By Maria Saporta
Genuine Parts, one of Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies, will be moving to a new headquarters building at Wildwood Office Park next to its existing Operational Support Facility, according to its CEO Thomas Gallagher.
Genuine Parts, best known for its NAPA stores, has been headquartered at Circle 75 since 1979, but it just so happens that its headquarters is next door to the new Atlanta Braves stadium and development.
By Maria Saporta
Hours after a mysterious executive session of the Invest Atlanta board, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s office sent out a release Thursday afternoon naming Craig Richard as the new president and CEO of the economic development agency.
Richard, who was one of three finalists for the post, has served as CEO and president of Greater Louisville Inc., where he developed their strategic plan and coordinated 32 projects that created 3,854 jobs and $571 million in capital investment.
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 14, 2014
In what is being called a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity, Zoo Atlanta has received an historic grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.
by Maria Saporta >> Original Story Atlanta businessman Herman Russell passed away Saturday at the age of 83. Russell was a pioneering African-American business leader, who forged partnerships with Atlanta’s white business community during a time of racial discrimination. Atlanta business reporter, and family friend of Russell, Maria Saporta, wrote a tribute to him after hearing of […]
By Maria Saporta
Former Metro Atlanta Chamber President Sam Williams is joining the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.
Williams, who retired as Atlanta Chamber president at the end of last year after 17 years at the helm, will be involved in helping the university connect with the broader civic and business community. He will start teaching in January.
by Maria Saporta >> Original Story Zoo Atlanta will receive an unprecedented gift from the Woodruff Foundation. The money will go toward a planned expansion. WABE’s Martha Dalton spoke with long-time Atlanta business reporter Maria Saporta, of the Saporta Report and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Saporta started by explaining what the gift will mean to the zoo. Play […]
By Maria Saporta and Doug Sams
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 14, 2014
With hundreds of millions of infrastructure dollars possibly at stake, Atlanta economic development boosters want to make sure city and state leaders don’t overlook the 8.5-mile stretch of Peachtree — from the heart of downtown to Buckhead.
Update: Herman Russell’s wake will be held. at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 at St. Philip AME Church at 240 Candler Rd SE.
By Maria Saporta
My personal tribute to Herman Russell.
Nationally prominent business leader Herman J. Russell, 83, passed away Saturday morning after a brief illness.
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 7, 2014
When the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre opened in 2007, there was a parallel nonprofit foundation with a similar name established to provide arts education and outreach.
By Maria Saporta
As a crowd of 500 people gathered for the ground-breaking of the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail – a three-mile corridor that has received $43 million and will take two years to build.
While giving the invocation, Gerald Durley, pastor emeritus of Providence Baptist Church, summed up the sentiment of many in the audience.
By Maria Saporta
A collaboration of several architectural and design groups will seek to preserve the archives of Atlanta’s built environment.
The Architecture and Design Center is teaming up with Georgia and Atlanta chapters of the American Institute of Architects as well as Georgia Tech to initiate the Regional Archive Program.
By Maria Saporta
After a tumultuous period for the Atlanta-based company, Aaron’s Inc. has named a new CEO — John W. Robinson III.
Aaron’s, a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and leasing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, had been searching for a CEO since the retirement of Ronald W. Allen in August after he lost confidence of major shareholders and board members because of poor financial results.
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on November 7, 2014
After several years of steady gains, the presence of women on the boards of Georgia’s public companies declined in the past year, according the latest annual study by OnBoard, which has been tracking these statistics for more than 20 years.
By Maria Saporta
Support for transit in metro Atlanta is strong and getting stronger – plus that support exists in each of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 10 metro counties.
That was one of the major findings in ARC’s second annual Metro Atlanta Speaks public opinion poll released Friday at its State of the Region breakfast.
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on October 31, 2014
When the Atlanta community convened for National Philanthropy Day on Oct. 28 at the Georgia Aquarium, it also celebrated the latest ranking by the Chronicle of Philanthropy stating that Atlanta is the fourth most generous city in the United States.
Alicia Philipp, president of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta – the title sponsor of National Philanthropy Day, said the publication ranked the 50 largest metro areas in the United States and determined that Atlanta was fourth in generosity.
By Maria Saporta and Doug Sams
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Oct. 31, 2014
Atlanta’s oldest African American church — known for the blue “Jesus Saves” sign atop its steeple — wants to redevelop about 4 acres on its campus, in hopes of sparking more investment in the Sweet Auburn district — the cradle of the city’s civil rights movement.
By Maria Saporta
As the votes in Clayton County began flowing like a landslide in MARTA’s favor Tuesday night, Dr. Lawanda Falami could hardly contain her excitement.
“No more Mama pool for me,” said Falami, who has lived in Clayton County for 40 years. She proceeded to put her hand up in the air to high five anyone who would high five her back.
Clayton County, south of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, has been without transit ever since 2010 when the economically-challenged county decided to no longer subsidize its C-Tran bus service.
By Maria Saporta
A new central theme for Atlanta is emerging — showcasing the role of women and human rights around the world.
Take three different globally significant events occurring in Atlanta within a two-week period.
The first one has already happened. More than 700 women from more than 30 countries were in Atlanta from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31 to attend the International Women’s Forum.
By Maria Saporta
The United States could find great return by focusing more of its attention on developing economic ties with Latin America in addition to its regular relations with China, Russia and Europe.
That was the underlying message that Charles Shapiro, the new president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, shared Monday with the Rotary Club of Atlanta.
Shapiro began his new role at the World Affairs Council in September after a long career in the foreign service where he held numerous positions, including as the U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela.
By Maria Saporta
For nearly 40 years, Doug Allen played a pivotal role in Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture – a trained landscape architect who joined the faculty in 1977 – later becoming a key member of the administration.
Allen, born in 1947 at Emory University Hospital, died on Oct. 26 from brain cancer.
During his life, the impact and influence Allen had on his students, colleagues, friends, the college and the community was deep and broad.
