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Thank You to our Sponsors!
122nd Annual Meeting Presented by Golden Pantry
| | Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the 122nd Annual Meeting! We are thrilled to announce that this is a sold out event with over 500 Athens community members coming together this Thursday, February 26th. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please register here. We can't wait to celebrate with you on Thursday! | | The Athens Achieves Career Portal is more than just another job site, it's a community-based effort to connect local residents to quality employment! Through the Career Portal at no cost, employers can post openings, automatically screen for candidates, promote openings, track applications, and work with career navigators in our office throughout the process. Contact Jim or Billy at navigators@athensachieves.com to get started! | | Chamber Staff in the Community | | |
The Athens Area Chamber Staff's community involvement doesn't stop when they leave the office. This year, we're excited to share with our members the other areas of service where our staff spend their time.
Our VP of Operations, Marissa, began serving on the Family Connections Communities in Schools board in 2025 and has enjoyed learning more about the organization's contributions to our community! You can support FC-CIS's mission of connecting students, families, and residents with the relationships and resources they need to thrive by purchasing your ticket to this Sunday's Athens Rock Lobsters game here and participating in Chuck a Puck!
| | Regional Friday Legislative Call | | |
Location: Virtual
Date: 2/27/2026
Time: 8:30 am - 9:00 am
| | Each Friday during legislative session, tune in for a virtual call with a member of our elected delegation to the Georgia General Assembly. This is an opportunity to hear about important issues and the expected outcome of the General Assembly. Calls will begin with a conversation led by our co-host followed by audience questions. On February 27th we will welcome Representative Spencer Frye. | | Shake Shack Ribbon Cutting | | | | |
Please join the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the ribbon cutting for Shake Shack. Shake Shack serves elevated versions of American classics using only the best ingredients.
On opening day, the first wave of guests can expect to receive custom Shake Shack swag and enjoy an appearance by UGA’s Hairy Dawg. As part of their mission to Stand for Something Good®, Shake Shack will donate $1 for every sandwich sold at the Athens Shack on March 4 to the Foodbank of Northeast Georgia.
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Location: 161 Alps Rd. Athens
Date: 3/4/2026
Time: 9:45 am - 10:30 am
| | Pancakes & Policy with Governor Brian P. Kemp | | | | |
Join us for a Pancakes & Policy breakfast as we welcome Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to speak to Athens area constituents and members of the business community.
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Location: UGA Tate Student Center, 45 Baxter St.
Date: 3/9/2026
Time: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
| | | | Join us for the February Network Luncheon! Network Lunch is where you maximize your relationship ROI. During this event, you'll hear from a featured speaker and our sponsors, who will give a brief presentation. Afterward, each attendee will have the time to introduce themselves with a quick elevator pitch. | |
Location: Athens Christian School, 1270 Hwy 29 N
Date: 3/10/2026
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
| | The Painted Heretic Ribbon Cutting | | | | Please join the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the ribbon cutting for The Painted Heretic. The Painted Heretic is built on the belief that the gaming experience should be as welcoming and inspiring as the worlds the players imagine. Every interaction is guided by sincerity and enthusiasm- from recommending a first starter set to running full-scale campaigns. The mission isn't simply to sell products, but to create a culture of learning, storytelling, and belonging. | |
Location: 150 Oak Meadows Dr. Athens
Date: 3/21/2026
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
| | | | Join us for Chamber 101, a crash course in making the most out of your Chamber membership. During this 90 minute event, you'll have time to network with new and long-time members before the class, where you'll hear about all things Chamber - from the basics to the best ways to get engaged. | |
Location: Trumps Catering, 2026 S Milledge Ave B
Date: 3/24/2026
Time: 9:30 am - 11:00 am
| | Welcome New Chamber Members! | | |
BGR Design + Build was first organized in 2008 as Blue Green & Red, a millwork and grading company in Athens, Georgia. In 2017, Blue Green & Red partnered with another Athens-based company, Piras Development, to become BGR Construction, a fully licensed general contractor in the state of Georgia. In 2021, under the direction of partners Robert Small and Rick Digby, BGR Construction added a third partner, Clay Crowder, to manage client relationships, and in 2023, BGR Design + Build was formed. BGR Design + Build ensures a single point of responsibility for all phases of a project from design to completion. Having all project resources on one team provides an integrated approach that results in greater efficiency and control for projects of any size.
| | Vintage Mobile Cigar Lounge | | |
Inside the Vintage Mobile Cigar Lounge, we provide a one-of-a-kind venue for your special events. Our space is designed to create an inviting atmosphere, perfect for gatherings, parties, and celebrations. Discover the perfect event space, blending old-world vintage with a unique cigar experience.
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When Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in New York City's Madison Square Park, our mission was simple: raise funds for a public art project. As we grew into a global business, our mission to Stand For Something Good expanded to include sourcing premium ingredients from partners with the same dedication to quality and supporting our communities through donations, events, and volunteering. Doing good is in our roots, a part of our DNA since day one. 20 years later, we're still continuing to expand and evolve our mission to Stand For Something Good in everything we do.
| | Quality Care for Children | |
We know that learning begins long before children enter kindergarten. In fact, 90% of a child’s brain is hardwired by age five, which makes the first five years of life crucial for building the foundation for all future learning and achievement. A child’s early experiences matter, which is why we are passionate and deeply committed to ensuring all of Georgia’s children and families have access to high-quality, affordable child care. We work directly with both families and child care providers to make this a reality.
| | Chamber Member Discount for STOMP | | First Chance to Book: Athens Cooks Wine Class | | Burgundy wines have quickly become the most collectible symbols of status in the world of wines, but there are still amazing bottles that you can afford to share with friends! Let our favorite wine expert, Taylor Cotton, walk you through some Burgundian classics and some lesser known bottles and see for yourself what the hype is about! And as always there will be plenty of lovely cheese pairings and charcuterie to go around!
| | To access this and other Chamber exclusive member deals, or to add your company's Chamber member discounts, log in to your Member Portal here. For assistance creating a new employee login, email marissa@athens.com. | | Georgia Power Supports St. Mary's Health Access Transportation Program | | |
St. Mary’s Health Care System is proud to announce Georgia Power has awarded a $50,000 grant to help establish St. Mary’s Health Access Transportation Support (HATS) program, a new initiative designed to remove transportation barriers for patients who need access to medical care.
The HATS program will provide safe, reliable transportation assistance for patients who face challenges traveling to essential health services, including primary care appointments, specialty care, diagnostic testing, and life-sustaining treatments. By supporting timely and uninterrupted care, HATS will help improve patient outcomes and reduce preventable hospital visits.
| | Ted's Montana Grill Now Hiring Proprietor for Athens Location | | Ted’s Montana Grill, the classic American restaurant known for made-from-scratch, elevated comfort food and award-winning burgers, will open in Athens, Ga. this summer at Beechwood Shopping Center. The restaurant is now hiring a passionate proprietor/general manager to bring authentic American dining and genuine hospitality to the Athens community. | | | Workshop: Developing an AI Policy for Your Nonprofit | | This interactive virtual workshop focuses on the governance side of AI—helping nonprofit managers anticipate risks, align AI use with organizational values, and develop practical, adaptable AI policies, with sample policy language provided. No prior AI knowledge is necessary. The workshop will be presented by the Interdisciplinary Alliance for Nonprofit Organizations at UGA on Thursday, February 26 from 12-1:30 pm. | | Our Employer Engagement Program equips immigrant and refugee employees with workplace English training and professional skill development courses designed to increase retention and long-term career mobility. Become a sponsor today and help build a stronger, more inclusive workforce while creating meaningful impact for families in our community. Email shaniquelovelace@bethany.org for more information. | | |
No matter the time of year, wedding season is always upon us. Whether you just got engaged or have been planning your wedding for months, Athentic is here to make the process easier with our inaugural Wedding Expo on Sunday, March 15!
Join us from 2-6 PM for our free Wedding Expo featuring an array of florists, photographers, videographers, caterers, and bakeries from around Athens, as well as a showcase of our space and customization options for wedding rentals.
Stay tuned for updates on our growing vendor list, and we look forward to helping make your special day even more magical!
If you’re in the wedding business, we’d love for you to apply for a vendor spot at the Athentic Wedding Expo using the link below!
https://forms.gle/Pjrje3oR7guGCBUu7
| | 2026 Chamber Champion Sponsors | | | | |
