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Public Policy and the Workforce Housing Crisis, Part 1, with Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

November 12, 2024 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Public Policy and the Workforce Housing Crisis, Part 1, with Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

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Public Policy and the Workforce Housing Crisis, Part 1, with Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation (North Fulton Voices, Episode 6)

This episode of North Fulton Voices is part one of a two-part interview with Kyle Wingfield, President and CEO of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. Led by Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond of the North Fulton Improvement Network, the conversation focuses on the pressing issue of workforce housing affordability in the North Fulton region as well as the State of Georgia generally. Key insights include the impact of government regulations on housing costs, the definition and challenges of middle-income housing, and the broader implications of local policies on housing affordability. The episode emphasizes the need for community engagement and innovative public policy solutions to address the workforce housing crisis in North Fulton.

North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Kyle Wingfield, President and CEO, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

**Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation**

Kyle Wingfield is a native of Dalton and graduate of the University of Georgia. He joined the Foundation as president and CEO in April 2018 after spending nine years as an opinion columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has also worked for the Wall Street Journal, based in Brussels, Belgium, from 2004 to 2009, and for the Associated Press, based in Atlanta and Montgomery, Ala., from 2001 to 2004.

At the AJC, Kyle wrote often about state politics and policy, focusing especially on education and school choice, transportation, health care, and state and local taxation. He is a frequent guest on GPB’s “Political Rewind” show and was a finalist for the Reason Foundation’s Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2013. Kyle’s weekly column continues to appear in 10 newspapers around the state.

Kyle received the UGA Grady College’s John E. Drewry Young Alumnus Award in 2006, was named to the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2012 and is a member of UGA’s Board of Visitors. He is a member of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2018 and, as an Eagle Scout, remains an active volunteer in Scouting.

Georgia Public Policy Foundation

The Georgia Public Policy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan research institute with a mission to improve the lives of Georgians through public policies that enhance economic opportunity and freedom.

The Foundation believes that sound public policy is grounded in facts, an understanding of economic principles, and core values of the free enterprise system—economic freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, individual initiative, respect for private property, and the rule of law.

Since 1991, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation has conducted rigorous research and analysis of state public policy issues, striving to educate citizens, policymakers, and the media. The Foundation remains state-focused, independent, non-partisan, and market-oriented in its approach.

Each year, the Foundation hosts over a dozen events across Georgia, providing opportunities for members to discuss pressing issues with leaders in politics, education, media, and business. Past speakers include Presidents of the United States, U.S. Speakers of the House, Supreme Court Justices, U.S. senators, representatives, presidential candidates, ambassadors, state officials, governors, members of the national media, and local business leaders.

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Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Series Overview
00:53 Welcome to North Fulton Voices
01:18 Discussing Workforce Housing
01:39 Data on Housing Affordability
04:35 Interview with Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
05:46 Kyle Wingfield’s Background
07:15 The Importance of Respectful Disagreement
11:57 Government’s Role in Housing Costs
16:47 Local Regulations and Their Impact
19:25 Comparative Analysis of Housing Regulations
26:33 Challenges and Solutions for Workforce Housing
31:13 Conclusion and Next Steps

North Fulton Improvement Network

The North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) is a think tank made up of community leaders from a variety of sectors, focused on missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. We come from the six cities making up the northern half of Fulton County, Georgia — Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs — and are working to address the widespread yet little-known financial vulnerability across the region. With stakeholders from sectors including business, nonprofit, faith, government, and citizens, we center our work on five areas of impact, seek to educate the public about these issues, build a network of individuals and organizations with innovative private and public solutions, and connect resources to those in need.

The leadership team of NFIN is Jack Murphy, Nancy Diamond, and Kathy Swahn.

Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the Chamber, Jack worked for and with Fortune 500 companies in operations, human resources, training, and quality areas. Jack was a senior adjunct professor for Quality & Operations Management at Keller Graduate School for 14 years.

He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.

Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Nancy Diamond

Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.

Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.

In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.

A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service, and later as a mortgage loan originator.

Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to 8-year-old Owen.

About North Fulton Voices

While North Fulton County is one of the most desirable places to live in the United States, the region faces a growing crisis: a severe shortage of housing options for middle-income employees, particularly essential workers such as first responders and teachers. North Fulton Voices, presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network, is the go-to source for in-depth analysis and discussion of missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. Listen as we understand the implications of this problem, explore innovative solutions, and examine why providing these housing options is vital for North Fulton’s future. The show is sponsored and offered as a service to the community by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Sponsor for North Fulton Voices: John Ray and Business RadioX – North Fulton

The North Fulton Voices show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

John Ray is a podcast show host and producer and owns the North Fulton (Georgia) affiliate of Business RadioX®.

