Retired Chick-fil-A, Inc. Chief Council Lynn Chastain Honored for Impact and Commitment

Chastain to receive Junior Achievement Gold Leadership Award for more than a decade of service to Junior Achievement of Georgia

ATLANTA– Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia announced today that Lynn Chastain, retired Chief Council, Chick-fil-A, Inc., has received the JA Gold Leadership Award. Chastain currently serves on the JA of Georgia Executive Committee and formerly served as Chair of the Board of Directors.

 “Lynn is so deserving of this award, and we are incredibly proud and honored that she is one of this year’s recipients,’ said John Hancock, President and CEO, JA of Georgia. “Lynn’s dedication to our mission has resulted in an incredible impact on the students of our state, and we are so fortunate to have her insight and passion.”

This award is the highest recognition bestowed by Junior Achievement USA and is presented to JA volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to deliver JA programs in their communities, and may also dedicate their valuable time to serving on local JA boards. This year’s eight recipients from across the nation contribute a variety of ideals including creativity, effectiveness and drive, but most importantly, a deep a commitment the future of our next generation.

Chastain’s involvement with JA of Georgia began in 2002 as the lead for Chick-fil-A volunteer efforts, and she has served on the Board of Directors since 2008, spearheading the group as Board Chair from 2017-2019. She has been one of the organization’s most prominent and important thought leaders over the past decade, a time in which the organization saw tremendous change and growth. Student numbers, contact hours, board size, staff size and budget all increased tremendously during the time of Lynn’s active service.

More importantly, the organization’s change initiatives refocused the mission and brand during that time. Lynn has overseen the creation of four capstone centers and the launch of 3DE Schools by Junior Achievement, and along the way has been a tireless advocate for this work. She has also been a steady voice for excellence in these new operational models and insisted on building long-term plans to ensure sustainability.

Chastain is deeply committed to people; their education, their advancement and their dignity. This is seen in the way she led the Legal Team at Chick-fil-A and certainly in the way she led at JA. From interactions with fellow directors, to members of the staff to the students served, Chastain led with humility and integrity. She works from a servant mindset and is all about promoting growth and opportunity for all.

Chastain will be recognized for this achievement on March 25 at the annual JA USA Volunteer Summit.

Laureates for 32nd annual JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame named

Dr. Mark P. Becker and Mr. Ernest Greer will join the prestigious group of individuals previously inducted into the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame

ATLANTA– Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia and Atlanta Business Chronicle are pleased to announce that

Dr. Mark P. Becker, President, Georgia State University, and Mr. Ernest Greer, Co-President, Greenberg Traurig, will be inducted into the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 15, 2021. They will join the group of 97 influential Atlantans recognized for their significant contributions to Atlanta’s economic and civic vibrancy.

Celebrating its 32nd year, the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame, a black-tie gala to benefit JA of Georgia, is held to honor dynamic business and civic leaders who have shaped Atlanta into the robust city it is today.

 Since starting his tenure as Georgia State’s seventh president in January 2009, Dr. Becker has pursued an ambitious vision for the future of the university and has led it into an unparalleled period of growth and advancement. Under his leadership, the graduation rate has increased 22 percentage points and enrollment has grown to more than 50,000, making it the largest university in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. The university has become widely recognized as the national leader in the introduction of innovative programs and initiatives to foster student success and has experienced tremendous growth in the areas of research, global engagement, athletics and the physical development of its Atlanta campus. Dr. Becker’s academic career in biostatistics and public health has included appointments at multiple universities across the U.S., with his transition into academic leadership beginning in 2001 at the University of Minnesota, and continuing at the University of South Carolina, where he was the provost. He serves on the boards of the American Council on Education, the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Research Alliance, and the Atlanta Committee for Progress. He also serves on the executive committees of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Central Atlanta Progress, and the Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities.

 Ernest Greer serves as Co-President of Greenberg Traurig and plays a key role in the strategic direction of the firm and firmwide day-to-day operations. He is dedicated to continuing to shape the firm’s brand as a collaborative law firm providing high-quality legal work and excellent service to clients and the communities Greenberg Traurig serves. Greer uses his global position to reflect the firm’s commitment to dedicating time and talents through active involvement in communities in which they live and work. In doing so, Greer served as the Chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2014, where he was the first lawyer to serve in this capacity in the Chamber’s more than 100-year history. At present, he serves on the boards for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Atlanta History Center, Achieve Atlanta, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Atlanta Police Foundation, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Equal Justice Works. Greer also currently serves as the Director of Buckhead Coalition, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, and the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Guardsman, Inc. Past board memberships include the Center for Civil & Human Rights, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, and The Carter Center’s Board of Councilors, which he joined at former President Carter’s request.

 The JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame will feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner, and Laureate Induction Ceremony. The 2021 gala will be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead. Proceeds from the event will benefit JA of Georgia and its efforts to empower the next generation to build a better future for themselves and their community. To learn more click here.

Colonial Group Invests as Lead Sponsor of New JA Discovery Center in Savannah

Colonial Group commits $2 million in funding for the development of the JA Colonial Group Discovery Center of Savannah

Savannah, GA – Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA) is proud to announce a contribution from Colonial Group of $2 million to the capital campaign of the JA Colonial Group Discovery Center of Savannah. As the lead sponsor, their commitment will fund the renovation and launch of the facility on the Armstrong campus.

“We are so thrilled to be receiving this support from our longtime partner Colonial Group,” said Camille Russo, Vice President, Marketing, JA of Georgia. “They have been an integral part of JA’s impact in Savannah for decades, and this facility will enable us to expand our reach into the region and give 150 students per day invaluable experiences for years to come.”  

Colonial Group was involved in bringing JA to Savannah nearly 30 years ago, and they are a huge supporter of financial education. They have been the title sponsor of the annual Savannah Business Hall of Fame since its inception 21 years ago.

“We are thrilled to offer our support and strengthen our partnership with JA. We realize how important it is to instill the values and principles that Junior Achievement offers to the youth of our community, and we are excited to see the impact that the JA Discovery Center will have in furthering that effort,” said Rob Demere, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Colonial Group.

The outfitting of the space has received approval by the University System of Georgia and the Board of Regents. The Colonial Group’s gift catalyzed the capital campaign for the facility, which will total approximately $3.8 million in financial support.

The facility will provide students continued exposure to their future possibilities through two innovative programs:

JA BizTown creates an unmatched experience where 6th grade students can interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of fueling a business. Here, students not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also realize the abundance of opportunities available within their city.

JA Finance Park provides 7th grade students the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Guided by an assigned ‘life situation,’ students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

Currently JA Discovery Centers serve more than 88,000 students a year across three locations - the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center in Altanta, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett and the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia in Cumming. The fourth facility, in Dalton, is under construction and will open in 2021, bringing the total impact to more than a third of middle school students in Georgia.