n. fulton business journal 07/14
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NFBJNorth Fulton Business Journal
n VOL 1. ISSUE 1 WWW.NORTHFULTONBIZ.COM JULY 2014
Former Falcons player’s business tackles identity theft
page 3
Local leaders turn out for chamber gala
page 8
By James [email protected]
For eight years, the Alive After 5 series has turned Roswell’s trendiest shopping and dining district into an afterhours jamboree.
According to organizer Sally Johnson, the event averages 3,000 people on good weather days. Johnson, owner of the Chandlery on 950 Canton St. has been the program’s organizer for the last seven years.
“You run into your neighbors, your friends and the people you go to church with,” Johnson said. “It’s been the best thing for Roswell in the last eight years.”
April through October, Canton Street bustles with activity the third Thursday of every month. At the event, the roadway from Norcross Street to Magnolia Street is cordoned off.
Choate: Two large-scale high tech projects slated for north Fulton
Community Relations Coordinator Karen Zitomer staffs the city of Roswell table alongside public relations specialist Carisa Turner at June’s Alive After 5 event.
nStaff / James Swift
Canton St. businesses discuss economic impact of Alive After 5
See ALIVE, Page 5
By James [email protected]
Millard Choate started a construction company — literally out of a basement — in 1989.
A quarter century later, his business anticipates $850 million in volume for the year.
“Everything I do has an economic base,” the Choate Construction president said at a June 24 Eggs and Enterprise meeting in Johns Creek. “I don’t really care about volume, I care about quality.”
The event, held at the Atlanta
Athletic Club, was sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. “I think every locale needs a chamber to organize and focus on the business needs of the community,” Choate said. “I think it is critically important that you have that to engender and develop further economic development.”
Choate Construction has five offices throughout the Southeast, with nine separate divisions.
The company’s portfolio consists of biomedical facilities, corporate
From Staff Reports
With more than $81 million in infrastructure built over the past 10 years, the North Fulton Community Improvement District has now completed a new master plan for the commercial district along Georgia 400. Entitled “Blueprint North Fulton 2.0,” the master plan outlines priorities for the next decade of district investments.
“In 2008, we created Blueprint North Fulton as our initial master plan,” Kerry Armstrong, chairman of the CID, said in a statement.
“Our first blueprint identified a list of priority transportation and quality-of-life improvement projects. It also helped guide our investments to address priority projects, including the extension of Westside Parkway at Old Milton Parkway, intersection improvements, landscaping at interchanges and much more.”
CID: Blueprint of north Fulton business
district completed
See CID Page 7
WHAT’S INSIDERUTH’S CHRIS MAKES MOVE
TO ALPHARETTA 03
BANK OF NORTH GEORGIA
MAKES CHANGES 04
NORTH FULTON WOMEN IN
BUSINESS PROFILE 06
SCENE: GNFCC CHAIRMAN’S
GALA 08
SCENE: CVB AWARDS 09
NORTH FULTON MEDICAL
BEAT 10
UPS ANNOUNCES NEW
CHIEF EXECUTIVE 11
JOB MARKET UPDATE 12
LOCAL RIBBON CUTTINGS 15
Staff / James SwiftMillard Choate addresses Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce members at the June Eggs & Enterprise meeting.See CHOATE, Page 7
I N T H E M A R K E T P L A C E
NORTH FULTON BUSINESS JOURNAL/JULY 2014 3
ON THE MOVEFrom Staff Reports
Ruth’s Chris Steak House will move its existing Sandy Springs restaurant to Alpharetta this fall.
Franchisees Jim Brooks, Phil Brooks, Mark Oswald and Nancy Oswald have purchased the property and building at 11655 Haynes Bridge Road just off Ga. 400 — the former Rainwater Restaurant location.
Designed in the tradition of a vineyard estate, the 18,248 square-foot restaurant
was first built in 2001 for more than $7 million with high-end, custom-designed features throughout and ample private dining and banquet facilities.
The building includes a brick vaulted-ceiling wine room with climate controlled storage for over 9,000 bottles.
Ruth’s Chris Alpharetta will feature a range of dining options for the restaurant’s guests, both for individual dining and for private events.
The restaurant, which boasts numerous private rooms including a banquet room
that will accommodate up to 200 guests, will undergo a total refurbishment prior to reopening as Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
“This was an opportunity that we simply had to seize,” co-owner Jim Brooks said in a statement.
“It has been a wonderful 20-plus years in Sandy Springs, but the Haynes Bridge site offers the ability to be in a distinct trade area from our other three Atlanta restaurants with the bonus of unprecedented event space,” partner Mark Oswald continued in the same statement.
Ruth’s Chris relocates to Alpharetta from Sandy Springs
Dan Benish once made a living as a pro footballer. Now, he heads a company protecting businesses from America’s fastest-growing crime.
nStaff / James Swift
Former Falcons player’s company offers...
By James [email protected]
A retired NFL defensive tackle, Dan Benish is used to terrorizing quarterbacks.
In the early 1990s, the Super Bowl champion got blindsided— by identity theft.
“I had a woman who took on the identity of being my wife, and I wasn’t married at the time,” Benish said. “She used my identity to obtain a house, cars and some credit cards … they ended up sentencing the woman to six years house arrest.”
Benish, who played for the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins in the 1980s, spent several years attempting to clear up his own records. “I was left holding the bag on the house, the credit cards and the cars,” he said. “I actually had to go around to the creditors, and convince
them I had nothing to do with this.”After retiring from the gridiron, he spent
several years with the information technology firm Data Transit International.
In 2004, a friend asked him if he wanted to get involved with a company seeking to create an automated recovery process for identity theft victims.
“We created the process and developed the software ourselves,” Benish said. “That was the timeframe when all these other companies started getting involved.” At the time, he said credit bureaus were largely disinterested in identity theft recovery. Over the last decade, he said the same companies have tried to convince consumers their credit monitoring services will protect them from identity thieves.
“Once something negative hits your credit report, it’s already happened,” Benish said.
“You’re a victim, you’ve got to go into recovery mode.”
In 2011, Benish partnered with SA IT Services to start his own company, Core ID. The Roswell business offers identity theft recovery services to both consumers and corporations.
Core ID consumer services are tiered off into three packages. Customers are alerted when suspicious identification verifications occur, with recovery services beginning as soon as identity theft takes place.
He calls his services ARX ID, naming the product after the Latin term for “citadel.” His company also helps customers obtain and review credit reports for inaccuracies. He said about 70 percent of all credit reports contain false information.
a different kind of defense
Benish said similar services only offer “assisted recovery” services. Victims are left doing much of the work themselves and medical and IRS identity theft are often uncovered.
Core ID differs by pulling together the necessary forms–based on type of identity theft and jurisdiction—and then automatically filling them out and printing them. “We do all the work for you,” he said.
