Category: ATL Business Chronicle

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on January 22, 2016

After six months at the helm of Atlanta-based CARE, Michelle Nunn is recruiting support from her extensive network of friends to help change the lives of women and girls around the world.

CARE is launching an Atlanta Women Really CARE chapter, where local women will contribute to the international organization’s efforts that focus on women and girls.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on January 15, 2016

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is adding non-family members to its board for the first time since its founding in 1995. The four new associate directors, who officially joined Jan. 1, are well-known civic leaders with ties to Atlanta.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on January 8, 2016

When the Georgia Chamber of Commerce holds its “grand gavel” reception Jan. 11 at the Georgia Aquarium, it will be looking towards its second Centennial with several new initiatives.

The Centennial gavel will pass from 2015 Chairman Paul Bowers, the president and CEO of Georgia Power, to 2016 Chairman Hank Linginfelter, executive vice president of distribution operations for AGL Resources.

“I think the Chamber enhanced its positioning in the state during its 100th anniversary,” Bowers said in an interview.

By Maria Saporta and Dave Williams
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on January 8, 2016

A $9 million payment the city of Atlanta made to Atlanta Public Schools late last month is raising legal questions.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on January 1, 2016

As Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank reduces his day-to-day responsibilities in running his business interests, he has brought on a high-powered team of executives to lead the AMB Group LLC.

Stephen Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, will join the AMB Group as its CEO Feb. 1 when he will oversee all of Blank’s private business interests.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Decmber 18, 2015

Dennis Creech, executive director of Southface since its inception 38 years ago, will be stepping down from the sustainable energy nonprofit he founded when it names a new leader.

“I’m not retiring; I’m transitioning,” said Creech, one of Georgia’s most respected voices on sustainability and energy-efficient buildings.

Southface has retained Boardwalk Consulting to conduct a national search for Southface’s next leader, which Creech said likely would happen by the time he turns 66 in June.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on December 18, 2015

On the night of Oct. 1, as hundreds of people were paying tribute to Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy at the Council for Quality Growth’s Four Pillars Award event in Atlanta, a top-secret group of leaders was having dinner at the Governor’s Mansion with key members of the General Electric Co. exploratory committee looking at possible cities to base the corporate headquarters.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed left the Cathy dinner early so he could visit with the executives of GE, including Ann Klee, chair of the committee.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Decmber 11, 2015

The Atlanta Police Foundation, founded in 2003, is stepping up its efforts in making the city safer.

It is in the quiet phase of a $15.6 million, three-year fundraising campaign called “Cutting Edge; Cutting Crime; Model City.”

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Decmber 4, 2015

When the Children’s Museum of Atlanta reopens on Dec. 12, visitors will find a completely refreshed attraction aimed injecting education with play.

“Everything is upgraded and updated,” said Jane Turner, executive director of the 12-year-old museum. “As we got our bearings over the first decade, we realized the opportunities for play and art are really diminishing. We began viewing the Children’s Museum as a haven for play — learning through play.”

The Children’s Museum launched a campaign that raised $8.2 million to renovate the facility and set aside funds for an operating and capital reserve fund.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 27, 2015

When the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund holds its annual luncheon on Dec. 3 at the InterContinental Buckhead Hotel, it will announce a total of $1 million in grants to 12 arts organizations.

The Arts Fund will be able to give away $1 million in unrestricted grants because of a recent $2.75 million gift from the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation – one of the Robert W. Woodruff family of foundations. That’s the largest gift the Arts Fund has ever received.

“It doubles our annual giving capacity from our current $500,000 for our general unrestricted operating support grants,” said Lisa Cremin, director of the Arts Fund – which is part of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 20, 2015

Junior Achievement of Georgia and Atlanta Business Chronicle have selected Paul Bowers, president and CEO of Georgia Power, and Larry Gellerstedt III, president and CEO of Cousins Properties, to be inducted into the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame on Feb. 27, 2016.

Bowers and Gellerstedt will join the list of 87 Atlantans recognized for their significant contributions to Atlanta’s civic and economic vibrancy.

The JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame, a black-tie gala to benefit JA of Georgia, was established in 1989 to honor dynamic business and civic leaders who have shaped Atlanta into the city it is today.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 20, 2015

Brian McGowan, chief operating officer for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, will be joining the Atlanta office of Dentons on Feb. 1.

In his new role, McGowan will help expand the global economic development initiatives of Dentons, the largest law firm in the world, by engaging with business leaders, elected officials and private sector developers to address business and job growth challenges in cities around the world.

McGowan has a diverse economic development background, including serving in Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration as president and CEO of Invest Atlanta from May 2011 to May 2014.

By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 13, 2015.

Georgia’s nonprofit rankings on the annual Philanthropy 400 slipped a notch or two in the 2015 list put out by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

For the past several years, Georgia has had five nonprofits among the nation’s top 20 charitable organizations, including the Task Force for Global Health — which has been in top six for the past several years.

But this year, Georgia only had four nonprofits in the top 20 — the Task Force for Global Health (which dropped down a notch to No. 7); the National Christian Foundation (No. 9); the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (No. 18); and the American Cancer Society (No. 19).