Rocket IT Presents Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Doug Hooker

Rocket IT is pleased to present newly elected Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Doug Hooker at the January Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce General Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, January 18th. The luncheon will be held at the 1818 Club from 11:30AM to 1:00PM.

Hooker was sworn in as the fourth executive director of the ARC following a unanimous vote by the commission on October 31st, 2011. With over twenty years of experience in both Metro Atlanta’s public and private sectors, he is considered by the ARC to be a “highly experienced professional with extensive ties to government, business and non-profit organizations.” Having served as an engineer in the private sector and an administrator for the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia, Hooker is a natural fit to further the ARC’s mission to serve as the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta region and help shape the region’s leadership and attention to key issues of regional consequence. Hooker will replace outgoing Executive Director Chick Krautler who retired earlier in 2011.

Hooker served as the Vice President and Southern States Director for Atkins Global (formerly PBS&J), an engineering and planning firm, from September 2005 until his election to the ARC in October. At Atkins Global, he was responsible for client development of the company’s water, environmental and transportation businesses in the Southeast. Previous to Atkins, Hooker was the Executive Director and CEO of the State Road and Tollway Authority from 2003-2005 and the Commissioner of Public Works for the City of Atlanta from 1992-1997.

When asked in a recent interview with the Atlanta Business Chronicle about how his well-rounded background and public service under both Democrats and Republicans will help him in his new role with the ARC, Hooker said “They’ve given me a perspective of how different levels of government have to approach problems or issues that they might have in common, and a perspective… of how the private sector approaches the same series of issues.” Hooker continued to express the value of public and private partnerships in overcoming difficult issues such as transportation and water supplies.

Hooker holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science, Technology & Science Policy from Georgia Tech and a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. He is also deeply involved with the community, as he is the co-founder, board member and former chairman of the Civil League for Regional Atlanta. He also serves on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Council for Quality Growth and the Atlanta Opera.

Cost is $45 for Chamber members; $55 for non-Chamber members. Advanced registration is required; walk-ins are not guaranteed a seat. To RSVP or for more information visit the Gwinnett Chamber website.

As the presenting sponsor of the Gwinnett Chamber’s General Membership Meeting series since 2008, Rocket IT is proud to support our local Chamber and our community.

Rocket IT Presents Georgia House of Representatives Speaker of the House David Ralston

Please join Presenting Sponsor Rocket IT and the Gwinnett Chamber as we host Georgia House of Representatives Speaker of the House David Ralston at the General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, November 16th at The 1818 Club from 11:30AM to 1:00PM.

Speaker Ralston was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1992, and served until he won the Republican nomination for Attorney General of Georgia in 1998. In 2002, Ralston was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. Today, he represents the 7th District which includes the Northeast counties of Fannin, Gilmer, and a portion of Dawson County.

On January 11, 2010, Ralston was elected the 73rd Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. The Speaker serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, and is elected by fellow Members of the House to serve as their leader at the beginning of each two year term. When the House is in session, the Speaker is in charge of upholding the rules of the House, calling bills up for discussion and vote, recognizing Members who wish to speak on a bill, and bringing order to the house.

Aside from his legislative duties, Ralston is an attorney in Blue Ridge. He is active in the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, and the Blue Ridge Lions Club. He and his wife Jane have two children, Elizabeth and Matt.

Cost is $45 for Chamber members; $55 for non-Chamber members. Advanced registration is required; walk-ins are not guaranteed a seat. To RSVP or for more information visit the Gwinnett Chamber website.

As the presenting sponsor of the Gwinnett Chamber’s General Membership Meeting series since 2008, Rocket IT is proud to support our local Chamber and our community.

Department of Labor Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond Speaks at General Membership Meeting Presented by Rocket IT

Rocket IT invites you to join Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce members at the General Membership Meeting with speaker Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond of the Department of Labor, on July 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Elected in 1998 as the first African American Labor Commissioner, Thurmond oversees 4,000 employees while serving 90,000 families. Commissioner Thurmond will provide a snapshot of the Georgia job market, businesses and workforce.

The Georgia Department of Labor’s mission is to work with public and private partners in building a world-class workforce system that contributes to Georgia’s economic prosperity.

Gwinnett Chamber General Membership Meeting Presented by Rocket IT

Commissioner Michael L. Thurmond, Georgia Department of Labor

Wednesday, July 21
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
1818 Club

Cost is $45 for Chamber members; $55 for non-Chamber members. Advanced registration is required; walk-ins are not guaranteed a seat. To RSVP or for more information visit, www.gwinnettchamber.org/gmmregistration.

Rocket IT has been the proud presenting sponsor of the Chamber’s General Membership Meeting series since 2008.

Rocket IT Presents Margaret DeFrancisco, President and CEO of Georgia Lottery Corporation

Please join Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce members at the General Membership Meeting as Rocket IT presents Margaret DeFranciso, president and CEO of Georgia Lottery Corporation, on June 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

DeFranciso was selected to serve as president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation in 2003. During her tenure, she has maintained a strong focus on growing sales of a successful lottery to support the HOPE scholarship and Pre-K programs for Georgia’s students.

Under her leadership, the Georgia Lottery Corporation has reached record sales and profit each succeeding year. In January 2009, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.

Gwinnett Chamber General Membership Meeting Presented by Rocket IT

Margaret DeFranciso, president and CEO of Georgia Lottery Corporation
Wednesday, June 16
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
1818 Club

Cost is $45 for Chamber members; $55 for non-Chamber members. Advanced registration is required; walk-ins are not guaranteed a seat. To RSVP or for more information visit, www.gwinnettchamber.org/gmmregistration.

Rocket IT has been the proud presenting sponsor of the Chamber’s General Membership Meeting series since 2008.

Rocket IT Named 2010 Top 25 Pinnacle Small Business Award Winner

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce named Rocket IT one of the 2010 Top 25 Pinnacle Small Business Award winners on April 23.

“We are very excited to have received this honor again this year. The field was very competitive this year with companies that have showed tremendous strength and perseverance,” said Matt Hyatt, founder and CEO of Rocket IT. “Rocket IT is very thankful for this wonderful honor.”

The top 25 companies were selected from more than 300 nominations from people around the county. Out of the 300 nominations, 50 finalists were chosen. According to the Gwinnett Chamber, “companies were selected based on steady and above average growth and profitability, growth in number of employees, contributions to the community, overcoming adversity, original entrepreneurship and more.”

(Picture Courtesy of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce)