NEWS

The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce joined fellow members of the Georgia Chamber Hub Council on Wednesday, Aug. 5, in Athens for a leadership discussion focused on strengthening collaboration between Georgia’s business community and elected officials.

Held ahead of the Georgia Chamber’s 2026 Congressional Luncheon, the Hub Chamber Council event brought together chamber leaders from across the state to hear from state and federal leaders on issues impacting Georgia’s economy, communities, and businesses.

“Ensuring that local chambers from around the state have a chance to meet and hear from our elected leaders is critical to filling our advocacy role on behalf of our members,” Chamber President & CEO Bert Brantley said. “Whether they serve at the federal or state level, the decisions they make impact our region’s competitiveness. Building these relationships will certainly pay off for our advocacy efforts down the road.”

The program opened with remarks from Jessica Walden, President and CEO of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Hub Chamber Council, followed by remarks from Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, who highlighted the importance of agriculture to Georgia’s economy and the state’s continued growth.

The event also featured a discussion with newcomers to Georgia’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Clay Fuller, Georgia’s 14th Congressional District; State Rep. Houston Gaines, Republican nominee for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District; and Jim Kingston, Republican nominee for Georgia’s 1st Congressional District. The conversation provided an opportunity to hear from emerging leaders on their priorities and vision for serving Georgia.

Brantley was joined at the Georgia Chamber event by Savannah Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Jamie McCurry.

“This annual luncheon is a great opportunity for us to catch up with contacts and leaders from around the state. This year was a success, and we have a number of possible new members and new sponsors to follow up with,” Chairman McCurry added.

Sen. Greg Dolezal, Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor, also spoke at the Hub Chamber Council breakfast event, where he shared his priorities, including the importance of infrastructure investments to bolster our statewide freight and logistics network, tax policy, and higher education reforms.