Corporate solutions offered include verification, red flag compliance services and data breach response planning. Consumer identity protection coverage, he said, is often bundled with their business identity theft protection services.
“These things aren’t going away, identity theft is getting worse every year,” he said. “We try to offer a holistic approach to businesses of all sizes.”
Some of his clients include colleges, benefits brokers and insurance agencies. As a small business, he implements a sales channel program and engages in strategic partnerships with organizations like Purchasing Alliance Solutions in Marietta, Ga.
Identity theft impacts more than just credit scores, he said. Both medical and IRS identity theft is increasing.
Benish said nearly $6 billion in falsified returns went out last year. Medical ID theft could even prove fatal, he said.
“In an emergency, you might be given a drug you’re not supposed to have,” he said. “It’s much more far reaching than just financial.”
He said Core ID differs from its competitors by providing hands-on, boutique-style services. “We’re going to help you from the beginning all the way to the end,” he said.
Benish said his monitoring services match up with LifeLock and Identity Theft 911 while being more personable and less costly.
He said one competitor service retails at $270. His similar service is just $149, with employee benefits knocking an additional 20 to 30 percent off.
“You’re going to spend about $8.95 a month for our coverage,” he said. “Where you’re going to spend $25 a month for LifeLock.”
See BENISH, Page 7
Welcome to our premiere
issueIt doesn’t take long for new
residents to north Fulton to realize that they have moved to a business Mecca.
Though the cities of Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs make up one half of Fulton County, there is a large enough business community to warrant multiple chambers of commerce and business a s s o c i a t i o n s , as well as four convention and visitors bureaus.
From the technology center in Alpharetta to the medical corridor of Sandy Springs, north Fulton is brimming with business. With this first edition of the North Fulton Business Journal, our area now has a business publication that aims to have a razor-sharp focus on the business trends and topics that are relevant to local businesses and business professionals.
Each month in these pages you will find stories about the business leaders who drive this community, economic trends and realities that shape business decisions, news about new businesses, new hires and promotions within the north Fulton community, as well as news about your local chambers of commerce and business associations.
It is our goal to provide the business community with comprehensive and north Fulton-centered coverage of the news and issues that matter most to the professional community.
As you read these pages, also take note of the local businesses who advertise in this publication. These companies are the ones who make the NFBJ possible and have shown they are community-minded organizations that are worthy of your support.
We hope you enjoy our new publication and we welcome your feedback.
We look forward to being a part of this vibrant community’s future and to keeping you informed on the progress of the north Fulton business community.
This is the business community’s publication. Your news and announcements are an integral part of each edition.
Please let us know if you have a new hire, internal promotion, ribbon cutting, public business event or if your company has reached a milestone.
Press releases and announcements can be emailed to [email protected].
Brian T. ClarkManaging Editor
I N T H E M A R K E T P L A C E
JULY 2014/NORTH FULTON BUSINESS JOURNAL4
E X E C U T I V E publisher
Otis Brumby III
general managerLee B. Garrett
v.p. advertising Wade Stephens
E D I T O R I A L S T A F F
managing editor Brian T. Clark
contributors Nicole Dow, James Swift,
Rachel Kellogg, Everett Catts, Daimon Poirier
layout and design Brian T. Clark
photographyErin Gray, Katherine Frye
copy deskMary Cosgrove, Stacey L. Evans, LaTria Garnigan,
Noreen Cochran
A D V E R T I S I N G S T A F Fadvertising manager
Lynn Danson
advertising directorTara Guest
account executives Dawne Edge, Julie Janofsky
graphic designers Beth Poirier, Jennifer Hall
P R O D U C T I O N
creative director Leigh Hall
circulation director Dave Gossett
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
advertising To advertise, contact
Lynn Danson at 770.795.4001 or ldanson@
northfultonbiz.com
submissions Please send all editorial
correspondence to [email protected]
subscriptionsContact 770.993.7400 x 706 or [email protected]
North Fulton Business Journal is published monthly and is distributed to businesses throughout North Fulton County.
NFBJNorth Fulton Business Journal
Bank of North Ga. announces changesCompiled by Damon Poirier
Bank of North Georgia recent-ly announced the promotions of Jason Albritton, Cory Jackson and Brandi Burgess along with the hiring of Vicky Bailey.
Jason AlbrittonAlbritton was promoted to business
banking officer.“Jason has shown strong leadership
skills by embracing a challenging small business portfolio as well as being a top producer within his Business Banking peer group,” said Mary Karras, senior community executive. “He has the ability to connect with his customers and create loyalty as their account officer, and also to Bank of North Georgia as a whole. With his personal skills, knowledge and strong work ethic, Jason has a bright fu-ture at Bank of North Georgia.”
He is responsible for proactively man-aging and developing relationships with businesses and surrounding areas, act-ing in the capacity of a trusted advisor
to business owners and their teams by helping them identify financial needs and providing them with the proper solutions that meet their needs, as well as deliver-ing quality customer service.
Albritton has 12 years of financial ser-vices experience. Cory Jackson
Jackson was promoted to business banking officer supporting the Buckhead market. He is based at Bank of North Georgia’s Buckhead office.
“I enjoy having Cory on the Buckhead team. He is energetic and has a strong work ethic,” said Marie Mikle, senior community executive. “I have every con-fidence Cory will be successful at Bank of North Georgia. After less than one year, he is already leading our Business Bankers in production.”
Jackson is responsible for proactively managing and developing relationships with businesses throughout Buckhead and surrounding areas, identifying finan-cial needs and providing them with ex-ceptional customer service.
He graduated from Kennesaw State
University in 2010 with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Brandi BurgessBurgess was promoted to branch man-
ager of the Cumming branch.“Brandi began her career at Bank
of North Georgia just over seven years ago and she has excelled in the Retail Banking arena,” said Teri Goodman, re-tail lead and vice president. “Brandi is a proven leader and it’s a privilege to have her on our team.”
In her new role, Burgess is responsi-ble for new client acquisition, expanding current relationships and overall client retention while driving new loan produc-tion.
She joined the bank in 2006 and has held various retail positions. During her tenure, she has been recognized for her outstanding customer service by receiv-ing the Raving Fans Award and was a top sales associate having the most closed referrals for the Stellar Tellar program. Recently, she was the assistant branch manager for two branches, Cumming
and Johns Creek. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and earned a bachelors degree in business ad-ministration and finance.
Vicky BaileyBailey was named vice president
and branch manager of the Johns Creek branch. In her new role, she is responsi-ble for new client acquisition, expanding current relationships and overall client retention while driving new loan produc-tion.
She has more than 28 years of banking experience in retail and business banking, as well as commercial lending. She joined Bank of North Georgia from SunTrust Bank, where she served as vice president and branch manager for eight years. Before that, she worked at Wells Fargo for 20 years.
