The big event, Summer 2006

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New Transportation Options Make Exploring Downtown Easier

Exploring downtown just got easier! With a new way to get around and another option on the way, there's no excuse for not visiting every attraction downtown. MARTA launched a new bus route this spring called the Atlanta Tourist Loop, which has one loop Downtown and an intersecting loop through Midtown. The routes, number 100

Coming on board in the future will be DASH, the Downtown Atlanta Shuttle, a free trolley that will link the downtown hotels and attractions. Central Atlanta Progress is working on this project and according to CAP President A.J. Robinson the trolleys could serve 4,300 passengers daily and 100,000 per month. For more information about DASH please visit www.atlantadowntown.com

With two new ways to get around, there's no excuse for not visiting
every attraction downtown.

Conventioneers can take advantage of these transportation options by catching the bus or trolley at their downtown hotel and then riding to the Georgia World Congress Center campus. And when your meeting is over go on out there and start exploring. From Underground Atlanta to the Georgia Aquarium to the Georgia Dome to the Rialto Theater, it couldn't be easier to see it all!

and 101, run every 30 minutes and for $1.75 will take visitors from their hotel to restaurants, shops and attractions. They run weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a complete list of the Atlanta Tourist Loop's destinations please visit www.itsmarta.com.

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Ambassador Force Celebrates 10 Years

Since Central Atlanta Progress created it 10 years ago, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District's (ADID) Ambassador Force has made Downtown Atlanta a safer, cleaner and more vibrant place to work and visit. The 62-plus, full-time hospitality and public safety group helps patrol Downtown, and assists visitors with helpful information about the city. The Force's area of operations spans a 200block area from North Avenue, south to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, and from the Georgia World Congress Center to the Downtown Connector.
The Ambassador Force provides assistance, information and a great environment for show attendees.
Ambassadors assist visitors, employees and residents of Downtown with useful information about the city such as providing directions, giving emergency assistance, providing personal escorts and giving public safety and hospitality support to events occurring Downtown.
Since its creation in March of 1996, the Ambassador Force has greeted literally millions of visitors each year, providing them assistance, information, and an overall safer environment.

For more information on the Ambassador Force please call 404.215.9600 or visit www.atlantadowntown.com

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Fifth Runway Opens at Atlanta's Airport

The fifth runway of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA), officially titled Runway 10-28, recently opened on-time and under-budget. "We consider this runway the most important in America," declared Atlanta
The 9,000 foot runway will ensure Atlanta's airport can provide
the best customer experience
Mayor Shirley Franklin. The 9,000 foot runway will ensure that the airport can provide the best customer experience to millions each year. Travelers can rest assured that flying to a convention or tradeshow in Atlanta will be an effortless experience.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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Kevin Duvall Appointed Assistant General Manager of GWCC

Kevin Duvall, new assistant general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center, is no stranger to the GWCC Authority campus. Duvall has been assistant general manager of the Georgia Dome since August 2002, during which time the Dome hosted events such as the NCAA Women's Final Four, NFL Playoffs, SEC Football Championship and Mega-

came to the Georgia Dome with 10 years of stadium experience from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, where he worked his way up from event staff coordinator to facility manager.
"We are so pleased that Kevin has agreed to serve as assistant general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center," says GWCC General Manager Mark Zimmerman. "He has shown exemplary managerial skills during his time at the Dome and we know his insight and leadership will help the GWCC grow and maintain its excellent reputation."
Duvall came to the Georgia Dome with 10 years of stadium
experience from the Alamodome.

Fest. As assistant general manager, Duvall was responsible for managing the operating departments of the Dome as well as overall maintenance and repair of the facility. Duvall

As assistant general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center, Duvall will be responsible for managing the operations of the nation's fourth largest convention center.
Duvall earned his master's of education with a sports administration emphasis at Texas Tech and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas. Duvall is an IAAM member and a member of the IAAM Convention Center Committee. He and his wife Shannon have two children.

