Category: Contributors

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.

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 10, 2017

The Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School must be receiving help from above. The unique high school has been able to exceed its $25 million fundraising by more than $5 million.

It’s an amazing story considering that in December, Cristo Rey was $2 million shy of its $25 million goal. The final amount raised was more than $30.23 million.

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 3, 2017

After eight years at the helm of Families First, CEO Kim Anderson is planning to step down on May 1. She will serve as a consultant to the organization through Aug. 31.

The Families First board has appointed Dr. MiShawna Moore, the nonprofit’s chief program officer, as its interim CEO. The organization plans to conduct a nationwide search for Anderson’s successor.

“On behalf of Atlanta’s families and children, we are incredibly grateful for Kim’s years of service,” said Marybeth Leamer, chair of the Families First board who is also executive vice president of Cox Enterprises. “She has transformed the organization through her leadership and vision, gaining the trust of philanthropy, corporations and community. We know her passion for service will continue to change lives by furthering the hard work required to break cycles of generational poverty, in Atlanta and beyond.”

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 3, 2017

A proposed “comfort women” memorial at the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta has set a potentially explosive rift within the city’s business and international circles.

The memorial of an Asian woman sit- ting in a chair next to an empty chair was proposed by the Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force, a diverse group of leaders from the Atlanta and Asian-American communities.

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Feb. 24, 2017

The Hyatt Regency Atlanta, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in May, honored Congressman John Lewis at its annual Heritage Celebration on Feb. 20.

Peter McMahon, the Hyatt’s general manager, said it was an opportunity to “honor a living legend” on the eve of his Feb. 21 birthday. (See related photos on Page 6A, The Insider.)