Naming rights go to Cobb Energy

COMPILED BY VICTORIA SCHARF DeCASTRO

After the announcement was made that Cobb Energy's name will go on the performing arts center, a chorus line from the Atlanta Ballet rounded out the groundbreaking ceremony.

In January, the new performing arts center scheduled to begin construction in April at Cobb Galleria in northwest Atlanta finally got its name: Cobb Energy Centre for the Performing Arts.

After conducting inquiries with several corporations in the area, the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority ultimately selected Cobb Energy, an affiliate of Cobb Electric Membership Corp. in Marietta, as a partner.

“We are extremely pleased to have Cobb Energy as our partner in an enterprise so important to the metro Atlanta community,” says Earl Smith, Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority chairman.

Projected to open in 2007, the Cobb Energy Centre for the Performing Arts is the first major performing arts facility built in metro Atlanta in four decades. It is expected to be one of the most spectacular performance theaters in the United States.

Equipped with state-of-the-art stage systems, the Cobb Energy Centre for the Performing Arts will serve as a catalyst for cultural arts initiatives in metro Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. The center will offer a wide range of artistic programming—from Broadway productions, opera and ballet to concerts, corporate events and community theater. At a cost of $150 million, the facility will include a 2,750-seat theater, special event space, a 1,500-space parking deck, full-service food and beverage capabilities, and rehearsal facilities.

“It’s nice to have a partner we know,” says Dwight Brown, Cobb Energy president and CEO. “But beyond that, our management and board of directors were impressed with the scope and quality of the development. This is a premier project and a premier example of a corporate/community alliance.”

Hats off to two Businesses of the Year!

Tri-County EMC was named Business of the Year for 2004 at the Jones County/Gray Chamber annual meeting last December. Tri-County Director Mike S. Rainey III accepted the Business of the Year award from Jones County/Gray Chamber Executive Director Sandra McKinney. The Gray-based electric cooperative was recognized as one of the county’s largest employers—generating nearly $225,000 in sales tax revenue, and paying about $146,000 in property taxes in 2004.

The chamber thanked Tri-County EMC for its economic development education efforts, employee participation in chamber activities, fund-raisers, use of the community room and its Operation Round Up program.

—Margaret Morris, Tri-County EMC

The Liberty County Chamber of Commerce recognized Midway-based Coastal Electric Cooperative as the 2004 Business of the Year for businesses with 50 or more employees. Kenny Smiley of the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce presented the award to Coastal CEO Whit Hollowell and Director of Communications Anne Cordeiro at the chamber’s annual meeting Jan.18 at Fort Stewart.

The award recognized Coastal Electric Cooperative’s outstanding commitment to community service—as illustrated here as (left to right) Coastal employees Andy Anderson, Robert Moore and Jerry Bragg load up goods collected for a hurricane relief drive.

—Anne Cordeiro, Coastal Electric Cooperative

Tony Southern sets aside his fear of needles to donate blood to the American Red Cross. (Photo by Jennifer J. Hewett.)

Driven to save lives

“It’s just the initial prick,” says Tony Southern about his fear of needles at the American Red Cross blood drive that took place Dec. 29 at the Oglethorpe Power Corp. building in Tucker.

Within these walls, on the third floor just outside the cafeteria, stands the American Red Cross Bloodhound award. This award recognizes employees of Oglethorpe Power (OPC), Georgia Transmission Corp. (GTC) and Georgia System Operations Corp. (GSOC) for achieving a participation rate of 75 percent, the highest among companies that met or exceeded their annual goal for 2004. Tony is a staff accountant with OPC and a volunteer on the blood drive team. “He comes to every single drive. He’ll sweat until his shirt is soaked through, but he knows in his head he’s saving lives,” says Darlene Schmitt, a GSOC employee and blood drive organizer.

“Tony is an example of someone dedicated to overcoming his fear to benefit others. The majority of our donors come in relaxed and enjoy the short time away from their busy day,” says GSOC employee and blood drive organizer Sonya Britt.

“I’m doing it because my mother has cancer and she has to get blood transfusions. She’s benefiting from programs like this,” says Jesse Glasgow, a GTC contractor.

“I just try to donate every time they come; I like the cookies,” says GTC employee Shannon Honeycutt.