North Atlanta Business Post, November 2014

November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Change of scenery

The Institute for Advanced Medical Research moves office, changes name. PAGE 24

Meet the chambers

Profiles of the Metro-Atlanta Chambers of Commerce. PAGE 15 Volume I, Issue 5 • Part of Appen Media Group • Cherokee • Cobb • Forsyth • Fulton • Gwinnett • Hall

Flexible traffic

Ga. 400 to see more flexible lane used. PAGE 4

What do you do?

Area chamber presidents give the scoop. PAGES 16-17

Makeover

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit #3592

Forsyth Courthouse to get more changes. PAGE 20

Avalon arrives Mark Toro of North American Properties speaks during the grand opening of the Avalon in Alpharetta Oct. 30. See more, Pages 12 – 13.

Appen Media Group 319 North Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

Abby Breaux/Staff

Be a Local in Roswell, Georgia!

Learn more about living locally in Roswell on page 28

2 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

WELCOME

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 3

QUICK GLANCE:

Letter from the publisher: My oh my what a month it has been in North Atlanta!

We saw the grand opening of the $600 million dollar, 1 million square feet of mixed use Avalon - phase one – in Alpharetta. Included in the phase one grand opening were 54 new retail stores, restaurants, apartments and a brand new and posh Regal theater.

Within a week of the phase one grand opening Alpharetta City Council approved – with numerous conditions – the core elements of phase II: a hotel/ conference center, at least one class A office building and additional apartments.

As we go to press with this edition, mid-term elections are in progress and by the time you read this we may have a more favorable business climate in the works.

We will see.

Meanwhile, in this issue we have written about and consulted with the region’s chambers of commerce about the business climate in North Atlanta and the many positive factors that the region brings to the development table.

I hope you have a safe and joyous holiday and we will see you next month when we highlight entrepreneurship in the region.

I am sure it will be an interesting and vital issue.

Best,

Avalon by the numbers 86 acres $600 million cost

Hans Appen Publisher hans@appenmediagroup.com

What’s inside this issue:

2.4 million square feet total 750,000 square feet Class A office

500,000+ square feet retail

News

[4] More flexible shoulder lanes coming to Ga. 400

101 single-family houses

[6] Shafer sees zero-base state budgeting as plus [7] Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate falls to 7.3% [8] Consultants bring Alpharetta City Center into focus

experienceavalon.com

[9] Emory Eye Center opens clinic in Johns Creek [12] Avalon celebrates opening

Movers and Shakers

[10] The people on the move, new hires and promotions

subscribe today 770-442-3278 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET

Chambers of Commerce [15] North Atlanta Chambers of Commerce

[16-17] Education keys economic growth, chamber leaders say [18] Chambers bring unique tools to government initiatives [19] From humble beginnings, North Fulton Chamber grows in influence

Forsyth County

[20] Courthouse project spruces up outside [21] Sharon Springs: Debate for new city intensifies

Hall County

Gwinnett County

Cherokee County

Sound Advice

Fulton County

Restaurants

[22] Nordstrom to close doors at Mall of Georgia location

[23] Cherokee Schools graduation rate increases

[24] Medical research facility moves to Alpharetta

Cobb County

[26] Wells Fargo honors Cobb groups

[27] Partnership Gwinnett launches fundraising campaign

[28] Real estate and business management experts

[30] More than a meal

Read all of our stories online at NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

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 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

More flexible shoulder lanes coming to Ga. 400 ATLANTA – More of the popular rush-hour flexible shoulder lanes have been implemented on Ga. 400, Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia Department of Transportation announced.

Deal The lanes allow rush-hour commuters to drive on reinforced outside (right) roadway shoulders for limited time periods. Currently, such lanes are in morning use southbound between Holcomb Bridge Road and Northridge Road and between Northridge and the North Springs MARTA Station exit.

Beginning the week of Oct. 20, afternoon flexible shoulder lanes will be available northbound as well between the MARTA station and Northridge and farther north between State Route 120/Old Milton Parkway and Windward Parkway, officials said.

“Access to an additional lane during the busiest hours on Ga. 400 is not only beneficial to commuters, but it will maximize the use of our existing infrastructure,” said Deal. “We will continue our efforts – big and small – to improve travel conditions on Ga. 400 and all of the freeways serving metro Atlanta.”

