What's Next For Central Perimeter?

John Ernst was elected Brookhaven's Mayor on Nov. 3, 2015, and was re-elected in 2019 for another four-year term. The next election for Mayor will be in November, 2023. Mayor Ernst grew up in Brookhaven and lives in Lynwood Park with his wife and two sons. He graduated from Emory University with a degree in history, and later from the University of Georgia with a degree in law. He opened a law practice in 2005, and served on the DeKalb County Board of Ethics from 2013 to 2015, where he filled lingering vacancies, increased the department's budget to handle increasing ethics complaints and led the board to convict a public official of an ethics violation for the first time in 15 years. Mayor Ernst's goals are to get back to the basics by delivering better parks, more greenspace and a transparent government.

Elected mayor in November 2013, Russell K. (Rusty) Paul brings more than 40 years of federal, state and local public policy and public administration experience to the job. He is currently serving his third term. Mr. Paul was elected to the founding city council for Sandy Springs in November 2005 and served one term. He chaired the city’s charter review commission and the Sandy Springs Development Authority. He was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations in the first Bush Administration under Secretary Jack Kemp. Secretary Kemp also appointed him acting Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development and tapped him to oversee the department’s disaster response to Hurricane Hugo and the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. He received the Secretary’s Golden Eagle Award, the highest honor a cabinet officer can bestow. Besides his stints in federal government, Mr. Paul is a former Georgia State Senator and also served on the Stone Mountain City Council and served three terms on the Georgia Municipal Association board of directors. In 1995, he was elected chairman of the Georgia Republican Party and served on the Republican National Committee, where RNC Chair Jim Nicholson appointed him to chair the State Chairman’s Advisory Committee. He is a past chairman of the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Center Chamber of Commerce and a member of Sandy Springs Rotary. He and his wife, Jan, are parents of five adult children and attend Holy Innocents Episcopal Church.

Ryan Holzer is responsible for the operational direction of the firm and leads the brokerage division. With over $1B of brokerage production, Ryan’s vast experience yields successful transactions for our clients. Ryan is instrumental in expanding and advising all Skyline Seven departments and engages his relationships to assist our team. Before joining Skyline Seven Real Estate, Ryan worked for Shane Investment Property Group, an Atlanta-based investment sales brokerage firm. While at Shane, Ryan led transactions for various property types including shopping centers, single tenant assets and office buildings. Ryan was previously an associate at Retail Planning Corporation, an Atlanta-based commercial real estate company specializing in leasing, property management, and development. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and is a native of Atlanta. Ryan lives in Sandy Springs with his wife and their two children. Passionate about sports, Ryan is an avid fan of all University of Georgia teams and is the long-time head coach of the Ridgeview Middle School baseball team. Ryan’s other hobbies include spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and fishing.

Kirk S. Demetrops is President and founder of MidCity. He oversees the acquisition/development strategy, equity/debt partners, user/partner transactions, advisory services and overall management of the company.Prior to forming MidCity in 2009, Mr. Demetrops was President of The Griffin Company, a 35 year old full service real estate development and construction company headquartered in Atlanta, GA. He joined The Griffin Company in 2001 and spearheaded the acquisition and development of office and mixed-use properties. Upon becoming President in 2007, his responsibilities were expanded to include managing the construction division and organizational structure.From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Demetrops was a partner in Forum Realty Corporation where he specialized in office tenant representation and land brokerage. The Griffin Company purchased Forum in late 2000. Mr. Demetrops started his career with Bailey & Associates, an Atlanta developer of office buildings, where he worked from 1988 to 1996. His primary responsibilities were the marketing and leasing of the company’s office portfolio, the majority of which was owned in a joint venture with New York Life Insurance Company. Mr. Demetrops received an MBA from Emory University and BBA from University of Georgia.

Phil Mays is a principal of RocaPoint Partners. Mr. Mays has more than 20 years of experience in real estate investment, development, land use and zoning. Prior to RocaPoint, Mr. Mays was the Director and Chief Legal Officer for EverBank's commercial special servicing division. Mr. Mays formed and managed EverBank's Commercial Special Assets Department containing more than $1.3 billion in underperforming CRE-backed debt. Prior to EverBank, Mr. Mays acquired and developed real estate in Florida and metro Atlanta for more than a decade. Mr. Mays was Corporate Counsel in charge of real estate for Racetrac Petroleum from 1994-1996 and an associate at McCalla, Raymer et al in Atlanta from 1992-1994. Mr. Mays received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida and a Leadership in Financial Organizations certification from Harvard Business School. Further, Mr. Mays served as gubernatorial appointment to the St. Johns County, Florida Board of County Commissioners from 2008-2010.

