North Fulton Archives - Page 4 of 6

285-400 Interchange Update: Kyle Collins, Georgia Department of Transportation, and Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement District

September 28, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

285-400 Interchange Update: Kyle Collins, Georgia Department of Transportation, and Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement District

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285-400 Interchange Update: Kyle Collins, Georgia Department of Transportation, and Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 79)

Kyle Collins, Georgia DOT, and Ann Hanlon, Perimeter CID, joined host Kali Boatright on Georgia 400 Insider to share updates on the 285-400 interchange construction project. Kyle and Ann discussed the history of this multi-year project, completed exits and on-ramps which have eliminated dangerous merging of traffic around the interchange, coming lane reductions on 285 which will cause significant traffic delays, and much more.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)

The Georgia Department of Transportation plans, designs, constructs, maintains, and improves the state’s roads and bridges, and interstate highways; and provides planning and financial support for other modes of transportation including rail, transit, general aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian programs.

The department is also involved in waterways, including the Savannah and Brunswick ports and Intracoastal Waterway.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Kyle Collins, Communications Program Manager, Georgia DOT

Kyle is in his eighth year of state transportation agency communications work with a new dynamic role as Communications Program Manager.

His position manages and assists in directing the Department’s communications initiatives focused on public outreach/education around the $11 billion Major Mobility Investment Program, Georgia Express Lanes and other high-profile design-build projects, which are transforming Georgia’s transportation network – the nation’s tenth largest.

Perimeter CIDs

The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs) are self-taxing districts that use additional property taxes to help accelerate needed transportation and infrastructure improvement projects.

The PCID is home to the largest retail mall in the state, dozens of dining locations, premier retailers, and multi- and single-family housing options, the Center is one of the Southeast’s leading live, work, and play communities.

Website | Facebook

Ann Hanlon, Executive Director, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs)

As Executive Director for the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), Ann Hanlon is in charge of the organization’s daily operations, as well as its investments in transportation infrastructure. The CIDs have an annual operating budget of over $8 million.

Previously, Ann was the Executive Director of the North Fulton CID for 13 years, beginning when it was a start-up. Prior to entering the CID space, Ann served as a Senior Program Specialist at the Atlanta Regional Commission. She began her career in the private sector, as a Research and Development Analyst with Press Ganey & Associates, a healthcare consulting firm in South Bend, Indiana.

A native of South Georgia, Ann received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Government and Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters of Public Administration degree in Management and Finance from Georgia State University.

Ann was honored as the “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar Atlanta Chapter in November 2016. In April 2015 and again in 2017, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Ann to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority where she serves on the Projects and Planning committees. Ann was named a “Notable Georgian” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2017, one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Women Who Mean Business” in 2015 and as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 under 40” in 2012 and 2018.

In 2019, she served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth as the Council’s first female Chairman. Additionally, Ann serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Transportation Seminar, Atlanta Chapter, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody Perimeter Chambers of Commerce, and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce.

In 2020, Ann was appointed by CEO Michael Thurmond to the DeKalb County COVID19 task force, and continues to serve in that capacity as a representative of large business interests in Perimeter during the pandemic. Ann is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute of the Atlanta Regional Commission (2010) and Leadership North Fulton (2006).

Personally, Ann is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Metro Atlanta, a member of All Saints Catholic Church, and a sustainer with the Junior League of Atlanta.

She lives in Dunwoody with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters.

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

The GNFCC 400 Insider 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. For more information on other GNFCC events such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Linda Coyle, LGE Community Credit Union

September 8, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Linda Coyle, LGE Community Credit Union

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LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Linda Coyle, LGE Community Credit Union (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 515)

Linda Coyle stopped by to chat with host North Fulton Business Radio host John Ray during the live remote celebrating the new Greater North Fulton Chamber offices at Avalon. Linda discussed LGE’s continued growth, her deep involvement with GNFCC, the Milton Business Council, LGE’s sponsorships of Chamber events and activities, and much more.

This show was originally broadcast live from the Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting of the new offices of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at the 10000 Building at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia, on August 18, 2022.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Linda Coyle, Business Development Officer, LGE Community Credit Union

Linda Coyle started as a teacher and moved from education to business development. She has been in that role with LGE Community Credit Union since 2016.

