North Atlanta Business Post, April by Appen Media Group

April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Paying without cash

The Barter Company of Kennesaw provides interesting alternative. PAGE 26

Small businesses of Forsyth Success stories from the people behind the scenes. PAGE 14

Volume 2, Issue 4 • Part of Appen Media Group • Cherokee • Cobb • Forsyth • Fulton • Gwinnett • Hall

Walk around town

Walkability key to Roswell’s Canton St. PAGE 10

The doctor will see you now

NGMC Braselton open for business. PAGE 22

MADE for the ages

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit #3592

Made Kitchen and Cocktails opens in Alpharetta. PAGE 30

From top left clockwise: The Grandchildren’s Sculpture Garden at Gibb’s Gardens; Downtown Ball Ground; Northside Hospital-Cherokee slate to open in 2016; Woodstock Police and Fire representatives were on-hand to explain careers within their departments at the Cherokee Career Expo.

Cherokee County turning heads Appen Media Group 319 North Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

There is a boom of activity happening in Georgia and it is occurring in Cherokee County. From the evolving Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, to the growing labor force and even A-list celebrities scouting movie locations, Cherokee is a hotbed of activity. See more, Pages 18 – 21

Creating New Collaborations for Education For more information see page 11

2 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Celebrating 85 years of Success! E X PERT ISE | I NTEGRIT Y | RE SU LTS

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NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 3

QUICK GLANCE:

Letter from the publisher: The first quarter of 2015 has come out of the starting gate mostly with a bang. Both Georgia and the greater Atlanta area experienced solid job growth in 2014, a trend projected to continue into 2015. The improving employment situation is reflected in increasing real estate sales which are projected to grow at an annual rate of 8.4 percent. According to Georgia State Director of Economic Forecasting Center Rajeev Dhawan, much of the growth in sales has been driven by corporate and industrial relocations primarily to Atlanta. Dhawan expects the employment numbers to show an uptick of 4.2 percent in 2015, driven significantly by manufacturing and construction related jobs as well as in the technology and information sector. Cherokee County is projected to lead the Atlanta region in job growth for the next couple of decades according to the ARC. We profile the county in this issue – including a recent job fair put on by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Labor which drew over 1,000 job seekers in a four hour period and an offering of over 600 jobs. We write in this issue about the new Gwinnett Tech campus

under construction in Alpharetta which will help provide that skilled work force needed to sustain the region’s growth. There is so much going on in the region right now – ranging from city centers under construction in Alpharetta and Sugar Hill to transportation infrastructure improvements in Roswell and Gainesville to fiber network expansion in Alpharetta and major corporate expansion and relocation almost across the board of The Post’s coverage area of North Atlanta. It is an exciting time and a time of opportunity for us all. Keep reading The Post and we’ll continue to provide this critical business and economic news that helps sustain our continued growth and development. Best,

Small businesses in Georgia According to the GA Dept. of Labor, 281,554 business establishments represented Georgia employment in the second quarter of 2014; of those:

99.8% are categorized as small Hans Appen Publisher hans@appenmediagroup.com

(fewer than 500 employees)

• 97.6% employed fewer than 100 • 94.6% employed fewer than 50

What’s inside this issue:

• 77.5% employed fewer than 10

News

[4] ARC forms first Millennial Advisory Panel [6] Businesses network at GNFCC expo [7] GNFCC free meeting space popular feature [9] Milton, Johns Creek tops in earnings [10] Walkability, entertainment key to Canton Street success

GA ranks #1 (second year running) in US for best state for business (Site Selection 11/14) SOURCE GEORGIA.ORG

Real Estate

[8] Housing exert says market still digging out from recession

Sound Advice

[11]] R eal estate and business management experts

Technology

[12] Popularity for electric cars grows in Georgia

Small Business

[14] Small business success stories in Forsyth County

Cherokee County

[18] Career expo draws 1,000 job seekers in Cherokee [19] Hollywood eyeing Ball Ground for Tom Cruise movie [20] •Cheokee growth attracts attention

•Cherokee corporations honored for global reach [21] Economic snapshot

Hall County

[22] Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton opens

Fulton County

[23] Belle Isle urges business take larger role in community

Forsyth County

[24] Dudgeon introduces bill to incorporate city of Sharon Springs

Cobb County

[26] Bartering an alternative to cash

Gwinnett County [27] P rovidence Group unveils new luxury homes

Women in Business [28] Barbara King talk obstacles, triumphs of her professional careers

Movers & Shakers [29] The people on the move, new hires and promotions

Restaurants [30] •Restaurants contribute more than good food •MADE for the ages

subscribe today 770-442-3278 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET 319 North Main Street Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 Published by Appen Media Group Advertising: All advertising published in North Atlanta Business Post is subject to current rate card; copies available from the advertising department. To obtain a copy contact your sales representative at 770-442-3278 or email advertising@ appenmediagroup.com. Newsroom: All press releases and editorial information can be sent to business@appenmediagroup.com Visit northatlantabusinesspost.com for more information.

NEWS

4 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

ARC forms first Millennial Advisory Panel ATLANTA – More than 130 metro Atlantans ages 18-35 gathered March 10 for the kickoff of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Millennial Advisory Panel. The newly formed group represents the next generation of residents who will live and work in the Atlanta region. “It is important to bring these young voices to the planning table,” said ARC Chairman Kerry Armstrong. “We are planning their Atlanta region.” ARC is in the process of developing a framework called the Region’s Plan to guide many aspects of the Atlanta region’s evolution through the year 2040. The long-range plan will focus on three broad issues – world class infrastructure, innovation economy and healthy, livable communities. During the next few months, the ARC Millennial Advisory Panel will research, discuss and formulate policy recommendations to the ARC board related to these three topics. Co-chairing the ARC Millennial Advisory Panel are ARC Board members Brant Aden, chief executive officer of Foresite Group, and Amol Naik, public policy and government relations senior counsel at Google. “We were overwhelmed at the response of the more than 300 applicants to our invitation to participate in this advisory panel,” Aden said. “We have now assembled a diverse and talented group of 135 young voices from throughout the 10-county Atlanta region and are expecting great things.” Millennials represent about 25 percent of the region’s population, more than the baby boomers. ARC surveys conducted over the past two years have confirmed that this group wants to be involved in regional issues, but that they are looking for different ways to engage.

ARC Board members Brant Aden, left, and Amol Naik welcome members of the new ARC Millennial Advisory Panel to the initiative’s March 10 kickoff.

ROSWELL, GEORGIA a classic, southern town where small business makes a big impact

Welcome to the friendly, metro-Atlanta city where small businesses thrive and are acknowledged as one of the cities biggest economic drivers. Roswell, GA has a place for businesses of all kinds to establish, grow, connect and be successful - from retail, to restaurants, creative services, technology and everything in between, Roswell Inc is here to assist businesses from inception to grand opening and is your first-stop, resource and partner for doing business in Roswell.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 5

A GREAT TIME, A GREAT CAUSE!

GOLF • DINNER • DANCING • AUCTION Sunday, April 19 6:30 – 10:30 pm Azalea Gala The Cottage School Azalea Festival Gala • Dinner • Dancing • Live auction and special guests. Ivy Hall at Roswell Mill, 85 Mill Street. Reservations required. For information and to purchase tickets please visit www.cottageschool.org

Monday, April 20 12pm Shotgun Start The Cottage School Azalea Festival Invitational Golf Classic Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Roswell, Roswell, GA 30075 Post Tournament Business Networking Reception. For details, visit www.cottageschool.org The Cottage School Azalea Festival events fund a scholarship endowment for students that are unable to pay full tuition. The Cottage School mission: Building a sense of self for students with special learning needs through academic and experiential programming.

NEWS

6 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Businesses network at GNFCC expo Annual event draws 1,500 By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Nearly 100 local businesses were set up March 27 at the Alpharetta Marriott for the seventh annual North Fulton Business Expo. Business people from all over North Fulton were out in force, business cards in hand and ready to network at the event that gets bigger every year. Nearly 1,500 people attended the event this year. Maleia Smith, of North Ridge Restoration, based in Alpharetta, said she and her company have been to the expo many times. “It gives us great exposure,” Smith said. “There are lots of business opportunities and good networking.” She said each year the event changes a little, getting better.

JONATHAN COPSEY/Staff

Ann Hanlon, executive director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District, left, discusses upcoming transportation projects with Andrea Bissell of Keller Williams. Each year, the expo is hosted by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, which aims to promote the inter-

ests of member businesses by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and

stay. For more about the chamber, visit them online at www.gnfcc.com.

Health &Wellness We have the prescription for growing you practice.

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May 28, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 9, No. 22

School board nixes armed staffers

No weapons allowed on school property ► PAGE 5

First lady touts child immunization Sandra Deal visits Emory Hospital, family ► PAGE 12

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How a local restaurant is re-imagining food to table ► PAGE 32

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RUNOFF ELECTIONS:

PROJECT DARASANI:

Ga. 9 to be widened to county line

Where would new traffic lights go? • Walmart driveway • Genesis Way/Deerfield Place • Soneley Court/Keyingham Way • Sunfish Bend • Creek Club Drive

Bethany Bend intersection reworked By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@northfulton.com MILTON, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and city of Milton want to make major improvements to Ga. 9 in coming years. Those improvements, however, will not begin for almost a decade. At an open house May 21,

Saloni Sharma sits amid dozens of bags of school supplies donated by families of Sugar Mill subdivision in Johns Creek. The nonprofit she started, Project Darasani, helps needy Tanzanian students acquire the basic school supplies they need to get an education.

See CHANGES, Page 7

TUTORING

See ELECTIONS, Page 5

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com

The red dots indicate new or modifications to existing traffic signals along a section of Ga. 9.

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Election results

POST 4 votes: Bob Gray 2,900, 58% Eric Fragoso 2,134, 42% POST 6 votes: Steve Broadbent 3,346, 66% Nancy Reinecke 1,213, 34%

Northview teen’s nonproﬁt City to let Fulton County helps African students Trip to Tanzania inspires Saloni Sharma to start club to support students she met

the public took their ﬁrst look at the proposed improvements, which include widening Ga. 9 from Windward Parkway north to the Forsyth County line into a four-lane road – two in each direction. Included with these improvements will be the elimination of the center lane to be replaced with a center median

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – In a tumultuous year of political bloodletting on the City Council, it ended with neither a bang nor a whimper. Instead, it ended July 22 with a calm, clean runoff election among four candidates for the last two council seats. The runoffs were won handily in the end by Steve Broadbent and Bob Gray for posts 6 and 4 respectively. A season of local politics that had burst on the usually quiet Johns Creek political scene the summer of 2013 ended quietly. Conventional wisdom says turnouts in runoff elections are usually light And this was a special election called in July – just a couple weeks before

BARN

Gray, Broadbent ﬁll last 2 council seats

Milton honors fallen veteran Cpl. Harry Vaughan, inset right, graduated from Milton High School in 1967. Within a year, he was shipped over to Vietnam where he died. Local veterans honored him May 22 at the school. See story, page 28.

