Leading Business Organization Welcomes Atlanta Federal Reserve’s Raphael Bostic as Incoming Board Chair, Announces Genuine Parts Company’s Paul Donahue as 2023 Chair-Elect and Georgia Power’s Chris Womack as 2024 Chair
Leading Business Organization Welcomes Atlanta Federal Reserve’s Raphael Bostic as Incoming Board Chair, Announces Genuine Parts Company’s Paul Donahue as 2023 Chair-Elect and Georgia Power’s Chris Womack as 2024 Chair
ATLANTA (Nov. 18, 2021) – Today, the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) hosted its 162nd Annual Meeting and announced board chair leadership through 2024. Chair-elect Raphael Bostic, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta will serve as the 2022 chair; Paul Donahue, chairman and CEO of Genuine Parts Company will lead the charge for 2023; and Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power will take the helm in 2024. The announcements were celebrated by out-going chair Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, and MAC President and CEO Katie Kirkpatrick.
“It was an honor to serve the Metro Atlanta Chamber as its 2021 board chair, and I’m thrilled to pass the torch to Raphael Bostic as he continues driving impact for the region,” said Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian. “Our journey has been a challenging one, but the businesses and the people of metro Atlanta have shown that our resilience, our shared values and our determination have never been stronger.”
In 2022, the Chamber will collaborate with Bostic to expand on priorities in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. During the past year, Bostic served as a key thought partner for the MAC-led ATL Action for Racial Equity (AA4RE) initiative committed to accelerating racial equity by leveraging the size and scale of the metro business community and the power of collective impact. AA4RE is currently analyzing survey data across the more than 250 companies that signed onto the initiative.
Bostic was also heavily engaged with the RESTORE task force, a diverse group of business leaders which aimed to provide a blueprint for how metro Atlanta and Georgia might accelerate economic recovery following the pandemic. This work aligns with Bostic’s commitment to the concept of “an economy that works for everyone.”
“I am honored to serve as the Chamber’s 2022 Board Chair and have the opportunity to continue advancing the organization’s DEI imperative across our region’s business community,” said Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President and CEO Raphael Bostic. “From the pandemic to the social reckoning we’ve all experienced, it’s never been more important to honor Atlanta’s powerful civil rights legacy and continue to work towards equity and inclusivity for all.”
Bringing with him nearly 40 years of leadership and expertise, Paul Donahue, chairman and CEO of Genuine Parts Company will serve as MAC’s 2023 chair. Donahue began his career in 1978 with Newell Brands, another notable Atlanta brand. He is a passionate advocate within the metro community, including through board service for Truist Bank, the Shephard Center Foundation and the Carlyle Fraser Heart Center.
“I look forward to working with the Chamber’s leadership team, in partnership with the Executive Committee, to accelerate metro Atlanta’s pursuit of being the best region to live, work and play for all,” said Genuine Parts Company’s chairman and CEO Paul Donahue.
Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power will succeed Paul Donahue as MAC’s 2024 chair. With an extensive background at Georgia Power and the Southern Company, Womack has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards over an impressive career. He will work in tandem with the Chamber toward efforts aligned with MAC’s core pillars of Grow, Advocate and Promote.
“In 2021, the Metro Atlanta Chamber rallied alongside our business community to meaningfully address challenges that impacted every citizen of this region by prioritizing economic recovery, public health, public safety and racial equity,” said Metro Atlanta Chamber President and CEO Katie Kirkpatrick. “Through close collaboration with the innovative and diverse leaders who call Atlanta home, we’re excited to continue this work with our newly appointed board chairs.”
This year’s meeting celebrated the many reasons why business leaders and communities continue to choose Atlanta as their home. Additionally, Bastian and Kirkpatrick provided a recap of MAC accomplishments in positioning the region as a global competitor.
For more information, visit metroatlantachamber.com.
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About the Metro Atlanta Chamber
The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) serves as a catalyst for a more prosperous and vibrant region. To advance economic growth and improve metro Atlanta's quality of place, MAC is focused on starting, growing and recruiting companies to the 29-county metro Atlanta region. The Chamber is also focused on expanding the region's innovation economy by promoting and strengthening connections to drive Atlanta's innovation and entrepreneurial culture. MAC is committed to being an active voice for the business community, serving as an advocate for a competitive business climate and promoting Atlanta's story. For more information, visit www.MetroAtlantaChamber.com.
Media Contact:
Ashley Tanks
Senior Director, Public Relations
atanks@macoc.com
