Sarah Gilbert, incoming president for the British American Business Group, announced last week at its annual general meeting the group’s mission to enable members to develop productive relationships within the British-American business community in the Southeast.
Under a three-year plan, the group is to continue to boost membership, increase trade and investment opportunities for the group’s members and encourage board member involvement on BABG committees.
Ms. Gilbert, the U.K.-U.S. relations’ director for Gap Personnel, a U.K.- based staffing agency, begins her presidency after serving one year as BABG first vice president. She told GlobalAtlanta that she hopes to increase board member involvement by more clearly defining duties and requiring each of the 25 board members to participate in one of the organization’s five committees: governance, marketing, membership, events and trade.
Richard Keck, a partner with Duane Morris LLP, first vice president, in-line to succeed Ms. Gilbert, and chair of the group’s trade committee, said that he hopes to continue self-financed trade missions to promote trade and investment opportunities both to and from the United Kingdom. He also hopes to foster bi-lateral relations with U.K. cities like Atlanta’s existing sister-city relationship with Newcastle, England, and foster cooperation with other British-American organizations in the Southeast.
Ms. Gilbert, the BABG’s second woman president, announced a new format for presenting the British Consul General’s Oglethorpe Sword Award to take place at a special dinner to be announced later in the year. The Oglethorpe Sword is presented annually to the individual or organization that has contributed the most to enhance business opportunities between Britain and the Southeast.
“I think we’re going to be very focused,” she said. “My objective is to increase membership and have fun at the same time.”
Executive committee positions and board members were also announced at the meeting. Executive committee members are: Mr. Keck, first vice president; Keith Badham, second vice president, and chairman and CEO of Cognisa Security Inc; Peter Dean, secretary, and partner with Sutherland Asbill and Brennan LLP. Alex Knight, a CPA with Habif, Arogeti and Wynne LLP, will remain BABG treasurer and Lambert Schuyler Jr., president of Schuyler Associates, will serve as immediate past president.
New board members include: Elaine Bowers Coventry, director of marketing with Coca-Cola Co.; Jeffrey Bowman, president international operations of Crawford and Company; Christopher Soffe, president of Gleeds USA; and Thomas White, manager business advisory services at Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP.
For more information about BABG activities, contact Margo Engel at (404) 681-2224 or by e-mail admin@babg.org or visit www.babg.org.