the Chamber's twice monthly e-newsletter

President's Message

Welcome to The Phoenix, the Chamber’s e-newsletter.

In this edition, read about how Atlanta continues to strengthen its position as a “gateway to the Americas,” as evidenced by the incredible turnout at the Americas Competitiveness Forum last week. The forum drew 900 people, three U.S. cabinet secretaries, two Latin American vice presidents and 30 nations to our backyard to talk about a powerful idea – how the Western Hemisphere can work together to become a stronger force in the global economy.

Also, read how at all levels, metro Atlanta's and Georgia's government and business leaders are reaching out across the Southeast to garner support for Delta Air Lines' bid to win a direct passenger air route from Atlanta to Shanghai.

Join us in celebrating Michael Williams, the winner of the 21st annual Small Business Person of the Year Award, given out on June 8.

Remember to join us on June 27 as we salute Delta Air Lines and CEO Gerald Grinstein for leading the company to health again.

Lastly, celebrate the Chamber's achievement in receiving the Top Economic Development Groups of 2006 award.

Thanks for reading. We will continue to keep you informed on the issues you care about.

Sam A. Williams
President
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Hot Topics

Highlights from the Americas Competitiveness Forum
Over 900 Representatives from 30 Western Hemisphere Countries Visited

Atlanta continues to strengthen its position as a gateway to the Americas as evidenced by a gathering of over 900 top business, government and academic leaders in Atlanta
June 11-12 for the Americas Competitiveness Forum.

“The eyes of the world are on Atlanta as three U.S. cabinet secretaries, two Latin American vice presidents and 30 nations converge here to talk about one powerful idea – how the Western Hemisphere can work together to become a stronger force in the global economy,” said Dick Anderson, chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, in a June 11
statement.
Click here to read entire release.

Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Applauds Governor, Mayor, Congressional Delegation
for Working at All Levels To Support Delta’s China Air Route Bid
As Metro Atlanta Chamber Reaches out to Chambers in 14 States

At all levels, metro Atlanta's and Georgia's government and business leaders are reaching out across the Southeast to garner support for Delta Air Lines' bid to win a direct passenger air route from Atlanta to Shanghai.

“It's all hands on deck, with leaders reaching out to their peers across the Southeast for support – governor to governor, Congressman to Congressman, mayor to mayor, chamber to chamber,” said R. Mason Cargill, Partner with Jones Day International Law Firm, and leader of a Metro Atlanta Chamber panel of top business leaders and representatives from the State of Georgia, the City of Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport who are working to support the bid. Click here to read entire release.

Highlights from the 2007 Small Business Person of the Year

Michael Williams, president of Making Projects Work, was named metro Atlanta 's 2007 Small Business Person of the Year today at the Annual Small Business Person of the Year Awards.

The event, which for 21 years has honored one outstanding small businessperson every year for their contributions to Atlanta 's civic and business community, is co-hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

On Friday, June 8, Michael Williams, President of Making Projects Work was announced the 2007 Small Business Person of the Year. Featured with the winner (Center) are this year’s finalists: Sacha Taylor, Founder of Nannies + More; Matt Clouser, President of Active Production and Design; Mike Trotter, President of Trotter Company; and Andy Briggs, President of Pro Power Solutions.

Salute To Delta Air Lines

You are cordially invited on Wednesday, June 27, at 6:30 p.m. to join the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Central Atlanta Progress, the Buckhead Coalition and the Midtown Alliance for a Salute to Delta Air Lines. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta-Centennial Ballroom.

Delta Air Lines is the catalyst that generates more than $19 billion annually to Atlanta 's economy, helping drive 86 million travelers through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Please RSVP at https://secure.atlanta.net/salutetodelta/index.asp to celebrate and pay tribute to Delta Air Lines and CEO Gerald Grinstein for emerging from the three-year bankruptcy process and the threat of a hostile takeover bid. Atlanta is fortunate to have Delta as our hometown airline.

Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Receives
Top 10 National Economic Development Award

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has been designated one of the top 10 economic development organizations in the nation, according to Site Selection magazine.

The magazine, which is read by more than 44,000 executives, recently released its 2006 rankings.

“The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce is focused on jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Kessel Stelling, president and CEO of Bank of North Georgia and the chair of the Chamber's economic development committee. “For six years in a row, Atlanta has ranked third in the nation among cities with the most Fortune 500 headquarters. Metro Atlanta has what companies want, and the Chamber continues to recruit new companies and more jobs to the area, and build on our economic development success.” Click here to read entire release.

Campaign Corner

The 2007 Chairman's Committee Fundraising Campaign is in full swing with the theme "All Roads Lead to Atlanta." Scott Fisher, national sales manager, Wachovia Mortgage, is leading more than 200 corporate volunteers from 20 companies in the metro Atlanta region for the Chairman's Campaign.

The Chairman's Campaign is one of the primary sources of revenue for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, funding new and existing Chamber programs and initiatives. Volunteers from our corporate partners in metro Atlanta will sell memberships, advertising and sponsorships from April through August to finish at the $2.9 million goal. Below are the results from the third report session that was held at on June 7 at The Capital Grille. Exciting news we have crossed the $1 million mark!

