Aerotropolis & Southside Update

As Project Director at McCarthy Building Companies, Justis Brogan has spent the majority of his 15-year construction career working on large, complex projects in urban settings. Prior to 2016, Justis completed over $330 million worth of construction work with clients such as Emory University Hospital, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia State University. He is currently working on the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Central Passenger Terminal Complex Landside Modernization project. Justis serves as the onsite team lead on this $266 million job, which notably includes the construction of canopies over the North and South Terminal roadways at the world’s busiest and most efficient airport. Justis, a mechanical engineering graduate from Georgia Institute of Technology, is LEED AP BD+C certified and lives with his wife and two kids in Marietta where he is an active member of First Presbyterian Church.

Robert Herrig is the senior project manager of the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, a public-private initiative dedicated to bringing new jobs and capital investment to the areas around the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. He previously worked for Atlanta Regional Commission’s Community Development group. Robert is a founding executive board member of the Climate Reality Project Atlanta Chapter and a board member of the Georgia Planning Association. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and received his MPP from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Robert is a native of Atlanta and resides in Gresham Park.

Michael Hightower is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Collaborative Firm, LLC which provides urban planning, architectural support, program management and development services to governmental entities, private sector clients and nonprofits. Founded in 2001, The Collaborative Firm provides a wealth of experience in public policy, with an emphasis on planning, economic development and local governance issues. The Firm’s value is particularly evident through his proven track record of forging public-private partnerships in different communities throughout metropolitan Atlanta. Prior to establishing The Collaborative Firm, Michael served for more than fourteen years as Fulton County Commissioner. Additionally, he served more than seven years on the College Park City Council. During much of his tenure on the Board of Commissioners, Michael served as Vice-Chairman, and was a member of several boards and committees. He also served as President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), which includes over 3,000 counties nationwide, and focused on welfare reform, affordable housing and sustainable communities. In 2003, Michael through The Collaborative Firm, established South Metro Development Outlook, an annual forum for the purpose of convening planning, development, finance, real estate and local government professionals with an interest in fostering smart growth in the south metro area, including Clayton, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Henry, Spalding, and South Fulton Counties, as well as the City of Atlanta. Since its inception, the forum has attracted over 600 attendees annually. Some of Michael’s current affiliations include the Aerotroplois Alliance, Urban Land Institute, Airport Area, Clayton County, Douglas County and South Fulton Chambers of Commerce. Just a few of his past affiliations include his service as a member of the Woodruff Arts Center Board, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Policy Committee, Americans for the Arts, 100 Black Men and the Atlanta Urban League Board. He has served as the Chair of the Fulton County Retirement Board, as well as Chairman of the South Fulton Community Resource Alliance, Inc. Michael has received nearly 300 awards and recognitions from entities such as The White House, National Association of Counties, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Ebony Magazine, the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia State University, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and numerous churches, colleges, schools and organizations. Michael graduated from Clark Atlanta University with honors and completed additional management studies at Georgia State University. He and his wife Sandra have one daughter, Evie and live in southwest Atlanta.