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Metro Atlanta President at United Community Bank Doug Higgins talks about the growth strategy of UCB in metro Atlanta. UCB has the services of a large bank, but with the approach of a community bank.

GEICO is hiring 200 Customer Service Representatives, Sales Representatives, Claims Service Representatives and Emergency Roadside Service Representatives at its Macon regional offices over the next two months. Companywide, the insurer has announced plans to hire 3,000 new associates by the end of the year.  

Applications are being accepted now at GEICO.jobs/macon.

With GEICO’s 7,000 Macon associates working from home, all interviewing, hiring, onboarding and training will be done virtually. New hires will also work remotely until the company transitions associates back to offices.  

GEICO, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, was founded more than 80 years ago and has steadily risen to become the nation’s second-largest auto insurer. President and CEO Todd Combs welcomes candidates to consider joining GEICO and helping the company continue to offer the quality service customers have come to expect.  

“We are incredibly proud to be able to offer career opportunities at a time when many Americans have had their livelihoods taken away by the pandemic,” Combs said. “We are fortunate to be a stable company committed to serving our customers, developing associates and supporting our local communities during this challenging time.” 

GEICO—one of Comparably’s 2019 “Top 50 Large Companies for Perks & Benefits” and Indeed.com’s “10 Highest-Rated Workplaces for Compensation and Benefits”—offers full-time associates its Total Rewards Program, with a wide range of benefits, including health, dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and holidays, parental leave, continuing education and tuition reimbursement. GEICO is a promote-from-within company that offers career growth, a supportive environment and community engagement opportunities. 

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors today adopted the Authority’s fiscal year 2021 Operating and Capital Budget. The nearly $1.2 billion budget includes $557.9 million in operating funds and $599 million for capital programming.

Recognizing that transit will be an integral part of the post-pandemic economic recovery of this country, Congress provided a lifeline in May by including $25 billion in the CARES Act for transit, $298.6 million of which will flow to MARTA. MARTA used $83 million to shore up COVID-related losses in 2020, has earmarked $150 million of those funds for fiscal 2021, and held $65.6 million for fiscal 2022. Any surpluses will be placed in a sales tax reserve, which is expected to reach $272.5 million at the end of fiscal 2021. These reserves will help offset potential deficits through 2025, giving the economy and ridership time to recover.

“This has been an extraordinarily difficult time for transit. We’ve provided safe, essential service while experiencing unprecedented revenue losses,” said MARTA General Manager & CEO Jeffrey Parker. “This budget delivers on the promises in the 15^th Amendment and reflects MARTA’s commitment to state of good repair and expansion while being mindful of future financial impacts of COVID-19.”

Notably, MARTA avoids laying off any employees and will not increase fares in fiscal 2021. MARTA’s almost 3,000 represented employees will receive 3 percent raises as negotiated. Also, in the budget, a $20 million contingency fund to pay for any COVID-related expenses over the next year such as more personal protection equipment and emergency sick leave. As measures of fiscal prudence, MARTA has suspended merit increases for non-represented employees, eliminated vacant positions, and re-doubled efforts to reduce overtime.

“MARTA acted quickly to tighten its belt when the pandemic hit, allowing us to remain fully staffed and operational,” said MARTA Board of Directors Chair Freda Hardage. “Years of sound fiscal decisions, combined with a strong three quarters of fiscal 2019 have allowed us to not only weather this fourth quarter but to make good on our promise to taxpayers eager for current system upgrades and expansion of service and amenities. I am proud to serve with board members who made themselves available to work through this challenging time.”

The MARTA 2040 (previously More MARTA) expansion program will continue to advance. The Authority will invest $20 million in new natural gas-powered and electric buses, new bus transit centers and bus shelters in DeKalb and Clayton Counties and upgraded GPS and computer-aided bus dispatch equipment. MARTA is using the lessons learned from reducing bus routes during the pandemic to evaluate the overall bus network and look for ways to optimize service.

MARTA is finalizing the service plan for bus rapid transit (BRT) on North Avenue, will enter the environmental assessment phase for high-capacity transit in Clayton County, and complete early design work on Summerhill BRT. MARTA will also conduct alignment work on the Campbellton Corridor and Streetcar East Extension projects, along with starting the procurement process for a formal design team to oversee the transformation of Five Points station.

MARTA’s state of good repair capital budget includes over $200 million for improvement projects on the rail system. Sixty-two million will be spent on a systemwide Station Rehabilitation Program that ranges from transformative construction work to restorative touches such as paint, tile, and lighting. The fourth iteration of the Track Renovation Program (TR-IV) in which large sections of aging tracks and track equipment are repaired and replaced is underway. Other rail system projects include a systemwide Elevator and Escalator Rehabilitation Program, tunnel ventilation, Train Control System upgrade, and the first installment of new rail cars.

MARTA will continue to prioritize improving the customer experience as ridership begins to recover after pandemic-related declines of up to 80 percent on rail and 50 percent on bus. This month marked the first meeting of MARTA’s inaugural Riders’ Advisory Council, a 26-member volunteer group that will offer feedback on improving the overall transit experience. Led by MARTA’s first-ever Chief Customer Experience Officer, the council will provide their viewpoints on potential customer impacts of budgeted projects such as rail station enhancements, design of new railcars, and the rollout of digital signage

Other customer-focused initiatives will be introduced, such as Uber vouchers for patrons during planned and unplanned service disruptions. Technology upgrades that will make it easier to use the system, including mobile fare payment and the new audio/video announcement system will be launched. MARTA will also build on its Homeless Outreach Initiative with the creation of dedicated outreach teams comprised of MARTA employees and social service workers to respectfully engage unsheltered individuals on the system and connect them with resources.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms held a press conference in the City Hall atrium on June 15 to discuss the murder of three homeless people and to announce she was signing an administrative order to reform the Atlanta Police Department’s use of force policy.

Three homeless people have been shot to death on the streets of Atlanta in the last two week, possibly by the same subject.

The latest victim was a homeless woman found shot to death inside a tent near Pryor and Rawson streets on Monday morning. Witnesses described the suspect as a black male, approximately 5’10 to 6 feet tall, 170 to 200 pounds, wearing a dark ball cap, dark jeans and long-sleeved white t-shirt.

On June 12, the body of a homeless man was found shot to death under the I-20 overpass in the 300 block of Ted Turner Drive. On June 1, another homeless man was found dead from gunshot wounds on the Baker Highland Connector in Old Fourth Ward.

“We believe the first two incidents are linked and we suspect the third is related,” Bottoms said.

Bottoms said the public was being asked to come forward if they have any information or possible surveillance footage from the areas of the shootings. She said organizations and agencies are warning the homeless to be on “high alert.”

The mayor also announced that she was signing two administrative orders in the wake of the June 12 shooting and killing of Rayshard Brooks by an Atlanta Police Department officer.

The first order addresses APD’s use of force policy and will provide guidance on responding to resistance by a detainee, de-escalating a situation prior to the use of deadly force, and requiring other officers to intervene if they witness another officer using excessive force.

The mayor had already convened a task force to examine APD’s use of force, but said the issue must be addressed immediately. She said police officers should be “guardians not warriors in our communities.”

“It is clear we do not have another day, another hour, another minute to waste,” Bottoms said, reiterating Dr. Martin Luther King’s words that “there is a fierce urgency of now.”

The task force was created just a week ago after a challenge issued by former President Barrack Obama for cities to take a proactive look at use of force policies by their law enforcement agencies. Bottoms said final recommendations from the panel were expected in 45 days.

The mayor also signed another order calling for the creation of a human rights task force for the city “to begin succinctly articulating our grievances” and finding solutions.

Bottoms once again expressed condolences to the family of Rayshard Brooks, who earlier in the day appeared at a news conference to express their grief and urge changes at APD.

