Category: Maria Saporta

By Maria Saporta As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on April 7, 2017 Civic leaders Lila and Doug Hertz will be recognized as the Philanthropists of the Year on the 35th annual celebration of National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 9th at the Georgia Aquarium. The Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals […]

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on April 7, 2017

When Southern Co. turned 100 years old in 2011, the Atlanta-based energy giant commissioned a company history entitled “Big Bets: Decisions and Leaders that Shaped Southern Co.”

The printed synopsis on the book jacket puts it this way: “Big bets are pivotal decisions leaders make when the stakes are high — decisions that forge a successful path or retrieve a lost cause at a critical crossroads. Big bets can determine a company’s destiny or reshape its future.”

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 31, 2017

After 20 years as president and CEO of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Susan Neugent will be retiring at the end of May.

Neugent, the longest-serving CEO among Atlanta’s major arts and cultural attractions, will be passing the baton to Jennifer Grant Warner, who has been with Fernbank for 18 years – currently serving as its executive vice president and chief programming officer.

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 31, 2017

Work will soon begin on a grand new $45 million park on Atlanta’s Westside.

A final design for the 16-acre Rodney Cook Sr. Park in the historic Vine City community shows a park that will have something for everyone.

It will have a large pond that will be hold storm water in the event of a major flood. It will have a splash-pad, a playground, a great lawn with a natural amphitheater, a performance plaza, a picnic pavilion, courts for multi-use sports, a fitness area, a boardwalk, an overlook and terraced pools.

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 24, 2017

David Martin, executive director of the Georgia Council on Economic Education since 1982, will be retire on June 30.

Mike Raymer, the associate director and chief program officer, has been tapped to succeed Martin starting July 1 – running the organization that has helped train tens of thousands of Georgia teachers by strengthening their ability to teach students economics since its founding in 1972.

The Georgia Council helps teachers at both public and independent schools across the state, and Martinhas been coordinating the efforts of 12 college and university-based Centers of Economic Education.

By Dave Williams and Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 24, 2017

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said he remains confident Georgia lawmakers will approve his plan for an arts tax in the city, even though time is running out on the 2017 legislative session.

Reed unveiled a proposal in late January asking Atlanta voters for a tenth-of-a-penny increase in the city sales tax to provide a dedicated stream of funding for the arts. But with just three days remaining in the session including March 24, no bill had been introduced and the deadline for doing so had come and gone.

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 17, 2017

Agnes Scott College received a prestigious honor on March 12 when the American Council on Education (ACE) gave it the 2017 Award for Institutional Transformation.

Agnes Scott received the award for institutions with student populations of 5,000 or less while Brandman University of Irving, Calif., received the award for institutions with more than 5,000 students. The award of $10,000 is given by ACE and Fidelity Investments.

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 17, 2017

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could lose nearly $1 billion in annual funding under the Republican proposal to replace Obamacare.

Such a move would hit Georgia especially hard because it would translate into local job cuts as well as impact multiple relationships the CDC has with universities and public health organizations.