Buckhead Coalition

This coming Sunday to Tuesday, the Loudermilk‑Young Debate Series will feature key conversations with candidates at the @atlpressclub to help you prepare for Georgia's May 19 primary elections. Early voting starts next week, so now is the perfect time to get informed. Follow the link for details and the full debate lineup.atlantapressclub.org/debates/?utm_s…

Members of the Buckhead Coalition stand as dedicated advocates for Buckhead, sparking collaboration throughout our community and the broader City of Atlanta. By uniting public and private sector leaders, they work to elevate the experience of everyone who lives, works, and spends time here.

We proudly celebrate the visionary women of the Coalition and our partners on International Women’s Day and every day. Their strategic leadership and dedication advance our shared goals and elevate the work of our entire community.

As we continue our Membership Spotlight Campaign, we are proud to feature Jamie Shepherd, a new valued member of our Executive Committee. Jamie brings a unique and insightful perspective shaped by his background in structural engineering, construction and healthcare. He is especially passionate about advancing initiatives in public safety and transportation & infrastructure and aims to contribute to these critical areas by collaborating with our Coalition's members and partners.

We are appreciative of the strong, collaborative relationships we maintain with our elected partners, including members of the Atlanta City Council, the Municipal Courts, Georgia State Senate, Fulton County Sheriff's Department, City of Atlanta Police and Fire and Rescue Departments, and the Atlanta Board of Education. Their continued engagement and support play a key role in advancing our shared priorities and strengthening the communities we serve.

We are thrilled to kick off our 2026 Membership Spotlight campaign, which will highlight Buckhead's visionary leaders- starting with our new member, Clyde Higgs. Clyde brings an impressive professional background focused on large‑scale urban reinvestment, infrastructure delivery, and thoughtful growth that prioritizes community needs. We look forward to the expertise and civic leadership he will contribute to the Coalition. Stay tuned as we continue spotlighting our outstanding members whose collective leadership shapes key issues affecting both the Buckhead community and the City of Atlanta.

At the Annual Luncheon, the Buckhead Coalition & Buckhead CID proudly announced that they will commission a custom metal art piece honoring Jim Durrett's 40 years of service to our community and region - crafted by his son, Ryan Durrett, a gifted local artist and metal fabricator. This will stand as a permanent tribute to Jim’s impact and vision here in the Buckhead Community and City of Atlanta.

We are proud to highlight our longstanding partnership with the Buckhead Community Improvement District. The Coalition and CID have collaborated closely for many years, and we are excited to continue building on this shared work with Katharine Kelley at the helm of both organizations.

At our Annual Luncheon this month, member Trey Kilpatrick hosted a dynamic fireside chat with Jamie McCurry of the Georgia Ports Authority and Ricky Smith of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The conversation offered an important opportunity to hear directly from these leaders about their facilities' efforts to drive economic development in our state.

We are honored to congratulate our members who have been named among Georgia Trend’s 2026 Most Influential Georgians. This distinction reflects their leadership, impact, and dedication to our state, and we are proud to have each leader as part of our membership.

We’re thrilled to welcome our new 2026 members - all distinguished business and civic leaders who share a deep commitment to the Buckhead community. Their leadership and vision strengthen our mission, and we look forward to collaborating to make an even greater impact in the weeks and months ahead.

Welcome, Katharine! Yesterday, Jim officially passed the Coalition leadership baton to Katharine. Jim will continue supporting the transition through early March and Katharine will be busy, meeting with our civic partners and elected officials, listening and learning more about Coalition and community. We look forward to a productive first quarter!

Happy Holidays from the Buckhead Coalition. We wish a safe and happy holiday season to all.

The Coalition team was grateful to take part in Peachtree Road United Methodist’s Christmas Kindness Party. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with holiday spirit. We deeply value this partnership and look forward to continuing our collaboration to support Buckhead’s unsheltered neighbors.

As we conclude the year 2025, we reflect on our accomplishments of the Buckhead Coalition, alongside our valued partners in advancing the interests of our Buckhead community and City of Atlanta. We remain committed to community collaboration and look forward to continuing this momentum as we enter 2026.

Congratulations to the newly elected and re-elected City Council officials representing Buckhead. We're grateful for your willingness to serve. We look forward to continuing to collaborate on important issues that ensure Buckhead and the City of Atlanta are the best they can be!

Last Monday, Atlanta honored Councilmember Howard Shook for his exceptional career and well-deserved retirement. Buckhead Coalition and Buckhead CID President & CEO Jim Durrett announced that the Wieuca Road roundabout will be named in his honor.