“We must all agree to one fact: he was killed by the Atlanta Police Department,” said Brooks’ cousin Tiara Brooks. “The trust that we have with the police force is broken. The only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change with the police department.”

Brooks’ widow, Tomika Miller, thanked the community for their support, but asked that demonstrators to keep protests peaceful. “We want to keep his name positive and great,” she said.

Her call for peaceful demonstrations came after protesters burned down the Wendy’s where the shooting took place.

“That was a minority owned Wendy’s,” Mayor Bottoms said. “Forty people are out of a job and it’s food desert, so it was one of the few places in the area where you could get a sandwich or salad.”

The APD has issued a $10,000 reward for information of a woman dressed in black and wearing a face-covering who they believe started the blaze that destroyed the Wendy’s.

Bottoms became emotional when asked by a reporter about Brooks’ death.

“He probably didn’t want to get locked up over the weekend for something stupid with his daughter’s birthday coming up,” she said. “It didn’t have to end that way. It pissed me off, it makes me sad, and I’m frustrated.”

The mayor said it was up to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard on whether or not to bring charges against former APD officer Garrett Rolfe, who fired the fatal shots that killed Brooks.

Rolfe was terminated and Police Chief Erika Shields resigned over the weekend. Chief Rodney Bryant will serve as the interim chief while the city launches a national search for new leadership.

“I’ve encouraged the DA to look at all the other cases of excessive force sitting on his desk to offer finality to those families as well,” she said.

Brooks, who was father of three young daughters and a stepson, will have his funeral service paid for by movie mogul Tyler Perry.

The post Mayor Bottoms holds press conference on homeless murders, signs order on police use of force appeared first on Atlanta INtown Paper.

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Thousands marched from the Richard B. Russell Federal Building to the State Capitol in the March on Georgia organized by the Georgia NAACP. Coinciding with the reconvening of the General Assembly, which cancelled the session due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the march was in support of repealing the “Citizens Arrest” law, which has been on the books since 1863 and designed to recapture emancipated slaves; repealing the “Stand Your Ground” law; and improving Georgia’s elections.

The Atlanta Police Department arrested 42 people over the weekend in connection with protests against the officer-involved shooting of Rayshard Brooks outside a Wendy’s restaurant on University Avenue on June 12. APD made 36 arrests on Saturday night, the same evening hundreds of protesters blocked traffic on the Downtown Connector and the Wendy’s was set ablaze. On Sunday night, protesters fanned out across the city, including University Avenue, outside the police precinct in Grant Park and on Capitol Avenue, Hank Aaron Drive in the Summerhill neighborhood.

The Atlanta City Council will hold a public listening session on the Fiscal Year 2021 proposed budget Tuesday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. The listening session will be held remotely and provide Atlanta residents, business leaders and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide public comment about the City of Atlanta’s proposed budget. Public comment about the budget can be submitted through voicemail up to one hour before the start of the meeting. The public may leave comment by dialing (404) 330-6090 and leaving a message not to exceed two minutes. The public can access and listen to the session using the conference bridge by dialing (877) 499-2930 and entering ID number 3995242 or 4237466. The meeting will also be simulcast on the Council’s website, YouTube channel, Facebook and Twitter pages, and on Channel 26.

The landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court protecting LGBTQ workers against job discrimination has a metro Atlanta connection. Doraville resident Gerald Bostock was a lead plaintiffs in the case after being fired from his job in Clayton County because he is gay. According to the AJC, Bostock asked the court to find that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects millions of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people across the country from discrimination in the workplace.

The post News Briefs: March on Georgia; 42 arrests during protests; city budget session; SCOTUS protects LGBTQ workers appeared first on Atlanta INtown Paper.

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The Council for Quality Growth will honor Doug Hertz, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Distributors with its 31^st annual Four Pillar Award. The prestigious Four Pillar Tribute recognizes an outstanding individual in the region who demonstrates the ‘Four Pillars’ of leadership – Quality, Responsibility, Vision and Integrity – and exemplifies the Council’s mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth.