GWCC Named Easy Place to do Business

Expo magazine, which focuses exclusively on tradeshow, convention and corporate event management, published a list of Ten Easy Places to do business in its March 2006 issue. The article was broken down by 10 factors that go into producing a show and a city was selected for each factor. Listed among the factors were labor, convention center staff, affordability, attendance and infrastructure. Atlanta and the
The center has a reputation for service and you can't find friendlier people anywhere.
Georgia World Congress Center were chosen for Convention Center Services. The article explained that the center has a reputation for service and that you can't find friendlier people anywhere.

The article went on to quote Barb Stroup, VNU Group Operations Director, "The GWCC will bend over backward for you." Stroup, who has managed many shows in the building, went on to say that the GWCC has always found a way to make all her ideas work and the center focuses on her concerns so she doesn't have to worry.
The Georgia World Congress Center strives to make the customer's experience the most important goal of each and every event held in the building. As stated in the GWCC's mission statement, "We make our customers the focus of all we do."

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GWCC Introduces Newly Enhanced Online Ordering

Online ordering just got simple at the Georgia World Congress Center. The e-commerce section of the GWCC website was recently redesigned to make it easier than ever for exhibitors to order services online. As was the case in the past, all Engineering and Telecommunications needs can be ordered online and now Food & Beverage can be ordered as well. The entire system is incredibly user-friendly, and photos accompany each service so the user knows exactly what they are ordering.

The Georgia World Congress Center is the first convention center in the U.S. to provide this specific e-commerce technology provided by Event Management Communication (www.exhibitorkit.com). This new system is sure to enhance the exhibitor's experience at the Georgia World Congress Center and to make it an even greater one.

The entire system is incredibly user-freindly and photos accompany each service.

To place an order, exhibitors simply create an account, log in and begin to place orders. Just like shopping online, the exhibitor can click on what they desire and have all of their service needs taken care of in a matter of minutes. Once the order is placed an email is sent to the user as a confirmation. Orders can be placed for Telecommunications and Engineering services up until the midnight of the show move-in day. Food & Beverage orders can be placed up until three days prior to move-in and include everything from boxed lunches to hot hors d'oeuvres to baked goods.

To experience online ordering visit www.gwcc.com and click on "Order Online Now". Explore the Food & Beverage, Engineering and Telecommunications options the GWCC has to offer and note the ease and convenience of ordering online.

New GWCC Executive Boardroom

Thanks to a generous donation of furnishings from Bank of America, the Georgia World Congress Center has a new Executive Boardroom. The room seats 34 around the table, with 20 additional side chairs. The table contains eight connection points for power, laptop connection to the screen, internet connection and audio and video ports. The lights,

drapes, projector lift, projector and projection screen have fully integrated controls. The room includes a 42" plasma TV in the boardroom lobby, internal and external network connections as well as wireless, low profile microphones throughout the table and a telephone hybrid system that will allow for teleconferencing through the room's microphones and speakers instead of a table top phone.

The room includes internal, external and wireless
network connections and low profile microphones

The perfect location for that very important meeting, the room can be rented with an hourly rate or a daily rate. For more information please call GWCC Sales at 404.223.4200.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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Georgia World Congress Center is Going Green

Since spring of 2005, the Georgia World Congress Center has been working with the US Department of Energy, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division and Georgia Department of Natural Resources to turn the convention center green. The primary goal is to facilitate energy efficiency and to further current recycling efforts throughout the 3.9 million square feet of the GWCC.
The current primary focus is continued energy conservation,
recycling and green cleaning research.
The plan is to reduce energy use by 20 percent and to reduce waste to landfills by 80 percent. The categories for the improvements include: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources and indoor environmental quality.
The changes taking place at the GWCC are being documented in a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED EB) application. The initial focus is to identify simple, lowcost modifications that can be easily implemented, but can make a dramatic change on the energy efficiency, environmental impact and indoor environmental quality. "We aspire to achieve utility cost savings of over 20 percent by the time of LEED EB certifications," says John Adams, of the US DOE and LEED EB certification coordinator.

