Marianne Ganem-Poppell is a respected Savannah business leader, marketing professional, community advocate, and the President and Owner of Savannah Master Calendar, the Hostess City’s comprehensive event and networking guide.
Under Marianne’s leadership, Savannah Master Calendar has become far more than a place to find upcoming events. It is a vital connection point for the people, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders who make the Coastal Empire such an extraordinary place to live and work. Distributed weekly to more than 44,000 local business professionals, the platform helps organizations increase their visibility, encourages meaningful community participation, and keeps Savannah informed about the events and opportunities shaping the region.
Marianne’s ability to bring people together is rooted in a lifelong connection to Savannah. A third-generation Savannahian, she understands the relationships, traditions, and entrepreneurial spirit that define the city. Her work reflects a genuine belief that strong local businesses and engaged community organizations are essential to Savannah’s continued success.
After earning her Bachelor of Business Administration from Valdosta State University, Marianne spent more than a decade in the fast-paced world of fashion merchandising. That experience sharpened her instincts for presentation, branding, consumer behavior, and customer service. It also taught her the importance of understanding an audience and creating experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Her love for the Coastal Empire eventually brought her home to the family’s thriving business, Johnnie Ganem’s. It was there that Marianne discovered her passion for supporting local businesses while giving back to the community that had given her so much.
Throughout her career, Marianne has developed a distinctive understanding of the customer experience. She recognizes that the strongest organizations do more than provide a product or service. They operate intentionally, exceed expectations, build trust, and create experiences that people remember. That philosophy has become central to her work in marketing, community engagement, and business development.
Through Savannah Master Calendar and Simply Savannah Marketing, Marianne has helped numerous businesses and organizations strengthen their visibility, build valuable relationships, and establish practical marketing paths designed for long-term success. Her approach combines strategic thinking with the personal connection for which Savannah is known. She does not simply promote businesses and events. She helps them become part of the community conversation.
Marianne’s commitment to Savannah extends well beyond her businesses. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, helping support the organization’s mission to strengthen the regional economy and champion the local business community.
In 2026, Marianne serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire. In this leadership role, she supports the organization’s work to expand access to conflict resolution, strengthen relationships, and promote peace throughout the Coastal Empire. She also chairs the organization’s 40th Anniversary and Building Fundraising Campaign Committee.
Her record of service also includes leadership as the 2021-2022 Chairperson of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council and service as a Chamber Ambassador. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Savannah Downtown Business Association and contributed her experience to the marketing committee for United Way of the Coastal Empire.
Marianne is also a graduate of the Leadership Savannah Class of 2016, an intensive community leadership program that develops and connects leaders committed to Savannah’s future.
In 2022, Marianne received the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Helen V. Head Business Advocate Award. Named in honor of the Chamber’s first female board chair, the award recognizes an individual who demonstrates exceptional dedication to the community while serving as a committed advocate for local small businesses. The honor reflects the principles that have guided Marianne throughout her career: service, leadership, connection, and an unwavering belief in Savannah’s business community.
Marianne was also recognized as one of Savannah’s Next Generation Rising Stars, an honor celebrating accomplished local business leaders under the age of 40.
Community service is not simply part of Marianne’s professional résumé. It is fundamental to who she is.
Over the years, she has passionately supported numerous philanthropic initiatives throughout the Coastal Empire. Her involvement has included the Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia BigWigs campaign, the American Diabetes Association’s Kiss-a-Pig campaign, United Way of the Coastal Empire, and other organizations working to improve lives across the region.
Whether she is promoting a local event, advising a growing business, serving on a board, supporting a charitable campaign, or introducing two people who should know one another, Marianne brings enthusiasm, generosity, and purpose to everything she does.
Her greatest gift may be her ability to recognize the potential in people, businesses, and ideas, and then help connect them with the relationships and opportunities they need to thrive.
For Marianne, Savannah Master Calendar represents the perfect intersection of her professional experience and personal mission. It allows her to champion the businesses that drive Savannah’s economy, celebrate the organizations that strengthen its communities, and help people experience everything the Coastal Empire has to offer.
Marianne and her husband, Rob, are the proud parents of three active sons, Lawson, Brady Thomas, and Palmer. Their family also includes Beau, their beloved Sheltie.
Savannah is not simply where Marianne works. It is her home, her heritage, and the community she is committed to helping flourish.
