By Amy Selby
Some of America’s favorite brands were born right here in the Peach City.
In 1886, while much of the nation placed its focus on the construction of the
Statue of Liberty, an Atlanta pharmacist named John Pemberton produced a refreshing
beverage that is known today as the world’s most popular brand, Coca-Cola.
And, 92 years later, two Atlanta businessmen—Bernie Marcus and Arthur
Blank—founded the city’s first do-it-yourself warehouse. Today,
that warehouse has expanded into the world’s largest home improvement
retailer, with $73 billion in sales. You might say, when it comes to doing business,
Atlanta is doing something right.
With the city as a backdrop for the success of the Coca-Cola Company, Genuine
Parts, The Home Depot and Delta Airlines, many other large corporations have
taken notice. Currently Atlanta is home to 11 Fortune 500 companies, and that
number continues to grow. In the past year, Atlanta has welcomed more than 40
companies as they have relocated or expanded their operations in the metro area.
Between various chambers of commerce and the state’s Department of Economic
Development, the Peach City has several influential economic development teams
with far-reaching agendas, often working in concert, to introduce Atlanta and
the state of Georgia to companies across the globe. As it turns out, Atlanta
is not a hard sell for many businesses, and is a top contender for many corporations
looking to expand. “Georgia’s talented workforce, connected transportation
network and access to high-tech industry are all keys to our success attracting
corporate headquarters and quality jobs to Atlanta. Atlanta is an energetic,
world-class business hub centered in a business-friendly state with ample opportunities
and resources,” says Gov. Sonny Perdue. “Georgia is a one-stop
shop for global headquarters with a quality of life that is second to none.”
There are a lot of reasons why companies choose to do business in Atlanta. Here
are profiles of the companies setting up shop or expanding their campuses in
the metro area.
Chinamex
History: Founded in Beijing in the late 1990s, Chinamex helps
small- and mid-sized Chinese companies launch operations in foreign countries.
To date the company has been responsible for placing more than 3,000 Chinese
businesses in countries around the globe. Through their office in Dubai, the
Middle East alone has become home to 1,000 Chinese companies, reports Chinamex’s
Beijing office.
Investment in Atlanta: After visiting several potential sites
for their U.S. headquarters, including San Francisco, Chinamex chose Atlanta,
specifically a 17-story office tower in Atlantic Station. The Atlanta headquarters
will serve as a business incubator connecting Chinese companies to markets within
North and South America.
“We believe Atlanta is best suited for our U.S. headquarters based on
the scope of global business done here daily and superior accessibility to all
North American and South American markets,” says Chinamex chief representative
Hanson Zhang. “Atlantic Station’s central location and concentration
of businesses makes it a great fit for our U.S. headquarters. We look forward
to a long and mutually prosperous engagement with all of our stakeholders in
China, the State of Georgia and the City of Atlanta.”
Potential Economic Impact: Based on its success in Dubai, Chinamex
hopes to bring 4,000 jobs to Atlanta over the next six years.
The Coca-Cola Company
History: The Coca-Cola Company was born out of a pharmacy in
Atlanta, selling its signature drink for 5 cents a glass in 1886. Sadly, Pemberton
didn’t survive to see his drink succeed. After his death, Asa Candler
took the reigns of the fledging soft drink company in 1889 and in three years
he incorporated it into The Coca-Cola Company. Today the company has expanded
to include nearly 400 brands in more than 200 countries, making it the world’s
largest beverage company and the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer
of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups in the world. At last count,
the company serves 1.6 billion servings a day.
Investment in Atlanta: It’s hard to find a company more invested
in Atlanta. Coca-Cola was born here more than a century ago, and it continues
to expand in the metro area. In October, the soft drink giant announced its
plans to open a $100 million-plus expansion of its metro area production facilities.
This expansion is centered around the new Coca-Cola Freestyle fountain dispenser.
2008 Revenue: $31.94 billion
Number of Employees: 92,400
Trading Symbol: KO
First Data
History: Originally located in the Denver area, First Data
is a payment processing company. As stated on its corporate website, First Data’s
strategic focus is on delivering innovations in prepaid, eCommerce and mobile
payments solutions. First Data also provides fraud protection and authentication
solutions, check guarantee and verification services and point-of-sale devices
and services. Currently the company is ranked No. 295 on Fortune’s 500
List. First Data has been recognized as No. 1 in the financial data services
industry on the Fortune 500 list for the past three consecutive years.
Investment in Atlanta: In 2009 First Data announced it’s
expanding its presence in Atlanta by relocating its Denver-area headquarters
to Sandy Springs. This move allows First Data to consolidate its Atlanta operations.
