The following individuals will begin a three-year term on the Birds Georgia Board of Directors beginning January 1, 2025.
Mary Anne Lanier
Mary Anne Lanier is President of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a Georgia-based private family foundation honoring the legacy of her father, the late Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), Founder and Chairman of Interface, Inc., the world’s largest modular carpet manufacturer, and a global leader in sustainability. Prior to assuming her current role as President for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Lanier spent 12 years with Interface’s Sustainable Operations Team, managing the Interface Environmental Education Grants program, the company’s SocioMetrics program and the Cool Carpet™ program.
Assuming the role of a nonprofit trustee came naturally to Lanier in 2011, when the Foundation was re-launched, as she has always found joy and inspiration serving others in the communities where she has worked and lived.
She was the 2020-21 Chairman of the Board for the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL), and she participated in the 2016 IGEL class. In 2015, Lanier was appointed to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Board, and in 2013, she was appointed to the National Wildlife Federation’s President’s Advisory Council and the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Dean’s Council. She is an elder at Marietta First Presbyterian Church, where she has held leadership roles in multiple ministries, and she has held multiple board and leadership positions for St. Joseph Catholic School, the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta and Sheltering Arms (a local charity that provides resources for abused children). She also serves on the Marietta Council of Garden Clubs.
Mary Anne is a graduate of Furman University. She resides in Marietta, Georgia with her husband James Lanier, who retired as Vice President of the multi-family market segment for Interface, and who also serves as a trustee for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. The Laniers have three grown sons. Jay Lanier is an account executive with Interface, John Lanier is Executive Director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, and Patrick Lanier is a brand advocate analyst at The Home Depot. The Laniers have three grandchildren.
Mary Anne Lanier is President of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a Georgia-based private family foundation honoring the legacy of her father, the late Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), Founder and Chairman of Interface, Inc., the world’s largest modular carpet manufacturer, and a global leader in sustainability. Prior to assuming her current role as President for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Lanier spent 12 years with Interface’s Sustainable Operations Team, managing the Interface Environmental Education Grants program, the company’s SocioMetrics program and the Cool Carpet™ program.
Assuming the role of a nonprofit trustee came naturally to Lanier in 2011, when the Foundation was re-launched, as she has always found joy and inspiration serving others in the communities where she has worked and lived.
She was the 2020-21 Chairman of the Board for the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL), and she participated in the 2016 IGEL class. In 2015, Lanier was appointed to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Board, and in 2013, she was appointed to the National Wildlife Federation’s President’s Advisory Council and the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Dean’s Council. She is an elder at Marietta First Presbyterian Church, where she has held leadership roles in multiple ministries, and she has held multiple board and leadership positions for St. Joseph Catholic School, the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta and Sheltering Arms (a local charity that provides resources for abused children). She also serves on the Marietta Council of Garden Clubs.
Mary Anne is a graduate of Furman University. She resides in Marietta, Georgia with her husband James Lanier, who retired as Vice President of the multi-family market segment for Interface, and who also serves as a trustee for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. The Laniers have three grown sons. Jay Lanier is an account executive with Interface, John Lanier is Executive Director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, and Patrick Lanier is a brand advocate analyst at The Home Depot. The Laniers have three grandchildren.
Ellen Miller
Ellen Miller is a retired Human Resources professional with over 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, and experience in industries ranging from trade shows to health information technology. Her experience includes all aspects of human resources with an emphasis on business partnership. Ellen holds a Bachelors’ degree in Philosophy from Georgia State University and a Masters’ degree in Human Resource Management from the University of South Carolina.
She became involved in volunteer work with Atlanta Audubon after taking the master birder class in 2003 and served as AAS President in 2007 and 2008. In the role of President, Ellen worked with Audubon’s first paid Executive Director to successfully transition Audubon from an all-volunteer organization to an organization utilizing paid staff. Ellen is passionate about the work of Audubon, and since that time, has sporadically been on the Board serving in a number of capacities. Additionally, Ellen served for eight years on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Ornithological Society as Secretary and as 1st Vice President.
Ellen lives in Monticello, Georgia on 90 acres where she slowly chips away at making the property as bird friendly as possible, is an avid birder/lister, and loves to travel. She enjoys nothing better than traveling to places she has never been to see birds she has never seen.
Ellen Miller is a retired Human Resources professional with over 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, and experience in industries ranging from trade shows to health information technology. Her experience includes all aspects of human resources with an emphasis on business partnership. Ellen holds a Bachelors’ degree in Philosophy from Georgia State University and a Masters’ degree in Human Resource Management from the University of South Carolina.
