WORLDAN EXPANDING CONGRESS CENTER

NOVEMBER// DECEMBER 2016 PAGE 19

AN INSIDE VIEW INTO ’S NEWS, POLITICS & CULTURE

COLUMNS BY JOSH BELINFANTE • CHRISTINE DERISO • STEVE DOLINGER • RANDY EVANS • BRYAN GINN MAC McGREW • CINDY MORLEY • GARY REESE • BOB SCARINGE • MATT TOWERY • LARRY WALKER The hallmark of the GWCCA Campus is CONNEE CTIVITY

Building A Proposed Contiguous Exhibition Facilityc

Building B

Future Conventtion Hotel Building C

The connections between Georggia World Congress Center venues, the hotel district, and the world’world s busiest aairporirport are key differentiaferentiatorsators in Atlanta’Atlanta’s ability to compete for in-demand conventions and tradeshows.

A fixed gateway between the exhibit halls in Buildings B & C would solidify Atlanta’s place as the world’s premier convention destination.

This gateway could generate an estimated $632 million in economic impacct.

Convention, Sports and Entertainment Destination in the WWoorld

gwccaa.org DEPARTMENTS Publisher’s Message 4 Floating Boats 6

FEATURES 2016 Year In Review 9 JAMES P.O. BOX 724787 A Great Economic Asset: ATLANTA, GEORGIA 31139 The Georgia World Congress Center 19 404 • 233 • 3710 by Cindy Morley

PUBLISHED BY INTERNET NEWS AGENCY LLC COLUMNS Healthcare Enters the Mix for the 2017 General Assembly 15 CHAIRMAN MATTHEW TOWERY by Josh Belinfante

PHIL KENT CEO & PUBLISHER 17 [email protected] Yes Donald, You Really Did Win. Here’s Why. . . by Matt Towery CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER LOUIE HUNTER

ASSOCIATE EDITOR GARY REESE Protect Yourself and Your Finances 23 ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES From Identity Theft PATTI PEACH [email protected] by Mac McGrew CHUCK TOPETZES [email protected] Home Away From Home: New Facilities, MELANIE DOBBINS MARKETING DIRECTOR 27 [email protected] Programs to Propel AU Student Success by Christine Hurley Deriso CIRCULATION PATRICK HICKEY [email protected] Voters Say “No” to Opportunity School District. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS So . . . What Now? 29 JOSH BELINFANTE by Steve Dolinger CHRISTINE HURLEY DERISO STEVE DOLINGER 31 RANDY EVANS Georgia, You’ve Done Good BRYAN GINN by Larry Walker MAC McGREW CINDY MORLEY Trump Wins. Surprised? Not Really. 33 GARY REESE BOB SCARINGE by Randy Evans MATT TOWERY LARRY WALKER Why is the Space Industry the Next Film Industry? 35 VISIT INSIDERADVANTAGE.COM by Bob Scaringe SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY INTERNET NEWS SERVICE $17.50/MONTH & RECEIVE JAMES FOR FREE Georgia Southern Promotes Excellence CHECK OUT OUR SISTER PUBLICATION: Through Military Programs 37 SOUTHERNPOLITICALREPORT.COM by Gary Reese

DESIGN & LAYOUT GA-PCOM Expands Healthcare BURTCH HUNTER DESIGN Education Offerings 38 by Bryan Ginn PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Remembering 2016. . . As Time Marches On

hen James was founded in 2004 its first As for the new year— 2017— Atlanta attorney W cover featured then-Congressman Josh Belinfante gives readers a glimpse of what to Johnny Isakson in a racing car compet- expect in the General Assembly, especially in the field ing with other candidates to win the Republican nomi- of healthcare. The state of education, as well as edu- nation for the U.S. Senate. George W. Bush was also re- cation reform, are topics in every James issue. In this elected as president that year. Now it’s the end of 2016 context, our articles on Georgia Southern University, and U.S. Senator Isakson was re-elected to a third Augusta University and the Georgia campus of the term! And another Republican has just won an historic Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine are presidential election— Donald J. Trump. interesting reads. And educator Steve Dolinger’s arti- Time flies. That’s a main reason we publish an cle about future reform after the defeat of the annual year-end edition. Our feature chronicles “for the Opportunity School District amendment on the record” key Georgia events and milestones of the pass- November ballot is a must-read. ing year— and we’ve been doing it since 2004. This Along with these past remembrances and year we record 2016 from the perspective of various thoughts about the future, the staff of James wishes James articles, Floating Boats and, of course, our popu- you a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and a pros- lar ratings of Georgia’s colleges and universities, metro perous new year. Atlanta “political hangout” restaurants and lobbyists By the way, the parent company of James— and associations. Readers will find there’s much to be InsiderAdvantage— manages a daily internet news thankful for and much to cause reflection. service that covers Georgia politics, business and cul- Georgia was flying high in 2004 and is flying even tural issues. Go online to insideradvantage.com and higher now. Just reflect on our World Congress Center get a holiday subscription for a family member or friend! feature and what an economic dynamo its sprawling downtown Atlanta campus has become. The local, state and national elections have concluded, so we commissioned Matt Towery and Randy Evans to ana- lyze how Trump won the presidency. As the dust set- tles from the elections, we see in Georgia a general sense of bipartisan optimism. Check out Larry Walker’s column on his Peach State observations over the past 60 years. He concludes that Georgia, indeed, is one of the great states in which to do business.

FLOATING• BOATS WHO’S RISING AND SINKING IN GEORGIA BUSINESS AND POLITICS

Donald Trump’s stunning and historic presidential election was taken into account. The decision, as this is written, is win was facilitated by many Georgians (including a majority expected to be ratified. Speaker Ralston is fortunate that this of its voters!) Former U.S. House Speaker headache is going away, so his boat is… RISING was all over TV supporting the New York businessman, Georgia GOP National Committeeman Randy Evans was Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is a busy man. That’s why he instrumental by keeping GOP convention rules fair; U.S. had his city-provided SUV equipped with blue lights and Sen. David Perdue was a vocal supporter; Fundraiser sirens— and he has used them when dodging much of the Rayna Casey, Billy Kirkland and Bruce LeVell performed city’s infamous traffic. Some law enforcement officials note yeoman work on behalf of the campaign; Bernie Marcus that using the flashing lights for simply getting to meetings and many other business people contributed generously; is illegal. The mayor maintains that city attorneys assured and James founder/attorney Matt Towery was praised by him of its legality in the name of security. The mayor, how- the president-elect for his December 2014 syndicated col- ever, was involved in an auto accident when running late umn predicting that Trump— through his peoples’ “move- and with his driver using the lights. The resulting publicity, ment”— would win the GOP nomination. All their boats in with some accusing him of a brash use of what’s typically a the president-elect’s world are… RISING right reserved for law enforcement, has his ship… Drifting

