Dr. Bambie Hayes-Brown (Ex-officio)

President and Chief Executive Officer, Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc.

Dr. Bambie is the President and CEO of Atlanta-based Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc., a statewide membership organization of over 100 affordable housing and community development agencies. Dr. Bambie holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management, a Masters of Business Administration, a Doctor of Theology, a PhD in Biblical Studies, a Certificate in Nonprofit Management, and is a graduate of the Center for Civic Innovation’s Fellowship Program and the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute. She is currently pursuing a post graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of South Florida. She has 25 years’ experience in rural and urban housing, community and economic development.

Previously, Dr. Bambie secured a rural Empowerment Zone designation resulting in a $20 million investment in Southwest Georgia, managed all of DeKalb County Housing Authority’s special housing programs including Family Self-Sufficiency, HUD-VASH, Housing Choice Voucher to Homeownership, HUD Housing Counseling, Disaster Housing, and Homeowner Rehab Programs, and the redevelopment of the former Johnson Ferry East to Ashford Parkside/Landing Residences. As Executive Director of a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, Dr. Bambie was responsible for doubling the service area and programs in to neighboring counties.

Dr. Bambie is a registered lobbyist, Georgia licensed Real Estate Broker, Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, co-chairs the HouseATL Policy Committee, and is Secretary of the Atlanta Housing Commission. Also, Dr. Bambie serves on several Boards: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, Up for Growth Action, NAACP DeKalb County Branch, Fitzgerald for Change Community Outreach, Inc, and the ATL Airport Chamber of Commerce and Advisory Councils: Southwest Georgia Regional Commission Housing Task Force, Candence Bank Community Advisory Board, Housing Justice League Advisory Council, Enterprise Community Partners Southeast Advisory Board, Empire Board of Realtists Legislative Committee, Clayton County Board of Education District 7 Advisory Council, Georgia Chamber of Commerce Rural Advisory Council, DeKalb County Faith-Based Housing Initiative, Georgia Healthy Housing Coalition and leads the Georgia Healthy Housing Equity Working Group.

Formally homeless and a former public housing resident, Dr. Bambie is a highly sought-after speaker who has testified before the United States Congress, Federal Reserve Bank, and the Georgia General Assembly on lived experience homelessness and affordable housing. Dr. Bambie Hayes-Brown is a native of Cordele, Georgia and enjoys splitting her time between South Georgia and Metro Atlanta.

Bambie Hayes Brown