On the road again: UGA New Faculty Tour

Written by Timothy M. Chester, vice president for Information Technology.

Just finished my first day on the University of Georgia New Faculty Tour. This annual event takes approximately 40 new faculty members on a tour of Georgia to view first hand the impacts of teaching, research and service missions on the economy of the state of Georgia.

As the land-grant, flagship institution for Georgia, the university plays several important roles across the state. Our faculty members are key for each of these roles.

• Teaching - Everywhere we stop we will meet graduates of UGA. UGA is beloved all across the state and our graduates are in leadership positions across all sectors of the economy. They all tell us of the impact of their faculty on them as they earned their degrees at UGA. 
• Research - Across multiple sectors of the Georgia economy, from agriculture to advanced manufacturing to services, research by faculty and students at UGA drives innovation all across the state. 
• Service - This is key for land-grant institutions like UGA. At every stop on the tour, we meet the local county extension agents and others who work closely with community leaders, business owners and families to provide support and access to the vast UGA resources that are available to every citizen of the state.

This is my second year to go on the tour, and I'm grateful to Vice President Jennifer Frum and Associate Vice President Steve Dempsey for allowing me to tag along again this year. For me, it's the chance to spend more time building relationships with our new faculty who five, 10 or 15 years from now will be the senior academic leaders of the institution. And after spending a day with them so far, I would say the future is very bright. 

New Faculty Tour Day One: Agribusiness and Agritourism and Spotlight on the Arts

Written by Timothy Chester, vice president for Information Technology. 

Here’s a quick recap of day one activities on the University of Georgia’s New Faculty Tour. After hearing from UGA President Jere Morehead and Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum, the group assembled for a picture and then it was off to visit North Georgia. Highlights include:

Having lunch at Jaemor Farms, a family-owned farm that has been in business for over 100 years. Owner Jimmy Echols and Operations Manager Drew Echols represent the third and fifth generation of family leadership. They have expanded Jaemor Farms from simple agriculture production to being a tourist destination in its own right, complete with great food, annual activities such as the corn maze, and facilities for group meetings.

While at Jaemor, University System of Georgia Board of Regents Chairman Philip Wilheit discussed the importance of the agriculture economy in Georgia and how businesses such as Jaemor are deeply integrated into their local communities by producing products the community needs while also consuming necessary products like packaging from other businesses. Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black also spoke and challenged the faculty to be public servants in all that they do and to give back to the State of Georgia as all UGA faculty have done previously.

After lunch the group traveled to Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery to tour another family-owned business that has become a tourist destination in its own right. Owner and family patriarch Karl Boegner discussed the process of creating the vineyard’s award winning wines and the tour participants enjoyed a wine tasting event.

The final destination for the day included a stop at the Amicalola Falls State Park where Georgia State Parks Region I Manager Joe Yeager discussed the state’s extensive system of parks and recreational areas. After dinner the group enjoyed presentations by UGA Deputy Librarian (and soon to be University Librarian) Toby Graham who discussed the university’s resources for supporting teaching and research. Karen Paty, director of the Georgia Council for the Arts, discussed the history of the arts in the state and how the arts are a critical part of the state’s growing economy. The evening concluded with Georgia poet laureate Judson Mitcham recalling his fond memories of growing up in Georgia as he performed several readings of his poetry.

After a long and fruitful day the tour participants enjoyed a good night's rest at the Amicalola Falls lodge. Stops for Tuesday include the Shaw Industries plant in Cartersville, tours of the State Capital and the Martin Luther King center in Atlanta, a visit to the UGA Alumni Center in Buckhead and dinner with the Consular Corps of Atlanta. The tour has a full day ahead of it on Tuesday. More to come.

Student research: funding structure for HOPE Scholarship

Written by Shaun Kleber, UGA sophomore from Atlanta and Carl Vinson Institute of Government Student Fellow. He is pursuing a dual degree in international affairs and political science.

Since its inception in 1993, the HOPE Scholarship has disbursed billions of dollars to hundreds of thousands of Georgia students. It has helped the University of Georgia transform from a school with below-average admissions selectively to one of the top public schools in the nation. And, probably most importantly, it has provided economically disadvantaged students with an opportunity at higher education they may not have had otherwise.

But because of the unreliability of lottery funds-the source of funding for the HOPE Scholarship-the program is potentially facing dramatic changes and even cuts.

