Companies Across U.S. Poised for Growth Under Cap on Carbon

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Environmental Defense Fund today released a groundbreaking online map that identifies and profiles more than 1,200 companies in key manufacturing states poised to grow their business and create new jobs when Congress passes a cap on global warming pollution.

The interactive map, online at LessCarbonMoreJobs.org, was released at the first meeting of Vice President Joe Biden's task force on middle class jobs in Philadelphia. It highlights hundreds of companies and communities in coal country, the rust belt and other manufacturing regions poised to benefit from demand for clean energy technologies created by a cap on carbon.

Vice President Biden hosted EDF President Fred Krupp and a range of experts to highlight new ways to increase renewable energy jobs and improve America's energy efficiency. Krupp said EDF's map shows that a carbon cap will create new markets and new customers for companies in the supply chain for low-carbon energy technologies and services.

"Our nation is rich with a skilled and dedicated workforce waiting for the economic opportunity that comes with a cap on carbon, especially in the current economy," said Krupp. "A cap creates customers for U.S. manufacturers, and new customers mean new jobs. If there was ever a time we needed new customers at home and abroad, that time is now."

LessCarbonMoreJobs.org identifies the locations, products, and services as well as select case studies and worker profiles for companies in 12 states: Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia and Florida.

Jackie Roberts, Director of Sustainable Technologies for EDF, spearheaded the research behind the website. "These maps tell the story of how a cap can fuel economic growth in the heartland while reducing America's global warming pollution," Roberts said. "There is a manufacturing boom ready to happen, and a cap will help ignite that spark."

LessCarbonMoreJobs.org allows visitors to search by state, Congressional district and media market to find companies manufacturing windmill components, shipping solar panel equipment and installing energy efficient building materials. The site also provides business details and contact information for companies in each profiled state.

Among the business leaders highlighted is Jeff Metts, owner and president of Dowding Industries, a Michigan-based manufacturer of large-scale machinery and parts that is hiring laid-off auto workers to build wind turbine components.

"This business is growing exponentially," Metts said. "I don't come here as the owner of a company that last year employed 250 people, I come here excited about being the owner of a company that will create hundreds of jobs for our community and the possibility of thousands of jobs for our state in this new energy market. We've tapped into a workforce eager to apply their skills from previous jobs to our new ventures, and the result has been incredible. We're ready to do much more."

Abe Breehey, Director of Legislative Affairs for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, said, "The demand for climate solutions will create job opportunities across the economy. We can put American ingenuity and skills to work to reduce emissions, with all the necessary labor and materials to make it happen. With the right market signals, we can turn the jobs union members do everyday into the environmental solutions our nation needs to meet this enormous challenge."

Bill Keith, president of the St. John, Indiana-based Sunrise Solar, Inc., echoed Breehey's comments.

"We're producing solar-powered attic fans, trying to keep up with a demand that's skyrocketing," Keith said. "We saw a market for energy efficient products and technologies that help consumers reduce their energy consumption, and we've been greeted with overwhelming support and demand. But we know there's much more to do. We are hoping that Congress finally puts the economy on a path to embrace these technologies. My operation is ready to grow, and I know others companies like mine are ready too."

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Trailer Manufacturer to Locate New Manufacturing, Distribution Facility in Cordele

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing plans to open a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Cordele, creating 130 jobs and investing $7 million over the next two to three years.

“Big Tex’s investment in Georgia showcases how vital the state’s location and assets are to growing companies,” said Governor Perdue. “Our strong workforce and unmatched transportation network enable companies to reach their markets with a quality product in record time.”

In response to demand across the eastern U.S. for its Big Tex utility trailers, CM Trailer’s steel and aluminum horse and livestock trailers and the CM Truck Bed truck bodies, Big Tex has purchased property adjacent to Interstate 75 in Cordele that includes two buildings totaling 174,000 square feet on 55 acres of land for the new plant and distribution center. The like-new manufacturing facilities and easy access to I-75 make it a perfect location for Big Tex. The location will also serve as a new branch operation for Tex Trail Trailer Parts.

Distribution operations are expected to begin in the spring of 2009, and manufacturing operations are expected to begin in the last quarter of 2009.

“We are really excited about being able to better serve our current dealers and reach new ones in the eastern part of the country with faster deliveries and lower prices. This expansion will help ensure that Big Tex stays on the growth path that we have enjoyed for the last 30 years,” said Ricky Baker, President/CEO of Big Tex. “A ready and capable work force, the enthusiasm of the community of Cordele, and the big welcome from the state of Georgia give us even more confidence that this is the right decision and the right time.”

“We are extremely pleased to have Big Tex committing to building a facility and employ up to 130 people in our community, especially in these trying economic times,” said Chairman of the Cordele Industrial Development Council, Bub Denham. “It will be a tremendous boost to our economy and the people of Crisp County.”

Ryan Waldrep, project manager for GDEcD, assisted Big Tex in its location.
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Delta Technicians to Remain Union-Free

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today issued the following memo from Delta TechOps President Tony Charaf to the more than 6,700 aircraft maintenance technicians and related colleagues of the new Delta. The memo responds to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association's (AMFA) filing with the National Mediation Board (NMB) yesterday to terminate its certification. Today the NMB accepted the union's request.

"Yesterday the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) filed with the National Mediation Board (NMB) to resolve representation issues among our Technician and related employees. Specifically, AMFA requested that the NMB terminate AMFA's certification to represent the Mechanics and Related craft or class at Northwest. This morning the NMB accepted AMFA's request and has revoked the union's certification.

This marks another significant merger milestone for Delta and its TechOps team. Resolving union representation issues has been on the minds of the men and women in Technical Operations in recent months and the NMB's swift ruling allows us to start aligning pay, benefits and work rules and implementing the already agreed on combined seniority list.

We have committed to a transition plan, which will be available on the TechOps portal later today. Let me share a few important details about how we will align pay, benefits and work rules:

-- Pre-merger Northwest technicians will come up to the Delta pay scales
and applicable license, skill and line premiums, effective with the
next pay period.
-- Union dues will be eliminated effective immediately.
-- Pre-merger Northwest technicians will be eligible for Delta's profit
sharing and Shared Rewards programs in 2009.
-- The transition to Delta's benefits programs -- including medical,
retirement, time off and disability -- will occur starting in January
2010.