She is the 2022 Chair of the Milton Business Council and is on the board of GNFCC.

In 1951, seven Lockheed Georgia employees dreamed of a better way to bank, and LGE Community Credit Union was born. Today they serve communities in Northwest Georgia as a not-for-profit financial institution. Unlike a bank, whose profits go to its shareholders, their profits go to their members in the form of better rates and lower fees. They are guided by a strong commitment to provide a better financial future for our members.

Everyone who lives or works in Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Fulton, and Paulding counties is eligible to apply for membership, as are employees of many companies. Family members of existing members are also eligible.

Since 2010, LGE has invested over $1.45 million in the lives of those in the community including children, homeless, abuse victims, and those that fall on hard times. Not only is there a monetary contribution but LGE staff members volunteer over 2,600 hours in the community annually. Additionally, we partner with schools in the local communities through our Partners in Education platform. Continued efforts show why LGE Community Credit Union continues to be a fabric of the community.

Company website | LinkedIn

Questions and Topics in the Interview:

LGE Community Credit Union
GNFCC and business development
Milton Business Council

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

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 over $13 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.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked-from-scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Taylor Cox, Koelbel and Company

August 16, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Taylor Cox, Koelbel and Company

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North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 493)

Taylor Cox, Director of Acquisition for Denver-based Koelbel and Company, joined host John Ray to share the news of his firm’s first commercial property investment in the North Fulton market, Northridge Center. Taylor talked about his family-owned firm’s investment history, why Atlanta and the North Fulton market specifically offer compelling opportunities, where they see value in the office building segment, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Nothing is stronger than family—especially when it comes to business.

The notion of creating a legacy that was built upon the right ideals forges a firm foundation that endures. A lasting dynamic that attracts business partners that care about more than the bottom line. And a relationship-driven entity that always puts community first.

In 1952, Walt Koelbel founded just such a family business holding up those exact aspirations. Every day since then, Koelbel and Company has been seeing the possibilities and realizing the potential for Colorado real estate. The vision to try new things. And the willingness to think differently. All in an effort to create developments that people are proud to call home.

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

**Taylor Cox, Director of Acquisition, Koelbel and Company**

Taylor Cox is Director of Acquisition for Koelbel and Company. He is based here in North Fulton and spearheading Koebel’s expansion into the Atlanta market.

Throughout his career, Taylor Cox has developed a skilled approach to analyzing deals and finding value-add opportunities. He religiously tracks market conditions by staying educated on political, economic, and social trends.

He is well-aligned with Koelbel in his vision to venture into unknown territories and he possesses the measured discipline to quickly establish a network of key local contacts and build business from the ground up in any market.

Taylor’s success in assembling and leading fully integrated teams, persisting through unforeseen complications, and securing key partners and investors has enabled him to not only protect but enhance investor capital.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Who is Koelbel and Company?
Why are they now investing in North Fulton?
What is Koebel’s acquisition strategy?
What are the benefits of the commercial property you’ve purchased?

Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia

July 27, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia

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Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 77)

Keith Parker, President and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, joined host Kali Boatright to share the tremendous work his organization performs for jobseekers securing employment. Keith shared Goodwill success stories, their specific work in North Fulton, his career journey, which includes a five year stint as CEO of MARTA, and much more.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Goodwill of North Georgia

At Goodwill of North Georgia, their mission is a simple one: they put people to work.

Every day, thousands of men and women face barriers that make it difficult for them to find work and earn a paycheck to support their families. Sometimes it’s lack of training or education, limited job skills, or a disability. But with the support of donors and shoppers like you, Goodwill overcomes those barriers.

At career centers throughout North Georgia, Goodwill offers job-search resources, helps with writing a professional résumé and cover letter, provides access to employment opportunities, delivers hands-on skill training, and so much more.

They provide access to important job search resources like computers, résumé writing tools, local job listings, telephones, and photocopiers. They also host regular recruiting events, employment seminars, and even offer software training. As an extension of their career center services, they launched Career Connector powered by Goodwill of North Georgia, a site that allows you to register online and access job search resources from anywhere.

