the Chamber's twice monthly e-newsletter

President's Message

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

In this issue, read about the Chamber's significant involvement in India-based Wipro Technologies' decision to open a state-of-the art software development center in metro Atlanta -- employing more than 500 people.

Also, read about the recent visit to Atlanta and the Chamber from His Excellency Lee Tae-sik, Ambassador of Korea to the U.S.

In addition, read how the Chamber's Regional Education Policy Committee and Sparkfly have partnered to offer metro area schools discounts on a wide-range of merchandise.

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

India-Based Wipro Technologies to Bring 500 Jobs

Metro Atlanta strengthened its ties to India and its reputation as a global high-tech powerhouse with today's news that India-based Wipro Technologies will create 500 jobs at a global software development center in Atlanta.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber played a significant role to bring this project to Atlanta. Hans Gant, our senior vice president of economic development, worked closely with our partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Tech, Southern Polytechnic, Kennesaw State University and Emory University Professor Dr. Jagdish Sheth.

Click here for a full news release.

Korean ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Lee Tae-sik, chose Atlanta as the starting point for a nationwide six-city tour for support for a potential U.S.-Korea free trade agreement.  Atlanta is the only city he is visiting in the southeast.

The Ambassador spoke on the benefits of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade agreement to approximately 30 members of the metro Atlanta business community at the Chamber.

According to the U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition, the United States exported over $32.5 billion of goods to Korea in 2006, and U.S. exports to Korea have increased 46 percent since 2001.

In addition to meeting with the business community at the Chamber luncheon, the Ambassador also met with members of Georgia 's Congressional Delegation to gain their support for the agreement.

L to R: Hans Gant, senior vice president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Ambassador Lee; Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Kwang-Jae Lee, consul general of Korea in Atlanta; Jorge Fernandez, vice president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, at a business luncheon hosted by the Chamber on Aug. 17. Click here to enlarge photo.

His Excellency Lee Tae-sik, Ambassador of Korea to the U.S. at a business luncheon hosted by the Chamber on Aug. 17. Click here for full caption.

Roughly 98,000 educators from 14 metro area school systems are enjoying an additional perk, thanks to the Chamber's Regional Education Policy Committee and the Sparkfly Web site.

The Sparkfly Web site provides educators in the metro area access to discounts on purchases like pencils, school supplies, automobiles and vacations.

“We are excited that company sponsors rallied around this initiative for teachers and educators, making it possible for Sparkfly owners, Matt and Catherine Tabor, to provide their service to these educators at NO COST to the Metro Atlanta Chamber or the school systems,” stated Janie Maddox, SVP, Post Properties, and chair of the Chamber's Regional Education Policy Committee.

The committee's teacher recruitment and retention co-chair, Helene Lollis, president of Pathbuilders, has been working on this initiative for the past several months. Lollis explained: “Subcommittee members wanted to give educators some kind of special perk as a showing of the business community's appreciation for the work that they do. Similar to the corporate setting, these perks go a long way in making employees feel appreciated, and that leads to retaining good employees. We also wanted to give human resources officers another tool to enable them to recruit the best and brightest teachers and educators to the metro Atlanta area.”

During the summer months, with just a few systems having access to the www.sparkfly.com, some 1,700 employees took advantage of discounts for vacation planning, entertainment and other purchases.

Sponsors enabling the launch of this teacher initiative include: Sprint, Nova, Nanston, Georgia Natural Gas, The School Box, Teach GA, Post Properties and SunTrust.

The Regional Education Policy Committee has three other subcommittees working on high school graduation, school board governance and career preparation. Contact Joy Hawkins, vice president of Regional Education for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, at 404-586-1917 or by e-mail at jhawkins@macoc.com, if you are interested in working on any of these issues.

First-Ever PGA Tour Playoffs in Atlanta

Adam Scott, defending champion of the THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, joined tournament officials and representatives from Coca-Cola North America and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce to kick off the start of the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and to celebrate Atlanta's role as the host site for the Playoff Finale.

"Atlanta has a tradition of hosting world-class sporting events and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola is no exception,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “With this event, Atlanta will again be in the national spotlight as history is made. The metro Atlanta business community proudly supports this event and what it means for the entire region.”

Metro Atlanta Chamber President Sam A. Williams; Defending Tour Champion Adam Scott; and PGA Tour Executive Director Todd Rhinehart at the The Tour Championship’s media day on Aug. 20.

2007 McAfee-Vigilar Metro Atlanta Chamber Golf Challenge

FORE! The 19th Annual Metro Atlanta Chamber Golf Challenge will be held on Monday, Oct. 15, at six of Atlanta 's premier golf courses-Atlanta National Golf Club, Bear's Best, Country Club of Roswell, Settindown Creek, Country Club of the South and Standard Club. This event is for Chamber members only.