Jeffrey Graham entered the Property Tax Consulting industry with The Stallings Group in 2008 as a Consultant. He aided in the growth of The Stallings Group’s residential property tax appeal portfolio, and worked closely with the Stallings Group team to build his knowledge base in the commercial property side of the industry. Commercial property tax appeals became the focus, and Jeffrey Graham managed accounts for reputable clients such as Hines, Cbre, and Colliers. In 2012 The Stallings Group was sold to Paradigm Tax Group, at which point Jeffrey Graham was offered a position specializing in Commercial property tax appeals around the Southeast. After two years received a promotion to the level of Managing Consultant, which focused on the larger accounts with national portfolios of property. In that position he was involved with client management, new client sales, team building, strategic planning for the Southeast office. Jeffrey Graham consistently led the Southeast office in new clients sales, and learned a great deal about the marketing side of the industry. In 2016 Jeffrey Graham along with Bill Graham formed The Graham Group, which is a southeastern based property tax consulting firm. Jeffrey Graham has taken the roll of managing partner; along with managing client’s partners with Bill in the Growth of the client base, team, and reputation of The Graham Group. Jeffrey Graham and The Graham Group represent clients with Office, retail, Multi-family, Hotel, and Industrial portfolios. Jeffrey Represents clients with portfolios ranging from a single property to well over a hundred. Jeffrey specializes in property valuation thru multiple valuation methods such as Income analysis, comparable property analysis, Sales analysis, and cost of development analysis. Jeffrey has achieved many property value reductions over the years, and worked to partner with property owners and managers to ensure their property tax burdens reduced to favorable levels. One specific property reduction success story involves a Midtown Atlanta trophy office tower; the Fair Market Value of the property was lowered nearly 60 million dollars, which resulted in a tax savings of roughly 1.1 Million dollars. Jeffrey Graham is driven to see The Graham Group grow and build long lasting client relationships. He strives to be an active partner with taxing jurisdictions around the southeast, and continue to build his knowledge base of local legislation and tax laws.

AREA OF EXPERTISE Jodi Selvey specializes in Office Tenant Representation. She works with her clients to provide strategic planning and solutions to their real estate needs. Ms. Selvey offers over 28 years of comprehensive real estate experience which includes leasing a number of corporate headquarters locations, office building sales, site selection, restructuring of leases and providing detailed nancial analysis. Jodi executes in a creative way to solve complicated transactions, whether she’s asked to sell a difficult building, meet a nonpro t organization’s nancial benchmarks, or seek out non-traditional solutions for a client. Additionally, Ms. Selvey works with national clients on multi-city assignments, thereby creating a single point of contact for all their real estate needs across the country. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Ms. Selvey has been involved in fundraising for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Atlanta Ronald McDonald House, where she co-chaired the annual Brookhaven Tour of Homes for four years. She is also involved with Habitat for Humanity—serving on the fundraising committee and as a builder for the Marist Women Build since 2005. Ms. Selvey is very involved in her alma mater, where she chaired the UGA Parents Council in 2016 and 2017 and is currently a member of the 2018 UGA Board of Visitors. She is an executive board member at the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors (ACBR) and is a member of the Million Dollar Club and Sponsorship Committees. BUSINESS AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Ms. Selvey has been actively engaged in the commercial real estate eld since 1987 and joined Colliers International in 2003. She came to Colliers from Richard Bowers & Company, where she was the number one producer in both 2001 and 2002. She became a partner as well as the rst female partner in the Colliers Atlanta office in 2005. Ms. Selvey is the head of the Office Services Group in Atlanta. PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Colliers Atlanta #1 Producer, Office Services Group (2016, 2011) • Executive Board Member, Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors (2018, 2017, 2016) • Everest Club - Colliers International (top 10% within Colliers internationally) (2017, 2016, 2015) • Bisnow Top 40 Women Power Brokers Award (2014) • Colliers Atlanta Top 10 Overall Producer (2016, 2015) • CoStar Power Broker Award - Top Office Leasing Broker, Atlanta (2016, 2014, 2013) • Member of Colliers National Occupier Services Group (OSG) Platform • Colliers Atlanta #2 Overall Producer (2010) • MCA Award for originating the most multi-city assignments (2017, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2006) • Lifetime Achievement Million Dollar Club • Board Member, Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013) • Member of the Month, Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors (April 2012) • Phoenix Award Recipient - Ten years as Million Dollar Club Producer (2007) • Colliers Atlanta Enthusiasm Award (2006)