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government strives to improve government at many levels, and as a Vinson Institute Fellow this semester, I am hoping to further that goal by investigating the best way to improve the funding structure for the HOPE Scholarship.

I am working with faculty mentor Wes Clarke, senior public service associate at the Institute of Government, who researched the efficacy of this scholarship program in the early 2000s and has an impressive background in economic research. While my background and interests lie more in education policy than economics, I am looking forward to working with Dr. Clarke to investigate this timely topic that is relevant to so many students at UGA and other colleges and universities around the state.

Student research: policy for change in Georgia's coastal communities

Written by Kirstie Hostetter, a UGA sophomore and Carl Vinson Institute of Government Student Fellow. She is pursuing a degree in environmental economics and management. 

When I was little, I dreamed of being the first female president of the United States. I wanted to fix people's problems, and thought the best way of doing that was through politics. Later, at UGA, I discovered an organization called the Roosevelt Institute, and I realized that for me a better way to help people is through policy, not politics. And so began my love of public policy research.

Through the Roosevelt Institute, a student-run policy think tank, I learned how to identify a problem in society, research it, and come up with policy alternatives. And through Roosevelt, I got the opportunity to participate in the Vinson Institute Fellows Program and conduct a semester-long policy research project.

Interning at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government has been a thrilling and enlightening experience. I am working this semester with my faculty mentor, Jason Evans, an environmental sustainability analyst, to develop policy solutions for coastal communities throughout the state of Georgia and elsewhere that address the dangers of rising sea levels.

The experience has been intensive -- the amount of literature on the science of sea level rise is incredible, not to mention the studies of how it affects individual communities differently. What keeps me motivated is the drive and dedication of the team of people I work with. They work with these communities as if they were their own, listening to scientific experts but also equally to the concerns of people who live there and know the area more intimately.

In many ways I think public policy, when done with a genuine desire to help, can be a gift to a community. It provides the voiceless with an outlet for their concerns and their troubles. The people I work with at the Institute of Government have really highlighted this element of the policy process for me. When you focus on listening instead of fixing, you come up with a better solution and people who are truly grateful for your involvement.

I hope to carry this lesson with me into the future and apply it to all my endeavors, public policy-related or not. My experience so far in the Fellows Program has given me a greater desire than ever to make sure that my future includes public service through policy development.

Student research: preparing for pandemic in Georgia communities

Written by Amelia Watson, a UGA sophomore and Carl Vinson Institute of Government Student Fellow. She is pursuing a bachelor's of environmental health science and a master's in public health.

This semester as a Fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, I am planning to research how prepared Georgia's communities are for different types of health disasters and explore the relationships between different parts of the preparedness community.

On the first day of my fellowship I was filled with nervous butterflies, but this feeling subsided after meeting with my amazing mentor, Stacy Jones, the Institute's associate director of governmental training, education and development. As we discussed which research projects I could tackle, we began to hone in on the topic of pandemic preparedness at the community level in Georgia.

In March 2013, Congress reauthorized the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act to affirm the important of pandemic preparedness throughout the country. This law, complementing the original legislation adopted in 2006, seeks to further strengthen national health security by authorizing grants for preparedness capacity programs at the state, local and hospital levels. These grants emphasize participation in disaster exercises and building partnerships within local, state and federal authorities.

The amount of time between disaster identification and response is critical to the health of the community in many ways. I will be researching how communities in Georgia are preparing in accordance with this.

The Pandemic Preparedness Act gives new flexibility to the state health departments for how they spend resources during a disaster; states can temporarily reassign federally funded personnel to urgent events like a pandemic, even if their normal job is not related to the emergency. The Georgia Department of Public Health is preparing by partnering with both public and private sectors to ensure Georgia's citizens are taken care of during a health emergency. In addition, Georgia's court system and the Georgia Department of Education have released documents on what they would do in the midst of a pandemic.

Coordinating efforts is very important, as is maintaining critical relationships during a health emergency. Training for this type of emergency is crucial because miscommunication and the lack of proper planning could be disastrous for Georgia communities. I look forward to working on this project, as well as the rest of my semester at the Institute of Government.

Student research: CVIOG Fellow looks at the harmful effects of child marriages overseas

Written by Kathleen Wilson, UGA sophomore and Carl Vinson Institute of Government Student Fellow. She is a double major in economic and international affairs with minors in French and Arabic.

