Experienced nonprofit professional to lead Atlanta Press Club
Julia Boyd, a native Atlantan with more than 12 years of experience in nonprofit management, will become the Atlanta Press Club’s new executive director June 6. Boyd comes to APC from the Atlanta-based Professional Photographers of America (PPA), where she served as director of certification for the 30,000-member nonprofit.
APC’s volunteer board of directors voted unanimously to offer Boyd position of executive director at its April board meeting, following a three-month search.
“The Atlanta Press Club’s legacy of elevating awareness of the importance of a free press can’t be understated,” said Boyd. “I’m honored to continue forwarding the club’s mission of upholding the highest standards in journalism and fostering an inclusive community for all those in the media. As a passionate advocate for free press and education, I couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter in my career.”
In her previous director role at PPA, Boyd managed a budget of more than $200,000, oversaw a network of volunteers and professionals and implemented strategic partnerships that grew membership and revenue.
“The Atlanta Press Club has a long history of strong executive leadership,” said board chair Ken Foskett. “Julia Boyd brings exactly the right combination of experience, passion and strategic vision to grow the club’s membership and public-interest programming.”
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Boyd is a member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She earned her Certified Association Executive credential from ASAE in 2016.
She has served on the GSAE board of directors, is a graduate of the 2015-2016 Leadership Academy, and was awarded the Sharon Hunt Emerging Leader Award in 2017. Currently, she serves as chair elect for the GSAE Foundation.
“As Atlanta’s journalism landscape continues to evolve, I’m looking forward to working with Julia to build out a strategic plan that will ensure our organization is inclusive of all the reporters who live and work here,” said APC executive committee member Jewel Wicker, who co-chaired the search committee.
Club treasurer Keith Pepper, who co-chaired the search committee, praised Boyd’s energy and experience.
“With such a bright spotlight on our city and state, Julia recognized the opportunity we have to help advance our mission of advocating for a robust free press and more informed public,” Pepper said.
Beginning June 6, Boyd can be reached at julia@atlpressclub.org
About the Atlanta Press Club: Established in 1964, the Atlanta Press Club has become one of the largest and most active professional journalism associations in the country. More than half of members are working journalists. Other members include public relations and communications professionals, nonprofit executives, journalism teachers and journalism students. The Atlanta Press Club hosts televised political debates through the Loudermilk-Young Debate Series during election years, and the Newsmaker Luncheon Series featuring people in the news. The club’s mission also includes providing career opportunities to young journalists, and annually places interns in Georgia newsrooms.