Author: Admin

The 22nd annual list of Military Friendly Employers has been released on www.militaryfriendly.com and will be published in the December 2024 issue of G.I. Jobs® magazine recognizing 338 Employers.

The Home Depot and USAA have been rated as Military Friendly Employers in all 22 years since the list started. Travelers, CDW, AT&T, BNSF, Cintas, Schneider, Southern Company, State Farm, Southwest Airlines, and J.B. Hunt has been designated a Military Friendly Employer in at least 18 of the 22 years.

“As a veteran myself, I am fully committed to making sure our employees who are current or former servicemembers, as well as their families, know just how much we value and appreciate all they offer to our company – they make MidAmerican Energy a better place to work. On day one of their employment, servicemembers and veterans provide us with expertise, commitment, and leadership skills. We’re thankful for their service and honored they chose to work here at MidAmerican. We’re grateful to be recognized with the Military Friendly Employer Award.” Kelcey Brown, President and CEO of  MidAmerican Energy Company.

Manufacturing led the way, representing 11% of Military Friendly® Employers Awards. At 10% for 2nd was Health & Pharmaceutical Services and Information Technology, followed by Defense at 9%, Financial Services/Banking, Businesses Services, Energy/Extraction/Utilities, and Construction/Infrastructure/Engineering, each representing around 8% of the employer industries.

Geographically, Military Friendly® Employers identified the following Texas as their top hiring regions for veterans with California, Virginia, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, and Colorado rounding out the Top 10. The top three metro regions for hiring were identified as Dallas-Fort Worth Metro, Atlanta Metro, Washington Metropolitan Area.

“We salute these exemplary employers who raise the bar and understand that hiring military personnel is not merely an act of goodwill but a testament to a standard that truly embodies sound business wisdom. Their steadfast commitment to integrating military personnel into their workforce not only reflects their compassion but also underscores their business acumen,” – Kayla Lopez, VP of Partnerships at Military Friendly

Former United Nations CEO Kathy Calvin believes, “Young people aren’t the leaders of tomorrow. They are the leaders of today AND tomorrow.” Keep America Beautiful affiliate Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B) embraces that concept wholeheartedly by designing and implementing a wealth of programs designed to empower future leaders in Gwinnett County. Through the Green & Healthy Schools Program at many Gwinnett County Public Schools, the Plant It Forward initiative creates edible and pollinator learning gardens, Food Waste Warriors helps students find solutions to reduce food waste, and Compost Connectors turns food waste into nutrient- rich fertilizer. GC&B also engages local school green teams and civic groups like Girl & Boy Scouts of America in cleanup, beautification, and recycling volunteer events. However, the community-focused nonprofit’s flagship youth program – based on the national Keep America Beautiful model for high school students – is its Green Youth Advisory Council (GYAC). The applications for this year’s Green Youth Advisory Council are in, the kickoff meeting has been held, and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is proud to introduce the following high school students as this year’s members:

Samuel Bredland – a Sophomore from Central Gwinnett High School

Sonia Charaniya – a Senior from Brookwood High School

Rianne De Los Santos – Returning member and Senior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

Ananya Desai – a Junior from Peachtree Ridge High School

Asha El – Returning member and Junior from Norcross High School

Violet Fung – Returning member and Junior from Peachtree Ridge High School

Kelly Ho – a Junior from Peachtree Ridge High School

Nafisa Jannat – a Junior from Brookwood High School

Brian Le – a Junior from Brookwood High School

Jennifer Le – a Junior from Meadowcreek High School

Minchan Lee – Returning member and Junior from Mill Creek High School

Vicky Li – a Sophomore from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

Falyssa Ly – a Junior from Paul Duke STEM

Asma Naviwala – a Freshman from Parkview High School

Yusuf Naviwala – Returning member and Sophomore from Parkview High School

Tanya Nguyen – a Senior from South Gwinnett High School

Jasmine Osorio-Antonio – a Junior from McClure High School

Krish Patel – a Junior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

Aryan Pathak – a Sophomore from McClure High School

Mrinali Pathak – Returning member and Senior from North Gwinnett High School

Serena Pradhan – Returning member and Senior from Parkview High School

Dev Shah – Returning member and Junior from North Gwinnett High School

Eshani Sharma – Returning member and Senior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

Allison Shin – Returning member and Junior from Mill Creek High School

Shivali Singh – Returning member and Senior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

Elizabeth Woo – a Junior from Mill Creek High School

Julia Yoon – Returning member and Sophomore from Buford High School

“This year’s GYAC comprises 27 students from 13 high schools across Gwinnett County,” said Schelly Marlatt, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Executive Director. “We’re excited about all our new members, and I’m particularly thrilled to welcome back 12 members from previous GYAC groups. On October 24th, we hosted a kick-off event at The Manor, the office of our Board’s Chairwoman, Pam Ledbetter. These kids came to the table with so much passion and so many great ideas; I know this will be an amazing GYAC class! In addition to their volunteerism, advocacy, and being ambassadors at their schools and out in the community, our GYAC Class of 2024-2025 has been tasked with either developing and implementing a new environmental program or expanding an existing one at their school. We cannot wait to share their project ideas after they present them later this month at the November meeting.”

