Robert Bonner, Jr.
Benny Crane
Robert L. Dawson, III
I’m a proud resident of The City of South Fulton (Regency Oaks). I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama before relocating to the Cascade neighborhood of Atlanta and ultimately settling into Regency Oaks. In South Fulton, I strive to be a contributing citizen and true neighbor. My dedication to community service started during my upbringing in Birmingham where I discovered a passion for the civil rights movement and community development.
I am a consultant in Finance and Information Technology specializing in Governance, Cyber-security, Compliance and Risk Management. In addition to my corporate career, I am a managing director of my family’s fourth generation home construction business.
I earned my undergraduate degree at Sarah Lawrence College and received master’s degrees from Harvard University and Bennington College.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE
United States House of Representatives (Press Secretary)
New York City School Construction Authority (Consultant)
New York City Department of Health and Hygiene (Consultant)
New York State Department of Health (Consultant)
University of Alabama Birmingham (Consultant)
Lawson State Community College (Instructor, Mentor)
CORPORATE AND CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
Time, Inc. (Information Technology)
VeriFone (Financial Transactions – Taxi Services)
CSC Healthcare (Emergency Medical Response)
Xerox (Medicaid)
Verisk Analytics (Reinsurance - Bonds)
BCD Travel (Governance, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Fraud Management)
SELECTED EDUCATION AND COURSEWORK
Finance and Accounting
Project Finance
Managing Negotiations
Real Estate Finance and Investment Fundamentals
Strategic Management
Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness
LEADERSHIP
I got my start in community leadership as Chairman of Youth for Mothers Against Violence. I fought on the front lines against gun violence, raised funds to take local youth to political functions and conventions, and was an active participant at the Million Man March.
As a professional writer and M.F.A, I have published numerous articles on crime and justice, overcoming violence in the community and improving the education system.
While in graduate school at Harvard University, I was active as a volunteer, mentor and contributor to Boston Cares Corporate, Boston Citizen School, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Boston, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Jimmy Fund Walk and Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts.
I wrote one of the first United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Hope 6 grants in the southeast and successfully secured $100,000 in funding for public housing tenant training and a community garden that remains in the community today. I have written numerous other grants including $225,000 from the State of Alabama and $50,000 in grant funds from CVS. I taught English and Mathematics to entering freshmen and nursing candidates at Lawson State Community College.
GIVING BACK
When a devastating series of tornadoes struck Alabama in 2010, I returned to Birmingham and worked with the county government to respond, organize and clean up my hometown.
I’m a dedicated supporter of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities where I have done projects at Morehouse College, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Tuskegee University, Morris Brown College and others.
More than anything, I love South Fulton! Give me a call! I’m open to discuss our city any day and we need your help!
Respectfully
Robert L. Dawson III
[email protected]
770-276-9421
William "Bill" Edwards
Ronnie Few
Gwendolyn Rainey Gillespie
Rafer S. Johnson
Rafer Johnson is an active South Fulton resident for 15+years and has never wavered on his position to vote YES on the City of South Fulton. He has both led and been a member of organizations to bring our inaugural city to its new beginning. He is a visionary leader who continuously works to make a difference and he lives to inspire others for only one result - the courage to be the best at what they are called to do.
Rafer is an energetic visionary, ethical candidate and widely respected leader. He will work to realize the unlimited possibilities of all our assets, and he will respect the core of why we became a city.
As he enters his 50th year, his credentials include but are not limited to: a successful business career in the healthcare, transportation, safety, and hospitality industries for 30+ years. As a networker and a bridge-builder, he has connected alliances for real progress. He has effectively started 3 enterprise-wide projects similar to what is required in our new city’s success. One of these created a new industry level for service that reduced complaints and produced revenue. This kind of experience will be a core approach to his leadership as an inaugural Mayor. These are valuable assets for building a blueprint of our new city encompassing policy, development, and service to our City of South Fulton residents and businesses. He is an active member of Cliftondale Church and heavily involved in the Social Justice Ministry. A summary of career and community experience is noted below.
Corporate Success.
• Over time he has managed multi-million budgets and assets of over $1.5 billion in revenues. This is essential expertise that City of South Fulton citizens can count on to benefit our new city.
• Former elected peer leader for 22,000 co-workers.
• His policy, procedure, and process work has improved services for people and customers lasting 10+ years.
Public Spirit and Civic Service.
• Chair of Fulton County’s Housing Authority for Hurricane Katrina where he led the development of the master plan of these displaced families while keeping the balance and fairness in housing needs for the on-going needs of Fulton County citizens.
• Graduate of Leadership Atlanta (Class of 2009)
Community Leadership and Policy Champion.
• Member, Social Justice Ministry – Cliftondale Church (Current)
• Chair, South Fulton NOW.
• Member, Go South Fulton
• President, Parkside HOA
• Chair, Camp Creek Middle School Governance Board
• Member, Atlanta Beltline TADAC
• President, Delta Black Employee Network
• Founder, Delta’s global mentoring program, RISE (Realizing Individual Standards of Excellence)
Man of Distinction.
• Guest Contributor on Atlanta’s PBS In-Contact
• Panelist, U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young’s Annual Morehouse College Conference.
• Honoree, Atlanta Tribune Men of Distinction (2015)
• Featured in Black Enterprise's Money Section
Travis Townsend, Jr.
Travis is a Business Leader, Visionary, Public Servant, and Non-Profit Founder. Townsend is a Michigan native, and graduate of University of Michigan Ann Arbor where he received both a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree and his Juris Doctor.
Small business owner and entrepreneur Townsend is a Founding Partner of Townsend & Lockett, LLC a firm specializing in business law, corporate securities and transactional practices. Townsend has extensive experience in the legal field previously working as a Senior Associate in Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLC’s corporate transactional group, at Morris, Manning, & Martin, LLP actively serving on their Diversity Committee and Legal Opinion Committee and with Alston & Bird, LLP in its corporate practice group.
Inspired by his work as an attorney, Townsend extends his expertise and service throughout the Greater Atlanta area as the Director of Economic Development of the National Black MBA Association Atlanta Chapter, a member of 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta, and through his work as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, Townsend has served through numerous leadership positions within the National Urban League Young Professionals and Big Brother Big Sisters of Atlanta. Travis has also provided pro bono legal representation for the Georgia Innocence Project working to free wrongfully prosecuted individuals.
Passionate about education, Townsend is the founder and Executive Director of non-profit organization, MAFDET aimed at bringing STEM education, cultural exposure and crime prevention education to young people. He is also the co-author of the book series “When The Cops Come Knockin” developed to educate audiences of all generations with the knowledge needed to navigate the legal process and raise awareness around laws that have the greatest impact on African American communities.
