GSAE Winter Luncheon
Wednesday, February 18
11:30 am–1:30 pm ET
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Featured Speaker, Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE
President & CEO
ASAE
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Schedule
10:30 am–11:30 am: GSAE Member Orientation – join GSAE leadership to learn about all things GSAE
11:30 am–12:00 pm: Networking Reception
12:00 pm–1:30 pm: Luncheon
1:35 pm: Host Property Tour
Cost
GSAE Member – $59 ($69 after Feb. 12)
Guests – $79 ($89 after Feb. 12)
Thank you to our Sponsor: available
Thank you to our Annual AV Sponsor: OAV (Orchestrated Audiovisual & Production Services)
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Invitation to Reading of a Resolution Honoring the Life and Legacy of Mr. Abit Massey, CAE - Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 16
On Friday, January 16, 2026, the House will honor the Life and Legacy of Mr. Abit Massey, CAE, with the reading of a privileged resolution. The session will convene at 10:00 am, with the resolution expected to be around 10:15 am. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the House Gallery.
2026 GSAE Annual Meeting, May 27 - May 29
- $159 USD per night + taxes + parking $10 per day
- Shoulder dates based on availability
- Last day to book Hotel Indigo Athens Downtown: 5/4/2026 or until sold out
- Overflow blocks will open in February
Join us for top-notch education from GSAE members, nationally-renowned speakers, and industry experts!
- Up to 10.5 CAE credits expected
- Expecting over 225 attendees
- Registration coming soon – $429-$3,599
- Additional attendees from same organization – $389
Your Guide to What's New for Athens Meetings
Check out the meetings guide from Visit Athens GA, our 2026 GSAE Annual Meeting Host City, – Learn more.
Georgia Trend Names Most Influential and Notable Georgians 2026
Georgia Trend Magazine announced its 100 Most Influential and Notable Georgians. Congratulations to the following GSAE members and supporters for the recognition. Read More.
100 Most Influential Georgians
- Will Bentley
- Chris Clark
- Jay Markwalter, LEC, TMP
- William Pate
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Notable Georgians
- Bennish Brown
- Tripp Cofield
- Amanda Dyson-Thornton, TMP
- Stephanie Fischer
- Kwame Johnson
- Joe Marinelli
- Michael "Sully" Sullivan, JD
- Larry Williams
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Chattanooga Airport Launches Direct Flights to Newark
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Chattanooga Tourism is excited to share the Chattanooga Airport is now offering non-stop flights to Newark on United Airlines.
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Atlanta City & Shopping Tours
The Sweeney Zone Shopportunity is now Atlanta City & Shopping Tours. Offering custom group experiences for shopping and visits to local venues, including stadiums, historic spots, and other fun sites. Contact GSAE member Tass Sweeney at tass.sweeney@live.com for more information. Learn More
Note from the 2026 Board Chair, Jacob Wilder, CAE
Happy New Year! As we look to the year ahead, I am excited and honored to serve as Chair of the Georgia Society of Association Executives Board of Directors. GSAE will continue to create meaningful and diverse opportunities for members to connect, and I am grateful for the opportunity to support its mission alongside dedicated volunteer leaders, members and staff.
I also want to share a brief update on the Executive Director search. Our search firm, Etherio, has concluded its candidate screening process. The board has begun the interview phase of the search.
Interviews are being conducted by the Executive Committee and led by its members, with board oversight throughout the process. This structure allows the board to conduct a thoughtful and well-governed search while respecting the confidentiality of candidates.
The board remains committed to a thorough and responsible process and will continue to share updates at appropriate points as the search progresses. Thank you for your continued engagement and support of GSAE.
Jacob Wilder, CAE
2026 Chair, Georgia Society of Association Executives
Build the Skills Every Leader Needs.
The AE-MBA is a 10-week learning and networking program built for current and emerging association leaders. Gain practical tools you can use right away, while connecting with peers nationwide.
Earn up to 10 CAE credits! Expect up to 3 hours of self-study per module / 6 hours around the live sessions, which cover 2 modules each.
Live webinars, 10:00–11:00 am EST/EDT.
- April 9 – Program Kickoff and Onboarding
- April 23 – Vision Goals & Planning Process
- May 7 – The Right Team & Right Customers
- May 21 – An Empowered System of Management
- June 4 – Demystifying the Financials
- June 18 – Applying the Financials & Graduation
Teams that learn together don’t just save—they align leadership and implement faster.
A limited-time offer through January 30th - Buy 2, Get 1 Free! Click here to take advantage of our best offer and save $995!
- $995 Solo Learner: Lifetime access to the live + self-paced experience.
- Pairs Pricing: Sign up as a pair of 2 and save $100 per person.
- Team Discounts: Enroll a pair or group of 5+ to save up to $200 per person.
