advancement of land conservation, land stewardship, and sustainable land use across the state. We believe a strong economy and a healthy environment can grow side by side—and that caring for our land and water benefits both people and progress.

Dr. Mark Risse, Director

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

Dr. Mark Risse, P.E. is the Director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and Georgia Power Professor of Water Policy at the University of Georgia. His expertise is in non-point source pollution management, water resources and storm water management, and Extension/outreach to diverse audiences. Dr. Risse received his B.S. and M.S. degrees at University of Georgia in Agricultural Engineering, and his Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Purdue University. At the University of Georgia, Mark has received recognition as a Fellow in the International Soil and Water Conservation Society and is a Walter Bernard Hill Fellow, the University’s highest honor for public service and outreach.

Joanne R. Caldwell, Director, Risk Management & Sustainability

Georgia Ports Authority

As Director of Risk Management and Sustainability, Joanne Caldwell is currently developing best practices to support the wellness and safety of port workers and the community at large, as well as environmentally responsible operations for the Georgia Ports Authority. A veteran of more than 30 years in health, safety and environmental management, she has worked in maritime industry as well as education, public health, manufacturing, specialty chemicals and petrochemicals. Joanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwest Missouri in the Health Sciences and a Master of Science in Geology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Smitha Hariharan, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

Smitha Hariharan was appointed vice president and chief sustainability officer of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in 2024. In this newly created role, she will help to drive Gulfstream’s sustainable transformation and stated industry goals by aligning its business strategies with sustainability principles while creating long-term value through impactful thought leadership.

Before that Hariharan was Head of Sustainability at Halliburton Energy Services, where she developed Halliburton’s global short and long-term sustainability strategy. While in this role, she identified new pathways to decarbonization, operationalized sustainability metrics, and enhanced supply chain governance. She also oversaw sustainability governance and engagements with internal and external stakeholders. Smitha has held leadership roles in operations management, product management, and business development. During her career, she lived and worked in Canada, Norway, Middle East and Asia in addition to North America. Smitha is passionate about enabling and accelerating the sustainability transition from within the industry.

Smitha received her BS in Electronics Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), MS in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science &Technology (MS&T), and an MBA with a focus on Sustainability from Yale University. She is also a Fellow at the Aspen Institute for Business and Society.

In 2022, Hariharan was the recipient of the Ally Energy GRIT Award, regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant recognition in the energy industry worldwide. 

Smitha is a Member of the Georgia Conservancy’s Board of Trustees. She and her husband are also passionate about supporting organizations that actively promote biodiversity, conservation, and children’s education. She lives in Savannah, GA with her husband and two children.

Jennifer McNelly, VP of Environmental Affairs

Georgia Power Company

Jennifer McNelly serves as the Vice President of Environmental Affairs at Georgia Power Company. In her 24 years with the Southern Company, she has held various management roles in the power generation, environmental, and technical support businesses.

Jennifer began her career with Southern Nuclear Company in 2001 as a co-op engineer before transitioning to Engineering & Construction Services as a Process Engineer. She subsequently served at both Alabama Power Company and Georgia Power Company over the next 10 years in various leadership positions in the Maintenance, Operations, and Compliance departments at Plants Miller, Bowen, and McDonough.

In 2018, Jennifer returned to Southern Company Services in Technical Shared Services as the Water Program Manager in Environmental Solutions, where she was responsible for providing expertise to internal customers using new and existing environmental technologies. In 2020, Jennifer assumed the Director of Environmental Solutions position, where she led an organization of engineers, geologists, field services personnel, and chemists responsible for the environmental expertise needed to serve multiple internal customers in each of the operating companies.

Jennifer moved to her current role in 2023 and leads the Environmental Affairs organization responsible for environmental compliance, permitting, and strategy for all Georgia Power operations activities. Additionally, her team is responsible for environmental conservation, stewardship, and stakeholder engagement.

Jennifer holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Alabama and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Jennifer has served on several non-profit community boards and is a member of the 2025 Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership class. She and her husband Joseph enjoy outdoor activities and travelling.