Also, don't miss out on great silent auction items including: a one-week stay in the Abacos, Bahamas and a three-night stay at the Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico in a Casita Oceanview Room.

First Friday Executive Series

On Sept. 7, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., the Small to Mid-Size Business Council will launch the First Friday Executive Series. This is a series of alternating “real-world” panel discussions and “how-to” workshops designed to help Chamber executives grow their business. 

Each panel will feature one successful small, mid-size and large company representative who will share their personal experience in five key areas of expertise. 

September's program will feature Brenda Mullins, second vice president of human resources and diversity officer of AFLAC; Michael Kogon, CEO of Definition 6; and Sacha Taylor, president of Nannies and More discussing “ Employee Excellence.”

The follow-up workshop “Leading People for Quality Results” will be facilitated by Patrick Malone, senior partner of The Par Group. Future programs include: Marketing Magic, Financial Focus, Management Mastery and Sales Success. The series will conclude with a panel discussion on Future Focus.  

Most busy executives experience the need to ‘work on' rather than ‘work in' their business. The First Friday Executive Series provides that opportunity to our members,” said Debra Kline, president of BusinessWise and chair of the Programming Committee for the Small-Mid Size Business Council of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. To attend the First Friday Executive Series on Sept. 7, please RSVP to events@macoc.com.

Advertising Opportunities Available
in Chamber's Resource Guide

Would you like to reach the people making Atlanta their home … or is there a message you want your fellow Chamber members to hear?

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 in making a newcomer feel at home. For more information on advertising in this "must-have" business and newcomer resource, click on the cover image.

Rodney Fuller, Business Development

My name is Rodney Fuller, and I am responsible for business development with Digitech, Inc. an IT Management company focusing on the small to mid-size companies here in Atlanta. I like to make the statement, “If you have ever been held captive, handcuffed, entrapped or even tricked by your computer, your whole network system or your present IT provider, let me save you…”  That is what we do at Digitech; we proactively manage our client's computer systems so management can devote their focus to the core business.

We joined the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce in December 2006, and I joined the company in March 2007. Since that time, the Chamber has been a very valuable resource for me, in that many of the contacts I have made came directly from Chamber events and meetings. As an example, we can now add Dale Carnegie as a respected client. We were introduced to them by Carrie Lubus, a business consultant with the company, who we met at a new member's reception. I am grateful to Ernest Perry, Chamber account executive, and Glen Gould for their insight and assistance in getting me plugged into this great organization.

Digitech, Inc.
3340 Peachtree Road, NE
Suite 1800
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 1.888.digitech
Fax: 317.863.0029
www.1888digitech.com

Sports Corner

Chick-fil-A Bowl Youth Football Program Starts Fifth Year
Season will Culminate in Championship Games at Georgia Tech

The Chick-fil-A Bowl's highly successful youth football program began its fifth year of operation on Aug. 25. Each week during the season, Chick-fil-A Bowl representatives will visit metro-area youth league games to emphasize the importance of education by awarding a Scholar Athlete of the Week Award to one player and one cheerleader.

“We feel like it's our responsibility to help support football at all levels in any way we can,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president. “And it's especially fulfilling when you're talking about kids and enhancing the outstanding programs our partner youth leagues already have. It's just a great experience and a lot of fun for them.”

For more information please visit: http://www.chick-fil-abowl.com/dnn/Events/ChickfilABowlYouthChampionship/tabid/122/default.aspx

Chamber Events

Community Events

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Wants to Talk With You

The CDC is interested in helping you learn more about health issues and approaches, facilitating your involvement in health issues and gaining your input on efforts to address the nation's health-related challenges. An ongoing part of CDC's mission is convening the people who need to be at the table to make decisions or to plan together. As part of that effort, CDC's senior leaders, including Dr. Julie Gerberding, the director of CDC, welcome the opportunity to speak to the Atlanta metro business community and its leaders.

If your organization is interested in hearing more about what the CDC is doing and how it is working with today's business community, please contact the CDC via email at speakersbureau@cdc.gov .

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.

This year's event will feature Gov. Sonny Perdue; John C. Maxwell, internationally recognized leadership expert and author; Jeffrey Gitomer, the ultimate “sales guru” and author; Angie Morgan & Courtney Lynch, retired Marine Corps captains, authors and respected speakers on leadership development; and an economist panel featuring expert opinions on the Economic Forecast for Atlanta 2008.

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 for Metro Atlanta Chamber members.