Chamber News · Each month the Chamber News will feature a member start-up business ... and now...

August 2017

Chamber News

The Award Winning Monthly Newsletter of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

Speaker for August

Membership

Breakfast

Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald

Director

Centers for Disease

Control & Prevention

See Page 7 for details

2 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org

Chamber News August 2017 3

Advantage Office Solutions

Bank of North Georgia

Brookdale Carrollton

Bank of the Ozarks

Carroll County Sheriff’s Office

Carroll County Water Authority

Cottage Landing Senior Living

Gas South

Hughes Ray Company Inc.

Southern States Bank

Southland Insurance Agency

State Farm Insurance/Amy Brown

Times Georgian

AgSouth Farm Credit ACA/AgSouth Mortgages

Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic

Milestone Investment Management, LLC

State Farm Insurance/Jill Duncan

Edward Jones Investments/Fred O’Neal

Garrett, Thomas & Fazio PC

Grant $$$$ For YOU/Sandra Morris

Pine Knoll Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Pugmire Ford

Rushton & Company, LLC

Tisinger Vance PC

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Bronze


Chamber Upcoming Events

Daniel Jackson ♦ President & CEO [email protected]

Donna Armstrong-Lackey ♦ Senior Vice President [email protected]

Andy Camp ♦ Vice President, Economic Development [email protected]

Suzy Montalto ♦ Director, Operations [email protected]

Suzy McCorkel ♦ Director, Programs & Events [email protected]

Lisa Ledbetter ♦ Director, Communications [email protected]

Lauren Holverson ♦ Director, The Burson Center [email protected]

Joan Finch ♦ Information Specialist & Drugs Don’t Work Coordinator [email protected]

Your Chamber/Carroll Tomorrow Staff

Workforce Education Task Force Meeting

Wednesday, Aug. 9

8:30 am @ Chamber

Business Development Committee

Thursday, Aug. 10

8:30 am @ Chamber

Business of the Month

Thursday, Aug. 10

Board Meeting

Monday, Aug. 14

WBA Coffee Break

Tuesday, Aug. 15

8-9 am @ Carrollton Courtyard by Marriott

Business Success Seminar: Lead with Linked In

Wednesday, Aug. 16

11:30am @ the Chamber

Membership Breakfast

Thursday, Aug. 24

7:30 am @ Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton

Client Attraction Bootcamp

Thursday, August 31

9:00am—1:30pm @ The Burson Center

LOOKING AHEAD

Membership BBQ

Thursday, Sept. 7

6 pm @ Mill Town Music Hall in Bremen

(Featuring live entertainment and presenta-

tion of Small Business Person of the Year

Award and a new entrepreneur award)


Carrollton-Carroll County Education Collaborative

2017 Regional Summit

The CCEC hosted their second annual Regional Summit as the inaugural event in the

stunning new Carroll County Schools Performing Arts Center. Following an impressive

welcome by the band, keynote addresses were given by Dr. Steve Wrigley, Chancellor of

the University System of Georgia, and Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Technical

College System of Georgia. Informative break out sessions were conducted and local

educators, community and business leaders, and legislative representatives had the oppor-

tunity to network concerning educational issues within Carroll County.

The mission of the Carroll County Chamber is

“Growing Business in Our Community.”

Each month the Chamber News will feature a member start-up business

to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive and well in Carroll County.


RN and International Board Certified Lac-

tation Consultant starts business: Nursing

From The Heart

“I’ve always wanted to help and empower

women in any manner to achieve their goals.

Knowledge is power and I want mothers to

make evidence-based choices.”

These are the words of start-up business owner

Anne Lussier, BSN,

RN, and International

Board Certified Lacta-

tion Consultant

(IBCLC). And she is

doing just that as her

business provides edu-

cation, support and

assistance to empower

families to overcome

breastfeeding concerns

and challenges.

Nursing From The

Heart is a natural out-

come of Lussier’s path

in the medical profes-

sion. She has worked

in pediatric office practices, pediatric intensive

care and postpartum units in hospital settings,

and now serves as a school nurse in addition to

running her own business.

“Although breastfeeding is a natural biological

process, there is a learned technique and often

moms and their families need support. Some-

times that means emotional support in addition

to providing educational support,” Lussier said.

Lussier is proud to be part of a profession that

is moving in a positive direction. In addition to

international and national organizations that

support breastfeeding, Georgia Governor Na-

than Deal signed House Bill 649, Georgia

Lactation Practice Act, to standardize and li-

cense nurse lactation consultants.