The presidential and U.S. Senate race doesn’t support the For the fourth year in a row Georgia has been named by notion that the Peach State is turning Democrat any time Site Selection magazine as the No. 1 state to do business in soon. Trump won with 51.1 percent to Hillary Clinton’s 45.8 the nation. “Georgia’s fourth consecutive top state business percent, while GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson defeated climate ranking is based on where corporate expansion proj- Democrat Jim Barksdale 55 to 41 percent. Isakson received ects are occurring and where investors say they want to 46,000 more votes than Trump thanks to splitting, so commit their capital for the long term,” said Editor Mark Republican fortunes… ROSE Arend. “Our readers say the state’s fiscal soundness, pre- dictable economic and regulatory climate, workforce and Clinton did manage to carry traditionally Republican Cobb transportation infrastructure are their main reasons for County and Democrats picked up two legislative seats. But investing in Georgia.” So, for Governor Deal and his eco- Democrats could not win any statewide constitutional offices nomic team, their boat continues to be… RISING and remain very much a General Assembly minority. Their boat SANK on November 8. However, Georgia’s Libertarian A trial over water rights between Florida and Georgia is Party presidential vote nearly tripled from 2012 for a total of back in court with possibly monumental implications. over 120,000. For now its fortunes seem to be… RISING Florida wants a cap on Georgia’s water use, arguing that lower flows are damaging to the environment as well as to Gov. suffered a defeat on his proposed consti- the state’s oyster fishing industry. Georgia of course doesn’t tutional Amendment 1, which would have had the state want any caps, saying that Florida’s water use has been intervene with public schools designated as “failing.” It lost mismanaged. A special master is hearing the case on 60 to 40 percent, only passing in seven counties. He vows to behalf of the U.S. Supreme Court, but with the results cur- initiate new education reform legislation in 2017 but for now rently up in the air both sides are… Drifting that boat is… Drifting The U.S. Army on Nov. 29 broke ground on its new Georgia The State Bar of Georgia proposed to resolve a longstanding headquarters for the Army Cyber Command, a facility that complaint against the speaker of the Georgia House of puts our state on the front lines of the country's cyber Representatives with a minor letter of reprimand. The special defense. The facility at Fort Gordon near Augusta consol- master in the case involving attorney and Rep. David idates the Army's Cyber operations, capability develop- Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said the lawmaker admitted to violat- ment, training, and education at one location. The post is ing the Bar’s professional conduct rules by advancing funds to already home to an Army training institution for cyberspace two individuals while litigation on their behalf was pending. operations, the Cyber Center of Excellence, and business But he noted the speaker’s exemplary record of public service leaders project the new expansion could spur up to 16,000 more jobs indirectly as more civilian defense contractors move to the area. For our country's homeland security, for Fort Gordon and for Augusta, their boats are… RISING MORE POWER SOURCES MEANS LOWER ENERGY COSTS.

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© 2016 Georgia Power Company. Why only send emails when you could also send drinks? At Buckhead Club you get the best of both worlds. Go to Buckhead-Club.com to learn more 8 JAMES SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 Augusta University Gets a New President “Brooks Keel brings a proven track record as a strong leader within our University System. We are excited about the future of (Augusta University) and the positive momentum Brooks will bring for our students and our partnership with the JANUARY-FEBRUARY ISSUE Augusta community.” – Neil Pruitt, Chairman, University System Board of Regents FLOATING BOATS A political revolution occurred in Savannah with “Popular Vote” Approach Gives the election of Mayor Eddie DeLoach, a Georgia More Presidential Clout white Republican who defeated a – Charles Bullock Democrat incumbent in a city with a 55 percent black population. High-pro- If the Electoral College’s winner-take- file City Council incumbents were all approach were replaced by a also ousted in favor of reformers. national popular vote, candidates Crime was the biggest issue and enough voters would campaign for Georgia’s more across the political spectrum felt the defeated mayor than five million registered voters. didn’t properly address rising crime. Perhaps now the city’s boat can be…RISING Georgia on My Mind The University System Board of Regents approved a One of the reflections on Georgia life from the late merger between Georgia State University and 1940s to now by former state lawmak- Georgia Perimeter College, making er and Board of Regents member GSU the largest college in the state Larry Walker: (approximately 53,000 students). The “…(W)e now have air conditioning cost-saving merger process was a and the ability of all people to partici- quiet one, as both sides pushed it pate in all facets of Georgia life. And, we through with virtually no opposi- still hold the record for the largest bass and our peach- tion. For Georgia State, another big, es are the best in the world. Indeed, Georgia is now a if quiet move sees its ship…RISING ‘great state.’” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 9 costs (solar wind, nuclear, etc.) and existing and future environmental regulations to ensure we are providing the most reliable and economic fuel mix for our customers.” 2016 Legislators of the Year James selected for their exemplary public service state Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, along with MARCH-APRIL ISSUE state Reps. Stacey Evans, D-Smyrna, and Barry Fleming, R-Harlem. Georgian of the Year— Paul Bowers The chairman, president and CEO of the Georgia Power Co., in an exclusive interview, addressed customer demand: GOOCH EVANS FLEMING “We are planning for the future of energy in Georgia. Every three years we look at an Integrated Resource A Presidential Election Unlike Plan (IRP), which we filed with the Any Other Public Service Commission in – Randy Evans January. Through this process we consider economic condi- “Although much is made of the shift among young tions, fuel prices, technology voters toward a more socialistic society, the reality is

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Brad Alexander | +1 404 443 5811 | [email protected] 100 consultants | 13 offices | www.mcguirewoodsconsulting.com 100 Peachtree Street, N.W. | Suite 22000 | Atlanta, GA 30303 that many Democratic voters, young and old, make around campus came to the conclu- clear that they are just not comfortable putting their sion, after weeks of debate, that the (and the Democratic Party’s) future in former Secretary messages should indeed be protect- of State Clinton’s hands.” ed by a First Amendment free speech policy. A good decision! But the fact that the university needed protests and pan- els to determine whether a simple campaign slogan should be tolerated has the school’s ship…Drifting

The 2016 Most Influential Georgia Attorneys TRUMP WITH JAMES PUBLISHER PHIL KENT This popular staff compilation considered not just expertise in court— some of these lawyers may not have stepped foot in a courtroom this year— but activity influencing the court of public opinion, either overtly or covertly. Top on the list was Gov. Nathan Deal who has had a tremendous impact on the state’s judicial system. The long listing includes judges, “judicial legends” including Bobby Lee Cook and Billy Payne and numerous “lawyer politicos” ranging from former Gov. Roy Barnes to Dentons attorneys Randy Evans and Jeff Haidet and American Bar Association chairwoman Linda Klein. MAY-JUNE ISSUE

FLOATING BOATS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says over 100,000 child refugees have entered the U.S. since 2013, with nearly 4,000 coming to Georgia DEAL EVANS HAIDET KLEIN without parents. Metro Atlanta school districts, many of which face Top Metro Atlanta budget deficits and other problems (DeKalb Political Restaurant Hangouts County) are forced to This was a new staff feature introduced this year take in these students, based on a readers’ poll, and staff writer Walter many of whom come Jones provided an overall review. Bada Bings, a from violent back- hangout near the state grounds and speak little Capitol favored by pols or no English. Refugees are a problem that must be and lobbyists, was addressed, but for the burden of caring for and edu- voted number one. And cating them to fall on Georgia taxpayers and their it was interesting to public school systems sees the ship… sinking read the flood of ballots that came in favoring An Emory University panel called into action after someone wrote pro-Donald Trump messages in chalk NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 11 interstate, the Perimeter beat out California’s highly trafficked I-710 to take home “top honors.” The state Department of Transportation continues to search for ways to alle- viate traffic and the other restaurants/bars, many familiar and some not deadly accidents that too often accompany it, but so familiar, that comprised the Top 20 list. being surrounded by the nation’s deadliest road sees Atlanta’s ship… sinking

