Wingstop to Add 20 Restaurants in Atlanta Area

/PRNewswire/ -- Just months after being acquired by Atlanta-based Roark Capital Group, Wingstop has announced plans to aggressively expand its presence in the Atlanta area. The fast-growing national chicken wing chain plans to add 20 additional locations in Atlanta over the next several years.

The growth will be accomplished through franchising, and to help local entrepreneurs get into business, the company is offering introductory incentives for new franchisees that join the Wingstop system.

The expansion effort begins with an Atlanta open house April 20-21 where franchise candidates will have an opportunity to learn about Wingstop's plans and meet one-on-one with company executives.

Wingstop has 480 locations throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Based on the success of those stores, the award-winning chain believes Atlanta is an ideal market for growth.

"Our restaurants have a very loyal fan following with a lot of potential for expansion," said David Vernon, vice president of franchise sales for Wingstop. "That, coupled with the simple operating platform of cooked-to-order wings and fresh-cut fries makes Wingstop an ideal concept for entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators in Atlanta."

The Texas-based company was founded in 1994 with a sole focus on cooked-to-order chicken wings sauced in nine proprietary flavors and began franchising in 1997. Today 95 percent of Wingstop's restaurants are franchise owned and operated, and the company has experienced more than seven consecutive years of same store sales increases.


Event registration:


To schedule a one-on-one meeting in Atlanta to learn more about development opportunities, please contact Steve Sweetman at ssweetman@wingstop.com , 919-870-7860 or visit www.wingstopfranchise.com .


Qualifications:


A minimum net worth of $400,000 and liquid capital of $200,000 is required. 

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Walmart Realignment Puts Atlanta in the Spotlight

/PRNewswire/ -- Walmart announced today that the new eastern business unit will be headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Walmart's eastern business unit is comprised of nearly 1,600 stores in 20 states spanning from Florida to Maine with approximately 560,000 associates. The eastern business unit will be led by Atlanta veteran Rosalind Brewer, president of Walmart East and executive vice president of Walmart U.S.

"With the busiest airport in the world and a central location, Georgia is the ideal destination for our eastern business unit," said Rosalind Brewer, president of Walmart East and executive vice president of Walmart U.S. "Atlanta has a strong history of corporate and divisional headquarters and we're delighted to join this group and spotlight the city within our global organization."

In her new role, Brewer is responsible for establishing the strategic direction for the eastern business unit, including growth opportunities in store innovation, people development, supply chain and real estate. Rosalind joined Walmart in 2006 as regional vice president, responsible for operations in Georgia, and was quickly promoted to president of the southeast operating division. She later led the south business unit of Walmart U.S. as executive vice president and president before being appointed to her current role. Prior to joining Walmart, she worked for Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Molson Coors Brewing Company. She serves on the board of trustees for Spelman College and the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. And, in 2010, she was named one of FORTUNE magazine's "50 Most Powerful Women."

Walmart's eastern business unit headquartered in Atlanta will manage stores in the following states:

* Florida
* Georgia
* Alabama
* South Carolina
* North Carolina
* Virginia
* West Virginia
* Ohio
* Michigan
* Maryland
* Delaware
* New Jersey
* Pennsylvania
* New York
* Vermont
* New Hampshire
* Massachusetts
* Connecticut
* Rhode Island
* Maine

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The Franchise Event Southeast Expo in Atlanta is this weekend March 12th & 13th 2011

/PRNewswire/ -- The Franchise Event Southeast Expo is designed to connect you with top franchise, licensing and business opportunities from all over the United States in one location in Atlanta.

Host: http://www.thefranchiseevent.com

When: Saturday March 12th 2011 Noon – 6:00 PM & Sunday March 13th 2011 Noon – 5:00 PM

Where: North Atlanta Trade Center - 1700 Jeurgens Court Norcross, GA 30093

Cost: $10 at the door – If you order online now at: http://www.thefranchiseevent.com/Southeast-Expo.html and use Promo Code: "CHA" you will get half price tickets plus we will donate half to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta .

Meet face to face and speak directly to industry professionals to learn about their exciting offerings and see if it is a fit for you and your goals as an entrepreneur such as:

All at Home, Avion Energy, Barton's Laundry, Beef Jerky Outlet, Beef O' Brady's Brewster's Chicken, Buff & Coat Hardwood Floor Renewal, Carla's Sandwiches & Burgers, CMT Mentors, Cresco Montessori Schools, DePalma's Italian Cafe, Dickey's BBQ, EMT USA (Non Emergency Medical Transport), Fantastic Sam's, Franchise Gator, Frannet of Atlanta, Gentle Rain Marketing, Great American Cookie Co, Griffin Waste Management, Home Video Studio, Ikor (Senior & Disabled Patient Advocacy), Italian Joe's, Jantize America, Lenny's Subs, Maggie Moo's, Marble Slab, Novus Glass, Papa-N-Son's, Pretzel Maker, Quickie Coupons, Scoop Wizards, Shoebox NY, Send Out Cards, Southern Automatic, Sportclips, The Athletes Foot, Tranquility Coffee &Tea House, WIN Home Inspection, World Market Express Convenience Stores, Wow Cafe & Wingery and more…

You can also attend one or all of our four great seminars included this Saturday & Sunday:

* How to Avoid Franchise Failure
* The 7 Stages of Small Business Success "From Startup to Seven Figures in Three years or Less"
* How to Market your Franchise
* Creative Funding - With and Without Loan Payments


So if you ever wanted to be your own boss, you are already a seasoned franchise owner or anywhere in-between... plan now to spend March 12th and 13th 2011 with us at The Franchise Event Southeast Expo.

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Vision Airlines Sells 12,000 Tickets in 120 Hours

/PRNewswire/ -- Vision Airlines, the nation's newest big jet, low-cost carrier reports it sold more than 12,000 tickets during its first 120 hours of e-commerce operations at www.visionairlines.com.

On Tuesday, January 18, Vision Airlines unveiled its 23 city mega-expansion plan and its $49* introductory fare sale for its first flights to Florida, which are scheduled to take-off on March 25.

Vision Airlines says within 48 hours it sold-out of all $49 seats. Now, in response to immense customer demand, the airline is adding more $49 seats on every flight to Florida. The airline is also extending its introductory $49 fare sale, which was slated to end on Sunday but is now continuing through January 31, 2011.

