Nakita Pope, President & AIGA Fellow
president@atlanta.aiga.org

Nakita M. Pope is the Chief Chick and Principal Brand Strategist of Branding Chicks, a boutique branding agency in Atlanta, GA with clients all over the United States. Branding Chicks specializes in brand strategy, development, consulting, and management for femme-owned businesses and femme-focused brands. She helps clients narrow their focus, gives their brands a voice, slingshot their confidence, and clarifies their message to resonate directly with their audiences. She also helps businesses large and small to brand or re-brand to attract and grow customer bases for new products and professional services through custom, creative, relevant brand-promoting strategies. Over the past 25 years, she has worked as a brand strategist, graphic designer, creative director, and brand manager, giving her experiences that inform how she works with her clients. Her passion for brand strategy also extends to her advertising strategy, branding, and design professorship at The Creative Circus for 13 years. In 2019 she also took on an additional role as their Diversity & Inclusion Advisor and, a year later, the Design Department Senior Advisor role. In 2020 she was also named one of Graphic Design USA Magazine’s People to Watch and then 2021 she was honored as an AIGA Atlanta Fellow, which recognizes her contributions to the design community locally and nationally. She is involved in several professional and non-profit organizations including AIGA,  African-American Graphic Designers (AAGD), and Good Thinking Atlanta. Along with her work and passion projects, she now gets to share her knowledge and experiences with diverse audiences on the international speaking stage for organizations like WPP Global, BBDO Atlanta, Phoenix Design Week, The One Club, Maryland Institute College of Art and the Georgia Tech College of Business. As always, her goal is to wield her crayons for good.

Lucas Alvarez, Vice-president
vp@atlanta.aiga.org

Lucas Alvarez is the Design Director of Governance & Accountability Institute. He focuses his passion on creating meaningful designs for brands to advance their understanding of sustainability strategy within a wide range of fields. He has close to a decade of experience in developing brand strategy and creative that connects people to the design to create a lasting impact. Lucas’ work has included a wide range of B2B and B2C branding projects — from community districts, such as Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, to creating internal campaigns explaining complex processes for Coca-Cola Enterprise. This wide breadth of experience helps to inform his process in building creative that fits the client’s specific needs. Lucas holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Georgia State University and stays active in his community. In his free time, Lucas takes his skills in design to work on a passion project, such as the collaborative development of the abstract strategy game Hermetica.

Brigitte O’Connor, Secretary
secretary@atlanta.aiga.org

Brigitte is a Southeast Regional Sales Manager for Monadnock Paper Mills, an environmental and sustainable paper company headquartered in Bennington, New Hampshire. Brigitte is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Brigitte promotes environmental paper products to end-users, agencies and printers throughout the Southeast. Brigitte has been an AIGA volunteer for over 20 years. When not working or volunteering, Brigitte enjoys watching her son play baseball, seeing live music, gardening, traveling and volunteering for local causes. Brigitte was born in Germany and has lived in the Atlanta metropolitan area for over 20 years. She currently lives in Avondale Estates with her family and rescue dog, Lilly. Over 25 years of experience, from production to sales, in the printing and paper industry, most recently serving as Southeast Sales Manager at a major paper mill. Reputation for superior customer service, trouble-shooting and problem solving. Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, meeting tight deadlines and balancing multiple projects. Extensive and varied contacts throughout the Southeast, including many top advertising agencies, Fortune 500 companies and universities. High energy with a can-do attitude.

Jerry Rodriguez, Treasurer
treasurer@atlanta.aiga.org

Jerry Rodriguez is an Appraisal Review Analyst and Officer for Ameris Bank. Ameris is a community bank headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Founded in 1971, Ameris Bank has a long, rich history and is fiercely committed to bringing financial peace of mind to the communities it serves. In addition, Jerry is a state-registered appraiser trainee and a practicing affiliate of the Appraisal Institute. He continues to take appraisal courses through the Appraisal Institute while working towards becoming a state-certified general appraiser. Jerry attended the University of Georgia and earned a B.B.A. in Real Estate. He’s a big Dawgs fan and supporter of Atlanta Sports. Jerry learned about AIGA through a colleague at the bank who served on the AIGA Board. He has a great respect for graphic designers and creative thinkers. Serving on the AIGA board is a welcomed opportunity to meet entrepreneurs and creatives in the AIGA community.