Georgia’s Own Populist Georgia is up to third place worldwide in terms of Gave Us HOPE film production, and it could be moving up soon. – Walter Jones Changes to the tax breaks offered to production companies in Louisiana are drying up the industry “Zell Miller’s vision of creating a lottery for education there, and more and to expand educational opportunities for all Georgians more films are being is a legacy that will last made here in the Peach generations. The State. For the Peach impact Georgia’s lot- State film industry and tery-funded HOPE all the Georgians who scholarship and pre-k benefit from it, the ship programs have had on is… RISING the lives of millions of students and their fam- ilies is extraordinary.” James Ranks Georgia’s – Georgia Lottery Corporation CEO Debbie Alford Colleges & Universities TOP OVERALL TOP REGIONAL Covenant College HOW THE NATION VIEWS US Georgia Institute of Technology BEST VALUE Clayton State University JULY-AUGUST ISSUE TOP TECHNICAL Southeastern Technical College FLOATING BOATS According to numbers from the National Highway Meet Some of Georgia’s Traffic Association, Atlanta’s Interstate-285 is the most dangerous stretch of highway in the nation. Hot Political Talk Radio With more fatal accidents per mile than any other Personalities Staff writer Cindy Morley profiled seven top radio talk show hosts ranging from well-known Atlantans 12 JAMES NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 like Herman Cain and Kim “The Kimmer” Peterson to longtime Augusta radio talkmaster Austin Rhodes.

CAIN PETERSON RHODES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER ISSUE Firearms Rights Vs. Firearms Control FLOATING BOATS – Josh Belinfante A fiscal 2016 year-end report shows Georgia’s preliminary shortfall reserves at “This begs the larger question: should legislation be a record $2.05 billion— up about 43 percent passed because it is better to from the end of 2015. This state savings do something, or should the pri- account, of course, is important— when mary goal be to do no harm? there is a recession, for example, such money is need- Republicans and Democrats ed to fund basic services. This is a milestone for Gov. have struggled with those Nathan Deal, who pledged to leave the state in far questions, internally and exter- better financial shape when he leaves office in 2019. nally, for years. Does the answer change when lives Georgia’s financial ship is obviously… RISING and constitutional rights are at stake?” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is known for temper flare- ups in recent years. One of the latest involved harsh 2016 Top Lobbyists words— including a few racially-tinged ones— & Associations against two prominent builder/developer advocates over a permitting fee ordinance TOP BUSINESS OR TRADE ASSOCIATION the mayor wanted City Council Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce to pass. Even though the mayor TOP GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS FIRM Law Firm always touts a pro-business McGuire Woods, LLP record, it isn’t productive to good business by publicly berating TOP GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS FIRM Non Law Firm, Large and humiliating Scott Selig of the prominent Selig GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group Enterprises development firm and Michael Paris of the Council for Quality Growth. The African-American TOP GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS FIRM Non Law Firm, Small mayor further stirred the pot against the white busi- Fiveash Stanley nessmen by repeatedly and unnecessarily rejecting a “master-servant relationship.” When Reed displays such rudeness his boat will always be… sinking

CIDs— Georgia’s Vital Economic Development Tool

A feature on an incredibly successful public-pri- Members of GeorgiaLink Public Affairs vate economic development Group accept their award from James tool— Community publisher Phil Kent (second from left) Improvement Districts— that Atlanta developer John A. Williams dreamed up and which was legislatively imple- mented in the 1980s through the bipartisan efforts of then- state lawmakers Roy Barnes MALAIKA RIVERS and Johnny Isakson. (CUMBERLAND CID)

Georgia Southern Alumnus Keeps Georgia on the Move – Gary Reese An interest- ing piece on Georgia Southern University that included a special profile of the state Department of Transportation commission- er (and GSU grad!) RUSSELL McMURRY (DOT COMMISSIONER)

14 JAMES NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 Healthcare Enters the Mix for the 2017 General Assembly

By Josh Belinfante After President-Elect Donald Trump’s victory on Nov. state permission to expand most clinical services at exist- 8, any expectations of cementing Affordable Care Act and ing hospitals. Last session, House Judiciary Chairman Dodd-Frank reforms are gone. Instead, federal policymak- Wendell Willard introduced HB 1055 which would: (1) sun- ers will certainly seek to revisit many legislative and regu- set CON in two years; and (2) maintain existing charity latory changes from the past eight years. Thus, the sweep- and indigent commitments for those facilities currently ing changes coming to Washington will certainly impact regulated by CON. Willard will introduce the legislation the 2017 session of the Georgia General Assembly. again in 2017. This is particularly true in healthcare. As an initial Opponents typically argue that repealing state control of matter, interests from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce healthcare expansion will allow the practice of “cherry pick- to the Georgia Policy and Budget Institute were calling for ing,” where some facilities “skim” the paying patients away some form of Medicaid expansion. However, in the light of from hospitals and leave those hospitals with only uninsured the president-elect’s promise to “repeal and replace,” Gov. patients who enter through the emergency room and can- Nathan Deal’s opposition may have hardened, and the not pay for medical services. That argument ignores that HB remaining federal uncertainty will likely cause some fence- 1055 (and its potential successor) maintains the status quo’s sitters to slide into the “no” camp. mechanism for fighting cherry While chances for Medicaid expansion picking and actually expands may have dimmed, Medicaid funding is charity and indigent commit- almost assuredly going to be debated in 2017. ments beyond those imposed in The Provider Fee— the mechanism where hos- the status quo. pitals collectively pay $283,993,012 to Opponents have also argued draw down significantly more fed- that CON reform harms rural healthcare inter- eral Medicaid funds— is up for ests by allowing more ambulatory surgery centers renewal next year. If it sunsets, to compete with struggling rural hospitals. The state legislators must replace data does not support his claim. Currently, any those funds from the general single specialty ambulatory surgery center fund (e.g., education funding, could open next to any rural hospital, but the state employee pay raises), or they must slash Medicaid evidence shows that they have not. Of the reimbursement rates by around 20 percent. For some hos- 383 ambulatory surgery centers in Georgia, pitals, such cuts would be too much to bear; others would only 14 are in rural counties, and 10 of those are in benefit from a sunset, because they pay more to the Valdosta. Put simply, surgery centers do not operate in Provider Fee than they receive from enhanced Medicaid rural counties for the same reason that the rural hospitals reimbursement rates. For this reason, passing the Provider are experiencing financial challenges: the market cannot Fee is a necessity for some legislators, an ugly tax (made support the number of surgical procedures needed to more so by the federal election) for others, and the possi- make ambulatory surgery centers successful. bility of federal block grants to replace the significant fed- The 2017 legislative session was already promising to eral oversight would establish a new paradigm altogether. be a busy one with casino gaming and K-12 education Given the bitter medicine of possibly renewing a sig- funding reform promising to take up significant legislative nificant tax, legislators may be looking for free market relief time. There is no doubt that those issues will remain— yet to bring to voters back home. Into this mix comes the federal election provided more, not less, work for Certificate of Need (“CON”) reform. In full disclosure, this Georgia policymakers in 2017. author represents interests that are seeking to sunset Georgia’s CON laws— just as 15 other states have done. Josh Belinfante practices litigation and regulatory law at Robbins Ross CON laws empower the state to decide where and Alloy Belinfante and Littlefield in Atlanta. when new hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and other forms of healthcare facilities can be built; it also requires Sttatewide Presence, Sttatewide Solutions.

