Boots on the Ground: ACCA’s 40th anniversary celebration in Atlanta
Rodney Strong was selected by the American Contract Compliance Association (ACCA) to serve as Chair of the Local Planning Committee for the National Training Institute’s (NTI) 40th anniversary celebration in Atlanta. Courtney Clark, Project Manager with Griffin & Strong, served as the Local Planning Committee Coordinator, working alongside more than 20 planning committee volunteers across the country and the ACCA Executive Committee to help bring the conference to Atlanta.
Throughout the planning process, Griffin & Strong helped with a number of important pieces of the conference, including soliciting sponsorships, contributing to the program booklet, securing speakers, such as City of Atlanta Deputy Chief Operating Officer Theo Pace, and coordinating the “Welcome to Atlanta: The South Has Something to Say” reception at the Georgia Aquarium.
Courtney also worked to bring a special Atlanta presence to the conference. She coordinated a welcome video from the Mayor’s Office of Atlanta, secured welcome letters for attendees from U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and U.S. Representative Nikema Williams, and helped secure a City of Atlanta proclamation recognizing ACCA’s 40th anniversary. These touches helped make the anniversary celebration feel connected to the city and its long history of advancing equal business opportunity.
One of Courtney’s primary responsibilities was developing and coordinating two of the conference’s featured discussions: the Mayoral Roundtable, “Contract Compliance: Then and Now,” and the Women’s Leadership Forum, “Contract Compliance in Action: Women Leaders Advancing Equitable Procurement and Economic Opportunity.” With Rodney’s support, guidance, and relationships, Courtney was able to bring these panels to life and bring together an impressive group of leaders and former mayors for meaningful conversations. She helped develop the topics and content, create the run of shows, prepare the moderators and panelists, and coordinate the day-of logistics.
The Mayoral Roundtable featured former Atlanta mayors Ambassador Andrew Young, Bill Campbell, Shirley Franklin, and Kasim Reed, who reflected on contract compliance, supplier diversity, and procurement during their respective administrations. The Women’s Leadership Forum featured DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, City of South Fulton Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs, and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as moderator. The conversation focused on the role of women leaders in advancing equitable procurement and economic opportunity across the Atlanta metro area.
The work was also recognized by ACCA. ACCA President Nina Jones presented Courtney with a special recognition award for her project management efforts and contributions to the 40th Anniversary NTI. Rodney was also recognized with an award for his leadership and service as Chair of the Local Planning Committee.
For Griffin & Strong, being part of ACCA’s 40th anniversary celebration in Atlanta was a special opportunity to help honor the organization’s history while also looking toward the future of contract compliance, supplier diversity, and economic opportunity. It was especially meaningful to help bring the conference to a city with such a strong history in this work and to highlight the leaders who have helped shape that history.
Media
• Mayoral Roundtable: Griffin & Strong was proud to sponsor the Mayoral Roundtable, “Contract Compliance: Then and Now,” moderated by Dr. Jabari Simama of the Soul of Atlanta and featuring former Atlanta mayors Ambassador Andrew Young, Bill Campbell, Shirley Franklin, and Kasim Reed. The discussion brought together former mayors to reflect on contract compliance, supplier diversity, and procurement throughout their respective administrations, as well as considerations for charting a path forward. Atlanta holds a unique place in the history of equal business opportunity, with each administration following Mayor Maynard Jackson building upon the foundation he established to advance a more equitable business community where all businesses have a fair opportunity to compete. With ACCA celebrating its 40th anniversary in Atlanta, there was no better opportunity to highlight the City’s legacy and the leaders who helped move this work forward. Attorney Rodney K. Strong was uniquely positioned to convene this distinguished group, having worked across several of these administrations and bringing together the former mayors for this important conversation, which was featured in 11 Alive News.
• Women’s Leadership Forum: Griffin & Strong sponsored the Women’s Leadership Forum, “Contract Compliance in Action: Women Leaders Advancing Equitable Procurement and Economic Opportunity,” which explored the role of city and county governments in advancing transparency, accountability, and inclusion in public procurement across the Atlanta metro area. Atlanta is uniquely positioned to bring together women leaders who are actively shaping local government and economic development, providing an important opportunity to hear their perspectives on leadership, supplier diversity, and creating equitable opportunities for businesses. The session offered valuable insight into both the challenges and regional opportunities women leaders encounter in advancing this work within their communities. The panel featured DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, City of South Fulton Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs, and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who served as moderator.