Their training programs prepare people for careers in a wide array of fields such as retail, financial services, floor technology, healthcare, traditional and green construction, forklift operations, and more.

Think about Goodwill and the good they do the next time you’re deciding what to do with your gently used goods, or even when you’re about to go treasure hunting for a bargain. If you’d like to help them improve our communities, strengthen families, and energize the economy, they welcome your donations and invite you to visit their stores.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Keith Parker, President and CEO, Goodwill of North Georgia

Keith T. Parker is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Goodwill of North Georgia. One of the largest nonprofit organizations in the southeast, Goodwill spans a 45-county territory, operating 60 stores, 58 donation centers, and 13 career centers. Goodwill employs nearly 3,000 people, each of whom plays a direct or supporting role in the organization’s donated goods retail operations and its career services. Annually, Goodwill collects upwards of 2.5 million donations and serves more than 7 million shoppers. Through the revenue generated in its stores, the organization is able to connect tens of thousands of North Georgians to jobs each year. Parker took the helm at Goodwill of North Georgia in October 2017. Prior to transitioning into his leadership role at Goodwill, Parker has served as CEO of the largest transit systems in several cities, including San Antonio, Charlotte and most recently, Atlanta.

Throughout his career, Parker has received numerous awards and accolades for his work as an organizational leader and transportation visionary. He won Texas CEO of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2012. He was recognized as the nation’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in 2015. METRO Magazine named Parker as one of its 20 Most Influential People of the Decade. In 2016, Parker was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). In November the same year, he was named one of eight Public Officials of the Year by Governing magazine. In August 2017, Parker was selected as one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs by Atlanta Business Chronicle.

A native of Petersburg, Virginia, Parker was appointed to the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors by Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2016. Parker received VCU’s Alumni Star Award in 2015.

Parker served on the board of directors for Goodwill of San Antonio and Goodwill of North Georgia. He remains active and engaged in civic and charitable organizations, including service on various national and local boards of directors – such as Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, National Infrastructure Advisory Council, The Eno Center for Transportation, Park Over Georgia 400 Steering Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors, Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems Board of Directors, Grande West Board of Directors and Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Parker holds an MBA from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a BA in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Manuela M. Davis, Century 21 Connect Realty

April 28, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Manuela M. Davis, Century 21 Connect Realty

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(North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 452)

Manuela Davis, a realtor with Century 21 Connect Realty, was the guest on this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. She and host John Ray talked about her love of meeting people, her ability to navigate and understand neighborhoods for her clients, her commitment to over-communication to ensure her clients are getting the best results possible, the current market, rates, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Since 1971, the CENTURY 21^® brand has been changing the real estate game by offering independent brokers, entrepreneurs and affiliated agents the ability to achieve extraordinary results in an increasingly competitive market. But a lot has changed since then. Many have copied the CENTURY 21 approach, and over time we have seen a ‘sea of sameness.’

With more brand awareness* than any real estate brand, Century 21 Real Estate is poised to change the game once again. To do this, we are reinventing what the CENTURY 21 brand means in the hearts and minds of those who are buying, selling and working in real estate today.

This starts with our new mission – to defy mediocrity and deliver extraordinary experiences – and comes to life in our identity as a brand and the services we develop for our system members.

Our new approach led us to create a new brand identity for the CENTURY 21^® brand – a stylish, sleek and sophisticated makeover designed to catapult us into the next century. With a refreshed color palette that stays true to our iconic gold and black scheme, the new identity is more modern and distinctive than ever.

The new C21^® Seal allows us to project a modern view as well as be more relevant to those buying apartments, commercial properties and more.

Ultimately, we believe this new identity delivers an enormous amount of value to our members – helping our affiliated brokers and agents to stand out and attract more prospects than ever before.

The CENTURY 21 System currently has over 14,250 independently owned and operated franchise brokers across 86 countries and territories who have started this movement.

Company Website |Instagram | Facebook

**Manuela M. Davis, Realtor, Century 21 Connect Realty**

Born and raised in Austria, Manuela Davis has lived in Roswell for more than half of her life and she likes to think that it has earned her the recognition that she is “from Atlanta”. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to own and operate Voilà Hair Salon since the early nineties. It was her long-time passion and intimate knowledge of the greater Roswell area that brought her to join Century 21 Connect Realty and become a Real Estate Market Expert.