QAS 2.0 - Qualified Association Specialist Training
Master the fundamentals for career advancement in Association Management and earn 13 CAE credits. This is a refreshed and modernized version of the original program, perfect for someone newer to associations or emerging professionals. With updated content and speakers. The QAS program is in partnership with the Florida Society of Association Executives. Registration is through their website and GSAE members have a code in the Member Offers tab of their profile. Learn more
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2026 GSAE Membership Dues - Renew Today
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GSAE's Dues Year is January 1–December 31
- Association Exec 1 – $325
- Association Exec 2+ – $150
- Group association memberships available now. Contact us for info at gsae "at" gsae.org
- Corporate Supplier Member 1 – $350
- Corporate Supplier Member 2+ – $250
- Retired Member – $40
- Affiliate – $100
- GSAE's current W9
Log into your profile or use GSAE's easy pay button to renew today! |
**NEW** 2026 Inclusion Calendar Published
Welcome Mat. GSAE is committed to being a resource and model for members and organizations on effective practices that drive successful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. GSAE believes in fostering a welcoming culture amongst our members that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable to all. We know our differences are what make us stronger. Through diverse perspectives, an inclusive culture, and equitable opportunities, we are connecting leaders, advancing associations. Access the 2026 Inclusion Calendar.
Scammers, Spammers & Phishing - Bleh
GSAE will never, ever ask you to buy gift cards or transfer money among our Board members, volunteers, or staff. We do not use third parties to sell our hotel room blocks or offer membership lists. Call us at (404) 577-7850 if you have a question about an email.
We also urge you to train your staff to do the same – call and confirm authenticity if you are not expecting a proposal from a property or other service provider. Every employee should also have two-factor authentication on every single log-in. We regularly receive the "was this you?" message. Nine times out of ten, it wasn't!
Have GSAE News to Share?
Please send job changes, member news, and press releases to Corrin at corrin "at" gsae.org by the second Monday of the month.
We understand your time is valuable, and we strive to make volunteer service convenient and rewarding. GSAE volunteers truly do the work of the organization. Please send an email to Corrin at corrin "at" gsae.org if you are interested in learning more about 2026 committee and SIG leadership opportunities.
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Certified Association Executive (CAE) Study Course
- GSAE members have a code in the Member Offers tab of their profile.
- CRAM course fees are based on current/previous attendance, so no discount code is needed.
Other CAE course options are available online.
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Explore GSAE's entirely FREE library of downloadable content, including white papers, guides, infographics, case studies, industry analysis, and so much more! Consider this your one-stop shop when looking for current topics you need to learn about that are influencing our entire industry.
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Did you know our Career Headquarters links to ASAE's national site? **And** if you buy a posting through us, GSAE gets a royalty payment to support the Society's programming. Check out the Careers section at the bottom of this e-newsletter for the latest Georgia postings.
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GSAE is seeking members interested in sharing effective practices, compelling case studies, and pilot programs. Have another story idea? Contact Corrin at corrin "at" gsae.org if you are interested in contributing to our community knowledge.
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Spring 2026 – AI, Data and Decision Making for Associations
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Summer 2026 – Next Gen Member Engagement Models
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Fall 2026 – The Future of Hybrid & Experiential Meetings
- Also seeking guest columnists – 700-1,200 words, anytime.
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As we wrap up this year and look ahead to 2026, one thing is clear: unpredictability and uncertainty have become the rule, not the exception. In times of rapid change and uncertainty, having trusted data and insights to help guide decisions becomes invaluable. As a member of GSAE's association community, you are invited to participate in Association Laboratory’s Looking Forward Impact 2026, the leading environmental scan of the association strategy environment. The data and insights collected from this survey are shared with the community as a guidepost for how to navigate these times.
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New Year, New Rules. Are you or your member organizations concerned about the 50+ new employment laws that took effect January 1? Fisher Phillips has created an employer cheat sheet for the top trends and laws that just took effect. For a complimentary copy courtesy of your GSAE membership, contact Terri Stewart at FPatlanta@fisherphillips.com.
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Mark your calendars to join ASAE in person on Monday, March 23–Tuesday, March 24, in Washington, DC, for ASAE’s annual Legislative Fly-In.
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Webinars, Podcasts, & Blogs from Around the Web
GSAE compiles a compendium of podcasts, blogs, and resources from association land that we think will help you be better at your job.
Highlights this month include new issues from Association Brain Food (free education!), podcasts from our SAE colleagues, and a new Rogue Tulip's Radio Free 501c episode. Follow, listen, and learn!
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- Recordings of livestreamed and virtual meetings are available on our GSAE1917 YouTube Channel through GSAEtv.
- GSAE's Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) are complimentary, self-directed groups of GSAE members that focus on a particular area of interest. Learn more about Shared Interest Group (SIG) opportunities and join through your member profile or send an email to GSAE.
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GSAE Supplier Council Meeting Planning for a Sensational 2026 Supplier Council! | 1:00 pm