Top Teams and Team Captains for the week 1. AGL Resources, Brian Hannon 2. Wachovia Bank, Dan Denton & Stephanie Plousis 3. SunTrust Bank, Angela Reach 4. Equifax Inc., Trey Briscoe 5. RBC Centura Bank, Pam Simon
Top Producers for the week 1. Terry McCready, AGL Resources 2. Brian Hannon, AGL Resources 3. George Gornowicz, SunTrust Bank

The top producers for the week George Gornowitz, SunTrust Bank; and Terry McCready, AGL Resources celebrate their success with Bill Linginfelter, Wachovia Bank.	Hats off to this week’s top teams who brought in more than $130,000 combined. Bill Linginfelter, Wachovia Bank, congratulates Dan Denton, Wachovia Bank; Ron Keller, SunTrust Bank; Stephanie Plousis, Wachovia Bank; and Terry McCready, AGL Resources, for their efforts.

Publication Highlight

The Metro Atlanta Resource Guide is a combination of the Metro Atlanta Chamber membership directory and newcomer's information.

Highlighting the region's business community and its strong commitment to excellence, this publication provides a complete list of Chamber members and its leadership. The directory is a great tool for promoting member-to-member sales and services.

This publication is also the best source of information for your employees moving to metro Atlanta. From county-by-county descriptions to detailed education choices, as well as other helpful hints on transportation and events, this book is essential to make a newcomer feel at home.

For more information or to purchase this “must-have” business and newcomer resource, click on the cover image.

Sports Corner

AVP Atlanta Open Delivers Rousing Encore Performance

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal Take Championships.

Legend Karch Kiraly Says Good Bye to Atlanta.

With near capacity crowds for the Saturday and Sunday sessions, the Association of Volleyball Professionals ( AVP) Atlanta Open pro beach volleyball tournament at Atlantic Station delivered on its promise to provide sand, sun, fun and great volleyball action for thousands of Atlantans over the four-day event.

“Last year you welcomed the AVP Crocs Tour, with the most successful first-year event in our history,” AVP Tour Commissioner Leonard Armato said to the crowd on Sunday, “and this year, you've hit it out of the park again.”

The first AVP Atlanta Open in 2006 was a huge success and still holds the record for the largest Saturday night crowd on Tour, and the 2007 encore event June 7-10 added to that momentum by delivering some of the best beach volleyball action of the season.

Top seeds Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh continued their domination of the AVP Crocs Tour, winning the women's title. This was the seventh consecutive title of the year for May-Treanor and Walsh. 

The duo defeated second-seeds Tyra Turner and Rachel Wacholder (who was last year's Atlanta champion) 21-9, 21-15 in the final. With the win, May-Treanor, the winningest female beach volleyball player of all time, registered her 76 th title; Walsh now holds 73 career titles, placing her at number two on the all-time win list. 

On the men's side, Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal won their second consecutive title of the season with an epic 21-16, 17-21, 15-13 win over crowd favorites and defending Atlanta champions Mike Lambert and Stein Metzger. 

“We played well,” said Rosenthal. “I'm glad it worked out the way it did. I had my big guy block the ball and we pulled it off.” 

Gibb and Rosenthal advanced to Sunday's final with a 21-19, 21-19 win over top seeds Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers. Gibb and Rosenthal have now reached the finals in seven of the eight events so far this season.

Three-time Gold Medal winner and the sport's all-time winningest player, Karch Kiraly, made a great run through the men's bracket with new partner Kevin Wong, but came up a little short, finishing third. The 46-year-old Kiraly, who announced this would be his final season on the AVP Tour, amazed the crowds with his defensive skill and court leadership match after match.”

“It's tough to see a legend like Karch leaving the sport,” said Gary Stokan , Atlanta Sports Council president. “We're just glad we were able to give him a chance to play in front of the Atlanta fans one more time. It gave us all one more taste of what it was like in 1996 when he won the sport's first Gold Medal right here during the Centennial Olympic Games.”

Based on the success of the first two years and the perfect venue at Atlantic Station, the Atlanta Sports Council is already making plans to bring a bigger and better AVP Atlanta Open back in 2008.

Thousands turned out to Atlanta’s “17th Street Beach” at Atlantic Station for the second annual AVP Crocs Tour Atlanta Open professional beach volleyball tournament. Plenty of sand, sun and fun was had by all.	Three-time Gold Medal winner and beach volleyball legend Karch Kiraly dives for a ball in the semi-finals. Kiraly gave the Atlanta fans quite a show in his final Atlanta appearance on the AVP Crocs Tour after announcing his retirement at the end of the season.
Misty May-Treanor passes to teammate Kerri Walsh en route to an easy win in the women’s bracket finals.	Last year’s Atlanta Open champions Mike Lambert (left) and Stein Metzger came up just short this year, losing in the finals to No. 2 seed Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal.

Chamber Events

June

27 Wednesday
Power Networking Luncheon
Join Chamber members at lunch to network. This program is designed to integrate people into the Chamber. It allows people to introduce themselves and openly promote their company.
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: $12
Non Members: $50
Location: TBD
RSVP Required

Community Events

Business Growth Expo

If you're serious about growing your business, you don't want to miss this exciting event! Join us Thursday, Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., as the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce present the Third Annual Atlanta Business Growth Expo at Cobb Galleria Centre.

Place your ticket order now ($49) and receive a second ticket free! Why not bring your client or co-worker to the best business event of the year? Please call 404.249.1065 to take advantage of this limited offer.