George Israel
Encyclopedia
George M. Israel, III is the current president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce
and is a former mayor
of Macon, Georgia
(1979–1987), the sixth largest city in the state. He is also on the board of directors of YKK Group
. In 2005, Georgia Trend, a prominent state business and political magazine, named Israel as one of its top 20 leaders of the past 20 years.
. His father worked as an engineer at Robins Air Force Base
and his mother was a teacher who helped veterans returning from World War II
to earn their GED
s. He grew up in a tight-knit family with three brothers and an aunt whom he considered a second mother.
He met his wife, Pam, while working to pay his way through college, and they married in 1971. They have two children: Katie Beth and Matthew, and one granddaughter, Greta.
in Cochran
and the University of Georgia
in Athens
. However he never graduated and holds no degree. He began his career as an underwriter for the life, health and accident insurance industry. In 1975, he made a sudden announcement to his family that he planned to run for a seat on the Macon City Council
. Israel went door-to-door in his district to gain support for his run. A Republican
in Jimmy Carter
's Georgia, Israel's run for city council seemed a long shot, but he won the seat.
in 1967. Israel's success has often been attributed to the beginnings of the growth of the Reagan coalition
in Georgia and the rest of the American South. He served as the state chairman of Ronald Reagan
's reelection campaign and was himself reelected to the mayoral post in Macon in 1984. Israel's reelection was considerably achieved more on his merits and successes in his first term than was his first election. As a mayor, he was known for his fiscal conservatism, integrity and bi-partisan attitude.
At the end of his second term as mayor in 1987, Israel was considered a serious contender for governor of Georgia. However, Israel instead decided to return to the business sector.
firm. From 1990 to 1994 he served as CEO of Fickling and Walker, a real estate
company, and in 1994 he left to become CEO of the privately-held Secure Health Plans of Georgia. Israel currently sits on the board of directors for YKK. He was appointed chairman and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2002 and is the current holder of the post.
Israel was chosen by Georgia Trend Magazine as the 2006 GEORGIAN OF THE YEAR http://www.georgiatrend.com/features-people/gospel-george-israel.shtml He has also served as chair of the Macon Chamber of Commerce and the Macon Economic Development Commission, and has also several other business and community leadership committees. He has been appointed to several state advisory boards including State of Georgia Commission on Privatization, the Georgia Military Affairs Committee and the Southern Growth Policies Board.
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is a statewide membership organization centered on a mission of pro-business advocacy and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia...
and is a former mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
(1979–1987), the sixth largest city in the state. He is also on the board of directors of YKK Group
YKK Group
The is a Japanese group of manufacturing companies. As the world's largest zipper manufacturer, YKK Group is most famous for making zippers; however, it also manufactures other fastening products, architectural products, as well as industrial machinery....
. In 2005, Georgia Trend, a prominent state business and political magazine, named Israel as one of its top 20 leaders of the past 20 years.
Early life
Israel was born to George and Margaret Israel in rural Bibb County, GeorgiaBibb County, Georgia
Bibb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 153,887. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 154,709...
. His father worked as an engineer at Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base located in Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, SSE of Macon, Georgia, and about SSE of Atlanta, Georgia...
and his mother was a teacher who helped veterans returning from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to earn their GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
s. He grew up in a tight-knit family with three brothers and an aunt whom he considered a second mother.
He met his wife, Pam, while working to pay his way through college, and they married in 1971. They have two children: Katie Beth and Matthew, and one granddaughter, Greta.
Education and early career
Israel attended Middle Georgia CollegeMiddle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College is a publicly supported, residential,charter unit of the University System of Georgia, in the city Cochran in the U.S. state of Georgia. Founded in 1884, the school is the oldest two-year college in the United States. It is currently being transformed into a 4 year college...
in Cochran
Cochran, Georgia
Cochran is a city in Bleckley County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,150. The city is the county seat of Bleckley County.- History :...
and the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. However he never graduated and holds no degree. He began his career as an underwriter for the life, health and accident insurance industry. In 1975, he made a sudden announcement to his family that he planned to run for a seat on the Macon City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
. Israel went door-to-door in his district to gain support for his run. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
's Georgia, Israel's run for city council seemed a long shot, but he won the seat.
Political career
Just four years after winning his first election, Israel was elected mayor of Macon in 1979, the second Republican to have won the position, the first having been the flamboyant Ronnie ThompsonRonnie Thompson (Georgia politician)
Ronald John Thompson, known as Ronnie Thompson or Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson , is a former Georgia Republican politician who was the first member of his party to have been elected mayor of Macon, the seat of Bibb County in central Georgia. Thompson served two controversial terms from 1967-1975...
in 1967. Israel's success has often been attributed to the beginnings of the growth of the Reagan coalition
Reagan coalition
The Reagan coalition was the combination of voters that Republican Ronald Reagan assembled to produce a major political realignment with his landslide in the 1980 United States Presidential Election. In 1980 the Reagan coalition was possible because of Democrat Jimmy Carter's losses in most...
in Georgia and the rest of the American South. He served as the state chairman of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's reelection campaign and was himself reelected to the mayoral post in Macon in 1984. Israel's reelection was considerably achieved more on his merits and successes in his first term than was his first election. As a mayor, he was known for his fiscal conservatism, integrity and bi-partisan attitude.
At the end of his second term as mayor in 1987, Israel was considered a serious contender for governor of Georgia. However, Israel instead decided to return to the business sector.
Business career
Following his retirement from politics, Israel became president and CEO of the Potomac Corporation, a European venture capitalVenture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
firm. From 1990 to 1994 he served as CEO of Fickling and Walker, a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
company, and in 1994 he left to become CEO of the privately-held Secure Health Plans of Georgia. Israel currently sits on the board of directors for YKK. He was appointed chairman and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2002 and is the current holder of the post.
Israel was chosen by Georgia Trend Magazine as the 2006 GEORGIAN OF THE YEAR http://www.georgiatrend.com/features-people/gospel-george-israel.shtml He has also served as chair of the Macon Chamber of Commerce and the Macon Economic Development Commission, and has also several other business and community leadership committees. He has been appointed to several state advisory boards including State of Georgia Commission on Privatization, the Georgia Military Affairs Committee and the Southern Growth Policies Board.