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Learn more at FIND.KENNESAW.EDU JANUARY 2021 • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER STORY
2021 Georgians of the Year: COVID Heroes
18 BY SUSAN PERCY Frontline workers fi ghting the pandemic and its effects.
FEATURES 28 Hall of Fame
BY KENNA SIMMONS AND PATTY RASMUSSEN Ann Cramer and James Cox Kennedy are the 2021 inductees. 35 100 Most Influential Georgians Our 2021 list of people who are making an impact on the state. Plus, a list of Notable Georgians. 56 Manufacturing Magnet
BY MARY ANN DEMUTH Georgia’s unique combination of benefi ts is attracting more makers – and convincing those who are here to stay and expand. 76 The Tough Ask
BY ANNA BENTLEY How are Georgia’s nonprofi ts raising money ON THE COVER during the pandemic? Phoebe Putney Health System’s Kim Whitley, vice president for patient logistics & care coordination, and Dr. James “Eddie” Black, medical director for emergency services, were photographed for Georgia Trend by Frank Fortune. Coming in February: Georgia Trustees, Legislative Guide, Heart Health, Workplace Diversity and Inclusion, Visionary Cities
Connect with us: [email protected] facebook.com/georgiatrend @GeorgiaTrend instagram.com/georgiatrend BLOGgeorgiatrend.com/blog
georgiatrend.com 5 January 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Magazine of Georgia Business, Politics & Economic Development Since 1985
14 83
67
67
UPFRONT OPINION OUR STATE
8 INTERSECTION 10 FROM THE PUBLISHER 67 MARIETTA How we chose the 2021 Georgians of the Year and Diversity Focus COBB COUNTY a look back at our fi rst GOTY. Back on Track BY BEN YOUNG 14 ORGANIZATIONS Business leaders are accelerating diversity and BY HAISTEN WILLIS inclusion training. Healthcare, parks and tourism. BY CANDICE DYER Atlanta Artist Relief Fund helps feed and support artists. 12 BUSINESS CASUAL 83 AMERICUS SUMTER COUNTY 14 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Ready for Normal AROUND THE STATE BY SUSAN PERCY Looking Ahead
BY CHRISTY SIMO It’s time to put disappointments aside and get to work. BY K.K. SNYDER Announcements in Gainesville, Jackson, Pendergrass New investments, community improvements and beyond. 92 ECONOMY and education. Continued Recovery 16 POLITICAL NOTES BY JEFFREY HUMPHREYS BY SUSAN PERCY Pre-pandemic factors that caused Georgia to Counts and recounts, fl ipped county administrations, outperform the U.S. economy will reassert themselves. new MAC leadership and more. 94 AT ISSUE Into the Future
BY KERWIN SWINT Catch up on the latest news Georgia’s new status as a swing state in national elections will change the political environment. happening across the state! Go to georgiatrend.com/digital-subscribe to sign up for our free
georgiatrend.com 6 January 2021 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHER Ben Young EDITORIAL & DESIGN STAFF Managing Editor Karen Kirkpatrick Editor Mary Ann DeMuth Editor-at-Large Susan Percy Contributing Editor Kenna Simmons Special Projects Editor Christy Simo Creative Director Carol Norton Assistant Graphic Designer Ashley Sabol Senior Photographer Jennifer Stalcup CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Anna Bentley, Mary Anne Dunkin, Candice Dyer, Jeff Humphreys, Brian Lee, Michele Cohen Marill, Rebecca McCarthy, Patty Rasmussen, K.K. Snyder, Randy Southerland, Kerwin Swint, Haisten Willis CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Daemon Baizan, Dave Dawson, Frank Fortune, Matt Odom, Ben Rollins, Hillary Kay Rumsey, Todd Stone, Eliot VanOtteren, Woodie Williams Union City Government and CONTRIBUTING WEBMASTER City Council are proud of John D. Simpson Jr. PUBLISHER EMERITUS your recent accomplishment Neely Young of being selected as one of ADVERTISING STAFF Georgia Trend's Most Vice President Sales/ Amanda Patterson Influential Georgians. Advertising Director 770.558.8701 [email protected] Advertising Manager/ Carolyn Gardiner Online Sales Manager [email protected] @unioncitygov www.unioncityga.org Account Manager Lane Henderson [email protected] Administrative Offi ce Manager/ Ashley Sabol Event Planner [email protected] Advertising Art Director Heidi Rizzi SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Cheryl Cromer [email protected] OUR STATE ONLINE PUBLISHING Ben Young [email protected] SPOTLIGHTS Carolyn Gardiner [email protected] SUBSCRIBER SERVICES March 800.428.7363 [email protected] Macon-Bibb County • Valdosta CONTACT US 5880 Live Oak Parkway, Suite 280, Norcross, GA 30093 Phone: 770.931.9410 or FAX: 770.931.9505 Email: [email protected] April www.georgiatrend.com Savannah-Chatham County A PUBLICATION OF MCC MAGAZINES, INC. a division of Morris Communications Company, LLC South Metro Atlanta • LaGrange-Troup County 735 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901
Executive Director Tina Battock Director, Finance & Operations Scott Ferguson May Director, Manufacturing & Production Sherry Brown Publication Services Manager Cher Wheeler Perimeter Area • Newton County Accounting Manager Veronica Brooks Circulation Business Manager Michelle Rowe MORRIS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, LLC Chairman William S. Morris III June
Georgia Trend (ISSN 0882-5971) is published monthly by Morris Business Media, LLC. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Address Columbus • Brunswick-Golden Isles Correspondence to Georgia Trend, 5880 Live Oak Parkway, Suite 280, Norcross, GA 30093. Telephone 770.931.9410. Subscription rates in the U.S. are $18 for one year, $24 for two years. Call 800.428.7363. Readers: Please send address changes along with mailing label from past issue to Georgia Trend, PO BOX 433237, Palm Coast, FL 32143. Allow six weeks. Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Trend, PO BOX 433237, Palm Coast, FL 32143. Periodicals postage paid at Norcross, GA and additional mailing offi ces. Microform copies available from NAPC. Telephone 800.420.6272, ext. 6634. To reserve your advertising space contact Georgia Trend adheres to the best practices of business journalism. Editorial content is prepared independently of advertising sales. the Advertising Department: 770.558.8701 or [email protected] georgiatrend.com INTERSECTION WE HEAR YOU! Not one, but many Thanks to our friends at or 29 years, Georgia Trend has chosen a Georgian of the Year @GeorgiaTrend for highlighting the diligent who has graced our January cover. These individuals have efforts we have under- made significant contributions to the state’s economic suc- took to remain open F cess and have distinguished themselves through their out- during the COVID-19 pandemic. Go, Eagles! standing accomplishments. But with 2020 being a year like no other, @LoganBowlds_SA the staff decided it was only appropriate to break with past tradition. As it stands Rather than single out one person, we chose to honor frontline today, only about workers who have helped reduce the heavy burden of the ongo- 30% of Colquitt County residents have access ing COVID-19 pandemic. It was impossible to name all of the to internet. Local lead- countless individuals throughout the state whom we could have ership plans to change highlighted for their service. So we selected representatives that: Find out more about their success from healthcare, scientific research, education, the arts and in @GeorgiaTrend organizations devoted to feeding the growing number of #BroadbandReady #DigitalDivide Georgia’s hungry residents. Each of these eight individ- #InternetAccess uals symbolizes thousands we want to thank and honor. #GeorgiaBroadband SHUTTERSTOCK @GA_DCA We hope the 2021 Georgians of the Year also serve as remind- ers of the sacrifices, creativity and acts of kindness that are occurring From daily during this extraordinary time. – The Editors @GeorgiaTrend: Aerospace products are Georgia’s No. 1 export thanks to a bevy of organizations – SPECIAL @LockheedMartin, Master crafter of winning teams @NxtComm1, GTRI, eorgia Trend SECTIONS and others. ’s first Georgian of @GTRI the Year was then-Atlanta Braves View these exclusive Georgia Trend President and General Manager resource features year-round at G John Schuerholz in 1992. The georgiatrend.com/Special-Sections TOP former GM was an apt choice. He took over Reads a losing Braves team at the beginning of the Legislative Guide 1991 season and helped nurture it to a divi- Here are the most sion championship that year and for an Higher Education Directory popular articles from unprecedented 14 consecutive seasons. the November issue: During his tenure, the Braves won the Legal Elite “75 Years of World Series in 1995, making Schuerholz the Success,” Georgia first GM to lead teams to the championship in Top Hospitals ports celebrate a both the American and National Leagues. He milestone while was inducted into the National Baseball Hall breaking records of Fame in 2017. And, the Georgia Historical Subscribe “What the World Baseball’s Best: Georgia Trend’s Society named him a 2019 Trustee, reflecting Needs Now,” the fi rst Georgian of the Year was his contributions to the quality of life in the at georgiatrend.com Silver Spoon Awards John Schuerholz, in 1992 state. When it comes to sports, there are few • $18 for one year; $24 for two years spotlight restaurants who’ve achieved more. – Mary Ann DeMuth • Georgia Trend Daily and and people who have Latest Trends blog: Free stepped up during the pandemic LETTERS TO THE EDITOR “Up for the Chal- Preserve the postal service How To Reach Us lenge,” the state’s I enjoy reading and reviewing Georgia Trend each month and thank you and your research community staff for a comprehensive coverage of the entire state. I particularly liked your opinion [email protected] is attacking COVID- piece from the October issue regarding the USPS [“Protect the Post” by Ben Young]. 19 with expertise and You are correct that the USPS is critical to the everyday lives of so many citizens. commitment facebook.com/georgiatrend The business model may have changed but that does not make it less relevant. “Transforming the Hopefully, the forthcoming administration will appoint a Postmaster General who will twitter.com/GeorgiaTrend Future,” the 2015 be visible, accessible and promote a positive feeling about the service and the many Transportation Fund- employees. Thank you for highlighting an essential but often “taken for granted” part instagram.com/georgiatrend ing Act is changing of our government service (even though not supported as it should be). the landscape of Steve Greenberg Georgia Editor, Georgia Trend, 5880 Live Oak Parkway, The writer is an attorney in Savannah. Suite 280, Norcross, GA 30093 We reserve the Find these and more at right to edit for space, clarity and accuracy. georgiatrend.com
georgiatrend.com 8 January 2021
OPINION FROM THE PUBLISHER BY BEN YOUNG
ties and women. Since 2011, ThoughtWorks At- lanta, a technology consulting company, boasts 50% female representation in ThoughtWorks Ben Young is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Georgia Trend. University, a two-year entry-level program that offers new hires a path to careers in IT. Such [email protected] programs increase retention efforts as well. Many companies use surveys to engage in employee D&I. The Home Depot collects re- sults from an annual Voice of the Associate sur- Diversity Focus vey, which has seen an increase in associates’ commitment as a result. In Georgia we should see a lot of focus on efforts targeting veterans, iversity and inclusion (D&I) are hot topics in 2021. In who are often included in D&I initiatives. The many ways Georgia is at the vanguard in successful Home Depot exceeded its goal to hire 55,000 corporate and civic practices. At the recent Georgia veterans in five years and has hired over 79,000 Chamber of Commerce D&I Summit it was evident that veterans. business leaders intend to escalate D&I training in the Some companies work to diversify their sup- wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. ply chain, such as Southern Co.’s Second Tier Discriminatory practices against minorities and Program, which strongly encourages prime sup- women are rampant in nearly every sector, but access pliers to extend subcontracting opportunities to capital is perhaps the greatest hurdle to minority- to minority and female owned firms. Southern owned businesses and entrepreneurs. In the broader corporate realm, Co. also provides sponsorships for suppliers to barriers to advancement prevent the diversification of leaders and attend Dartmouth University Tuck School of stockholders. It will require a cultural change and a bit of reconciliation Business and a mentor program for supplier to remove these barriers. companies. These programs help increase sup- Some changes are structural. Gas South President and CEO Kevin pliers’ awareness of contracting opportunities GreinerD spoke at the summit of the company’s subtle shifts to impact and provide employees who make purchasing career advancement, such as altering a policy requiring a college de- decisions with more supplier choices. gree to qualify for a position to allow for employees willing to pursue education. Blind hiring and software that blocks applicant names are other ways Gas South works to eliminate implicit bias in the hiring process. By not doing so, “not only are you not doing the right thing, At the recent“ Georgia but you’re selling yourself short in terms of long-term success of busi- ness,” he said. Chamber of Commerce summit Delta has also implemented blind hire and other entry requirements, it was evident that business said Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Peter Carter.
Extending beyond the company, Delta has changed its political action leaders intend to escalate committee criteria to align with antiracism campaigns and expanded diversity and inclu“ sion training. its social media policy and travel requirements to ban racist and hate symbols. “No one better connects the world, and we don’t want people spreading venom and toxicity,” he said. Greiner noted that his company’s acquisition of Infinite Energy There are D&I practices within the corporate provides a chance to reinvigorate and expand this mission to meet community to build on, as well as initiatives the moment. “It’s different today than two years ago, when you didn’t from the Georgia Bar Association, which estab- look at that D&I strategy being a core element [of] a project plan,” he lished a Diversity Program in 1993, to the Asso- said. “It’s a testament to how much further we’ve come as society, and ciated General Contractors of Georgia, which how far we need to go.” established a taskforce in 2016 to address lack What does D&I strategy look like? Conversation is seen as a critical of diversity in the construction industry. component of any D&I effort. Gas South implemented a TEDx-style One takeaway from the D&I Summit is program inviting employees to engage in ideas about workplace D&I the need for more mentorships and access to through talks delivered by senior leadership. It can be awkward to dis- successful entrepreneurs for women and mi- cuss target topics at first, but employees take ownership in the process norities. In 2019, Georgia was ranked second when sharing their own ideas and experiences. among states with the largest growth in number Mentorship is a highly successful D&I method. Cox Automotive is of women-owned firms and there are a num- heavily engaged in career development, with 100% participation in the ber of programs, such as the city of Atlanta’s Executive Sponsorship Program, which matches executives to compa- Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, aimed at ny-engaged women and people of color for relationship development helping more women succeed in business. and career guidance. Georgia has an exciting D&I culture in and of Continuing education is another area of unequal access for minori- itself. It can only get better.
georgiatrend.com 10 January 2021
OPINION BUSINESS CASUAL BY SUSAN PERCY
voters had to spend waiting in line, all to ensure a seamless November election. The office sent Susan Percy is Editor-at-Large for Georgia Trend. out absentee ballots and worked with local elections officials to increase the opportunities for early in-person voting. The process was well-scrutinized – the voting and the counting of votes – and it went smoothly. Ready for Normal Additionally, state leaders rallied to deal with the COVID crisis. The Georgia National Guard was dispatched to help with food dis- he year 2020 brought a lot of crazy – along with a lot of tribution, COVID testing and even the cleaning sadness, a lot of disruption and a lot of heartbreak. and disinfecting of hundreds of nursing homes Topping the crazy list was the end to the presidential throughout the state. The Georgia Emergency election: a defeated candidate refusing to acknowledge Management and Homeland Security Agency the will of the electorate and clinging pathetically to arranged for supplies, staffing help and patient power. transport for hospitals struggling to treat the And, of course, for Georgians, there was the additional influx of COVID cases. drama of our state becoming the focus of world attention Our leaders know how to do the things that with the Senate race runoffs this month. That got a bit need to be done. I hope – and believe – most livelier – and stranger – after the two sitting senators in November of them, whether they are completely happy called for the resignation of Georgia’s secretary of state, a fellow Re- with the November election results or not, and publican, presumably at the behest of their wounded presidential whether or not they like the way things turn candidate. (It almost sounds like a plot point in a bad Netflix movie, out in this month’s runoffs, are ready to put the kind that sends you scrambling for the remote. But it was all too their disappointments aside and get to work. real.)T This played out against the backdrop of a worsening worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that is still claiming thousands of lives each day – and persistent problems of social justice, poverty and inadequate I hope – and“ believe – health coverage. most of our leaders, A heartfelt request: Could we please get back to normal? You know, the place where responsible leaders do their best to guide whether they are happy us through difficult times and work to improve the lives of those they represent. We may disagree with these leaders on particular issues or with the November election on their timing or their solution to certain problems, but we can gen- results or not, are ready to erally feel confident that they are serious about addressing the concerns they were elected to deal with. put their disappointments In recent times, Georgia leaders have shown themselves willing and aside and get“ to work. able to rise to the occasion. The 2020 General Assembly, suspended for several weeks because of the COVID crisis, nonetheless passed a much- needed hate crimes bill, HB 426, mandating tough penalties for those convicted of crimes motivated by racial, gender, cultural or religious We still have a lot to do in our state. There’s prejudice. the day-to-day business of keeping a govern- This came largely in response to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in ment running – highways to pave, bridges to Brunswick, a Black man killed by two white men while he was out repair, infrastructure to keep up. There are jogging, and the police killings of George Floyd in Minnesota and Bre- children to educate, jobs to create, healthcare onna Taylor in Kentucky. Until the bill passed and was signed into law issues to resolve, injustices to confront. There by Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia had been one of only four U.S. states are divisions to heal, inequities to address. without a hate crimes bill. There’s the still-struggling economy and The same session saw tougher laws against human trafficking and another difficult budget to pass, with all the a measure that would help foster parents. Legislators confronted the attendant wrangling that requires. These are difficult challenge of passing a budget that reconciled economic issues things we look to our elected officials to take with the state’s most pressing social, health and educational needs. care of, regardless of the obstacles and distrac- As for the election itself, after a near-disastrous rollout of new voting tions that come their way. It’s the normal task machines for the primary season in June, the secretary of state’s office of governing. went to work to tackle systemic problems, increase the number of poll And normal is looking awfully good about workers and enhance their training, and reduce the amount of time now.
georgiatrend.com 12 January 2021 Visit Our Advertisers Online City of Americus 82 Phoebe Sumter 89 AmericusGA.gov PhoebeHealth.com City of Marietta 73 South Georgia Tech 88 MariettaGA.gov SouthGatech.edu City of Peachtree Corners 49 Sumter County Development Authority 86-87 PeachtreeCornersGA.gov SelectSumter.com City of Powder Springs 71 Synovus 39 CityofPowderSprings.org Synovus.com City of Smyrna 72 T. Dallas Smith & Company 11 SmyrnaGa.gov tdallassmith.com Cobb Chamber of Commerce 66 TCSG 51 CobbChamber.org TCSG.edu Cox Enterprises 33 Textron Specialized Vehicles 61 CoxInc.com EZGo.com CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon 45 The Coca-Cola Company 2 FortGordonAlliance.com Coca-Cola.com Cumberland CID 70 Town Center CID 69 CumberlandCID.org TownCenterCID.com Emory Healthcare 27 Union City 7 EmoryHealthcare.org UnionCityGA.org Georgia Power 43 University of Georgia 9 GeorgiaPower.com uga.edu/value Global Partnership for TeleHealth 34 W. C. Bradley 23 GPTH.org WCBradley.com Hurst Boiler 59 Wellstar Health System Back Cover HurstBoiler.com Wellstar.org Kennesaw State University 4 Kennesaw.edu MEAG Power 3 MEAGPower.org Partnership for Southern Equity 47 PSEquity.org PCOM Georgia 17 PCOM.edu/SouthGa Perimeter CIDs 41 georgiatrend.com PerimeterCID.org UPFRONT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Around the State
By Christy Simo
No. 1 Record: Georgia is now the only state to have been named No. 1 for business climate for eight years in a row by Site Selection magazine, an internationally circulated business publica- tion that covers corporate real estate and eco- nomic development. This year, Georgia shares the top ranking with North Carolina.
