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HBS Expands National Reach into Georgia

Business

HBS Expands National Reach into Georgia
Business

Business

HBS Expands National Reach into Georgia

2026-09-09 22:32 Last Updated At:22:50

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 9, 2026--

HBS, a national government affairs firm, today announced the opening of its Georgia office in Atlanta and the addition of Caroline Womack as Managing Principal.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909726452/en/

"Since 2018, we have grown to 11 state offices and an office in Washington, D.C., strengthening our footprint where policy gets made," said Andy Blunt, HBS CEO. "Georgia was next on that list, and Caroline is the reason we can say yes with confidence. She has spent more than two decades earning the trust of Georgia policymakers, and the real winners here are our clients; they will have a proven advocate under the Gold Dome from the first day of the 2027 session."

Womack brings more than two decades of Georgia government affairs experience to the firm. She joins HBS from Capitol Partners Public Affairs Group, where she served as a principal for twelve years, advocating for a broad portfolio of corporate and association clients before the Georgia General Assembly and executive branch. She previously spent a decade as a government relations director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, where she expanded the company’s relationship with the State of Georgia and guided public affairs initiatives through a period of historic change in health care policy.

"I've seen Georgia policy from every seat at the table: inside one of the state's largest health insurers, at our trade associations, and for the last twelve years as an advocate at the Capitol,” said Womack. “HBS Georgia is the chance to put all of that experience to work for clients, and I'm honored to lead it."

Womack is an active leader in Georgia’s business community, serving on the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and as chair of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Council Health and Wellness Committee. She began her career in advocacy roles with the American Heart Association and the Georgia Hospital Association, and is a University of Georgia graduate with a Bachelor of Science in political science.

To learn more, visit hbstrategies.us.

About HBS

HBS is a bipartisan national government affairs and advocacy firm that works with companies, associations, and other organizations to advance and protect their interests before Congress, federal agencies, and state governments across the country. Established in 2018 by Andy Blunt and Gregg Hartley, HBS operates eleven offices across the United States. The firm maintains one of the nation's largest networks of state lobbyists with capital offices in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. The HBS Federal Government Affairs group serves clients from Washington, D.C., and is ranked among the top-performing lobbying firms. The firm's Public Affairs practice builds full-scale communications strategies for clients in high-stakes policy environments and reputation challenges. Former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt leads the firm's Leadership Strategies Advisory Services group in Washington, a specialized executive team that provides a comprehensive whole-of-government advisory service that is tailored to the needs of a specific organization.

HBS Expands National Reach Into Georgia with Atlanta Office.

HBS Expands National Reach Into Georgia with Atlanta Office.

Apple is unveiling its latest generation of iPhones, widely expected to include a foldable version, on Wednesday at an event headlined by new CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on Sept. 1.

Many of Apple’s biggest rivals, such as Samsung, Motorola and Google, have already come out with foldable smartphones. But Apple is not one to rush on new technologies.

“The foldable launch is straight out of Apple’s playbook: Wait for the product to work out its kinks and for the market to offer glimpses of viability, then enter and shape the category,” said Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee. “The difference is that foldables still represent a minuscule share of the smartphone market. The test of Apple’s ambition will be whether it can expand that niche into a meaningful new segment.”

Compared with earlier generations, the iPhone 18 likely will cost more due partly to a global memory chip shortage. The iPhone 17's price ranges from $799 to $1,999 depending on the model.

Earlier this year, Apple unveiled artificial intelligence advances, including upgrades to its Siri assistant, emphasizing a focus on privacy and day-to-day use as the company tries to catch up with rivals on AI.

The keynote address for Ternus at the tech giant’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, will set the tone for his vision of Apple's future, Chatterjee said.

“John Ternus inherits perhaps the most successful consumer technology juggernaut in modern times. That is both a boon and a burden for him. Tim Cook’s perfected execution, scale, and monetization set a high bar, and Ternus must extend that run,” Chatterjee said. “But he must sustain that momentum while positioning Apple to disrupt itself in the near future, when the iPhone, or any smartphone for that matter, will cease to be the consumer’s primary conduit to the world.”

Last year’s iPhone 17 lineup, which included a new ultra-thin model, has been selling well. That generation saw a new slimmed-down model that adopted the “Air” name that Apple already used for its sleekest iPads and Mac computers.

Apple CEO John Ternus speaks during an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Apple CEO John Ternus speaks during an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Attendees walk inside the Steve Jobs Theater before an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Attendees walk inside the Steve Jobs Theater before an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Apple CEO John Ternus speaks during an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Apple CEO John Ternus speaks during an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Apple CEO John Ternus waves on stage during an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Apple CEO John Ternus waves on stage during an announcement of new products on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

FILE - The Apple logo is illuminated at a store in Munich, Germany, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

FILE - The Apple logo is illuminated at a store in Munich, Germany, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

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