Vision Airlines' chief operating officer David Meers says, "We received hundreds of calls from disappointed customers who did not understand that only a limited number of specially-priced $49 seats were available on each flight."

Meers adds, "At this juncture, Vision Airlines believes it is more important to satisfy first-time customers rather than turn them away because they missed-out on a fare sale. So, we put more $49 seats in our system."

Meers emphasizes, "Our first goal is to get passengers on Vision Airlines' jets so they can experience our fast, friendly and efficient service. After their first flight we are confident that we will earn passenger's repeat business."

"Running out of $49 seats was not the only glitch during our first week of operations," says Vision Airlines' spokesman Bryan Glazer.

"Once the morning TV and radio newscasts reported our story; once people read their local morning newspapers; once the headlines hit the internet we were overwhelmed by interested customers," says Glazer. "Vision Airlines website has recorded upward of 50,000 hits to date. And, on the first day of operations the website crashed several times and our reservations center was unable to handle the flood of customer phone calls."

Vision Airlines' Sales and Marketing Director Clay Meek says, "To remedy these technical problems, Vision Airlines has increased its web server capacity and added more customer call center representatives."

Mega-Expansion

After 16 years of building its reputation as one of the world's most-successful charter carriers, Vision Airlines is now expanding into regularly-scheduled commercial passenger service.

Most of Vision Airlines' flights depart from southern U.S. cities that lack low-cost, direct jet service to destinations in Florida.

Vision Airlines Cities

* Asheville, NC - Atlanta, GA - Baton Rouge, LA - Birmingham, AL - Chattanooga, TN
* Columbia, SC - Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, FL - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
* Greenville/Spartanburg, SC - Gulfport/Biloxi, MS - Houston, TX - Huntsville, AL
* Knoxville, TN - Little Rock, AR - Louisville, KY - Macon, GA - Miami, FL
* Niagara Falls/Buffalo, NY/Toronto, Canada - Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers, FL
* Sanford/Orlando, FL - Savannah, GA - Shreveport, LA
* St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa, FL


Vision Airlines' Hub

Most Florida-bound flights are to and through the airline's hub at Northwest Florida Regional Airport near Destin/Fort Walton Beach.

Florida's Governor Expects Vision Airlines will Revitalize Post Oil Spill Economy

Working with Florida Governor Richard Scott and local officials in Northwest Florida, Vision Airlines is expected to play a pivotal role in the revitalization of the state's gulf coast tourism economy, which was destroyed by last year's BP oil spill.

Destin/Fort Walton Beach, also known as Florida's Emerald Coast, is the most-effected area.

"It wasn't pollution that destroyed our tourism economy, it was the wave of negative publicity," says Northwest Florida Regional Airport Director Gregg Donovan. "Unlike neighboring gulf coast states to the west of us, there were no tar balls on our beaches, no oil slicks in the water and no petroleum-scented sea breezes. Yet, the tourists stayed away."

Mark Bellinger, Director of Okaloosa County's Tourism Development Council, says, "We forecast that Vision Airlines will deliver thousands of passengers to the Emerald Coast each week. That means tourists will be able to see first hand that our beaches are still sugary-white and the Gulf waters are still emerald green."

Bellinger adds, "Because airfares to our area have been so expensive, most tourists drive here for long vacations. Now they can afford to fly here -- even for weekend getaways."

Meek says, "Making air travel affordable means more tourist dollars, which will create jobs at resorts, restaurants and even miniature golf courses."

According to Governor Scott, Vision Airlines' passenger traffic will create upward of 4,000 jobs in related industries.

Florida Cities

Vision Airlines also offers direct flights from several cities to Ft. Lauderdale; Miami; Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers; Sanford/Orlando and St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa.

Intrastate Florida Flights

The airline is now linking Northwestern Florida with other areas of the state with flights to and from Southeastern, Southwestern and Central Florida.

Atlanta-Louisville

Vision Airlines also provides twice daily non-stop service between Atlanta, GA and Louisville, KY.

Mississippi's Casino Coast

Another Vision Airlines destination is Mississippi's Casino Coast. The carrier offers flights from Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX and St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa, FL to Gulfport/Biloxi, MS.

Business Model

Vision Airlines' business model is based on offering non-stop and direct flights to Florida from secondary U.S. cities that have been ignored by the major airlines.

People in these cities are currently forced to fly in cramped regional jets, endure long layovers while connecting through other cities and they must pay extremely high airfares.

Vision Airlines now offers Boeing 737 jet flights on direct routes that other airlines do not fly.

"Essentially, Vision Airlines has no competition," says well-known aviation industry analyst Michael Boyd. "Therefore, Vision Airlines is likely to be very successful."

FINE PRINT ABOUT FARES


*Fares shown exclude Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9.00, September 11th Security Fees of up to $2.50 per enplanement and US segment fee of $3.70 per segment. A segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. All fares are one-way. Round trip purchase not required. All fares are non-refundable and a $100 fee per person applies to change made after purchase, plus any applicable increase in airfare. Baggage Fees of up to $30 each way per checked bag. Seats are limited and subject to availability and may not be available on all flights. Fares, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice.

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Delta Kicks Off 70th Anniversary Year as Atlanta's Hometown Airline

/PRNewswire/ -- When Lynda Lloyd boarded her first Delta Air Lines flight in Atlanta as a flight attendant in 1964, the airline had recently become the first commercial carrier to fly across the country in less than three hours and had just launched the industry's most sophisticated electronic reservations system, all under the watchful eye of company founder and then-chief executive C.E. Woolman.

Today, Lloyd, Delta's most senior employee who lives and works in Atlanta, will join hundreds of her fellow Atlanta-based employees as well as elected, community and business leaders from across Georgia to mark the airline's 70th anniversary as Atlanta's hometown airline.

A Delta Boeing 777-200LR aircraft used to connect Atlanta nonstop to cities such as Tokyo, Dubai, Johannesburg and Tel Aviv, will be christened as the "Spirit of Atlanta" during a celebration at Delta's massive Technical Operations Center, adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and in the shadow of the $1.4 billion Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal currently under construction.

Delta (NYSE: DAL), today among the largest airlines in the world, was a small carrier focused on the Southeast when it moved its headquarters from Monroe, La., to Atlanta in 1941. In the decades that followed, Delta built the world's largest connecting hub in Atlanta, and for more than two decades has remained Georgia's largest private employer and a major economic force in the region.

