January 2020 Features

  • Katie Bishop Williams Named Athens CVB Director

    January 31, 2020

    The Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the official destination marketing and management organization for Athens - Clarke County, has announced that Katie Bishop Williams will join the staff as the new CVB director. Williams succeeds Chuck Jones, who has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Outreach of The Classic Center.

  • $6.5B: UGA’s Annual Economic Impact Grows

    January 31, 2020

    Growth in the number of graduates earning degrees in high-demand fields, a thriving research and innovation ecosystem, and a commitment to serving the state have lifted the University of Georgia’s annual economic impact to its highest level yet: $6.5 billion.

  • New Gen Z Data Brings Businesses a Critical Question: What's Your Plan Z?

    January 30, 2020

    Employers and business leaders take note: a one-size-fits-all approach to defining a generation will cost talent and customers. As Gen Z, the generation of those born between 1997 and 2007, begins to enter the workforce and flex its newfound spending power, connecting with them is critical.

  • Hearings Get Underway After Kemp Introduces Proposed Budget

    January 23, 2020

    It is the second week of the Georgia General Assembly and that means budget talks are underway. This year talks could get more intense as lawmakers look for ways to trim the budget and meet the challenge by Governor Brian Kemp to cut spending by 4 percent this fiscal year and another 6 percent in fiscal year 2021.

  • Georgia’s Tourism Industry Breaks Visitation Records

    January 22, 2020

    Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development, joined Governor Kemp and industry professionals from across the state to recognize a record-breaking year in tourism at the annual Tourism, Hospitality and Arts Day at the Georgia State Capitol. The annual event highlights the importance of the tourism, hospitality, and arts industries in the state.

  • Governor, First Lady Introduce Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation

    January 22, 2020

    Yesterday Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp were joined by Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education Commission members, legislators, and special guests as they announced three important legislative measures to combat human trafficking in Georgia.

  • Deloitte M&A Trends Report 2020: US Dealmaker Optimism Holds Strong as Economic Slowdown Talk Continues

    January 21, 2020

    The market is entering a new decade on the outer edges of the longest run in M&A history, but even so, dealmakers are largely anticipating stable or increasing levels of activity in the year ahead, according to Deloitte's "The State of the Deal: M&A Trends 2020" survey of 1,000 U.S. corporate dealmakers and private equity firm professionals.

  • Lt. Gov. Lists Priorities – Gambling a Question Mark

    January 17, 2020

    Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and some members of the Senate Majority Caucus kicked off the 2020 Georgia General Assembly on Monday by outlining priorities for the session. Duncan met with media in his office Monday and announced plans to focus on three main issues – healthcare, foster care and technology innovation.

  • Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan Announces Georgia Innovates Taskforce

    January 16, 2020

    Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan today announced the formation of the Georgia Innovates Taskforce, a panel of more than a dozen Georgia leaders who will help accelerate his vision of making Georgia the Technology Capital of the East Coast.

  • Mentoring as Powerful Corporate Philanthropy? You bet!

    January 14, 2020

    Hundreds of thousands of food insecure families are less hungry because a few Georgia business leaders chose to mentor one young man with a big idea. How’s that for impact? Many small businesses struggle with how to make real impact in the community.

  • U.S. News & World Report Reveals the 2020 Best Jobs

    January 14, 2020

    U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, unveiled the 2020 Best Jobs. The rankings offer a look at the best jobs across 17 lists – from best-paying jobs and best jobs without a college degree to sectors such as business and technology – to help job seekers at every level achieve their career goals.

  • Ninth Circuit Sides with Ag Chris Carr in Fight to Uphold Congressional Review Act

    January 10, 2020

    A federal appeals court has backed Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and other state attorneys general in a fight to uphold the Congressional Review Act.

  • W&A Engineering Announces Building Better Communities Local Business Partnership

    January 09, 2020

    We are delighted to announce that as part of W&A Engineering’s 20th anniversary celebration, we will be launching a year-long initiative, the Building Better Communities Local Business Partnership! Throughout the coming year, W&A will partner with 12 premier local businesses, and highlight the work they have done in establishing their business as an important part of the culture and economy of Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties.

  • Governor Kemp: Georgia Enjoyed a Truly Historic Year in 2019

    January 09, 2020

    In January 2019, I took the oath of office to officially became Georgia’s 83rd governor. Since then, I have worked around the clock to make good on campaign promises and keep Georgia moving in the right direction.

  • Georgia Power Earns EEI Emergency Recovery Award for Restoration Efforts following March Tornado Outbreak

    January 09, 2020

    The Edison Electric Institute presented Georgia Power with the association’s “Emergency Recovery Award” for its power restoration efforts after 14 tornadoes hit Georgia in March 2019.

  • Delta Unveils Consumer Innovations at CES 2020, The World’s Largest Tech Stage

    January 08, 2020

    On the world’s largest tech stage, Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced several technology innovations that are transforming the future of travel, rolling out this year and beyond, including transformation of the Fly Delta app, PARALLEL REALITY display screens, captivating entertainment options, full-body wearable exoskeletons and an AI machine learning operations platform.

  • GMA and GeorgiaForward Announce New Managing Director

    January 08, 2020

    The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and GeorgiaForward (GF) recently named Brenda Belcher as the new GeorgiaForward Managing Director.

  • CEO Confidence Rebounded in Q4

    January 08, 2020

  • Georgia Launches 2020 Census Campaign

    January 06, 2020

    Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the official launch of Georgia's 2020 Census campaign - Every. One. Counts. - led by the state's Complete Count Committee.

  • New Laws Take Effect in 2020

    January 06, 2020

    In his first year as Georgia governor, Brian Kemp signed more than 300 bills into law. While many of the new laws have already taken effect, others will be in place January 1st.

  • Survey: Business Leaders Start 2020 with Lingering Concerns About Talent Shortages & Recession Risk

    January 06, 2020

    A new survey reveals that the world's chief executives view the risk of a recession as their biggest external concern in 2020. Attracting and retaining talent ranks as their top internal concern. They also feel unsettled by trade uncertainty, political instability, and more intense competition from disruptive technologies. However, they plan to counter such forces by developing more innovative cultures and new business models.