Vicky’s expertise and professionalism are unparalleled,” said Teri Goodman, retail lead and vice president. “She is dedicated to providing an exceptional client experi-ence while strengthening her business part-nerships to meet the banking needs of our clients.”
From Staff Reports
Alpharetta-based Mosaic Clubs & Resorts has been retained to manage Bear Creek Golf Club, an elite private club on Hilton Head Island, S.C., according to Mosaic chairman Whitney Crouse.
Bear Creek is a Rees Jones signature course that weaves through a pristine low country setting in Hilton Head Plantation, a 4,000-acre master planned community framed by the Intracoastal Waterway and Port Royal Sound.
The 6,804-yard, par 72 course opened in 1980, then underwent a comprehensive renovation guided by Jones in 2006.
Jones is renowned for both his original designs and renovation work, earning the moniker of the “Open Doctor” for prepping renowned U.S. Open courses
such as Torrey Pines, Bethpage Black and Congressional golf clubs.
Jones designed Bear Creek with a close proximity between green complexes and tees, making the course easily walkable.
He also set aside extensive natural areas to encourage wildlife diversity and proliferation, one of the criteria that earned the club Audubon certification. Bear Creek also participates in the Go Green initiative.
“It is an honor for us to assist Bear Creek, a club that boasts a very active membership and great golf course,” said Crouse. “It will be particularly rewarding for us to be back on Hilton Head Island and have Mosaic serve as stewards of this great club, one that I loved to play when I lived on the island.”
Crouse began his career in the golf
Alpharetta company to manage Bear Creek Golf Club on Hilton Head Islandbusiness on Hilton Head Island, rising to the role of general manager at Wexford Plantation.
Crouse subsequently moved to Atlanta, where he founded club management company Affiniti Golf Partners. Affiniti has since become Mosaic Clubs & Resorts.
Mosaic will be responsible for managing all golf operations, membership, dining, accounting and
marketing functions at Bear Creek.Club president Dick Males said,
“We are pleased to welcome Mosaic to Bear Creek. Mosaic offers the expertise, support systems and experienced staff to manage the club, maintain the quality of our golf course and enrich the Bear Creek experience for members and guests.”
For more information about Bear Creek Golf Club call (843) 681-9510 or visit www.bearcreekgolfclub.org.
By James [email protected]
Intelliverse CEO Sean Gordon has been named the newest board member of the Greater Alpharetta Technology Network.
Since March 2013, Gordon has been the head of the Alpharetta-based communications solutions company. He is the 14th member appointed to the network board.
Gordon, who has lived in Alpharetta for more than 10 years, said he is honored and flattered by the appointment. “As Alpharetta is continuing to grow and move, we feel that it’s a great, opportune time to create this organization,” he said.
Founded in 1984, the company has served the north Fulton area for three decades. Previously, Gordon served as vice president of sales for InterCall and held several leadership positions at AT&T, EMC Corp. and Nortel Networks Corp.
“Up until now, there hasn’t been a local organization to serve these technology
companies,” said network founder and President and Karen Cashion. “Our focus is to bring a community of collaboration … by providing thought leadership events, educational events and networking events.”
The board is comprised of tech industry executives and representatives from both educational institutions and tech industry supporting companies. Cashion said Gordon’s years of experience in telecommunications will be a tremendous asset. The network, Gordon said, will allow north Fulton technology companies to work together better.
“We really want to try to capture not just the companies, but the networks of people that live up in this area who are heavily involved in the technology community,” he said.
Over the last 18 months, Gordon said, almost 4,500 new, high-paying tech jobs have come to the Alpharetta area. Gordon said he believes the network can assist both tech and non-tech businesses in the area, turning the corridor into a “mini-Silicon Valley of the Southeast.”
Local businessman named to technology network board
Trolleys carry shoppers, diners and sightseers from Roswell City Hall to Canton Street, where the air crackles with live music and the aroma of local eateries.
“Alive After 5 was designed to create an event for the local community,” Johnson said. “It’s to bring people out and about on the streets of Roswell.”
Many galleries, retailers and restaurants keep their doors open past their normal business hours as part of the festivities. Deborah Hardee, co-owner of Oli + Ve at 1003 Canton St., said her shop usually doubles its business during the monthly event.
“It’s certainly helped awareness and sales,” she said. “It’s just a fun place to be … I personally think it has put Roswell on the map.”
Heidi VinCola, owner of 9 Design Home Decor at 1066 Canton St., also said the event is beneficial for her business.
“We have great sales during Alive After 5,” she said. “Usually, it’s a lot of smaller items…candles, jewelry, things like that.”
Roux on Canton owner Zachary Bramblett said his restaurant at 946 Canton St. brings in more evening diners than normal during the event.
He considers the event not just a success for the district, but the entire city.
“I was part of Alive After 5 from the very beginning,” he said. “It was a huge event that sparked a new energy on Canton Street.”
Others, however, are not so fond of the festivities.
“Honestly, it doesn’t help my business anymore,” said Valerie Jackson, owner of the Ann Jackson Gallery at 932 Canton St. She criticized the scant parking and outside vendors, and said the event does not lead to increased sales at her business.
“Now, it has gotten to be so big and so crowded,” she said. “It’s a destination just to party in the street.”
Candice Hawkins, a representative of the Sacred Mother Healing Clinic at 1025 Canton St., said the emphasis on local retailers has been lost.
“It’s kind of turned into more of a drink fest than getting to know the businesses,” she said.
Roswell Inc. Executive Director Steve Stroud said the event sparks Canton Street sales and brings in out-of-towners. “It has a huge impact,” he said. “It’s brought in people from all different areas in town and the Atlanta area …it’s really put a focus on what’s happening in Roswell.”
Particularly, he said Canton Street revitalization has led to tremendous
Continued from Page 1ALIVE
Staff / James SwiftA large crowd turned out for Alive After 5 on Canton Street last month.
N E W A N D N O T E W O R T H Y
business for restaurants. “The restaurants themselves feed off each other and grow together,” Stroud said.
He believes the event does more than lure metro shoppers and diners. By exposing visitors to Roswell’s festivities and “quality of life,” Stroud feels tourists may possibly relocate to the city.
Several nearby businesses, however, have complaints about Alive After 5.
Ariana Ferlino, owner of Serendipity Gifts and Boutique at 26 Webb St., said being blocked off from Canton Street during the event hurts sales.
Before the blockades, she said she was making $700 to $800 a night during the event.
“We used to do business that day, now it’s stopped,” she said. “We are closing early and leaving, because no one comes back here.”
Molly Jordan, co-owner of It’s So Fabulous! at 26 Webb St., agreed foot traffic was poor.
“Often, people don’t recognize there’s access to the shops back here,” she said “It’s not worth the extra time we’re paying an employee to be here, or running our air conditioning.”