John also operates his own business advisory practice, Ray Business Advisors. John’s services include advising solopreneur and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the author of the #1 nationally best-selling book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio and The Price and Value Journey. North Fulton Business Radio, the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton region of Georgia, features a wide range of business and community leaders. The Price and Value Journey is devoted to solo and small firm professional services providers and covers issues such as pricing, value, and business development.

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The Effect of North Fulton’s Housing Crisis on Education, with Dr. Gonzalo La Cava, Fulton County Schools, and Dr. Steven Palmer, The Cottage School

October 15, 2024 by John Ray

The Effect of North Fulton's Housing Crisis on Education, with Dr. Steven Palmer, The Cottage School and Dr. Gustavo La Cava, Fulton County Schools, on the North Fulton Voices podcast

North Fulton Studio

The Effect of North Fulton's Housing Crisis on Education, with Dr. Gonzalo La Cava, Fulton County Schools, and Dr. Steven Palmer, The Cottage School

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The Effect of North Fulton’s Housing Crisis on Education, with Dr. Gonzalo La Cava, Fulton County Schools, and Dr. Steven Palmer, The Cottage School (North Fulton Voices, Episode 5)

In this episode of North Fulton Voices, Jack Murphy and Kathy Swahn from the North Fulton Improvement Network welcome education leaders Dr. Steven Palmer from The Cottage School and Dr. Gonzalo La Cava from the Fulton County School System. The conversation focuses on housing affordability challenges in North Fulton and their effects on education. They explore the rise in homelessness among students, difficulties in recruiting and retaining teachers, and innovative housing solutions. The discussion includes strategies such as the “Level Up Fulton” initiative, public-private partnerships, and unique housing solutions successfully utilized elsewhere. Insights on the impacts of demographic changes, enrollment trends, and community engagement are provided, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive planning and involvement from various community members and policymakers to support affordable middle income housing and retain quality educators.

North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Dr. Gonzalo La Cava, Fulton County School System

Dr. Gonzalo La Cava is a seasoned education professional currently serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for Fulton County Schools in the Atlanta area, a position he has held since 2022. With over 27 years of experience in education, Gonzalo has built a career focused on driving transformational change in challenging school systems. His professional journey includes roles such as Chief of Human Resources at the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida, and Area Superintendent for Fulton County Schools’ Central Learning Community. He began his career as a special education teacher.

Known for his ability to tackle challenging situations and implement lasting positive changes, Gonzalo describes himself as a “second order change” leader. He is capable of identifying root causes of systemic issues and creating wide-reaching solutions. His approach is characterized by embracing chaos and complexity, data-driven decision making, a focus on employee recognition and appreciation, and creating holistic career pathways for educators. Gonzalo holds an Ed.D. and is an alumnus of the University of Central Florida.

Gonzalo’s personal experiences as an immigrant from Uruguay inform his leadership style. Having arrived in the United States as a young boy, his early experiences as an English as a Second Language student in Miami-Dade County schools have driven his commitment to creating inclusive educational environments. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Gonzalo considers his language skills an asset in his work. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a passion for extending opportunities for excellent education to all students, particularly those from underserved communities.

Dr. Steven Palmer, The Cottage School

Dr. Steven Palmer is the Head of School for The Cottage School in Roswell, GA.

Steve’s professional experience includes serving at every level: teacher, principal, Executive Director and Superintendent. Prior to joining The Cottage School, Steve was Superintendent in Michigan. Steve led major efforts resulting in increased student achievement and significant improvements in teaching, learning and school status. His central work focused on enhancing the educational culture with “Best Practices” and ensuring that all high school graduates were prepared for college and careers.

Under his leadership, Steve’s high school received national recognition from U.S. News and World Report as one of “America’s Best High Schools.” Steve previously served as CEO and founder of a state-of-the-art aviation high school for the Dick DeVos Foundation. He has also served as Principal of three special education K–8 schools with 600 students with learning differences.

In addition, Steve has been a national presenter on various special education topics and educational “Best Practices”. A member of numerous national, state, and local boards, Steve has participated with national agencies and associations to reform special education.

Steve’s academic background includes a Doctorate in Education, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Counseling, a Bachelor of Science in Education, a minor in Business, and Certifications from various states in Special Education and Educational Leadership.

Some of his accolades include: Dr. Landis Special Education Administrator of the Year, S.T.A.R. Administrator of the Year, Tandy Scholars Outstanding Teacher, Teacher of the Year, South Lake High School, 1 of 3 finalists for the Lake County Teacher of the Year, Educator of the Year Finalist Branch County Michigan, Disney’s Teacher of the Year Finalist, South Lake High School Teacher of the Year, Radio Shack Outstanding Teacher, Clermont Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year, presented Key to the city of Orlando Florida, and North Fulton Chamber Non-for-Profit Leader of the Year.