Speakers

Davidson Hepburn is a wealth advisor and vice president in Bernstein Private Wealth‘s Atlanta office. Over his 15 years in the wealth management industry, Davidson has worked primarily with high-net-worth households, nonprofit organizations, and defined benefit and contribution plan sponsors. As a Certified Financial Planner, Davidson advises his clients holistically, incorporating personal preferences and perspectives with current research on planning, investing, family engagement, and wealth transfer strategies.

Davidson earned his BA in mathematics from Morehouse College in Atlanta and his MA degree in international development policy and planning from New York University. Davidson is engaged in the Atlanta nonprofit sector as a board member and volunteer at the Frazer Center. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife and two children and enjoys reading, practicing martial arts, and exploring new restaurants with his family.

Patrick Bryant has served as the City Manager of Avondale Estates since 2018. Previously, he served as city manager for Talladega, Alabama, and he worked for the city of Santa Clarita, California. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Most recently, Patrick has overseen the “complete streets” project as well as major infrastructure improvements for Avondale Estates.

Larry H. Padilla is a nationally recognized real estate and housing leader with more than 37 years of experience advancing affordable, workforce, and mixed-income housing across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Over his career, he has helped deliver more than 7,000 housing units and led over $4 billion in development, investment, and construction projects. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Decatur Housing, where he leads efforts to expand high-quality housing opportunities while strengthening communities through innovative development and housing programs. Mr. Padilla’s career spans the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, including service with major housing authorities, financial institutions, and as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Leslie Thomas serves as assistant manager of government and community outreach at the Georgia Ports Authority. In this role, she builds and strengthens relationships with community and government partners, showcasing the GPA’s vital role in driving economic growth while improving quality of life for Georgians. She is a proud Savannah native with a lifelong passion for youth development, public health, and community engagement, and she holds a bachelor’s degree from Fort Valley State University and a master’s degree from Georgia Southern University.

Leslie career in public service began at Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension, where she served as a 4-H program coordinator supporting youth in Peach and Houston counties through programs focused on healthy living, agriculture, and civic leadership. Then, as the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in Savannah, she led the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. In that role she delivered hands-on nutrition, wellness, and life-skills education designed to improve food access, healthy behaviors, and workforce readiness in underserved communities.