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Then there were seven

July 31, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 31

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17,000 households on Wednesdays Zip Codes: 30040, 30041. Forsyth county’s largest circulation newspaper. Est. 1998

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10,000 households on Wednesdays Zip Code: 30004. Community news for and about the City of Milton. Est. 2006

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – When Rupesh Sharma made the trip to Tanzania to hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, it became more than chance to cross off

a goal on his bucket list. He also saw a lot of poverty and how little the country could do for school-age children. Determined to do something, he knew he would return. When he came home and told his family about

what he had seen, he saw that his then 13-year-old daughter Saloni was moved by what he had seen. They talked about it and she said she wanted to go with him on

See SHARMA, Page 31

administer HUD grants Will still OK CDBG projects By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Johns Creek will turn over administration of the city’s Commu-

nity Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to Fulton County, but the city does not cede control of the projects that are approved for Johns Creek. CDBG grants are federal dollars issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and

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NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 7

GNFCC free meeting space popular feature By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – You say you would love to invite select prospective clients to tell them how your business can uniquely help them be successful? You want a truly business-like setting and the Waffle House is definitely not it? Well if you are a Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce member, problem solved. Chamber members can use meeting space at the GNFCC offices. It is one of the benefits of membership, said Deborah Lanham, chamber vice president for business development. “We offer a small business resource program, and part of that is providing meeting space for these small businesses,” Lanham said. “We help with business consulting through the Small Business Development Center and the Small Business Administration. But we also allow our small businesses to come in and use conference rooms at the chamber, whether it is a small one or large, based on their needs.” There, they can have their own workshop seminars and invite target consumers or businesses to come in and listen to a presentation of the services they provide. “They usually combine those presentations with some education about their field. So they teach prospects about what’s out there, say data-breach information. Then they show how their company can help,” she said. Lanham has had Microsoft come in to present in partnership with chamber member Land Systems and provided personal laptops to see how certain programs would help their businesses. “It kind of flies under the radar. But it is something I talk about each month when I host Chamber 101,” she said. “I share with the members how we can provide space to host their seminars, their workshops and even their own events like a like a network lunch.” It’s all about helping chamber members accomplish their goals and reaching their target market or consumer/potential partner. These services are part of what the chamber offers small businesses – 50 employees or less. Even the larger companies can reserve space for interviewing new employees. These are fully equipped with flat screens and the technology to integrate their presentations. Lanham said the chamber can accommodate small groups or an audience of up to 100 people. Members can bring in their own catered food and speakers. Sometimes two or three companies with similar, but not identical services will pitch to the same group that the companies have recruited. “The room is free to them as a value and a benefit of their chamber membership. You must be a member. There are many ways to take advantage of the

space. We’ve had nonprofits use space for their board meetings. We have had training where the small businesses are the experts,” Lanham said. “Companies will bring in their sales force to find out how to effectively use social media for sales. The bottom line is we want to make our members successful,” she said. If the hosts need a caterer or some other service provider, the chamber provides choices from their member list. Companies of all sizes can use the perk, even when they could do it in-house, as a way to change the environment and think outside the box. Recently three companies combined for a luncheon where each company explained how their business could help other businesses. Leah Fairman is an entrepreneur who has been successful in marketing to Fortune 500 companies and shows other small companies how they can market themselves using the Web and social media to create an “online presence.” Fairman calls herself a serial entrepreneur and social media strategist who founded her first business in 2007. She uses Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Instagram to leverage her Web presence. Job No. 1 to having an online presence is knowing how to be found on search engines. She says having people follow you is optimal. “You can build a company using social media. You don’t need a website. Customers search using key words. You want search engines to find you,” Fairman said. Neil May is director of service delivery for Carmichael Consulting Solutions. His company consults on a variety of computer network issues, including how to protect your data from being hijacked and held for ransom. “Once you have lost your data, who would want to target you after a breach? Once is too many. Cyber-attacks are ever evolving. There are malware, phishing, proxies, botnets, spyware and spam,” said May. “Some solutions are password protection, wiping and encryption. But never allow just a password to give access to data.” Mike Bartoli is a strategic partner for Schooley Mitchell. In the world of telecommunications, bandwidth, card processing and the Internet, there is often redundancy and overbilling. “If we don’t save you time, increase your profits and make your business more efficient, then you don’t get a bill from us,” Bartoli said. They all agreed the chamber’s program to offer its space and address was a great way to reach out to potential new customers. “We all sent out invitations and eblasts. We only had to share the expense for lunch. And we not only pitched the people we contacted, we got in front of the other guests as well,” May said.

EDITORIAL CALENDAR 2015 Issue Date

Space Reservation Date

Materials Deadline

May 2015 – Leisure (vacations, golf, baseball) • Hospitality and Tourism: Recap of the season and industry indicators looking forward. • What makes visitors come to North Atlanta • Economic impact of tourism • Work-life and personal life: Finding a balance during your vacation

May 11

April 30

May 4

June 8

May 28

June 1

July 14

July 3

July 7

June 8

May 28

June 1

July 3

July 7

June 2015 – Technology • Business Post’s 2015 Hall Market Report special focus • Companies that make tomorrow’s technology – right here in North Atlanta • How to protect your company from a cyber attack • How North Atlanta businesses are going global with their online presence

July 2015 - Health and Medical • By the numbers: Top hospitals/best practices • Behind the medical trends and the companies leading the industry • Best managed hospitals • Taking charge of your office health, what wellness programs are businesses offering workers

July 14

Call 770-442-3278 to reserve your ad space today! www.NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

REAL ESTATE

8 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Housing expert says market still digging out from recession By Patrick Fox pat@appenmediagroup.com While home resale prices are just now beginning to hit the all-time high levels reached in 2007, real estate transactions remain sluggish, according to Karl Kuykendall, principal economist with U.S. Regional Services at IHS Economics. “Seven years later, if you bought your home at the peak, you’re just back to where you started,” he said. “But now, you can’t get free money, you’ve got to put 20 percent down and you pay a Realtor. That’s keeping the lid on the demand.” Speaking last month at the quarterly GSU Robinson College of Business Economic Forecast, Kuykendall said the problem facing housing today is that there are no more cheap lots, and people’s incomes have remained stagnant or flat. “The rule is, 80 percent of all new-home sales in Atlanta are below $300,000, and that hasn’t changed over the last seven years, because people’s incomes haven’t changed,” he said. “Here’s our problem: Once we’ve grown out of cheap lots, development costs during that same period – while people’s incomes have been flat – have gone up

Bottom line for regions • Regional economies enter 2015 with a lot of momentum with all states seeing positive employment growth in 2014 for the first time since 1999. • The Sunbelt will perform better than average as housing markets recover. • Strong manufacturing gains will bring improvement in relative performance to the Midwest. • Slow population growth and weaker financial and real estate markets will hamper the Northeast. • Energy and natural resources, especially unconventional oil and gas will be a detriment to large energy producing states over the near term.

nearly 40 percent (due to) increased regulation costs, tight labor market. All those things have conspired, so that now we’ve run out of cheap lots, to develop a new lot is going to put your new home price – minimum in the high $300,000.” The same thing is happening with condos, Kuykendall said. The market ran out of distressed inventory. “In the last five years, the top-selling subdivisions in Atlanta were all condos … but they’re all selling at below replace-

Regional Real Estate Markets: 2014 Q4 Georgia

Subprime Share

Foreclosure %

Home Vacancies

8.6

1.4

2.2

8.6

2.3

1.9

Florida

13.2

5.4

2.8

North Carolina

7.0

1.3

3.0

South Carolina

8.5

2.2

3.0

Tennessee

9.6

1.2

1.9

Alabama

7.0

1.5

3.1

ment cost,” he said. Now that cheap inventory is gone, one way to fill the gap is through conversions. “Some of these are buildings that started as condos, failed, went rental and are now back as condos,” he said. The poster child for this trend, he said, is The Atlantic, the mixed-use skyscraper at Atlantic Station. He predicted these conversions will start the next cycle in the Atlanta market. “With the money we’ve poured into this system, nationally, locally, and the fact that the REIT foreclosures are gone and at historic lows, you’d think we’d be roaring out of this, but it’s just not happening,” Kuykendall said. Statistics bear him out. Recent figures from RentPath, which tracks the rental market, show the demand for apartment housing continues to be strong in the first two months of 2015 and appears to be on the rise. In January, generally a slow leasing

month for apartment owners and operators, RentPath found that search activity on its network of websites increased 24 percent compared with activity in January 2014. In addition, the company delivered more leads than ever before in a single day on March 2 with 148,000 advertiser leads. Kuykendall said there have been some positive signs in the real estate market. The recession and collapse of the housing market created massive consolidation among the builders left in Atlanta, he said. Where it used to be a fragmented market with a lot of pickup-truck builders, many of those builders and the banks that funded them are gone, he said. “However, the resale price trend is beginning to dip slightly, meaning that the smaller builder is beginning to come back,” Kuykendall said. “We’re pushing into the outlying counties, it’s a little more difficult for the national builders to get a piece of each of those counties.”

NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 9

Milton, Johns Creek tops in earnings Only Ga. cities with 50% making over $100K By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Once again, Milton and Johns Creek have shown up on wealth surveys, this time on NerdWallet as two of only 57 American cities that show households earning more than $100,000 annually. Tabulating what it calls the $100,000 Club, NerdWallet analyzed household income in 1,601 cities across the nation. Milton and Johns Creek are the only cities in Georgia to make the Club. NerdWallet researcher Courtney Miller said the research looked at combined households earning $100,000 or more as a way of determining what could be called upper class or wealthy. The research also looked at percentages of households earning $150,000 or more and $200,000 or more, but only as a subset of the $100,000 base. Research told her these 57 cities were:

Clustered in suburban communities in Washington, California, Texas and Tennessee. Communities with a majority of high earners are concentrated on the periphery of large cities. Over half of the cities on their top 20 list can be found along the Pacific Coast, and most are in California. Cities near Silicon Valley and Dallas also stand out as high-income spots, perhaps owing to the strength of their local economies. Dallas is projecting a $53 billion increase in personal incomes from 2014 to 2019. “We were looking for ways to define centers of wealth within the country,” Miller said. “A lot of these communities are self-selected into. So these communities are not necessarily where people work. “People choose to live there because they are high-end communities and they choose to live there,” she said. Milton and Johns Creek, two cities

that formed “in place,” speak to that phenomenon, Miller said. “These communities show up on our list not because they are necessarily the wealthiest places, but because they don’t have a diversity of incomes,” she said. So these were areas of higher-end housing, good schools and their populations are under 100,000. “That is another trend we saw with smaller communities like these – with Milton at around 35,000 and Johns Creek at 80,000. Among the cities that made the $100,000 Club cut, only four were above 100,000 in population,” Miller said. Most of the cities on the list are well-established and have been wealthy for some time. There, Milton and Johns Creek buck the trend. Miller also noted in these cities it can become expensive to live there. So one has to consider what significance the $100,000 benchmark means. “That does not necessarily mean it is a wealthy city,” she said. That could explain why a city such as Milton may be happy to remain a bed-

Georgia’s $100,000 Club Cities MILTON: $100K and up: 54.8% $150K and up: 37.3% $200K and up: 26.7% JOHNS CREEK: $100K and up: 50.9% $150K and up: 30.7% $200K and up: 18.6% room community. Its lower population speaks to that as well as its secondary wealth statistics. Milton also has 37.3 percent of the population earning $150,000 or more, and 26.7 percent – over a quarter of the population – earn more than $200,000 annually. Johns Creek is somewhat off that pace with 30.7 percent earning more than $150,000, and 18.6 percent earning more than $200,000. So you see Johns Creek with a population of 80,000 more concerned with its tax base and looking at ways to widen it, Miller said.

