MARTA Archives - Business RadioX ®

MARTA’s Transformation and Future Growth in North Fulton, with MARTA’s Freda Hardage and Jennifer Larosa

February 25, 2025 by John Ray

MARTA's Transformation and Future Growth in North Fulton, with Freda Hardage and Jennifer Larosa, MARTA, on the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

North Fulton Studio

MARTA's Transformation and Future Growth in North Fulton, with MARTA's Freda Hardage and Jennifer Larosa

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MARTA’s Transformation and Future Growth in North Fulton, with MARTA’s Freda Hardage and Jennifer Larosa (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 104)

In this episode of the GNFCC 400 Insider, host Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, discusses the significant developments in the North Fulton transit system with Freda Hardage and Jennifer Larosa from MARTA. They delve into the new fleet of CQ 400 train cars, upcoming improvements in rail stations, and the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit routes. They also highlight the importance of transit investments for economic growth and how MARTA is preparing for the expected population increase. The conversation covers partnerships with GDOT and legislative initiatives aimed at enhancing MARTA’s service and safety features.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Freda Hardage, Director, MARTA

Freda Hardage, MARTA — **Freda Hardage**

Freda Hardage is a prominent figure in Atlanta’s healthcare and public transportation sectors. She currently serves as the Chair of the MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) Board of Directors, a position she was elected to in December 2018. Hardage has been a member of the MARTA board since 2013, when she was appointed by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

With over 30 years of experience in healthcare, Hardage has had a distinguished career at Northside Hospital. She held the position of Director of Foundation Services for the Alpharetta Medical Campus at Northside Hospital. Her background as a registered nurse, with a BSN from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has informed her multidisciplinary approach to healthcare systems.

Hardage’s community involvement extends beyond her roles at MARTA and Northside Hospital. She has been recognized for her contributions to the Johns Creek community, where she resides. In 2023, she was honored as one of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) Women of Excellence Award winners for her service projects and community leadership.

Her professional network includes positions such as Director/Board Member at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, showcasing her commitment to local business development. Hardage’s leadership at MARTA comes at a crucial time for the region’s transit development, as she has expressed enthusiasm for working with current partners and potential new jurisdictions to expand MARTA’s services.

Hardage’s career exemplifies a dedication to public service, healthcare advancement, and community development in the greater Atlanta area. Her diverse experience in both the public and private sectors positions her as a key figure in shaping the future of Atlanta’s transportation and healthcare landscapes.

Jennifer Larosa, Sr. Director of Government Affairs, MARTA

Jennifer Larosa, MARTA — **Jennifer Larosa**

Jennifer Larosa is a seasoned professional in government affairs and public policy, currently serving as the Senior Director of Government & Community Affairs at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). She joined MARTA in February 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience in transit and legislative affairs.

Prior to her current role, Larosa worked as a lobbyist for MARTA while employed at Ohio River South and McGuire Woods Consulting. Her career is marked by significant achievements in transit and funding legislative successes. Notably, she played a key role in creating Georgia’s first dedicated funding source for transit capital projects and establishing the Transit Trust Fund.

Larosa’s educational background includes degrees from Georgia State University and the University of Georgia, following her undergraduate studies in her native Louisiana. Her expertise extends beyond her work at MARTA; she has also served as the Vice President for State & Local Government at Ohio River South and has been a board member for Advance Atlanta.

In her current position at MARTA, Larosa is responsible for maintaining a visible presence at the State Capitol, fostering positive relationships with political and community stakeholders, and working to secure necessary funding for the transit authority. Her role is crucial in advancing MARTA’s interests at local, state, and federal levels, particularly given the authority’s reliance on federal and state funding support for system improvements and expansion.

MARTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is the primary public transportation provider in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Established in 1971, MARTA operates a comprehensive network of bus and rail services, serving Fulton, Clayton, and DeKalb counties, with limited bus services extending into Cobb County. The system includes 48 miles of rail track with 38 stations and over 110 bus routes, making it the eighth-largest rapid transit system in the United States by ridership.