“Trends are changing as more people become

aware of the benefits of breastfeeding for both

the mom and the baby,” Lussier said. “But

more conversations need to be started, not on-

ly in the medical community, but in the

general community as well.”

Lussier is starting

those conversations.

She began by visiting

business owners on

the square in Carroll-

ton, educating them

concerning nursing,

and asking them to

make a pledge to sup-

port breastfeeding

mothers. Many down-

town businesses now

have a decal on their

door stating

“Breastfeeding Wel-

come Here.”

Lussier noted that several barriers to breast-

feeding still exist in communities such as lack

of knowledge and awareness, poor family and

public support, social norms (need for normal-

izing breastfeeding as a means for providing

nutrition to a baby), and sexualizing the act

that leads to embarrassment.

Lussier has enlisted the assistance of profes-

sionals to help her raise community awareness

and to advise her as she grows her business.

A task force of healthcare professionals and

small business owners partner with Lussier in

such activities as publishing a resource guide

Continued on page 20

Anne Lussier (seated left), owner of Nursing From

The Heart, and members of her task force joined

Carrollton Mayor Walt Hollingsworth when he

declared August as “Breastfeeding Awareness

Month.”


Holverson promoted to director

of The Burson Center Lauren Holverson, incubator manager at The

Burson Center, has been promoted to Director of

The Burson Center upon the completion of the

Business Incubation Management Certificate

Program offered by the International Business

Innovation Association.

Holverson first worked at The Burson Center as

a graduate assistant while obtaining her MBA

from the Richards College of Business at the

University of West Georgia. She also holds a

B.A. in Marketing from the University of Monte-

vallo.

Daniel Jackson, President/CEO of the Carroll

County Chamber of Commerce and Carroll To-

morrow, commends Holverson for an outstand-

ing job for the past two years as incubator man-

ager.

“When I first met Lauren as an intern, she im-

pressed me as a bright, young talent and we were

delighted that she joined our team after she

earned her MBA,” Jackson said. “She has done

an outstanding job with our Burson Center cli-

ents and handling the day to day activities of the

Center. Beyond her duties at the Center, she has

become a valuable member of our Chamber/

Carroll Tomorrow team.”

The Burson Center, a 501c3 economic develop-

ment public-private partnership, facilitates entre-

preneurship, innovation, and business growth by

assisting new ventures. It fosters an environment

for planning, organizing, and expansion in addi-

tion to building a solid foundation while mini-

mizing risk. The center provides business plan-

ning, expansion coaching, counseling, technical

support, affordable office space, an entrepreneur-

ial environment for clients, and more.

The Burson Center has incubated 130 businesses,

creating more than 900 jobs and over $80 million

in capital investment since opening in 2006. In

addition to the companies that are in residence at

The Burson Center, the Center’s staff, and re-

source partners are currently working with over

250 other businesses annually of varying sizes

through the northwest Georgia region. The Center

has hosted more than 20,000 visitors for over 3,100

seminars, expos, and programs.

Holverson has implemented several new initiatives

to benefit clients such as Tech Time, a weekly ses-

sion for technical assistance; new training opportu-

nities for topics such as social media, sales, elevator

pitches, business model canvas, etc.; and a user

friendly website.

New levels of membership at The Burson Center are

now available to include those businesses that need

occasional assistance and those looking for expan-

sion. Holverson has developed additional partner-

ships within the community to better assist entrepre-

neurs including local accountants, the West Georgia

Regional Library system, Goodwill Career Center,

and more.

“This new title as Director allows us to formally

recognize Lauren and acknowledge her desire to

continue to lead The Burson Center which has been

recognized as a top performing incubator in the re-

gion, state and beyond,” Jackson said.


How can you participate?

Stop by the Chamber to pick up a #ThinkCarrollFirst kit with window cling, tee shirt, phone

wallet and campaign information

Or, call and request a kit and/or a chalkboard – (770)832-2446

Choose a positive word that describes your business and fill in the blank on the chalkboard.

For example: Dine, Buy, Serve, Visit, etc.

Gather your employees and get a few fun photos with the chalkboard.

Post on your website, Facebook, Instagram and all of your social media…tag

#ThinkCarrollFirst and the Carroll Chamber.

Place the #ThinkCarrollFirst window cling for best visibility.

Download the “#ThinkCarrollFirst” logo from our website

www.carroll-ga.org to use in your promotions.

