Tad Leithead

Prior to Mr. Leithead forming his own governmental relations and consulting firm, he was responsible for leading Cousins Properties development efforts as they relate to entitlement issues throughout the region, and served as liaison with the various governmental entities and community-based organizations. He has 26 years of experience in the Atlanta commercial real estate market and has leased some five million square feet of office space. As a founding partner with Childress Klein Properties, Mr. Leithead was instrumental in the operation of the Atlanta Galleria, one of Atlanta's premier mixed-use developments, and a key participant in the development of Cobb Galleria Centre -- a 300,000 square-foot county owned convention center. In 1998, he formed Urban One Associates, a development and transportation consulting firm, working with Midtown Alliance, Perimeter Center, Gwinnett County and others in the formation of several new Community Improvement Districts. He was a principal in the development of Ridenour, a 90-acre "Smart Growth" community in northwest Cobb County - which received the Atlanta Regional Commission's "Development of Excellence" award in 1999. Mr. Leithead was elected in December 2009 as Chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission, a 39-member board that steers the planning and development for the 10-county Atlanta region. He has served on the ARC board since 2000, and was Chair of its Transportation & Air Quality Committee from 2007-2009. Mr. Leithead also serves as Chairman of the Cumberland Community Improvement District, a self-taxing group of commercial property owners that is directly responsible for almost $3 billion of transportation improvements in Cobb County. In 1994, he served as Chairman of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and also received the Lockheed Corporation Management Association's "Manager of the Year" award. Additionally, he serves on the Boards of Directors of the Bank of North Georgia, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Fulton County Perimeter Community Improvement District and the North Fulton Community Improvement District. He is past Chairman of the Board of The Walker School.