Senior Vice President, Southern Operations, AGL Resources
President, Atlanta Gas Light, Chattanooga Gas and Florida City Gas

Suzanne Sitherwood was named senior vice president, Southern Operations, in November 2004. Her primary responsibility is executive oversight of the three utilities in AGL Resources’ Southern region–Atlanta Gas Light, Chattanooga Gas and Florida City Gas.  Prior to assuming this role, Ms. Sitherwood served as vice president of gas operations and capacity planning, a position she held from 2002 until 2004.  As vice president, Ms. Sitherwood directed the natural gas distribution infrastructure, gas control, gas measurement, marketer relations, customer-related services, interstate pipeline relationships, asset management, and management of storage facilities.

Ms. Sitherwood joined Atlanta Gas Light more than 28 years ago as a co-op student in the cathodic protection group.  During her career at AGL Resources, she has held a variety of positions including vice president of engineering, environmental, and construction, chief engineer, director of competition planning, director of rates and regulatory affairs, and director of residential markets.

A graduate of Southern College of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering technology, Ms. Sitherwood also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Brenau University. 

Ms. Sitherwood is the past chair of the chamber’s Environment & Energy Committee and general co-chair of its GA Initiative.  She serves on the Governor’s Energy Policy Council and the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Governing Board.  She also serves on the board of Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, where she chairs the Children's Wellness & Legislative Board Committee. She is a member of The Carter Center Board of Councilors and is the business community co-chair for the Atlanta Regional Council 50 Forward Program.  She is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Atlanta and 2009 YWCA Salute to Women of Achievement.

Ms. Sitherwood believes strongly in giving back to the community and is involved in many volunteer activities such as the Atlanta AIDS Walk, Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, Relay for Life, United Way and other organizations. She is a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of United Way. Her board activities include serving on the boards of the American Cancer Society; Clean Air Campaign; Emory Hospital Visiting Committee; Livable Communities Coalition; Neighborhood Development Partnership Inc.; the Governor’s Task Force on Transportation; and AID Atlanta, where she chaired the Loop Committee and dedicates time to education about HIV and related issues.  She also served on the board at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, GA, for four years.

Ms. Sitherwood lives in Buckhead with her husband.

President and Broker, Don Carter Realty

Doug Carter is president and broker of Don Carter Realty, a 40 year old family owned real estate development and brokerage company located in Gainesville, Georgia. A native of Gainesville, Doug graduated from Gainesville High School and is a graduate of Wake Forest University.

Doug is active in a number of community activities including: chairman of Northeast Georgia Medical Center Board, a former chairman of The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, member of Rotary, board member of Gainesville Bank & Trust, a past chairman of Leadership Georgia, past chairman of the North Georgia Community Foundation, board member of the Economic Development Council of Hall County, vice-chair of the Hall County Development Authority, trustee of the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, and board member of Main Street Gainesville.

Doug is married to Sandy McCormick Carter, also a graduate of Wake Forest. They have a son, Shaw, and a daughter, Lauren. They are members of Gainesville First United Methodist Church.

Georgia Chamber of Commerce President & CEO

George M. Israel, III, was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2002.  Since that time, he has increased membership, seen near perfect success lobbying on behalf of business at the State Capitol, and led the Chamber through a transformative reorganization that will allow it to work nimbly, proactively and even more successfully on behalf of its thousands of members from throughout the state.

Prior to joining the Georgia Chamber, Israel served as a chief executive both in government and business.  At just 31 years old, he was elected Mayor of Macon, Georgia’s sixth largest city, held the position from 1979 until 1987.  During that time, he earned a reputation for being fiscally conservative, fair minded, and of the highest integrity – qualities that led him to a series of leadership positions in real estate and healthcare after leaving office.  

George Israel began his career as a field underwriter in the life, health and accident insurance industry.  In 1987, he became president and chief executive officer of The Potomac Corporation, a European venture capital firm.  During the early 1990’s, he was chief executive officer of Fickling & Walker, a Macon real estate development company.  In 1994, he became president and chief executive officer of Secure Health Plans of Georgia.

Israel currently serves on the Board of Directors for a number of organizations including the Georgia Allies, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Georgia Cities Foundation.  He is a Board Advisor for the Georgia Department of Economic Development and serves as a member of the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee.  He is an active member of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Israel is a graduate of Middle Georgia College in Cochran and the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Pam, live in Macon and have two grown children and one grandchild.