Metro Atlanta Chamber names new incoming president
The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) announced Wednesday that Katie Kirkpatrick will become the next president and CEO of the organization, effective June 15.
Kirkpatrick will succeed Hala Moddelmog, who became the first woman to lead MAC when she entered the role in 2014. She announced her plans to step down in February.
“Katie has stepped up over the years and quietly made a significant difference at MAC and in our community. I have watched her build an extensive list of accomplishments. Among them, her work on innovation and entrepreneurship, environmental affairs and legislation that has helped maintain Atlanta’s standing as a diverse and welcoming community earned my deep respect and admiration,” Moddelmog said in a statement. “She is the next generation leader the Chamber needs as it looks to the future.”
Kirkpatrick previously served as MAC’s chief policy officer, focusing the public policy team’s priorities around workforce development, business climate, transportation and sustainability. She joined the organization in 2007 as vice president of environmental affairs, later serving as senior vice president for business higher education.
Throughout her time at MAC, she has acted as a liaison between the metro Atlanta business community and local and national government.
“I joined the Chamber to make a difference in my community, and I look forward to this new role with the same intention,” Kirkpatrick said in a statement. “The Metro Atlanta Chamber has a rich history. We have been the driving force behind critical milestones in our region while remaining true to our core mission and having the courage to reimagine ourselves. Now is the time to lean in and fulfill that vision. We will tackle the tough issues – equity, disparities and others – while leveraging our strengths to help restore our economy and position our region for continued growth and success.”
Kirkpatrick currently serves on the GRACE Commission, which brings public officials, law enforcement, businesses and nonprofit organizations together in the goal of ending human trafficking in the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta. She is a vice-chair for the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and a past board chair for the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership. She is also a member of the board of directors for the Atlanta Track Club.
An Auburn University graduate, Kirkpatrick is a registered professional engineer in several states as well as a member of the school’s 100+ Women Strong group of successful female engineering alumnae. She is an alumna of Leadership Atlanta and volunteers with youth sports leagues in metro Atlanta and the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Dow, and their two sons.
As Kirkpatrick assumes her new role as president and CEO, Marshall Guest and Dave Williams, both senior vice presidents of public policy at MAC, will co-lead the organization’s public policy team and join MAC’s senior leadership team.
After stepping down, Moddelmog will still be active in the community, championing diversity on boards and women in leadership and serving as an ambassador for metro Atlanta. She will continue to participate in community work and serve on public and private boards as well as in other various strategic roles.