With 25,000 employees based in Atlanta, Delta is estimated to pump more than $25 billion into the local economy, and is a major contributor to key community organizations, including the Grady Health Foundation, the Woodruff Arts Center, AID Atlanta, Hands On Atlanta, Habitat for Humanity, CARE, the Carter Center and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

"Delta Air Lines and Atlanta have a unique partnership that has been inextricably linked to the success and prosperity of our city and our airport for nearly three quarters of a century," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. "The strong relationships among companies such as Delta, state and local elected officials and civic organizations are what make Atlanta not only a global, dynamic city, but a great place to live and do business. Congratulations to Delta Air Lines, Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson and all employees on the company's 70th anniversary as Atlanta's hometown airline."

"Delta is truly an economic force for Georgia," said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. "It is our biggest employer and its presence here plays a key role in helping us attract new investment and jobs. I look forward to partnering with Delta as it sets out on the next 70 years."

"The success of Delta and the city of Atlanta have been intertwined for seven decades, and it's hard to argue with the results," said Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive. "Atlanta has grown into a major international city while Delta built the world's largest hub at the city's airport. Central to this success has been the historic partnership between Delta, the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia and our thousands of Atlanta-based employees and customers."

Recognizing one of Atlanta's longest and most successful business partnerships, the "Spirit of Atlanta" will be christened at the celebration with a bottle of Coke. Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive of the Coca-Cola Company, will be honored and make remarks at the celebration.

In addition, Lloyd will be honored as the Delta employee who has lived and worked in Atlanta the longest. The airline also will recognize its most frequent Atlanta flyer, Ed Robinette, who has flown nearly 7 million miles on Delta over the past 30 years, and Cheryll Davis, Delta's most active Atlanta-based community volunteer, who has dedicated thousands of hours during her 20-year Delta career to the airline's preferred local charities.

"As a longtime Atlanta resident it's been so exciting to be part of this airline, which is such a positive force for the community," Lloyd said. "It was the very best decision of my life, to come to Atlanta, remain here, and be a Delta Flight Attendant. I am still enjoying the very best job in the world. It always makes me proud when I tell people I work for Delta."

"Two years ago, I moved my business to Atlanta because of the great flights and service offered by Delta, and I'm not the only one, we have so many businesses based in Atlanta solely because of Delta," said Robinette, who has been a member of the Delta SkyMiles frequent flier program since its inception in 1981. "I've flown 7 million miles on Delta, and I can honestly say I don't remember a single bad experience."

"Delta has always encouraged its employees to become involved in our communities, and service is a big part of being a member of the Delta family," said Davis. "As an Atlanta resident, it's great that Delta is so supportive of our community, and it's one of the benefits of being Delta's hometown."

"It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Delta on its 70th anniversary as Atlanta's hometown airline," said U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. "Delta Air Lines has come a long way since its beginnings in Monroe, La., to the international commercial airline it is today. For seven decades, Delta has thrived, employing thousands of Georgians and becoming an integral part of our communities. Delta has established itself as an economic engine not only for Georgia, but for the entire Southeast. I am grateful that such a company calls Atlanta its home."

"As Georgians, we are all proud to be recognizing Delta's 70th anniversary as our hometown airline," said U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. "Over the past seven decades, Delta has become an integral part of the community, bringing jobs, businesses and great opportunities to the state of Georgia by connecting us to cities across the country and the world."

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 357 destinations in 67 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

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CallMe! Announces Call Center Hiring Campaign In Atlanta

/PRNewswire/ -- CallMe!, the leader in Human Capital Management for the Call Center industry, announced that it is holding open house career fairs beginning Jan. 18th in its Atlanta offices.

CallMe! Chief Executive Officer Chris Bracken noted, "CallMe! is working with several clients in the area to fill great call center jobs. In the last year, our company has grown to be the leader in the call center staffing space, and this hiring campaign reflects our success."

Specific jobs to be filled include:

* Customer Service Agents & Managers
* Collection Agents & Managers
* Inside Sales Agents
* Tech Support Agents


CallMe! will be hosting open house job fairs every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. at 1 Glenlake Parkway, Suite 1225, Atlanta, GA 30328.

For more information, please visit us on the web at www.callme.io, view call center jobs at callmejobs.com, or call us at 877-402-2563.

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Revitalization Plans Become Concrete at the Jekyll Island Convention Center Groundbreaking

/PRNewswire/ -- Governor Sonny Perdue, the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) Board of Directors, staff, legislative and business representatives and members of the community gathered just north of the former convention center December 7 to commemorate the beginning of construction on the new Jekyll Island convention center and beach village.

The new Jekyll Island convention center replaces the former center and will be the only oceanfront convention facility in the southeast. The new center is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification at a Silver level. The 128,000 sq. ft. facility will feature many "green" aspects including structural facets that serve to capture and reuse rainwater, alternative/renewable energy generation and use and the latest in energy-saving technology.

Construction on the ocean front convention center is expected to take approximately 18 months and is scheduled to be complete along with the two new hotels, loft condominiums and 40,000 sq. ft. of retail space that make up the commercial components of the new Jekyll Island Beach Village in 2012. Great Dunes Park and a public village green are integrated to create a new, vibrant beachside destination on Jekyll Island.

"The revitalization of Jekyll Island is a story of renewal – of restoring the island to its rightful place as a premier public beach resort available to all Georgians and visitors," stated Governor Perdue. "This project is already benefiting a reinvigorated coastal Georgia economy, and I look forward to seeing the finished product thanks to the hard work and dedication the Jekyll Island Authority Board of Directors and the Jekyll Island Authority staff have invested in this effort."

The facility will be integrated into its natural beachfront location in a manner that minimizes impact on the environment while creating a wonderful and unique guest experience. The interior design will celebrate the natural transect of the island from the dunescapes to the marsh vistas.

"We can not be more excited to embark on this monumental project for Jekyll Island," stated Chairman Bob Krueger. "My hope is for the new convention center to create a wealth of special memories just as the former has done for so many visitors and residents alike."

The day concluded with JIA Executive Director Jones Hooks inviting ceremony guests to make a permanent mark on slabs of wet cement to signify the permanence of revitalization. The cement tiles will be used in the new Beach Village area as a lasting tribute to those who have worked together to make the revitalization of Jekyll Island a reality.

