Gwinnett-Grown Healthcare Research Company Consolidates and Expands Operations

The Myers Group doubles size of call center operations in Duluth, creates 50 new jobs

In partnership with the Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development, The Myers Group, leading healthcare survey administrator and organically grown Gwinnett company, will expand and relocate their operations from three office buildings to one large one, doubling in size. The expansion includes the lease of a 33,000 square foot building that will house all facility operations including their call center, mail services, survey administration, marketing and sales. This expansion will bring up to 50 new jobs and additional capital investment to the community.

"Our company was founded in 1993 based on a vision to serve the healthcare community through valid and reliable survey research and superior customer service," said A.C. Myers, III, CEO and Founder of The Myers Group. "The success and continued growth of our organization has been built by the people and resources of Gwinnett County, and we look forward to continuing to create jobs and opportunities for Gwinnettians."

"The Myers Group has a long standing history of success in Gwinnett County," said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair, Shirley Lassester. "Our county works together with leaders from the community to make sure we are not only recruiting companies but growing those Gwinnett-born businesses like, The Myers Group."

The new facility, located at 1965 Evergreen Boulevard in Duluth, includes a corporate office, a state-of-the-art call center, and operations.

"The Gwinnett Chamber awarded The Myers Group our Pinnacle Small Business award in 2009," said Lauren Salas, senior business development manager for corporate and regional headquarters at the Gwinnett Chamber. "Their success and this expansion are a testament to the outstanding business environment we have in Gwinnett."

Named to the INC 500 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in the country for 2003, The Myers Group has maintained their status, ranking 124 on the list with a five-year sales growth of 1,266 percent. The new location and expansion will allow for future plans of full-service healthcare fulfillment for clients. For more information on The Myers Group please visit www.themyersgroup.net and to read about other Gwinnett-based company expansions, visit www.successliveshere.com.

North American Design Firm Anchors Georgia Presence in Gwinnett

Stantec acquired Gwinnett-Based Street Smarts

In partnership with Gwinnett Chamber economic development North American design firm Stantec announced it had acquired the assets of Street Smarts, a 60-person transportation and civil engineering company headquartered in Duluth. The acquisition will anchor Stantec's multi-office presence in Georgia and serve as the state's regional hub. Growth plans for the office anticipate generating dozens of high wage engineering and planning services jobs over the next five years, with staff occupying the existing 24,000 sq ft office space available. The facility is located in downtown Duluth at 3160 Main Street.

"Street Smarts has a strong and diversified 20 year track record in Georgia spanning commercial development and statewide transportation projects," said former President & CEO of Street Smarts, Marsha Anderson-Bomar. "This acquisition is mutually beneficial; it will dramatically increase Stantec's transportation practice in Georgia and gives our local team the ability to better serve our clients."

Stantec provides professional consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, survey, environmental sciences, project management and project economics for infrastructure and facilities projects.

"Street Smarts have been a strong asset to Gwinnett's business community and I am certain that Stantec will only enhance that," said Nancy Harris, Mayor, City of Duluth. "Our goal is to continue to drive job growth and spur business development in Duluth and Gwinnett County. We are excited to see Stantec join our team."

Stantec is one of North America's leading sustainable design firms. Stantec has been involved with the design of more than 115 LEED certified buildings and includes more than 500 LEED accredited professionals. To date, more than half a million square feet of company's more than three million square feet of owned or leased office space has been built or renovated to LEED standards; fifteen Stantec offices are LEED registered or certified.

"Stantec is incorporating the goals and objectives that align with the Partnership Gwinnett strategy, job growth and sustainable best practices," said Nick Masino, Vice President of Economic Development & Partnership Gwinnett, Gwinnett Chamber. "We look forward to working with a company that has a laundry list of services they provide to local companies and the business community."

Stantec has more than 150 offices throughout North America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Looking forward, Stantec intends to develop its presence in Georgia in all discipline areas and sectors, including building design, environmental infrastructure and management, and transportation with a focus on sustainable consulting and design services for the public and private sector.

To learn more about Stantec please visit www.stantec.com. For more information about the community and economic development strategy, Partnership Gwinnett visit www.partnershipgwinnett.com or visit www.gwinnettchamber.org.

Gwinnett and Georgia leaders Welcome New Statewide Job Growth Leader Chris Cummiskey

New Commissioner of Economic Development honored at reception hosted by Gwinnett and several key partners across the state

video news release

Duluth, GA- Over 200 business, community and economic development professionals from across Georgia recently attended the Georgia Leadership Welcome Reception put on by the Gwinnett Chamber and a host of economic development partners. The event featured honored guest and new Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Cummiskey and offered a unique opportunity to network with the new job-growth leader as well as partners and peers in economic development throughout metro Atlanta and the state.

"Our communities play a critical part in attracting new business investments, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses and positioning the state as a top location for tourism and business relocation projects," said Commissioner Cummiskey. "I look forward to working with Gwinnett and communities across the state as we continue to promote Georgia in the global marketplace."

Partnership Gwinnett, the community and economic development initiative led by the Gwinnett Chamber and over 160 public and private investors, drives a continual strategy of promoting regional and statewide assets as key business attraction. Through supporting statewide efforts and partnering with economic development organizations across the metro Atlanta region and Georgia, Gwinnett has witnessed overwhelming success in job and wealth creation, having recorded over 9,200 new jobs to the community in the last three years.

"With the help of strategic partners like the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Gwinnett has become a leader in the area of job creation in the state of Georgia," said Jim Maran, president & CEO, Gwinnett Chamber. "We look forward to working with Commissioner Cummiskey in achieving the Gwinnett Chamber's top priority of attracting high-wage jobs to Gwinnett and the state of Georgia."

The Chamber's vice president of economic development and Partnership Gwinnett, Nick Masino, believes regional and statewide marketing is key to the success of the internationally recognized and award-winning metro community. "It is only with the collaboration of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power, GEDA, the EMCs and other valuable partners that Partnership Gwinnett has been so successful. I believe I can speak for everyone at this event when I say that we are excited about continuing to work with our partners at the State and look forward to what the future holds for all of us."

The Georgia Leadership Welcome Reception was co-hosted by Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and a host of economic development partners, including the Cobb Chamber, Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA), Georgia Power, Jackson County Chamber, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Additional sponsors include Platinum Sponsor Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG), and Gold Sponsors AGLResources; Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Foundation, Inc.; Oconee County Economic Development Department; Pattillo Industrial Real Estate; and Wakefield Beasley & Associates.

For more information on the Gwinnett Chamber's job creation efforts, please visit www.gwinnetteconomicdevelopment.com.

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