Category: Home

US Travel Market Looks Sunny for Next 5 Years

US Travel Market to Return to Record Levels As a Canadian, I still find the US the most compelling place to visit. Even up against the splendor of the Alps, Spanish Beaches, France architecture and history, the azure Mediterranean Sea, and mysterious Asia, the US is comfortable, fun and accessible. Now in the midst of…

To read all of JAMES Magazine Online’s daily news, SUBSCRIBE HERE. *Subscription includes a complimentary subscription to JAMES Magazine.

An Alpharetta restaurant was the venue yesterday for a Fulton County Republican Women’s luncheon featuring President-elect Donald Trump’s newly designated “border czar” Tom Homan. The former acting Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) director, introduced by the GOP club’s president and attorney Courtney Kramer, began by saying that in January he’ll have a White House office and will be “reporting directly to the president to implement his three big goals.”

The “three main priorities,” Homan emphasized, are: “Secure the border. Run the biggest illegal immigrant deportation program in U.S. history and locate 330,000 missing children who illegally entered the country. And I guarantee you some of these children are victims of sex trafficking and forced labor. They will be hard to find but we must rescue them and get them back to their families.”

“If we don’t do a historic deportation effort we send the wrong message to the whole world. Workplaces are a magnet for illegal immigration,” he continued in a brief interview with this writer. “We will have workplace raids. They are places where we have human and labor trafficking. We are going to put a stop to children working in these conditions.”

Going after criminal gangs, he says, are especially important. When asked if Atlanta would be a target to locate and deport gang members,” Homan agreed the city would be part of the operation plan. He specifically mentioned targeting the vicious Venezuelan illegal immigrant gang Tren de Aragua, which has now appeared in metro Atlanta. “My gang is bigger than theirs!” Homan summed up the operation, declaring that “every major city in the country will be a target” for raids by ICE teams to arrest and deport illegals.

When told that several Georgia sheriffs say that their local jails are about filled to capacity, Homan replied “we have a backup plan.” “We can use federal land and miliary bases (for detention centers) — and we have used them before. We’ll need money from Congress for this… but the president can also shift money from other funds to get started. I have faith that Congress will do the right thing. No one should be against this operation. Public safety and national security threats should be prioritized,” he said. “Congress will see we are first going after the worst of the worst. I think it will do the right thing (regarding funding).”

He was asked about targeting so-called “sanctuary areas” like Athens-Clarke County in Georgia. Homan replied that if officials oppose ICE coming in and arresting wanted illegal immigrant criminals for deportation, then the officials could be subject to arrest. “I won’t arrest anyone unless they violate the law. If you impede us as a local official, that’s a problem. Harboring illegal aliens is a felony. I have no problem arresting anyone who crosses that line.”

Homan attacked the Mexican cartels that are especially funneling the deadly drug fentanyl to every part of the U.S., saying thanks to “the Biden-Harris deliberate open borders policy Mexican cartels kill more Americans than all the terrorist attacks.” He vowed to “wipe the cartels off the face of the earth.”

The veteran law enforcement office, who Trump asked to come out of retirement to be the “czar,” also declared that the current policy of “catch and release” of illegals “ends on day one.”

A poll of Georgia voters conducted after last month’s elections showed a high level of confidence in the voting process.

According to the survey of 1,541 Georgians who voted in the presidential election, 98% said they didn’t experience any problems casting a ballot. In addition, 98.5% said they felt safe casting their ballot, and 98.3% gave poll workers high marks for their performance.

“These results show what we’ve been saying all along: Georgia elections are secure and accessible,” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said. “We appreciate the hard work that Georgia’s 159 election directors did to make it a success.”

The poll, released on Monday, also found that 96.2% of voters surveyed reported a positive experience while voting, while 93.9% said they found it easy to cast a ballot.

Nearly 81% of voters experienced a wait time of less than 10 minutes.

The survey also found that early voting in person has become highly popular in Georgia. Nearly 78% of voters surveyed said they cast their ballots early in person, while only a little more than 17% said they voted on Election Day.

Not surprisingly, there were some partisan differences in responses to the poll questions. Only 33.9% of self-identified Democrats said they were “very confident” that the votes in Georgia were counted as the voters intended, compared to 59% of self-identified Republicans.

GOP activists charged widespread voter fraud in Georgia four years ago, when Democrat Joe Biden became the first Democrat to carry the state since 1992, allegations that were dismissed by various courts. But GOP voters showed more confidence in the voting process after former President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia last month.