W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S
DESIGN DIVAHome organization and design has always been an
interest for Alpharetta resident Melissa Piccirillo. She studied interior design at Michigan State University and worked at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center before having her two daughters.
“I started doing design 20 years ago,” she said. “Then I had my first child and just did some part-time design work for friends and family and anybody that needed it. Now that she’s 15, it’s time to go back to work. I started Pretty Neat Interiors, and I’m excited.”
Piccirillo said the services she provides with Pretty Neat Interiors include home staging, organization and redesign. She launched the company in November and said it has kept her busy thus far.
“I probably get five leads a day,” Piccirillo said.She said she gets a lot of referrals through Thumbtack,
a website that links potential clients with local service providers.
“A lot of leads have come through that,” she said.Piccirillo said what she enjoys most about her job is
being able to go into clients’ homes and help them see past their design challenges.
“Maybe they’ve lived there 25 years and they see it how they have it organized or designed or decorated [and] … they can’t see past that,” she said.
“People just don’t have that vision all the time and it’s great to be able to help people without spending a ton of money.”
Piccirillo said a consultation for organization or staging services costs about $75 and then the cost for the job varies based on the clients’ needs, the size of the home and other factors.
Clients can either pay an hourly fee or negotiate a package price with a set fee, she said.
Piccirillo said she can bring better organization or a new design to kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, children’s rooms and more.
“When you say you’re an organizer, people automatically think closets,” she said.
“I don’t specialize in that but I could refer to a closet specialist. I do have some that I work with.”
Piccirillo said her client base is mainly in the north Fulton cities of Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell and Johns Creek. She said she hopes clients enjoy not only the creative vision she brings to each project but her flexibility in working with clients’ schedules and finances.
Alpharetta resident develops home design, organization businessBY NICOLE DOW
Special PhotoMelissa Piccirillo, of Alpharetta, launched Pretty Neat Interiors, a home design and organization company, in November.
By Nicole [email protected]
Buckhead resident Sarah Crossman Sullivan and Sandy Springs resident Jamie Pennington have teamed up to develop and manage a website to improve the online shopping experience.
SeeItFit.com was launched in November and is a free web service that allows customers to upload photos of themselves and virtually try on clothing items before purchasing them.
“We both thought that having to buy something just to get a sense of how it would look when you’re online shopping wasn’t fair,” said Pennington, who has a background in investment banking.
“We just thought that we could make this process better.
… At SeeItFit, you really get a good sense of how things may or may not look on you and that really does help you in your purchasing decisions.”
The duo has partnered with more than 40 retail stores for the website, which is mobile-friendly, she said. Pennington said the company plans to announce smartphone apps later this year.
“We’re in discussions with various stores about integrating the SeeItFit experience on their own websites,” she said.
Pennington and Crossman Sullivan, who has a background in law and consulting, are longtime friends and always knew they would end up working together.
Said Crossman Sullivan, “It’s that partnership, that trust, that honoring, that ability to have the go-to person on your team be the person that’s also your office mate and your
trusted partner — that means everything.”She said as the company moves forward and grows, the
focus will be on continually adapting the technology and building partnerships with more retailers as well as providing exceptional experiences for users.
SeeItFit allows users to share their experiences with others by posting the outfits they have put together on Facebook and Pinterest or sharing photos via email.
The website can also be used to see how outfits would look on others when shopping for a spouse, child or friend.
“Whether it’s a mom who lives across the country from her daughter or a bride wanting to try on bridal gowns with her entire wedding party, they can all do it virtually and have that wonderful sharing experience together all on SeeItFit,” Crossman Sullivan said.
Entrepreneurs create website for better online shopping
Continued from Page 1CHOATE
N E W A N D N O T E W O R T H Y
headquarters and wastewater projects, among many others. Choate even designed next-generation offshore wind turbines as part of a joint project between the U.S. Department of Energy and Clemson University.
Choate gave updates on several local projects.
With construction of the Alpharetta City Center wrapping up, he said details on private mixed-use development were forthcoming. And while Choate did not give specifics, he said construction would soon begin in north Fulton for “two of the largest high-tech projects probably to occur in Georgia this year.”
He said his company has worked on projects ranging in size from $20,000 to $250 million, with the average project costing $3 to $6 million. Three-quarters of his work, he said, are projects from repeat clients.
People, Choate said, were his company’s greatest expense.
“We spend a lot on recruiting, screening
and management training,” he said. “You’ve got to get the right people, the
talents for the right job ... they’ve got to have the right morals, the right fire in the belly.”
Nineteen of his employees have been with the company for more than 20 years. Nearly half of the company has been with Choate for at least 15 years.
He encouraged businesses to focus on personnel strengths.
“Look at everyone you’re dealing with,” he said, “and think ‘how can I maximize the return?’”
Choate said technology and senior living are two of the largest growth sectors for construction in the north Fulton area.
He said he also anticipates more service industry development in the corridor.
“North Fulton already has the base infrastructure to support, particularly, the corporate work and the high-technology work,” he said.
As post-recession construction work
increases, he advised companies to abstain from taking on too many projects.
“When work picked up, subcontractors were like a starving man going to a buffet,” he said.
“They take on more than they can handle, because they don’t have the workforce.”
“
”-Millard Choate
North Fulton already has the base infrastructure to support, particularly, the corporate work and the high technology work.
Blueprint North Fulton 2.0 outlines a new list of district priorities and projects, and will guide the CID’s investments over the next five to 10 years.
The district’s urban design team, led by Eric Bosman of Kimley-Horn, developed the plan to prioritize improvement projects and maximize project impact.
“Blueprint 2.0 is an exciting next step for north Fulton. The CID is proud to have completed a significant majority of its key projects under the original Blueprint plan, and we’re looking forward to building on that success with an updated plan to further enhance quality of life and transportation
connectivity in the District,” Bosman said in a statement.
Since its inception 10 years ago, the district has invested more than $16 million of commercial property owner funds to advance more than $81 million worth of transportation and infrastructure improvements.
The district stretches along Ga. 400 through Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton, serving nearly 400 property owners and more than 77,000 employees.
“As the North Fulton CID celebrates a decade of success, we look forward to the implementation of this plan,” Armstrong said.
“Founded in 2003, the CID’s goal is to be a catalyst for improvement projects that enhance mobility, nurture a strong business climate and contribute to an even better quality of life in north Fulton.”
Continued from Page 1CID
Benish said similar services only offer “assisted recovery” services. Victims are left doing much of the work themselves and medical and IRS identity theft are often uncovered. Core ID differs by pulling together the necessary forms — based on type of identity theft and jurisdiction — and then automatically filling them out and printing them. “We do all the work for you,” he said. Corporate solutions offered include verification, red-flag compliance services and data-breach response planning. Consumer identity protection coverage, he said, is often bundled with their business identity theft
protection services.“These things aren’t going away; identity
theft is getting worse every year,” he said.Some of his clients include colleges,
benefits brokers and insurance agencies. Identity theft impacts more than just credit
scores, he said. Both medical and IRS identity theft is increasing. Benish said nearly $6 billion in falsified returns went out last year. Medical ID theft could even prove fatal, he said. Benish said his monitoring services match up with LifeLock and Identity Theft 911 while being more personable and less costly. He said one competitor service retails at $270. His similar service is just $149, with employee benefits knocking an additional 20 to 30 percent off. “You’re going to spend about $8.95 a month for our coverage,” he said.