As you know, the TechOps Seniority Integration Committee and AMFA partnered together to establish a fair and equitable seniority list. A subcommittee is now in the process of reviewing seniority disputes. A final list will be published soon. Our new AMT colleagues from Northwest can begin bidding on jobs as soon as Sunday, March 1. Additional communications about this process will be communicated to all TechOps employees tomorrow.

This is fantastic news for Delta and the new TechOps team. As I've said many times in the past, our flexible workforce has always been an advantage as we grow our global customer base. And now we have even more Airbus capabilities to offer our customers.

Thank you for staying focused on maintaining safe, reliable airplanes for Delta and our customers worldwide."

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Global Aero Logistics Launches Re-Branding Program With New Name, Logo

/PRNewswire/ -- Global Aviation Holdings, Inc. is the new name announced today to replace Global Aero Logistics Inc. The new corporate name is accompanied by the tagline, Customized Air Transport, and a crisp new logo and marketing design that clearly represent the company's world-wide presence and diverse aviation transport services.

"We are focused on growing our commercial cargo and passenger business, and the new name and identity will better represent the leading role we play in the charter aviation transport industry," said Rob Binns, chief executive officer. "This is also an appropriate time to launch our marketing and branding efforts in a much more structured way that will be meaningful to our customers."

"We are all in a tough economic climate right now, but we have built the Global Aviation Holdings fleet to accommodate future demand," Binns said. "We have two excellent fleets at our subsidiaries, World Airways and North American Airlines. We now have more than 30 aircraft ready to serve passenger and freight needs, in addition to supporting our extensive U.S. military business. Under the new holding company name, World Airways and North American Airlines will continue to provide Customized Air Transport for all of our customers, just as they do today."

Global Aviation Holdings, Inc., based in Peachtree City, Ga., is the parent company of North American Airlines and World Airways. North American Airlines, founded in 1989 and based in Jamaica, N.Y., operates passenger charter flights using B757-200ER and B767-300ER aircraft. World Airways, founded in 1948 and based in Peachtree City, Ga., operates cargo and passenger charter flights using DC10-30, MD11 and B747-400 aircraft.

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Survey: Marketers Cut Traditional Spending, Focus On New Opportunities

In these difficult economic times, top marketing officers are turning to new and often unproven strategies that focus on the Internet, partnerships, new markets, new products and services to help their companies.

These are some of the results of The CMO Survey, a poll of 581 U.S. marketing executives conducted in February 2009. The survey was conducted by professor Christine Moorman of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in conjunction with the American Marketing Association.

Overall, the survey indicates that 59 percent of marketers are less optimistic about the economy than they were one quarter ago, a reduction from the 77 percent of respondents who reported a decrease in optimism during the August 2008 CMO survey.

“While marketers in general remain unexcited about the economic situation, it is encouraging to at least see that pessimism is not increasing among the marketing community,” Moorman said. “This could either indicate that marketers think the worst times are behind us, or they have simply adjusted to operating in an adverse environment.”

Survey participants reported their firms failed to reach their goals for marketing return on investment and overall profit during the past year (falling short by 0.6 percent and 3 percent, respectively), but they expect increases in both categories during the next 12 months.

“Even though firms are experiencing some disappointment right now, their predictions for future ROI, profits and building knowledge are good signs that they continue to strive for growth,” Moorman said.

MARKETING SPENDING AND PRIORITIES

Marketing spending is expected to grow by only 0.5 percent over the next 12 months, with a 7 percent decrease in traditional advertising and 10 percent increases in both Internet marketing and new product introductions. Business-to-consumer marketers will make the most significant shifts to the Internet, for both product and service advertising.

“The observed shift is part of a broader movement to the Web and social media as key ways to reach customers. However, it also reflects marketers’ hopes for improving return on marketing investment with a cheaper and more effective set of tools,” Moorman said.

“Companies are also responding to customers’ desires for innovation by putting significant investments into new products and new services,” she added. “This requirement is coupled with ongoing demands for low price. Companies must stretch to reach this value sweet spot that has emerged for customers.”

Marketers continue to respond to consumer interest in social responsibility and report planned increases in marketing efforts that highlight their company’s benefit to society and minimal environmental impact. Moorman points to this strong trend as a “key to customers’ trust in the firm and not just ‘nice to do’ as in the past. Customers expect firms to do this now.”

Survey respondents predict a 4.5 percent decrease in spending on marketing consulting services over the next 12 months. They also report that hiring will remain flat in the near term.

Despite these trends, respondents point to the critical role of managing knowledge in their marketing strategies. Marketers rated a strong emphasis on customer insights (4.3 out of 5, where 5 is excellent performance), on sharing marketing knowledge (4.1 out of 5), and on the integration of existing marketing knowledge (5 percent increase in spending).

Moorman finds this choice logical. “In an economic downturn, firms try to get an advantage by building new insights and also try to do more with the resources, including knowledge that they already have.”

The survey asked respondents to identify firms across all business sectors that excelled at marketing. Top vote-getters for the “CMO Survey Award for Marketing Excellence” were Apple, Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola. “All firms should investigate what these great marketing companies are doing and consider what might be learned or transferred to their context,” Moorman said. “It may be business process or it may be growth approaches. There is always something to learn.”

Other key findings of The CMO Survey include:

-- Thirty percent of marketers believe low price will be their customers’ top priority over the next 12 months. Another 20 percent selected trusting relationships and 19 percent chose superior product quality as their customers’ priorities. The focus on trust increased dramatically since the August 2008 survey.

-- Firms are increasingly turning to new product and service developments (24 percent of firms) and market development (18 percent of firms) to drive growth. Firms appear to be taking on reasonable risk to pursue growth during these tough times.

-- Most marketers (71 percent) expect to achieve this growth from within their firms. However, they are increasingly turning to acquisitions (9 percent), partnerships (13 percent) and licensing (7 percent) as alternative approaches.