The poll was conducted by the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs.

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.

Governor Brian P. Kemp, chair of the Southern Regional Education Board, announced today the formation of a commission bringing together leaders from across the south to improve education pathways that lead to valuable credentials and rewarding careers. Governor Kemp will chair the Commission on Career Pathways and Credentials, and the body of subject matter experts intends to make policy recommendations in late 2025.

“With the South experiencing incredible economic and population growth, one of the biggest challenges we currently face is preparing the next generation of workers for success in the ever evolving job market,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “By bringing together leaders from across industries in the south, we can better align our efforts to equip citizens with the right skills and knowledge to thrive in and beyond the classroom.”

“Every student and adult needs to be able to see clearly how to get where they want to go,” said Dale Winkler, SREB senior vice president for school improvement, who staffs the commission. “Employers need credentials valued by local industries, and seamless career pathways will connect those with education from K-12 through postsecondary and the workforce.”

“The goal is to bring us all together behind the north star of aligning education with the needs of our workforce,” said SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt. “This is complex work beyond the ability of K-12, higher education, adult education, or workforce agencies to do alone.”

The Commission on Career Pathways and Credentials includes members from each of SREB’s 16 member states, including officials and staff from governors’ offices and state agencies, K-12 superintendents, principals and teachers, postsecondary deans and faculty members, and business leaders. While sharing ideas and experience with one another, the commission members will also review research, data and promising industry best practices.

A framework to connect data, agencies, learning and credentials
The commission’s charge: Create a framework states can use to develop valid and reliable lists of high-demand pathways, priority occupations and the related credentials that are valued by local businesses and industries.

They will develop recommendations for:

Using labor market data to guide decision making.
Designating a state agency or special council to collaborate with employers, secondary and postsecondary education agencies, and workforce investment boards to establish common definitions for high-demand, high-skilled and high-wage careers.
Creating criteria for identifying high demand career pathways and approving industry-certification examinations and technical skill assessments that are part of a system of stackable credentials.

Chris Escobar has been awarded Georgia’s Creative Champion of 2024/2025. The honor was bestowed last night at Georgia Entertainment’s Signature 100 held on Stage 5 of Assembly Studios. Over 600 producers, directors, and entertainment executives in Georgia and beyond were in attendance.

Chris Escobar has been a prominent figure in Georgia’s film and arts community for many years. He is the executive director of the Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) and owner of the historic Tara and Plaza Theatre, the oldest continuously operating cinemas in Atlanta. Under his leadership, the Atlanta Film Society has grown as a major cultural institution, and the Atlanta Film Festival, one of the most prestigious events hosted by the organization, has become a significant platform for filmmakers worldwide.

“We are so honored to recognize Chris for the hard work and passion he has for Georgia,” said Randy Davidson, Founder and CEO of Georgia Entertainment. “In his roles at public, nonprofit and private organizations, he has been one of the most recognized advocates for more opportunities in Georgia’s creative industries.”

At the event, Escobar’s support for education and workforce development in Atlanta and surrounding communities was praised. He was also recognized for his role in attracting Sundance’s interest in moving the annual festival to the Peach State. “Chris has been a unifier and leader in Georgia and around the world,” said Jezlan Moyet, President of Georgia Entertainment. “We are grateful for his commitment and proud to highlight his accomplishments with this recognition as Creative Champion.”

Escobar’s passion extends to preserving historic theaters, as demonstrated by his efforts to revitalize the Plaza Theatre and reopen the Tara Theatre. He is also deeply committed to supporting independent filmmakers and enriching the creative community in Georgia through various educational programs and events.

“I am humbled to receive this award on behalf of everyone who is involved with our organizations and companies from staff to board to investors and everyone in between. Anything I get credit for is really ultimately thanks to hundreds of people that I get to work with,” Escobar said.

To help bolster the independent film community, he has served in various roles in films such as, “Carterland”, a documentary feature about President Jimmy Carter where he served as executive director; “How to Ruin the Holidays”, a holiday film starring Amber Nash where he served as executive director; and “Color Book”, a narrative feature that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival where he served as co-producer.