Continued from Page 3BENISH
N F B J S C E N E
JULY 2014/NORTH FULTON BUSINESS JOURNAL8
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHERINE FRYE
Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Gala
From left, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President Brandon Beach greets Jill and Mark Luber as they arrive at the gala.
From left, Dave and Sabine Kan enjoy the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Gala.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, center, chats with Fulton County School Board Mem-bers Katie Reeves, left, and Linda McCain, right.
From left, Executive Director Al Nash talks with Bonnie and Raymer Sale.
From left, Roswell City Councilwoman Betty Price and District 6 U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Roswell, enjoy the gala.
From left, Carol and Joel Hoffman share a laugh with Freda Hardage, chair of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
From left, Deborah Lanham, director of member services for the Greater North Ful-ton Cham-ber of Com-merce, talks wtih District 56 State Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, and his wife Kari Albers.
From left, John Beach, Shuntel Beach, Courtney Beach, and Ryan Rostkowski, attend the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Gala at the St. Regis Atlanta.
NORTH FULTON BUSINESS JOURNAL/JULY 2014 9
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
The Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau recently held its annual awards dinner honoring local businesses and
community members.
ROSWELL CVB AWARDS DINNER
Executive director of the Ros-well CVB, Dotty Etris, thanked visitors for attending the annual Roswell awards banquet.
N F B J S C E N E
Bob Hagan was awarded the History Maker award during the annual Roswell CVB awards for over 25 years of service to the community. Pictured from left, Hagan receives his award from Roswell CVB President Ken Davis.
From left, Roswell Inc president Steve Stroud along with K-9 Planet owner Ashley Jacobson and Roswell CVB. President Ken Davis. Jacobson was presented with the Young Professional Award during the annual Roswell CVB awards dinner.
Left, executive director of Roswell Inc, Steve Stroud, told attendees how Roswell Inc is help-ing improve business relationships and helping to make Roswell the best city to work in. Below, from left, Shanes Rib Shack owner Charlie Feehan was present-ed the Presidents Award by Roswell CVB president Ken Davis during the CVB’s annual award dinner.
Right, from left, Randi Miles was presented with a Tour-ism Partner award from Roswell CVB president Ken Davis during the annual CVB awards banquet.
Have a scene event?Email us the details at businessnews@
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com
O P I N I O N
Over the past several months, I have seen more than my fair share of individuals facing the possibility of disability without the protection of adequate disability insurance. They are very discouraged when they contact our office to secure disability insurance only to learn that, since they are no longer healthy, they are no longer insurable. Whether you are a business leader, human resources professional or employee, it is important for you to recognize the impact that an uninsured disability could have on your business, your employees and/or yourself.
Insurance is, by definition, protection against unexpected and unquantifiable loss. However, it is human nature to focus first and foremost on insuring against those losses that we most reasonably expect to experience. As such, medical, dental and even life insurance tend to become the primary focuses of attention because, to a degree, everyone knows those are
plans they will use at one point or another.Disability insurance, on the other hand, is
an insurance product that protects against a tremendous potential loss most people assume will never happen to them. Unfortunately, disability is an all too prevalent reality in our society.
According to the Council for Disability Awareness, a typical female, age 35, 5’4”, 125 pounds, non-smoker who works a mostly office job has a 24 percent chance of becoming disabled for three months or longer during her working career. For a similarly healthy 35-year-old male, the chance of an extended disability is 21 percent. Perhaps even more concerning is the fact the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the government oversight board for America’s insurance industry, confirmed in a recent study that one in eight workers will be disabled for five years or more during their working careers.
My bet is the facts above may come as a surprise to you, but I can attest that, having worked early in my career for the nation’s largest disability insurer, they are all too real. The good news is that disability insurance
is quite affordable within the context of the broader employee benefit plan budget. To put this in perspective, the average medical insurance premium is somewhere around $400 per month per employee. The average monthly premium for a group disability plan is somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 per employee.
That said, as a result of the financial pressures associated with medical premium inflation and the dictates of the Affordable Care Act, many employers have begun to reduce their contribution to ancillary benefit plans, including disability insurance. Many disability plans been converted to employee-paid plan options. This, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. In fact, there can be some tax benefits to making the disability program employee-paid.
The concern is, when a disability plan is voluntary, many employees will choose not to enroll. Those employees often choose not to enroll because of very real pressures on their household’s cash flow and their expectation that disability insurance is an insurance product they will never use. As an employer, it is important that you, first and foremost, recognize the
importance of disability protection and ensure that your employees are similarly educated on the importance of enrolling in disability insurance before they need it.
To be sure, employers cannot be expected to provide for every need their employees may experience. That said, in the case of disability insurance, it is, at a minimum, important employers provide an avenue through which employees can elect protection for themselves and, at best, serve as an advocate within their organization to ensure that employees fully understand the importance of electing disability insurance protection.
Too often, without adequate employer advocacy, employee recognition of the need for disability insurance arises at the point at which the individual is uninsurable due to a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, as the adage goes, “you can’t insure the burning house.” Disability insurance is something that has to be elected before you have any expectation of needing it.
David Bottoms is senior vice president of The Bottoms Group and a principal of TBX Benefit Partners.
Disability insurance: The importance of preparing for the unexpected
David Bottoms
Kaiser announces new purchasing rulesFrom Staff Reports
Concerned about increasing levels of potentially harmful chemicals in the environment, Kaiser Permanente, which has a location in Alpharetta, recently announced it will stop purchasing furniture treated with flame retardants.
Kaiser Permanente is the first health system in the country to do this.
The decision can impact more than 38 hospitals and 600 medical offices in eight states and the District of Columbia.
Kaiser Permanente’s new furniture standard specifies upholstered furniture in new or remodeled buildings should not contain added fire-retardant chemicals.
Kaiser Permanente spends roughly $30 million a year to furnish its hospitals, medical offices and other buildings with chairs, benches, sofas and other furniture.
The decision follows a recent move by the state of California, which updated its flammability standard for upholstered
furniture. The new rules state furniture manufacturers can meet standards without the use of fire-retardant chemicals, which studies show offer no significant benefit in the fire safety performance of furniture.
Chemicals used as flame retardants have been linked to reproductive problems, developmental delays and cancer, among other health problems.
Concern over the health impacts to children, pregnant women and the general public has been growing in recent years, as scientific studies have documented the dangers of exposure.