GDOT began allowing travel in the

current southbound shoulder lanes in 2012 after Deal asked the department to examine and pursue easy-to-implement and inexpensive steps that could offer immediate relief to commuters. The lanes were well-received and provided some congestion relief during Ga. 400’s most heavy southbound traffic periods; thus, Georgia DOT is expanding the program to other Ga. 400 segments.

Driving on the new northbound flexible shoulder lanes will be permissible between the hours of 4 – 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. As with the current southbound shoulder lanes,

a 45 mph advisory speed limit will be posted for shoulder lane traffic. Accident or disabled vehicle pull-off sites will be available adjacent to each of the new shoulder lanes.

GDOT will open an additional southbound shoulder lane between North Springs MARTA and Abernathy Road later this month or in early November and expects to open another southbound lane between Mansell Road and Holcomb Bridge and a northbound lane between Abernathy and North Springs MARTA in the months to come.

Driving in southbound flexible shoul-

“Access to an additional lane during the busiest hours on Ga. 400 is not only beneficial to commuters, but it will maximize the use of our existing infrastructure.”

Nathan Deal, Governor Georgia

der lanes is permissible only between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays.

GDOT urges motorists on this busy corridor – and all Georgia roads – to always drive cautiously, courteously, undistracted and unimpaired.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 5

NEWS

6 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Shafer sees zero-base state budgeting as plus Says budget move allows real budget cuts

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – State Senate Pro Tem David Shafer, R-48, said the state’s new zero-base budgeting should lead to a leaner Georgia and a more painless way to cut fat.

Speaking at the Oct. 8 meeting of the Rotary Club of Johns Creek/North Fulton, Shafer gave Rotarians an update on the direction in which the General Assembly needs to go.

Shafer noted that declining revenues had forced $4 billion in cuts over the last five years, most of it coming off education since it represents more than half of state spending.

“These were real cuts – and that is not counting ‘new dollars’ that didn’t get spent the way Washington likes to calculate spending,” Shafer said. “Now we are getting smarter about making cuts.”

First, Georgia can’t count automatic spending increases that are not made as budget cuts. Those savings would only be on paper. Congress can get away with that because it allows itself deficits.

The state must balance its budget.

HATCHER HURD/Staff

Johns Creek Rotary President Bev Miller welcomes state Sen. David Shafer as the club’s guest speaker.

Therefore, it can’t count a dollar it doesn’t have as a cut in the budget, he said.

In 1992, the state had a budget of $5.9 billion and a population of about 5.9 million people. That worked out to

be about $1,000 per person in spending.

By 2009, that had risen to $2,500 per person despite the rise in population in Georgia.

“We were not 25 times better at governing; we just had a problem with the

way the General Assembly prepared the budget,” Shafer said.

Before, only new spending received a line-item in the annual budget. The legislature did not print an accounting of where all department spending went.

So as time went on, state departments were allowed to shift dollars around from areas originally intended.

The annual budget only described new spending that has been approved that year. The rest of the budget did not get examined for possible trimming in what is called the continuation budget.

“The state was not looking at where all the money goes. That just encourages spending. And as new spending gets buried after the first year, it is added in again and again as part of the continuation budget,” he said.

But that is changing with zero-base budgeting. For the last two years, each budget has to be rebuilt from scratch.

Departments will have to show where the money goes, and it must stay where it is allocated.

“Now departments look at all expenditures. That means vacant positions do not get funded, they disappear. In the past, departments would still receive the funding for them,” he said. “In the end it makes everyone better stewards of the public’s money.”

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NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 7

Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate falls to 7.3% in September ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor announced Oct. 23 that metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate for September was 7.3 percent, down seven-tenths of a percentage point from 8.0 percent in August.

The rate in September of last year was 7.6 percent.

The rate dropped because there were 19,374 fewer unemployed people in the Atlanta area in September, according to the federal government’s monthly household survey, and there were fewer new layoffs.

While the rate decreased, metro Atlanta lost 4,000 jobs in September, as the total number of jobs declined to 2,468,600, down from 2,472,600, or 0.2 percent, from August.

Much of the job loss came in professional and business services, as well as in leisure and hospitality, as students who worked during the summer returned to school.

