GBJ Staff

Brenau one step closer to biosciences center

(L-R) Brenau University Health & Science Dean Gale Starich, Arthur and Pamela Bilyeu, Brenau biology major Jordan Bryant Wallace from Cumming, Ga., and Lori and Don Lori McEachin

Brenau University dedicated a new greenhouse on the Gainesville campus on Friday, May 18, 2012, that will expand the university’s successful undergraduate research project that is returning endangered species to their native habitats.

Gale Starich, dean of the College of Health and Sciences at Brenau, said the facility also will be the first step toward the long-term vision for development of a bio-sciences field learning center on the Gainesville campus that will include a small amphitheater, the reclaimed bamboo forest that was established almost 100 years ago and other facilities.

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GBJ Staff

Bristol-Myers Squibb to Acquire Inhibitex

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Inhibitex, Inc. (Nasdaq:INHX) have signed a definitive agreement under which Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire Inhibitex for approximately $2.5 billion, a transaction that has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

Alpharetta-based Inhibitex is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative products that can treat or prevent serious infections, whose primary focus is on the development of nucleotide/nucleoside analogs for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV).

“The acquisition of Inhibitex builds on Bristol-Myers Squibb’s long history of discovering, developing and delivering innovative new medicines in virology and enriches our portfolio of investigational medicines for hepatitis C,” said Lamberto Andreotti, chief executive officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “There is significant unmet medical need in hepatitis C. This acquisition represents an important investment in the long-term growth of the company.”

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GBJ Staff

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and the Georgia Department of
Transportation invite you to attend the ribbon cutting for the official opening of the McGinnis Ferry Road Extension Project. The ceremony will take place on McGinnis Ferry Road at Gwinco Boulevard.
The design and right-of-way for this project were funded through SPLOST and construction was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
October 4, 2011 • 11:00am

Please carpool if you can; parking is limited. For more information, call 770.822.7180.

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GBJ Staff

Genesis Biosciences Expands Operational and Scientific Staff

Genesis Biosciences, a global leader in custom fermentation, microbial product formulation and antimicrobial product development, announced today that Casey Smallwood has been promoted to vice president of operations. Additionally, Mauricio Amaya and Amit Choksi have been promoted to laboratory manager and fermentation manager, respectively, and Prasanth Maddipati joins Genesis as a new fermentation scientist. These team members will be located in Genesis’ newly renovated U.S. fermentation and manufacturing facility in Lawrenceville, GA.

“Casey, Mauricio, Amit and Prasanth bring valuable experience and knowledge to the Genesis operational and technical teams, and we will look to them as we continue to develop high-quality, environmentally preferred chemical, fermentation and microbial-based solutions for our customers,” stated Conrad Mielcuszny, president and chief executive officer of Genesis Biosciences.

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GBJ Staff

Kaiser Permanente of Georgia Expands to Athens

Kaiser Permanente of Georgia announced Wednesday, it will invest $3.5 million to open a new medical office in Athens.

The Kaiser Permanente Athens Medical Office, located at 2142 West Broad Street, Building 200, will be the organization’s first location outside of metro Atlanta. Kaiser Permanente is Georgia’s largest non-profit health plan, serving more than 240,000 members state-wide.

“What makes Kaiser Permanente unique is our ability to meet all health care needs. Our model integrates affordable health insurance with high-quality health care services,” explained Kerry Kohnen, president of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia. “Bringing Kaiser Permanente to Athens provides our members who are living, working, or attending school in Athens-Clarke County and the surrounding area with more convenient access to our services.”

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GBJ Staff

I-85 Express Lanes Scheduled to Open on October 1

The State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) announced today that the I-85 Express Lanes will officially open on Saturday, October 1. The opening date is contingent upon a successful testing outcome for all equipment in the Express Lanes and weather conditions. In addition, a third Peach Pass Customer Service Center is now open in downtown Atlanta at 47 Trinity Avenue on the Ground Floor. The new Customer Service Center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

“The opening of the I-85 Express Lanes will represent a new era in transportation innovation,” said SRTA Executive Director Gena L. Evans, Ph.D.  “This all-electronic commuting choice gives registered Peach Pass customers access to a more reliable travel option in the I-85 corridor.  The Express Lanes concept has been proven successful in eight other cities, and we are excited about its ability to positively impact I-85 traffic and keep Metro Atlantans moving.”

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett Launches New Web Tool: Where Your Property Taxes Go

Gwinnett County Government has launched an interactive web page that lets property owners see the value they get in county services for the property taxes they pay. The page is titled Where Your Property Taxes Go and can be accessed from the Your Money button on the home page of the County’s website, www.gwinnettcounty.com.

The property tax calculator details how property taxes are allocated among various functional areas of county government such as public safety, sheriff and judicial, public works and transportation, and recreation. The tool also provides specific examples of the many services provided to county residents.

Residents may access the information in the property tax calculator by searching for a specific property or entering a fair market value. When searching for a particular property, users may enter one of several pieces of information: physical address, mailing address, parcel identification number, or owner name. The calculator will return an estimate of the total property taxes and fees paid based upon the most recent bill, including a pie chart showing how the taxes were allocated to each of the functions and activities of the County government.

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GBJ Staff

Cloud what?

Cloud computing is Internet-based computing. More specifically, this means that your Small Business Server Applications live and are accessed through the Internet instead of being stored at a server in your office.  This means, all of the shared resources like software and information your company uses every day, would be provided to office computers and other devices, as it is needed. By renting usage from a third-party provider, your business can cut costs by eliminating the need for a full physical infrastructure.

Cloud computing terms to remember: Cloud computing has two bases, Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Think of SaaS as a software rental car company: In business, you use software as a vehicle to travel through transactions and communicate with others. Whether you are creating a contract for a new client, or processing a regular monthly payment, the software you use costs money. SaaS offers the software you need for a fixed monthly fee.

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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Slow economy equals staffing variety

To say jobs are hard to come by is nothing short of an understatement.  The national unemployment rate has found its comfort zone within the 9.0 range for months now, while Georgia’s unemployment rate has a bird’s eye view of the recession at 9.9 percent.

Still to many staffing agencies, the job market is still plentiful.  There are jobs out there for the taking.  The American Staffing Association says staffing companies employ 2.58 million people across the country every business day.

These days the saying ‘There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’” has never been more true.  Staffing agencies work as the middleman between those looking for work and those needing the work done.  However, in a stale economy, it might come as a surprise one local staffing agency is witnessing their business, especially for permanent positions, growing.

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GBJ Staff

Minority-Owned Staffing Firm Expands in Gwinnett

Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development celebrated the expansion of I–TECH Staffing Services facility at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday evening  at their facility at 4020 Steve Reynolds Boulevard in Norcross. I–TECH Staffing Services is a GMSDC registered minority-owned staffing provider. The company was established in 1997 specializing in placing experienced Electronics Assembly and Soldering employees for the Computer and Electronics Manufacturing and Repair Industry. The addition of 45,000 square feet brings 53 jobs with it to Gwinnett County.

“My decision to expand in Gwinnett County was obvious. Gwinnett is growing and heavily populated with the communities in which we serve.” said Phillip Tran, President of I-TECH Staffing and I-TECH e-Services. Those communities include Vietnamese, Hispanic, Korean, South American, African, Eastern European, Chinese, and many others.

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