CityAge Atlanta:
heart of the new climate economy
October 18, 2023 The Commerce Club | 9:30AM - 2:00PM (ET)
brought to you In collaboration with
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.
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
- 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
- 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.
SPEAKERS & GUESTS
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
Salma Shelbayah
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Diversified Search Group, and Founder/CEO, Shelbayah Consulting
THE VENUE
PROGRAM
Arrival Coffee
Welcome by Conference MC
- Slma Shelbayah, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Diversified Search Group & Founder/CEO, Shelbayah Consulting
Opening Presentation: Regionalism and Climate Resilience
- Katherine Zitsch, Deputy COO, Atlanta Regional Commission
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
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
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
Break
Table-side breakout discussions
- Host : Ricky Cunningham, Development Manager, LDG Development
Lunch
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
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
Closing Comments