March President's Message

Dear GELSSA Members and Friends,

I'm thrilled to share with you the incredible success of our Q1 Meeting & Expo, held on March 7th at the Governors Gun Club in Kennesaw! We had over 100 industry professionals join us for a day filled with networking, learning, and engaging with over 30 leading industry vendors on our sold-out expo floor. It was truly a testament just how far we have come in the last year.

Looking ahead, I encourage each of you to mark your calendars for our upcoming events. First, don't miss out on our highly anticipated Golf Tournament scheduled for Friday, May 2nd. After the resounding success of last year, we're aiming even higher this time around!

Additionally, mark your calendars for our Virtual Q2 Membership Meeting on May 7th at 12pm. It promises to be another informative session where we'll discuss key industry trends and association updates. We recognize that many of our events are held around the Atlanta Metro area, so we want to ensure that our members in other areas of the State have an opportunity to engage with GELSSA and one another in an easy, online format at least once a year!

Our Q3 Membership Meeting & Braves Game will be a great event this year in August and I'm excited to announce that we've secured Topgolf Atlanta Midtown for our Fall Summit in November! This venue will provide a fantastic setting for our members to once again connect and engage in groundbreaking educational sessions and networking opportunities.

Reflecting on the past year, GELSSA has achieved remarkable milestones. Membership has surged by 73%, from 54 to 93 members, expanding our reach significantly. We've tripled our communication outreach, launched the innovative GELSSA App, and saw our 2024 Golf Tournament participation increase by over 100% compared to 2023.

Our Q3 Membership Meeting & Braves Game combined cybersecurity insights with an enjoyable evening at Truist Park, demonstrating our commitment to both education and camaraderie. Meanwhile, the redesigned Fall Summit raised the bar with pioneering educational content and unparalleled networking opportunities.

I'm also proud to welcome new Board Members who bring fresh perspectives and a drive to elevate our association to new heights. Financially, we've seen remarkable growth with revenue up over 1,200% year-to-date compared to the previous period, and net income increasing by 282%. These numbers underscore our association's robust health and strategic direction.

As we work through 2025, I'm confident that GELSSA is well-positioned for record growth and continued success. Thank you for your dedication and contribution to our thriving community. I hope to see you at the Golf Tournament in May!

Sincerely,

Brandon Shepard
GELSSA President