Marianne Ganem-Poppell is a respected Savannah business leader, marketing professional, community advocate, and the President and Owner of Savannah Master Calendar, the Hostess City’s comprehensive event and networking guide.
Under Marianne’s leadership, Savannah Master Calendar has become far more than a place to find upcoming events. It is a vital connection point for the people, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders who make the Coastal Empire such an extraordinary place to live and work. Distributed weekly to more than 44,000 local business professionals, the platform helps organizations increase their visibility, encourages meaningful community participation, and keeps Savannah informed about the events and opportunities shaping the region.
Marianne’s ability to bring people together is rooted in a lifelong connection to Savannah. A third-generation Savannahian, she understands the relationships, traditions, and entrepreneurial spirit that define the city. Her work reflects a genuine belief that strong local businesses and engaged community organizations are essential to Savannah’s continued success.
After earning her Bachelor of Business Administration from Valdosta State University, Marianne spent more than a decade in the fast-paced world of fashion merchandising. That experience sharpened her instincts for presentation, branding, consumer behavior, and customer service. It also taught her the importance of understanding an audience and creating experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Her love for the Coastal Empire eventually brought her home to the family’s thriving business, Johnnie Ganem’s. It was there that Marianne discovered her passion for supporting local businesses while giving back to the community that had given her so much.
Throughout her career, Marianne has developed a distinctive understanding of the customer experience. She recognizes that the strongest organizations do more than provide a product or service. They operate intentionally, exceed expectations, build trust, and create experiences that people remember. That philosophy has become central to her work in marketing, community engagement, and business development.
Through Savannah Master Calendar and Simply Savannah Marketing, Marianne has helped numerous businesses and organizations strengthen their visibility, build valuable relationships, and establish practical marketing paths designed for long-term success. Her approach combines strategic thinking with the personal connection for which Savannah is known. She does not simply promote businesses and events. She helps them become part of the community conversation.
Marianne’s commitment to Savannah extends well beyond her businesses. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, helping support the organization’s mission to strengthen the regional economy and champion the local business community.
In 2026, Marianne serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire. In this leadership role, she supports the organization’s work to expand access to conflict resolution, strengthen relationships, and promote peace throughout the Coastal Empire. She also chairs the organization’s 40th Anniversary and Building Fundraising Campaign Committee.
Her record of service also includes leadership as the 2021-2022 Chairperson of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council and service as a Chamber Ambassador. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Savannah Downtown Business Association and contributed her experience to the marketing committee for United Way of the Coastal Empire.
Marianne is also a graduate of the Leadership Savannah Class of 2016, an intensive community leadership program that develops and connects leaders committed to Savannah’s future.
In 2022, Marianne received the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Helen V. Head Business Advocate Award. Named in honor of the Chamber’s first female board chair, the award recognizes an individual who demonstrates exceptional dedication to the community while serving as a committed advocate for local small businesses. The honor reflects the principles that have guided Marianne throughout her career: service, leadership, connection, and an unwavering belief in Savannah’s business community.
Marianne was also recognized as one of Savannah’s Next Generation Rising Stars, an honor celebrating accomplished local business leaders under the age of 40.
Community service is not simply part of Marianne’s professional résumé. It is fundamental to who she is.
Over the years, she has passionately supported numerous philanthropic initiatives throughout the Coastal Empire. Her involvement has included the Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia BigWigs campaign, the American Diabetes Association’s Kiss-a-Pig campaign, United Way of the Coastal Empire, and other organizations working to improve lives across the region.
Whether she is promoting a local event, advising a growing business, serving on a board, supporting a charitable campaign, or introducing two people who should know one another, Marianne brings enthusiasm, generosity, and purpose to everything she does.
Her greatest gift may be her ability to recognize the potential in people, businesses, and ideas, and then help connect them with the relationships and opportunities they need to thrive.
For Marianne, Savannah Master Calendar represents the perfect intersection of her professional experience and personal mission. It allows her to champion the businesses that drive Savannah’s economy, celebrate the organizations that strengthen its communities, and help people experience everything the Coastal Empire has to offer.
Marianne and her husband, Rob, are the proud parents of three active sons, Lawson, Brady Thomas, and Palmer. Their family also includes Beau, their beloved Sheltie.
Savannah is not simply where Marianne works. It is her home, her heritage, and the community she is committed to helping flourish.