Atlanta, GA – November 2, 2017 – The official launch of Capital Analytics annual business review, Focus: Atlanta took place on November 2 at the Hilton Downtown. The yearly business guide reviews the business climate of metro Atlanta, analyzing the area’s top industries and interviewing leading local CEOs. The 160 plus page report is Atlanta’s first comprehensive yet concise view of the region’s ever-diversifying economy.
Following a short networking breakfast, Kasim Reed, mayor of Atlanta, gave a keynote address that highlights some of the major achievements of Atlanta’s economy over the past 12 months. “Despite economic recessions and financial struggles, Atlanta has never been more economically healthy and its future never so bright,” he said. This was followed by two panels discussing some of the key issues currently facing the area.
The two panels discussed major themes currently dominating Atlanta’s economy. The first panel discussed Atlanta’s growing international reach. The panel was moderated by David Lanier, managing director of CBRE Atlanta, and panelists were Roosevelt Council, general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Hala Moddlemog, president and CEO of Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Steve Koonin, CEO of the Atlanta Hawks. Roosevelt commented on the airport’s five runways’ ability to maintain a plane arriving or departing every 1.5 minutes, enabling ease of business travel. Moddlemog furthered Roosevelt’s thoughts by pointing out that Georgia’s effective tax rate i s80% while Texas’s is 94%. To paint that picture further, Koonin recounted how it is six times more expensive to run a music studio in NYC than Atlanta.
The second panel discussed Atlanta’s growth as a technology hub. The panel was moderated by John Wright, managing partner of Northwestern Mutual, and panelists were Larry Williams, CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia, Barry McCarthy, executive vice president and Head of Network and Security Solutions of First Data, and Jeffrey Stepakoff, Executive Director of the Georgia Film Academy. Unique developments within technology, fintech and film are propelling Atlanta to the foreground, McCarthy pointing out that Atlanta is the world’s sleeping giant for payments and transactions. Williams looked at Atlanta in the historical sense and how Atlanta has intentionally enabled the city’s strengths to grow and prosper.
The event was attended by over 200 high-level businessmen, consul generals and city officials from some of Atlanta’s key industries and economic institutions.
Abby Melone, president of Capital Analytics, said, “Metro Atlanta is an exciting market for the region and has an impressive global impact. It is also striking how committed and enthusiastic leaders from across all economic sectors are. Capital Analytics is very excited to be launching our first Atlanta edition, and we look forward to coming back next year.”
The books are sold at $159 for a physical copy and $129 for digital.
