Last week I had the privilege of participating in GeorgiaForward, an annual conference that serves as a catalyst for identifying innovative ideas to solve our state’s challenges.
This year’s conference was held at Georgia Tech’s main campus in Atlanta and attendees hailed from all over the state representing a cross-section of local and state governments, education, entrepreneurial companies and large corporations.
All were united by a common mission: Make Georgia a more competitive state.
Conference participants believe our state’s challenges cannot be met by government, industry, academia or civil society alone. Improving Georgia requires all of our state’s stakeholders to communicate and collaborate in order to proactively address challenges and seize opportunities.
Throughout the conference and in the “Technology & Place” panel, I took pride in bringing Savannah and The Creative Coast into the discussion.
I was also thrilled to get a first hand introduction to some amazing developments in entrepreneurship and innovation. I enjoyed tours and visits at Hypepotamus, Atlanta Tech Village and Georgia Tech’s ATDC (Atlanta Technology Development Center).
All of these locations have waiting lists and house world leaders in the startup industry. Clearly these organizations and others have worked to emulate the successes of Massachusetts, California and Texas and the results are impressive.
Atlanta Tech Village, which only launched in the last few months, has more than 50 startups filling its 103,000-square-foot building in Buckhead, and the waiting list for future space is long.
ATDC has graduated more than 150 companies and has 40 more in the making. Hypepotamus executive director Scott Henderson’s energy level rivals that of Georgia Power as he ignites more than 20 cool startup events just this fall.
Unfortunately, not all was perfect in Atlanta.
Although the Braves held on for victory Thursday night, the two-hour MARTA commute back to Dunwoody left something to be desired. I was reminded of the roughly 100 business appointments I have had over the years where I would phone the receptionist and ask, “How would I find your office from MARTA?”
I might have expected an apology that the answer was not easily displayed or promoted on the website. Instead, the response was often a series of “May I please put you on hold?” with the conclusion that “no one really takes MARTA.”
Some might argue that Atlanta’s mass transportation plan was inadequate or more infrastructure is needed. Personally, I think MARTA’s service could be easily improved by deploying the great social media and technology minds bursting at the innovation labs.
For example, when I lived in Munich 10 years ago, I traveled nearly exclusively by U-Bahn. I could enter originating and final destination stations into Web-based or phone automated systems. I would be informed about routes, times, transfers and any necessary updates.
If an elevator were malfunctioning at any station on my route and I selected the prompt to state that I was traveling with a baby stroller, I would be informed and sent to a particular end of one station in order not to be inconvenienced by a broken elevator.
I’m not one to complain, but I do know that innovation comes from answering problems and finding solutions. I suggest that we ask, “What needs to be solved?” and “What can I do to help?”
I too have spun my wheels seeking insight from distant lands only to find the opportunity to shine under my nose.
Georgia has the chance to lead the nation in innovation with regard to our state’s mass transportation systems. We can deploy great communication, technology, collaboration and other skills to drive a marked improvement in MARTA’s service and usage.
There are no barriers to improving signage on screens and walls, coordinating track maintenance on less busy nights, dispensing relevant information to riders and improving public perception.
In short, Atlanta’s eight-lane afternoon parking lot could be dramatically minimized with a little creativity, innovation and ingenuity.
Let’s do it.
Bea Wray is the executive director of The Creative Coast, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the creative and entrepreneurial community within the region. Bea can be reached at 912-447-8457 or bea@thecreativecoast.org.