The current primary focus is continued energy conservation, recycling and green cleaning research. Throughout the building, there is an emphasis on energy conservation and when there is not a show in a specific area of the building measures are taken to reduce energy consumption by, for instance, turning off the escalators. Duty cycling is also used, which means that the air handling units are not all used at the same time. Portions of the building are cooled at different times to maintain temperature and comfort, but energy consumption is reduced.
Since this past fall, a lot more emphasis has been placed on recycling. Many more shows are requesting recycling bins on the show floor and the GWCC offices are making an effort to recycle. Green cleaning is the next item the GWCC will pursue. Research will be done to determine viable options for environmentally friendly cleaning products and the GWCC continues working towards turning the building green.

Happy 30th Birthday GWCC!
September marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Georgia World Congress Center. The GWCC celebrated Executive Director Dan Graveline's 30 years of service in June with a festive gathering of employees. Happy Birthday to the GWCC and Congratulations to Dan!

International Woodworking Fair Holds

Largest Show Ever at GWCC

The International Woodworking Fair returned to the Georgia World Congress Center this summer with its largest show ever. IWF 2006 filled the entire 3.9 million square feet of all three buildings of the convention center. IWF has held their show in Atlanta since 1986 and has grown alongside the city and the center.

International Woodworking Fair is the industry's premier woodworking machinery and furniture supply convention. IWF showcases machinery, supplies and services for both large manufacturers and small professional shops in the woodworking, furniture, cabinetry, solid surface, architectural woodwork, store fixtures, and plastic fabricating industries. IWF is the largest woodworking show in the western hemisphere and the second largest industry show in the world.

IWF 2006 enjoyed 1,381 exhibitors, over 250 international exhibitors and 300 first time exhibitors. Attendees were from over 70 countries and all 50 states, and with exhibitor and attendee numbers combined the show had over 42,000 participants.

International Woodworking Fair is the largest trade show of its kind. It is owned and sponsored by the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA), and the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA). For more information on IWF, please visit www.iwf2006.com.

GWCC Pulls Industry Together for Social Time
Since last September, the Georgia World Congress Center has hosted a monthly social event called the Hotlanta Hospitality Happy Hour. The event brings together members of Atlanta's hospitality community on the second Thursday of each month for a few hours of non-business interaction at Ruth's Chris Steak House next to Centennial Olympic Park. Relationships have been strengthened through this opportunity to relax together, and each month the invite list has grown as people have brought coworkers and friends from other businesses. If you'd like to receive the monthly invitation to socialize with other members of the hospitality industry, please email nrateau@gwcc.com.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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David Mott appointed Assistant General Manager of the Georgia Dome

David Mott has been named assistant general manager of the Georgia Dome. Mott succeeds Kevin Duvall, who was recently named the assistant general manager for the Georgia World Congress Center. Mott has over 20 years of experience in public assembly facility management, most recently as the Director of Operations at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center. Mott has held the assistant managers position at two previous facilities, the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Fla., and Roberts Stadium/ Mesker Amphitheatre in Evansville, Ind.
"His knowledge and experience in the industry are a great fit
for our facility..".
As assistant general manager for the Dome, Mott will be responsible for managing the operations of the 71,250 seat facility including overseeing event coordination, security, engineering, building services, special projects and facility operations.

"David shares our vision and philosophy on customer service and exceeding client expectations," says Georgia Dome General Manager Carl Adkins. "His knowledge and experience in the industry are a great fit for our facility and will certainly contribute to our continued success as a customer-focused facility."
Mott earned his bachelors degree at the University of Mississippi, graduated from the Oglebay School for Public Assembly Facility Management and is an active member of International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). He and his wife Suzanne have two children, Sarah and Mason. Mott says, "We both grew up in the south and my wife and I are looking forward to moving to Atlanta. The city is wonderful and we can't wait to get back to some real southern culture."

