Articles by Maria Saporta
Memorial services for William “Bill” Taggart, an Atlanta business and civic leader who died suddenly on June 7, will be held on Friday, June 16 at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College at 830 Westview Drive S.W.
Since April, Taggart was serving as the interim president of Morehouse College. He also held several important roles in the community, such as chairman of the Atlanta Business League and on the board of the Westside Future Fund.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on June 9, 2017
Atlanta-based corporate giants and major companies with an Atlanta presence stopped short of joining the chorus of criticism Democrats and environmentalists heaped on President Donald Trump’s decision June 1 to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement.
But The Coca-Cola Co., Delta Air Lines Inc., The Home Depot Inc., and others firmly renewed their commitments to pursuing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, goals set forth by the 2015 Paris accord.
In his first public appearance since becoming CEO of the Coca-Cola Co., James Quincey reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Atlanta, water conservation, women empowerment and community well-being at the 2017 Rotary International convention.
“We take great satisfaction that Atlanta is also a special place for Rotary, and that you’ve chosen to celebrate your Foundation’s Centennial here,” Quincey told the more than 23,000 people assembled in Hall B of the Georgia World Congress Center.
Rotary International raised the spotlight on human trafficking Monday at its 108th convention underway in Atlanta.
After a morning devoted to the initiative to eradicate polio, the nearly 37,000 Rotarians attending the conference from all over the world listened to ways it can help fight modern day slavery.
“Atlanta Georgia is one of the hot beds for sex trafficking in the entire country,” said actor Ashton Kutcher, who has become an active voice to protect women and children from becoming modern day slaves. Kutcher said one can actually “buy somebody” – a fact he said is hard to believe.
“End Polio Now” was the rallying cry at the !08th convention of Rotary International – bringing nearly 37,500 Rotarians to Atlanta from Sunday through Wednesday.
Led by Rotary International and Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the global health partners meeting in Atlanta reaffirmed their commitment to ending the disease by pledging an additional $1.2 billion to the cause.
Rotary announced alone pledge to raise $50 million a year for three years. And Bill Gates announced he would match that contribution two-to-one – meaning that partnership would provide another $450 million to fight the last vestiges of the debilitating disease.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on June 2, 2017
Don’t be surprised if from June 5 to June 14, Atlanta looks more international than usual.
Rotary International will be holding its 108th annual convention in Atlanta — commemorating the 100th anniversary of the launch of the Rotary Foundation — which happened at the Rotary convention held in Atlanta in 1917. That’s when Arch Klumph proposed creating an endowment with a purpose of “doing good in the world.” The foundation began with a war chest of $26.50, but today it has assets of more than $1 billion, and that’s after it has invested more than $3 billion in philanthropic causes in virtually every corner of the world.
The most fragile time for a community surfaces when investors and developers begin swarming around looking for inexpensive property they can flip and make some money.
Southwest Atlanta is case-in-point.
For decades, the Westside witnessed populations losses and declines in property values. But in recent years, the neighborhoods have been enjoying attention from philanthropists, civic groups, developers and investors.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on June 2, 2017
Doug Shipman will be the new president and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center, succeeding Virginia Hepner, who has held the post for the past five years.
Shipman, 44, is the CEO of BrightHouse — a global creative consultancy that is part of BCG (Boston Consulting Group). But Shipman is best known for the nine years he spent exploring the feasibility, developing and opening Atlanta’s Center for Civil and Human Rights. He left the center after its first full year in business.
During her talk to the Rotary Club of Atlanta on Monday, Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields did not shy away from the tough issues she faces in leading the police department.
Shields has been in her position for about six months, but she was part of the leadership team of former Police Chief George Turner, who she credited for making solid improvements to the department.
Politics was on the shopping list at the opening of the new Publix on Moores Mill and Bolton roads Wednesday morning.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony provided a stage for people running for office and for those seeking to settle political scores and slights.
But the real stars of the day were the dozens, if not hundreds, of community residents who showed up at the store before 7 a.m. to celebrate the long-awaited amenity in their neighborhood.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 26, 2017
Oglethorpe University has friends and family to thank for launching a new building effort on the heels of completing the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history.
Among its closest friends are Tom and Ann Cousins, who have given Oglethorpe a $2.5 million lead gift for the university’s new Center for Science and Innovation, the largest single gift the institution has ever received from an individual family.
The new $20 million center will be built on the university’s historic quadrangle, and it will include new science labs as well as an innovation component that will distinguish Oglethorpe among its peers — connecting liberal arts to experiential learning.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 19, 2017
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal will be honored by the Council for Quality Growth with its 28th annual Four Pillar Award on Oct. 5 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
It is the first time the Council has presented the Four Pillar Award to a sitting governor.
The Council said Deal was being honored for his contributions to economic prosperity, education and transportation in Georgia. The Council’s Four Pillars of leadership – quality, responsibility, vision and integrity – exemplify the organization’s mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 19, 2017
Note to readers: The 2017 LINK trip was the 21st annual trip, which began in 1997. Hundreds of regional leaders have been invited to participate on the LINK trips, which have visited Denver (twice), Dallas (twice), Seattle (twice), Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Houston, Toronto, Vancouver, San Diego, Portland, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.
DETROIT — Metro Atlanta’s problems seem miniscule when compared to the challenges Michigan’s largest city has faced in recent years.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 12, 2017
The Loudermilk family turned out May 3 for the naming ceremony of the Loudermilk Family Gymnasium at the Covenant House Georgia.
But Charlie Loudermilk Sr. showed up with a special surprise – one that even caught some members of his family by surprise.
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 12, 2017
The fourth generation of the Cox family soon will be leading Cox Enterprises Inc., the largest privately-owned company in Georgia.
Alex Taylor, 42, the great-grandson of the company’s founder, will become the company’s CEO on Jan. 1, succeeding John Dyer, who has been with the company for 40 years.
Taylor and Dyer sat down with Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 8 at the headquarters of Cox Enterprises to talk about the transition in leadership and the future of the business.
The Atlanta Comfort Women have found a home – Brookhaven.
A statue of a young girl sitting in a chair originally was supposed to have been anchored at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The memorial was an artistic depiction to shine the light on human sex trafficking.
But earlier this year, the Center reversed its decision to host the statue after getting pressure from business and international leaders.
CALLAWAY GARDENS – More than a dozen shareholders participated in a question-and-answer session with Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning during the annual meeting that lasted two hours.
And most of the questions centered around the company’s efforts to adopt more renewable energy, vocally support the Paris Climate Accord and to become a more vocal industry leader addressing global warming and climate change.
By Maria Saporta Atlanta is in the middle of the pack when it comes to parks among the 100 largest cities in the United States. The Trust for Public Land released its 2017 ParkScore Index on Wednesday morning – and Atlanta was tied with Dallas for the 50th spot. That ranking was a slight improvement […]
By Maria Saporta House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, in a talk before the Rotary Club of Atlanta Monday, previewed political themes she will use in a possible run for governor. Earlier this month, Abrams filed the necessary paperwork to launch an exploratory effort to run for governor in 2018. Abrams immediately disarmed the crowd when […]
Agnes Scott College President Elizabeth Kiss sent an email to the institution’s alumnae announcing her intention to resign on June 30, 2018 – completing a dozen years at the helm of the liberal arts women’s college.
“Agnes Scott is a magical place, and I feel so blessed to have had the privilege of serving as your president for the past 11 years,” Kiss wrote in her email.