-- Marketers’ orientations toward channel partnerships (firms, such as retailers and distributers, that move products from manufacturers to customers) have changed significantly, with only 26 percent of respondents more optimistic than last quarter and 41 percent less optimistic, about prospects for revenue growth resulting from channel partners.

-- Marketers indicate they do not expect growth in revenue from end customers (customers in households), with 59 percent less optimistic and only 25 percent more optimistic about these prospects compared to last August.

-- Marketers predict no increases in rivalry among competitors, but instead stronger cooperation on non-price strategies. This trend may reflect a greater emphasis on open innovation among firms.

“Results indicate marketers are looking for ways to help their firms not only survive but thrive during these tough times,” Moorman said. “Close proximity to customers, partners and competitors gives these executives special insight into spending and growth that may help buoy their firms and the overall economy. This knowledge improves cash flows and reduces the risk firms face in strategic activities.”

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Utility Service Co., Inc. Acquires Merithew Incorporated of Bridgewater, MA

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utility Service Co., Inc. (USCI), the nation’s leading supplier of water storage tank maintenance services, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Merithew Incorporated of Bridgewater, MA. Founded in 1963 by Robert L. Merithew, Merithew Incorporated provides comprehensive, professional water tank inspection services to municipal and industrial water and wastewater customers in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome the employees and clients of Merithew Incorporated to the USCI organization,” said Chris Boyd, president of USCI. “Over the years Merithew Incorporated has grown to be one of the largest water tank inspection companies in the northeast and they employ a staff of experienced inspectors, some of which have been with the company for over 30 years.”

According to Boyd, Merithew Incorporated is strategically located in the middle of the northeast/New England area, where USCI is actively engaged in a significant business development effort. “They have developed excellent relationships with municipalities for tank inspections and we fully expect to be able to leverage some of these relationships to sell new tank maintenance programs,” Boyd said.

USCI provides water tank maintenance services for more than 2,000 municipalities and private utilities throughout the United States, with a high concentration of clients in the southeast. The acquisition of Merithew Incorporated enables USCI to establish a paint/inspection service center in Bridgewater, MA, to support the company’s ongoing sales effort.

Under the terms of the agreement, the entire Merithew Incorporated management team will remain in place. “We believe this acquisition will provide our employees an excellent opportunity to grow,” said David Merithew, president of Merithew Incorporated. “The combination of our talent, technology and commitment with the financial and technical strength of USCI will give us greater access to the marketplace.”

Boyd points out that Merithew Incorporated’s expertise in tank inspection is key for USCI. This expertise will allow the company to rapidly assess and price adequately its maintenance program in the area. “They have gained an excellent and solid reputation for superior quality, service and technical knowledge in the industry,” Boyd said.

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Aflac Chairman & CEO Will Forgo 2008 Bonus of $2.8 Million

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, Inc. announced today that Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has elected to forgo his 2008 bonus of $2.8 million that he earned based on achievement of operating performance measures. The board's compensation committee accepted his proposal recognizing that, although Aflac delivered a strong operating performance in 2008, it is not reflected in the company's stock price given the current turbulence in the stock markets.

In addition, Kriss Cloninger III, Aflac Incorporated President and Chief Financial Officer, voluntarily reduced his bonus by 35% or approximately $477,000.

"Even though Mr. Amos and Mr. Cloninger were entitled to their full operating bonuses -- and in 2008 Aflac outperformed the S&P 500, the S&P Life Index and the Dow -- the board agreed to accept their proposals," said Aflac Incorporated board member Robert B. "Ben" Johnson, chairman of the Compensation Committee. "We support their decision to voluntarily reduce their personal compensation as a demonstration of their commitment to our shareholders."

In 2008, Amos received a salary of $1.3 million and Cloninger received a salary of $857,700.

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Governor Perdue Announces Digital Media Company to Locate New Facility in Gwinnett County

YesVideo, Inc. to create 300 jobs in Norcross over three years and invest millions in
production and IT technology

2/18/09 Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that California company YesVideo, Inc. plans to locate a new facility in Norcross. The digital video imaging company will create 300 jobs in three years and invest millions in its Gwinnett County production facility.

“For high-tech companies like YesVideo that are reaching a wide customer base, the state of Georgia is perfectly situated,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We have a skilled workforce, the technical infrastructure, a terrific transportation network and a business-friendly environment that fosters success.”

YesVideo transforms consumer and professional video content from the original into current digital formats, allowing the content to be viewed and enjoyed for generations to come. The company uses highly automated production technology that digitizes the video media to contemporary formats and indexes the content so it can be easily viewed, organized, edited, shared and archived.

The company has leased 30,000 square feet of space in the Oakbrook Technology Park in Norcross.

“The greater Atlanta area is a perfect location for the expansion of our production operations," said Gregory Ayres, COO of YesVideo. "Atlanta is well-centered, geographically, to service the entire Eastern Seaboard, Midwest, and South Central regions with cost-effective ground logistics. In addition, the community has a ready labor force and extremely well-developed IT infrastructure to suit our growth plans. Finally, support from the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Quick Start training program made Georgia stand out above other areas.”

"YesVideo represents the type of high-quality, global, technology-based regional office we are working to attract to Gwinnett County,” said Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister. “With high-wage jobs and a significant capital investment, we are proud they have chosen to call Gwinnett County and the State of Georgia their East Coast home."

Chris Pumphrey, project manager with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Lauren Salas, business development manager with the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, assisted the company in its location.
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UPS Completes Deployment of 300 New “Green” Trucks

-(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE: UPS) yesterday announced it had deployed 300 new delivery trucks powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to seven cities in Colorado, Georgia, Oklahoma and California.

The CNG vehicles, part of an order placed last May, will allow UPS to further reduce its dependence on traditional fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel and lower its carbon footprint. UPS already operates the largest private fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in its industry – 1,819 in total with these additions.

The new CNG trucks have been deployed over the past month to Denver (43); Atlanta (46); Oklahoma City (100), and four cities in California: Sacramento (21), San Ramon (63), Los Angeles (9) and Ontario (18). All now are in service.

