Architects Roundtable: Kristi Brigman and the FIFA World Cup 2026
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
As thousands of fans flock to Atlanta for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the city will be filled with opportunities for local businesses.
Kristi Brigman, Chief Economic Development Officer at the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC), joins AIA Atlanta for a fireside chat exploring the Chamber’s approach to economic development, regional coordination, and how major global events contribute to long-term growth across Metro Atlanta’s 29 counties.
Attendees will gain insight into how the MAC supports business recruitment, elevates the region’s global profile, and improves quality of life throughout metro Atlanta, all while connecting with peers over a hot breakfast.
Learning objectives
- Learn how the Metro Atlanta Chamber is organized including its Board of Directors, Board of Advisors and Investors.
- Understand the strategy developed to recruit new businesses to the Atlanta region.
- Review how major sporting events are used as an important tool to grow the metro Atlanta and State of Georgia economies.
- Understand how the 2026 FIFA World Cup games being held in downtown Atlanta has similar parallels to the 1996 Olympic games (also held in the Atlanta region).
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Date and Time: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
8:00 am - 9:30 am -
Location: Uzun+Case (Promenade Tower)
1230 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309 - Credits: 1 LU
- Provider: AIA Atlanta
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Meet the Speaker
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Kristi Brigman
Chief Economic Development Officer
Bio
Metro Atlanta ChamberKristi BrigmanKristi Brigman is the Chief Economic Development Officer at the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC). She leads the Chamber’s economic development strategy, ecosystem development, global commerce, and business recruitment.
Before joining MAC in 2024, Kristi served as Deputy Commissioner for Global Commerce at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In this role, she oversaw the state’s business recruitment and retention efforts. She successfully recruited many new businesses to locations across the state, in both office and industrial markets, and worked alongside existing Georgia companies expanding their facilities.
Prior to her role at the state, she spent five years working in the State and Local Tax practice of KPMG LLP in Atlanta. As part of the Income & Franchise tax group there, she provided advising, planning, controversy, and technical research services to her multi-state clients, focusing on economic development and tax incentives work.
Kristi is a four-time University of Georgia graduate with a juris doctor, a master’s in accounting, and a bachelor’s in accounting and art history. A Rome, Georgia native, she now lives in Atlanta with her husband, three children, and dog.