"In this economy, it is truly remarkable that we are at this critical point of getting construction underway," stated Jones Hooks. "Timing has always been a critical element, and what we have been able to accomplish over the last twelve months is almost a miracle and would not be possible if not for the steadfast support of the Governor, the state legislature and our JIA Board."

Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC, the Georgia based general contractor for the convention center and related infrastructure will begin construction in January of 2011. Currently crews are sorting out material from the demolition debris to be recycled. Concrete is being ground to be used as the base for the new convention center and beach village streets. The beginning of construction on the convention center and accompanying retail area signifies the cornerstone of revitalization efforts for the Jekyll Island Authority.

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Consumer Product Services Announces the Opening of its Fifth Returns and Remanufacturing Center in Atlanta Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Product Services (symbol CPSV) today (December 3) announced the opening of its fifth (5th) consumer returns and remanufacturing center in Acworth Georgia. The Acworth facility was planned due to the continuing growth of the CPS client base requiring North American scalability, flexibility, reliability, consistency, transparency and rapid deployment of competitive reverse logistics solutions available through the CPS "Single Source Solution" approach to reverse supply chain management.

Mr. Darren Krantz, the Company's CEO stated, "With the opening of the Atlanta facility, we have greatly expanded our capacity and more importantly have created the ability to capture product in the strategic Southeastern corridor. Our existing clients as well as potential new clients require that we have strategically located logistic and remanufacturing facilities within certain geographic zones. This new facility is of key importance."

Acworth is located in the northwest quadrant of the Atlanta metro area. The newly constructed facility is located in the Cherokee Commons Industrial Park adjacent to I-75. The facility maintains over 50,000 sq feet of space dedicated to returns management and remanufacturing of CPS client products in the categories of major appliances, small appliance, outdoor power, air comfort and floor care.

Like other CPS facilities, Acworth is a multi client facility that provides state of the art engineering quality labs for on site defect data collection and reporting, debit reconciliation, remanufacturing, parts recovery, recycling as well as fulfillment services on behalf CPS clients. According to Michael Edwards CPS VP, Logistics and Supply Chain, Acworth is strategically located to service in excess of 25% of the US population and major retailer stores in the region within one day of shipment. This is a decided advantage in reducing transportation costs, improve inventory velocity and minimize exposure to cosmetic and mechanical damage incurred from longer transit times and multiple handlings through the carrier supply chain.

Consumer Product Services was founded in 2002 and is corporately based in Deer Park, Long Island, New York. In addition to operating five (5) North American returns and remanufacturing centers, CPS consists of five interrelated companies including Consumer Product Services for remanufacturing, CPS Supply Chain Services for transportation and warehousing, CPS Warranty Group for first and second warranty placement as well as B to C web stores and B to B auction sites.

CPS is dedicated to the principles of:

* Operational and Financial Benefits for our Clients
* Market Control
* Support of Brand Loyalty
* Continuous Quality Improvement
* Environmental Stewardship
* Creation of North American Jobs


This document may include statements that constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe", "estimate", "project", "expect", "anticipate", or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to secure capital to fund current operations; future trends in the returns business; financial, environmental or remanufacturing difficulties affecting the Reverse Logistics and Remanufacturing programs; uncertainties surrounding estimates of product returns; and other risks associated with the Company's business. By making these forward-looking statements, CPS undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes in the future 

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Inland Atlantic Georgia Old National Venture LLC to Break Ground on Old National Marketplace Shopping Center in College Park, Georgia

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inland Atlantic Georgia Old National Venture LLC, a joint venture between Inland Atlantic Development Corporation, Pointe Development Company and Heritage Creek Development I, LLC, announced November 16 that it has broken ground on Phase I of Old National Marketplace, a premiere shopping center development located in College Park, Georgia. Part of a planned 297,000 project, Phase I will encompass approximately 99,000 square feet and has tenant commitments that currently place occupancy at nearly 90 percent. Major tenants include LA Fitness, Family Dollar and fashion retailers Citi-Trends and It’s Fashion.

“As the climate for commercial real estate in Atlanta continues to improve, retailers have started looking for the next step to develop their pipelines for future growth, and we’ve found they really like what Old National Marketplace has to offer,” said John DiGiovanni, president of Inland Atlantic Development Corporation. “This is a great location in a market with a lot of untapped potential, and we’ve seen a very strong response from retailers that are excited to be a part of this project.”

Site clearing began on November 8 and construction will be complete by October 2011, DiGiovanni said. Additional tenants include Shoe Land and VIP Nails salon, and potential leases with T-Mobile and Anna’s Linens. Leasing is already underway for Phase II, with interest from several major national and local tenants.

“We’ve already seen good response to Phase I of the project,” DiGiovanni said. “Once construction begins, we expect the excitement among retailers to grow and leasing activity to snowball. In terms of new development in the Atlanta area, this is one of the few that’s coming out of the ground.”

Florida-based Pointe Development Company principles, Alan Sakowitz and Maurice Egozi and Atlanta-based Heritage Creek Development I, LLC principle Wayne Kendall are Inland Atlantic Development Corporation’s partners in the joint venture. Construction management of the project will be overseen by Randy Josepher, executive vice president of Inland Atlantic Development.

The principle partners in Inland Atlantic Development Corporation previously created a development pipeline of more than a million square feet for Inland Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust that was sold in 2007 for $6.2 billion.

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MAC Honors Top Supply Chain Performers at Fourth Annual Awards

Supply Chain Professional of the Year, Warren Jones of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Supply Chain Company of the Year, Servigistics

The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) awarded the Supply Chain Professional of the Year to Warren Jones, aviation development manager for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and the Supply Chain Company of the Year award to Servigistics during a breakfast at the 2010 Supply Chain Forum on Nov. 15.

"The supply chain industry drives metro Atlanta's economy," said Chris Gaffney, president of Coca-Cola Supply, LLC and chair of MAC's Supply Chain Leadership Council. "We are excited to recognize these great leaders and innovative companies that are located in our region. Metro Atlanta has the nation's fifth-largest concentration of supply chain companies with more than 132,000 jobs."

Atlanta is the business and distribution center of the Southeast, and its global access, innovation and talent create an unparalleled logistics network for companies that demand efficient, predictable and consistent global supply chain operations to accelerate growth.

