We’re excited to welcome Christian Cochran back to the team as our new Senior Director over Volunteers.
Christian will lead the next phase of our volunteer work—strengthening how we recruit, onboard, and train the people who make this festival run. She knows how to build systems that work and how to support people so they can do their best.
Christian brings deep experience leading teams of all sizes, from 30 people to more than 18,000. She’s an operator and a strategist. She sets clear direction, brings the right people together, and removes barriers so progress can happen.
At the Georgia Festival of Trees, that approach matters. As we grow, we need simple systems, strong leaders, and a volunteer experience that feels organized, welcoming, and worth coming back to.
Many of you shared feedback after the last festival. One theme came through loud and clear: we need to improve volunteer interactions. Christian will help us do that. She’ll work with leaders across every area to tighten processes, improve communication, and raise the bar for how we support our volunteers.
Over the coming months, every leader will have a chance to work with her. This is a team effort. And it will make a real difference.
To our volunteer team, Jocelyn, Carmi, Barbi, LaWanda, Sheldia, and Christian, thank you! You’ve are amazing, and we are so grateful you are willing to take on a major improvement effort this year. That says a lot about who you are and what this festival means to you. We can’t wait to turn the page on this next chapter!
