Our Team
Officers
David K. Withers
President
David K. Withers
President
David Withers is President for TEI. In this capacity, he oversees the company’s financial investments, accounting, tax functions, and risk management, as well as TEI’s Human Resources and Information Technology departments. David also oversees the company’s Ted Turner Reserves hospitality brand.
Withers joined the company in 2003 as Director of Finance. Previously, he worked in the investment banking division of J.P. Morgan.
J. Rutherford Seydel II
Secretary
J. Rutherford Seydel II
Secretary
John Rutherford Seydel II is a partner in the firm of Davis, Pickren, Seydel & Sneed, LLP with a corporate practice focusing on environmental and conservation law, commerce and residential real estate, nonprofit organization structuring and operation, and general for-profit business matters. Seydel coordinates and manages the firm’s corporate practice group.
Seydel was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1989. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia (B.A. in Political Science, 1986) and graduated from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law (J.D., 1989). Seydel is a member of the Atlanta and American Bar Associations (Member: Real Property, Corporate, Entertainment and Environmental Law Practice Sections) and the State Bar of Georgia.
Seydel is co-founder and chairman of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Inc.; chairman of the board of the School of Ecology at the University of Georgia; chairman of The Conservation Fund; and board member of Georgia Conservation Voters, Vasser Woolley Foundation and Allconnect, Inc. He is an officer and board member of Paul B. and Mildred Seydel Foundation; an officer of United Nations Foundation; and board member of Turner Foundation, Turner Endangered Species Foundation, the Better World Fund, Inc., Ted’s Montana Grill and Captain Planet Foundation. Seydel is a member of the board of directors for the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University School of Law as well as a member of the advisory board of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. In addition, Seydel is a Trustee for the Park of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Seydel is also co-owner of Atlanta Spirit which owns the Atlanta Hawks NBA Franchise and operating rights to Philips Arena and all associated parking. He is a founding investor/co-owner and a board member of Allconnect, Inc. and Promove. Additionally, he is associated with and represents numerous downtown Atlanta business ventures and properties.
Seydel and his wife, Laura, live in northwest Atlanta and have a long history of involvement in Atlanta business, and charitable and foundation work. They have a son, John R., and two daughters, Florence Vasser and Laura Elizabeth.
Carter Kruse, Phd
Executive Director
Carter Kruse
Executive Director
With nearly 30 years in the ecological and agricultural fields, Dr. Carter Kruse oversees the Institute and its science and conservation programs. He works closely with property managers and scientists to develop and implement research and conservation projects consistent with the Institute’s mission. Dr. Kruse also collaborates with university partners to facilitate graduate and long-term research activity and educational opportunities. He received his PhD in Zoology from the University of Wyoming.
Christine S. Hung
Treasurer
Christine S. Hung
Treasurer
Christine is originally from Huntsville, AL. She has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Masters in Taxation from the University of Alabama. She moved to Atlanta after graduate school where she went to work for the accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). In 2002, Christine accepted the position as Tax Director for Turner Enterprises, Inc., responsible for the tax and financial management of the Turner family and all Turner entities. Most recently she was promoted to Chief Financial Officer.
Christine currently resides in Bozeman, Montana.
David K. Withers
Treasurer
David Withers is President and Chief Financial Officer for TEI. In this capacity, he oversees the company’s financial investments, accounting, tax functions, and risk management, as well as TEI’s Human Resources and Information Technology departments. David also oversees the company’s Ted Turner Reserves hospitality brand.
Withers joined the company in 2003 as Director of Finance. Previously, he worked in the investment banking division of J.P. Morgan.
J. Rutherford Seydel II
Secretary
John Rutherford Seydel II is a partner in the firm of Davis, Pickren, Seydel & Sneed, LLP with a corporate practice focusing on environmental and conservation law, commerce and residential real estate, nonprofit organization structuring and operation, and general for-profit business matters. Seydel coordinates and manages the firm’s corporate practice group.
Seydel was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1989. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia (B.A. in Political Science, 1986) and graduated from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law (J.D., 1989). Seydel is a member of the Atlanta and American Bar Associations (Member: Real Property, Corporate, Entertainment and Environmental Law Practice Sections) and the State Bar of Georgia.
Seydel is co-founder and chairman of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Inc.; chairman of the board of the School of Ecology at the University of Georgia; chairman of The Conservation Fund; and board member of Georgia Conservation Voters, Vasser Woolley Foundation and Allconnect, Inc. He is an officer and board member of Paul B. and Mildred Seydel Foundation; an officer of United Nations Foundation; and board member of Turner Foundation, Turner Endangered Species Foundation, the Better World Fund, Inc., Ted’s Montana Grill and Captain Planet Foundation. Seydel is a member of the board of directors for the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University School of Law as well as a member of the advisory board of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. In addition, Seydel is a Trustee for the Park of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Seydel is also co-owner of Atlanta Spirit which owns the Atlanta Hawks NBA Franchise and operating rights to Philips Arena and all associated parking. He is a founding investor/co-owner and a board member of Allconnect, Inc. and Promove. Additionally, he is associated with and represents numerous downtown Atlanta business ventures and properties.
Seydel and his wife, Laura, live in northwest Atlanta and have a long history of involvement in Atlanta business, and charitable and foundation work. They have a son, John R., and two daughters, Florence Vasser and Laura Elizabeth.
Carter Kruse
Executive Director
With nearly 30 years in the ecological and agricultural fields, Dr. Carter Kruse oversees the Institute and its science and conservation programs. He works closely with property managers and scientists to develop and implement research and conservation projects consistent with the Institute’s mission. Dr. Kruse also collaborates with university partners to facilitate graduate and long-term research activity and educational opportunities. He received his PhD in Zoology from the University of Wyoming.
Christine S. Hung
Treasurer
Christine is originally from Huntsville, AL. She has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Masters in Taxation from the University of Alabama. She moved to Atlanta after graduate school where she went to work for the accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). In 2002, Christine accepted the position as Tax Director for Turner Enterprises, Inc., responsible for the tax and financial management of the Turner family and all Turner entities. Most recently she was promoted to Chief Financial Officer.
Christine currently resides in Bozeman, Montana.