April 16, 2002

The Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) Board of Directors today announced that A.J. Robinson will be the organization's next president. Robinson, who is currently president of Portman Holdings and Portman Development in Atlanta, will begin his new role in mid-June.

"I'm looking forward to being a catalyst for change in Downtown Atlanta," Robinson said. "Downtown has a unique set of tangible and intangible assets that are the major pillars of our metro community. I am confident that my effort with CAP will help enhance the value of those assets for all stakeholders."

The CAP board approved Robinson's appointment at a meeting earlier today. In announcing the selection, Carl V. Patton, chair of the board said, "A. J. Robinson is the right person to move CAP and Downtown to the next level during the challenging times facing the city. He is an experienced developer who can see the larger picture, yet can get complicated projects implemented quickly."

Scott Wilfong, chair-elect of the CAP board added, "A.J. is a respected businessman with extensive contacts throughout the Atlanta leadership community. He already has strong ties to CAP through his chairmanship of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) and membership on the CAP board. The board is excited that he will be heading CAP and looks forward to working with him."

Robinson joined the Portman Companies in 1981. In his present role he is responsible for all activities including the Atlanta, Charlotte, Shanghai and Warsaw offices. His management scope encompasses all aspects of the real estate development process, including the identification of new opportunities, securing financing, design, construction, marketing, acquisition, property management and asset management.

In his 20-year plus tenure with Portman, Robinson has worked on prospective projects in numerous countries and most major U. S. cities. He had development and operational responsibility for Shanghai Centre, a $200 million multi-use facility in downtown Shanghai.

A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Robinson is a 1980 graduate of Harvard School of Business where he received a master's degree in business administration. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1977 from Emory University.

His business and civic interests include: director, AmericasMart, Inc.; AmericasMart.com; The Alliance Theatre; CAP; chair, ADID; director, Development Authority of Fulton County; board member and former president, American Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Southeast Region; and former board member and past president, the World Trade Club Atlanta.

Contact: Richard A. Orr, (404) 658-1883, richorr@atlantadowntown.com