The first full week of 2026 gave us exactly what we love most at GACC South: fresh perspective from the world stage, and real conversations back home with our community.
Last week, our President & CEO, Matthias Hoffmann, returned from CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where he attended for the third year in a row and connected closely with GACC West colleague Sven Thorsten Potthoff, President & CEO at GACC West.
CES once again felt like a global “pulse-check” across industries that matter to our network. German tech showed up everywhere: from the German Pavilion to the far corners of the exhibition halls, driving visible momentum in AI integration, digital ecosystems, and even humanoid robotics.
The takeaway: plenty of smart signals to carry forward as we shape our 2026 initiatives across the Southern U.S.
And then, just one day later, we kicked off our first event of the year; together, in person.
Our Tennessee New Year’s Reception in Chattanooga at the Mountain City Club was the perfect start: a room full of familiar faces, new connections, and the kind of energy you only get when people who care about transatlantic business are in the same place at the same time. Thank you to our Co-Host Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce International Business Council, our Presenting Sponsor VW Chattanooga, and to everyone who joined us to reconnect, meet new members of the community, and start 2026 on a strong note.
A special Thank you goes to our Tennessee State Sponsor Baker Donelson for committing to another year of support for our Tennessee activities. We truly value the continued partnership and their long-term engagement in the region.
Next stops on our New Year’s Reception tour
Atlanta - January 27
North Carolina (Charlotte) - January 28
South Carolina (Greer) - February 4
Houston - February 10
Dallas (Arlington) - February 12
Tampa Bay - February 19
Wherever we see you next, thank you for being part of the network that turns insights into action and introductions into real partnerships.
