Central Atlanta Progress Executive Vice President Announces Retirement Plans

June 21,2010

Longest-serving employee in organization’s 70 year history

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Paul B. Kelman has announced his plans to retire from his position as executive vice president of Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) effective July 16th, concluding 22 years with Atlanta’s preeminent community development organization.

Kelman said he’s enjoyed his role in the successful redevelopment of the city center, but that "the timing is right" for him to leave.

“For starters, I'm going to play more tennis, and spend time at my vacation home in Asheville,” said Kelman. “I'm also looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially my grandchildren.”

CAP Board Chairman, Taylor Glover said “Paul has been one of our organization’s great assets for nearly a quarter of a century and we will really miss him." Glover adds, “He goes into a well-deserved retirement with our heartfelt thanks.”

During Kelman’s tenure, major changes occurred in the landscape of Downtown Atlanta. Most notable is the creation of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District in 1995, which funds the Ambassador Force®, a highly visible authoritative presence in Downtown. “As I recall, it was a crazy idea that Paul brought back from a 1992 city development conference in Chicago,” said Craig Jones, current Chairman of the ADID Board. He added, “It was a tough sell. The city was knee-deep in preparation for the Olympics, but in that first year, crime was reduced 60% from previous levels.”

For fifteen years, the improvement district has funded the Ambassador Force as well as a “Clean Team” and capital improvements, making the area more appealing and user-friendly for residents, workers and tourists.

“He leaves behind a lasting legacy in city planning, transportation and downtown development” said CAP President, A.J. Robinson. “But, most importantly, he leaves behind a legacy of integrity and credibility that is second to none. His contributions to CAP, ADID and the entire community are numerous and our city is a much better place because of Paul.”

A Florida native, he received his civil engineering degree from Georgia Tech and Masters Degrees from the University of Illinois, in urban planning, and Georgia State University, in public administration. He was the recipient of the Owens-Illinois Scholarship at Georgia Tech and the Richard King Mellon Fellowship at the University of Illinois.

Kelman is past President of the Georgia Planning Association, and a charter member of the American Planning Association. In April 2003, Paul received the first Jack F. Glatting Mentoring Award given by the Georgia Tech School of City and Regional Planning. He also serves on the Georgia Tech Graduate City Planning Program Advisory Committee.

He began his professional career as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service and subsequently worked for the Metropolitan Dade County Planning Department as Principal Environmental Planner. In Atlanta, Kelman worked as Chief of Environmental Planning for the Atlanta Regional Commission and Gwinnett County’s Planning Director. He served as Vice President of CAP from 1988 to 2000 and was named Executive Vice President in July 2000.

Paul and his wife Donna have two children, Melissa and David, and grandchildren Logan, Lily, Bethany and Audrey and Autumn.

About Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District:
Central Atlanta Progress, Inc., founded in 1941, is a private non-profit community development entity providing leadership, programs and services to preserve and strengthen the economic vitality of Downtown Atlanta. With a Board of Directors of Downtown's top business leaders, CAP is funded through the investment of businesses and institutions. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, founded in 1995 by Central Atlanta Progress, is a public-private partnership that strives to create a livable environment for Downtown Atlanta. With a Board of Directors of nine private and public-sector leaders, ADID is funded through a community improvement district within which commercial property owners pay special assessments.

Media contact: Sara Milton – 404-658-5908 or smilton@atlantadowntown.com