Covington Face Masks: FiberVisions is investing $48 million to expand its polyolefin fiber manufacturing operations in Newton County. The expansion will create 21 new jobs Helping Hand: AARF and be complete by the first half of this year. Executive Director Bridget McCarthy showcasing a tote Gainesville HVAC: Korean company Dong- bag for sale on the group’s won Tech Corp., a supplier of heating, ventila- website tion and air conditioning products, is investing $700,000 to open an advanced manufacturing CONTRIBUTED facility and sales office in Hall County that will ORGANIZATIONS bring 40 new jobs to the Gainesville area. Butts Co. Cabinets: MasterBrand Cabinets Atlanta Artist Relief Fund Inc. is opening a Southeastern U.S. manufactur- By Candice Dyer ing and distribution facility near Jackson that will add nearly 400 jobs when it opens this year.
any artists – musicians, dancers, painters, actors and others – Houston Co. Solar: Silicon Ranch Corp. is struggle to make ends meet even during prosperous times. investing $55 million in a 68 MW solar project The COVID-19 pandemic hit Atlanta artists especially hard, in Houston County. The energy generated closing down their venues. “Also, most of us have a day job we will serve more than 30 Electric Membership rely on, and the pandemic killed those, too,” says Paul Glaze, an Corporations (EMCs) and 11,000 households actor, musician, sound designer and director of business and op- throughout the state. erations for nonprofit Atlanta Artist Relief Fund (AARF). In March, he and his friends launched a Kickstarter fund with Calhoun EV: TEKLAS, a Turkish manufacturer a goal of $1,000, just to feed each other. “We wanted to see what would happen,” and supplier of electric vehicle parts, is invest- Glaze says, “and it quickly blew up. We had $7,000 by the end of the week.” ing $6.5 million to open its first North American Soon after, about 50 volunteers were assembling and distributing frozen meals facility and headquarters in Gordon County. The from hubs all over Atlanta. That initiative grew into AARF, which has expanded its 200,000-square-foot facility will bring 120 jobs services to include help with filing for unemployment. “Applying for assistance can to Calhoun when it opens this spring. beM a confusing process,” Glaze says. In partnership with community-based mental health initiative Mental Wellness/ Delicious Expansion: Ken’s Foods, known for Emotional Learning, AARF also connects artists with free and low-cost licensed its dressings and marinades, is expanding its therapy. “We are hoping to expand to include urgent care and dentistry,” Glaze says. manufacturing and distribution operations in So far, the organization has worked with nearly 500 artists. It has connected Henry County. The $103-million investment will more than 100 to mental health services, served over 1,000 meals and helped nearly create 70 new jobs. 300 in their pursuit of state benefits. “This group is important because arts and entertainment bring in billions to the Jackson County Growth: Automotive parts Georgia economy, yet Georgia is dead last in the nation in terms of [state] arts supplier Toyota Industries Compressor Parts funding,” Glaze says. America is expanding in Pendergrass. The “We initially thought this would be a short-term enterprise, but we believe we’ll $5.5-million investment will add 15,000 square be helping artists for years to come,” says Executive Director Bridget McCarthy. feet and a new production line as well as at least 27 jobs.
Send your economic development news to atlartsrelief.org [email protected].
georgiatrend.com 14 January 2021 2021 CALENDAR February March April RESERVE BY DECEMBER 21 RESERVE BY JANUARY 25 RESERVE BY FEBRUARY 22 MATERIALS BY DECEMBER 28 MATERIALS BY JANUARY 29 MATERIALS BY FEBRUARY 26 • Legislative Guide • Small Business • Economic Yearbook • Healthcare – Heart Health • CIDs – North Fulton • Industry Outlook • GMA Visionary Cities • Georgia Education Guide • Healthcare: Mental Health • Workforce Diversity • Georgia Getaways • Technical Colleges • Georgia Trustees 2021 • Four for the Future Our State Our State • Macon-Bibb County Our State • Cherokee County • Valdosta • Savannah-Chatham County • South Metro Atlanta • LaGrange-Troup County Small Business Guide RESERVE BY MARCH 22 PUBLISHING MAY 2021 Resource Guide for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
May June July RESERVE BY MARCH 22 RESERVE BY APRIL 26 RESERVE BY MAY 24 MATERIALS BY MARCH 29 MATERIALS BY APRIL 30 MATERIALS BY MAY 31 • Most Respected Leader • ACCG – Counties of Excellence • Agribusiness • Top Doctors in Georgia • Healthcare – Cancer Treatment • Banking • MBA Programs • Ecotourism • 25th Anniversary of Olympic Games • Georgia’s Film Industry • 2021 Manufacturers of the Year • Global Trade & Logistics Awards • Women Leaders Our State • Perimeter Area Our State Our State • Newton County • Columbus • Moultrie-Colquitt • Brunswick-Golden Isles County • Thomson-McDuffi e County
RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE TODAY! CALL 770-558-8701 Are you interested in scheduling an Area Focus on your community? Contact [email protected] georgiatrend.com UPFRONT
POLITICAL NOTES Galloway Retirement: Long-time Atlanta Journal- Constitution political columnist Jim Galloway is re- tiring this month, having covered Georgia politics for Ups, Downs more than four decades and earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans alike. and In-betweens In an interview with NPR All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly, Galloway recalled being an in- By Susan Percy tern at the paper when Jimmy Carter was named the CONTRIBUTED Democratic nominee in 1976. He delayed his retire- Columnist Jim Galloway Counting, Recounting: A hand count of ment so he could cover the Senate runoffs this month. Georgia votes cast in the November elec- In announcing his retirement, Galloway said, “It’s been an honor to have had tion confirmed what the initial machine such an important front-row seat to bear witness to all the change that has come to count showed: President-elect Joe Biden Georgia, the rest of the South and the farthest corners of the world.” beat President Donald Trump by about 12,000 votes. The totals were certified by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and laws, including Raffensperger’s proposal tion will determine the winners of Geor- Gov. Brian Kemp. that voters casting absentee ballots must gia’s two U.S. Senate races. Republican A subsequent machine recount re- provide photo IDs, a move opposed by incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loef- quested by Trump confirmed the results many Democrats who believe such a fler are being challenged, respectively, again. Georgia law allows candidates to ask change would disenfranchise legitimate by Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael for a recount after certification if they lose voters. The governor indicated such a Warnock, in races that have drawn na- by less than one-half of a percentage point. change merits consideration. tional attention. The outcome will deter- The counting and recounting prompted mine which party controls the Senate. some calls for changes to state election One More: The Tuesday, Jan. 5, runoff elec- Voters will also select a winner in the “t ak t yu, w ae m d cin ad fo.” i cn gt bc “t ak t yu,tkn a s ad a nt hn e.” “t ak t or prnr,w a e w ’r edn hne t bd hnr.” hne w l b a “t ak t yu, o m fe.” ” “t ak t or prnr, ed n hne i rcdl cut.” ” t ig o t e ps. w a e d n hne “t ak t or cmuiy, i 29 c ute .w’r ed n h n e “tak t o r fo bnes, i sad n cut.” “t ak t or i o r cmuiy.w cn g t fo t toe i n e.” w w l b fe fo hne.” “t ak t or vlner,dnor, hne ” “t ak t yu, m cmuiy w c n gt fo t t oe i ne.” w l b a t ig w l b ha t ir ad srne.”“t ak t or fo“t ak t or vlner, o t e ps.” “t ak t or prnr, bne s, w dsrbtw’r bidn a hat ir, “t ak t or dnor, w “t akATLANTA t yu, COMMUNITY“t ak t or FOOD vlner, BANK “t ak t yu,w a e d n hne mlin o mmasas e y a a .”srne” goga.” ae c ag n l vs fr t e bte.”i ko w e m “t ak t yu, m i land hw ti gint cut.” “t ak t yu, i cn et b t e .” n x m a i fml iCONGRATULATES h a t i r.”w’r nntt a oe i t et e “t ak t yu, hne i sl a l.” cmn fo.” co bte mas.” “t ak t yu, i cn et b t e .” fg t aantnt hne.”hne “t ak t yu, w’v “t ak t yu, “t ak t yu, hnr be m k n a d fec f m lie h v a vie.” “t ak t yu,“t ak t yu, fr oe 40 yas.” “t ak t yu, w cn” gt fo m fml wl i dn’t hv t g “t ak t or prnr, t t oe i ne . 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He Georgia’s public colleges set a record, with McDonald and Democrat Daniel Black- will succeed 2021 Board Chair Ed Bastian, 341,485 students. The number represents a man for the six-year term. CEO of Delta Air Lines. 2.4% increase over fall 2019. The chamber also announced that key Growth among Hispanic and Asian stu- Turning Blue: Democrats, notably a num- areas of focus for the year will be racial eq- dents grew by 7.2%, and by 3.9% among ber of Black candidates, made inroads in uity, public health and economic recovery. Black students. Cobb and Gwinnett counties, both long- time Republican strongholds. In Cobb, Lisa Cupid becomes the first Black woman to chair the county commission after defeat- ing Republican Mike Boyce. Police Major Craig Owens is the first Black sheriff of the county, having won over Republican Neil Warren. In the race for district attor- ney, Democrat Flynn Broady defeated Re- publican Joyette Holmes; both candidates are Black. In Gwinnett, Democrat Nicole Love Hendrickson won election as county com- mission chair, defeating Republican David Post. Hendrickson, who will preside over an all-Democratic commission, will be the first Black chair, replacing retiring Re- publican Charlotte Nash. Attorney Patsy Austin-Gaston defeated long-time District Attorney Danny Porter and will be the first female and first Black person to hold that position. Keybo Taylor defeated Repub- lican Luis “Lou” Solis Jr. to become the county’s first Black sheriff. He replaces Butch Conway.
House Leaders: No surprise, the Georgia House Republican Caucus has re-elected Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) and Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Mil- ton) to their positions. Rep. Jon Burns (R-Newington) is ma- jority leader; Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dub- lin) is Majority Caucus chair; Rep. Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville) is caucus vice- chair; and Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Mon- roe) is caucus secretary and treasurer. The House Democratic Caucus elected Rep. James Beverly (D-Macon) as mi- nority leader; Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), minority caucus chair; Rep. Erica Thomas (D-Austell), minority cau- cus vice-chair; Rep. David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs), minority whip; Rep. Deborah Bazemore (D-South Fulton), minority chief deputy whip; Rep. Park Cannon (D-Atlanta), minority caucus sec- retary; and Rep. Mary Robichaux (D-Ros- well), minority caucus treasurer.
MAC Leadership: The Metro Atlanta
georgiatrend.com 17 January 2021 Early Onslaught: Dr. James “Eddie” Black, Phoebe Putney Health System medical director for emergency services 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR HE COVID ROES XBY SUSAN PERCY • PHOTO BY FRANK FORTUNE •
his year, Georgia Trend honors those working to combat and mitigate the COVID- 19 crisis that upended the state so dramatically last spring. Bestowing our Georgian Tof the Year award on a group rather than an individual is a first for us, but we are proud to pay tribute to all those who have confronted the health, economic and social chal- lenges of the pandemic, often at considerable personal cost. The roster of Georgians going above and beyond the call of duty is a long one that includes healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, food bank workers, business owners, first responders, service industry personnel, retail and delivery employees, public officials, artists and ordinary citizens. In recognition of all Georgia’s heroes, we are highlighting eight individuals who have used their work to help guide the state through a difficult and dangerous time. ★ it to the CDC, then wait till they called you back to let you Dr. James “Eddie” Black know whether or not you were OK to give a test.” Everything had to be sent to Atlanta, with the results coming back a Medical Director for Emergency Services week or two weeks later. “That wasn’t necessarily helpful Phoebe Putney Health System to early management. We were making treatment decisions ALBANY without knowing exactly what it was.” hen Albany became an early COVID hotspot thanks But it soon became apparent they were treating COVID-19 Wto a super-spreader event – a large funeral – Dr. James patients – sometimes 70 or 80 a day. “Eddie” Black and his colleagues at Phoebe Putney were “We’re used to compartmentalizing,” says Black of his ER among the first in the South to deal with an influx of infected colleagues, “but it became very personal to all of us. You’d patients. walk into work praying you are going to see two less patients “We got our first patient, who had a history of respiratory than you saw the day before and, invariably, it was two more problems,” Black says. “The second came in – and had no patients. The numbers just kept going up, the sheer numbers history of respiratory issues.” More followed. Yet doctors of sick people.” were hesitant to jump to conclusions because there hadn’t Black grew up in Albany, went away for his medical train- been many COVID cases outside of distant places like Wash- ing, then came back when his father’s health began to decline. ington State and New York. He didn’t intend to stay but is glad he did. “This is what I was Early on, Black recalls, it was difficult even to run a test. meant to do, this is why I was here.” “You had to go to a website, print out a form, fill it out, fax He lost count of the number of days he worked without
georgiatrend.com 19 January 2021 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR a break. In the face of such a crisis, he says, “Do you sit at decisions about converting units to COVID-only, and – no home? I guess I could clean out my garage, or I could be at small task – keeping up with the CDC’s changing guidelines. work helping people, doing what I was trained to do.” At one point, there were more than 160 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. “We had ceased normal operations,” Whitley says. “The hospital was mainly COVID patients or non-COVID Kim Whitley, RN patients who were so ill they had to be cared for.” COVID patients coming in would deteriorate quickly, she Vice President for Patient Logistics & Care Coordination says. “A patient might come in with a little shortness of Phoebe Putney Health System breath, then all of a sudden they were so severe they had to ALBANY go to the ICU. They might have to be placed on a ventilator hile her medical colleagues were determining the best or high-flow oxygen.” Wway to treat COVID-19 patients, many of the logistical Staffing became a problem. “We had no more nurses. It concerns were the responsibility of Kim Whitley, Phoebe got to the point that the hospital had to start transferring Putney Health System’s vice president for patient logistics patients to other facilities.” and care coordination. Senior administrators met every morning and afternoon She was dealing with bed placement and care manage- to assess the situation. “In between, we were consumed with ment, addressing questions of staffing and supplies, making what fire are we having to put out to meet the needs of our patients and our community.” It was not unusual for the staff to come in at 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning and Putting Out Fires: go home at 11:00 p.m. Kim Whitley, The intensity lessened in June, when some state vice president for patient help came; but cases spiked again in July. By late logistics and care October, Phoebe was seeing 30 to 50 COVID patients coordination at every day but was able to get back to a more normal Phoebe Putney routine. “It was very intense, but there was a camaraderie,” Whitley says. “We just hunkered down and did what we had to do to take care of our patients.”
Mary Jane Crouch
Executive Director America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia SAVANNAH n good times and bad, food banks provide nutri- I tious food to people who need it, but the pandemic ramped up the challenges. “We all pivoted to be able to deliver that food,” says Mary Jane Crouch, who heads America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, which covers 21 counties. The Kids Café, an after-school program offering an evening meal at several different sites, required imme- diate changes. “When the school system went virtual,” Crouch says, “we went to a grab-and-go program to make sure that children out of school were able to have some sort of nutrition.” Staff members would come in at 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning to prepare the food – sometimes as many as 7,000 meals a day. Second Harvest started a mobile food pantry, offering contactless drive-through deliv- ery, with assistance from the Georgia National Guard, which helped load groceries into car trunks. “Hunger is one of the major issues with COVID,” Crouch says. “People have lost everything. I’m not just talking about people at risk for hunger before, I’m talking about people who probably were never FRANK FORTUNE at risk.” Some in the mobile pantry lines told her they have always been food drive donors, not recipients. Throughout the first few months of the pandemic,
georgiatrend.com 20 January 2021 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR
Delivering Much- needed Meals: Mary Jane Crouch, executive director, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, with staff heroes CONTRIBUTED the food bank provided more than 15 million pounds of food School’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and – the equivalent of about 12 million meals. “Our staff really Mehul Suthar, an assistant professor in the Pediatrics Depart- were the heroes. They were willing to do anything,” she says. ment, were able to work even when some campus labs were still closed. Wrammert’s expertise is in characterizing B cell antibody Rafi Ahmed responses, Ahmed says. B cells, part of the body’s immune system, are a kind of white blood cell that makes antibodies. Director Wrammert’s earlier work characterized influenza-specific Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University responses during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. ATLANTA “Jens made some very important observations about the esearchers at the Emory Vaccine Center were not caught antibody responses of people who were infected,” Ahmed R off guard, as most of us were, when the COVID-19 cri- says. Wrammert also developed a technique for making sis hit. monoclonal antibodies from the patients – cloning and pro- “It was not a surprise at all to any immunologist,” says ducing the antibodies that could be used for diagnostic or Rafi Ahmed, the Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar therapeutic purposes. “He had the skill sets needed to tackle who directs the center. “Every time a new pathogen emerges, the COVID-19 issues.” He quickly developed serology tests in 99% of the cases this happens because one of the animal so he could look at antibody response in patients with COVID. viruses is coming to humans. In the case of COVID-19, it’s a At the same time, Suthar was focusing on developing very, very different virus from what we have seen before.” neutralizing antibodies. Their work, Ahmed says, “showed So the center’s scientists went to work quickly, drawing that pretty much all COVID-19 patients made neutralizing on previous research to help in the effort to develop an antibodies. This finding was very important because very effective vaccine. often after a [viral] infection, it takes several months to Jens Wrammert, an assistant professor in Emory Medical develop new antibodies. But this virus is letting antibodies
georgiatrend.com 21 January 2021 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR
Prioritizing Antibody Research:
Rafi EMORY UNIVERSITY Ahmed, director, Emory Vaccine Center
develop quite quickly,” within two weeks of the onset of and to expand the offerings at the original Hodgepodge and symptoms. a second location in nearby Reynoldstown. The early demonstration of antibody response and the First she addressed shortages facing her regulars in the development of serology tests were a huge step toward early days of the crisis. “There were a lot of shortages – basic developing effective COVID vaccines. “We prioritized necessities like toilet paper, flour, yeast.” Grocery stores COVID,” Ahmed says. “We have done our part and contrib- were out, but she could still get the items through her sup- uted, as many, many people across the world have done.” pliers. She sold them, typically at lower prices than the stores. “We also had COVID-impact pricing: If you were financially impacted in any way by COVID, we gave it to you at cost,” Krystle Rodriguez she says. “Didn’t want any proof, it was just on the honor system.” Owner Rodriguez had been planning a Hodgepodge market; she Hodgepodge Coffeehouses finished the buildout and obtained a loan for refrigeration ATLANTA equipment that allowed her to add more products, including rystle Rodriguez’s focus has been offering “a space some from local food merchants. She even found artisans K where the community can gather” ever since she to make cloth masks, which she sells without taking a cut. opened her first Hodgepodge Coffeehouse in 2012 in East Her Ormewood location has become part of the national Atlanta’s Ormewood Park neighborhood. Free99Fridge network, with a well-stocked refrigerator out- “When COVID hit, it was a pretty sudden pivot,” she says. side so neighbors can help themselves to things they need Sales dropped about 70%; she feared if she closed, it might but can’t afford – or make a food contribution. “We try to be for good. So she decided to remain open – for takeout – help as much as a coffee shop can,” Rodriguez says.
georgiatrend.com 22 January 2021 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR
Sandy Weaver
Assessment & Curriculum Coordinator Annandale Village SUWANEE he pandemic brought major changes to educational Tactivities at Annandale Village, a residential community for adults who are intellectually or developmentally disabled or have had traumatic brain injuries. Early on, the staff recognized that they were getting the health part under control, but didn’t want to neglect the residents’ emotional wellness. Sandy Weaver, assessment and curriculum coordinator at the facility, put her almost-30 years of experience to work to come up with what she calls a “corona-riculum,” devel- oping new subject matter and different teaching methodol- New Curriculum: ogies for the 190 or so people they serve, including about Sandy Weaver, 145 residents. “We look at areas where there are deficits, assessment and curriculum where we can support villagers to be more independent. coordinator, That really is the focus in the disability world,” she says. Annandale Village She and the staff had to work around some technological shortcomings but devised a series of presentations and vid- eos to supplant in-person offerings. “We had to think about
content that would still be engaging. It had to be on a basic BEN ROLLINS
georgiatrend.com 23 January 2021 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR
Sudden Pivot: Krystle Rodriguez, owner, Hodgepodge Coffeehouses BEN ROLLINS
level, so people weren’t overwhelmed.” And it couldn’t be COVID put a stop to that, but she was determined to con- too schoolish, since a lot of the residents did not have a tinue her endeavors. “The arts community was really hurt in positive school experience. terms of a lot of artists being out of work,” she says. And, as The new curriculum covers health, safety and life skills: a former public school teacher, Bowman was sad for the things like mask-wearing, the importance of hydration, elec- 2020 high school graduates who were missing out on the trical appliance use, even how to use free time. The reception final months of their senior year. by the residents has been gratifying. “We want to open the Her solution: Hire artists to paint colorful murals that pay world to them,” Weaver says. tribute to the graduates – a project that can be done safely, involving fewer people. The first one adorns a wall at Atlanta Public Schools’ B.E.S.T. Academy and others are in the queue. Carol Bowman “I thought about the seniors,” she says. “I wanted to make sure the school had something in it to celebrate that class.” CEO As for the artists, she wanted to give them work, but also Learning in Color Corp. “the opportunity to do something where they feel like they ATLANTA are giving back.” he nonprofit started by special education teacher Carol TBowman, Learning in Color Corp., has been transform- ing bland public classroom interiors into colorful spaces that Lisa Isham inspire students since 2014. But when the pandemic hit, she Associate Superintendent had to change direction. Wilkes County Schools Typically, Bowman employs artists to add color to the standard institutional white walls. “So much research WASHINGTON supports that that type of sterile environment is counter- er school system, like many others, was unprepared productive to the academic and social-emotional aspects of H for online instruction when the pandemic brought learning,” she says. A typical project might have 15 people in-person classes to an end last March, so Wilkes County working together in a small space. Associate Superintendent Lisa Isham and her team got busy,
georgiatrend.com 24 January 2021 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR
Celebrating Seniors: Carol Bowman, CEO of Learning in Color Corp., in front of her company’s mural at B.E.S.T. Academy DAEMONPICTURES.COM
georgiatrend.com 25 January 2021 2021 ★ GEORGIANS OF THE YEAR
Check-in Opportunity: Lisa Isham, associate superintendent, Wilkes County Schools MATTODOMPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
fast. “We did the best we could. A lot of our kids were not ular bus routes once a week and handed out meals for the equipped. Some of our teachers were ready; some were not.” week.” They were even able to supply meals to children not Thanks to a lot of planning, hard work and some grant enrolled in the school system. Employees would gather to money, technological capability has greatly improved. When pack lunches one day, then deliver them the next. “Then we the approximately 1,400-pupil system reopened in the fall, got so good at it we could pack and deliver in one day.” teachers were prepared, each equipped with a Google class- Administrators went along on the rides, Isham says. “We room set-up, “ready to go to online learning with the flip of would pass out work as needed. It was a good way for us to a switch” if necessary. get to check in on the kids, too. We’d get to see the little But before that happened, to finish out the truncated 2019- faces, and it gave us at least a weekly opportunity when we 20 school year, Wilkes established a delivery system using could have a check-in.” the school bus fleet to get food and instructional materials to students. These eight individuals represent the countless number Even before COVID, schools were providing free breakfast of citizens across the state to whom we owe a debt of grat- and lunch to all students. To keep that going, “We ran every itude for their compassion, creativity and hard work to reduce bus in the county – about 30,” Isham says. “We ran the reg- the negative impacts of the pandemic.
