Downtown’s Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor continues to be a hotel destination.

Plans for a 142-room hotel to be built just north of Oglethorpe Avenue were studied Wednesday by the Savannah Historic District Board of Review. The board expressed several concerns with the plans and continued review of the project to a later meeting, meaning it still needs two approvals before construction can move forward.

The six-story property, referred to as Hotel Lina, is to be built on the vacant lot once home to an Econo Lodge demolished in 2007. Several new hotels have opened in the corridor since the Econo Lodge met the wrecking ball, including a Hampton Inn, a Residence Inn and a Four Points by Sheraton.

An Embassy Suites is under construction around the corner from the proposed Hotel Lina.

Plans call for additional hotel projects farther north along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Georgia Power’s Plant Riverside site and in the vacant hotel annex across River Street from the shuttered power plant.

Hotel Lina is to be developed by local hoteliers Anil and Kirit Patel. Their RK Hotels operates five hotels in south Georgia, including a Hampton Inn at Interstate 95 and Ga. 204 and a Quality Inn on the southside.

The group is also developing a boutique hotel in the Ryan Building on River Street.

The Hotel Lina plans met with pushback from the historic review board Wednesday, particularly in regard to the accompanying parking lot.

The site is L-shaped, with frontage on Oglethorpe Avenue as well as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The hotel’s parking lot would front on Oglethorpe.

“That’s one of the gateways into the city,” board member Jerry Lominack said, “and it’s a parking lot.”

Anil Patel told the board he plans to build a second hotel on the site fronting Oglethorpe at a later date.

“It’s a matter of financing right now,” he said. “Our goal is to do one hotel and come back down the line and put a second hotel facing Oglethorpe, as well as a parking garage.”

Citi Trends, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRN) reported Thursday that total sales for its 14-week fourth quarter that ended Feb. 2 decreased 1.5 percent to $175.7 million compared with $178.4 million in the 13-week quarter that ended Jan. 28, 2012. The extra week contributed $8.8 million to total sales in fiscal 2012.

“While the sales results for the fourth quarter are disappointing, we continue to make very good progress in our turnaround efforts,” chairman and CEO Ed Anderson.

For the year, total sales in the 53 weeks ended Feb. 2 increased 2.2 percent to $654.7 million compared with $640.8 million in the 52 weeks ended Jan. 28, 2012.

Fourth quarter comparable store sales decreased 11.8 percent, the company said. The largest impact on sales for the quarter was the delay by the Internal Revenue Service in issuing 2012 tax refunds.

The IRS moved back the date it would accept tax returns from Jan. 13 to Jan. 30. As a result, all tax-refund-driven sales this year were pushed into fiscal 2013. In the last two weeks of January, sales dropped by more than $16 million, most of which, Anderson said, was due to the delay in tax refunds.

Sales for the first 12 weeks of the quarter decreased 4.3 percent.

“Last week, we finally saw the beginnings of tax refund driven sales activity,” Anderson said. “Although we can’t quantify the impact, we are hopeful that this activity will help produce a successful first quarter of fiscal 2013.”

He said Citi Trends is focused on its ladies’ business.

“Urban brands continue to diminish in importance, and non-branded business has not yet improved enough to offset the branded decreases,” Anderson said. “We have further intensified our focus on the fashion element of our ladies’ business and expect improved results in 2013.”

He also said the economy is in a fashion cycle in which price is important.

“At the beginning of 2012, we had two merchandising issues: We were not as competitively priced nor as fashion right as we needed to be. We solved the pricing issue and now compete with anyone on price. We have made progress on the fashion issue and believe we can solve it in 2013,” Anderson said.

The Savannah-based company, which operates 513 stores in 29 states, will report complete financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal 2012 before the market opens on March 15.

Savannah Technical College President Kathy Love and Armstrong Atlantic State University President Linda Bleicken signed an agreement Thursday to ensure a seamless educational pathway for criminal justice students between the two institutions.

The agreement lays the foundation for students to complete a new 65-credit hour associate of science in criminal justice at Savannah Tech and be able to transfer their coursework in its entirety to Armstrong toward the bachelor of science degree in criminal justice.

“We are pleased to announce the beginning of an important partnership between our institutions,” Love said.

Bleicken said the agreement advances Armstrong’s efforts to partner with its higher education neighbors in Savannah.

“Through the effort, our goal is to give more students of all ages seamless access to programs that will best prepare them for the workforce,” Bleicken said.

The agreement next goes to the governing boards of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and the Georgia Board of the Technical College System of Georgia for endorsement. If the boards approve, Savannah Tech will be one of the first technical colleges to offer an associate of science in criminal justice.

In addition to general core courses, the program will feature 18 semester hours in criminal justice-related coursework, including introduction to criminal justice, principals of law enforcement, ethics and cultural perspectives, corrections, criminal law and constitutional law.

The Department of Criminal Justice, Social and Political Science at Armstrong offers the bachelor of science in criminal justice.

The degree consists of core courses in the administration of justice, criminology, ethics and criminal procedure coupled with a concentration in juvenile justice, law enforcement, research methods, penology and law.

Vacation rental company opens in Savannah

Lucky Savannah, a new full-service vacation rental company, celebrated its grand opening this month with a ribbon cutting and open house showcasing two Jones Street properties in downtown Savannah.

Lucky Savannah offers the opportunity to live like a local in Savannah’s National Landmark Historic District. The company specializes in high-quality vacation rentals for long-term or short-term visits to Georgia’s First City.

Lucky Savannah properties include a historic cottage along the cobblestones of East Jones Street, a pied-a-tierre above Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House, a loft on Charlton Street and a luxurious private home on State Street. Vacation rentals range from one to six bedrooms and sleep up to 14 guests.

The company provides complimentary VIP passes to Mrs. Wilkes’ Boarding House with reservations for select properties and provides a full range of concierge services.

For more information, go to www.luckysavannah.com or call 912-495-8788.

Clothes gathered to help unemployed women

To help women who are unable to get jobs because they don’t have proper clothing for job interviews, dressbarn will team with the nonprofit organization Dress for Success, to gather 60,000 articles of clothing as part of its S.O.S. — Send One Suit — Weekend donation drive March 7-10.

For the 11th straight year, all 830 dressbarn stores across the country will serve as drop-off sites for new or gently used professional attire, including suits, dress shirts, blazers, pants, dresses and shoes.

More than 55,000 professional items of clothing were collected during last year, and the stores would like to collect 60,000 pieces this year.

All of them will be given to Dress for Success, which will distribute the articles nationwide to women looking to gain a job or trying to re-enter the workforce.

In Savannah, dressbarn stores are at 11 Gateway Blvd. South and 7400 Abercorn St.