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NEWS

10 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Walkability, entertainment key to Canton success Connections link pedestrians to destinations By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Canton Street has often been described as the heart of Roswell. With its small restaurants and boutique shops, as well as wide sidewalks, some nights it has an almost party atmosphere. In warmer weather, patios open and doors are thrown wide to allow walkers to mingle with diners. “Canton Street has an interesting mix of things to do outside of the normal park, walk into a restaurant and leave,” said Ryan Pernice, owner of Table and Main, one of many unique restaurants lining Canton Street. The biggest appeal, Pernice said, was walkability. People can drive to Canton Street and stroll around at their leisure, meeting people and looking into stores and restaurants. “On a spring day, there is no better place to go than Canton Street,” Pernice said. He likened it to walking on a promenade in past years, where it was more of a social event than simply getting out. “People thirst for that,” he said. The city is trying to keep that feeling alive. One way is to improve transportation and mobility in the area. In Canton Street, the biggest issue the city is seeking to solve is a lack of parking. A victim of its own success, the quest for parking can be daunting. One solution is the proposed city green. This would see Roswell tear down the trees separating City Hall from Ga. 9

and Canton Street in an effort to not only spur new development in the area, but also open up the 400 parking spaces on the other side of City Hall. Anyone using the parking now has to walk through the woods, which due to a lack of lighting can be dark. Elizabeth Way, at the southern tip of Canton Street, was recently converted from a one-way street into a two-way street to help with traffic flow. Plans are in the works to redevelop the alleys on either side of Canton Street to be more pedestrian- and businessfriendly. South Atlanta Street – the portion of Ga. 9 south of the town square – will see significant improvements in coming years. The city is planning to widen the street to two lanes in either direction, get rid of the changing middle lane and add a median. Wide sidewalks will also be added. The improvements will go south from the square to the Chattahoochee River. Roswell Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak said this project, dubbed the “Historic Gateway,” would be a “remarkable improvement” for traffic in the area as well as beautifying it, making it more appealing to drivers and, hopefully, businesses. Pedestrian improvements will also help cross-street mobility, he said. Currently, there are none between the town square and the river, a distance of over a mile. Construction on this project may not begin for as much as four years, Acenbrak said.

Residents enjoy walking and dining on Canton Street in Roswell.

Abby breaux/staff

Pollo Tropical opens in Johns Creek JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – For those who want to get something with a kick to warm their hearts while the snow falls outside, Johns Creek residents are in luck. The newest Pollo Tropical location has opened near the intersection of Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road. The grand opening was Friday, Feb. 27, featuring a ribbon cutting and daylong activities for the family. During the festivities, 100 people won free family meal coupons and a grand prize winner got free chicken for a year. Johns Creek’s Pollo Tropical is located at 5815 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek. For more on the company and its menu, visit www.pollotropical.com.

JONATHAN COPSEY/Staff

The newest Georgia location of Pollo Tropical, a Caribbean-themed fast-casual restaurant, opened on State Bridge Road in Johns Creek.

SOUND ADVICE

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 11

Collaboration and design for education

Brother, can you spare 18 hours?

North Fulton is represented in these discussions by Abbots Hill Elementary School, Mountain Park Elementary School, Summit Hill Elementary School and Milton High School. Among AK12DC’s goals are strengthening the relationships between public and independent schools, finding new ways to reimagine education, fostering innovation in an educational environment and implementing “design thinking” as a way to problem solve. Additionally, each participating school addressed a specific challenge they wished to explore through the design thinking process at the next intensive “design summit.” “AK12DC and design thinking has been a natural fit for Fulton County Schools given our push for creative and innovative solutions through the charter system model,” said Korynn Schooley, the district’s director of School Governance and Flexibility. These collaborations, along with an intense commitment to innovative thinking, can only benefit the growing population of North Fulton. The needs will continue to shift and change, as will the local economy. Because of education initiatives like the AK12DC, our citizens will be ready and armed to meet these challenges with the best possible tools and problem solving skills.

attracts investment capital.” These cities are basically re-emerging downtown areas, with combined key ingredients of housing, retail, dining and walk-to-work offices. It is this downtown revitalization that is overcoming the decades of downtowns being abandoned after work hours by workers who commuted to their homes in their suburbs. Now, those workers walk to their home, or head upstairs to their second-floor loft above the shop. The 18-hour city embraces the excitement and opportunity of the large city, but with a quiet respite for a few hours to remember the days gone by. This mix of the old and new is what is attracting its top demographic: millennials and baby boomers. Most of these cities also have a lower cost of living and lower cost of doing business compared to the 24-hour cities. And in an interesting phenomenon, jobs are actually chasing people to these areas, as opposed to the other way around. Jobs are almost an afterthought to the demographic. The driving force is the lifestyle of the city. Just as the American consumer has embraced this new trend, developers and government officials must continue to embrace mixed-use, higher densities and walkable communities. That is the key that has driven Atlanta and some surrounding suburbs to this enviable emerging position, and has driven an unprecedented investment in the 18-hour city throughout the country.

Jessica Diamond

Communications Coordinator, Roswell Inc

As the needs of the workforce continue to adapt and change in the age of technology, so must the education of our students. The addition of the new elementary school in currently being built on Alpharetta Hwy in Roswell has added new fuel to the discussion on innovation in education. How do we best prepare our students to re-enter the community as successful, confident professionals with the skills to overcome any future challenges? How can we foster a culture of achievement and creativity within our homes and businesses? These are just a couple of the questions being asked by The Atlanta K12 Design Challenge. The AK12DC is a collaboration between Atlanta area independent schools, Fulton County Schools and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University to best establish a path for positive growth and change in our classrooms. This is a long-term, multi-phase project with 11 participating schools around the Atlanta area.

Brian Patton

bpatton@ccim.net

Atlanta may not be Manhattan, but it’s catching the eye of investors and consumers. It has recently been added to Urban Land Institute’s Top 10 list of 18-hour cities. And, the institute, which is known for its scholarly urban and city planning research, lists the rise of the 18-hour city as its No. 1 emerging trend in real estate. What does that mean and why did Atlanta make the cut? The 18-hour city has developed as something between a 9-5 city and a 24-hour city. While many real estate investors have flocked to the 24-hour city, such as New York, for many years, the emergence of the 18-hour city is a recent emerging trend. It is mostly characterized by its tangible focus on live, work and play environments, such as Alpharetta’s Avalon and Atlanta’s Atlantic Station. As the Urban Land Institute puts it in their recent report, the 18-hour city is “the model that has demonstrated that the right urban mix bolsters occupancy, that density raises values and that vibrancy

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Popularity for electric vehicles grows in Georgia BE

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“Georgians will go from being incentivized to buy or lease EVs to actually being dis-incentivized.” Jeff Cohen, Atlanta Electric Vehicle Coalition

1998 permitted $5,000 for a ‘zero emission vehicle,’ which did not exist back then nor was it even contemplated,” said Cohen. The tax credit was disputed within the state legislature as some members vied instead to use the credit money to maintain infrastructure. House Bill 122, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta), proposed the elimination of the current state tax credit on EVs, however, it did not meet the crossover deadline and will not be considered for voting. House Bill 170 did, in fact, meet the crossover deadline and contains much of the same text as HB 122– proposing the elimination of consumer EV tax-credits but keeping business taxcredits on EVs. Martin also introduced legislation that would eliminate the prohibition of direct sale of automobiles within the state – necessitating Georgia registrants to pay the current ad valorem tax on some vehicles titled in other states, like Teslas (manufactured in California). This bill is alive as of press time. Cohen said that abolishing the EV tax credit would be a mistake. “EV sales in Georgia will decelerate fairly rapidly,” Cohen said. “Georgians will go from being incentivized to buy or lease EVs to actually being dis-incentivized.” Electric vehicle drivers often experience “range anxiety,” a phenomenon that explains the common worry of running out of electric charge. Whereas traditional vehicles are able to be completely refilled in a matter of minutes, EVs must charge for several hours, rendering it

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1. Kroger, 12870 Highway 9, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 2. Kroger, 5665 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 3. Net Zero USA of Atlanta, 7565 Industrial Court, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 4. Kohl’s, 13097 Highway 9 North, Milton, Ga. 30004 5. Kimberly Clark Office Building, 5405 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 6. Lakeview 400 Business Park, 2575 Westside Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 7. Duke Realty, 800 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 8. 7 stations at Avalon, 2200 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 9. Walgreens, 173 South Main St., Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 10. Hilton Garden Inn North Point, 10975 Georgia Lane, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 11. Cousins Properties 100/200 Building, 100 North Point Center East Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 12. Cousins Properties 555/333 Building, 555 North Point Center East, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 13. Sanctuary Park: The Falls garage, 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 14. Sanctuary Park: Stonebridge III garage, 1130 Sanctuary Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 15. Cherokee Ford Lincoln, 1575 Mansell Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 16. Hennessy Porsche, 990 Mansell Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 17. Regal Nissan, 1090 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 18. United BMW of Roswell, 11458 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, Ga. 30076 19. Roswell Mitsubishi, 11170 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, Ga. 30076 20. Emory Johns Creek Hospital, 6325 Hospital Parkway, Johns Creek, Ga. 30097 21. Hilton Garden Inn, 11695 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30097 22. Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Ga. 30075 23. Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell, Ga. 30075 24. East Roswell Park, 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 ES

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ATLANTA – Roswell resident John Copenhaver is a proud Tesla Model S P85+ owner who said he truly gets a thrill out of owning and driving his car. He appreciates the car’s performance and likes the technology “under the hood.” “The Tesla is truly the next generation of cars,” said Copenhaver. “Electric car technology advanced with the introduction of Tesla.” Copenhaver is not alone. He is one of many drivers in Georgia who have made the switch from traditional, internal combustion vehicles to all-electric-powered vehicles. Electric cars are growing increasingly popular in Georgia, and many consumers are caught in a whirlwind of information and opinions surrounding electric vehicles. On one hand, they can use less carbon-emitting fuel, but consumers are also wary about “range anxiety” and charging time, as well as the overall practicality of using an electric vehicle (EV) as a daily driver. Still, the state has become a large market for electric vehicles. According to Clean Cities Georgia, which advocates for clean transportation in Georgia, the state is now second in the nation for registered EVs, with an ownership growth rate of over 600 percent between 2013 and 2014. Jeff Cohen of the Atlanta Electric Vehicle Coalition (AEVDC) says that when it comes to EVs on the road, “Georgia outpaces the nation by a factor of 3:1.” Further, automaker Nissan claims that Georgia is the largest market in the country for the all-electric Nissan Leaf. As more electric vehicles appear on Georgia streets, public charging infrastructure is beginning to appear in cities across the state. Roswell recently announced the installation of four new charging stations around the city. At a relatively low cost of $1 per hour for the first four hours, the charging stations will allow Roswell EV drivers to charge while away from home. In addition to Roswell, the cities of Sandy Springs, Suwanee and Peachtree Corners have received funding from the state to install EV charging stations. Georgia Power will also soon add 50 paid public charging locations across the state. The user-updated PlugShare mobile app, available on most smartphones, allows EV drivers to find charging stations and make use of the budding public charging infrastructure. The popularity of electrically powered cars in Georgia is largely due to the $5,000 tax credit provided by the state on top of the $7,500 federal tax credit. “We got to be the No. 2 state in the nation because a tax credit dating back to

