From Business to Biology, One Woman Fuels Atlanta’s Wonder

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Cheryl Kortemeir. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

For Cheryl Kortemeir, the path to becoming a pillar of Atlanta’s scientific community was a long detour that eventually circled back home. Growing up the daughter of a high school biology teacher and a computer science professor, she initially chose business school to chart a different course. However, the spark of curiosity was reignited in 2014 when she attended the inaugural Atlanta Science Festival with her family. What began as a weekend of exploration evolved into a deep commitment, and she joined the board of directors in 2019… just as the festival transitioned into the year-round nonprofit known as Science ATL.

Leveraging her professional background, she helped transform a “scrappy” startup into a polished, organized force capable of cultivating an equitable community of science lovers across the city. Since taking the mantle of board chair in 2022, Cheryl has guided the organization through a period of explosive growth and measurable impact. Under her leadership, the festival’s reach expanded from 60,000 to 87,000 attendees, while school programs successfully reached more than 29,000 local youth. This scaling was made possible by a significant boost in financial health, with revenue climbing from $800,000 to over $1.23 million.

As the chair of the Run With the Dogs 5K, she coordinates a beloved annual tradition that bridges the gap between fitness and philanthropy. In 2024 and 2025, she managed a massive logistical undertaking that saw more than 600 residents and their canine companions racing to support student athletics. This role requires an intense commitment, with Cheryl contributing up to 30 hours of volunteer service during the peak month of January to ensure the event’s success. Her efforts directly benefit more than 1,100 student athletes across 59 teams and 19 sports at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School.

Even in her professional life, Cheryl remains a champion for collective action. As the executive director of the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta, she supports over 110 companies in their quest to create meaningful social impact. Her life is a full-circle journey, and Cheryl is proving that a business degree and a passion for science are a potent combination for civic good.

Tell us about your volunteer role.

I joined the board of directors for Science ATL in 2019 and stepped into the role of board chair in 2022. The organization has such an interesting history. It actually began simply as the Atlanta Science Festival back in 2014. For nearly a decade, it was just a festival, but the city embraced it so enthusiastically that we realized we needed to offer science outreach year-round.

To meet that demand, we established Science ATL as a permanent, year-round nonprofit. Today, we describe ourselves as Science ATL, “engineers” of the Atlanta Science Festival. Because I have many years of experience in corporate communications and the nonprofit sector, I felt I joined at just the right time to offer counsel on building the infrastructure of a full-time organization. It has been incredibly rewarding to contribute to that growth.

As board chair, my primary role is to keep the board engaged as we establish our operational framework. I know setting up infrastructure and board committees isn’t always considered the flashy part of governance, but it is essential. These systems allow us to amplify our programs and events, helping us expand our reach into more communities. The mission of Science ATL is to create an equitable community of science lovers, and we achieve that through intentional programming, school outreach and community events.

Why is science so important to you?

I love science because there is so much wonder in it, and it is truly everywhere. When you look up at the night sky, you are observing science—the stars, the atmosphere, even the air we breathe. It touches everything from computer science and the STEM jobs of today to environmental health.

It’s easy for people to get caught up in the grind of their daily lives, but my involvement with Science ATL has taught me to press pause. When you slow down and observe, there are little moments of inspiration all around us. I try to bring that sense of discovery to our board meetings. While we are there to handle the business of the organization, I start every meeting with a moment of science, discussing a recent discovery or an amazing scientific event. It helps us expand our minds and puts us in the right frame of mind to focus on our work.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

I am the daughter of scientists. Growing up in Augusta, Georgia, my household was all science, all the time. My mom was a biology teacher who literally incubated baby chickens on our kitchen counter every semester. My father was a computer scientist, and my stepfather was a pharmacologist. We even had a pet newt that commuted to school with my mom. Science was everywhere.

Naturally, when I graduated high school, I headed straight for business school. I wanted to show my independence and chart my own path. But as I started my professional life, I felt a void. When the Atlanta Science Festival launched in 2014, I was so excited that I scooped up my family and told them, “We’re going.” We became regulars, visiting every booth and engaging with every exhibitor. It filled a part of my identity I hadn’t realized was missing.

Eventually, the co-executive directors reached out and said, “We see your professional skills and your passion, and we’d love for you to join our board of directors.” It was a dream come true. It allowed me to get my science fix and plug back into that world without leaving my career in business. Now, I get to have both.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

Beyond the festival, our organization works deeply with youth and professionals. In a time when science can feel like a polarizing issue, we believe it’s vital for science professionals to feel valued and for young people to see clear career pathways. Our “STEM Forward” program brings professionals directly into classrooms to inspire students.

Currently, we are in 30 schools across Metro Atlanta with about 40 STEM professionals involved. I would love to see those numbers double in the short term. I believe this program is a model that could eventually be replicated across the country. Similarly, while our festival currently reaches about 60,000 individuals over two weeks, I believe doubling that reach is entirely doable. Every year, we meet people who say, “I never knew this existed,” and that word-of-mouth excitement is what fuels our growth.

What have you learned through your experiences volunteering?

Through this work, I’ve had incredible tangible experiences, from learning how engineers at major airlines use STEM to design passenger seat comfort, to holding a human brain and learning about its delicate functions. I’ve even learned how to separate the DNA of a strawberry during hands-on activities with geneticists!

But the most significant thing I’ve learned from my colleagues at Science ATL is the power of thinking big. In our day-to-day lives, it’s easy to develop a micro-focus. At Science ATL, someone will name a “wild” idea, we’ll laugh… and then suddenly, we’re doing it. We transformed a one-day event into a massive two-week celebration with a huge expo because we have a group of visionary leaders. That spirit has inspired me to shoot for the stars in other parts of my life, too. Sometimes you get there, and sometimes you don’t—but it’s always an adventure.”

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The most rewarding part of this work is witnessing the spark that goes off in our youngest students. You see a professional talking about their job, and suddenly a light bulb flickers on in a child’s mind. They realize, “I didn’t know I could do that.” I have a friend who is a physician, and she brought her second-grade daughter to the Atlanta Science Festival. After visiting several exhibitors, the little girl looked up and said, “Mom, I think I want to be a doctor.” They had never even had that conversation before! Her mother’s heart just exploded.

Being a witness to those moments of self-discovery is what keeps me going. I’ve seen it with my own kids, too. They’ve been along for the ride since the beginning, and every year they come home buzzing with excitement. As a parent, I’ve loved having this enrichment opportunity to underpin what has become both of my children’s favorite subject in school.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

I believe getting involved in your community significantly expands your quality of life. Volunteering helps us connect with others, stay curious as lifelong learners, and it is genuinely good for our health. Because I work professionally in the field of volunteerism, I am constantly helping others find their passion, but I have passions, too. I like to lead by example by getting involved in what makes my heart sing, then sharing that experience with others.

Everyone is different, and volunteering is a safe way to test new interests. You can be a more non-committal volunteer and try many different things, or you can go deep with one organization where you have expertise. Both paths enrich our lives. Beyond that, I feel a strong sense of civic duty. So many people have poured into me throughout my life; getting involved is simply part of being a good citizen and a positive force in our world.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

My best advice for anyone looking to get involved is to simply show up and give it a try. I talk to so many people who say, “I’ve always wanted to do that” or “I’ve been meaning to.” A friend once shared a wonderful Meryl Streep quote with me: “Start by starting.” I think about that a lot. Just find something interesting—or tag along with a friend who is already volunteering—and give it a go. There are plenty of direct-service opportunities where you can show up, help out, and then reflect on how it made you feel. If it’s a fit, sign up again; if not, keep looking. Start by thinking about what you are already passionate about, whether it’s animals, literacy or healthcare. Whatever the cause, there is an organization working on it. Make a pledge to yourself—maybe to volunteer once a quarter or once a month—and just see where the adventure takes you.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Cheryl? Find local volunteer opportunities.