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Halll Booth Smith, PP..C. is a fuull service law firm with over 20 years of experience. At HBS, we attribute our growth and success to the hard work and allegiance of fulfilling our promise: “Serving to Achieve ExExcellence” in all we do. t was June of this year. About 150 of my imagination of those who came to love him, hate fellow Georgians were gathered around him or who were simply stunned or shocked by his the grand staircase in the home of Atlanta presentation. business legend Charlie Loudermilk. And he coupled that brazen style with simple Speaking to the group, Donald Trump put messages of a wall, of America “winning again,” of me on the spot. law and order and a promise of a return to prosperi- “Matt, who’s going to win in ty for the average working man and woman. November?” Trump had reminded my He spoke in simple sentences deliberately aimed friends there that I predicted he would at a listener with the nation’s educational average win the GOP nomination even before he of an 8th grader. He added concepts easily imagina- entered the race, having written so in ble to the most people, like that “beautiful big my December 2014 syndicated col- door” that he said would offer hope to the masses umn. One thing I had learned over the years is that he would block with that wall from entering this the New York businessman reads a lot and is never nation from Mexico. hesitant to give you his thoughts. He writes on a As the media started its nearly instantaneous copy of the column and has it scanned and emailed and, for the most part, endless attack on him fol- Iby his assistant. lowing his announcement in June of 2015, his I also learned that he never forgets. message increasingly became one of taking on I was on the spot. How did I answer him? I’ll “the establishment.” leave that for the end. Instead, I’ll first focus on the Then came the GOP debates. From the very first beginning. question to Trump, the already demonized “elite America has become a nation captivated by media” was joined by the political establishment. celebrity. Many years ago I penned a piece stating Candidates with a plethora of political experience that, based on polling, reality TV would die a quick found themselves taking turns swiping at him only death. Boy was I wrong. to be reduced to monikers such as “low energy Trump took his celebrity and unabashed enter- Jeb” and “little Marco.” continued on page 18 tainment style and brought to politics a rough and tumble and often raw style which captivated the NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 17 By the time Hillary Clinton— the uber- could speak— to put it politely— “colorfully,” professional of the political game— earned carried 90 percent of their vote. her shot at him, Trump had already planted Equally amazing was the fact that Trump the seeds of victory. exceeded the performance of Mitt Romney’s His message, delivery, and attack tac- 2012 contest among both African-American tics had galvanized a demographic and Hispanic/Latino voters. that for years had been left unmo- It’s simply too trite to say that tivated by GOP presidential nomi- Trump won because he took on the nees. White male voters came out establishment. That was the mes- in droves for Trump and they sage in a nutshell, but it wasn’t voted for him by a huge margin. the main reason for his victory. White females weren’t that far Trump won because he man- behind them. In fact, combined, 58 percent of all aged to make the 2016 election one big reality show. Caucasian voters voted for Trump. He grabbed the nation’s attention in a way no other Contrary to the immediate mythology of the con- political candidate had ever come close to. In the end test, it wasn’t just voters with only a high school his supporters turned out to make sure he wasn’t degree who cast their ballot for Trump. He carried voted off an island or, in Apprentice lingo, that he over 50 percent of voters with only a high school didn’t get fired. degree or with some college education. And among So how did I answer the question he put to me the often mentioned “college graduates” he trailed last June? Clinton by only four points. Only those with post “You will win Donald. It will be Donald J. Trump.” graduate degrees went heavily for Clinton. I really had no clue. But I knew one thing, As for the evangelical Christian vote, the man Donald Trump never forgets. who allegedly groped women and quite definitely Matt Towery is an attorney, author and former Georgia state legislator. A Great Economic Asset: the Georgia World Congress Center

By Cindy Morley

quick glance at the numbers shows International Plaza, multiple parking decks, the College there’s no doubt that the Georgia World Football Hall of Fame and the convention center. A Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) is a And the boom continues today with the construction significant economic engine for Georgia. of the $1.4 billion retractable roof Mercedes-Benz Besides, who else can boast of a $1.5 billion economic Stadium, a facelift for the 40-year old GWCC and the impact, sustaining 15,134 jobs, hosting over 550 events facelift of Centennial Park. The stadium is set to open in and welcoming more than 2.3 million visitors in a 12- 2017, and will be the host site of a 2018 College Football month span? playoff game. In 2019 it will be the site of the Super Bowl, Maybe that’s the reason the sprawling downtown and in 2020 will host the NCAA Final Four. Atlanta campus is now being billed as the No 1 conven- “These are really exciting times for the GWCCA,” said tion, sports and entertainment destination in the world. Frank Poe, who took over the reins as executive director Great accomplishment is an understatement. But in 2010. “It’s all part of the Vision 2020, and it’s all part of they aren’t stopping there because the GWCCA has a our value of making the customer the focus of all we do. vision. By 2020 visitors to the complex will see a newly We want to ensure that the customer always has a great renovated Olympic Centennial Park featuring a pedestri- experience no matter where they are on the campus.” an gateway stretching from the edge of the hotel corridor The GWCCA was created by the governor and the to the front door of the College Football Hall of Fame— Georgia General Assembly in the mid-1970s to “promote and that will position Atlanta to host a Super Bowl in the the State of Georgia in bringing trade shows, con- new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2019. ventions and entertainment to the city,” It all began in 1976 when the Georgia World Poe told this writer. Congress Center opened— and it has continued to continued on page 20 evolve and take shape as the city’s entertainment capi- tal. It began with the construction of the Building A exhibit hall and now features a 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Dome,