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necessary for the driver to carefully plan trips. Range anxiety is often a main concern of those considering purchasing an electric vehicle. Copenhaver says he experiences some degree of range anxiety even with the 200-plus mile range of the Tesla. “I [experience range anxiety] because there aren’t more public charging stations, and the [long] time it takes to charge up the battery,” he said. “Before EVs are widely accepted as being a primary car, there must be more public charging stations.” However, Peter Bronski, editorial director at the eco-centric Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), says that range anxiety is subjective, and those who believe it will conflict with their way of life shouldn’t purchase an electric vehicle in the first place. “EV drivers do their research and thus know if an EV – and its range – is a good fit for them,” said Bronski on the RMI blog. “You don’t see a construction foreman with a need for a work truck buy a two-door Honda Fit and then complain about its extremely limited payload capacity. You get the vehicle that matches your needs and wants.” In order to mitigate range anxiety, drivers should take advantage of home charging. “The most important thing an EV owner can do is invest in a 240V/30 amp home charging system,” said Cohen. “You can charge up your EV at home and keep the battery topped off.” A home charging system gives the vehicle a faster charge than from a standard outlet, allowing the driver to

*According to PlugShare.com

more easily maintain maximum range capability. Cohen is optimistic about the future of EV battery technology, and says innovation will make owning and using electric cars easier and more practical.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 13

We Have Exciting News! In the last five years (2008-2013) which media use is increasing? 47% 48%

17%

Survey Question: “Which of the following news sources would you say that you rely on the most for news about issues and problems in Johns Creek? 18%

15%

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Atlanta Journal Constitution

5/2/2013

10/1/2008

Johns Creek Herald

Johns Creek Patch*

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Internet

4% Other

Unsure or Refused

APPEN MEDIA newspapers reach 40% more (over 30,000 more homes) in North Fulton / South Forsyth than the next closest competitor and is by far the preferred source for local news. If your business depends on reaching buyers in North Fulton or South Forsyth, we deliver. Why settle for less? Let us connect you. Call now for more advertising information 770-442-3278.

Circulation Comparison

AppenMediaGroup.com Survey of Voter Attitudes in Johns Creek, Georgia conducted from April 30 - May 2, 2013 by The Tarrance Group for the City of Johns Creek. Question #QD7. *Listed as Johns Creek Post in 2008 survey. ** Not included in 2008 survey.

AJC WEEKDAY 16,481

AJC SUNDAY 29,241

NEIGHBOR 43,250

APPEN 75,000

Data based on the following: 2013 CVC Audit for Appen, 2013 ABC Audit for the AJC, 2013 CAC Audit for the Neighbor. Comparison only of circulation in Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, and Forsyth county.

SMALL BUSINESS

14 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Small business success stories in Forsyth County By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com This month, the North Atlanta Business Post is stepping away from the big box retailers who are commonly in the news, and focusing on small local businesses. We found 3 small businesses in Forsyth County to highlight and asked them a few questions to get behind the scenes of how to run a successful small business. North Georgia Accounting Consultants Inc., Cumming, Ga. Becky Brown, CPA How did you first start your business? I started my firm from ground zero like a lot of CPAs, in my home with very few clients. I wanted to work with small busiBrown nesses that didn’t have the resources needed to start and grow their businesses. I had worked for several firms and noticed the small business owner wasn’t getting the kind of help they needed. I decided to start a firm which would specialize with all aspects of small business. If I didn’t have the

answers I would make sure to have the resources that did. What has been the best part of having a small business? The worst? The best part of having a small business is watching our client base continue to grow and stay loyal as their success becomes our success. I would have to say the worst part about it is ‘the buck stops here.’ But I love having my own business and being able to do something that I am passionate about makes any problems worth it. Why do you think Forsyth County is a good place to start a business? As someone who doesn’t live in Forsyth County, I really enjoy having my business and business relationships here. The people are wonderful and the location is convenient to just about everywhere. It’s also one of the fastest growing counties, so there are plenty of small businesses. What’s not to like? Cumming Dance Academy, Cumming, Ga. Niki Jernigan-Watkins How did you first start your business?

I opened my business in 2003 in a one-room studio in downtown Cumming. I had dreamed of having a studio my entire life and once the opportunity arose, it set sail quickly. Within the Watkins first year, I expanded to two studios, then three. Then in 2009, I built my dream studio — a free standing building on Tribble Gap Road. What has been the best part of having a small business? The worst? The best part of having a small business is the opportunities to participate in the community development, as well as touching lives of hundreds of young ladies. My goal has always been to empower young ladies to have self-confidence and know that they can do anything they set their minds to. We teach far more than dance at Cumming Dance Academy. We are instilling in these young people of the future confidence, grace and character that only the discipline of dance can surely assist with. I also have a personal development character program we intertwine into our dance classes weekly. The worst part would be the time it takes to run a small business on your own. The

rewards are great, but owning your own business is a 24-hour, seven days a week job. Why do you think Forsyth County is a good place to start a business? When I opened my studio in Forsyth County, there was only one other studio in the area. Now, I believe there are over seven. As a member of the CummingForsyth Chamber of Commerce, I also sit on the Small Business Advisory Council Board – so I am around and seeing the new businesses in our area. The growth in Forsyth has been astounding and certainly it is rapidly continuing to burst with new life. Despite the quick growth, however, there is still a ‘hometown’ feel in Cumming – which is what I love. I grew up in a small town in South Georgia and I am a simple girl with big dreams. It is such a pleasure to watch others living their dreams as well. Georgia Dermatology Center, Cumming, Ga. Dr. Alex Gross How did you first start your business? I was originally part of a dermatol-

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NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 15

NEWS

16 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Gwinnett Tech tunes in to North Fulton employers just for that business. We can do that on our campus or at an off-site location.” Bennett said the technical college operation allows for such flexibility. ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Gwinnett TechniGenerally, it takes about a year to get an cal College has wasted no time telling the academic program up and running. If it’s North Fulton business community that its simply a matter of adding certain courses new satellite campus in Alpharetta plans to an existing program, the time frame can to make itself useful. be shorter. Less than two months after ground “It’s different than a university syswas broken on the site at Ga. 400 and Old tem,” Bennett said. “It’s a lot quicker than Milton Parkway, the college has notified that, and we do try to be as fluid as we can business leaders it is ready to feed the be.” growing appetite for trained workers. Currently, the North Fulton campus is “The purpose of the technical college offering continuing education classes at system is to get a workforce ready to fill the Alpharetta Technology Commission’s the needs of the immediate community, incubator building. Classes will later tranand our immediate community for this sition to the campus site. campus is North Fulton,” said Jeremy “If you’re managing IT people, but you Bennett, dean of GTC’s North Fulton don’t understand anycampus. thing about it, we give The school now offers you a rundown so you continuing education know just enough to be classes to technology dangerous,” Bennett said. professionals. “This is something we The college has three found out about as an isbuildings planned, and sue some managers have its formal opening is when they start talking to scheduled for January the IT folks, that they’re 2016. The first building a little disconnected from will have approximately the conversation.” 95,000 square feet, housThe college also offers ing 35 classrooms and a an immersive, eight-week number of administrative program where an indioffices. vidual can literally change The first program his or her career path. offerings, developed with “You basically come input from North Fulton in with very little knowlbusiness and economic edge, and you come out development leaders, will as a junior programmer,” include computer sciBennett said. “You’re ences, life sciences, crimiable to go to work at that nal justice, accounting, level.” business administration The college also is technology, basic science, partnering with Tech patient care and assistTalent South for instrucing, hotel, restaurant and Bethany Usry, vice president of Progress Partners of North tors to fill immediate tourism and early childneeds for classes in North hood care and education. Fulton Atlanta Fulton. “Basically, we find In addition, Gwinnett out there’s a business Tech has partnered with Kids 4 Coding, a need, and we can see an annual employcompany out of Roswell, which will put on ment figure in the area,” Bennett said. “For camps at the Gwinnett campus this sumexample, if we find 60 people in need, we mer for kids from second through eighth can start program development. Or we can grade. Plans call for rolling out the promodify a current program.” gram to the North Fulton campus in 2016. For example, within the past few years, “With these two arms, we’re hitting the the college has instituted a concentration kids – second through eighth grade – and on social media in response to calls from people who are out of college already,” people who wanted a social media agent in Bennett said. their office. Through an arrangement with Fulton “When we find out there’s a need in an County Schools, the college will begin an area large enough, we can develop a full early college academy this fall. Fulton academic program leading to an associCounty high school seniors will be able ate’s degree to fill that need,” Bennett said. to come to an off-site location in the fall, “If the need is smaller so there’s a comthen to the main campus in the spring, pany that might need five to 10 people, but to do their senior year at Gwinnet Tech. they won’t need it on a regular basis, we Through this program, these seniors will can create a new education course where be able to earn 24-30 college credit hours we’ll bring in experts or we’ll use the exthat are transferrable anywhere in the perts at the college to develop a curriculum

By PATRICK FOX pat@northatlantabusinesspost.com

“Being able to work with Gwinnett Tech to meet the workforce needs of our businesses is obviously an essential part of making sure that we remain successful.”

This first of three campus building will have three stories and approximately 95,000 squar state university system or any other technical college. Classes will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. This way, students can return to their home school for extracurricular activities if they’d like, or they can work at a job. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce has already been in meetings with the college to begin tailoring classes and programs to suit the continuing education needs of the local business community. “Being able to work with Gwinnett Tech to meet the workforce needs of our businesses is obviously an essential part of making sure that we remain successful,” said Bethany Usry, vice president of Progress Partners of North Fulton Atlanta, the chamber’s economic arm. The college has already sent out surveys to several local business groups, including the Tech Forum, the Greater Alpharetta Technology Network and the Alpharetta Technology Commission. “Once they receive the data back on those (surveys), there will be coordination of efforts between our workforce develop-

The 25-acre Gwinnett Tech campus site is ac the intersection of Georgia 400 and Old Mil 2016.

ment initiative and the data it receives to make sure we’re meeting all the needs of

NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 17

gwinnetttech.edu

re feet, housing both classrooms and administrative offices.

cross from the Avalon development, at lton Parkway. It is scheduled to open Jan.

the technology businesses in North Fulton,” Usry said.

Jonathan Copsey/Staff

State and local dignitaries hold the groundbreaking of Gwinnet Technical College’s North Fulton campus March 6.