MARTA’s mission is to advocate for and provide safe, multimodal transit services that enhance prosperity, connectivity, and equity across the region. It plays a crucial role in economic development through Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) initiatives, fostering walkable communities around its stations. MARTA is governed by a 15-member board of directors and employs over 4,500 people, relying on fares and sales tax for its operating revenues. Despite being a major transit system, MARTA is unique in not receiving state funding.

In addition to its core services, MARTA offers paratransit services for disabled customers and is expanding its fleet with environmentally friendly buses. The organization continues to evolve, with ongoing projects like the MARTA Rapid Summerhill bus rapid transit line, set to launch in late 2025, and Bus Rapid Transit routes coming to North Fulton.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to the GNFCC 400 Insider
00:37 Meet the Guests: Freda Hardage and Jennifer Larosa
02:13 Exciting News: MARTA’s New Train Fleet
06:12 Enhancing MARTA Stations
07:59 Future Growth and Economic Impact
11:18 Legislative Efforts and BRT Initiatives
18:07 MARTA’s Plans for North Fulton’s 400 Corridor
20:27 The Importance of MARTA to the Community
25:00 Conclusion and Contact Information

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) — **Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), and the host of the show is 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 1,400 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.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their 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 more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

GNFCC 2023 Women of Excellence Award Winners: Toseima Jiles, CAI Business Group, and Freda Hardage, Northside Hospital

May 25, 2023 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

GNFCC 2023 Women of Excellence Award Winners: Toseima Jiles, CAI Business Group, and Freda Hardage, Northside Hospital

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GNFCC 2023 Women of Excellence Award Winners: Toseima Jiles, CAI Business Group, and Freda Hardage, Northside Hospital (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 85)

This episode of the GNFCC 400 Insider celebrates two of the Women of Excellence Award winners: Toseima Jiles owner of CAI Business Group and Freda Hardage, Community Liaison for Northside Hospital.

They each talked about their path to their chosen fields, some of the challenges they encountered, the ways they empower and encourage other women, lessons they would pass along, and much more. Congratulations to these Women of Excellence award winners!

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Woman of Excellence – Rising Star Award

Toseima Jiles, Founder and Owner, CAI Business Group

Toseima Jiles is a Consultant with CAI Business Group; the parent company of multiple business entities since 1991. Toseima has dedicated her life to the love of the arts and alongside the pursuit of that passion, business and arts consulting have comfortably landed as her metaphoric equivalent of superstar ‘Beyonce’ and ‘Sasha Fierce’. In other words, Toseima has accepted the fact that providing the experience of both has afforded a great opportunity to impact the lives of people in an authentic and unique way.

Knitting together the benefit of literary, visual, and performing arts to effectively teach life skills to children and offer creative solutions for business owners and management teams to increase profits is essential.

Hundreds of companies over the years have been helped, consulted, and inspired to produce more tangible results within their goals! We are proud to recognize the unique aspects of CAI Business Group within a diverse path that offers valuable perspective and insight for our clients. To uplift, edify, and inspire people is a humbling underlying goal.

Choose CAI Business Group because they are passionate about results!

Company website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Woman of Excellence – Living Legacy

Freda Hardage, Community Liaison, Northside Hospital

Freda Hardage has been a successful presence in Johns Creek for many years. Her accomplishments through service projects, community leadership, and her 41-year career at Northside Hospital have reached throughout the region.

For the past 21 years, Hardage managed the Alpharetta Campus for Northside Hospital’s outpatient services. As former Director, Foundation Services and Alpharetta Medical Campus, she oversaw the hospital’s philanthropy and community initiatives as well as managed the Alpharetta campus.

She continues to set the tone for giving back with her involvement in the community, serving on the boards of MARTA, The Drake House, and the Greater North Fulton Chamber.