However, four sectors gained jobs during the month: government, education and health services, construction, which has increased for the third straight month, and trade and transportation.

There was an over-the-year gain of 51,900 jobs, or 2.2 percent, from September 2013’s 2,416,700.

This was the second largest September-to-September growth since 2007.

The job gains were in trade, transportation and warehousing, 14,400; professional and business services, 13,200; leisure and hospitality, 8,600; manufacturing, 4,600; construction, 3,900; financial services, 3,500; education and health services, 2,700; government, 2,000; and information services, 1,300.

Other services, including repair and

There was an over-the-year gain of 51,900 jobs, or 2.2 percent, from September 2013’s 2,416,700. maintenance and personal and laundry services, lost 2,300 jobs.

Also, there were 14,232 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in September, a decrease of 630, or 4.2 percent, from 14,862 in August.

Most of the decrease in claims came in retail trade, accommodations and food services and manufacturing and construction. Over the year, claims were down 14.9 percent from the 16,717 filed in September 2013.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 7.9 percent, down from 8.1 percent in August. It was 8.0 percent in September 2013.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.gdol. ga.gov.

—Jonathan Copsey

Magazine names Georgia Top Business Climate ATLANTA – Site Selection magazine has named Georgia the state with the Top Business Climate for 2014.

Its November 2014 issue rankings are based in part on a survey of corporate real estate executives and in part on an index of criteria based largely on Site Selection’s proprietary New Plant Database.

This is the second consecutive year Georgia has led the rankings.

Louisiana jumps from sixth place in 2013 to second place in the 2014 ranking; North Carolina, Texas and Ohio round out the top five spots.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal told Site Selection that business leaders routinely cite Georgia’s decades-old workforce training program Quick Start, along with logistics assets like the growing Port of Savannah and the global connectivity afforded by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and tax reform, such as elimination of the sales tax on energy used in manufacturing, as factors that put the Peach State atop their lists of potential locations for capital investment.

Just as important, noted Deal, is matching available work skills with job openings today and in the future.

EDITORIAL CALENDAR 2014-15 Issue Date

Space Reservation Date

Materials Deadline

December 2014 – Entrepreneurs (Venture capitalists, 10 success stories) • Business Post’s 2014 Gwinnett Market Report special focus • “Entrepreneur of the Year” The top entrepreneurs of North Atlanta • Taking the entrepreneurial plunge • Giving: Philanthropy is more than money. Executives and companies who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get involved in causes that are most important to them and what it means for employee engagement

Dec. 15

Dec. 4

Dec. 8

January 2015 – Growth and Development • Economic Forecast, Business leaders weigh in with their predictions of what the coming year will bring their business and industry • Bold predictions on issues affecting business in the New Year • Companies that turned big declines into surprising turnarounds • New beginnings: New CEOs and their plans to grow their business

Jan. 12

Dec. 31

Jan. 5

February 2015 – Banking and finance • Business Post’s 2015 Cobb Market Report special focus • By the numbers: Top banks and financial institutions • Women in business: profile top female executives in North Atlanta and women’s issues in business • How to get financing for your business growth

Feb. 9

Jan. 29

Feb. 2

March 2015 – Real Estate (residential) • By the numbers: Top Brokers • Real estate planning: How great Realtors think and what makes them so successful • “Legislative Watch.” Keeps a focus on what lawmakers are doing during the Atlanta legislative session that may affect business, big and small • The home office – how selfemployed or remote workers set up their stations

March 9

Feb. 26

March 2

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

NEWS

8 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Consultants bring Alpharetta City Center into focus Finalists for reshaping downtown narrowed to 3 “What the citizen surveys tell us is that people want Alpharetta’s City Center to have that small-town image. It needs to be on a human scale with no buildings more than four stories. The new retail must have compatibility with the old architecture,” said Bosman.

This is what the shopper is looking for today. The massive shopping mall is losing its appeal. Visitors want the charm of storefronts and individuality. That is not to say they don’t want their favorite brand name stores.

Many of those brand names will be just up the road, as Avalon prepares to come online with a host of “A list” retailers and restaurants.

“Avalon will be a huge retail attraction to the city. Alpharetta’s City Center must focus on complementing Avalon because it can’t compete with it,” Bosman said. “But the City Center doesn’t have to. There will be a place for both.”

