North Atlanta Business Post, February by Appen Media Group

February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Security upgrade

Credit cards to get embedded EMV chip. PAGES 18 – 19

Atlanta bank acquires CBB Transaction totals $28 million. PAGE 21

Volume 2, Issue 2 • Part of Appen Media Group • Cherokee • Cobb • Forsyth • Fulton • Gwinnett • Hall

Growing fast

Gwinnett Tech’s enrollment up 7.5%. PAGE 5

Innovation with Coke

Coca-Cola Enterprises’ CEO shares secrets. PAGE 7

Riverwalk Village

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit #3592

First glimpse of new mixeduse development. PAGE 11

Women at the top

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Renee Guttmann, Chief information security officer of Accuvant, Marilyn Margolis, Interim chief executive officer of Emory Hospital and Jenny Pruitt, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s CEO share their experiences in the busy business climate of North Georgia. See story, Pages 16 – 17.

Roswell Business Academy Spring Semester 2015 Learn more about the business series on page 28

2 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

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NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 3

QUICK GLANCE:

Population growth in North Ga. COBB

% Change

717k 688k 4.2%

CHEROKEE

2010

225k 214k

FORSYTH

2013

195k 176k 11.3%

FULTON

look for a Who’s Who Guide to the people who are driving or facilitating growth and development in the region - primarily from the public sector. We will also look at regional MBA programs. The May issue will focus on regional Leisure, Hospitality and Tourism as well as profile regional universities and technical schools. Our plate is full and we have our hands full covering all the good economic news in our region, but that is a great problem to have. Finally, give us a call! If you are a B2B business whose market is primarily or significantly in the North Atlanta region, there is no better way to reach these decision-makers then advertising in The North Atlanta Business Post.

984k 921k 6.9%

GWINNETT

If January is a harbinger of the rest of the year then 2015 may be the break out year that so many businesses in the region have been looking for. Many economic indicators point toward a strong year ahead. We have watched the unemployment rate continue to drop, a steadily increasing tax digest, increasing home sale prices, building permits going thru the roof and a steady stream of new businesses opening their doors. The city of Roswell is closely looking at a 104-acre mixed use project at GA. 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road (see page 11) which could bring a mix of residential, retail, a hotel and 1.7 million square feet of office space. The new Gwinnett Tech campus is now well under construction in Alpharetta and the new mixed use Avalon is working on their phase two which is supposed to include office space, a 5-Star hotel, more high end apartments and a convention center. The March issue of The North Atlanta Business Post will focus on residential real estate - Top Brokers, Top Agents. We will also profile the fastest growing cities in the region. In April we will offer a Cherokee Market Report and also

859k 805k 6.7%

HALL

Letter from the publisher:

188k 180k 4.5%

Best,

Hans Appen Publisher hans@appenmediagroup.com

What’s inside this issue: Education

[4] Merger leaves future of campuses in Alpharetta up in air [5] Gwinnett Tech 10th fastest growing community college

Medical

[6] Halyard Health opens Alpharetta headquarters

News

Source: U.S. Census bureau

[7] Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO refreshes GNFCC Eggs & Enterprise [11] R oswell gets first glimpse at Riverwalk Village [12] •Fulton passes $628 budget •14.4 percent of young people out of work in December

talk obstacles, triumphs of their professional careers

[14] Panel offers heads-up advice on data breaches

[17] S crapRoom creator Blayne White perseveres in the name of preservation

[29] Alpharetta develops recommendations for city center

Real Estate

[8] North Georgia Housing market ripe for growth [9] Roswell mulls ‘affordable’ housing

Movers & Shakers

[10] T he people on the move, new hires and promotions

Women in Business

[16 - 17] Guttmann, Margolis, Pruitt

Banking & Finance

[18 - 19] Credit cards to get tech upgrade [20] PNC branch launches instant debit card issuance system

Fulton County

[23] Roswell to install electric vehicle charging stations

Cobb County

[24] D evelopment picks up around new Braves stadium

Gwinnett County

[27] H isense named title sponsor for NASCAR double header

Forsyth County

Sound Advice

Cherokee County

Restaurants

[21] Atlanta bank acquires CBB in $28 million transaction

[22] Leadership Cherokee class of 2015 named

[28] Real estate and business management experts

[30] Hidden treats in Roswell’s Historic District

subscribe today 770-442-3278 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET 319 North Main Street Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 Published by Appen Media Group Advertising: All advertising published in North Atlanta Business Post is subject to current rate card; copies available from the advertising department. To obtain a copy contact your sales representative at 770-442-3278 or email advertising@ appenmediagroup.com. Newsroom: All press releases and editorial information can be sent to business@appenmediagroup.com Visit northatlantabusinesspost.com for more information.

EDUCATION

4 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

GSU-Perimeter consolidation:

Merger leaves future of campuses in Alpharetta up in air Watts said. “The two institutions know one another very well, which will certainly be helpful during the consolidation process.” The GSU campus in Alpharetta, 3775 Brookside Parkway, is adjacent to one of GPC’s that has been shared by both institutions. The area has about 600 GSU students and 2,000 GPC students enrolled this semester. The future of these campuses is yet to be determined. “As part of the consolidation process, both institutions will be reviewing their operations and academic offerings in Alpharetta to determine how best to meet the needs of students and the Alpharetta community in the future,” Watts said. The Alpharetta GSU campus offers courses in business, criminal justice and social work as well as graduate programs for a professional MBA and the Executive Master of Science degree in managing information technology. The GPC campus next door offers a wide variety of day and evening classes including social sciences, humanities, science, mathematics, computer science, business and physical education. “This consolidation, though it is not the first one in the history of the university system, actually is somewhat

By SHANNON WEAVER shannon@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA — With the Jan. 6 announcement that Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College will be consolidating next year, many are wondering what the merger will mean for students and communities like Alpharetta, which is home to campuses for both schools. The presidents from Georgia State and Perimeter hosted a Jan. 13 town hall meeting to answer questions concerning their consolidation, which was approved by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. The new institution will have the Georgia State name and is scheduled to go into effect in the fall of 2016. This will be the sixth merger in Georgia in three years, the most recent of which involved Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University. Georgia Perimeter Interim President Rob Watts said GPC has historically been the largest feeder to Georgia State. Approximately 1,300 GPC students transfer to GSU every year. “Georgia Perimeter College and Georgia State University have had a close relationship that goes back decades,”

continue.” At the town hall meeting, the future of undocumented students who attend GPC campuses was brought up. GPC admits undocumented students, but they are explicitly not eligible for admission at GSU. “Undocumented students do enroll at the GPC campuses, and they will continue to do so,” said Shelley Nickel, the head of the consolidation effort and the university system’s vice chancellor for planning and implementation. “They do not enroll at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and we anticipate that will remain the same.” On its website regarding the consolidation, the University System of Georgia explains, “Georgia State will continue to admit students into its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs under its current standards as a national research university. The Georgia Perimeter campuses of the proposed consolidated institution will continue to fulfill their access mission and admit students to associate’s and certificate programs.” As such, they “anticipate the policy [regarding undocumented students] for the respective campuses will not change.” For more information, visit consolidation.gsu.edu.

unique from some of the others, in that it’s based on two institutions with a very long, very productive history of working together,” said Georgia State President Mark Becker at the town hall meeting. Decisions over specific details, such as facilities, staffing and finances have not been made, but Becker said that the mission of the campuses will remain unchanged, with tuitions based on the degree program. “The model we’re looking at is one university, multiple campuses,” Becker said. “Georgia State University will not be the first major research university to have multiple campuses, and many of those campuses as two-year or access institutions.” Becker listed Emory’s Oxford campus, Pennsylvania State University and University of South Carolina as examples of similar institutions. “The downtown campus will continue to be a premiere urban research university, with highly selective, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral programs,” Becker said. “With this consolidation with GPC, we pick up additional sites – sites that historically have an access mission, that provide mostly associate and certificate programs, and we intend for that to

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Education Focus

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Baseball team in ip state championship ► PAGE 12

May 28, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 9, No. 22

School board nixes armed staffers

No weapons allowed on school property ► PAGE 5

First lady touts child immunization Sandra Deal visits Emory Hospital, family ► PAGE 12

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RUNOFF ELECTIONS:

Milton honors fallen veteran PROJECT DARASANI:

Ga. 9 to be widened to county line

Where would new traffic lights go? • Walmart driveway • Genesis Way/Deerfield Place • Soneley Court/Keyingham Way • Sunfish Bend • Creek Club Drive

Bethany Bend intersection reworked By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@northfulton.com MILTON, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and city of Milton want to make major improvements to Ga. 9 in coming years. Those improvements, however, will not begin for almost a decade. At an open house May 21,

Saloni Sharma sits amid dozens of bags of school supplies donated by families of Sugar Mill subdivision in Johns Creek. The nonprofit she started, Project Darasani, helps needy Tanzanian students acquire the basic school supplies they need to get an education.

See CHANGES, Page 7

TUTORING

See ELECTIONS, Page 5

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com

The red dots indicate new or modifications to existing traffic signals along a section of Ga. 9.

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POST 4 votes: Bob Gray 2,900, 58% Eric Fragoso 2,134, 42% POST 6 votes: Steve Broadbent 3,346, 66% Nancy Reinecke 1,213, 34%

Northview teen’s nonproﬁt City to let Fulton County helps African students Trip to Tanzania inspires Saloni Sharma to start club to support students she met

the public took their ﬁrst look at the proposed improvements, which include widening Ga. 9 from Windward Parkway north to the Forsyth County line into a four-lane road – two in each direction. Included with these improvements will be the elimination of the center lane to be replaced with a center median

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – In a tumultuous year of political bloodletting on the City Council, it ended with neither a bang nor a whimper. Instead, it ended July 22 with a calm, clean runoff election among four candidates for the last two council seats. The runoffs were won handily in the end by Steve Broadbent and Bob Gray for posts 6 and 4 respectively. A season of local politics that had burst on the usually quiet Johns Creek political scene the summer of 2013 ended quietly. Conventional wisdom says turnouts in runoff elections are usually light And this was a special election called in July – just a couple weeks before

BARN

Gray, Broadbent ﬁll last 2 council seats

Cpl. Harry Vaughan, inset right, graduated from Milton High School in 1967. Within a year, he was shipped over to Vietnam where he died. Local veterans honored him May 22 at the school. See story, page 28.

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July 31, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 31

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17,000 households on Wednesdays Zip Codes: 30040, 30041. Forsyth county’s largest circulation newspaper. Est. 1998

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28,000 households on Thursdays Zip Codes: 30005, 30009, 30022, 30075, 30076. Alpharetta & Roswell’s primary news source. Alpharetta’s paper of record. Est. 1983

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – When Rupesh Sharma made the trip to Tanzania to hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, it became more than chance to cross off

a goal on his bucket list. He also saw a lot of poverty and how little the country could do for school-age children. Determined to do something, he knew he would return. When he came home and told his family about

what he had seen, he saw that his then 13-year-old daughter Saloni was moved by what he had seen. They talked about it and she said she wanted to go with him on

See SHARMA, Page 31

administer HUD grants Will still OK CDBG projects By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Johns Creek will turn over administration of the city’s Commu-

nity Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to Fulton County, but the city does not cede control of the projects that are approved for Johns Creek. CDBG grants are federal dollars issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and

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EDUCATION

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 5

Gwinnett Tech 10th fastest growing community college GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – Gwinnett Technical College is one of the nation’s fastest growing public twoyear colleges, ranking 10th on Community College Week’s 2014 list of Fastest Growing Cannon Community Colleges. The rankings, published in a December 2014 CCW special report, compared the percent change in headcount from

fall 2012 to fall 2013 using U.S. Department of Education data. For that time period, GTC’s enrollment increased 7.5 percent, from 6,682 to 7,180. “Our ranking reflects the vital role that technical education plays in preparing students for an in-demand and rewarding career,” said President. D. Glen Cannon, Ph.D. “Helping our students advance their careers, succeed in the workforce and improve their lives through a college education is always

our top priority. We’re constantly working to improve student success, provide leading-edge training for emerging fields and meet the workforce needs of business and industry in our region.” Now completing its 30th year, Gwinnett Tech serves approximately 18,000 students annually through college credit, adult education and continuing education classes. The college continues in a growth mode with the current construction of a new campus on Old Milton Parkway

at Ga. 400 and Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. It’s anticipated that classes will begin there in January 2016. At the Gwinnett campus in Lawrenceville, the college’s One Stop Student Services Center is being re-designed and expanded to provide enhanced advisement and service to students. GTC offers more than 50 degree, diploma and certificate student options that can be completed in two years or less.

