ATLANTA, GA — Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA of Georgia) has named David Cummings and Craig Menear as the 2027 JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame Laureates.
Junior Achievement of Georgia is proud to host the 37th annual gala and continue the tradition of honoring outstanding members of the Metro Atlanta business community. This black-tie event, co-founded with the Atlanta Business Chronicle, will take place on Saturday, February 20, 2027, at Flourish in Buckhead.
David Cummings is an Atlanta-based tech entrepreneur who has founded 10 companies employing thousands of people, including Pardot, Salesloft, and Intown Golf Club. David is also the founder of the Atlanta Tech Village, the fourth-largest tech hub in the United States, and the lead investor in Calendly, the world’s most popular scheduling app. After selling Pardot, he was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and one of the 100 Most Influential Atlantans by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. He is now renovating one of the largest collections of historic buildings in the country in downtown Atlanta. David is a member of YPO Southern 7 and serves on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Buckhead Coalition, Central Atlanta Progress, Atlanta Committee for Progress, and The Westminster Schools. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, David earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Duke University. He blogs regularly at DavidCummings.org and shares insights on X at @davidcummings.
Craig Menear is a distinguished retail executive and former chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, where he spent 25 years helping shape the company into the world’s largest home improvement retailer. He joined the company in 1997 and held several leadership roles before serving as CEO from 2014 to 2022 and chairman from 2015 until his retirement in 2022. Under his leadership, The Home Depot expanded its interconnected retail capabilities and invested in its stores, supply chain, technology, associates, and future leaders. During his tenure as CEO, annual sales grew from approximately $83 billion to more than $151 billion. Craig currently serves on the boards of Chick-fil-A, Camp Southern Ground, and Junior Achievement’s 3DE initiative, as well as the Advisors Excel advisory board. He is also vice chair of Junior Achievement USA. His previous board service includes the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Atlanta Committee for Progress, and Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. A native of Flint, Michigan, Craig earned a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. He later received the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award and an honorary doctorate.
In addition to the formal induction of David and Craig, the 37th JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame will welcome guests to a cocktail hour featuring a seated dinner, followed by a tribute to the revolutionary programs JA of Georgia is bringing to over half of Georgia’s middle school students and beyond.
“David Cummings and Craig Menear represent the innovation, leadership, and commitment to community that define Atlanta’s business legacy,” said John A. Hancock, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Georgia. “Through their remarkable careers, both have created opportunities, strengthened our region, and demonstrated the lasting impact business leaders can have on the people and communities around them. We are proud to welcome them into the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame.”
To learn more about the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame, sponsorship opportunities, or the laureates, please visit georgia.ja.org/atlanta-hall-of-fame. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the event, please email Hannah Thompson at hthompson@georgia.ja.org.