CHEROKEE COUNTY

18 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Career expo draws 1,000 job seekers in Cherokee WOODSTOCK, Ga. – Some saw a job fair. Others saw an opportunity and a sign the recession that has had Georgia in its grips for seven years is finally on the way out. Half an hour before the first annual Cherokee Career Expo began on March 25, about 200 job seekers were mulling about in the lobby of the Northside HospitalCherokee Conference Center, waiting to go inside and lock down a new career. Before day’s end, almost 1,000 applicants had dropped off resumes with recruiters from 30 Cherokee-based companies. In all, recruiters were looking to fill more than 600 vacancies. A majority said they had never been to a more successful job fair. “This is what we’ve been looking for to recruit candidates within the county,” said T.C. Chapman of Roytec Industries Incorporated. “You always hear about people looking for work. Well, flip that around. This is a prime example of corporations looking for skilled workers.” Cherokee Office of Economic Development President Misti Martin identified the need for a career expo around the first of the year after interviewing Cherokee industry leaders for a bi-annual survey. “It almost became a common theme in talking with the county’s existing industries,” said Martin. “We heard time and time again how they could use help building awareness for a wide range of job opportunities. And since they requested it, we went to work to deliver.” COED Chairman Marshall Day added, “Anywhere from 65 to 75 percent of job growth comes from existing industry. And since the greatest force for change is a job, it was an easy decision to support a career expo.” COED partnered with the Georgia Department of Labor, and within about three weeks planned, organized and executed the four-hour expo. Organizers had

SAM HALL

Close to 1,000 people filtered through the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Woodstock March 25 for the Cherokee Office of Economic Development’s first Career Expo.

no idea what kind of turnout to expect. One recruiter called COED the afternoon before the event to ask how many applications to bring. When she was told 300, she laughed and said she needed about 20 at the last job fair she attended. But on the day of the event, a steady crowd continued throughout the day, talking non-stop with recruiters. The line for Northside Hospital alone stretched across the room and out the back door during the entire event. Career advisors from Chattahoochee Technical College and Reinhardt University worked non-stop

helping an influx of candidates improve their resumes. COED had an interpreter on site when a hearing-impaired job seeker arrived to put in an application. Organizers said they hope the turnout and success of the expo is a precursor for things to come. Back in 2009, the Atlanta Regional Commission released a Regional Snapshot indicating Cherokee County would lead the Atlanta region in job growth until 2040, predicting a 166.3 percent increase in jobs. “There’s just no doubt,” Martin said. “Cherokee’s time is now.”

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NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 19

Hatcher Hurd/Staff

Downtown Ball Groud.

Hollywood eying Ball Ground for Tom Cruise movie Mega-star to play lead in true-life story of drug pilot-turned-DEA informant By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com BALL GROUND, Ga. – A new Hollywood blockbuster from the team of actor Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman may be filming a movie in the north Cherokee town of Ball Ground. A classic “one street town,” the city is up for consideration for some filming, according to Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth. The movie, called “Mena,” tells the sordid story of former airline pilot Barry Seal who was living large in the heyday of the Colombian drug cartels. Cruise will play Seal, and the film will be directed by Liman. Cruise and Liman have teamed up before. Cruise starred and Liman directed last year’s summer sci-fi action flick “Edge of Tomorrow.” That film grossed $369 million worldwide. Seal became a renegade drug pilot who helped funnel thousands of kilos of cocaine into the U.S. through Miami and New Orleans. Seal was eventually caught and turned informer for the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central Intelligence Agency. His efforts eventually led to uncovering the Iran-Contra scandal that nearly brought down the Reagan White House. Seal disdained the

government witness protection offer and was murdered by Colombian hitmen. Ball Ground is an attractive location because a lot of the movie action occurs Cruise in the Arkansas town of Mena where Seal evidently headquartered for a lot of his illegal dealings. Nothing is firm yet for Ball Ground locations, but it is one of the places under consideration. Wilmarth said a “scout team” is looking at the public cemetery and other city property as well as some of the historic buildings in the city. They are also in talks with local property owners for possible locations. Wilmarth takes it as a good sign that the scouts have returned “almost every day” and continue to talk mostly with local property owners. “We appreciate the professionalism with which they have handled the whole process,” said Wilmarth. “They approached us about five weeks ago and came into City Hall to speak with us. It’s a small town. And when people are walking around taking pictures of buildings and measuring property, people are going to ask questions. The heads-up was

“If we can get them to use our caterers and our restaurants, then that is going to bring some revenue to our townspeople.” Eric Wilmarth, Ball Ground City Manager

appreciated.” Ball Ground has the added attraction of being near the large – and growing – Atlanta film community, which features facilities, equipment, technicians and camera people. Film and TV production professionals already know Georgia is an attractive place to film. Georgia calls itself a “Camera Ready State” with not only desirable financial incentives but loca-

tion diversity, production resources and professional support for almost any size production. The Ball Ground City Council has already agreed to discuss a filming agreement with the production company. The councilmembers see it as a chance to give the Ball Ground community a shot in the arm. “If we can get them to use our caterers and our restaurants, then that is going to bring some revenue to our townspeople. I noticed that while two of the scouts were in town they both got a haircut here. That’s a little thing, but it shows how things you never considered before can have an effect,” Wilmarth said. The city was asked what fees would be assessed if the production company came, but all the City Council wants is for the production company to use local vendors as much as possible. “They seem to be quite self-sufficient as far as we can see. They have their own traffic control company they hire out of Atlanta, so it’s not an extra burden on our police department,” he said. “So what we want is our businesses to prosper in any way they can.” Georgia provides tax breaks for film companies operating in Georgia for every dollar they spend in the state. If selected, the bulk of the Ball Ground scenes would be filmed between April and July, said Wilmarth.

CHEROKEE COUNTY

20 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Cherokee growth attracts attention By PATRICK FOX pat@northatlantabusinesspost.com WOODSTOCK, Ga. – The southwest corner of Cherokee County has experienced so much growth over the past year that the Georgia Department of Transportation is updating signage along I-75 to include the city of Woodstock on posts that now only reference Acworth. The area has seen the successful development of the Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, Majestic Realty’s Cherokee Commerce Center and Cabela’s new 100,000-square-foot sporting goods complex. Last August, Nebraska-based Cabela’s opened its outdoor gear store in the Cherokee Village development at Ga. 92 and I-75 in Woodstock, bringing with it some 200 jobs. Local economic development officials said the opening should draw other major retailers to the area. More recently, in February, Germanbased MSK Covertech, an international manufacturer of packaging and logistics systems, announced plans to build a $3.8 million facility for its North American headquarters in Cherokee 75 Corporate Park. The move is expected to bring 30 high-salary careers to the county and a potential for expansion. Inalfa Roof Systems, the anchor tenant in the Cherokee 75 Corporate Park,

Inalfa Roof Systems

Inalfa Roof Systems plans on expanding its Cherokee Assembly Facility, adding a second building. recently announced plans to construct a second building to expand its Cherokee Assembly Facility. This will be the second expansion in less than a year for the global manufacturer of high-end automotive roofing sys-

tems. In 2014, Inalfa had barely moved into its new 165,000-square-foot facility, when it announced plans to add another 45,000 square feet. w is planning construction on a new replacement hospital off of I-575 at the

Ga. 20 exit. A $250 million investment, the new hospital is expected to open in 2016 with 84 beds and a full range of women’s and children’s, emergency, diagnostic, surgical and cancer treatment services. A multi-specialty medical office building and cancer center will also be included. “The vision for this area began with Majestic’s Cherokee Commerce Center and has continued with the development of Cherokee 75 Corporate Park,” said Marshall Day, chairman of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development. The first parcel of land for Cherokee 75 Corporate was purchased in 2009, he said, and the vision for Cherokee’s southwest corner has been years in the making. “The widening and realignment of Highway 92 opened this corridor up for redevelopment, and the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority was visionary and made improvements that were imperative for the future,” said Misti Martin, COED president and chief executive officer. “The 2010 Opportunity Zone Designation for added job tax credits from the state helped to spur the needed redevelopment with great economic impact. It’s a home run for the area. Southwest Cherokee will now have generous amenities for residents, and it will also serve as a corporate hub.”

Cherokee corporations honored for global reach By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com WOODSTOCK, Ga. – Eight years ago, NeoMed Inc. started as a one-man operation. Today, the company is a global powerhouse, holding a 35 percent share on the domestic market for neonatal enteral feeding devices. Yet, NeoMed has only one location in the United States, a 15,500-square-foot building in Woodstock. Last month, Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia Department of Economic Development recognized NeoMed for its international growth and expansion in 2014. NeoMed is one of 44 award recipients of this year’s GLOBE, an acronym for Georgia Launching Opportunities by Exporting. Award recipients span 17 counties and have business dealings in 104 unique countries and territories. Within the past year, NeoMed established a new international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and expanded its marketing and sales operations into Austria, France, the U.K. and Australia. Prior to last year, the company’s international market included Singapore, Spain and Canada. “Regardless of where one’s business is located, the world is our market,” said Cherokee County Commissioner Buzz Ahrens. “While business practices vary across the globe, those companies with quality and innovative products/services have unlimited growth potential.” Misti Martin, president of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, said NeoMed and other local

companies “serve as models of what can be achieved outside our borders.” Cherokee has a strong global corporate base and is home to many international companies, with recent location announcements from companies based in Germany and the Netherlands. J&S Chemicals, another Cherokee-based industry, is also a 2014 GLOBE recipient. J&S is a leading global supplier of specialty chemicals used in industries that span automotive, aerospace, communications, marine, medical, industrial application and consumer retail. Currently, the company has marketing and sales operations in 26 countries, with its world headquarters located in Canton. J&S Chemicals, as well as NeoMed, are privately held companies. “In the last year, 88 percent of companies that utilized Georgia’s international trade services had fewer than 100 employees,” said Deal. “This year’s award winners represent the high-caliber, highly competitive companies that operate in Georgia, and I congratulate each of them on receiving this great honor.” The GLOBE Awards were established by the Georgia Department of Economic Development in 2014 for the purpose of highlighting companies that have contributed to Georgia’s economic development and global presence by exporting to a new international market. Recently released trade statistics for 2014 showed Georgia celebrated a fifth consecutive year of export growth, with a record $39.4 billion in exports. “It’s exciting to see so many businesses from the state of Georgia expand internationally,” said Hilary Sherman, vice president of finance at NeoMed. “It also

Top brass at NeoMed receive the GLOBE Award from Gov. Nathan Deal at a ceremony March 6. From left are NeoMed President Aaron Ingram, Deal and NeoMed Vice President of Finance Hilary Sherman.

lets us know we need to work on a higher goal. The company with the largest number of new international markets last year expanded into 37 countries and territories. We thought five was good.”

CHEROKEE COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 21

Canton Town Square in historic downtown Canton.

The Manor House Terrace Gardens at Gibbs Gardens.

Lake Allatoona

Courtesy of gibbs gardens

Economic snapshot REAL ESTATE COMPARISON

Median home values • Gwinnett – $157,000 • Cobb – $177,900 • Fulton – $177,900 • Forsyth – $237,700 • Hall – $137,500 • Cherokee – $185,100 Median price of homes sold • Gwinnett – $163,600 • Cobb – $209,000 • Fulton – $245,000 • Forsyth – $263,000 • Hall – $145,000 • Cherokee – $198,400 (median sale price) Annual increase in home value 2014 • Gwinnett – 19.6 percent • Cobb – 12.5 percent • Fulton – 14.9 percent • Forsyth – 11.8 percent • Hall – 11.2 percent • Cherokee - 4.90 percent Source: Gwinnett and Cherokee counties

of the community, and Interstate 75 touches the county in the southwest corner where the new SW Cherokee Cabela’s store is located.

Higher education: Reinhardt University – A four-year private university in Waleska, Reinhardt offers 41 undergraduate programs and four graduate programs, including an MBA program. Chattahoochee Technical College – Chattahoochee Tech is a two-year public college with an enrollment of approximately 11,500. The college works with a number of industries throughout the county and has resources to assist any business or industry with their needs. CTC provides assistance with Georgia Work Ready, Georgia Quick Start, OSHA compliance and training and welding and fabrication. There are other offerings a short drive south of Cherokee, including Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University.