This semester, I am one of four Vinson Institute Fellows at UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government. I'm working in the Institute's International Center with Director Rusty Brooks. As soon as I met Dr. Brooks, I was impressed with his vast experience in international policy and relations. He is very supportive of my interest in international women's rights policy and has encouraged me to pursue research in the areas that most interest me. Having spent last semester researching female literacy policy in Afghanistan, I have decided to expand my knowledge of international women's rights policy and examine child marriages in refugee camps during my semester in the Vinson Institute Fellows Program.

Why? It has been well-demonstrated that child marriages are physically, intellectually and emotionally harmful to the well-being of child brides. In refugee camps, without many medical facilities or economic opportunities, children forced into marriages face even larger risks for these negative effects of child marriages. Yet, child marriages often occur at higher rates within refugee camps because parents view marriage as one of the only ways to provide for their children's future. Thus, parents who think they are doing what is best for their children are actually subjecting them to more potential harm. Through my research this semester, I will be analyzing child marriages in refugee camps and exploring different policies that can help decrease these marriages. It is my goal to establish a framework that will help protect these victims of child marriages in refugee camps and increase their future opportunities.

Nexen vs. Unocal: Why it's different for CNOOC this time around

Written by Aveek Sarker, Student Fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government

In July of last year, the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), China's largest offshore oil and natural gas explorer, announced that it had agreed to pay $15.1 billion in cash to acquire Canada's Nexen Inc. in what would amount to the largest foreign takeover by a Chinese company to date. This announcement brought to memory the company's failed $19 billion bid for a California-based petroleum exporter, Unocal Corp., in 2005.

While CNOOC has learned a great deal since Unocal, there are a number of fundamental differences between the two deals that warrant consideration. In its 2005 bid CNOOC was competing with Chevron Corp., a U.S. company, for control of Unocal, while the bid for Nexen was a negotiated deal that was uncontested and had the full support of the company's board of directors. CNOOC had additionally gone out of its way to reassure management and the Canadian government that Nexen would remain a Canadian company. CNOOC stated its plans to list its stock in Toronto, retain Nexen's existing employees, and make Calgary its North American headquarters. Furthermore, the Nexen transaction involves a company from a "consuming" country (China) purchasing a company from a "supplier" country (Canada). In contrast, Unocal involved a company from a "consuming" country (China) purchasing a company in another "consuming" country, in this case the United States.

In the case of Nexen, the interests of the two countries involved can easily be seen as aligned, while it's much more difficult to see alignment in the Unocal deal. In Unocal, the countries represented by the companies involved are in direct competition for access to petroleum reserves. The leadership of large consumption-based economies such as the United States and China are understandably concerned about their country's ability to have continued access to the natural resources needed to support their growing markets and industries. Supplier countries like Canada have large reserves of natural resources but relatively smaller populations and economies. They are thus most concerned about finding long-term, stable markets for their products. Developing and selling more of their natural resources is their preferred model for development.

Canada has the world's third largest oil reserves - more than 170 billion barrels - after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Daily productino of 1.5 million barrels from the country's oil sands is expected to increase to 3.7 million by 2025. Finding a reliable market for this output is one of Canada's key concerns, and developing China as a long-term investor is a prime objective.

Moreove, CNOOC has an incentive, as well as the financial wherewithal, to accelerate development of the oil sands as well as Nexen's Canadian shale gas prospects, boosting investment and tax revenues in the country. In this context, it's easy to understand why the Nexen deal was approved.

Get moving: the impact of walkable cities

Written by Caley Trujillo, Student Fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government

Throughout the past month at the Carl Vinson Institute I have been heavily involved in research and writing revolving around the planning concept known as walkability. My faculty mentor, Chrissy Marlowe, first introduced me to this smart growth principle during a planning and zoning course she taught. At the end of the training course she challenged the planning commissioners and city staffers who attended to plan with the future in mind and think about the quality of life they hope to achieve for their communities.

Walkability is the extent to which an environment is built to encourage pedestrian activity, expand transportation options and have safe and inviting streets. This can mean building more bike lanes, walking trails or sidewalks. It can also entail creating mass transportation such as subways and bus lines. Walkability offers surprising benefits to people's health, finances and communities. For example, people who live in the least walkable neighborhoods are about one-third more likely to be obese than residents of neighborhoods that best support foot traffic; citizens' quality of life can be enhanced by building well-designed, compact communities.

Growing up in metro Atlanta I could related to the need for more smart growth principles to be implemented in my city. Growing up in a car-dependent community, my parents fought traffic to and from work every day, spent less time at home and were physically put at risk due to the lack of daily exercise.

I took this opportunity as a Fellow to learn more about walkability. To familiarize myself with this concept, I began by reading "Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America," by city planner Jeff Speck. This book opened my eyes to all the cities that have already started implementing walkable principles such as Washington, D.C. and Portland, Ore.

Based on my research, I expect to draft a paper about the role that planning walkable neighborhoods could play on the state of Georgia's economic, physical and community growth. Through development of downtown spaces and "rightsizing" streets, Georgia can help meet the new market demand of walkable urbanism and revitalize local communities. Some metro Atlanta cities such as Woodstock, Sandy Springs and Roswell are already laying the groundwork for this new type of development. My research is still in the beginning stages, but my hope is to provide new insight on how planning walkable communities can make a positive impact on Georgia.

Chinese foreign direct investments in the US and beyond: a closer look

Written by Aveek Sarker, Student Fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government

As a Fellow this semester at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government's International Center, I have the rare opportunity to pick the brain of my faculty mentor, Rusty Brooks. His intellectual interests, much of which are concerned with the rise of China as this era's preeminent and rising economic superpower, align well with my own, as I have decided to investigate certain implications of Chinese foreign direct investments in the United States and across the world. 

The last decade has seen the rise of a new world power as China's unprecedented economic growth and development has radically altered the global landscape. One of the most significant trends that will largely influence the trajectory of the Sino-American relationship has just recently begun to materialize. 

China has started to take an increasingly proactive role in seeking to invest in ventures abroad through mergers, acquisitions and greenfield investments. If current patterns continue, more than $1 trillion of direct Chinese investment will flow worldwide by the year 2020, a significant share of which will be headed for advanced markets such as the U.S. How the U.S. responds to these flows will  not only serve to determine the future of its own economy, but more importantly will have considerable influence over the diplomatic relationship it seeks to establish with the world's fastest-growing economy. 

Anxieties and fears of strategic maneuvering certainly exist as China begins to move into American markets. It is upon these anxieties that I hope to further build upon my present analyses. As I continue investigating, I will interpret specific investment deals involving Chinese firms to assess the direct implications of their investments on a case-by-case basis. 

The case of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is of particular interest. Moving forward, I intend to make a comparative analysis between CNOOC's failed bid for Unocal, a California-based oil company in 2005, that was struck down my U.S. government, and compare it to the company's subsequent and successful acquisition of the Canadian shale oil and gas giant Nexgen just six years later. 

Why was one deal successful and the other wasn't? What changes were made in between? And how do these deals serve as case studies for future Chinese investments in the Americas?

These are just some of the questions that will be further explored in later posts. 

Students interested in state and local government can gain valuable experience and prepare for careers in public service through the Vinson Institute Fellows Program. This semester-long internship with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government introduces undergraduate students to the inner workings of state and local government, both in Georgia and abroad.

New Faculty Tour: Last Day Wrap-up

Written by Beverly Johnson, public service assistant in governmental services and research, and Mara Register, public service assistant in governmental training, education and development, of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

Our last day is bittersweet. As we gather in the lobby, it begins to set in that this is our last day of the tour and that this wonderful journey is coming to an end. 

Our day began with a warm greeting from Malik Watkins, public service associate at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Malik escorts us to the Chatham County Metropolitan Planning Commission and introduces us to Ellen Harris, director of urban planning and historic preservation; and Bridget Lidy, tourism administrator in the City of Savannah Citizen Office. After a brief overview of Savannah's history, we take a short walking tour of Savannah's historic district.

The city is a wonderful mix of old and new. City planners and preservationists have masterfully woven national chains among local businesses to create a very cozy downtown. Much of this accomplishment can be attributed to "the seven women of Savannah," who began Savannah's historic preservation efforts. The city's effort has resulted in 12 National Register districts and 22 of its original 24 squares. 

Five facts on Savannah: 

• Founded by James Edward Oglethorpe in 1733, Savannah was the 13th colony and first capitol of Georgia.
• The squares found in downtown Savannah are a result of the Oglethorpe Plan.
• Spanish moss does not grow in the trees located in the center of most squares because there is no wind. Wind is required to spread moss to the trees.
• Savannah is the home of Savannah College of Art and Design and has a very lively arts scene.
• Street parking issues created problems in Savannah. In response, the city has transitioned to an underground garage system. Built in 2008, Whitaker Street Garage has four levels underground, space for 1,065 vehicles and sits beneath one of the city's most popular squares.

