Some weeks feel like a highlight reel. Others feel like something bigger: a reminder that the strongest business communities are built through continuity.
From Greer to Atlanta, then on to Houston and Dallas, the past weeks' gatherings showed what makes the GACC South network work. Not just introductions, but follow-ups. Not just exchanging cards but building trust. Not just one strong night, but a year-round community that keeps showing up for each other.
South Carolina New Year’s Reception in Greer: The Moment It Turns Into Community
Presented by BMO, our South Carolina New Year’s Reception at the BMW Performance Center (Hosting Sponsor) set the tone in a way that’s hard to manufacture. The venue was impressive, the conversations were even better, and the atmosphere felt different in the best way.
More than one attendee described the same shift:
fewer “nice to meet you” moments and more “let’s follow up next week.”
Less “what do you do?” and more “let’s continue what we discussed last time.”
That’s the point where networking turns into something more useful: continuity. It’s also how long-term collaboration starts, especially in a region where German American business is not a trend, but a constant force across automotive, manufacturing, logistics, tech, and advanced materials.
Thank you to BMW Performance Center for opening your doors, our Presenting Sponsor BMO, our Dinner Sponsor RÖDL, Nadine Vaughan (Director at BMO), Manuele D'Aversa (CEO at Zeltwanger), and to everyone who contributed to the kind of conversations that don’t end when the event does.
Atlanta Business Breakfast Brief: A Lively Room, Timely Perspectives
In Atlanta, the focus moved from relationship-building to real-time context. Our Atlanta Business Breakfast Briefing delivered exactly what many companies are looking for right now: a clearer view of current developments in the German American business landscape and what they mean on the ground.
Attendees called it an “open and honest exchange” with strong input across the room and great insights from Matthias Hoffmann and Consul General Melanie Moltmann.
And a moment that made the morning unmistakably GACC South: a shoutout to Rob Kuehl for a memorable performance of the GACC song, a reminder that serious conversations and real community can live in the same room.
Houston New Year’s Reception: A Regional Milestone and a Strong Start
Houston brought a powerful combination of celebration and recognition.
At our Houston New Year’s Reception, we welcomed our community to reflect on the past year and look ahead to what’s next, together with key voices including Consul General Kai Hennig, General Manager at Hilton Post Oak Marco Foelske, CPA at RÖDL Florian Darmstadt, and our partners and friends across the region.
We also marked a meaningful milestone: Mayor John Whitmire officially proclaimed February 10th as GACC South Day in Houston, recognizing the chamber’s continued growth and impact in the region.
Thank you to our sponsors Hilton Post Oak and RÖDL, and to everyone who joined the evening and helped shape the momentum for 2026.
Dallas New Year’s Reception: Transatlantic Business Meets a World Stage
Dallas delivered one of those experiences you talk about long after the event ends.
With Dallas set to be a major host city for the 2026 World Cup, we brought the community together in a setting that matched the moment: AT&T Stadium, complete with a behind-the-scenes tour and an evening designed for high-quality conversation.
In remarks that resonated deeply with many European manufacturers and importers, Gerrit Zwergel, CEO of Koenig & Bauer US and Chairman of the GACC South, offered a grounded view of 2025 headwinds and 2026 outlook. He spoke to the real-world impact of tariffs and currency movement, the hesitation those pressures can create in capital investment decisions, and the cautious optimism many businesses are carrying into 2026 as activity and confidence begin to return.
It was a timely reminder of why these gatherings matter: they are not only social moments, but places where decision-makers compare notes, share what is changing, and leave with a sharper perspective.
Thank you to our sponsors Koenig & Bauer US and RECARO, Gerrit Zwergel, Sunitha Vegerla (GM at RECARO), Honorary Consul Mrs. Nicola Bremer, and to everyone who joined us in Dallas, including partners and guests from across the region, and to those who helped make the evening possible.
What These Past Week Really Showed
Across four stops, the theme stayed consistent: this network gets stronger because people keep showing up, and the conversations keep moving forward.
If your team is expanding in the U.S. South, navigating cross-border complexity, hiring, investing, or looking for the right partners, this is what membership and partnership with GACC South delivers: access, context, and a community that doesn’t reset to zero every time you walk into a room.
