Michael Cowan
Business Partner - Sustainability Enthusiast
Michael's Story
Michael was born, raised and educated in the Atlanta area and currently lives in neighboring Dunwoody. He served two terms on the City’s Sustainability Committee from 2015-21 and was elected Chairman of the Committee for four years. He worked with the City Council to rewrite the City’s Sustainability Plan, establish a Neighborhood Water Watch program with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper that tests the City’s watershed quality weekly and to establish the City as one of Georgia’s first BeeCity USA designates.
He spent most of his career working in the corporate world ultimately leading the Accessories Business Unit at AT&T with revenues just under $1B. After leaving AT&T, he spent time consulting in the consumer-packaged goods and sustainability space and led the Dunwoody Nature Center from 2019-2021. As chief executive for the regional nature center, he was responsible for managing all aspects of the private non-profit organization. He implemented transformational programs to restore and enhance its grounds, expanded environmental education programs to focus on adult programming and transformed the volunteer program to increase the level of community engagement.
He secured a National Fish & Wildlife Foundation grant to fund restoration of the park’s 22-acres by controlling the invasive plants which had overtaken much of the property. Through that initiative, he engaged the ReForest ATL team.
He is a member of the state board for the Georgia Native Plant Society.