georgiatrend.com 26 January 2021
2021 ★ MOST INFLUENTIAL HALL OF FAME Ann Cramer GREAT CONNECTOR BY KENNA SIMMONS PHOTOGRAPH BY JENNIFER STALCUP
nn Cramer’s phone rings a lot. That’s not surpris- remembers stationing her infant daughter under the table at ing – her nickname could be the Great Connector. meetings, much to the bewilderment of the other attendees (all Throughout a storied career at IBM that saw her men). She kept “showing up” and minding her 5 Ps: presence, both champion and define the very idea of cor- participation, professional skills, passion and philanthropy. “I’m Aporate social responsibility, Xan equally renowned avocation for a big serendipity and intersection person,” she says, and the volunteering (she chaired the volunteer force for the 1996 Olym- way these experiences came together created an “amazing path.” pics and has led countless nonprofit boards) and a dedication After some time away from IBM to raise her daughter – she to faith dating back to her confirmation at age 12, she’s brought still served as Junior League president, was appointed to a board people together. by Gov. George Busbee and fielded calls from IBMers who The pleasant surprise is that she answers and usually says wanted to connect with Coretta Scott King or the Carters – ser- yes – yes to another project, to making an endipity struck again. In 1989 when introduction or to providing advice. “I’ll Atlanta won the right to bid for the 1996 say yes all the time,” she says. “Sometimes “I want to be a part Games, the head of the Atlanta office of I think, why did I say yes? I should have IBM reached across the table at a United thought about it for a minute!” And then of a world in which Way meeting and asked: “Would you ever she laughs her joyous laugh, because yes every child can grow come back to work?” She said yes, and is just the way she lives. even got her same employee number back. It springs from a fiercely held mission up safe, healthy, That launched her on a path to define statement she claimed during her confir- and shepherd corporate social responsi- mation class in the Episcopal Church in educated, connected bility (CSR) before it was mainstream. Jacksonville, Fla., as a young girl: “Really, … and therefore IBM had always been charitable, Cramer all you’re asked to do is love,” she says. “I says, believing that you deliver on your just adopted that. … I really do believe employable, which promise to the client, treat all people with everyone does have [love] within them. So dignity and care about the communities therefore I want to be a part of a world means they are a in which you serve. Those foundations in which every child can grow up safe, contributing person “aligned with who I am,” she says. From healthy, educated, connected … and there- her position as director of corporate fore employable, which means they are a in our world.” citizenship and corporate affairs for the contributing person in our world. So it Americas, she helped evolve CSR from becomes a full circle of love.” charitable giving to being fundamentally socially responsible. With faith as her foundation, her profession and volunteer And she’s still shaping companies, organizations and individ- work are how she expresses that mission. A math major, Cramer uals after retiring from IBM in 2012 and joining Coxe Curry & joined IBM out of college because, at the time, female students Associates, where she consults with nonprofits on board devel- were expected to be a “nurse or teacher or receptionist, or have opment, volunteer engagement, fundraising and corporate rela- a ring. I didn’t have the patience to be a teacher. I loved physics, tions. Among her many recognitions are the U.S. Chamber of not chemistry, so I didn’t want to be a nurse. I couldn’t sit all Commerce’s first Lifetime Achievement Award for Corporate day to be a receptionist. And I didn’t have a ring.” Citizenship and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s first Corporate A job as a systems engineer at Big Blue was a perfect fit, as Social Responsibility Lifetime Achievement Award. was a move to Atlanta in 1968. Cramer found the city open to “When I talk to people, I always ask if you’ve found your outsiders and dove into the Junior League and St. Luke’s Epis- ikigai,” she says, using a Japanese word that means something copal Church, finding volunteer opportunities with both. “The like “reason for being” or as Cramer defines it, “how to live your three converged in a way that created life choices that were life more fully and broadly.” For her, the answer came at 12 years amazing,” she says. She met her husband, Jeff, on the streets of old and has been the work of a lifetime. Little Five Points – where she’d slip out of her jacket and leave “The greatest gift we give our children is roots and wings,” the office to work with runaways and hippies, she says, then go she says. “A rootedness to know where their base function is. back to IBM – and the couple still lives there in a house they And then the fluidity and flexibility to fly.” She’s mastered bought in 1972. both, and hopes to keep on passing them on – that’s why she’s Cramer was tapped for the United Way campaign at IBM and still saying yes.
georgiatrend.com 29 January 2021 2021 ★ MOST INFLUENTIAL HALL OF FAME James Cox Kennedy MOVING THE NEEDLE BY PATTY RASMUSSEN PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN ROSE
an you tell I’m a fan?” jokes Nancy Rigby, speak- “It was a big step but one I was prepared to take and thought ing about her boss, James “Jim” Cox Kennedy, I might be ready for,” he says. “But I’d be less than honest if I chair of Cox Enterprises and the James M. Cox didn’t say I was frightened.” Foundation. “He’s a normal guy who is modest, A former competitive cyclist, Kennedy says fear was a good Cfeels grateful and wants to helpX other people.” motivator. Rigby is president of the Cox Foundations, overseeing the “Whether it’s training for a bicycle race or running a business, eight Cox family philanthropies; the James M. Cox Foundation you tend to train up a good bit, so you don’t mess up when you is the largest. have a healthy dose of fear.” She notes that when Kennedy took the helm at Cox Enter- Kennedy says he was “bullish” on investing in cable television. prises in 1988, it was a $1.8 billion company in annual revenue. His decisions transformed Cox Enterprises from a media com- Today, Cox Enterprises includes compa- pany to a conglomerate. If that were all nies in the media, communications, auto- Kennedy did, that would be plenty, but motive and healthcare industries. “It’s “Whether his philanthropic endeavors have been now more than $21 billion,” she says. “He just as remarkable. dedicated his life to building that business. it’s training for In the past nine years, the James M. And along the way, he was a champion- a bicycle race Cox Foundation has tripled in size ship athlete and involved in community through contributions that Kennedy has activities. He’s always been a part of or running a led from Cox Enterprises. The foundation important initiatives to make Atlanta and has three primary focus areas: education, Georgia better.” business, you tend healthcare and sustainability. Kennedy’s successful business career to train up a good Kennedy helps direct the ship, coming might seem obvious considering his up with ideas, prioritizing and strategiz- pedigree as grandson of former Ohio bit, so you don’t ing. Two organizations where the Cox governor, presidential candidate and Foundation has played a critical role are company founder James M. Cox. But he mess up when you the PATH Foundation and Emory Univer- says he never felt pressured to enter the have a healthy sity’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center. family business. Both Kennedy and his wife Sarah serve After graduating from the University dose of fear.” on the board of the PATH Foundation, of Denver with a business degree, he raced which has built 300 miles of biking and motocross in the U.S. and Europe. It wasn’t until he was a year walking trails in Metro Atlanta. She has led every annual cam- out of college that he thought, “This is fun, but it’s not a career.” paign and he has led every capital campaign since 1995. He called his uncle Jim Cox in Atlanta, who offered him a job In 2015, the Cox Foundation gave its largest gift ever, $25 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s production department. million, to Emory’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center to launch “It was fascinating to me, understanding the factory side of new patient-centered care models designed to improve patient producing a newspaper,” says Kennedy. “I was involved when experiences and outcomes, an outgrowth of his battle with we first converted to cold type from hot metal printing.” prostate cancer. Kennedy was interested in getting at the He also proved he was there to work – on Christmas Eve, “wheel-spinning,” trying to find ways to help doctors, nurses night shifts, whenever someone needed him. and technicians do what they do more efficiently. “I wasn’t just there for a handout,” he says. Researchers called it the “Kennedy Initiative,” and though Once management realized he wasn’t leaving, they moved prostate cancer care was the initial clinical focus of the model, Kennedy into positions throughout the organization – selling Emory reports that it now manages hospitals better because it ads, writing headlines, even working as a reporter. He got to has better access to real-time data. know the company and the community and in 1988, when his “I talked with the head of Emory, and he said it’s even helped stepfather resigned, Kennedy became CEO of Cox Enterprises them as they dealt with COVID,” says Kennedy. “I’m proud of at age 40. our involvement and that we’ve moved the needle.”
georgiatrend.com 30 January 2021
2021 ★ MOST INFLUENTIAL HALL OF FAME
[ PAST INDUCTEES ]
2020 Saxby Chambliss Franklin Skinner William S. Morris III Johnny Isakson Former U.S. Senator Former CEO & Chair, BellSouth Founder, Chair & CEO, Telecommunications Morris Communications Co. Former U.S. Senator
2010 2019 2006 Michael Cassidy Dr. Joseph Lowery James Blanchard (1921-2020) Director, Emory Biomedical Former Chair & CEO, T E D T U R N E R Minister Catalyst Synovus Financial Corp. Civil Rights Leader Ted Turner Maria Saporta N L E W Zell Miller J O H I S Bill Shipp Founder, CNN, TNT, TBS Founder & Editor, (1932-2018) Journalist SaportaReport Senior Strategic Advisor, Environmentalist & Political Columnist Philanthropist Former writer & columnist, 2014 McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP Governor, U.S. Senator Atlanta Business Chronicle John Lewis 2009 (1940-2020) Spurgeon Richardson Betty Siegel 2003 U.S. Congressman 2018 (1941-2019) (1931-2020) Griffin Bell Civil Rights Leader T. Rogers Wade Former President & CEO, President, Kennesaw (1918-2009) State University U.S. Attorney General Chair, Governor’s Atlanta Convention & Defense Initiative Robert Shaw Visitors Bureau U.S. Circuit Court Judge Chair & CEO, 2005 Chair, Georgia Public Engineered Floors S. Truett Cathy Policy Foundation 2008 Tom Cousins (1921-2014) Former Owner, Hank Aaron Founder, Former Chair Shaw Industries & CEO, Founder, Chick-fil-A Philip Wilheit Sr. Baseball Legend Cousins Properties Inc. Philanthropist President, Wilheit Packaging Founder & Owner, Philanthropist 2013 755 Restaurant Corp. Jimmy Carter 2017 R. Charles “Charlie” Mack Mattingly Nobel Peace Prize Winner Hank Huckaby Loudermilk Former U.S. Senator Former U.S. President Founder & Chair Emeritus, Former Chancellor, Former Assistant Secretary Aaron’s Inc. Rosalynn Carter University System of Georgia General (NATO) Former First Lady Former U.S. Ambassador Monica Pearson Mental Health Advocate Former News Anchor, (Seychelles) WSB-TV N C E D O O L E Thomas B. Murphy Carl Patton V I Y (1924-2007) Former President, Longtime Speaker, 2012 Georgia State University Vince Dooley Georgia House of Otis Brumby Athletic Director Emeritus, Herman J. Russell Representatives (1941-2012) University of Georgia L I C I A P H I L I P A P Publisher, (1930-2014) Sam Nunn Founder & Chair, The Marietta Daily Journal & 2004 Former U.S. Senator Neighbor Newspapers H.J. Russell & Co. Alicia Philipp Tommy Irvin National Defense Authority Former President, Bobby Cox (1929-2017) Community Foundation 2007 Georgia Commissioner John C. Portman Jr. Former Manager, for Greater Atlanta A.D. “Pete” Correll of Agriculture (1924-2017) Atlanta Braves Former Chair & CEO, Architect, Developer, 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame Manuel Maloof Entrepreneur 2016 Georgia-Pacific Corp. Inductee (1924-2004) Arthur Blank Longtime DeKalb County Carl Sanders Co-founder, The Home Depot 2011 CEO & Commissioner (1925-2014) Governor, Attorney Owner, The Atlanta Falcons Ray Anderson Sam Massell Alana Shepherd (1935-2011) Former President, Dr. Louis Sullivan Co-founder, Shepherd Center Chair, Interface Inc. Buckhead Coalition Founding Dean, Former Mayor, City of Atlanta Morehouse School of Medicine David Ratcliffe Former U.S. Secretary of 2015 R N I E M A R C U J. Mack Robinson Former CEO, Chair & B E S Health and Human Services Bill Bolling President, Southern Co. (1923-2014) Founder & Bernie Marcus Businessman & Philanthropist Andrew Young Former Executive Director, Co-founder, Former Mayor, City of Atlanta Atlanta Community Food Bank The Home Depot Former U.S. Ambassador Philanthropist to the United Nations
georgiatrend.com 32 January 2021
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912-285-0902 www.gpth.org Georgia Grown • Georgia Based • Georgia Centric Telehealth Simplified Did you know that you Do you need to become have access to free Telehealth Savvy? Telehealth Experts? The National School of Applied TeleHealth (NSAT) We provide information, education, and assistance provides on-line Telehealth 101 training courses for for developing and existing telehealth programs, with healthcare professionals and industry representatives. emphasis on rural communities, health systems and Certificates and 3 CEU hours awarded. clinicians, schools and universities. • Telehealth Coordinator Course SOUTHEASTERN • Telemedicine Clinical telehealth Presenter Course RESOURCE CENTER • Telehealth Liaison Course (nonclinical) WWW.SETCR.US Contact: SETRC is supported by grant number G22RH30350 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources [email protected] and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. or 888-738-7210 101000 2021 ★ 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL GEORGIANS RXISING TO THE CHALLENGE ★ he ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” said Mar- tin Luther King Jr. His words are as applicable today as they were when he wrote them in 1963, as Tthe world continues to face the challenges and controversies of pandemic, economic recession and political fighting. For this, the 23rd annual listing of the 100 Most Influential Georgians, Georgia Trend has assem- bled a group of remarkable people, many of whom have risen to the challenges of the past year to help make life better for all Georgians. In this year’s list, you’ll find CEOs, politicians, college presidents, nonprofit and economic development leaders, among others, who have inspired and spearheaded efforts to meet and beat challenges in virtually every corner of the Peach State. Some are very public figures, while others work quietly behind the scenes. All are tireless and passionate in pursuit of their vision for a bet- ter Georgia. Selecting the most influential leaders is a daunting task and one that involves much discussion, mulling and refinement by the Georgia Trend staff. Our initial list typically contains many more than 100 names, and there are always last-minute changes as a result of retirements, power shifts and late-in-the-year hirings. However, we believe this year’s final group represents the best qual- ities of leadership, power, character and influence the state has to offer. Along with the most influential, we’ve included a list of Notable Georgians on page 54. These are individuals who’ve also made a significant impact on residents’ lives. Profiles of the 100 Most Influential Georgians were written by Betty Darby, Mary Ann DeMuth, Mary Anne Dunkin, Karen Kirkpatrick, Brian Lee, Michele Cohen Marill, Rebecca McCarthy, Patty Rasmussen and Randy Southerland. – Karen Kirkpatrick
georgiatrend.com 35 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS STACEY ABRAMS ED BASTIAN FOUNDER & CHAIR CEO Fair Fight Action Delta Air Lines Atlanta Atlanta After she lost the race to be Georgia’s first Coronavirus gutted aviation in 2020, with female and first Black governor, Abrams Delta losing $60 million daily at one threw herself into organizing and founded point as business dropped by 95% in Q2. Fair Fight Action, a nonprofit working A $5.4-billion federal aid package kept against voter suppression. As one of the primary architects who most employees on the job, and Bastian announced in Septem- helped flip the state blue in November, Abrams will be a force ber that Delta would avoid involuntary layoffs even after aid-re- in national politics for years to come. – RM lated layoff moratoriums expired in October. – BD
PAIGE ALEXANDER BRANDON BEACH CEO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Carter Center North Fulton Community Atlanta Improvement District Alexander brought two decades of world- State Senate (R-District 21) spanning experience in government and Alpharetta nonprofit sectors, including senior lead- After years directing the Greater North ership experience at the United States Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Beach Agency for International Development, to The Carter Center in became director of the North Fulton CID in 2018. Since then summer 2020. It was a homecoming for a woman who was raised more than $20 million invested in the district has generated in Atlanta. She serves on an elections task force formed by more than $100 million in new infrastructure. In 2013 Beach Georgia’s secretary of state. – BL was elected to the state Senate, where he serves as Transpor- tation Committee chair. – RM DAN AMOS CHAIR & CEO KAREN BEAVOR Aflac Inc. PRESIDENT & CEO Columbus Georgia Center for Nonprofits Amos is known for his long tenure as CEO Atlanta of one of the nation’s largest suppliers of Since taking the helm in 1998, Beavor has supplemental insurance, and for his gen- built the center into a powerful advocate erous support of children’s cancer treat- for the nonprofit community. Her biggest ment and research. He responded to the COVID-19 crisis with challenge now is helping organizations deal a $1-million donation to convert an unused building at Piedmont with funding shortfalls created by the pandemic. Next up: Launch- Columbus Regional Hospital to COVID care. – MCM ing the Center for Social Transformation, an innovation center for social impact. – RS JUANITA BARANCO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & COO GARY W. BLACK Baranco Automotive Group COMMISSIONER Atlanta Georgia Department of Agriculture Former assistant state attorney general, Commerce Baranco co-founded Baranco Automotive Black leads Georgia’s No. 1 industry sector Group, one of the first Black-owned car at a tough time. Farmers have suffered dealerships in Metro Atlanta in 1978. over the last few years through hurricanes, She has also been an advocate for improving education, serving trade wars and now a pandemic that has on the DeKalb County Education Task Force, State Board of reduced revenue for 80% of them. Black has spearheaded the Education and Board of Regents of the University System of successful Georgia Grown marketing program to support agri- Georgia. – RS businesses and encourage buying local. – KK
georgiatrend.com 36 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS SARA BLAKELY KAREN BREMER FOUNDER & CEO CEO Spanx Georgia Restaurant Association Atlanta Atlanta Determined to give away much of her A 44-year hospitality industry veteran, fortune, billionaire Blakely has a focus on Bremer and the association represent helping women entrepreneurs. Her Spanx more than 18,500 food service and drinking by Sara Blakely Foundation, named after establishments. Those businesses have the shapewear and activewear company she founded, gave been in survival mode since last spring, with the GRA lobbying $5 million to that cause during the pandemic and partnered with for sidewalk and parking lot dining plus funding for equipment a restaurant group to feed 2,500 workers at Children’s Health- to allow outdoor eating in winter, all to get through the pan- care of Atlanta. – RM demic. – RS
RAPHAEL BOSTIC JULIE BROWN PRESIDENT & CEO PRESIDENT & CEO Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone Decatur Atlanta As head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Brown and the Georgia Chamber-affiliated Atlanta, Bostic has helped nudge the Fed organization she leads help companies to address for the first time issues of stay in Georgia and the U.S. by promoting income inequality resulting from racism, delayed, reduced or eliminated duty pay- calling the end of racism a moral and economic imperative. His ments on goods. This lowered cost of doing business also works community efforts don’t end there. He’s been named the 2022 to bring jobs to local communities, help employers remain Metro Atlanta Chamber chair-elect. – RM competitive and encourage business investment. – RS
KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS KEVIN BROWN MAYOR PRESIDENT & CEO City of Atlanta Piedmont Healthcare Atlanta Atlanta Bottoms confronted protests in 2020 after After Piedmont Healthcare served 2-mil- Atlanta police shot and killed a Black man lion-plus patients in 2019, performing over named Rayshard Brooks. She won both 88,368 surgeries and delivering 16,746 praise and condemnation for her actions. babies, a routine seventh year at the helm for Brown would have been busy enough. Instead he led the She has pledged to develop $1 billion in badly needed affordable system’s critical efforts against COVID-19 while expanding housing. An early supporter of President-elect Joe Biden, she facilities in Athens and Atlanta and earning Most Wired hospi- is credited with helping ensure his victory in Georgia. – RS tal honors for the fourth time in five years. – BL
PAUL BOWERS CAROL BURRELL PRESIDENT & CEO CHAIR & CEO Georgia Power Northeast Georgia Health System Atlanta Gainesville After leading Georgia Power through the Leading a regional healthcare system many struggles to bring Units 3 and 4 of during a pandemic created challenges and Plant Vogtle on line, Bowers will step down opportunities for Burrell – from abruptly once Unit 3 is fueled, which is expected in halting elective surgeries to gradually phas- April. Over his 42-year career with Georgia Power, he also served ing them back in; ramping up telehealth opportunities in less in roles with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Atlanta Committee than a week; and, because Gainesville was an early hotspot in for Progress and the Woodruff Arts Center. – RM Georgia, supporting community messaging to stay vigilant against COVID-19. – PR
georgiatrend.com 37 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS ÁNGEL CABRERA CHRIS CLARK PRESIDENT PRESIDENT & CEO Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Chamber of Commerce Atlanta Peachtree City Cabrera launched the School of Cyberse- As head of the state’s leading business curity and Privacy, focusing on applied organization, Clark laid out 2020 legisla- research collaborations to meet workforce tive priorities to ensure its members needs in Georgia’s growing cybersecurity would continue to prosper and grow, industry. He has also spearheaded Georgia Tech’s participation including support for stronger liability protections, hate crimes in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, address- legislation, increased cybersecurity and data protection, greater ing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including healthcare licensure flexibility and preserving entertainment poverty, inequality and climate change. – PR tax credits. – PR