Ending the Season with a Flurry

After months of calculated preparation, weeks of strategic final touches and days of fevered anticipation, the Dome rang in the new year. Not with the traditional party or fanfare, but with several demanding days of activity. The Dome

time phenomenon for the Dome, but with each dedicated member of the event staff working in lock-step, the weekend was a flawless success.
"Everyone worked as a team and did their part to get it done".

was home to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the season ending Falcons game, and the one-time only Nokia Sugar Bowl in a mere four days. Three football games in four days was a first

Each game has a personality all its own. From the fans to the food to the field, every aspect was tailored to meet the needs of the individual game. All of the 450 restroom stalls, hundreds of trash receptacles, 203 suites, 2 restaurants and over 100 concession areas on all four levels were cleaned and restocked. Game specific give away items were placed in almost every seat in the stadium. Signage was even changed around the building.The respective logos on the 50-yard line and the end zones were removed, dried, freshly painted and dried again.
(Cont. page 14)

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Summertime Rejuvenation for the Dome

Every year, the summer months are a flurry of activity around the Georgia Dome. Not from excited Falcons fans, Monster Truck enthusiast or even college graduates, but from the dedicated staff, working diligently to prepare the building for another fantastic year.
This year the Dome has undergone some extensive maintenance projects. Crews will spend a total of three months completing the roofing project. Both the upper and lower single membrane roof rings are being replaced with a double membrane roof that will last throughout the remaining life of the Dome. With this project coming in at around $925,000 it is a substantial investment.

Other maintenance projects, such as minor repairs, painting and deep cleaning of the entire building will continue throughout the summer until the Falcons football season begins in August. "We use this opportunity to make necessary repairs and upgrades so our guests have a clean, safe and enjoyable environment here at the Dome," says Mike McNeely, Georgia Dome building superintendent.
The entire Georgia Dome staff strives to make the 2006-2007
season another great year.

The complete interior and exterior lighting control system has been replaced and upgraded this summer. The new Douglas lighting system installation was complete in June and will make operating the lighting throughout the building more efficient and effective.

Levy Restaurants, the exclusive food service provider for the Dome, is also making its fair share of fan-focused upgrades this summer. A new POS (Point of Sale) system has been installed at all the fixed concession areas. Fans will now be able to use debit and credit cards to make purchases at these locations. The In-Zone restaurant is undergoing a complete remodel. It will feature four chef action stations, a leather furnished lounge area, a full bar, reupholstered seating, vibrant new paint, new carpet and five plasma screen televisions.
The entire Georgia Dome staff strives to enhance the guest experience and believes that as the 2006-2007 season nears, guests can look forward to enjoying the efforts that have gone into kicking off another great year.

The Falcons Owners Club

For the ultimate VIP experience, the Falcons Owners Club offers the optimum entertaining experience. Premiering during the 2005 Falcons football season, the Owners Club features 36 flat-screen televisions, outdoor patio seating, an XBOX & PlayStation 2 game room, and luxurious leather couches & chairs. Accented by contemporary lighting and soothing backlit photography, the club boasts two full bars, spacious dining areas, three chef stations and a full buffet. The exceptional menu items, prepared by Executive Chef Brian Vossler, are sure to satisfy any event day craving.
The Owners Club is the perfect venue to host your next hospitality extravaganza, employee outing, client appreciation party, or any event that you can dream up! For more information on the Owners Club, please call 404-223-8200.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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Brand new name ... Same great game!

Fans will notice something a little different at the Dome this December. For the 14th year the Chick-fil-A Bowl will return to the Dome, this time sporting a brand new name and logo.
The new logo, splayed across a 1,000 square foot banner, was ceremoniously revealed to representatives from the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Chick-fil-A, Atlanta Sports Council and the Georgia Dome outside the Dome in April. The new look features a crisp blue, silver, white and red color scheme. The logo also highlights three important aspects of the event: the sport, the city and the competitors.

"Our desire is to position the Chick-fil-A Bowl as a premiere event within the landscape of college bowl games... delivering a premier experience for the teams, their fans and viewers," said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A's senior vice president of marketing. "This commitment allows us to further emphasize our valued association with the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference. The new Bowl logo clearly communicates the guaranteed match-up of these two great conferences."
"This new look really captures the excitement and big-game feel..".

The new title sponsorship agreement of the Chick-fil-A Bowl has allowed the Bowl to secure a higher team selection from the ACC. Beginning with this year's game, the Chickfil-A Bowl will have the first selection from the ACC after the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) makes its selection. This will likely provide a top-10 team to match against a highly ranked team from the SEC.

"This new look really captures the excitement and biggame feel college football fans associate with Atlanta's Bowl game," said Leeman Bennett, Bowl co-chairman. "And by paying homage to our home town in the new logo, we hope to reinforce that positive association in the city as well."
This year marks the 39th annual playing of Atlanta's bowl game and the 15th in which rivals from the ACC and SEC have been matched in what remains one of the most competitive bowl games in college football. This exceptional event has sold out 10 consecutive games and holds the highest average attendance of all non-BCS games in the last 10 years.

Tickets for this year's Chick-fil-A Bowl, on Saturday, December 30, are available by calling the Bowl ticket office at: 404-586-TIXX (8499) or online at www.chick-fil-abowl.com.

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FIRST Aims High in the Georgia Dome

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Championship is the premier student robotics competition and celebration of science and technology in the nation and Atlanta is glad to play host for this event through 2009. The Championship marks the culmination of the FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Vex Challenge seasons. Students nationwide work alongside professional engineers to design, build and then

FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering. FIRST students are eligible to receive almost $8 million in scholarships from some of the finest science and engineering schools in the country.

The competition has grown tremendously from 28 teams to
1,125 teams participating.

compete with robots in three simultaneous competitions. Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway personal transport
device, created the FIRST robotics championship in 1989. FIRST was founded on partnerships with businesses, educational institutions and government. Many Fortune 500 companies provide funding, in-kind donations and volunteers to support the program. The competition has grown tremendously from 28 teams to 1,125 teams participating.
The key to FIRST's success is the work of over 25,000 volunteer mentors, professional engineers, teachers and other adults working with students across the country. In addition to the thousands of volunteer team mentors, FIRST competitions and other events were organized and staffed by over 14,000 event and committee volunteers. Through these volunteers, FIRST programs engaged over 70,000 young people during the last year. FIRST programs are growing rapidly in the United States and Canada, and demand is accelerating in other countries. This year competitors from across the United States and 19 other countries converged at the Georgia Dome during the championship rounds of the "Aim High" competition.
"FIRST is not an educational experience," says Kamen. "We're out to prove to them that science and technology is accessible, to debunk the myth that it's for some special group of nerds that were born with some proclivity for it."

"Atlanta's rich history of hosting world class sporting events and its state-of-the-art facilities make it a perfect fit for the FIRST Robotics Championship," said Kamen. "Its attractions, accommodations and genuine Southern hospitality make it a wonderful host city for the FIRST teams and their families."
"Without a doubt, our unique campus offers an event like FIRST everything they are looking for in a convention facility, from a stadium to traditional exhibit hall space to the wonderful 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park," said Georgia World Congress Center General Manager Mark Zimmerman about FIRST holding its impressive competition on the GWCCA campus.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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Thousands Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Centennial Olympic Games

Thousands attended the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Centennial Olympic Games on Saturday, July 15. The event began in the early evening as volunteers from the Atlanta Games met at designated areas around Centennial Olympic Park to reunite with their fellow volunteers from ten years ago. After an evening full of reminiscing and live local music, the program began with emcee Bob Costas, the voice of the Olympic Games for 18 years. He introduced video clips documenting changes in Atlanta over the last ten years,

and who served as president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. Trisha Yearwood, rounded out the program with a lively performance. The multi-platinum, multi-Grammy award-winning Georgia Native performed at the closing ceremonies in 1996. The evening culminated with an extravagant fireworks display signifying this tremendous event in Atlanta history.

The event was filled with special appearances by
entertainment and sports celebrities

the emotional 1990 announcement that Atlanta would host the games and many triumphant moments from the 1996 Olympic competition.
Special appearances were made during the evening by 1996 Olympians Janet Evans and Carl Lewis, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Billy Payne, the man who originally thought Atlanta should bid on the Olympics

Beautiful Day in the Park for Southern Comfort Music Experience
Thousands of music fans became a part of the two-day Southern Comfort Music Experience on May 19 and 20. Headlining act the Flaming Lips performed to a capacity crowd and the event got the season started on the right foot with thousands of people enjoying this first time event. The beautiful weather made it the perfect day for enjoying the Park with live music, the Fountain of Rings, Frisbee throwing and hanging out with friends in the 21-acre park.

