economic development Archives - Page 3 of 5

Small Business Fuel: Nathan Regan with Invest Atlanta

June 4, 2020 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

Small Business Fuel: Nathan Regan with Invest Atlanta

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Nathan Regan currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Economic Development at Invest Atlanta, where he leads the agency’s Small Business Development, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Business Retention & Expansion, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and Creative Industries activities.

Before joining Invest Atlanta, Mr. Regan worked in both private industry and the public sector. He served as a Legislative Fellow to a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, focusing on economic development, jobs, and energy and environment legislation. Mr. Regan also served as a Senior International Investment Specialist in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA unit, managing an international foreign direct investment team resulting in $500 million worth of investments and creating more than 1,000 jobs. In that position, Nathan served as a liaison with state and local economic development agencies around the country on FDI industry best practices and managed FDI projects coming from Europe.

Prior to his federal service, Mr. Regan worked in sales and marketing in international business development. He began his career doing program management and business development for the U.S. operations of various European automotive supply companies. He later served as a Commercial Attaché with the French Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, responsible for attracting French foreign direct investment to the region. He was subsequently recruited to join the Danish Trade Council in Atlanta, where he served as a Senior International Trade Specialist and was responsible for trade and investment ties between Georgia and Denmark. He oversaw the Danish Business Incubator and was responsible for creating more than 30+ Atlanta-based companies and generating 200+ jobs in the Atlanta metro region. In 2012, Nathan was selected to manage the Bahrain Economic Development Board’s Washington, D.C. office, where he was worked with Fortune 500 companies on increasing trade and investment in the Middle East.

Mr. Regan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Furman University and a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He served as a Commissioner for Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Age-Friendly Business Initiative, where he worked to foster a more vibrant business community. Nathan also previously served on the Board of Directors for Atlanta-based Powerstow Americas, Inc. He is a member of the International Economic Development Council. He is originally from Greenville, South Carolina.

Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn and follow Invest Atlanta on Facebook.

About Your Host

Paul Wilson, Area Director with SBDC, has extensive industry experience that spans leadership roles in supply chain management, procurement, marketing, supplier diversity, and small business development. His expertise includes strategic analysis, operational planning, leadership development, contract writing, video marketing, video production, training and curriculum development.

Having worked with Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and educational institutions, Paul brings a diverse wealth of knowledge, perspective, and skills to the small business community.

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and follow SBDC on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook and Instagram.

About Our Sponsor

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Our award-winning customer service includes an accuracy guarantee, deep integrations with popular accounting software, and we’ll even enter all your employee information for you — whether you have five employees or 500. Take a closer look to see all the ways we can save you time and money in the back office.

Follow OnPay on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Economic Forecast for 2020 and Beyond E2

June 2, 2020 by Karen

AZ TechCast

Economic Forecast for 2020 and Beyond E2

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Economic Forecast for 2020 and Beyond E2

At the start of 2020, most investors and economic analysts expected the 11-year bull market to continue. And then the spread of COVID-19 changed everything. As a result of the pandemic, the global economy is projected to contract sharply by 3% in 2020. In addition, there is a huge amount of uncertainty about the future of the outbreak and the economic impacts associated with it. While the epidemic’s economic impact is difficult to predict, the economic forecast says we are on track for a major downturn. The question is how bad and for how long.

Economic experts Jim Rounds, George Hammond, Dennis Hoffman and Steve Zylstra join the Arizona Technology Council’s May 29th podcast to share their assessment of the damage, needed measures for economic growth and the prospects of recovery in the coming months.

Featured guests covered:

Arizona’s economic recovery
Hard-hit industries that will take the most to recover
Expected growth rates for Arizona
How 2020 compares to the crash of 2008 and the Great Depression
How can IoT and renewable energy help kickstart an economic recovery
The innovation and opportunity a downturn can spur

While the epidemic’s economic impact is difficult to predict, we are on track for a major downturn. The question is how bad and for how long.

Rounds Consulting Group advises both public and private sector entities on matters of policy and economics. The firm specializes in economic development; data collection and analysis; fiscal planning including revenue forecasting and budget development; strategic planning and marketing; impact and market studies; litigation support, and keynote speaking, and more.

Jim Rounds is president of Rounds Consulting Group, a firm specializing in economic development and tax policy analysis; education research; transportation economics; fiscal planning including revenue forecasting and budget development; strategic planning and marketing; impact and market studies; and litigation support.