Insert your photo with the logo to create a mini ad, print and post in your business window,

at the cash register, any place that grabs your customers’ attention.

Questions? Call Donna at 678/890/2332 or email [email protected]

The campaign topic for the month of August is “Education.”

If your business is included in the following list, be sure to participate

during August with a #thinkcarrollfirst chalkboard Facebook post.

Carroll County Board of Education

Carroll County Training Center

Carrollton City Schools

Carrollton High School

Carrollton-Carroll Co. Communities in Schools

College of Social Sciences, UWG

Oak Grove Montessori School

Oak Mountain Academy

Que Pasa

Richards College of Business, UWG

Strides Horse Park TEMS, Inc

University of West Georgia

West Georgia Technical College

Collaboration leads to

win-win-win partnerships

When The Burson Center opened its doors in

2006, a partnership was formed with the Rich-

ards College of Business (RCOB) at the Univer-

sity of West Georgia that has proven to be a win-

win-win experience.

As with the many internships and mentoring op-

portunities available throughout Carroll County

via local business and industry, public and pri-

vate Pre K- 12 school systems, West Georgia

Technical Collage and the University, all of the

participants come out as winners in various

ways.

Graduates Assistants pursing an MBA (master-

level management, marketing and accounting

students) have been placed at The Burson Cen-

ter to assist the director in research, program

planning and management, and the development

of related presentations and reports.

Zeb Ott, the most recent graduate student to

work at the center, describes his experience as

“amazingly beneficial.”

“I have had meaningful projects such as creating

an employee handbook for one client, producing

marketing flyers for another, and compiling a

resource guide for yet another client,” he said. “I

have been able to observe different start-up busi-

nesses as they determine their very different

needs. It is rewarding to help clients forge their

own path.”

Ott noted that having this experience not only

contributes to his resume, but provides profes-

sional networking opportunities.

“I have met community leaders and numerous

business owners and as a grad assistant, I am on


SmartWorks In collaboration with the Workforce Education Task Force, a monthly feature

story will focus on workforce education and development from the perspective

of real people who are making a real difference in our communities.

#thinkcarrollfirst—everyone has the potential to learn, work and thrive right

here in Carroll County!

a different level in the networking scenario. I have

been able to grow the roots I previously had with

many individuals,” Ott said.

Win Number One – the graduate assistant.

The collaboration provides an excellent source of as-

sistance to The Burson Center Director Lauren Holv-

erson. She knows first-hand how valuable a mentor-

ing/intern opportunity can be – it led to her being

hired for her current position.

“My graduate assistantship introduced me to the

Chamber world and through that association, I devel-

oped a passion for helping the community and seeing

small businesses thrive,” Holverson said.

Now as the manager for grad assistants, she knows the

importance of providing hands-on assignments and

introducing them to as many individuals as possible,

affording them a wide range of experiences.

“If it hadn’t been for my graduate assistantship, I

wouldn’t have been introduced to business incubation

and it opened an entire career path I didn’t even know

was available,” Holverson said.

Lauren Holverson, Director of The Burson Center,

reviews a project developed by Graduate Assistant

Zeb Ott, MBA graduate from the RCOB.

Continued on page 22


The Carroll County Farm Bureau was chosen as the Business of the Month. Located at 324 Colum-

bia Drive in Carrollton, leadership includes Randall Crumby, County President; Brandi Few, Office

Manager; and Beau Luckie, Agency Manager. The insurance agency was established in Carroll

County in 1964. Georgia Farm Bureau is the leading agriculture promotion organization in Geor-

gia, and Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company is Georgia’s largest domiciled personal lines

insurance carrier.

Groundbreaking The City of Villa Rica conducted a ground-

breaking ceremony for the Villa Rica Wel-

come Center in the former Butterball’s Auto

and Repairs facility on Bankhead Highway.

(L-R) Mayor Jeff Reese, Councilman Gil

McDougal, City Manager Tom Barber and

Director of Downtown Development and

Tourism Christopher Pike were on hand cel-

ebrate the renovation project which will

serve as a combination visitors center and

retail space for start-up businesses.


(Photo at left) Southern States Bank opened its door at

905 Maple Street, Carrollton.

(Photo at right) Carroll County School System celebrat-

ed the opening of its new Performing Arts Center, a

42,500 square foot venue. The auditorium seats 1100,

and there are two additional large multi-use rooms to

accommodate activities, such as art exhibits, music fes-

tivals, educational programs and meetings.