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Free Programming at Centennial Olympic Park
Throughout the spring and summer, Centennial Olympic Park offers free programming for you to enjoy. Whether you are seeking family fun or a relaxing way to spend a break during a meeting at the Georgia World Congress Center, the Park is a great place to unwind.
Grab your lunch for Music at Noon and enjoy a mid-day break filled with music every Tuesday and Thursday in the Southern Company Amphitheater.
Centennial Olympic Park's Wednesday WindDown concert series brings the best in jazz and contemporary music to downtown Atlanta featuring both local and national music acts. Join in the festivities from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Park hosts Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day, a day of fun for the entire family including street performers, specialty displays, touring shows and plenty of great activities for children.
For more information about upcoming events visit the Park's website www.centennialpark.com

New Web Experience for Park Users

Centennial Olympic Park launched its new Web site, www.centennialpark.com, designed to give visitors a realistic Park experience while online. The site has been redesigned to serve the wide variety of the Park's visitors. "Our new Web site is more informative, more attractive, and easier to use. It's got everything you need to have before a Park visit, besides the sunscreen," said Mark Banta, the general manager of Centennial Olympic Park.
From neighbors who use the Park as a place to relax, tourists who come to see the most photographed fountain in the United States, or clients who use the Park as a gathering space, the new Web site is designed to suit the needs of its diverse users. Interactive maps now show where events take place within the Park, and the resource areas of the site have been enhanced significantly. The Web site also

prominently features schedules for the variety of events the Park hosts, including the weekly concert series "Wednesday WindDown" and "Music @ Noon".

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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Lt. Kelly to Supervise Park Public Safety

Lt. Jim Kelly has been named supervisor of Centennial Olympic Park public safety. The appointment was announced by Capt. Ken Skinner, who Kelly replaces. Skinner recently promoted to captain now oversees the uniformed police division of the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park.
"I come from a police family, including my grandfather, great uncle and cousins".
Originally from Philadelphia, Kelly joined the Georgia World Congress Center Authority public safety last May. Prior to working at Centennial Olympic Park, Kelly worked as an officer with the Mt. Zion Police, Heard County Sheriff's Office and the Carroll County Sheriff's Office for more than 12 years of public safety experience. He received his police training from the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Training Academy in Kennesaw.

"I come from a police family, including my grandfather, great uncle and cousins, and enjoy the physical, emotional and mental challenges of this job," said Kelly, "and I look forward to continuing to serve Centennial Olympic Park."

Ending the Season with a Flurry (Cont.)
(Cont. from page 8) Every detail was taken into account and the doors opened to a pristine Dome each day.
"Everyone did their part and worked as a team to get it done," said Pat White, director of building services for the Dome. "The weekend was a success and a testament to Team Dome's dedication to our customers."
Team Dome effectively left each client satisfied, each fan with a memory, and the industry in awe. The task set before them was difficult indeed, but they persevered and more than rose to the challenge.
"Our people are our heart and soul," says General Manager of the Georgia Dome Carl Adkins. "No matter how large or small the event, they make the difference."

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Customer Comments

Championship Auto Shows Inc.
"I was very impressed with the World Congress Center. From the management style, to the cleanliness of the facility, to the quality of the food and beverage, it has to be one of the best managed facilities in North America."
Girl Scouts of the USA
"When an athlete is turning in a sensational performance, those viewing the event see a performance that appears both graceful and effortless. In our view, the orchestration of our 2005 Girl Scout National Council Session/50th Convention was a championship performance. Thank you to all involved at the Georgia World Congress Center and MGR Food Services for being our champion and contributing to a grand success!"

American Pharmacists Association
"We truly appreciate the outstanding customer service provided to APhA by the Georgia World Congress Center."
Spark Agency
"In our responsibility to Coca-Cola in assisting them with their production endeavors, we relied greatly upon the facilitation of many parts of your venue and appreciated the outstanding help. I would also like to take this opportunity to mention the great help from the house staff that moved tables and provided services. Everyone was cordial to work with and did a great job having everything that we needed, when we needed it. They were very professional and some went out of their way to check on us on occasion to make sure that we had everything we needed."