Company website | LinkedIn

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 more information on other GNFCC events such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

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

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Senator Brandon Beach, North Fulton CID

August 29, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Senator Brandon Beach, North Fulton CID

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North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 505)

Senator Brandon Beach, the Executive Director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID), joined John Ray at the Grand Opening Celebration and shared his reflection on the growth of the Greater North Fulton Chamber, recent North Fulton CID projects, plans for the GA 400 corridor, and more.

This show was originally broadcast live from the Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting of the new offices of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at the 10000 Building at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia, on August 18, 2022.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The North Fulton Community Improvement District (NFCID)

The North Fulton Community Improvement District (NFCID) is a self-taxing district that was formed in 2003 by a group of business leaders committed to maintaining and enhancing the North Fulton community. With the goal of investing in a more vibrant and sustainable North Fulton, the CID advances infrastructure projects that enhance the livability, walkability and drivability of the entire community. The NFCID spans from Mansell Road north to McGinnis Ferry Road, serving as a catalyst for transportation planning, investment and improvement.

Commercial property owners within the District’s boundaries pay a voluntary tax, which funds the NFCID’s efforts. The CID’s mission is to work continuously to improve the economic viability of its district. This includes the development of efficient transportation services, with an emphasis on access, mobility, diversification and modernization.

The NFCID partners with the three cities that fall within its boundaries – Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell – to design and implement projects that improve the community of North Fulton. The NFCID regularly solicits input from its members for new projects and any member can submit requests to the NFCID for consideration.

Since its inception, the NFCID has leveraged more than $22 million to advance more than $116 million worth of transportation and infrastructure improvements. The North Fulton CID is committed to further enhancing the community and improving the quality of life for the nearly 400 property owners along the Georgia Highway 400 corridor and North Fulton’s more than 270,000 employees.

Website

Sen. Brandon Beach, Executive Director, North Fulton Community Improvement District

Brandon Beach was named Executive Director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) in January 2018. Previously, he was President of the North Fulton CID and President & CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Under his leadership, the North Fulton CID has invested more than $20 million to help bring more than $100 million in new infrastructure for the District area. Beach was also elected to the State 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 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. In 2001, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Sen. Beach to the board of the 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. Sen. Beach was elected to the Board of the GDOT by state legislators from the 6th Congressional District in 2008.

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.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

The evolution of GNFCC
Projects from the NFCID
How NFCID is funded
What’s ahead
Public transportation in the metro area

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked-from-scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia

July 27, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia

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Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 77)

Keith Parker, President and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, joined host Kali Boatright to share the tremendous work his organization performs for jobseekers securing employment. Keith shared Goodwill success stories, their specific work in North Fulton, his career journey, which includes a five year stint as CEO of MARTA, and much more.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Goodwill of North Georgia

At Goodwill of North Georgia, their mission is a simple one: they put people to work.

Every day, thousands of men and women face barriers that make it difficult for them to find work and earn a paycheck to support their families. Sometimes it’s lack of training or education, limited job skills, or a disability. But with the support of donors and shoppers like you, Goodwill overcomes those barriers.

At career centers throughout North Georgia, Goodwill offers job-search resources, helps with writing a professional résumé and cover letter, provides access to employment opportunities, delivers hands-on skill training, and so much more.

They provide access to important job search resources like computers, résumé writing tools, local job listings, telephones, and photocopiers. They also host regular recruiting events, employment seminars, and even offer software training. As an extension of their career center services, they launched Career Connector powered by Goodwill of North Georgia, a site that allows you to register online and access job search resources from anywhere.

Their training programs prepare people for careers in a wide array of fields such as retail, financial services, floor technology, healthcare, traditional and green construction, forklift operations, and more.

Think about Goodwill and the good they do the next time you’re deciding what to do with your gently used goods, or even when you’re about to go treasure hunting for a bargain. If you’d like to help them improve our communities, strengthen families, and energize the economy, they welcome your donations and invite you to visit their stores.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Keith Parker, President and CEO, Goodwill of North Georgia

Keith T. Parker is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Goodwill of North Georgia. One of the largest nonprofit organizations in the southeast, Goodwill spans a 45-county territory, operating 60 stores, 58 donation centers, and 13 career centers. Goodwill employs nearly 3,000 people, each of whom plays a direct or supporting role in the organization’s donated goods retail operations and its career services. Annually, Goodwill collects upwards of 2.5 million donations and serves more than 7 million shoppers. Through the revenue generated in its stores, the organization is able to connect tens of thousands of North Georgians to jobs each year. Parker took the helm at Goodwill of North Georgia in October 2017. Prior to transitioning into his leadership role at Goodwill, Parker has served as CEO of the largest transit systems in several cities, including San Antonio, Charlotte and most recently, Atlanta.

Throughout his career, Parker has received numerous awards and accolades for his work as an organizational leader and transportation visionary. He won Texas CEO of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2012. He was recognized as the nation’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in 2015. METRO Magazine named Parker as one of its 20 Most Influential People of the Decade. In 2016, Parker was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). In November the same year, he was named one of eight Public Officials of the Year by Governing magazine. In August 2017, Parker was selected as one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs by Atlanta Business Chronicle.

A native of Petersburg, Virginia, Parker was appointed to the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors by Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2016. Parker received VCU’s Alumni Star Award in 2015.

Parker served on the board of directors for Goodwill of San Antonio and Goodwill of North Georgia. He remains active and engaged in civic and charitable organizations, including service on various national and local boards of directors – such as Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, National Infrastructure Advisory Council, The Eno Center for Transportation, Park Over Georgia 400 Steering Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors, Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems Board of Directors, Grande West Board of Directors and Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Parker holds an MBA from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a BA in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

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

Coping with COVID: Marsha Anderson Bomar with MARTA

July 29, 2020 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Coping with COVID: Marsha Anderson Bomar with MARTA

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This special edition of “TravelSafely with Bryan Mulligan” features the fourth installment of a limited series called “Coping with COVID”. Hosted by Bryan Mulligan, the President of Applied Information, “Coping with Covid” shares the stories and successes of people and organizations during these unprecedented times of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joining Bryan on this installment is Marsha Anderson, General Manager for Capital Program Delivery at MARTA, to discuss how a large transit agency is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marsha Anderson Bomar/MARTA

Marsha Anderson Bomar is the General Manager for Capital Program Delivery at MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) in Atlanta, GA.

Formerly she was the executive director of the Gateway85 Community Improvement District (CID), the largest CID in the state of Georgia, where her focus was on mobility, infrastructure, safety, security, and economic development.

Prior to the CID, she was the founder and president of Street Smarts, a planning, engineering and design firm; and Data Smarts, a data collection and management firm, established in 1990, both of which she sold in 2010. Marsha is an International Past President of ITE and is past Chairman of ITE’s LeadershipITE, Technical Council Design Department, Policy Committee, and Transportation Planners Council. She has been the Chair of the Goods Movement Council and author of the Urban Travel Characteristics chapter of the Transportation Planning Handbook.

About Applied Information

Applied Information is a leading developer of connected, intelligent transportation system (ITS) solutions designed to improve safety, reliability and mobility. Applied Information’s Glance Smart City Supervisory platform allows cities to manage all their traffic and ITS assets on one web-based application. This includes 5 key areas: Traffic Intersections, School Beacons, Parking Guidance System, Mobile Vehicle Assets and ITS devices. AI’s Glance TravelSafely smartphone app connects drivers, cyclists and pedestrians for a safer commute.

CLICK HERE to watch the video of this interview.

Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Sen. Brandon Beach

August 20, 2019 by John Ray

Business Beat

Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Sen. Brandon Beach

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Show Summary

Georgia State Sen. Brandon Beach joins Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat” to talk about the freight and logistics industry in Georgia, growth opportunities with the Port of Savannah and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and more. “Business Beat” is brought to you by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter.

Senator Brandon Beach, Georgia Senate District 21 and Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee

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. Sen. Beach was elected to the Board of the Georgia Department of Transportation by state legislators from the 6th Congressional District in 2008.