“Where there is credible evidence that a material might result in harm to the environment or public health, we work to replace it with safer alternatives,” said Kathy Gerwig, vice president of employee safety, health and wellness, and Kaiser
Permanente’s environmental stewardship officer.
The organization is working with its furniture manufacturers to meet this revised standard, and officials expect to see safer furnishings in its hospitals within the next one to three years.
“Kaiser Permanente is creating national momentum in the health care sector for abandoning flame-retardant chemicals in exchange for safer alternatives,” said Gary Cohen, president and founder of Health Care Without Harm and the Healthier Hospitals Initiative.
“The Healthier Hospitals Initiative is working with 1,000 hospitals across the country to protect public health and prevent disease through implementing sustainability strategies. We will utilize this broad hospital network to drive toxic flame retardants out of health care and create the demand for their phase out
from our schools and homes as well.”
Kaiser Permanente has led the industry in sourcing safer alternatives to products used in health care settings.
It encouraged manufacturers to produce PVC-free carpets and to develop fabrics that eliminate chemicals of concern, including vinyl, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds.
More than 50 percent of its overall spending on cleaning products is spent on Green Seal-certified products.
In 2010, it launched its Sustainability Scorecard to provide preference to eco-friendly suppliers and products.
The organization has made the Sustainability Scorecard available to the health care industry’s largest group of purchasing organizations to advance an estimated $135 billion in annual purchasing of care delivery products not using chemicals known to be harmful to human health or the environment.
WellStar has announced restructuring within the nonprofit health care system and almost 30 corporate jobs are being affected. Officials say the changes are being made to plan for the future, as the federal government reduces the amount of money it pays to hospitals.
“These changes help us respond to external challenges in the marketplace and across the nation, and make way for new roles needed to take care of our patients and our community,” Reynold Jennings, WellStar chief executive officer, said in a June 4 letter.
Jennings wrote all positions affected are corporate, non-clinical roles, and severance benefits have been offered.
A hospital spokesperson said 11 officer positions were eliminated and 18 team members were displaced, which means the nonprofit will attempt to find other jobs for the employees at WellStar. If they cannot, Jennings said they will also be offered severance.
M E D I C A L B E A TWellStar
eliminates 29 corporate
positions
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N A M E S I N T H E N E W S
The Associated Press
Package-delivery giant UPS has named a longtime company veteran as its next CEO.
The Sandy Springs-based company said last week Chief Operating Officer David Abney will take the top job Sept. 1. Cur-rent Chairman and CEO Scott Davis will become nonexecutive chairman at that time.
Abney, 58, has worked for UPS for 40
years, starting as a package loader. Before becoming COO, he led the company’s in-ternational operation, among many other jobs.
Davis, 62, has been chairman and CEO since 2008 and has been with the company since 1986. UPS said he oversaw signifi-cant expansion of its international capabil-ities.
“Scott Davis has skillfully guided UPS through one of the most turbulent global economic periods in history while execut-
ing growth strategies in emerging markets and specialized business segments,” UPS board member Duane Acker-man said in a statement.
Like its rivals, the company was hurt during the busy holi-day shopping season. It wasn’t prepared for a big increase in online shopping and a crush
of last-minute orders by shoppers before Christmas. It hired more seasonal workers to keep up with deliveries, driving costs higher during the fourth quarter.
In the most recent quarter, UPS report-ed earnings and revenue missed Wall Street expectations, hurt by winter storms that in-creased costs.
Shares of United Parcel Service Inc. were at $102.68 at press time. Its shares have slipped just over 1 percent so far this year.
UPS taps company veteran as next CEO
David Abney
From Staff Reports
Buckhead-based Spanx Inc. last week announced Jan Singer has been named the company’s CEO.
Singer will report to Sara Blakely, Spanx’s founder and owner.
Gregg Ribatt, the interim CEO, will assist Singer through the transition and then continue to serve on the company’s board
of advisors. Singer is expected to join the
company officially in early July.Singer is a highly regard-
ed and well-respected leader in the apparel and footwear indus-try. She joins Spanx from Nike, where she held various senior leadership roles including cor-porate vice president of global apparel and corporate vice pres-ident of global footwear.
Prior to that, Singer served as
the vice president and general manager of Reebok’s women’s business and played key market-ing and global communications roles for Chanel, Calvin Klein, and Prada.
She also previously served as the beauty and fitness editor for YM magazine.
“Spanx is first and foremost an innovator and leader,” Blakely said in a statement.
“Jan’s role in helping to lead
and innovate at premium, global brands across the apparel, foot-wear and beauty industries, com-bined with her deep understand-ing of the consumer, make her the perfect fit for Spanx.
“I’m confident that she will transition from the locker room to the fitting room seamlessly. I am grateful to Gregg Ribatt for his role in leading the company through this transition and set-ting us up for the next phase of
growth.”In a statement Singer said,
“Spanx is an incredible brand with unique and powerful con-sumer connections, and I’m excited to join such a dynamic company.
“My background and experi-ence position me to build on the great foundation created by Sara and her team, and I look forward to leading the organization on its continued path of success.”
Spanx selects Jan Singer as its new CEO
JULY 2014/NORTH FULTON BUSINESS JOURNAL12
N E W A N D N O T E W O R T H Y
By Josh Boak and Christopher S. RugaberAssociated Press Writers
The U.S. economy has finally regained the jobs lost to the Great Recession. But go easy on the hallelujahs. The comeback is far from complete.
A recent report from the government revealed an economy healing marked by deep and lasting scars. The downturn that began six and a half years ago accelerat-ed wrenching changes, leaving many Americans feeling worse off than they did the last time the economy had roughly the same number of jobs it does now.
Employers added 217,000 workers in May, more than enough to surpass the 138.4 million jobs that existed when the recession began in December 2007. But even as the unemployment rate has slipped to 6.3 percent from 10 per-cent at the depth of the recession, the economy still lacks its former firepower.
To many economists, the job figures are both proof of the sustained recovery and evidence of a painful transfor-mation in how Americans earn a living.
“The labor market recovery has been disappointing,” said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services. “Even with the new peak, there is still a great deal of slack.”
There are still 1.49 million construction jobs missing. Factories have 1.65 million fewer workers. Many of these jobs have been permanently replaced by new technologies: robots, software and advanced equipment that speeds productivity and requires less manpower, said Patrick O’Keefe, director of economic research for the advisory and consulting firm CohnReznick.
“When heavy things need to be moved, we now have
machines to do it,” O’Keefe said. “It is unlikely, in the manufacturing sector, that we recover much of the losses.”
Government payrolls have shrunk, taking middle class pay with them. Local school districts have 255,400 fewer employees. The U.S. Postal Service has shed 194,700 employees.
And during the economic recovery, more people have left the job market than entered it. Just 58.9 percent of working-age Americans have jobs, down from 62.7 percent at the start of the recession.