Next stop: Georgia Ports Authority!

Chief Frank Manson of the Georgia Ports Authority Police Department provided a very informative tour of the port of Savannah. The port supports trade in 150 countries, with Asia ranking the highest. This port receives and sends shipments by rail, truck and ship on a continuous basis, and works with the FBI, DEA and other federal agencies. 

The port of Savannah is a major component of Georgia's economic engine connecting Georgia's businesses to the world and creating 7 percent of Georgia's total employment. Efforts are underway to deepen the port to allow larger vessels to pass through, resulting in increased trade and thriving Georgia businesses. Many are surprised that this major effort to deepen the canal with increase its depth by six feet. 

Five fast facts:

• The Port of Savannah is the 4th largest port in the United States and the largest port on the East Coast.
• The Port of Savannah creates 295,443 full- and part-time jobs. 
• In 2010, 1,582,078 containers, equating to 25,059,092 tons, were processed through the Port of Savannah.
• The three largest exports from the Port of Savannah are kaolin, wood and bio-mass.
• An average of 9,000 trucks pass through the Port of Savannah every day.

Next stop: Plant Vogtle!

Georgia Power Company Community Development Manager Mike Worley provided our group with a tour of Plant Vogtle. Officially named the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, this site is one of two Georgia Power Company-maintained nuclear facilities. Ownership of the plant is divided among four entities: Georgia Power Company (45.7 percent), Oglethorpe Power Company (30 percent), Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (22.7 percent) and the City of Dalton (1.6 percent).

The plant is located on 3,200 acres ideally situated along the Savannah River. The river is vital to the operation of the facility because continuous water flow is required to run the nuclear reactors on the site. There are currently two units in operations with two additional units currently under construction. The newest units are the first new nuclear units in the United States in 30 years.

Our group was given a tour of the control room simulator. This simulator is used to train employees to work in the control facility for the two new units. Each day, these trainees work through various scenarios in preparation for federal certification and licensure required to operate a nuclear plant control facility. 

Five fast facts:

• Twenty-percent of Georgia's electricity is produced at Plant Vogtle.
• Each of the two cooling towers circulate 500,000 gallons of water per minute.
• The movie The Great Escape is based upon the life of Alvin Vogtle (Note: The motorcycle escape was a dramatic addition to the script). 
• Fifty-percent of Plant Vogtle's current employees will retire within the next five years. 
• Georgia Power's additional nuclear plant is Plant Hatch, located near Baxley and named for Edwin I. Hatch, who served as president of Georgia Power from 1963 to 1975.

New Faculty Tour: A walk around downtown Savannah

Written by Rosanna Rivero, assistant professor in the College of Environment and Design.

It's 6:00 a.m. Another early rise, tons of coffee and a little boost of energy for our last day of the tour.

Our visit to downtown historic Savannah was hosted by the Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The visit stressed the importance of historic preservation, urban planning and design codes and standards to preserve the unique character of our oldest city, founded by General Oglethorpe in 1733.

What makes downtown Savannah so unique is its pattern or configuration of streets, originally envisioned by its founder on the concept of a central open space or plaza surrounded by four blocks of public buildings (called trust lots) and four residential blocks (called tythings). Although this idea may seem to convey our more contemporary sense of a recreational and social space, it's original conception seems to be driven by military defense needs.

Today, 22 of the original 24 squares remain. From our visit, we could see the very distinct character of each of the squares - the more traditional ones with a deep tree canopy and a central monument that is inviting and refreshing, and the new ones which are less vegetated but also popular with tourists and visitors and well connected with the popular City Market.

Overall, this city has a magic of its own. From personal experience, it is worth losing the GPS and getting lost in the wonderful grid of streets and plazas to see what the city is about. As a new faculty in UGA's College of Environment and Design, I definitely look forward to the opportunity for many more visits to Savannah and Coastal Georgia.

New Faculty Tour: The gift of life...stingray life, that is.

Written by Chandler Christoffel, science instruction and reference librarian at the UGA science library. 

Yesterday we went out on some trawlers near the Savannah coast. As we spotted dolphins and enjoyed the charitable breeze, our Marine Extension Service hosts guided us along the river, all the while trawling the river floor for varieties of marine life. Our catch included gar with its intimidating needle-nose and handsome spots, shrimp, several dozen potato sponges, a perturbed-looking puffer fish, whitefish, sea bass, several flat fish, a sponge that smelled of garlic, another sponge reminiscent of a pirate's red beard, and, last but not least, A PREGNANT STINGRAY!