He regularly provides economic advice to policymakers at the State Capitol, mayors throughout the state as well as city council members, county board members, and other public and private sector leaders in the community.

Rounds a Senior Fellow at the Goldwater Institute and serves on many boards and foundations, including the Maricopa County IDA, the Helios Education Foundation, Achieve 60 AZ, the Rodel Foundation, the Arizona Board of Regents and various state universities, among others. He serves as the lead economist for multiple rural and urban area healthcare and hospital associations and is a member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s Finance Advisory Committee. He has also served on scores of committees and task force efforts at both the state and local levels.

His recent areas of study include advanced workforce analysis; minimum wage impact analysis; State Trust Land finance; public employee pension reform; utility infrastructure investment; and state and local area tourism planning. Recently, Rounds has been supporting the concept of “growing from within,” which includes efforts to better understand small business development issues, and strategic investment in education and workforce training.

Rounds began his career as a Senior Economist and Senior Budget Analyst with the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee and has been engaged in policy related economics for more than two decades. He has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Economics from Arizona State University.

Follow Rounds Consulting on LinkedIn, Facebook, and connect with Jim on Twitter.

Founded in 1913, the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. is one of the largest colleges at the University of Arizona, with over 5,400 undergraduate students and nearly 700 graduate students. Employing over 130 faculty members, the business school offers programs in accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management information systems, operations management, entrepreneurship and business administration.

Its interdisciplinary program in entrepreneurship is perennially ranked one of the world’s best. As the highest-ranking college at the University of Arizona, Eller also boasts the #1 Public Management Information Systems and ranked #7 Entrepreneurship programs nationally. The MIS program has been ranked in the Top 5 by U.S. News since the inception of the rankings, one of only three programs in the U.S. with such a distinction.

George W. Hammond directs the Economic and Business Research Center in the Eller College of Management. A specialist in econometric forecasting for more than two decades, Hammond has designed, built and used economic models to produce more than 100 forecasts for state and local economies, and completed more than 50 regional economic studies on topics including economic and workforce development, energy forecasting and the impact of higher education on human capital accumulation.

These forecasts and reports reach thousands of business leaders, policymakers and citizens each year through conferences, public presentations, publications, EBRC’s websites and social and traditional media. Hammond is a frequent contributor to local and national news services. His analysis and commentary have been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Bloomberg Businessweek and The New York Times.

In addition to directing EBRC and spearheading EBRC’s Forecasting Project, Hammond is also a research professor with academic research interests focusing on the determinants of local economic growth in the U.S., the impact of state and local policies on economic growth and the contribution of higher education to local workforce development.

Follow Eller College of Management on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The L. William Seidman Research Institute serves as a link between the local, national and international business communities and W. P. Carey School of Business. It collects and disseminates information about local economies, benchmarks industry practices and identifies emerging business research issues.

Dennis L. Hoffman is a Professor of Economics at Arizona State University where he has published numerous academic articles and a book in the area of macroeconomics and econometrics. He has received both teaching and research awards from ASU. He received the Distinguished Faculty Research Award in 1992 and has held the title of Dean’s Council of 100 Distinguished Scholar since 1996. He served as a visiting research scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis during the summer of 1996. In 1997, Dr. Hoffman was named the Arizona Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation.

In addition to his academic appointment, Dr. Hoffman has held several administrative appointments; Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, 1998-2004, Associate Dean for Research; 2004-2008, and Director of the Seidman Research Institute, 2004-present. Dr. Hoffman is also director of ASU’s Office of the University Economist, 2005-present.

In his role in the Seidman Institute – as University Economist, Dr. Hoffman is responsible for the production of policy white papers with regional, education, fiscal, and labor market emphasis. This work is supported directly by the Office of University President Michael Crow. In addition, Seidman serves as the applied contract research arm of the W. P. Carey School averaging approximately $800,000 per annum in external research contracts meeting the needs of government, community and business clients primarily in the southwest. This activity is summarized at https://seidmaninstitute.com/. Seidman is also responsible for responding to the majority of business/economic media inquiries received by the university and has considerable connections with both local and national media outlets.