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 19 The campus was built in phases— beginning with enhance the visitor experience. These projects include Building A. The Georgia Dome, the current home of the adding additional greenspace, creating a pedestrian Falcons, was built in Phase 2. The Dome is debt-free plaza, revamping the park’s popular amphitheater, cre- and will have an operating profit when it is demolished ating a bike depot in conjunction with the PATH next August, according to Poe. The footprint area now Foundation, and opening the Baker Street corner to occupied by the Dome will be the site of a new parking neighboring attractions. deck, a community friendly activity area and a new According to Poe, Centennial Olympic Park serves as hotel. Poe said Drew and Company has already been Georgia’s lasting legacy of the Centennial Olympic identified as the hotel developers, although negotiations Games and it anchors efforts to revitalize residential and are still ongoing. commercial development in the heart of Georgia’s capital “The stadium negotiation was a three-year process,” city. The GWCCA website describes the park as “the the executive director says. “We are currently in the third center of a dynamic downtown entertainment district, a month of talks with the hotel developers. The earliest we place where residents and visitors have fun, feel safe, and could start construction would be 2018.” create lifelong memories. New museums and attractions, Poe did say that developers are looking at two as well as significant commercial and residential develop- brands— the Fairmont and the Intercontinental— for the ment, have contributed to an urban renaissance around hotel which will be the last major project in Vision 2020. the park— boosting the economy with more than $2.4 bil- As part of this campus-wide vision, GWCCA is lion in new investments to date with another $1.5 billion preparing for significant improvements to Centennial in the pipeline.” Olympic Park— including five transformative projects “In 1996, Centennial Olympic Park welcomed visitors which are designed to increase community access, from around the globe to our great city,” Poe told this expand programming opportunities, and greatly writer. “Over the past 20 years, the park has continued to be a place where our community celebrated, and with generous support from our capital cam- amenities for all,” the executive director paign, we are excited that the says. The GWCCA is still waiting for Centennial Olympic Park will continue project approval from Gov. Nathan Deal to serve as a glorious gathering spot for and the Georgia General Assembly— but many years to come. The revitalized Poe feels good about that prospect. park will become a pedestrian model.” As this is written, Poe is being pre- The next major project on the list for sented the International Association of Poe and his team at the GWCCA cam- Venue Managers’ (IAVM) prestigious pus is “Connectivity.” 2016 Convention Center Lifetime It will provide contiguous exhibit Achievement Award. The award recog- space between Buildings B and C and nizes individuals who have had a signifi- create more than 1 million square feet cant impact on the convention center of exhibit space. (The industry. Obviously, the two buildings are cur- GWCCA board believes it rently separated by a is a fitting tribute to a common loading dock, The revitalized public servant who has which cuts down on Centennial Olympic Park will worked for almost 30 years exhibit space for large in venue management exhibitors.) become a pedestrian model. positions— starting in “Developing a fixed Dallas and ending up in gateway between the Frank Poe, Executive Director Atlanta. exhibit halls in Buildings B and C would solidify our place as the world’s premier convention destination providing Best in Class and

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 21

Protect Yourself and Your Finances From Identity Theft

By Mac McGrew

raudsters continue to hijack media accounts should not be the Americans’ identities, and same as your login for online banking. complaints have risen. In 2015, Unique passwords are best— those Georgia ranked 2nd in the that include upper and lowercase let- fnation for its number of fraud ters, numbers, and symbols— and filings and seventh in number change them regularly. Also, don’t of identity theft complaints. Out of share your usernames and passwords more than 138,000 complaints filed in with others. Just like your online pass- Georgia, approximately 15,000 were word, make sure the PIN numbers to ultimately victimized. As technology your debit or credit cards are unique. continues to evolve, this figure is likely Hint: Don’t use your birth date, Social only to increase. Security number or phone number. Identity theft, as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice, refers to Secure your computer any crime where an individual Two ways to prevent hackers from steal- wrongfully obtains and uses another ing personal information is to install person’s personal data in a way that antivirus software and perform regular involves fraud or deception, usually for security updates. Also make sure not to economic gain. click on links in spam email or pop-up A recent poll conducted by Morgan windows; and only download software Stanley found seven out of ten (72%) from sites you know and trust. high net worth investors (those with investible assets of $100,000 or more) Monitor accounts say identity theft is the issue they are Make sure to review each debit on your most concerned about and the issue bank account and credit card state- they feel they are most likely to be ments. A fraudulent charge can happen impacted by (51%)— even ranking it at any time so it is wise to reconcile ahead of terrorism and a major illness. your accounts monthly. If you think you Most (81%) say that, with changing may be the victim of identity theft, con- technology, it is difficult to know how tact your local police department to best to protect themselves from identi- report the crime; and report unautho- ty theft. rized financial transactions immediately In order to safeguard your identity to your bank or credit card company. and financial legacy from harmful predators, you must be proactive. Here Credit History Checks are a few tips: Taking a yearly glance at your credit score history may help you detect fraud- Be smart with passwords ulent behavior that you wouldn’t have The same password for your social noticed otherwise. If you believe you are a victim of Help your family identity theft, immediately contact the three major The most vulnerable victims are the elderly, children credit reporting companies to place a fraud alert on and members of the military or veterans. In fact, our your credit report. Georgia consumers can also request poll showed that the respondents have a strong sense a credit freeze on their credit histories in an effort to that they themselves (56%) and their loved ones— chil- further protect against identity theft. dren (52%) and/or parents/in-laws (47%)— could be victims of identity theft and not even know it. More Be watchful of scams than half (55%) expect identity theft to be more of a Whether you are online, on the telephone or looking concern to them in the next three years. Be sure to at your postal mail, a scammer may ask you for your share what you’ve learned so your loved ones don’t fall credit card number, Social Security number or other victim to identity theft either. personal information. Never provide this information unless you initiate the communication. If you suspect Scammers will always continue to create new a fraudster has reached out to you, disconnect and schemes. But by being proactive in fighting their contact the company through their website or phone crooked ways, you’ll make it that much harder for them number to verify whether the communication was a to harm your identity and finances. Every year, 15 mil- valid one. lion Americans fall victim to identity theft— don’t be one of them. Consider a monitoring service Staying alert and consistently monitoring your accounts can be difficult sometimes— especially if life Mac McGrew is a Financial Advisor with the Global Wealth gets busy. Consider enrolling in an identity theft moni- Management Division of Morgan Stanley in Atlanta. toring service. These services use monitoring tech- niques to help solve and even anticipate issues before they become problems and provide alerts in real time.

V Visit Augusta University these days and you’ll find stu- rates. With better facilities, services and programs, we dents sprawling on lush green lawns to study . . . or can compete with major universities and attract the most zipping to their residence halls to grab lunch between high-achieving students.” classes . . . or hopping on a shuttle to catch an intramu- Wallace acknowledges the added challenge of creat- ral flag football game. ing a cohesive experience on a university with a three- These are just a few of the comings and goings on an mile spread separating its major campuses, but “our uber-invigorated campus that has seen nothing short of a focus is on programs, resources and experiences that transformation reflecting the growing identity of the uni- bring students back and forth between campuses and versity as a comprehensive living experience for its 8,000- create a common experience,” he says. plus students. That experience, Augusta University For Alejandra Gonzalez, a marketing major from Spain administrators note, translates into more vigorous student with a tennis scholarship, this means zipping daily from recruitment, higher student retention rates and increased classes on the Summerville Campus to workouts on the measures of student success on multiple fronts. Health Sciences Campus. “I take the shuttle and never “We are trying to build an unrivaled student experi- have a long wait,” she says. ence,” says Dr. Scott Wallace, dean of student life. “Our Her teammate, Merye Gobernate, a marketing major vision is for holistic growth. We want our graduates to from Brazil, says she takes full advantage of the grounds on realize, ‘I learned a lot in the classroom, and I also really both campuses. “Everything is very natural and green,” she grew as an individual.’” says. “There are so many nice places to study and relax.” He notes that when the Summerville and Health As new resources are continually added, Poisel Sciences campuses consolidated in 2013, a high priority stresses that he sees his role more as a facilitator than a was creating an over-arching sense of identity— an iden- driver of new initiatives. “We provide advice and struc- Vtity now solidified with recent campus additions includ- ture,” he says, “but our students are encouraged to build ing new student programs, resources, organizations and their own experience.” facilities anchored by two new residence halls. The student-run Jaguar Production Crew, for Those sites, Elm and Oak halls, add over 700 beds to instance, oversees on-campus programming. “Each campus housing and attest to the institution’s growing semester, the crew plans events based on student inter- role as a destination university, says Dr. Mark Allen ests,” says Raysean Ricks, president of the Student Poisel, vice president for enrollment and student affairs. Government Association. “I also notice other student The dorms, he says, are Augusta’s crown jewels of a $527 organizations taking the initiative to respond to what our million public-private partnership bringing more than students want. I’ve seen a more significant increase of 3,700 new beds to nine University System of Georgia events this past semester than ever before.” institutions during the next 60 years. Says Wallace, “I like to think of college as the place Bricks and mortar only hint at the added value for the where the person you are meets the person you’re going university and its constituents, he says, adding, “Current to become. Every idea contributes not only to the culture, and potential college students are looking for more than but to the overall experience that our students will carry just a degree. They want the full college experience, with them the rest of their lives.” which includes a robust student life. Research shows that students living on campus have higher retention rates, Christine Hurley Deriso is a freelance writer living in North Augusta better academic performance, more engagement on cam- pus and in their communities and higher graduation IT DOESN’T TAKE A GENIUS TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU PLAY, GEORGIA’S KIDS WIN.