Combing through our bounty, we spied little sting ray tails protruding from the mother's womb. And shortly after our guides moved her from the trawl net to a makeshift aquarium in a plastic bin, mama delivered two baby sting rays of sunshine into the world - one boy and one girl. We, naturally, named them Steve and Jennifer, after our NFT leaders. Proud godparents all, we celebrated with a delicious, buttery low country broil.

New Faculty Tour: Sustainable Living

Written by Tessa Andrews, assistant professor of biological sciences in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Our first stop on Thursday morning was the Future Farmhouse on the UGA-Tifton campus. The Future Farmhouse is a development and research program, where developers are building a zero-energy house, or a house that will create as much or more energy than it will consume. The primary, and maybe only, source of energy will come from the sun. The roof is covered with thin solar panels and an additional bank of panels will sit in a field near the house. The house is built with three different materials and sensors are embedded in the walls so that the energy waste can be assessed. Sensors have also been deployed around the farm. Researchers will be able to use the data gathered for research purposes, as well as contributing to our knowledge about integrated personal data gathering systems.

Once it is finished, two lucky graduate students will get to live in the house and they will be charged with the responsibility of maintaining the ongoing research projects. The project also extends beyond the house; the group is designing an edible landscape to surround the house. What they learn through this project will be made available more broadly through peer-reviewed publications, cooperative extension and the retailers who have contributed materials and supplies to the project. The project is an excellent example of the function of a land-grant university; it integrates the efforts and expertise of the university with the needs, efforts and knowledge of businesses and citizens of Georgia.

New Faculty Tour: On the Coast

Written by Beverly Johnson, public service assistant in governmental services and research, and Mara Register, public service assistant in governmental training, education and development, of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. 

In one day, we completed the transportation triad: planes, trains and automobiles. Our last visit of the day was Gulfstream in Savannah. First we got a free car from Kia, and then a Gulfstream G650 sticker! We completed our tour of the new G650 facility and needless to say, it was incredible. The original facility was built in 1967 in Savannah through a coordinated effort by the state, local community and the company. In 2006, Gulfstream announced the first of two expansions that had an ultimate impact on the state of 3,200 new jobs and $900 million in investment -- all of which was facilitated again through a partnership between the state, community and manufacturer. This company is clearly a significant part of the economic viability of the coast and also substantially invests in helping improve the local community. The company contributes more than $2 million annually to the Uniter Way, completes numerous community volunteer hours and has developed a Student Leadership Program that currently mentors 600 local high school students. Gulfstream is clearly committed to the company mission, their employees and helping to improve the local community!

Fun facts:

• General Dynamics is the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace.
• General Dynamics is one of the top five defense contractors in the country and employees more than 90,000 people worldwide. 
• The cost to purchase one of the new G650 business jets is $65 million. 
• The range of the G650 is 7,000 nautical miles.
• The facility in Savannah employees approximately 8,700 people.

Our incredible day ended with a wonderful evening on Skidaway Island. We took a ride on UGA Marine Extension Service's SeaDawg, ending right at sunset. We watched the research trawler bring in an amazing variety of marine life and enjoyed a fantastic low country boil.

We can't believe today is our last day together! This has truly been a life-changing week.

New Faculty Tour: Crossing of the Ways

Written by Beverly Johnson, public service assistant in governmental services and research, and Mara Register, public service assistant in governmental training, education and development, of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

After leaving Tifton yesterday, we traveled approximately one hour East to the "crossing of the ways," the city of Waycross. While we were there, we toured two strong economic engines in this area of our state. First, we visited Georgia Bio-Mass, the largest bio-energy plant in the world. We were greeted at the facility by Billy Parrish and Bob Mayhew, a proud graduate of the University of Georgia! The facility represents a $240 million investment in the community. The plant converts pine trees into wood pellets that are burned in coal power plants in Europe. In order to comply with European Union standards, the facility only purchases wood products from sustainably managed forests. They employ 84 workers and facility supports 1,000 trucking and 1,200 logging jobs in the area. Furthermore, they purchase $50 million in wood products annually and produce 750,000 metric tons of wood pellets each year.

