Shayla J. Nealy
Shayla J. Nealy is in her second term as a Councilmember in Union City, GA. As one of the community's final decision-makers she devotes her official time to problems of basic policy and is a liaison between the city and the general public. On a more global scale, Nealy has prioritized cultural, political, and interfaith
dialogues through experiences serving as a mentor to the Young Elected Officials Network, the American
Council of Young Political Leaders, and as a delegate on the American Israel Education Foundation trip to Israel.
Within her first term, Nealy helped to secure five large Fortune 500 companies (7,000 new jobs) along with several million dollars in private investments and acquired nearly $700,000 in federal funding. The most notable endeavor to date is turning a vacant mall into Atlanta Metro Studios- one of the largest purpose-built television and film studio facilities in the state.
She is the Director of Infrastructure Programming for Wendel, a nationally recognized design,
Construction and energy services company (ESCO), where she plans, schedules and oversees any engineering related work, manages daily infrastructure operations and Business Development components of the Atlanta Office. She serves as Project Manager for local Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Infrastructure Projects, and others. Nealy is a member of Stewards of the Environment which ensures Wendel maintains green practices throughout project and company goals and is on the inaugural Innovation Team which engages company exemplars in forward thinking, vocational altering strategies.
Nealy earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and Bachelor’s in Biological Systems Engineering from Florida A&M University. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Nu Lambda Omega Chapter and is featured as a Pioneering Member in Government, which will be in the sorority’s historical archives, as shown at the Open Doors Museum at the 2016 Biennial Convention, and currently an Executive Board Member.
She is a graduate of New Leaders Council (2012), Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leader Institute, Inc. (2013), Georgia Water Professionals Leadership Academy (2014), Regional Leadership Institute (2015), and Leadership Buckhead (2017). She is the Chairperson of the South Fulton Regional Municipal Water Authority, a board member on the Georgia Board of the American Cancer Society, Leadership Buckhead Board of Directors, an advisory board member of the South Fulton Initiative of the Serenbe Institute, and Atlanta Regional Commission as a Flint River Basin Advisory Council member, and technical support to
the cATLyst initiative; to name a few.
In her spare time, she is a noted panelist, mentor and supporter of many community arms. This keeps her grounded by maintaining a regard and concern for the wellbeing of people; giving aid and empowering
them to experience a higher quality of life. Nealy is also the Government Liaison and Director of Revive Dance at The Believers House Church in Atlanta, and Pastor of Government Relations and Leadership
with Relentless Fellowship International.
Nealy is originally from Panama City, FL and is a lover of the arts. She is a trained dancer and member of The Reign Dance Company, has danced alongside many Award-winning Gospel artists. She has also been involved in pageantry and started the Miss Rare Essence Pageant in Tallahassee, FL, and still called upon to judge and Emcee pageants in the Southeast.
As a testament to her professional dedication and service relations, Nealy has recently been chosen as one of Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine and atlantadailyworld.com’s 2019 Women of Excellence. She is member of the 2018 Class of Outstanding Atlanta, the city’s premier honor for community involvement. She’s been honored as a 2014 Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 recipient, noted as one of Georgia’s Best and Brightest in the 2011 Georgia Trend 40 Under 40, and the 2016 Jack C. Dozier Emerging Leader of the statewide Georgia Association of Water Professionals, and included several times in the “Most Influential” category of Who’s Who in Black Atlanta.