It’s elementary, actually. See, every time you play the Lottery, you’re helping our kids get one step closer to their dreams. For over 20 years the Georgia Lottery has contributed more than $17.8 billion to education. On top of that, more than 1.7 million HOPE scholars have gone to college and more than 1.4 million four- year-olds have attended a Lottery-funded Pre-K Program. Add those numbers up and, well, let’s just say that’s a hair-raising number of happy kids. eorgia voters on November 8 rejected a constitutional amend- Gment to establish an Opportunity School District (OSD) that would have created a new state-run school district with the authority to step in and run “chronically failing” schools. As heated as the debate was, nobody was arguing in support of the status quo. The fact is that there still remains over 68,000 students who attend the 127 schools that would have qualified for state take-over. These schools had been identified as “failing” for at least three consecutive years, and many for far more. Therefore, the question remains: If an OSD is not unexpected loss of a loved one, and exposure to violence. an option to try and do something different, what is? All impact critical brain structures that manage attention, The first step in solving a problem is to accurately memory, and the learning process. define it. Research on low-performing schools shows that Best-practice research says that turning around low- over 92 percent are schools in which more than half the performing schools is a combination of three primary things: children live in poverty. Nearly 75 percent are schools of will, resources, and capacity. Already, the threat of a state concentrated poverty. In Georgia, the OSD-eligible schools takeover of a school gave the will for many local districts to were almost entirely comprised of poor, minority students. take action on their own. Now that the measure has been More than 90 percent of enrolled students participated in defeated, an important next step is not to let the absence of the free/ reduced price lunch program, a proxy measure for that threat undermine our will to do something different. poverty, and 95 percent were either black or Hispanic. Work already being done by the Georgia Department of Much of the root problems around chronically low-perform- Education has demonstrated that successful turnarounds ing schools can be found in the impacts of poverty and a require changing the culture, expectations, and routines history of disinvestment in local communities. within a school. In changing the culture of a school, the Children growing up in poverty, and especially neigh- focus should be on policies and procedures that improve borhoods of concentrated poverty, are vulnerable to a vari- the quality of teaching and learning. This would include ety of negative experiences, such as chronic insecurity, continued on page 30

IT DOESN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO HELP KIDS WITH THEIR EDUCATION.

galottery.com plans to systematically recruit and retain highly qualified The ERC has suggested reforms to Georgia’s funding teachers in turnaround schools, which historically are dif- model to allow for increased district flexibility in spending, ficult to staff. Finally, engaging district leaders and build- allowing for resource allocation more in line with student ing district capacity to support school turnaround efforts need and district priorities. The proposed formula also are necessary to sustain long-term changes. includes allocating more money for students in poverty, In addition to work being done within the school build- though it does not include additional resources for districts ing, work outside those walls must also happen. Community with high concentrations of poverty. engagement and comprehensive wrap-around services are However, this is a key point: We need to determine if, needed to support and stabilize schools. Districts are in fact, it is an identified school that is underperforming already rethinking how to engage resources and help strug- and thus labeled “failing”; or, is the school performing well, gling schools identify existing community supports that can but is part of a community that is not performing as it be integrated into the improvement process. should, i.e. “failing”? The business model to address either, The good news is many of the solutions to help failing or both, of these challenges requires strong leadership sup- schools are already present; they just need to be leveraged plied with adequate resources. together. GaDOE has a commitment to supporting local To provide these ingredients, to help students and adults districts and schools in their turnaround efforts, and is break out of cycles of poverty, will require involvement of working to support broad implementation of positive school leaders across our state. Local schools often cannot do this climate and addressing social and emotional learning. alone; some communities cannot do this alone. Education, Is it anticipated that recommendations from Gov. business, community and government leaders must lever- Nathan Deal’s Education Reform Commission will be con- age their collective will to have a collective impact. sidered during the upcoming legislative session. They The OSD debate proved one thing clearly: It is time. include a series of recommendations around teacher recruitment and professional development to support high quality teaching, which is a necessary component of any successful turnaround strategy. BY LARRY WALKER

