By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 25, 2016
The Metro Atlanta Chamber, which will hold its 157th annual meeting Nov. 30 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, is unveiling its new strategic pillars as well as its 2017 leaders.
Jeff Sprecher, chairman and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), will succeed SunTrust Banks executive Jenner Wood, who served as the 2016 MAC chairman.
Despite speculation to the contrary, the city of Atlanta will host the Peach Drop to ring in 2017.
The traditional New Year’s Eve celebration for 2017 was in doubt because the city is in the process of selling Underground Atlanta to South Carolina-based developer WRS Inc.
But Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the city has decided to put off the closing of the Underground sale for a few days so it can host the Peach Drop.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has named Deputy Police Chief Erika Shields as the city’s next police chief.
The announcement was made Thursday morning at City Hall as the mayor thanked Police Chief George Turner, who announced Wednesday his plan to retire at the end of the year after 35 years with the department.
The news that Atlanta Police Chief George Turner is retiring from his post at the end of the year generated a disappointed buzz in the business community.
Dave Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Atlanta Police Foundation, said his phone had been ringing all afternoon with calls from business leaders upset that Turner would no longer be leading the force.
By Maria Saporta The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is on an accelerated construction schedule so it can open on time, but no one is ready to share the actual date of when it will open. Stadium builders and developers presented a progress report Monday morning to the Development Committee of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, and […]
The death of Cuba’s longtime leader Fidel Castro last week will not impact Delta Air Lines’ plans to inaugurate service from Atlanta to Havana on Dec. 1, according to Ed Bastian, the airline’s CEO.
“Nothing has changed,” said Bastian, who called the Cuban market “fascinating” for the long term. He added the U.S. government is allowing flights into the island before many of the trade restrictions have been lifted, which will make the business model it a bit of a challenge.
Clark Atlanta University has been awarded $432,335 from the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of a $15 million investment by the Economic Development Administration’s Regional Innovation Strategies Program.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 18, 2016
The University of Georgia kicked off its $1.2 billion fundraising campaign Nov. 17 at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, using the occasion to announce the largest single gift it has ever received in its history.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 18, 2016
In keeping with Atlanta’s tradition, the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium is being built with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The $1.5 billion construction project has contracted with 130 minority-owned and female-owned firms to create the new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United soccer franchise.
When the city became part of the financing plan to build the stadium, the Atlanta City Council stated their desireto have it follow the city’s EqualBusiness Opportunity (EBO) standards. A goal was set at 31 percent minority participation.
The Nov. 8 election produced a major win for MARTA. Nearly 130,000 Atlanta voters, or 71.34 percent, approved a half-penny sales tax to expand MARTA within the city limits.
At the same time, the city voted to increase overall transportation funding by a .4 of a penny sales tax.
This is in addition to the one-cent sales tax that the city of Atlanta has been investing in the MARTA system since 1971 – when Fulton and DeKalb counties also voted in favor of the regional transit system.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 11, 2016
The recent ranking of the Philanthropy 400 by the Chronicle of Philanthropy showed little change among the order of Georgia’s major nonprofits.
The largest nonprofit in the state continues to be the Task Force of Global Health, which ranks seventh among all foundations nationally.
The other foundations in the top 25 are the National Christian Foundation (No. 9); the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (No. 16); Habitat for Humanity International (No. 20); and the American Cancer Society (No. 22).
More than 100 brave leaders from metro Atlanta are spending the night outdoors tonight (Nov. 17) as part of the Covenant House Sleep Out to help homeless youth.
Even Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal showed up to give support to the nonprofit, which has been providing shelter and support to the homeless youth.
Original Story on WABE by Maria Saporta The Georgia Historical Society unveiled a historic marker at Centennial Olympic Park on Nov. 1 to commemorate the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. The marker is between the Olympic Rings Fountain and Marietta Street across Andrew Young International Boulevard from the Metro Atlanta Chamber building. The last sentence on […]
By Maria Saporta The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released its 12th annual 10 Places in Peril – shining the light on historic treasures that need attention. “We hope the list will continue to bring preservation solutions to Georgia’s imperiled historic resources by highlighting 10 representative sites,” said Mark McDonald, president and CEO of the […]
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 11, 2016
Women now hold almost 13 percent of the board seats at Georgia’s public companies, a new study by nonprofit group Onboard shows. Of the 952 board seats at Georgia’s public companies, women hold 123, according to the group’s “Women in the Boardroom: 2016 Georgia Public Companies Study”. That’s the highest since the study began 24 years ago.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 11, 2016
Virginia Hepner, president and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center, will retire on May 31, five years after taking the helm of the third largest arts center in the country.
In an exclusive interview with Atlanta Business Chronicle, Hepner said it is the right time for her to leave the cultural institution.
“It’s a 24-7 job the way I choose to do it,” Hepner said, who had signed on for a maximum of a five-year contract. “I really want more flexibility in my life, and I’m blessed to be able to afford that. These jobs are pretty much all consuming.”
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 4, 2016
It has been a jaw-dropping season for philanthropic giving in Atlanta.
On Nov. 2, the Woodruff Arts Center announced it has raised $110 million for its Transformation Campaign — $10 million more than its goal.
The $110 million includes $25 million to endow 11 chairs for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians, a goal that was reached two years ahead of schedule.
Twenty years ago, actress and activist Jane Fonda and feminist Gloria Steinem kicked off the first annual Numbers Too Big to Ignore – a major fundraiser for the Atlanta Women’s Foundation.
On Thursday, they returned for the 20th anniversary – held only two days after the Presidential election.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Nov. 4, 2016
The agreement to spend $192.5 million to dramatically renovate Philips Arena likely will lead to the redevelopment of the area between Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Underground Atlanta and Centennial Olympic Park, according to both Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Tony Ressler, the principal owner of the Atlanta Hawks.
The renovation of Philips, announced on Nov. 1, also will include $142.5 million in public financing, a stark difference from the model that built Philips Arena.
Two Atlanta business leaders have launched a new effort – the Atlanta Friendship Initiative – aimed at bridging divides in our community.
The idea is for two people of different races or ethnic backgrounds to agree to become friends. They pledge to see each other once a quarter and bring their families together once a year in fellowship.