SCORE president to hold workshop

Marjorie Young, president of the Savannah SCORE Chapter, will conduct a SCORE workshop from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Ward Hernandez Building, 400 Osborne St., in St. Marys.

The workshop, which is free, will be livestreamed at: http:www.stmarysvod.com/score. For more information and to reserve a space, email renee@stmarysdda.com or call 912-882-8111. Seating is limited to 30.

Young will discuss the difference between advertising and public relations. She will outline five strategies for small businesses to build a positive, recognizable reputation in the community, five public relations strategies for using on line media and tips for using social media.

Goodwill of the Coastal Empire held a ground-breaking ceremony Thursday for their new 17,000-square-foot retail store and Job Connection Center at the corner of Godley Station Boulevard on Pooler Parkway.

The site will house a drive-thru donation center, retail store and a Job Connection Center.

Brian Felder & Associates, Thomas and Hutton Engineering and J.T. Turner Construction are custom developing the building to be the most energy efficient of all the Coastal Empire Goodwill facilities with construction expected to be finished before the end of the year.

“The mission of Goodwill Industries is a wonderful representation of community service, and we are honored that we are able to participate in something that will give back to so many deserving families within the Coastal Empire,” said Tripp Turner, chief operating officer for J.T. Turner Construction.

Goodwill staff, the Pooler Chamber of Commerce, local business owners, community and Pooler government leaders gathered for the event.

For more information, go to www.goodwillsavannah.org.

Major strides in emissions controls, reduced fuel consumption and energy cost savings were hot topics at last week’s Georgia Foreign Trade Conference, as industry leaders throughout the supply chain put a new focus on sustainable practices.

“American companies and ports are working together to reduce the environmental footprint of the transportation sector,” said GPA executive director Curtis Foltz, who outlined his organization’s sustainability initiatives and participated in a round table panel discussion on the last day of the Sea Island conference.

James Jack, executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation, agreed that “greening” the supply chain is becoming a common theme.

“It’s no secret that shippers have begun to factor environmental performance into their supply chain decisions,” Jack said. “It goes without saying that ports like the GPA have also responded to this challenge. As we have seen, they have implemented a variety of different ways to address air and water quality challenges.”

Totem Ocean Trailer Express President and CEO Anthony Chiarello said his steamship company has two 3,100-TEU container ships under construction to serve their East Coast to Puerto Rico trade. They will be the first container ships designed specifically to burn liquefied natural gas, Chiarello said. TOTE is also converting existing vessels on its Pacific Northwest to Anchorage, Alaska, route from heavy oil bunker fuel to LNG.

Chiarello said point-to-point routes are the logical first step in LNG container ships because refueling stations are easier to establish. While LNG offers approximately 40 percent cost savings, he said, the major impetus was environmental stewardship.

“When you can cut your sulfur burn by 99 percent versus what it would be with bunker fuel, for us, it becomes a classic no-brainer,” he said.

Foltz said the GPA is also considering a move to LNG-fueled vehicles.

“We operate 200-plus marine tractors every day inside the port complex,” Foltz said. “I would suspect in the next two to four years, the vast majority of those will be operating on an alternative fuel other than diesel. We believe that’s going to be either LNG or CNG (compressed natural gas).”

Panelists also discussed other major trends in sustainability, such as working with their contracted trucking companies to have them shift to newer, cleaner running trucks, as well as a greater emphasis on two-way truck moves.

Traditionally, trucks have carried loaded containers to distribution centers and empties back to the port. Now, however, retailers are working to fill those return boxes in two ways. The first is by partnering with nearby companies that need to move goods for export. Another method is to bundle wood and cardboard packaging, which is then shipped overseas to be recycled.

Rick Gabrielson, director of international transportation for Target, said the retailer has instituted a “no-idle” policy for trucks at its distribution centers. Working closely with carriers, vendors and other partners, Target is transitioning to greener trucks, including test programs for hydrogen- and electric-powered vehicles.

“Sustainability is really integrated throughout our business — from how we build our stores to our distribution centers and supply chain operations,” Gabrielson said.

He said a number of shippers are beginning to convert a portion of their truck fleets to natural gas, and Target is moving that direction. He said cross-country routes are not possible because filling stations are sparse.

“Where you have one-day delivery for stores in the range of 50 to 100 miles, we’re beginning to see more and more interest in it and more organizations taking a look at it,” Gabrielson said.

GPA board chairman Robert Jepson said emission controls will become increasingly important in the transportation industry.

“We expect to see almost a 75 percent increase in freight tons moved between 2000 and 2020,” Jepson said. “This phenomenal growth calls for proactive strategies, and Georgia Ports Authority will remain at the forefront of sustainable practices in the maritime industry.”

Honoring a seaman

In a short ceremony at its February meeting Thursday, the Propeller Club of Savannah honored local World War II veteran Nick Craig, 92, who served on five Liberty ships during the Battle of the Atlantic, evading German U-boats to deliver supplies and equipment to Allied troops in Europe.

Read more about this fascinating merchant mariner in next week’s PortSide column.

Emerging India

World Trade Center Savannah and the Georgia Center of Innovation and Logistics will present “Globalization of India and its Emergence in a New World” from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday at World Trade Center Savannah, 131 Hutchinson Island Road. The event is free, but space is limited.

The program will be led by Ani Agnihotri, program chair of US India Business Summit and managing partner of US India Business and Research Center. He will present information on India’s business sector and the emerging opportunities and challenges for a country poised to have one of the fastest growing major economies and largest populations.

To register or for additional information visit wtcsavannah.org or email tgrubbs@wtcsavannah.org.

Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.

SHIPPING SCHEDULE

These are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean Terminals in the next week. Sailing schedules are provided by Georgia Ports Authority and are subject to change.

