Earlier this month, the Paulding Chamber led a delegation of business and community leaders to Washington, D.C., as part of its annual Federal Legislative Fly-In. The visit provided an opportunity for local stakeholders to engage directly with federal representatives and advocate for issues important to Paulding County’s continued growth and success.
The delegation represented a diverse cross-section of the community, including leaders from Georgia Power, AT&T, GreyStone Power, Coosa Valley Credit Union, Paulding Economic Development, Paulding Northwest Atlanta Regional Airport, DAYCO Systems, The Winn Agency-David Allen Capital, BLD, Outer Circle Foundation, and the LEARN Foundation.
Prior to the trip, the Chamber presented its 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda to Paulding County’s congressional delegation, outlining key priorities and initiatives impacting local businesses, infrastructure, workforce development, aviation, veteran services, and economic growth.
The delegation’s first meeting was with Representative Clay Fuller and members of his senior leadership team. Chamber representatives and community partners shared insights on legislative priorities and participated in productive discussions regarding opportunities to support Paulding County’s future development.
The group then met with Senator Jon Ossoff’s Chief of Staff, Ray Benitez. Many of the agenda items had already been reviewed by Senator Ossoff’s team, allowing for meaningful dialogue and the sharing of valuable contacts, resources, and next-step recommendations related to the delegation’s requests.
The final meeting of the day was held with Senator Raphael Warnock and members of his senior leadership team. Delegates continued discussions surrounding the Chamber’s legislative priorities and received additional guidance and support on several initiatives.
Following the meetings, the delegation enjoyed a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol led by an intern from Representative Fuller’s office before concluding the day with dinner at a local farm-to-table restaurant in Washington’s Chinatown district.
Several participants arrived a day early to take advantage of additional educational and networking opportunities, including visits to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and Crystal City while utilizing the Metro transit system to experience the region firsthand.
The Paulding Chamber extends its appreciation to all delegation members who invested their time and expertise to represent the interests of the Paulding County business community and strengthen relationships with federal leaders.
Delegation Participants
Stacy Hamby and Sandy Gamble, Paulding Chamber; Ellen Winn, The Winn Agency-David Allen Capital; Matt and Buffy Payne, Outer Circle Foundation; Kirby Buchanan, Coosa Valley Credit Union; Brian Stover, BLD; Nate Schattner, Paulding Northwest Atlanta Regional Airport; Alex Almodovar, Paulding Economic Development; Toni Hannah, GreyStone Power; Colin Martin, AT&T; Trevor Quander, Georgia Power; Dalton Lemelle, LEARN Foundation; and Ashley Davis, DAYCO Systems.