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MEDICAL

6 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Halyard Health opens Alpharetta headquarters 200 new jobs expected in the next two years By SHANNON WEAVER shannon@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Halyard Health, a medical technology company formed from Kimberly-Clark, officially opened its new headquarters in Alpharetta, 5405 Windward Parkway, on Jan. 5. Halyard CEO Robert Abernathy cut the ribbon with Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle and state Sen. Brandon Beach. “We love ribbon cuttings because it means more jobs, and we’re glad to have 200 more jobs in North Fulton,” Beach said at the ceremony. From the transition that started in October, Halyard brought 400 employees from what was originally KimberlyClark’s health care business in Roswell, and the move is expected to create about 200 jobs in the next two years. “As 2015 comes, with Alpharetta being the Technology City of the South, there’s no better way to start out the year than with a homerun like having

“...We like the support we’ve been given by the city of Alpharetta as well as North Fulton in both the site selection and in making sure we had a smooth transition.” Robert Abernathy, Halyard CEO Halyard,” said Belle Isle. “Halyard’s going to be a great asset and a great add to Alpharetta.” The 240,872-square-foot location at the corner of Windward Parkway

From left: CEO Robert Abernathy, Chris Isenberg and Chris Lowery of Halyard, along with Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle and state Sen. Brandon Beach, cut the ribbon for the new Halyard Health headquarters. and Westside Parkway was chosen to stay close to Kimberly-Clark’s Roswell campus. “We had a very strong talent base here, so we wanted a location that was reasonably close to our former location on Holcomb Bridge Road.” Abernathy said. “And we like the support we’ve been given by the city of Alpharetta as well as North Fulton in both the site selection and in making sure we had a smooth

transition.” The company has 12 manufacturing plants and markets to over 100 countries worldwide. Halyard has been public since November and trades on the New York Stock Exchange as HYH. The spin-off as an independent company was effective in late October. “It allows us to really focus on our strong health care brands,” Abernathy said. “It’s been very exciting.”

NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 7

Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO refreshes GNFCC Eggs & Enterprise John Brock heads European bottling operations, says world’s best brand still needs to remain current largest Facebook following in the world. The brand is always in front of people – on coolers, menu boards, umbrellas and, likely as not, on the scoreboard of your JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Coca-Cola EnLittle League field. terprises Chief Executive Officer John Innovation is continuous, he said. Brock has spun a career that began as The newest Coke product in Europe is a an undergraduate at Georgia Tech to green-labeled Coke Life, a reduced caloheading up the largest soft drink botrie cola sweetened with sugar and stevia, tling operation in Europe – Coca Cola a non-caloric natural sweetener from a Enterprises. South American plant. Sure, it helps to have the most valu“It tastes the same as red Coke, but able consumer brand in the world, but it has only a third of the calories,” Brock still takes a lot work to keep on top of an said. “We want to be a part of the soluever-changing world, he said. tion to obesity. So 40 percent of our Speaking at the Jan. 20 Greater products are low-cal or no-cal drinks.” North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Coke Zero has been the biggest new Eggs & Enterprise breakfast, Brock said product introduced since Diet Coke. being No. 1 means staying No. 1, and that Coke Life will be a different “flavor sysstill takes drive, technology and good tem” with 89 calories, he said. marketing. That means selling 30 billion Which brings Brock to the theme of units in Europe alone. sustainability. Coca-Cola Enterprises maintains its “That is important to the company, dominance doing the little things in a big but also the future of the planet,” he said. way. “The two most important measures of “We are the best at managing retail that are reducing water usage and power relationships,” Brock said. “That means usage. The company’s goal is to be 100 from the biggest retailer to the local pizza percent recyclable by 2020.” parlor.” As chairman and CEO of Coca-CoIt means sending in reps to move la Enterprises, Brock and his leaderproduct on store shelves three and four ship team established the company’s times a day because the store manager first-ever global operating framework doesn’t have the staff to restock Coke with a single vision and strategic products that often. Coca-Cola mines priorities. the data that comes from its sales and Two of the key priorities have been customer preference. sustainability and corporate responsibil“What allows us to win in the marity. Both are keyed into the expectations ketplace is for our salespeople to go and of the new millennials – that population make a call and to know more about our cohort born after 1990 – who have a business in that store than the owner different worldview does,” Brock said. from their parents There are two about the future. entities in the CocaAs a company Cola world – the that wants to serve people who make that generation, the Coke and CocaCoca-Cola must Cola Enterprises, operate in the which markets changing environthe retail product. ment, he said. It They are separate must embrace that companies. Of their generation’s values. combined 800,000 “Does a comemployees, only pany have a social 50,000 are empurpose? The world ployed by Coke. The is changing and the rest work for Cocamillennials pay to Cola Enterprises. a different drumOf course there mer,” Brock said. are numerous John Brock, Coca-Cola Enterprises “They have an idea products in the Chief Executive Officer of what a company Coca-Cola line that should be. They see are not Coke. And [a career] of many in Europe, there are jobs, not one.” many options Americans don’t see this So Coca-Cola’s corporate response side of the Atlantic, as tastes differ in the – as well as all corporations – must be, various regions of the world. Yet Coca“How do we connect” to the millennials Cola products are sold in more countries who will be company’s customers and its than there are members of the United next generation of managers? Nations. As a practical matter, Brock’s job is Staying No. 1 means you don’t stand built on three pillars – brands, customstill, Brock said. Therefore, Coca-Cola ers and employees. has embraced social media. It has the

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com

HATCHER HURD/Staff

Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO John Brock addresses the Greater North Fulton Chamber’s Eggs and Enterprise breakfast at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

“We are the best at managing retail relationships. That means from the biggest retailer to the local pizza parlor.”

“I spend most of my time in people development. Part of that is diversity. We are one of 13 Fortune 500 corporations that feature female board members,” Brock said. “All I have to do to find them is look.”

Diversity is desirable because it increases the pool from which to recruit the best and brightest minds. “We make better decisions with diversity at the top,” he said. “It is all about winning, and we love winning.”

REAL ESTATE

8 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

North Georgia housing market ripe for growth By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com GAINESVILLE, Ga. – With all signs pointing to a full-scale recovery in the real estate market, now is not the time to coast into prosperity, said Frank Norton Jr., chief executive officer of The Norton Norton Agency, headquartered in Gainesville. In his 28th annual Norton Native Intelligence Forecast, presented to a crowd of about 300 people at the Gainesville Civic Center last week, Norton said all of north Georgia must realize the potential it has to provide an ideal environment to a growing market. “The foreclosures are over,” Norton said. “We have licked our wounds, missed numerous opportunities in the interim, but it’s time – no, over time – to move forward.” The Norton Agency is one of north Georgia’s leading real estate and insurance firms with offices blanketing a tier of nine counties just north of Atlanta, including Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb. The company is an institution for market information gathering and charting trends. Data shows that not only are property foreclosures down, Norton said, but so are home inventories. From 2006-2009, developers overbuilt the marketplace, but the inventory has stabilized. In December 2006, home supply was 8.9 months of supply, compared to the current 4.8 months. At the same time, more building is going on. Since 2012, the number of new house building permits has doubled in the 22-county region of metro Atlanta, Norton said. Figures show just over 8,000 permits issued in 2012. Last year, the number grew to over 16,000. And Norton said he expects that number to climb to 20,000 this year. The best way for north Georgia to tap into this growing trend, he said, is to unify as an ideal environment for second homes. “We’re not just talking about the occasional second home purchase or mountain cabin construction,” he said. “We’re talking about an ‘all out/all in’ second home marketing promotion mindset mecca. Our geography is too compelling for us not to better capitalize on our geographic position.” As small industry moves into the region, so will the need for more housing, Norton said. But, on top of that, north Georgia will also attract the growing Baby Boom population as well as the young people who are flooding into the region. “A million people in northeast Geor-

“The foreclosures are over. We have licked our wounds, missed numerous opportunities in the interim, but it’s time – no, over time – to move forward.” Frank Norton Jr., CEO, The Norton Agency

gia are younger than us Baby Boomers,” he said. “That’s the market, and that’s the opportunity.” To act on the opportunity, he said, governments – cities and counties – will have to learn to consolidate and cooperate in service delivery. Communities – all residents and businesses – must pursue smart ways to preserve the country charm that makes northeast Georgia so unique, he said. “North Georgia, with its rolling mountains, forested ridges and settled valleys, sits directly on top of 6 million people, projected to grow to 12 million people by the year 2050,” he said. Add to that, the area is within 90 minutes of the largest potential homebuying demographic in the South, he said. Norton’s talk drew several rounds of applause from the audience, composed chiefly of real estate agents and mortgage lenders. “Frank is spot-on with his predictions,” said Wharton Smith, vice president of Southeast Mortgage in Lawrenceville. “For years, his research has been spot on. You just have to figure out how to apply that to your business model.” Kimberly Bradley, branch manager for America’s Choice Home Loans in Dawsonville, said she was energized by the talk. “It got me emotionally involved to the thought that we need to pull together,” she said. “We can start in our own subdivisions, joining with our neighbors.”

REAL ESTATE

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 9

Roswell mulls ‘affordable’ housing Options for workforce, traffic By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – With hundreds of new homes and apartments slated for construction in Roswell and the surrounding areas, there is one similarity among nearly all of them – they are geared toward affluent buyers. This troubles some in the area who see a distinct lack of affordable housing in North Fulton. Dan Wilhelm, with 3 Options Realty, is part of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH). This statewide program seeks ways to integrate income levels for the improvement of workforce options and housing for seniors. “We are looking for a diversity of demographics,” Wilhelm said. GICH typically targets cities with lower-income properties. Roswell is not

their typical client. “It is a highly affluent community,” he said. “Roswell has a disproportionate amount of a higher class and limited blighted areas. You can’t build affordable property on unaffordable land.” Roswell’s daytime workforce is composed of 88 percent non-residents, who commute into the city each day. They may come from neighboring Cobb County, Gwinnett or North Fulton cities. But they are just as likely to come from Atlanta and further south. For Wilhelm, this is a quality of life issue. Traffic traditionally tops the list of gripes as well as concerns of residents, yet much of that could be solved if workers could afford to live where they work. In many of the mixed-use developments popping up, Wilhelm said those who work in the stores cannot afford to live there, and those who can live there would not work in many of the stores. So what is the solution? “There are different levels of affordable housing,” said Steve Stroud, with Roswell Inc., the city’s economic arm.

“Some people believe ‘affordable’ means multifamily and low income, attracting the wrong element. That’s just not true in all cases.” Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc. executive director

“Some people believe ‘affordable’ means multifamily and low income, attracting the wrong element. That’s just not true in all cases.” Stroud says the city needs a “good mix” of housing types and affordability to promote a healthy balance in population. It’s not just about minimum wage earners, he said. It is also about entrylevel workers, those just entering the workforce. It’s also seniors, who may be living on retirement or a fixed income. “Successful areas have found a way to bring in quality mixed-use [housing],”

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Stroud said. Wilhelm said many business owners agree they have a problem finding local workers. And many residents feel the same way. Unfortunately, no one agrees where to put the needed affordable housing. “They say, ‘I see a problem, but I don’t want that in my backyard,’” Wilhelm said. “This is a challenge for us.” Wilhelm said his group should have solutions for the city sometime next year about how to implement affordable housing. For now, he said his focus is on education and getting his message out there.