Terminal Ship name Arrival

GCT ZIM BEIJING Today

GCT BUXCLIFF Today

GCT ZIM COLOMBO Today

GCT FOUMA Today

GCT XIN SU ZHOU Today

GCT APL JAPAN Today

GCT SAN FRANCISCO EXPRESS Today

OT FIGARO Today

OT GRANDE GABON Today

GCT MIRAMARIN Saturday

GCT EVER DIADEM Saturday

GCT WASHINGTON EXPRESS Saturday

OT BARGE BIG MAX Saturday

OT TUG EL PUMA GRANDE Saturday

GCT CMA CGM EIFFEL Sunday

GCT CMA CGM DALILA Sunday

GCT AL-MUTANABBI Sunday

OT ATLANTIC ELAND Sunday

GCT NYK JOANNA Monday

GCT BOX TRADER Monday

GCT JULIETTE RICKMERS Monday

GCT MSC LAURA Monday

GCT NYK DELPHINUS Monday

GCT MSC ALBANY Monday

GCT MSC SHAULA Monday

OT TIRRANNA Monday

GCT APL EGYPT Tuesday

GCT HANJIN VALENCIA Tuesday

GCT ZIM TEXAS Tuesday

GCT IBRAHIM DEDE Tuesday

GCT MAERSK GIRONDE Tuesday

GCT ROTTERDAM EXPRESS Tuesday

OT SCARLETT Tuesday

GCT MOL PREMIUM Wednesday

GCT MOL PROFICIENCY Wednesday

GCT YM ELIXIR Wednesday

GCT HYUNDAI VOYAGER Wednesday

GCT SEA-LAND EAGLE Wednesday

GCT RANJAN Wednesday

GCT LIONS GATE BRIDGE Wednesday

OT ENDURANCE Wednesday

GCT CMA CGM SWORDFISH Thursday

GCT ISLANDIA Thursday

GCT MAERSK MALACCA Thursday

GCT MSC MARINA Thursday

GCT JO KASHI Thursday

GCT OOCL HONG KONG Thursday

GCT ZIM CALIFORNIA Thursday

GCT HOECHST EXPRESS Thursday

GCT MAERSK IDAHO Thursday

OT PIPIT ARROW Thursday

OT STAR JAVA Thursday

The Maritime Logistics Education Taskforce is asking business people to donate “gently used” business attire to help high school interns as they begin working with area maritime businesses.

The taskforce is a collaboration of companies and organizations designed to reach, educate and grow the current and future workforce of the logistics and maritime industry in Savannah and the surrounding areas. It’s collecting the clothing for interviews and office environment work for future and current students of the new Maritime Logistics Pathway internship program.

Savannah Propeller Club president M.J. Hogan Jr. announced the effort Thursday at the club’s monthly luncheon.

The internship program, developed by the taskforce in collaboration with the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, will expose high school students to a variety of real work environments within the maritime logistics community.

The 200-hour program will kick off March 18 for 12 students from Chatham County public high schools. They are:

• Tyrone Free, Clarence Mitchell and Pyresha Singleton from Groves High School;

• Kody Kirkland, Peter Rivera and Malachi Smith from Jenkins High School;

• Wynter Benyard, Ashanti Howard and Tevin Maxwell from Johnson High School;

• Kjuantavis Coffee, Jessica Edmonds and James Leonard from Woodville Tompkins.

Among the business partners that will mentor the students in the workplace are Alliance Customs Clearance, Coastal Logistics Group, DAMCO, D.J. Powers Co. Inc., HWC Logistics, JCB Inc., JIT Warehousing and Logistics, John S. James Co., Matson Logistics, Port City Logistics and United Arab Shipping Co.

Before the students begin their actual internships, the taskforce will lead them in a series of workshops on résumé writing, soft skills and dressing for success. As their final “dress rehearsal,” students will participate in mock interviews, where they will dress and present themselves as if in an actual interview.

“Through this program students will experience first-hand how the shipping process works,” Hogan said. “Additionally, this gives members of the maritime community the opportunity to mentor the future of our industry.”

WHERE TO DONATE

Gently used suits, ties, dress shirts, slacks, skirts, shoes, scarves, belts, handbags and other business attire may be dropped off at the following locations by Feb. 26. All donations are tax deductible.

• Comfort Suites – Historic District, 630 W. Bay St.

• Coastal Center for Developmental Services, 1249 Eisenhower Drive

• Fairfield Inn and Suites – Savannah Airport, 10 Stephen S. Green Drive

• Comfort Inn and Suites – Savannah Airport, 15 Jay R. Turner Drive

For more information, call Kaisa White at 912-629-1505.

ABOUT MARITIME LOGISTICS EDUCATION TASKFORCE

The Maritime Logistics Education Taskforce was formed in partnership with the Propeller Club-Port of Savannah, Savannah Traffic Club, Savannah Maritime Association, the International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and the Navy League, Savannah Council.

Its mission is to reach, educate and grow the current and future workforce of the logistics and maritime industry in Savannah and surrounding coastal areas.

Comcast, as part of its ongoing community service and outreach efforts, announced Friday it has donated $25,000 to Savannah’s All Walks of Life Inc. (AWOL), which focuses on youth development through media production and digital literacy training in an environment that encourages respect, education, creativity and non-violence.

“We are so excited to continue what is now a nearly 10-year relationship with Comcast in Savannah,” said DaVena Jordan, executive director of AWOL. “This is a company that has supported our organization through various initiatives for many years, helping us to impact hundreds of young lives in our community. We are humbled and grateful to receive this generous award.”

AWOL’s mission is to promote and provide self-awareness through the use of poetry, hip-hop and life, and its programs include safe and free after-school and evening arts-based educational programs. The grant from Comcast will support the Arts & Technology Afterschool Youth Development Program, which includes digital literacy instruction in the areas of information technology, film and photography production, sound design and music recording.

“As our daily lives increasingly depend on the digital realm, it is imperative that we have quality programs such as the Comcast Foundation’s partnership with All Walks of Life Inc. to ensure that Savannah children have this opportunity to interact with technology,” said Andy Macke, vice president of government and community affairs for Comcast.

“I’m proud to be a part of Comcast and its dedication to closing the digital divide. It is crucial that companies work with communities to maximize opportunities for digital literacy education.”

The Hardeeville Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday unanimously approved a request from Jonathan Rivera to open a tattoo, piercings, apparel and accessory store in Argent Square along Whyte Hardee Boulevard.

South Carolina law requires every city to hold a public hearing before a tattoo shop can open. At Wednesday’s hearing, Rivera outlined his plans and received feedback from the board and public.

Dexter Lease, who lives behind Argent Square, said he was concerned about whether noise was going to be an issue.

Rivera assured Lease and the board that his business would be a family-friendly shop that adheres to city ordinances. He wants to be open at least six days a week and operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“The next step is he will have to go through the zoning permit process and inspections,” Brana Snowden, planning director said. “The special exception was approved with the condition that we research the surrounding business hours and he must comply with those hours.”

As an account executive for La Isla magazine in Hilton Head, Rivera said he decided to open up shop because Hardeeville continues to expand.

“I wanted to get in and get to know the neighbors before things got too big and complicated,” he said. “I have a good friend who leases the property. We will accommodate everyone. I wanted to open something different, yet classy.”

The zoning board members are appointed by City Council. Its members include: Chairperson Joe McCue, vice chairperson Carolyn Kassel and members Mack Thomas, Sister Lupe Stump and Jon Richards.