CHRIS CARR THOMAS CLARK ATTORNEY GENERAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR State of Georgia CRSA Alliance for Fort Gordon Dunwoody Evans When Brunswick law enforcement offi- Clark, a 32-year Army veteran, leads the cials declined to make arrests in the shoot- effort to promote cyber-related educa- ing death of Ahmaud Arbery, Carr stepped tional and economic development activi- in, asking the U.S. Department of Justice ties in and around one of the nation’s to investigate the incident. He has also created Georgia’s first- oldest and largest military establishments and the region’s ever Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit to work with statewide No. 1 employer. Under his leadership Fort Gordon’s educational partners in aggressively combating buyers and traffickers. – PR programs, including the CyberPatriot initiative aimed at gener- ating interest in cybersecurity among K-12 students, have earned DAN CATHY national awards. – M.A. Dunkin CHAIR & CEO Chick-fil-A SHAN COOPER Atlanta EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Amid protests for racial justice, Cathy Atlanta Committee for Progress urged businesses to be “responsible cap- Atlanta italists.” Chick-fil-A demonstrated that After leadership roles at WestRock and philosophy by giving franchise operators Lockheed Martin, Cooper took the helm of $10.8 million in COVID-19 relief to support local communities the 40-member Atlanta Committee for and employees. Chick-fil-A ranked first in customer satisfaction Progress in 2019. The influential group for the sixth year in a row, while topping all but two restaurant of business, nonprofit and university leaders has the mayor’s chains in gross revenue. – MCM ear and a commitment to economic growth, inclusion and a bet- ter future for all citizens of Atlanta. – RM BEN CHESTNUT CEO & CO-FOUNDER GRETCHEN CORBIN MailChimp PRESIDENT & CEO Atlanta Georgia Lottery Corp. Describing himself as “bullish as hell,” Rome Mailchimp co-founder Chestnut is con- On Corbin’s watch, lottery funding that is structing a new headquarters building vital to education – including the popular on the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. With pre-K and HOPE Scholarship programs – 800 employees at its current location in Ponce City Market, the rebounded sharply after the pandemic billion-dollar marketing company’s new building will have room caused a temporary dip in income. In the fiscal year that ended for 2,600 employees. The $300-million, 300,000-square-foot build- last July, the Georgia Lottery Corp. turned a record $1.24 billion ing will be finished in late 2022. – PR over to the state. – BD
georgiatrend.com 38 January 2021
2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS DANAH CRAFT GEOFF DUNCAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Georgia Food Bank Association State of Georgia Atlanta Atlanta Before the pandemic hit, the seven food The first-term lieutenant governor and banks in the network led by Craft distrib- Georgia House veteran pledged to take a uted more than 140 million pounds of food salary cut as the state coped with a virus- each year, serving about 156,000 people a driven budget crunch. He also led a task week. Craft and her team helped the state’s food banks navigate force of political, business and academic leaders that resulted COVID-19 restrictions as demand rose by more than 40% due to in the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, which is designed to the economic downturn. – MCM make Georgia a technology leader and extend technology infra- structure across the state. – BD HARDIE DAVIS JR. MAYOR JIM DURRETT Augusta-Richmond County PRESIDENT Augusta Buckhead Coalition Davis has overseen tremendous economic EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR growth in Augusta since 2015, including Buckhead Community Improvement District a pre-pandemic unemployment rate under Atlanta 4%. He was among the municipal leaders Durrett had some big shoes to fill when who pushed back against what they saw as Gov. Brian Kemp’s he succeeded founding Buckhead Coali- premature reopening of the state during the pandemic last spring tion President Sam Massell, who retired in 2020. By also head- and he was one of several Georgia mayors issuing a mask man- ing the Buckhead CID, Durrett is bringing together several local date in July. – BD organizations including Livable Buckhead and the Buckhead Business Association to create a more integrated approach for DR. CARLOS DEL RIO community growth and development. – RS HUBERT PROFESSOR & CHAIR Department of Global Health, CHUCK EATON Rollins School of Public Health CHAIR PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE Public Service Commission Division of Infectious Diseases, Atlanta Emory University School of Medicine, Eaton became PSC chair in January 2020, Emory University the fourth time fellow commissioners Atlanta selected him for that post since he was An infectious diseases, public health and epidemiology special- first elected to the PSC in 2006. A former ist, del Rio has been a reassuring voice amidst the confusing real estate agent, Eaton obtained a law degree in 2012 as a way mixed messages and outright disinformation throughout the to better understand legal aspects of the work. The PSC regu- COVID-19 pandemic. Often mentioned in the same breath as lates utilities that provide electricity, natural gas and telecom- NIH’s Dr. Anthony Fauci, del Rio tirelessly pushed back on munications. – MCM misinformation whether it came through the media, other med- ical professionals or even the president’s own doctors. – PR TOM FANNING CHAIR, PRESIDENT & CEO GREG DOZIER Southern Co. COMMISSIONER Atlanta Technical College System of Georgia Fanning not only heads an energy com- Covington pany with 9 million customers, he’s also Dozier has served the past three Georgia helping lead the fight against cyberattacks governors in executive capacities. This that could impact national security. His Kemp ally was tapped early in the admin- work in cybersecurity has been recognized by the U.S. Senate istration to move from state CFO to the with an appointment to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, TCSG, where he oversees 22 colleges and 88 campuses. He’s a group developing a protection strategy for cyberspace inter- spearheading improved articulation and programs that blur the ests. – M.A. Dunkin lines between former vocational/technical education and uni- versities statewide. – BD
georgiatrend.com 40 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS MARTIN FLANAGAN JERRY GONZALEZ PRESIDENT & CEO CEO Invesco Georgia Association of Atlanta Latino Elected Officials The pandemic has underscored Invesco’s Atlanta mission to help customers and communities As founder and leader of GALEO, Gonzalez “get more out of life.” In Flanagan’s 15th year works to engage the Latino community in at the helm, the investment company released the political process by promoting voting a Corporate Social Responsibility Report that detailed investments registration, voting rights, civic engagement and leadership build- in the company’s people, declines in greenhouse emissions and ing. Result: There are more than 240,000 Latinx voters – up from support for more than 117 charity organizations, including Greater 10,000 in 2003 and more than 160,000 Latinx people voted in the Atlanta COVID-19 relief. – BL November election. – RS
KELLY GIRTZ STEVE GOOCH MAYOR MAJORITY WHIP (R-DISTRICT 51) Athens-Clarke County Georgia Senate Athens Dahlonega Girtz brought an educator’s eye and A-plus Gooch cemented his seat during the effort to Athens-Clarke County in 2019. His November rollercoaster election by win- second year in office saw him navigate com- ning 85% of the vote. He has made expan- plex pandemic and Confederate statue issues, sion of broadband access for all Georgians but he also proposed staff raises and property tax rate deductions a priority during his time in the state Senate. This year, he says despite the backdrop of budget cuts across the state. – BL his legislative priority is putting a stop to attacks on police. – KK 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS KEVIN GREINER DOUG HOOKER PRESIDENT & CEO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Gas South Atlanta Regional Commission Atlanta Atlanta Greiner has headed up the gas-marketing Everything from long-range traffic plan- firm since its 2006 inception, and last year ning to arts and culture in the ARC’s led the acquisition of Florida-based Infinite 10-county, 70-plus-city area lands on Hook- Energy, which will grow Gas South’s er’s plate. He brings a Georgia Tech engi- annual revenue to some $1 billion. The company helps children neering background and an Emory MBA to the task. A musician in need by donating 5% of profits. The service culture he’s built and composer in his private life, he helps develop young musi- complements his focus on employee well-being. The result: pro- cians as an Atlanta Music Project board member. – BD ductivity improvement. – M.A. DeMuth DONNA HYLAND LARRY HANSON PRESIDENT & CEO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Georgia Municipal Association Atlanta Atlanta In more than three decades at CHOA – 12 Hanson knows public service; he also of them at the helm – Hyland has guided knows serving public servants, supporting the pediatric health system’s growth Georgia’s 538 cities through the GMA’s and rise to prominence. A new 1.5-million- lobbying, training and technical consulting square-foot hospital under construction will modernize and efforts. The Leadership Georgia graduate is managing the expand clinical care, and include a specialized infectious disease creation of Georgia City Solutions, a nonprofit subsidiary unit. A new health sciences building will provide space for pedi- designed to fund initiatives that advance the state’s municipal- atric research. – MCM ities. – BL VAN JOHNSON II JOHN HAUPERT MAYOR PRESIDENT & CEO City of Savannah Grady Health System Savannah Atlanta Savannah’s 67th mayor, Johnson has Haupert successfully led Georgia’s largest demonstrated leadership both locally and hospital as an influx of COVID-19 patients nationally, guiding his city through the had the facility operating at full capacity COVID pandemic, which flared just two – 105% some days. This followed a flood months after his swearing in, with the earliest mask mandate that took out 220 inpatient beds last year. Grady has not only in the state. He’s also the first person from Savannah to serve as weathered the pandemic, but has restored its beds to full chair of the Advisory Board of the National League of Cities. – capacity. – RS M.A. Dunkin
CLYDE HIGGS JAN JONES PRESIDENT & CEO SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Atlanta BeltLine Inc. (R-DISTRICT 47) Atlanta Georgia House of Representatives Milton For the first time, three segments of the BeltLine are under construction at the Speaker pro tem since 2010, Jones is same time: the Southside Trail-West, the highest-ranking woman in the state Northeast Trail-Central and Westside legislature. Among her achievements are BeltLine Connector Trail. Through a partnership with MARTA, securing the incorporation of the recently created town of Milton, preliminary work began to extend the Atlanta Streetcar from an affluent, rural-flavored slice of the suburbs in Fulton County downtown to the BeltLine. Higgs also promotes healthier Belt- established in 2006. Jones easily won re-election to the House Line communities through economic development and afford- from her North Fulton district. – BD able housing. – MCM
georgiatrend.com 42 January 2021 times. dark light in are the You storm without you. without storm it truly means to be a hero. We couldn’t weather this to Weweather be ameans it hero. truly couldn’t a safer, healthier Georgia, and for showing us what all showing for and Georgia, a safer, healthier work with you every day, for your tireless devotion today,with you work devotion every your for tireless thank you for the bravery and resilience you bring to you bring resilience and you the thank for bravery To all the frontline workers and first responders, responders, first and Toworkers the all frontline
JAMES W. – LINEMAN | Atlanta, GA 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS BROOKS KEEL MILTON J. LITTLE JR. PRESIDENT PRESIDENT & CEO Augusta University United Way of Greater Atlanta CHAIR Atlanta AU Medical Associates In his 14th year of leading United Way’s Augusta efforts to bring together people and re- Augusta University didn’t so much pivot sources to drive sustainable social change, as leap forward during the pandemic, start- Little has expanded the Child Well-Being ing in April when its dental college repurposed 3-D printers Impact Fund to more than 200 programs in 13 metro counties. to produce much-needed COVID testing swabs. Enrollment at The Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, AU increased by 3.1% despite the pandemic, including a signif- co-managed by the UWGA, will have made about $24 million in icant dual enrollment increase as high school students took grants to nonprofits by the end of 2020. – BL college classes. – PR GRIFF LYNCH BRIAN KEMP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GOVERNOR Georgia Ports Authority State of Georgia Savannah Athens Georgia’s approximately 100 miles of coast- Kemp won praise and condemnation for line drive a powerful statewide economic being one of the last governors to impose engine via the deepwater ports in Savannah a statewide stay-at-home order in the and Brunswick. Under Lynch’s aggressive pandemic’s early days and one of the first capital improvement program, the ports set a tonnage record in to reopen. When COVID-19 presented the need for $150 million FY2020 despite the pandemic and an international trade war. in state budget cuts, Kemp fought to preserve pay raises for Meanwhile, the harbor-deepening project is nearing completion. teachers. – PR – BD
KATIE KIRKPATRICK JAY MARKWALTER PRESIDENT & CEO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Georgia Association of Convention Atlanta & Visitors Bureaus Augusta Kirkpatrick’s promotion in 2020 from chief policy officer brings her public policy With a career in tourism that stretches back experience and more than a decade at the to 1999, Markwalter promotes an industry chamber to the city’s leading business that is a $66.3-billion economic engine and group. Over the years, she has been the architect of initiatives supports more than 478,000 jobs. Tourism and hospitality were strengthening higher education and workforce development and sorely tested by the pandemic and resulting state shutdown and battling legislation that could have damaged the state’s busi- will face ongoing challenges even after the pandemic ends. – RS ness-friendly reputation. – RS CHRIS MARKWOOD DR. JONATHAN LEWIN PRESIDENT PRESIDENT, CEO & CHAIR Columbus State University Emory Healthcare Columbus EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Columbus State reached record enrollment Woodruff Health Sciences Center in the fall of 2020, despite the pandemic. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT The strong numbers may stem in part from FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS Markwood’s emphasis on creativity and Emory University innovation at the university. Columbus State urges students, fac- Atlanta ulty and staff to be “creative to the core,” a spirit that has helped Leading Georgia’s largest healthcare system took on greater the school navigate the challenges of COVID-19. – MCM urgency during the pandemic as Lewin completed his fifth year at the organization’s helm. Emory Healthcare’s research, with a consortium of other institutions, helped establish a national standard of care for COVID-19. Other Emory honors: A Southeast Chapter Emmy for Your Fantastic Mind, a project with Georgia Public Broadcasting. – BD
georgiatrend.com 44 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS NICK MASINO RUSSELL MCMURRY PRESIDENT & CEO COMMISSIONER Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Georgia Department of Transportation Duluth Buford Given that Gwinnett’s population is larger Professional engineer McMurry’s agency than four states and the District of Colum- – with its 4,000 employees and $3.7-billion bia, business growth in the county is a big budget – is overseeing numerous trans- deal. Masino, a former Suwanee mayor, formational projects around the state, knows economic development inside and out, having served at including new toll lanes along Georgia 400, from I-285 to the the chamber since 2007. A new Amazon facility in South Gwinnett North Springs Marta Station, and along the top end of I-285. looks to spur even more growth, including 1,000 jobs, 100 homes McMurry is active in numerous transportation agencies and and a new hotel. – BL engineering education groups. – RM
SHARON MASON HAROLD MELTON PRESIDENT & CEO CHIEF JUSTICE Cobb Chamber of Commerce Supreme Court of Georgia Marietta Atlanta The dynamic Mason won a contract exten- Melton, a Republican appointee in 2005 sion in 2020 and will head the influential who has since won reelection, has been chamber until 2023. Since taking the helm chief justice since 2018. In response to the in 2018, she has moved the organization COVID-19 pandemic, he issued a statewide into a new building, expanded programming, launched the inter- judicial emergency order in May and extended it in November, national council and workforce target industry councils, as well allowing courts to determine how to safely hold limited in-person as generated record membership growth. – RM proceedings and expand the use of virtual proceedings. – BD
The CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon – Fort Gordon Cyber District
The CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon’s strength results from its amazing board of directors and collaboration with its partners. We salute Dr. Tom Clark for being named for the third straight year to the list of Most Influential Georgians.
Thank You to Our Partners Platinum Level F2 Systems, LLC JLL Augusta Government Janus Research Group Lincoln County, Georgia Augusta Metro Chamber MAU Workforce Solutions North Augusta of Commerce Meybohm Realty Northrop Grumman Columbia County Mosaic Technologies Group Petsch Respiratory Services Georgia Cyber Center Parsons Ron & Mary Carolyn Thigpen Foundation Softact Solutions Perspecta Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Gold Level SAIC Unisys Forward McDuffie Snelling Properties, LLP Georgia Power SRS Community Reuse Organization 5 Star Level South State Bank City of Aiken, SC Wells Fargo AT&T 4 Star Level Augusta Economic ADP Development Authority Broadleaf Augusta University CSRA Regional Commission Interested in joining the Alliance? Blanchard & Calhoun Edgefield County, SC Please visit: Corvus Elliott Davis fortgordonalliance.com/partnership
georgiatrend.com 45 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS CRAIG MENEAR KATHERINE MOORE CHAIR & CEO PRESIDENT The Home Depot Georgia Conservancy Atlanta Atlanta Menear’s focus on The Home Depot’s dig- Moore became the conservancy’s presi- ital business paid off this year. When retail dent last fall after serving as vice president stores closed due to the pandemic, online of programs and director of sustainable ordering surged. In the second fiscal quar- growth. She has led the most successful ter, ending Aug. 2, net sales hit $38 billion – a record high for fundraisers in the organization’s history and has grown mem- quarterly revenue. Profits rose by 25% to $4.33 billion, exceeding bership as well. Under her leadership, the nonprofit will continue expectations. – MCM its advocacy and fieldwork aimed at protecting and preserving the state’s environmental resources. – RS BUTCH MILLER PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE JERE MOREHEAD (R-DISTRICT 49) PRESIDENT Georgia Senate University of Georgia Gainesville Athens Miller ran unopposed for his Gainesville Under Morehead, UGA completed its big- seat last year. The car dealer has been in gest capital campaign, raising $1.45 billion. the Senate since 2010 and served as pres- He launched an Innovation District initia- ident pro tem since 2018. He presided over the Senate during tive to create the campus of the future, the 2020 session that was split due to COVID-19 but still saw the where students and faculty will partner with industry. He also passage of hate crimes legislation and steep cuts to the state led a 41% increase in research spending to keep the university budget. – KK in the nation’s top five for research-based products reaching the marketplace. – RS JERALD MITCHELL PRESIDENT & CEO BYUNG J. “BJAY” PAK The Greater Columbus Georgia U.S. ATTORNEY Chamber of Commerce Northern District of Georgia Columbus Lilburn Last year, Mitchell made history by becom- Sworn in as Georgia’s first Asian-American ing the first Black leader of the chamber. U.S. attorney in 2017, Pak’s office prose- Previously, as head of economic develop- cuted more than 336 federal firearms cases ment for the Atlanta BeltLine, he helped secure new funding in fiscal year 2020, specifically focusing relationships for the organization. In his new job, he’ll help on domestic violence offenses. His office handled numerous develop and shape Columbus’ unique identity and the face it human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases, including pros- presents to the world. – RS ecuting a serial sex offender sentenced to 25 years for operating an online child pornography chat group. – PR FELICIA MOORE PRESIDENT JEFFREY PARKER Atlanta City Council CEO & GENERAL MANAGER Atlanta MARTA Moore called for reforms on the use of Atlanta force but did not support reduced funding With more than 30 years’ experience in for the Atlanta Police Department as the private and public sector industries, Parker city joined protests linked to the Black is leading MARTA’s largest investment in Lives Matter movement following the killing of Rayshard Brooks transit enhancements and expansion in by police in June. Those protests were the most tumultuous days four decades. The $2.7- billion More MARTA Atlanta will improve to date in Moore’s 30-year political career. – BD connectivity, accessibility and mobility, while fostering economic development across its service area. – RS
georgiatrend.com 46 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS DAVID PERDUE ROBERT QUATTROCCHI SENATOR PRESIDENT & CEO U.S. Senate Northside Hospital St. Simons Atlanta Perdue, who has served in the Senate since Quattrocchi is overseeing a $57 million 2015, is now in a runoff for his seat with expansion of the emergency room of Democrat Jon Ossoff. A staunch supporter Northside Hospital Gwinnett, formerly of President Donald Trump, Perdue joined Gwinnett Medical Center, and the con- Sen. Kelly Loeffler in calling for the resignation of Georgia’s struction of medical auxiliary buildings near the Mall of Georgia. secretary of state over unfounded allegations of widespread From its first Sandy Springs hospital, the health system today voter fraud, following the November elections. – KK has 250 locations across the state. – RM
TYLER PERRY JAMES QUINCEY PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, ACTOR, CHAIR & CEO WRITER, PHILANTHROPIST, FOUNDER Tyler Perry Studios The Coca-Cola Co. Atlanta Atlanta In 2019, Perry made history by opening the British-born Quincey heads Georgia’s most largest privately owned motion picture iconic company, but even Coke was not studio in the U.S. He is also the first Black immune to COVID. Among the moves he owner of a major studio. In 2020, he made history again when he led this fall: cutting the company’s product became one of the first filmmakers to safely resume work amid brands by about half to focus on the more profitable ones and the COVID-19 pandemic by creating Camp Quarantine on his speeding up plans to offer hard seltzers. One of the 200 casualties: studio lot. – M.A. Dunkin Tab, the corporation’s original diet offering. – BD
“Equity is a way, not a what.” – Nathaniel Q. Smith, Jr.
