"An Age 9 to 90 Work Ethic ... plus a few political secrets!"
Sam Massell, a life-long resident of Atlanta, has had successful careers in real estate brokerage, elected office, the field of tourism, and association management.
He spent twenty years as a Realtor, becoming Vice President of Allan-Grayson Realty Company, then one of the city’s largest commercial brokerage firms. During that time, he was elected a charter member of the Atlanta Real Estate Board’s Million Dollar Club and was honored three times with the Cates Trophy by the Georgia Association of Real Estate Boards for creating the “Outstanding Transaction of the Year.”
While in real estate, Massell became extremely active in a wide range of civic work, which eventually led to the political arena. He served twenty-two years in elected offices, including eight as President of Atlanta’s Board of Aldermen (now known as the City Council) and four as this city’s Mayor. While holding that office, he was also chosen as President of the 15,000-member National League of Cities. In addition, he has served a four-year term on the Board of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, and was a Board Member of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.
Among other achievements, his administration as Mayor is credited with establishing MARTA (Atlanta’s mass transit program), with developing the city’s first enclosed arena (the Omni Coliseum), and with providing the “Five Points” Central City Woodruff Park, all with no call on ad valorem taxes. He also pioneered minority opportunities in city government, appointing the first female to Atlanta’s City Council and the first Blacks as City Department heads.
After leaving full-time public service, he entered the tourism business in Buckhead where he operated for thirteen years under the name of Your Travel Agent Sam Massell. He is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), and a former President of the Travel Industry Association of Georgia.
Mayor Massell now manages a nonprofit civic organization as the 1988 founding President of the Buckhead Coalition. This is a prestigious association of Chief Executive Officers of major businesses in this area on the north side of Atlanta who have pooled their strengths to nurture the quality of life and guide the orderly growth of Buckhead.
He has been honored by induction into the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau “Hospitality Hall of Fame”; Georgia Municipal Association “Government Hall of Fame”; Georgia State University Robinson College “Business Hall of Fame”; Georgia Trend Magazine “Most Influential Georgian’s Hall of Fame”, and International Civil Rights King Center “Walk of Fame”. His life is chronicled in a biography (“Play It Again, Sam”) by Charles McNair and Mercer University Press.
Next Tuesday, our Kiwanis Club of Atlanta luncheon will be upstairs in the Ann Cramer room! This is a smaller room, so be sure to arrive early. Once we reach capacity, all others, as well as late arrivals, will be directed to the overflow room down the hall, which has been piped in for audio. You can reach the Ann Cramer room by the back stairs, or take the elevator to the 2nd floor, turn right and join your Kiwanis friends for a fabulous lunch and program
Thanks for your flexibility as we work with the Loudermilk Center for a win-win partnership!
Our club is looking for about 6 individuals who are willing to become part of the "Lunch Bunch" team! Team members will help the lunch meetings operate smoothly by working the a/v board and sounds system in the back, ensuring that any a/v the speakers use are properly set up, and working the microphones during the Q&A sessions!
While no technical experience is necessary, volunteers should feel comfortable and confident adjusting sound levels and setting up the computer for power point and video presentations. And the benefit is a dedicated comfy seat at the a/v table during lunch!
Just in case you missed the last couple Member Spotlights at the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta luncheon meeting, we have listed the last few below. The next time you need someone with their expertise, please, "Do Business with a Kiwanian!"
"Do Business" with these Kiwanians!
Melody Watson is the Director of Individual and Civic Giving for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, a nonprofit that provides life-changing after-school and summer enrichment programs to youth ages 6-18 in 10 counties across the Atlanta area. BGCMA also runs Camp Kiwanis, a year-round camp in Danielsville, GA, with support from Kiwanis Club of Atlanta. Go to www.bgcma.org
Tom Cross is the owner of LifeLine Repairs Inman Park, a retail store specializing in smartphone, tablet and computer repair. LifeLine Repairs also offers Pedicab rides for all ages on the Atlanta Beltline and in Piedmont Park. Go to www.lifelinerepairs.com/locations/ga/atlanta-inman-park/
Do you want to let the members of our club know more about you and your business? Do you want to network and cultivate more business contacts? If you answered yes, then you need to sign up to do a "Member Spotlight" at one of our club meetings!
Spotlights are done every 2nd and 4th Tuesday luncheon meeting (and the occasional 5th) each month. You have two minutes to showcase your business and tell the other members how you can benefit them! To get on the schedule, just email Karen at KiwanisClubAtlanta@gmail.com.
Don't get the BOOT! Be sure your car has a Kiwanis Club of Atlanta car decal properly displayed on your vehicle.
The security company contracted by Lanier Parking will be booting all cars that are parked in the reserved parking places and that do not have a valid decal on their car identifying them as attending the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta luncheon. So if you arrive prior to 11:45 am on Tuesday, please make sure you have a parking decal on your car. You can get a decal from Karen at the luncheon meeting, and then place it on the right back window (passenger side) from inside your car. They are static cling, so easy to put on and take off!