Alison K. Mason, Business of Design Chair
businessofdesign@atlanta.aiga.org

Alison Knowlton Mason wants to live in a world where all kids get a great education, where engaging stories are told, where laughter is abundant, and where people pay attention to each other. She joined Teach For America as a teacher in Atlanta after graduating from DePauw University and subsequently taught for four years. After leaving the classroom, she studied Graphic Design at the Atlanta campus of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and worked for three years as a graphic designer at Horizon Theatre Company. She joined full-time staff of Teach For America in 2010 and worked there for nine years across many teams, including internal communications and operations/events with the Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami summer teacher training institutes. She is the Founder/Principal of Lilacs on York Creative Studios, a creative agency specializing in branding, design, and creative retreats. Fueled by the power of storytelling, Lilacs on York helps businesses and entrepreneurs – with equity at the heart of their work – achieve clarity and expand their impact. Outside of work, look for her searching for steals at thrift stores, playing pickleball, and traveling with her husband.

Tiffany (TJ) Prater, Communications Co-Chair
communications@atlanta.aiga.org

TJ Prater is a Filipino graphic designer who teaches at the University of North Georgia. Her teaching pedagogy explores visual communication practices, social design, and collaborative work strategies. In addition, her experimentation with various media such as hand-lettering, type design, letterpress printing, and silkscreen printing informs her design practice. Tiffany’s clients include the MoyaMoya Foundation, Indiana Coalition for Public Education – Monroe County, Bogues Consulting Group, and 350 Deschutes, to name a few. She enjoys the weekend with her partner and two dogs, Coco-Bean and Ivy-Blu. She is also known for pulling off a disguise of her ‘identical twin.’ Tiffany earned her Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Indiana University Bloomington.

Morgan Hayes, Communications Co-Chair
communications@atlanta.aiga.org

Georgia-based artist Morgan Hayes is best known for her bright, beautiful, and over-the-top depiction of black joy through colorful renaissance-like figures that pop off the canvas. She is also known for expressive and bright abstract mixed media paintings. Through her education, Hayes discovered she loved mixing classical Renaissance elements into Black American pop culture. By trade, she is a graphic designer; however, she loves traditional fine art and mixed media. Through A.I Art she found the perfect blend of mixing the three art mediums together. Her work is mostly comprised of jewels, A.I. art, plaster, flowers, wire, and fabric. The limited color palette of blues, golds, and magentas, is what makes Hayes’s art so unique. Hayes is skilled in graphic design, photography, videography, and marketing. She has worked with brands such as Coca-Cola, Keurig and Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Augusta University, Goody Two Shoes, and many local businesses in her area for graphic design work. She also had the privilege of co-producing the Mouth of Dah South Podcast, Design By Habit Podcast, art directing a short film called “Intoxicant” on Amazon Prime, and art direct a Coca-Cola commercial. In her spare time, she does editorial photography and journalism. 

James Harrill, Education Chair
education@atlanta.aiga.org

James is a designer, cancer survivor, and educator, bringing a unique and empathetic perspective to all things. His journey through cancer has not only been a personal transformation but has also profoundly influenced his professional approach. Design, for James, is not just a profession; it’s a medium through which he expresses human connection, creates transformative brand experiences, and drives impactful results. Currently, he is an Associate Design Director at Goods & Services, helping develop impactful brand experiences. James’ passion for education is at the core of his professional life. He is currently nurturing the next generation of creative minds as a graduate program design educator at Miami Ad School. As an educator, he is dedicated to empowering students helping them harness their creativity to become leaders and change-makers in the design world. His work is not just about teaching design principles; it’s about instilling a sense of purpose, empathy, and the drive to make a positive impact. James’ role extends beyond the corporate arena and classroom as a proud board member of Advertising for Change and Education Chair for AIGA Atlanta. These positions allow James to stay deeply connected and grounded within the design and advertising community, ensuring that he is continuously contributing fresh and innovative perspectives. He has had the opportunity to lead projects with a diverse set of brands across industries within the Fortune 100, fostering genuine and successful relationships. James’ mission is to help brands discover effective ways to connect with the people who interact with their products and services. James’ career to this point is a testament to the power of resilience and the belief that every challenge we face can be a source of strength and inspiration.

