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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Tharon Johnson
Founder & CEO, Paramount Consulting Group | Political Strategist
Tharon Johnson is the founder and CEO of Paramount Consulting Group, a bipartisan government affairs and communications firm based in Atlanta. His firm advises corporate leaders, elected officials, and organizations on government relations, public policy, campaign strategy, and strategic communications.
A nationally recognized political strategist and trusted community voice, Tharon appears weekly on FOX 5 Atlanta’s public affairs program The Georgia Gang and on WABE’s Political Breakfast podcast, one of the nation’s top political podcasts. He is also the author of the award-winning column “Red, Blue, and You,” published in Georgia Trend magazine.
Tharon has advised leaders at the highest levels of government, serving in senior roles on campaigns for President Barack Obama, Congressman John Lewis, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and the Biden–Harris campaign in Georgia.
What He’ll Share
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Insights on leadership, civic engagement, and public service
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Lessons from working in national and local political strategy
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The importance of informed voices in shaping communities
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Encouragement for young people to think boldly about their role in society
Joy Rutledge & Temple Dees
Spelman College | Creators of PlantGPT
Students and alumni from Spelman College are redefining how technology interacts with the natural world. Joy Rutledge (C’2025) and Temple Dees (C’2027) helped develop PlantGPT, an AI-powered project that allows people to have real-time verbal conversations with their houseplants to better understand their health and needs.
Their work blends artificial intelligence, biology, and creative problem-solving to explore new ways humans can interact with living systems.
What They'll Share
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The story behind the creation of PlantGPT
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How AI can interpret plant signals and responses
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Lessons from building an innovative STEM project as college students
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Inspiration for young people interested in science and technology
Their presentation highlights how curiosity, creativity, and technology can open entirely new ways of understanding the world around us.
Image: Washington Post