By Maria Saporta The board of the Westside Future Fund, a privately-funded entity aimed at improving the neighborhoods west of the new Mercedes-Benz stadium, has named John Ahmann its new executive director. Ahmann is the executive director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, the entity that actually developed the concept for the Westside Future Fund […]
Tag: Atlanta Business
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Citizens Trust Bank set to make historic move
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on January 29, 2016
For nearly 50 years, Citizens Trust Bank has been an anchor at 75 Piedmont Avenue a block from Auburn Avenue.
But the bank will be relocating its headquarters to 230 Peachtree St. in early February — marking a significant move for both the bank and the city.
“It’s really bittersweet,” said Cynthia Day, president and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank. “What I’ve said to my employees is we are changing our location, but we are not changing our mission or our legacy. We will carry that with us.”
Posted inDavid Pendered, Latest News, Main Slider
SunTrust launches campaign to help reduce financial stress felt by 3 of 4 in U.S.
SunTrust has purchased a TV ad during Super Bowl 50 to launch a consumer education campaign. It intends to help people ease their financial stress by helping them improve their skills managing money.
Posted inLatest News, Main Slider, Maria Saporta
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed agrees to transfer 10 property deeds to APS
Given the new spirit of cooperation between the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Public Schools, Mayor Kasim Reed said he is willing to transfer 10 property deeds to the school system.
Reed, speaking at the State of the City business breakfast Thursday morning at the Georgia World Congress Center, said he would ask the Atlanta City Council to transfer those deeds “right away.”
Posted inDavid Pendered, Latest News, Main Slider
Mayor Reed’s trade missions fueled Brazilian firm’s decision to open an HQ in Atlanta
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s work during two trade missions, one to Brazil and one to Mexico, helped convince Brazil’s largest credit card processor to select Atlanta for the corporate headquarters of a financial services division.
Posted inWABE
Commentary: Underground Atlanta sale is a deal city can’t miss
Developer T. Scott Smith is willing to invest up to $400 million to revitalize Underground Atlanta and its surrounding area.
And he is anxious to take ownership of the property. Right now his company is managing the Underground retail center for the city but receiving no fees for the work. That’s only one reason he wants the deal to close.
Posted inWABE
Coca-Cola merger plans create uncertainty for Atlanta
Original Story on WABE by Maria Saporta
What a week for the Coca-Cola Company! First, Coca-Cola Enterprises announced a merger that will lead to Atlanta having one less Fortune 500 company but would make the company the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola’s products. Then the Coca-Cola company announced a new president and COO, a […]
Posted inLatest News, Maria Saporta
Dentons law firm boosts its public policy practice
Less than two weeks after Dentons placed its signature in Atlanta, the world’s largest law firm announced the hiring of a couple of new members to its government affairs practice.
Jeff Hamling, who has been serving as vice president of state and federal affairs for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, will join Dentons on July 27 as senior managing direct.
Posted inWABE
Fate of Atlanta Hawks still unclear with new team ownership
Original Story on WABE By MARIA SAPORTA Play Audio The new principal owner of the Atlanta Hawks, Tony Ressler, closed the deal on the city’s professional basketball team on June 24. At his first press conference, 24 hours later, the Los Angeles businessman said the team would now speak with one voice … a marked contrast to […]
Posted inWABE
Fortune 500 has no female CEO from Georgia – yet
By Maria Saporta Original Story on WABE Play Audio Few people have even heard of the company Veritiv. But by next year, it will become one of Atlanta’s best-known companies. That’s because it will have the first woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company based in Georgia. When the company eventually is included on the […]
Posted inWABE
NCR’s virtual shareholders meeting has real-world implications
Original Story by Maria Saporta on WABE Play Audio When NCR ─ a Fortune 500 company based in Gwinnett County ─ held its annual meeting last Wednesday, the only way one could participate was online. It’s the first time in Georgia’s history a major public company held a virtual annual meeting. So NCR shareholders were […]
Posted inWABE
Clayton County MARTA Could Be Big Economic Generator
By MARIA SAPORTA Original Story on WABE In one short year, Clayton County has gone from being the Atlanta region’s ugly duckling to its beautiful new swan. The reason is simple. MARTA. On March 21, MARTA will launch its first three bus routes in Clayton, and more bus lines will be added in August and in […]
Posted inDavid Pendered, Latest News, Main Slider
Metro Chamber VP to lead Cobb County’s new Georgia Business Success Center
The Metro Chamber’s vice president of entrepreneurial development has resigned to become executive director of the new Georgia Business Success Center, in Cobb County.