This is the fourth year for the awards, which were created to recognize outstanding individuals and companies in metro Atlanta whose actions have advanced the state of the supply chain industry and promoted its continued growth. This year's theme was "Supply Chain Outlook - Trends and Issues 2011 and Beyond."

Supply Chain Company of the Year, Servigistics

Servigistics is a privately held company headquartered in Atlanta, with regional headquarters in the UK, Japan, and India, and sales and service professionals around the world.

Over the past two years, Servigistics has experienced unprecedented growth as a company. In 2009, Marlin Equity Partners, known for creating market-leading software solution companies, merged industry leaders Servigistics and Click Commerce's Service Network Solutions (SNS) division. In 2010, Servigistics acquired Kaidara Software.

Today, Servigistics is the only enterprise software solution provider for Service Lifecycle Management (SLM). The company's awarded-winning SLM solutions suite enables market-leading companies across diverse industries to successfully execute and service- led growth strategy that delivers value across the entire global service supply chain.

Recent awards include:

· Named one of the Top 20 Supply Chain Management Software Suppliers (Modern Material Handling's 9th Annual Survey of leading SCM Suppliers)

· Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Company

· Inbound Logistics Top 100 Logistics IT Company

· Deloitte Technology Fast 500

· Atlanta Business Chronicle Pace Setters Award

· Atlanta Metro Chamber Global Impact Award Finalist

Finalists for Supply Chain Company of the Year included Fortna Inc. and Insight Sourcing Group.

Supply Chain Professional of the Year, Warren Jones
Warren Jones is the aviation development manager for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and began his aviation career in 1996 with Martinair Cargo in the sales division. In 1999, he joined Chapman-Freeborn Air Chartering as the sales manager for the Southeast region, and in 2004, Jones joined Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

In addition to his duties at the world's busiest airport, Jones is a part-time professor at Georgia State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he teaches aviation-focused courses.

Jones is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a concentration in Aerospace Administration, and holds a master's in aviation management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Jones was instrumental in Atlanta winning the bid to host The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) International Air Cargo Forum & Exhibition in 2012. And during his tenure Atlanta has been selected by Air Cargo Week as Air Cargo Airport of the Year, for the last two years.

Finalists for Supply Chain Professional of the Year included Rob Doyle, president of Amware Logistics Services; and John A. White III, president of Fortna Inc.

In 2003, the Metro Atlanta Chamber established a logistics cluster economic development initiative, and the Atlanta Logistics Innovation Council to leverage and grow this industry. Since 2003, the Chamber recruited companies that created more than 6,900 supply chain and logistics jobs and established direct air cargo service with China. The initiative won an international best-practice award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2006 for its strategy to grow this sector. In 2009, as part of our continued evolution, we adopted a new vision, mission and new council name -- The Supply Chain Leadership Council.

The Fifth Annual Supply Chain Forum is hosted by the Supply Chain Leadership Council in partnership with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Atlanta Roundtable. For more information visit http://supplychain.metroatlantachamber.com.
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23rd Hunter Hotel Investment Conference Scheduled for March 6-8, 2011, in Atlanta

Keynote Speakers Are Jim Abrahamson and Jack DeBoer

Officials of the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, one of the four major national annual hotel investment conferences, today announced that the 23rd annual event will be held March 6-8, 2011, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Two industry luminaries, Jim Abrahamson, president of Americas, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Jack DeBoer, founder and chairman, Value Place, will headline the event as keynote speakers.

“We have a strong tradition of bringing in the top industry leaders to share successful hospitality business practices as keynote speakers,” said Bob Hunter, CEO of Hunter Realty and conference co-chair. “Jim has played a leadership role in the development of a number of the world’s leading brands, while Jack is the acknowledged ‘father’ of the extended-stay concept. We look forward to hearing their unique insights into the industry and its future outlook.

“The conference has gained a strong reputation as an important networking and education event over the last 22 years,” Hunter added. “This conference focuses on the needs of hotel owners, who make up a large number of our total attendees. Proceeds from the event support special scholarships at Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality.”

Speaker Profiles:

· Jim Abrahamson—As president of the Americas, Abrahamson oversees management, growth and profitability of IHG’s portfolio of more than 3,400 hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America. Also, he has worked with The Marcus Corporation as president, limited-service lodging; Hilton Hotels Corporation as senior vice president, franchising; and Global Hyatt Corporation as head of development, the Americas.

· Jack DeBoer—Creating the extended-stay concept with the first Residence Inn, he expanded the business to 100 hotels, which were sold to Marriott International, Inc. He then co-founded the Summerfield Hotel Corporation, now owned by Global Hyatt Corporation. He later launched Candlewood Hotel Corporation and sold it to IHG after establishing 130 properties. Most recently, DeBoer established the extended-stay hotel chain Value Place which currently has a portfolio of 160 locations.

For more information on the program and to register, please visit the conference website at www.HunterConference.com, or contact Bob Hunter or Nancy Petenbrink, Conference Director, at 770-916-0300 or by email at nancy.petenbrink@hunterhotels.net. The conference headquarters are located at 300 Galleria Parkway, S-620, Atlanta, Ga. 30339.

Ryla Hiring for 1,400 New Customer Service Jobs in Atlanta

/PRNewswire/ -- Ryla, an Alorica company, today announced it is hiring to fill at least 1,400 new jobs at its Kennesaw, GA call center facility. The jobs expansion is due to expanded needs of one of its year-round clients as well as for a recurring annual seasonal project. Both full-time long-term and seasonal positions are available. Positions begin as early as November 1, 2010. Ryla is a leading domestic-focused provider of customer contact services for Fortune 500 and government agencies, and does no telemarketing or cold calls.

In addition to the customer service positions, Ryla is also seeking to fill several supervisory positions. The hiring wave is part of a six state expansion underway in Georgia, California, Alabama, Virginia, Colorado and Indiana.

"With unemployment in Georgia at 10% and higher in some markets in which we're expanding, we're excited to be in a position to bring more jobs to help get people back to work," said Mark Wilson, Ryla CEO and Founder.

Interested applicants should apply online at www.ryla.com. Qualified applicants will be contacted for scheduled interviews beginning as early as Monday, October 25.

