Leadership Southeast Georgia (LSEGA), the region’s premier leadership development program, proudly announces its newly appointed board members and executive committee for the coming term. These distinguished professionals bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to advancing leadership, collaboration and regional progress to improve the quality of life in Southeast Georgia.

The LSEGA Board of Directors welcomes five new members whose backgrounds span public service, economic development and community engagement:

Kristin Fulford serves as deputy state director for U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. With more than two decades in public service, including prior roles with U.S. Rep. John Barrow and the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office, Fulford brings invaluable insight into governmental affairs and outreach. She is a 2022 graduate of LSEGA.

Kate Pontello Karwacki is a licensed real estate broker and owner of Seaboard Real Estate Inc., a full-service firm in historic downtown Darien. With 20 years of experience in coastal properties, Karwacki also serves on the McIntosh County Board of Commissioners, where she champions community development and strategic growth. Karwacki is dedicated to shaping a vibrant future for coastal Georgia, where she is raising her two children. She is a 2021 graduate of LSEGA.

Zerik Samples is chief executive officer of Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity, where he leads efforts to build homes, community and hope. A Brunswick native, he serves on the Habitat for Humanity U.S. Council and is a participant in the Leadership Georgia class of 2025. He is an active member in the Savannah Rotary Club, the Savannah Jaycees, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and the Savannah Area Chamber. Samples holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus. He is a 2023 graduate of LSEGA.

Ryan Sewell is an insurance executive with more than 14 years in the commercial, hospitality and nonprofit sectors. A native of Savannah, Sewell is an alumnus of Leadership Savannah and is active in numerous community organizations, including United Way of the Coastal Empire, Educate Chatham Foundation, Savannah Downtown Business Association, Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia Government Affairs Committee, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and the Coastal Heritage Society. He is a 2019 graduate of LSEGA. 

Sam Tostensen serves as the Director of Golden Isles for the Tourism Leadership Council, where he leads regional advocacy, policy coordination, and industry engagement for one of Georgia’s premier tourism destinations. He also serves as Vice President of Government Affairs and Business Development for Butler Avenue Partners, a strategic advisory firm supporting clients across the Southeast. He is a 2022 graduate of LSEGA. 

The new executive committee represents a dynamic cross-section of leaders from across the region:

Chair, Stephanie Dammen-Morrell, is a principal and the director of marketing and business development at Hussey Gay Bell. She leads the firm’s strategic branding initiatives and client development across the Southeast. A graduate of Leadership Savannah, Leadership Southeast Georgia and Leadership Georgia, Dammen-Morrell brings a strategic regional perspective to her role. She is a 2018 graduate of LSEGA. 

Vice Chair, Leia Dedic, is the chief impact officer at United Way of the Coastal Empire, where she oversees strategic community initiatives that address economic development and quality of life. Dedic is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of success in both the nonprofit and public sectors. She is a 2019 graduate of LSEGA.

Secretary, Marcus Sack, is president and CEO of M.E. Sack Engineering, managing infrastructure development for several Southeast Georgia municipalities. Sack is a two-time recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow award and a community leader in Liberty County, where he is passionate about fostering sustainable growth across the region. He is a 2013 graduate of LSEGA. 

Treasurer, Jessica Hood, is the vice president of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority. A certified economic developer, she has led business recruitment and retention efforts throughout coastal Georgia. Hood is an alumna of multiple regional leadership programs and she is a 2013 graduate of LSEGA. 

Immediate Past Chair, Kendria Lee, is the associate vice president for external affairs at Georgia Southern University, where she has played a pivotal role in fostering institutional partnerships and community engagement. She earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Georgia Southern University and remains a key voice for educational and regional collaboration. She is a 2013 graduate of LSEGA.

LSEGA’s newest leaders exemplify the program’s mission to cultivate informed, connected and visionary leadership. Their combined expertise will help advance the organization’s goals of fostering regional cooperation and developing solutions to the challenges facing Southeast Georgia. They join an engaged and committed Board of Directors whose continued service strengthens LSEGA’s impact across the region.