Fun facts:

• There are 24 million acres of renewable pine forests in Georgia.
• As of 2011, the forestry industry supported more than 46,000 jobs in Georgia. 
• There is more commercial forest-land in Georgia than any other state in the country. 
• The facility in Waycross purchases 1.5 tons of wood product annually, representing 52,000 truck-loads of pine trees. 
• The wood pellets are railed to the Savannah port by CSX railroad and placed into storage until 30,000 tons are accumulated for shipping to Europe. 

Speaking of the CSX railroad...our next stop was the Rice Yard in Waycross, where we were happily greeted by Jake Hunter, assistant terminal superintendent. This immediate point facility processes approximately 2,000 cars each day for distribution out of this central collection point. Jake shared with the group that 80 percent of the railcars they process are leased and CSX is the service provider. Craig Camuso, another UGA graduate, also spoke to the group as we enjoyed an incredible lunch and toured the control tower.

Fun facts:

• CSX has 6,000 miles of tracks in Georgia alone. 
• There are two main line operators and 23 short line operators in Georgia.
• CSX runs in 23 states in the U.S.
• CSX has 3,000 employees in Georgia, 800 of which are employed at the Rice Yard.
• CSX annually invests $115 million in Georgia and $2 billion in the U.S.

New Faculty Tour: Got Milk?

Written by Beverly Johnson, public service assistant in governmental services and research, and Mara Register, public service assistant in governmental training, education and development, of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. 

Thursday started out bright and early with a visit to the University of Georgia experimental station in Tifton. Our visit to the facility was hosted by Dr. Joe West. This world renowned research facility was established in 1918 on land donated by Captain H.H. Tifton. More than 500 employees representing twenty-two countries work at the station. It is co-located with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and contains more than 2,200 acres of field laboratories.

We had the opportunity to see the progress of the Future Farmstead Project, a residential farm structure and site that will support research focused on sustainability and energy efficiency in farm facilities. We then heard from Dr. Charles Douglas who provided additional information about the experimental station during our visits to the dairy and peanut crop research field. The dairy was an amazing facility financially self-sufficient from milk sales. The dairy industry has an annual economic impact in our state of more than $780 million. One milk cow can produce 100 pounds of milk every day...and there are more than 80,000 milk cows in Georgia! Got Milk? You bet! It was an incredible visit with people passionate about agriculture and the key economic role it plays in our state and country.

Five fun facts:

• Ninety-five percent of milk production in the United States comes from Holstein cows.
• Georgia is the top producer in the country for pecans, peanuts and poultry.
• In 2012, Georgia became the top producing state for blueberries
• Georgia produces 35 commercial vegetable crops and is third in the country for overall vegetable production. 
• Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton has an annual enrollment of 3,300 students from eighteen states and 20 foreign countries. 

New Faculty Tour: Gulfstream and International Relations

Written by Tim Quigley, assistant professor in the department of management in the Terry College of Business. Quigley moved to Athens 3 weeks ago from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. 

The New Faculty Tour arrived in Savannah yesterday afternoon for a visit with Gulfstream, a true success story of high-tech economic development in Georgia. The visit included a tour of the G650 production facility and discussions with senior management.

The G650 is Gulfstream's newest business jet capable of flying longer, faster and with more passengers than other business jets. It can travel more than 7,000 miles, allowing it to travel between most global business centers without stopping. 

Jay Neely of Gulfstream highlighted the challenges of transforming the company into a truly international firm. Just 10 or 15 years ago the firm generated 80 percent of their revenue in the United States. Today, it is less than half. The firm has been challenged to transform from a "U.S. firm that sold a bit overseas into a truly global enterprise." The largest source of overseas sales comes from China, a country that had effectively zero general aviation activity a decade ago. For a firm that emphasizes service, especially after the sale, this has required expanding the global footprint of their maintenance and other support operations. Cultural and regulatory differences and a lack of qualified aviation talent create additional challenges.

As sales of the G650 continue to grow, Gulfstream continues to exceed hiring and expansion plans at their Savannah headquarters. They remain particularly proud of the fact that design as well as research and development are located in Georgia.

New Faculty Tour: Back on the bus!

Written by Jackie Guglietta, assistant director of regional programs for the UGA Alumni Association 

Each day of this journey brings new surprises and exceeds all our expectations. Although these memories will stay with me long after this trip, yesterday was one of my favorite days with colleagues that are quickly becoming some of my favorite people.

