ABOUT US
Since 1979, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful has been a leader in helping keep the Golden Isles of Georgia clean, green and beautiful.
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A volunteer and community based educational organization, volunteers contribute 14,000+ hours annually in Keep Golden Isles Beautiful efforts, programs and initiatives.
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Keep Golden Isles Beautiful is a Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation affiliate.
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A public/private partnership, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful depends on monetary, in-kind and volunteer support from individuals, businesses, local governments, civic/community organizations and schools to provide litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, community greening, water resource and educational programming and activities to Brunswick and Glynn County citizens.
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A 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful functions under the leadership of a volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Board and a two-person paid staff.
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History
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1979 - Brunswick-Glynn County Clean Community Commission established
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1987 - renamed Glynn Clean and Beautiful
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1997 - re-organization as Keep Brunswick-Golden Isles Beautiful
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2015 - renamed Keep Golden Isles Beautiful
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Recent Awards & Recognition
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Keep Golden Isles Beautiful programs and projects have garnered both State and National awards thanks to strong community partnerships and massive volunteer effort.
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KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL
Top Cigarette Litter Prevention Program in the Nation / 2017, 2019
Top three national Cigarette Litter Prevention Programs / 2014, 2015, 2016
Affiliate Award of Excellence / 2016, 2019
President’s Circle Recognition Award / 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
KEEP GEORGIA BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION
Affiliate of the Year / 2016, 2018, 2019
Executive Director of the Year / 2016
Affiliate Award, 2nd place / 2014, 2015, 2017
Waste Reduction & Recycling Award / 2018
Innovative Partnership Award / 2018
STATE OF GEORGIA
The Governor’s Circle Award / 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
RIVERS ALIVE
Coastal Cleanup Award / 2015
Coastal Cleanup Award / 2021
Mission Statement
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to preserve and enhance the beauty of Glynn County through community stewardship
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Vision Statement
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to be recognized as a beautiful, clean and sustainable community
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Shared Vision Statement
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working together to make Brunswick and the Golden Isles an exceptional place in Georgia to live, work and visit, by strengthening our communities and enhancing the quality of life
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Staff
Lea King-Badyna
Executive Director
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Lea’s love and enthusiasm for coastal Georgia is contagious. With over 30 years of experience in public/community/media relations, volunteer management and event planning/organization in the Golden Isles, she actively promotes the organization, its programs and volunteers to galvanize community support and participation in helping keep the Golden Isles clean, green and beautiful. Her understanding of the importance of coastal natural resources stems from a decade of work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources/Coastal Resources Division and tenure with the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service and Georgia Sea Grant. During her time at GADNR/CRD, Lea organized “CoastFest” – Georgia’s largest outdoor celebration of the state’s coastal, natural, historical and cultural resources which draws over 9,000 visitors annually. An avid recycler, litter picker-upper and community volunteer, Lea understands the power of volunteerism and its crucial role in community betterment.
Heather Riviera
Executive Assistant
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Originally from the west coast, Heather has been a Georgia resident since 2008 and a Golden Islander since 2014. She earned an AAS from Wiregrass Technical College in Valdosta GA and has been an active volunteer with KGIB since 2016. Passionate about youth education, Heather engages Golden Isles area youth in impactful community betterment projects and efforts and equips them to make positive differences in our coastal community. A mother of three wonderful girls, Heather has volunteered on several PTA boards in Glynn County and has also been a Girl Scouts volunteer and archery instructor since 2015. Heather’s tenure working as a Girl Scouts regional staff member instilled in her the importance of supporting volunteers and working together to make our community the best it can be. Outside of volunteering, Heather enjoys traveling and being outdoors with her family, along with creating recycling art with her daughters.
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Board of Directors
Clement Cullens
Lawyer
Williams, Rentz & Moulton, P.C.
CHAIRMAN
Cody Cocchi, M.ED.
Student Engagement Manager
Partnership for Inclusive Innovation
VICE CHAIRMAN
Dawn Franco
Marine Biologist
Georgia DNR, Coastal Resources Division
SECRETARY / TREASURER
Cheston Broomell
Owner
Broomelli Boys Pizzeria
Rob Brown, PhD., P.E.
Senior Water Resources Engineer & Brunswick Office Manager
GMC Environmental
Brian Corry, Esquire
Corry Law, LLC
Tammy Fluech
Owner
Typebird Creative
Zack Gowen
Proprietor
Georgia Sea Grill
Jim Jacobs, CMFC
Financial Professional
Jacobs, Coolidge & Co., LLC
Jesse LeGrand
Credit Analyst
South Coast Bank & Trust
Sabrina J. Nixon, EDD
Psychologist
Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
Dale Provenzano
Retired
Tom Reagan
Owner
Coastal Can Cleaners
Sadye Souther, DMD
Dentist
Thomas I. Smith DMD
Sam Tostensen
SE GA Field Director for
Senator David Perdue
United States Senate
Spud Woodward
Retired
Advisory Board
Karen Bass
General Manager
Embassy Suites Golden Isles
EX OFFICIO
Scott McQuade
President & CEO
Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau
EX OFFICIO
Kelly Ross
Real Estate Assistant
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate
EX OFFICIO
Kevin Runner
General Manager
Westin Jekyll Island
EX OFFICIO
Greer Anderson
Dave Austin
Jim Broadwell
Lisa Gurganus
Duane Harris
Mathew Hill
Dan Hogan
Jeffrey Johns
Teresa Mason
Ron Maulden
Rosemary Maulden
Regina McDuffie
Dale McNabb
Ralph Staffins III
Joel Willis