Representing an environmental and sustainability service-learning and leadership development program unlike any other, involvement in the Green Youth Advisory Council provides its members with the opportunity to:

• Develop leadership skills while engaging in creative work focused on litter prevention, beautification, community greening, waste reduction, recycling, food insecurity and more

• Collaborate with like-minded peers with unique perspectives from across the county

• Assist with the design and implementation of environmental program initiatives for engaging youth in community service

• Act as a GC&B ambassador to their school and community by engaging youth and county leaders to promote sustainability, environmental literacy, and civic engagement

• Earn service hours and a letter of recommendation for college, future employment, and more

• High school seniors involved in the Green Youth Advisory Council will be considered for a $1,000 post-secondary scholarship

Pictured from left to right: Ken Zeff, Atlanta Public Schools, District 3; Samuel Greene, President, Midtown Neighbors’ Association; Alex Wan, Atlanta City Council, District 6; Rob Brawner, Executive Director, Atlanta Beltline Partnership; Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta; Clyde Higgs, President and CEO, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.; Commissioner Justin Cutler, Atlanta Parks & Recreation; Doug Widener, President & CEO, Piedmont Park Conservancy; Commissioner Solomon Caviness, Atlanta Department of Transportation

On Tuesday, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President & CEO Clyde Higgs and other community leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Northeast Trail – Segment 1, including the improvements of the highly-anticipated 10th & Monroe intersection project. This 0.9 mile-segment of the mainline Beltline loop begins at the intersection of 10th Street and Monroe Drive and extends along Piedmont Park to Westminster Drive.

“The Beltline has become one of the most influential transportation projects in the nation,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “This is more than just a trail project – it is embodying the collective vision of bringing the city together to reconnect our communities. And we’re doing just that. The Northeast Trail is one of the most anticipated segments of the entire project, giving residents greater access to the legendary Piedmont Park, crucial transportation improvements and enhanced safety measures at 10th and Monroe.”

This portion of the Beltline links to the existing Eastside Trail and Northeast Trail – Segment 2, which opened in November 2023. It connects the neighborhoods of Midtown, Virginia Highland, and Morningside, providing Atlantans with an equitable, sustainable transportation alternative. Piedmont Park’s Carriage Trail, which connects Westminster Drive to Evelyn Street and the Westminster Trail Bridge are included in this segment.

 “The completion of Northeast Trail – Segment 1 marks a significant milestone not only for the Beltline but for the entire City of Atlanta as we finish the 22-mile loop,” said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “This project provides Atlantans with a safe, accessible, and equitable way to navigate the city, linking neighborhoods and offering expanded access to Atlanta’s ‘emerald necklace’, connecting residents to beloved spaces like Piedmont Park.  

Also, included in the Northeast Trail – Segment 1, Atlanta Beltline is the 10th and Monroe intersection, which was completed in partnership with the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Department of Transportation. As a critical improvement of the segment, the intersection is among the busiest along the Beltline, serving as a connection point between the Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park, and the Northeast Trail.

Scheduled for completion on November 17, the redesigned intersection at one of Northeast Atlanta’s busiest crossings introduces significant improvements to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety and accessibility. This redesign provides Atlanta Public School students and trail users with a safer route through a heavily trafficked area, ensuring a secure and accessible path across busy roadways.

“These upgrades support the City’s Commitment to Vision Zero – our focused and dedicated effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all Atlanta streets by 2040,” said ATLDOT Commissioner Solomon Caviness.  “Making sure Atlanta students and families can safely walk and bike to neighborhood schools also supports ATLDOT’s Safe Routes to School initiative. We hope these efforts honor the memory of Grady High School student Alexia Hyneman and all students attending Atlanta schools.”

 Key improvements include:

• New 10th Street Bike Lane: Providing direct access to the Atlanta Beltline, enhancing connectivity and safety for trail users.

• Raised Pedestrian Crossing: Improving safety for trail users and pedestrians. 

• Improved Pedestrian Crossings and Signals: At key intersections to ensure safer travel for all users of the trail.

• New Vehicular Traffic Signals: Installed at Kanuga St. NE and Monroe Dr. NE will manage traffic flow better and improve safety.

As of date, the Beltline has 11.3 miles of the 22-mile Beltline mainline loop delivered with 10.3 miles of connector trails that tie directly into current and future segments of the trail. With more construction projects underway since its founding in 2005, 85% of the mainline trail is now complete or under construction.