Transportation:

High School main test scores:

Cherokee is approximately 40 miles from the heart of Atlanta and Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. Interstate 575 runs north-south through the heart

The Cherokee County School District recently received the following accolades: • The district’s SAT scores ranked in the Top 5 districts in the state.

Burgess Administration Building at Reinhardt University

Cherokee County workforce Unemployment

Period

Labor force

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Annual 112,409 Annual 110,242 Annual 111,323 Annual 112,668 Annual 113,857 Annual 114,006 Annual 114,828 January 116,887

Employment

Unemployment

Rate

106,486 100,467 101,324 103,068 105,465 106,568 108,228 111,001

5,923 9,775 9,999 9,600 8,392 7,438 6,600 5,886

5.3 8.9 9.0 8.5 7.4 6.5 5.7 5.0

• The district ranked second in the state on Advanced Placement exam pass rates. • Cherokee County students exceeded state and national averages on the SAT and ACT. • Four Cherokee County high schools were named a “Best High School in America” by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report.

Commercial property figures: Cherokee County is part of the Northwest Atlanta real estate market. A recent report released by NAI Brannen Goddard shows that there is an 18.6 percent vacancy rate among office space and 8.9 percent within industrial.

Tourist attractions and convention centers: • The city of Canton has an active arts

scene with the Historic Downtown Theatre and Arts Center. • Reinhardt University in Waleska is home to the Falany Performing Arts Center. • The Elm Street Cultural Arts Village in Woodstock offers many shows through the year. • Lake Allatoona, a 12,000-acre lake, hosts 7 million visitors each year. • Cherokee is home to an abundance of golf courses, including the award-winning Hawks Ridge Golf Club. • Cherokee is home to Gibbs Gardens: http://gibbsgardens.com/information.php. • The county has also recently seen an uptick in filming as a result of the state’s “Camera Ready” program.

Median income: Median household income is $68,723.

HALL COUNTY

22 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Northeast Georgia Medical Center

Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton opens BRASELTON, Ga. — For the last 10 years, Northeast Georgia Health System steadily made progress to build and open a new hospital in Braselton. Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Braselton is excited to announce that on April 1 it officially opened and began providing care for patients.

NGMC Braselton offers a range of advanced surgical and medical services, with a strong emphasis on outpatient surgery as well as emergency services and specialty care in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics and neurosciences. “’Improving the health of our community in all we do’ is the mission of Northeast Georgia Health System,

and, at every step along the way, we make it a priority to do the right things for the right reasons,” said Anthony Williamson, president of NGMC Braselton. “After all the years of planning, developing and building, we are very pleased to be at this point of being able to begin serving our community.”

Get Your Foot In The Door.

Now its easy to reach business owners and decision makers. Metro Atlanta is home to 5.3 million people, more than 148,000 businesses. and is the 10th largest GDP in the U.S. North Atlanta Business Post, a monthly business-centric publication is distributed to 20,000 business professionals in a variety of industries. Available both in print and online, The North Atlanta Business Post is your “foot in the door”. To find out more information, contact Hans Appen at 770-442-3278 today.

319 North Main Street • Alpharetta, GA 30009 NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • 770-442-3278

FULTON COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 23

Belle Isle urges business take larger role in community Alpharetta honors local businesses By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta was filled with the movers and shakers of the city’s business world March 26, at the third annual Alpharetta Business Awards. Belle Isle The event was not so much a giving of awards as it was recognition of those who have received them. Local businesses that excelled in their fields in the past year were honored

Visit NorthAtlanta BusinessPost.com for a complete list of winners and their awards. for being good at what they do. “We want to recognize businesses that are doing their highest in the city,” said Peter Tokar, the city’s economic development director. Each of the roughly 100 businesses represented had been honored in the past year as being the best at what they do. They were given a “challenge coin,” as a mark of appreciation for their efforts, by the city. Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle ad-

dressed the business leaders and urged them to help make the city a better place. In every city, there are consumers and creators, he said. The creators make up less than 1 percent of the population, but are responsible for creating a vibrant and engaging community. “What are you doing to create something in your city to get people to love it?” Belle Isle asked. “What can I do to make a city fall in love with itself, as a business in Alpharetta?” The reason he ran for mayor was to create an active downtown and a sense of community in the city, he said. “I knew there was something to love about Alpharetta,” he said. Avalon has created a corn hole league; the Alpharetta Business Association hosts the annual Brew Moon Festival; brewpub Hop Alley hosts beer pairings with their meals. While they are

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Fulton County Technology group honors Agilysys ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Technology Association of Georgia has named Agilysys as one of its Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia. The Top 40 recognizes Georgia-based technology companies for their innovation, financial impact and efforts at spreading awareness of Georgia’s technology initiatives throughout the United States and globally. This year’s finalists were selected from more than 120 applicants. Agilysys is a developer and marketer of proprietary enterprise software, services and solutions for the hospitality industry. Companies selected for the Top 40 were showcased at the 2015 Georgia Technology Summit, held March 25 at Cobb Galleria Centre. The event featured presentations from some of the nation’s leading technology influencers.

RelayHealth unveils collections system upgrade ALPHARETTA, Ga. — RelayHealth Financial has released a new version of its RelayAccount software that helps providers efficiently increase patient collections. The online patient billing solution lets providers see what each family or individual owes at the point of service. It then enables them to collect payment or set up a recurring payment plan. Company officials said patients benefit from 24/7 access to their account status and convenient online payment. The resulting clarity around each patient’s financial obligations enables hospitals to accelerate collections, boost patient satisfaction with the payment process and minimize bad debt. Using RelayAccount with a patient financial advocacy program allowed Lawrenceville-based Gwinnett Medical Center to collect online patient payments of $45 million over five years, realize a 38 percent compound annual growth rate for online payments over four years and significantly reduce call center volume. “At-a-glance access to account status puts us in a much better position to help patients navigate the new world of high-deductible plans, which helps us improve

our accounts receivable,” said Travis Mendenhall, senior systems analyst, Gwinnett Medical Center.

Turf Masters announces largest acquisition to date ROSWELL, Ga. – Lawn and pest control company Turf Masters has acquired Dorsey Services, a major lawn care, tree and shrub and pest service company. The transaction is the largest investment made by Turf Masters, and it expands the company’s services throughout central Georgia. With this acquisition, as well as expansion markets completed in 2013 and 2014, the lawn care business now has nine company-owned operations in four Southern states: Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Planet Fitness opens first Roswell club ROSWELL, Ga. – Planet Fitness recently celebrated the grand opening of its first club in Roswell, located at 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 840. With more than 950 locations nationwide, Planet Fitness offers state-of-the-art cardio machines and strength equipment, circuit training, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, numerous flat-screen televisions, HydroMassage beds, massage chairs, tanning and total body enhancement booths. The club is open and staffed 24 hours from Monday at midnight through Friday at 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

good events by themselves, taken as a part of the whole in the city is what creates that community, Belle Isle said. “How do we get more people involved?” he asked. “As business owners, you are as much a part of the city as the citizens.” Belle Isle challenged the audience of business leaders to start thinking about ways they can help improve the city and its community in ways the city government cannot, such as sponsoring a cause or creating an event. He cited the Lantern Parade at the Atlanta Beltline. A citizen-started event, it drew 20,000 revelers in 2014. “That was not started by a government. It was started by residents. Can a single event cause people to fall in love with a city?” Belle Isle said. “It doesn’t take a lot of people to change a city. You will help us love Alpharetta.”

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UGA alumnus honored for business prowess ATLANTA — Alpharetta-based 6 Degrees Group was recognized as the 22nd fastest-growing business owned or operated by a University of Georgia graduate during the 2015 Bulldog 100 Celebration Feb. 7 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta. 6 Degrees Group, co-owned by 1987 UGA graduate Tracy Manning Bates, along with Brian Risinger, is a full-service accounting and finance placement firm, matching top Atlanta employers with skilled professionals. The Bulldog 100, coordinated by the UGA Alumni Association, recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by UGA graduates. More than 450 nominations were received for this year’s list. To be considered for the list, each organization must have been in business for at least five years, experienced revenues over $100,000 for the calendar year 2012 and be owned or operated by a former UGA student.

GoWaiter restaurant delivery rebrands as CitySpree ALPHARETTA, Ga. — GoWaiter restaurant delivery in North Atlanta now has a new name: CitySpree. Customers can still place orders at GoWaiter.com, and now also at CitySpree.com. CitySpree delivers for restaurants that do not normally provide delivery, including Altobeli’s Italian, Bantu at Avalon and Smashburger. The GoWaiter.com website will continue to operate through mid-summer. For more visit www.cityspree.com.

FORSYTH COUNTY

24 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Dudgeon introduces bill to incorporate city of Sharon Springs By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA — State Rep. Mike Dudgeon (R-South Forsyth/ Johns Creek) introduced House Bill 660 on March 25, legislation that would initiate a referendum to incorporate the city Dudgeon of Sharon Springs in southern Forsyth County. “We have discussed this idea for several months, and based on the positive results from the Carl Vinson survey, I have decided to begin this legislative process,” Dudgeon said. “I am especially encouraged that the study showed no property tax would be necessary to fund the city.” The standard cityhood process in the House requires proposed cityhood legislation to be introduced a year before it can be considered for a vote, so although the bill was officially introduced March 25, it cannot be considered for passage until 2016.

“I am especially encouraged that the study showed no property tax would be necessary to fund the city.” Rep. Mike Dudgeon, R-South Forsyth/ Johns Creek

“I want to have a robust public debate over the pros and cons of a new city for the rest of this year before making a final decision to push the bill when we return for the next legislative session in January of 2016,” Dudgeon said. Until then, Dudgeon plans on holding at least three public meetings, two of which he hopes to hold in the fall.

“During this time of year, people get distracted with summer and we have a lot of people in our area who go out of town for the summer and it’s hard to get their attention,” Dudgeon said. “We will have the most debate in the fall when people are back and in the swing to talk about this issue.” Along with the public meetings, Dudgeon is hoping to gauge his constituents’ views on the possible city. “I am looking not to my colleagues but the community first,” Dudgeon said. “The way I look at it is in multiple phases. First, we started with an idea. Then we need to get support for the idea. We used a study to see if it’s feasible, and I got enough positive feedback to say there’s enough support to take the next step. I will put the bill out there and my job as a legislator is to listen to my constituents over the next year and me be convinced the majority of my constituents wants this to happen.” If passed by the General Assembly during the 2016 legislative session, H.B. 660 would hold a referendum for voters on May 24, 2016. If voters approve the

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Forsyth County

proposed city, an election for city council and mayor would be held on Nov. 8, 2016, and the city would operate as of Jan. 1, 2017. The city would be limited to a maximum millage rate of 0.5 mills, and would only handle zoning, sanitation and code enforcement. If the city wanted to expand services to roads, parks or other items, they would need to receive voter approval. The approximate boundaries of the proposed city are east of Ga. 400, south of Ga. 20, the river and the Fulton county line. The population would be roughly 50,000 residents. “The Sharon Springs Alliance is thrilled with the introduction of House Bill 660,” said Phillip Barlag, chairman of the Sharon Springs Alliance. “The families and businesses of south Forsyth County are one step closer toward greater local control – allowing us to chart our own course to address overdevelopment, increased traffic and school overcrowding. Most importantly, this allows the residents of South Forsyth to tackle these problems without the need to raise property taxes.”