Dr. Hoffman’s sponsored project efforts include the construction and maintenance of the tax revenue forecasting model used by the Executive Budget Office of the State of Arizona each year since 1982 – serving eight different Governors. Dr. Hoffman headed groups of economists who measured the economic impact of several fiscal initiatives for the State of Arizona in 1989 and in 1990. The 1989 study was commissioned by Governor Mofford as an input to fiscal initiatives that were contained in her State of the State speech in 1989. The 1990 study was requested by the Joint Select Committee on Fiscal Reform of the Arizona Legislature. In 1996 Dr. Hoffman was appointed to the Joint Select Committee on Economic Incentives of the Arizona Legislature. He also served as technical advisor for Governor Napolitano’s citizen’s fiscal reform committee (2004). At the Governor’s request, Dr. Hoffman served on the Board of the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) from 2012-2017. As Director of the Seidman Research Institute,

Dr. Hoffman has closely studied the regional economy in Arizona. His extensive experience with the state and local economy positions him for his current research interests that include defining and measuring the role of research universities in regional development, quantifying the value of education investments to the economic prosperity of a region, and measuring the impact of various fiscal initiatives on regional development. These current research interests align with Dr. Hoffman’s administrative assignment, Director of the Office of the University Economist, undertaken as a strategic university initiative at the direction of Arizona State University President Michael Crow. Dr. Hoffman is the faculty director of the Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research where he directs the Productivity and Prosperity Project.

Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn and follow Seidman on Twitter.

About the Show

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Alpharetta Tech Talk: Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta

November 16, 2019 by John Ray

Alpharetta Tech Talk

Alpharetta Tech Talk: Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta

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**“Alpharetta Tech Talk” Host John Ray and City of Alpharetta Economic Development Manager Matthew Thoma**s

“Alpharetta Tech Talk,” Episode 3: Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta

Matthew Thomas, Economic Development Manager of the City of Alpharetta, joins “Alpharetta Tech Talk” to discuss the roots of Alpharetta’s thriving technology sector. “Alpharetta Tech Talk” is hosted by John Ray and broadcast from the North Fulton Business RadioX® studio inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

Matthew Thomas is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Alpharetta.

There’s a reason why more than 640 technology-based businesses have made their home in Alpharetta, and it’s not just the nice houses and great weather. The city’s fiber-optic network is the most extensive and redundant in the Southeast, and they work closely with state and local economic development agencies to provide tax credits and incentives to complement any brand of business. Some of the biggest and most recognized names in the tech industry are thriving in Alpharetta. With more than 20 million square feet of office space, there’s plenty of room in the neighborhood for you next expansion.

The City of Alpharetta has been recognized nationally in a variety of awards and rankings, including Best Small City to Start Business (Entrepreneur.com), Best Atlanta Suburb (Movoto), Top 25 Best Places to Move (Forbes), 7th Friendliest City (Forbes), and 6th Fastest Growing City (U.S. Census, 2012).

For more information, go to GrowAlpharetta.com, or call 678-297-6024.

About “Alpharetta Tech Talk”

“Alpharetta Tech Talk” is the radio show/podcast home of the burgeoning technology sector in Alpharetta and the surrounding GA 400, North Fulton, Roswell, Johns Creek, and South Forsyth area. We feature startup entrepreneurs, executives of larger enterprise companies, and other key technology players from a region with over 900 technology companies. “Alpharetta Tech Talk” is hosted by John Ray and originates from the North Fulton Business RadioX® studio inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

“Alpharetta Tech Talk” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®, located inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $12.9 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you.

Mercy Montgomery with the City of Sugar Hill and Laurie Sossa with Southern Barter Club

September 19, 2019 by Mike

Gwinnett Business Radio

Mercy Montgomery with the City of Sugar Hill and Laurie Sossa with Southern Barter Club

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Mike Sammond, Mercy Montgomery, Laurie Sossa, Steven Julian

Mercy Montgomery/City of Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities and home to over 23,000 residents and more than 1,000 businesses. With a rapidly growing downtown, a focus on entertainment and the arts, and a strong business environment, city leadership has been strategic in creating a dynamic live, work, play community.

Looking to the future, Sugar Hill continues to plan for and create opportunities to live, work, and play for all generations. Expanded amenities, community experiences, and a diverse business environment continue to attract visitors as well as new community members as dirt is turned into a destination and small-town dreams grow into big time reality in the growing downtown.

Laurie Sossa/Southern Barter Club (SBC)

Southern Barter Club is a business network consisting of businesses that sell and spend virtual cashless trade dollars in lieu of cash when new business is brought to them through the barter network. One SBC trade dollars is equal to one US Dollar but only spendable in the SBC network. Barter conserves cash, opens up new markets, maximizes profits. SBC is a leader in the barter trade industry with 1000 businesses in GA and upwards of 50,000 participating businesses worldwide. The State of GA recently presented a proclamation and resolution to Southern Barter Club for the Positive Economic Impact it has had on the sate of GA and in supporting women owned businesses, entrepreneurs and non profits.