Stephanie Grendzinski, Head of High School Initiatives
highschoolED@atlanta.aiga.org

As an Educational leader and Design professional, Stephanie is actively building the next generation of creative leaders. Her background in design and higher education has given her the skills to achieve results and influence change. Stephanie has a track record of building a talented instructor network, an innovative and leading-edge curriculum, and cultivating relationships with national and global organizations to connect student outcomes to career opportunities and professional success. Stephanie is a strong advocate for creating awareness of creative communications education with untapped youth. She currently sits on the Atlanta Public Schools’ Career Technical Agricultural Education (CTAE) Advisory Board. She works closely with the Work-Based Learning Liaisons to provide resources, developmental programs, and opportunities for the design and industry adjacent education pathways. In 2019, AIGA Atlanta created the High School ED committee to support these initiatives.

Zikomo Langston, In-House Chair
inhouse@atlanta.aiga.org

Zikomo Langston, a true Atlien, discovered his passion for creativity while studying Marketing and Advertising at Grambling State University. During those formative college years, he honed his artistic talents in photography and videography, becoming the creative eye behind Iota Phi Theta’s, Epsilon Delta chapter. Embarking on a successful career with Allegis Group, Zikomo’s tenacity and talent led him to become a top recruiter, acknowledged with the Core Value award for Work Ethic. Later at Randstad Sourceright, he continued to thrive as the Lead Recruiting Strategy Consultant. While working corporate Zikomo fueled his creative spirit through freelance videography partnering with influential entities like the Gathering Spot, Slutty Vegan, and the Harvard Diversity Project, with some of his work gracing the pages of CNN. Today, his entrepreneurial vision shines with his start-up “More Content,” a platform empowering content creators to find creative opportunities and unlock their full potential to conquer the Atlanta market.

Crystal Petersen, Mentorship Co-chair
mentorship@atlanta.aiga.org

Crystal is a Senior Graphic Designer at Rhyme & Reason Design and a current resident of Midtown Atlanta. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Crystal has created design and lettering work across mediums and industries for clients including PlayStation, Pandora Music, CBRE, Sugarbear Sleep, HGTV, and Dylan’s Candy Bar. Crystal joined AIGA in college, and has since gone on to participate in the Rise Up! Mentorship program for 4-years running – once as a mentee, three times as a mentor, and twice as a Mentorship Committee member. She credits the program and her former mentor (hi, Sarah Lawrence!) as one of the most life-changing moments in her creative career. She even met her current employers for the first time during the program’s mid-year event. Crystal currently co-hosts the Atlanta chapter of Ladies, Wine & Design, where she finds joy in planning useful events that bring together creative women in the Atlanta area to connect, learn, and grow from each other. When not designing, Crystal can be found hanging with her dogs, adopting new houseplants/struggling to keep them alive, and collecting useless facts to prepare for her inevitable Jeopardy debut.

Scott Banks, Mentorship Co-chair
mentorship@atlanta.aiga.org

For more than 15 years, Scott Banks has been lending his expertise to companies of all sizes, helping them overcome their most challenging marketing issues. Scott’s creative solutions have won numerous awards and have included projects such as revamping Superman’s image, revitalizing an outdated Coca-Cola brand, and even planning a sleepover with Dracula. As a multi-talented creative, Scott brings a wealth of experience in strategy, branding, design, and typography to consumer brands and the entertainment industry. He is skilled in using Adobe Creative Suite, typeface design, interactive design, illustration, and copywriting. In addition to helping companies solve creative problems, he also serves as an adjunct instructor at the Miami Ad School and mentors young creatives. Scott’s favorite holiday is Halloween, during which he and a small team of creatives build a life-size haunted castle in his front yard for the enjoyment of neighborhood trick-or-treaters.