10 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Movers & Shakers The people turning heads in your backyard

Ciara Rubin named director of operations ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce has appointed Ciara Rubin as director of operations. Rubin will lead the chamber’s day-to-day activities and manage staff and communication with members. She will report to Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Hans Appen. Rubin Prior to her appointment, Rubin served as the chamber’s director of member services and communications. “Ciara has been an invaluable member and leader of the chamber these past eight months,” Appen said. “Since she has joined the chamber, membership has grown 230 percent and our programming and member benefits have reaped the benefits. I am thrilled for our members in what they are getting with Ciara at the helm.”

Daughter joins Worley family Re/Max real estate business MILTON, Ga. — Art and Polly Worley, a residential real estate team at Re/Max Town and Country, have hired their daughter, Dana Worley McCall, to serve as a licensed assistant. McCall will work with her parents, focusing on obtaining listings and working with buyers in the north Atlanta area. Mccall A native of Alpharetta/Milton, McCall attended Crabapple Crossing Elementary, Northwestern Middle and Milton High School, graduating with honors from the University of Georgia in 2006. She has spent the last eight years in IT sales and recruiting. She lives in Roswell with her husband Brendon and 9-month-old baby girl, Wren.

Fifth Third Bank names Kessler to management position ATLANTA — Adam Kessler recently joined Fifth Third Bank’s Georgia affiliate as vice president/commercial relationship manager, focusing on middle market companies with annual revenues up to $500 million. He is responsible for facilitating new commercial banking relationships and focusing on added Kesller value solutions to help companies reach their goals. Kessler has nine years of experience in the financial industry and was previously a vice president with JP Morgan Chase Bank in Atlanta. A native of Alpharetta, Kessler is involved with the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the United Way.

Harry Norman North Fulton welcomes three agents ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Harry Norman, Realtors is pleased to welcome its three newest agents in their North Fulton office: sales associates Kim Schott, Rick

Lara and Sara Ead. Raised in Pennsylvania, Schott graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Marywood EAD LARA College. Prior to joining Harry Norman, she worked as a space planner and designer in the corporate architectural field. She has lived in Cumming with her husband and two daughters for many years. Lara is an Atlanta/Roswell resident for over 25 years and is exceedingly familiar with the city and SCHOTT its surrounding areas. As a former Atlanta luxury hotelier and Les Clefs d’Or member with IHG, Lara brings a wealth of hospitality and tourism experience to the team. Ead moved to North Fulton in 2011, and is no stranger to re-location. She is the owner of her own children’s clothing company and has served as president of her school’s parent organization. She wishes to extend the same warm welcome she received to newcomers to North Fulton. For more, visit at www.harrynorman.com.

Ryan Assad joins Keller Williams Realty JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Ryan Assad, one of Atlanta’s top producing residential real estate agents, has joined Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners. Assad joins Keller WilASSAD liams following 19 successful years with Re/Max and Atlanta Communities, where he was honorably inducted into the Re/Max Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement.

State Bank and Trust names Mike Sims chief banking officer ATLANTA, Ga. — State Bank and Trust Company announced Mike Sims has been appointed the bank’s executive vice president and chief banking officer for all banking functions in both Atlanta and Middle Georgia, reporting to State Bank Chief Executive Officer J. Thomas Wiley Jr. SIMS “Mike is an outstanding banker who exemplifies all the best qualities of our organization,” Wiley said. “I am thrilled to have Mike as a leader of our organization as we continue to grow our presence both in Atlanta and in Middle Georgia.”

Emory names new CEOs JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — After an extensive search and interview process, Emory Healthcare has appointed new chief executive officers to overMargolis owens see two of its top hospitals. Marilyn Margolis (read more about her on pages 16 – 17) has been named CEO of Emory Johns Creek Hospital, and Daniel Owens has been appointed

MOVERS & SHAKERS CEO of Emory University Hospital Midtown. Margolis began her career at Emory Healthcare as a nurse more than 30 years ago. In 2011, Margolis was named CNO of Emory Johns Creek Hospital and in 2013, she was promoted to CNO and vice president of operations at the hospital. Most recently, she was named interim CEO in September 2014. Margolis is the recipient of Georgia Hospital Association’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award. Owens began his tenure at Emory in 1994 and was named interim CEO of Emory University Hospital Midtown in September 2014. Margolis and Owens assumed their new posts on Jan. 4. They will begin the search for replacements of their former positions in the coming weeks.

Neill receives award from Atlanta Board of Realtors JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Atlanta Board of Realtors President Todd Emerson presented Dec. 10, 2014, Johns Creek Realtor Maura Neill with the President’s Award at the annual business meeting and awards breakfast. In addition to being a topproducing Realtor with Re/Max Neil Around Atlanta, Neill is an active volunteer with the Atlanta Board of Realtors. She served as chair of the Professional Development Committee for 2014, was sworn in as a member of the Board of Directors for 2015-2017 and serves on various committees with the Georgia Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). She also serves as a national real estate instructor for NAR and the Real Estate Buyer Agent Council (REBAC) and was awarded the Five Star Circle of Service Award.

Credo Financial names new president ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Credo Financial Services Inc., a full-service CFO and CPA firm based in Alpharetta, has appointed Deena Redding as its president. Redding previously served as chief executive officer and president of OmniMetrix LLC and as president and CEO of multiple public Redding and private companies. She completely overhauled OmniMetrix for its founders, rapidly creating value and ultimately selling the company at a premium to Acorn Energy Inc. “I’m looking forward to building upon Credo’s mission, strengthening our core values and exploring new strategies to build our success,” said Redding. Redding began her career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in finance and management. Throughout her career, she held top positions at several companies including Remote Business Management, Kyros Inc. and OmniMetrix. She specializes in “C” level projects including management growth strategies, departmental redesigns and positioning businesses for acquisition.

Submit your Movers & Shakers We want to hear about your new hire, promotion, board of director changes and recognitions, email a brief and headshot to business@appenmediagroup.com.

NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 11

5G Studio Collaborative

The proposed Riverwalk Village is a 104-acre mixed-use development on the east side of Ga. 400 in Roswell. As currently envisioned, it will feature more than 1,500 residential units, 1.7 million square feet of office, a hotel and a school.

Roswell gets first glimpse at Riverwalk Village 104-acre mixed-use development at Ga. 400, Holcomb Bridge By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – The next big project for North Fulton is the coming 104-acre mixed-use development of Riverwalk Village, at the intersection of Ga. 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road. Roswell NEXT, a networking and social group for Roswell, hosted an information meeting Jan. 22 at the Aurora Cineplex, where Riverwalk’s architects were able to present their ideas for the project to a crowd of residents. As presented, Riverwalk Village is an ecologically driven development that will include parks and public spaces, pedestrian-oriented areas near retail and entertainment and a system of public running, walking and biking trails that will connect the development and surrounding neighborhoods to the Chattahoochee River. The developer, Duke Land Group, holds more than $2 billion in real estate in the metro area. As Roswell Inc Executive Director Steve Stroud said, “They know what they are doing.”

Riverwalk Village by the numbers • Developed by Duke Land Group • 104 acres • 1,556 residential units, including single-family attached, multi-family and active adult housing • 490,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, entertainment and grocery space • 1.7 million square feet of office space • 200-key hotel • 200,000 square feet of civic and institutional space, including the Swift School, a school for children with languagebased learning differences. • 51 acres, or 49 percent of the property, will remain open space • 13 acres, or 12 percent of the total acreage, will be left in its natural state The Riverwalk property is 104 acres that follows the east side of Ga. 400 from just south of Holcomb Bridge Road south to touch the Chattahoochee River, with Old Alabama Road following the proper-

ty to the east. Currently, some apartment buildings sit on the site. A large pond is in the center and feeds into the river. Riverwalk comes as the economy is rebounding and large, mixed-use developments are becoming hot commodities. Alpharetta’s Avalon just up Ga. 400 is similar in concept. Roswell is no longer a small town. With nearly 100,000 residents, it is one of the largest cities in the state. Stroud said such a development was necessary as a means to build quality, affordable housing in the city, a feature that is largely lacking. “I want this so my daughter can come back [from college] and has a great place to work and live and an affordable place to work, live and play and enjoy all the great things I enjoy,” he said. If developed as currently planned, an office park will be to the southern end of the site, with eight- to 10-story buildings sitting on the lowest grade of the land. To the center and north of the site will be multi-family residential buildings with retail beneath. A supermarket will be onsite, along with a school. The hope is the development will be largely self-sufficient. Residents will live and work in or near the site. Kevin Sloan, the principal architect and urban planner, called the development “landscape-driven urbanism.” He designed

the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Sprint headquarters campus as well as the south campus for Syracuse University. He said he primarily works with taking the landscape and working around it, not simply bulldozing it. “We want to make sure it’s done right,” he said. Sloan said he will use “abundant” Georgia plants native to the state to create a landscape in the property. Just under half the site will be left open, and 12 percent will be dedicated to nature preserve, largely to the south, near the river. Resident reaction from the Aurora presentation was generally positive, if cautious. “It looks great. You can spend the whole day there and not get in your car,” said resident Chipper Gronholm, who watched the presentation. He added that traffic on Holcomb Bridge Road can be bad, and adding so many people could make it worse. Riverwalk has not yet come before the city for official approval or public input. The developers expect this process to begin mid-year. Construction could begin in the next two years. “This is just the beginning of the conversation,” Stroud said. “[The plan] can be tweaked and discussed.” For more about Roswell NEXT, visit their website at www.roswellnext.org.

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12 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Fulton passes $628M budget Restores all library hours, no millage increase needed By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA – The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a $628 million budget that did not raise the millage rate as feared, and instead left the county with a surplus. MeanEllis while, commissioners completely restored the shortened hours of Fulton’s public libraries, which commissioners admitted was easily the most unpopular budgeting measure taken in 2014. For the first time eaves in more than two decades, commissioners unanimously passed a county annual budget. The 7-0 vote is the first unanimous approval for a county spending plan since 1991. The fiscal year 2015 budget includes no millage rate increase for any Fulton County homeowners and a restoration of hours for the branches of the AtlantaFulton Public Library System. Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves said the dire predictions of a millage increase and plunging cash reserves did not materialize for a number of reasons. Eaves called it a “perfect storm of converging factors” that staved off the red ink that had been expected. “No. 1, the county did a much better job of reducing its expenses than we had projected at the end of last year. We had reduced expenses and increased revenue,” Eaves said. Valuations are up in Fulton County and the collections had $11 million already collected for 2015. Fulton will tilt the millage rate down some to reflect the appreciation in the tax digest, relieving the county of the

duty to report a tax increase reflecting that appreciation. The big question is how did this new Board of Commissioners come together in such a short span with three new members and diverse representation by four Democrats and three Republicans from across rural South Fulton, urban Atlanta and affluent North Fulton? “I think it was indicative of a new Fulton County, where there really is a spirit of ‘let’s make this happen and let’s get it done.’ There was true compromise and give and take,” Eaves said. That included a resolution Eaves co-sponsored with Republican Commissioners Liz Hausmann, Bob Ellis and Lee Morris to maintain a fund balance reserve doubled from 8.33 percent to 16.33 percent. That is equal to two months’ cash flow. “That will be about $120 million we will have in cash reserves,” he said. “That’s an indication of our desire to have more fiscal restraint as well being a signal to the crediting agencies that we are responsible in our budgeting.” Other cost-saving measures will include consolidating human resources functions that are currently scattered around the county. It also defused the confrontation that might have arisen from the General Assembly’s legislation barring Fulton County specifically from raising its millage rate this year and requiring a supermajority of five votes to raise taxes in the future. “To me, this was a great day for Fulton County,” Eaves said. “It was a unanimous vote on the budget and indicative of more to come in terms of an effort toward greater efficiency and more delivery of services to the citizens of our county.” He said he was especially proud of the “spirit of compromise and cooperation” embraced by the fellow commissioners. “This budget balances fiscal respon-

