Author: Admin

GSSA is calling for your consideration in providing nominations for the 2025 Superintendent of the Year. Each year Georgia is quite fortunate to have so many innovative, professional, and studious superintendents leading our public school systems. Their leadership, perseverance, and dedication to education and the children in their communities deserves to be recognized.

You can access the SOY nomination form in the links below. You still need to return the form via email to jzauner@gssaweb.com or US mail but it can be easily downloaded from the website using the links below.

Please take a few minutes and look over the information in the links below and consider the nomination of one of the many deserving superintendents in Georgia.

2025 Georgia Superintendent of the Year – Nomination Letter

2025 Georgia Superintendent of the Year – Nomination Form

The deadline for nomination submissions is Monday September 2, 2024. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns in regard to the nomination process.

Thanks you for your consideration and assistance!

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, today announced the appointment of Mike Ybarra, former President of Blizzard Entertainment, as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Ybarra will join the Board of PrizePicks and succeeds Adam Wexler, PrizePicks’ Founder and CEO, who will be transitioning to the role of Executive Chairman.

“I am unbelievably proud of what we have built at PrizePicks. Through our culture of constant innovation and having a player-first mindset, PrizePicks has achieved explosive growth,” said Wexler. “Attracting someone with Mike’s background is a true testament to our legitimacy and success to date, and it is a great honor to partner with him. Mike’s track record of introducing fan favorite games, driving development initiatives and scaling large customer bases will propel us to new heights.”

Since founding PrizePicks in 2017, Wexler has led the company’s transformation from a nascent startup into the leading daily fantasy sports company in North America, with a profitable, rapidly growing business model. With over 10 million community members and billions of dollars in awarded winnings, PrizePicks has made daily fantasy sports accessible to all and has grown tremendously under Wexler’s leadership.

“On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank Adam for his tireless contributions as PrizePicks’ Founder, building this organization into one of the leading fan engagement platforms from the ground up,” said Jon Hallett, member of PrizePicks’ Board of Managers. “Under his tenure, PrizePicks has experienced a period of remarkable growth and enters this transition with an incredible amount of momentum and strength. Mike Ybarra is the right leader for the next phase of the company’s journey, and we are pleased that he will be partnering with Adam to unlock future expansion opportunities.”

Ybarra brings more than 25 years of leadership and operational experience in technology and gaming at large, public companies. Most recently, he served as President of Blizzard Entertainment where he was responsible for the entire portfolio P&L and growth achievements. Prior to Blizzard Entertainment, Ybarra spent nearly 20 years at Microsoft as a Corporate Vice President in leadership roles within the Windows and Xbox divisions.

Reflecting on his appointment, Ybarra commented, “I am impressed with the passion, positive energy and incredible team at PrizePicks and want to thank Adam and the Board for this opportunity. PrizePicks is the most exciting company in sports entertainment today, and it’s an honor to join as CEO. I have tremendous respect for the foundation that Adam has built and look forward to working with him and the team.”

Biographical Information

Mike Ybarra is a veteran in the technology and entertainment industry with deep experience in fostering creative environments that enable teams, partners and businesses to succeed. As a Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, he spent over 20 years in development, product management and leadership roles spanning Windows and Gaming – helping to create software and entertainment that reached billions of people around the globe. Most recently, Mike was President of Blizzard Entertainment where he drove organizational, culture and business growth while striving to exceed player expectations across beloved IP such as Warcraft, Diablo and Overwatch.

Traton Homes is pleased to announce that Prescott Manor is now selling. Located in the desirable Hickory Flat area in Canton, the community offers spacious homes on estate homesites with prices from the $600,000s to $900,000s. 

“We’re thrilled to unveil this exceptional new community in a prime Cherokee County location,” said Kimberly Garwood, Marketing Director for Traton Homes. “The expansive estate homesites and beautifully designed homes create an inviting streetscape, making it a wonderful place for families to call home.”

This community offers just 30 homes, each with its own unique character. Homebuyers can choose from eight ranch and two-story plans with multiple elevation options. The homes offer up to five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and 3,589 square feet and include detailed exteriors, side-entry garages, spacious living areas, flexible living spaces, and impressive owner’s suites. Homeowners have ample opportunities for personalization throughout the home, from deciding how to use flexible rooms to selecting options including tiles and cabinetry to flooring and countertops. 

Prescott Manor puts homeowners in proximity of Canton’s best shopping, dining and entertainment destinations. With a prime location on Bart Manous Road just east of Highway 140, the community sits minutes from the popular Mill on Etowah and growing downtown Canton. The Golf Club at Bradshaw Farm and Woodmont Golf Club are nearby too, offering golf lovers a chance to practice their swings and enjoy fellowship. Commuters enjoy easy access to Highway 20, Highway 140 and I-575. 

These new homes are now selling by appointment. Interested homebuyers are encouraged to schedule an appointment by contacting agents Karen Roeder and Kristy Corrigan by calling 678-391-9499 or emailing PrescottSalesTeam@TratonHomes.com. More information is also available online at www.TratonHomes.com/communities/Prescott-Manor. 

 Georgia Bio’s Biotech Teacher Training Initiative (BTTI), formerly known as the Rural Teacher Training Initiative (RTTI), secured a significant increase in state funding in Georgia’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Total state funding now sits at $500,000. This investment from the state will be matched by industry donations in both cash and equipment, bringing the value of this program to $1+ million. Prior to receiving this increase in funding, the program conducted its fifth year of career-relevant instruction via hands-on teacher learning, impacting nearly 30,000 students and 150 teachers. In its first five years, the program has reached 81,413 students and 519 teachers across Georgia. Going forward, in conjunction with the additional funding and gifts from industry, BTTI will be able expand its operations in the urban areas of the state, impacting even more teachers and students.

This programmatic increase will support several initiatives, including hosting an additional cohort of teachers annually in an urban area where the density of industry sits, such as Atlanta or Augusta, and expanding the Equipment Depot and access to lab equipment. Plans for increased access include opening one satellite science equipment loaning office in Northwest Georgia, developing a shipment option with matching private funding, and potential for another satellite location in South Georgia. Further, funds will be allocated toward collaborating with Southwest Georgia RESA to provide teacher training for new science teachers in areas struggling to fill teacher positions, offer training and career path information for guidance counselors on opportunities in the life sciences, explore curriculum enhancement to include medical devices, and network with existing teachers.

“Georgia Bio is the only organization in the State that offers this type of hands-on training program, complemented with classroom supplies and access to career pathway understanding,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Bio. “Investing in improving access to resources for educators can open life changing careers for students and be a boon to Georgia’s economy, and this increase in funding signifies that the State agrees. As the industry continues its rapid growth across the state, our companies need to know there is a workforce pipeline being developed and we help innovatively address that need. I am excited for the future of BTTI and grateful for the support of the State and members of our industry as we endeavor to build upon this program’s value and success.”

“With the explosive growth in biotechnology has come the heightened need for a qualified workforce,” says BTTI Instructor Stan Harrison, Biotech Pathway Teacher, Athens Community Career Academy, State Coordinator, Biotechnician-Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE). “We hear it echoed again and again that companies are struggling to hire and retain qualified production staff and therefore unable to manufacture high demand and often life-saving products. Quality training starts with highly trained secondary teachers who understand industry recognized standards. Georgia Bio’s BTTI provides a host of professional learning workshops and along with the Equipment Depot, a structured means to network and access cutting edge materials for modern lab training.”

BTTI is a public/private workforce development partnership between the life sciences sector and the State of Georgia. Led by Program Director, Megan Heaphy, BTTI offers hands-on, immersive science teacher professional development for Georgia teachers state-wide. Curriculum is built to highlight and leverage the biotechnology that exists within traditional science courses, including biology and AP biology, chemistry and AP chemistry, physics, environmental biology, agriculture and horticulture, physical science, and life science.

Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, one of the nation’s top 100 commercial insurance brokers, has announced the hire of Client Advisor Michael Schnider. Mike is based in the company’s Atlanta office where he will specialize in Trade Credit Insurance. 

Mike has over 20 years of experience in sales and insurance, particularly within the transportation and manufacturing industries. He started his professional career as a mortgage lender and later worked for FedEx as a Sales Executive, handling account management and logistics. In 2015, Mike joined the insurance business as a Trade Risk Consultant for Allianz Trade, where he worked his way up to Sales Vice President. Over the course of his career, Mike has received several sales awards from each of his previous employers. 

“Mike’s unique knowledge of the trade credit industry is a welcome addition to SSP,” said Chief Revenue Officer Brett Godwin. “His expertise and experience will be beneficial to both our team and our clients.”

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Mike moved to the U.S. when he was 14 years old. He attended Georgia Southern University where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a focus in sales management.

 

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) unveiled today the names of 34 program participants selected to participate in its 2024 Culture and Community Design (CCD) program. The Culture and Community Design program runs from August through mid-December.

This is the second class of the immersive program where participants will examine the space between community building, arts and cultural work, and urban planning.  The 2024 class is comprised of artists, organizers, local officials, and planners, who will work with two community organizations, serving underrepresented populations, to design projects and planning initiatives focused on arts and culture.

CCD is a component of ARC’s Culture, and Creative Placemaking Strategic Plan, which provides a blueprint for integrating arts and culture into ARC’s planning work to help build a thriving and healthy region. The program will be co-led by Rosten Woo, a Los Angeles-based artist, designer, writer, and educator. Woo produces civic-scale artworks and works as a collaborator and consultant to a variety of grassroots, non-profit organizations, and local governments such as Los Angeles Poverty Department, the Black Workers Center, as well as the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County.

His work has also been exhibited internationally at art and design institutes and can be found at public housing developments and shopping malls, on tugboats, and in parks. Woo is also the co-founder and former executive director of the Center for Urban Pedagogy, a New York-based, non-profit organization and winner of a national design award for institution achievement.

“We have a wonderful cohort excited about how to think of arts and community engagement in planning,” said Roshani Thakore, head of Community Engagement & Culture at ARC. “Over the past two years, we’ve been refining our community engagement and culture class. We can’t wait to see how the diversity in perspectives and experiences will shape their projects and ultimately the ecosystem of arts, culture and creative placemaking across the region.”

About CCD’s 2024 Chosen Community Partners

CCD class participants will explore community issues such as mobility justice, collective ownership, and community preservation by collaborating with two Community-Based Organizations (CBOs):  

 Village Skatepark ATL, located in Atlanta’s Bankhead neighborhood, is a family owned indoor skatepark nonprofit centering mobility, justice, youth engagement, and community building through skate culture. 

The Kɘ’nekt, located in Atlanta’s Westview community, is a Black-led community collective based on mutual aid, solidarity economics, and collective wealth building.  

CCD Class of 2024:  

• Anna-Kay Sinclair, Atlanta Regional Commission, Program/Project Coordinator   

• Aysha Pennerman, ADJ Designs, Artist

• Cara Soh, Page Southerland Page, Inc., Senior Project Manager, Associate  

• Chantha Son, Atlanta Regional Commission, Senior Transportation Planner

• Charity Hamidullah, Artist/Muralist  

• Christina Hiroko Kelly, DanceATL, Development Coordinator + Community Engagement  

• Colline Hernandez-Ayala, Perkins & Will, Principal 

• Daisy Wellcome, Perkins & Will, Marketing Coordinator  

• Edith Courtney, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Project Coordinator  

• Emida Roller, Emida Roller Productions, LLC, Artist/Muralist 

• Emily Mottola, Decatur Arts Alliance, Project Manager  

• Erica Chisolm, E L Creative LLC, Muralist, Creative Placemaking Consultant  

• Gavin Bernard, Reimagine ATL, Teaching Artist & Producer 

• Haven Hendrix, Gwinnett County, Planner I   

• Hope Pollard, Gwinnett County, Senior Community Planner 

• Jacquelyn Pritz, Catching Mangoes Dance, Founder and Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Program Coordinator 

• Jennifer Ramirez-Soto, 85 Community Development Corporation, Bilingual Outreach Specialist  

• Justine Schwartz, Atlanta Regional Commission, Education and Public Engagement Specialist  

• Kelsey Mitchell, Perkins & Will, Designer II 

• LaQuita Williams, City of Sandy Springs, Planner I 

• Lauren Wiggins, Atlanta Regional Commission, Climate and Resilience Project Manager 

• Maria Edwards, Hootsuite, Senior Program Manager  

• Marisa Carter, Hummingbird, Community Engagement Strategist  

• Marissa Jackson, City of Fayetteville, Senior Planner 

• Mayira Bunting, City of Doraville, Business and Community Engagement  

• Nicole Gilbert, City of Fayetteville, Planner  

• Nicole Le, Artist  

• Paul Lorenc, City of Lawrenceville, Planner  

• Rebecca Payoute, Gwinnett County, Planner II  

• Ryan Sellers, Planning and Zoning Consultant  

• Sarah Lawrence, Design Emporium LLC, Founder & Principal Designer  

• Sarah Kitchens, Get Out The Bed Productions, Creative Director and Owner  

• Steven Aceto, City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, Urban Planner  

• Tyrone Webb, Georgia Council for the Arts, Rural and Community Programs Manager   

For more about the Culture and Community Design program, visit Culture and Community Design Class – ARC (atlantaregional.org). 

Atlanta ranked 10th among the best cities for working parents due to its high share of remote workers, affordable childcare, and high density of pediatricians.

To make the ranking, we analyzed U.S. cities with a population of 200,000+ across metrics that are relevant to work, education, health and environment.

Here is why Atlanta ranks so high among the analyzed cities:

• Atlanta took the 10^th place in our ranking of best cities for working parents, also ranking 3^rd among the Southern cities;

• Atlanta boasted the 6^th highest share of remote workers (23.2%), 6^th most coworking spaces per square meter (0.89), and the 9^th highest share of office jobs (77%);

• Atlanta had the 8^th lowest childcare costs, a household having to spend on average 13% of its median income per year on childcare, namely $10,422;

• Atlanta had the 13^th highest density of pediatricians, with 169 per 100,000 children.

Nationally, Washington D.C. topped the rankings, with 25% of its workforce being remote and logging 350 pediatricians per 100,000 children. Seattle, WA, and Arlington, VA, rounded out the podium.

Read the full study and methodology: https://www.coworkingcafe.com/blog/best-cities-for-working-parents/

SBA is launching a new, streamlined contracting certifications experience called MySBA Certifications, enabling customers to apply for and manage multiple federal contracting certifications in one place. The new certifications tool — slated to open for new applicants in September — is a key component of the SBA’s multi-year transformative modernization of the agency’s customer experience.

Learn More

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Celebrating 25 Years of National Farmers Market Week

The proof is in the produce: Farmers markets show that even small business vendors can make big impacts(Link is external). In addition to serving as gathering places for communities, farmers markets feed both people and local economies. August 4 – 10 marks the 25th annual National Farmers Market Week(Link is external). To observe this special occasion, the SBA is sharing resources that farmers markets and other small business vendors can leverage to plow a path for success.

Learn more
 

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August is Black Business Month
Did you know every 1 in 4 small businesses in the state of Georgia is Black owned? If you’re thinking about starting or growing your business, check out SBA’s resources to help you along the way: www.sba.gov/business-guide

#BlackBusinessMonth

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Upcoming Small Business Training Events

SBA Overview (in-person at the District Office in Atlanta) 
SBA Georgia District Office

Join the SBA Georgia District Office staff at our office in downtown Atlanta to learn all about our programs and services designed to help you start, grow, and expand your small business. We will review the (4) pillars of the SBA including loans, federal contracting, counseling, and disaster assistance.

233 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-331-0100

*Our office is in the Peachtree Center (Building 233) in Downtown Atlanta. Please allow ample time to find paid parking options nearby or take MARTA to the Peachtree Center station*

Tuesday, August 6, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE
 

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SBA Surety Bond Program 101
SBA Georgia District Office

Surety bonds help small businesses win construction, supply, and service contracts. If you’ve been in business less than three years, you have a desire to increase your current contract bonding capacity or you have no prior bonded work experience, you don’t want to miss this webinar.  This webinar will enhance your knowledge of the SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program. 

Tuesday, August 6, 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE
 

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Access to Capital: How to Master the Loan Application
Small Business Development Center

In today’s dynamic business landscape, securing the right funding is crucial for growth and sustainability. This specialized course is designed to empower small business owners with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complex world of loan applications successfully.

Wednesday, August 7, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET REGISTER HERE
 

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Contract Readiness: Opening the Doors of Opportunities for Hispanic Small Businesses
Small Business Development Center

This program is designed to prepare you for higher levels of growth, through hands-on instructions and support to help you win government contracts.

Thursday, August 8, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE
 

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Start Up Business – Financial Plan  
SCORE North Metro Atlanta

Is your business idea profitable? Financial Planning provides the answer. In this Live Online Workshop you will learn about the key financial statements needed to run your business profitably.

Friday, August 9, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE
 

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The Art of Grant Writing
SCORE North Metro Atlanta

Learn to write your own grant proposal! This Live Online Workshop is a crash course in grant-writing where you will receive step by step guidance for preparing each section of your proposal – including your budget!  We’ll share examples so that you will see exactly how this can be done simply!  

Tuesday, August 13, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE
 

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An Overview of SBA Certifications for Small Business
SBA Georgia District Office

The federal government uses special programs to help small businesses win at least 23% of all federal contracting dollars each year. Is your small business looking to win federal prime awards and subcontracts? Learn how SBA Contracting Assistance Programs can help: WOSB, EDWOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, SDVOSB, 8(a), SDB.

Wednesday, August 14, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE

 

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Keys to Financial Success: SBA Business Loan Requirements
SBA Georgia District Office

This workshop will cover the SBA’s 7(a) loan program eligibility requirements and credit criteria to accommodate a *wide range* of financing needs.

Thursday, August 15, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE
 

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Intellectual Property – What it is and Why it’s Important
SCORE North Metro Atlanta

This workshop reviews the importance of Intellectual Property, provides an overview of the various forms of Intellectual Property: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and recommends how to protect your unique ideas.

Friday, August 16, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET REGISTER HERE