The word is

finally starting to get out on South Fulton's development potential.

South Fulton

Chamber of Commerce head John Boothby has assembled some of the region's

most knowledgeable development experts to discuss the region's potential

at a business forum luncheon Aug. 16 at The Commons of Fort McPherson.

The panelists

include George Berry, Tate Godfrey, Joe Johnson, Jeff Lynn and Mel Sorrow.

The luncheon, sponsored by Georgia Power Company, will take place from

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendees will be treated to a panel presentation

followed by a question and answer session.

Boothby said

that development can be a pendulum and he wants to make sure the area

has quality development.

"Many

times, when development starts, a lot of people don't see the big picture.

We need to learn from their mistakes," he said.

Why this is

happening now, what it means for the economy, what it means to current

residents and how the community can best profit from this growth will

be issues explored by the panel.

Panelists include:

George Berry,

senior vice president of Cousins Properties Inc., is one of Georgia's

most recognized authorities on economic development. Berry was commissioner

of the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism from 1983 to

1990, a period when Georgia experienced record business growth that ultimately

lead to the Olympic Games in 1996. Earlier, he was commissioner of aviation

for Hartsfield International Airport.

Tate Godfrey

is senior vice president for business development for Group VI Corporation

and one of only 40 certified economic developers in Georgia. Godfrey has

over 20 years of economic development experience statewide including land

use planning, environmental compliance, business development and chamber

of commerce leadership.

He was instrumental

in bringing more than $400 million worth of capital investment in Peachtree

City and more than 40 new corporate facilities.

Joe Johnson

is director of economic development for Fulton County and is responsible

for coordinating the recruitment efforts of the county. Johnson is well

known in South Fulton, having lead the development efforts of East Point

for many years before joining Fulton County.

Jeff Lynn

is director of project operations for the Georgia Quick Start program.

Quick Start is one of the most successful labor training efforts in the

United States and has been featured in Fortune magazine and the Wall Street

Journal as an example of effective and well-managed labor training programs.

Melvin W.

"Mel" Sorrow is one of the most experienced industrial leasing

agents in Atlanta, working for industry giant M.D. Hodges. M.D. Hodges

Southpark mixed-use development near Oakley Industrial Park is an example

of how residential, commercial/retail and industrial projects can coexist

and prosper.

Luncheon tickets

are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $120 for a corporate table of

eight.

Call Patsy

Dodgen at the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce at 770-964-1984.

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