Fulton budget highlights ATLANTA – During its Jan. 21, meeting, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the 2015 General Fund budget, with no millage rate increase. The final $628,691,032 budget includes a range of services for residents countywide, and restores several previously reduced services. Highlights include: Restored library hours to FY2013 levels, after reductions in FY2014. The budget also includes funds to operate new libraries scheduled to open this year. • Restored Human Services grants ($3.6 million) and FRESH grants ($1.8 million) to 2013-2014 funding level. These grant programs provide funding to community nonprofits, and were reduced in the 2014 budget. • Provided $1.5 million for Arts Contract for Services, enhanced funding at the Johns Creek Arts Center to $100,000, and funding to provide improved security at all Arts Centers countywide. • Continued extended hours at Fulton County’s four Senior Multipurpose Centers. • Provided capital allocations to address repairs and maintenance at Fulton County facilities, including the Fulton County Government Center.

sibility with the demand for county services by our residents,” Eaves said. “Politically, I think we have a more collegial board than we have had in the past.” For many years, Fulton County’s budget process has been more of an internecine battle over cherished programs and bringing home services important to one’s own district. “We all felt good about going through this exercise of budget approval and the outcome,” Eaves said. Freshman Republican Commissioner Bob Ellis, representing Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton, said in the few short weeks he has been aboard, things happened fast. He had been working unofficially at budget sessions before January, so he had spent a lot of time on it. “We have a lot moving parts that had

• Provided capital allocations to address road and sidewalk construction projects in unincorporated Fulton County. • Increased funding for senior home repair through Aging & Youth Services. • Increased funding for Accountability Court programs in the State Court and Juvenile Court. • Provided funding for public e-filing of case documents at the State Court. • Contingency funding for a proposed 2% Cost Of Living increase and implementation of comprehensive pay and classification study expected to be finalized in the Spring (both subject to additional Board approval). The budget also restores the General Fund balance to $109,796,761 million, or 17.7 percent. This amount exceeds the new minimum level of 16.66 percent set by Commissioners through a resolution adopted during the Jan. 21 meeting. Previously, the minimum required fund balance was 8.33 percent. The commissioners anticipate a General Fund revenue-neutral millage rate rollback. The Board of Commissioners will set the 2015 millage rate by June 30.

to be addressed – facilities needs, certain service areas that have cried out to be addressed more adequately, libraries,” Ellis said. “Then, there is the continual pull we’ve always had, including senior services for instance. “And our FRESH grants and human services grants have always been convoluted in the way they have been handled,” Ellis said. All the commissioners were wondering what was going to come out of this budget, and there had been a lot of collective work to craft the budget they came up with, he said. “While there wasn’t universal agreement from each of us on what we would like the budget to look like, we were able to work within a framework that all of us could support,” Ellis said.

14.4 percent of young people out of work in December WASHINGTON, D.C. – Generation Opportunity, a national, non-partisan youth advocacy organization, released its Millennial Jobs Report for December 2014. The data is non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) and is specific to 18- to 29-year-olds: • The effective unemployment rate for 18- to 29-yearolds, which adjusts for labor force participation by including those who have given up looking for work, is 14.4 percent. The unemployment rate for that age group is 8.5 percent. • The declining labor force participation rate has created an additional 1.847 million young adults that are not counted as “unemployed” by the U.S. Department of Labor because they are not in the labor

force, meaning that those young people have given up looking for work due to the lack of jobs. • The effective unemployment rate for 18- to 29-yearold African-Americans is 21 percent; the unemployment rate is 16.1 percent. • The effective unemployment rate for 18- to 29-yearold Hispanics is 14.8 percent; the unemployment rate is 8.7 percent. • The effective unemployment rate for 18- to 29-year-old women is 12.1 percent; the unemployment rate is 7.5 percent. “The innovative spirit of our generation is slowly starting to produce benefits for the broader economy, in spite of policies that hamper it. It’s always great to see job creation, though much of the growth we saw this

month was among part-time and low wage jobs,” said Corie Whalen Stephens, spokesperson for Generation Opportunity. “If politicians want to unleash our creativity to the fullest, they should rethink their priorities. “Laws such as Obamacare have created a part-time work force with falling wages, and are unfairly enriching well-connected big businesses at our expense. Let us thrive without these roadblocks, and you’ll see job numbers vastly better than these.” Generation Opportunity is a national, non-partisan organization advocating for economic opportunity for young people through less government and more freedom. For more information, visit generationopportunity.org.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 13

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14 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Panel offers heads-up advice on data breaches By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – All companies should have an action plan for data breaches, because the number of cyberattacks is growing, a panel of industry experts told business leaders recently. From 2005 to 2013, at least 613 million records have been compromised in the United States, Ralph Pasquariello of Snellings Walters Insurance Agency said at the January Tech Forum of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. “The cost of global cyber-crime annually is $114 billion,” he said. “The average organizational cost of a data breach … is $5.4 million, and each compromised record costs a company $188.” Pasquariello was one of seven experts from law, insurance and technology to provide insights to the crowd of about 50 people gathered at the Marriott in Alpharetta. Greg Freemyer, senior consultant at IAC Forensic Services, said that because of the costs and legal liabilities associated with data breaches, all companies should conduct a security audit. He said a SANS Review, offered by the SANS Institute, or an International Organization of Standardization audit (called an

ISO 27002) can help businesses lay the groundwork for establishing a security system. Implementing an in-house data security system is cost-prohibitive for most companies, he said. And, even when implemented, it wouldn’t protect against new methods hackers are developing to invade networks. “There’s so much going on, and no one has the magic bullet that’s going to make you secure,” he said. Another step companies have been taking to increase security is to link up with a cloud service, said Gerry Baron, chief marketing officer at Cirrity. Most organizations cannot invest the same amount of money and resources into cyber security as a cloud service can, he said. Cloud services have fulltime technicians working with the latest

equipment to provide data security, he said. Debbie Risher, a CPA with Smith & Howard, said it’s often difficult to tell when a breach has occurred. If a company has the proper software in place, she said, security breaches can be flagged in most cases through logs. “If you don’t have those, then you’re kind of at the mercy of the outside world,” she said. “It could be customer complaints. It could be a third-party vendor. It could be law enforcement after they’ve gotten complaints from a customer.” Another indicator could be an increase in spam or malware on a company’s network, she added. Thomas Foxx, a cyber-specialist with Travelers Technology Products, said all organizations are the target of hacking activity. Right now, the larger companies

are receiving all the attention, but it’s likely all the mid-sized organizations have already been hacked, he said. “We’ve found that the majority of the small and mid-sized organizations – more than 50 percent of the ones we surveyed – were breached,” he said. “That’s why we push for some type of risk mitigation.” The most important thing a company can do to protect itself is have an action plan in place to handle cyber-attacks. And one of the first steps in that plan should be contact a skilled attorney, said Gina Ginn Greenwood, an attorney with Baker Donelson. “First of all, I think you need a good lawyer and a good consultant and a good forensic examiner,” she said. “You need to have a good emergency preparedness plan.” Greenwood said companies should have these emergency personnel on speed-dial, on call at any time. Sometimes, calling an attorney first can ensure that the investigative process can be covered under attorney-client privilege. “It amazes me when we get calls at how many companies really don’t even understand what laws apply to them,” she said. “There in the middle of a huge breach, and they’re not even sure which laws apply.”

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16 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

women in business

Guttmann, Margolis, Pruitt talk obstacles, triumphs o North Atlanta Business Post asked some of the most influential business women in North Atlanta to respond to a survey about their experiences, their obstacles and their successes as executives. Here are their answers.

What gives you the most satisfaction at work? I am in a unique position where I am able to provide thoughtful leadership and practical advice to security professionals at conferences and to Accuvant clients. I am the key executive stakeholder of our company’s initiatives to increase the number of women in the information security field.

Renee Guttmann, Chief information security officer of Accuvant Renee Guttmann is a renowned global information security and privacy executive with a proven track record of establishing internationally recognized information security programs for Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining Accuvant as its chief information security officer, she served in a variety of security leadership roles, including CISO of Coca-Cola as well as Time Inc., Time Warner and CapitalOne. Guttmann is a fellow of the Ponemon Institute, which is widely regarded as one of the premier security information and privacy sources. She also serves on multiple technical advisory boards and is a board member of Hillside, a nonprofit organization that helps children in the Atlanta community. She currently lives in Atlanta with her family. What decision did you make that put you on the path to this career in business? My first decision was to complete my undergrad in archaeology but forego a master’s in museum management in order to study computer programming. My second major event was when I chose to leverage my skills and philosophies about human beings being unable to change our spots to start a career in information security. What obstacles, if any, did you face on your way up the corporate ladder? It is hard to believe that 20 years ago,

and personal satisfaction. I guess I am a continuous quality improvement process, as I have grown up in health care.

I sat around a table in Washington, D.C., with other computer security professionals, and we asked ourselves if what we were doing would ever really matter. Lots of folks dropped out to do things that their businesses understood and would fund. I decided to stay the course (even though other doors opened), because I really believed that as humans, some of us would leverage the Internet for purposes “other than good.” That said, I was one of the first women in the field and even today, I am sometimes the only woman in the room. I don’t notice it anymore but early on, I found it intimidating.

What keeps you up at night? I was in New York City on Sept. 11, as well as the power failure that occurred a year later. I don’t take personal safety for granted, and the intersection of cybersecurity and physical security causes me concern. As an industry, we need to focus on protecting our organizations’ computers as well as the safety of our communities. Second, there is an extreme shortage of information security professionals; which is why I avidly support programs for our highly skilled returning veterans as well as establishing meaningful programs in high schools and community colleges. What advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in business? Don’t be afraid to have a difficult conversation, but became familiar with ways to do so. There are books and seminars that you can take. This will enable you to be an advocate for yourself and help you lead conversations more successfully, particularly where there are multiple organizational perspectives and objectives. What degree do you think might prove most useful to young people today? Information security. Also, I think that there is a shortage of individuals that can design usable user interfaces. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for young people today? If people are looking for a career, I believe that information technology jobs will continue to flourish – especially as we connect all our devices and appliances to the Internet. I also see opportunities for young people to learn the skills necessary to solve large complex problems that cross multiple domains including the humanities, sciences, art, etc.

What obstacles, if any, did you face on your way up the corporate ladder? I would say that getting myself to the point where I thought I could impact the care of patients without directly delivering the care. There was a moment where I understood how the tools and processes could support that. I truly love nursing and the satisfaction that caring for others brings, and I am very grateful to be able to work in a setting where that happens so successfully.

Marilyn Margolis, Chief executive officer of Emory Hospital Marilyn Margolis began her career at Emory Healthcare more than 30 years ago as a staff nurse in the coronary care unit at Emory University Hospital. After caring for patients at the bedside for 15 years, she went to the emergency department as the unit director and began a career in leadership roles at EHC that included director of nursing for emergency services and neurosciences and nursing director for operations. In April 2013, Margolis was promoted to chief nursing officer and vice president of operations. Most recently, she was named interim chief executive officer on Sept. 1, 2014. Notably, Margolis is the recipient of Nursing Management’s Visionary Leader Award in 2007 and the Georgia Hospital Association’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been a champion for patient and family-centered care and has worked with patient-family advisors to institute change with patients and family input. What decision did you make that put you on the path to this career in business? The path to an administrative career was not one that I arrived at the beginning of my career. I am a nurse and spent my first 15 years at Emory University Hospital as a CCU nurse. It was during this time that I came to understand the importance of putting patients and families first in their care and how to incorporate that into a supportive hospital environment. Emory Healthcare has provided me so much autonomy, first as a nurse and later as an administrator, and provided me with a climate to grow and learn. I have had phenomenal mentors and coaches, and they have made me who I am today. I also come from a family where I learned early on that continuous learning is the key to growth

What gives you the most satisfaction at work? Seeing people be successful at their job. All our staff and physicians are here for one thing, and that is to care for our patients and improve their quality of life. To see that happen is truly a gift. My favorite moments have come from seeing people grow and mature into roles that satisfy them and provide us with an engaged and energetic team. What keeps you up at night? Health care reform and moving from World A, our current reality, into World B, our new reality. There are many changes in health care and reimbursement; some good, others that pose opportunity. We are focused on providing a quality experience with a financial win for our patients and for us. And the other piece would be having the right providers to deliver our services in light of the shortages that are affecting many health care professions. What advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in business? Follow what you love. You can do anything that you set your sights on, and if you love what you do, the rest is in the process. Do not shy away from your dream job or profession – there are so many opportunities today. And get a mentor whom you admire and who is willing to help you navigate your journey. What degree do you think might prove most useful to young people today? This is dependent on their goals and what their preferences are in today’s job market. I have a bias, of course, on getting a BSN, which provides many choices and career paths. I think that health care is a market full of opportunities, and there is always a market for these skills. The wonderful thing about working in health care, no matter in what capacity, is it combines a mission to care for people and improve the quality of people’s lives with a job that captures that goal. I am working with students in multiple fields; nursing, MBA, health care administration, nursing administration – and they all share this passion for

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 17

of their professional careers leading and improving outcomes every day. This is what makes me get out of the bed every morning with a renewed excitement on moving that dial.

