John "Trip" Martin
John S. "Trip" Martin, III is the founder of GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group. GeorgiaLink is a governmental affairs consulting firm which has been recognized by James magazine for the last four years as the top lobbying firm in the state of Georgia. Mr. Martin began his Government Affairs career in 1981 as the Director of State Government Affairs in Georgia for Southern Bell. In 1986, he was promoted to the position of Director of Legislative Affairs for BellSouth in Washington, D.C. where his major responsibilities included the development and implementation of strategies for dealing with Congress on national telecommunications policy issues. He has served as the Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Southeastern Public Affairs Council and was a participant in the Leadership Georgia Class of 1983. He is the former Vice President of the University of Georgia National Alumni Association. Mr. Martin serves on the Board of Directors of The Advocacy Group, an international network of lobbying firms with offices in forty eight states. Mr. Martin also serves on several nonprofit boards including the Tour de Georgia and the Foreign Trade Zone of Georgia. Mr. Martin is a licensed realtor with the Blue Ridge, Georgia, office of Harry Norman Realty. He also serves on two community bank boards, including the Bank of Ellijay and Primary Bank in Buckhead. Mr. Martin and his wife Ginnie have three children Ashley, Sev, and Knox and one granddaughter Ella. The Martins split their time between homes in downtown Atlanta and Blue Ridge, Georgia.