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GACCE March 2026 E-Newsletter
The mission of GACCE is engaging, educating, and empowering chamber professionals.
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GACCE Regional Roundtables are designed to bring chamber professionals together in smaller, regional settings for meaningful connection, candid conversation, and practical learning.
Hosted in Tifton (April 23) and Canton (April 29), these one-day gatherings are designed for real conversations, real solutions, and real connection.
Each event will feature a timely educational session tailored to today’s chamber challenges — from membership strategy & revenue growth to leadership & time management — followed by roundtable discussions where participants rotate through focused topic areas. Roundtable topics will include advocacy, marketing, non-dues revenue, events, membership, board development, communications, sponsorships, and leadership programs — ensuring every attendee leaves with actionable ideas and fresh perspective.
CLICK HERE to register - you can attend the location closest to you or both -
it's up to you and your team!
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We have scheduled a new complimentary webinar with a GACCE Associate Member for the following:
Tuesday, March 24 – 2:00pm
Updates from OneDigital | Insurance, Financial Services, and HR Consulting
William Peterson, MBA, FABC – Client Executive
Join us as we hear an update of the service offerings available from OneDigital for our members.
CLICK HERE to register for this meeting. Once you have completed the short registration form, the system will send you the information to connect to the meeting, and you can add it to your calendar. The meeting will be recorded and shared with the membership in case you aren’t able to join us on that day.
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Women Who Lead
March 11 | 8:30am
Trilith LIVE
Fayetteville, GA
Join us as we bring the experience, wisdom, and energy of women leaders together in a one-day event at Trilith LIVE. “Women Who Lead” will bring executives, community leaders, and business owners together to provide inspiration and share challenges and setbacks while ultimately focusing on overcoming objectives and providing best practices for women in Georgia. Hear from incredible speakers, participate in relevant breakout sessions, and network with fellow attendees as we promote the influence of women in the workplace and beyond. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
| | GACCE Associate Member Updates | | | | |
Stay Connected
Critical Issues Forum
Family Literacy: A Catalyst for Community Transformation
March 18, 2026 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Family literacy is a workforce strategy! When parents build skills alongside their children, communities see stronger academic outcomes, higher adult credential attainment, and more stable talent pipelines. GPEE’s upcoming Critical Issues Forum will convene leaders from the Technical College System of Georgia, DECAL, healthcare, and statewide literacy partners to explore how whole-family learning drives economic mobility and community vitality. Click here to register now to reserve your spot!
Regional Learning Network (RLN)
GPEE’s Regional Learning Network connects business, education, and community leaders to strengthen Georgia’s education-to-workforce pipeline. Members gain:
• Access to cross-sector solutions and resources
• Direct connection to statewide partners
• A voice in policy conversations shaping Georgia’s future workforce
Interested? Contact Kathleen Da Silva at kdasilva@gpee.org
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Public Affairs Director Terry Buttrill Retires; Zach Hyers Joins the Team
After years of dedicated service to Georgia’s electric membership corporations and the communities they serve, Public Affairs Director Terry Buttrill will be retiring in April. Terry has been a trusted partner to chambers across the state, helping Georgia Transmission build and maintain its reliable, cost-effective electric transmission infrastructure. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and the relationships she has built within the GACCE network. As Terry prepares to pass the torch, we are excited to welcome Zach Hyers to the Georgia Transmission team. Zach and Terry will both be attending the upcoming GACCE Staff Development Conference. If you’ll be there, please stop by our table to say hello to Zach and help us wish Terry well in her retirement. We appreciate our ongoing partnership with GACCE and look forward to continuing our work together to support economic growth and opportunity across the state.
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GACCE is pleased to welcome a new Associate Member:
HRASimple
Mark Mixer
678-524-3042
mmixer@alliantplans.com
If your benefits feel harder every year, it’s not just you.
The traditional insurance model is no longer working for today’s small businesses, and Georgia employers are ready for something better.
Among Georgia’s first ICHRA administrators, HRASimple was built to help employers move beyond one-size-fits-all insurance. An ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement) allows employers to set a predictable benefits budget while employees choose the health plan that fits their life. No minimum enrollment or contributions required.
HRASimple combines smart technology with something increasingly rare: real people in Georgia who answer the phone and guide you through benefits decisions.
Our role is simple: help you see ICHRA options clearly, design benefits that fit your business, and support your team with care, compliance, and consistency.
Learn more and model potential savings for your Chamber (or your members!) at HRASimple.com. We look forward to seeing you in March at the Staff Development Conference, right here on our home turf in Dalton, Georgia.
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2026 Youth Lead Georgia™ Summit Applications Open
Rising 11th and 12th graders from across the state are invited to apply for this two‑day, one‑night leadership experience, held July 16–17 in Athens, Ga. CLICK HERE for more information. The Youth Lead Georgia Summit offers students the opportunity to:
- Build and strengthen leadership skills
- Learn about preparing for college
- Connect with peers from communities across Georgia
| | | | We look forward to seeing many of you again in Dalton, and will host a lunch and mini-golf outing after our conference ends on Wednesday, March 11th at Dalton Falls Fun Center. Reach out to Bryan for more details! | | | | |
Looking forward to seeing you in Dalton. Please stop by our table to learn more about how I can help you and your members with their employee insurance, such as the Chamber Smart Plan and their business insurance needs.
David W. Righter
VP Employee Health and Benefits
717-418-0240
David.Righter@MarshMMA.com
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Compliance Tracker Newsletter - March 2026
This month’s Compliance Tracker Newsletter summarizes compliance deadlines for March 2026 and highlights additional upcoming deadlines. Click here for the newsletter.
| | | | SOAR Nonprofit Solutions is proud to lead and sponsor the GACCE Regional Roundtable in Tifton on April 23. Join us for this engaging, small-group session, The New Economics of Membership, designed to understand and explore forward-thinking strategies shaping the Chamber of the future. Drawing on her experience as a retired President of a 5-Star Accredited Chamber, Tammy Shepherd, IOM, GCCE will share best practices, evolving standards, and emerging trends to help position your organization for long-term relevance and growth. Come be part of the conversation! | | | | Chambers are in the business of relationships—and so am I. At Starfish Partnerships, I help chamber leaders and staff strengthen teams, clarify priorities, and create momentum that actually sticks. Whether it’s a board retreat, staff training, strengths session, or a volunteer membership blitz, my goal is simple: help chambers work smarter, communicate better, and enjoy the work a little more along the way. If your chamber could use a boost of clarity, connection, or confidence, let’s talk. Book a complimentary Discovery Call: https://tidycal.com/teri1/discovery-call — Teri Smiley, Starfish Partnerships | | | | |
Many chambers know YGM for our Total Resource Campaigns and the non-dues revenue growth they generate nationwide. In addition to TRCs, we also offer our Visionary Leadership Retreat, a dynamic one-day experience designed to energize your board and sharpen your Chamber’s impact over the next 12 months.
This is not a multi-year strategic planning session. It is a focused, action-oriented retreat resulting in defined next steps your board can begin implementing immediately during your board meetings. The retreat can be scheduled at any time of year, whenever you are ready to bring your board together for meaningful alignment and momentum.
Pam Powers-Smith of the Rome-Floyd Chamber had this to say about their VLR experience: “The retreat struck a great balance of learning, relationship-building, and fun, while still keeping us focused and productive. We walked away having accomplished our goals and feeling more connected as a board.”
If your board is ready for a fresh, high-impact planning experience, we would love to connect.
| | GACCE Chamber Member Updates | | Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber | The Downtown Development Authority and Economic Development for Bainbridge and Decatur County are seeking a new Director. Click here for more information. | | Darien-McIntosh County Chamber | |
Blessing of the Fleet in Darien is coming up April 17th-19th! Join us for a weekend of fun and celebration of Coastal Georgia's Commercial Fishing heritage. For more details visit -https://darienmcintoshchamber.com/blessing-of-the-fleet/
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The Chamber will be hosting several events in March:
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March 6 - Battle of the Paddles Pickleball Tournament
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March 12 - Fayette Advanced Manufacturing & Industry Network
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March 17 - Start Up Fayette: You and Your Business: The Correct Legal Structure
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March 24 - Business Growth Essentials: From Hustle to Health
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March 25 - Leadership Fayette Alumni Breakfast
| | Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber | Bridget Daniel has been named the Interim President/CEO of the Chamber. | | |
The Chamber has debuted its new Annual Sponsorship Catalog, providing a comprehensive overview of all sponsorship levels and opportunities available throughout the year. The catalog is designed to help members strategically plan their marketing investments by clearly outlining event sponsorships, program support opportunities, and associated benefits in one streamlined resource. By consolidating these options, the Chamber aims to increase transparency, simplify planning, and maximize member engagement. The Chamber has already received rave reviews from members who appreciate the clarity and ease of planning the catalog provides. Businesses interested in reviewing the catalog or discussing sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to contact the Chamber directly.
| | Greater North Fulton Chamber | |
On Feb. 3rd, the Chamber hosted special guests, Dan Corso (ATL Sports Council) and Dave Williams (MAC), in their North Fulton Focus Series Kickoff. As the metro Atlanta region prepares for the arrival of the world's largest sporting event, GNFCC talked all things FIFA, economic development, and the halo effect sporting events have on regional communities. The six cities in North Fulton are actively preparing for the World Cup and ready to support local businesses, hotels, and travelers in this one of a kind summer event.
| | Madison-Morgan County Chamber | | The Chamber will host their Sweet South Classic Golf Tournament on March 23rd. This will be the first golf tournament for the Chamber in over 22+ years. | |
 | | The Chamber held its first Quarterly Summit of the year, dedicated to our nonprofit business community. One of our Chamber board members who leads a nonprofit organization served as facilitator, guiding participants through an engaging three-hour session. The summit featured several practical and timely topics, including strengthening boards through clear roles, engagement, and effective governance; elevating marketing, branding, and storytelling on any budget; building strategic partnerships to increase community impact; and mastering AI tools to support donor engagement, volunteers, social media, and administrative tasks. With 50 attendees, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. These annual summits help us streamline how we support our local business community. Last year, our goal was to move away from multiple one-hour quarterly programs and instead create a more meaningful experience by hosting one focused annual summit for each sector. This approach not only lightens the load for our staff but also allows us to bring together stronger content, collaboration, and networking in a single setting. Each summit is designed to serve a specific group within our business community. In addition to our nonprofit summit, in 2026 we will host an annual summit focused on home-based businesses, one for small businesses, and one dedicated to the healthcare sector—providing relevant education, resources, and connections that help our members grow and better serve the community.
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The Chamber recently hosted a Board Retreat for our 2026 Board of Directors. The group heard from Jason Ebey of YGM Total Resource Campaign about the role of a board member, how to strategically plan for the future, and the importance of strong leadership in moving our mission forward.
| | Other Updates of Interest | | Save the Date - #ACCE26 Annual Convention has been set for July 20-22, 2026 in New Orleans, LA. Click here for more information. | | IOM - 2026 Summer Sites Now Open for Registration | |
We are looking forward to another amazing year at Madison, Athens, & Villanova. Click here to go to the general Institute registration page.
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