In climbing the corporate ladder, I had to prove that I was as good as the boys. I never felt that the owners of the two companies I worked for completely realized the strong talents and gifts I possessed. I knew I could run their companies just as well – or better. I never got close to that happening, so I created my own. What gives you the most satisfaction at work? Recognizing that I can influence someone in a positive way, a clear vision, strategizing and helping others be successful gives me satisfaction. I enjoy being involved day-to-day with our people because they inspire and energize me.

Jenny Pruitt, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s CEO Jenny Pruitt is revered as a community advocate and benefactor and respected nationally as a visionary real estate leader. Her four distinguished decades of success in the residential real estate arena led her to found Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty in 2007. She began her real estate career in 1968 and worked for two companies before establishing Jenny Pruitt & Associates in 1988. In 2001, she sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiary HomeServices of America. In 2007, after fulfilling a five-year contract, she and her business partner David Boehmig opened Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Today, the company’s 320 agents are among the most accomplished real estate professionals in metro Atlanta, selling more than $2 billion last year. What decision did you make that put you on the path to this career in business? After working for two major real estate companies in a sales and managerial capacity, I decided it was time to create a company where I could be “the captain of my ship.” I have always had a strong entrepreneurial spirit. An investor by the name of Kim King funded the entire operation of Jenny Pruitt & Associates and gave us majority interest and total control. It was truly a dream of a deal. What obstacles, if any, did you face on your way up the corporate ladder?

What keeps you up at night? If I wake up in the middle of the night, it is sometimes hard to go back to sleep. Often, I start a new “to do” list, and sometimes I end up with three pages of notes before I go back to sleep. Some of my best ideas have come to me at 3 a.m. When we started Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty in 2007, just before the downturn of the market, I would worry in the middle of the night if we were going to make it through the four-year recession. What advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in business? If you find your purpose in life, you will discover your passion. When you are doing something that you are passionate about, you will be fulfilled. I feel like I have never worked a day in my life, because I love what I do. I believe everyone should be strong in body, spirit and mind. To have a strong body, exercise and focus on being healthy. To develop a strong spirit, believe in God and establish a strong, trusting relationship to carry you through the storms of life. For the mind, stay challenged and energized about your life’s work. Enjoy what you do – be passionate about your calling. What degree do you think might prove most useful to young people today? A degree in computer science, marketing or business would prove useful to young people today. Health care is a hot button right now and that could strike someone’s fancy, too. But, of course, a degree in real estate is wonderful and rewarding. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for young people today? I believe great opportunities exist in the technology, health care and marketing industries. Young people need to seek out a mentor and a role model to help them along.

ScrapRoom Photo Library

WHITELAKE PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

ScrapRoom creator Blayne White perseveres in the name of preservation By KIMBERLY BROCK news@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — Blayne White of Cumming is a vivacious photography enthusiast and longtime professional photography studio owner who loves photos and the stories they tell of our lives. So it makes sense that she also has a passion for scrapbooks. That passion led her to create a new tool to make sure the cherished moments of our lives are captured and never lost to time. “Telling our family’s stories – good and bad – is a way of not only remembering, but also learning as we go through this crazy life,” White explained. “It’s a way to slow down and appreciate what’s going on. You can call it scrapbooking, art journaling, therapy – it’s all our lives.” While there’s a lot to be said for the convenience of digital photography, White believes that evolving technology is changing how we view, save and share our photos. “No one understands ‘the cloud,’” she said. “And we have no idea how to get our photos off our devices and back into our lives. Our moments and memories last for a few seconds on Twitter and are gone. I believe a generation of photos is about to be lost because we are all overwhelmed and think we’ll deal with it later – then a hard drive dies, a computer crashes, and poof – gone forever.” From those conversations, an idea sparked that set White on a course she would have never considered before. “I realized that there is really no real software that is created for how we want to store and share our photos,” White said. “I was stomping around the house one night and griped to my husband about this, and his response was, ‘Then why don’t you just do it yourself?’ I thought, ‘Well, that’s impossible, right?’ Turns out, it’s not!” Even with the excitement of seeing a dream being realized, White admits the process of designing and developing the software was incredibly hard. She questioned herself every day.

“I went through three groups of developers – turning one down because they couldn’t see my vision. One we had to sue for taking our money and failing to White deliver, and this last one – well, they got it done, but it was two years overdue,” she said. “Four years of my blood, sweat, tears and more than a few chosen bad words, ScrapRoom Software is finally launched.” She is proud of her accomplishment, if a bit surprised. “It’s patented, and the only all-in-one software written specifically for photo enthusiasts and scrapbookers, by a scrapper,” she said. “I am the first person in either of our families to get a patent – and certainly the only female entrepreneur.” White isn’t resting on her laurels when it comes to ScrapRoom Software. She’s far from done. “I have plans for a mobile app, to make recording your story much easier and spontaneous, as well as a photo organizational-only product that will be marketed more toward the photo enthusiast, rather than the scrapbooker,” she said. Her zeal is inspiring. White is a woman on a mission. “With ScrapRoom, I want to teach others how to organize their photos, get their stories written down – even if it’s just in the computer, and back up everything to save it for future generations,” she said. In going after something that mattered deeply to her, White believes her product will change lives. But perhaps it’s by her perseverance that Blayne White, and so many around her, have already been changed. “I want to be an example to my kids that you can stick with something and make it work, even when it’s so hard you want to quit,” she said. “And, this is something that is just for me. I worked with my husband for 20 years and felt the urge to do something that I knew, but that was totally my own.”

18 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Credit cards to get tech upgrade ‘Chip’ in new cards deters fraud By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA – Nearly half of all credit card fraud worldwide occurs in the United States. This is not simply because there is more wealth, but because it is simple to steal the information. After dozens of security breaches at major retailers such as Target, credit card fraud is front-and-center, and comes as the credit card industry is moving to a safer method of card – the EMV chip. This chip – named for Europay, Mastercard and Visa – is embedded in the credit card. When the card is swiped at a store, the machine reads the chip as well as the card. This, coupled with a more secure encryption, makes it more difficult for thieves to steal and use the information without stealing the physical card.

“The adoption of chip technology has the potential to virtually eliminate

“…The industry is making substantial progress toward our goal of enhancing security at the checkout.” Ryan McInerney, president of Visa Inc counterfeit fraud when widely adopted, and will help consumers feel more confident about using their payment cards,” said Ellen Richey, chief enterprise risk officer of Visa. “Moving quickly to adopt technologies like chip cards, and digital account numbers or ‘tokens’ in place of payment account data, will further protect personal account information by putting it in a form that, if stolen, can’t be used by See UPGRADE, Page 19

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BANKING & FINANCE EMV/chip cards at a glance What are chip cards? A chip card is like the card you have today, but includes an embedded microchip. The chip contains information that is encrypted, making it extremely difficult for the card to be copied or counterfeited. Your chip card will also have the usual magnetic stripe on the back so that you can continue using your card while merchants are transitioning to new chip-enabled terminals. What are the benefits of chip technology? The embedded microchip provides strong transaction security features and other application capabilities not possible with traditional magnetic stripe cards. A chip card is virtually impossible to counterfeit. Why is my card being upgraded to a chip card? Chip technology is already used in other countries and is now coming to the U.S. Your new chip card provides an extra level of security and is accepted at more international locations. How is this card different from a magnetic stripe card? A chip card looks just like a traditional card with an embedded chip in addition to the standard magnetic stripe on the back of the card. Rather than swiping your card, you will insert your chip card into the terminal to complete the

transaction. Your card may also have contactless capabilities so you can tap your card at checkout when given the option. How does chip technology work? Whether your card is inserted into the terminal or tapped on the terminal, the chip communicates with the terminal to determine whether or not the card is authentic. Generally, the terminal will prompt you to enter your PIN to validate your identity. Once approved, your transaction will be completed. Are chip cards new? Although chip cards are relatively new in the U.S., they have been used elsewhere for many years. In some countries, particularly in Europe, merchants may be more familiar with accepting chip cards. This means your chip card can be used at any terminal in any country that accepts chip cards. Where can I use my chip card? Use your chip card at the exact same merchants you do now – by inserting the card into terminals that are chip-enabled or swiping your card at merchant locations that have not yet switched to chip-enabled terminals. You can also continue to use your card as you did before for online payments, telephone payments and at ATMs. *Source: Mastercard.com

BANKING & FINANCE

Upgrade: Continued from Page 18 criminals.”

Mastercard and Visa expect by October of this year most retailers will be accepting such cards and more banks will be issuing them. The company estimates between 100 – 150 million chip-enabled cards are already on the market.

“The key to reducing fraud is close coordination and cooperation among card issuers, acquirers, merchants, device manufacturers and networks in the deployment of chip technology,” said Ryan McInerney, president of Visa Inc. “…The industry is making substantial progress toward our goal of enhancing security at the checkout.”

While this technology is new to the U.S., it has been used overseas – especially in Europe – for almost a decade. This is part of the reason the United States is a primary target for data thieves – its security is simply behind the times. Part of this lag is because of the increased costs associated with creating and using the cards.

“Retailers, issuers, acquirers and others have addressed consumer concerns head-on and have begun to make the investments to further enhance the security of their payments,” said Chris McWilton, president of North American

Markets for MasterCard. “We will continue to work to deliver the same levels of security both in-store and online.” For more about chip cards, visit www. emv-connection.com.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 19

2015 North Fulton Partners In Education Expo where businesses and schools meet with the idea of developing mutually beneficial partnerships

Strong Business + Strong Schools Strong Community If your business wants to partner with a North Fulton school, this is the event for YOU!

How do I use my Chip Card at a chip-enabled terminal?

North Fulton schools will exhibit in an expo-styled, high-energy atmosphere and offer opportunities for partnerships to local businesses. There will be guest speakers, live interviews on a big screen and prizes awarded to businesses who commit on-site to a partnership with a school. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. with an introduction on the importance of these business and school partnerships, and the rules of engagement for businesses to partner with a school so the realationship is beneficial to both organizations.

STEP 1: Insert your card “chip first” into the chip-enabled reader on the terminal.

Local radio host Rich Casanova from Business Radio X will conduct live interviews throughout the event

WHAT: 2015 North Fulton Partners in Education Expo WHEN: February 27, 2015 WHERE: DeKalb Office Showroom 1320 Ridgeland Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30004

STEP 2: Follow the prompts on the terminal and wait for the transaction to be processed. The card needs to remain in the terminal a little longer than you might be accustomed to in order to validate you and your card.

FREE TO ATTEND

STEP 3: Remove the chip card after the transaction is approved.