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Realty firm donates check to fight domestic violence CUMMING, Ga. – Dan Parmer, president and chief executive officer of Harry Norman Realtors, recently presented a check for $1,707 to Forsyth County Family Haven, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter, programs and community education to help stop domestic violence. The Harry Norman Realtors Forsyth/Lake Lanier office in Cumming raised money for the donation by sponsoring the 13th annual Ticket 2 Ride, a benefit horse show held at the Wills Park Equestrian Center in Alpharetta.

StoneAge Stonescapes awarded Kudzu’s best of 2014

Century 21 Results Realty Services awards 2014 FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Century 21 Results Realty Services held its annual kick off meeting and breakfast at the Forsyth Conference Center in Cumming, where it awarded their Million Dollar Club members and several other milestone awards as well. Kimberly Yates/Yates Estates received top honors. With over $30 million in sales volume, they received Top Team Award for the highest volume in sales. Her team includes Steve Yates and administrative

assistant Robin Andrews. The recipient of the Top Individual Award was presented to Jason Gillis as he achieved sales production levels over $16 million. Top Commercial Agent was awarded to Dan Thornton. The Rookie of the Year Award went to Heather Beyer for her outstanding production as a first year real estate agent. Amanda Staines received the Quality Service Award with a 99.27 percent customer satisfaction scoring in 2014.

CUMMING, Ga. — StoneAge Stonescapes in Cumming was named a Best of 2014 winner for Atlanta in the category of concrete, brick and stone masonry on Kudzu.com, a source for local business information and consumer reviews. Over 5 million local businesses competed for votes from consumers in the Atlanta community across categories including home, auto, health and professional services. StoneAge Stonescapes received the top honor and will be recognized with a Best of 2014 badge on their Kudzu business listing. “We are proud that our customers and Kudzu users voted us as one of the best concrete, brick and stone masonry companies in the Atlanta market,” said Hugh Dixon, StoneAge principal. “Winning this award from Kudzu only strengthens our commitment to providing top-notch outdoor living spaces and the complete satisfaction of customers.”

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 25

ALPHARETTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INAUGURAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

ALPHARETTA CHAMBER’S Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Atlanta National Golf Club Registration: Contact Ciara Rubin - 404-277-4930, ciara@alpharettachamber.com Mail form on following page and check made payable to Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce to: Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce 319 North Main Street, Suite 300 Alpharetta, GA 30009 For payment by credit card: email this form to Ciara, or visit www.alpharettachamber.

GOLF TOURNAMENT and

NETWORKING LEAGUE

COBB COUNTY

26 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Bartering an alternative to cash By SHANNON WEAVER shannon@appenmediagroup.com KENNESAW, Ga. — When business owners are looking to save cash, one market offers an alternative: the bartering community. Copeland’s of New Orleans recently renovated their Cumberland location through barter trade. They worked with the Barter Company, which is based in Kennesaw, to do a renovation that was required by the franchise. “It really helps your cash flow tremendously,” said Copeland’s co-owner Glen Helmstetter. “We’ve saved a couple hundred thousand dollars by bartering the renovation.” Helmstetter said bartering brings the company new referrals.

“It’s a whole new market,” he said. “We have people come in because we’re on barter. It’s a new clientele for us.” The Barter Company converts goods and services to “barter credits,” which are added to an account. “It’s a big pool of entrepreneurs,” Helmstetter said. “We’ll take barter dollars in, and we’ll take that money and we’ll, before we spend cash, we always call the Barter Company and they’ll point us in the direction of vendors who can help us out.” The idea of bartering gained interest during the recession of 2007, when businesses were short on cash and it became more difficult to receive loans. “The recession gave barter a lot of exposure,” said Ric Zampatti, the Barter Company’s chief executive officer. “It got a

“It’s a whole new market. We have people come in because we’re on barter. It’s a new clientele for us.” Glen Helmstetter, Copeland’s co-owner

lot of people intrigued about ways of getting things done when you didn’t have money.” Now, Zampatti says bartering opportunities continue to grow. “Coming out of the recession, it allows businesses to do more bartering when their sales increase,” Zampatti said. “Bartering has been going on since time immemorial, but it really kicked in

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Cobb County Executive director named for entrepreneurship project KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State University and the Cobb Chamber have named Metro Atlanta Chamber Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development Nancy Wright Whatley as the executive director of the Georgia Business Success Center, a new business incubator, accelerator and education project. Whately The center, in partnership with Kennesaw State University, is an outgrowth of the Cobb Chamber’s Competitive EDGE program, which contributes to the county’s economic development strategy by encouraging entrepreneurship and aiding small businesses. As executive director of the new center, Whatley’s primary responsibilities will be to support the economic growth of Cobb County, the metro region and the state of Georgia by supporting and promoting entrepreneur-

ship and business growth. Whatley will focus on strategic planning, business development, entrepreneur identification, budget management, fundraising and facility oversight. She will report directly to Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp.

Cellairis repair services available at Marietta Walmart MARIETTA, Ga. — At the Marietta Walmart, 210 Cobb Parkway, Cellairis can repair iPhone, iPad or Samsung Galaxy devices with the fast turnaround that customers need. Cellairis is also a nationwide supplier of fashionable protective cell phone cases and other accessories.

Valuation Management Group renews Georgia Bankers Association endorsement MARIETTA, Ga. —Valuation Management Group

high gear during the last recession we had,” Helmstetter said. Zampatti said he often works with small businesses. “Ninety percent of our clients are small business owners,” he said. “From a small business perspective, it gives them additional funds to buy things they normally couldn’t afford,” he said. “It’s not having to spend cash.”

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(VMG), has announced its renewal as a Georgia Bankers Association (GBA) Strategic Partner and its preferred provider of appraisal management services. “We are excited to renew our status as a strategic partner with GBA,” said Patrick McMillen, COO of Valuation Management Group. “Our goal is to assist Georgia banks with appraiser independence compliance and provide robust reviews.”

Pacesetter certified Women’s Business Enterprise KENNESAW, Ga. — Pacesetter Steel Service announced that it has received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), making it one of largest companies in the steel industry to receive this prestigious distinction. WBENC’s national standard of certification requires that the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.

GWINNETT COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 27

Providence Group unveils new luxury homes DULUTH, Ga. — The Providence Group of Georgia is selling luxury single-family homes and townhomes at River’s Edge at Abbott’s Bridge in Duluth. Homes are priced from the mid-$200,000s to the $300,000s. Buyers can personalize their homes with design options available in the company’s 3,500-square-foot Design Center. Interested home buyers can also visit the recently opened model home, which showcases 2,420 square feet of luxury living with three bedrooms and twoand-a-half bathrooms. Abbott’s Bridge is located on Abbott’s Bridge Road at Peachtree Industrial Road. For up-to-date information, visit www.TheProvidenceGroup.com.

The Providence Group

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Gwinnett County Rock-Tenn merger passes federal hurdle NORCROSS, Ga. – Rock-Tenn Company and MeadWestvaco Corporation have announced that the federal waiting period for the pending business merger has expired. The 30-day waiting period is required by the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice as part of the premerger notification program. On Feb. 6, both companies filed the requisite notification and report forms with the U.S. antitrust authorities. The expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the pending business combination, which remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including receipt of stockholder and shareholder approvals, as applicable and other regulatory approvals.

Staffing company expands Georgia operations SUWANEE, Ga. — The DAVIS Companies, a national staffing firm headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, has expanded its Georgia operations to a new office in Suwanee. Located at 415 Horizon Drive, the space is housed by sales, recruiting and administrative professionals who serve clients and candidates throughout the region. The new space has tripled the company’s footprint and comes as a result of tremendous growth. Their Georgia operation has nearly doubled its staff over the past two years and remains the second largest of the company’s five locations.

Engent launches new website NORCROSS, Ga. – Engent, a provider of next-generation microelectronics development, testing and manufacturing services, has launched a new website, engentaat.com. The site is designed to showcase the company’s unique capabilities within today’s electronics industry and allows customers and prospects to explore how Engent can help them keep pace with changing market demands and accelerate their product development. “The constant demand for smaller, lighter and more functional and durable electronics continues to challenge the industry,” said Matt Perry, vice president of sales and one of Engent’s founders.

Lilburn Wendy’s reopens with ultra-modern design GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Meritage Hospitality Group has announced the reopening of its Wendy’s restaurant in Lilburn. The restaurant represents the company’s seventh Image Activation restaurant and first renovation of the older image-style Wendy’s building. Over the past six years, Meritage has acquired 12 Wendy’s franchises representing more than 80 restaurants through Michigan and five Southeastern states.

Multifamily Property trades for $24 Million PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. — Transwestern’s Southeast Investment Services Group today announces it brokered the disposition of Bristol Court apartments

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for $24 million, or $54,545 per unit. The 440-unit, garden-style community is located at 3655 Westchase Village Lane in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, and totals 381,496 square feet. Transwestern Managing Directors Mike McGaughy and Jon Kleinberg represented the seller, Dallas-based ORIX. The property was acquired by Massachusetts-based Aspen Square Management.

Partnership Gwinnett’s Movers & Makers Awards announced GWINNETT— Partnership Gwinnett, in collaboration with Gwinnett Technical College, announced the winners of its 4th Annual Movers & Makers Awards, presented by Jackson EMC March 19 at the Gwinnett Center. The Movers & Makers Awards are the county’s annual recognition of Gwinnett-based companies involved in manufacturing, processing or distributing tangible products. The manufacturing winners included: • Small Manufacturer of the Year: Winton Machine • Medium Manufacturer of the Year: PartnerTech • Large Manufacturer of the Year: Nidec Elesys Americas • The supply chain winners included: • Supply Chain Pioneer of the Year Award Winner: National DCP • Corporate Citizen Award Winner: Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration The Most Valuable Provider (MVP) Award recognized Hire Dynamics for its service to Gwinnett manufacturing and supply chain sectors. For more information, visit partnershipgwinnett. com/movers-makers-awards.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

28 • April 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Women in business: Barbara King The North Atlanta Business Post profiles influential women in the Atlanta business world. Here is a Q & A with Barbara King, president of Marketing Inspirations. If you or someone you know would like to be featured in “Women in business,” email business@appenmediagroup.com.

did those around me. I have found that confidence starts with you. Once you are able to use that confidence to express your ideas and solutions, others will grow in confidence with you. That is when you will be trusted with a higher level of responsibility and reward.

Barbara King, President of Marketing Inspirations

What gives you the most satisfaction at work? Like all businesses, we have to watch our profitability, continue to grow income and manage expenses. However, it needs to be about more than that. What really gives me the most joy in my work is seeing my team produce excellent work for our clients that drive results. It starts by building a collaborative and smart group of professionals that inspire each other. I strive to create an environment that attracts and retains like-minded and talented people who are driven to innovate and that won’t settle for mediocrity. Our core values as a company are very important to our culture – so important that we have them painted on our walls in our office so we are reminded of them every day. We have so much to be grateful for as we celebrate our 15th year in business. With that, we have also put an important new partnership in place with MUST Ministries, so that we can give back to our community. We have committed professional services to help publicize the amazing work that MUST does throughout Georgia, and we are also volunteering our time as a team at the organization’s donation center and homeless campus. It is an incredibly rewarding partnership that is humanizing our workplace, which brings meaning to our work environment.