Escobar is a Georgia State University graduate and has been recognized as one of Atlanta’s most influential leaders, earning accolades like the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40” and was named Most Admired CEO in 2024 by Atlanta Business Chronicle. He is on numerous boards including: Advisory Board for Georgians for the Arts; Mayors Arts Task Force for City of Atlanta; Advisory Board for Rialto Center for the Arts; Board of Visitors for Georgia State University College of the Arts; and the Atlanta Way 2.0 board. His work continues to champion the intersection of art, culture and business in Georgia’s thriving creative economy.

Outstanding Leadership in Business

10 Essential Traits that Mark Outstanding Leaders Talk about leadership might be mundane online, and it might cause business owners to neglect the fundamental power they have to keep their company on the right track. And there’s bigs pressures on small business owners these days, to make the right decisions and take care of everything….

Making More Travelers Connect with your Content

Travelers View a Lot of Content Expedia’s most recent travel market report is a treasure trove of insights for travel startups, travel agency owners, tour operators, hotels, car rental companies and destination marketing companies. One area highlighted in the survey that’s relevant to your business is the sheer amount of time taken and content travel…

Jennifer Gibilterra was promoted to vice president and corporate secretary from her previous position as assistant vice president and corporate secretary. Robert Weatherton, assistant general auditor in Internal Audit, has been promoted from assistant vice president to vice president. Both promotions were effective December 1.

Gibilterra will take on added responsibilities within the People, Culture, and Engagement Division. In particular, she will lead the Bank’s efforts to strengthen and expand organizational agility across the Sixth District. She joined the New Orleans Branch in 1993 as a management associate in the accounting department and held various roles before transferring to the Bank’s Atlanta headquarters in 2004. She has since held positions of increasing responsibility, including roles in the Check Function Office and Supervision and Regulation. Gibilterra earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and philosophy from Loyola University.

Weatherton will continue to oversee all District audit activities, manage department operations, and support the general auditor in fulfilling Bank and System responsibilities. His Atlanta Fed career began in 1997 as a member of the Retail Payments Office. He joined Internal Audit as an auditor in 2011 and has since been promoted to multiple leadership roles. Weatherton holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from East Tennessee State University.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta serves the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which encompasses Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and sections of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. As part of the nation’s central banking system, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta participates in setting national monetary policy, supervises numerous commercial banks, and provides a variety of financial services to depository institutions and the US government.

Industry professionals, researchers and the public will soon have access to the latest in sustainable infrastructure technology with the construction of a green stormwater demonstration site at the University of Georgia Research and Education Garden on the UGA Griffin campus. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 22 with plans to complete several demonstration areas by the end of 2024.

Federally funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the project is led by Rolando Orellana, UGA Cooperative Extension urban water management agent with the Center for Urban Agriculture, and Martin Wunderly, area water agent for UGA Extension’s Northeast District.

“This is a green infrastructure project that will be used as a demonstration site to show what can be done in not only the green industry but also in personal homes,” said Orellana.

Stormwater best practices on display

Bethany Harris, director of the Center for Urban Agriculture, said having the site located on the Griffin campus will yield benefits for both UGA faculty and the community.

“When it comes to green infrastructure, there are so many benefits. With this being a teaching site, we will be able to share these techniques with Extension personnel as well as homeowners,” Harris said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The demonstration site will present nine stormwater best practices, including a green roof display, rain barrels, pervious paver blocks, grass and gravel grids, French drains, bioswale, a rain garden, a cistern with prefilter, and a dry well. Each site will feature a QR code leading to an informational site about the practice on display.

“We want this to be a permanent education tool that will be available for Extension agents to develop programs and highlight the bigger goals that the Center for Urban Agriculture and UGA have with environmental education,” said Orellana. “It will allow us to educate Georgia citizens on how to incorporate green infrastructure practices into their homes.”

Growing environmental research and education

Jeffrey Dean, assistant provost and campus director for UGA-Griffin, said the project, one of the first new projects proposed when he joined the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in January 2023, fits perfectly with UGA’s strategic plan to promote excellence in teaching and learning while strengthening partnerships with communities to grow research and innovation.

“I marvel at how everything has come together,” Dean said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is right in line with the mission of this campus and what it is all about. I couldn’t be happier to add this to the mix in the garden, and I invite everyone to come back as frequently as possible to see everything going on here.”

The UGA Research and Education Garden is a 65-acre facility where visitors can tour themed gardens and active research areas, view turfgrass research plots, and stroll through a growing urban arboretum brimming with native plants. It is free to visit the garden, located at 129 W. Ellis Road in Griffin, which is open to the public on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.