North Fulton Chamber Leader Heading to The Clean Air Campaign

The Clean Air Campaign recently announced that it has selected Tedra Cheatham as its executive director, leading the organization’s efforts for less traffic and cleaner air that reach thousands of employers, commuters and schools across Georgia.

Cheatham, a certified economic developer, serves as chief operating officer for the . During her eight-year tenure with the Chamber as COO and, previously, vice president of economic development, Cheatham advanced initiatives to enhance economic growth and quality in the area.

“Tedra’s experience as a leader, a convener and a conduit for advancing positive growth will be instrumental as The Clean Air Campaign works to accomplish its mission,” said Renay Blumenthal, chairman, board of directors, The Clean Air Campaign.

The chamber's CEO and president, Brandon Beach said it's a fantastic opportunity for Cheatham and for metro Atlanta.

"The North Fulton area has greatly benefited from her professionalism and her tireless work in the field of economic development. We are sorry to see her go but excited about her new opportunity as executive director with The Clean Air Campaign. Tedra can do for the entire Atlanta region and state what she has done for North Fulton," Beach said.

Cheatham said she thinks it's a great opportunity to combine her experience in government relations and economic development to work with area employers and Clean Air partners.

"For one thing, with my work at the chamber of commerce and economic development, it's allowed me to have great conversations with employers about what they are looking for and what their employees are looking for," she said.

The Clean Air Campaign programs–such as setting up commuter programs–go straight to the bottom line of employers and employees, Cheatham said.

"It's a business issue as well as a sustainability issue, as well as an environmental issue," she said.

The North Fulton Chamber has been a partner with The Clean Air Campaign for several years, which allowed her to work with them and employers on these commuting issues to get people from where they live to the employment centers.

That falls into quality of life issues, as well as feeding into emissions and transportation congestion issues, she said.

Those successes she's helped reach in North Fulton will expand over the entire region and the state, she said.

"We have an opportunity to change some of the patterns and the way we do business that really doesn't cost anybody...is appealing right now. The Clean Air Campaign allows me to be at the forefront of that," Cheatham said.

She'll have to commute to her job for a short while, but Cheatham and her husband already had plans to move and that will eliminate long drives for her. Of course she has telecommuting options, she said.

Her first day with The Clean Air Campaign will be Oct. 10.