the Chamber's twice monthly e-newsletter

President's Message

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

In this edition, you'll learn about two recent "Hot Topic Forums" hosted by the Chamber on global commerce and transportation -- and how the Chamber is actively involved in both of these critical issues affecting Georgia’s future.

We’ll tell you about the Chamber’s 2006 e-newsletter for site consultants and about how Georgia State University students are helping the Chamber implement its global commerce strategy.

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

Top City, State and Business Leaders
Announce Strategies for Growing Global Business

The Chamber recently hosted a standing-room-only forum with top city, state and business leaders to reveal a collaborative strategy designed to expand Georgia's reach around the world. Panelists included: Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin; Craig Lesser, commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development; John G. Rice, vice chairman, General Electric and chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce International Task Force; Sam A. Williams, president, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; and David Dorton, principal, McKinsey & Company.

The newly formed Global Commerce Council, led by Jerry Belle, executive chairman of Duluth-based animal pharmaceutical company Merial Ltd., is in charge of implementing the international strategy.

Click the icon below to see the video of Jerry Belle announcing that he will chair the Global Commerce Council.

Click on the following links for more information on the Chamber's global commerce strategy.

News Release: Task Force Prioritizes Chamber Global Commerce Efforts
News Release: Jerry Belle to Chair Newly Formed Global Commerce Council
News Release: Mayor, Chamber and Business Leaders Head to China
Backgrounder: 2006 International Strategy
Backgrounder:Atlanta’s International Influence
List:International Story Ideas
List:International Task Force Members

Top Experts Discuss Georgia's Transportation Future

Experts from other regions across the country came to the Chamber on Aug. 17 to share insights on how they have planned - and implemented - successful traffic solutions.

Dr. Michael Meyer, professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, moderated the forum. Panelists included: Gary Gallegos, executive director, San Diego Association of Governments;Craig Benedetto, president, Benedetto Danon Public Relations, (Calif.); Clarence Marsella, GM, Regional Transportation District of Denver; Maria Garcia Berry, CEO, CRL Associates, Inc., (Colo.); The Honorable Keno Hawker, Mayor, City of Mesa, Ariz. (Phoenix) and Kevin Olson, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, (Ariz.)

Click here for a fact sheet highlighting the metro Atlanta region's traffic situation.

Click here for a link to the presentation given at the forum by Bill Linginfelter, CEO of Wachovia Bank and co-chair of the Chamber's transportation committee.

Georgia State University MBAs
Help Chamber on Global Commerce

MBA students from Georgia State University helped the Chamber develop its global commerce strategy. When Jorge Fernandez joined the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as vice president of global commerce, one of his first tasks was to develop a strategy and to expand Atlanta's reach around the world. Students in an International Marketing MBA class led by Dr. David Bruce at Georgia State's Institute of International Business at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business helped the Chamber develop that plan as part of their final grade. On July 26, the Chamber's Global Commerce Department hosted the class in a meeting at the Chamber where they presented their final recommendations. The Chamber has since implemented some key components of the business plan the class created into the its international strategy.

Atlanta Economic Briefing: A Newsletter for
Site Selection Decision Makers

The first half of 2006 has already proven that metro Atlanta continues to be one of the hot spots in the nation for companies to relocate and grow their business. On Aug. 17, the Chamber released the 2006 edition of the e-newsletter for site selection consultants that captures the "need-to-know" facts about companies selecting Atlanta for relocation, rankings and recent news and statistics on development within the metro Atlanta region. The e-newsletter will be published twice a year.

To view this edition, click here.

Chamber Events

2006 Chairman's Campaign Celebration

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce fundraising campaign is coming to a end. Led by Dick Anderson, campaign chairman and vice president of Business Markets for the BellSouth Corporation, corporate volunteers have been selling memberships and sponsorships to reach their goal of 2.8 million dollars to fund chamber initiatives.

Please join us on the J.B. Fuqua Rooftop Pavilion, located at the Chamber on Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m. as we announce the final results of the campaign and celebrate our volunteers for their hard work and major contribution to the Chamber. Special recognition will be given to the teams who were top producers in this year's Campaign.

Participating teams in the Chairman's Campaign include: AGL Resources, Bank of America, Bank of North Georgia, The BellSouth Corp., ChoicePoint, The Coca-Cola Company, Cousins Properties Inc., Delta Air Lines, Equifax Inc., GE, H. J. Russell & Company, Georgia Power, Harry Norman Realtors, Hyatt Regency, Post Properties, Powell Goldstein, RBC Centura, Small to Mid-Size Business Team, SunTrust Bank and Wachovia Bank.

Hold your next special event in the J.B. Fuqua Rooftop Pavilion

The J. B. Fuqua Rooftop Pavilion overlooking the Atlanta skyline and Centennial Olympic Park is offered to Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce members for a special discounted rate.

