June 2019 Features

• Shan Cooper and Frank Blake Elected to Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators

  June 28, 2019

  The Georgia Historical Society announced that Shan Cooper and Frank Blake have been elected to serve as the newest members of the GHS Board of Curators.

• Current Signs of the Times in Corporate Responsibility: A Conversation with Coxe Curry's Ann W. Cramer

  June 26, 2019

  The goBeyondProfit team had the privilege to sit with Ann and hear her perspective on trends in Corporate Responsibility. Ann has identified several signs of the time based on the Five Corporate Social Responsibility Trends to Watch in 2019, that are published annually by her friend and colleague Tim McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation.

• Allen, Hice Help Secure Ft. Gordon Cyber Instructional Facility Funding

  June 25, 2019

  The budget process has been out of regular order for several years now. Under normal rules, Congress would pass 12 appropriations measures that form the annual budget. These 12 separate spending bills offer a lot of chances for disagreement and possible partisan wrangling. It is much easier to pass much, much larger bills that combine spending into a package – thus, the “omnibus budget.”

• The Outlook for the U.S. Housing Market Hits its Highest Point in Three Years

  June 25, 2019

  Last year's sales slowdown, combined with the decidedly mixed data through the first half of 2019, certainly suggested that housing had passed its peak in this cycle. But the latest Health of Housing Markets Report (HoHM Report) from Nationwide Economics sees more positive, sustainable trends for the housing sector for at least the next year.

• Georgia's Largest Technology Showcase Scheduled for March 2020

  June 24, 2019

  The premier showcase event for Georgia's technology industry, The Summit, returns March 3rd & 4th, 2020 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta to shine a spotlight on the state's industry strengths and gather top leaders and innovative companies at the Technology Association of Georgia's (TAG) annual meeting.

• AT&T Invests Nearly $5.4B Over 3-Year Period to Boost Local Networks in Georgia

  June 21, 2019

  At AT&T, we’ve invested nearly $5.4 billion in our Georgia wireless and wired networks during 2016-2018. These investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and businesses.

• Wayfair to Create 500+ Jobs in Athens-Clarke County

  June 20, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Wayfair, one of the world's largest online destinations for the home, will create 500 jobs and invest more than $8 million in a customer support facility in Athens.

• Congressman Tom Graves Introduces Active Cyber Defense Certainty Act

  June 20, 2019

  Congressman Tom Graves (R-GA-14) is concerned about criminal hackers in cyberspace. The Republican Congressman from Ranger, GA teamed with Democrat Congressman Josh Gottheimer (N.J.-05), to introduce a bipartisan bill that gives American businesses and consumers more tools to defend themselves online.

• GMA Convention Guest Speakers Share Unique Roads to Success

  June 18, 2019

  The GMA 2019 Annual Convention themed: “Cities United: Lead to Succeed.” will take place this week at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.

• Georgia Awarded Gold Shovel for Jobs and Investment

  June 18, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced Georgia was awarded a Gold Shovel by Area Development Magazine for generating the most jobs and investment in the United States for the eight to twelve million population category.

• Georgia Small Business Leaders Profit from Speakers' Expertise/Experience at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Event

  June 17, 2019

  This past Wednesday nearly two hundred small business leaders from across Georgia had the opportunity to benefit from attending the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Small Business Series” held in Atlanta: a notable list of fifteen, experienced peers and experts in the small business market segment shared practical advice, anecdotal narratives, and statistical information to help inspire owners, who might want to incorporate them in their business models and plans.

• Janice Dunn Named St. Mary's CFO

  June 14, 2019

  Janice Dunn, a highly experienced healthcare finance executive from Georgia's Golden Isles, has been named the new Chief Financial Officer for St. Mary's Health Care System, including its hospitals in Athens, Lavonia and Greensboro, medical group, multi-county home health care/hospice agency, and retirement community.