(Photo at left) Give Me Your List, a local concierge

service, has opened to provide services throughout

Carroll County. Owner Susan Logan provides conci-

erge services such as errand running, non-emergency

transportation, shopping, pet sitting/walking, etc. The

website, www.knockoutyourlist.com, provides a com-

plete list of services.

(Photo at right) Nursing From The Heart, a private lac-

tation consultant practice, celebrated the kick off of the

business with a ribbon cutting at their office at The

Burson Center in Carrollton. Owner Anne Lussier, reg-

istered nurse and international board certified lactation

consultant, specializes in breastfeeding education, sup-

port, management and lactation care.

Celebrate with a Carroll County Chamber Ribbon Cutting or Ground Breaking Ceremony

The Chamber would be delighted to help your business celebrate with a Ribbon

Cutting if the company: Opened its doors in the last 12 months or

Changed ownership or is under new management or

Moved to a new location or

Remodeled or expanded at its present location

To schedule a Ribbon Cutting with the Chamber of Commerce, we ask for a minimum of two weeks

prior to the event, to ensure no conflict of schedules. Ribbon cuttings will be scheduled Tuesday

through Thursday, between10 am—4 pm. for the maximum opportunity for attendance.

Chamber Staff will help to make things go as smoothly as possible by performing

the following tasks: Notify the Chamber’s Board of Directors and Ambassadors, city dignitaries and local media via

e-mail. We will encourage them to attend your event but cannot guarantee their attendance.

Provide mailing labels for the city officials of your choice.

Bring the giant scissors and red ribbon.

Take photographs at the appointed time. The photographs will be e-mailed to you upon request.

We contact the media, but cannot guarantee their attendance.

Ribbon cutting/groundbreaking pictures are included in the following month's Chamber News and

on our Facebook page and website (must be a Chamber member to receive this benefit).

The wooden scissors are available for after-hours ribbon cuttings, but they must be returned the

following day.

Checklist for a Successful Ribbon Cutting: Who should I invite?

Neighbor businesses

Existing customers

Suppliers of your trade

Prospects

Personal friends and family

To schedule a ceremony: call the Chamber at 678-890-2352

or e-mail: [email protected]



Welcome New Members Please extend a warm Chamber welcome to the following new members

and remember them when you do business.

Abbott Solutions Group Jenny McCartney

133 Main St.

LaGrange, GA 30240

Phone: (706) 298-6285

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.abbottsoulutionsgroup.com

Category: Accountants

Hawkinson, Muchnick & Associates, PC Paul Hawkinson

4935 Stewart Mill Rd. Ste. 100

Douglasville, GA 30135

Phone: (770) 942-7944


Website: www.hma-cpa.com

Category: Accounting and tax preparation

Insul-Deck Georg Kustermann

65 Grady Knight Industrial Blvd.

Villa Rica, GA 30180

Phone: (727) 230-1717


Website: www.insuldeck.com

Category: Building Materials and Supplies

Lake Tara III Lakeview Resort Diane Boyd

246 Clearview Ct.

Villa Rica, GA 30180

Phone: (770) 834-5585


Website: www.laketara.com

Category: Hotel, Motel, Lodge & Resort

Lambert Tire Company Ash Edwards

134 Bankhead Hwy.

Carrollton, GA 30117

Phone: (770) 832-9465


Website: lamberttireco.com

Category: Automobile Service & Supplies

ResourceMFG Abby Limberg

102 Bankhead Hwy.

Carrollton, GA 30117

Phone: (770) 830-1253


Website: www.resourcemfg.com

Category: Staffing and Recruiting Services

for mothers, and promoting the “Global Big

Latch On.”

“On August 5 at 10:30 am, we will conduct

the first local Big Latch On at the Carrollton

Amp during World Breastfeeding Week,” she

said. “We hope to have more than 100 moth-

ers, babies, families and supporters present to

network and identify opportunities for on-

going support.”

Speaking of on-going support, Lussier is

grateful for the business guidance she has re-

ceived as a client of The Burson Center.

“As a client, I have an office on-site, have ac-

cess to the board room and conference room

for my Task Force meetings and my support

groups. The staff gives me direction every day

- from guidance in marketing and use of social

media, to legal services and more,” she said.

A huge challenge for all start-up business

owners is time management, according to

Lussier. “I’m raising my family, working part

time as a school nurse and running my busi-

ness. When I walk in the Burson Center, my

mind goes to ‘Nursing From The Heart’ and

what I need to do today to grow my business.”