Carolyn Beldsoe with NAC Consultants and Yoshi Domoto with JapanFest

September 12, 2019 by Mike

Gwinnett Business Radio

Carolyn Beldsoe with NAC Consultants and Yoshi Domoto with JapanFest

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Mike Sammond, Carolyn Bledsoe, Yoshi Domoto, Steven Julian

Carolyn Bledsoe/NAC Consultants

NAC Consultants provides strategic guidance and assistance in workforce and economic development to public and private entities, government and community-based organizations.

NAC Consultants’ services include: Creating team approaches and seamless systems to address employers’ need of skilled workers, implementing change management to enhance programmatic outcome, and developing sector strategies and community driven programs with community and technical colleges as the nexus for training.

Yoshi Domoto/Japan-America Society of Georgia and JapanFest

The Japan-America Society of Georgia (JASG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the state of Georgia through establishing and promoting ties and programs in the areas of business, culture, customs, education, commerce, politics, and social networking. One of its biggest events is JapanFest Atlanta. JapanFest is the largest Japanese festival in the Southeast. JapanFest will celebrate the special economic and cultural bond Japan and Georgia share together.

Andrew Carnes with Partnership Gwinnett

September 10, 2019 by Mike

Case In Point

Andrew Carnes with Partnership Gwinnett

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Andrew Carnes/Partnership Gwinnett

Partnership Gwinnett is a public-private initiative dedicated to bringing new jobs and capital investment to Gwinnett County, GA. Since 2007, Partnership Gwinnett has worked with its local partners to attract and retain jobs, cultivate capital investment, support educational institutions, foster workforce development, and contribute to the exceptional quality of life found in Gwinnett. Every day, a team of dedicated professionals work to drive the mission of Partnership Gwinnett to strengthen the economic vitality of the community.

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Egbert Perry, The Integral Group LLC

September 4, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Egbert Perry, The Integral Group LLC

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ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Egbert Perry, The Integral Group LLC

Host Geoff Smith speaks with Egbert Perry, Chairman and CEO of The Integral Group LLC, on the the distinction between commercial real estate development and community development, the moral imperative of improving housing affordability, the Assembly Yards project, and much more.

Egbert Perry, The Integral Group, LLC

Egbert L. J. Perry, a native of Antigua and Barbuda, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Integral Group LLC, a company he co-founded in 1993 with a mission to “create value in cities and (re)build the fabric of communities.” Since then, Integral has become a premier provider of sustainable real estate and community solutions in mature and emerging markets across the United States and, more recently, internationally. The Company is vertically integrated with subsidiaries in the community development, commercial real estate, investment management, property management, and program management fields.

A community development, commercial real estate and construction professional since 1979, Egbert has developed and/or built most project types, including residential, office, retail, institutional and mixed-use projects. For 13 years from early 1980 to late 1992, he helped to grow an Atlanta-based real estate and construction company into the nation’s 3rd largest African-American owned business, with annual revenues of about $200 million.

Integral’s mission was first put on display in 1996 when Centennial Place, a collaboration that also involved another firm and the Atlanta Housing Authority, was created. This forward thinking project was the nation’s first urban mixed-use community, integrating mixed-income housing, early childhood development, K-12 education reform, recreation, health & wellness facilities, and human services. This holistic revitalization approach to community development has since been emulated in Atlanta and scores of cities across the country.

Over almost a quarter century, Integral has implemented scores of public-private partnerships that promote “responsible” community development and commercial real estate. It is well-respected for its expertise in affordable, workforce, luxury, and mixed-income housing solutions, often as components of master planned, mixed-use and Transit Oriented Developments (“TOD’s”).

Today, Integral is a diversified, 300-person organization with projects in the mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and Western regions of the United States. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas and Denver. Integral and Egbert have received numerous awards, and are regarded nationally as innovators in the field of urban development and revitalization. Egbert’s policy positions are often sought on issues of housing, community economic development, regional planning and development, public-private partnerships and K-12 education reform.

An honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Egbert received both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from the University’s Towne School, and a Master of Business Administration degree with majors in Finance and Accounting from its Wharton School. In 1990, he was elected as the eleventh graduate in the University’s then 250-year history to be named to the “Gallery of Distinguished Engineering Alumni” of the University’s Engineering School.

