“Building What’s Next” spotlights World Cup legacy, next-generation industries and the fundamentals that sustain growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Abby Turano
ATLANTA (Nov. 12, 2026) – The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) today hosted its 167th Annual Meeting, bringing together business and civic leaders from across the 29-county region under the theme “Building What’s Next.” The program focused on metro Atlanta’s economic momentum, highlighted the legacy of FIFA World Cup 2026™ and shared insights into long-term planning for the region to continue growing responsibly.
Speakers included Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber; Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who joined Kirkpatrick for an opening conversation; Rich McKay, CEO of AMB Sports + Entertainment and 2026 MAC board chair; and Richard McPhail, executive vice president and CFO of The Home Depot and 2027 MAC board chair. Films featured Ambassador Andrew Young as well as company and community leaders in economic development.
A panel discussion brought together past and incoming MAC board chairs to discuss regional competitiveness, talent and cross-sector partnership, including:
The meeting capped a historic summer. Atlanta hosted eight FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches, including a semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and fans filled the FIFA Fan Festival™ downtown and watch parties from Decatur to Macon to Savannah. MAC Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish estimates the tournament generated $615.4 million in economic impact on the state, exceeding his initial conservative projection of $503.2 million.
“FIFA World Cup 2026™ was a generational opportunity to showcase all we have to offer in Atlanta and Georgia,” said Rich McKay. “Major sporting events like these are tremendous platforms for long-term economic development.”
Kirkpatrick described the region’s economic development as a flywheel: companies grow and hire, new talent puts down roots and builds community, then strong communities attract the next company. The program highlighted recent project wins including Authority Brands in Cobb County, TOTO USA in Clayton County and Belgium-based UCB’s landmark life sciences investment in Gwinnett County.
Noting that Georgia has been named the No. 1 state for business for 13 consecutive years, Kirkpatrick thanked Gov. Brian Kemp and state leaders in economic development and congratulated Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, remarking that MAC looks forward to working with her, members of the Georgia General Assembly and local elected officials.
Kirkpatrick and McPhail both called on the nation’s sixth-largest metro area to prepare for the future by strengthening infrastructure for smart growth. Water was a central focus: MAC is partnering with the Georgia Farm Bureau to develop a long-term, statewide plan for water resilience, laying groundwork that will serve communities across Georgia for generations.
“As we dream big, we also have to get the basics right: housing, water, roads and transit,” said Kirkpatrick. “Every great region gets these right, and the best ones get them right early.”
McKay, who led MAC through the World Cup year, passed the board chair role to McPhail, who outlined MAC’s priorities for 2027.
“Metro Atlanta’s economic momentum came through decades of intentional planning and steady partnership between business and civic leaders,” said McPhail. “As we look to 2027, we are focused on protecting that competitive advantage by unlocking housing supply, closing the skilled labor gap and investing in critical infrastructure.”
Kirkpatrick closed the program with a charge from Robert W. Woodruff, who shaped Coca-Cola and the city of Atlanta for much of the 20th century: “The future belongs to the discontented.”
“The future is shaped by those who refuse to settle,” said Kirkpatrick. “We will keep striving for better, and we will build what’s next, together.”
For more information, download the 2026 MAC Impact Report highlighting the year’s collaborative work across the region at MetroAtlantaChamber.com/2026-impact-report.
For more information, download the 2026 MAC Impact Report highlighting the year’s collaborative work across the region here.
High-resolution photos from the event are available for download here.
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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. We work to advance economic growth and improve metro Atlanta’s quality of life across the 29-county metro Atlanta region. MAC expands the region’s thriving economy, advocates for a competitive business climate, and elevates metro Atlanta’s story on a global scale. To learn more, visit MetroAtlantaChamber.com.
