HAVE YOU MET
Katie Sponberger
Executive Director Georgia Association of Conservation Districts My first job in the green industry was...as Program
Manager for the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD). We work with Georgia’s 40 Soil and Water Conservation Districts to promote the stewardship of our state’s natural resources.
The biggest challenge in my career has been…In 2017,
Katie Sponberger
UAC MAGAZINE | WINTER 2020
Phone: 1-833-411-GACD Email: katie@gacd.us Address: PO Box 1134 Ringgold, GA 30736 Web: www.gacd.us
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GACD received funding to staff the Association with 45 contract workers to serve local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices as well as a Soil and Water
Conservation District. My biggest challenge (and also the most rewarding) was helping grow the association from the ground up: hiring the contractors, establishing new procedures and creating new initiatives to serve Georgia’s Conservation Districts.
My biggest career success so far has been...helping to grow GACD to an
association that now has around 50 contractors who work to promote the conservation of our state’s natural resources.
If I had it to do over again, I would…be back in Athens at the University of Georgia studying agriculture!
The thing I like most about my career is…..the ability to travel throughout the state
where I have the opportunity to promote conservation practices to farmers and experience the diverse agricultural markets and landscapes.
The one thing most responsible for my success is…the opportunity to attend UGA and study a career in agriculture.
If I could change careers, just for a month, I would…I have always seen myself as
a helpful person, so I would do a drastic change and be a nurse.
One thing that really annoys me is…when
someone unnecessarily hits reply all to an email.
When I’m not working, I like to…cook, run, and spend time with family.
GACD staff from left: Katie Sanders, Program Manager, Michelle Boone, Program Manager, Mady Barnes, Project Coordinator, and Katie Sponberger, Executive Director.
One thing most people don’t know about me is…my husband and I met at UGA. We were both agribusiness majors.