The board was adamant about the hours of operation. Stump made a motion that the tattoo, piercings, accessory and apparel store be approved, but with the condition that the hours are consistent with the other businesses in Argent Square.

Capacity building has been a buzzword in the nonprofit sector for quite some time. Yet many younger nonprofits have no clear understanding of the concept or how to get there.

Capacity building is much more than funding money for general operating support although that’s a means of capacity building of which nonprofits lament its scarcity. There’ve been calls from many quarters in recent years for grantmakers to increase the number and scope of their operating grants.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) has encouraged grantmakers to provide at least 50 percent of grant dollars as general operating funds. More foundations are looking at operating support as an option.

However, a follow-up study last year by the NCRP shows that despite an increase in the amount of dollars given for operating support, it remains at a steady 16 percent of foundations’ share of giving in the 908 large foundations studied. The 2012 study also found that family and private operating foundations increased their level of operating support slightly.

Looking beyond strengthening nonprofits through operating support, there’s an increasing body of knowledge on what makes for robust organization capacity, and much of it is available at no cost. Simply put, capacity building activities focus on strengthening an organization’s internal operating structure rather than solely improving its services delivery or cutting its expenses.

Venture Capital Partners’ Effective Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations puts this in sharp focus with its assertion: “Great programs need great organizations behind them.”

If you think your organization needs a better understanding of capacity building, this groundbreaking 2001 study is a great place to start. It suggests seven elements as the cornerstones for building an organization’s “capacity framework:” Aspirations, strategy, organizational skills, human resources, systems and infrastructure, and the organization’s structure and culture.

Extremely helpful real world case studies that highlight each element accompany each of the categories.

A wonderful list of resources on capacity building is available at the Foundation Center website although it’s difficult to locate. See the “Get Started” box on the home page, click on Topical Resources, then under “Management” click on “Capacity Building for Nonprofits.”

The National Council for Nonprofits website also includes a link to some excellent capacity building resources. Click on the “Capacity” icon on their home page.

Much advice is being given and pressure applied to foundations to increase their support of nonprofit capacity building as our understanding of this area increases.

In 2012, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) surveyed nonprofits about capacity building and found many said they need help making the case to the philanthropic community for capacity building grants. GEO has identified several grantmaker practices that support nonprofit success. In 2013, this organization will focus its capacity building lens on the use of effective collaboration as a capacity builder.

GEO has excellent information for nonprofits on scaling up effective programs. If you’re looking to expand proven, i.e., results-based programs, regionally or nationally, you may be able to access needed capital and assistance by going to http://www.growthphilanthropy.org/nonprofits.cfm.

Building nonprofit capacity isn’t always about big finances and big projects. As you identify and prioritize your organizational capacity gaps, you can use this to seek nonfinancial support from your corporate partners for help closing the gaps. This could be anything from allowing you to attend a QuickBooks or other relevant training session to having one of their managers provide short-term supervisory coaching for a rising employee.

Sarah Todd is founder and principal of Change Pioneers, an information resource on effective broad-scale change for social good. She can be reached at 912-224-2120 or changepioneers@gmail.com.

GSU offers MBA to South Carolina residents

STATESBORO — Georgia Southern University invites Bluffton and Hilton Head Island area professionals to learn how they can earn a master of business administration (MBA) degree while attending classes in Savannah and pay in-state Georgia tuition rates.

A drop-in, MBA information session will be held March 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Comfort Suites at 23 Towne Drive in Bluffton. Lunch will be provided.

MBA advisors from the College of Business Administration will be available to answer questions about the program, the border county fee waiver for Beaufort and Jasper counties, entrance exams, the application process and online degree options.

To reserve a space, contact the MBA office at 912-478-5767 or mba@georgiasouthern.edu.

Historic foundation gets second half of grant

Historic Savannah Foundation was recently awarded the second half of a two-year $75,000 grant from The 1722 Foundation, a national leader in the field of historic property redevelopment.

Historic Savannah Foundation originally received the revolving fund grant in 2012 and used the funding to buy an endangered property at 222 E. 32nd St. in Savannah’s Thomas Square Streetcar District. The three-bedroom residence, built in 1900, is one of more than 350 threatened local structures Historic Savannah Foundation has preserved through the revolving fund, which acquires historic properties through donation, options or purchase.

A property qualifies for the revolving fund if it is endangered, has historical significance and is marketable for sale.

“This generous grant from The 1722 Foundation enables Historic Savannah Foundation to continue to save Savannah’s historic structures, in keeping with our founding mission established in 1955,” said Daniel Carey, the foundation’s president and CEO.

Nominations sought for UGA’s 40 Under 40

ATHENS — The University of Georgia Alumni Association is accepting nominations for the 2013 40 Under 40 recognition program. The 40 Under 40 recognizes and celebrates UGA alumni under the age of 40 who are business, community, educational and/or philanthropic leaders.

The nomination process is open through April 12. Candidates must be UGA graduates, under the age of 40 by Sept. 1, 2013, and willing to submit a photo for UGA publications and media. Nominations must be submitted by someone other than the nominee, preferably by fellow alumni, employers or community leaders who are not members of the nominee’s immediate family.

Nominating forms are available at www.alumni.uga.edu/40u40. Emailed or mailed nominations will not be considered.

Honorees will be notified in July, and an awards luncheon will be held in Atlanta on Sept. 19.

For more information, contact Julie Cheney at jcheney@uga.edu or 706-542-2251.

If a visitor’s head hits a bed in Savannah, it definitely makes a sound.

Cha-ching.

Savannah-area hotel/motel tax collections set a new record for the third consecutive year in 2012. The 6 percent tax generated approximately $17 million in revenue. Those funds are divided among the city of Savannah, Chatham County, the municipalities, two destination marketing organizations and the group that oversees the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

“This is an important revenue source that helps us both promote Savannah to the world and maintain the physical assets that make our community one of the nation’s most livable cities,” said Savannah’s acting city manager Stephanie Cutter.

Local tourism industry insiders look beyond the tax collection returns and what they reflect: Growth in occupancy and average room rates. Savannah underwent a hotel building boom at the same time the recession hit five years ago, and the tourism recovery of the last three years has gradually helped absorb the additional space.

The occupancy rate rose to 63.7 percent countywide, up from 61.3 percent in 2011. The historic district was the most popular destination, with a 74.4 percent occupancy rate. The average room rate rose to $91.38 overall and $140.74 downtown.

“Even with three years of up and up, I would not say we are recovered,” said Michael Owens, CEO of the Savannah Area Tourism Leadership Council, an industry advocacy group. “But we are clearly on an uptick and are very hopeful that continues.”

Looking to the future

Demand still falls short of supply to an extent.

