MARCH/APRIL2015 JAMESAN INSIDE VIEW INTO GEORGIA’S NEWS, POLITICS & CULTURE 2015 JAMES’ MOST INFLUENTIAL COLUMNS BY JOSH BELINFANTE // RANDY EVANS // MAC McGREW // WAYNE OLIVER // DR. DANA RICKMAN JAVIER RODRIGUEZ // MATT TOWERY // LARRY WALKER Y E A R S OF 100championing & job ECONOMIC GROWTH creation, increasing the quality of life for all Georgians, supporting tax, regulatory and legal policies to help your business grow, RAISING EDUCATION STANDARDS because those kids are going to be running our companies, promoting a career-ready, GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE, advocating for policies that enhance our BUSINESS CLIMATE from the mountains to the coast, building the ENSURING INFRASTRUCTURE, to health care, and transportation system we need, ACCESS partnering with ELECTED OFFICIALS, local and regional chambers and business leaders and WORKING TOGETHER. CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF LEADERSHIP With the support of thousands of members and investors statewide, the Georgia Chamber is proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past 100 years to create a better state of business. Join and lead today at gachamber.com. DEPARTMENTS ON THE COVER 4 James’ 2015 “Georgians of the Year” PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Jeffrey Sprecher and Kelly Loeffler FLOATING BOATS of Intercontinental Exchange. 6 FEATURES JAMES 2015JAMES’ MOST INFLUENTIAL 18 P.O. BOX 724787 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 31139 404 • 233 • 3710 33 PUBLISHED BY INTERNET NEWS AGENCY LLC 35 CHAIRMAN MATTHEW TOWERY COLUMNS CEO & PUBLISHER PHIL KENT
[email protected] WHEN LOYALTY WINS OUT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER LOUIE HUNTER by Matt Towery ASSOCIATE EDITOR GARY REESE 8 ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES SCOTT BARD A Good Political Name is Rather to be Had
[email protected] by Larry Walker CIRCULATION PATRICK HICKEY 11
[email protected] INTERN WILLIAM STOWERS Transportation Legislation: Fix it Plus by Randy Evans 12 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JOSH BELINFANTE RANDY EVANS On the midnight train to Sine Die MAC McGREW by Josh Belinfante WAYNE OLIVER 15 DR.