Riley Blount President of AT&T Georgia
Riley Blount serves as president of AT&T Georgia, where she is responsible for leading the company’s economic development initiatives, public policy advocacy, and community engagement efforts across the state. With her extensive experience in the telecommunications industry and proven leadership guiding AT&T’s external affairs initiatives, Riley has built a reputation as a dynamic leader who forges impactful partnerships with policymakers, business leaders, and community advocates to drive innovation, investment, and inclusive growth.
From 2019 to 2023 alone, AT&T invested nearly $14.9 billion in its network infrastructure in Georgia. This significant investment has enabled the expansion of AT&T’s fiber network to more than 1.73 million customer locations in over 130 Georgia communities, and the company’s 5G wireless network now reaches more than 90% of Georgia’s population. These advancements are a testament to Riley’s dedication to enhancing connectivity and ensuring communities have access to cutting-edge technologies that power education, businesses, and everyday life.
In addition to infrastructure development, Riley manages a multi-million-dollar operational budget and directs AT&T’s philanthropic contributions in Georgia. Her work focuses on closing the digital divide and fostering equity of opportunity. A cornerstone of these efforts has been her leadership in establishing six AT&T Connected Learning Centers across the state. These centers provide underserved communities with access to high-speed internet, digital tools, and mentorship programs, helping bridge the gap in educational resources, workforce readiness, and telehealth accessibility.
Riley also spearheads AT&T Georgia’s cross-functional team on FirstNet in Georgia, ensuring first responders have access to secure, reliable communication tools. Under her leadership, FirstNet has expanded to more than 260 cities, providing critical support to public safety agencies and enabling advanced emergency response capabilities to keep communities safe.
Before assuming her current role, Riley led AT&T’s external affairs efforts in Georgia and public affairs initiatives in several key states, gaining extensive experience in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and developing strategies that deliver meaningful results. Her expertise and dedication have made her a trusted advocate for driving positive change for customers, businesses and communities.
Riley’s commitment to community impact extends beyond her professional responsibilities. She serves on the Executive Boards of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation. She also holds positions on the Boards of Directors for the Grady Health Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Council for Quality Growth, the Atlanta Police Foundation and the Committee for a Better Atlanta. Appointed by Mayor Andre Dickens to the Atlanta Commission on Women, Riley has also been recognized as the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “2024 Corporate Diversity Champion.”
An alumna of Leadership Atlanta, Riley continues to actively engage in initiatives that promote leadership development, equity, and civic progress. Her academic background includes earning a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Auburn University, where she cultivated the foundation for her career of excellence and service.
Outside of her professional life, Riley is a proud mother of two sons. Her ability to balance the demands of her impactful career and community involvement with her dedication to her family reflects her unwavering commitment to success in all aspects of her life. Her story is one of leadership, vision, and a steadfast focus on building a better future for her community and beyond.
Q. Your role involves balancing complex relationships with policymakers, business leaders, and community organizations. How do you approach building partnerships that drive innovation while addressing the diverse needs of Georgia’s communities?
At AT&T, our approach to building partnerships is rooted in collaboration and our commitment to investing in our customers and communities. AT&T has been connecting Georgians for 145 years, and we are committed to providing the modern communications infrastructure that helps close the digital divide and promotes economic prosperity for all. To achieve this, we collaborate with public and private partners to foster an environment that welcomes investment and innovation.
Over the past five years, AT&T invested nearly $14.9 million in its network infrastructure in Georgia. This investment in our fiber and 5G networks keeps Georgians connected and fuels technological innovations like Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). AT&T has been at the forefront of innovative technologies for decades, and we are constantly identifying new ways to utilize AI to enhance the customer experience and pioneer connectivity-driven solutions for more Georgia businesses.
We are also committed to equipping individuals with the digital resources they need to succeed today and in the future. We recently collaborated with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs to provide entrepreneurs with digital skills training, specifically in AI. Our partnership with RICE has been instrumental in democratizing access to technologies, and most importantly, empowering individuals to pursue their dreams.