Caroline Davis is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Since joining the City in 2018, she has been responsible for facilitating economic development planning and initiatives, identifying and fostering economic development opportunities, assisting local organizations, businesses, and individuals with establishing economic development plans and projects, managing citywide recruitment and retention efforts, and marketing the City to expand economic development opportunities. Caroline is a graduate of Leadership Sandy Springs (2020). She currently serves as a Board Member for the Sandy Springs Education Force and the Innovation Academy Foundation. Caroline received her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Georgia. While pursuing her degree, she worked with The UGA Archway Partnership providing community and economic development services to rural communities throughout Georgia. Caroline holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community & Leadership Development from the University of Kentucky. A native of Kentucky, Caroline now resides in Sandy Springs.

Shirlynn Fortson serves as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Brookhaven. In this role, she works to increase Brookhaven’s visibility in the corporate, small business, retail, development, and real estate worlds as an ideal location to do business. Her responsibilities include marketing, site location assistance to new and expanding companies, business retention, serving as a liaison between the State, County, and utility partners, and managing the City’s Incentives Program via her role as Executive Director of Brookhaven’s Development Authority. Prior to her appointment as Brookhaven’s Director of Economic Development, Mrs. Fortson served as a Statewide Project Manager on the Corporate Solutions team at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In that role, she recruited new industry on behalf of the State, generating hundreds of jobs and millions in investment for Georgia. Brownell also managed the relocation and expansion of various high-profile companies, notably HD Supply, Equifax, Stanley Black and Decker, and Courion. Mrs. Fortson received her Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from Troy University, and her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Georgia, and she also holds a real estate license. An active member in the Atlanta community, she is involved with several initiatives around the state including the Atlanta Chapter of Urban Land Institute, the Atlanta BeltLine Young Leadership Council, Leadership DeKalb class of 2018, the Liberian Consulate of Georgia, and a host of other organizations.

Michael Starling is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Dunwoody, Georgia. Michael has been in this position since 2010 and is responsible for leading the City’s efforts to expand the local economy through business development efforts. Priorities for the City include retention of existing businesses, recruitment of new firms, and the redevelopment of existing commercial areas. Michael is actively involved with the Dunwoody Convention and Visitors Bureau and Dunwoody Perimeter Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb (2007) and the Regional Leadership Institute (2009). Michael is a founding member of the Innovation Crescent Regional Partnership, a coalition of more than a dozen counties focused on growing the technology industry in Georgia. Prior to joining Dunwoody, Michael worked for DeKalb County as a Business Development Manager for six years and the Atlanta Regional Commission as a Senior Program Manager in the Governmental Services Division for nearly a decade. Michael earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics from the University of South Florida. Michael is married to Denise Starling and they have one child Will who attends Chamblee High School. They reside in Brookhaven.

As Executive Director for the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), Ann Hanlon is in charge of the organization’s daily operations, as well as its investments in transportation infrastructure. The CIDs have an annual operating budget of over $8 million. Previously, Ann was the Executive Director of the North Fulton CID for 13 years, beginning when it was a start-up. Prior to entering the CID space, Ann served as a Senior Program Specialist at the Atlanta Regional Commission. She began her career in the private sector, as a Research and Development Analyst with Press Ganey & Associates, a healthcare consulting firm in South Bend, Indiana. A native of South Georgia, Ann received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Government and Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters of Public Administration degree in Management and Finance from Georgia State University. Ann was honored as the “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar Atlanta Chapter in November 2016. In April 2015 and again in 2017, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Ann to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority where she serves on the Projects and Planning committees. Ann was named a “Notable Georgian” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2017, one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Women Who Mean Business” in 2015 and as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 under 40” in 2012 and 2018. In 2021, she was included among a prestigious group of leaders in James Magazine’s Most Influential Georgians. In 2019, she served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth as the Council’s first female Chairman. Additionally, Ann serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s’ Transportation Seminar, Atlanta Chapter, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody Perimeter Chambers of Commerce, and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, Ann was appointed by CEO Michael Thurmond to the DeKalb County COVID-19 task force, and continues to serve in that capacity as a representative of large business interests in Perimeter during the pandemic. Ann is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute of the Atlanta Regional Commission (2010) and Leadership North Fulton (2006). Personally, Ann is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Metro Atlanta, a member of All Saints Catholic Church and a sustainer with the Junior League of Atlanta. She lives in Dunwoody with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters.