atl-properties.com

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

Both the House and Senate have introduced legislation that would address the use of school zone speed detection devices. House Bill 225, by Rep. Dale Washburn, R-Macon, would ban school zone speed cameras and would repeal House Bill 978 which passed in 2018 and allowed for the use of cameras in school zones. Senate Bill 75, by Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, puts limited guardrails around the use of speed zone devices.

“It is time to do the right thing and ban these cameras,” said Washburn, who introduced his bill late last week. “While these cameras may have originally been enacted with good intent, the results have shown they do not make school zones any safer. They do not enhance public safety. Instead, they have created an avenue for local governments and out-of-state companies to generate millions of dollars at the expense of everyday Georgians.

“We gave these cameras a chance, and the data has shown they do not do their job. I am grateful to my colleagues in the House who have co-sponsored this legislation, with 100 representatives supporting it. That is more than half of the members of the House,” Washburn added.

HB 225 has been assigned to the Motor Vehicles committee, which has a hearing this morning. However, this bill is not yet listed on the agenda.

The Senate Public Safety Committee held a hearing on Burns’ SB75 Monday afternoon; however, no vote was taken. Committee Chair Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, said the committee is working to make some changes on this bill before a vote is taken.

“This is common sense legislation that deals with school zone speed cameras,” said Burns. “The most important thing we can do is to protect the school children, and this bill does that without using the device to generate funds. This bill puts the focus on school safety but does not take advantage of the public.”

Under the proposed legislation, school zone speed detection devices would only be in operation for two hours at the beginning of the day and two hours at the end of the school day. It also calls for signage to be placed one-half mile prior to the school which shows the driver his current speed and again at one-quarter of a mile.

The Georgia Beverage Association (GBA), alongside its member companies, is excited to introduce the Made to Be Remade initiative, an innovative new campaign aimed at promoting the proper recycling of beverage containers and fostering community-driven efforts to reduce environmental waste. Through collaboration with policymakers, stakeholders, and local organizations, the initiative will raise awareness and inspire greater participation in recycling programs throughout Georgia.

As part of the initiative, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF), a long-standing advocate for environmental preservation, will serve as the campaign’s official sustainability partner in 2025. The foundation will mobilize its statewide network of affiliates, encouraging them to engage in recycling efforts and officially join a coalition. Coalition members will engage in activities such as hosting events, writing letters to the editor, and reaching out to neighbors and local businesses to promote best practices for recycling beverage containers in Georgia.

“Our commitment to a sustainable future is core to the Georgia Beverage Association’s mission,” said Kevin Perry, Georgia Beverage Association President. “We recognize that thriving communities are essential to our business success, and we’re proud to partner with the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation and local leaders to help make our state cleaner and greener.”

To support these efforts, the Georgia Beverage Association is launching a grant program designed to fund recycling and litter reduction initiatives that will have a meaningful impact on local communities. Eligible grant recipients include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and state or local government entities. Grant recipients must demonstrate how they plan to use the funds to promote recycling or anti-littering campaigns and reach a broad audience. Most grants will be $25,000 or less, with potential for larger grants to support special programs.

“We believe that through collaboration and education, we can inspire positive change and empower individuals to take action,” said Natalie Russell-Johnston, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. “Recycling is a key part of our mission, along with reducing waste in the first place, and our network is dedicated to spreading this message and preserving the environment for future generations.”

The Georgia Beverage Association has served Georgia’s refreshing, non-alcoholic beverage industry since 1918, advocating for responsible business practices and supporting environmental sustainability initiatives.

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and educating Georgians to improve and beautify their communities. As a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the Foundation leads over 70 local programs, engaging an average of 100,000 volunteers in their efforts to end littering, promote recycling, reduce waste, and beautify communities..

For more information about the Made to Be Remade initiative and how to get involved, visit https://georgiabev.org/madetoberemade.

Traditional relationship milestones are being reimagined by modern couples. While relationship decisions such as engagements and moving in together are most familiar, a new Nationwide survey has found that shared insurance policies are emerging as a key symbol of trust and commitment as 42% of respondents view sharing an insurance policy as the modern equivalent of tying the knot, offering both practical financial benefits and emotional significance. The survey, conducted among 1,000 U.S. renting couples highlights how joint insurance policies are redefining modern relationships. 

“Couples today are rethinking how they define commitment,” said Michael Moore, Nationwide’s VP of Business Optimization. “Shared insurance policies not only provide practical benefits but also symbolize a deep level of trust and collaboration. This survey highlights the need to help couples take full advantage of these opportunities.”

Redefining Commitment Through Insurance
Shared insurance policies are increasingly reshaping traditional markers of commitment. Nearly one-third (29%) of renting couples place sharing an insurance policy on the same level as major steps like moving in together (35%), emphasizing its growing importance in modern relationships. This sentiment is further underscored by the following: 

• 35% of respondents say signing up for joint insurance is a bigger step than saying “I love you” for the first time or moving in together.

• 4 in 10 respondents say sharing a joint policy with their partner is most like sharing a streaming password or adopting a pet together.

• 26% of renting couples say sharing a policy makes it harder to break up.

Merging Financial and Emotional Priorities
Almost all couples (89%) agreed that discussing insurance is an important part of financial planning with a partner. When examining their motivations, couples prioritize joint insurance policies for several reasons:  

• Asset protection (73%), and financial savings (69%) were the top drivers among all couples sharing policies.

• 62% believe shared policies are a meaningful way to deepen their relationship and display trust or commitment. 

Education Gaps and Misconceptions Persist
Although joint insurance policies are being used to deepen and redefine modern relationships, a lack of knowledge prevents some from fully leveraging the benefits of this milestone. Less than half of renting couples surveyed reported they were unaware that having a joint policy could provide lower premiums, increased coverage limits and a simpler claims process, emphasizing the importance of education and awareness about the benefits of having a shared policy. Despite the benefits, many couples remain unaware and misinformed of the full value of joining their insurance to a single policy that would cover both (or multiple) vehicles and named drivers. 

The survey underscores a critical need for better awareness about how insurance works.

• Nearly 30% of respondents admit they don’t know enough about the benefits of sharing an insurance policy.

• Almost 20% of renting couples erroneously believe you can only drive the car in your name under a joint auto policy.

• Common myths persist, like believing joint insurance requires a joint bank account (17%) or that you need to be married (16%). 

“As modern relationships evolve, couples are seeking ways to merge emotional and financial commitments,” said Moore. “A joint insurance policy represent a practical yet deeply symbolic step forward. Nationwide remains dedicated to empowering couples with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their futures while strengthening their partnerships.” 

Nationwide’s Commitment to Couples Nationwide is committed to supporting couples as they navigate important financial milestones. Insurance companies and states might have different rules for when couples can share insurance policies, the best way to learn about what’s available to you is to talk to your agent. Independent insurance agents are the best resource for guidance and personalized solutions tailored to a couple’s unique needs, helping to protect what matters most while building a secure financial future together, learn more. 

Optomi Professional Services (OPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Carey Luhn as the organization’s Vice President of Strategic Accounts. In this role, Luhn will be responsible for creating development strategies aligned to enterprise partners with a focus on growing adoption of the unified suite of OPS service offerings.

Luhn joins OPS with a proven track record of success in building strong client relationships, exceeding sales targets, and delivering tailored solutions that address complex business challenges. Her data-driven approach will be instrumental in achieving key organizational goals for OPS and partners alike.

“We are thrilled to welcome Carey to Optomi Professional Services,” said Chief Revenue Officer, Blake Guyton. “Carey’s skill set perfectly aligns with our strategic goals of delivering exceptional value to our clients across all service channels. Her experience driving impactful results, combined with her passion for client advocacy, makes her the ideal addition to our team. I’m confident that Carey’s expertise will be instrumental in accelerating our growth as an organization and expanding our market reach.”

With over a decade of experience driving revenue growth and operational efficiency for enterprise organizations, Carey is a seasoned client partner and sales leader. She will work closely with executive leadership across the OPS portfolio while leading and collaborating with sales teams to develop new strategies and identify industry trends that are impacting key OPS partners.

“I’m incredibly excited to join OPS,” says Luhn. “The alignment between the company’s mission closely reflects my own values – a commitment to positively impact our local communities and drive business growth. This, combined with the clear opportunity to scale Optomi and Provalus while offering more holistic services to our customers and partners, makes this the perfect time for me to contribute to the organization’s success.”

ABOUT OPTOMI PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Optomi Professional Services (OPS) is a 100% U.S.-based firm dedicated to providing skillset-focused support through three service channels: talent, professional, and managed services. Collectively, our partners are provided with a comprehensive suite of services to fuel their technology initiatives through our two brands, Optomi and Provalus. Founded with a mission of giving back, we strive to make a positive impact on our consultants, clients, and communities.

Peachtree Group (“Peachtree”), a diversified commercial real estate investment platform, deployed $1.6 billion in credit transactions in 2024, marking a 54% increase from 2023. This growth highlights Peachtree’s reach in private credit lending and its ability to provide financing solutions across multiple property types, including hospitality, multifamily, industrial and specialty assets

Founded in 2007, Peachtree has evolved into a vertically integrated investment firm, strengthening its ability to source, underwrite and manage assets. Since 2010, it has played a key role in expanding private credit in commercial real estate, supporting hotels and other commercial real estate sectors. Through strategic growth, the firm has deepened its leadership and expertise, accelerating expansion in commercial real estate lending.

The majority of Peachtree’s 2024 credit investments were concentrated in the hospitality and multifamily sectors, with $876 million and $392.3 million in transactions completed, respectively. The remaining $297.4 million was strategically deployed across industrial, land, mixed-use, retail, office and single-family residential asset classes, reinforcing Peachtree’s commitment to a diversified lending strategy.

“As we reflect on 2024, we executed a record level of transactions while expanding our lending platform to serve a broader range of commercial real estate asset classes,” said Greg Friedman, CEO and managing principal of Peachtree. “Looking ahead, we expect outsized growth by leveraging our private credit lending programs and launching additional initiatives to address underserved niches in the market.”

Since strengthening its credit team, Peachtree has executed more than $1 billion in commercial real estate transactions, underscoring its reach and execution capabilities in a challenging lending environment.

“With sustained high interest rates, reduced bank lending and $4.5 trillion in U.S. commercial real estate debt maturing by 2028, the need for alternative financing solutions is more critical than ever,” said Daniel Siegel, president and principal, CRE at Peachtree. “At Peachtree, we help borrowers navigate rising capital costs and liquidity constraints by offering flexible financing solutions across multiple asset classes.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association recognized Peachtree as the seventh-largest investor-driven commercial real estate lender in the U.S., further solidifying its position as a top-tier financing partner.

Parker’s Kitchen, an award-winning convenience store chain with more than 94 locations in Georgia and South Carolina, has selected NCR Voyix Corporation (NYSE: VYX), a leading global provider of digital commerce solutions, to enhance its customer experience with state-of-the-art self-checkout technology. By working with the top supplier of self-checkout solutions globally, Parker’s Kitchen is redefining convenience, speed and efficiency to enhance customer service.

Parker’s Kitchen, which offers Southern-inspired food, high-quality products and superior customer service, is using NCR Voyix self-checkout technology at 62 sites with plans to expand to more locations in the coming years.

“NCR Voyix self-checkout has allowed Parker’s Kitchen to optimize the guest shopping experience, especially during peak shopping times,” said Scott Smith, Senior Director of IT at Parker’s Kitchen. “Our team members can assist three customers at once, rather than one, resulting in faster checkout times and more efficient service.”

Some of the benefits of adding NCR Voyix self-checkout to Parker’s Kitchen include:

• Enhanced speed and efficiency – Allowing customers to complete their transactions quickly and independently.

• Easy to use – A user experience that is familiar to guests.

• Multiple payment options – Ensuring all customers can transact at the self-checkout as they wish.

• Seamless integration – Integrating easily into the company’s existing infrastructure, without disruption to the store flow.

• Store team efficiency – Enabling team members to monitor and assist several customers simultaneously.

“Parker’s Kitchen is redefining what convenience fuel retail looks like,” said Eric Schoch, Executive Vice President and President of Retail at NCR Voyix. “Parker’s is fulfilling consumer demand for things like fresh food, a robust beverage selection and elevated quick gifts, all while deploying technology to create a frictionless experience. The addition of our self-checkout technology will further help Parker’s Kitchen meet customer needs and optimize operations.”

Discover how NCR Voyix is shaping the future of retail technology, helping retailers leave complexity behind and run the store seamlessly.

 Vaycaychella, Inc. (OTC Pink: VAYK) (“VAYK”) management announced today that the company is projected to report approximately $700,000 in revenue for the year 2024, with an estimated net profit of approximately $150,000.

This marks the second consecutive year of profitability since the new management team took over in 2023.  The management team cautions that this revenue and profit projection is based on current knowledge, and the actual results reported in the annual financial statements may differ substantially from this projection.

“In the year 2024, we have divested our legacy assets, commenced operations of our first Airbnb property, and renewed our joint venture agreement to develop the prominent landmark Rufus Rose House into a highly sought-after Airbnb property in downtown Atlanta,” said Stephanie Anderl, Interim CEO of Vaycaychella. “Additionally, we concluded the acquisition of an engineering and construction company to serve as our in-house renovation team for short-term rental properties.”

“We are pleased with our achievements and are confident in making further progress in 2025,” Anderl added.

The company has announced that it is working to launch a disruptive business model in the short-term rental industry.  The new business model will integrate real estate development, financial engineering, social accountability, and AI-based short-term rental management.

Besides this new initiative, Anderl hinted that the company is working with a Singapore-based technology consulting firm on the feasibility of reviving its proprietary APP, which provides transaction services backed by crypto-currency technologies. 

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies’ contracts, the companies’ liquidity position, the companies’ ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.

VAYK Contact: Contact@Vaycaychella.com; +1 470-804-7144

 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vayk-project-700k-2024-revenue-with-150k-net-profit-302369274.html

For over a decade, Georgia has been ranked as the “#1 State for Business” by Site Selection Magazine. This incredible distinction is more than just a trophy on a shelf, it’s provided state leaders and economic developers the opportunity to recruit new businesses to the Peach State.

While various industries like entertainment, cybersecurity, aerospace, and agriculture have experienced incredible growth in Georgia, auto manufacturing, specifically in the electric vehicle (EV) space, is the headline story. 

Over $27.3 billion in electric vehicle investments have been announced in Georgia since 2018. With companies like Hyundai, Kia, and Rivian choosing to build electric vehicles in the state, Georgia is vying to become what Governor Brian Kemp calls the “electric mobility capitol of the United States.”

To earn that lofty title, federal and state leaders have worked in coordination to support not only the manufacturers and their suppliers, but also the infrastructure and ecosystem required. Georgia is sixth in the nation for public EV charging stations, offering more than 1,500 individual outlets, equating to more outlets per capita than anywhere in the Southeast.

On the local level, there’s also a movement afoot to build on this momentum and add electric buses to the fleet of vehicles that ferry young Georgians to and from school. 

In December of 2024, I was honored to join with fellow elected officials, school system leadership, and members of the media to celebrate an important milestone in our community. Thanks to the hard work of our School Superintendent and her team, Wilkes County became the first school system to have an “All-Clean School Bus Fleet.”

While this event was a celebratory day for Wilkes County School System leaders, Blue Bird Corporation, and Highland Electric Fleets, who all worked in conjunction to launch the clean fleet, the real winners here are the students, their parents, and rural Georgia.

Electric school buses eliminate student, driver, and community exposure to diesel fumes, which have been linked to childhood asthma and respiratory illnesses. According to research, students who ride a diesel bus have 16% more exposure to inhaled Nox and pollution, and a 7% increase in the risk of asthma.

These health-related concerns have an impact in the classroom as well. Diesel fumes, by extension, drive absenteeism, which leads to a reduction in learning and undermines academic potential and success. Even worse, the data shows that the negative impact of standard diesel school buses is more pronounced in historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.

Adopting electric school buses is financially prudent as well. Volatile diesel prices wreak havoc on local school budgets, leading to tax increases or austerity cuts. Electric school buses restore balance to transportation budgets with predictable energy prices, reliable performance, and long-term cost savings.

Electric school buses are the next step forward to becoming the “electric mobility capitol of the U.S.”. But more importantly, the embrace of this innovation in rural Georgia will improve the healthcare and educational outcomes of students here in Wilkes County and beyond.

With electric school buses, we can keep moving rural Georgia forward while putting students first. It’s a “win-win” investment that future generations will also appreciate and applaud.

Bruce Bailey is the Mayor of Washington, GA.  

15 Exquisite Luxury Villa Resorts in the Caribbean

15 Caribbean Luxury Villa Resorts You Must Know About The Caribbean islands have long been synonymous with effortless indulgence—a place where the rhythmic murmur of the waves and the golden embrace of the sun set the stage for an lifestyle of refined tranquility. Beyond its postcard-perfect beauty lies an exclusive world tailored for the discerning…

Selling Caribbean Luxury Vacations

A Lucrative Caribbean Luxury Travel Market Enterprising travel business owners are waking up to a healthy, promising business opportunity in the Caribbean market. Interest in the region as a destination grows due to the strength of the US dollar and as wealthy Americans experience financial growth in 2025. The U.S. luxury travel market is currently…