The Partnership for Southern Equity is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that advances policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all in the growth of metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. Through forums, research, and organizing efforts, PSE brings together the regional community to lift up and encourage just, sustainable, and civic practices for balanced growth and opportunity. We congratulate Nathaniel Q. Smith, Jr., Founder and Chief Equity Officer of the Partnership for Southern Equity, on being named to Georgia Trend’s Most Influential Georgians. Onward towards equity!
Learn more about how you can support an equitable future today at www.psequity.org
georgiatrend.com 47 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS BRAD RAFFENSPERGER VALERIE MONTGOMERY RICE SECRETARY OF STATE PRESIDENT & DEAN State of Georgia Morehouse School of Medicine Johns Creek Atlanta After Georgia’s near-disastrous June pri- Rice is the sixth president and first woman mary, Raffensperger helped shepherd an to lead the Morehouse School of Medicine. uneventful general election with unprec- With its emphasis on health equity, the edented numbers of absentee ballots, school recently received a $40-million grant then followed that up by overseeing a hand-counted audit of all – the largest single federal contribution in the historically Black 5-million-plus votes. The Republican stood firm despite attacks medical school’s 45-year history – to fight COVID-19 in racially from his own party, as he defended Georgia’s voting process that diverse, rural and socially vulnerable communities. – M.A. saw the state go blue. – PR Dunkin
DAVID RALSTON DAVID ROSS SPEAKER (R-DISTRICT 7) PRESIDENT & CEO Georgia House of Representatives The Task Force for Global Health Blue Ridge Decatur This year’s legislative session stopped and Ross has long embraced the role of infor- re-started due to the pandemic, but Ralston matics in combating disease outbreaks. still was able to push forward a major bipar- So it’s no surprise that The Task Force is tisan effort. Legislators overwhelmingly supporting a COVID-19 health information passed a hate crimes bill, adding penalties for crimes motivated campaign and digital tools for contact tracing. It also launched by race, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability. Georgia the Global Health Crisis Coordination Center, with the CDC was one of only four states without a hate crimes bill. – MCM Foundation and private and public partners, to donate protective gear and convene experts. – MCM CHELSEA RATHBURN POET LAUREATE MICHAEL RUSSELL SR. State of Georgia CEO H.J. Russell & Co. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND CREATIVE WRITING Atlanta Mercer University Russell’s company received the 2020 Macon GoBeyondProfit Champion Award, given Poet and professor, Rathburn received by Georgia business leaders to firms exhib- critical acclaim for her 2019 Still Life with iting a generous company culture through Mother and Knife, a collection of poems about motherhood, the deployment of resources for community empowerment. In childhood and the female body. Described by NPR critic Craig 2019 in historic Castleberry Hill, the Russell family launched Teicher as “unrelentingly intense and inward,” the book won the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, which is the 2020 Eric Hoffer Book Award for Poetry, which recognizes devoted to empowering Black entrepreneurs and business own- small, academic and independent presses. – PR ers. – BL
DR. ROBERT REDFIELD CANDICE SAUNDERS DIRECTOR PRESIDENT & CEO Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wellstar Health System Atlanta Kennesaw The embattled CDC head endured a year Along with other cost-cutting measures, when COVID raged and politicians ranted Saunders made the tough call to tempo- about the agency’s pandemic response. rarily furlough more than 1,000 employees Scientists fretted as the CDC caved to in May due to decreased patient volumes White House pressure to revise guidelines and vacillated on systemwide during the pandemic. In July, she opened the new coronavirus testing and mask wearing. As cold weather loomed Emergency Department at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, a and COVID cases skyrocketed, Redfield warned against even 263,000-square-foot facility with the capability to treat 220,000 small indoor gatherings. – KK patients annually. – PR
georgiatrend.com 48 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS JOHN SELDEN SUSAN SHOWS GENERAL MANAGER PRESIDENT Hartsfield-Jackson Georgia Research Alliance Atlanta International Atlanta Airport For two decades, Shows has played an integral role with the Atlanta GRA, shaping its nationally recognized, university-based ven- Seldon spent 2020 ture development program. Prior to her appointment as pres- leading the world’s ident in September, she had served as senior vice president busiest airport through unprecedented since 2008, in charge of GRA’s $649-million portfolio of investment in talent and times. Air travel plummeted due to COVID, technology at Georgia’s leading research universities. – M.A. Dunkin revenues fell as concessionaires shut down and parking fees and rent paid by airlines evaporated. As travelers start to come back, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GEORGIA the airport is charting a course to recovery while continuing work on its 20-year, $6- billion master plan. – RS
DAVID SHAFER CHAIR Georgia Republican Party Atlanta Shafer cast Georgia’s delegate votes nomi- nating Donald Trump in the roll call of the Republican National Convention and guided election strategy in the state, focusing on grassroots efforts and an army of volunteers. Shafer, who was A Remarkable previously president pro tem of the state Senate, helped build Georgia’s Republican Opportunity Party framework in the early 1990s. – MCM Peachtree Corners is home to Technology Park Atlanta, considered IVAN SHAMMAS the cornerstone for technology in the metro area. The 500-acre GENERAL MANAGER innovation hub includes numerous technology businesses, startup & GENERAL SALES incubators and business accelerators – and Curiosity Lab at MANAGER Peachtree Corners, a living laboratory and testbed featuring a Telemundo Atlanta 3-mile autonomous vehicle track within Technology Park Atlanta. Atlanta Shammas represents Peachtree Corners is conveniently located 30 minutes north of the the growing econom- Atlanta Airport with easy access to major highways, I-85, I-285 ic power of the His- and GA 400. panic community in Georgia through his work at Telemundo Atlanta, a Spanish- Bring your business here and see why our city is truly innovative language media company. There he oversees and remarkable. advertising sales, local programming, local news, marketing and community affairs ini- tiatives. The Georgia State University grad serves as chair of Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. – BD
678-691-1200 www.peachtreecornersga.gov
georgiatrend.com 49 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS NATHANIEL SMITH MARIA THACKER-GOETHE FOUNDER & CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER PRESIDENT & CEO Partnership for Southern Equity Georgia Bio Atlanta Atlanta Smith founded Partnership for Southern Under Thacker-Goethe’s leadership, Equity in 2008 on the concept of together Georgia Bio cultivates a high-growth life we prosper, which is achieved through sciences sector vital by many measures, equitable development, health and energy including the nearly 200,000 jobs and equity, and economic inclusion. Through its Just Growth Circle, approximately $22-billion impact for Georgia. She not only $70,000 in grants were extended to six community partners brings 13-plus years of nonprofit management to the role, but based on their commitment to equitable development, including also the vision and experience from her concurrent leadership protecting against displacement and healing environmental roles at the Georgia BioEd Institute and Global Health Alliance. injustice. – BL – BL
T. DALLAS SMITH DAVID THOMAS FOUNDER & CEO PRESIDENT T. Dallas Smith & Co. Morehouse College Atlanta Atlanta Founded by Smith in 2006, the nation’s Amid a national reckoning on race, largest Black-owned commercial real Thomas urged Morehouse students to estate firm focused on tenant and buyer channel their energy into non-violent representation recently completed its larg- social action. Record-breaking fundraising est deal ever: helping Microsoft Corp. lease 523,000 square feet bolstered the college, as Morehouse received the largest gift in of corporate space for a new location at Atlantic Station in Atlanta. the school’s 153-year history. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and The move is expected to create 1,500 new jobs. – M.A. Dunkin his wife Patty Quillin donated $40 million to its Student Success Program, which helps students graduate debt-free. – MCM SCOTT STEINER PRESIDENT & CEO LEE THOMAS Phoebe Putney Health System DEPUTY COMMISSIONER Albany Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office Steiner has been the anchor in the COVID- 19 storm that engulfed Dougherty County Atlanta in March 2020 after a series of funerals With her strong background in film and turned into super-spreader events. He location-specialist experience, Thomas moved from Dallas to Albany in March 2019 to oversee the was perfect for the star role in growing nonprofit healthcare system with 4,300 employees who serve Georgia’s movie industry, which despite the pandemic ranked 500,000 people in Southwest Georgia. – RM No.1 nationally and infused $2.2 billion into the state economy in fiscal year 2020. Expect an even bigger set in 2021 as filming KESSEL STELLING ramps back up. – BL CHAIR & CEO Synovus MICHAEL L. THURMOND Columbus CEO DeKalb County During a busy 2020, Stelling led Synovus to make a $1-million contribution to the Decatur UNCF (United Negro College Fund) to Thurmond, elected in 2016, has spent his establish the Synovus/Calvin Smyre Schol- years in office tackling major issues start- arship Fund. By May 5 the company also had processed and ing with restoring confidence in the way approved around 18,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) DeKalb is managed. In addition, the county loans totaling $2.9 billion. – M.A. Dunkin is addressing long-standing sewer woes that have plagued it for years with a $265-million loan from the EPA. And, DeKalb imple- mented a Nurse Navigator Program that aims to improve ambu- lance response and hospital wait times. – BL
georgiatrend.com 50 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS TRIP TOLLISON CHRIS TOMLINSON PRESIDENT & CEO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Savannah Economic Development Authority State Road and Tollway Authority Savannah Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority In 2020, under Tollison’s leadership, SEDA announced the Savannah Technology Atlanta Workforce Incentive that offers up to Tomlinson leads three agencies that $2,000 in moving expenses to tech workers collectively work to make it easier to get relocating to Savannah as well as cash grants toward office around Metro Atlanta. They run the Peach Pass program, Xpress rental and other incentives for firms creating and retaining high- buses and the transit authority for 13 metro counties. The most technology jobs in the Savannah area. – M.A. Dunkin recent regional transit plan includes 245 proposed projects and seeks to increase access to transit. – MCM CAROL TOMÉ CEO DR. KATHLEEN TOOMEY UPS COMMISSIONER Atlanta Georgia Department of Public Health Formerly CFO of The Home Depot, Tomé Atlanta joined UPS in June as its first female CEO Years of experience in state public health and began making changes, trimming the and at the CDC garnered Toomey respect workforce through buyouts to manage- on both sides of the aisle. But she never- ment employees. She’s also looking for ways to automate facil- theless had to walk a political tightrope ities to drive productivity. Quarterly financial reports in July while overseeing statewide response to an epidemic that had showed that UPS hired nearly 40,000 people to keep up with infected more than 404,000 Georgians and killed over 8,600 state orders that surged during the pandemic. – PR residents by Thanksgiving. – BD
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georgiatrend.com 51 January 2021 2021 ★ 100 MOST10 INFLUENTIAL0 GEORGIANS WILLIAM UNDERWOOD DAVE WILLS PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mercer University ACCG Macon Atlanta Since his appointment in 2006, Underwood As leader of the ACCG, Georgia’s county- has pushed one of Georgia’s oldest private promotion organization, Wills supports universities toward dynamic growth – in local control in the COVID-19 response, students, academic programs, sports, urging counties to act based on advice research, facilities and financial gifts. Enrollment has increased from community public health and emergency management 22% and Mercer has launched medical school campuses in experts. ACCG provides resources to county officials, including Savannah and Columbus. Under his leadership, the university a model resolution and ordinance on face mask requirements. is helping revitalize a two-mile area near its Macon campus. – MCM – M.A. Dunkin PAT WILSON KYLE WAIDE COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT & CEO Georgia Department Atlanta Community Food Bank of Economic Development Atlanta Atlanta Five years into leading the food bank, In his position since 2016, Wilson has con- Waide directs the distribution of nearly tinued to bring business to the state even 75 million pounds of food and grocery during the pandemic. In the summer, Ger- products annually to hungry Georgians in man company GEDIA announced an $85-million plant in Whit- 29 counties. In the face of COVID-19 challenges, ACFB opened field County to make electric vehicle parts. During August, its first direct-to-families Community Food Center in Stone Georgia had more than $642 million in investments and attracted Mountain and launched a program to get food to families that 4,062 jobs, a testament to Wilson’s well-regarded economic missed school meals. – BL development efforts. – RM
NIKEMA WILLIAMS RICHARD WOODS CONGRESSWOMAN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT (D-DISTRICT 5) Georgia Department of Education U.S. House of Representatives Tifton CHAIR 2020 saw Woods having to retool educa- Georgia Democratic Party tion across the state as districts deal with Atlanta distance learning, connectivity and nutri- Williams was elected in 2020 to fill some tion since the pandemic began in March. big shoes in the 5th Congressional District, John Lewis’ district. In October, he released his “roadmap” for reimaging education In her new position she plans to focus on affordable, quality after the pandemic, which includes a focus on the whole child, child care, Medicare for all and voting rights. She has served in less focus on standardized tests and flexibility in teaching. – RM the State Senate and worked for Planned Parenthood Southeast and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. – KK STEVE WRIGLEY CHANCELLOR VINCE WILLIAMS University System of Georgia MAYOR Atlanta Union City During the pandemic, Wrigley made the PRESIDENT decision that the 26 USG institutions Georgia Municipal Association would offer some in-person classes for Union City the 2020 fall semester. Recognizing the Williams has been mayor of Union City in increase in mental health issues that have gone along with South Fulton County since 2013. In 2020, COVID-19, the USG significantly expanded services for students, he added president of the Georgia Municipal Association to even as enrollment reached a record 341,485 students in the his bio. He is widely credited with a surge of economic growth fall. – RM in Union City, from the conversion of a run-down mall into Atlanta Metro Studios to redevelopment of the city’s business district. – KK
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2021 ★ NOTABLE GEORGIANS
LEONA BARR- FRANK FERNANDEZ NANCY FLAKE MARC OLIVIÉ JEWEL BURKS DAVENPORT President & CEO JOHNSON CEO SOLOMON President & CEO Community Foundation President & CEO W.C. Bradley Co. Head Atlanta Business League for Greater Atlanta Urban League of Columbus Google for Startups Atlanta Atlanta Greater Atlanta for the United States Atlanta JON OSSOFF Atlanta RENA BREWER JEFF GRAHAM Filmmaker CEO Executive Director MICHAEL LENNOX U.S. Senate Candidate TRACY RATHBONE STYF Global Partnership Georgia Equality Founder & CEO Atlanta Executive Director for TeleHealth Atlanta #ATLFAMILY Electric Town Center Community Blackshear Hospitality Group KEITH PARKER Improvement District KEVIN GREEN Atlanta President & CEO Kennesaw MATT BRONFMAN President & CEO Goodwill of Principal & CEO Midtown Alliance KELLY LOEFFLER North Georgia MICHAEL “SULLY” Jamestown Atlanta Senator Decatur SULLIVAN Atlanta U.S. Senate President W. TODD GROCE Atlanta SUE PARR American Council of JERICHO BROWN President & CEO President & CEO Engineering Companies 2020 Pulitzer Prize Winner Georgia Historical Society SANTIAGO MARQUEZ Augusta Metro of Georgia for Poetry Savannah CEO Chamber of Commerce Snellville Winship Distinguished Latin American Augusta SHEFFIELD HALE MARKEE TATE Research Professor in Association CHARLES REDDING Creative Writing President & CEO Atlanta President & CEO Atlanta History Center Atlanta Black Chambers Emory University President & CEO Atlanta MARK MCDONALD MedShare International Atlanta Atlanta President & CEO Decatur LAKEYSHA HALLMON The Georgia Trust for MONTY VEAZEY JOHN HOPE BRYANT Founder & CEO Historic Preservation A.J. ROBINSON President & CEO Founder, Chair & CEO The Village Market Atlanta Georgia Alliance of Operation HOPE President Atlanta Central Atlanta Progress Community Hospitals Atlanta GERALD MCDOWELL & Atlanta Downtown Tifton ANN M. HANLON Executive Director Improvement District MONICA CAMPANA PAULA WALLACE Executive Director Aerotropolis Atlanta Atlanta Co-founder & Perimeter Community Community Improvement President & Founder Executive Director Improvement Districts Districts ALICE ROLLS Savannah College of Art Living Walls Dunwoody Atlanta President & CEO Savannah Atlanta Georgia Organics P. RUSSELL HARDIN KIM MENEFEE RAPHAEL WARNOCK MARY SCHMIDT Atlanta Senior Pastor CAMPBELL President Executive Director Robert W. Woodruff Cumberland Community TEYA RYAN Ebenezer Baptist Church President Foundation Improvement District U.S. Senate Candidate Spelman College President & CEO Atlanta Atlanta GPB Media Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta LISA HERRING DAVID MOODY PAMELA S. WHITTEN LISA COLLINS Superintendent President STEVEN SATTERFIELD President Executive Director Atlanta Public Schools Associated General Co-founder Kennesaw State University Cook County Atlanta Contractors of Georgia Independent Restaurant Kennesaw Economic Development Coalition Commission Founder & CEO BÁRBARA RIVERA C.D. Moody Atlanta CHARLES WILLIAMS Adel HOLMES Construction Co. Inc. Executive Director President & CEO JILL SAVITT Dodge County-Eastman STEPHEN D. DOLINGER Atlanta Albany Area President & CEO Development Authority President Chamber of Commerce CRAIG NEWTON National Center for Eastman Georgia Partnership for Albany Civil and Human Rights Excellence in Education Mayor City of Norcross Atlanta YVONNE WILLIAMS Atlanta WILLIAM W. HUBBARD Norcross President & CEO President & CEO ANDREA SCHRUIJER Greater Macon BO DOROUGH Savannah Area Chamber BEE NGUYEN Executive Director Chamber of Commerce Mayor Savannah State Representative Valdosta-Lowndes County Macon City of Albany (D-89) Development Authority Albany ROBERT E. JAMES Georgia House of Valdosta RYAN WILSON President Representatives CEO & Co-founder WILLIAM DOWNS Carver State Bank Atlanta SACHIN SHAILENDRA The Gathering Spot Artist Savannah Chair Atlanta Atlanta MICHELLE NUNN University System of ROBERT C. WRIGHT President & CEO Georgia Board of Regents GREGORY L. FENVES Bishop CARE USA President President Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta SG Contracting Emory University Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta
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Unique Benefi ts:Jim Reed, president of YKK Corp. of America, with a children’s toy featuring the company’s zippers BUSINESS + INDUSTRY
Manufacturing
MAGNEanufacturing is hitting its stride in Georgia. NearlyT every week announcements surface about new or expanding facilities, many of them big, recognizable names. In aerospace, Gulfstream Aero- space Corp, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Pratt & Whitney top a roster of about 800 compa- nies. When it comes to floor cov- Georgia’s unique erings, Georgia has heavyweights Shaw Industries combination of MGroup, Mohawk Industries and Milliken & Co. Automotive giants are here, too, including Kia benefits is Motors Manufacturing Georgia and Yamaha attracting more Motor Manufacturing Corp. Joining them are makers – and auto parts suppliers, including newcomers SK Innovation and GEDIA Automotive Group, which convincing those will make electric vehicle components. that are here to stay Georgia is a national leader in the advanced and expand. manufacturing of machinery, electrical equip- ment and fabricated metal products, outpacing overall U.S. manufacturing in 10-year gross domestic product growth. The state has more than 9,400 manufac- turing operations accounting for a $61.1 billion pre-pandemic output, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Our manufac- turing workforce had grown to 270,000 before COVID-19 hit the state. Why has Georgia become such a makers’ mecca when other parts of the coun- try were losing manufacturing jobs long before COVID? The answer is a perfect storm of positive factors. “Georgia is a fabulous place for manufacturers,” says Jim Reed, president of YKK Corp. of America, which makes zippers, fasteners and architectural products at several locations throughout the BY MARY ANN DEMUTH state. “First of all, the people that we Photograph by Daemon Baizan have available to us – our workforce
georgiatrend.com 57 January 2021 BIZ + IND MANUFACTURING HILLARYKAY.COM
Phenomenal Local Workforce: Gunnar Kleveland, president and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles
georgiatrend.com 58 January 2021 BIZ + IND MANUFACTURING
– are great. On top of that you’ve got business for seven years in a row [now strong logistical capabilities [including] eight], that’s not something you can dis- the highways, the port and the airport. miss when you’re looking at a place to Local governments, with whom we’re very locate a company.” close, and state government are very World Leader in Packaged Boiler Manufacturing friendly and pro-business. Those are a unique combination of benefits.” Talent and Training Gunnar Kleveland, president and CEO Access to a skilled workforce is among PACKAGED BOILERS of Textron Specialized Vehicles, makers manufacturers’ top priorities and by all of E-Z-GO golf cars in Augusta, agrees and accounts the state is working hard to Commercial & Industrial adds, “The state has been able to bring attract and train those workers. Through Boiler Room Systems some big names here – IKEA, Caterpillar, its 22 colleges and dual enrollment pro- even Starbucks here in Augusta. That pops grams with high schools throughout the when people see names like that coming state, the Technical College System of to a state. But at the same time, you have Georgia (TCSG) offers 600 programs, companies like us that have been here for many geared toward manufacturing skills, many years, performing well and saying and a 99% job placement rate. TCSG’s that we will stay here in Georgia because internationally acclaimed Quick Start it’s a good place to do business. It all delivers customized training free of comes together as one good package.” charge to existing, expanding and new For Hurst Boiler and Welding Co., businesses that qualify. Each TCSG col- which builds and manufactures steam lege partners with local companies to and hot water boiler systems in Thomas make sure workers are prepared with the County, tax incentives demonstrate the training they need now and in the future.
“When you hear Georgia’s No. 1 for business for seven years in a row [now eight], that’s just not something you can dismiss when you’re looking at a place to locate a company.” – REGINA MADDOX, executive director of Next Generation Manufacturing
state’s business-friendly climate. “There “Our technical college system is really was the Georgia job tax credits and the a point of pride,” says GDEcD Deputy Georgia port tax credit,” says Jeff Hurst, Commissioner of Global Commerce vice president of marketing and son of the Scott McMurray. “Jobs for folks coming company’s founder. “We try to ship as out of school represent hope for them. much as we can through the Georgia ports We love to see the schools get together and retain the tax credits. That’s one of in partnership with the manufacturers in the main incentives we’ve taken advan- those local communities.” He says that tage of. And, we’ve found a good work- often companies donate equipment to the force in the three counties we mainly pull technical colleges so students can train from, which are Thomas, Colquitt and on what they would actually be using in Brooks counties.” a job. “One can easily talk about taxes and “I’ve run factories internationally and infrastructure and the regulations, and all around the U.S.,” says Kleveland, “and of these things are important,” says Sara the workforce that we have here and in Irvani, CEO of Buford-based shoe manu- Georgia is just phenomenal. We have a facturer Okabashi. “But I think it’s a cul- strong partnership with Augusta Techni- ture, an ecosystem that makes all the cal College. It’s important to have access difference and Georgia has an incredibly to people that are local and want to stay strong one.” local that can support us here.” To these attributes, Regina Maddox, He says Textron Specialized Vehicles, executive director of state trade associa- which employs more than 1,350 in Rich- tion Next Generation Manufacturing, mond County and builds around 100,000 Learn More at adds, “When you hear Georgia’s No. 1 for golf cars every year, has benefited from www.hurstboiler.com
georgiatrend.com 59 January 2021 BIZ + IND MANUFACTURING
Georgia Quick Start. But the program he’s covering titans, which are meeting most excited about is RPM – Reaching published sustainability goals; the grow- Potential Through Manufacturing – with ing presence of electric vehicle-compo- Richmond County Schools. Students con- nent companies; and producers that serve sidered most at risk of failing to earn a alternative energy markets. diploma are brought into the program to Since 1967, Hurst Boiler has been man- finish high school as they work on Textron ufacturing boilers for the energy genera- products. More than 200 have graduated tion process. Global customers run the and 70 of those continue to work at the gamut from oil and gas power companies company. “Bringing them through the pro- to businesses like distilleries that use gram and making them successful is just wood, biomass, solid waste and hybrid incredible,” he says. fuel. Lumber mills in the southern part of “You really have to show companies the state and wood pellet producers are that you have the talent available for them some of the companies that rely on Hurst to start, and that as they grow, [the talent Boiler’s biomass unit to burn wood as an pipeline] will grow with them,” says alternative to fossil fuels. Hurst says bio- McMurray. mass is an “upbeat trend” the company is pursuing to help customers reduce carbon, emissions and operating and Protecting the Planet fuel costs. A number of Georgia’s manufacturing In addition, Hurst Boiler builds sys- businesses are focused on making their tems that burn fuel such as agave waste
operations and products more sustain- CONTRIBUTED generated by tequila distillers in Mexico. able and pursuing renewable energy World-class Products: Scott McMurray, GDEcD “Their electricity is intermittent,” says solutions. These include the state’s floor deputy commissioner of global commerce Hurst, “so they use the agave waste [from]
georgiatrend.com 60 January 2021 BIZ + IND MANUFACTURING the distilled tequila to burn as their fuel the business began in 1984, says Irvani. in their boiler system. The boiler turns a The 100,000-square-foot facility employs turbine system to produce their electric- 200 and produces just under 2 million ity and they do their distilling with it. This pairs of shoes a year through a closed- way, they keep their electricity running loop manufacturing process. The shoes all the time.” are made from recyclable material and “You can be a good steward of the customers can return their old shoes to planet by the products you put out,” says the company for a 15% discount on their YKK’s Reed. He says YKK has recently next purchase. finalized a 2050 plan that calls for reduc- “We talk about Okabashi being sus- ing carbon dioxide emissions by half in tainably made in the USA,” she says, “and the next 10 years along with requiring the we have seen an incredible resurgence company’s indirect supply chain to in the appreciation of U.S.-made products reduce CO2 emissions by 30%. By 2050, by our customers.” he says, YKK will be carbon neutral. “The apparel industries [are] in this major shift toward the circular economy,” Coronavirus Consequences he says. “That will allow us to rethink all The pandemic’s global disruption has of our products, what they’re made of, caused many companies to think about what’s their lifecycle. How do you use the advantages of U.S. manufacturing and them? How can we make them recyclable, supply chains. “We’re finding more and repairable and make them of different more companies looking to bring manu-
materials?” CONTRIBUTED facturing either back from overseas or to
Okabashi’s three brands of comfort No. 1 for Business: Regina Maddox, executive expand what they have here,” says shoes have been sustainably made since director of Next Generation Manufacturing GDEcD’s McMurray, “and to look more
georgiatrend.com 61 January 2021 BIZ + IND MANUFACTURING
“We’re finding more and more companies looking to bring manufacturing either back from overseas or to expand what they have here, and to look more locally for suppliers that will reduce their risk of having long global supply chains.” – SCOTT MCMURRAY, deputy commissioner of global commerce, GDEcD locally for suppliers that will reduce their Okabashi is one of the companies that to be as agile as we were to really work risk of having long global supply chains.” was back to full production by the fall. in harmony. We were very grateful that After the COVID-related statewide “The pandemic has highlighted the we did not experience any major supply shutdown last spring, McMurray says importance of local manufacturing,” says chain shift.” Georgia’s manufacturers learned how to Irvani. “We were able to respond in a mat- Some manufacturers like YKK, with operate safely and have since ramped up ter of days and weeks when our partners customers that include the U.S. Depart- production to pre-pandemic levels. As a were looking for products, not months. ment of Defense and Homeland Security result, he says the state had a great start We also use a local supplier base our- as well as those in healthcare industries, to the fiscal year that began on July 1. selves and so our supplier base was able were considered essential and remained open despite the ongoing pandemic. Pro- viding zippers and fasteners for hazmat suits, trim for disposable protective gowns and components for suits that are airtight, watertight and chemical- and fire-resistant, YKK had to respond to high demand. Reed says the company’s air- tight, watertight zippers were also critical in maintaining the negative pressure needed for temporary isolation chambers used for COVID-19 patients. Responding to a national shortage of elastic last year, YKK was able to provide the stretchy stuff to companies that pivoted to making face masks. In addition, YKK’s rivets were used to repair about 1,400 N95 masks – which were in short supply nationwide – for the Lawrenceburg, Ky., Department of Health. After the repair, the health department was able to put them to use. Beyond healthcare, the pandemic cre- ated an unexpected boon for many fitness and outdoor products, including those related to golf. Textron was surprised by the increased interest in golf cars and recreational vehicles. “The demand for golf did not subside, because people can be outside and [they can] socially dis- tance,” says Kleveland. “We struggled to keep up with that demand and it’s been a good challenge. We went through the whole process from a shutdown to a slow startup to full capacity, and supply chain is still an issue.” Maddox says the pandemic spurred innovation among manufacturers. “We have all these great good-news stories
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED about the additions of new lines of
Georgia Made: Clockwise from top left, Jeff Hurst, vice president of marketing at Hurst Boiler and production and the pivoting that [manu- Welding Co., a Hurst welder at work and one of the company’s boilers facturers] have handled so well,” she says.
georgiatrend.com 62 January 2021 IN THE MARCH 2021 EDITION GEORGIA EDUCATION GUIDE An EssentEssentialial Resource fforor ComparingComparing Post-secondaryPost-secondary EducationalEducational OptionsOptions inin GeorgiaGeorgia
CHOOSING A COLLEGE YOU WILL RECEIVE: IS A MAJOR DECISION. A two-page spread: one page That’s why we created the Georgia Education Guide, of sponsored, formatted copy a resource for comparing and contrasting Georgia’s and a full page ad. post-secondary educational options. Spread investment: $8,400 We encourage all higher education institutions to take Ad Close: January 24 this opportunity to be a part of this special section. Material Close: January 31
For more information: Carolyn Gardiner, Advertising Manager 770-558-8703 or [email protected] BIZ + IND MANUFACTURING CONTRIBUTED
Strong Business Ecosystem: Sara Irvani, CEO of Okabashi
“Companies that innovated did really well made-in-the-USA label on it is a real sym- which is what the organization did for and they’ll continue to do so.” bol around the world of quality. And so Hurst Boiler. “We’d like to think of it as we’re trying to do the same thing here in a full-spectrum resource for these com- Georgia,” McMurray says. “Our manufac- panies, bringing everything we have pos- Pride in Production turers here produce world-class products sible to the table to help them grow and Before the coronavirus upended busi- and we would like for the Georgia Made succeed,” McMurray adds. nesses and life, GDEcD launched its Geor- logo to have that same level of recognition Along with Hurst Boiler, YKK was one gia Made initiative in February to recognize within the United States and around the of the first companies to sign up for the and support manufacturers across the world.” Georgia Made program, which had about state. It’s a certification program for He says the program will also help 20 participants at the end of 2020. products that are at least 50% manufac- participating companies connect with “I think it behooves all of us to promote tured in Georgia, excluding food and agri- centers of innovation and educational Georgia as a manufacturing center,” says cultural items. Similar in concept to the institutions around the state. “If they’ve Reed. “Detroit gained a lot as a brand state Department of Agriculture’s Georgia got an issue with how to produce a prod- when it became the center of the auto Grown program, Georgia Made aims to uct or they’re looking for a better way to industry. Silicon Valley gained a lot as a convey quality and pride and provide build something, the cutting-edge research brand as the center of technology. Geor- resources to assist participating busi- our educational institutions are involved gia will benefit with the Georgia Made nesses. Those that complete GDEcD’s cer- in will give them a way to connect to that,” program as [we] continue to highlight tification process will be able to display he says. what already exists, so more people will the Georgia Made logo on their products. GDEcD’s international trade division come. The more successful manufactur- “We know when we talk with interna- is also on hand to help Georgia Made par- ing is in Georgia, the better for the com- tional companies, a product having a ticipants find export markets abroad, munities.”
georgiatrend.com 64 January 2021 Reserve your space in the March 2021 Georgia Getaways Section and receive complimentary space for sponsored content. GEORGIA GETAWAYS
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OUR STATE
COBB COUNTY
MARIETTA
Focused on Recovery: COUNTY SEAT Sharon Mason, Cobb Chamber president Marietta and CEO
LOCAL LEADERS
TOMMY ALLEGOOD WOODIE WILLIAMS MAYOR City of Acworth 678.801.4024 Back on Track [email protected] Healthcare, parks and tourism SHARON MASON PRESIDENT & CEO [ By Haisten Willis ] Cobb Chamber of Commerce 770.859.2369 ike almost everyone else, Cobb County’s leaders are entering a new year [email protected] they hope will be dramatically different and smoother than the one that preceded it. Nonetheless, the county has done its best to keep the local HOLLY QUINLAN economy pumping as the world looks to reduce the COVID-19 threat PRESIDENT & CEO in 2021. Cobb Travel & Tourism Last January, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce celebrated its move 678.303.2641 L to impressive new digs on the 10th floor of a tower overlooking Truist Park and The Battery, providing views as far away as Kennesaw Mountain and the [email protected] Atlanta airport. The chamber vacated its new home just two months later due to COVID, but began moving back in over the summer and has been working to resuscitate Cobb business ever since. “We’re going to keep focusing on recovery,” says Chamber President and CEO Sha- ron Mason. “We know this is continuing, and our role at the chamber has never been
georgiatrend.com 67 January 2021 MARIETTA COBB COUNTY
SNAPSHOT
POPULATION (2019 estimate) County 760,141 Marietta 60,867
PER CAPITA INCOME (2018) County $38,268 Georgia $29,523 WOODIE WILLIAMS Creating a Destination: Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Co., at Truist Stadium UNEMPLOYMENT more needed for advancing the economy and stimulating the fans spreading out on blankets in the (October 2020) economy.” outfield and seated in the stands. County 3.9% The chamber’s new headquarters offers views right into the Georgia 4.5% stadium, it’s brimming with local artwork and many of its fea- Cumberland Growth tures are even sponsored by local businesses. For example, TOP EMPLOYERS Kaiser Permanente sponsors the hand sanitizer, while Superior Outside the stadium, The Battery saw an Brand Energy and Plumbing sponsors the bathrooms. increase in foot traffic after the state’s Infrastructure Services As the virus marched on, the chamber stayed busy distrib- COVID shutdown ended. The Coca-Cola Lockheed Martin uting $40 million in grants from the federal CARES Act. In total, Roxy resumed its shows, and the Park Publix Supermarkets more than 3,000 small businesses received The Home Depot relief grants to help pay and hire employees or meet expenses like rent and utilities. Wellstar Health System “A lot of businesses have told me this is SOURCES saving their company,” says Mason. “Without + U.S. Census Bureau these grants, they would have had to com- + Georgia Department pletely shut down.” of Labor The chamber also helped draft reopening + Cobb Chamber of guidelines used by businesses across Cobb, Commerce and helped organize a system that has distrib- uted more than 18,000 meals to local residents since May. Just across the street, the Atlanta Braves wrapped up their fourth season at the stadium now known as Truist Park, winning the Na- tional League Division Series and playing in the National League Championship Series. While stadium access was severely limited,
the team offered watch parties at the park for CONTRIBUTED the playoff games in Texas, with up to 3,000 Welcoming Visitors: Aloft Atlanta Hotel at The Battery
georgiatrend.com 68 January 2021 MARIETTA COBB COUNTY
Bench dueling piano bar began offering space that can be rented for events. another live music option right down the One of the biggest events to ever hit street. Cobb County will arrive at Truist Park The area also welcomed a second in July when the 2021 Major League hotel, Aloft Atlanta at The Battery, to Baseball All-Star Game is scheduled. complement the existing Omni hotel. The halo impact on the county’s econ- “We realized quickly that because of omy is expected to be tremendous. the destination we created, we probably “The All-Star Game is a global impact could have built another 200 rooms at event,” says Plant. “There will be tens the Omni,” says Mike Plant, president of thousands of people here for FanFest and CEO of the Braves Development at the Cobb Galleria Centre for 10 days. Company. “Once we finalized the deal The game will showcase The Battery with thyssenkrupp, which will bring and everything that’s a part of it to a upwards of 10,000 visitors a year, we global audience.” realized we can bring in another hotel.” Walk across two pedestrian bridges “Upward” has multiple meanings from The Battery and you arrive at Cum- when it comes to thyssenkrupp. The berland Mall, still thriving after nearly German conglomerate is constructing 50 years in business. But the mall’s the North American headquarters for its stakeholders aren’t taking this success elevator division, which at 420 feet will for granted – instead they’re actively be Cobb’s tallest building upon comple- working to transform it into a mixed-use tion later this year. The headquarters will development with apartments and ho-
employ more than 1,000 when it fully DAEMONPICTURES.COM tels, a fire station and a transit terminal. opens, with an average salary exceeding Resilient Industry: Holly Quinlan, president and What is now a sea of asphalt parking $100,000. Topping the tower will be CEO of Cobb Travel and Tourism on the mall’s east side is slated to
georgiatrend.com 69 January 2021 MARIETTA COBB COUNTY
become more than 300 apartments, two office towers, potentially a hotel, a parking deck, fire station, 10-bay bus terminal and retail, totaling nearly $150 million in development. “The project will be transformational for the mall, but it’s also really good for the commu- nity,” says former Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott, who helped lead the project before retiring from the commission in December. “The county gets a needed fire station, and I think the transit options that will become via- ble with a true transit hub make the area a true destination.” The project will be built in phases, with the apartments coming online first. “This is the next step in continuing the mall’s success,” Ott says. “You’re taking a classical mall setting and turning it into a mixed-use development.”
Expanding Horizons
DAEMONPICTURES.COM In July, Wellstar Health System celebrated
Stepped-up Care: Mary Chatman, executive vice president of Wellstar Health System and president the opening of the new emergency department of Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.
georgiatrend.com 70 January 2021 MARIETTA COBB COUNTY
The ED has the capacity to handle 220,000 patients annually, which has been tremendously helpful during the pandemic. The new facility also has three different entrances, making it easier to separate those who are COVID- 19 positive. At 263,000 square feet, Kennestone’s emergency department is larger than many hospitals. “During the pandemic, the new emergency de- partment has proven to be a very important part of the care model for Cobb County,” says Mary Chat- man, executive vice president of Wellstar Health System and president of Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals. “People want to be able to seek care, but they also want to have confidence that the care is administered safely.” Chatman says that some patients who delayed seeing a doctor last spring for fear of the pandemic started coming in during the fall, many of them sicker for the delay. But with 11 hospitals, Wellstar and its staff have stepped up to care for all who enter its facilities – as well as some who opt to stay home. Before the pandemic, Wellstar was conducting around 100 virtual patient visits per week, system- wide. Now that number has risen to 2,800 per week. WOODIE WILLIAMS Wellstar has also been a site for coronavirus Focal Point: Powder Springs Mayor Al Thurman at Thurman Springs Park
georgiatrend.com 71 January 2021 MARIETTA COBB COUNTY
says. “But because Wellstar is large, com- prehensive and we pride ourselves about being on the cutting edge, when new things happen our leaders and clinicians are sought to be on the front end of that planning.” One less-dire side effect of COVID-19 has been a vast increase in people enjoy- ing the outdoors. For Powder Springs, another option to do so opened in late September with the debut of Thurman Springs Park. The park is located in downtown as part of a planned transformation of the area. It’s named for Powder Springs Mayor Al Thurman, the first Black mayor in Cobb County. “We decided we needed to create den- sity downtown, and to do that we were
WOODIE WILLIAMS in need of a focal point,” says Thurman.