The average nightly room rate in the historic district remains $15 below 2007 levels. Between 1,600 and 1,800 rooms have been added to the downtown inventory since then.

And more rooms are on the way. At least nine new hotels are in the construction or planning stages.

The leader of Visit Savannah, the local equivalent of a convention and visitors bureau, doesn’t concern himself with the beds so much as the heads.

In Joe Marinelli’s seven years leading local tourism’s chief marketing arm, he’s broadened the organization’s reach. Visit Savannah’s success is due in part to attracting or starting new events such as the Rock ’n’ Roll Savannah Marathon and the Craft Brew Fest and leveraging Internet and social media marketing opportunities.

Savannah is one of the few U.S. tourism destinations showing consistent growth, he said.

“The expectation is we will continue to absorb new inventory” of hotel rooms, Marinelli said. “Like any business, we have to continue to work hard to find new customers and keep the customers we have.”

Approach to growth

Quantity won’t equal success going forward, however.

Savannah’s tourism leaders are striving to attract more affluent visitors, reflected in the recent growth in dining options and the trend toward more upscale and boutique hotel offerings.

At the same time, the “wide spectrum” of accommodations allows Savannah to “fit every niche” with visitors, the Tourism Leadership Council’s Owens said.

Savannah’s busy events schedule appeals to a wide visitor demographic and has “filled in many of the soft spots” in the calendar, Marinelli said. Savannah sees tourist traffic even in the steamy summer months these days. Bed-tax collections in June, July and August were up 21 percent in 2012 compared to the pre-recession heyday of 2007.

“The notion that our summer season is a slow time,” Marinelli said, “no longer holds true.”

The mild weather so far this year has contributed to another strong start for tourism in 2013. Downtown is nearly sold out this weekend, Marinelli said. March is expected to be strong again, with St. Patrick’s Day falling on a weekend for the second straight year.

“The first quarter sets the tone for every year,” Marinelli said. “2013 has the potential to be another record-breaker.”

Savannah area lodging accommodations saw gains in occupancy rate and average daily rate in 2012, resulting in a record year for hotel/motel tax collections.

Submarket|Occupany 2012|Occupancy 2011|Average rate 2010|Average rate 2011

Midtown/East|59.4%|57.7%|$71.59|$69.67

Airport|64.9%|60.1%|$65.68|$63.94

Historic District|74.4%|72.6%|$140.74|$136.81

I-95 South|52.6%|51.7%|$59.87|$57.81

Sector|Occupany 2012|Occupancy 2011|Average rate 2010|Average rate 2011

Luxury|72.8%|71.1%|$158.35|$155.23

Upscale|76.2%|74%|$117.22|$112.82

Midprice|67.9%|65.7%|$81.68|$79.35

Economy|54.7%|51.9%|$58.04|$56.09

Budget|52.1%|49.4%|$42.69|$41.10

Source: Visit Savannah

The PVC farms that dot West Chatham, South Effingham and Bryan County will soon reap a delayed harvest.

Home builders are readying for what many expect to be their busiest spring since the housing bust left dozens of planned subdivisions incomplete or untouched. Many of those neglected developments, recognizable by the PVC pipes sticking out of the ground where they would ostensibly hook up to new homes, began to see activity late last year as market conditions improved.

“And we expect an extension of that trend,” said Mark Konter of Konter Quality Homes and the president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Savannah. “We’ll see an increase in inventory but nothing that resembles a glut.”

Local home builders know what a “glut” looks like. The recession hit during a once-in-a-generation peak of residential development. Close to half of Savannah area home builders went out of business during the downturn.

The survivors got by on building mostly starter homes in low price points. Those properties remain the focus — half the new homes that sold in January went for less than $200,000 — but builders no longer have to offer steep discounts or free upgrades like hardwood floors, screened porches or granite countertops to move product.

The remaining builders have also seen costs go down, largely due to lot prices. Lot sales surged in 2012 as lenders discounted properties repossessed during the bust. Lot sales were up 34 percent in West Chatham, 111 percent in Bryan County and 18 percent in Effingham County in 2012 versus 2011.

Meanwhile, the inventory of homes for sale on the western edge of the Savannah area dwindled. New listings dropped in Bryan and Effingham counties last year and Pooler was the sales hotbed of 2012, with more closings in its zip code than any other in the three-county area.

Not coincidentally, building permits rose 20 percent late last year.

“For Savannah, all trends are positive,” Steve Palm, president of real estate research firm Smart Numbers, told the Savannah Area Board of Realtors late last year. “And we’re looking at the best buying opportunity in a lifetime in terms of interest rates in the months ahead.”

Checks and balances

Better conditions are unlikely to translate to a home building boom.

A number of factors will keep starts in check, led by the continued impact of distressed sales on the market. Distressed properties are foreclosures repossessed by the lender and homes sold by the owner for less than what is owed on the mortgage. Distressed sales have made up anywhere from 35 to 40 percent of sales the last two years and the trend continued in January, with lenders listed as the sellers of 99 of the 298 closed transactions.

Distressed sales don’t worry builders now the way they did in 2010, 2011 and early in 2012, however. The deeply discounted foreclosures where the buyer could purchase the property and make significant improvements for less money than it took to buy a new home — or a move-in ready existing home — have cycled through. Those distressed properties are no longer putting significant price pressures on the rest of the market.

Konter Quality Homes has not sold a new house for less than list price in four months.

“The distressed properties are still out there, but they have been pretty picked through,” Konter said. “We’re no longer competing with foreclosures. Still, that’s no reason to flood the market with product.”

Another check on home building is lending conditions. Banks remain unwilling to front large sums for speculative building — homes built without a contract to a buyer. That will prevent builders from throwing up dozens or hundreds of houses to fill out existing communities.

And no financing is available for those who want to develop new neighborhoods or subdivisions using acquisition-development-construction loans. These so-called ADC agreements were major contributors to bank closures and struggles over the last four years.

Home building growth will be “slow and steady,” Konter said, “with home builders re-entering stalled neighborhoods,” such as the PVC farms.

Increased competition

The home building landscape will look different as the recovery builds.

Local giants, like Konter, Fred Williams, Landmark 24, Lamar Smith, Ernest and Synergy, continue to control more than half the market. But national and regional home building companies will play a bigger role.

D.R. Horton, Beazer and Centex, a division of the nation’s largest home builder, Pulte, moved into the market during the boom of the mid-2000s. Another out-of-town giant, K. Hovnanian, bought into Savannah with its acquisition of Bluffton-based Craftbuilt Homes in 2006. And regional player Mungo Homes, based in South Carolina, started building locally in 2011.

