January President's Message
As we kick off a new year for the Georgia Integrators Association, I want to personally invite you to one of our most important events of the year, the GIA Q1 Membership Meeting & Expo. Just entering our second year for the expo, we expect to grow in both attendance and impact, and this year’s education is a gamechanger for members that serve the commercial market.
Last year’s Q1 event brought together 100+ industry professionals from across Georgia and beyond. The energy in the room, the quality of the conversations, and the strength of the connections made it clear that our association is thriving.Based on early interest and the momentum we are seeing, we fully expect this year’s event to be even bigger and more influential!
One of the highlights of this year’s program is a panel session designed to give integrators something we do not always get enough of — direct, candid insight from end users themselves.
Featured Education Session
What Do End Users Really Need — and Where Do Technology Solutions Fall Short?
In this panel, IT leaders from three major vertical markets will share the real-world challenges they face every day and discuss where technology deployments succeed, and where they miss the mark. This is a rare opportunity to hear first-hand how decision makers evaluate integrators, projects, and long-term partnerships.
Our panelists include:- Bryan Lee, Director of IT, City of Newnan (Municipality)
- Marshall Bunce, IT Director, American Pride Bank (Financial Institution)
- Trevor Cunard, Processing Equipment and Controls (Manufacturing)
These leaders represent environments with complex compliance requirements, operational demands, and high expectations for performance and reliability. They will speak openly about technology pain points, budget realities, communication gaps, and what truly builds confidence in an integration partner.
For our members, this session is more than informative, it is actionable! Attendees will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to better position solutions, communicate value, and align offerings with the priorities of key end-user verticals. Simply put, this is insight that can help you win more business and build stronger long-term relationships.
Beyond the education, the Q1 Expo remains one of the best networking opportunities of the year. Integrators, manufacturers, service providers, and industry partners will all be in the same room, sharing ideas and building the connections that strengthen our industry across Georgia.
If you attended last year, you already know the value. If you missed it, this is the year to experience it firsthand!
GIA exists to help Georgia integrators grow stronger businesses through collaboration, education, and networking. The Q1 Membership Meeting & Expo brings all three together in one place, and I strongly encourage you to be part of it.
I look forward to starting the year on a strong note. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing you at the Q1 Expo!
Sincerely,
Brandon Shepard
GIA President