“Deploying alternative fuel vehicles dates back to the early days of UPS and this CNG deployment is one more step towards the greening of our fleet,” said Robert Hall, UPS’s director of vehicle engineering. “Continuing to add CNG delivery trucks to our fleet is a sustainable choice because natural gas is a cost effective, clean-burning and readily available fuel.”

UPS first began deploying trucks powered by CNG in the 1980s, purchasing traditional gas- or diesel-driven vehicles and then converting them to run on compressed gas. The 300 trucks deployed over the past month were built from scratch as CNG vehicles. They join more than 800 CNG vehicles already in use by UPS worldwide.

The CNG truck bodies are identical externally to the signature-brown trucks that comprise the UPS fleet. Marked with decals as CNG vehicles, the trucks are expected to yield a 20 percent emissions reduction over the cleanest diesel engines available in the market today.

For its alternative fuel fleet, UPS has deployed CNG, Liquefied Natural Gas, propane, electric and hybrid electric vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Brazil, Chile, Korea and the United Kingdom. The company recently announced the purchase of seven hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicles, a first in the industry, and has conducted research with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

UPS began deploying alternative fuel vehicles in the 1930s with a fleet of electric trucks that operated in New York City. Just since 2000, the company’s “green fleet” has traveled 144 million miles.

“Deploying eco-friendly delivery vehicles is one of the many ways UPS demonstrates its commitment to sustainable business practices,” added Hall. “The company plans to continue to expand its ‘green fleet’ and to focus deployments in areas with air quality challenges.”

UPS pursues a wide range of socially responsible and sustainable business practices designed to reduce its impact on the environment and improve communities around the world. UPS is included in the Dow Jones and FTSE4Good Sustainability Indexes, which evaluate corporations based on economic, environmental and social criteria. Learn more about UPS's responsible business practices at www.sustainability.ups.com.

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The Coca-Cola Company Increases Annual Dividend by 8 Percent; 47th Consecutive Annual Increase

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today approved the Company's 47th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend approximately 8 percent from 38 cents to 41 cents per common share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.64 per share, up from $1.52 per share in 2008. The dividend is payable April 1, 2009, to shareowners of record as of March 15, 2009.

The increase reflects the Board's confidence in the Company's long-term cash flow. The Company returned $4.6 billion to shareowners in 2008, through $3.5 billion in dividends and $1.1 billion in share repurchases. In the past five years, the Company's dividends have grown at a compound annual rate of more than 10 percent.

The Board also elected Javier Goizueta as vice president of the Company. Earlier this month, he was named president of The McDonald’s Division. In this role, he will be responsible for building and strengthening the Company’s strategic alliance with McDonald’s in 118 countries and over 31,000 restaurants. Mr. Goizueta succeeds Jerry Wilson, who was recently named the Company’s chief customer and commercial officer.

Since joining the Company in 2001, Mr. Goizueta has served as vice president, USA within The McDonald’s Division, vice president, Global Still Beverages Operations and Commercialization, and vice president, Global New Business Models. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, he spent 20 years with Procter & Gamble, 10 years in their U.S. Operations and 10 years in Latin America. Trilingual in Spanish, English and Portuguese, Mr. Goizueta received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University.

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Mental Health Requests for Proposals will be Reissued After Review

Two requests for proposal - one for privatizing and consolidating forensic mental health services and another for privatizing and constructing a new psychiatric hospital - are being reviewed by the Georgia Department of Human Resources and will soon be resubmitted to attract prospective bidders.

A request for proposal (RFP) is an invitation for bidders to submit business proposals for providing a service or commodity. DHR first submitted an RFP to privatize and consolidate its forensic services in October 2008 but later cancelled the process after the single viable candidate was excluded by a technicality. DHR also decided to cancel a second RFP for privatizing and constructing a new psychiatric hospital in Atlanta since that RFP contained the same technicality.

“We set the bar high,” said Gwen Skinner, director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases. “There were some experience requirements in these RFPs that may be too stringent even for a seasoned company. We have high standards for the operation of our mental health services and facilities, but we need to make sure what we require is a reasonable business model. Since both RFPs contain the same experience requirements, we felt it best to cancel both and review them now so the process can move forward as quickly as possible.”

The forensic services RFP is under review and will be publicly resubmitted as soon as possible. The RFP to privatize and construct a psychiatric hospital in Atlanta was pulled for re-evaluation before the bidding stage was reached. It also will be publicly resubmitted. Both RFPs seek private companies to operate, not own, state mental health services and facilities. The State of Georgia would retain ownership and oversight, and winning bidders must comply with all state and federal standards regulating mental health services.
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SBA Warns of Fraudulent Attempts to Obtain Bank Account Information from Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a scam alert today to small businesses, warning them not to respond to letters falsely claiming to have been sent by the SBA asking for bank account information in order to qualify them for federal tax rebates.

The fraudulent letters were sent out with what appears to be an SBA letterhead to small businesses across the country, advising recipients that they may be eligible for a tax rebate under the Economic Stimulus Act, and that SBA is assessing their eligibility for such a rebate. The letter asks the small business to provide the name of its bank and account number.

These letters have not been sent by or authorized by the SBA, and all small businesses are strongly advised not to respond to them.

The scheme is similar in many ways to e-mail scams often referred to as “phishing” that seek personal data and financial account information that enables another party to access and individual’s bank accounts or to engage in identity theft.

The SBA is working with the SBA Office of Inspector General to investigate this matter. The Office of Inspector General asks that anyone who receives such a letter report it to the OIG Fraud Line at 1 (800) 767-0385, or e-mail at OIGHotline@sba.gov.
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Verhonda Sercey Joins Georgian Terrace Hotel as Director of Sales and Marketing

Officials of The Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta’s iconic hotel, today announced the appointment of Verhonda Sercey as director of sales and marketing. Sercey will be responsible for all of the property’s marketing and sales activities as the hotel begins to ramp up efforts to promote property enhancements following a comprehensive renovation that is scheduled for completion this coming April. Sercey is the latest in a series of key appointments as the hotel moves to add depth to its management team.

