Mazie Lynn Guertin
Executive Director & Policy Advocate
mazielynn@gacdl.org
Mazie Lynn invests her time in a variety of initiatives ranging from the daily growth and development of her two young children to supporting the work of the justice seekers - the incredible members of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Atlanta became home to Mazie Lynn when she arrived to study engineering at Georgia Tech over twenty-five years ago.
After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, she went on to teach English as a Second Language in Split, Croatia before returning to the United States for a role in operations at a national financial planning firm. Her love of the law and desire to serve led her to Georgia State University where she earned a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration on her way to becoming a public defender. She has invested her legal career in being a voice for those too often unheard: men and women accused of crimes ranging from petty shoplifting to capital murder.
For almost twenty years, Mazie Lynn has lived in the under-resourced southside of the City of Atlanta believing that community transformation requires, in part, the long-term commitment of neighbors willing to give of themselves for the greater good. In addition to volunteering with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop Mazie Lynn also serves on the Board of Directors of Wesley International Academy.
Ophelia Attah
Operations Manager
ophelia@gacdl.org
Ophelia has built a diverse career spanning non-profit, corporate, and international business environments. She is dedicated to fostering growth, building strong relationships, and contributing meaningfully to every organization she works with.
Originally from Accra, Ghana, Ophelia moved to the United States in 1998 and settled in Alexandria, Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in Finance, from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010. She later pursued a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management, graduating from Strayer University in 2015.
Her professional journey began at AMJ Financial LLC, where she worked as a Client Service Associate. In 2013, she relocated back to Accra, Ghana, joining the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) as a Human Resource and Administrative Executive. Her tenure at CBOD was marked by significant achievements, including establishing the organization’s operations from the ground up, recruiting key supporting staff, managing all aspects involved in creating a fully functional office environment, and spearheading the inaugural Ghana International Petroleum Conference in 2014. Ophelia continued her career with the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council, gaining further international experience.
In 2021, she returned to the United States and took on the role of Operations Manager at GACDL.
Throughout her career, Ophelia has focused on making a positive impact by combining her expertise in business, human resources, and operations.
Katie Holbrook
Part-Time Administrative & Membership Coordinator
katie@gacdl.org
Katie Holbrook was born and raised in Gwinnett County, GA, and began exploring criminal justice concepts in high school. That interest grew into a passion for defense work during her undergraduate studies which included mentorship by Honorary GACDL member and Past President Michael Shapiro, as well as the GACDL members at Peters, Rubin, Sheffield & Hodges where she interned. She joined GACDL as its Part-Time Administrative and Membership Coordinator in April 2024.
Serving as Mental Health Advocacy Chair and then Vice President of Active Minds, a nonprofit organization focusing on mental health awareness and education for young adults, Katie was able to introduce the Georgia State University Chapter to the intersection of mental health and the criminal legal system - an intersection in which she is keenly interested.
Katie is a 2024 graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice whose empathy and compassion can be credited to growing up in a loving home with her parents and two older sisters. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time outdoors and with her “three f’s:” family, friends, and furbabies. As a lifetime Atlanta Falcons fan, Katie’s always up to root for the underdog.