August 2015 Features

  • Blanchard Forum Focused on Changing Leadership Culture

    August 27, 2015

    More than 1,200 people packed the Columbus Convention & Trade Center for the 10thannual Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum Aug. 24-25. Hosted by the Leadership Institute at Columbus State University, this year’s forum featured an acclaimed group of best-selling authors, leadership experts, and a social entrepreneur.

  • Business Delegation Visits Gwinnett-Based LifeArt Cabinetry HQ in China

    August 26, 2015

    A Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development-led delegation visited the headquarters of Chinese cabinet manufacturer, LifeArt Cabinetry in Fuzhou, China. The delegation is on a twelve-day business mission trip to explore trade and export opportunities, recruit direct foreign investment and build relationships in the region.

  • How Augmented Reality Can Heat Up Summer Marketing Campaigns

    August 25, 2015

    With interactive solutions constantly evolving, it’s no surprise that marketing leaders are constantly looking for new ways to use technology and stay abreast of the latest digital trends that consumers now crave. One interactive tool gaining a lot of popularity is augmented reality (AR), with more than 1.4 billion downloads of mobile AR applications expected by the end of this year alone. AR transforms static displays, point-of-purchase materials, print ads or marketing collateral into real-word environments.

  • Southern Company to Acquire AGL Resources for $12B, Creating Leading U.S. Electric and Gas Utility

    August 24, 2015

    Southern Company and AGL Resources today announced that the boards of directors of both companies have approved a definitive merger agreement to create America's leading U.S. electric and gas utility company. Pursuant to the agreement, AGL Resources will become a new wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company in a transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $12 billion, including a total equity value of approximately $8 billion.

  • Q&A With GDEcD Deputy Director of Global Commerce Tom Croteau: Why are Companies Choosing Georgia?

    August 20, 2015

    Continuing our series with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Deputy Director of Global Commerce Tom Croteau talks about what makes Georgia stand out for companies who are looking to relocate or expand.

  • Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel GM Tarson—No Reservations About Taking Helm at Downtown Atlanta Landmark

    August 18, 2015

    Ron Tarson, General Manager of the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, proudly admits he’s been around the block a few times in the hospitality business, from Colorado to St. Louis, then onward to Toronto and Boston. From his perch at the tallest hotel in the Southeast, what really excites him is what he sees happening around his block today: the vibrancy of downtown Atlanta.

  • Cliff Oxford: How a Great Business Can Go Out of Business - How Owners Beg for a Bad Exit

    August 13, 2015

    All us entrepreneurs know not every business is going to survive. But when a business that appears to be roaring with success shutters, it’s startling. Customers are always left confused and thinking, “what happened? How did a great business go away?” I felt the same way and was taken aback when I first heard about the legendary Harold’s Barbecue in South Atlanta was closing for good.

  • PGi CEO Boland T. Jones Shares His Entrepreneurial Insights

    August 11, 2015

    Boland T. Jones shares his entrepreneurial insights on how PGi (Premiere Global Services, Inc.) has expanded into the world’s largest dedicated provider of collaboration software and services. Jones, who serves as PGi’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, supports a visionary leadership approach.

  • 7 Surprising Ways Atlanta Competes With Silicon Valley

    August 10, 2015

    When it comes to deciding where to build and scale your startup, most cities look like an underdog next to Silicon Valley. But then there's Atlanta. I moved to this city 13 years ago, expecting I’d be here for my four-year college career, then transplant to a larger market. Instead, I discovered that Atlanta was the perfect place to grow personally and professionally, to collaborate on projects and, yes, to launch a business.

  • 5 Killer Tips to Keep Your Small Business WiFi Up and Running

    August 07, 2015

  • How to Ensure Career Opportunities for Employees

    August 07, 2015

    If HR professionals aren’t focusing on company wide career development programs in 2015, a new study show they’ll regret it in 2016. Recent research (PDF) conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) revealed that career advancement opportunities were highly important to nearly half of everyone who was surveyed.

  • Verizon Wireless Responding to Georgia’s Marketplace

    August 06, 2015

    Jonathan LeCompte, president of the Georgia/Alabama Region for Verizon Wireless, has been with Verizon and its legacy companies for over 20 years, starting out in the organization as a customer service representative. Not only have his responsibilities expanded and changed over the last two decades, but so has the wireless industry.

  • Atlanta United FC Selects DeKalb County for Training Facility

    August 05, 2015

    DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May and members of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, in partnership with Atlanta United and Decide DeKalb, officially confirm that DeKalb County has been selected as the location for the new Atlanta United headquarters and training facility.

  • Atlanta Area Employers to Hear State Officials Discuss Workforce Issue

    August 04, 2015

    Employers in Atlanta area will soon have the opportunity to learn how to better understand and conquer compliance challenges in the workplace. The Atlanta Employer Committee and the Georgia Department of Labor are co-sponsoring an employer business summit and networking event entitled Employers In The Know. It will be held next Wednesday, August 12th.