The nation’s largest luxury home builder, Toll Bros., recently purchased The Reserve on Hutchinson Island. Another major industry player, K.B. Homes, is involved in a pair of developments nearby in Bluffton.

The situation is a motivator for the local home builders, Konter said. They have become more “adaptable” in their offerings, from price points and floor plans to materials and amenities, to increase their competitiveness.

“Competition is good,” Konter said. “And with local builders maintaining control of the market through three cycles now — boom, bust and recovery — odds are local home builders will continue to do the majority of the new home sales business.”

On a rainy night last week, a friend and I had a satisfying dinner at the new Tondee’s Tavern, which opened recently in the old Tony Roma’s space at 7 E. Bay St.

The name is a nod to a key piece of Savannah’s history.

In the 1770s, Tondee’s Tavern was a vital gathering point for colonists on the verge of revolution. That was an early and excellent example of the ways in which private establishments such as restaurants, bars and coffeehouses can advance public discourse.

The new Tondee’s Tavern is a casual restaurant and bar that features a nice variety of entrees, sandwiches, burgers and other fairly standard fare.

I enjoyed my stuffed flounder dinner, our server was excellent and the inexpensive draft beer was ice cold.

Conveniently located near City Hall, various offices and a number of hotels, Tondee’s Tavern seems likely to attract a wide range of visitors and locals.

But if Tondee’s really wants to capture the spirit of its name, the interior needs more touches that speak to that history. I was hoping to get some sense of Peter Tondee, but maybe his ghost is still hovering near the tavern’s original location at the corner of Broughton and Whitaker streets.

New menu at The Sparetime

In other dining news, there’s a new chef and new menu at The Sparetime, the bar at the corner of West Congress Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

For most of last year, The Sparetime served spectacular hand-crafted small pizzas and other items that suited the spare, modern cocktail lounge atmosphere.

Then owner Clara Fishel discontinued food service for retooling the kitchen and the menu. She hired Chef James Levens, a Savannah native who last year designed and implemented the first menu at Byrd Cookie Company’s new restaurant.

Levens’ menu for The Sparetime is eclectic, diverse and moderately priced.

On my first trip, I had a small plate of crispy Brussels sprouts and a hearty bowl of mussels. The bartender drily noted that I had just ordered the Jean-Claude Van Damme — “The Muscles from Brussels.”

So, what’s up with those crispy Brussels sprouts?

Smaller than your typical store bought ones, the Brussels sprouts are cooked at high heat until crisp on the outside while still tender on the inside. Halved, they are served with crème fraiche and kimchi. The mussels were great, but I could have made a meal out of the sprouts alone.

I’ll be headed back soon to try some of the other appetizers, small plates and entrees. Snacks include pork rinds and house-marinated olives. There are even three desserts on the new menu.

Even more tension spawned by SPLOST shortfalls

In discussing the economy’s impact on Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenue, this column has generally focused on the city of Savannah’s projects. That’s largely because of City Talk’s longtime focus on the downtown area.

As I have noted a number of times, I think city officials have valid explanations for why so many promised SPLOST projects ended up on the back burner.

But those explanations could have come much earlier and would likely have been hammered home more efficiently if there had been less turnover in city leadership.

Last week, Chatham County officials had their turn in the hot seat, as Judge Michael Karpf and his colleagues criticized the prioritization of SPLOST funds and what they believe to be poor communication from county politicians about shortfalls in the tax collection.

I doubt that Chatham County leaders will backtrack on any of their decisions regarding spending on the multi-faceted courthouse expansion project, but the dustup has meant more bad press for SPLOST.

The additional controversy makes it even more likely that a vote on a fresh round of the 1 percent sales tax will be delayed until 2014.

And there’s almost certain to be more grumbling about SPLOST expenditures as Chatham County finds an additional $5.6 million to pay for operations at the new SPLOST-funded jail.

Every time we approve a project with a special sales tax, we also commit ourselves to finding other revenues for ongoing staffing and maintenance.

That’s a fact worth keeping in mind as the discussions about a new SPLOST referendum heat up in the coming months.

City Talk appears every Tuesday and Sunday. Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 East 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.

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Daniel Defense hiring up to 60 positions

Daniel Defense will host a job fair Feb. 21 to recruit and fill up to 60 positions at its locations in Black Creek and Ridgeland, S.C.

Jobs include accounting manager, tool makers and machine operators, as well as other openings across most departments. Qualified individuals are invited to drop by and register in person from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Embassy Suites Hotel at 145 Mulberry Blvd.

If unable to apply in person, candidates can apply online at www.danieldefense.com.

“We are financially strong. We have assembled a solid management team. We are developing a well-trained, mature workforce of employees in two locations,” says Marty Daniel, president and CEO.

For additional information, contact Peggy O’Neill at poneill@danieldefense.com

App available for self-guided tours

S.G. Adventures, a Savannah company specializing in self-guided tour apps for smartphones, has released a new app called Historic Savannah.

The app, conceived by K. J. Stewart and Shannon Scott, was produced locally by S.G. Adventures and Tour Buddy apps. It includes text, photos, audio and video presentations on all 22 of the city’s squares, the historic sites around each square, River Street and Forsyth Park.

The user will have a tour map, complete with suggested routes, a GPS map for directions, a picture gallery and audio narrations for each site. Videos also are available for each site with a feature known as the “pop-up tour guide,” a video tour guide that pops up to tell you about the site where you’re standing.

The app has been released for Android and is to be available for the iphone next week. The cost is $2.99, and a “lite” or free version is slated to be released shortly.

The Historic Savannah App is available at Googleplay, Facebook and most major app distribution centers.

HIRES/PROMOTIONS

CATHERINE HAWLEY

New job title: Export NVOCC supervisor

Company: Page International

Duties: Hawley will guide her team to facilitate all aspects of routed export transactions through our foreign agency network from pricing to final document distribution on behalf of U.S. shippers and foreign consignees.

Related work experience: Hawley was employed with Page International in December 2009 in transportation analysis and transferred to ocean export documentation until her return to transportation analysis in October 2012.

Education: Hawley has a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication from the University of Georgia.

CHANCE RAEHN

New job title: Principal/industrial development leader

Company: Integrated Science & Engineering

Duties: Raehn will help develop a growing portfolio of regional and national markets.

Related work experience: For 17 years, Raehn has provided master planning services for more than 125 million square feet and designed more than 30 million square feet of warehouse and manufacturing space from northern Florida to North Carolina.

Education: Raehn graduated in 1995 from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering.

MELISSA PHILLIPS

New job title: Director of marketing

Company: Integrated Science & Engineering

Related work experience: Phillips brings more than 15 years of experience managing marketing and business development activities.

