The 11th Annual Georgia Government Communicators Conference will be held October 28-30, 2026, at the Augusta Marriott Hotel. The Georgia Municipal Association, in collaboration with the ACCG, will host a conference for city, county, and state communications professionals. The 11th annual conference will feature informative sessions and networking opportunities. The fee to attend is $475. 

Lodging: GMA has reserved room nights for October 27th, 28th, and 29th at a rate of $195 plus taxes and fees. Reservations must be made by October 3. Click this link to book your group rate at the Georgia Government Communicators Conference.

 

Parking: Self-parking is available in the adjacent parking deck for $7.00 a night. Valet parking is available for $25 for registered hotel guests. 

Cancellation Fee: A Cancelation fee of $50 will be applied to all registrations canceled after September 28. 

Tentative Agenda

11th Annual Georgia Government Communicators Conference
October 28–30, 2026 | Augusta Marriott

Wednesday, October 28 
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Conference Check-In & Registration

11:30 a.m. Lunch Buffet

12:30 PM — Opening Keynote: Using Social Media and Storytelling to Build the Stuckey's Brand
Stephanie Stuckey, Chief Growth Officer, Stuckey's Corporation, Author & Public Speaker

1:30 PM — Break

1:45 – 2:45 PM — Crisis Planning Tabletop Exercise

2:45 PM — Sponsor Panel

3:15 PM — Break

3:30 PM — From Rumors to Real Talk: Building Trust in the Age of Technology

4:30 PM — Adjourn for the Day

5:30-7:30 — Reception 

Thursday, October 29
7:30 – 8:30 AM — Buffet Breakfast

8:30 AM — Building & Expanding Communications Teams

9:30 AM — Quick Break

9:35 AM — The Sooner the Better: Communications and Community Support on Public Projects

10:35 AM — Break

10:45 AM — Beyond the Headlines: How to Positively Position Your City or County in the Media

11:45 AM — AI and Maintaining Your Voice
 
12:30 – 1:15 PM — Lunch

1:30 PM — Breakout Sessions: Tourism — for Cities | Counties

2:45 PM — Social Media & the Law: What Every Government Official Needs to Know

3:45 PM — Break

4:00 PM — Beyond the Press Release: Knowing When to DIY, When to Hire, and How to Spot the Real Story

5:00 PM — Wrap Up for the Day

Friday, October 30
7:30 – 8:30 AM — Buffet Breakfast

8:30 AM — Beyond the Flyer: Building Community Engagement That Actually Connects
Mia L. McDonald

9:30 AM — Break

9:45 AM — PHICO: Leading Change Together — A Collaborative Framework for Government Communicators

10:45 AM — Break

11:00 AM — Becoming the Trusted Advisor

12:00 – 12:15 PM — Wrap Up and Farewell

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Aileen Harris.

GMA strives to accommodate all guests' needs at GMA-hosted events, but we cannot guarantee that the food is completely free of allergens. If you have food allergies, please take necessary precautions, as attending means you accept responsibility for any potential reactions. While we do our best, we are unable to assume liability for food-related concerns. GMA has no control over food provided at events it does not host, even when such events take place in conjunction with or in the same venue as GMA-hosted events. You should reach out directly to the host of such events to discuss any food restrictions.