“Sercey is an effective leader who has successfully used her considerable interpersonal and organizational skills to motivate and manage her sales department to complete multiple projects,” said Matthew Reidy, senior managing director of Fremont Realty Capital. “She has exceptional negotiating and bargaining skills and networking and relationship-building expertise. Her abilities to generate and develop prospective clients are vital assets that we expect to use to our full advantage in attracting current and prospective guests to our reinvigorated property. One area of focus for our sales team is to re-establish the Georgian Terrace as the wedding capital of Atlanta.”

Sercey was director of sales for the Embassy Suites Atlanta-Airport immediately prior to joining The Georgian Terrace Hotel. Previously, she was regional director of sales for Pineapple Management Services, Inc., and managed all advertising, public relations and promotional activities. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina, in Spartanburg.

Built in 1911, The Georgian Terrace Hotel, located at 659 Peachtree Street NE in midtown Atlanta and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has played host to some of Atlanta’s most preeminent events, including the star-studded party for the 1939 premiere of the classic, Oscar-winning film, “Gone with the Wind.” Some of the hotel’s most celebrated guests include Calvin Coolidge, Warren G. Harding, Charles Lindbergh, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tallulah Bankhead, Clark Gable and Rudolph Valentino. The hotel recently was used as the setting to film a European commercial starring George Clooney.

The all-suite hotel, with room sizes averaging 850square feet of space with some larger suites boasting 2,700 square feet, features quality furnishings, large bathrooms, oversized windows, microwave oven, full-size refrigerator, washer and dryers and an electric range/oven. Additionally, many of the suites have walk-in closets and balconies with sliding glass doors. The hotel offers a state-of-the-art business center and a stunning rooftop pool with 360-degree panoramic views of the city. For more information please contact us at (404) 897-1991, or online at the hotel’s Wed site: www.thegeorgianterrace.com.
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Pratt & Whitney Completes First International Aero Engines V2500 SelectOne Retrofit

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney's Columbus Engine Center has become the first in the world to retrofit an International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500-A5 engine to the V2500 SelectOne(TM) engine. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX)

Benefits of the retrofit include up to an additional one percent lower fuel burn, and corresponding lower CO2 emissions, as well as noise reduction and lower overall operating costs. The V2500-A5 engine, registration V10301, which belongs to US Airways, has been in service since Feb. 16, 1998. It has more than 38,000 hours on wing with nearly 15,000 cycles.

"This retrofit is important because it shows airlines that it is possible to get even greater performance from one of their existing assets," said Tom Mayes, vice president, Global Engine Centers, Pratt & Whitney. "Providing this service results in up to an additional one percent fuel burn saving that can go right to the bottom line for airlines, at a time when the aviation environment is especially challenging, is rewarding. We take pride in helping our customers lower their operating costs."

The Columbus Engine Center opened in 1984 and has capabilities to service both V2500-A1 and -A5 engines. The 215,000 sq. ft -facility can overhaul up to 300 engines per year. The center offers a variety of services including heavy maintenance, hot section refurbishment, module repair, inspection, performance enhancements and engine testing.

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Wheego Electric Cars Launches U.S. Dealer Network

/PRNewswire/ -- WHEEGO ELECTRIC CARS, a division of RTEV, Inc., one of the first companies to deliver a full line of recreational and street electric LSVs (Low Speed Vehicles), today announced the official launch of its U.S. car dealer network.

"In today's difficult automotive market, more and more car dealers are looking for additions and alternatives to the traditional brands to maintain and grow their dealership business," said Jeff Boyd, president of Wheego. "Electric vehicle adoption, fueled by volatile gas prices, increasing environmental awareness, and technological advancements puts the electric vehicle industry on the cusp of major growth as consumers are increasingly making more green-conscious buying decisions. Progressive car dealers are realizing this, and we're receiving applications from a variety of dealers who also have other car lines such as Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, Saturn, and Suzuki, and want to expand their product line-up and catch the wave of the emerging electric vehicle movement. No one wants to get left behind. We will launch our first car, the Wheego Whip in May with a target of 50 U.S. car dealerships appointed by then," added Boyd. "These will be a combination of traditional car dealers as well as a new type of dealer who exclusively sells electric vehicles and combines several manufacturers such ZENN, ZAP, and MILES in one dealership."

The first dealer test drives of the Wheego Whip were conducted in Ontario, CA in December, and there was unanimous praise for the car. Dave Kauffman, who is the Electric Car Specialist for EnVironmental Motors of Glendale, CA commented, "The Wheego [Whip] has great lines for a small car, and the nicest fit and finish I have seen yet in a production Electric Car. My driving experience was -- I could not drive it enough. It is just like driving a conventional car except for the LSV speed limitation. The Wheego that I drove was 100 percent ready for the customer."

"We have the best affordable electric car in the world," said RTEV CEO Mike McQuary. "While I'm obviously biased, the feedback from the experts at our premier showing and test drive validated my belief. The assumption that electric cars are impractical for everyday transportation needs goes away once you see and test-drive the Wheego Whip. Instead the light bulb goes on, and people start to envision how this car can fit into their everyday life. Our Wheego cars will fill a middle market demand at the right time, and with a national dealer network to provide service and support. I think this is a great opportunity for progressive thinking car dealers to get in on the ground floor."

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What Brands Will Succeed and What Brands Will Fail

/PRNewswire/ -- Home buying, the iPod and Las Vegas are among those that will benefit in the current economic climate, according to a predictive model developed by Stealing Share, http://www.stealingshare.com/.

Those successes are among the 25 predictions based on the Comprehensive Model for Persuasive Human Communications that examined the changing preferences of consumers in the current economic climate.

"What companies must understand is that, no matter the situation, someone will win and someone will lose," said Tom Dougherty, CEO and President of Stealing Share. "Right now, most brands are not communicating in ways that resonate with consumers in today's current economic crisis. That's one reason why most are failing and market leaders are holding their positions. But opportunity is there."

According to the model, others who will succeed are: Hewlett-Packard, Wal-Mart, Toyota, Walgreens, Wii, Bank of America, Wendy's, The New York Times Sunday edition and Verizon.