Education: Phillips is a graduate of Memorial Day School and attended Armstrong Atlantic State University and Georgia Southern University.

CAROLE MALAN

New job title: Chief financial officer/CFO

Company: Telfair Museums

Duties: Malan will direct all aspects of the museum’s administration and annual budgeting process.

Related work experience: Malan worked as a tax accountant at Hancock Askew & Co. in Savannah. Prior to coming to Savannah she served as the pathology department administrator at the University of Arizona.

Education: Malan holds a B.A. in economics from Vassar College and MBA from Harvard Business School.

HONORS/AWARDS

Attorney honored

Hunter-Maclean partner Chris Phillips was recently inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is a national association of trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

NLaws names driver of the month

Darnell Blackshear has been named NLaws Produce Driver of the Month for January. Blackshear has worked for the company since 2011.

CASA elects 2013 executive members

Savannah/Chatham CASA Inc. board of directors recently elected new 2013 executive committee members. Those appointed at the Jan. 15 meeting were:

• Chairman, Ryan Sewell, Bernard Williams Co.

• Vice-chair, Stephanie Mobley, Savannah Power Yoga

• Secretary, Joy Youngblood, Re/Max Savannah Realty

• Treasurer, Vernon Taylor, Jr., Memorial University Medical Center

• Recording secretary, Yvonne Hafer, CASA Volunteer Advocate

Advisor earns certification

Morgan Stanley has announced that financial advisor Sam Gallagher of the firm’s Savannah office has successfully completed the biannual renewal of his Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA) designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA).

Attorney named co-chair

Hunter-Maclean partner Sarah H. Lamar was recently named co-chair of the Georgia Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Governmental Affairs Committee. Lamar practices in the area of employment law and has experience representing employers in employment litigation in state and federal courts.

Friends of Massie names 2013 board

Friends of Massie, a nonprofit support organization of Massie Heritage Center, recently named board members for 2013.

New board members include:

• Susan Dailey, president

• Denise Grabowski, vice president

• Staci Donegan, treasurer

• Leah Colby

• Kristin Detwiler

• Vaughnette Goode-Walker

• Buttons Jordan

• Patrick Phelps

• Cathy Rodgers

• Pat Ryan

Financial planner earns certification

Laura Evans with Edward Jones in Richmond Hill has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) to use the certification mark CFP. Evans successfully completed CFP board’s initial certification requirements, which include completion of financial planning coursework and passing a comprehensive examination.

Savannah man elected to board

At its January board meeting, the executive board of the Office and Professional Employees International Union recognized the election of Dennis R. Arrington as the new president of the Industrial, Technical and Professional Employees ITPEU/OPEIU Local 4873.

Martin invited to speak at MDRT

Tony Martin of Martin Financial Group has been invited to speak at the 2013 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia on June 11. Founded in 1927, MDRT is an international, independent association of nearly 38,000 of the world’s leading financial service professional from more than 450 companies in 79 countries.

The Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com recently re-launched their mobile website — m.savannahnow.com — with an emphasis on ease of content discovery and a goal of helping users quickly and simply accomplish their daily web related tasks.

On savannahnow.com’s full desktop website people expect a homepage loaded with a collection of content that is a snapshot of all savannahnow.com has to offer: News and story headlines, photos, video, blogs, classifieds and more. The desktop website is a presentation that lends itself to allowing readers to take their time exploring all the different content available.

People are using the mobile web in ever increasing numbers, however, and with the mobile experience users interact with sites in a different way. People are accustomed to using their smartphones to solve tasks and find information quickly, easily and efficiently and usually head to sites with a specific objective in mind.

Accordingly, with the redesigned savannahnow.com mobile site we had to pivot our strategy and view the mobile presentation more as a tool people use to get jobs done, rather than as a site people leisurely explore.

Screen real estate is obviously at a premium on a mobile device, so the redesigned m.savannahnow.com website needed to meet the challenges of both presenting the necessary content, as well as doing so in a way that was easy to navigate and user-friendly.

The solution was to have a homepage that actually has no predetermined news content on it at all. Instead, navigation is front and center, allowing the user to decide where they need to go to get the information they are seeking.

We have a lot of valuable content on savannahnow.com, and with the easy to use navigation on the new m.savannahnow.com mobile homepage users can quickly and easily choose to read the latest headlines, view the weather radar, find events and things to do, check movie listings, view spotted photos, search auto, real estate and jobs listings, find local business information and more.

Everything is right at your fingertips.

We also realize that more and more people are coming to our mobile site via links on social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. Therefore, to give readers the best user experience for their mobile devices we knew optimizing story pages for readability and functionality was paramount.

To that end, the mobile site story pages have been enhanced, with better presentation and sharing tools for social media, links to additional popular site content, slideshows and video.

The Savannah Morning News recognizes that your time is valuable, and we hope the new savannahnow.com mobile experience helps you easily and efficiently find the information you are looking for to enrich your life on a daily basis.

Chris A. White is the digital media technical manager of savannahnow.com and the lead developer of the new savannahnow.com mobile website.

Grand opening of Smart Feet

NuBarter of Greater Savannah with Carol Kirchner & Carole Romig of Smart Feet will host a grand opening of a new location Feb. 19. There will be live music and door prizes.

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Date: Feb. 19

Location: 7074 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Shopping Center at Hodgson Memorial & Eisenhower.

Pooler Business After Hours networking event

The Pooler Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Inc. will host a Business After Hours Networking event Feb. 21.

Date: Feb. 21

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn & Suites, 103 San Drive, Pooler, near Interstate 95 exit 102.

Register and pre-pay by Feb. 18 and cost is $12 for Pooler Chamber members and $15 for non-members. After Feb. 18 add $5 to cost per person. For more information, contact office@poolerchamber.com or 912-748-0110.

One Stop I.T. offers free demo week

One Stop I.T., which handles restaurant operations software, is offering a free demo week. Staff at One Stop I.T. will offer businesses a personal demonstration specific to their business and needs, as well as a follow-up estimate. Demonstrations are by appointment only

Time: 9-11 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. daily, demonstrations last an hour.

Date: Feb. 25- March 1

For more information and to book your appointment, call 912-257-4030 or email olivier@one-stop.it.com (include: business name, contact, phone, email and type of business) Limit 8 businesses per day.

‘Is Franchise Ownership Right For You?’

Attend this Seminar “Is Franchise Ownership right for you?” to learn the facts about franchise ownership — is this a path for you to achieve your business ownership dream?

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Date: Feb. 26

Location: Hancock Askew & Co. LLP., 100 Riverview Drive.

To RSVP for this Seminar go to www.catheypetkash022613.eventbrite.com/.