• Governor Kemp Makes Historic Appointment for Insurance Commissioner

  June 13, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp made history by appointing Doraville Police Chief and Brigadier General John King to serve as Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner and Safety Fire Commissioner. King is the first Hispanic Insurance Commissioner and statewide constitutional officer.

• Freight and Logistics Commission will Look at All Options

  June 12, 2019

  Democrat and Republican lawmakers in Georgia agree that logistics and moving freight across the state will be a key issue when they meet under the Gold Dome again in January 2020. To prepare for those discussions, a Joint Commission of the state House and Senate has been appointed to study and consider different options.

• UGA Teams up with Georgia Chamber for High Potentials Leadership Program

  June 12, 2019

  UGA led 19 business and organization members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce through a leadership program in May designed for employees with the potential to help address challenges in their communities. It was the second annual High Potentials Leadership program, led by faculty from the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development.

• AT&T Expands Ultra-Fast Internet Speeds in Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties

  June 11, 2019

  To continue to improve how our customers connect, AT&T is investing to expand and enhance its 100% fiber network powered by AT&T Fiber and deliver our fastest internet speeds to more customers. Ultra-fast internet speeds are now available to more than 1 million locations across the state of Georgia, including thousands of locations in parts of Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties.

• Alumnus Grant Thomas Named UGA State Government Relations Director

  June 10, 2019

  Grant Thomas will join the Office of Government Relations June 17th as director of state relations. Based in Atlanta, he will be UGA’s primary liaison to the Georgia General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, state agencies and related groups.

• Athens Law Firm Raises More Than $3K and 500 lbs. of Food for Food Bank of NE Georgia

  June 07, 2019

  Athens law firm Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. (BBGA) participated again this year in the Legal Food Frenzy, a two-week food and fund drive competition held in partnership with the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar and Young Lawyers Division, and the Georgia Food Bank Association.

• Athens-Clarke County Assistant Manager Jestin Johnson Named Deputy COO with City of Atlanta

  June 07, 2019

  Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Assistant Manager Jestin Johnson has resigned effective June 12, 2019 to accept a position as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer with the City of Atlanta. In this position, Johnson will assist the City of Atlanta's Chief Operating Officer in planning and directing City operations and functions as assigned by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

• Matt Arthur: Improve Horizons for Millions of Georgians Outside Metro Atlanta

  June 07, 2019

  Metro Atlanta continues to be the hub of economic activity in Georgia and the Southeast, with no sign of slowing down any time soon. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atlanta has had a 43% growth in jobs since 1991, more than 20 percentage points higher than the national average. It has the fourth fastest population growth in the nation—nearly six million people live in the metro region.

• Judd Drake Named Sole Finalist for Athens-Clarke County Attorney Position

  June 06, 2019

  Mayor Kelly Girtz announces that Judd Drake is the sole finalist for the position of Attorney for the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government. Current Attorney Bill Berryman is retiring as of June 30, 2019 after serving in the position since 2003.

• Small Business Hiring and Wage Growth Hold Steady in May

  June 06, 2019

  The Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch for May shows job and wage growth were essentially unchanged from the previous month. The national jobs index stands at 98.76 and has been relatively stable throughout 2019. Hourly earnings have increased 2.53 percent ($0.67) over the past 12 months, remaining slightly ahead of the 2018 average growth rate (2.49 percent).

• Georgia Chamber Partners With U.S. Chamber To Host Small Business Series June 12th

  June 05, 2019

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will be partnering to host the Small Business Series on June 12, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mason Fine Art and Events in Atlanta.

• Georgia Power Customers to See Credit on June Bills

  June 05, 2019

  The second of three credits associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will be applied directly to Georgia Power customers’ bills in June. These credits are a result of the reduction in Georgia Power’s federal corporate tax rate from 35% down to 21%.

• Congress Passes Disaster Relief Bill

  June 04, 2019

  Help is on the way. Nearly nine months after farmers in South Georgia were devastated by Hurricane Michael, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill Monday, sending the measure to President Donald Trump. The legislation was approved 354-58 by Congress.