the Chamber's twice monthly e-newsletter

President's Message

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

In this edition, we’ll share highlights from our 147th Annual Meeting and our 2006 accomplishments.

You’ll learn about how Atlanta has been selected to host the Americas Competitiveness Forum that will draw more than 33 Western Hemisphere leaders to discuss opportunities to compete in the global marketplace.

You’ll also hear how two more international companies will be relocating their headquarters to metro Atlanta to join the nearly 1,600 international companies that now call Atlanta home.

Thanks for reading. We will continue to keep you informed on the issues you care about. The next edition of The Phoenix will be Jan. 17.

Season’s Greetings.

Sam A. Williams
President
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Hot Topics:

147th Annual Meeting

The 147th Annual Meeting of the Metro Atlanta Chamber was held on Dec. 1, and attended by almost 1,000 chamber members. Mike Garrett, president and CEO of Georgia Power Company, made his final remarks as 2006 Chamber Chairman and passed the gavel to incoming Chairman Dick Anderson, vice chairman and president of business markets for BellSouth. The Honorable – U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Secretary of State-Elect Karen Handel and Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the meeting to make remarks.

The highlight of this year’s event came from one of this year’s gold sponsors, Delta Air Lines, as they generously gave away a pair of first-class tickets to one lucky winner at each table. This amazing prize included tickets that were good for first-class travel to any of the more than 240 destinations Delta Air Lines serves in the continental United States, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean or Canada.

Special recognition is given to the following list of this year’s sponsors: Bank of America, BellSouth, GE Energy, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Power Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Cousins Properties, Exact Target, Speakeasy, AGL Resources, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, TBS, Inc, Goldman Sachs & Co., Gas South, Georgian Bank, Pattillo Construction, Richard Bowers & Co., Jones Day, SunTrust Bank, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Deloitte, Troutman Sanders, and RBC Centura Bank.

2006 Accomplishments
Atlanta Business Chronicle Photo Spread

Atlanta Selected to Host the First-Ever Americas Competitiveness Forum

The U.S. Department of Commerce has selected Atlanta as the host of the first-ever Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) scheduled for June 11-13. The ACF will convene senior government leaders from the Western Hemisphere’s 33 countries to discuss ways to improve the region’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.

The forum is a direct result of President Bush’s recommendation to meet with all of the leaders from the Western Hemisphere to discuss improving the region’s competitiveness. President Bush first made the recommendation following the Summit of the Americas in November 2005 held in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Coal Marketing Company Ltd. Selects Atlanta as U.S. Headquarters

Ireland-based company adds to Atlanta’s growing list of international companies

Coal Marketing Company Ltd. (CMC), the exclusive marketer for coal produced in the Cerrejón mining complex in Colombia, has chosen Atlanta for the headquarters of its subsidiary, Coal Marketing Company (USA), Inc.

“Atlanta provides excellent transportation to both domestic and international business destinations. The Southeast location is also a good fit, as it is much closer to the majority of our U.S. customer base,” said Howard Gatiss, CEO of Coal Marketing Company Ltd. and president of its U.S. headquarters. “With our Americas team established in Atlanta, we look forward to growing our sales and providing additional, timely customer support to all of our customers in the Western Hemisphere.”

Read Press Release > > > >

Italian Equipment Manufacturer Establishes First U.S. Presence in Forsyth County

System Ceramics of Italy has chosen Forsyth County, part of the metro Atlanta area, for its first U.S. location to house its headquarters, sales and service center. System Ceramics purchased a 20,000-square-foot facility in south Forsyth County and anticipates opening in January.

Read Press Release > > > >

Sports Corner

Chick-fil-A Bowl Sells Out 10th Straight Game

One day after selecting Georgia and Virginia Tech to face off in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, bowl officials are announcing the game a sellout. This marks the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s tenth consecutive sellout and further solidifies the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s position as the highest-attended non-BCS bowl game over the last 10 years.

“The fact that both schools completely sold through their ticket allotments in one day is a testament to the strengths of their fan bases and the interest in attending a first-class Bowl game,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president. “The Bulldog and Hokie faithful have shown their excitement for this great match-up and we know they’ll carry that same level of excitement into the Georgia Dome on December 30.”

Chick-fil-A Bowl Launches New Online Home

Atlanta’s 38-year-old bowl game tradition now has a new online home Chick-fil-A Bowl officials announced today. Chick-fil-A Bowl.com now has a fresh look and some additional interactive features to go with the Bowl’s new name and logo that position the site among the best sites in the country for college bowl games.

“This new site really raises the bar in terms of an online experience and offers some great features you don’t see with most bowl sites,” said Leeman Bennett, Chick-fil-A Bowl co-chairman. “The enhancements will give fans more than a few reasons to visit the site and keep coming back to stay up-to-date on the bowl, our team selection process and how to get the most out of Bowl Week. There is no doubt; this is now one of the best bowl sites in the nation.”

Small Business Matters

Chamber Launches “Small Business Matters” Series

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce hosted the first in a series of “Small Business Matters” programming on Nov. 14, by welcoming Joseph R. Hinrichs, vice president of North America Manufacturing for the Ford Motor Company. Hinrichs spoke to the crowd of business owners and executives and discussed Ford’s approach to a changing market and how small businesses can work with larger businesses.

Hinrichs has the distinction of having worked for both Ford and General Motors and having been a vendor to the automotive industry. His experience was invaluable in relating to members’ questions.

“You have to be the best at solving a problem. Identify a problem and develop a way to solve it,” he told the audience. “Then you have to find a way to convince someone that you can solve the problem. It isn’t easy.”

The audience enjoyed an extended question and answer session where Hinrichs shared some of the lore associated with Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company. “Mr. Ford wanted to make a car that everyone could afford. This is why every car was black. It was less expensive to make one color of car than several and that savings was reflected in the price,” he said.

Next in the “Small Business Matters” series will be Jerome Edmonson of Edmondson Associates. He will discuss how he has become a vendor of choice for BellSouth, Georgia-Pacific and others, and how smaller businesses can do business with large businesses and government. With Edmonson will be John Vinson, vice president of BellSouth Corporate Real Estate; Lesa Rivers, supplier diversity manager of Corporate Express; and Cametra Dunham, supplier diversity manager of Intercontinental Hotel Group. This panel will share what it takes to do business with larger business. Mark your calendar now for this important program on Jan. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be served. RSVP to events@macoc.com.

Chamber Events

January

9 Tuesday
Leads to Business
If you are looking for more leads to fill your sales funnel or if you are just looking for more opportunities to meet Chamber members and exchange ideas, then you will not want to miss the new “Leads to Business” program. Join fellow Chamber members in this fast-paced program. Each attendee will be given time to introduce themselves and his or her company. Attendees will exchange potential leads with one another. This is a great opportunity to meet Chamber members and add to your referral network.
Time: 7:30-9:30 a.m
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
RSVP required

10 Wednesday
Member Orientation
Members are invited to this monthly session to learn the ways to get the most out of their chamber investment.
Time: 10:15 a.m. Registration/Networking
10:45 a.m. Program
Noon -1p.m. Lunch/Networking
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Lunch sponsor: TBD
Event sponsored by: Bank of America & Office Depot
RSVP required.

11 Thursday
Small Business Matters
Program relating to specific issues of interest to small to mid-sized businesses with a focus on learning how to do business with big business.
Time: 11:30 -1:30
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
235 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Lunch sponsor: TBD
RSVP required

Community Events

Meeting the Market - New Opportunities for Building Healthy Communities

Join us on Friday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m. at the Georgia Power auditorium at 241 Ralph McGill Blvd. as we unveil new information about our region and how growth and development impacts our health, environment and quality of life. 

This event surrounds the release of the final report for the SMARTRAQ ( Strategies for Metro Atlanta's Regional Transportation and Air Quality) - summarizing multi-year studies on the Atlanta region.

Findings from the report indicate there is an unmet market demand for more walkable environments in our region, and that such places can provide significant benefits for our environment, transportation, public health and quality of life. Come learn about these findings and engage in a dialogue over actions that can be taken to help inform future decision making in our region.

The event is also sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Health Forum and the Livable Communities Coalition.

Space is limited and available on a first come basis.

RSVP: embillis@LivableCommunitiesCoalition.org

Get Motivated Seminar Coming To Philips Arena
The Get Motivated Seminar, in its 30th year, will be at the Philips Arena on Thursday, Jan. 25, starting at 8 a.m. This year’s seminar will feature America's No. 1 motivator Zig Ziglar, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, legendary soldier-statesman General Colin Powell and the Emmy-winning broadcasting icon Larry King. Additional speakers will include the renowned CEO of Walt Disney World Michael Eisner, Atlanta Braves seven time All-Star John Smoltz, America's No. 1 authority on selling Tom Hopkins and other renowned teachers and motivators. The seminar takes place annually in approximately 30 cities across the country.

An entire office can attend this seminar for a total investment of only $49 - not per person, but per office. To take advantage of this very limited-time offer, call 1-800-501-8589. Admission at the door, if attending singly, will be $225.

ORT in Atlanta Presents Community Achievement Award to Georgia Power President and CEO
The ORT Atlanta Chapter presented Georgia Power President and CEO Michael D. Garrett with the Chapter’s Community Achievement Award at its annual Tribute Dinner on Thursday, Dec. 14, at the InterContinental Hotel, Buckhead.

Also being honored are venerable ORTists and Atlanta community leaders Daniel Lipson and Hilly Panovka, who have been chosen as the Chapter’s Man of the Year and Woman of the Year.

“On behalf of the ORT Atlanta Chapter, we proudly salute Mike Garrett by presenting him with our Community Achievement Award for the significant contributions he has made to education,” said ORT Atlanta Chapter Co-Presidents Susan Gerstel and William Klineman. “This award acknowledges the key role Mike has played in promoting and ensuring brighter, stronger futures for our children.”

Read Press Release > > > >