Larry Hanson currently serves as the CEO and Executive Director of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). Founded in 1933, GMA represents all 537 Georgia cities through its advocacy, training, programs and services, and technical consulting services.
Prior to his employment with GMA, Larry served as City Manager for the city of Valdosta for over 22 years.
Larry is a graduate of Valdosta State University and Valdosta High School. He served on the Valdosta State University Alumni Association Board, also serving as its President, and on the University’s Foundation Board. He is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and a charter member of Leadership Lowndes, serving twice as its president.
Larry is also a Past-President of the Georgia City-County Management Association. He currently serves on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council. Through this appointment, Larry assists the Bank in fulfilling its affordable housing mission and works closely with the Bank’s Board of Directors to ensure the housing needs of communities within the bank’s region are met. Larry also serves on the Board of Directors of the Share the Magic Foundation, which supports literacy and reading for children and youth, particularly in underserved populations. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities (NLC), on its Executive Committee and presently serves on its Audit Committee. In addition, he served NLC as Chairman of the State Leagues Steering Committee, which serves all the nation’s 49 municipal leagues and associations. Larry also serves on the Board of Directors of the Fox Theatre.
Throughout his career, Larry has received numerous awards for his leadership and public service. Some of these include the 2003 Outstanding Public Official Award from Valdosta State University, the 2004 Carl Vinson Institute of Government/Georgia Trend Magazine Excellence in Public Service Award and the 2010 Georgia City-County Management Association Pillar of Professional Management Award for outstanding leadership and professional service to the local government profession.
Over the course of Larry’s career, he has been inducted in three Hall of Fames. The Georgia Amateur Softball Association in 2001, GMA’s Municipal Government Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association Hall of Fame in 2021. Georgia Trend Magazine has named him as one of Georgia’s Most Influential Citizens for 8 consecutive years. Larry has also been named by James Magazine as one of the Most Influential Georgians for 5 consecutive years. In 2024, he was named by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of Metro Atlanta’s Most Admired CEO’s.
Larry is the proud father of two children, a son and a daughter. He is a long-time member of First Christian Church in Valdosta, where he served as an Elder and as chairman of the church board. He holds joint membership at Peachtree Christian Church in midtown Atlanta where he also serves as a Deacon and on the church board.