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GHS’s Laura Garcia-Culler Named to Leadership Georgia

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Savannah, GA, October 21, 2008.  Georgia Historical Society Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Laura García-Culler has been named to the Leadership Georgia class of 2009.  The appointment was announced by W. Todd Groce, president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Historical Society.

“The Georgia Historical Society is pleased and proud to have Laura selected to participate in Leadership Georgia,” said Dr. Groce in making the announcement.  “Leadership Georgia is one of the nation’s oldest, most successful state-level training programs for young business and civic leaders.  Laura’s selection is both a much-deserved personal and professional honor for her and a testament to the Georgia Historical Society’s expanding statewide impact.”

Affiliated with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and founded in 1971 by a group of business leaders that included Savannah resident Jim Lientz Sr., the purpose of Leadership Georgia is to identify, train and inspire a network of emerging young leaders between 25 and 45 years of age.  Ms. García-Culler is one of the two Savannahians named to the program for 2009,

Each year Leadership Georgia selects 60 participants from hundreds of applicants to become fully versed in the social, economic, educational, and governmental needs of the state.  Its more than 3,000 alumni include leaders in business, not-for-profit organizations, and elected officials including U.S. Senators, U.S. Congressmen, State Legislators, and a Georgia Secretary of State.  Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, a member of the organization’s first class (and an honorary member of the Georgia Historical Society’s board), was said to have been inspired to run for the senate soon after attending his first Leadership Georgia program.

Ms. García-Culler is a graduate of the University of Virginia and has more than 15 years of local, state, and national non-profit management experience.  She joined the Georgia Historical Society in 2003 after serving as deputy director of the Savannah Music Festival.  She has also served as deputy director for operations of a national nonprofit on Capitol Hill and as an English professor in Spain.

As GHS executive VP, Ms. García-Culler is responsible for administering the organization’s $2 million budget and directing and coordinating all GHS operations, including HR, finance, fund raising, and the delivery of GHS services and programs.  She has played a major role in guiding the organization’s growth during the past five years.