Board of Directors – Keep Carroll Beautiful

Meet our Board

Katina Lear

PRESIDENT

2023 – Present

Katina Lear, originally from Richmond, Virginia, moved to Georgia in 1998 after graduating from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) with a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Photojournalism. She serves as the Assistant Director for Strategic Communications with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Katina is often in a graphic t-shirt with an inspirational saying in her free time and is passionate about making a difference in the community she resides in. That could be on the soccer field coaching or as a spectator (still coaching), capturing the beauty she sees through the lens of her camera or ensuring she leaves things or situations in a better state than when she found them.

Katina hopes through her efforts with the board at Keep Carroll Beautiful, she can help showcase all the great work being done to help build a stronger, better connected, and more environmentally conscious community that everyone can be proud of now and for generations to come.

Dee Dee Speights

VP/TREASURER

2023 – Present

Dee Dee Speights is a native of Columbus, GA currently serving as the Complex Environmental Manager for Pilgrim’s in Carrollton, GA. Pilgrim’s is known as one of the world’s leading providers of poultry.

Dee Dee joined Keep Carroll Beautiful with a commitment to helping the community meet the challenge of sustainability by raising awareness to the need of protecting and preserving our natural resources for future generations.

She attended Tuskegee University where she obtained both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. A wife and mother of two children, Dee Dee enjoys vacationing abroad, playing board games, and writing children’s books.

Hal Burch

SECRETARY

2024 – Present

BIO is coming soon!

Taylor Key

2024 – Present

BIO is coming Hi, I’m Taylor Key—a dedicated mother, wife, and proud member of the Carroll EMC team. Since April 2021, I’ve served as the Community Relations Supervisor at Carroll EMC, a role that builds on my previous positions as Accounting Specialist and Community Relations Specialist. My journey with Carroll EMC began in 2011 as a student employee, and I’ve been passionate about our foundation’s work ever since.

I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Community Development, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of West Georgia.

My daughter, Katie Mae (8), better known as KM, is about to start second grade at Central Elementary. KM is active in competition cheer and gymnastics, and her vibrant spirit and joyful personality bring so much happiness to our lives.
My journey with the Pilot program began with Carol Stokes, who has been a remarkable mentor and friend. Her dedication and servant heart have greatly influenced my path.

In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, reading, and spending quality time with my family and our two dogs, Maggie and Millie. I’m grateful to live, work, and play in this community, and it’s a true honor to serve alongside you all. I look forward to the adventures ahead and am always here to help—please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.

Stefanie Anderson

2024 – Present

BIO is coming soon!

Chuck Conerly

2023 – Present

Charles S. (“Chuck”) Conerly is a founding member of Smith Conerly and currently heads the litigation practice, concentrating on commercial litigation, local government, environmental, and zoning and local land use law. He has served as City Attorney for the City of Carrollton for over a decade.

Chuck attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from the State University of West Georgia, before moving north to obtain his law degree from the Vermont Law School.

In 2002, Chuck moved his practice back to his hometown of Carrollton and eventually partnered with Huck Smith to form Smith Conerly.

Sarah Powell

BIO is coming soon!

April Saunders

April Saunders is the director of Marketing and Communications for the City of Carrollton. Her department is responsible for spreading the word about events, programs, news, and attractions across the city.

April directs the city’s messaging through digital and printed media, Carrollton’s websites, and social media channels. Downtown programming and the Carrollton Area Visitors Bureau are also part of the Marketing Department.

April and her team organize and produce many of the city’s signature annual events, including Mayfest, A Taste of Carrollton, and the Christmas Parade.

Shane Taylor

BIO is coming soon!

Susana Valez-Castrillon

Susana Velez-Castrillon is originally from Medellin, Colombia. She has lived in Carrollton since 2011, when she moved with her family to work at the University of West Georgia, where she teaches Strategic Management and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Susana received her PhD in management from the University of Houston in 2012. She has a BSc (Hons) in Biology from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) and an MPhil. In BioScience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge (UK). Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Velez-Castrillon worked in business development for a UK-based biotechnology company.

Her interest in the environment and sustainability come from being a biologist, working for the environmental authority of her home state (Antioquia, Colombia) for a couple of years, and teaching Corporate Social Responsibility at the Richards College of Business.

She lives in Carrollton with her husband, Juan Forero, and their two children, who attend Carrollton City Schools.