Sep 15, 2026

Live Oak Fiber’s Expansion, Georgia Workforce Skills, and Georgia Ports Authority’s Next Chapter

This episode of Savannah Chamber Connect, presented by Vaden Automotive, features three conversations with leaders shaping Savannah and Georgia’s business, workforce, and economic future.

In the Superstar Member Spotlight, Chamber President and CEO Bert Brantley sits down with Steve Smith, Chief Revenue Officer of Live Oak Fiber, to discuss the company’s rapid growth, its expanding fiber network across the Savannah area, and plans to invest approximately $150–$200 million throughout the greater Savannah region. Smith also talks about Live Oak Fiber’s buildout on Tybee Island, the company’s community-focused approach, its Live Oak Locale initiative, and the growing importance of reliable high-speed internet as more professionals work remotely and choose the coastal Georgia lifestyle.

The episode then features Quick Questions with Erica, as Erica Backus, Vice President of Communications and Social Inclusion for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Visit Savannah, speaks with Georgia Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes about the future of Georgia’s workforce. Holmes discusses the importance of adaptability, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and technological skills, as well as efforts to better align education and workforce development with the needs of Georgia employers.

Finally, Bert puts Kevin Price, the new President of the Georgia Ports Authority, in the Hot Seat for a wide-ranging conversation about Savannah’s competitive advantages as a global port, the importance of the port community and labor partnerships, and the Georgia Ports Authority’s statewide economic impact. Price discusses the Port’s long-term planning, the expansion of Ocean Terminal and the future Savannah Container Terminal, infrastructure improvements designed to support larger vessels and improve regional transportation, and the role the Port plays in supporting jobs and economic activity across Georgia.

Bert's Hot Seat:

Kevin Price
President, Georgia Ports Authority

Georgia Ports Authority

Superstar Member Spotlight:

Steve Smith
Chief Revenue Officer, Live Oak Fiber

Live Oak Fiber

Live Oak Locale – Community Engagement

Quick Questions with Erica:

Barbara Rivera Holmes
Georgia Labor Commissioner

Erica Backus
Vice President of Communications and Social Inclusion
Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce & Visit Savannah

Georgia Department of Labor

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