Business Expo

Business Expo offers two networking events each night with EXPO After Hours sponsored by Hargray and Palmetto Electric. Seminars on how to manage health care reform in your business and maximize marketing will be offered along with speed networking, one-on-one social media consulting and more.

Date: Feb. 26 & 27.

Location: Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa.

There is no cost to attend the EXPO during the day. Cost is $10 to attend the EXPO After Hours. Seminar fees are $15 and include free admission into the EXPO After Hours. For details go to www.hiltonheadchamber.org or call the chamber at 843-341-8379.

Import Compliance, Documentation and Procedures

During the seminar, attendees will earn the skills needed to successfully import goods and services from foreign markets. The World Academy, a nationally recognized training organization that offers import/export trade compliance education and training, will lead the seminar.

Date: March 5

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $75 per participant and includes lunch

Location: World Trade Center Savannah, 131 Hutchinson Island Road.

To register, go to www.wtcsavannahimportseminar-es2.eventbrite.com/. For more information, contact Tory Grubbs at tgrubbs@wtcsavannah.org or 912-447-9704.

ACA Business Forum

The Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum on how the Affordable Care Act will affect small business owners and their employees.

Date: Feb. 28

Time: 8-10 a.m.

Cost: Free for members and $15 for all others.

Location: Richmond Hill City Center

A continental breakfast will be served and reservations are required. Call 912-756-3444 or email info@RHBCchamber.org.

Seminar series for small business owners

Hancock Askew & Co., LLP is pleased to announce a new seminar series for small business owners. Neville Stein, CPA and partner at Hancock Askew will present a bi-monthly seminar throughout 2013.

Dates: March 21, 2013- How to read an Income Statement

May 9, 2013- Income Statement vs. Cash Flow Statement-what and why the difference?

July 11, 2013- Strange world of Debits and Credits - in an hour!

Time: 12-1 p.m.

Location: Hancock Askew & Co., LLP, 100 Riverview Drive, Savannah, GA 31404

Entrepreneur workshop

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Technical College of the Lowcountry have partnered with BizBuilderSC to offer a 12-session workshop open to entrepreneurs who want to expand existing business and need the skills to help make it grow. The workshop is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina.

Time: 6-9 p.m.

Date: Tuesdays, April 9- June 25.

Location: Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Campus

Cost: $195 and includes book, materials and snacks

To register for classes, call the TCL Continuing Education Department at 843-525-8205 or go to www.www.bizbuildersc.com.

Tee Up for Habitat

Habitat for Humanity of Savannah’s 11th golf tournament will be held at the Savannah Quarters Country Club in Savannah on April 8.

Date: April 18

Location: Savannah Quarters Country Club

For more information, please contact Michelle Hunter at 912-353-8122 or hunter@habitatsavannah.org.

ONGOING

Pooler Business Network

When: Every first and third Thursday, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Western Sizzlin, U.S. 80 in Pooler

Information: RSVP to Jason Torres at jasonjtorres@gmail.com.

Downtown Business Professionals Chapter
of BNI

When: 11:30 a.m. every Thursday

Where: Hilton Savannah DeSoto, 15 East Liberty St.

Information: For information, call Kevin Brown at 912-447-1885 or email rkbrowndc@msn.com.

The Islands Chapter —
BNI group

When: Each Thursday at 8 a.m.

Where: Johnny Harris banquet facility, 1652 East Victory Drive

Information: Contact Kathy Salter at studio@dalyandsalterphoto.com.

Savannah Women’s
Business Network

When: Every second and fourth Wednesday, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch.

Where: The Exchange Tavern on Waters Avenue

Cost: Cost for lunch

Information: RSVP to Kari Brown at kcbrown@colonybank.com.

Historic Savannah
Chapter ABWA

When: 6-7:50 p.m. second Thursday.

Where: Candler Heart & Lung Building, room 2.

Cost: Free

Information: Call 912-925-4980 or email blynneroberts@yahoo.com.

Toastmasters Club

When: Noon each Tuesday

Where: South University, Business Building, 709 Mall Blvd.

Information: Call 912-844-9139 or go to www.toastmastersclub.org/.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has appointed Dan Nale to the position of senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, effective April 1. He succeeds Pres Henne, who will retire March 31.

In his new position, Nale will oversee the company’s engineering, flight operations and program management organizations, as well as aircraft development, reporting to Gulfstream president Larry Flynn.

Most recently, Nale served as vice president, advanced aircraft programs, where he was responsible for overseeing the development of next-generation Gulfstream aircraft. Prior to that, he was vice president for engineering, responsible for several design- and engineering-related organizations, including structures, GV propulsion, auxiliary power unit, fuel systems, environmental control and pressurization systems.

As vice president, mid-cabin programs, a position he took over in March 2003, he was responsible for managing the Gulfstream G100, G150, G200 and G280 programs.

Before joining Gulfstream, Nale worked as a stress engineer on the space shuttle wing program for Grumman Aerospace Corp.

“Dan started his Gulfstream career in 1985 as a structural analysis engineer and has held increasingly responsible engineering positions within the company over the past 28 years,” said Flynn. “I have complete confidence in Dan’s ability to lead the vast team of 1,675 engineers, scientists and designers who are responsible for the industry-leading research and development undertaken at Gulfstream.”

Nale, a Georgia-registered professional engineer, holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The Citadel in Charleston, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and an MBA from Mercer University in Macon. He also holds a single-engine private pilot license.

Career spanning four decades

Henne, who turned 65 last year, joined Gulfstream in 1994. He is credited with leading the teams responsible for the design, development, test and certification of the Gulfstream V and G550 aircraft, which earned Robert J. Collier trophies from the National Aeronautics Association in 1997 and 2003, respectively. The trophy is awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in North America.

Most recently, Henne oversaw the development of the company’s much-anticipated new flagship, the G650, which entered service in 2012. Henne also supervised the design and development of the G280, an aircraft that has been noted for its best-in-class performance, cabin comfort and technology.

Flynn said Gulfstream has launched six new products and a number of industry leading enhancements over the past 15 years and the accomplishments are due, in part, to Henne’s leadership, innovation and knowledge of the aerospace industry.

“His retirement is well-deserved,” Flynn said.

Henne earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1969 and a master’s degree in engineering from California State University at Long Beach in 1974. He is a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

His awards include the AIAA 1996 Engineer of the Year Award, the AIAA 2001 Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Program Management, the 2005 University of Illinois Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, the AIAA 2012 Reed Aeronautics Award, a 2012 Aviation Week Laureate Award and a 2012 Living Legend of Aviation Award from the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing educating and sparking children’s interest in aviation.

“It’s amazing how 44 years in the aircraft design and development business have flown by,” Henne said.