The Fulton

Industrial Business Association has much to offer its members, incoming

President Tom Flanigan told a gathering of 50 at the organization's

monthly breakfast meeting Wednesday morning.

"Think

of FIBA as a place you can go to help solve your problems," Flanigan

said. Letting members know they can call on FIBA for help, particularly

when dealing with government entities, is one of three goals Flanigan

has set for this year.

"We

can make this a better place to do business and an easier place to do

business," Flanigan said.

As chief

operating officer of M.D. Hodges Enterprises Inc., Flanigan represents

a company that has been a presence on Fulton Industrial Boulevard since

1968. Hodges has constructed 20 million square feet of homes and businesses

in the metro Atlanta area over the past three decades.

Setting up

a human resources roundtable and increasing membership are other goals

Flanigan expects to reach.

Also at Wednesday's

meeting, Clarence Williamson, a representative of Atlanta Technical

College, discussed training programs the institution offers, often free

of charge, for area businesses and their employees.

Established

in 1988, FIBA represents 1,000 businesses and nearly 30,000 employees

who work daily on this eight-mile road in South Fulton County. The next

general monthly membership meeting will be March 21 at 7:45 a.m. at

the Comfort Inn, just off Fulton Industrial Boulevard at I-20.

Topics of

discussion will include benefit programs and effective financial planning

strategies for individuals and businesses.

Local law

enforcement officers will talk to members about protecting themselves

against identity fraud at the monthly meeting scheduled for April 18.

For information

about FIBA, phone Pat Stafford, executive director, 404-691-3422.