The open-aired rooftop venue is the perfect space to entertain clients or your staff in 2006. Enjoy a great night overlooking Centennial Olympic Park and the lights of downtown Atlanta as your guests enjoy breath-taking skyline views.

For more information please visit: www.MetroAtlantaChamber.com/macoc/home/rooftop.shtml

OfficeMax Metro Atlanta Chamber Golf Challenge Supported by HP

Golf anyone? Since 1988, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has hosted the largest one-day golf tournament in the Southeast. More than 700 of the region's key decision makers enjoy a spectacular day of golf, making this event one of the most successful places to network.

This year's 18th Annual OfficeMax Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Golf Challenge supported by HP is being held Monday, Oct. 16, at five of Atlanta's premier golf courses including: Bear's Best, Country Club of Roswell, Country Club of the South, Standard Club and Windermere Golf Club. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. followed by lunch and shot gun start.

After a day of golf, everyone is invited to Country Club of the South for the McJunkin Awards Reception at 6 p.m. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin for each course. And don't miss the incredible items available at the silent auction.

Foursomes are being reserved quickly. Don't miss out on the action!
Reserve your foursome today following this link: http://www.MetroAtlantaChamber.com/macoc/members/golf_highlights.shtml

September

6 Wednesday
Member Orientation
These monthly programs, introduce new members to the Metro Atlanta Chamber and all of its benefits, and provide a networking opportunity with other members.
10:15 a.m. Registration/Networking
10:45 a.m. Program
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch/Networking
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce- 235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Lunch Sponsor: Jason's Deli
Event sponsored by Bank of America & Office Depot
RSVP required.

12 Tuesday
Netweaving with Bob Littell
Members are invited to join Bob Littell for the second NetWeaving session of 2006, and why not bring a friend? Attendees of this "win-win" networking series learn how to create new business opportunities, be strategic connectors and resource providers.
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce- 235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
RSVP required.
$50 non-members

20 Wednesday
IBM hosts member reception
Hosted by: Lee Torrence, Senior State Executive, IBM
Location:4111 Northside Parkway - Hillside Auditorium
Time: 5:30- 7 p.m.
RSVP Required
Members Only

Community Events

Building Peace and Prosperity:
The EU-US partnership Event

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Department of Economic Development Atlanta Press Club, and Flag Bank invite you join His Excellency Ambassador John Bruton, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the United States, on Thursday Sept. 14 for a special breakfast briefing: “Building Peace and Prosperity: How the EU-US partnership creates jobs, trade, and security for Europeans and Americans.” Ambassador Bruton will be joined by His Excellency ambassador Pekka Lintu, Ambassador of Finland to the United States.

The event will take place at the Commerce Club at 34 Broad Street NW, with coffee service beginning at 7 a.m. and program from 7:30-8:30 a.m.. There is no charge for this event, but reservations are mandatory to ensure seating. RSVP online by Aug. 31 by clicking the following link:
http://apc2.securesites.net/events/event.php?id=29.

Because of limited parking at the Commerce Club, please consider walking, using MARTA (Five Points station) or parking at 55 Marietta Street, two blocks north of Broad between Forsyth and Fairlie Streets.

This event is sponsored by Flag Bank.

The Making a Difference Discovery Tour

The Making a Difference Discovery Tour will be held at The Home Depot in Marietta, Ga. from 9 a.m.-1p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21. The tour is a uniquely formatted half-day executive briefing designed to expose business leaders to powerful opportunities to tap into one of the largest pools of qualified, reliable workers in the metro Atlanta area.

Be part of a win-win solution for your company and thousands of persons with disabilities ready, willing and able to add value to your bottom line. Become a sponsor. Confirm your reservation. For more information contact the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Valerie Meadows Suber
404-657-2122
vmsuber@dhr.state.ga.us

2006 ExactTarget User Conference

ExactTarget Email Solutions is bringing one of only four Regional User Conferences to Atlanta on Aug. 31. Join us for complimentary seminars about Permission-Email Client Success Stories, Email Marketing Best Practices and Innovative Email Solutions.
Date: August 31, 2006
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: The Westin Buckhead
To register please click the following link: http://email.exacttarget.com/ETWeb/ruc_final/index.asp

The Nano4Food 2006 Conference

The upcoming Nano4Food 2006 Conference will be held at the Georgia Tech Research Institute on Oct. 12-13.

The conference is designed to provide a business perspective on the entire value chain of nanotechnology’s commercial development as it relates to the current and future needs and opportunities for the food industry. Nano4Food 2006 will offer an in-depth analysis on the industry’s needs, including first-hand comments from leading representatives of the manufacturing, distribution and consumption communities.

Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce members can enjoy a 20 percent discount on applicable registration fees by registering on-line at http://www.nanofood.info/register.php.
Simply enter the code (25741) into the “Discount Code” field during registration for the discount to apply. Members who register by Sept. 5, can also take advantage of the “Early Bird Offer,” providing an additional discount on registration fees.