March 2015 Features

  • The A List of Growth in Atlanta

    March 31, 2015

    Atlanta is on fire again! This time it’s a march to see and be a part of the city’s impressive growth in business and development. For five years running Atlanta has claimed the top spot on Penske Truck Rental's list of top U.S. moving destinations. The robust influx of educated workers speaks to the tremendous opportunity found in the Capital of the South.

  • Metro Atlanta Selected to Develop Regional Plan to Attract Foreign Direct Investment

    March 30, 2015

    The Atlanta region has been selected to develop a regional plan to attract and leverage foreign direct investment, building off its existing Metropolitan Atlanta Export Plan, as part of the Global Cities Initiative – a joint project of the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase. The project will be implemented by multiple organizations, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber working in partnership with state and local economic development agencies and local businesses.

  • Former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Holbrook Jackson to be Subject of Feature Film

    March 27, 2015

    Auburn Avenue Films produces the theatrical documentary about the life and legacy of Atlanta’s first African-American Mayor, Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. The documentary, "MAYNARD," is currently in pre-production led by an Oscar nominated and Emmy award-winning team. "MAYNARD" offers an introspective look into the life of the political and business titan who became Atlanta’s first African-American Mayor.

  • Casino Gambling Legalization Introduced; Projections Suggest $250M For HOPE

    March 26, 2015

    Georgia legislators have toyed around with the idea of allowing horse racing at a new small scale race track. Yesterday, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers has dropped bills that would pave the way for Georgia to aim higher and assert itself into the major leagues of casino gambling. Charlie Harper of Peach Pundit writes that supporters of HR 807 and HB 677 tout a potential payoff of 10,000 construction jobs, 10,000 permanent jobs, and – perhaps most importantly – $250 Million dollars added to HOPE’s dwindling coffers every year.

  • Corporate Treasurer at SunTrust Paul Burdiss Joins Zions Bancorp as CFO

    March 24, 2015

    Zions Bancorporation announced that Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Doyle L. Arnold will retire in early May, subsequent to the filing of the Company's first quarter financial results. He will be succeeded as Chief Financial Officer by Paul E. Burdiss, currently Corporate Treasurer at SunTrust Banks, Inc. in Atlanta.

  • Tips On Effective Ways to Market to Millennials

    March 23, 2015

    The millennial generation has grown to be one of the largest populations in the United States, even outnumbering the baby boomer generation. And now, not only are they the largest group in America, but they are also the most financially influential group, representing more than $1.3 trillion in consumer spending power, according to the Hartman Group. Communicorp's Amanda Bass gives us some tips on marketing to this growing generation.

  • Ed Farley: What Do Your Customers Think?

    March 20, 2015

    How many times do you hear companies brag that they are…world-class ….have top-rated products! How often do we hear the claims of an incredible sales force! The best customer service! Are these claims true? How do they know? How do you know?

  • Braves, Comcast Team Up To Power SunTrust Park

    March 18, 2015

    The Atlanta Braves and Comcast announced a multi-year technology and real estate partnership that will deliver multi-terabit network capabilities to SunTrust Park and the surrounding community, making it the most technologically advanced mixed-use development in the U.S.

  • Cliff Oxford: How Entrepreneurs Lose Control of Their Companies - 'You've Exited But Don't Know It'

    March 17, 2015

    When entrepreneurs sell their companies, it’s often like watching the same three TV reruns over and over. You might call them the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, says Oxford Center Founder & CEO Cliff Oxford.

  • Regions Bank Emerges Stronger From the Financial Crisis

    March 13, 2015

    Alabama-based Regions Bank has seen its share of challenges in recent years. Not long after Regions and AmSouth Bancorporation merged in 2007, the global financial markets collapsed, which challenged the merged entities during the economic fallout.

  • Jim Blanchard on Changing the Leadership Culture

    March 12, 2015

    When former Chairman & CEO of Synovus Jim Blanchard retired, his agenda didn’t fill with days dedicated to front-porch sitting. He desired to perpetuate and expand the influence of what he calls “servant leadership.” He proposed the concept of a leadership forum to his successor, who, understanding the value, eagerly agreed to sponsor the program. That was 10 years ago. The 10th annual Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum will roll out later this year in August.

  • Executive Director Named for New KSU, Cobb Chamber Entrepreneurship Project

    March 11, 2015

    Kennesaw State University and the Cobb Chamber have named Metro Atlanta Chamber Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development Nancy Wright Whatley as the executive director of the Georgia Business Success Center, a new business incubator, accelerator and education project.

  • Varian Medical Systems to Create 100 High Paying Tech Jobs in Atlanta

    March 10, 2015

    Gov. Nathan Deal announced this morning that Varian Medical Systems, the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and a premier supplier of X-ray imaging components, will expand its operations in Fulton County, creating up to 100 new high-paying technical jobs over the next five years.

  • Delta Community Celebrates 75th Anniversary

    March 09, 2015

    Delta Community Credit Union, Georgia's largest credit union with $4.7 billion in assets and more than 310,000 members, will celebrate its 75th anniversary on March 8, 2015. Credit Union employees and members will mark the occasion by providing additional support to four of its non-profit partners who are also celebrating anniversaries this year.

  • Nissan Partners with Georgia Power to Get Atlanta LEAF Owners Charging at Work

    March 06, 2015

    Atlanta is America's top market for sales of the all-electric Nissan LEAF, and in an effort to encourage more EV sales and increase all-electric miles driven, Nissan is working with Georgia Power to make EV charging available at more workplaces in the region.

  • From The Floor Up – Georgia's Shaw Industries Invests In People

    March 05, 2015

    Vance Bell, CEO of Shaw Industries, headquartered in Dalton, maintains that there are few businesses for which people aren’t the company’s greatest asset. That is why Shaw’s mission —“Great People. Great Products. Great Service. Always.”—begins with people.

  • Worldpay Makes $1 Million Gift and Mentorship Pledge to Accelerate FinTech Innovation in Georgia

    March 04, 2015

    Worldpay will expand its commitment to accelerating payments technology innovation with a $1 million gift and mentorship commitment to Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, company and university officials announced today.

  • State Bank and Trust Company Creates Insurance Division With Acquisition

    March 03, 2015

    State Bank and Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Bank Financial Corporation , announced today that it has launched an insurance division to offer State Bank customers a full range of personal and commercial insurance products.

  • Teradata Appoints Co-Presidents

    March 02, 2015

    Teradata Corp., the big data analytics and marketing applications company announced the appointments of Bob Fair and Hermann Wimmer as co-presidents, Teradata, reporting to Mike Koehler, chief executive officer of Teradata Corporation. The appointments are effective February 27, 2015.