Our Organization

Tony Powers was elected to the Decatur City Commission in 2015, capping decades of service to the community leading a variety of initiatives and boards addressing education, growth, and environmental conservation — experiences he now shares with us as chair of the Legacy Decatur board. A native of Decatur who grew up in Oakhurst, he now resides in the Great Lakes neighborhood with his wife Leisa. They have two daughters.

With experience in senior living and affordable housing financing and a history of involvement with high-impact economic development projects, attorney and board vice chair Laurie Schwartz helps guide the Legacy Decatur board through the implementation of Legacy Park’s master plan, however complicated those efforts might be. A 7-year Decatur resident, you’ll frequently find her running and riding her bike around the city, especially at Legacy Park.

Peggy Merriss retired from the City of Decatur after 35+ years of service, including 25 years as the City Manager. She counts the acquisition of the Legacy Park property from the United Methodist Children’s Home as a highlight of her career and proudly serves on the Decatur Legacy Board to provide the leadership, vision, management, and financial skills to assure the property’s future success. A resident for over 30 years, first on Sycamore Drive and now in Downtown Decatur, she enjoys traveling, the arts, and solving puzzles of all types.

Decatur’s City Manager since 2019 and a city employee since 1997, Andrea Arnold helps guide Legacy Decatur’s organizational development with her extensive experience in local government and non-profit boards, including her current tenure with Leadership DeKalb. An avid runner, she lives in Decatur’s Clairemont/Great Lakes neighborhood with her husband, David, and their three children.

Mark Arnold is an active community member with over 20 years of civic service to City Schools of Decatur, Decatur-Dekalb YMCA, Decatur Book Festival, MLK Service project, and mentorship programs.  His commitment — together with his professional experiences in finance, strategic planning, project management, and public-private partnerships — now adds value to the Legacy Decatur board. He has lived in the Glennwood  neighborhood since 2000 with his wife, Roz, and daughters, Sage and MJ.

An attorney with four decades worth of experience in business and legal counsel, Ed Bowen provides Legacy Decatur with particular expertise in affordable housing, real estate finance, and related partnerships. A fourth generation Atlantan with an impressive personal legacy of extensive civic contributions, he lives in Decatur’s Winnona Park neighborhood.

Mark Ethun is an architect and historic preservation expert with over 20 years of project experience. He has served as a member of the Historic Preservation Commission and as the city’s Building Official, where his staff support of the Legacy Park Master Plan and the Affordable Housing Task Force provided valuable insights he now brings to the Legacy board. A resident of the Great Lakes neighborhood, he’s currently trying to visit all 65 Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites with his wife, Kelly, and daughter, Ellison.

Patti Garrett has served Decatur as a City Commissioner since 2010 and as the city’s Mayor since 2014. She further serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of the National Civic League and is a member of the Federal Policy Council, the Environmental and Natural Resources Committee, and serves as District 3 East VP of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). As part of various committees, she addresses housing issues with the ARC, inclusivity issues with Welcoming America, and refugee challenges with New American Pathways. She lives in the Winnona Park neighborhood with her husband, Gary.

Allen Mast is an attorney and private foundation expert with over 20 years of management and grant-making experience. Working exclusively with foundations, he provides Legacy Decatur with career expertise in management, administration, governance, compliance, grant-making, strategic planning, and board development. Possessing a long history of participation with foundation and charitable organization boards, he’s a resident of the Oakhurst neighborhood.

A resident of 25 years, Paul Mitchell knows the ins and out of non-profits well. He chaired the MLK Jr. Service Project for more than 10 years and currently serves on the ToolBank USA National Board. During the high school and college summers of his youth, he headed the maintenance department of a 200 acre, 40 building summer camp in Massachusetts. Now retired, he provides Legacy Decatur with the wisdom of his lengthy career in accounting and information technology. He lives in the West Ponce de Leon neighborhood.

Brian Smith maintains a lengthy resume of community contributions, including previous leadership roles with the Decatur City Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Decatur Business Association, the Winnona Park Neighborhood Association, and Safe Routes to Schools. Coupled with his professional experience in finance, he brings the Legacy board a unique understanding of civic commitment rooted in practical expertise. He currently lives in Oakhurst with his wife, Missie, and two children, Madsen and Colby.

Madeleine Henner joined Legacy Director in April, 2021, ultimately serving as our Director of Programs. In July, 2023 she succeeded founding director, Lyn Menne, as our Executive Director. She is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina.

Dymond Generette completes Legacy Decatur’s admin team, bringing an expertise in stakeholder relations, business development, and program development to her role as Legacy Decatur’s Programs Manager. She’s a graduate of NC State.