This week had a common thread across very different rooms and conversations: the rules are changing, expectations are rising, and companies that do well in 2026 will be the ones that treat uncertainty as a planning input, not a reason to pause.
We saw that in Atlanta, where “tariffs and transfer pricing” stopped being an abstract headline and became a real operational discussion. We saw it in Houston, where leaders compared notes on German-American business relations with a surprisingly constructive tone. And we saw it in Columbia, where one sentence captured the workforce challenge in a way that stuck with everyone.
Atlanta: Tariffs + Transfer Pricing is no longer a niche topic, it’s a leadership topic
Our in-person seminar in the Atlanta office, hosted with RÖDL USA, focused on “Tariffs and Transfer Pricing in 2026: Enforcement, Risk, and Alignment.” The strong engagement in the room was telling companies are not asking whether enforcement will increase; they are preparing for how it will show up in day-to-day operations.
What made the conversation valuable was how practical it stayed. Instead of talking in generalities, transfer pricing and customs teams shared real examples, compared approaches, and pressure-tested how companies can stay aligned and audit-ready in an evolving trade environment.
One takeaway was hard to ignore: trade compliance, customs, and tax can no longer operate in parallel lanes. The companies reducing risk are the ones building alignment early and documenting decisions in a way that holds up later.
Thank you to our expert panelists for grounding the discussion in experience and specifics: Bea Petkova and Martin Tackie, PhD (RÖDL USA), Felicia Leborgne Nowels (Akerman LLP), and Brian Baldwin (Kuehne+Nagel)
And a big Thank you to RÖDL USA for opening your doors and helping make the session possible, and to everyone who joined and contributed thoughtful questions throughout the discussion.
CleanTech Masterclass: Community Microgrids and the case for preparedness
Midweek, we shifted from compliance to resilience with our CleanTech Masterclass #4 on Community Microgrids, featuring Philip M. Gonski, PE, Director at Burns Engineering and a national leader in distributed generation and renewable energy.
The message was clear: microgrids are not just backup generators. Real resilience comes from integrated systems combining generation, storage, advanced controls, and smart dispatch strategies, built before a disruption hits. We revisited lessons from Hurricane Sandy and a standout example from the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where a true microgrid approach helped defer major infrastructure upgrades and avoid roughly $45 million in costs.
This work continues in March through our CleanTech Program with the upcoming Masterclass on Smart Grids and Digitalization, plus two Innovation Circles on NextGen Clean Tech and Technology Meets Participation. We’re also looking ahead to our CleanTech Ambassador Trip to the Carolinas in May, connecting transatlantic partners with regional opportunities on the ground.
Houston: Uncertainty is real, but the “temperature check” was more optimistic than expected
At our first 2026 Houston Business Breakfast, the conversation felt like what international companies need most right now: a real “mosaic of voices” comparing what they are seeing, what is changing, and what is still working.
Yes, uncertainty prevailed, but the room’s tone leaned toward “glass half full.” That matters, because confidence is not a mood. It’s a business input that shapes hiring, investment, and market decisions.
A big thank you to JPMorgan for hosting and opening the morning with their Economic Outlook 2026, and to the leaders who anchored the discussion with perspective from both sides of the Atlantic: Kai Hennig (Consul General, German Consulate General - Houston), Christian Forwick ( Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), and GACC South Chairman Gerrit Zwergel (Koenig & Bauer US Inc.)
One point came through clearly: companies operating internationally cannot eliminate uncertainty, but they can reduce surprise by staying close to information, policy signals, and peer experience. That is exactly what these exchanges are for.
Columbia, SC: The Future of Work, and a line that landed
Our third edition of the ENGAGE + Network TALKSeries, presented by Parker Poe, focused on Developing and Retaining the Next Generation of Talent. The conversation was thoughtful, candid, and practical, because talent challenges are showing up everywhere: on shop floors, in HR teams, in leadership pipelines, and in competitiveness.
A key takeaway was captured in one sentence from Katarina Fjording:
“If we don’t want to import them, we need to produce them.”
That line resonated because it reframes the workforce problem. It is not only about recruiting. It’s about building systems: local talent development, training capacity, and partnerships that make careers possible and retention more likely.
Thank you to our speakers for bringing depth and perspective across industry, education, HR, and legal: Caitlin Becker (Parker Poe), Elizabeth Gibbes (Parker Poe), Manuele D’Aversa (ZELTWANGER), Katarina Fjording (College of Charleston, Fatum Consulting), and Jamie Polk (FHI, LLC).
A quieter launch that matters: Member Kaffeeklatsch
Not every initiative needs a stage. This week we also launched our monthly Member Kaffeeklatsch, designed as a members-only drop-in hour with the GACC South team. No agenda, just access. It’s a simple format: giving members an easy way to ask questions, get clarity, and move faster without waiting for the next big event.
Looking ahead: “March Madness”, GACC South edition
March is packed, in the best way. The themes stay connected: policy, market movement, talent, and practical collaboration.
- German American Executive Summit: leadership-level conversations that turn uncertainty into strategy
- CleanTech Masterclasse & Innovation Circles: scalable solutions, transatlantic exchange, practical implementation
- Behind the Scenes at ZELTWANGER: where advanced manufacturing becomes tangible
