With more than 4,000 real estate stories written, Tony Wilbert knows Atlanta commercial real estate like no other.

Rooster Media is proud to welcome Tony Wilbert as a contributing writer to our ever growing team. Tony is a trusted source for Atlanta commercial real estate news, trends and information. He earned his reputation by devoting himself to the industry and covering fairly and accurately the top companies, developers, brokers and investors in the market. Tony left the AJC in 2004 for a career in public relations, but he did not stop reporting on the industry. We are excited to welcome Tony and know our readers will be watching their inbox when his weekly columns appear every Tuesday morning. Now if we could only get him to change his NFL allegiance from the Redskins to our hometown Falcons! Welcome aboard Tony!

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A man with a Serious Water/Transit Plan:  Former Georgia Governor and current nominee for the 2010 election, Roy Barnes spoke to a huge crowd of commercial real estate professionals last Thursday about his thoughts on improving water efficiency, transportation and leadership in Atlanta.

On Thursday, August 13th, real estate executives from across Atlanta gathered for the Mid-Year Real Estate Symposium eager to hear the latest updates on the economy, political climate, job market, and consumer sentiment. If that alone wasn't enticement enough, attendees also gained 3 hours of CE. There was even a professor on this three hour tour as the lead cast of speakers included former Governor Roy Barnes, Director of Economic Forecasting at UGA Dr. Jeffery Humphries, and former Congressman Howard "Bo" Callaway. Separate panels included representatives from multi-family, industrial, office & shopping, and the retail sectors of the market.

Alan Wexler, President of Databank and Master of Ceremonies for the Mid-Year Real Estate Symposium with former Governor Roy Barnes.

Mid-symposium speaker Roy Barnes understands that Atlanta's lack of low-flow toilets is NOT to blame for putting us in the drought. Who knew? It may have solved the problems in Los Angeles for conservation, but our city needs a bigger plan, he says.  Never fear, as former Governor Barnes knows just what to target: leaky pipes and water hogs in North Carolina.

Also on Barnes's reform plan? Transportation. It may come as a surprise, but MARTA has yet to solve all of Atlanta's transit issues.  A rapid transit system similar to one developed in Charlotte may be in our city's future.

Mr. Barnes closed his brief speech with a lesson on leadership. "People perish where there is no vision", he said.

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Jim Shelton, vice chairman of Carter, hoists a Carter flag after reaching Uhuru Peak, the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Shelton climbed the mountain in Tanzania during a trip earlier this month to Africa with his youngest daughter, Taylor. Jim and Taylor visited the continent with a group from Young Life Northwest Atlanta as part of a trip that included one week of mission work and one week of mountain climbing.

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At the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont, Cousins' Terminus 200 Building towers over the Buckhead community.

Being a top producer for 2008 is a pretty big feat and certainly worthy of a toast or two!  Tonight, NAIOP will be honoring such producers and the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club honorees with their Ninth Annual Cocktail Party. 

Another NAIOP sell-out, this members only event will be a hot spot. Congratulations to Atlanta's top brokers!