Some of the decline comes from an aging country in which more people are retiring. But the share of working adults among the overall population is “still bouncing around at the bottom where it was during the worst of the recession” — evidence meaningful wage gains across the economy are unlikely, O’Keefe said.
The recovery hasn’t kept up with the expanding U.S. population. Researchers at the liberal Economic Policy Institute estimate seven million more jobs would have been needed to keep up with population growth.
The pain has been concentrated largely among lower- and middle-income workers, according to an analysis by the institute.
For the bottom 30 percent of earners, wages — when adjusted for inflation — have fallen over the past 14 years. For the next 40 percent of earners, pay basically flatlined.
Most U.S. workers are “running up the down escalator,” said Larry Mishel, the institute’s president.
Median household income is $52,959, which, after inflation, is $3,303 below its pre-recession level, according to Sentier Research.
Three generally low-paying industries account for more than one-third of the job gains in the recovery: restaurants and bars; temporary staffing; and retail, according to
research by the National Employment Law Project. Pay in these sectors averages under $13.34 an hour.
Mike Evangelist, a policy analyst at NELP, said the nation’s evolution away from goods production to a more service-oriented economy has slowed hiring in many mid- and higher-paying sectors. The weak job gains in those sectors have slowed overall pay growth, giving consumers less money to spend and depriving the recovery of its usual vigor.
Relative to much of Europe and Japan, lower-wage jobs have accounted for much of the job growth in the U.S. About a quarter of U.S. jobs were in low-paying indus-tries in 2011, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a 34-nation association based in Paris.
That was the highest proportion among developed nations, the organization said. In 2001, the U.S. ranked fifth in low-paying jobs.
Employers have been shifting to more part-time work-ers, noted John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo.
“We’ve got a different labor market with a stronger emphasis on part-time jobs,” Silvia said. “The traditional labor market is no longer relevant.”
More than 27.2 million Americans now work part time, about 2.5 million more than before the recession. Roughly a quarter of those workers would prefer to be full time, according to the May jobs report.
And while the number of full-time workers has risen during the five-year-old recovery, the economy still has 2.9 million fewer of them.
Economists, including Silvia, see this situation as frus-trating but not hopeless. Judging from the May report, Silvia expects wages to rise as long as unemployment continues to decline.
Job market recovers losses, yet appears weaker
From Staff Reports
Orangetheory Fitness, a group fitness studio, is further extending its rigorous interval training workout outside of the Perimeter and into Roswell this month.
The intense, heart rate-based workout results in burning an average of 500 to 900 calories per workout and an “Orange Effect,” a tremendous metabolic increase and calorie burn for up to 36 hours after the program.
Additional locations will open later this summer in Emory Point and Alpharetta.
This studio’s owners are Cindy and Ed Hirsch, along with Ed’s brother, Gary Hirsch.
“Roswell offers great neighborhoods and schools,” Cindy Hirsch said. “We know this community will embrace this new fitness concept. Roswell has strong community support and pride.”
Orangetheory Fitness Roswell will be at 625 W. Crossville Road, Suite 108, in the Trader Joe’s shopping plaza.
Membership pre-opening discounts are now available. To register or learn more, call (770) 625-6122 or visit the studio when it opens.
Orangetheory Fitness expanding to north Fulton this summer
Target is having an identity crisis.The nation’s third largest retailer was once high-flying, but now it’s
struggling to find its place in the minds of American shoppers.Once known for its cheap chic fashions, Target faces competition
from trendy chains, such as H&M. The discounter also hasn’t been able to ditch the image its prices on
staples like milk are higher than rivals like Wal-Mart. And it is battling the fallout from a massive data breach has hurt its
reputation.Meanwhile, Target on Tuesday fired the president of its Canadian
operations following some missteps in the country. The ousting comes two weeks after the Minneapolis-based discounter
announced it was looking for a new CEO after the abrupt departure of its former CEO.
All of Target’s challenges come as the broader retail industry is dealing with a slow economic recovery that hasn’t benefited all Americans equally and a move by shoppers away from buying in stores and toward shopping online.
As a result, Target reported its first profit decline in five years. “The nature of the retail landscape has changed,” said Brian
Yarbrough, a consumer products analyst at Edward Jones. “I don’t think Target has addressed the changes well.”
Target was the first low-price retailer to team with designers to create affordable lines when it forged a partnership with Michael Graves in the late 1990s.
But that niche has been copied by traditional stores and foreign imports like H&M. Analysts say Target took its eye off the ball on its trendy offerings when it focused on expanding its food business since the recession.
Target has also tripped up on some of its designer collaborations. During the 2012 holiday season, its collaboration with posh retailer Neiman Marcus turned out to be a dud as the merchandise was criticized for being too expensive, among other things.
— from staff and wire reports
Target faces identity crisis
From Staff Reports
Marlow’s Tavern, which has a location on Old Alabama Road, announced it will have its fifth annual Red, White and Brew promotion through July 28.
Guests can enjoy a selection of patriotic plates, cocktails fit for the summer season and ice-cold brews from local breweries.
“Our team is putting a gourmet spin on classic American backyard dishes,” said John C. Metz, executive chef and co-founder, said.
The fifth annual Marlow’s Tavern Grilling Recipe
Contest invites grill masters to submit their best recipes for a chance to win a coveted Big Green Egg, a modernized version of an ancient Asian cooker.
The restaurant has teamed up with the Atlanta-based grilling company because the two local companies share an enthusiasm for supporting the ultimate grill masters and the summertime grilling season.
The second place prize is a $200 restaurant gift card and third place scores a $100 gift card.
Entries are accepted at www.mar lows tavern .com
now through Aug. 1. No purchase is necessary
to enter the contest and entries are limited to one per person or email address.
Metz will review and judge all recipes, then announce the winners Sept. 6 with a party at the Dunwoody location to feature the finalists’ dishes as well as winning dishes from the past four years.
The restaurant was established in November 2004 with the opening of its first location in north Fulton and has continued to grow over the years, adding several Atlanta restaurants and two locations in Orlando.
Marlow’s Tavern is Red, White and Brew
Welcometo the
The North Fulton Business Journal covers the pulse of North Fulton County’s vibrant businesscommunity. The monthly publication will highlight news, events and individuals that are unique to NorthFulton’s business community. Put your company and products in front of North Fulton’s CEO’s,executives, partners and leaders.
To receive more information or to speak with a sales consultant on thiscompelling publication from the Neighbor Newspapers
call 770-993-7400 ext. 705 today.
N A M E S I N T H E N E W S
Gary, Girardnamed to board of directors
The Legal Marketing Association’s Southeastern chapter recently announced its board of directors for 2014.
The Southeastern chapter is the largest in the international organization of the association, covering nine states and serving nearly 400 members throughout the region.
