Focus: Atlanta leadership summit spotlights infrastructure and urban development

Writer: Eleana Teran

Key points:

• Atlanta leaders highlighted infrastructure, mobility, and coordinated investment as foundations for sustained global competitiveness.

• Education and industry leaders emphasized aligning AI, workforce development, and partnerships to meet evolving talent demands.

• Developers and public officials underscored large-scale redevelopment as a driver of connectivity, equity, and long-term urban value.

February 2026 — Atlanta continues to attract investment while navigating growth across infrastructure, workforce development, and urban redevelopment. Business, civic, and institutional leaders will convene for the Focus: Atlanta 7th Edition Leadership Summit on Thursday, March 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hotel Phoenix Atlanta. (Purchase tickets here.)

The summit marks the official release of Focus: Atlanta 7th Edition, caa’s in-depth economic review of the region, and will bring together senior leaders from infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, and the public sector to examine how Atlanta is positioning itself for long-term competitiveness. Through a series of discussions and a keynote address, the event will explore how coordinated investment, innovation, and policy alignment are shaping the city’s next phase of growth.

“Atlanta’s momentum is the result of long-term planning, cross-sector collaboration, and a willingness to invest in both people and place,” said Abby Lindenberg, founder and CEO of caa. “The Focus: Atlanta Leadership Summit creates space for leaders across industries to step back, assess where the region stands today, and have informed conversations about the decisions that will define Atlanta’s economic future.”

Check in will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by opening remarks and a welcome address from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport General Manager Ricky Smith. The program will feature three panel discussions examining infrastructure and mobility, workforce and innovation, and major urban redevelopment projects shaping the region.

Building capacity for growth 

The opening panel “Built for the World: How infrastructure, mobility, and smart development are preparing Atlanta for global events and long-term growth,” will explore how transportation systems and infrastructure investment are aligning to support Atlanta’s next phase of growth. 

The discussion will be moderated by Cathy Hampton, partner at Greenspoon Marder LLP, and will feature insights from Gerald McDowell, executive director of the ATL Airport Community Improvement District; Larry Padilla, CEO of Decatur Housing; Booker Washington, founder and CEO of Techie Homes; and Michael Russell, CEO of H.J. Russell.

Aligning talent, technology, and education

The second panel “Reinventing the Engine: How AI, education, and industry partnerships are being aligned to empower Atlanta’s economy and businesses,” will focus on how educational institutions and private-sector partners are responding to technological change and evolving workforce demands.

Moderated by Doug Blizzard, chief solutions officer at Catapult, the panel will include John Fuchko, president of Dalton State University; Georj Lewis, president of Clayton State University; Jerome Cheatham, vice president at Verizon; and Kevin Glass, head of school at Atlanta International School.

Redevelopment shaping the future of Atlanta

The final panel, “The Urban Reset: How catalytic projects are unlocking value and redefining Atlanta’s core districts, and key considerations for future development,” will examine large-scale redevelopment efforts and their implications for connectivity, equity, and long-term value creation.

The discussion will be moderated by Ryan Mills, office managing partner at CohnReznick LLP, and will feature Shaneel Lalani, CEO of Lalani Ventures; Brian McGowan, CEO of Centennial Yards; Clyde Higgs, CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine; and Eloisa Klementich, CEO of Invest Atlanta.

The in-person summit is expected to draw hundreds of senior executives, developers, lenders, institutional leaders, and public-sector stakeholders from across the Atlanta region. Register today!

About caa & Focus: Atlanta

caa is an integrated media platform that produces in-depth business intelligence through its annual print and digital economic reviews, high-impact conferences and events, and executive interviews via its video platform, Invest:Insights.

Focus: Atlanta is a comprehensive economic review examining the key issues shaping the regional economy. Featuring exclusive insights from prominent business, civic and institutional leaders, the publication is designed to provide actionable investment intelligence while promoting Atlanta as a premier place to do business.

For more information, contact:

Ryan Gandolfo
Senior Editor
305-938-0293

Want more? Read the Focus: Atlanta report.