The majority of funding for the Beltline comes from public sources, specifically through the Beltline Tax Allocation District, supported by Atlanta Public Schools (APS), Fulton County, and the City of Atlanta, and Beltline Special Service District investors. Lead philanthropic support to complete the full Beltline trail corridor comes from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc. and The James M. Cox Foundation.

Other collaborators critical to these trail efforts include Atlanta Regional Commission, City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Atlanta Department of Transportation, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Power, MARTA, Invest Atlanta, Piedmont Park Conservancy, Trees Atlanta., U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Reeves + Young, and Heath & Lineback Engineers Inc 

 The trail is currently open with minor limitations due to the final installation work underway on railings and handrails. Landscaping will be underway in the winter months ahead, along with the completion of other minor projects.  

After a year-long closing due to new road alignment, Woodstock’s historic train depot will re-open with an exciting new restaurant, announced Cheri Morris of Morris & Fellows, master developer of Woodstock Downtown and Woodstock City Center. Fire & Stone Italian Pizza, a family-owned restaurant serving authentic pizza and Italian dishes, will begin serving customers in late spring/early summer 2025. According to Morris, the eatery is exactly the type of family-friendly casual dining concept desired for the iconic Woodstock landmark, located at 251 East Main St.

“The historic Woodstock Train Depot has been a local landmark for over a century, and the building’s transition from a working depot to a popular dining location symbolized Woodstock’s rebirth from a sleepy railroad town to a vital, energized small city,” said Morris. “Thanks to the city’s visionary leadership and thoughtful planning, today’s residents and visitors come to Woodstock for boutique shopping, dining, employment and a variety of housing options. A key goal of the city’s master plan was to retain Woodstock’s charm as it transformed. During this process, the historic train depot was carefully preserved, and it has become the fulcrum point between the extraordinarily successful Woodstock Downtown revitalization and the new Woodstock City Center project now underway. This one-of-a-kind historic property deserves a restaurant that can use its energy and I believe we have found that with Fire & Stone Italian Pizza,” she said.

Fire & Stone Italian Pizza has been serving customers for over three decades, offering fresh Italian fare created from cherished family recipes. The new location will feature a show kitchen and imported Italian pizza ovens in the dining area so patrons can watch the pizzas as they are hand-crafted and baked to order. Diners will enjoy both indoor and outdoor seating on a new deck overlooking Depot Square – a new park in front of the train depot, and can top off a meal with fresh gelato served through the window of the Depot’s adjacent caboose.

“Both Woodstock Downtown and Woodstock City Center represent a generational opportunity to add retail, office, hotel, and critically-important parking and infrastructure to one of the most popular downtown destinations in Georgia,” said Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell. “The addition of Fire & Stone Italian Pizza in the historic Train Depot is a perfect fit for our city’s continued redevelopment.”

State Senate Democrats Friday elected Sen. Harold Jones of Augusta to serve as Senate minority leader.

Meeting in Savannah, the Senate Democratic Caucus chose Jones, who has been serving as minority whip, to succeed retiring Minority Leader Gloria Butler. Sen. Kim Jackson, D-Stone Mountain, will take over as minority whip.

Senate Democrats reelected the rest of their leadership team. Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, will return as caucus chair, with Sen. Sonya Halpern, D-Atlanta, as vice chair.

Sen. Jason Esteves, D-Atlanta, will serve as vice chair of finance, and Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, will continue as caucus secretary.

This week’s elections didn’t change the makeup of the Senate. The upper legislative chamber again will consist of 33 Republicans and 23 Democrats.

Capitol Beat is a nonprofit news service operated by the Georgia Press Educational Foundation that provides coverage of state government to newspapers throughout Georgia. For more information visit capitol-beat.org.

Recently,  the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (based in Sandy Springs) presented a check of $2.5 million to Emory University to showcase the total amount of grants that Rally has given to Emory University for research over the years, with the most recent grant of $350,000 in 2024. Rally Kid Cooper from Brookhaven was in attendance. An 8th grader, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma (spread to his bones) in June and has been undergoing treatment since. 

Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research has awarded a $350,000 grant to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, marking the largest single-year donation Rally has made to Emory’s pediatric cancer research program. The check presentation ceremony, held on Wednesday, October 30, celebrated the ongoing partnership between Rally Foundation and Winship, both dedicated to improving treatments and outcomes for children fighting cancer.

Since its founding in 2005, Rally Foundation has provided over $35 million in research grants to fuel childhood cancer studies worldwide, with more than $2 million supporting Emory and Winship researchers since 2006. This year’s $350,000 donation will fund five projects led by Winship investigators, aiming to advance scientific discovery and bring new hope to pediatric cancer patients and their families.

“Supporting Emory’s talented researchers aligns perfectly with Rally’s mission to fund innovative research and develop better treatments with fewer side effects,” said Dean Crowe, Rally Foundation Founder and CEO. “Through collaborations like this, we’re making significant strides toward more effective therapies and, ultimately, cures for childhood cancer.”

The Rally Foundation has also played a role in securing $223 million in federal funding through the Department of Defense’s CDMRP program. Recently, Winship researcher Hunter Jonus, MD, received support through this program to advance her work on pediatric cancer therapies.

The ceremony included remarks from Rally Foundation Board Chair Michael Gossling, Winship’s Dr. Kelly Goldsmith, co-leader of the Discovery & Developmental Therapeutics Program, and Rally CEO Dean Crowe. Rally Foundation’s peer-reviewed funding process is guided by a diverse medical advisory board, which includes Winship researchers and Emory faculty members Katharine Brock, MD; Natia Esiashvili, MD; Kelly Goldsmith, MD; Andrew Hong, MD; Jonathan Kaufman, MD; Renee Read, PhD; Jenny Shim, MD; Dan Wechsler, MD; and Jason Yustein, MD, PhD.

As one of Rally’s most well-supported institutions, Winship Cancer Institute remains a valued research partner in Rally Foundation’s mission. This latest donation underscores the importance of continued collaboration in advancing pediatric oncology science and accelerating the search for cures.

The Georgia gas price average decreased at the pumps compared to a week ago.  Georgians pay an average of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline (subject to change overnight). Monday’s state average is 1 cent less than a week ago, 21 cents more than a month ago, and 6 cents more than this time last year. It costs drivers an average price of $43.95 to fill a 15-gallon tank of regular gasoline.

Trammell Crow Company (TCC), a global real estate developer, has signed a new lease at Science Square Labs in Atlanta, Georgia. The lease was signed with the Georgia State Properties Commission (SPC) which is the state’s real property portfolio manager and signs all leases on behalf of state agencies. SPC assigned the space to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). The organization will occupy 11,129 square feet of pre-built lab/office space on the 11^th floor. The 13-story, 368,258-square-foot state-of-the-art lab building was delivered in April 2024.
 
“Having delivered 33,136 square feet of move-in-ready lab/office suites shortly after the building was completed was a major factor in helping us land GDA at Science Square Labs,” said Katherine Lynch, a Principal with TCC Atlanta. “This purpose-built project has the mission-critical infrastructure laboratory environments require, and we’re excited to bring quality lab space with modern office amenities to Atlanta.”
 
GDA is the voice of the state’s agriculture community. The department’s mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce. GDA joins national life sciences incubator, Portal Innovations, at Science Square Labs, which leased 33,000 sq. ft. last summer.
 
Science Square Labs is the first speculative lab/office building developed in Atlanta. The building is part of Georgia Tech’s Science Square innovation district and is designed to meet the needs of established R&D companies as well as start-ups and growth-stage groups in the science, technology, and life sciences sectors. The GDA space includes two of six pre-built lab spaces on the 11th floor. Science Square Labs is also LEED and WELL Gold, featuring sustainable initiatives to include a 38,000-sq.-ft. solar array, capacity for 180 EV chargers, and a Konvekta high-performance energy recovery system, which reduces CO2 emissions and tenant energy costs.

Science Square is an 18-acre, multi-phase, mixed-use innovation district offering up to 1.3 million sq. ft. of future lab and office space. In addition to Science Square Labs, phase one of the development also include ground-floor retail and The Grace Residences, a 280-unit, 14-story multifamily high-rise that started welcoming its first residents in April. The community offers a curated collection of wellness-inspired amenities, including a bike room; a club room; an outdoor courtyard with fire pits, grilling areas, and a resort-style pool; a state-of-the-art fitness center; a package room; a co-working space; a pet spa; and a 14th floor indoor/outdoor sky lounge with views of Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.
 
CBRE’s Eric Ross, Jessica Doyle, and Graham Little represented the landlord in the lease negotiations, while Erik Weiss and Kari Downing with Savills represented the tenant.
 
For more information about leasing opportunities at Science Square Labs, please visit ScienceSquareLabs.com or connect with the CBRE team of Eric Ross, Jessica Doyle, and Graham Little. More information about current availabilities at The Grace can be found by visiting TheGraceResidences.com. Inquiries for the two available ground-floor retail spaces can be addressed to Amy Fingerhut at CBRE.

On Oct. 29, 2024, the Atlanta Business League hosted a timely panel discussion at The Gathering Spot, bringing together distinguished community and leaders, as well as technology experts, to discuss the transformative impact artificial intelligence (AI) is having on Georgia. Sponsored by Google, the event highlighted how businesses of all sizes can leverage AI to address various challenges, including pressing workforce shortages, contributing to a brighter future for the Peach State.