NEWS BRIEFS: Gwinnett Place CID names two new board members

Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) has elected two new board members and re-elected one board member.

Caltabiano

Jett

The newly elected board members include Ondria Jett, regional manager for Banyan Street Capital,  and Christopher Caltabiano, senior vice president at Northwood Investors. They will serve a three-year term and join seven other board members.

Trey Ragsdale, manager of public affairs for Kaiser Permanente, was re-elected for another three-year term on the board of directors and retains his position as vice-chair for the board. Leo Wiener, president of Ackerman Retail, was re-elected as the board chair along with Mark Williams, owner of Printing Trade Company, as secretary/treasurer.

Ondria Jett, as a regional manager for Banyan Street Capital, is responsible for the oversight of nearly 3 million square feet of commercial property in Atlanta and New York, as well as annual business plans and budgets with a net operating income (NOI) of more than $45 million. Jett holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Caltabiano is senior vice president of Northwood Investors. He graduated from St. John’s University with a bachelor’s degree and received a master’s degree from the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate where he is currently an adjunct assistant professor.

Ragsdale

Ragsdale is responsible for securing government and community support for Kaiser Permanente’s healthcare initiatives throughout Georgia. Previously, he held leadership positions with MARTA, the United States Senate, the White House, King & Spalding law firm and The Coca-Cola Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University.

Suwanee plans 2o-day event: International Night Market

The City of Suwanee and the Atlanta International Night Market are collaborating to bring two days of fun, food, and entertainment from around the world to Suwanee Town Center Park.

On Friday, April 22 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., guests will enjoy food and stage performances highlighting Gwinnett’s rich cultural diversity! For the past seven years, the Atlanta International Night Market has woven arts, education, and cuisine into an amazing event that enriches and displays the vibrant multiculturalism that is our community. Guests can also enjoy an Insta-worthy curated selection of illuminated art from Illuminate Georgia!

Atlanta International Night Market and Illuminate Georgia return on Saturday, April 23 from 2-10 pm, along with a favorite community tradition: the Glow in the Park lantern parade!

Suwanee Event Manager Amy Doherty says: “This event is a community celebration of creativity; everyone is encouraged to create illuminated costumes, carry their pre-made lanterns, and parade together. This electrical spectacle is family- and pet-friendly, so everyone can join in as we make our beloved park glow in the dark!”

NOTABLE

Southwest chamber gives phone charger to Duluth hospital

The Northside Duluth Hospital is getting a $1,100 phone charging station through a donation from the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.

Board member Jill Morris, works at Northside Duluth, shared this critical need with the chamber. She says: “Patients arrive at the hospital with hopes to be quickly treated and return home. Grabbing a phone charger is not always on their last-minute packing list. Having a means to communicate with loved ones via phone or IPAD becomes essential to their feelings of connection to home. If they do not have a charger, then those important connections can be completely cut off.” 

Cindy Murphy, associate director of Development and Operations for Northside Hospital, explains the impact of the donation. “Our nurses and floor techs are the first to offer their chargers to a patient in need. However, people forget to return them, or the needs outweigh the supply. Having a station where the cords are safely secure, and the phones are protected, is another need met by the hospital.” 

Murphy credits the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce with helping meet a community need. “Thanks to the generosity of the Chamber members, we are now providing comfort in another way. It is an excellent gesture of meeting the needs of others.” 

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