Positions Available:

Customer Service Representatives

Supervisors and various support staff positions

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NBAA Honors Governor Perdue with American Spirit Award

Characterizes those who created, advanced the American aviation community

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that Governor Sonny Perdue has been named the recipient of the 2010 American Spirit Award at NBAA’s 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2010) in Atlanta.

The NBAA American Spirit Award is presented in recognition of an individual who exemplifies the service, courage and pursuit of excellence in support of business aviation that characterizes the men and women who created and advanced the American aviation community. The Governor was presented the award during this morning’s opening general session of the convention, which draws 25,000 aviation professionals and enthusiasts from across the world to the Georgia World Congress Center.

“Governor Perdue has two great passions – aviation and the state of Georgia – and has spent many years tirelessly supporting and nurturing the development of both,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “NBAA is proud to include him among the speakers at our convention’s opening general session, and also to honor him with the American Spirit Award for his dedication to all aviation, including business aviation.”

In 2007, Governor Perdue addressed attendees at the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, also in Atlanta, welcoming the crowd to “the real state of aviation,” and proudly detailed Georgia’s long list of aviation superlatives, including the state’s role as home to the eighth-largest general aviation industry in the nation, with many thousands of people employed at more than 500 aerospace and aviation companies.

“NBAA applauds Governor Perdue for recognizing the value of business aviation, to citizens, companies and communities across Georgia,” Bolen added. “The Governor has long understood that the use of a business airplane helps promote the creation of jobs, provides service to small communities and helps companies of all sizes in the state compete and succeed. We thank Governor Perdue for his steadfast support for business aviation, and the many benefits it brings to the State of Georgia.”

Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the NBAA is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 8,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.

Past honorees of the NBAA American Spirit Award have included such aviation notables and pioneers as John and Martha King, founders of the King Schools, Inc., and Rep. John Mica (R-7-FL). For more information about the Convention's 2010 programming, visit NBAA's dedicated AM&C web page at http://www.nbaa.org/2010.

Nominate Your Workplace as One of Atlanta's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For

/PRNewswire/ -- The search is on for Atlanta's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For the first time ever, Atlanta, GA will host the 101 awards event that identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment.

The event will honor 101 companies and present 11 elite awards at the first annual "Atlanta's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" symposium and awards celebration on June 20, 2011 at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center. The event will feature best practice workshop sessions that precede an awards brunch hosted by Monica Pearson of WSB TV 2.

An independent research firm will evaluate each company's entry based on its communication, community initiatives, compensation and benefits, diversity and multiculturalism, employee education and development, employee engagement and commitment, recognition and retention, recruitment and selection, small business and work-life balance. A basic assessment of each nominated company's overall ranking in each category will be provided.

Nominations are being accepted online at www.101bestandbrightest.com. Anyone can complete the online entry form. Nomination forms are also available by calling 866-321-1822. The nomination deadline is Dec. 1, 2010.

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World’s Ambassadors to Visit Atlanta on U.S. State Department’s Experience America Tour

Atlanta chosen because of its prominence as one of the nation’s most vital places to do business

Atlanta will host nearly 50 foreign ambassadors from all over the world from Oct. 12-15 to showcase the city as a great place to do business. The U.S. State Department’s Experience America program takes foreign ambassadors to key American cities for three days to create new, mutually beneficial partnerships and provide visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation of America’s people, culture and values.
“Choosing Atlanta to be visited by ambassadors from countries all over the world sends a strong signal -- that Atlanta is where the world comes to do business, make business connections and create jobs,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC). “Today Atlanta has the nation’s fourth-highest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in the country, the world’s busiest airport, and a network of world-class universities and colleges.”

As a part of the trip, the ambassadors, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and top leaders in metro Atlanta’s business community will attend a breakfast hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber on Oct. 13. They will discuss Atlanta’s robust business community and the benefits of doing business in Atlanta.


WHO: United States Chief of Protocol Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Metro Atlanta Chamber President Sam A. Williams

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 8 – 9:30 a.m.


WHERE: Metro Atlanta Chamber Board Room, 235 Andrew Young International Blvd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30303


“Atlanta already has a strong international presence, with more than 2,400 international companies here and 65 countries represented by consulates, trade offices and investment agencies,” Williams added. “This tour is yet another opportunity to build connections around the globe.”

Many Atlanta companies -- such as UPS, Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, AGCO, GE and others -- do business around the world. While in Atlanta, the ambassadors plan to visit the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Tech, CNN, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Carter Library, view the Martin Luther King Jr. papers at Morehouse College and visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Visitor’s Center. This is the sixth Experience America tour and other destinations have been California, Texas, Florida, New York and Chicago.

The Experience America is organized by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Chief of Protocol.

Three Georgia Companies on Counselor's 2010 Best Places to Work List

Alpharetta-based eCompanyStore is No. 24 of ad specialty companies with greatest corporate cultures

Loyal staffs, trustworthy management, solid benefits and team effectiveness helped land 75 companies on Counselor magazine’s 2010 list of best places to work in the ad specialty industry.

Every company on the list provides typical health-care and financial benefits. But some also infuse their corporate culture with unique benefits such as an incentive program offering $1,000 to employees who buy eco-friendly cars. Other companies use food to win over workers, including wine tastings and family barbeques.

The number one "Best Place to Work" is Dacasso, a Gainesville, FL-based supplier that emphasizes the fun and the progressive, whether it's a holiday party, wellness program or late-afternoon sales challenge. The company also provides a fitness room, favorable scheduling policies and a tax-advantaged profit-sharing plan that allows employees to become fully vested at three months.

Three Georgia companies are included on the list: eCompanyStore (Alpharetta), Pinnacle Promotions (Norcross), and The Icebox (Atlanta).

The list of 75 is a mix of large and small, geographically diverse companies identified by an in-depth survey process. To create the list, Counselor - published by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) - partnered with third-party research firm Quantum Workplace, which conducts Best Places to Work contests in more than 40 major cities, including Boston, Dallas, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

“At a time of unprecedented economic challenge, the companies on our list are rising to the task and providing a great workplace for their employees,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. “In return, they’re rewarded with loyalty and creativity by hard-working employees who simply love their jobs and enjoy going to work every day.”

The list appears in the September issue of Counselor, the “voice” of the promotional products industry. The accompanying cover story was written by Counselor Editor Andy Cohen and Staff Writer Dave Vagnoni and includes an interactive map. To view, click here.

