Our History and Purpose

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You may already know Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium — but did you know they’re all part of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority(GWCCA)? As the state agency responsible for managing these iconic assets, the Authority plays a vital role in shaping Atlanta’s event and hospitality landscape.
GWCCA was established in 1971 to oversee the development of a world-class trade and exhibition center, now known as Georgia World Congress Center. Since then, GWCCA’s footprint has grown into a dynamic 220+ acre campus in the heart of downtown Atlanta. In addition to GWCC, our portfolio includes Centennial Olympic Park, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Signia by Hilton Atlanta, GWCC’s headquarters hotel. We also manage and operate the Savannah Convention Center, which has recently completed a major expansion.
As a self-sustained state agency, GWCCA remains committed to stewarding these state-owned assets while driving economic impact across Georgia. With more than $360 million invested over the past decade, we have enhanced connectivity and access across our campus and the surrounding hospitality district. More than just a collection of venues, GWCCA serves as a catalyst for tourism, development, and job creation throughout the state.

Our Vision
and Mission

Vision

To be a visionary leader shaping the future of meetings, live events, and entertainment.

Mission

Georgia World Congress Center Authority was created by the State of Georgia to develop and operate world-class facilities including the Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, and other related venues. Our mission is to drive economic growth, create memorable experiences, and enrich the lives of Georgians by hosting premier events and fostering community engagement throughout Atlanta and beyond.

Our Values  

We are
Accountable.

We demonstrate accountability by embracing proactive and responsible behaviors that drive ownership of outcomes—for ourselves and for the success of the business.

We are
Authentic.

We lead with authenticity by operating with transparency and encouraging vulnerability and self-expression to foster an inclusive environment for our customers and each other.

We are
One.

We move as one—collaborating with unified purpose and voice—to ensure our customers experience radical hospitality.  

Economic Impact

Driving Georgia’s Economy Forward

GWCCA FISCAL YEAR 2024
More than160 Events
Hosted3,389,863 Visitors
Generated
$ 1.84
Billion in Economic Impact
Supported16,157 Jobs

GWCCA’s impact reaches far beyond its campus. As one of the top convention, sports, and entertainment destinations in the country, we serve as a powerful economic engine for the state of Georgia. Each year, events hosted across our facilities generate billions in economic impact — supporting local and regional businesses, creating jobs, and driving tourism.

From the Georgia World Congress Center and Mercedes-Benz Stadium to Centennial Olympic Park and Signia by Hilton Atlanta, our venues attract millions of visitors annually. These guests contribute to hotel stays, restaurant visits, transportation, and retail — fueling growth throughout the region and state

The Authority doesn’t just host events; we help power prosperity.

Did You Know

$1,840,203,521

GWCCA’s campus continued its trend of surpassing $1 billion of economic impact to Georgia’s economy.  

16,157 / $601.5M

The economic contributions of Georgia World Congress Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Centennial Olympic Park positively influence Georgia’s labor market. Job numbers topped 16,000 and labor income exceeded $600 million.

$99,136,800 / $84,698,168

Events on GWCCA’s campus contributed nearly $100 million in tax and fees revenues to the state of Georgia and more than $84 million to local governments. The latter total includes $26.1 million in hotel/motel taxes.

GWCCA Leadership Team

Kim Allison

VP / Convetion Sales

Joe Bocherer

Chief Commercial Officer

Stacey Church

Chief Operating Officer

Kevin Duvall

Chief Executive Officer

Janet Finlayson

Chief Financial Officer

Paul Guerrucci

VP / Campus Safety Operations

Alisha king

Administration Manager

Melana McClatchey

VP, Legal Counsel

Ronald Miranda

Chief Human Resources Officer

Kevin D. Moore

SVP, General Manager Savannah Convention Center

Pargen Robertson

Chief Legal Officer

Al Rojas

VP, Assistant General Manager / Savannah Convention Center

Lindsay Strickland

VP, Government Relations

Open

VP, Campus Operations

GWCCA Directors

Melinda Buchanan

Director / Client & Guest Services

Chris Chadwick

Director / Operations – Event Logistics and fulfillment

Erle Coleman

Director / Purchasing

Chris Dugger

Director / Accounting

Mark Koeninger

Director / Business Intelligence & Process Improvement

Joe McKinney

Chief of Police / Director of Public Safety

Chincie Mouton

Director, Sports Engagement and Community Impact

Lisa Odom Murphy

Director / Human Resources

William Perkins

Director / Facility Management

Holly Richmond

Director / Communications

Rey Rodriquez

Director / Finance

April Russell

Director / Sales

Ken Stockdell

Director / Project & Program Management

Harriet Thomas

Director / Talent Development & Communication

Savannah Convention Center Directors

Fredia Brady

Sr. Director, Sales

Ronnie Hickman

Sr. Director, Operations and Special Projects

Holly Jenkins

Director, Finance and Administration

Jamie Parks

Director, Food and Beverage

GWCCA Partners

Victor Alfieri

Director of Parking

Dana Brown

General Manager / Edlen

Daniella DeSalvo

Market Leader / SP+ a Metropolis Company

Stevie Chumley

General Manager
/ Levy Convention Centers

John Ham

Director of Premium Services
/ Levy Restaurants

Andrew Heefner

Director of Operations
/ Levy Restaurants

Thomas Lloyd

Chief Executive Officer
/ CCLD Networks

Scott Ward

General Manager
/ Signia by Hilton Atlanta

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority is a state agency led by a chief executive officer who oversees day-to-day operations. Governance is provided by a 15-member board, with each member serving a four-year term. Board members are appointed by the Governor and continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. All members are private citizens; individuals holding any other office of profit or trust within the state are not eligible for appointment.

In 1978, the Georgia General Assembly established a six-member legislative overview committee to monitor GWCCA activities. In 2003, this committee was expanded to 12 members, equally divided between the Georgia House of Representatives and the Senate.

GWCCA Board of Governors

Brian Daniel

CHAIR
CARROLL DANIEL CONSTRUCTION

Doug Tollett

VICE CHAIR
DOUGLAS MANAGEMENT CO.

Dexter Warrior

SECRETARY
T. DALLAS SMITH & COMPANY

Maxine Burton

TREASURER
BURTON + BURTON

Steve Adams

SOUTHEASTRANS, INC.

Don Balfour

OHIO RIVER SOUTH

Natasha Bell

360 VENTURE LAW

Stan Conway

MAJESTIC REALTY

Ben Garrett

RA-LIN and Associates, Inc.

Glenn Hicks

FIRST BEACON INVESTMENTS

Bill Jones

JONES PETROLEUM

Rachel Little

Boehringer Ingelheim USA

Aaron McWhorter

NORTH GEORGIA TURF, INC.

Bill Rice

RBH LAGRANGE, LLC

Bill Russell

RUSSEL LANDSCAPE GROUP INC.

GWCCA Legislative Overview Committee

Sen. Brandon Beach

CHAIR

Sen. Rick Williams

Sen. Steve Gooch

Sen. Sonya Halpern

Sen. John Kennedy

Sen. Larry Walker

Rep. Chris Erwin

Rep. Scott Holcomb

Rep. Chuck Martin

Rep. Butch Parrish

Rep. Ron Stephens

Rep. Marcus Wiedower

2025 Meeting Schedule

JAN

28

FEB

25

MAR

25

APR

29

MAY

20

JUN

24

JUL

22

AUG

26

SEP

23-25

OCT

28

DEC

9

MAY meeting moved to prior Tuesday due to Memorial Day holiday
SEPTEMBER meeting typically cancelled in lieu of an Authority planning retreat
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER meetings combined

Meeting Minutes and Materials