Samantha joined the GPGA staff as Executive Director in February of 2017, following her passion of supporting farmers and being an advocate for agriculture. Prior to GPGA, Samantha worked for Case IH Agriculture for 5 years, first in a Commercial Rotational Development program, then as a Commercial Product Trainer, and finally as the Southeastern Crop Production Sales Specialist representing the manufacturer’s line-up of planters, seeding, and tillage equipment across seven states.

Outside of GPGA, Samantha is happily married to Robert McLeod III and lives just outside of Tifton, GA. Together they have two beautiful boys, Arlan (3) and Curtis (1) and enjoy running their small herd of Registered Black Angus cattle and helping out on the family’s farm.

Originally from Omega, Georgia, Sheila graduated from Tift County High School in 1985 and then went on to graduate from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, located in Tifton, Georgia in 1987. She went back to school to obtain a degree in Accounting from Moultrie Technical College in 2012. Prior to coming onboard with GPGA, Sheila homeschooled her 4 children from 1991 until 2013 from kindergarten through their graduation.

Outside of GPGA Sheila is happily married to Scot Harnage. The two share four children and two step grandchildren. Sheila is actively involved in her church and loves to spend time with family.

A native of Tifton, Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree and Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining the GPGA team, Amy worked at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for 5 years and, prior to that, lived and worked in Atlanta for 8 years in both state government and the private sector.

Outside of GPGA Amy and her husband, Courtney, have three children and are active in their schools, church and community.

Andrew, Tifton, GA native, graduated from Tift County High School in spring of 2018. He is currently a full time staff member here at GPGA where he focuses mainly on our bi-monthly magazine, The Pecan Grower. As well, Andrew is heavily involved in photography, spending much of his time photographing pecans around the state of Georgia. He plans to attend the University of Alabama in the Fall of 2021, furthering his education.

Outside of GPGA Andrew loves to travel. Some of his favorite trips to date are Southern California and New York City, New York. When he isn’t on weekend trips, he loves spending time with his 6 year old niece. Andrew owns a photography business, Andrew E. McBrayer Photography, which he opened in late 2017, where he focuses on families, portraits and landscape photography.

Originally from Homerville, Georgia, Bruorton attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) for a year and a half before transferring to the University of Georgia Tifton. During her time in college, she completed an internship with Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, where she was the marketing and communications intern.  She also worked under Dr. Johnathan Oliver, researching Xylella on various blueberry varieties. Bruorton graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from the University of Georgia. She serves as GPGA’s Communication and Events Coordinator.

Prior to joining GPGA in August of 2021, Bruorton was an Outreach Specialist for the Produce Safety Department with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Mary Mikelyn joined the GPGA staff in August 2021, where she wanted to continue her career in supporting and advocating for both Georgia farmers and Georgia pecans.

Outside of GPGA, she is active in church and loves spending time with her family and dog, Reese. Bruorton has always been an active member of the agricultural industry and by joining GPGA, wanted to continue her career in supporting and advocating for both Georgia farmers and Georgia pecans. Growing up and working within the blueberry industry on a farm and packaging facility, Bruorton knew that she wanted to advocate for American farmers and be a part of the agricultural industry. She says that she owes her love and passion for agriculture to her father, Mike Bruorton, and values the loving support in her endeavors from her mother, Beverly Bruorton.

Meredith McGlamory grew up and still resides in Abbeville, Georgia. She graduated with honors in May from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), with a b achelor’s degree in Agricultural Communication. McGlamory graduated with honors and received the 2021 ABAC Alumni Association Award as the top graduate. She also served ABAC as a School of Agricultural and Natural Resource (SANR) Leader.

During her time at ABAC, McGlamory interned with Bayer Crop Science as a field research and development assistant where she worked with various crops for experimental test plots. She was also a student worker at the UGA Tifton Campus where she worked in Plant Pathology for Dr. Bob Kemerait. In 2019, McGlamory was selected as the Georgia Watermelon Association ambassador and spent the entire year traveling to cities throughout Georgia and the nation promoting the watermelon industry.

McGlamory loves to travel and learn new things and participated in ABAC’s Study Abroad Program to Belize during her time as a student. She has also has been on a mission trip to Bolivia where she shared the gospel to tribes in the jungle.

During her free time, you can find her at her family’s farm helping out with their 350 head of beef cattle or riding her horse. If she is not doing that, she is spending time with her family and friends or playing with her dog, Essie.

Meredith joined the GPGA staff as the Public Relations & Special Projects Coordinator in August 2021, where she wants to support and advocate for Georgia farmers and help advance the Georgia pecan industry.

Lollis serves as Communications and Events intern while completing her senior at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) studying Agricultural Communications and Agribusiness. Originally from Perry, Georgia, is an honor student and Chair of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources Leader program. Lollis is President of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club, and active in Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority.

Before beginning in August with GPGA, Lollis worked for Georgia’s Rural Center as a communications intern. She has also served on the Media Team with Sunbelt Ag Expo for the past three years.

Lollis has a passion for connecting rural farmers with urban consumers through effective communication. When not busy with school or GPGA, Lollis enjoys traveling, cooking, or spending time with her Australian shepherd, Zuke.