Left to right: Clyde C. Tuggle, newly elected Chair of the Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators; Riley Blount, BJ Green, and T. Dallas Smith, newly elected members of the Board of Curators.
Atlanta, GA, July 1, 2026 – The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is pleased to announce the election of three distinguished leaders to its Board of Curators: Riley Blount, BJ Green, and T. Dallas Smith. Elected at the Society’s 187th Annual Meeting, held at the Georgia Historical Society headquarters in Savannah on June 11, these newly elected members bring exceptional experience and leadership to Georgia’s premier historical institution, further strengthening GHS’s capacity to advance its teaching and research mission.
The meeting was led by Clyde C. Tuggle, Co-Founder and Founding Partner of Pine Island Capital Partners and former Senior Vice President and Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. Tuggle now begins his tenure as Board Chair, succeeding David P. Abney, former CEO and Executive Chairman of UPS.
“The success of any nonprofit is tied directly to the leadership and influence of its board,” said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. “The Georgia Historical Society is indeed fortunate to have elected a new chair and board members with just the right combination of experience and vision to ensure our continued growth as one of the the leading public history institutions in the nation.”
Riley Blount is the President of AT&T Georgia and leads the company’s public policy, philanthropic, and community engagement initiatives across the state. Under her leadership, AT&T has expanded broadband and 5G access throughout Georgia while advancing digital inclusion efforts that support education, workforce development, and access to critical resources. Blount also serves on several civic and business boards, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and has been recognized as one of Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University.
BJ Green has more than 30 years of experience in corporate and commercial banking and serves as Atlanta Group President at SouthState Bank, overseeing commercial, community, and private banking operations across the region. Prior to joining SouthState, he held leadership positions at Cadence Bank, Truist, and Bank of America. In addition to his banking leadership, Green is active in organizations throughout Atlanta, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Woodruff Arts Center. He earned an MBA from Emory University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina.
T. Dallas Smith is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of T. Dallas Smith & Company and is widely recognized as a pioneering leader in commercial real estate. After becoming the first African-American broker at Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia in 1989, he went on to found his own firm in 2006, building one of the nation’s most respected commercial real estate companies. Smith also serves on numerous boards and commissions across Georgia, including the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and Georgia Power.
Former Board member Kessel D. Stelling, Jr., was re-elected to the Board of Curators and will serve as Vice-Chair.
Officers of the Board include Clyde C. Tuggle, Chair; Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO; Kessel D. Stelling, Jr., Vice-Chair; Reed Dulany III, Secretary; and Larry D. Thompson, Treasurer.
The newly elected Board members join fellow Curators Frank S. Blake (ex-officio), James H. Blanchard (ex-officio), Stephanie V. Blank, Ellen B. Bolch (ex-officio), Mark Burns, Dan T. Cathy, Mary Beth Coke, Ted Decker, Kimberly S. Greene, Venessa Harrison, Jeff Kole, Robert M. Levy, Dr. William T. Moore (ex-officio), Sam Nunn (honorary), Beatriz R. Perez, H. Jerome Russell, Jr., Rosa Tarbutton Sumter, and Carol B. Tomé.
Chairmen Emeriti include David P. Abney, Shan Cooper, Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso, Jr., Kay T. Hightower, Thomas M. Holder, Robert S. Jepson, Jr., Bill Jones III, Donald Kole, Gracie Greer Phillips, and Lisa L. White.
For additional details about the Georgia Historical Society, please contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153 or by email at kstrigaro@georgiahistory.com.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation. To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.
As part of Georgia’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, GHS offers additional programs, resources, and publications exploring Georgia’s role in the founding of the nation. Start exploring at georgiahistory.com/america250.