STEP 4: Take your receipt and check it against your statement later as you have previously done with magnetic stripe cards.

http://tinyurl.com/NFPartnersinEducationExpo

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS?

Contact Debbie Ryals – (678) 397-0556 or dryals@gnfcc.com

PARTNERSHIP QUESTIONS?

*Source: Mastercard.com

Contact Geoff Smith – (678) 779-5066 or gsmith@lendtheway.com

20 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

BANKING & FINANCE

PNC branch launches instant debit card issuance system By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – PNC is giving customers at its new Avalon branch an array of new technological features it hopes will help bring banking into a new era. The bank features an instant card issuance service, which allows instant account opening and debit card issuance on site. “We’re transforming the account opening from a more traditional process to one that focuses on an enhanced relationship and customer experience,” said Shakesi Morris, PNC regional manager for North Atlanta, retail division. “With this advanced technology, customers will have immediate access to the full benefits of features of their account.” With the new technology, customers receive a new debit card, instant access to online banking, mobile banking and bill-pay before they leave the branch. The new system was launched at the

Avalon branch in late October. “All of our customers that we’re opening new client relationships for are extremely excited to know that once they walk out of our doors, they’re armed with everything they need to have that full client relationship,” Morris said. The technology is also being used when an existing customer visits the branch to report a lost debit card. A new card can be issued immediately on-site, without the usual wait time for processing and mail delivery, Morris said. The branch also offers customers three advanced ATMs, one with indoor access that is accessible 24-hours a day and is closed off from the main service windows. In addition to the current services, such as balance checks and withdraws, customers can use the advanced ATMs to cash or deposit a check. “We understand that customer behavior is changing, and we are now entering a more technology-advanced era,” Morris said. “We want to make sure we

“We want to make sure we are keeping up with that advanced technology and help give our clients solutions to deal with their banking.” Shakesi Morris, PNC regional manager for North Atlanta, retail division

are keeping up with that advanced technology and help give our clients solutions to deal with their banking.” Half the bank’s customers now use online banking, mobile banking and ATMs for the majority of their transactions, she said. That’s up from 38 percent in 2013. At the same time, Morris said, PNC recognizes the importance of one-onone relationships, so it maintains a staff

of skilled workers to discuss individual needs. PNC operates 71 branches in Atlanta, including 15 in the north metro area. The instant card issuance service and advanced ATMs are available now in only several locations, but Morris said the systems will be expanded. “We expect both of these technologies will continue to expand in as many of the Georgia branches as possible,” she said.

FORSYTH COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 21

Atlanta bank acquires CBB in $28 million transaction By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. – Community Business Bank of Cumming has been sold to Atlanta-based Community & Southern Bank. The $27.4 million deal, announced Jan. 30, will merge CBB’s two banking locations along the Ga. 400 corridor into Community & Southern’s network of 41 branches throughout metro Atlanta and north Georgia. “From our standpoint, it’s a great story making it through this economy with a victory,” said Community Business Bank Senior Vice President Grant Schmeelk. Founded seven years ago by Schmeelk, Carter Barrett and Chuck Welch, CBB launched during the height of the recession with $16.8 million in

Schmeelk

Barrett

capital. Its assets today total $149 million. Under the arrangement with Community & Southern, the entire CBB team will remain in place to continue working to grow in that area, he said. When it was founded, Community Business Bank’s common stock was valued at $10 a share. The sale price places the value at $15 a share. “It’s a strong, 50 percent return for our 300 local shareholders,” Schmeelk

CLARK

said. “I think it gives us more power to grow this economy with [Southern’s] help, a bigger checkbook.” Schmeelk said he’s proud of the performance he and his partners turned in, growing revenues and establishing a name in the community over a time when close to 90 Georgia banks

failed. “Our shareholders are local, our customers are local and our employees are local,” he said. “I’d say now we’ve got the strongest management team on the 400 corridor.” Barrett, president and chief executive officer of Community Business Bank, will become regional president for North Atlanta with Community & Southern. He said the bank’s clients will benefit from being part of one of the strongest and most well capitalized financial institu-

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Forsyth County

tions in the state. “We’ll be combining our existing team and their team into an even stronger team,” Barrett said. “Our focus will be developing the Ga. 400 corridor, from Sandy Springs to Dahlonega.” He said the combined operations will bring more resources to bear from the larger bank “while keeping our very gregarious team to help.” Community & Southern Bank has more than $3.4 billion in assets. Its president and CEO Pat Frawley said the acquisition will “significantly expand our presence in Forsyth County and position Community & Southern Bank for future growth in one of the fastest growing markets in Georgia.” Completion of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including customary regulatory approvals and the approval by CBB shareholders.

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such as financial statement preparation and financial planning. She holds memberships with AICPA, GSCPA, Business Chamber and Rotary Foundation. North Georgia Accounting Consultants, Inc. provides a wide range of services to individuals and businesses in a variety of industries in North Georgia including Cumming, Alpharetta, Forsyth County and Dawson County. For more information, call 770-888-7700 or visit our website, www.ngacinc.com.

Sawnee EMC to retire $9 million of patronage capital

Practice owners Drs. Michael Palmer, Melissa Thomas Durand and Leslie McGuinn Davis helped cut the ribbon at Lanier Dental’s ceremony.

Lanier Dental Partners cuts Forsyth ribbon CUMMING, Ga. — Lanier Dental Partners held its ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Cumming location, 360 Dahlonega St., Tuesday, Jan. 13. Lanier Dental’s second office is at 2390 Thompson Road in Dawsonville.

Ryland opens model home in Marketplace Commons CUMMING, Ga. — Ryland Homes Atlanta has opened its fully decorated model, The Augustine, at the new Marketplace Commons in Cumming. The community offers homebuyers a selection of several floor plans ranging from 2,064 to 3,329 square feet, starting in the $290,000s. The community, as part of the Forsyth County School District, places residents’ children in three schools: Mashburn Elementary, Lakeside Middle and Forsyth Central High, which features the STEM program for math and sciences.

Becky Brown named Five Star CPA CUMMING, Ga. — North Georgia Accounting Consultants Inc. announced that President Becky Brown has been named a 2014 Five Star Certified Public Accountant. This group represents less than 1 percent of the certified public accountants in the Atlanta area. Award winners were featured in a special section of the October 2014 issue of Atlanta Magazine. The Five Star Professional award program is the largest and most widely published award program in North America. Brown’s expertise ranges from basic tax management and accounting services to more in-depth services

CUMMING, Ga. — Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation announced that it is preparing a general retirement of patronage capital to 72,000 eligible members for the years 1994 through 1997. This action will provide a refund of about $9 million to members that received electric service from Sawnee during this four-year period, with varying refunds averaging $103. Patronage capital is an allocation of revenue in excess of operating costs and expenses and is required by Georgia law. For more information, call 770-887-2363 or email customerservice@sawnee.com.

Legacy Village at Vickery Creek to open in Cumming CUMMING, Ga. — Legacy Senior Services announced it will break ground on a 63-unit senior living community in Cumming, to be named Legacy Village at Vickery Creek. The 50,000-square-foot facility will have an equestrian look, keeping with the character of the surrounding community, and will be located on Post Road near Vickery Creek Elementary School. Legacy Village at Vickery Creek will include 31 studio and one-bedroom assisted living suites. It will have another 32 units dedicated to The Harbor, a nationally recognized memory care unit serving those with Alzheimer’s or other memory care disorders that features an electronic storyboard and drug-free, memory stimulation and behavior management system in each apartment.

CHEROKEE COUNTY

22 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Stancil joins Regions Bank as VP for business banking

The Leadership Cherokee class of 2015.

Leadership Cherokee class of 2015 named CANTON, Ga. —The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce has selected the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2015. This 27th Anniversary Class was chosen following participation in a nomination, application and interview process. The 22 class members traveled to Brasstown Valley Resort for their Retreat. The group participated in both indoor and outdoor team building exercises that enabled them to learn not only about each other. Over the next nine months, the Leadership Cherokee Class will participate in a broad range of sessions that will focus on a variety of topics such as economic development, infrastructure, govern-

ment, justice, education, recreation, tourism, public safety, healthcare and social/human services. Chamber President & CEO Pam Carnes commented that the knowledge gained from programs such as these would prepare the class members for a more active role in the community. Following the nine-months of leadership training, the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2015 will graduate during a ceremony in September. For information on the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2016 contact the Chamber office at 770-345-0400 or visit the Chamber’s website, www.CherokeeChamber.com.

ATLANTA – Cherokee County native Tony Stancil has joined Regions Bank as vice president for business banking, primarily covering the Cherokee County market. Stancil previously worked at Regions and has almost 30 years of banking experience. A native of Ball Ground, Stancil attended Cherokee High School, Reinhardt College and graduated from the University of Georgia. He began his banking career in 1985 at Citizens Bank in Ball Ground, which was acquired by Regions in 1996. In 2010, Stancil was hired by Citizens South Bank of Gastonia, N.C as the North Georgia President after Citizens South acquired Bank of Hiawassee in an FDIC assisted transaction. In 2012 Citizens South merged with Park Sterling Bank and Stancil remained as North Georgia Market President until rejoining Regions. Stancil’s office is at the bank’s South Canton branch on Marietta Highway.

Blue Water selects St. Maarten general contractor for Indigo Bay Restaurant CANTON, Ga. — Blue Water Global Group announced that it has selected Contrast Construction Company, N.V. of St. Maarten, Dutch West Indies to serve as the general contractor for its flagship Blue Water Bar & Grill restaurant currently under development in the pristine eco-friendly Indigo Bay development. “We look forward to working with Contrast Construction to make our St. Maarten Blue Water Bar & Grill come to life on the beach at Indigo Bay,” said J. Scott Sitra, Blue Water’s President and CEO.

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FULTON COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 23

Roswell to install electric vehicle charging stations ROSWELL, Ga. — The city of Roswell is installing four electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for public use at City Hall and two area parks. Roswell was among a select group of public organizations chosen to receive support through Charge Georgia, an incentive program designed by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to increase the number of EV charging stations throughout the state. The city will begin installing stations in February, which are expected to be ready for public use in March. “The city of Roswell is thrilled to be one of the first cities in Georgia to offer public EV charging stations,” said Michael Fischer, deputy city administrator. “We are always looking for ways to help our community reduce the size of our collective footprint. These public stations are a very direct, practical way to provide access to green resources for our residents and visitors.” Roswell was awarded rebates totaling more than $16,000 to help cover the costs of their four GE DuraStation

double-pedestal electric vehicle charging stations. The DuraStation offers Level-2 (240v/30amp) public stations with two charging connectors each – allowing two vehicles to charge at a time. The city plans to install two charging stations at City Hall, 38 Hill St., one charging station at Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road, and one station at East Roswell Park, 9000 Fouts Road. “Atlanta’s northern suburbs are one of the hotbeds of EV driving in the country, but the number of EV cars has far outpaced the availability of charging stations, creating ‘range anxiety’ for drivers,” said Jeff Cohen, the founder of the Atlanta Electric Vehicle Development Coalition. “That’s why the city of Roswell’s public charging options, and those of the other Charge Georgia partners, are so important to create an infrastructure for this more sustainable mode of transportation.” For more information, the city recommends following Facebook and Twitter, both CityofRoswellGA. –Shannon Weaver

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Fulton County

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Mitnick Law Firm opens new office in Alpharetta

Northside implements 3-D camera for laparoscopic surgery NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Northside Hospital has become the first facility in Georgia to implement the Olympus Endoeye Flex 3-D, the world’s only high definition articulating laparoscope. The camera will provide natural 3-D vision and depth perception for surgeons. According to Olympus, the 3-D approach will allow the surgeon to have a natural view that will aid in the speed, accuracy and precision of surgery. “We have operated all over the world and this is the most exciting technology we have encountered in many, many years,” said Northside’s Dr. Robert Moore. “The visualization allows us to do advanced surgical procedures, such as suturing in reconstructive

pelvic surgery, much easier and more efficiently than we have ever been able to accomplish.” By allowing the surgeon improved access to tight spaces, the 3-D minimally invasive laparoscopic technique results in less pain, faster recovery and smaller scars than open surgery. Most patients go home in one or two days and fully recover in two weeks. The patient is left with three small scars, each less than an inch across. “This 3-D technology highlights Northside’s continued commitment to providing our patients with optimal outcomes,” said Vicki Barnett, RN, director of surgical services at Northside Hospital. – Joe Parker

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Mitnick Law Firm recently moved from its Mansell Road location to an office at 3180 North Point Parkway in the Gates office park, less than a mile from Old Milton Parkway. The father-and-son team assists clients with most legal issues. Daniel, who has been in practice since 1994, concentrates chiefly on contested From left: Jared and divorce matters and perDaniel Mitnick sonal injury cases. Jared, in practice since 2008, has special education in DUI defense and handles most of the firm’s traffic cases, bankruptcies and all aspects of family law matters. Daniel said the new office preserves the firm’s commitment to providing smallfirm personalized service with the experience and expertise of a large firm. For more information, visit mitnicklaw.com or call 770-408-7000.

