IWF Georgia February Member Luncheon Program:
FIFA World Cup: Bringing the World to Atlanta
Join us for an engaging program that offers a comprehensive overview of the preparations for the upcoming World Cup. Whether you’re a seasoned soccer enthusiast or a newcomer to the sport, we’ll provide an introduction to soccer and the structure of the games, ensuring everyone is well-informed.
Our program will feature expert panelists who will explore various aspects of the World Cup’s impact. We’ll delve into the economic effects on Atlanta, examine the construction projects currently underway to accommodate the event, and understand the global spotlight that will be on Atlanta during this prestigious tournament. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and be part of the World Cup experience!
IWF Georgia Members Only Program. Please log in for complimentary registration.
Event Timeline & Details:
11:30 am Arrival / Networking
11:50 am Buffet / Seating
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Welcome Remarks / Program
Location:
Cox Enterprises, 6205-A Peachtree Dunw sody Road, Atlanta
Sponsored by: Thank you to Jennifer Hightower and Cox Enterprises for their support of this program!
About Our Speakers:
LaChandra Burks is the COO of City of Atlanta and a dedicated public-sector leader with a distinguished career in Atlanta City Government. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Atlanta, she succeeded in her previous role as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, which she held for over three years. Burks has also served as the Interim Commissioner of the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Throughout her tenure, Burks has been instrumental in advancing public safety initiatives, including significant improvements to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department stations and enhancements in airport operations and in areas of human services. Her focus remains on addressing critical operational and infrastructure needs, particularly in public safety, public works, and transportation, as emphasized by Mayor Andre Dickens.
During her time as Interim Parks Commissioner, Burks facilitated and oversaw key components of the 10-year masterplan, which serves as the roadmap for the evolution of parks, greenspace, and recreation in Atlanta, adapting to the city's growing population and increasing needs. Additionally, she effectively managed the operation of 33 recreation centers and over 400 parks, ensuring they remained vibrant community spaces for Atlanta residents to enjoy.
An Atlanta native, Burks, brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to her role. She has served under five previous Atlanta Mayors and has held key positions throughout the City of Atlanta and served as an elected member and Board Chair of the Atlanta Board of Education. In addition to her current role, Burks's leadership extends to her involvement with significant city projects and organizations. She was a Founding Board Member for Atlanta Beltline, Inc., and a former board member of Invest Atlanta. Burks holds multiple degrees, including a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.).
LaChandra Burks is also dedicated to her family, married with one son and a bonus daughter. Her extensive experience and unwavering dedication to public service position her as a key figure in the continued advancement and operational excellence of the City of Atlanta.
Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President & CEO, Invest Atlanta
As President and CEO of Invest Atlanta, Dr. Eloisa Klementich is transforming economic development in the city of Atlanta through strategic initiatives to increase equity and prosperity for all Atlantans. She leads a nationally recognized economic development agency accredited by the International Economic Development Council and has shaped the Invest Atlanta organization around equity to ensure all Invest Atlanta programs focus on this fundamental outcome.
Since being named CEO of Invest Atlanta in 2016, the agency has had many notable accomplishments under Eloisa’s leadership. She commissioned Atlanta’s first economic development strategy driven by economic mobility, fostered an internal culture at Invest Atlanta focused on equity, and led the integration of Atlanta’s workforce development agency and Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative programs into Invest Atlanta to create a more comprehensive economic development solution for the city.
During her time as President and CEO, Eloisa and the Invest Atlanta team have produced significant economic development results, including facilitating the creation of 15,828 affordable housing units, 77,018 jobs created or retained, supported over $130 million of small business funding and $13.2 billion dollars of new capital investment in the city. These and other Invest Atlanta economic development results have made over $34 billion of economic impact on the city.
Sarah Kate “Skate” Noftsinger is Atlanta United's Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer, and she rejoined the club on October 23, 2023. Reporting to AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) CEO Rich McKay, Noftsinger works alongside Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson and Senior Vice President of Strategy Dimitrios Efstathiou to run day-to-day operations of the club.
Noftsinger is responsible for overseeing day-to-day business strategy for the club, including marketing, sales, sponsorship and ticketing. Part of her role with Atlanta United includes stewarding recent gifts to U.S. Soccer from Arthur M. Blank as the federation completes its relocation to Atlanta.
Noftsinger led Atlanta United’s marketing and fan engagement efforts from 2015-20 and rejoined the club after spending four years at adidas as the Head of Sports Marketing for Soccer in North America. At adidas, Noftsinger developed and led digital marketing, content and activation strategies to maximize relationships with adidas' partners both globally and domestically. Part of that strategy included developing global player strategies on behalf of the division for several men’s and women’s national team players. During her time, she was also responsible for leading all aspects of adidas’ vital partnership with Major League Soccer, in particular the creation of its comprehensive commercial marketing plan.
Originally joining the club as Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement, Noftsinger’s work helped guide the club to commercial success that was previously unforeseen in the world of Major League Soccer. Atlanta United broke virtually every attendance record in North America during its first season in 2017, including single-game (71,874), total single-season (819,404) and single-season average (48,200). The club continued to break its own records in each of those categories in the following years and at one point in 2020, it owned each of the Top 10 highest attended crowds in MLS history. During her time with the club, Atlanta United was twice named MLS Marketing Team of the Year while Noftsinger was named MLS Marketing Executive of the Year in 2017.
Prior to her time with Atlanta, Noftsinger held numerous roles including Commissioner of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) from 2010-15. The ECNL is widely considered the top female youth soccer league in the United States and one of the most comprehensive elite female development leagues in the world. During her time at ECNL, she grew the league from 40 clubs and 2,000 players to a national powerhouse of 79 clubs and more than 11,000 players.
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Noftsinger was named an All-American during her playing career for the Demon Deacons and went on to play professionally for the Washington Freedom of the Women’s United Soccer Association. After playing, Noftsinger spent time on the development side, serving as an assistant coach at Stanford University for five years before leaving for the ECNL. Additionally, during that time she worked with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, assisting on its grassroots soccer program, Soccer For Success.
Georgia O’Donoghue is Vice President, Operations, Mercedes-Benz Stadium & Chief Operating Officer, Atlanta World Cup Host Committee and seasoned executive in sports and entertainment, known for driving operational excellence and fan-centric innovation. In October 2024, she was named Vice President of Operations at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS), marking her return to the venue where she first served as Manager and later Director of Fan Experience.
In her current dual role, Georgia also serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee, where she leads all planning and execution efforts related to Atlanta’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Her responsibilities include overseeing large-scale logistics, city operations, commercial requirements, community engagement, legacy programs, and stakeholder coordination in partnership with the Atlanta Sports Council.
Prior to this role, Georgia served as Vice President of Business Operations for Atlanta United, where she led day-to-day business functions for both Atlanta United and Atlanta United 2. Her oversight included matchday operations, marketing, broadcast, content, social media, community relations, and the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. She was also an active member of the AMBSE Senior Leadership Team and served on the Board of the AMB Family Fund.
Earlier in her career at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia played a pivotal role in enhancing the fan journey, spearheading the implementation of automated ticket scanning, refining security and entry processes, and helping launch MBS as the first fully cashless professional sports stadium. Her contributions were instrumental in MBS being named 2019 Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal and receiving Sports Breakthrough of the Year in 2018 for its Fan First Pricing food and beverage initiative.
A proud Atlanta native, Georgia holds two degrees from the University of Georgia and resides in Buckhead with her husband, Brendan, and their three children: Michael and twins Sutton and Conor.