She is fluent in German and uses her language skill for global referrals. She is a dedicated and hard-working lady who loves to give back to her community. Organizing fundraisers for almost three decades, she is a past president of the Roswell Woman’s Club and continues to serve as an active member. She works with several Non-Profit Organizations organizing fundraisers and is very involved in her community.

She and her husband Mike enjoy their two Labradoodles – Dundee and Grace whom they walk at the Roswell Recreation Park on a daily basis. Mike and Manuela enjoy Pickleball and exercise but also love good food! Their son Jack likes to play basketball and enjoys playing with their doggies.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in the US?
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
What have you been doing since you arrived in the US?
What are other things you like to do?
What Fundraiser do you have coming up this week?
What do you like to do best and how do you do it?
Why do people hire you?
How is the market?
How does the interest rate affect your business?
People say there are no homes for sale?
What is your claim to fame?

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Ehab Jaleel, Amana Academy Charter Schools

April 25, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Ehab Jaleel, Amana Academy Charter Schools

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Ehab Jaleel, Amana Academy Charter Schools (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 448)

With a diverse population of over eight hundred students, Amana Academy Charter School is a unique K-8 school using the Expeditionary Learning (EL) model for its curriculum. Ehab Jaleel, Executive Director, and host John Ray talked about the EL learning model, what the children learn and experience, the partnership with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta which has resulted in their new West Atlanta Campus, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Amana Academy Charter Schools

Amana Academy is a K-8 tuition-free public charter school open to all students who are eligible to attend Fulton County Schools.

Considered among the most well-regarded charter schools in the state of Georgia, Amana Academy’s Alpharetta campus was established in 2005 and authorized by the Georgia Department of Education and the Fulton County Schools system.

Amana chose the Harvard-based EL Education (Expeditionary Learning) model* because of its equal emphasis on academic achievement and character education. With high standardized test scores, an integrated STEM curriculum, a focus on stewardship and ethical character, and Arabic world-language instruction across all grade levels, Amana is a success story in the world of whole-child education.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Ehab Jaleel, Executive Director, Amana Academy Charter Schools

Ehab Jaleel has a zeal for pursuing innovation and mobilizing new ventures with an eye toward making a difference in his community and the world. He aspires to be a “weaver”—building community connections and weaving a rich social fabric.

A graduate of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2016, Ehab is a corporate professional turned nonprofit leader/educator. He is Executive Director of Amana Academy Charter Schools, an emerging network of metro-Atlanta public schools. He co-founded Amana’s flagship school in 2005 in Alpharetta, GA, a STEM-themed EL Education credentialed Title-1 school that is among the highest performing schools in Georgia. Amana’s first replica school is in partnership with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta at their Camp Timber Ridge.

Ehab’s education and community focus extends to a number of organizations including the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s Tech400 Committee, the Advisory Council for North Fulton Community Charities, as a board member of the Atlanta International Night Market, and as a Regional Director for the Georgia Tech President Scholars Selection Committee. He led the governance committee on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Charter Schools Association, and he served as a board member at U-Beyond, a youth mentorship & professional development organization.

In 2014 Ehab was included in the list of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Muslims; and in 2015, The Alif Institute recognized him with the Arab American High Achiever award.

Born in Jordan, Ehab immigrated to the United States at the age of six and resided in Albany, NY until his family moved to Florida’s Tampa Bay area. He has also lived in Louisville, KY while working for General Electric, but most of his adult life has been in metro-Atlanta where he earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and where he worked at The Coca-Cola Company’s headquarters in operational marketing and innovation roles for fifteen years.

Ehab resides in Milton, Georgia with his wife Lara ‘Lemiya’ Alexander. They have three adult daughters, the eldest an equestrian, the second a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, and the youngest attending his alma mater studying Environmental Public Policy and minoring in Japanese. He is a foodie who enjoys global travel, fitness, outdoor adventure, and following Formula 1 racing.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

What are charter schools? How did Amana get started?
Why did you make the switch from the corporate world to running a school?
How do you see yourself fitting into the North Fulton landscape?
What is the student experience at Amana? How does it benefit them? Where do your students come from?
How do families find you?
Where do they go after 8th grade?
Education was in the news quite a bit during the pandemic. How did your school navigate it; and how will emerging trends affect your organization and the education sector in general? Are there lessons for leaders?
We hear you are expanding with a very innovative partnership with Girl Scouts. Tell us more about that.
What local partnerships do you have going?
How can the community get involved and help with your mission?

