Former Atlantan Kelly Dolan will become the next president and CEO of the Chicago-based Ronald McDonald House Charities on Dec. 8.
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.
Posted inColumns
With the passing of C.T. Vivian, John Lewis – Atlanta loses two pillars of its greatest generation
It felt like a gut punch. Losing C.T. Vivian and John Lewis on the same day – July 17 – was almost too much to bear. The phrase I kept repeating in my head was: “We are losing Atlanta’s greatest generation.”
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Farewell Rev. C.T. Vivian– we will miss your extraordinary spirit
By Maria Saporta Another civil rights legend has left us. Rev. Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian, 95, passed away Friday morning, according to Don Rivers, his close friend and business partner. A close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., Vivian fought for the right to vote – serving as a civil rights organizer. During the 1960s, […]
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Doug Shipman to leave Woodruff Arts Center, Hala Moddelmog to step in as interim CEO
In a surprise announcement, the Woodruff Arts Center on Thursday said its current president and CEO – Doug Shipman – will be stepping down on Aug. 31 after three years in the role.
Posted inColumns
Frank Fernandez: Atlanta well positioned to lead on race and equity
The incoming president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta – Frank Fernandez – hopes to unleash the power of collaboration to galvanize metro Atlanta to address issues of inequity in our region.
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Purpose Built Communities looking for a new CEO as David Edwards steps down
A leadership transition is under way at Atlanta-based Purpose Built Communities, one of the most impactful nonprofits devoted to community revitalization across the country.
Posted inColumns
A coming home for Paige Alexander – new CEO of the Carter Center
For Paige Alexander, becoming president and CEO of the Carter Center was a coming home in more ways than one.
“Atlanta is like the bookends of my professional and personal life,” Alexander said in a recent interview in her office at the Carter Center. “It really is the only job I would have back to Atlanta for because it capitalizes on all the areas I’ve worked on.”
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Gina Simpson to become new executive of Atlanta Rotary
The Rotary Club of Atlanta has selected Gina Simpson as its next executive director – succeeding Linda Tomason Glass, who is retiring after 20 years.
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Rick Aranson is new head of Komen Atlanta; Cati Stone takes national role
A leadership transition at Komen Atlanta solidifies the relationship between the Atlanta affiliate with the Dallas-based Susan G. Komen for the Cure national nonprofit that raises awareness and research dollars for breast cancer.
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Atlanta Rotary gives its Legends Award to John Lewis
Georgia Congressman John Lewis received the “Legends Award” from the Rotary Club of Atlanta on Monday – a tribute that caused outgoing President David Moody to be overcome with emotion.
Posted inColumns
Citizens group proposes an alternative tree ordinance for Atlanta
Atlanta may get a new and improved tree ordinance after all. The Atlanta City Council held a Tree Ordinance Work Session on June 25 to discuss a proposed draft ordinance prepared by consultants and released March 20.
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Frank Fernandez named new CEO of Atlanta’s Community Foundation
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has named nonprofit leader Frank Fernandez as its new president and CEO beginning in August.
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Buckhead Coalition will be aligned with other Buckhead groups
The influential Buckhead Coalition and the Buckhead Community Improvement District are joining forces under common leadership.
The boards of both organizations approved to combine their efforts under the leadership of Jim Durrett, the executive director of the Buckhead CID, who now will also become president of the Buckhead Coalition.
Posted inColumns
What companies gained, lost by going virtual in 2020
For corporate America, 2020 was the year of virtual annual meetings.
In the past three months – annual meeting season – nearly all of Atlanta’s major companies decided to go virtual rather than convene their shareholders in person.
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Blank Foundation awards $470,000 in grants to combat systemic racism
Six nonprofit organizations in Georgia and one nonprofit in Montana will receive immediate funding from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to address the racial equity crisis in America.
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SPLC to invest up to $30 million in voter registration, mobilization in the South
The Southern Poverty Law Center will invest $30 million from its endowment to support voter outreach organizations in the Deep South to increase voter registration and participation among people of color with a lower propensity to vote.
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Atlanta Rotary to donate up to $400,000 for summer meals
The Atlanta Community Food Bank is receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Rotary Club of Atlanta to help provide 500,000 meals to families over the summer.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta must continue its quest to be a leader in police reform
“She took one for the team.”
That’s the way Dave Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Atlanta Police Foundation, described the Saturday resignation of Erika Shields as Atlanta’s police chief.
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Delta’s Ed Bastian talks about guiding ACP, Mayor Bottoms in challenging times
Atlanta’s top business and civic leaders provided moral support to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms at Friday’s quarterly meeting of the Atlanta Committee for Progress.
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City of Atlanta’s plan to use Eastside TAD funds for budget shortfall fizzles
The City of Atlanta has backed away from a proposal to withdraw $17 million from the Eastside Tax Allocation District to plug a hole in the General Fund.
