Customer Service Champions Spearhead Effort to Improve City of Atlanta Customer Service
"I am the City of Atlanta: Committed to serving you”
October 4-8, 2004 is National Customer Service Week and it’s an opportunity for the City to inform stakeholders of plans underway to improve the quality of customer service provided to our constituents. Customer Service Champions, a group of representatives from each city department operating under the guidance of loaned Georgia Power executive Sharon Jones, will lead their respective departments in developing specific plans to improve customer service.
Mayor Shirley Franklin said, “The City of Atlanta is committed to building and sustaining quality customer service program and making the people of Atlanta proud of the way we listen, learn and address the issues and concerns of our stakeholders.”
The vision is to provide anyone who contacts the City of Atlanta with a seamless customer service experience that is responsive, easy to use, efficient, and delivers services in a caring manner while promoting a positive image for City of Atlanta government.
Ms. Jones said, “It is our role to assist the city in continuing to build on the commitment to provide an effective and efficient city government, in this case, putting a program in place to create a more customer friendly municipal government.”
The City of Atlanta is currently developing an official Customer Service Plan which is scheduled for completion in late November. The City of Atlanta looks forward to creating a best in class customer service program.
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Has Record-Breaking Month
During the month of July, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport served more passengers in one month than it has in any other month during its 79-year history. Employees at the world’s busiest passenger airport accommodated over 7.8 million passengers.
Aviation General Manager Ben DeCosta believes the increase in passenger traffic is a positive indicator of the region’s expanding economy. “We are well on our way to maintaining our title of world’s busiest passenger airport and we may exceed our top competitor for world’s busiest in aircraft operations for 2004 as well,” said DeCosta. “In fact, we recorded 6.36 percent more travelers in 2004 versus 2003 when comparing year-over-year statistics for a month.”
Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of “world’s busiest airport” since 1998. Prior to 2004, Hartsfield-Jackson recorded its highest passenger count in 2000 when more than 80 million passengers traveled through the airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson expects to serve 85 million travelers by the end of the year and the sky is the limit for the possibilities of success in the future.
For more information about Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, visit www.atlanta-airport.com and stay tuned to city channel 26.
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Atlanta Increases International Presence
The City of Atlanta continues to attract international partners as its reputation continues to grow as a world-class city. Atlanta was recently chosen as the headquarter site for the U.N. International Training Center for Local Authorities, also known as the U.N. Centre International de Formation des Autorités/Acteurs Locaux (CIFAL) for the Americas and the Caribbean.
CIFAL Atlanta, the eleventh such center in the world, will focus on commercial diplomacy, information technology and telecommunications, and public-private partnerships.
At the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between U.N. Assistant Secretary Marcel Boisard and Mayor Shirley Franklin, Boisard stated, “For us at the United Nations, Atlanta also carries a particularly meaningful heritage of Reverend Martin L. King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement and is associated with one of the most respected peacemakers in the world, President Jimmy Carter.”
Mayor Franklin said, “CIFAL Atlanta is a tribute to those who have preceded us. This commitment to sustainable urban areas across the globe was envisioned by former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young decades ago.”
“Needless to say, the convenience of the world’s most active passenger airport and outstanding logistics for visitors makes Atlanta the ideal location for leaders from all over the hemisphere,” said Assistant Secretary Boisard.
The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce hosted the official signing ceremony. There are more than 1,600 foreign-based companies and organizations operating in the greater metropolitan Atlanta area.
Mayor Franklin and Marcel Boisard, Assistant Secretary General, United Nations. |
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City Launches Citywide Employee Spanish Education Initiative
¿Quiere estudiare español durante Usted día a trabaja?
The City of Atlanta's population growth keeps going like the energizer bunny--- with the fastest growth among Latinos. According to census statistics, the Latino population grew faster in Georgia than in any state in the nation from 2000 to 2002. Metro Atlanta experienced the most rapid Latino growth rate among the nation’s 20 most populous metro areas. Approximately 7.5% of metro Atlantans are Latino. As part of the recently announced City of Atlanta customer service program, the Department of Human Resources is partnering with the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) to offer Spanish classes to City employees whose jobs bring them in contact with Spanish-speaking constituents.