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

2022 North Fulton Economic Outlook with Ian Wyatt, Principal Economist, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

January 28, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

2022 North Fulton Economic Outlook with Ian Wyatt, Principal Economist, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

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2022 North Fulton Economic Outlook with Ian Wyatt, Principal Economist, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 71)

Ian Wyatt, Principal Economist with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, joined host Kali Boatright to cover the North Fulton economic outlook for 2022. Ian discussed the strength of North Fulton schools, inflation, housing affordability, how childcare costs affect the labor market, job growth and unemployment and much more. The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®

The Metro Atlanta Chamber

The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) is a 160-year-old organization that today represents businesses, colleges and universities, and nonprofits across the 29-county region that makes up the nation’s ninth-largest market.

MAC works to position metro Atlanta as a top-tier global region by focusing on three key areas: economic development, public policy and promotion. Its efforts build on the qualities that make Atlanta one of the nation’s most unique metros — its neighborhoods, culture, quality of life, welcoming business community and more. MAC’s economic development efforts focus on recruiting new companies to the region and retaining and growing the innovative businesses that already call the area home. In addition, MAC convenes thought leaders in supply chain, IoT, bioscience, global commerce, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship — the region’s key ecosystems.

Company website

Ian Wyatt, Vice President, Principal Economist, Metro Atlanta Chamber

Ian Wyatt is a Senior Economist with extensive experience and expertise in commercial portfolio strategy, industry analytics, macroeconomic forecasting, competitive intelligence, and risk management.

Ian currently serves as the Vice President, Principal Economist at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. In his previous role, Ian served as the Vice President/Economist, Analytics and Information Strategy, Wholesale Credit for the Bank of America.

Ian also served as Vice President/Economist, Pricing Strategy and Business Analytics, Wholesale Credit with Bank of America where he led a team that produced detailed analysis of loan yields at competitors to improve margins on $400B commercial loan portfolio. He also held the positions of Vice President/Economist, Industry Risk Group and Vice President/Economist, Industry and Country Risk Group.

Prior to joining the Bank of America, Ian served as a Senior Economist with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where he was responsible for developing and evaluating forecasts of major macroeconomic variables, including GDP, inflation, employment, balance of trade, and monetary policy. These forecasts formed the basis of official U.S. government economic forecasts.

Ian began his career as an Economist, Occupational Outlook and Occupational Employment Statistics Division with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where he co-developed new statistical metrics and methods in response to customer requests for information on the employment outlook for college graduates.

LinkedIn | Twitter

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

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

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Maggie DeCan, Children’s Development Academy

November 30, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Maggie DeCan, Children's Development Academy

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Maggie DeCan, Children’s Development Academy (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 413)

The Children’s Development Academy, founded fifty years ago, focuses on high-quality early education and childcare for low-income families in North Fulton. CEO and Executive Director Maggie DeCan joined host John Ray to talk about their mission, why their work is such a compelling long-term investment for the North Fulton community, how she moved from corporate to nonprofit work, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Children’s Development Academy

The Children’s Development Academy (CDA) enjoys a rich history of broad support, built over the past five decades.

Focused on low-income working families in our community, the CDA can serve 156 children each day ages 12 months through 5 years in our full-day early care and learning program, including three Georgia Pre-K classes.

The CDA is NAEYC-accredited (National Association for the Education of Young Children), the highest level of accreditation available to any education program, with a curriculum committed to preparing children to be “ready by five” for school success.

In July 2015, the CDA received the highest rating of three stars from Georgia’s Quality Rated program. The Quality Rated system was designed so that any parent selecting a program participating in Quality Rated can feel confident that they are enrolling their child in a program that is committed to continuous quality improvement and higher quality standards.

