Georgia CTI State Officers Complete Summer Leadership Training
Conyers & Covington, Georgia — June 5, 2025 — Georgia CTI’s 2025 State Officer Team kicked off their term with two powerful training experiences designed to build leadership, communication, and collaboration skills that will serve them throughout the year.
From May 29–30, the newly elected officers gathered in Conyers, Georgia for Georgia CTI’s annual State Officer Training. Over two days, students engaged in icebreakers and team-building exercises, practiced professional employment skills like handshakes, eye contact, and meeting etiquette, and took part in focused public speaking workshops. Officers were introduced to their individual roles within the organization and worked together to shape the direction of the year ahead.
One of the most important moments of training was the selection of this year’s statewide theme. The theme, chosen exclusively by the officers, inspires unity and creativity across all CTI chapters throughout the state and serves as the foundation for competitions in the fall, including the pin, t-shirt, banner, and speech contests at the Georgia National Fair. This year’s theme: Challenge The Impossible — a powerful message captured by the initials CTI.
Immediately following their training, Georgia CTI’s officer team joined fellow Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) leaders at the CTSO Officer Training held May 30–June 1 at the FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington, Georgia. There, they trained alongside officers from DECA, FCCLA, Engage, FBLA, FIRST Robotics, HOSA, SkillsUSA, and TSA.
The weekend was packed with leadership development sessions, etiquette training, team challenges, and peer networking. From conquering the camp’s competitive mud course to launching into the lake from The Blob, students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, grow as individuals, and work together as a unified team. Georgia CTI Officers not only strengthened their own chapter but also built connections across all of Georgia’s CTSOs.
Meet Georgia CTI’s 2025 State Officer Team:
- Zachary Ciejka-Gorey, President – Maynard Jackson High School
- Darrion Bell, Vice President – Global Impact Academy
- Hannah Boatright, Secretary – Wayne County High School
- Gabriel Daniels, Treasurer – Tift County High School
- Nick Castleberry, Historian – Tift County High School
- William Bowe Jr., Reporter – Golden Isles Career Academy
These student leaders represent the best of Georgia CTI — driven, passionate, and ready to lead. With the theme Challenge The Impossible, they are already preparing to inspire their peers across the state in the coming year.
For further information, please contact:
Mary Davis Donahue
Georgia CTI Executive Director
(P) 678.617.0439 | (F) 706.314.9624
3 Central Plaza, #245, Rome, GA 30161
About Georgia CTI
Our Mission: To provide meaningful transition activities through leadership and employability experiences for students with disabilities in grades 9-12 identified through career, technical, and agricultural education courses in order to increase postsecondary outcomes.