Attracting More People: Mayor Tommy Allegood in downtown Acworth “The city council decided that the park would be our centerpiece and that we’d antibody testing, and Chatman says conversations about administering a vaccine develop around that.” started months ago. The naming came as a surprise for “There are lots of things to work out and figure out related to a vaccine,” Chatman Thurman.
georgiatrend.com 72 January 2021 MARIETTA COBB COUNTY
“Our staff suggested the park be named It employs over 35,000 and generates more than $3 billion in economic impact Thurman Springs Park, and a couple of annually. weeks later it was on the agenda and the “While tourism has been hit harder than a lot of other industries, it’s resilient council voted it in,” says Thurman. “I wasn’t and tougher,” says Holly Quinlan, president and CEO of Cobb Travel and Tourism. expecting that. I kind of stayed away from “We’ll all come out of it on the other side.” [the naming process], but God is really Both Six Flags theme parks in Cobb – Six Flags Over Georgia and White Water good.” – reopened in summer, and Quinlan says they’ve set an example for other parks to Another well-known destination in Cobb follow, working with health experts and employing methods like cashless trans- is Acworth, which bills itself as The Lake actions to ensure the safety of visitors. City. Acworth celebrated the opening of a 44,000-square-foot community center in April 2019, including a 7,000-square-foot banquet hall, administrative offices and an activity center with a gymnasium, walking track and exercise room. According to Neely Motiejunas, who manages the com- munity center, it hosted a number of wed- dings, annual meetings, conferences, seminars and dances, among other activi- ties, in the year before the pandemic hit. CONTRIBUTED
Looking Forward: Kim Watt, Acworth tourism director “The community center has become an economic development partner for us,” says Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood. “It has brought in different types of events that bring in people who shop downtown and support our local businesses. People are coming to Acworth that never would have come before.” Kim Watt, Acworth’s tourism director, says the city looks forward to hosting a full slate of events again in 2021, including an Easter Egg hunt, Pizza, Pints & Pigskins and Pops at Logan Farm Park. The city also continues its investment in sidewalks and trails to further the outdoor fun, such as a planned trail that will completely encircle the lake.
Trying Tourism Locals may find it hard to believe, but tourism is Cobb County’s largest industry.
georgiatrend.com 73 January 2021 MARIETTA COBB COUNTY
Tourism is ramping back up as “The Galleria is a safe and walkable visitors travel from shorter distances destination,” says Michele Swann, of less than 100 miles, and Quinlan general manager and CEO of the added that youth sports tournaments Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit mostly kept going strong. Authority, which includes Cobb Gal- In August, Cobb Travel and Tour- leria Centre, Cobb Energy Performing ism launched its “Hello Again” cam- Arts Centre and ArtsBridge Foun- paign, which provides itineraries for dation. “Our amenities are extraordi- activities that can be done alone, in nary, with The Battery, Truist Park small groups or around more people. and Cumberland Mall all within “The campaign is centered around walking distance. We have a tremen- the idea of saying hello again,” dous sales staff and a diverse hotel Quinlan says. “It’s about welcoming package, so we’re extremely proud people where they are. Some are com- that we got that award for the second fortable in a small group, and others year in a row.” are comfortable going to Six Flags. Swann has been with the Galleria It’s about letting people know we since 1995, and she’s looking forward have something for them no matter to an even brighter future for the con- what their comfort level is.” vention space, Galleria mall and Cobb The Cobb Galleria Centre is also Energy Performing Arts Centre. a tourism draw, bringing convention “We’re going to keep doing what visitors from across the southeast. we’ve been doing in terms of service,”
For the second year running, the Gal- CONTRIBUTED says Swann. “It has worked well in leria was named a top convention Safe and Walkable: Michele Swann, general manager and the past and we think it’ll work in center by Exhibitor magazine. CEO of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Authority the future.” The Best Business Tool of the Year! Georgia Trend’s Annual Economic Yearbook Issue Trends, developments and forecasts for each region of the state
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georgiatrend.com 74 January 2021 LOCAL FLAVOR
Showcasing Artifacts: Christa McCay, collections manager at the Marietta Museum of History DAVE DAWSON
Also in 2021, the museum’s Diverse Cobb initiative is planning to create an oral Telling Stories history of domestic workers, preserving their stories for future generations. Between 10% and 15% of the museum’s THE MARIETTA MUSEUM OF HISTORY doesn’t just document history, it is 35,000-plus artifacts are on display at any history. Situated next to the train tracks by the Marietta Square, it’s located in Ken- given time, with the rest housed on the nesaw House, which dates to 1845. The building spent much of its life as a hotel building’s third floor. Before the pandemic, before becoming home to the museum in 1996. about 60% of visitors hailed from outside The museum reopened from coronavirus lockdown on June 16 and has been going the Metro Atlanta area. strong ever since, though Christa McCay, the museum’s collections manager and a “Usually people are here for a good hour 16-year employee, says attendance is down as much as 70%. Recent exhibits focused or so,” says McCay. on history that too often goes overlooked. McCay also leads tours of the Marietta The first, The Man with the Camera: Photographs by Raymond T. Burford, de- City Cemetery, which dates to the 1830s, tailed the life’s work of a Black photographer who documented Marietta’s African- sharing the stories of its notable inhabi- American history during the mid-20th century. It featured photos from the 1940s tants. Among them are Charles Dobbins, through the 1960s, most of which were loaned to the museum from local families. namesake of Dobbins Air Reserve Base, “Our goal at the museum is to have more diversity and inclusion, not only in our and Alexander Stephens Clay, the only U.S. exhibits but in our collections as well,” says McCay. “We love to tell stories, but we senator born and raised in Cobb County. weren’t telling the whole narrative, the whole story. We want to make sure that from For McCay, getting to tell stories and now on we’re focusing on collecting more of the history of people of color.” interact with the public is what makes the Another exhibit highlighted the fight for women’s suffrage, and how the battle was Marietta Museum of History such a special waged both locally and nationally, through a selection of posters curated by the place to be. Smithsonian Institution to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment “The best part is when somebody comes that gave women the right to vote. in with an artifact related to Marietta or A current exhibit, Made by Her Hands: The Beauty, Warmth and Stories of Local Cobb County and they don’t know what it Quilting, features quilts made by local Marietta and Cobb County women. Not only is,” she says. “I can look it up, and often are the quilts displayed, the stories of the women who made them are shared as well. within an hour I can figure it out. That’s The quilts will remain on display until the end of March. the best day for me.” – Haisten Willis
georgiatrend.com 75 January 2021 Bursts of Giving: Karen Beavor, Georgia Center for Nonprofi ts president and CEO PHILANTHROPY
THE TOUGH
ust over a month ago, more than 40,000 participants lacedASK up their How are Georgia’s running shoes and headed out for the AJC Peachtree Road Race, an Atlanta tradition dating back to 1970. But the 2020 version of the 10K nonprofi ts raising – like a lot of things from 2020 – was a little bit different than before. For one, the race started on Thanksgiving Day, rather than the money during usual Fourth of July. And there wasn’t a starting line, at least not the pandemic? officially. There wasn’t a defined route, either. For the first time in its 51-year history, the Peachtree Road Race went virtual, letting participants from around the world BY ANNA BENTLEY Jrun their own race on whatever route they chose, wherever they were, tracked through a smartphone app loaded with signature race details. It was a decision guided as much by necessity as by safety, says Atlanta Track Club Executive Director Rich Kenah. The Atlanta Track Club, which organizes the race each year, is a nonprofit. Its mission is to help Atlanta’s children and adults lead healthier lives through walking and running. And the race, imperiled by a pandemic that prohibits large gatherings, is the nonprofit’s largest fundraising event, raising through registration fees the bulk of the money the organization needs to deliver its programming throughout the year. “We’ve seen a significant decrease in our annual revenues, and it remains to be seen where we’re going to land,” Kenah says. “We did pivot and move the Peachtree to a virtual event, and that will allow us to deliver something that is authentic, albeit virtual, and keep the organization intact so that we can plan for the 52nd running of the Peachtree in 2021.” Creating a virtual experience of something inherently physical like the Peachtree Road Race is just one example of the moves Georgia’s nonprofits have had to make to stay afloat over the past 10 months. Without the typical large, in-person events and facing donor apprehension – and sometimes inability – to give during uncertain times, organizations have relied on creative shifts, refined approaches and a sharp Photograph by focus on their mission. JENNIFER STALCUP
georgiatrend.com 77 January 2021 PHILANTHROPY NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING
Individual Differences yet only 23% expressed a positive fund- costs early last year. The mostly grant- In June, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits raising outlook for the next 12 months. funded clinic moved quickly to identify (GCN) conducted a statewide survey of Why the discrepancy? It’s likely tied to and apply for COVID-19 relief grant funds 520 of its member organizations to gauge mission. offered by community organizations to COVID-19 impacts and 2021 projections. “We’ve had these bursts of giving, par- cover these expenses. Results show a sector that’s quickly adapt- ticularly to organizations that are on what Nearly $30,000 in funds from the ing to challenges in funding and demand, we call the ‘front lines’ in health, commu- Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Commu- with impacts – and their severity – depend- nity clinics, or food and rent assistance,” nity Foundation of Central Georgia and ing on a nonprofit’s size and mission. says Karen Beavor, GCN’s president and United Way of Central Georgia helped the GCN survey data show that 90% of non- CEO. “Certainly, people have stepped up clinic stand up its new telemedicine ser- profits in the state reported reductions in and given to those.” vice and prepare to safely treat patients revenue, with smaller nonprofits reporting The Macon Volunteer Clinic, a medical in person throughout the pandemic by more significant funding reductions – as clinic providing free primary medical, den- building mask reserves and installing new much as 50% in some cases. Eighty-four tal and eye care to Bibb County’s unin- HVAC filtration units, for example. percent of survey respondents were con- sured working adults, found itself facing “As far as fundraising goes, I don’t think fident they could weather the situation, unexpected pandemic-related operating we have been as challenged as many nonprofits have been,” says Cathy Loyd, the clinic’s chief development officer. “We have stayed very aggressive with our fund- raising from minute one, but also health- care is an essential service. It is probably going to be easier for essential service charities to raise funds in these times than it is for the arts or things that people do not see as essential. “If they are not in essential services, I just think the challenge is going to be there,” she continues. “I know that’s a tough ask.”
Telling the Story Nonprofits not on the “front lines” – such as arts and civic organizations, educa- tional nonprofits, environmental groups, museums and more – have had to strengthen messaging around how the work they do impacts their communities. This requires effective storytelling that humanizes the work, grounding its impacts in tangible ways that donors can recog- nize, appreciate and feel compelled to support. At Step Up Savannah, a nonprofit that works to reduce poverty in the Savannah region through workforce development programs, financial education programs and policy reform advocacy in areas like affordable housing and predatory lending, it’s called for reflection to simplify and amplify the organization’s mission. “In the midst of a pandemic, it’s been hard for us to think about our work dif- ferently, in that we’ve been doing it for 15 years,” says Alicia Johnson, the organiza- tion’s executive director. “This required us to pivot and to figure out meaningful ways for us to draw connections for peo-
CONTRIBUTED ple about why this work is still important, Defining Value: Alicia Johnson, executive director of Step Up Savannah why it still needs to be done and why it
georgiatrend.com 78 January 2021 PHILANTHROPY NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING MATTODOMPHTOGRPAPHY.COM
Aggressive Fundraising: Cathy Loyd, chief development offi cer of Macon Volunteer Clinic still needs to be underwritten by all those the work,” Johnson says. “Our No. 1 aim ally attended the center’s performances, sectors of the community, whether it’s is to demonstrate the importance of this workshops and tours. While its program- business, local community members, work and how valuable it is to the com- ming clearly resonated with people, the social services and so on.” munity.” free programming didn’t help the organi- The nonprofit used its annual meeting, zation in terms of raising money. held virtually in late October, to define its “We’re highly reliant on performance importance in the community, juxtapos- Maintaining the Magic revenue, which we couldn’t do anymore,” ing statistics about the level of poverty in In mid-March, as the coronavirus started Schiavo says. “So we’ve put a lot of effort Chatham County with the tangible impact to take hold, leaders at Atlanta’s Center into our museum experience and creating its programs have had, like the number for Puppetry Arts made two bold moves: events that can be online events or that of program graduates and percentage who They briefly shifted their focus from fund- can be safe, in-person events with limited found meaningful employment after grad- raising to staying in touch with their audi- people. We’re running about 25 to 30% of uation. ences, and they started streaming free our normal capacity, but it does allow us Video testimonials from graduates of performances and learning programs to to stay engaged with our fans and to intro- the organization’s Chatham Apprentice viewers around the world. duce new audiences to what we do at the Program and Neighborhood Leadership Children and adults alike needed to center that got to know us during that free Academy helped to further ground Step escape into something that would bring programming time.” Up Savannah’s work and its impact on them joy, says Beth Schiavo, the center’s Those big spring engagement numbers the community – a message the nonprofit executive director. The center wanted to gave the center something unique to offer hoped would resonate with viewers when be their “outlet that felt normal and that to potential corporate donors: specific it reached out for corporate sponsorships felt safe,” she says. experiential opportunities, Schiavo says, and donations later. From March to June, more than 200,000 such as sponsorships of special in-person “We went to great lengths to humanize unique visitors across 88 countries virtu- events.
georgiatrend.com 79 January 2021 PHILANTHROPY NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING
For example, Kotter International, a as coronavirus cases spiked last summer. tual events, to create an app that would consulting firm, sponsored October’s They weighed different options for holding deliver a virtual race experience that was in-person Monster Mash event. “Kotter a safe, in-person event but kept coming as close to the in-person race as possible. International has never sponsored any- back to the same question: What makes The app included race traditions like thing at the center before,” she says, “and the Peachtree Road Race the Peachtree an opening greeting from Atlanta Mayor has not been a corporate donor before, Road Race? Keisha Lance Bottoms as well as a bless- but was excited about the opportunity to “We ultimately came to the conclusion ing from the Rev. Samuel Candler, dean bring joy to families onsite at the center that we could deliver something ... in per- of the Cathedral of St. Philip, as racers and agreed to be a sponsor of that event. “Rather than have some of the conversations we have around “ People need to think broadly about what nonprofits big corporate donations that are more general in nature, we’re mean to their lives. We live our lives in nonprofits, trying to really appeal to poten- and you may not really consider that, but you do.” tial donors on how they can get involved in bringing this joy to – Karen Beavor, president and CEO, Georgia Center for Nonprofits families,” she says. And selling safe in-person experiences son that was safe, but it would be so far reached the one-mile mark – “Jesus Junc- lets the center adjust its fundraising strat- from what the normal Peachtree is that it tion” on the official course. egy without tinkering too much with what wouldn’t be the Peachtree. It would be “There are tens of thousands of people makes the center unique, she says. something different, a different event,” who have been doing the Peachtree for “The hardest part of that is you don’t Kenah says. “For an event that is 50 years years, if not decades, and we heard time want to mess with the programming and old, we thought it more important to lean and time again from those folks that they the content, the art,” she says. “You don’t into the things that people know and love wanted to find a way to keep that tradition want to mess with the magic, but how do about the Peachtree.” and that streak alive,” Kenah says. “We you manage the business a little differently So, they sent the coveted Peachtree want them to enjoy this as best they can going forward? You have to keep that Road Race T-shirt back to the printer to with the understanding that we’re going magic, or else why are you still around?” add a nod to the year’s special circum- to come back as strong as ever once the The team at the Atlanta Track Club stances on the back. And they partnered coronavirus is behind us.” found themselves asking similar questions with Haku, a technology platform for vir- After COVID-19 It’s true: One day, the coronavirus will be behind us. But what will our communities look like then if we do not support the nonprofits that serve them now? “The community is going to recover. We’re not always going to have this, and are we not going to want our arts institu- tions [after the pandemic]? Are we not going to want to go to community theater? Are we not going to want to have a jazz performance? Are we not going to want to go to the symphony?” asks Beavor. “People need to think broadly about what nonprofits mean to their lives. We live our lives in nonprofits, and you may not really consider that, but you do.” Nonprofits are also taking this time to ask themselves what they will look like after the pandemic. Many have delivered services virtually out of necessity for the past 10 months. It’s a change that will stick for both the Macon Volunteer Clinic and Step Up Savannah that have seen how this technology gives them a level of access to their communities they didn’t have before.
CONTRIBUTED In addition to how they deliver services, Bringing Joy: Beth Schiavo, executive director of the Center for Puppetry Arts, with the Dormouse nonprofits are rethinking how they deliver
georgiatrend.com 80 January 2021 PHILANTHROPY NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING their messages. The Atlanta Track Club hired a new director of development and community relations in late September to better diversify revenue streams and more clearly communicate the club’s story and mission. The Center for Puppetry Arts is thinking crit- ically about who it reaches, identifying strategies to target more underserved communities and incorporate more diverse voices into its pro- gramming. The goal is to become a more inclu- sive organization that better represents the community it serves, says Schiavo. Overall, it’s a time for intentional, sustained efforts to “really dial down and have some laser focus around what we do and who we are,” says Johnson. And sometimes, that means just getting through the hard times. “The thing that keeps me laser sharp is being a good steward of whatever we have and deter- mining that resiliency is not necessarily about coming out leagues ahead of your peers. Resil- iency, sometimes, is about just coming out intact
and whole and counting that as a major success,” STEVE SCHAEFER she says. “To live to fight another day is going Keeping the Peachtree Road Race Tradition Alive: Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club executive to be a huge success coming out of this.” director
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georgiatrend.com 81 January 2021 AMERICUS, GEORGIA A Shining City On A Hi
Americus… Live, Work and Play!
• Recreational Parks throughout the city with playground equipment & other activities • A thriving downtown providing a unique shopping experience to include a growler shop, pubs, eateries, and the Historic Rylander eatre & Windsor Hotel • Host to several festivals and activities including a Craft Beer Festival, First Fridays, Taste of Sumter, Wine & Chocolate Walk, & monthly downtown activities • Exceptional quality of life working to serve and create opportunities for all with citizens engagement • Quality governmental services including City owned and operated utilities of water, sewer, and natural gas • A place where you can shop, stroll, and dine
www.americusga.gov OUR STATE
SUMTER COUNTY
AMERICUS
COUNTY SEAT Americus
Untapped Potential: Susan Warner, left, project manager of the Sumter County Development Authority, and Rusty Warner, executive director
TODD STONE LOCAL LEADERS
BARRY BLOUNT MAYOR Looking Ahead City of Americus 229.924.4411 New investments, community improvements [email protected] and education IVY OLIVER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR [ By K.K. Snyder ] One Sumter Economic Development Foundation ike the rest of the world, Sumter County was relieved to put 2020 behind 229.924.3042 it, though the fourth quarter did bring some announcements to cheer [email protected] about. And while many of the issues from last year remain, Sumter lead- ers are looking straight ahead. RUSTY WARNER In late 2019 the county hired the husband and wife team of Rusty and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Susan Warner, he as executive director of the Sumter County Development Sumter County Development Authority L Authority, and she as project manager, also overseeing public relations, 229.924.7007 marketing and accounting for the authority. The couple has worked similar roles in [email protected] other areas following years together in real estate, she says. “Susan basically does all the real work, and I just sit around and kiss babies and smile,” he jokes. “We make a pretty good team, and we only fight about 100 times a day.” The Warners can’t say enough about the cooperation they receive from the develop- ment authority board and the enthusiasm the county has overall. Rusty Warner sees
georgiatrend.com 83 January 2021 AMERICUS SUMTER COUNTY
SNAPSHOT
POPULATION (2019 estimate) County 29,524 Americus 15,309
PER CAPITA INCOME (2018) County $20,191 TODD STONE Georgia $29,523 Fast-moving Projects: Americus Mayor Barry Blount UNEMPLOYMENT great untapped potential for the county, some of which is already repaving of Lamar Street – the west-east (October 2020) coming to fruition. corridor through Americus – taking it from County 5.6% The two helped orchestrate several big announcements last three lanes to two and adding about 50 Georgia 4.5% fall including the arrival of TLC Associates, an inbound and angled parking spots on the south side of outbound call center bringing 1,000 jobs to the area. TLC opened the street. TOP EMPLOYERS its center Nov. 1 at the Ted Baldwin Business and Technology “That will hopefully be a benefit to our Eaton Cooper Lighting Park. The facility will serve as both a local call center and as a restaurants and retail shops downtown. Georgia Southwestern centralized office for TLC’s other projects around the country. It’s really changed the whole dynamics State University “The Industrial Drive building was already perfectly built as Magnolia Manor a call center with raised flooring, open areas and technology areas, and backup systems,” says Rusty Warner. “They are an Phoebe Putney Health absolute fit for our community and our building.” System Also committing during the fourth quarter was BandD Foods, South Georgia Technical investing $15 million and creating an initial 100 jobs with more College promised, he says. A supplier of frozen meat products, BandD SOURCES established its new production facility and management offices + U.S. Census Bureau at the former Glover Building, already well equipped with re- + Georgia Department of frigeration and dock doors. Labor Earlier in 2020, Southern Wholesale Glass made a multimil- + Sumter County lion-dollar investment to expand its facility by 20,000 square Development Authority feet, including a truck and parts shop, and create 60 new jobs ranging from high-tech to maintenance. The company manu- factures made-to-order, insulated glass for residential and commercial projects.
