Now Under Phase 1 Construction • A public botanical garden in development and not yet open to the community. Join us soon. •
OUR WEBSITE IS STILL GROWING. 🌿 UPDATES ARE BEING PLANTED. 🌿
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CONSERVANCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Roderick Gay Botanical Garden & Conservancy is guided by a diverse Board of Directors composed of leaders in law, education, planning, community development, environmental stewardship, and public service. Their collective expertise helps advance the Conservancy's mission to create a world-class botanical garden, promote environmental education, support economic development, and enhance quality of life for residents and visitors throughout the City of College Park, Fulton County, and the greater Atlanta region.
This Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, governance oversight, and community advocacy to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the Conservancy and its transformative vision.
Louis Emerson Bridges III
Attorney
Louis Bridges grew up in Atlanta.
Louis Bridges has worked as an attorney primarily in the areas of commercial and investment real estate, business, and banking for nearly 40 years and has operated a private law practice for more than 20 years.
Louis Bridges served as a Scoutmaster for over 17 years and enjoys hiking, fishing, and camping. Louis Bridges has also served as an elder at a local church and has taught Sunday school for more than 30 years.
His office is located in the Sandy Springs/North Atlanta area.
Charles Edwin German, Jr.
Charles Edwin German, Jr. is a retired educator and military veteran with over thirty years of experience in leadership and youth development. After serving with distinction in the U.S. Marine Corps and as a Gulf War Armor Officer, he spent decades with Atlanta Public Schools as a Special Education Teacher and Support Specialist.
Beyond his academic work, he has mentored students as a varsity coach and chess instructor. Charles is now dedicated to public service and conservation, utilizing his extensive background in mission-driven management to support the Roderick Gay Botanical Garden & Conservancy’s goals of outdoor recreation, lifelong education, and bringing the community together.
Harold Buckley, Jr., AICP
Attorney
Harold Buckley, Jr. is a distinguished legal professional specializing in land use, zoning, and economic development with a career spanning over twenty years in Georgia. His legal expertise encompasses state and local legislation, environmental reviews, zoning permits, and code enforcement for a diverse range of public and private clients.
Buckley is highly credentialed, having earned a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University, a Master of City Planning from Georgia Tech, and an architecture degree from Tuskegee University. His storied career includes time as the Principal Urban Planner for Atlanta and a tenure at Alston & Bird LLP.
As a recognized expert, he has been honored as a Super Lawyer and named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for Land Use and Zoning Law in 2016. Today, he continues to shape the future of urban design by teaching city planning law at the graduate level at Georgia Tech.
Frank Madrigal
Citizen Liaison
Frank Madrigal functions as the Citizen Liaison for the Roderick Gay Botanical Garden & Conservancy, fostering vital links between the Conservancy, the City of College Park, Fulton County, and local residents.
Since moving to the City of College Park in 2014, Frank has utilized his deep leadership background in the hospitality sector, aviation management, and public service.
An alumnus in Business Administration, he is also a certified Agricultural and Livestock Technician, offering fluency in both Spanish and English.
Driven by a lifelong affinity for botany, Frank actively participates in the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gibbs Gardens, and the Camellia Society. His dedication to nature and civic involvement helps guide the garden’s goals of environmental protection, learning, and public unity.
