Two years after its launch, ULI Savannah has announced its FY2027 leadership team, according to a community announcement.
The satellite of the Urban Land Institute is addressing rapid growth, infrastructure demands and climate change in Savannah and Coastal Georgia, the organization said.
The new leadership team will focus on increasing programming, expanding local membership and engaging the next generation of industry leaders through the its Young Leaders Group.
ULI announces new leadership team
Laura Ballock, PLA and senior landscape architect at Kimley-Horn, is leading the team as chair. Clara Fishel, CCIM and principal of commercial real estate brokerage Level CRE, is supporting her as vice chair. Brian Clouser, project engineer at Kimley-Horn, is serving as finance chair.
Other members of the leadership team are Pat Shay of GM-Shay Architects, Laura Lane McKinnon of East Savannah United, Ashleigh L. Womack of Stage Front, Knox Theus of Pape-Dawson Engineers, LLC, Zoe Rinker of Level CRE, Grace Wooten of Pape-Dawson Engineers, LLC, Courtney Grunninger Bonney of Rhowe Design + Build, Meredith Stone of Vantosh Commercial Group Seabolt Real Estate, Madison Moitoso of Kimley-Horn, James Collins of Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co., Anita Smith-Dixon of Community Housing Services Agency Inc. and Jake Von Trapp of Columbia Ventures.
“ULI Savannah brings together leaders from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to learn from one another, build meaningful partnerships, and advance ideas that strengthen our communities,” Ballock said. “I'm excited about the opportunity to grow ULI's presence in Coastal Georgia and foster the relationships and conversations that help turn vision into action.”
Accomplishments so far
Since ULI Savannah was established in September 2024, the satellite has introduced an evolving calendar of events that connects local members through networking and educational gatherings. ULI Savannah has also brought ULI’s Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) program to the region, convening ULI members to provide objective, actionable recommendations to local governments and community partners. In May 2025, ULI Savannah hosted its first TAP with the City of Tybee Island to evaluate Memorial Park. In April 2026, the satellite conducted a second TAP with the City of Savannah exploring redevelopment opportunities for the Savannah Mall and surrounding corridor.
ULI Savannah is part of the broader ULI nonprofit organization, connecting local members to the largest global network of real estate and land use experts. Through that network, members have access to research, education, leadership development and peer exchange. For Coastal Georgia, this multidisciplinary perspective is particularly valuable as the region navigates a surge in the technology and manufacturing sectors, environmental vulnerabilities and a range of housing challenges.
"Laura has been a generous and steady presence in ULI Savannah’s formation, and she brings exactly the kind of collaborative instinct ULI Savannah needs at this point in its growth," said Daphne Bond-Godfrey, executive director of ULI Atlanta, which covers the entire state of Georgia. "Coastal Georgia is one of the most dynamic markets in the Southeast right now, and the questions its leaders are working through, such as housing, infrastructure, growth that holds up over time, are exactly the questions ULI exists to help communities answer. This team gives us real strength on the ground, and I'm excited for what they'll build."
To learn more about ULI Savannah and get involved in the satellite, visit atlanta.uli.org/about/uli-savannah-satellite/.
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This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Meet the new leaders steering ULI Savannah’s next chapter