Nursing From The Heart offers private home

lactation consultation, office lactation consul-

tation, and a monthly breastfeeding support

group.

Nursing From The Heart Continued from page 6

Volunteer Today! (678)890-2357 [email protected]


Thank You

Renewing Members Your membership is a symbol of confidence

in the work of the Carroll County

Chamber and its volunteers. We sincerely

thank renewing members

15-19 years

Buck's Electric, Inc.

Sugar Foods Corporation

10-14 years

Carroll County Animal Hospital

Carroll County NAACP

CharterBank

Hollingsworth Concrete Products

Magnolia Lake Apartment Homes

Nielson, Ward, Gann & Associates

North Point Baptist Church

Papa Johns Pizza #397

Purchasing Alliance Solutions, Inc.

5-9 years

Advanced Massage Therapies

Carroll County DFCS

Carrollton Civic Woman's Club

Gradick Communications, LLC

Hope for the Journey

Peachtree Immediate Care

Sterling Engineering & Fabrication

Villa Rica CVB

1-5 years

101 Sales & Supplies, LLC

Enterprise Rent-a-Car

Greer Tisinger, LLC

Joshua H. Viau, Attorney

MHI Support

Strides Horse Park TEMS, Inc.

Top's Services Inc.

Weddings For You & Vintage Rentals

White Crest Farm Wedding and Special

Events Venue

mailto:[email protected]

Members

in the News


Donna Armstrong-Lackey, Senior Vice President for the

Carroll County Chamber and Carroll Tomorrow, notes

additional benefits of the RCOB partnership.

“Dean Faye McIntyre has served in various advisory

roles supporting the Center’s work, and the Small Busi-

ness Development Center has been a strong ally in refer-

ring start-up businesses to the Burson Center’s programs

and providing training opportunities for Chamber mem-

ber businesses, along with Center clients.”

Win Number Two – the organization.

For the RCOB, Dr. Faye McIntyre noted a number of

benefits to placing graduate assistants within the Carroll

Tomorrow organization.

“Partnering with The Burson Center helps the Richards

College achieve our mission of transforming lives

through education, engagement and experiences,” McIn-

tyre said. “Internships provide opportunities for students

to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom, engage

with the business community, and get actively involved

in what it takes to build a business.”

“Additionally, the partnership allows us to help expand

economic development in the west Georgia region,

providing jobs and a better quality of life for us all!” she

concluded.

Win Number Three – the Richards College of Business

As Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Technical

College System of Georgia, said recently, “Business is

the biggest customer of education.” Mentoring, intern-

ships, and graduate assistantships help link the two

worlds of education and business in Carroll County.

What’s good for one is good for the other – proving that

collaboration is yet another “Win” in this community.

SmartWorks Continued from page 16

U.S. News and World Report named Mount Zion High

School (Carroll County Schools) one of America’s Best

High Schools, based on performance on state-required

tests and how well prepared students are for college. Stu-

dents at Mount Zion High School have advanced learning

opportunities through industry approved programs at Car-

roll County Schools’ College and Career Academy south

campus, dual enrollment opportunities with West Georgia

Technical College and the University of West Georgia and

real life work-based learning through 12 for Life, a part-

nership with Southwire. In addition, West Georgia

Technical College offers two courses onsite to prepare

Mount Zion students for post-secondary education.

Carroll EMC was named one of the 2017 Best Places to

Work in Georgia by Georgia Trend Magazine. Carroll

EMC ranked fifth in the small/medium employer category.

Walker Cadillac Buick GMA received the Mark of Ex-

cellence Award from GMC for the 2016 year. This

achievement award is present to the top five percent of

dealers nationally.

The University of West Georgia’s Tanner Health Sys-

tem’s School of Nursing graduate online program rates

29th among all online nursing programs by the U.S. News

and World Report.

The Clinical Laboratory Technology and Phlebotomy pro-

gram at West Georgia Technical College is one of only

five in the nation to receive a grant from the American

Society of Clinical Laboratory Science. WGTC intends to

use the grant funds in a “students recruiting students” initi-

ative.

In more WGTC national news, seven Phi Beta Lambda

students placed in the top 10 of their respective categories

at the 2017 National Leadership Conference in Anaheim,

California.

Locally, Jordan Truck Sales donated a 2007 Freightliner

truck and 53-foot trailer to the WGTC Foundation for in-

structional use in the Commercial Truck Driving program

at the Carrollton campus.

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