Norfolk Southern Corp. announced today that Chairman and CEO James “Jim” A. Squires will retire on May 1, 2022. He will be succeeded by Alan H. Shaw, Norfolk Southern’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
Author Archives: Maria Saporta
Maria Saporta, executive editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. From 2008 to 2020, she wrote weekly columns and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, becoming its business columnist in 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children. She launched SaportaReport in February 2009.
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City of Atlanta to buy Chattahoochee Brick land to turn into green space
The City of Atlanta will acquire and protect 75 acres of land that was the former site of the Chattahoochee Brick Co.
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Atlanta Committee for Progress reflecting on its role under new mayor
The Atlanta Committee for Progress – the high-powered blue-ribbon group that advises the mayor of Atlanta – is at a crossroads.
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Atlanta mayoral candidates Moore and Dickens vow to bring the city together
It’s now down to two. Either City Council President Felicia Moore or City Councilman Andre Dickens will be the next mayor of Atlanta.
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Goizueta Foundation makes transformational grant to Emory Brain Health
The Goizueta Foundation has made a $50 million grant to establish the Goizueta Institute @Emory Brain Health. The grant renames the Emory Brain Health Personalized Medicine Institute, announced in May, and will take on the Goizueta name.
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Bostic, Donahue, Womack named as next chairs of Metro Atlanta Chamber
The Metro Atlanta Chamber announced the line-up of its board leadership through 2024 at its annual meeting Thursday morning.
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Coca-Cola’s James Quincey to chair Woodruff Arts Center annual campaign
By Maria Saporta In an unprecedented move, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey will chair the 2021-2022 Woodruff Arts Center corporate campaign. The Coca-Cola Foundation also has made a record $2 million leadership gift towards the annual campaign. It is the first time in decades that a top Coca-Cola executive has taken on such a […]
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Women making great strides among Georgia’s public companies
The number of women on the boards of Georgia’s 119 public companies increased dramatically over the past year, according to the 2021 OnBoard study of women on corporate boards and those serving in executive roles.
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Norfolk Southern cuts ribbon on HQ; GWCC unveils Richard Jewell tribute
Two landmark events Wednesday morning weaved special tales of Atlanta’s history, present and future. The first was the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Norfolk Southern’s new corporate headquarters in Midtown as dignitaries welcomed Atlanta’s newest Fortune 500 company. The second was the unveiling of a memorial to Richard Jewell and law enforcement at Centennial Olympic Park
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Norfolk Southern’s Jim Squires: ‘Atlanta had a positive vibe for me’
As Norfolk Southern cuts the ribbon on its new Midtown headquarters Wednesday morning, the railroad company is solidifying its base in Atlanta by consolidating its executive team with its operations hub.
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Atlanta wins with Felicia Moore/Andre Dickens run-off
It’s a new day for the City of Atlanta.
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Chicago a model as Atlanta region strives for greatness
CHICAGO – “I love Chicago,” declared former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin at the opening night dinner of the 2021 LINK trip on Oct. 27. “Chicago is one of the great cities of the world.”
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Creating a Buckhead City would hurt Atlanta on so many levels
The proposal to carve out a City of Buckhead out of the City of Atlanta would be detrimental – financially, politically and psychologically.
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Fort Mac board releases statement on T.D. Jakes’ draft master plan
After approving the interim master plan for T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures for 95 acres, the Fort Mac Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) board released a press release and some artwork featuring the development.
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Fort Mac board approves T.D. Jakes’ initial plans – not yet publicly released – to redevelop 95 acres
The Fort Mac redevelopment authority spent more than two hours in executive session before spending five minutes in public session to pass a unanimous resolution approving the preliminary master plan proposed by T.D. Jakes’ and his real estate company.
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T.D. Jakes expects his development plan for Fort Mac to be accepted within 24 hours
Bishop T.D. Jakes, speaking virtually from Dallas at the HOPE Global Summit in Atlanta Wednesday, described his vision to develop 95 acres of land at the former Fort McPherson in southwest Atlanta
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Ryan Millsap launching Blackhall Americana hoping to rival Netflix
Fresh from selling Blackhall Studios, Ryan Millsap is developing a streaming service – Blackhall Americana – that will cater to the action-adventure market.
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Andrew Young: ‘There’s something very special about this city’
Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young received the Council for Quality Growth’s Four Pillars Award on Oct. 14 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Upon accepting the award, Young reminded the more than 1,100 people attending the gala in person (and another 400 watching via livestream) that Atlanta is a special place.
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LINK trip to Chicago to explore fixes for race and income inequities
The regional leadership delegation – LINK – will be going to Chicago at the end of October where it will focus on the issues of historic racial inequities, the wealth gap as well as transit and economic development.
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Great Atlanta mayors had great ideas
For decades, Atlanta had the good fortune to elect several visionary mayors – larger-than-life leaders who catapulted the city to new heights.
