C. Robert Newsome, Senior Associate

Bob Newsome is a Senior Associate at Brookwood Group. He has over 22 years experience in program development delivering multiple large-scale park, hotel / resort development and building projects on-time and within budget. He has experience leading all phases of park and resort design and construction as well as the procurment and management of professional services, quality assurance, process development, budget management and scheduling.

As Special Assistant to the Commissioner, of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bob maintained multiple responsibilities which included significant involvement in the development of agency’s strategic plan, administration of multiple land conservation plans that included Rivercare 2000, The Georgia Greenspace Program, and the Governor’s Council on Land Conservation. As Executive Director of the North Georgia Mountains Authority, his responsibilities included operations, financial performance, strategic visioning, capital expenditure planning and execution, marketing, and product development plans. In this position he managed a hospitality portfolio consisting of eight state park lodges and two resorts, 740 employees and a $35 million budget; he reported to the nine-member North Georgia Mountains Authority Board of Directors. He aligned the interests of a governor-appointed nine-member board from diverse corporate and public service backgrounds in order to develop and advance the strategic plan.

Mr. Newsome’s North Georgia Mountains Authority Projects include: the Chattahoochee River Park System where Bob led the planning and design efforts for a 38 mile linear park system to be developed on lands acquired through Rivercare 2000 and Georgia Greenspace Programs. Subject lands are under the ownership of multiple state, and municipal entities, requiring significant coordination of planning and funding efforts. The program has resulted in the completion of a plan that will develop six new state parks, and 11 municipal recreation areas. The Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club project site was within the boundaries of Georgia Veterans State Park requiring the careful integration of the resort amenities into the park. Bob created program concept and initial project plans. He led the design, construction, and initial operating phases. In 2006 Bob lead the team to create The Stables at Brasstown Valley, a $2.2 million project that created full amenity equestrian experience at Brasstown Valley Resort. The project included 4.5 miles of equestrian trails.

As Director of Georgia State Park Lodges, Bob was responsible for the operation of the full service resort parks geographically scattered across the state which included 38,000 acres of managed land, 230 miles of trails, 22 day use areas, and eight lodges. While with the lodge park group Bob oversaw the planning and construction of more than eighty miles of trails that included the use of suspension and free spanning bridges, and staircase systems that traversed steep elevation changes of more than 1000 feet in short distances. Bob is experienced in the application and administration of Federal Alternative Transportation Grants, and was able to bring those funding opportunities to these efforts.