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Consulting Firm Focuses on Procurement Cost Optimization 

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left, Tom Beatty, Brian Houpt and Brent Eiland, taken at ISG’s 20th anniversary party at The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island in South Carolina (Photos Courtesy of Insight Sourcing Group)

Insight Sourcing Group celebrates 20 years of serving clients and preserving history.

Unless they are part of a company looking to trim operating costs, most people probably don’t quite know what a business focused on strategic sourcing, cost optimization and procurement operational transformation does. That’s what Insight Sourcing Group has done for more than 20 years from its headquarters in Peachtree Corners.

“We go into companies and look at what they spend money on other than payroll, and we determine ways to take out the cost, often through supplier negotiations,” said Tom Beaty, Insight Sourcing Group founder and CEO.

“We have a couple of different businesses, but the main one is a consulting firm, and we’re the largest consulting firm of this kind of specialized procurement,” he explained. “Strategic sourcing is that process where we get bids from suppliers and negotiate and establish contracts for customers. …We did over 1,000 projects last year.”

Company group shot at the 2021 Holiday Party at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta

Among the company’s clients are major corporations like Genuine Parts, Meta (formerly Facebook), Under Armour, Freddie Mac and Cox Media. Besides being the biggest company of its kind, Insight Sourcing Group is one of the best. It has garnered numerous accolades since its founding.

“We have … tons of customers and almost all of them would be name brands like lulemon and large manufacturers,” Beaty said. “Normally a big part of their revenue goes back out the doors to vendors — something they haven’t focused on in the past. When you’re growing a lot, it’s something you may neglect and then that growth is a little harder.”

Insight Sourcing Group announced 20% firmwide growth in 2022, with 84 new team members added, of whom 23 joined as part of an acquisition. The team drove more than $1.2 billion in contracted savings for the 243 clients served firmwide over the course of the year, completing 1,199 procurement and sourcing projects in 2022, according to information provided by the company.

Insight Sourcing Group has registered growth every year since its founding in 2002, resulting in recognition by Consulting Magazine, which included the firm as No. 24 on its list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies for 2022. Other notable awards for the year include Insight Sourcing Group’s seventh consecutive year on Forbes’s list of America’s Best Management Consulting Firms and its 15th consecutive year on Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of Best Places to Work in Atlanta.

Good for environment, good for diversity

Perhaps the cherry on top is the Insight Energy initiative that delivers customized energy and sustainability solutions to reduce costs, manage risk and improve competitive position. It realized an $8 billion client energy spend under management for 245 energy and sustainability clients and an impressive 94% client retention rate.

The year also marked Insight Sourcing Group’s public commitment to a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.

“Through our energy management business …we go into companies and …help them actively manage gas and electricity, and then we have a green sustainability practice. We go in and we help convert carbon energy spend to green spend,” Beaty said. “A lot of our clients have [Environmental Social and Governance] goals that relate to green energy.”

Besides helping its clients become more ecologically friendly, Insight helps them work with more women-based and minority-based vendors. The company recently helped a large private equity firm that owns many other companies achieve $2 billion in diverse spending. And Insight was the engine that made the accomplishment possible. 

In 2022, the firm’s supplier diversity practice achieved an $18 billion spend prioritized for diversity impact, supported 78 corporate supplier diversity programs and increased each client’s supplier diversity investment by an average of 2.4 times.

Giving back through history

With all those major achievements that enhance businesses, Insight also works hard to give back to the community. Perhaps its greatest philanthropic achievement is the project that records oral history of combat veterans called the Witness to War Foundation.

A year before launching Insight Sourcing Group, Beaty discovered a group of 150 veterans called the Atlanta World War II Roundtable who met monthly to share their war experiences.

Growing up with a fascination for WWII, and later for combat in general, Beaty couldn’t believe that all this rich history wasn’t being preserved. He bought a video camera and launched the Witness to War Foundation in his spare time, despite having no video or audio expertise.

“In 2001, I started interviewing combat veterans …to capture their stories to preserve them for the history as well as for their families and for them,” said Beaty, who is not a veteran himself. “We have a website with over 1,000 war stories on it now.”

The footage will eventually be part of a collection in the Library of Congress. The organization also supplies footage for documentaries and museums as well as other projects. It’s the largest oral history preservation organization of its kind in this country, attending about 20 different military unit reunions a year.

“We’ve done over 3000 interviews, including Senator Bob Dole,” said Beaty. “But we mainly focus on everyday heroes, and we’ve done a bunch of Peachtree Corners veterans.”

Insight was also a major contributor the Peachtree Corners Veterans Memorial in Town Center. It sponsored one of the six statues in the structure.

“There’s a proverb …that says, “When an old person dies, a library burns.” Losing the stories of veterans is kind of the same thing,” said Beaty. “That’s why this is so important.”

Learn more about Insight Sourcing Group at insightsourcing.com.

Arlinda Smith Broady is part of the Boomerang Generation of Blacks that moved back to the South after their ancestors moved North. With approximately three decades of journalism experience (she doesn't look it), she's worked in tiny, minority-based newsrooms to major metropolitans. At every endeavor she brings professionalism, passion, pluck, and the desire to spread the news to the people.

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Business

PCBA Continues Charitable Giving at November Event

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Members of the PCBA and United Way of Greater Atlanta standing together holding an oversized donation check for $500

The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded a check for $500 to the United Way of Greater Atlanta (Gwinnett County) at their Business After Hours networking event in November.

The local organization was chosen by PCBA’s Outreach Committee because of their commitment to providing assistance and bettering the lives of children within the community.

United Way of Greater Atlanta

The mission of United Way of Greater Atlanta is to engage and bring together people and resources to drive sustainable and equitable improvements in the well-being of children, families and individuals in local communities.

“Greater Atlanta is one of the most vibrant regions in the country, but the region has significant barriers to realizing its potential in the future because of its continued ranking at the bottom of the list of metro areas in income mobility,” stated Vanessa Roussell, United Way senior director of corporate relations.

A short-haired woman in black pants and print top standing in front of a PCBA event backdrop
Vanessa Roussell, United Way of Greater Atlanta

“Children born in low-income households have only a 4% chance of getting out of poverty in their lifetime,” she continued. “We at United Way of Greater Atlanta don’t like those odds. Our work is about changing them so that children — regardless of where they’re born — have the chance to realize their potential and build lives that sustain themselves, their families and their communities.

Assessing needs within the county

The organization’s goal is to help every child unlock their full potential, by improving education, healthcare, resources and economic mobility in the communities where they live. Their “every child program” includes every child in Gwinnett. 

Based on the 2023 census track for Gwinnett County, 94,308 people living in Gwinnett County are at risk, particularly in and around Sugar Hill/Buford, Duluth, Norcross, Lawrenceville, Lilburn and Snellville. The highest-need residents are located in the I-85 corridor, mainly around Duluth, Norcross and Lilburn.

Giving back to support the community

“The PCBA is proud to donate a check for $500 to United Way of Greater Atlanta (Gwinnett County),” said PCBA President, Lisa Proctor. “Our outreach committee and board are committed to supporting our community, and investing in the well-being of the children in our community aligns with our core principles. We know that our dollars will be targeted to help those at highest risk … We are glad to have the local Gwinnett chapter located right in our community.”

Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach Program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorship and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at their monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the community organizations and their programs.

Over the past 12 years, the PCBA has awarded 19 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors and donated in excess of $165,500 back into the community.

About Peachtree Corners Business Association

“Where businesses come to grow,” the Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.

The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area. 
 
For more information visit peachtreecornersba.com.

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Around Atlanta

Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Visionaries Honored at 2024 MARS Summit

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A group of award winners in front of a Partnership Gwinnett sign

Tim Perry, managing director and chief investment officer of Jamestown named Redevelopment Champion of the Year

The Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit (MARS), presented by Gwinnett’s Community Improvement Districts and co-hosted by Partnership Gwinnett and the Council for Quality Growth, offered an exclusive look at major redevelopment projects shaping the future of the region.

This year’s event not only highlighted emerging trends in the redevelopment industry but also provided valuable networking opportunities for professionals across metro Atlanta. Attendees gained insight into best practices through discussions on successful revitalization projects.

The summit’s marquee moment was the presentation of the annual MARS Awards, recognizing remarkable achievements in redevelopment that are transforming the metro Atlanta landscape.

The keynote address was delivered by Joe Minicozzi, a renowned urban planner and founder of Urban3, who shared his expertise on land use, urban design and economics. In addition to the keynote, the event featured dynamic panel discussions with local leaders and key partners from across the metropolitan area, spotlighting successful projects and innovative strategies in the region.

Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson concluded the summit with closing remarks, emphasizing the continued growth of the region and the collective efforts driving its future.

2024 MARS Awards winners

The MARS Awards ceremony celebrated projects that have made significant economic impacts on their communities and honored Tim Perry, an individual who has dedicated his career to advancing successful redevelopment initiatives.

Runner upPaul Radford, Sugar Hill city manager


Small Redevelopment Project of the Year: The Historic Jones Building

The historic Jones Building, one of the oldest structures in Cherokee County, has been revitalized to meet modern needs while preserving its storied past. This ambitious 28-month restoration culminated in August 2024, breathing new life into this cornerstone of downtown Canton and creating a dynamic space for work, dining, and play.

Runner up: The Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op


Medium Redevelopment Project of the Year: The Grove at Towne Center

The Grove at Towne Center is a transformative development in the heart of Snellville. With 33,000 square feet of restaurant space, 10,000 square feet of retail and the new Elizabeth H. Williams Branch of the Gwinnett Public Library, The Grove offers an ideal blend of dining, shopping and cultural experiences.

Runner up: Springside Powder Springs


Large Redevelopment Project of the Year: The Works

The Works is an innovative, 80-acre adaptive reuse community that reimagines a historic warehouse district in Atlanta’s Upper Westside. The first phase, spanning 27 acres, introduced a dynamic mix of 218,000 square feet of unique retail and dining spaces, 118,000 square feet of creative office space and Westbound at The Works — a modern 306-unit multi-family residence.