Barbara King founded Marketing Inspirations in 1999 with the vision to provide inspired marketing solutions and to exceed client expectations every time. With more than 30 years’ experience in the advertising industry, she has applied her experience from the agency, broadcasting and research/technology sides to build King Marketing Inspirations into a successful marketing firm. Under King’s leadership, Marketing Inspirations now seamlessly integrates marketing disciplines to amplify messaging, igniting inspired results. Prior to starting her own agency, King joined TAPSCAN as vice president to create a new sales division for TAPSCAN software systems. She was successful in growing the division to 600 agency clients nationwide and ultimately facilitated the process of the agency division of TAPSCAN being acquired by Arbitron. There, she joined the senior management team and continued shaping a business environment where growth and development flourished. North Atlanta Business Post: What decision did you make that put you on the path to this career? Barbara King: I was fortunate to have an “intrepreneurial” opportunity early in my career where I started a new division for a successful software company. I enjoyed taking the responsibility of turning an idea into a profitable business and became determined to try that for myself. That taste of entrepreneurship put me on the path to launching Marketing Inspirations. What obstacles, if any, did you face on your way up the corporate ladder? At the start of my career, I was trapped in a pattern of being a people pleaser. While this made me popular with managers and easy to coach, it also led to being overlooked in some cases. I had to learn when and how to assert myself while still being team-minded and dependable to do whatever needed to get done. Ultimately, as I learned to value my own skills and talents more, so

Success: Continued from Page 14 ogy group centered in Buckhead and affiliated with Georgia Baptist Hospital. In 1993 the hospital requested we send a doctor to Cumming one day a week to service Baptist North and Gross I volunteered. Due to the tremendous population growth in the county, this one day quickly turned to two days then three days. By 1995 I was practicing in Cumming full time. We started out renting space in a small free standing building close to the old hos-

What keeps you up at night? Fortunately, we have been able to pay our bills and make payroll without going into debt for all of these 15 years, even during the global financial crash. Fortunately, we are reaping the rewards now of making it through some of the tough and uncertain days experienced several years ago during the global financial crisis that affected so many small businesses. Our biggest challenge now is managing the ups and downs of business. We never want our company’s growth to affect the quality of our work that we strive to produce, and we certainly don’t want to fail in establishing appropriate structure to support the growth we are experiencing. With unemployment numbers dropping and the economy strengthening, our challenge will be to capture opportunities and manage growth. What advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in business? It is so important to follow your passion and like what you do. However, most people starting out in their

pital and in January of 1999 we moved into the medical office building adjacent to the new hospital which is now Northside Hospital Forsyth. We began as a predominantly medical practice but expanded to include cosmetic treatments and then a Medical Spa. We are now celebrating our 20th anniversary in Forsyth County. We began with three people working in the office and now have a staff of 20 employees. What has been the best part of having a small business? The worst? The best part of running a small practice is the ability to create a philosophy and environment that reflects your values and ideals. This includes flexibility in scheduling, setting up ‘best practice’

career are fuzzy about what that really is for them. My advice is to pursue as many internship opportunities as you can so that you can experience different environments firsthand. I think the expectation on young people today is that they are going to know what they want to do and that they should be able to manifest that with their first job. That is a lot of pressure and not very realistic in my experience. Instead, I advise that you try the “land and expand” approach. Get in somewhere, work hard and learn all you can. You will figure out what interests you in the environment and form a path for yourself as you go. You don’t have to have all the answers before you get started, and where you start is not always where you’re going to end up. The challenge is to be brave enough to jump in and start the process. Most people will tell you they had no idea all the places their career would end up taking them, and the same is true for me. I encourage anyone starting out in the business world to bring a spirit of excellence to their current role while also striving for the next best thing, whether it’s a new job entirely or just the next position up, and opportunity will unfold for you. What degree do you think might prove most useful to young people today? Many young people today come out of college carrying debt and want to make sure that they are choosing an in-demand major so they can find meaningful employment. Within the realm of business and marketing, the demand seems to be in business analytics and graphic design. The amount of consumer data available is staggering and I read recently that computerized data is doubling every two years. We need analysts to sort through the volume of data to create strategies. To distinguish yourself, take every course you can to develop strong critical thinking skills. When you develop critical thinking skills, you will be able to find the necessary information for yourself, be able to evaluate the merits and consequences of the information and be able to analyze the information to solve problems. This skill is very valuable in the workplace. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for young people today? The explosive rise in digital technologies and social media has created a young, tech-savvy generation who is coming into the workplace with an unprecedented opportunity to connect and learn on their own terms. Young people can bring technology skills, new ideas and perspectives and open mindedness as strengths. They don’t fear change and they are eager to learn, which can energize any environment.

policies for patient care, as well as ensuring we have the best possible staffing for our office. We set high standards, and we are accountable to reach them. At the Georgia Dermatology Center, there is a strong commitment to taking care of your customer and we enjoy developing close relationships with our patients. As a small practice, we have been able to design a medical office that fills the needs of the population, from medical dermatology to our focus on anti-aging and cosmetic procedures. The greatest challenge is trying to survive in a constantly changing regulatory environment. Physicians must now spend a great deal of time tending to government compliance issues and regulations which have little to do with the quality of care. The solo practitioner is becoming an endangered

species. Why is Forsyth County a good place to start a business? Forsyth is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. The physical growth and change has been extraordinary since I started practicing here. The strong development in housing and business is very exciting, as evidenced by all the cranes around Cumming. We have excellent schools, outstanding recreational opportunities and other services in the county which attract families and people of all ages. I have worked at several different hospitals and feel that Northside Forsyth Hospital is one of the best in the region. Our community of talented physicians is supported by excellent nursing and administrative staffs.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Movers & Shakers The people turning heads in your backyard

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • April 2015 • 29

works out of the Atlanta office of CBIZ Insurance Services and reports through the CBIZ-Meridian office in Alpharetta.

Harry Norman agent gets quality service certification

Sam Russell (right) is awarded Top Individual Sales Associate for the North Fulton office by President and CEO Kevin Levent at the BHGRE Metro Brokers Awards Celebration.

BHGRE Metro Brokers awards sales associates ROSWELL, Ga. — Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers honored their top sales associates in 2014 at their recent awards celebration. Twenty-five members of the North Fulton office received awards for their performance. The North Fulton office top sales associates were Sam Russell and David Mills. Russell was named Top Individual Sales Associate for the North Fulton office while Mills was recognized for being the Top Team Sales Associate for North Fulton. Russell with fellow office mates Mark Broyles and David Mills received the Platinum Award; Dan Jones and Stacy Carter were honored with the Gold Award; Ed Short, Rich Murray, Sandee Garihan, Giuliana Enriquez, Lauren Kermani and Devin Foy were honored with the Silver Award; and 14 sales associates were honored with the Bronze Award. The North Fulton office includes 119 sales associates. For more information, visit metrobrokers.com.

Molinari new executive for CBIZ Insurance Services ATLANTA – Chris Molinari has been hired as a sales producer for the Southeast region of CBIZ Insurance Services Inc. Molinari has more than 26 years of experience in property and casualty insurance. He began his career at Chubb and Son Inc., where he worked for more than 17 years, Molinari based out of several locations. He then moved to Fireman’s Fund, Atlanta, for four years. In these jobs, he held sales executive and various management positions. More recently, he successfully developed two Atlanta agency startup operations – as director of property and casualty insurance at Signature FD, then as managing director at Taylor & Taylor LLC. In his new position, Molinari’s responsibilities include insurance carrier relationships and new-client development for CBIZ’s Southeast region. Molinari

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Patty Ash of Harry Norman, Realtors in Alpharetta has been awarded the highest level of service achievement in the real estate industry, Quality Service Certified Platinum. The award recognizes Ash receiving 100 percent client service satisfaction in 2014, as measured by Leading ASH Research Corporation. Quality Service Certified status is the only award in the real estate industry based on independently validated, measurable service results. Clients of QSC agents receive a customer satisfaction survey at the end of each transaction. The surveys’ results are compiled by LRC, and client feedback from the surveys becomes part of the agent’s credentials. “Nothing is more important to a prospective client in selecting a professional than the service results achieved with past clients,” said Larry D. Romito, president and CEO of QSC.

ties. Fay will be responsible for leading the field sales organization in the ongoing adoption of Comverge’s demand response, energy efficiency and customer engagement solutions. For more information, visit www.comverge.com.

Cato joins events firm as tournament consultant ROSWELL, Ga. – Magnolia Golf Group, industry leader in golf tournament signage, player gifts, leaderboards and consulting has added Lindsey Cato as Golf Tournament Advisor. Lindsey brings with her over 5 years of previous experience in the golf industry. She formerly worked in member service Cato and relations at Sequoia Golf. Magnolia Golf Group serves many North Fulton organizations, including Northside Hospital, City of Milton, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, North Fulton Community Charities and Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce by providing products and services to maximize fundraising and enhance the participant experience for their golf tournaments and special events.

Medical practice welcomes two new specialists GAINESVILLE and SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. – Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates (AGA) welcomed two doctors to its offices in Gainesville and Sandy Springs. Dr. Jawad Ilyas and Dr. Tejas Mehta have joined Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates. Board certified in gastroenterology, Dr. Ilyas completed both a fellowship in transplant hepatology and in gastroenterology from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He has been widely published in peer journals for his research on hepatitis, liver disease, and liver transplantation. He will operate out of AGA’s Gainesville office. Dr. Tejas Mehta, a board certified pediatric gastroenterologist, joined AGA’s Pediatric and Adolescent Division located in Sandy Springs next to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Prior to coming to the practice, he served as a pediatric gastroenterology attending physician at Arnold Palmer Hospital’s Center for Pediatric Digestive Health and Nutrition in Orlando, Fla.

Chamber accepting young professional nominees CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominees for the 2015 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals recognition program. The Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch initiative is coordinated by the Cherokee County Chamber, in partnership with Enjoy! Cherokee Magazine, and focuses on local residents between the ages of 20-40 who are considered to be Cherokee County’s potential future leaders. All nominations must be submitted by noon, Friday, April 17. For more, visit www.cherokeechamber. com.

Comverge appoints Shane Fay as vice president, utility sales NORCROSS, Ga. —Comverge announced that Shane Fay has been appointed as the company’s vice president, utility sales. Fay has more than 12 years of experience selling smart grid solutions to electric utili-

Gaming Intelligence Awards

Scientific Games’ Chief Executive of Lottery Jim Kennedy, (center) receives the “2015 Lottery Supplier of the Year Award” from Gaming Intelligence Awards hosts Steve Hoare (left) and Bobby Mamudi (right) during ICE Totally Gaming in London February 3-4.

Scientific Games receives 2 international awards LAS VEGAS — Scientific Games of Alpharetta recently received two awards at ICE Totally Gaming 2015, the world’s largest business-to-business gaming event. The company received the 2015 Lottery Operator of the Year Award at the eighth International Gaming Awards and the 2015 Lottery Supplier of the Year Award at the Gaming Intelligence Awards. The company’s lottery center, which employs approximately 1,200 professionals, is located in Alpharetta. The company develops technology-based products and services and associated content for worldwide gaming and lottery markets.

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