From networking events to professional development opportunities, the program helped students envision a future in metro Atlanta.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber’s ATL Interns After 5 summer series wrapped its 2026 program by giving interns across the region meaningful opportunities to connect with peers, grow their professional networks, and see metro Atlanta as a place where they can belong, build careers, and shape their futures.
“This program is about helping interns see themselves in Atlanta beyond the summer,” said Zach Fiore, director of talent pipeline management at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “By connecting students with employers, peers and the broader region, we are helping create pathways that support both individual career growth and metro Atlanta’s workforce needs.”
The 2026 series kicked off in early June at Your 3rd Spot, welcoming more than 500 interns from across the country and around the world who were spending their summers with participating Chamber-affiliated employers. Summer programming continued at the ATL House, the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee’s official hospitality house, with a watch party during one of Atlanta’s major global moments surrounding FIFA World Cup 2026™, and concluded with a baseball and networking experience in partnership with TKE and the Atlanta Braves. Together, the events highlighted Atlanta’s mix of corporate leadership, world-class entertainment, and community connection.
“ATL Interns After 5 was one of the best parts of my internship experience,” said a 2026 program participant. “It helped me build meaningful friendships, expand my professional network, and feel more connected to metro Atlanta.”
As metro Atlanta competes for top talent, ATL Interns After 5 remains a key part of MAC’s long-term workforce strategy. Those connections to employers, neighborhoods and professional networks help strengthen the region’s talent pipeline and support broader efforts to advance economic opportunity across the community.