Runner up: The Forum at Peachtree Corners

“Community redevelopment is essential in creating vibrant, thriving spaces that enhance the quality of life and drive sustainable economic growth for the entire region,” said Deven Cason, vice president of economic development for Partnership Gwinnett.

“We proudly congratulate this year’s award winners and finalists for their innovative contributions and tireless efforts in revitalizing our communities. Their work is not only reshaping local landscapes but also fueling long-term economic prosperity in metro Atlanta. We are grateful for their dedication to building a brighter, more prosperous future.”

2024 sponsors

The program was held at the former Georgia Baptist Convention Center, Maison6405, and welcomed more than 200 industry attendees.

Sponsors included Evermore CID, Gateway 85 CID, Gwinnett Place CID, Lilburn CID, Sugarloaf CID, C2H Air, Hogan Construction, Northside, Primerica, The Forum, Gas South, Jackson EMC, Select Fulton, True North 400, ABEV Power Solutions, City of Suwanee, Curiosity Labs, Geo Hydro Engineers, Georgia Power, Lose Designs, City of Lawrenceville, City of Norcross, City of Peachtree Corners, City of Sugar Hill and Town of Braselton.

For more information on revitalization and redevelopment efforts in the region, visit partnershipgwinnett.com.

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Business

TransPak Acquires Reid Packaging to Expand East Coast Presence

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group of people in a warehouse with two men in front shaking hands

The strategic acquisition strengthens TransPak’s Southeast presence and expands their capabilities in custom packaging for military, aerospace and high-value equipment.

TransPak, a global leader in logistics, packaging and crating services, recently announced the acquisition of Reid Packaging, a long-standing provider of custom packaging solutions based in Peachtree Corners. Both family-owned and operated companies share a deep-rooted commitment to quality craftsmanship, reliability and customer service, making the acquisition a natural fit.

Reid Packaging, founded in 1982, has distinguished itself as the go-to customer industrial packager in the metro Atlanta region, providing corrugated, foam and custom-engineered crating solutions, particularly in the military and aerospace industries. 

two people from Reid Packaging standing in front of crates and boxes in a warehouse
Ward and Anne Phillips of Reid Packaging

Under the ownership of Ward Phillips since 2008, the company has grown to become one of the largest packaging facilities in the region, with a 60,000-square-foot site. 

The acquisition will allow TransPak to expand its local manufacturing capabilities in the Southeast, while leveraging Reid Packaging’s expertise in specialized and heavy-duty custom crates.

Strategic Atlanta location and enhanced capabilities

The acquisition is part of TransPak’s strategic expansion into the Atlanta market, a critical logistics hub for both the renewable energy and semiconductor industries. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Reid Packaging into the TransPak family,” said Tomas Molet, executive vice president of East and Midwest Operations, TransPak. “With Reid Packaging’s prime location in Peachtree Corners, we are now able to serve customers throughout the Southeast, including direct routes to the Carolinas and beyond. This acquisition strengthens our ability to meet the needs of existing clients, especially those in the semiconductor and renewable energy sectors.”

four people at a ribbon cutting as TransPak acquires Reid Packaging
Tomas Molet and Amanda Gautney with Anne and Ward Phillips

In addition to the strategic location, the acquisition brings new manufacturing capabilities to TransPak’s East Coast operations. Reid Packaging’s facility is now the largest of TransPak’s locations in the region. Its offerings include enhanced services, such as heavy-duty and triple-wall corrugated packaging, which will enable TransPak to meet the growing demand for custom-designed packaging solutions for fragile, high-value equipment.

Commitment to employees and leadership appointments

A key focus of the acquisition was ensuring a smooth transition for Reid Packaging’s employees.

 “We made a commitment to Ward Phillips to take care of the staff, and we’ve delivered on that promise,” said Molet. “All employees were retained, and we’ve introduced benefits they previously didn’t have as part of our commitment to making this a positive transition for everyone involved.”

Amanda Gautney, a longtime member of TransPak’s leadership team, has been appointed as the operations manager for the Peachtree Corners facility. “I’m excited to work with the team at Reid and continue the legacy of this respected company,” said Gautney. 

two people from TransPak standing in front of crates and boxes in a warehouse
Amanda Gautney and Tomas Molet

Looking forward in Atlanta

TransPak plans to continue operating under the Reid Packaging name for the immediate future. However, the facility will gradually transition to full integration under the TransPak brand, reflecting the shared values and commitment to quality of both companies.

About TransPak

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, TransPak has been providing innovative and cost-effective design, crating, packaging and global logistics for over 70 years.

As a customer-focused, women- and family-owned company, TransPak combines the agility of a small business with the reliability of a global powerhouse. TransPak lives by the slogan, “We make it happen,” ensuring that high-value, fragile, and oversized goods reach their destinations safely and efficiently.

For more information about TransPak, visit transpak.com.

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