Keynote Speakers:

Bridget Thorne, Commissioner

District 1

Bridget Thorne is the Commissioner for District 1, covering Johns Creek and parts of Roswell, Alpharetta, and Sandy Springs. Elected in 2022, she and her husband, Kenny, have lived in North Fulton for 27 years. Raised in southern Illinois, Bridget was inspired by her mother's dedication to education and service, shaping her commitment to individual opportunity and community impact. A professional software designer and grassroots advocate, she is a Certified Commissioner through the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and has served on numerous boards, including the National Association of Counties (NACo) Justice and Safety Committee and the Alpharetta Parks Visionary Committee. She has also volunteered with organizations like Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, and World Relief.

Bridget prioritizes fiscal responsibility, public safety, and election integrity in her role as Commissioner. She advocates for accountability in Fulton County operations and policies to address rising crime rates. Recognizing the dangers of opioid abuse, she supports youth education and partnerships with nonprofits to combat the crisis. With nearly a decade of experience in Fulton County elections, she is dedicated to improving efficiency, reducing wait times, and strengthening voter data security. An MBA Georgia Tech graduate and former track athlete, she is an advocate for youth sports, co-founding the First North Fulton Track Club. Bridget is committed to transparency and welcomes conversations with residents to address the issues that matter most.

Nirupama KenKare, Vice President of Science & Technology
Imerys Performance Minerals Americas
Nirupama KenKare is Vice President of Science & Technology for the Performance Minerals Americas unit of Imerys SA. In her current role, she is responsible for research and development efforts in the areas of polymers, sustainable construction, filtration, and life sciences for North and South America. Before that, she led the Manufacturing Science & Technology team at Alcon’s largest contact lens manufacturing site in Johns Creek, where she had responsibility for tech transfer, process engineering & chemistry, validation, product stewardship, and data analytics.

Nirupama has 25 years of experience in R&D and manufacturing support across several industries including optical fiber, specialty polymers, medical devices, and now, minerals. Her areas of interest include materials science (polymers and inorganic) and its varied applications, process innovation, and data analytics in manufacturing and R&D. Niru holds a B.Tech. Degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University. Outside of work, she enjoys long walks with her dogs and reading mystery novels, podcasts, and music. She lives in Johns Creek with her husband and their two daughters, who are currently away at college.

Lynne Riley, President
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Lynne Riley was appointed President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission in July 2020, leading the administration of state and lottery-funded scholarship, grant, and loan programs to expand higher education access for Georgians. Under her leadership, the nationally recognized HOPE Scholarship program has provided 2.1 million students with over $15 billion in awards since its inception in 1993.
Lynne Riley has had a distinguished career in public service, serving as Georgia’s first woman State Treasurer and State Revenue Commissioner. She was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 2010, representing House District 50 (Johns Creek), after beginning her public service as a Fulton County Commissioner in 2004. Lynne is the CEO of the REACH Georgia Foundation and serves on the Board of the Education Finance Council. She also chairs the Emory Johns Creek Hospital Board of Trustees and previously served on the IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee. A longtime resident of Johns Creek since 1988, Lynne and her husband, Mike, have three adult children and three grandchildren.