remember it well, when I was a youngster, how he proposed a state lottery with the bulk of the proceeds Mother, Daddy and my grandparents used to talk for scholarships to go to students who had compiled at about Georgia and what a great state it was. And I least a B average and for the improvement of technology in Italked about Georgia when making my little Perry Junior the schools and colleges. It took political courage to advo- High School graduation speech in May, 1956. It was the one cate this controversial proposal and it was smart to consti- my eighth grade teachers, Melissa Tucker and Mabel tutionally restrict the proceeds for education. Weaver, helped me write. The lottery passed, and because of the restricted use of Paraphrasing Horace Greeley’s words, I said, “Come the money proceeds, it could possibly be the single most south, young man, come south, for my state is a strong positive legislative change that ever took place in Georgia. state and its people a strong people.” And, like my teach- Outstanding students that previously went out of state to ers, parents and grandparents, I’m sure I believed it. We Duke, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, and the Ivy League wanted to believe it, so we probably did believe it. schools and the like, now took the scholarships and stayed Today, I know that in 1956 Georgia was not one of the home. Then they graduated and stayed in Georgia. Our great states in the . We lived in an often very universities and technical colleges improved dramatically. hot part of the world and the vast majority of Georgians did- Gov. Roy Barnes, in another move that took political n’t have those wonderful air conditioners to keep them cool. courage, advocated changing the flag— deleting the Saint Secondly, Georgia’s laws required separation of the races Andrew’s Cross (the stars and bars)— in the face of much and it would be eight or ten years, after 1956, before efforts opposition to the new “Barnes flag.” Soon after there was at widespread integration even started. As an aside I’d say another changeover by Gov. to a “new” flag that, economically, air conditioning and integration were which also did not have the Saint Andrew’s Cross and which two of the most important things that ever happened to the is now Georgia’s flag. This move resulted in part in Barnes’ South in general and Georgia specifically. Do you think all of defeat for re-election— with his opponent Perdue winning these Fortune 500 Companies would be in Georgia as they the governorship. Georgia’s economy has benefited greatly are today if we didn’t have air conditioning and the state by the controversial but wise actions of both governors. laws required separation of the races? I don’t think so. So now Georgia, a state of over 10 million people, is a There have been other things— some well known by place that is often voted “The Best Place in the U.S.A. to Do folks like you who read James, and some not so well known. Business.” It has the world’s busiest airport and is one of What about the court-ordered demise of the county only three states to have two public colleges in the top 25 in unit system? This election scheme guaranteed that rural the nation. It has an outstanding chief executive in Nathan Georgia would continue to dominate Georgia’s politics Deal (another governor with political courage) and stable, until the courts declared, in the “one man, one vote” deci- competent leadership in its solid legislature. It also has a sion, the unconstitutionality of the law. Frankly, when I rapidly advancing film industry and numerous Fortune 500 went to the state legislature in 1973, the “rural boys” (not companies and more chickens, pecan and pine trees than exactly “wool hat boys” but “country conservatives”) still anywhere in the world—and the best peaches in world. ran things and it was many years after my first year that Surely, today, it is “one of the great states in the country!” the non-metro folks started getting the upper hand. I was right in 1956. I was just 60 years early! So, progress was slow but it was being made. We weren’t a top-ten state, but we were no longer in the bot- Larry Walker is a practicing attorney in Perry. He served 32 years tom ten. And the future looked good. Lots of smart things in the Georgia General Assembly and serves on the University were being done. System Board of Regents. Zell Miller, as Georgia’s governor, was smart and had abundant political courage. And in a controversial move,

Trump Wins. Surprised? Not Really.

By Randy Evans

hen it comes to the 2016 election, the Americans opted for a divided government in 2010 with response seems to be “well, nobody sweeping Democratic losses in both House and Senate. W saw that coming.” Actually, a lot of peo- They handed control of the House back to the ple did. The only problem was that the Republicans. mainstream media has become such an echo chamber When 2016 rolled around, gridlock accompanied by a that they only see what they want to see. The possibility president intent on governing with the pen and the that someone might just see things a little differently phone proved to be too much. So Americans were back than they do is simply beyond their comprehension. to giving one political party control of the White House As each ingredient was added to the 2016 campaign and the Congress (notably against a backdrop of the cake, the election got baked— just not the way many had GOP having a real opportunity for Republicans to dra- hoped. Yet it was an matically increase their margin in the Senate in the entirely predictable out- 2018 election). come, with the Clinton The bottom line is campaign and that Americans expect President Barack results. When they do Obama only realizing not see them or feel it until after it was them they take action. too late— ending Now, whether it with a bitter taste in turns out to be good change the wee hours of elec- or bad change in 2017 will tion night. depend on just how well What happened? President-elect Donald Trump First, 2016 was another performs as the commander-in- “change” election. chief. As all this makes clear, These change elec- American voters have had no tions come and go, reticence to booting non-per- and they have been forming Presidents at the end of coming with increasing just one term. President Jimmy Carter’s and President frequency in the last two decades. In 1994, the Contract George H. W. Bush’s departures at the end of their first with America started the back-and- forth as Americans term make the point. made clear that they were in charge. Speaker Newt Trump has to deliver. Does that mean that he loses at Gingrich got it, but no one else did. the end of his first term if there is no wall dividing the Twelve years later after one-and-a-half terms of United States and Mexico? No. On the other hand, if the President George W. Bush, American decided for more pace of illegal immigration flooding over the country’s change. Democrats captured control of the Congress in border has not slowed, he is going to have a tough row to 2006 followed two years later by the election of Obama hoe in his 2020 re-election bid. and even bigger majorities in the Congress. Of course, no one doubts that President-elect Trump After the Affordable Care Act and a government that was getting things done— just the wrong things— is a doer and he is likely to do a lot. The bigger question policies which are inherently divisive to a unifying is whether what he does works or blows up. Only history theme of equal opportunity to achieve the American will tell. But change is coming. dream. Institutional and historical prejudices will Most pundits forget that following the Contract inevitably stand in the way and they are formidable with America and the first 100 days of the 104th obstacles to real change. Congress under Speaker Gingrich’s leadership, the If President-elect Trump can set in motion the Republicans held control of the American exceptionalism that Congress for the longest made America great to make stretch in modern history. America great again, he will It is the essence of a meri- have gotten the job done. The tocracy where staying in power level of change he seeks is just depends on performance, not that fundamental. And, funda- demographics. This return to mental successful change start- the basics of what took a strug- ed tends to use its own momen- gling small country that fought tum to achieve greater things. a superpower for its independ- That is his test— can he indeed ence to becoming the most reset America on the path powerful nation on the planet is toward greatness again? the next test. If history is any indication, winning works. Undoubtedly, the most diffi- cult task for the new president will be to complete the transi- tion from demographic-driven Ask any politician how Georgia does in the aerospace support companies flock to locate near new manufac- industry and you will hear a very positive answer like turing plants and that is where the economic multiplier “great.” The truth is Georgia does great in the aeronau- effect accelerates the initial plant investment. tics side of aerospace— but the little known fact is When spaceport Camden is licensed by the FAA Georgia does very poorly with the space side of the (currently in Environmental Impact Study phase) it will industry with less than 1/10 of 1 percent market share be a crown jewel for Georgia. The Camden site has been of a huge $330 billion space Industry. Some legislators described by at least two launch companies (after they compare the space industry in Georgia to the film toured it) as the best potential spaceport site in the industry. The film industry was paid little attention country. That is because launch companies can launch until we started to ask key industry players for their from west to east over water. The earth’s rotation is business and then they were all too eager to locate from west to east so launching west to east requires here to the point where Georgia is now realizing over less energy to put a given pound of satellite payload into $2 billion of annual revenue from the film industry. orbit. Launching west to east over water is difficult to So, it is time for Georgia legislators to wake up do from competing spaceports located in Colorado, New again. Alabama, Texas, and Florida are all stealing Mexico and Texas. The cards are truly stacked in space industry jobs from Georgia when our state actu- Georgia’s favor when it comes to taking advantage of ally has significant advantages over them. For example, the fast-growing space transportation industry. Georgia Tech produces more aerospace engineers than Georgia is a right-to-work state, while states that any program in the country. When they graduate, 95 currently have a high concentration of space industry percent of that Georgia-educated intellectual capital employers are not right-to-work states. About five years leave the state for employment in other states. These ago a 1,000-employee plant was relocated from a non- are STEM jobs commanding over $100,000 a year in right to work state to right-to-work Alabama. When wages that are the kind of jobs we want to retain. asked why the employer did not consider Georgia, the These engineers would be a robust pipeline of talent to astonishing answer was “because nobody asked.” any space industry company planning to build a new Yes, that is right. Our state does not target key headquarters, laboratory, testing facility, or manufac- industry players in industries our state has identified as turing facility in Georgia. key to our economic development. The Georgia strategy Georgia is a leading logistics state with extensive is “when a customer knocks on our door we answer the freight, ports, intermodal, air and interstate infrastruc- door.” This is not competitive with other states like ture. It does not take a rocket scientist to realize that Texas, Florida and Alabama. They are calling on cus- locating a space industry manufacturing plant in tomers, communicating their advantages, asking for the Georgia will allow the plant to support four to six business and finding manufacturing opportunities that spaceport launch points. That would involve support- are on the table that may have been previously ing Florida spaceports at Kennedy, Canaveral, and Cecil unknown. This is basic business development practice Field, the two spaceports in Virginia through the ports in the private sector, yet it is not being done by Georgia. of Savanah and Brunswick and the future spaceport in Like the film industry, Georgia can still play catch Camden County, Georgia. Forty-eight other states wish up and secure more market share. But it will require a they had Georgia’s location to serve these transporta- change to a more aggressive state business develop- tion hubs of the future. ment strategy to be competitive. So, if you like what the Does Georgia want to concede the space trans- film industry did for Georgia, you are going to love what portation industry to other states? Transportation to the space industry will do— especially since the global low earth orbit is currently being driven by the telecom- space industry is a whopping five times the size of the munications industry, earth monitoring satellites, and global film industry. national defense. In the next 10 years space tourism, zero gravity manufacturing, and mining rare minerals Bob Scaringe of Marietta is president of AVG Communications, will fuel more demand for space launch transportation. a consulting company in the space industry. Any logistics manager will tell you that hundreds of NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 35 OUR BEST

