By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 10, 2025
Atlanta to Celebrate a Legacy of Leadership
More than 1,400 business and civic leaders will gather Thursday, October 16, 2025, to honor Tommy Holder—Chairman and former CEO of Holder Construction—at the Council for Quality Growth’s 36th Annual Four Pillar Tribute.
The black-tie-optional gala begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a formal program in the Georgia Ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center.
The tribute, presented by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Power, and Norfolk Southern, recognizes Holder’s lifetime of leadership and civic engagement that has shaped Atlanta’s skyline and business community.
Program Highlights
Governor Brian P. Kemp will share remarks via video, with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivering the evening’s welcome. The invocation will be offered by the Very Reverend Sam Candler of the Cathedral of St. Philip.
Doug Hertz, Chairman and CEO of United Distributors and a 2020 Four Pillar honoree, will serve as master of ceremonies.
Tribute speakers will highlight the event’s guiding values—Quality, Responsibility, Vision, and Integrity—through reflections from:
- Beth Lowry, President & CEO, Holder Construction
- Donna Hyland, CEO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Dr. Ángel Cabrera, President, Georgia Institute of Technology
- The Very Reverend Sam Candler, Dean, Cathedral of St. Philip
Musical performances will feature a 60-piece Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band ensemble and Atlanta-native Slater Nalley, a 2025 American Idol finalist.
Other featured speakers include Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc. and current Council Chairman, and Michael E. Paris, President and CEO of the Council for Quality Growth.
Continuing a 36-Year Tradition
The Four Pillar Tribute has become one of Atlanta’s most prestigious honors, celebrating leaders who embody the Council’s mission of balanced and responsible growth.
Each year’s honoree is recognized for upholding the Four Pillars of Leadership—Quality, Responsibility, Vision, and Integrity—principles that mirror Holder’s career and community impact.
Founded in 1985, the tribute event provides a platform for the region to celebrate the individuals whose work advances economic development and quality of life across Georgia.
Event Details
- Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
- Time: 6 p.m. Cocktail Reception | 7:15 p.m. Dinner & Tribute
- Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Ballroom
- Attire: Black-tie optional
- Tickets: Available at www.FourPillarTribute.com
- Parking: $10 in Red and Orange Decks (gwcc.parkingguide.com)
- Press RSVP: Anna Frances Gardner | ag@councilforqualitygrowth.org | 770-813-3388
About the Council for Quality Growth
For four decades, the Council for Quality Growth has championed policies that support responsible development, infrastructure investment, and economic vitality throughout metro Atlanta and Georgia. Its members include leaders from construction, engineering, real estate, and public service who work together to promote balanced growth for future generations.
Learn more at www.councilforqualitygrowth.org.
Please consider supporting open, independent journalism – no contribution is too small!