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Maggie DeCan, CEO and Executive Director, Children’s Development Academy

Maggie DeCan took the helm at the CDA in November of 2016 with considerable experience in both corporate and community leadership as well as having been an active volunteer and financial contributor to the CDA and its mission. With an active board, she has led organizational rebranding as well as driving strategic priorities focused on increased enrollment, sustainable giving, and quality outcomes.

Prior to taking the helm at the CDA Maggie ran day-to-day operations for the HoneyBaked Ham national system as president and COO leading a team responsible for $500MM annually of system sales in 500 corporate and franchise operating units. Her leadership style is built on a focus on the customer and those who serve them. Prior to assuming the role of President and COO, Maggie served as Chief Human Resource Officer.

Before HoneyBaked, Maggie served in human resources for well-known retailers Circuit City, Belk, and Macy’s. Maggie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from the University of Michigan. Maggie’s leadership experience extends to the community where she has become a respected educational advocate, receiving an award from the State of GA PTA for visionary leadership. In 2014 she was a finalist for the Turknett Leadership Character Award and in 2015, she was honored by the Georgia Diversity Council as a “Most Powerful and Influential Woman” and in 2016 was a Womentics P.O.W. winner.

She has served on the Advisory Board for the Children’s Restoration Network and as Chairman Emeritus Roswell North Elementary Education Foundation, a 501(c) 3 that she helped found in 2009. She is also past president of the Woodstock Junior Service League.

Maggie’s free time is spent first with her family. Her husband of 35 years, Bob, is a high school economics teacher, son Riley a junior UGA and son Brady a freshman at UTK.

Questions and Topics Discussed in this Episode

How did the CDA get its start?
Why is the mission of the CDA important to the North Fulton community?
What are the benefits of early childhood education?
How can the community get involved and help with your mission?
Why did you make the switch from the corporate world to running a nonprofit?
Tell us more about the partnership with Be Rich that you are launching today for Giving Tuesday

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray, and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: COVID-19 Vaccine Update from the Centers for Disease Control

April 1, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: COVID-19 Vaccine Update from the Centers for Disease Control

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Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: COVID-19 Vaccine Update with the CDC, with Amanda Cohn, MD, and Michelle Wilson, Centers for Disease Control (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 59)

CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amanda Cohn offered an update on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and CDC Senior Advisor Michelle Wilson joined the call as well. Today’s program was sponsored by The City of Alpharetta and Logic Speak. The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. John Ray and North Fulton Business RadioX served as the media sponsor for this event.

Amanda Cohn, MD, Chief Medical Officer, COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr. Amanda Cohn currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of the National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. She previously served as the Deputy Director of NCIRD’s Immunization Services Division. Dr. Cohn came to the CDC in 2004 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and joined the Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch in 2006, where she focused on prevention and control of meningococcal disease, both domestically and internationally. She is board certified in Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

She obtained her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and completed a residency in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts.

CDC website | Amanda Cohn LinkedIn

Michelle Wilson, Senior Advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

**Michelle Wilson, Senior Advisor, CDC**

Michelle Wilson is a Senior Advisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. Her work focuses on strategic external relations as she directs CDC’s Georgia Relations work. Michelle has worked at CDC for 20 years, including the past seven years in the Office of Appropriations, most recently serving as Congressional Team Lead – leading activities related to the Agency’s appropriations outreach strategy with Congress.

During her CDC tenure, Michelle has worked in policy at all levels of the Agency, including time in Washington, D.C. – focusing on government relations, budget, appropriations, and non-federal partnerships. Prior to coming to CDC in 2001 as a Presidential Management Intern, Michelle worked at several large health related non-profits and practiced front-line social work in California in Los Angeles and Yolo Counties.

She is a graduate of the University of California at Davis and received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California.

CDC Website | Michelle Wilson LinkedIn

Lindsey Petrini, Board Chair, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

Lindsey Petrini is the Chief Operating Officer of WellStar North Fulton Hospital. WellStar North Fulton Hospital is a 202-bed facility located in Roswell, Georgia.

The hospital is recognized for its accredited cancer program, trauma and primary stroke center designations, and for providing a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, pain management, cardiology, women’s services, rehabilitation, surgical services, and oncology. For more information click here.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” 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 the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.