2025 Annual Convention

The Power of Positive Leadership

Registration Opens In...

 

March 26, 2025

Registration Planning Form

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are unable to pay by credit card, you can pre-purchase event vouchers via EFT equal to the total amount needed for registration and training fees. If using this method, buy your vouchers in advance to ensure a smooth registration process.

Speakers

  • Jon Gordon

    Jon Gordon

    Best-Selling Author and Keynote Speaker

    Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 30 books including 17 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 3 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, Stay Positive, The Garden, Relationship Grit and his new release The One Truth. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, In-N-Out Burger, The Los Angeles Rams, Campbell Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, The Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, The Colorado Rockies, Truist Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, Bayer, West Point Academy and more.

    Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

Schedule of Events

Thursday

June 19

  • 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

    Badge Pick Up

    • Westin Hotel
    • Marriott Hotel
    • Hyatt Hotel
    • Savannah Convention Center

Friday

June 20

  • 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Registration and Welcome Center

  • 7:15 AM - 8:00 AM

    Breakfast for Training Institute/Clerks Training Participants

  • 8:15 AM - 3:15 PM

    Municipal Trainings

    • Building Collaborative Relationships to Solve Community Challenges (new)
    • Conflict Resolution*
    • Downtown Development Authority Basic Training
    • Economic Development*
    • Effective Branding and Marketing Strategies for Municipal Governments
    • Fire and Emergency Medical Services
    • How Shall We Live? Practical Ethics for Public Life*+
    • Law Enforcement Services: Trends and Best Practices
    • Navigating the Future: Thinking, Planning and Acting Strategically
    • Making Citizen Engagement Work in Our Communities*
    • Municipal Finance I*
    • Regional Approaches to Cooperation
    • Service Delivery Strategy — Efficiency & Tax Equity for Local Governments
  • 8:15 AM - 3:15 PM

    Clerks Training

    • Elections Training – CEU
  • 11:30 AM - 1:00 AM

    Lunch (Trainings)

  • 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    Municipal Trainings

    • Beyond the Beltway: Influencing Federal Policy Through Grassroots Engagement
    • Excellence in Customer Service
    • How to Attract and Retain Young Professionals in Your Town
    • Mobile Workshop: Port of Savannah
  • 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    Clerks Training

    • Human Resources – Required
  • 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    RMEBS Board of Trustees Meeting

  • 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

    Badge Pick Up

    • Westin Hotel
    • Marriott Hotel
    • Hyatt Hotel
  • 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM

    Mentor/Mentee Meet and Greet and Orientation

  • 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM

    Board of Directors Meeting

Saturday

June 21

  • 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

    Breakfast

  • 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM

    Registration and Welcome Center

  • 8:15 AM - 11:15 AM

    Municipal Trainings

    • Building Bridges Between Cities and Colleges
    • Current Issues Class: Municipal Law Update 2025
    • Capital Improvement Program
    • Employee Benefits 101 (Retirement)
    • Entrepreneur Friendly Cities
    • Funding and Programming Transportation Projects in Your Community
    • Human Trafficking: Georgia’s Role and Response
    • Information Privacy and Security Breaches: Prevention and Response*
    • Let’s Get Social
    • Living Beyond Expectations: The Opportunities and Challenges of the Growing Senior Population
    • Local Government Debt Methods 101
    • Municipal Annexation: Growing Pains and Growth Spurts
    • Municipal Electric Systems 101
    • Municipal Gas Systems 101
    • Municipal Taxation 101 — The Basics*
    • New and Emerging Technology for Cities
    • Open Records*
    • Public Works Services*
    • Recreation and Parks – Building Communities
    • Risk and Insurance 101
    • Roles and Responsibilities of Council and Staff*
    • Succession Planning: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Workforce Today
    • Trends in Urban Design for Local Leaders
    • Strengthening the Well-Being of Children and Youth
  • 8:15 AM - 3:15 PM

    Clerks Training

    • Steady Under Pressure:  Managing Emotions with Challenging Customers – CEU
    • Professional Skills Development 101 Business Writing – Required
    • Ethics & the Public Servant – Masters
  • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

    Lunch (Policy Committees)

  • 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

    Policy Committee Meetings

  • 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM

    Clerks Training

  • 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM

    Policy Committee Meetings

  • 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

    Policy Committee Meetings

  • 3:55 PM - 4:00 PM

    Municipal Marketplace Opening Ceremony

  • 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

    Municipal Marketplace Opening and Reception

Sunday

June 22

  • 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Registration and Welcome Center

  • 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM

    Worship Service

  • 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM

    RMEBS Membership Meeting

  • 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

    City Attorneys Session Registration

  • 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

    Breakfast

  • 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

    Opening General Session

  • 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

    City Attorneys Session and Brunch

  • 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM

    Municipal Marketplace Open (Lunch Included)

  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

    Legislative Policy Council Meeting

  • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

    City Managers Session and Lunch

  • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

    Clerks Business Meeting and Lunch

  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

    Federal Policy Council Meeting

  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

    Municipal Training Board Meeting

  • 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

    Rapid Fire Sessions

  • 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

    Voting Credential Pickup

  • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

    Business Meeting and Installation of Officers and Board of Directors

Monday

June 23

  • 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

    Registration and Welcome Center

  • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

    Breakfast

  • 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM

    General Session

  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Concurrent Sessions

  • 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

    Concurrent Sessions

  • 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM

    Awards Luncheon

  • 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM

    District Networking

  • 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

    District Connections

  • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Closing Event

Tuesday

June 24

  • 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM

    Breakfast

  • 8:15 AM - 11:15 AM

    Municipal Trainings

    • Capital Improvement Program
    • Changing Demographics and Best Practices
    • Current Issues Class: Municipal Law Update 2025
    • Effective Practices for Municipal Operations
    • Entrepreneur Friendly Cities
    • Municipal Courts Post-Ferguson II: Promoting Justice, Protecting City Assets  
    • Municipal Taxation 102 — The Basics Continued
    • Municipal Water and Wastewater Systems*
    • Practices for Successful Meetings*
    • Public Policy Development and Implementation*

Contact Us

For information about registration, sponsorship opportunities or other inquiries related to the Annual Convention not covered on this page, email registration@gacities.com.