Among those who will be hurt most by the economy: the iPhone, NASCAR, airlines, office superstores, the NBA, AT&T, diet foods, Starbucks, daily newspapers, GEICO, Pepsi and Apple laptops.

The model reached those conclusions by applying the eight fundamental motivators in human behavior to see how they change depending on current and developing situations, such as today's economic climate.

The model takes into account the emotional intensities of the primary motivators - Affirmation, Leadership, Comfort, Change, Community, Desires and Scope - within any changing situation, economic or otherwise, to predict and formulate messages and offerings that will resonate most strongly with target audiences.

For example, in a healthy economy, consumers tend to look for the "best" option, which is why companies that market a better product or experience (Starbucks, GM) tend to struggle in tough times when consumers are looking for the "right" option (Wal-Mart, Campbell's Soup) that suggests a more appropriate way.

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Citizens Trust Bank President to Speak at Clayton State

The next installment in the James Wood Speaker Series at Clayton State University will feature Citizens Trust Bank President & CEO James E. Young.

Young will be speaking on Wednesday, Feb. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. in room UC 272 of the James M. Baker University Center.

Young joined Citizens Trust Bank of Atlanta on Feb. 2, 1998 as president & chief executive officer after a merger with DeKalb County’s First Southern Bank, where he was president and CEO. Under his leadership, First Southern bank grew from $22 million in assets to $58 million at the time of the merger.

As of Dec. 31, 2006, Citizens Trust Bank was one of the top five African-American owned commercial banks in the country and its assets stood at $335 million. The company was also cited by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as one of Georgia’s Top 100 publicly traded companies.

A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Young received his B.S. in Business from Tennessee State University in 1971. He is a member of the Board of Directors of The National Bankers Association, The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, The Commerce Club, Rock-Tenn Company, and Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain.

James “Jim” Wood is president of Jim Wood Associates, a former owner/publisher of the Clayton News Daily, and the only original member still serving on the Board of Trustees of Clayton State University Foundation. Dr. Martha Wood, is a professor emerita of Mathematics at Clayton State and founder of the Southeastern Center for the Enhancement of Learning. Together, they have spearheaded an effort that expands the University’s speaker’s series.

The Woods, as well as their family, friends, and business associates, have donated to the School of Business to create an endowed fund for the James Wood Lecture Series, which will financially support the efforts of the School of Business to seek and obtain guest lecturers who are some of Georgia’s most celebrated business personalities. According to Dean Dr. Jacob Chacko, the School of Business sees the series as a means to forge bonds between Georgia’s business leaders and Clayton State students, while ensuring students gain insights into current business trends and corporate strategies. All lectures in the series are free and open to the public.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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Delta Supports Flight Attendant Committee's Position on Seniority Integration

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today issued the following memo from Delta Senior Vice President of In-Flight Service Joanne Smith to the airline's nearly 14,000 pre-merger Delta flight attendants in support of their flight attendant seniority integration committee's position to use a seniority date methodology when integrating the combined flight attendant workgroup.

"The pre-merger Delta In-Flight Seniority Integration Committee has announced their position for a fair and equitable seniority integration method for the combined Delta/Northwest flight attendant workgroup. Seniority integration is perhaps the biggest issue for flight attendants in a merger, and history tells us the outcome never pleases everyone, but based on the team's presentation to us we support their seniority date-based position as a fair and equitable integration method. Here's why:

-- The federal law, which mirrors Delta's policy, requires fair and equitable integration. We believe this means that neither airline should be materially advantaged over the other. Because our seniority distribution in this merger was so similar, the committee's recommendation for an In-Flight seniority date method was a near perfect solution.

-- The data shows that an In-Flight seniority date integration method keeps most pre-merger Delta and Northwest flight attendants within a percentile ranking that is equal to or closely aligned with their ranking on today's seniority lists.

-- The committee's recommendation takes into account a fair and equitable method for accounting for time spent in training.

-- As has been noted previously, the internal order of flight attendants on each pre-merger list has been preserved.

"It is our understanding that the committee also has communicated their recommendation to the AFA. As you know, up to this point the AFA has refused to authorize Northwest flight attendants to participate in this process. If the AFA supports the Delta committee's In-Flight seniority date position -- which is consistent with what the AFA has said is their required integration policy, according to their constitution and bylaws -- we will accept the In- Flight seniority date methodology for the combined workgroup and work to present both pre-merger flight attendant groups with a final, combined seniority list methodology.

"This team has worked very hard over the last two months conducting an exhaustive review of the Delta and Northwest seniority lists, analyzing a significant amount of data, and studying past mergers and arbitration decisions to reach their conclusion. I hope you will take the time to review the information they've issued, including their recommendation, other methods they studied but did not select, and where your percentile ranking is on both the current seniority list, as well as the combined list. I am confident that once you read this information you will better understand how an In-Flight seniority date approach is fair and equitable for our combined workgroup given the circumstances.

"My thanks go out to the entire committee who worked tirelessly on your behalf. We will continue to update you on this process and encourage you to visit the committee's portal page for the latest information."

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Governor Perdue Introduces Tort Reform Legislation to Improve Business Environment, Protect Landowners

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Sen. Bill Cowsert has introduced SB 101 and SB 108, to improve Georgia’s business environment. Sen. Bill Heath introduced SB 75, the Landowner’s Protection Act.

“This legislation will make plain that the threat of meritless litigation is not a viable business strategy in Georgia,” said Governor Perdue.

“Through this tort reform package, Governor Perdue is sending an important signal that Georgia is committed to maintaining a strong pro-business environment and that companies who locate here can expect a level playing field in the courts,” said Jim Snyder, chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Law & Judiciary Committee.

SB 101 will protect manufacturers and sellers of medical devices and drugs with a significant presence in Georgia from lawsuits if their product received approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration. The legislation covers defects in design, which undergo a strenuous FDA approval process, but it does not cover defects that occur in the manufacturing process.

“We will cement our position as a leader in the biotech industry by enacting laws that respect the role of the federal Food and Drug Administration as the regulator of the safety of drugs and medical devices,” Governor Perdue said.

This summer, Georgia will host more than 15,000 energy innovators at the biggest bio-life science conference in the world – BIO 2009.

