Law firm honored for human rights work
Howard Manchel, principal of the Buckhead law firm of Manchel Wiggins Kaye, has been informed that his firm will be the recipient of the Frederick Douglass Human Rights Award at the Southern Center for Human Rights’ annual dinner in Washington D.C. on Nov. 1.
The award, which is presented annually, honors those “who have made outstanding contributions to the protection of human rights.” This year the award is being presented to those who have represented persons detained at Guantanamo Bay.
The letter Manchel received informing him of the award stated: “As a non-profit law firm that fights to protect the human and civil rights of the most vulnerable in the criminal justice system, the Southern Center for Human Rights is honored to celebrate your stalwart commitment and dedication to the human rights of these detainees.”
Manchel Wiggins Kaye has offices at 729 Piedmont Ave. N.E.
Defense attorney Howard Manchel is married to Janet Manchel, a prosecutor in Sandy Springs.
John Williams honored as community pillar
More than 1,200 metro Atlanta community and business leaders were on hand Sept. 20 to honor developer John A. Williams at the Council for Quality Growth’s 2007 Four Pillar Tribute.
The Four Pillars stand for quality, responsibility, vision and integrity. The award and tribute celebrates significant contributions to the Atlanta region’s growth, economic development and quality of life.
This year’s event was appropriately held in the John A. Williams Theatre at the new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Williams, the founder and former CEO of Post Properties, is now a partner in the 42-story Mansion on Peachtree mixed-use development, at the corner of Peachtree and Stratford roads in Buckhead. In addition to 45 luxury condos, The Mansion will have a 127-room Rosewood Hotel, two restaurants and a spa.
Lydia Mondavi to open spa at The Mansion
Lydia Mondavi, wife of the grandson of the Mondavi vineyard founder and originator of 29 Cosmetics, will open 29 Spa in The Mansion on Peachtree in the spring of 2008 when The Mansion is ready for occupancy.
The 15,000-square-foot spa will have 14 private treatment rooms, saunas, private baths and massage and meditation areas, according to Paul Cullen, vice president of City Centre properties, developer of The Mansion with John A. Williams.
Mondavi, 35, who married Rob Mondavi six years ago, is a fifth generation Atlantan who began her career in skin care, cosmetics and spa design in Atlanta and moved to California in 2003, where she developed 29 Cosmetics and 29 Spa. They are named for the picturesque Highway 29 that runs through Napa Valley.
The 29 Cosmetics reportedly are known to be beneficial to protecting and improving skin with the grape seed age protecting formula. The are exclusive to Neiman Marcus, which will introduce 29 Cosmetics later this fall. The products are produced in Italy.
UBS Financial names 3 to management
UBS Financial Services, Inc., which has offices in both Sandy Springs and Buckhead, has announced three Buckhead residents to the management team of its Atlanta office.
Tom Pair has been named first vice president in private wealth management, Carla Wright has been named vice president of investments for advisory and brokerage services and Linda Willis has been named executive director/branch office manager of the Atlanta office.
UBS Financial Services is an international leader in wealth management, global asset management and private banking. It has offices at 1200 Abernathy Road in Sandy Springs and at 3060 and 3455 Peachtree Road in Buckhead.
Fresh 2 Order to open on Peachtree
Fresh 2 Order—known for its grilled salmon Panini, bourbon steak and Asian salad–plans to open next June at 3344 Peachtree in the 50-story mixed-use tower, becoming the second restaurant in the development.
The restaurant group founded by Pierre Panos, which has locations in Sandy Springs and Midtown, will open a 3,200-square-foot restaurant, which will seat 100 inside and more on a patio overlooking the new Peachtree Boulevard.
Fresh 2 Order’s contemporary café, which touts gourmet cuisine for less than $10 in less than 10 minutes, will complement the formal dining that will be offered by a Buckhead Life Group signature restaurant in the building.
The 3344 Peachtree tower, being developed by Regent Partners LLC, will include 500,000 square feet of office and retail space topped by luxury residential, which begins on the 28th floor and will include $1 million penthouses named SOVEREIGN.
Buckhead UNIGLOBE Travel Agency wins award
Tom Beebe and Peter Durbetaki, owners of UNIGLOBE Five Star Travel in Buckhead, received the “Franchise Owner of the Year” award for 2006-2007 at the UNIGLOBE Travel USA annual conference recently at the Atlanta Downtown Hilton and Towers.
The award recognizes the agency that best exemplifies the UNIGLOBE spirit of success, contribution to the organization and excellence in travel management. As winners of the USA award, UNIGLOBE Five Star Travel will be nominated for the global “Franchise Owner of the Year” award from UNIGLOBE Travel International to be presented in June 2008 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Beebe and Durbetaki say the keys to their success have been anticipating and meeting the market’s needs and customer service provided by their staff.
Harry Norman agent sponsors Vets Help Vet golf event
Richard Wilson, a sales associate in the Buckhead/Northwest Office of Harry Norman Realtors, recently sponsored a golf tournament at Fort McPherson for Vets Help Vets, a new organization started by the North Georgia Chapter of Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association.
More than $20,000 was raised to help disabled veterans in wheelchairs renovate their homes for better accessibility.
Vets Help Vets coordinates its efforts with the local Veterans Administration and is staffed entirely by volunteers.