Lynda Lee Smith
Founder and
Chairperson of the Board
Lynda has made appearances on 150+ television and radio talk shows as a spokesperson for various causes while also serving as a television show host. She was chosen as “Top 40 under 40 Business Executives in Georgia” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2004. Ford Motor Company honored her with the “Life in Drive” Award in 2006 presented to only seven women nationwide.
She has initiated and hosted three world conferences bringing together government leaders from over 30 countries to discuss issues concerning vulnerable populations around the world. Her expertise in the field of children’s issues led to her serving on the Harvard Law School Advocacy Workgroup in 2005. Lynda is recognized by her peers for bringing the “impossible” to life.
She is an international speaker/author/podcast host who has presented to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Switzerland; and also the Permanent Bureau of International Law in The Hague, Netherlands. The majority of her career has been spent in the non-profit sector dedicated to impacting lives for various causes from health, housing, abuse and human trafficking.
Lynda spent her youth on the back roads of southeast Georgia then after college met her husband, Doug, on St. Simons Island. The two married and relocated a few years later to Johns Creek where they live with their daughter.
She began her career in economic development and tourism as an executive director for a convention and visitors bureau. Years later, she had the privilege of chairing the Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau for eight years.
Currently, she serves on the board of Sales Leverage and My Watchman (Liberia).
Raeha Kim, Esq.
Board Member
Raeha Kim, a licensed attorney in NY and pending license in GA, focuses in the areas of wills, trusts, estate planning, and entertainment law. Additionally, she is a financial educator at Wealth Wave, utilizing the How Money Works system to teach people how money works.
Beyond her legal expertise, she founded the Super Shero Academy to empower women to become powerhouse public speakers, integrating financial, mindful, and heart-centered growth. With prior experience as a CEO within the food industry, Raeha's journey led her to embrace her authentic mission of holistic empowerment, with a distinct emphasis on uplifting women and the future generation. This transformative path culminated in her becoming the visionary force behind the Millennials Chamber of Commerce.
Embarking on the new journey of the Raeha Vision Network, she continues to draw from her background as a businesswoman, attorney, certified yoga teacher, Zumba instructor, personal trainer, and graduate of the International Professional Excellence in Coaching program. Her dedication to personal and professional growth, coupled with her commitment to empowering others through diverse ventures, remains unwavering.
Carrie Burns
Board Member
Carrie is a seasoned entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the film tourism industry. Her journey began with a passion for connecting people and a keen interest in film. She co-founded Atlanta Movie Tours, where she served as CEO and Chief Movie Buff, immersing herself in the Georgia film scene.
Carrie's knack for building strong teams, fostering trust, and demonstrating exceptional leadership skills allowed her to navigate the complexities of running a small business. Her dedication to showcasing Georgia's film industry, from popular filming locations to collaborations with various tour companies and industry stakeholders, became her daily mission.
Carrie's love for travel, film, and networking drove her to transition from web development to film tourism. Her decade-long dedication to learning and growth in these industries has culminated in the creation of captivating tours, engaging stories, and compelling content that strengthen the connection between fans and the magic of cinema. With a knack for blending professionalism and a casual, fun-loving approach, Carrie continues to make waves in the world of film tourism, creating unforgettable experiences for enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.
Larry DiBiase
Board Member
Larry DiBiase currently sits on the Johns Creek, Georgia City Council and is the Founder and Principal Broker at SparkPoint, LLC, a real estate brokerage and investment firm. Earning multiple degrees from Canisius College and the State University of New York with an Accounting Degree, Geography, and International Business, Mr. DiBiase began his career in the Software industry.
Over 20 years, Mr. DiBiase worked for household names such as IBM, EDS, Cincom, and Melita International traveling the world to open new markets and build operation centers to support growth. Throughout his career, he was consistently elevated to leadership positions reaching Executive Senior Vice President. His experience in creating management teams provided a strong foundation to build a successful commercial and investment company called SparkPoint with projects throughout Georgia.
Mr. DiBiase has lived in Georgia for over 34 years where he and his wife of 23 years have raised their son and daughter. In his free time, Larry enjoys cycling with friends and has completed the 3 Gap Mountain Challenge. At times he likes to test his driving skills on the race track and unplug by mountaineering, where he summited some of the highest mountains in the world.
Ray Ezelle
Board Member
Ray Ezelle, a senior hospitality sales, marketing, event, and business development executive, serves as the executive director at Discover Dunwoody, the destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for promoting tourism within the thriving city just north of Atlanta, located in the heart of the Perimeter.
Ezelle brings years of industry experience and knowledge to the Discover Dunwoody team. Before his start in 2021, Ezelle served as Vice President of Sales, Sports, and Services with Visit Virginia Blue Ridget; Executive Vice President of Business Development, Connections Housing with Suwanee, Georgia; Vice President of Connect Meetings with Norcross, Georgia; and Area Director of Sales and Marketing, PCH
Hotels – Resort Collection on Alabama RTJ Golf Trail, in Florence and Montgomery, Alabama. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ray founded Total Hospitality Industry Solutions (THIS) in Suwanee.
Ezelle received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and now resides in Suwanee, Georgia, with his wife, Stephanie. They have four sons and three dogs. Ray enjoys playing golf and cheering on the Atlanta Braves, Dallas Cowboys, and SEC Football.
Lee McMichael
Board Member
Lee’s varied career has been similar to a huge road trip with several detours in between. Seeking to retire in 2024, he will leave behind a trail of television, tourism and hospitality. His TV career was at WALB in Albany, GA with the dual titles of Promotions and Public Service Director. His next stop was working for two churches, one in Georgia and the other in Louisiana as Media Director.
He returned to Georgia and began a career in tourism, working at the Rainwater Conference Center as a DOS in his hometown of Valdosta. From there McMichael fully immersed himself in that tourism path at the Hendry Co. EDC in Florida as Tourism Director for the county. That led him out west to Arizona, assuming the Tourism Director position for the City of Page. When it was time for another road trip, he returned to his birth state of Georgia as Tourism Manager for the city of Gainesville and from there another DOS position with the Hampton Inn in Helen, managed by Strand Hospitality Services.
Lee and his wife Mary have two adult children and currently live in the northeast corner of Georgia in Lula. McMichael enjoys hiking, kayaking, working out and watching old movies (pre-1970). He’s a proud graduate of the University of Georgia School of Journalism and is hoping for a three-peat! Go Dawgs!
Matt Campbell
Board Member
Matt is the Founder and CEO of Georgia Matters, a James Magazine ranked 2023 Top
Government Relations Firm, and serves as the Executive Director for the newly formed Coastal Entertainment Alliance. He is a connection specialist who enjoys helping others develop a positive influence while enhancing their impact.
His professional career began at the age of nineteen as a Savannah Railroad Conductor and in 2012, Matt was elected statewide as the Georgia Legislative Director, a role where he spent years working with business owners and elected officials throughout the state on important economic and industry initiatives. In 2020, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed Matt to the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (Georgia SERVES), where he now serves as Board Chairman. An advocate for mental health, Matt runs the non-profit Michael C. Harte Foundation. He is a Board member of the Georgia
Professional Lobbyists Association, and a member of the National Speakers Association, among other roles.
Matt is a native of Coastal Georgia, an alumnus of Kennesaw State University, and a lifelong fan of the back-to-back college football national champions– the Georgia Bulldogs. He and his wife Chrissy live in Richmond Hill, and have three children, daughter Mary Kathryn, son Tristan, and their sweet Michael in Heaven.
Aaron Buzza
Board Member
A career in tourism was never in the plans for Aaron Buzza. He grew up in a small town in Minnesota that was supported by tourism and he worked in several restaurants during high school and college, and he thought that was the extent of his work in the industry.
That "dip of the toe" into the waters of tourism was enough to get it fully into his blood, and he’s worked for more than two decades in the industry. He is currently Senior Vice President and COO with Visit Macon, the destination marketing organization that has the opportunity to promote Macon and Middle Georgia as a superior destination for visitors.
Buzza (as he is called by his friends) has been with Visit Macon since 2017 and he assumed the leadership of the Macon Film Commission in 2018, also serving as the Bibb County Camera Ready Liaison. He has worked with productions, large and small, in that capacity and recognizes the importance of the creative economy to the county and the state. Through his work with Visit Macon and in the community, Buzza has served a variety of community organizations, including the Macon Arts Alliance and St. Joseph Catholic Church, and is currently Chair/President of the board for each.
Before coming to Macon, Buzza served as Executive Director for Experience Waterloo in Waterloo, Iowa. He earned his Certified Destination Management Executive credential from Destinations International during his time with Experience Waterloo, and hosted a weekly travel program on the organization’s social media platforms featuring interesting places and people in the community. He also worked with the state of Iowa’s visitor industry to develop a statewide strategic plan.
Buzza and his wife Crystal have two daughters and two dogs. He enjoys hiking, cooking and cheering on his home's Twins and Vikings. He is presently developing a podcast and thoroughly enjoys telling and hearing a great story.