The new board of directors includes Director of City Groups Clinton P. Gary, the director of marketing for Amall Golden Gregory in Atlanta.
Director of Development Nikki Girard is a business development and communications manager for Jones Day in Atlanta.
Jeremy Billnamed senior vice president at KeyWorth Bank
James F. Pope, president and CEO of KeyWorth Bank, headquartered in Johns Creek announced the addition of new associate Jeremy Bill, senior vice president and director of retail banking.
Leadership Sandy Springsevent breaks records
Leadership Sandy Springs, a nonprofit specializing in leadership training and community improvement, recently declared its 12th annual Volunteer for a Better Sandy Springs day a success.
The event broke records for volunteers and sponsors.
Involving 18 different sites in the city, the day had more than 500 individual volunteers spread across the locations to lend their talent to various improvement projects and 28 sponsors.
Alexander, Hansonnamed associates at Boyd Collar Nolen & Tuggle
Law firm Boyd Collar Nolen & Tuggle LLC, recently announced the addition of William A. Alexander and Meagan M. Hanson as associates.
Both serve clients with a range of family law issues, including divorce, custody arrangements, child support and alimony issues.
Prior to joining the company, Alexander, a Sandy Springs resident, managed his own law practice. Hanson, a Brookhaven resident, served as general counsel to the American Institute of Architects before joining the firm.
In other news, the firm announced it recently named Margaret R. Martin a partner.
She has been with the company since 2009, when it opened.
Metro Atlanta gross producttotals $306.2 billion
In the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ report, released last month as the conference’s 82nd annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, opened, metro Atlanta ranked 44th in the world based on its metro area’s gross product. It tied with Iran, with a gross product of $306.2 billion. America ranked No. 1, followed by China and Japan.
Metro Atlanta a prime destinationaccording to Travelocity
Travelocity has named Atlanta a prime destina-tion with affordable hotel bookings during the Inde-pendence Day weekend.
According to Travelocity’s annual Fourth of July data results, Atlanta is one of the top 10 destina-tions where average hotel rates are below $150 during the holiday weekend.
Cost of airfare is up 3.6 percent from last year, with an average round-trip domestic ticket costing $402. Hotel rates for the holiday weekend show an 8 percent increase, bringing the average nightly ho-tel rate to $171.
Clinton Gary
Nikki Girard
Jeremy Bill
Got an annoucement? Just email us at: [email protected]
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Better Together promotes Milton’s businesses
Better Together, the city’s citizen volunteer committee, held the second in its series of business connection events at Milton’s Robeks Juice June 20.
At this business connection event, Robeks Juice’s experts gave residents the inside scoop on healthy nutrition and the benefits of eating well.
Businesses in Milton are encouraged to contact Wayne Boston, community builder for the city, at (678) 242-2512 or [email protected] if they would be willing to host an event to introduce their particular product or service to residents.
Better Together will then work with the business to plan an event that will be educational, productive and enjoyable to all.
Better Together is a volunteer organization of Milton residents looking for unique and fun ways to connect with neighbors.
Atlanta Regional Commission welcomes Minuard C. McGuire
The Atlanta Regional Commission’s newest board member, Minuard C. “Mickey” McGuire, brings a wealth of experience in regional and state policymaking to the board of directors of the Atlanta Regional Commission.
He represents ARC Citizen District 11, which includes parts of DeKalb, Fulton and Cobb
counties. The Dunwoody resident was sworn in June 25
at the commission’s monthly board meeting.McGuire began his career as a planner at the
commission in 1973 before joining the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
Over the next 33 years, he held several positions in state government, including director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and director of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, before retiring as the director of administration in the office of Georgia’s secretary of state.
During his career, McGuire also took leadership roles in the American Society of Public Administrators and the Conference of Minority Public Administrators.
He also served on the regional boards of the Council on Battered Women, Georgia CHARLEE, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Georgians for Victims Justice and the Officer Drew Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund.
McGuire earned his master of science degree in urban and regional planning from Florida State University in 1973.
Alpharetta CVB announces new board members
The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau held its 2013-14 fiscal year annual meeting on June 3 at The Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta.
During the meeting, Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle was inducted as the 2014-15 board
chair.“As the hospitality industry grows, it continues to
increase the importance of tourism in Alpharetta, bringing jobs, new dollars and a greater economic impact for our businesses and citizens,” said Belle Isle.
“The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau’s role in sparking interest in our attractions, events, hotels and restaurants is crucial to the ongoing financial health of Alpharetta. I look forward to proudly representing the hospitality partners in our city.”
The 2014-15 board also includes: Alpharetta City Councilman D.C. Aiken; Scott Doll, executive director of Ed Isakson
Alpharetta Family YMCA; Tom Boyer, general manager of the Atlanta
Marriott Alpharetta; Fred Cerrone, president and CEO at Hotel
Equities; Alpharetta’s Community Development Director
Richard McLeod; Nick Nicolosi, general manager of North Point
Mall; Jay Patel, owner of the North Point Hospitality
Group; The city’s Director of Parks & Recreation Mike
Perry; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Vice President of
Operations Trevor Ralph; City Administrator Bob Regus; Janet Rodgers, president and CEO of the CVB
and Tommy Wright, general manager at Courtyard
by Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta.
R I B B O N C U T T I N G S
NORTH FULTON BUSINESS JOURNAL/JULY 2014 15
Special Photo 1ST GLOBAL REALTY: Steve Stroud, executive director of Roswell Inc, along with members of his team and Nancy Diamond, Roswell city councilwoman, helped welcome Cindy and Al Sapoznik, owners of 1st Global Realty, to Roswell. For more information, visit www.1stGolbalRealty.us.
Special Photo ENDURANCE HOUSE: A grand opening was held in May for Endurance House at 11800 Haynes Bridge Road, Suite 1, in Alpharetta.
Special Photo JEH HOMES: Roswell welcomes its newest home development community, JEH Homes’ Roswell Manor Pictured from left are, Michael Miller, John Thomas Realty; Roswell Councilman Rich Dippolito; George Hovis, JEH Homes, Partner; Roswell Councilwoman Dr. Betty Price; Mayor Jere Wood; Jim Jacobi and Bill Evans Jr., JEH Homes, Partners; Steve Stroud, Doreen Scascitelli, and Darrell Weaver, Roswell Inc.
Special PhotoMIDAS: A new Midas auto repair shop has opened at 224 North Main St. in Alpharetta. Pictured, the business recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony.
WORLDWIDEXPLORER, LLC: An independent tour operator whose motto is change your world through travel specializes in travel in Africa, Asia, south and central Americas. Marisa Meisters recently published a children’s book with photos from a trip to Africa and 10 percent of the sales will be used to purchase supplies that will be donated on future trips.
Do you have photos from your ribbon cutting or ground-breaking ceremony?Send them to us at: [email protected]
