GAWDA members descended on Atlanta for the third regional of 2026, as the Southeast Regional took place in Stone Mountain on March 23rd and 24th, 2026. More than 150 members made the trip for the regional, which featured golf, tailgating, pickleball, and amazing educational opportunities. Thank you to all of the members who made the trip and to the amazing sponsors who made this Regional possible.
One of the event’s co-chairs, Nico Arvelo, posted the following on LinkedIn:
The 2026 GAWDA Southeast Regional, held at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort inside Stone Mountain Park in Georgia, has officially come to an end and what a remarkable event it was.
With record participation of over 185 registered attendees, this year’s regional truly reflected the strength, energy, and unity of our industry. From start to finish, the event delivered the perfect balance of business, learning, and genuine connection.
There was no shortage of memorable moments. The atmosphere was electric with fun activities like Pickleball, Tailgating with the famous EQUIdogs, and great music bringing everyone together in a relaxed and engaging way. And to close it all out, we enjoyed a beautiful day on the golf course, highlighted by a true Atlanta classic “The legendary Varsity Truck” serving delicious burgers and hot dogs. A perfect ending.
The speaker lineup was exceptional and full of valuable insights:
• Matthew Reasor, VP of Sales at Noble Gas (Air Water Company), delivered a powerful presentation on “The Human Future in a World of AI-Driven Sales” a topic that is reshaping how we all think about growth and customer engagement.
• Mike Walsh, CEO of Esprigas, shared an inspiring and practical approach to workforce development through the LEVEL-UP program proving that investing in people remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
• Neil “Hondo” Williamson, from the Georgia Bulldog Network and Cox Media Group, brought energy and perspective with “Locker Room Lessons: 50 Years in Sportscasting” a fantastic reminder of leadership, resilience, and teamwork.
• Kevin Falconer, Excutive Vice President of CM2 Supply and President Elect of GAWDA, provided a comprehensive GAWDA update, highlighting key member benefits and an exciting preview of the next two years of events.
A special congratulations to Linda Smith from Chemweld, Inc. for leading such an outstanding event, with the strong support of Nico Arvelo from EQUIGAS, Inc., Nicholas Lovin from Andy Oxy, and from GAWDA Headquarters, Bruce Ellenbogen. The level of organization, content, and experience delivered was truly first-class.
Events like this remind us why GAWDA is so special bringing together great people, great ideas, and a shared commitment to moving our industry forward.
Already looking forward to the next one.
Check out the video recap below:
One of the event’s speakers, Matt Reasor, joined GAWDA TV for the March episode to discuss his presentation.
If you have pictures from the Regional that you’d like to include in the photo gallery, please email them to [email protected].