“At the same time the world’s bio companies focus on our state, this legislation will show that Georgia welcomes the bio-tech industry and the high-paying jobs the industry brings,” said Sen. Cowsert. “It is an outstanding economic development tool.”

SB 108 will provide relief to individuals and companies wrongly sued. Current law provides little deterrent for unfounded lawsuits and often makes it cheaper to settle even if a company is wrongly sued. Under SB 108, in most cases if a claim is dismissed at the earliest possible stage, the litigant bringing the claim will be responsible for the prevailing party’s attorneys’ fees. And if the attorney fails to notify the client of this provision, that attorney could pay the award. Last, the bill will make sure that the costly discovery process will not begin until the legal merits of a complaint have been tested.

“SB 108 will free up our courts to pursue justice in cases with merit, protect our existing businesses that provide jobs for Georgians and attract new investment,” the Governor said.
“This legislation will allow the judiciary to sweep out unfounded lawsuits so that cases with merit can receive the court’s full attention and justice can be pursued,” said Sen. Cowsert.

The Landowner’s Protection Act will protect landowners, who allow hunters to hunt on their property, from being sued for accidents arising during a hunt except those due to gross negligence on the part of the landowner. Likewise, visitors to an agri-tourism attraction (e.g., visiting a farm to pick peaches) would not be able to win lawsuits filed against the landowner for injuries during such a visit except in cases of gross negligence.

“Georgia is a premier agri-tourism destination,” said Governor Perdue. “This legislation will make sure the threat of litigation does not prevent landowners from welcoming guests onto their property.”

“We want to encourage landowners to open their hunting property and farms to visitors to enjoy Georgia’s natural beauty as an agricultural and sportsman’s paradise,” said Sen. Heath. “The Georgia General Assembly is working to protect landowners and, again, stand up for the rights of private property owners.”
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Innovative Beverage Group Signs Deal with Clayton Distributing Co. to Distribute drank(TM) Throughout Georgia

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Inc. (Pink Sheets: IBGH) announced today that it has signed a deal with Clayton Distributing Co. to distribute its proprietary product, drank(TM), the world's first extreme relaxation beverage, in Georgia. Clayton Distributing Co. will distribute drank(TM) throughout Georgia, including the metro-Atlanta and Macon markets.

Clayton Distributing Co. successfully represents industry leaders such as Red Rock(R), Welch's(R), AriZona(R) and Crystal Springs(R) in a market known for driving trends throughout the Southeast. The company distributes to more than 3,500 large supermarkets, convenience stores and other specialty stores and venues, including college bookstores and golf courses.

"We are very excited to partner with Clayton Distributing Co. to introduce drank(TM) into this thriving beverage market," said Peter Bianchi, CEO of Innovative Beverage Group. "As one of the largest distributors in Georgia, Clayton Distributing Co. has the unparalleled capability to propel drank(TM) forward throughout this region."

"We are very selective of the products we take on," said Charles Redd, co-owner of Clayton Distributing Co. "But after watching drank(TM) develop a strong consumer base in other markets, including Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis and Dallas, we knew we'd found a winner. Drank(TM) has quickly created a huge demand for itself and we are happy to add this popular product to our lineup of nationally-recognized brands."

"Atlanta is an important market for drank(TM). Not only is it one of the largest cities in the country and a hotspot for the beverage industry, but it is also home to a large population of celebrities and other trendsetters that are known to boost brands into the national spotlight," added Bianchi. "With strong relationships among key accounts, this distribution agreement with Clayton Distributing Co. will enhance our current distribution and drive the drank(TM) brand forward."

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UPS Making It Even Easier to Return Retail Goods

(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE:UPS) is piloting a new returns service with a few pre-selected retailers that allows consumers to return items shipped via UPS by placing them in their own mailboxes for pickup by the U.S. Postal Service® (USPS).

Known as UPS Returns® Flexible Access, the offering uses the USPS Parcel Return Service® combined with UPS’s own delivery network to allow retailers to provide their customers with increased convenience in returning items. Consumers in the pilot program receive special package labels that allow them to leave a UPS Returns® package in their own mailbox or other location for their postal carrier to pick up. They also can drop the package off at their local Post Office™ or in postal collection boxes.

Once a returns package arrives at the local post office, a UPS driver picks it up and transports the package back to the retailer via the UPS ground network.

The combination of USPS options with the traditional UPS access channels -- The UPS Store®, UPS drop boxes, UPS customer centers, third-party retailers (Office Depot, Staples, Authorized Shipping Outlets) and UPS drivers -- creates the most extensive network of package pickup options available to the consumer today.

“This is a potential game-changer for consumer-to-business returns,” said John Sutthoff, UPS vice president of global marketing and supply chain strategy. “UPS already offers the industry’s most extensive returns portfolio and adding the unmatched convenience of allowing consumers to use the U.S. Postal Service’s more than 160 million access points – including their own homes – creates an unparalleled returns service.”

Among retailers participating in the pilot is Buy Seasons, Inc., the world’s largest retailer and supplier of costumes, accessories, seasonal décor and party supplies on the Internet. The pilot is expected to last about five months. UPS will work closely with the pilot customers and the USPS to determine when and if the service will be made available to other retailers on a more widespread basis.

“Working with UPS on this extension of Parcel Return Service brings together the best of both companies, leveraging the Postal Service’s unparalleled reach to every address in the United States,” said Jim Cochrane, vice president of Ground Shipping for the Postal Service. “The added value of high visibility and the convenience of the most extensive network of drop-off and pick-up options available in the consumer market today make this service unbeatable.”

According to a study by Forrester Consulting commissioned by UPS, online retailers with generous returns policies have a competitive advantage over those retailers who install “gates” in their process. The study found that companies with more generous policies, in the long term, have the ability to grow sales, generate loyalty and drive incremental revenue for retailers with a web presence. In fact, 81 percent of consumers contacted for the study agreed with the statement, ‘If an online retailer makes it easier for me to return a product, I am more likely to buy from that retailer.’

