Four prominent Buckhead organizations – Buckhead Coalition, Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID), Livable Buckhead, and Buckhead Business Association – have committed to work to create a more unified and integrated approach to local leadership in Buckhead.

Jim Durrett, Executive Director of the Buckhead CID, has been named the next President of the Buckhead Coalition, succeeding former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell, who is retiring on June 30^th after having led the Buckhead Coalition since its inception in 1988.  The Buckhead Coalition and Buckhead CID staffs will merge and will manage the activities of both organizations.  Mr. Durrett will continue in his capacity as Executive Director of the Buckhead CID. 

All four organizations will share a single office headquarters and will work together to integrate and coördinate marketing, advocacy, planning and project execution, economic development, and the advancement of quality of life issues for Buckhead. 

Said Joe Evans, Chairman of the Buckhead Coalition, “Sam Massell is a singular figure whose impact on Buckhead and the City of Atlanta simply cannot be replicated.  His retirement after 32 years led us to step back and evaluate how best to marshal our collective resources in a way that builds on his legacy.  We are thrilled to forge a deeper bond with the Buckhead CID, Livable Buckhead, and Buckhead Business Association.”

Thad Ellis, Chairman of the Buckhead CID, added, “All of our organizations share a common vision to make Buckhead the most welcoming place to live, work, shop, dine, visit, and play.  No one can quite articulate that vision like Sam Massell, but with four organizations committed to acting and speaking with a more unified voice, we are excited about the ongoing vibrancy of Buckhead.” 

Under the new arrangement, the Chairs of the Buckhead CID and Livable Buckhead will join the President of the Buckhead Business Association as standing (ex officio) members of the Board of the Buckhead Coalition, and the Executive Director of Livable Buckhead will be regularly involved in Buckhead Coalition Board meetings to ensure alignment and to foster coördination and communication. 

Bob Stoner, Chairman of Livable Buckhead, added that “Each organization brings unique strengths to this exciting new working relationship.  The whole is definitely going to be greater than the sum of its parts,” a sentiment echoed by Matt Thiry, President of the Buckhead Business Association.