Local Business Leaders to be Honored for Achievements and Contributions to Atlanta Business Community

Tyler Perry and Jeffrey Sprecher will join the prestigious group of individuals previously inducted into the

JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame

Tyler Perry

Actor, Filmmaker, Philanthropist and Owner of Tyler Perry Studios

Jeffrey Sprecher

Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Intercontinental Exchange, and Chairman, New York Stock Exchange

ATLANTA– Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia and Atlanta Business Chronicle are pleased to announce that Tyler Perry, Actor, Filmmaker, Philanthropist, and Owner of Tyler Perry Studios, and Jeffrey Sprecher, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and Chairman, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) will be inducted into the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 22, 2020. They will join the group of 95 influential Atlantans recognized for their significant contributions to Atlanta’s economic and civic vibrancy.

Celebrating its 31st 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.

Following his humble beginning in New Orleans, Tyler Perry’s media, entertainment and philanthropic persona has become synonymous with the Atlanta community since the founding of Tyler Perry Studios in 2006. The mastermind behind over 20 feature films, two dozen stage plays, nine television shows and two New York Times bestselling books, Perry has built an empire that has attracted audiences and built communities, from his studio’s home base in Atlanta and throughout the world. Celebrated “among the pantheon of today’s greatest cinematic innovators,” his unique blend of spiritual hope and down-home humor continues to shape his inspiring life story, connecting with fans across the globe. Perry’s impact on the economic landscape and overall well-being of Atlanta has only begun and will be felt for generations to come.

Jeffrey Sprecher first arrived here in 1997 from California, where he was an entrepreneur in the power industry, and acquired the Atlanta-based Continental Power Exchange to build a new market operator. Sprecher and a small team launched Intercontinental Exchange in 2000, which has evolved from an energy market to an operator of more than a dozen exchanges and global market infrastructure, including the New York Stock Exchange, and has a market capitalization of over $50 billion today. In addition to notable acquisitions and growth within the Fortune 500 Company, Sprecher has been continually recognized for his outstanding leadership and impact from the Wall Street Journal and Fortune, and has been on Barron’s list of 30 World’s Best CEOs since 2014. Sprecher previously served as Chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and currently serves on its Executive Committee, is a University of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Trustee, and is on the Board of Directors of the Buckhead Coalition, The Commerce Club, Atlanta Committee for Progress and Engage Ventures.

The JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame will feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner and Laureate Induction Ceremony. The 2020 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.

Local leaders and exciting expansion

We recently had the pleasure of inducting Dr. Annette Brock, Dale Critz Jr., and Charles Morris into the JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame. These three leaders have spent years building meaningful careers, and serving the Savannah community. It was a wonderful evening celebrating their accomplishments and honoring the work they’ve done to impact and empower the students of the Coastal Empire.

In addition to adding these three inductees to the prestigious list of local leaders, we also unveiled some exciting news – 3DE is coming to Savannah! Beginning in August 2019, Savannah High School will be the first 3DE School outside of Metro Atlanta. This expansion wouldn’t be possible without the overwhelming support and passion of this community, including Dr. Ann Levett, Superintendent, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, and local business partner SunTrust. We are thrilled to offer even more students access to education for every dimension of life, and look forward to transforming the high school experience hand-in-hand with this dedicated region.

To find out more about getting involved with 3DE in Savannah, contact Camille Russo at crusso@georgia.ja.org. For more information about 3DE Schools, visit our website.

Roz Brewer and John Brock to be honored at 30th annual JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame

Originally published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle by Maria Saporta

Two iconic Atlanta business leaders will be honored at the 2019 JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame on Feb. 23 at the InterContinental Buckhead.

They are Rosalind "Roz" Brewer, chief operating officer and group president of Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX); and John F. Brock, retired CEO of Coca-Cola European Partners (NYSE: CCE).

The JA Hall of Fame is one of the top recognitions highlighted in Atlanta each year. It honors people for their distinguished careers and philanthropic achievements in the Atlanta community.

The 2019 Hall of Fame will be the 30th annual for JA Georgia.

Before joining Starbucks, Brewer was president and CEO of Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT). She was the first woman and first African-American to fill the role of CEO at one of Walmart Stores.

Brewer is a native of Detroit who moved to Atlanta to attend Spelman College, graduating in 1984. She joined Spelman’s board of trustees in 2006, and she now serves as chair of its board. Brewer also chaired the search for Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell, who joined the Historically Black College and University in 2015.

Brewer joined Walmart in 2006 as its regional vice president responsible of overseeing operations in Georgia.

Prior to joining Walmart, Brewer worked for 22 years at Kimberly-Clark Corp., where she eventually became president of the Global Nonwovens Sector in 2004. Brewer serves on the board of Lockheed Martin Corp. Fortune Magazine recently named her to its 2018 Most Powerful Women in Business list.

Before retiring as CEO of Coca-Cola European Partners in December 2016, Brock served as chairman and CEO of Coca-Enterprises from 2006 to May 2016 (when there was a merger of European bottlers).

Brock began his career with Procter & Gamble and later joined Cadbury Schweppes, serving in several executive roles, becoming its COO in 2000. From 2003 to 2006, Brock was CEO of InBev.

Currently, Brock serves on the board of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Brock also has served in multiple civic leadership roles in Atlanta, and he chairs the GT Foundation. Brock, who as a BS and MS in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech, also chaired the university’s recent capital campaign.

He also is chair of Horizons Atlanta, an organization focused on summer learning for under-served children. Brock and his son, John IV, are co-owners of Team Envy and the Dallas Fuel, which are eSports teams. His wife, Mary, also is a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

To find out more about the event, click here.