From July 16-18, 2025, the Gulf Coast Business Council’s Masters Leadership class embarked on a benchmarking trip through Georgia to explore best practices in community-military partnerships, cyber innovation, and STEM workforce strategies.
Over the course of three days, participants had the opportunity to engage with key leaders and institutions shaping the future of Augusta and Warner Robins—two thriving regional ecosystems making intentional investments in their people, partnerships, and infrastructure.
Attendees enjoy a fine dining experience at Frog Hollow Tavern in Augusta, GA.
Day One: From the Gulf Coast to Georgia’s Innovation Corridor
The journey began with a flight into Atlanta, followed by a scenic drive to Augusta. Along the way, the group stopped for a warm welcome lunch at Social Goat Tavern in Covington. After checking into the hotel, the evening concluded with a fine dining experience at Frog Hollow Tavern, where attendees connected and set the stage for the following full day of learning.
Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center leaders provide an overview of how public-private partnerships have transformed Augusta.
Day Two: Cybersecurity, Community Partnerships & Regional Growth
The second day began at the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center (GCITC), where leaders provided an overview of how public-private partnerships have transformed Augusta into a hub for cybersecurity and workforce development.
The Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center.
Highlights included:
- A Fort Gordon overview and CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon Best Practices Briefing led by Dr. Tom Clark, Executive Director of the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon
- A briefing and walking tour of GCITC with Executive Director Eric Toler
- Insights from Bennish Brown, President & CEO of Destination Augusta, on regional branding and tourism strategies
Following the Augusta visit, the group traveled to Warner Robins, where they enjoyed dinner at The Pond and prepared for the final day of benchmarking.
Day Three: Bridging Military & Community at Robins AFB
Friday’s agenda centered around the longstanding success of the 21st Century Partnership in Warner Robins. This unique organization fosters strategic alignment between Robins Air Force Base and the surrounding community—an effort recognized nationally as a model for defense community collaboration.
Key moments included:
- A welcome and introductions with leadership from the 21st Century Partnership and Robins Air Force Base, including a mission overview video
- A detailed discussion with Dan Rhoades, Senior Advisor, on the 21st Century Partnership’s history, sustainability, and community-military outreach
- A joint briefing on partnerships and economic development featuring Col. Monique “Sherry” Graham (78th Air Base Wing Deputy Commander), Angie Gheesling (Development Authority of Houston County), and Bob Herrmann (Middle Georgia STEM Alliance)
- Deep dives into regional initiatives such as the Joint Land Use Study, solar development, the Georgia AIM Grant, Future IQ Charrettes, and STEM/robotics education efforts
The visit concluded with a working lunch where the discussion continued and a Q&A session before the group made their way back to the airport.
A discussion with Dan Rhoades, Senior Advisor, on the 21st Century Partnership’s history, sustainability, and community-military outreach.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 Masters Leadership Trip offered a valuable lens into how intentional collaboration across sectors—military, public, private, and educational—can drive regional transformation. The Gulf Coast Business Council is proud to bring these learnings home to South Mississippi as we continue building a stronger, more resilient future for our region.
Stay tuned for more updates from our leadership programs and upcoming events.