“Since the 1996 Olympics, Atlanta has become renowned around the world as an international city. This employee education initiative demonstrates our commitment to building a city that works for everyone,” said Mayor Franklin.
There are two opportunities for enrollment. First, employees who work in administrative capacities may enroll in Basic Spanish for Business Communication, an eight-week course that meets twice weekly.
The second opportunity is an eight-week course that is customized for departments based on job functions (e.g., firefighters; recreational facility personnel; water meter readers; inspectors). These classes are designed to give employees a working knowledge of relevant, workplace phrases in Spanish. To encourage participation and commitment the classes will be conducted at the workplace site, for example, a fire station or recreation center.
“We appreciate our partner, AWDA, for their help and support in this initiative and encourage our employees to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Benita C. Ransom the Commissioner of Human Resources. Atlanta must be prepared for more explosive growth in the future.
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Atlanta Youth Flourish In City Arts Program
The connection between young people and the arts has always been a powerful educational tool. Creative expression has no limits and at the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children, the young people are discovering that the sky is the limit. One young student succeeding at artistic expression is twelve-year-old Carmen Massey.
Carmen earned first place for her creative and artistic brilliance in the 2004 Summer Murals Program and was recently honored at the Summer Murals reception.
The Summer Murals Program does more than provide a medium for young people to express themselves; it gives them tangible results for their time and effort. “Carmen sees art as a way to improve her outlook on life,” said Childcare Coordinator Barbara Sargaent.
Carmen’s mother, Debra said, “The program has motivated Carmen, giving her the strength to do more and allowing her to feel good about herself. Carmen is proud of the effort she has put into the mural and points it out to anyone who sees it at the Center.
“It gives me peace of mind that Carmen is participating in such a positive and productive activity,” Debra said.
Carmen and 137 young Atlantans involved in the Summer Mural Program work with local artists to create imaginative artwork that enriches Atlanta neighborhoods. The artwork is displayed in neighborhood centers throughout the city to highlight the amazing abilities and contributions of some of Atlanta's talented residents.
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“Mayors Night In For Atlanta Residents” Will Be Held On October 4, 2004 At 5:00 P.M.
The "Mayor’s Night In" allows Atlanta residents to express concerns directly to Mayor Shirley Franklin.
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Rave Reviews!
- The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA) recently named Eddie Clark, Bureau of Parks Operation Manager. The 19-year DPRCA veteran will be responsible for supervising the day-to-day functions of the City’s green spaces. “I will continue our efforts to operate in an efficient and effective manner with full customer service as we continue to raise the level of park performance,” Clark said.
- The 100 Black Men of Atlanta hosted the 16th Annual Atlanta Football Classic for a celebration of community, cultural wealth and commitment to improving access to higher education. The Atlanta Football Classic is the largest fundraiser for Project Success, a 100 Black Men of Atlanta program that equips area youth with academic, leadership and life skills.
100 Black Men of Atlanta present the Atlanta Football Classic. |
- Mayor Shirley Franklin recently joined The Medical Association of Atlanta (MAA) to celebrate their 150th anniversary. “Atlanta has come a long way in the past 150 years,” Mayor Franklin noted, “and the medical community has been at the forefront of positive change in our community – for that, we thank you.”
Dr. John S. Harvey, president of MAA, discussed the organization’s philanthropic efforts and dedication to “improving the quality and accessibility of health care to all Atlanta residents.”
The Medical Association of Atlanta, established in 1854, works to build a strong collective voice on healthcare issues that impact patients and association members. MAA provides over 1,700 members with educational, social, community service, referral, and legislative support resources.
Mayor Franklin @ the 150th Annivesary of Atlanta Medical Association. |
- The City of Atlanta received the Department of Justice Community Capacity Development Office’s Coordination Award at the 2004 Weed and Seed Coordination Honor Award Initiative. The recognition was for the pilot program that is a partnership between the City and the Atlanta Public Schools to help decrease school absences in the Mechanicsville and Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
- The City of Atlanta congratulates the Metro Atlanta participants in this year’s Paralympics in Athens Greece: Scot Hollonbeck, Curtis Lovejoy, Ashley Owens, Gavin Cloy, David Woosnam, Kristine Alexander, Ron Williams, Dan Nicholson, Paul Martin, Stephanie Brooks, Carol Hickey and Jeff MacMunn represented us well.
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