The company plans to expand its footprint on its existing Sandy Springs campus
and it expects to hire up to 1,000 employees in the metro area over the next
three years. “Atlanta is well-known for being a major hub for the payment
industry and First Data already had a significant presence here,” said
Michael Capellas, chairman and CEO of First Data, in a statement to the governor’s
office. “Atlanta allowed us to consolidate operations, be closer to our
customers and continue to recruit from a great talent pool.”
2008 Revenue: $8.8 billion
Number of employees: 26,600
Gentiva Health Services
History: Gentiva Health Services Inc. is the nation’s
leading provider of comprehensive home health care and related services. Gentiva
serves nearly 500,000 patients annually from more than 380 locations in 39 states.
The company offers a full range of clinical services, including skilled nursing,
physical, occupational and speech-language therapy, cardiac and pulmonary care,
disease and pain management, respiratory services and home medical equipment,
infusion therapy, hospice services and neurorehabilitation.
Investment in Atlanta: Gentiva is moving its Long Island, N.Y.,
headquarters to a site in Cobb County. This move is projected to bringing 700
jobs to the metro area. Gentiva was drawn to Atlanta for several reasons. The
home health care provider had acquired Atlanta-based The Healthfield Group,
giving Gentiva operations in the area. In addition, the metro area is home to
a thriving health care industry, with medical service companies and top-notch
research institutions, giving Gentiva access to a talented pool of potential
employees.
2008 Revenue: $347.6 million
Number of Employees: 17,000
Trading Symbol: GTIV
NCR, National Cash Register
History: NCR’s history begins in 1884, when John H. Patterson
started a company that made the world’s first mechanical cash registers.
He called it the National Cash Register Company. This name was shortened to
NCR Corporation in 1974. Throughout its history, NCR has claimed many firsts,
including developing the first automated credit systems, inventing the LCD screen,
commercializing bar code scanners and securing a patent for signature capture.
Today, NCR is recognized as a global technology leader addressing the needs
of retail, financial, travel, health care, hospitality, entertainment and gaming
and public sector organizations in more than 100 countries.
Atlanta Investment: NCR is moving its headquarters and supporting operations,
including a Center of Excellence, to Atlanta and Columbus, Ga. “NCR’s
decision to consolidate our worldwide headquarters in Georgia followed an extensive
analysis of optimal locations using data from independent organizations. The
criteria included business environment, workforce skills and education, financial
advantages, infrastructure and ongoing efforts by states to attract investment,”
says Dan Bogan, senior vice president for NCR. “The business-friendly
environment in Georgia, partnerships with universities such as Georgia Tech
and a deep talent pool will enhance NCR’s ability to provide cost-effective
service delivery and the world’s highest levels of customer satisfaction
and solution availability.”
2008 Revenue: $5.32 billion
Number of Employees: More than 22,400
“Approximately 3,000 additional jobs will be created for the state of
Georgia, spread across our new ATM manufacturing facility in Columbus, our NCR
Services Center of Excellence in Peachtree City and our new corporate headquarters
in Duluth. We also are proud that NCR is on the forefront of bringing high-quality,
skilled jobs in manufacturing back to the United States,” say Bogan.
Trading Symbol: NCR
Newell-Rubbermaid
History: The Newell Manufacturing Company began as a curtain
rod manufacturer in Ogdensburg, N.Y., in 1902. In 1999, Newell Company acquired
the Rubbermaid and Graco brands in a mega-merger deal worth $5.8 billion, and
later renamed the newly merged entity, Newell Rubbermaid. This was an acquisition
10 times as big as the last biggest acquisition Newell had previously made.
This nearly doubled the company in size and significantly increased the combined
company’s portfolio of brands.
Investment in Atlanta: Newell Rubbermaid’s new global
headquarters building opened in Atlanta in the summer of 2008—consolidating
numerous brands and functions under one roof, enabling greater collaboration
and a common culture.
2008 Net Sales: $6.5 billion
Number of Employees: 19,000
Trading Symbol: NWL
Northwest/Delta Airlines
History: Delta started as the world’s first aerial crop
dusting organization. In 1929 the company expanded as an airline service with
its first passenger flights to Dallas, Jackson, Miss., and Monroe, La. In 1941
the airline moved its operations to Atlanta and most recently merged with Northwest
Airlines, creating a global brand with operations in every region of the world.
Today, Delta is the world’s No. 1 airline in terms of passengers, with
more than 170 million annual travelers. The Northwest and Delta Airlines merger
made Delta one of the top three carriers at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell
International Airport.
Investment in Atlanta: Atlanta has been Delta’s hometown
since 1941, and it’s currently the largest private employer in Georgia.
The company promised its employees it would remain known as Delta and its headquarter
operations would remain in Atlanta throughout its merger with Northwest Airlines.
While merger negotiations included the promise that Delta will keep 10,000 Northwest
employees in Minnesota until 2016, the merger has already brought several hundred
new headquarter employees to Atlanta.