Frequently listed as one of Atlanta’s and Georgia’s 100 most influential individuals, Hertz is a native Atlantan attending Westminster High School and then Tulane University, earning his BA in history and MBA in accounting and finance. Hertz has led United Distributors as President and CEO since 1984. In addition to leading one of Georgia’s top rated privately held companies, Hertz serves on the board of countless organizations and businesses. 

“For 30 years, the Four Pillar Award has paid tribute to the best of our region’s public and private sector leaders, including their collaboration to realize metro Atlanta’s full potential,” said Council for Quality Growth President and CEO Michael Paris. “This is a crucial moment to remind ourselves of the importance of such leadership, and we are fortunate this year to be able to hold up the example of Doug Hertz. His philanthropic focus on healthcare, education, the arts and the community – is unmatched.”

Paul Corley, the Council’s 2020 Chairman and Regional President at Empire Communities, also added that, “Doug embodies the Four Pillars of Leadership in such a way that his contributions benefit individuals throughout the entire state of Georgia. We are delighted to recognize Doug with our Four Pillar Award.”

The theme of this year’s Tribute is “Patience and Perseverance” and an esteemed group of Tribute Chairs have assembled to pay tribute to Hertz for his demonstration of the “Four Pillars,” including:

Honorary Co-Chairs

• Arthur M. Blank

• Bernie Marcus

Tribute Chairs

• Paul Bowers, Chairman, President & CEO, Georgia Power

• Shan Cooper, Executive Director, Atlanta Committee for Progress

• Larry Gellerstedt III, Retired Chairman and CEO, Cousins Properties

• Russ Hardin, President, Robert Woodruff Foundation

• Virginia Hepner, Retired President and CEO, Woodruff Arts Center

• Tommy Holder, Chairman and CEO, Holder Construction

• Donna Hyland, President and CEO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

• Hala Moddelmog, CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber

• Pete Moraitakis, President, United Distributors

• David Ratcliffe, Retired Chairman and CEO, Southern Company

• Steve Selig, President and Chairman, Board of Selig Enterprises, Inc.

• Comer Yates, Executive Director, Atlanta Speech School

The Council for Quality Growth is still assessing when and how the 2020 Four Pillar Tribute will be presented. We will make a decision as soon as possible based on the latest best-practices on the safety of social gatherings. The Council is proud to honor Doug Hertz with its Four Pillar Tribute. Sponsorship information is available at www.fourpillartribute.com.

Fulcrum Equity Partners, a leading growth equity firm headquartered in Atlanta, is pleased to announce the promotion of Philip Lewis to partner. Philip joined Fulcrum as an analyst in 2007 and was subsequently promoted to associate in 2009, director in 2012, and principal in 2015.

“We’re proud to announce Philip’s well-earned promotion to Partner,” says Jeff Muir, a founding partner. “Philip has grown tremendously both professionally and personally since he joined the firm in 2007. Philip is an invaluable leader in our firm, from sourcing opportunities to diligence and working with our portfolio company leaders to tackle a wide array of circumstances. It’s been a pleasure watching him accomplish so much, and we look forward to having him as a partner.”

Philip currently serves on the board of directors of Advantum Health, GoPivot, Fattmerchant, LiveSource and Stratasan; he previously served on the Board of ALS Resolvion and MFG.com. Additionally, he has held hands-on operating roles with SaaSOptics and RivalHealth. Philip was the Chairman of Venture Atlanta in 2017 and served on its Board, the Board of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (Durham, NC) and the Technology Association of Georgia’s Corporate Development Society Board. He also founded the Young Southern Capital Forum. Outside of Fulcrum, Philip is a member of the Leadership Council for non-profit Year Up! Atlanta and chaired the steering committee of the NextWave Society at the Georgia Aquarium.

Before joining Fulcrum, he was an Investment Banking Analyst with A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis. Philip received a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Accounting and a minor in Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis.