Liz Coyle joined Georgia Watch in February 2012. She leads the team of nonprofit advocates serving as a powerful statewide voice for Georgia’s consumers on policies that open doors to the financial mainstream, increase financial security, improve access to affordable healthcare and lower consumers’ energy burden. As Executive Director, Liz manages the organization’s operations and staff and oversees all Georgia Watch impact areas.
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In addition to her role with Georgia Watch, Liz accepted an appointment to the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, serving in 2018-2019. In 2021, she testified before the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to share insights on protecting consumers in the pandemic recovery economy. Liz served as vice chair of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative board from 2018 to 2021. As a civic leader, she champions community causes. Currently, she is board chairman of the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy. Previously, she served on the board of directors of the Atlanta BeltLine. Liz has more than 25 years of experience as a nonprofit manager, communications professional and grassroots advocate. She received a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Virginia.
Natasha Taylor is the Deputy Director at Georgia Watch. Natasha brings a diverse knowledge and understanding of public policy, community outreach, consumer relations, and healthcare access to the team. She is dedicated to increasing access to quality healthcare, access to clean energy, and improving financial literacy and well-being for marginalized populations across Georgia.
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Natasha has always had a passion for advocacy. She discovered that she could turn her passion into a career while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Georgia State University (GSU). After graduating Summa Cum Laude, Natasha continued to advance on her academic path by pursuing a master’s degree in Gerontology at the GSU Gerontology Institute. While in the program, she was chosen to work as a fully funded research assistant with the Convoys of Care study, focusing on how to support informal care networks in assisted living communities in ways that promoted residents’ ability to age in place with optimal resident, and informal and formal caregiver quality of life. She also received the Fulton County Gerontology Award and graduated with honors. Throughout her college career, Natasha expressed a strong desire to work in the fields of public policy and advocacy to help improve the quality of life for marginalized populations across the state. After graduation, Natasha served as Deputy Director of the Georgia Council on Aging where she was successful in helping to lobby for many changes at the State legislature including quality-of-care improvements in Personal Care Homes and Nursing Homes, funding for a Behavioral Health Coach project in Tifton and Albany, Disaster Planning Equity for Senior Care Providers, and increased funding for Home and Community Based Services. In addition to her vast academic knowledge base, Natasha brings over 15 years of management, event planning, and consumer relations experience to her position.
Jayla Johnson joined Georgia Watch in March 2024. She serves the team as the Communications and Engagement Manager at Georgia Watch. Jayla has a diverse background in journalism, social media, marketing, consumer economics, public affairs and event planning. She works to increase the visibility and message of our organization throughout the state of Georgia.
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Jayla Johnson is a first-generation Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of Georgia (UGA). She has a bachelor’s in Journalism, a minor in Consumer Economics, a Public Affairs Certificate and a Sports Media Certificate. She is from Riverdale, Georgia, and graduated from Riverdale High School in 2017. Her passion for communications started at a young age.
Her highlights from her time at UGA include participating in a sports media diversity research study and serving as a news reporter for the documentary about the first five Black football players for the University. She has experience as a writer and editor for many organizations in college and started her career as a news reporter and producer. She is skilled in traditional news writing, studio production, interviewing, video editing, graphic design and social media coverage.
In her free time, she’s an advocate for public service to the Black community. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in the East Point/ College Park Alumnae Chapter. She has maintained an active membership since becoming a member in 2019 at UGA.
Kosi Achara
Advocacy Community Engagement and Social Entrepreneurship Fellow
Kosi joins Georgia Watch as an Advocacy Community Engagement and Social Entrepreneurship Fellow and will join us as an intern this summer. She brings a wealth of experience in healthcare, research and advocacy, and she’s passionate about addressing health disparities and inequities in marginalized populations. Kosi Achara is an MPH Candidate at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She is pursuing a concentration in Global Environmental Health and a certificate in Social Determinants Of Health.
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Kosi has a robust background in medicine and public health. She earned her MD degree at the University of Nigeria and has about seven years of medical practice experience as a physician and community medicine specialist. She led advocacy efforts, health campaigns, and medical outreaches in underserved communities through her roles in various Non-Governmental Organizations.
In addition, she has held several leadership positions throughout her career, ranging from executive positions in student government to health advocacy chair positions in the organizations she has worked with. She leverages her background to develop community-centered policy solutions and advocacy initiatives that have impacted hundreds to thousands of people at a time.
Kosi is dedicated to improving health outcomes in underserved populations and addressing the social determinants of health to mitigate disparities and inequities. Her commitment to public health is driven by a desire to create lasting positive changes in community health. She is excited to join Georgia Watch and contribute to the organization’s efforts in consumer advocacy and improving healthcare access.
With a passion for serving communities and fostering positive change, Candy will play a vital role in supporting the organization’s mission and initiatives. She has a rich background of expertise spanning over 15 years and a heart for service. Candy is consistently driven by a deep-seated commitment to helping others achieve their objectives. She assists in managing schedules, facilitating communications, and handling logistics to ensure smooth program operations and effective coordination. Candy thrives in environments where collaboration and teamwork are paramount, making her a valuable addition to our collective efforts to address pressing consumer issues and advocate for policy change.
Jayla Johnson