CityAge Atlanta:

heart of the new climate economy

October 18, 2023
The Commerce Club | 9:30AM - 2:00PM (ET)

The Atlanta region is emerging as a powerhouse in America’s climate economy.

Join us for a day of engaging dialogue, interactive panels and presentations with some of the region’s best forward-thinking leaders, and action-oriented conversations. This intimate gathering will provide crucial insights, valuable networking and help set the stage for Atlanta's future growth.

As the center of a major economic region seeing extraordinary growth, metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia are attracting major investments in clean-tech and building an equitable new American city that works for everyone.

Atlanta is pioneering new approaches to urban design and re-development, while leading innovation in new fuels and services to power aviation and ground transportation.

And it is embracing the city technologies and smart infrastructure essential for America’s future.

CityAge Atlanta will bring together the region’s private and public leadership to address the partnerships that power this new era for Atlanta, the South and the country.

Speakers will include:

Jahnee Prince

City Planning Commissioner,
City of Atlanta

Monte Wilson

Global Market Executive -
Cities and Place / Vice-President,
Jacobs

Cynthia Curry

Senior Director, Smart Cities & CleanTech Ecosystems,
Metro Atlanta Chamber

Ryan Gravel

Founder,
Sixpitch

Debra Lam

Founding Executive Director,
Georgia Tech

Ricky Cunningham

Development Manager,
LDG Development

James Marlow

President,
Southface

Doug Hooker

CEO,
Midtown Connector Park

Bentina Chisolm Terry

Senior Vice-President,
Customer Strategy & Solutions,
Georgia Power

DeBbie Frank

Director of Transit-Oriented Development,
MARTA

Chandra Farley

Chief Sustainability Officer,
City of Atlanta
Mayor's Office of Sustainability & Resilience

David Edwards

Policy Advisor For Neighborhoods,
Office of the Mayor,
City of Atlanta

Tamae Partain

Global Business Area Program Manager - Mobility,
Arcadis

Nathaniel Smith

Founder and Chief Equity Officer,
Partnership for Southern Equity

Robert Gordon

Deputy Director,
DeKalb County Fleet Management

Katherine Zitsch

Deputy COO,
Atlanta Regional Commission

Slma Shelbayah

Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Diversified Search Group,
and Founder/CEO,
Shelbayah Consulting

CityAge Atlanta will address:

Deploying Clean Mobility: How to rapidly deploy electric, hydrogen and low-carbon fleets at scale through the introduction of clean energy infrastructure

Downtown’s Role in a Fast Growing Region: Atlanta’s downtown plans are creating a central hub for a new economy, including revitalizing buildings, promoting energy retrofits, and adapting to new work patterns

Learning from Nature: How the concept of biomimicry, and what cities can learn from nature - can impact Atlanta’s future

Utilities in Transformation: How Georgia’s utilities are driving the path to a Net Zero economy

Leveraging Major Events: Plans for the 2026 World Cup and beyond can accelerate growth of innovative new infrastructure solutions, such as green aerial mobility

The Resilient Atlanta: Decarbonization and natural disaster planning in the time of climate change.

Complete and Equitable Neighborhoods: A fast growing economy, as well as action on climate change, must be equitable and support every citizen - we’ll review new strategies for equitable action on climate, as well as how schools are the center of community

The Venue

191 Peachtree St NE 49th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303
The Commerce Club is the home of Atlanta’s professional elite. It is a place where diverse minds come together to connect, where experienced leaders share wisdom and where future leaders find mentorship. Our downtown Atlanta Club is a welcoming space for Members and guests to work and play in a comfortable, private environment.
The Commerce Club has a strictly enforced dress code. Gentlemen must wear a collared shirt. Dress denim is acceptable attire. Fitness attire, cut-offs, t-shirts, ripped jeans, shorts of any kind, ball caps, team jerseys, and flip-flops are not permitted.

The Event Agenda

9:00 AM

Arrival Coffee

9:30 AM

Welcome by Conference MC

  • Slma Shelbayah, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Diversified Search Group & Founder/CEO, Shelbayah Consulting
9:40 AM

Opening Presentation: Regionalism and Climate Resilience

  • Katherine Zitsch, Deputy COO, Atlanta Regional Commission
10:00 AM

Panel 1: Our Climate Economy Opportunity

Atlanta’s fast growing clean energy economy should benefit everyone. How can we ensure the investment flowing into the state stays in the state through a circular economy that benefits local jobs and skills development?

  • Debra Lam, Founding Executive Director, Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, Georgia tech
  • Nathaniel Smith, Founder and Chief Equity Officer, Partnership for Southern Equity
  • Doug Hooker, CEO, Midtown Connector Park Foundation 
  • Panel Chair: James Marlow, President, Southface
10:35 AM

Fireside Chat- Atlanta's Clean Energy Future: Sustainability and Economic Prospects

  • Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Atlanta
  • Monte Wilson, Global Market Executive, Cities and Places, Jacobs
11:00 AM

Presentation: Every Beautiful Thing

Hear the original visionary behind Atlanta’s unfinished Beltline describe the challenges - and lessons - from one of the greenest infrastructure projects in the city’s climate economy.

  • Ryan Gravel, Founder, Sixpitch
11:20 AM

Break

11:30 AM

Table-side breakout discussions

  • Host : Ricky Cunningham, Development Manager, LDG Development
12:10 PM

Lunch

12:35 PM

Panel 2: Electrifying Transportation

Georgia is the new “Battery Belt” - a major emerging hub of electric vehicle innovation. This panel will address how the region can make sure it’s a national leader in building the necessary infrastructure to electrify fleets and vehicles, too.

  • Bentina Chisolm Terry, Senior Vice President Customer Strategy & Solutions, Georgia Power 
  • Tamae Partain, Global Business Area Program Manager - Mobility, Arcadis
  • Robert Gordon, Deputy Director, DeKalb County Fleet Management 
  • Panel Chair: Cynthia Curry, Senior Director, Smart Cities & CleanTech Ecosystems, Metro Atlanta Chamber
1:10 PM

Panel 3: Sustainable Growth and Development

How can Atlanta build the new and affordable housing it needs at the same time as it makes housing and development more environmentally friendly? Join us to explore Atlanta's affordable housing mission, respecting history while fostering sustainable, resilient communities.

  • Jahnee Prince, City Planning Commissioner, City of Atlanta
  • Debbie Frank, Director of Transit Oriented Development, MARTA 
  • David Edwards, Policy Advisor For Neighborhoods, Office of the Mayor, City of Atlanta
  • Panel Chair: Ricky Cunningham, Development Manager, LDG Development

1:45 PM

Closing Comments

All times ET, Subject to change

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