She became involved in volunteer work with Atlanta Audubon after taking the master birder class in 2003 and served as AAS President in 2007 and 2008. In the role of President, Ellen worked with Audubon’s first paid Executive Director to successfully transition Audubon from an all-volunteer organization to an organization utilizing paid staff. Ellen is passionate about the work of Audubon, and since that time, has sporadically been on the Board serving in a number of capacities. Additionally, Ellen served for eight years on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Ornithological Society as Secretary and as 1st Vice President.
Ellen lives in Monticello, Georgia on 90 acres where she slowly chips away at making the property as bird friendly as possible, is an avid birder/lister, and loves to travel. She enjoys nothing better than traveling to places she has never been to see birds she has never seen.
Scott Porter
Scott Porter has over 25 years of human resources and employment law experience with The Aaron’s Company, Warner Media, CNN, Turner Broadcasting, and two different law firms. Scott is currently serving as the Chief People Officer at The Aaron's Company, Inc. where he oversees the human resources function and is responsible for talent strategy and culture for the nearly 9,000-employee company. Prior to Aaron’s, Scott was Senior Vice President of Human Resources at WarnerMedia, where he led people and culture strategy for the Revenue division of the company. Scott previously oversaw human resources for the corporate and technology divisions of WarnerMedia and Turner Broadcasting before that. Before moving to human resources, Scott had a long career as an employment lawyer, as a partner at Taylor English, as in-house counsel at Turner and CNN, and as an associate at Powell Goldstein.
Scott Porter holds a BA degree in History from Auburn University and a JD degree in Law from Vanderbilt University.
Scott and his husband, also named Scott, have two children and two dogs. Scott is an avid tennis fan and describes himself as a middling but passionate player. He loves being outdoors, either cycling, swimming, running, walking, hiking, birding or “forest bathing” with his dogs. Scott also serves on the board of the Southeast chapter of the Anti-Defamation League.
Scott Porter has over 25 years of human resources and employment law experience with The Aaron’s Company, Warner Media, CNN, Turner Broadcasting, and two different law firms. Scott is currently serving as the Chief People Officer at The Aaron's Company, Inc. where he oversees the human resources function and is responsible for talent strategy and culture for the nearly 9,000-employee company. Prior to Aaron’s, Scott was Senior Vice President of Human Resources at WarnerMedia, where he led people and culture strategy for the Revenue division of the company. Scott previously oversaw human resources for the corporate and technology divisions of WarnerMedia and Turner Broadcasting before that. Before moving to human resources, Scott had a long career as an employment lawyer, as a partner at Taylor English, as in-house counsel at Turner and CNN, and as an associate at Powell Goldstein.
Scott Porter holds a BA degree in History from Auburn University and a JD degree in Law from Vanderbilt University.
Scott and his husband, also named Scott, have two children and two dogs. Scott is an avid tennis fan and describes himself as a middling but passionate player. He loves being outdoors, either cycling, swimming, running, walking, hiking, birding or “forest bathing” with his dogs. Scott also serves on the board of the Southeast chapter of the Anti-Defamation League.
The following member of the Birds Georgia Board of Directors will begin a special one-tear term extension beginning January 1, 2025.
Esther Stokes
Esther Stokes served as Board Chair of Birds Georgia from 2018-2021 and is currently Vice-Chair. She retired last year from her 35-year career in landscape design in Atlanta. Esther has been interested in gardening, native plants, birds and birding for many years and believes that Birds Georgia’s conservation and habitat restoration work is vitally important.
She also believes that expanding access to nature and greenspace is an important mission of Birds Georgia. She is a master birder and enjoys volunteering with Birds Georgia on habitat restoration days.
Prior to her involvement with Birds Georgia, Esther served as Board Chair of both Park Pride and Piedmont Park Conservancy, and served on the Trust for Public Land’s Georgia Advisory Council. She recently chaired the Faith In Action and Property Committees at Trinity Presbyterian Church and also served as Clerk of Session there. She and her husband Jim live in the Brookwood Hills neighborhood in Atlanta and have two daughters and two grandsons.
Esther Stokes served as Board Chair of Birds Georgia from 2018-2021 and is currently Vice-Chair. She retired last year from her 35-year career in landscape design in Atlanta. Esther has been interested in gardening, native plants, birds and birding for many years and believes that Birds Georgia’s conservation and habitat restoration work is vitally important.
She also believes that expanding access to nature and greenspace is an important mission of Birds Georgia. She is a master birder and enjoys volunteering with Birds Georgia on habitat restoration days.
Prior to her involvement with Birds Georgia, Esther served as Board Chair of both Park Pride and Piedmont Park Conservancy, and served on the Trust for Public Land’s Georgia Advisory Council. She recently chaired the Faith In Action and Property Committees at Trinity Presbyterian Church and also served as Clerk of Session there. She and her husband Jim live in the Brookwood Hills neighborhood in Atlanta and have two daughters and two grandsons.