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BU RN S, D ISN G EY IMAGINEERIN military is a significant part of storage space and faculty and administrative offices. THE Georgia’s growth. In fact, Georgia’s “This new facility isn’t just adding square footage to our military presence ranks among the University,” says President Dr. Jaimie Hebert. “It’s not just top five in the nation. Its Army, Navy, Air Force and about bricks and mortar. It’s about the people, and the Marine installations together generate approximately $20 many ways this facility will allow us to expand our capa- billion in economic impact, including salaries, contracts bilities and our services to the future Army officers in and revenues. And at Georgia Southern University, the Georgia— increasing our impact upon this state, and military also plays a significant role. contributing to its continued growth.” The university has the largest Reserve Officer In addition to the new facility, Georgia Southern Training Corps program of its kind recently opened a new Military and in the southeastern United States, Veteran Student Center in the and has been named a Military Fielding D. Russell Union on cam- Friendly School for the last six pus. The new location serves as a years in a row. To continue its mis- resource to assist military person- sion to promote student growth nel, veterans and their family mem- and life success beyond the class- bers in making a successful transi- room, the university has expanded tion to the student community. It is its military facilities and programs a place to meet, relax, student and to support past, present and future get information, assistance and military personnel. advice on a wide range of services Eagle Battalion, the provided by Team Eagle, the mili- University’s ROTC program, is one tary and veteran success network of the finest in the nation. Under at the University. the leadership of its world-class “We have been working to set officers, the Battalion has been a up and make this Center a central three-time recipient of the presti- hub for military, veterans and their gious MacArthur Award, which is family members,” says Lt. Col. Ret. presented to the top ROTC pro- Bill Roberts, associate dean of gram from among eight brigades in the U.S. It has met Students for Military Affairs. “We strive to provide a place or exceeded the required number of Army of camaraderie, information and connection.” Commissioned Officers for the last decade— one of only In Spring 2016, roughly 9,000 students enrolled in a handful in the country to do so— and it is home to the University System of Georgia schools took advantage of largest ROTC nursing program with a national reputa- veterans’ educational benefits, and some 900 veterans tion for excellence. graduated with degrees. Indeed, veterans are doing great In December, Georgia Southern will officially open a things at Georgia Southern, and then moving on to do new $9.5 million Military Science Building to house Eagle great things in Georgia and beyond. Battalion. The 32,000 square-foot building will replace a 10,000 square-foot temporary facility that the Battalion Gary Reese is associate editor for James magazine. has occupied for nearly a decade. The new facility will contain a large auditorium, meeting rooms, classrooms, ust 30 miles north of Atlanta the next gener- the Southeast, producing healthcare professionals to ation of medical professionals learn to serve serve the health needs of the region. the needs of their communities, work suc- The physical therapy (PT) program under develop- cessfully in integrated healthcare settings ment at GA-PCOM recently welcomed a founding pro- and take a “whole body” approach to the gram director, as well as a director of clinical education, medical sciences. Since 2005, Gwinnett County has been who are in the process of completing an Application for home to the only osteopathic medical college in the state: Candidacy, which will be submitted to the Commission The Georgia Campus of the Philadelphia College of on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM). in December of 2017. A branch campus of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PTs are healthcare professionals who, using a variety campus, GA-PCOM offers degrees in osteopathic medicine of clinical applications, help to restore, maintain, and pro- (DO), pharmacy (PharmD), biomedical sciences (MS) and mote physical function. They work in many different set- physician assistant studies (MS). Recently the college tings including hospitals, clinics, home health, schools, announced a plan to implement a physical therapist educa- nursing homes and sports facilities. tion program that, pending accreditation candidacy status, Projected to be one of the fastest growing professions will admit its first group of students in the Summer of 2018. nationally between 2014 and 2024, PT is predicted to Noting the significant demand for physician exten- grow 40 percent in Georgia. Physical therapy is ranked ders in Georgia, the college established its physician fifth as being one of the best jobs in the healthcare indus- assistant (PA) program with the matriculation of its first try by U.S. News & World Report. class of PA students in June of 2016. PAs are health pro- Students pursuing a degree at GA-PCOM learn from a fessionals who practice medicine with supervision by committed team of faculty members who emphasize stu- licensed physicians, delivering a broad range of medical dent engagement. The campus features research and multi- and surgical services in a variety of clinical settings. use science laboratories, an anatomy laboratory, a simula- There are approximately 3,170 PAs practicing in Georgia, tion center, pharmacy practice labs and an osteopathic with U.S. News & World Report ranking the profession as manipulative medicine practice suite. And make a note of the fourth best healthcare job in the country in 2016. this: GA-PCOM also houses the Georgia Osteopathic Care GA-PCOM’s PA program provides a comprehensive Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic which academic and clinical medical education to prepare stu- is open to the public by appointment. dents for their professional roles as physician assistants. Bryan Ginn is the Chief Georgia Campus Officer of the Philadelphia The college’s program increases medical education College of Osteopathic Medicine opportunities for students interested in becoming PAs in EDUCAATTING TOMORROW’S HEALLTTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Georgia Campus – Philadeelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA–PCOM) is a private, not-for-profit branch campus of the fully accredited Phhiladelphia College of Osteopathic Meedicine, a multi-program institution with a more than 100-year tradition of educaational excellence.

DEGREES OFFERED • DOCTOR OF OSTEOPPAAATTHIC MEDICINE (DO) • DOCTOR OF PHARMACY (PharmD) • MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (MS) • MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHYSICIAN ASSISTTAANT STUDIES (MS)

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