IAEM
"What can I say but `Wow' Atlanta sure knows how to roll out the red carpet! On behalf of the Staff and Board of Directors, I would like to thank you and your entire staff for all of your hard work on behalf of Expo! Expo! IAEM's Annual Meeting & Exhibition. According to IAEM president, Steven Hacker, this was by far the best event in his 15 years with the association."

Synergy Sports
"It was great to see everything pull together and in the end, the Georgia Dome looked better than we had imagined. It was a breeze to work with the Georgia Dome and I could not have asked for a better venue to work with. It is a great feeling when you do not need to worry about any small details because you know it is covered by the venue you are working with."

Coca-Cola
"When I think about all the venues we could have held this event, the one that is top of mind from all aspects parking, meeting space, staff, food and beverage, proximity to our complex is the Georgia World Congress Center. You have a top notch staff of professionals on your team everyone is gracious, professional, and works to the best of their abilities. Believe me when I say we've seen the other side too at venues. But you have a close knit family there and they all strive for a common goal to give customers superior service and support."
Microsoft
"Absolutely perfect. Better than I've ever had to work with from any venue."

Atlanta Hotel Council
"None of this would have been possible without your team's efforts to make this such a wonderful event at the world famous Georgia World Congress Center. Your team was very gracious and helpful in ensuring the students had everything they needed to organize this event and ensuring that our participants had a fantastic day."
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
"We could not have been more pleased with every aspect of the event. You should be very proud of the Congress Center and your entire team. It's an AWESOME combination! There was a `warm, fuzzy' feeling throughout the entire building all week long. You are an example that others should follow."

Georgia Tech Graduation
"It was a very well-managed affair and I've had innumerable compliments on how smoothly the entire event ran. We had a number of concerns moving such an important event off campus for one of the few times in Tech history. Your efforts made the transition extremely smooth."
American Society of Clinical Oncology
"Just a note to thank you again for everything! I am reflecting on how very appreciative I am of you and how very thoughtful you are in so many ways. You gave 1,000% and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you. You rank very highly in my book, and I will never forget all that you gave to ASCO."

Television Shoot for a Series Pilot Show
"I cannot begin to express my appreciation to you and your staff at the Georgia Dome for the welcoming cooperation and support we got during our shoot on Tuesday night....It has been a GREAT pleasure working with you and I realize with what all is going on this Spring at the World Congress Center and Georgia Dome that helping us was a true effort and one that I so greatly appreciate. I hope if there is ever any time in the future when you need my help or assistance you will not hesitate in contacting me."

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

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Atlanta Once Again Ranks Number 3 for Fortune 500 Headquarters
Atlanta once again ranked No. 3 in the nation for the greatest number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered here. Atlanta has 15 Fortune 500 companies, including household names Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, BellSouth, and newcomer Bluelinx Holdings. The annual Fortune 500 listing was released in the April 2006 edition of Fortune magazine.
Atlanta Ranked 8th Best Mid-Sized City by AmericanStyle Readers
Readers of AmericanStyle magazine ranked Atlanta the eighth best midsized city in its 9th annual Top 25 Arts Destinations readers' poll. This is the fourth year in a row that readers have voted for Atlanta. Atlanta was honored for continuing to impress residents and visitors alike with its myriad of cultural venues, festivals and events throughout the city. The Top 25 Arts Destinations issue of AmericanStyle magazine was released in June.

Expanding and Relocating Businesses Pick Atlanta Expansion Management magazine has named Atlanta the third hottest
city in the nation for expanding and relocating businesses.
Young Professionals Attracted to Atlanta Atlanta has been named one of seven cool cities and an affordable town
for young professionals by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.
GWCC Industry Gold Standard In the April/May 2006 issue of Facility Manager, an article focused on
small venues contained the following sentence: "Not every facility can be the Madison Square Garden or the Georgia World Congress Center..."

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