One of the sayings on this trip has been, "back on the bus!" We have this yelled at us often because we are going from place to place, squeezing in all the fun and information to stay on schedule. With all the excitement, you can't blame us for having small moments of fatigue after interesting programs. Last night, however, there was a higher and more consistent energy among the group. Why were we all so pumped up? It could have been feeding little calfs, going out on the boat or even seeing dolphins swimming...but I think it had something to do with our mascot Uga surprising us as the special guest at Skidaway Island! For some of us, this was our first time meeting him and we were excited to spend some quality time petting him before dinner. This week we have been the type of group that does not let anything get in the way of our meals, but delaying dinner a few minutes to snap a photo with Uga was definitely worth it.

After "Calling the Dawgs" (I am going to need a few more practice rounds!), we enjoyed a delicious low country boil with our new Skidaway Island friends. Shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cob, sausage, banana pudding and more...we were in heaven. Then it was "back on the bus" to the wonderful downtown Savannah for the night.

We are so thankful to the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography staff for allowing us to see what they do and for being such amazing hosts. I am looking forward to seeing what our last day has in store for us!

New Faculty Tour: Railways and the Economy

Written by Richard McCline, senior public service associate at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development.  

Wow...another great experience for all of us on the New Faculty Tour! Today we visited the CSX terminal in Waycross. Waycross is aptly named due to the nearby intersection of highways I, 23, 82, 38, 15 and 121 - all important east, west, north and south routes.

Although it is tempting to think of railroads as remnants of the past, Georgia could no maintain its leading role as a producer of pine timber, pecans, peanuts or poultry without the rail system. CSX operates more than 2,700 miles of track, handles almost 2 million carloads of products and employees about 3,000 people. 

The view from the control tower at the freight yard is much like you imagine the view from an air traffic tower would be. With the help of some sophisticated IT support, you can see the entire rail yard and traffic. Furthermore, CSX is a community-conscious business; CSX has a large commitment to the United Way and does great work with a youth program started several years ago. 

The visit to CSX helped connect the dots between Kia, the poultry industry, agriculture, overall economic development in Georgia and UGA's key role in the state's economy.

All in all, it was another interesting and very informative stop along the New Faculty Tour.  

New Faculty Tour: The Auto Industry and Economic Development

Written by Mi Geum Chorzepa, assistant professor of civil engineering in UGA's College of Engineering. 

Early Wednesday morning, the New Faculty Tour visited the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) plant in West Point. The tour was arranged by Sean McMillan, director of economic development at UGA. As we drove into the site, I almost felt as though I was sitting in the conference room at the Georgia Power Resource Center. On Tuesday, Tommy Wade, senior civil engineer at Georgia Power, presented GIS-based site design and showed a virtual manufacturing building placed on a potential plot on Google Earth. Driving up, the building looked very similar to the 3D building model.

The tour started with a presentation by Kia employees. During the presentation, we learned that KMMG revitalized the West Point community and provided training and jobs to community residents. We also learned that they are growing in size - manufacturing more than 200,000 cars per year. We then started a guided tour of four assembly units. The first unit we visited was the stamping line, where the manufacturing process begins. Three models are mainly manufactured in this plant: the Sorento, Optima and Santa Fe. The welding shop was the next stop. It was, in my opinion, the most impressive stop. Approximately 300 welding robots put the body panels together, providing 2,200 welds per car.

And it wasn't just the technology that impressed the New Faculty. The safety and assurance programs in place were truly impressive. Moreover, the space was used very efficiently, fully utilizing the overhead compartments. The third stop was the paint shop. This shop cleans, conditions, Eco bathes and primes the metal bodies, and provides the final color coat. As we were walking to the last unit, the testing and quality assurance unit, we saw the cafeteria, fitness center, bank, medical center and learned about Kia's employee wellness programs and benefits. In the testing unit, it was amazing to witness the well-coordinated teamwork and safety and quality assurance programs. Kia's Georgia plant is capable of assembling a car in only one hour. It's hard to believe, but now we can testify to the speed!

It was touching to see the busy manufacturing lines and to be part of this vibrant community. As the nation struggles to find more jobs for its citizens, it is truly impressive that KMMG not only manages to stay in business but also successfully operates a manufacturing plant in the United States. Kia cars are not made until they have already been sold. As a part of the new engineering program at UGA, I realize our engineering students may also be able to provide the infrastructure and workforce that can attract more businesses like KMMG and make positive changes to Georgia cities and communities. Moreover, I strongly believe diverse research programs at UGA will bring more new business initiatives to Georgia. I look forward to visiting the plant again with our students.