The “Best Places to Work” list includes distributors and suppliers, companies with hundreds of employees and small firms with only 12 staffers (to qualify, a company had to have at least 10 employees).

The Counselor 75 Best Places To Work List:

1 Dacasso (Gainesville, FL) 2 Royal Crest Promotions (Golden, CO) 3 Hirsch Gift (Houston, TX) 4 Albrecht & Co. (Milford, OH) 5 The Book Company (Delray Beach, FL) 6 Metromedia Marketing (Edmonton, Canada) 7 Catalyst Marketing (Seattle, WA) 8 SnugZ/USA (Salt Lake City, UT) 9 Talbot Marketing (London, Canada) 10 MadeToOrder (Pleasanton, CA) 11 LogoBranders (Montgomery, AL) 12 Custom Logos (San Diego, CA) 13 Overture Premiums & Promotions (Vernon Hills, IL) 14 Pingline (Chicago, IL) 15 Sunrise Identity (Woodinville, WA) 16 The Sunshine Group (Maitland, FL) 17 Akran Marketing (Ottawa, Canada) 18 NewClients (Richmond, VA) 19 Posh Xessories (Chino, CA) 20 BrandVia Alliance (San Jose, CA) 21 The Vernon Company (Newton, IA) 22 Identity Marketing Inc. (Tempe, AZ) 23 Zebra Marketing (Memphis, TN) 24 eCompanyStore (Alpharetta, GA) 25 JH Specialty (Fort Wayne, IN) 26 Bluegrass Promotional Marketing (Charlotte, NC) 27 Pinnacle Promotions (Norcross, GA) 28 Go USA (Wenatchee, WA) 29 Identification Services/Halls and Company (Brooklyn Park, MN) 30 The Icebox (Atlanta, GA) 31 iClick (Seattle, WA) 32 Stitch Designers (Louisville, KY) 33 Mac Mannes (Bethesda, MD) 34 Insight Resource Group (Orinda, CA) 35 Image Group (Vancouver, Canada) 36 Stowebridge Promotion Group (Chandler, AZ) 37 Immediate Sales Agency (Waterloo, Canada) 38 Boundless Network (Austin, TX)

39 Cotton Candy (Mississauga, Canada) 40 Greater China (Bellevue, WA) 41 Metropak (Richardson, TX) 42 Moore Exposure (Fayetteville, NC) 43 Indoff (St. Louis, MO) 44 Mid-Nite Snax (Mineola, NY) 45 Cavanaugh Marketing Network (Pittsburgh, PA) 46 American Ad Bag (Woodstock, IL) 47 Sonoma Promotional Solutions (Sonoma, CA) 48 Image Source & Branded Solutions by Edgar Martinez (Kirkland, WA) 49 Bob Lilly Professional Promotions (Dallas, TX) 50 Crystal D (St. Paul, MN) 51 Show Your Logo (Oswego, IL) 52 Genumark Promotional Merchandise (Toronto, Canada) 53 Atlas Embroidery & Screen Printing (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 54 SanMar (Preston, WA) 55 Walker-Clay (Hanson, MA) 56 Proforma (Independence, OH) 57 Pinnacle Designs (San Fernando, CA) 58 Adco Litho (Broadview, IL) 59 Sweda Company (City of Industry, CA) 60 AddVenture Products (San Diego, CA) 61 CSE (New Berlin, WI) 62 Rightsleeve (Toronto, Canada) 63 Brand Fuel Promotions (Morrisville, NC) 64 BamBams (Lorton, VA) 65 ePromos Promotional Products (New York, NY) 66 14 West LLC (Pewaukee, WI) 67 Match-Up Promotions (Longwood, FL) 68 California Tattoos (Tucson, AZ) 69 MediaTree (Parsippany, NJ) 70 Bag Makers (Union, IL) 71 The Promotional Specialists (Markham, Canada) 72 Digispec/Visstun/CounterPoint (Las Vegas, NV) 73 Bag Designs (Concord, Canada) 74 Sonic Promos (Gaithersburg, MD) 75 HDS Marketing (Pittsburgh, PA)

Promotional products, or advertising specialties, are often imprinted with slogans or logos to market a company, organization, product, service, achievement or event. The items are used in marketing campaigns to dramatically increase response rates.
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Bad CEO leadership causes companies to fail, according to new GSU study

When big companies hit the skids, their leaders often point the finger at something – or someone – other than themselves.

But the reality is bad leadership can push distressed companies over the edge, causing them to fail, while excellent leaders can help lift troubled companies faster from problems such as regulatory scrutiny, according to a new study co-authored by a Georgia State business professor.

“CEOs often play the blame game and say that things are beyond their control,” said Martin Grace, professor and associate director of the Center for Risk Management and Research in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.

He added, “But great CEOs are more efficient and when under scrutiny, they can influence a company, lowering the probability of a company failing.”

In the report, “Dupes or Incompetents: An examination of management’s impact on firm distress,” Grace and co-author Tyler Leverty of the University of Iowa, tracked 12,000 insurance companies because that industry is in the business of taking on risk, and distress is relatively frequent and severe, even in good economic times. It’s also a great laboratory because industry CEOs frequently move around.

The study looked at such factors as company performance during financial distress and how well the CEO was able to marshal a firm’s resources efficiently and move it away from regulatory scrutiny or potential failure.

Researchers found excellent CEOs were able to remove their firms from regulatory scrutiny eight to 16 times faster than poor leaders. In insurance companies going out of business, a more talented CEO showed a better return on the firm’s assets by up to 10 cents on the dollar.

The study looked at performance of companies between 1989 and 2000. The majority of the data for the study came from the 1989 to 2000 National Association of Insurance Commissioners Property-Casualty (NAIC) annual statement database. Other data is from the A.M. Best Company’s “Key Rating Guide,” and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Operation HOPE Officially Opens Atlanta Regional Office and Launches Mortgage and Consumer Credit Crisis Hotlines to Georgia and the Southeast Region

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Los Angeles-based nonprofit Operation HOPE (HOPE), the economic empowerment organization that has successfully educated, served and empowered more than 1.2 million Americans in the area of financial literacy and raised, funded and restructured more than $800 million in economic value for the underserved, hosted a grand opening at their Atlanta regional office on July 29, 2010.

