WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Georgia Transportation Update, From Port to Perimeter - Sen. Brandon Beach, Rep. Kevin Tanner, and Griff Lynch, Georgia Port Authority

North Fulton Studio

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WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Georgia Transportation Update, From Port to Perimeter – Sen. Brandon Beach, Rep. Kevin Tanner, and Griff Lynch, Georgia Port Authority

A Georgia transportation update is offered by three key leaders in the state’s effort to keep transportation infrastructure aligned with the state’s economic and business growth. An assessment of how Covid-19 has affected transportation issues was provided as well.

The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. John Ray and North Fulton Business RadioX served as the media sponsor for this event.

Moderator: Samir Abdullahi, Deputy Director of Economic Development at Select Fulton

Samir Abdullahi is Deputy Director of Economic Development at Select Fulton. It is the Fulton County, Georgia’s economic and workforce development initiative that drives collaboration among public and private partners in order to generate inclusive growth, opportunities, and prosperity for the Metro Atlanta region.

Select Fulton does this by fostering the creation of middle and high skill jobs in our key industries, preparing our residents for those opportunities, and accelerating the growth of connected and sustainable commercial development. Additionally, Select Fulton provides collaborative economic development leadership to promote a globally competitive, prosperous, and growing Fulton County economy to improve the wellbeing of our residents and communities.

Senator Brandon Beach, Chairman, Senate Transportation Committee

State Senator Brandon Beach, a Republican, was elected to the Senate in 2013. He represents District 21 which includes portions of Cherokee and Fulton counties. Senator Beach is the Chairman of the Transportation Committee. He is also a member of the Economic Development, Higher Education and Science and Technology committees.

Senator Beach currently serves as the President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, leading the fourth largest chamber in the metro area. Sen. Beach has played an integral role in helping North Fulton grow and prosper in his 24-plus years in Atlanta. During his tenure with the Chamber of Commerce, membership of top level executives and CEO’s (Chairman’s Circle) increased by 60 percent, and commerce retention developed from 67 to 82 percent annually.

Senator Beach served as the Chairman of the Public Private Partnership Committee (P3 Committee). Under his leadership the P3 Committee was able to acquire key local transportation projects approved for Cherokee and North Fulton. Sen. Beach was elected to the Board of the GDOT by state legislators from the 6th Congressional District in 2008. In 2001, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Sen. Beach to the board of Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA). In 2008, he was selected to chair one of GRTA’s most important committees – The Land Development Committee. In this role, Sen. Beach is responsible for leading a review of every significant development brought before the 16-county area that GRTA serves.

Closer to home, Senator Beach is the President, CEO, and one of the founders of the North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID). Under his leadership, the North Fulton CID has invested more than $2 million to help bring more than $30 million in new infrastructure for the District area. Senator Beach is a member of numerous community boards including the Regional Business Coalition, Grady Hospital Board of Visitors, the Greater Metro Atlanta American Heart Association, the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Encore Park and the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau. Senator Beach received an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and a Masters in Business Administration degree from Centenary College. He is also a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute and a former member of the Alpharetta City Council and the Alpharetta Planning and Zoning Commission. He and his wife, Shuntel, have two children and have lived in Alpharetta for the past 24 years

Representative Kevin Tanner, Chairman, House Transportation Committee

Kevin Tanner has spent 27 years in public service. He is serving in his fourth term as a State Representative for District 9, which includes Lumpkin County and parts of Dawson and Forsyth counties.

Kevin currently serves as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee and has been a member of several other committees in the House, including Appropriations, Education, Special Rules, Natural Resources and Intergovernmental Coordination committees. In 2019, he was appointed to serve as the co-chair of the joint Georgia Commission on Freight & Logistics. He has previously served as chairman of the House Commission on Transit Governance & Funding and has served on several special study committees, including chairman of the House Unmanned Aircraft Study Committee.

Each year of his service, Kevin has successfully passed meaningful legislation in the General Assembly. During his first term, he authored legislation that lead to the successful passage of a constitutional amendment relating to brain and spinal injuries. He also worked to create a mental health study committee to begin addressing this critical issue in our state. Additionally, he authored and passed legislation that made it a crime to commit the offense of revenge pornography. During his legislative career, he authored legislation that reformed and increased the level of transparency at the Georgia Parole Board and legislation to create an incentive for employers to assist their employees in obtaining a GED. He also passed legislation that ensures that municipal court judges are able to carry out their duties without political interference and legislation to ensure that local schools involve parents in the adoption of curriculum and textbooks used in schools. Kevin has authored legislation that was signed into law to address the opioid epidemic facing our state. Kevin also authored a major education reform bill designed to help low-performing schools. In doing so, he was able to build a coalition of support from members of both the Democratic and Republican parties and the education community.

A committed family man, Kevin has been married to the former Stacie Pickering for more than 20 years. Stacie is a first grade public school teacher, and they are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters, Kaitlyn, Abbie and Chloe. All three of their daughters attend public school. A man of faith, Kevin serves as a deacon and adult Sunday school teacher at Bethel Baptist Church, where his family has attended church for seven generations.

Griff Lynch, Executive Director, Georgia Ports Authority

**Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports Authority**

Griff Lynch has been Executive Director of Georgia Ports Authority since 2016.

At the Georgia Ports Authority, they are laying the foundation for a future in which Georgia’s deepwater ports are even more powerful engines for economic development.

Infrastructure investment is a vital facet of their mission to accommodate growing trade, empower entrepreneurs and strengthen industries.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.