Past Board assignments include Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta International School and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” covers all things economic development in the Atlanta Metro area. From everything inside the Beltline to Avalon and beyond, Geoff Smith interviews the movers and shakers making the ATL one of the best places to live, work and play. An archive of past episodes can be found here.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial working with Real Estate agents and homebuyers to help them get happily to their closing table. Geoff is an authority on the latest economic development trends shaping the Atlanta Metro area. His interviews reveal an inside perspective at how things get done in the ATL.

Geoff is an active member of his community serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, as well as holding the position of chairman for the Chamber’s Education Committee. He is also Secretary of the Roswell Youth Baseball Association and coaches his sons in football, baseball and basketball. Geoff enjoys golf, camping and traveling with his wife and two sons. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®, located inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $12.9 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Alpharetta, An Interview with Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta (Alpharetta CVB) and Matt Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

August 23, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Alpharetta, An Interview with Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta (Alpharetta CVB) and Matt Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

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**Kali Boatright, Matthew Thomas, and Janet Rodgers**

Episode 27, All Things Alpharetta

Why does Alpharetta keep achieving such high rankings for quality of life? What makes Alpharetta such an attractive place to do business, particularly for technology companies? What are some of the signature events which draw visitors to Alpharetta? Join Host Kali Boatright as she poses these questions and more to Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta, and Matthew Thomas, Economic Development Manager of the City of Alpharetta. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta, the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau

**Janet Rodgers, Awesome Alpharetta, the Alpharetta CVB**

Janet Rodgers is President and CEO of Awesome Alpharetta, the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau. The mission statement of the Alpharetta CVB is “to position the city of Alpharetta as a regionally, nationally and globally recognized premier tourism destination by developing quality programs and facilities to attract overnight visitors.”

The Alpharetta CVB uses innovative and targeted marketing strategies, along with aggressive sales efforts, to attract overnight visitors to the city. They do this in three key areas:

1. Increasing the awareness and identity of Alpharetta as a destination for the leisure and individual traveler and raising awareness of the economic importance of the visitor industry to Alpharetta by placing advertisements, writing press releases, utilizing social media and maintaining a technologically advanced website

2. Employing a variety of sales strategies to increase the number of group room nights booked in Alpharetta’s 26 hotels through attendance at tradeshows, association meetings and conferences as well as sales calls and site visits with event organizers

3. Providing leadership for the visitor industry, coordinating activities, encouraging marketing activities and partnerships, and projecting an appealing image on behalf of the city of Alpharetta

For more information on the Alpharetta CVB and their services, call 678-297-2811 and request their brochure, “A Look at the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau.” You can also visit the Awesome Alpharetta website.

Matthew Thomas, City of Alpharetta Economic Development

Matthew Thomas is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Alpharetta.

For more information, go to GrowAlpharetta.com, or call 678-297-6024.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

July 19, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

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**Steve Stroud, Kali Boatright, and Andy Williams**

Episode 26, All Things Roswell

What makes the City of Roswell so attractive to millennials, families, and empty-nesters? Why is Roswell such an attractive location for business? What are some of the signature events which draw visitors to Roswell? Join Host Kali Boatright as she poses these questions and more to Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau

**Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau**

Andy Williams is the Executive Director of Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit Roswell and the Roswell Visitors Center is the place for “All Things Roswell.” It is a convenient place to start your excursion whether you are looking for historic attractions, trails to hike, nature, entertainment, breweries, or Roswell’s extensive culinary scene.

Knowledgeable staff can assist with arrangements for a fun filled day, overnight stay, or a several day trip. The Roswell Visitors Center is located at the intersection of Hwy. 9 and Sloan Street in Roswell’s Historic District (just across the street from the Historic Town Square.) at 617 Atlanta Street; Roswell, GA 30075.

You can email info@visitroswellga.com, or call 770-640-3253 or 800-776-7935. The Visit Roswell website can be found at http://www.visitroswellga.com/.

Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

Steve Stroud is the Executive Director for Economic Development with Roswell Inc.

As the economic development and business advocacy organization for the City of Roswell, Roswell Inc. serves as a catalyst for a sustainable, innovative and vibrant business community in the city.

Their vision is for Roswell to be the best place in the region for innovative, community-minded businesses and entrepreneurs, and they accomplish this through four main areas of work—business attraction and recruitment, business retention and expansion, industry support programs, and business development.

As a 501(c)6 nonprofit, Roswell Inc. has worked with the City of Roswell through a public-private partnership since 2012 by serving as an advocate for business and economic growth.

For more information, go to https://roswellinc.org/ or call 678-823-4004.