Kelli Stoudenmire, Programming Co-Chair
programming@atlanta.aiga.org

Kelli is a passionate design leader who values family, community and all things creative. This Georgia native transformed her lifelong love for art into a design career. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia, where she also mentors current design students. With over two decades of visual design experience, Kelli has delivered award-winning, eye-catching designs and strategic storytelling for multiple Atlanta based companies. Her expertise includes print and digital design, art direction, photography, video production and brand strategy. Kelli is currently a Global Communications Manager and Senior Graphic Designer at UPS. She’s been a member of AIGA for many years and most recently finished the AIGA Complete Design Leader Certificate, focusing on what it means to build an inclusive organization. In her spare time, she volunteers as the Event Coordinator and Photographer at the local high school. Kelli resides in Marietta with her husband, Travis and two children, Mackenzie and Kealan.

Iz Holcomb, Programming Co-Chair
programming@atlanta.aiga.org

Iz Holcomb is the Director of Design at Banyan Communications, a creative consultancy in Atlanta, GA that serves federal, state, and non-profit clients to exclusively create change for good. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles: from in-house design specialist, to agency art director, to branding studio designer, to UX strategist, to copywriter, to university design and coding professor (not necessarily in that order). She leads a double-digit and growing team of talented designers, art directors, and motion designers leading creative communications initiatives with clients such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Public Health Association. Iz holds a bachelor’s in Advertising and a master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication from Florida State University. By connecting with wonderful creatives through AIGA’s Tallahassee chapter, she discovered that using design to make positive change in the world was exactly what she wanted to spend her career doing. When her slack light is off, you can find her eating Jeni’s ice cream.

Sharmia Crawford, Membership Chair
membership@atlanta.aiga.org

Sharmia Crawford is a senior creative graphic designer in the Building Products industry. With several years of professional design experience, she has also held roles as a certified K-12 art teacher and design professor. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Integrated Design. Her research primarily centers around design education in K-12 settings, and she has had the privilege of leading studio classes with organizations like MODA. Throughout her career, she has maintained an enthusiastic advocacy for our profession.

Thomas (TJ) Williams, Partnerships Chair
partnerships@atlanta.aiga.org

TJ is a part-time employee and freelance graphic designer at Apparel by SMG, a design and production studio based in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design and a minor in marketing, he worked for Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore’s Office. He pioneered digital marketing campaigns for Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore, utilizing content creation and brand development to extend audience reach and strengthen ties between local government and their residents. Furthermore, this experience taught him the value of cultivating relationships and how they lead to impactful initiatives. He is the author of the children’s book “Good Mawnin!” and has worked with several reputable companies and influential figures, including Google, Lonnie Johnson, Paul Stewart, Terrell Owens, Georgia Power, the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, and the Georgia Municipal Association. He is currently living in Atlanta and is enthusiastic about learning and developing new approaches to improve the impact of design on society. He enjoys trying different restaurants, listening to music, boxing, basketball, and traveling in his spare time.

Katie Bryl, Co-President Emerita
presidentemeritus@atlanta.aiga.org

Katie Bryl is a creative professional – Senior Designer at Arketi Group by day, co-President of AIGA Atlanta by night. In her spare time, she runs her small business, Brylliant Design LLC. She loves the Atlanta design community, and has been an active member of AIGA since 2015. Prior to her term as co-President, she served the chapter in roles including Programming Chair and Vice President. When she’s not working, she can usually be found hitting the tennis courts or taking her dog Moose for a walk. Otherwise, she’s searching for new and exciting travel destinations in her hunt for the world’s best donut – the more sprinkles, the better. Katie has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Dio Jensen, Co-President Emerita
presidentemeritus@atlanta.aiga.org