Sen. 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.

Frazier & Deeter

The Alpharetta office of Frazier & Deeter is home to a thriving CPA tax practice, a growing advisory practice and an Employee Benefit Plan Services group. CPAs and advisors in the Frazier & Deeter Alpharetta office serve clients across North Georgia and around the country with services such as personal tax planning, estate planning, business tax planning, business tax compliance, state and local tax planning, financial statement reviews, financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, internal audit outsourcing, cyber security, data privacy, SOX and other regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions and more. Alpharetta CPAs serve clients ranging from business owners and executives to large corporations.

Roger Lusby, host of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat,” is an Alpharetta CPA and Alpharetta Office Managing Partner for Frazier & Deeter. He is also a member of the Tax Department in charge of coordinating tax and accounting services for our clientele. His responsibilities include a review of a variety of tax returns with an emphasis in the individual, estate, and corporate areas. Client assistance is also provided in the areas of financial planning, executive compensation and stock option planning, estate and succession planning, international planning (FBAR, SFOP), health care, real estate, manufacturing, technology and service companies.

Find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frazier-&-deeter-llc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrazierDeeter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frazierdeeter

Past episodes of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat” can be found here.

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Kerry Armstrong, Atlanta Regional Commission and Pope & Land Real Estate

July 8, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Kerry Armstrong, Atlanta Regional Commission and Pope & Land Real Estate

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**Geoff Smith and Kerry Armstrong on “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”**

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Kerry Armstrong, Atlanta Regional Commission and Pope & Land Real Estate

Host Geoff Smith speaks with Kerry Armstrong, Chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission, on planning and growth across numerous local jurisdictions in Metro Atlanta, the problem of affordable housing, and other growth issues in Metro Atlanta.

Kerry Armstrong, Atlanta Regional Commission and Pope & Land Real Estate

Kerry Armstrong has served on the Atlanta Regional Commission since 2008, and is currently serving his second term as the ARC Board Chairman. During his tenure on the ARC Board he served on numerous Commission Committees and as Co-Chair of the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board.

Professionally, as a Managing Director – Development & Investment Services Partner with Pope & Land Real Estate, Kerry is involved in the development, marketing, leasing, and management of commercial real estate investments. He joined Pope & Land in 2012, and his commercial real estate career spans three decades. Prior to joining Pope & Land, Kerry worked with Duke Realty Corporation as a Senior Vice President for nearly 22 years where he had a leadership role in building Duke Realty’s Atlanta Office portfolio from around 460,000 square feet in 1990 to more than 4.5 million square feet through development and acquisition.

He is also actively involved in leadership roles in numerous civic, educational, and charitable organizations, including the North Fulton Community Improvement District, the Council for Quality Growth, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” covers all things economic development in the Atlanta Metro area. From everything inside the Beltline to Avalon and beyond, Geoff Smith interviews the movers and shakers making the ATL one of the best places to live, work and play. An archive of past episodes can be found here.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial working with Real Estate agents and homebuyers to help them get happily to their closing table. Geoff is an authority on the latest economic development trends shaping the Atlanta Metro area. His interviews reveal an inside perspective at how things get done in the ATL.

Geoff is an active member of his community serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, as well as holding the position of chairman for the Chamber’s Education Committee. He is also Secretary of the Roswell Youth Baseball Association and coaches his sons in football, baseball and basketball. Geoff enjoys golf, camping and traveling with his wife and two sons. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

“ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®, located inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $12.9 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

May 28, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

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**Geoff Smith and Ann Hanlon on “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”**

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

Host Geoff Smith speaks with Ann Hanlon, Executive Director of the Perimeter CIDs, on the history of community improvement districts in Georgia, why they are so important in economic and infrastructure development, and the project priorities for the Perimeter CIDs.

Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

As Executive Director for the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), Ann Hanlon is in charge of the organization’s daily operations, as well as its investments in transportation infrastructure. The Perimeter CIDs have an annual operating budget of $8 million.

Previously, Ann was the Executive Director of the the North Fulton CID for 12 years, beginning when it was a start-up. Prior to joining the North Fulton CID, Ann served as a Senior Program Specialist at the Atlanta Regional Commission. She began her career in the private sector, as a Research and Development Analyst with Press Ganey & Associates, a healthcare consulting firm in South Bend, Indiana.

A native of South Georgia, Ann received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Government and Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters of Public Administration degree in Management and Finance from Georgia State University.

Ann was honored as the “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar Atlanta Chapter in November 2016. In April 2015 and again in 2017, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Ann to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority where she serves on the Projects and Planning committees. Ann was named “Business Woman of Excellence” by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce in 2019, selected as one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 under 40” in 2018, named a “Notable Georgian” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2017, one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Women Who Mean Business” in 2015 and as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 under 40” in 2012.

Ann is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute of the Atlanta Regional Commission (2010) and Leadership North Fulton (2006). She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth and will be the Council’s first female Chairman in 2019. Additionally, Ann serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s’ Transportation Seminar, Atlanta Chapter, the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce, and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. She has been a citizen member of the “Shape Dunwoody” Comprehensive Plan committee, the North Fulton Poverty Task Force and was Co-Chair of the DeKalb County Charter Review Commission. She is a Chairman’s Circle member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Chamber.

Personally, Ann is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Metro Atlanta, a member of All Saints Catholic Church and a sustainer with the Junior League of Atlanta. She lives in Dunwoody with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Catherine.

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Georgia Sen. Brandon Beach

April 29, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Georgia Sen. Brandon Beach

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**Geoff Smith and GA Sen. Brandon Beach on “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”**

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Ga. Senator Brandon Beach

Host Geoff Smith speaks with Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach on the process of improving transportation infrastructure in the state, how drivers of economic development has changed in recent years, the importance of transportation in economic development, and creating better coordination across local jurisdictions in Metro Atlanta.

Senator Brandon Beach, Georgia Senate District 21 and Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee

Senator Brandon Beach was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2013. He represents District 21 which includes portions of Cherokee and Fulton counties. Senator Beach is the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He is also a member of the Economic Development, Higher Education and Science and Technology committees. Sen. 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 named Executive Director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) in January 2018. Previously, he was President of the North Fulton CID and President & CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, the North Fulton CID has invested more than $20 million to help bring more than $100 million in new infrastructure for the District area.

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

Geoff Smith is the host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith” and a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial. Possessed with a strong passion for helping his community, Geoff works closely with people and their families so they may live comfortably in fantastic homes and neighborhoods in the booming Atlanta area.

MARTA’s Transformation and Future Growth in North Fulton, with MARTA’s Freda Hardage and Jennifer Larosa (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 104)

Freda Hardage, Director, MARTA

Jennifer Larosa, Sr. Director of Government Affairs, MARTA

MARTA

Topics Discussed in this Episode

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

GNFCC 2023 Women of Excellence Award Winners: Toseima Jiles, CAI Business Group, and Freda Hardage, Northside Hospital (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 85)

Woman of Excellence – Rising Star Award

Toseima Jiles, Founder and Owner, CAI Business Group

Woman of Excellence – Living Legacy

Freda Hardage, Community Liaison, Northside Hospital

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Senator Brandon Beach, North Fulton CID (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 505)

The North Fulton Community Improvement District (NFCID)

Sen. Brandon Beach, Executive Director, North Fulton Community Improvement District

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 77)

Goodwill of North Georgia

Keith Parker, President and CEO, Goodwill of North Georgia

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

Show Summary

Senator Brandon Beach, Georgia Senate District 21 and Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee

Frazier & Deeter

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ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Kerry Armstrong, Atlanta Regional Commission and Pope & Land Real Estate

Kerry Armstrong, Atlanta Regional Commission and Pope & Land Real Estate

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: An Interview with Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

Ann Hanlon, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

Geoff Smith, Host of “ATL Developments with Geoff Smith”

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North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 505)