What is the Government Affairs Council?
The Government Affairs Council (GAC) is made up of over 400 Government Affairs professionals who represent more than 4,000 business members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
The GAC has eleven standing committees and committee chairs. These committees work much the same way as committees in the State Legislature. Once an issue is presented, it is assigned to committee for study and subsequent recommendation to the full GAC. The GAC will then debate and make a recommendation to the Georgia Chamber Board of Directors. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Agenda is the result.
GAC Chairman: Haydon Stanley - Fiveash-Stanley
GAC Vice Chair: Kevin Curtin - AT&T
Executive Committee At-Large Appointments
Skin Edge - GeorgiaLink Public Affairs
Elizabeth Chandler - Georgia Bankers Association
Ric Cobb - Georgia Petroleum Council
Jay Morgan - J.L. Morgan Company
Pete Robinson - Troutman Sanders Strategies
Committees:
Compliance
Chair: Roy Robinson - The R.B. Robinson Company
Vice Chair: Meredith Melvin Weaver - Melvin Weaver Consulting, LLC
Staff: Sally Clark
Economic Development and Tourism
Chair: Chuck McMullen - Piedmont Public Affairs
Vice Chair: Brandon Hembree - Massey Bowers
Staff: Sally Clark
Education
Chair: Mark Middleton - Capitol Partners Public Affairs Group
Vice Chair: Dene Sheheane - University System of Georgia
Staff: Lauren Wilkes
Environmental, Energy, Natural Resources and Water Management
Chair: Joe Tanner - Joe Tanner & Associates
Vice Chair: Keith Hatcher - Georgia Association of Realtors
Staff: Ben Forehand
Federal Affairs
Chair: Harold Bevis - Delta Air Lines
Vice Chair: Matt Sawhill - Atlanta Gas Light
Staff: Ben Forehand
Health Care
Chair: Benita Dodd - Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Vice Chair: Sheila Humberstone - Troutman Sanders Strategies
Staff: Lauren Wilkes
Judiciary
Chair: Boyd Pettit - GeorgiaLink Public Affairs
Vice Chair: Julie Windom - Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals
Staff: Sally Clark
Small Business
Chair: David Raynor - National Federation of Independent Business
Vice Chair: Clint Austin - ConnectSouth
Staff: Ben Forehand
Taxation and Business Incentives
Chair: Guy Griswold - Blue Ridge Strategies
Vice Chair: Glennis Barnes - Georgia Power Company
Staff: Lauren Wilkes
Technology and General Business
Chair: Bo Moore - McKenna Long Aldridge
Vice Chair: Glen Wilkins - Wal-Mart
Staff: Sally Clark
Transportation
Chair: Kevin Perry - Georgia Beverage Association
Vice Chair: Craig Camuso - CSX Transportation
Staff: Lauren Wilkes
Workers' Comp and Labor & Employment
Chair: Mike Giles - Georgia Poultry Federation
Staff: Ben Forehand
Georgia Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Staff
233 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Suite 2000
Harris Tower, Peachtree Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1564
Fax: (404) 223-2290
George Israel
President/CEO
(404) 223-2264
gisrael(at)gachamber.com
Lauren Wilkes
Vice President, Government Affairs
(404) 223-2479
lwilkes(at)gachamber.com
Ben Forehand
Director, Government Affairs
(404) 223-2270
bforehand(at)gachamber.com
Sally Clark
Manager, Government Affairs
(404) 223-2491
sclark(at)gachamber.com
