On the occasion of his retirement, it’s time to take a long-term view of the role of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and its leader for the past 17 years, Sam Williams. After all these years, I can look back and say: It’s unbelievable what this man’s leadership has meant to this community. There are three words or phrases I’d use to describe Sam — caring, a leader and a difference maker.
I met Sam when he was at the Portman Cos. and we recruited him to Central Atlanta Progress. We came up with the idea of the Ambassador Force and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, putting people on the streets of downtown Atlanta to change the atmosphere. All of this started the journey of Sam remodeling Atlanta in preparation for the Olympic Games.
Two years later, as I was moving to chair the Metro Atlanta Chamber, we recruited Sam to MAC. Sam led the business community through a transformation that required us to work together and think regionally. Today MAC truly is a chamber for the region. In fact, we have the strongest Chamber in the United States. Atlanta business leaders have always chased dreams and tackled tough issues. But all along the way, Sam was our point man.
Over the past 17 years, policy issues seem to have defined Sam. But what is clear to me is that first and foremost, Sam is a job creator. Under his tenure, and hand in hand with partners across the state and region, more than 700 companies relocated to this region. It all started with the Industries of the Mind campaign.
Only when the MAC board realized that infrastructure and quality-of-life issues were affecting our ability to recruit companies to Atlanta did we dive in and tackle the tough social issues. Some of those issues we won, others were defeated, but Sam never shied away. He knew what needed to get done to ensure that we continued to add jobs and companies to the region.
Before Sam Williams, chambers of commerce did not lead on issues like changing the state flag, transforming transportation, transforming regional water planning, and saving a public hospital. But Sam did — because solving these issues meant jobs.
The ability to save Grady Memorial Hospital could not have happened without the Chamber. At the urging of Tom Bell and me, Sam came up with a plan, designed a task force and secured outside resources to help. Without Sam, Tom and I would have been two voices in the wilderness. But with Michael Russell, and with the Chamber and a coalition behind us, we were able to accomplish what most people said couldn’t be done.
The Chamber has grown immeasurably under Sam’s leadership. Over the years, we business leaders have endorsed plans and raised funds – but Sam is the one who put them into action. In just a matter of years, MAC has become the voice of the metro Atlanta region. It has become a voice that is valued in the state house, and even nationally. It has become an organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of the citizens of this area — and that’s all happened under Sam.
Some have criticized Sam’s style and the failure to win every issue. But Sam never acted alone. The chamber board and executive committee debated issues, and Sam was our voice. When you have courage, conviction and passion, you are bound to be both criticized and praised. All great leaders face this. I am proud to stand on the side of history with a leader like Sam Williams.
