The partnership with DeKalb County Government and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, will host the 2026 State of DeKalb County Address on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Assembly Studios in Atlanta. This year’s lunch and program is presented by Amazon, Discover DeKalb, and the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority and will feature remarks from CEO of DeKalb County, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. More than 800 Council and Chamber members, elected officials, businesses, residents, county staff, and partners of DeKalb County are expected at the cutting-edge production facility and movie studio to hear the CEO’s address.

The Council’s State of DeKalb County annually convenes the county’s business community with its local government bodies, as well as with other local leaders from across the region. CEO Cochran-Johnson will address the businesses in her community to present achievements and projects from the last year, as well as an outlook for what’s ahead in 2026. This will be CEO Cochran-Johnson’s 2^nd State of the County address to DeKalb’s businesses and community partners.

The Council for Quality Growth works with DeKalb County and its local municipalities year-round to advocate for our members doing business in those areas. “DeKalb County continues to build on its strong foundation as a hub for business and innovation,” said Michael Paris, President & CEO of the Council for Quality Growth. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and supporting the county’s ongoing efforts to drive economic growth and opportunity for its residents.”

The State of DeKalb will feature remarks from Frankie Atwater, President & CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Commissioner Chakira Johnson, Presiding Officer of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, Mayor Joseph Geierman of City of Doraville, and Hilton Howell, III, Senior Business Director at Gray Media, on behalf of Assembly Studios. Danny Johnson, Managing Director of the Natural Resources Department at the Atlanta Regional Commission, will provide an update on the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District’s regional efforts. The program will also include remarks from Martha Revelo, Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs with DeKalb County. The Council’s President & CEO Michael E. Paris will provide opening remarks and assist in hosting the program. Terreta Rodgers, Head of Community Affairs – Atlanta Region with Amazon and Jevon Gibson, CEO of the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority will deliver remarks, as well as a video presentation from Discover DeKalb, as presenting sponsors. The program will also include video remarks from U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Dionna Smith, Chief Communications Officer at DeKalb County, will introduce CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson to the stage. A full list of speakers in this year’s program is below.

Press are invited to attend with prior registration. Please RSVP to Anna Frances Gardner at [email protected].

2026 State of DeKalb County

• Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
• Location: Assembly Studios

• Featured Speakers:
• Frankie Atwater, President & CEO, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
• Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, CEO, DeKalb County
• Chakira Johnson, Presiding Officer, DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
• Danny Johnson, Managing Director, Natural Resources Department, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Dionna Smith, Chief Communications Officer, DeKalb County
• Hilton Howell, III, Senior Business Director, Gray Media
• Jevon Gibson, CEO, Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority
• Joseph Geierman, Mayor, City of Doraville
• Martha Revelo, Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs, DeKalb County
• Michael E. Paris, President & CEO, Council for Quality Growth
• Terreta Rodgers, Head of Community Affairs – Atlanta Region, Amazon

More details for the 2026 State of DeKalb County can be found here: https://councilforqualitygrowth.memberzone.com/events/details/state-of-dekalb-county-address-2026-6311