UPS’s current returns portfolio offers shippers several advantages to meet their specific requirements, including:

* The industry’s most extensive returns label generation and delivery options. Last year, the company introduced international UPS Returns, allowing customers to efficiently return purchased items from 98 countries or territories around the globe. The service is available within the UPS Shipping Tool, an application program interface (API) that enables customers to integrate them into their own Web sites and enterprise applications.
* Better time-in-transit than traditional returns consolidators.
* A consistent, reliable transportation network.
* Visibility and tracking of in-transit returns for both the retailer and end-customer.

The new returns service is not the first example of UPS working with the USPS for the benefit of mutual business customers. Since 2001, UPS Mail Innovations has helped companies more efficiently and effectively move mail while achieving the maximum postage savings possible.

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Unemployment Rises, Yet Profiles International Reports Hiring in Select Sectors

/PRNewswire/ -- Profiles International, the world leader in employment evaluation and human resource management assessment tools, has identified growing job sectors despite the latest unemployment figures.

"The silver lining behind the ongoing employment clouds is that select sectors of the economy remain vibrant, with numerous unfilled positions," said Jim Sirbasku, co-founder and CEO of Profiles International. "We have clients in healthcare, transportation / logistics and financial services that continue to add to their payrolls."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor, nonfarm payroll employment fell in January 2009 by 598,000 and the unemployment rate rose from 7.2 to 7.6 percent. Job loss was distributed across most major industry sectors.

However, Profiles International continues to experience demand for personnel evaluation and assessment from clients that are looking to hire. For example, credit unions are expanding as traditional financial institutions continue to shrink their workforces. Demand for skilled healthcare professionals at all levels continues to remain strong, while segments of the transportation industry have rebounded due to the drop in fuel prices, and are now expanding their workforces.

While the overall U.S. economy still has not begun its recovery, Sirbasku said preemptive layoffs will actually hurt many companies in the long run.

"A strong staff and viable workforce is the greatest asset a company can have because it's the biggest investment a company will ever make," he said. "Releasing talented workers in anticipation of an uncertain economic future is often a costly mistake that can mortgage a company's future. It is far better that companies put off capital investments, which can always be made when the economic conditions strengthen."

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JEM Restaurant Group Acquires 40 Pizza Hut Restaurants

/PRNewswire/ -- JEM Restaurant Group announced today that it has acquired 40 Pizza Hut restaurants located in the Georgia markets of Columbus and Macon, as well as the Jacksonville, Florida market. The assets purchased include real estate, leasehold interests and restaurant operating equipment. The purchase price was not disclosed.

JEM Restaurant Group, headquartered in Charleston, SC and owned by John McGrath, operates over 100 Taco Bell and Pizza Hut franchised restaurants in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The 40 unit acquisition was tendered under a new operating entity, Southeastern Pizza Group, LLC.

"This is a unique opportunity in a very difficult operating environment," Mr. McGrath stated. "We believe the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands are well positioned in the marketplace and our parent company, YUM! Brands, has excellent leadership at its helm. Pizza Hut continues to introduce compelling new menu offerings of great quality food at attractive price points."

"JEM Restaurant Group is teaming up with the former COO of Pizza Hut, Jerry Buss, to assemble an outstanding team of restaurant operators to run the 40 Pizza Hut restaurants in Southeastern Pizza Group," added Mr. McGrath.

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SBA Holding Veterans Seminar on February 19th At Fort McPherson U.S. Army Base in South Atlanta

The U.S. Small Business Administration will present a seminar for veterans on February 19th at Fort McPherson which will cover agency programs and services for active and retired military personnel who are starting or expanding small businesses.

The free seminar will run from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Army Community Service Building, 1350 Troop Row S.W., Fort McPherson, GA 30330-1069. The forum will focus on loan programs and other assistance available from the SBA and its resource partners including the agency’s SCORE Program, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network and the Georgia Institute of Technology Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC).

Attendees will also be given information on the SBA Patriot Express Loan Initiative. This program offers guaranteed business loans of up to $500,000. It can be used by:

- Veterans, service-connected disabled veterans, active duty military personnel within 24 months of retirement or 12 months to transition into civilian society,

- National Guard and Reservists and the current spouse of all the aforementioned,

- The widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service, or from a service-connected disability.

The seminar will also discuss service-connected disabled veteran-owned small business concerns and unique contracting opportunities with the Federal Government. The seminar will be repeated every third Thursday of the month through 2009.

Pre-registration is mandatory. To register, contact Alfonso Lewis, Employment Readiness Program manager at Alfonso.lewis@forscom.army.mil. Lewis can also be reached at 404/464-3266 or by fax at 404/464-2979.

For additional information on SBA programs for veterans, go to www.sba.gov/vets.
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Whitlock Ellis Building Completed

The new Whitlock Ellis Wealth Management office, built on the site of one of Peachtree City’s first banks, has been completed and is open for business.

The building, located at 2338 Hwy 54 in Peachtree City, is over 6500 square feet and is a two story shingle-style office building designed by Tyrone based Jefferson Browne of Design Group, LLC.

With a large open floor plan, featuring two conference rooms and six private offices, the complex houses the permanent Peachtree City location of the Whitlock Ellis Wealth Management team headed up by Barry Ellis, Managing Partner.

“Moving into this brand new building is really exciting for me, explained Barry Ellis. “I worked out of the old building for almost ten years. We are proud to have added such a landmark to Peachtree City.

The previous building located at the site, was originally built in the 1970’s. Demolition crews from the company of South –Tree Enterprises, a Tyrone based commercial builder, completely took down the old building in July of 2008.

Elizabeth Whitlock, President and partner with the practice stated, “The changes to the building site and to the area in general are incredible and we are excited about serving our clients and the community from this location. We want our clients to be comfortable, and the elegant, airy style of the building accomplishes that. Barry, Melinda and I can’t wait to see the reaction of our clients when they first come through the doors.”

Senior Vice President and Partner, Melinda Whitlock added, “It was important to us that our clients feel right at home. We believe with all our hearts that what we have built here will accomplish that goal.”

For more information about Whitlock Ellis Wealth Management, visit the website at www.whitlockellis.wbsec.com or call Peachtree City at 770-487-7979 or Fayetteville at 770-461-8188.

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