Number of Employees: More than 70,000
2008 Revenue: $34.3 billion
Trading Symbol: DAL
Sony Ericsson
History: Sony Ericsson, a 50/50 joint venture of Sony Corporation
and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, was established in October of 2001. The
goal of the venture was to combine Sony’s consumer electronics expertise
with Ericsson’s technological leadership in the communications sector.
Investment in Atlanta: Last November, Sony Ericsson announced
it was moving its North American headquarters from the Research Triangle Park
in North Carolina to Atlanta. The move is part of the company’s global
consolidation of regional offices, and its unclear if the move will bring any
new jobs to the metro area. With the proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport (and its flights to Latin America) and with AT&T Mobility
already stationed in the metro area, Sony Ericsson has chosen to move its U.S.
headquarters to Atlanta, reports Stacy Doster, a spokesperson for Sony Ericsson.
Number of Employees: 8,000
2008 Phone Sales: 96.6 million units
Trading Symbol: ERIC
Verizon Wireless
History: Verizon Communications Inc. is the result of the mega-merger
between Bell Atlantic Corporation and GTE Corporation, which took place in 2000.
Verizon is a broadband and wireless communication company headquarted in New
York.
Investment in Atlanta: In the spring of 2009 Verizon Wireless
announced it was adding onto its 395,000 square-foot campus in Alpharetta. The
telecommunications company is building a $27 million customer service center,
bringing 600 jobs to the metro area.
“We are delighted to open a new Customer Service Center at Sanctuary Park
in Alpharetta as we further expand our presence in the state of Georgia,”
said Jeff Mango, president of the Georgia/Alabama Region for Verizon Wireless,
in a statement to the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We are indebted to the city
and the community at large for embracing us.”
Number of Employees: 230,000 worldwide; 4,000 in Georgia
2008 Revenue: $97 billion
Trading Symbol: VZ
Hartsfield-Jackson:
Atlanta’s Connection to the World
Companies have many reasons for choosing Atlanta, but one of the Peach City’s
biggest advantages is its identity as a transportation hub. One of the hub’s
key players is the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The world’s
busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson is the city’s link to destinations
around the globe. Businesses have easy access to direct flights to nearly everywhere.
“Georgia also has excellent transportation infrastructure to facilitate
parts and product delivery, including the ports in Savannah and air travel via
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport; and our partnerships with the state and academia
will help us with staffing and ensuring that our processes are cutting edge,”
says Dan Bogan, senior vice president for NCR, one of many companies expanding
its foorprint in Atlanta.
For an impressive list of airport statistics and news on the latest construction
projects, visit atlanta-airport.com.
Learn
About Local Businesses
As a new Atlanta resident, you’re on the hunt for your new favorite restaurants,
shops and everyday conveniences. New Beginnings Welcoming Service helps you
discover the businesses in your neighborhood by delivering gift certificates,
tasty treats and more from local merchants in an attractive basket, right to
your door. The baskets are filled with a little something for every member of
your family, including information on schools, health care providers, places
of worship, salons, neighborhood shops and specialty stores.
Conveniently delivered to your door in a basket, New Beginning Welcoming Service
is available in Roswell, Alpharetta, South Forsyth, Duluth, East Cobb and West
Cobb. For more information about this service, call Joy Burnham at (770) 641-9432
or visit newbeginningswelcoming.com.
Atlanta
is Ready to Work
Four years ago, Gov. Sonny Perdue rolled out Georgia Work Ready, an ambitious
and innovative workforce development initiative to identify the needs of businesses
and the available skills of Georgia’s workers. The ultimate goal is to
develop the right talent for the right jobs so that everyone—the state,
local communities, businesses and the workforce—benefits.
It’s the first workforce development initiative that is orchestrated through
a partnership between a state government and a state chamber of commerce. “The
initiative connects education and workforce development together in alignment
with the economic development of the state on local, state and regional levels,”
says Debra Lyons, director of the Governor’s Office of Work Force Development.
Lyons and her Work Ready team collaborate with a network of individuals throughout
the state to implement the various layers of the initiative. The initiative
offers job profiling for companies to identify and outline the required job
tasks and hiring criteria for various positions. Individuals can take the Georgia
Work Ready Certificate assessment, which measures both core skills and work
habits and attitudes, at no charge. Based on their score and the certificate
level of their desired position, they can apply for gap skills training. Rounding
out the initiative is the Georgia Work Ready Regions, which educates the state’s
emerging workforce in preparation of the fastest-growing industries, and Certified
Work Ready Communities, which are counties that have shown they have a workforce
that can attract new businesses and meet the demands of their current businesses.
To learn how you can participate in Georgia Work Ready and to check a county’s
certification profile, visit gaworkready.org.