David Orr joins Harry Norman Atlanta North JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Harry Norman, Realtors welcomed David Orr as a real estate agent in its Atlanta North office. Orr and his wife live in Suwanee. He can be reached at 678-525-7870, david.orr@harrynorman.com or www.davidorr.harrynorman.com.

COBB COUNTY

24 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Development picks up around new Braves stadium By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com COBB COUNTY, Ga. – It’s been little over a year since plans were announced to relocate the Atlanta Braves from Turner Field in Atlanta to Cobb County. Since that time, the Cobb Galleria Engel area has seen a flurry of economic activity outside the friendly confines of the proposed ballpark. All told, the area is expected to see more than $1 billion in economic development added over the three years until the new SunTrust Park opens in 2017. In addition to the $672 million stadium complex, which will occupy some 90 acres, another $400 million is being spent on new developments nearby. The Galleria area hasn’t been able to accumulate that kind of investment in 30 years, said Connie Engel, who has a front-row seat as a partner with Childress Klein Properties, which manages Atlanta Galleria Office Park. “I think it’s a pretty terrific start to the newness of the Cumberland-Galleria area,” Engel said. “All in all, because of that huge kick-start on the north side of I-285, the whole area is going to be dramatically improved over the next three to four years.” In an area that has seen little residential growth over the past 25 years, close to 3,500 residential units have been built within the Cumberland Community

A rendering of the completed mixed-use Braves complex.

Improvement District over the past three years, Engel said. And she expects that number to grow. “I know there are other developers in the area, including us, who are looking at residential developments in the area,” she said. In addition to the growth in residential, plans are under way for three large office complexes, all within a half-mile of each other. Encore Center, a 200,000-squarefoot Class A office building expected to open in the summer of 2016, will feature a sundry shop and café, fitness facility, executive parking and a conference facility. Riverwood 200, a 15-story high rise with 350,000 square feet of Class A office space, is under construction, and TPA Group announced plans last month to build a seven-story office tower that

courtesy Atlanta Braves

will include 154,000 square feet of office space. Engel said the Braves stadium should erase the office vacancy rate within a fairly short time. Beyond that, she said, there are spaces available for future development. “There are other developers in the area discussing building,” she said. “Most of the developers are looking for lead tenants, which you need before you can get going on that.” The Braves development has been good for other areas of Cobb County, as well. Genuine Parts, the parent company of NAPA, announced plans last fall that it will sell its current headquarters near SunTrust Field and build a new 150,000-square-foot headquarters in the Wildwood area, farther north. “The stadium definitely gave us a shot

MARKET REPORT: Cobb County Top employers Company Employees 1. Home Depot 20,000 2. Cobb County Schools 14,100 3. Wellstar 13,458 4. Lockheed Martin 6,000 5. Kennesaw State University 5,146 6. Cobb County Government 6,068 7. Publix Supermarkets 3,574 8. Six Flags 2,464 9. The Kroger Company 2,226 10. Marietta City Schools 1,151

Tax rate Cobb County Government 10.81 mills Cobb County Schools 18.90 mills Acworth 7.60 mills Austell 3.06 mills Kennesaw 9.50 mills Marietta 7.75 mills Powder Springs 8.50 mills Smyrna 8.99 mills

Higher education • Chattahoochee Technical College, Marietta • Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw • Life College, Marietta

Convention and performing centers Cobb Galleria Centre – The state-of-the-art venue at I-75 and I-285 has hosted more than 15,000 events since its completion in 1994. It features 320,000 square feet of overall space and 144,000 square feet of exhibit space. The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre includes the 2,750-seat John A. Williams Theater and the 10,000-square-foot Kessel D. Stelling Jr. Ballroom. Bailey Performance Center – Located on the campus of Kennesaw State University at 1000 Chastain Road in Kennesaw, the center, built in 1994, hosts 150 performances each year as well as rehearsals, seminars, recording sessions and master classes for KSU music students and faculty. Marietta Performing Arts Center – The 727seat theater is located on the campus of Marietta High School at 1171 Whitlock Avenue and hosts educational partners and programming events with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company, the Shakespeare Tavern, the

in the arm,” said Brooks Mathis, vice president of economic development for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. “Because of the Braves, we’re getting some green space, some connectivity to the parks and trails systems. We’re getting the $400 million mixed-use development, which is high-end retail, shopping, residential, hotels and office buildings.” Mathis said the stadium is providing something to the area that it hasn’t had for some time – a recruitment tool. “You know the office market leaves at night, so it becomes a question of how do we get young people who work over there to stay and enjoy themselves,” he said. Furthermore, the new managed lane project that is going on along I-75 will provide renewed access to the area, Mathis said. “We’re easy to get to,” he said. “Companies are trying to recruit out of Georgia Tech, and the reverse commute is easy.” Mathis said the area already has a top-notch public school system, which invites young families to plant roots. On top of that, just last month, Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin proposed a trolley system shuttling fans from the Marietta Square to SunTrust Park. If approved, the system would cost the city about $500,000. “We’ve been very lucky,” Mathis said. “It’s been a nice thing to see, having the whole community be so supportive.” The rooftops, apartments and office development are almost too much to fathom for Mathis. “It’s a lot of things happening at one time,” he said. “It’s pretty neat to watch.”

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Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Georgia Ballet and the Georgia Dance Conservatory. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre – The 606-seat performing arts at the Cobb County Civic Center Complex, 548 S. Marietta Parkway in Marietta, hosts its Encore Series each year that draws some of the top performing acts in the country. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre – The publicly owned facility at 5239 Floyd Road in Mableton provides a venue for the performing arts with 1,254 fixed seats and 1,000 lawn seats.

Major attractions • Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell • Six Flags White Water, Marietta • Aviation Wing of the Marietta Museum of History, Marietta • The Georgia Ballet, Marietta • Kennesaw Skatepark, Kennesaw • Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Kennesaw • Earl Smith Strand Theatre, Marietta • The Lyric Studio Theatre in the Square, Marietta • Silver Comet Trail, Smyrna

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 25

CONNECT TO YOUR COMMUNITY Deadline to advertise in the March issue: February 27 March is our Residential Real Estate focus, so don’t miss out. We will cover: • Residential Real Estate • Top Brokers , Top Agents • By the numbers: Top Banks and Financial Institutions • Most Expensive homes for sale in the region • Fastest Growing Cities

Reserve space today. Call 770-442-3278 or email advertising@appenmediagroup.com

HALL COUNTY

26 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Northeast Georgia Medical Center marks 2,000th robotic surgery GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) recently reached a significant milestone – the completion of its 2,000th robotic procedure utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System. Fifteen specially trained surgeons on staff in NGMC’s robotic surgical program have successfully treated patients across a multitude of specialties, including gynecological oncology, urology, colorectal and bariatric surgery, gynecology and general surgery cases. The system allows surgeons to perform delicate and complex operations through tiny incisions with breakthrough vision, precision, dexterity and control. In some cases, surgeons are utilizing the robot to perform single site surgeries, meaning the surgeries are performed through one port – the patient’s navel, resulting in virtually no scarring. “Benefits for the patient are tremendous,” said Dr. Andrew Green, a gynecologic oncologist and medical director of the robotic surgical program at NGMC. “Robotic surgery often translates to lower blood loss, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stay and, in general, a quicker return to normal activities for our patients.”

A surgeon performs a robotic procedure utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Hall County New report demonstrates economic impact of logistics GAINESVILLE – The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, has released a new study of the growing logistics services industry for the GainesvilleHall County area. The report underscores the direct impact of nearly 2,000 jobs supported by 65 Hall County transportation service providers. Tim Evans, vice president of economic development for the chamber said several of the firms noted in the study have expanded in recent years, including Lanier Cold Storage, XPO Logistics, Adams Transport, Tatsumi Intermodal, GTO Logistics, Eskimo, Tribe Transportation and Hollis Transport. Many of Hall County’s logistics service providers will participate in key industry events. The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Transportation Forum on March 12 at the University of North Georgia’s Continuing Education facility-Gainesville Campus, followed by the 7th annual Georgia Logistics Summit at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on March 31-April 1.

Lunch ‘n Learn program adds South Hall venue GAINESVILLE, Ga. – The Greater Hall Chamber’s monthly Lunch ‘n Learn programs will now be rotating between two locations. Kara Tate, chamber vice president of membership sales said the meetings will rotate between a new South Hall location at the Flowery

Branch Train Depot and a Gainesville location at Peach State Bank. Since its inception in 2012, the lunch programs have grown in popularity, drawing an average of 25 attendees for each session. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month from 11:45 am – 1:00pm. Cost is $15 for chamber members and $25 for non-members and includes an entry fee and lunch. Reservations are required. Details: Kara Tate, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, 770-532-6206 x 116. Email: ktate@ghcc.com

Report cites rising economy for Hall County area GAINESVILLE, Ga. — University of Georgia Terry College of Business professor Benjamin Ayers recently noted in the Georgia Economic Outlook that 2014 was a great year for Georgia and Gainesville-Hall County, and the outlook for 2015 is continued growth. In Gainesville-Hall County, 24 economic development projects were announced in 2014 creating 1,300 new jobs and $150 million in investment over the next 18 months. Companies included Kubota, King’s Hawaiian, Jinsung TEC, Georgia Chair, Big Creek Foods, Innobots and many others. Business expansions at Hall County’s 285 manufacturers and processors are fueling other business sector growth, including the community’s fast growing logistics services sector of 65 firms that today employ nearly 2,000, the report said. Other gains were made in healthcare services, the housing market and retail.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center

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Chamber official appointed to Economic Developers seat GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Tim Evans, vice president of economic development for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, was named to the board of directors of the Georgia Economic Developers Association at its annual conference recently. GEDA is a non-profit association of professionals that provide networking and professional development resources to members and advocate public policies to support quality economic development and job creation throughout the state. Evans also serves as executive director of the Gainesville-Hall Economic Development Council and as the staff for the Gainesville & Hall County Development Authority.

Brad Beyea joins Full Media’s Gainesville office GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Internet marketing and website development company Full Media recently hired Brad Beyea as an Internet Marketing Analyst in the company’s Gainesville office. “Brad comes to Full Media with a very diverse creative and marketing background having worked with for-profit and non-profit organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, entertainment companies and media and journalism organizations,” said Full Media CEO Kris Nordholz. For more information, contact mhodges@fullmedia. com.

GWINNETT COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 27

Walt Sokalski/USASOC PAO

The Atlanta Motor Speedway will host a NASCAR XFINITY Series race.

