Friday, October 05, 2012

C  I  T  Y    O  F    A  T  L  A  N  T  A

City Leaders to join the Council for Quality Growth in honoring Sam Massell – business, civic leader and the 53^rd Mayor of the city of Atlanta

ATLANTA – Atlanta city leaders including Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Mayor Kasim Reed and City Council Member Yolanda Adrean will join the Council for Quality Growth and Atlanta’s business and civic community in honoring former Mayor Sam Massell at the 2012 Four Pillar Tribute taking place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 4 at the Georgia World Congress Center, 285 International Blvd NW, Atlanta.

Mayor Massell, a life-long resident of Atlanta, has had successful careers in real estate brokerage, elected office, the field of tourism and association management.

Among other achievements, Mayor Massell is credited with establishing MARTA (Atlanta’s mass transit program), with developing the city’s first enclosed arena (the Omni Coliseum), and for the development of what is now Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta. He also pioneered minority opportunities in city government, appointing the first female to Atlanta’s City Council and the first African Americans as city department heads.

After leaving full-time public service, Massell entered the tourism business in Buckhead where he operated for thirteen years under the name of Your Travel Agent Sam Massell.

Mayor Massell now manages a nonprofit civic organization as founding President of the Buckhead Coalition. This is a prestigious association of chief executive officers of major businesses in this area on the north side of Atlanta who have pooled their strengths to nurture the quality of life and guide the orderly growth of Buckhead.

The 2012 Four Pillar Tribute Chairs include businesswoman Juanita Baranco, Dr. Mark Becker and businessman Bernie Marcus

Among Thursday’s speakers will be the Honorable Kasim Reed, Mayor of the City of Atlanta; the Honorable Roy Barnes, Former Georgia Governor; the Honorable David Gambrell, Former U.S. Senator; Attorney General Sam Olens, Attorney General, State of Georgia; and Jenny Pruitt, CEO, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

The Honorable Ceasar C. Mitchell, President of the Atlanta City Council, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The Council for Quality Growth is celebrating 23 years of honoring leaders who show an exemplary commitment to the Atlanta region and our state with its annual Four Pillar Award. This unique honor commemorates the honoree’s significant contributions, both personally and professionally, to his or her community.

The Council for Quality Growth is a not-for-profit trade association that promotes economic development through fair and sound policy. The Council is committed to the belief that the economic future and quality of life in the metro Atlanta region and Georgia depends on continued balanced and responsible growth.