“My mentor and HOPE Global Spokesman, Ambassador Andrew Young once told me that living in a capitalistic society with no access to capital is a sophisticated form of slavery”

The open house celebrated the official opening of HOPE's regional office in Atlanta, which will house several regional staff, including HOPE Chairman John Hope Bryant. Along with the open house reception and ribbon cutting ceremonies at the new Peachtree Street offices, HOPE launched two hotlines focused on helping those needing economic counseling. The Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline and the HOPE Consumer Credit Crisis Hotline are a part of Operation HOPE's commitment to support residents of Georgia and the Southeast Region.

"My mentor and HOPE Global Spokesman, Ambassador Andrew Young once told me that living in a capitalistic society with no access to capital is a sophisticated form of slavery," said business bestselling author John Hope Bryant. "Through the launch of our Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline and the HOPE Consumer Credit Crisis Hotline, as well as the opening of our regional offices here and soon, our HOPE Center, to be located at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Operation HOPE is committed to helping underserved individuals and low-income families in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast better understand our economic system and provide them with a hand up not a hand out."

HOPE's ribbon cutting ceremony and open house reception brought leaders from the banking sector, community, government, and clergy together to celebrate the permanent establishment of HOPE in the region. Representing Mayor Kasim Reed's office, Candace Byrd said, "The American dream of homeownership is being tested by a foreclosure epidemic that not only threatens the stability of our economy but also the stability of family and neighborhoods. That's why it's all the more important that we are here to celebrate the opening of Operation HOPE's Atlanta regional office."

Reverend Dr. Raphael Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Church and HOPE partner in the new and coming HOPE Center to be located at the Martin Luther King Sr. Resource Facility, blessed the new offices. Lending words to the momentous occasion were Ambassador Andrew Young, Martin Luther King III, and Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall.

In attendance were such notables as State Senator Donzella James; daughter of civil rights icon Hosea Williams and board member for Hosea, Dr. Barbara Williams-Emerson; Executive Director of the Andrew Young Foundation, Andrea Young; and President of Clark Atlanta University, Carlton Brown; among others.

Several HOPE Board members were active participants including President of Primerica Life Insurance Company, Jeff Fendler; IT Vendor Relations Manager for SunTrust Bank, Pernell Smalley; President of ABBA Associates Inc., William "Bill" Cheeks.

Local staff based out of the new Atlanta offices are Shari Abbott-Aranda for the Office of the Chairman, James Bailey for Banking on Our Future, College Edition, Tara Dennis for Banking on Our Future, Hope Jay for 5MK, Shasta Moore for Special Projects, Nell Patterson for HOPE Partners and HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant.

The HOPE offices are fully functional and located at Peachtree Tower, 191 Peachtree Street, Suite 4000 Atlanta, GA 30303 and can be reached at (404) 941-2919.

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NLRB: Atlanta Coca-Cola Enterprise Employees to Get Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Back Pay

/PRNewswire/ -- In a victory for Atlanta Coca-Cola Enterprise workers seeking to form a union with the Teamsters, the National Labor Relations Board has approved a settlement that will grant thousands of dollars of wage adjustments for hourly employees at CCE's Marietta bottling plant that will be paid dating back to April 2, 2010.

Coca-Cola also agreed to refrain from committing a series of unfair labor practice violations against the approximately 340 workers at its Marietta, College Park and Atlanta West facilities. For more than a year, these Atlanta-area CCE workers have been trying to form a union with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The NLRB has required Coca-Cola to post a notice to employees stating the company will not interfere with their right to form a union, grant the retroactive raise to the Marietta employees, and rescind an unjust discipline issued to a key union activist.

"We're pleased that the NLRB has intervened to help negotiate an agreement with Coca-Cola Enterprises," said Randy Brown, President of Teamsters Local 728 in Atlanta. "We hope these workers can proceed with their organizing campaign free from intimidation, threats and broken promises, and we look forward to the day when we can welcome them as Teamsters."

"We are so excited by this settlement. It shows that we have power when we stand together. But the big goal is to win permanent change through a Teamster contract," said Delorace McFadden, a CCE worker and an Organizing Committee member. "We will not stop until the job is done."

The Teamsters currently represent more than 14,000 Coca-Cola employees throughout the United States.

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Sony Ericsson Leases New Region Americas Headquarters in Atlanta

/PRNewswire/ -- Sony Ericsson today announced that it has officially signed the new lease for its new Americas headquarters in Atlanta. The office, located in the Terminus 200 Building in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, will be the hub for the company's regional operations in North America and Latin America as it delivers an exciting new portfolio of phones to the marketplace.

Approximately 180 employees will be based in the facility, including executive teams, sales and marketing staff, and operations. The company's regional headquarters facilities were formerly located in Research Triangle Park, N.C. and Miami, FL. The support that Sony Ericsson received from both the state and local economic development teams helped facilitate the decision to relocate to Atlanta. Since Sony Ericsson's operator partner AT&T is based in Atlanta, there will also be opportunities for stronger collaboration.

"Atlanta is an ideal location for Sony Ericsson's new regional headquarters, and we look forward to immersing ourselves in this vibrant community," said Anderson Teixeira, president of Sony Ericsson Region Americas. "Access to impressive office space and a diverse pool of talent, combined with close proximity to AT&T, and easy access to Latin America, make Atlanta an obvious choice for relocation. This move will also encourage even stronger collaboration with our partners as we launch innovative and exciting new products in this market."

"Sony Ericsson's arrival in Georgia epitomizes our state's emergence as a base for technology innovation," said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. "We are excited that a leader in mobile technology is creating a significant number of jobs to generate opportunities for the Atlanta region's strong pipeline of talent for the technology sector."

Sony Ericsson was represented in the transaction by Jones Lang LaSalle working with Cousins Properties, Inc. to complete the terms of the lease for the company's new headquarters. Terminus 200, owned by Cousins in partnership with Morgan Stanley, is a 25-story, 564,000-square-foot tower of Class A office space, retail, and restaurant space located at the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont roads in the Buckhead office submarket.

Sony Ericsson is a 50/50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson established in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London and operations in major markets around the world. Sony Ericsson's strategy is to become the industry leader in mobile Communication Entertainment, through new styles of interaction across the internet and social media. Sony Ericsson offers exciting consumer experiences through innovative and feature rich phones, accessories, content and applications.

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