Hisense named title sponsor for NASCAR double header SUWANEE, Ga. – Multinational electronics manufacturer Hisense has been named the title sponsor of the Feb. 28 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton. The event will be named the Hisense 250 and will

be the first race of a rare NASCAR XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series doubleheader. Based in Qingdao, China, Hisense began in 1969 as a small radio factory and has since grown into a multibillion-dollar global

conglomerate with a workforce of over 75,000 worldwide. The company is a world leader of flat-panel TVs, household appliances and mobile communication devices. Hisense USA, a subsidiary of Hisense Company Ltd. was established in 2001

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Gwinnett County Janet Hitzel joins Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners SUWANEE, Ga. — Janet Hitzel recently joined Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners as a Real Estate agent in its Suwanee office. Janet will be focusing on working with buyers and sellers in the North Atlanta area. Mrs. Hitzel is a native of Northern New Jersey and is living with her family in Alpharetta, GA. She can be reached at 678-825-7382, listwithjanet@gmail.com or janethitzel.yourkwagent.com.

Electric utilities increase orders for Comverge two-way devices NORCROSS, Ga. – Comverge Inc. has announced it has agreements with electric utilities for the installation of more than 400,000 IP-based two-way devices. Comverge has already implemented 260,000 of these low latency devices and has agreements to deploy more than 140,000 additional ones. The company’s IntelliSOURCE software platform enables utilities to improve peak demand management, better integrate renewable sources of energy, facilitate real-time energy trading decisions and participate more effectively in capacity demand response programs.

Crystal announces the launch of new branding DULUTH, Ga. — Crystal has rebranded the company from “Crystal Solutions” to simply “Crystal” and has updated its logo, website and product suite. The new brand will be on display at the Satellite 2015 show in March. Along with showcasing its new brand, Crystal will demonstrate its range of solutions including Crystal Control, Crystal Spectrum, Crystal Insight and Crystal Carrier ID.

“We are an innovative company in a dynamic industry,” commented Roger Franklin, CEO, Crystal. “This re-brand reflects our heritage within the industry while reinforcing that Crystal is at the forefront of providing innovative solutions for current and future requirements.”

Validation & Engineering Group Expands U.S. Operations GWINNETT — Validation and Engineering Group (V&EG), an engineering company based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, announced the opening of its U.S. operations in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The opening includes a close to $3 million capital investment and 20 new jobs expected to be added over the next two years. Located at 2180 Satellite Boulevard., the new facility will house V&EG’s regulatory compliance services, product development, and technical support.

Von Maur to replace Nordstrom at Mall of Georgia BUFORD, Ga. — Von Maur Department Store announced plans to open a 165,000-square-foot store at the Mall of Georgia in Buford. Scheduled to open fall 2016, the store will be the company’s third location in Georgia. Located at the mall’s former Nordstrom location, the two-level Von Maur store will receive a complete renovation beginning summer 2015. It is expected that the store will employ 200 associates – the majority of which will be full-time. “The Mall of Georgia represents the ideal addition to our group of stores in the Greater Atlanta area,” said Jim von Maur, president. “As a premiere shopping destination and the largest mall in the Southeast, we are confident it will be an excellent match for us.”

and operates a Suwanee-based R&D center. The company sells into retailers across North America such as HH Gregg, Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, Canadian Tire and many others. Its products are exported to over 130 countries and regions.

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Lund International acquires Bushwaker BUFORD, Ga., — Lund International Holding Company, a portfolio company of Highlander Partners, L.P., announced it has acquired Bushwacker, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Bushwacker, based in Portland, Ore., is a major manufacturer and marketer of branded automotive aftermarket accessories including fender flares, bedrail and tailgate caps and trail armor components for Jeeps. Bushwacker also manufactures and markets hood protection products and window visors under the Stampede brand acquired in 2012, which is based in Camanche, Iowa.

5Q Partners announces launch in Peachtree Corners PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. — 5Q Partners, joined with Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development to announce the launch of its company in the City of Peachtree Corners. A spin off of Wells Real Estate Funds, 5Q Partners is an IT services and consulting company providing technology solutions to senior business leaders in midsized companies. The office, 6200 The Corners Parkway in Peachtree Corners’ Technology Park, will serve as the headquarters for the company. “This community has always been a hub for growing and expanding technology companies as well as a central meeting spot for our company’s founders,” said Trey Eiland, 5Q Partners founding partner. “We fully expect to experience significant growth in 2015 and our new headquarters will enable us to develop new products, expand our capabilities, and reach new markets.” For more information visit www.5QPartners.com.

SOUND ADVICE

28 • February 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

SBA loans: a good start for start-ups Brian Patton

brianpattonccim.com

Sometimes starting a small business or expanding an existing one can be a difficult proposition to finance. To help rectify that, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has designed a number of loan programs for business owners who may have trouble coming up with a large down payment or qualifying for a traditional bank loan. Many banks and lending institutions participate in the programs. The SBA loan application is structured so that the loan is eligible for the SBA guarantee. A traditional lender participates in the loan process, and SBA guarantees a portion of the loan to the lender in case of default. Recently, I spoke with Jon Kaye, regional sales manager for Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has been the No. 1 lender in the nation for SBA loans for six straight years in terms of dollars loaned through the program. When asked why someone should consider the SBA loan, Jon said, “It’s about capital preservation. The SBA program allows borrowers to put less money down and lower monthly payments.” There are two main types of SBA

loans in which Wells participates. The SBA 504 loan is for owner-occupied purchase of real estate or heavy equipment. The borrower can put down as little as 10 percent and finance the remainder. The SBA’s portion, 40 percent, is a 20-year fixed rate. Right now, that rate is around 4.6 percent. The bank would finance the remainder 50 percent at a negotiated rate and terms. A borrower can do some really big projects with this loan. The SBA limit is $5 million, but the bank’s traditional side can go up higher, yielding around $13 million in financed funds. The second loan, SBA 7a, encompasses a lot more business needs. Real estate and business acquisition, partner buyout, working capital, leasehold improvements and equipment purchases are among the items the loan will finance. Most lenders require 10 percent down for this program. There is a $5 million maximum for the loan, and typically the traditional lender provides 90 percent of the financing. The advantage to the bank is that the SBA guarantees up to 75 percent of the loan. The advantage to the borrower is that, because of this guarantee the bank has less risk; and therefore, can pass along the reduced risk in a more affordable loan. The SBA program continues to grow and provide more opportunities for small business owners. As Jon Kaye said, “We are encouraged by the way things are going... more and more borrowers see the advantages of SBA and are requesting financing.”

Protecting your small business from getting hacked Dick Jones Founder & President Jones Simply Sales

With all of the recent data breaches, are you worried that your small business will get hacked? Have you implemented security measures to protect your digital assets, such as customer or financial information? There is little doubt that small businesses face a growing threat to cyberattacks. So, what are you going to do to protect yourself? First and foremost, lock up your network. Many small businesses are compromised via Wi-Fi networks. Hackers drive by buildings and use technology to identify networks that aren’t secure. Once they find one, getting into your information systems is easy. Second,

make sure you install anti-malware and anti-virus software. Even if a hacker can breach your network, it makes it more difficult for them to infect computers with malicious software or viruses. Educating your employees can also go a long way in preventing hacking. Make sure employees are changing their passwords and not clicking on unknown links in emails that could provide an entry point for hackers. Employees need to know that your data and information is important, and part of their job is protecting it. Hiring an outside security expert may cost you some additional money, but it’s far cheaper than someone getting your information. A small business security expert can do an assessment of your current environment and make recommendations to protect your digital assets. Protecting your data is not just for large corporations. Small businesses are becoming targets for hackers, and it’s imperative that data security is a high priority.

Roswell Business Academy presents spring semester 2015 Jessica Diamond

Communications Coordinator, Roswell Inc

The first session of Roswell Business Academy 2015 was a shining success. Spare seats were scarce as Becky Nelson from Appen Media taught Roswell business leaders about solidifying their messages, avoiding confusion and getting the word out to consumers effectively. Those in attendance made valuable connections and learned how to better market themselves in a world of “too many messages.” The second session of the series is about “communicating with impact.” We’ve learned how best to get our clients’ attention. Now that they are listening, what do we want to say? Guest speaker Gretchen Griffin is a professional coach trained to call forth the best in her clients. Gretchen will provide simple, powerful communication tools to inspire clarity, commitment and action within the consumer. Participants should come ready to speak openly about communication issues and expect to walk away with a clear, powerful and effective message for their businesses. This session of Roswell Business Academy will take place Feb. 10 at 7:30 a.m. in the Roswell Adult Recreation Center on Grimes Bridge Road. Coffee and pastries will be provided. For those who don’t know or are new to the Roswell Business Academy series, the Roswell Business Academy is a Roswell Inc program, free to the

Roswell Business Academy is held on the second Tuesday of each month, January through May. It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss! public, which focuses on building better business in Roswell. These programs, broken into fivecourse series, are designed to help enhance the skills business owners need to manage or grow their businesses. The Roswell Business Academy brings participants together by providing opportunities to learn, grow, discuss ideas and gain insight on local business trends. These courses consist of everything from enhancing your online presence to starting and financing a business from scratch. Roswell Business Academy is held on the second Tuesday of each month, January through May. It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss! Learn more by visiting www.roswellinc.org/ programs/roswell-business-academy.

NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • February 2015 • 29

Alpharetta develops recommendations for city center By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Much has changed in Alpharetta over the past few years. More people, businesses and development have all occurred, and the city has a renewed focus on its downtown as a “hometown” place to be. This has spurred the city to look at redevelopment of its city center in coming years. A draft plan is in the works. The results come after several public meetings that gathered responses and preferences for what residents seek for the downtown district. More than 500 residents took part. The area of focus stretches from Wills Park in the west to Avalon in the east (Avalon is not included). In the north is Vaughan Drive along Ga. 9 and south to Devore Road. The questions put to Eric Bosman and his team at Kimley-Horn Consultants are what do the residents want to the city to look like, and how does the city make that happen? “There is a high level of consensus,”

Bosman said. “People want a small town feel in building scale and height, with enhanced walkability.” In keeping with the way the housing and building industries are moving, this translates into “mixed-use” uses. Mixed-use is just as it sounds, typically a mix of uses. Office, commercial, retail and housing are all next to each other or even atop one another, instead of the traditional zoning where everything is separated by use. This leads to commercial uses on the ground floors and townhomes above, or different uses next to each other. One effect of this is an increased focus on walkability – the need to live life without a reliance on using a car to get everywhere. Bosman suggested several changes to the city’s plan for the downtown area. Increased density and a greater mix of uses could replace single-family homes and shopping centers. “What does [the city’s future vision] look like in the next 5-10 years?” Bosman asked. “What regulations need to be implemented? We focus on where that needs to occur.”

Metered parking is suggested along Ga. 9 and the historic district. This is an effort to force parking turnover. With so few parking spots available downtown, having employees of business owners occupy prime parking spots all day discourages customers. Bosman said the city should wait to implement this until the effect of the new 450-spot parking deck is determined. With so much new development, the city hopes to keep plenty of greenspace in the downtown. “Don’t expect anyone to build a new, large park in downtown,” Bosman said. “Smaller parks are more likely.” These smaller parks – pocket parks, really – would ring the downtown and could be connected to each other by bike and walking paths. To help traffic flow, new roads are proposed, cutting through current neighborhoods or even buildings to create a more grid-like network of streets. “Ga. 9/ Main Street is the only northsouth main road,” Bosman said. “One important aspect of the roadway plan is to slow the speed while keeping the amount of traffic. Expect future road-

ways to be part of future developments.” He was clear that any new roads, paths, parks or sidewalks would be part of future development and not forced on current landowners. Bosman also said these developments would be future building, and nothing would be imposed on current homeowners. “If someone is interested in redeveloping, this is how it may be done,” said Deputy City Administrator James Drinkard. Further, he said Alpharetta, by policy, does not allow eminent domain. “The governing authority does not impose things on the community,” said Alpharetta Planning Commission member Francis Kung’u. “There is a vision process for the master plans and comprehensive plan. These are always dynamic and nothing is static. “This is not going to happen today, tomorrow or a year from now,” he said. Instead, it is a long-range plan for how the city could develop in the coming decade. More public meetings will be held on the plans for downtown in the coming month before a final plan is approved and implemented.

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