Downtown Living CONTRIBUTED
Americus Mayor Barry Blount says many planned projects Rounding the Corner: Qaijuan Willis, Main Street moved forward last year despite the pandemic, including the director at Downtown Americus
georgiatrend.com 84 January 2021 AMERICUS SUMTER COUNTY
were unable to host the popular Hot Glass Cold Beer craft beer event in April, they did sell out their pre-pandemic Women’s Wine and Chocolate Walk 2020 in February and enjoyed a successful new event, the Food Truck Festival, in October. They also extended Lenny’s Farmers Market into the fall to meet growing demand and they continue to add vendors.
A Brighter Tomorrow Partnering with local leaders, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center has championed mak- ing Americus and Sumter County a healthier place to live by establishing community gardens, says Blount. It’s part of the hospital’s work to target three of the most seri- ous local problems: unhealthy eating and food deserts, colorectal cancer and suicide. The effort also aims to bring down the high rate of diabetes and high blood pressure among residents, he says. “We know one of the causes is unhealthy diet,” Blount says. “A lot of folks that live in our community don’t have ready access to fresh vegetables.” A garden at Brookdale Park on the northwest side of Americus that opened in November is the first of many planned throughout the county.
CONTRIBUTED Public safety was recognized when the Americus Police Department – already state Successful Events: Downtown Americus Program certified – received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Coordinator Haley Hanniford Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Of the 628 law enforcement agencies across Georgia, only 56 are accredited by CALEA, according to Maya Mitchell, CALEA com- and aesthetics of driving through down- munications and organizational development manager. town Americus now,” he says. Now in his 27th year as executive director of Sumter County Parks and Recreation, Also downtown is the Allison Building, Tim Estes says funds from the 2013 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) originally built in the early 1900s and along with funding from the SPLOST passed in 2019 will be used to develop an addi- located across from the Windsor Hotel. It tion to the football/soccer complex, adding a third field early this year. A lighted, currently houses retail on the bottom floor covered amphitheater will be constructed adjacent to a new concrete walking path and now the second and third floors are encircling all three fields. being converted to upscale apartments, “You’re getting a third field but also a community gathering place where we can says Blount. Demolition began in fall of do concerts, movies in the park, Relay for Life and other big community gatherings,” 2020 and by mid-2021 there will be 12 new says Estes of the $550,000 project. Continued on page 88 residential units downtown, something that is in high demand in Americus. “We’re looking forward to that. People who have downtown lofts now always have a waiting list for them, and this will give us more inventory, so we’re certainly excited about that,” he says. Qaijuan Willis, Main Street director at Downtown Americus, seconds that. He’s optimistic that local businesses have rounded the corner following pandemic challenges. Main Street was able to real- locate more than $15,000 to provide COVID relief grants to 14 local businesses. Downtown Americus continues moving forward with projects in its Re- naissance Strategic Vision and Plan. Also known as RSVP, the planning process and resulting document are facilitated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Insti- tute of Government. Included in the Amer- icus plan are a downtown streetscape project that will add curb extensions for pedestrian safety, plus tree plantings and new sidewalks for a more walkable envi- ronment.
Downtown Americus Program Coordi- TODD STONE nator Haley Hanniford says that while they Gathering Place: Tim Estes, executive director, Sumter County Parks and Recreation
georgiatrend.com 85 January 2021 Sumter County Georgia Americus | Andersonville | DeSoto | Cobb | Leslie | Plains A Perfect Environment for Your Company, Employees and Family!
Your checklist is also ours!
Business • We introduce incoming businesses and site selectors to Sumter County through land, building sites, and lifestyle by assisting with identifying appropriate real estate sites. We make sure new industry knows where and what we are. There will be no doubt about building, living, and growing, here. • We collaboratively work with businesses and principals regarding incentives and/or project financial resources. • Workforce training through our college and university, business workshops, rural funding, on-site visits, local resources---we do it all! We are a site selector’s dream and one-stop for anything Sumter business. • Railroad, regional airport, new hospital – we have it! • Always available to our existing business base. On-site visits by our team are encouraged. • Let us listen to you while brainstorming. By understanding your company’s dynamics, we can communicate more eff ectively to meet individual corporate needs. • Let’s talk about tax credits, employee training, new programs, and Sumter County business updates.
Family Business • Small town charm (but not a small town) and community spirit, unlike any other • Quality schools, recreation and parks • Griffi n Bell Golf Course • Local and franchise restaurants and shopping • Destination downtown Americus, with renovated stores and historic hotel (featured on the Today Show) Technology • Americus events including ‘First Friday’s’ • GA Southwestern State University & South GA Technical Advanced & Light Manufacturing College SUMTER COUNTY GEORGIA • New Phoebe Sumter hospital DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY • Headquarters of Habitat for Humanity International 229.924.7007 SelectSumter.com 409 Elm Avenue Americus, Georgia 31709 [email protected] 229-924-7007 229-924-2646 229-924-3042 We Run the Race With You!
We are experts in corporate retention, relocation, and expansion, and we consider ourselves community liaisons, giving us the ability to meet your corporate needs. Let’s brainstorm about tax credits, new programs, workforce training, and financial resources.
We also guarantee there is no other place like Sumter County Georgia and its cities!
Starting or expanding a business can be difficult. We are here to help.
If you invest in us, we will make sure we invest in you! Our job and the job of our economic team is to have you agree we are a one-of-a-kind community and help make your decision to move to Sumter County, the right one. We truly have a unique business environment with unique business strategies.
Let us introduce you to representatives from our University and Technical College, hospital, community leaders, and like businesses.
Let us also show you an extensive array of properties and buildings and then allow us to help you through the completion of your project.
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229-924-7007 229-924-3042 229-924-2646 AMERICUS SUMTER COUNTY TODD STONE
Pushing Through the Pandemic: Ivy Oliver, executive director of the One Sumter Economic Development Foundation
Continued from page 85 About $350,000 in SPLOST funding will be used to replace the 1960s-era Rucker Street swimming pool and bathhouse, bringing the facility up to current regulations, he says. Another $300,000 will be spent on playground renovations countywide, with the bulk of the funds used for semi-permanent, low-maintenance surfacing on play- grounds that meets current national standards.
Top of Their Game Like all schools, South Georgia Technical College altered its delivery of instruction for students because of the pandemic. The coronavirus also halted the streak of record enrollment it experienced each semester for the past five years. “We’re reinventing ourselves like everyone else,” says President John Watford. “It’s a challenge and an opportunity because we’re one of the heaviest occupational in- struction hands-on training among technical col- leges, with most of the students here for programs like welding, diesel and aviation maintenance. “We were able to supplement with online in- struction during the height of the crisis, but now we’re learning how to deliver hands-on training with more strategic scheduling and fewer students in a lab at a given moment, with safety as a prior- ity,” he says. “We’re meeting that challenge and putting people to work.” Construction on a $1.6 million building that will offer commercial truck-driving instruction, plus a skills field is scheduled for completion in late spring. A five-acre pad will be resurfaced and re-leveled for the skills field and the facility will house truck-driving simulators. CONTRIBUTED “It’s one of the HOPE High-Demand Career Challenges and Opportunities: South Initiatives programs, and there are a lot of jobs Georgia Technical College President for truck drivers and a lot of students wanting John Watford georgiatrend.com 88 January 2021 AMERICUS SUMTER COUNTY truck driving,” Watford says. “It’s one nursing and caregiving. “Obviously, with the of our strongest programs as far as aging population in our region and across the growth right now. Because of COVID country, folks that know how to provide long- safety requirements and space, we’re term care are in high demand, so those grad- training as many as we can process. uates are doing really well,” Weaver says. It’s a great field to get into; the sky’s Partnerships with Magnolia Manor, Phoebe the limit with earnings potential.” Putney Health System and the Rosalynn Car- Interest in post-secondary educa- ter Institute for Caregiving make the program tion is also strong at Georgia South- unique. “There’s not another school in the western State University. President country that has that combination of assets,” Neal Weaver reports that despite the he says. “We put together a program that helps pandemic, enrollment was up about graduates see the issue from such a variety of 7.5% overall last fall. perspectives.” “We saw about a 17% increase in our The university recently completed a $1.2 freshman class and graduate programs million indoor practice facility for baseball are up about 15%. We saw a nice im- and softball and reopened the Academic Cen- provement in a lot of different areas ter for Excellence following a $3.4 million that certainly leads us to believe it’s renovation. A $3.5 million renovation of Flor- not strictly a COVID-related change,” rie Chappell Gymnasium is currently under- he says. The education and business way and scheduled for completion this year. master’s programs saw the biggest increases, he adds. On the Horizon
Enrollment is solid for the long-term DAVID PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY care management program launched Enrollment Increases: Neal Weaver, president, Carolyn Wright, president of the Sumter in 2019, which combines business, Georgia Southwestern State University County Chamber of Commerce, had to cancel
georgiatrend.com 89 January 2021 AMERICUS SUMTER COUNTY plans last year to celebrate the cham- Foundation, saw the launch in 2020 of ber’s 100 years of service to the com- the organization’s second five-year munity. Instead, the board worked to strategic plan dubbed GROW 2024. develop a strategic plan for the next “We kept some items from the last three to five years, targeting challenges plan, and we’re capitalizing now on in the community and areas where it those former plans,” says Oliver. “We can make a difference. launched a campaign effort earlier this “Not knowing what our next year is year but were slowed down by the going to hold for our members, we have pandemic. We decided to keep pushing some great plans going forward,” she through rather than putting a pause on says. “We’ll be doing things a little dif- it, and even with the pandemic we ferently, like hosting webinars and were able to raise $1.5 million for Grow workshops online. 2024.” “The chamber kept most of its mem- Part of the initial One Sumter plan, bers this last year. Even if they were Sumter’s Ignite College and Career temporarily closed, they kept their Academy was constructed on the new membership,” she says. “We just want high school campus across from South to help them grow, get the doors back Georgia Technical College, says Oliver. open. I think going forward with our Don Gilman was hired as CEO last new plans for 2021, working closely July, and Ignite will welcome its first with the Georgia Chamber, and using students in August. some of the resources and workshops In spite of COVID setbacks, Sumter
available will help.” CONTRIBUTED County is busy preparing to achieve
Ivy Oliver, executive director of the Strategic Planning: Carolyn Wright, president of the its potential as it benefits from a solid One Sumter Economic Development Sumter County Chamber of Commerce foundation.
georgiatrend.com 90 January 2021 LOCAL FLAVOR
Back in Business: Sumter County’s SAM Shortline Railroad CONTRIBUTED
salers here; it was a regional trade center.” With a station built about every 10 miles Tracking History along Hawkins’ line, many towns sprung up across Southwest Georgia, most nota- bly Cordele – named for Hawkins’ wife, A VINTAGE JOURNEY THROUGH SUMTER COUNTY is once again chugging Cordelia – and Plains. down the tracks, as the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad is back in business with But soon Americus and the rest of the reduced capacity and new safety precautions after a pandemic-forced shutdown. The country would fall on hard times with a 1949 engine pulls vintage cars retrofitted with modern amenities, including air con- nationwide recession beginning in 1893, ditioning. Various excursions include the Sumter Explorer, departing from Georgia he says. “There was a lot of fallout from Veterans State Park in Cordele and rambling through Leslie to Americus and then to that,” particularly for businesses that car- Plains, with stops in each town. ried a lot of debt. That included the SAM The SAM line – named for its 1880s route through Savannah, Americus and Mont- Shortline, which Hawkins was forced to gomery – began life in 1884 as the Americus, Preston & Lumpkin (AP&L) Railroad. relinquish. “But the railroad had already It was the only privately financed railroad in Georgia history, established by Americus been built, so there were long-term eco- banker and lawyer Samuel H. Hawkins. And it plays a big part in Americus history. nomic benefits,” Crisp says. Before rail lines made their way there, Americus was a small courthouse town Hawkins’ reimagined railroad is still incorporated in 1832. But when the South Western Railroad (later named the Central providing economic benefits with its reg- of Georgia Railway) arrived in 1854 it set off a population boom. In the ten years ular excursions and holiday-themed trips between 1850 and 1860 the number of people in the little town increased twentyfold. drawing tourists to the old stops along the If the South Western brought a boom to Sumter County, it was Hawkins’ line that way. Hawkins was honored in 2019 with garnered attention. Americus native Charles Crisp, who has deep knowledge of the the dedication of an historical marker at county’s history, explains. the SAM Shortline train depot on South “Americus was booming at that time, so there was a lot of development. Just like Jackson Street in Americus, home of the now, it was a rich agricultural area. But because of having the railroad there, it was original station. also a big trade point for a number of counties,” says Crisp, adding that Americus Get your tickets or learn more about was the biggest town in Southwestern Georgia at that time. “There was a lot of farm the railroad at samshortline.com. – K.K. trade and some small manufacturing, bankers, merchants and a number of whole- Snyder
georgiatrend.com 91 January 2021 OPINION ECONOMY BY JEFFREY HUMPHREYS
to less labor-intensive channels. State and local government jobs will also be lost. Economic development success will Jeffrey Humphreys is Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at strongly support Georgia’s recovery. Despite the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. COVID-19, Georgia’s economic developers terry.uga.edu landed more projects. This success refl ects many factors that make Georgia a great state in which to do business, as well as an ex- tremely competitive team of economic devel- Continued Recovery opment professionals. The outlook for manufacturing is positive. The main driver of growth in manufacturing he COVID-19 recession was brief but steep and did a lot production will be recovering demand for of damage to Georgia’s economy. The peak-to-trough manufactured goods. Due to factory shut- drop in employment was 11%, worse than the 8% drop downs in the fi rst half of 2020 there’s also caused by the Great Recession. But, unlike the Great need to produce more to restock stores and Recession, the COVID-19 recession did less damage to warehouses. In addition, Georgia saw many the state’s economy than to the U.S. economy: The na- manufacturing economic development proj- tion lost 14% of its jobs. ects announced in 2020 and those projects Assuming we avoid another widespread lockdown will continue to come on line. of the population and shutdown of businesses, Georgia’s economic The buildout of headquarters projects will recovery will continue with the main drivers being consumer spending, help power the state’s current and future eco- the booming housing market and Federal Reserve policies. Full eco- nomic growth. Thirty companies on the 2020 nomic recovery will arrive sooner here than in the U.S. due to factors Fortune 1000 list are headquartered in Atlanta, including: up four companies from 2019. ■ Build out of projects in the economic development pipeline. T■ Competitive state-level economic development incentives that will help refi ll the economic development pipeline. ■ More leverage than most states from the housing boom. The COVID-19“ recession ■ More leverage than most states from the upturn in vehicle sales,
given our large vehicle and vehicle parts manufacturing industry. did less damage to the
■ Good prospects for the many large military bases. state’s economy than to ■ Fewer daunting fi scal challenges for state and local governments “ than those in many other states. the U.S. economy. ■ A faster-growing population than the nation’s due mainly to strong in-migration from other states. If an effective vaccine is available and widely administered by mid- year, Georgia’s GDP will increase by 4% in 2021. Georgia’s labor market IT and FinTech companies received a boost will improve, too. The number of jobs will rise by 1.5% this year, with from the COVID-19 crisis as people adopted most of the gains coming in the second half. The prospects for personal new technologies, including mobile banking income growth are not as good and mostly refl ect the wind down of the and touchless payment systems. This, in turn, massive federal stimulus programs that provided payments to individ- dramatically increased the need for cyber- uals last year. security and put Georgia’s cybersecurity in- In the wake of the pandemic, job growth will be different than it was dustry on higher short- and long-term growth before the crisis. Businesses and industries hit hardest by COVID-19, trajectories. Indeed, the digital transformation including bars, restaurants, hospitality, tourism, movie theatres, live of many industries, ranging from healthcare to entertainment, air transportation, high-contact personal services and education to mobile banking, was an existing the sharing economy, will initially post the fastest growth, but the high trend that the pandemic accelerated. percentage gains refl ect rebounds off very depressed levels. The prospects for Georgia’s large transpor- In contrast, logistics, distribution, warehousing, professional and tation and logistics industry are very good. business services, IT, FinTech, education and health services will re- Another positive factor is the abundance of cover relatively quickly, posting solid job growth this year. In addition, logistics and distribution projects in Georgia’s positive job growth will occur in manufacturing, fi nancial activities, economic development pipeline. Major infra- transportation and utilities, but full recovery may take a couple of structure investments at the Port of Savannah years. also bode very well for the industry. Due to the strong housing market, homebuilders will be hiring ag- While this year will be a mixed bag in terms gressively, but poor prospects for commercial real estate mean that of recovery, Georgia’s many advantages will nonresidential construction fi rms will layoff workers. Retail sales will enable the state’s economy to outperform the be strong, but retail jobs will continue to be lost as market shares shift nation’s.
georgiatrend.com 92 January 2021
OPINION AT ISSUE BY KERWIN SWINT
Kerwin Swint is Director of the School of Government and there be any further changes in voting and International Affairs and Professor of Political Science at elections in Georgia? Since 2018, there have Kennesaw State University. been a number of changes in voter registration and ballot access – changes that most Repub- licans believe have helped Democratic candi- dates. But it’s a fact that Georgia set records Looking Into for voter turnout and participation in two statewide elections in a row, 2018 and 2020. So what will become of the inflammatory charges of voter suppression? This has been the Future the hallmark of Stacey Abrams’ fame in Amer- ica. But can she continue to run on voter sup- think we’re all very happy that 2020 is over. May 2021 be pression when there is little to no evidence to a much happier and more positive year! Without question, support it? 2020 left some permanent marks on Georgia and the And what role will Donald Trump and his nation. supporters play in Georgia politics? November Politically speaking, the Peach State is entering a new and December got pretty ugly between the era, that of a purple state. Beginning now, the intersecting Trump administration and state Republican worlds of politics, business and media in Georgia will be officials in Georgia. Will there continue to be dominated by this emerging reality. divisions and recriminations, or will Republi- The fact that Georgia is now a swing state in national elections will cans in the Peach State unify and move for- no doubt change the political environment and alter how the state is ward in lockstep toward 2022? We’ll all be viewed around the country. Looming over the next one to two years in watching. state politics will be two contrasting and competing figures: Gov. Brian Kemp, and on the other side of the political crevice, Stacey Abrams, his expectedI opponent for governor in 2022. There are other political play- ers in the mix of course, but these two will dominate the political land- Loom“ing over scape for the foreseeable future. We don’t have to wait long for these new political realities to emerge. the next one to two years The 2021 session of the Georgia General Assembly is immensely im- in state politics will be portant, coming in a non-election year. It may be the last opportunity to pass significant legislation on a number of items before the crucial two contrasting and 2022 elections. competing figures: Another development is that the Democrats have new leadership: Rep. James Beverly of Macon is the new House minority leader and Gov. Brian Kemp, Sen. Gloria Butler of Stone Mountain is the new Democratic leader in the state Senate. On the Republican side, Speaker David Ralston of and on the other side Blue Ridge is poised to once again dominate the House, in spite of in- of the political crevice, ternal challenges and rivalries. And the ever-popular Sen. Butch Miller will return as Senate president pro tem. Stacey Abrams,
The Republicans will be in the driver’s seat for the next round of his expected opponent for redistricting of state legislative and U.S. House seats. This is true in “ most states in the country, and it’s important because it will set the governor in 2022. table for which seats will be competitive in the 2022 elections and beyond. Nationally and in Georgia, Democrats had hoped to win enough seats to gain control, but that didn’t come close to happening. In fact, the only state legislative chamber that flipped was in New On a personal note, this will be my final Hampshire, which went to the Republicans. With a new round of redis- “At Issue” column for Georgia Trend maga- tricting staring them in the face, the failure to pick up seats in the U.S. zine. It’s been a great three years and I’ve cer- House and in state legislatures is a great source of disappointment to tainly enjoyed reaching out to Georgia Trend the Democratic Party. However, as the Atlanta suburbs continue to readers across the state and talking politics. I grow and become more diverse, and more accommodating to Demo- greatly appreciate the opportunity afforded crats, it will become harder and harder for the majority party to draw me by the Georgia Trend team. Unfortunately districts guaranteed to reelect Republicans. The Democrats learned there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to this painful lesson 20 years ago when the shoe was on the other foot. do everything one would like to accomplish. Here are some things I will be looking for in the months ahead. Will My best to you all, and God bless.
georgiatrend.com 94 January 2021