OUR NEWS

The Gwinnett Chamber introduced its new chairman and board members at its recent board meeting. Tom Andersen, partner, Andersen, Tate & Carr, welcomed new board members and reviewed 2019 Chamber priorities at the January 17 board meeting.

“The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce is fortunate indeed to have one of the region’s most distinguished citizens assuming the role of Chairman of the Board for 2019,” said Dr. Dan Kaufman, President & CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber. “Tom Andersen, founding partner of the Andersen, Tate, and Carr law firm located in Duluth, has been a leader in Gwinnett and metro Atlanta for many years, and he will bring to his new position a wealth of experience in both economic and community development. Tom’s leadership during this exciting time in our community’s history will help to ensure that Gwinnett continues to grow and thrive and enhance the quality of life for all the citizens of Gwinnett.”

Tom Andersen’s family roots in small towns in the Midwest led him to Gwinnett County right after his graduation from Emory Law School at a time when Gwinnett’s population was only 70,000 people. The small-town practice he expected for a lifetime and loved for his first few years as a lawyer disappeared in the explosive growth the county experienced. Fortunately, Tom also loved learning and solving complex legal issues, and he evolved as a lawyer as the county grew to its present population of almost 1,000,000 people. His intellect and his dedication to his clients led to a large and loyal client following.

Tom has been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer for more than a decade. In 2016, he was named Real Estate Lawyer of the Year for Greater Atlanta by The Best Lawyers in America.

Tom has always loved Gwinnett County and has made community service an important part of his life. He has held leadership positions in many Gwinnett civic and charitable organizations. He agreed to serve in 2019 as Chairman of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce where he has actively participated throughout his career, including serving a prior term as Chairman 20 years ago. He has received numerous awards, including being named as Gwinnett Chamber’s 2018 Citizen of the Year (along with his wife, Ethel).

“I am honored to succeed Ron Garrard as Chairman of the Gwinnett Chamber for 2019. Ron was a wonderful Chairman and it is a substantial task to live up to his example. I have been a member of the Chamber for over 30 years and in fact have been Chairman previously in 1999 so I have some experience which I believe will help me during my term,” says Tom Andersen. “The Chamber has always been an essential element of the fabric of this community, and we will face many challenges in the upcoming year that will affirm the value of the Chamber. A couple of those challenges are the MARTA referendum in March and the need for the Chamber to adapt and change with a changing community. I am excited to work with Dr. Dan Kaufman, the incredible staff of the Chamber and the very talented, successful board members.”

Andersen succeeds Ron Garrard, President & CEO, Garrard Group who will continue to serve as a director.

New members of the Board for 2019 include:
Jim Brooks – Evermore CID
Kenneth Davis – Renasant Bank
Liz Gillespie – North American Properties
Lorraine Green – Pond
Kim Hartsock – Warren Averett
Chris Hayes – TPA Group
Talbert Hill – Preschool Solutions, Inc. / The Goddard Schools
Kathryn Kieser – Primerica
Robert Moeck – Next Star Communications / Sprint
Nathan Powell – Powell & Edwards, Attorneys at Law, PC
Norberto Sanchez – Norsan Group
Jordan Sandler – Frenik Marketing Group
Adam Taussig – BB&T
Lee Tucker – Mahaffey Pickens Tucker LLP
Scott White – Synovus
Lisa Winton – Winton Machine Company

For a complete list of the Gwinnett Chamber’s board of directors, click here.