Posted inWABE
Chick-fil-A CEO draws attention to zip code 30314
All Things Considered Host, Amy Kiley, in a conversation with Maria Saporta & Dan Cathy >> Original Story The new Atlanta Falcons stadium has a lot of people keeping an eye on the intersection of Northside Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. But, a local businessman and philanthropist wants people to shift their focus […]
Posted inDavid Pendered
New airport business alliance similar to successful economic development program in Gwinnett County
The newly formed Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance bears a striking resemblance to Partnership Gwinnett, a public-private initiative that has created a strong record of economic development in Gwinnett County.
Each entity was formed to attract jobs and investments to their respective areas. One distinguishing point is that the aerotropolis alliance was convened by the Atlanta Regional Commission, whereas Partnership Gwinnett is based at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.
Posted inColumns, Michelle Hiskey & Ben Smith
Longtime Atlanta protester targets Walmart and more
Even though Walmart will likely take over Suburban Plaza shopping center in Decatur, Brian Sherman still isn’t giving up. Late last week, he stood among a couple of dozen placard-waving protesters from Good Growth DeKalb insisting Walmart can still be stopped.
Their unflagging commitment intrigued me. I stopped at their protest, feeling cynical in the wake of news that the Atlanta Braves will move to Cobb County. Why continue to fight Big Money, the Power, the Man, or whatever you call It when It always seems to get Its way? That was my question to Sherman, who at 70 has been fighting the fight since the 1960s.
“Because,” said Sherman rather defiantly, “We eventually win.”
Posted inColumns, Michelle Hiskey, Michelle Hiskey & Ben Smith
Looking in plain sight for Atlanta’s random signs of optimism
A random shoe track on a downtown Atlanta sidewalk turned into a “spontaneous smiley”—a feat akin to finding the face of Elvis in a piece of toast, but a whole lot easier.
People all over the world (like me) discover, photograph and post spontaneous smileys to social media as a creative challenge to others. It is tailor made for creative thinkers and distracted people in our crowded and gridlocked city. This fun scavenger hunt can be done anywhere, and a handy time-killer when you’re stuck waiting.
Looking for the most basic sign of happiness in ordinary circumstances will shift your mood and mindset. Looking for a smiling face can release positive brain chemicals like dopamine. The scientific term for this pursuit is pareidolia, when a vague and random stimulus is perceived as significant (after all, it was just a footprint…). It is an example of how mindfulness identifies the extraordinary in ordinary life.
Posted inDavid Pendered
Georgia taxes: New report contends “Fair Tax” would hurt hurt – not help – families, businesses, economy
A report released today on Georgia’s tax structure fuels a debate over proposed tax reform that advocates are increasingly pushing for the 2014 session of the state Legislature.
The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute issued a tax analysis that contends the proposed “Fair Tax” reform would raise taxes on and hurt Georgia’s “families, businesses, communities and the economy.”
The report follows a promise made last month by an advocacy group that said it would help convince Georgia voters to approve a fair tax. The campaign would be similar to the one it waged in favor of 2012 charter school amendment, according to Americans for Prosperity.
Posted inDavid Pendered
Coke meets with human rights advocates who seek new practices for giving, diversity in Brazil
The Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to continue discussions with an Atlanta-based human rights group, led by veteran advocate Joe Beasley, to consider expanding Coke’s philanthropic and diversity practices in Brazil, advocates said Sunday.
Top Coke officials met with the advocates Friday and agreed to convene a tele-conference this week, advocates said Sunday. The Coke representatives who attended Friday’s meeting reportedly included Alexander Cummings, chief administrative officer, and Lisa Borders, chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation. Coke did not respond to a request for comment that was submitted Friday.
“We’re calling for Coke to have a reciprocal relationship with its most loyal consumers in Brazil,” Beasley said in a statement, referring to Brazil’s population of nearly 100 million Afro-descendants.
Posted inMichelle Hiskey, Michelle Hiskey & Ben Smith
In pollen season, Kirkwood’s old-school carwash hums
Monday marked nine straight days in Atlanta of extremely high (over 1500) pollen counts. You can’t avoid the blanket of yellow green dust covering the city.
For Stuart Brady, the plague of pollen on our cars is almost a biblical call to atone through what his business serves: lots of water and your own elbow grease. At his Kirkwood Car Wash, three words preach from the shingled roof: “Honor Thy Auto.”
These days, the ka-ching of tokens in the self-serve machines is the reason Brady calls pollen “gold dust.” It also gives him hope that his slice of Americana might survive the relentless redevelopment that Atlanta is known for.
