DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Appoints Devon Hudson to MARTA Board

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has appointed Devon Hudson, owner of Devon Hudson State Farm Agency and principal of Hudson Holding Company, to serve as DeKalb’s newest representative on the MARTA Board of Directors. 

“I am pleased to appoint an exceptionally qualified leader who shares my commitment to strengthening and expanding transit,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “In the upcoming year, DeKalb will take significant steps to advance mass transit as we prepare for the region’s future. This appointee brings both technical expertise and dedication to public service that will help drive that progress.” 

About the Appointee

Devon Hudson is a respected business executive, entrepreneur, and civic leader with decades of service in DeKalb County. He is the owner of Devon Hudson State FarmAgency and principal of Hudson Holding Company, a real estate construction and management firm responsible for developing multiple retail and commercial properties across South DeKalb. Among his notable projects is Trinity Office Park, a premier business complex that helped address the shortage of professional office space in the area. He is currently leading the development of a mixed-use project poised to further revitalize South DeKalb’s economic landscape. 

A graduate of Illinois State University, where he earned a BS in Finance and Computer Science, Hudson is also an alumnus of Leadership DeKalb (Class of 1993). His commitment to community service includes leadership roles with ROOTS Adoption Agency, the Boy Scouts of America’s Soapstone Ridge District, and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. His accomplishments have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Outstanding Minority Business Award from the Georgia Association of Minority Entrepreneurs and the Outstanding Young People of Atlanta Award. A State Farm Honor Agent and multi-year Millionaire Club Qualifier, Hudson embodies both business excellence and community dedication, making him a strong advocate for equitable growth in DeKalb’s evolving transit system. 

A Bold Step Forward for DeKalb Transit 

This appointment comes as DeKalb County accelerates its commitment to building a modern, connected, and equitable transit future. CEO Cochran-Johnson has authorized an update of the DeKalb Master Transit Plan (MTP) — last completed in 2018 — to ensure the plan remains actionable and aligned with current data and priorities. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has contributed $500,000 toward the update, reinforcing the spirit of regional collaboration driving this effort. 

This work coincides with the Georgia Department of Transportation’s $900 million I-285/I-20 Interchange Project and the $11 billion Top-End Express Lanes Project, both of which will reshape mobility across metro Atlanta. Together, DeKalb County and its twelve cities are preparing to expand transit options and develop an implementation plan that meets the needs of both commuters and residents. 

“DeKalb is at the forefront of regional mobility,” said Cochran-Johnson. “By updating our Master Transit Plan and ensuring strong representation on the MARTA Board, we’re taking deliberate steps to build a connected, equitable transit network that moves both people and opportunity forward.”