Designation: Board Member

OVERVIEW

Margie Medlin is a seasoned professional in the real estate industry, commencing her career in 1989. She has held numerous leadership roles, including the prestigious position of President of the Board of REALTORS, Regional Vice President (RVP) for Certified Residential Specialist (National Designation – only 3% of the REALTORS hold this designation.) In addition to leadership roles, Margie has been a continual Top Producer for the last 30 years, earning the Life Member of the Million Dollar Club. She has, also, received the Tony Serkedakis Lifetime Achievement Award, REALTOR of the Year, Dick McCrudden Award to name a few. She recently was awarded the National Association of REALTOR “Hall of Fame” award 2022.

Margie has a strong connection to the military through her family. Margie’s late father, Austin Jacobs, served in the Army in the 1950s during the Korean conflict. In addition to her father and nephew, her father-in-law served in World War II and received a Purple Heart. Her uncle was in the Vietnam War. Her nephew is on active duty in the Air Force. He is currently deployed to Africa. Margie’s late stepfather was a veteran of the Korean conflict and retired as a City of Atlanta motorcycle cop. Her family has a strong dedication to serving their country.

Margie has an innate passion for Veterans and is focused on the mission of seeing the Cobb Veterans Memorial be built to honor, educate, and serve this community and region.

COL, USMC, Ret

Board Member

OVERVIEW

A son of an Army, World War II veteran, and graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps during Operation DESERT SHIELD and retired in 2021 after serving more than 30 years of active duty.  He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Air War College where he graduated with academic distinction earning a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.

Mike served in multiple leadership positions throughout his military career and around the globe, including battalion command as a Lieutenant Colonel and regimental command as a Colonel while commanding one of the largest regiments in the Marine Corps.  He was also nominated for two Joint tours serving as the Chief of Current Operations at United States Southern Command and as the Emergent Sourcing Chief on the Joint Staff.

Mike’s service included deployments to the Persian Gulf and Kuwait for Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, the Defense of Kuwait, and participating in combat operations during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

As a Lieutenant Colonel, Mike helped lead the consolidation and combining of leadership teams for two Toys for Tots campaigns resulting in one of the largest Toys for Tots programs in the nation with the distribution of over 800,000 toys to less fortunate children in the greater Atlanta area.

After leaving active duty, Mike worked for a brief period at the Home Depot Corporate Headquarters in project management operations before stepping down to help care for his father.

Mike is a member of the Wounded Warrior Project, Marine Corps League, Cobb County Honorary Commanders Association, and Navy Mutual Aid Association where he also has served as a nonresident director.  He is a proud supporter of Marine Corps Toys for Tots, the Shepherd’s Men/SHARE Military Initiative, and other local charities.  Mike and his wife Rebecca have made their home in Cobb County, Georgia, and are blessed with three children.

US Air Force

Board Member

OVERVIEW

Kelvin King, originally from Macon, GA, was an accomplished athlete and scholar, earning a spot at the United States Air Force Academy.  After his graduation and five years of service as a Contracting Officer in the Air Force, he transitioned to the corporate world. Kelvin’s diverse career path led him to prominent roles in procurement and business development, including serving as a General Manager in an international construction firm.  He’s garnered accolades, such as being named Top 20 Under 40 in ENR Magazine and Manager of the Year.  Kelvin eventually founded his own successful construction company, Osprey Management, recognized as the fastest-growing business by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Married to Janelle, a prominent figure in Fox 5 Atlanta’s “The Georgia Gang,” the couple is deeply engaged in Georgia politics, advocating for conservative values and community engagement.  Together, they established Let’s Win For America Action PAC, focusing on spreading their message in diverse communities.  Kelvin takes pride in his role as a father to Christian Ward, an Air Force veteran like himself.

Supt. Marietta City Schools, Ret.
Board Member

OVERVIEW
Dr. Emily Lembeck served as Superintendent of Marietta City Schools (MCS) from 2005 until her retirement began on January 1, 2017, becoming just the 12th superintendent since 1892. Lembeck holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia, a Masters in Administration and Supervision from Nova University in Florida, and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College in New York.

Under the direction of Dr. Lembeck, Marietta City Schools became one of Georgia’s first Charter School Systems; became one of only a few school systems nationwide able to provide the full International Baccalaureate (IB) (K-12) continuum; and launched Marietta Reads!, a citywide effort to foster reading and literacy that is now in its 20th year. For advancing student
achievement and support for learning she was named the Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia School Superintendent’s Association in 2012; and has received the Cobb NAACP “Living the Dream” Award, the Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award, Blacks United for Youth (BUY) Justice Robert Benham Award, and the Marietta Daily Journal Cobb County Citizen of the Year Award – to name a few.

Dr. Lembeck has served on many professional committees and organizations including Leadership Cobb Class of 2000, Cobb Education Consortium, and the Governor’s Office for Children and Families Georgia Children’s Cabinet. Her service made a positive difference on the boards of the Marietta Schools Foundation, the Cobb County Boys and Girls Clubs, Cobb Community Services Board and Board of Health, United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness, Communities in Schools of Cobb/Marietta, Cobb County Library Foundation, and a long-term affiliation with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.

Upon her retirement and after working for decades to recognize the gifts and address the challenges of our youth, she decided it was time to work on behalf of others who deserved some needed recognition and attention. Our Veterans were at the top of her list. Married to Harry Lembeck, a USMC Vietnam Veteran, it was time to honor him and all who served at that time and those who came before and after in this important service to our nation. As with most other important aspects of our lives, education is critical, and the building of a Memorial will provide the place and focus to honor and support our Veterans and educate our citizens of all ages.

Additionally, she enjoys her family with 5 grandchildren, travel, painting, hiking, providing consultative support for charter systems state-wide, and volunteering at the Early Learning Center, which is named in her honor, and in the community through her long association with the Kiwanis Club of Marietta.