The big loser could be North Point Mall. There will be a secondary tier of brand stores building around Avalon that either could not afford the rents or were too late to get the space needed. Many of them may well be migrating stores from North Point.

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Alpharetta’s consultants for its Downtown City Center updated the City Council last week, and the news was good. The fact that the city has now narrowed down the list of developers for the City Center to three finalists may be even better.

Eric Bosman of the city’s consulting firm Kimley-Horn said the plans for the City Center dovetail nicely with what the citizen surveys say they would like the downtown to look like.

There is also the X Factor. It's that emotional relationship between people and the architectural environment.

Bosman said it starts with a coherent plan that has three main characteristics: A cohesive mix of retail and restaurants.

There has to be a critical mass of shops and places to eat that gives shoppers an appealing variety of options.

Enhanced pedestrian connectivity.

There needs to be a plan for shoppers to move about freely with easy access to storefronts.

Streetscapes and landscaping must be appealing. The visual attractiveness of the shopping area is important.

Developers acknowledge Market Square in Lake Forest, Illinois, as the first and most successful city center in terms of longevity. Built in the early 1917, its ease of parking, quaint storefronts, accessibility and anchor tenant (City Hall) combine for retail success.

has been it’s “the wrong mix.”

He sees more townhomes coming to Alpharetta’s center as well as the first condos in the Alpharetta area – 800 to 900 units in the next five years.

These will serve mostly the Millennials who will come here to work in the “fastest growing office market in Atlanta.” These 20- and 30-somethings are not interested in a three-bedroom house or even a car. They want to walk or bike where they go.

“Time is the new luxury,” Gibbs said.

“People will pay to live near work and play. Alpharetta’s City Center should be well-placed.”

“North Point will have to reinvest in itself or watch it decline. It most likely will reinvest,” Bosman said.

North Point has already shown a willingness to adapt when the mall brought in the first IMAX theater in North Fulton – although one is also planned for Avalon.

Nevertheless, the consultants say there will be some “defections” of North Point stores to retail that may be near, if not in, Avalon.

Meanwhile Robert J. Gibbs of Gibbs Planning Group said the greater Alpharetta downtown district has 600,000 square feet of retail space. The problem

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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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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.

DON’T LET YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING STOP JUST BECAUSE SUMMER STARTS.

SAVE $100*

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Election results

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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%

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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

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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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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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Education Focus

Eagles soar

Baseball team in ip state championship ► PAGE 12

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17,000 households on Wednesdays Zip Codes: 30040, 30041.

Forsyth county’s largest circulation newspaper. Est. 1998

20,000 households on Thursdays Zip Codes: 30022, 30097. Johns Creek’s primary news source. Est. 1997 Education Focus

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

28,000 households on Thursdays Zip Codes: 30005, 30009, 30022, 30075, 30076. Alpharetta & Roswell’s primary news source. Alpharetta’s paper of record. Est. 1983

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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

SANDY SPRINGS

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NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 9

Emory Eye Center opens clinic in Johns Creek JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Emory Eye Center has opened a new clinic in the Johns Creek/Cumming area. Comprehensive ophthalmologist Rabeea Janjua, MD, and optometrist Petra Jo, OD, will see patients at the Emory Johns Creek Physician’s Plaza, Suite 115, at 6335 Hospital Parkway, Johns Creek.

Janjua joined the Emory Eye Center in November, relocating from Maryland. She provides educational efforts at Grady Memorial Hospital as well as her clinics at Emory Johns Creek.

A graduate of George Washington University, Janjua received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and interned at the University of Maryland. She completed her ophthalmology residency there as well, serving as co-chief resident.

Jo has served at Emory Eye Center for the past year within the vision and optical services section of comprehensive ophthalmology. She earned her doctor of optometry degree at Nova Southeastern University and

completed her residency at the WJB Dorn VA Medical Center in South Carolina.

She is a member of the American Academy of Optometry, South Carolina Optometric Physician Association, American Optometric Association and the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society.

Her areas of clinical interest are primary eye care, comprehensive eye care and ocular disease.

For appointments, please call Emory Eye Center at 404-778-2020.

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10 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Movers & Shakers

The people turning heads in your backyard

New orthopedic trauma surgeon joins North Fulton Hospital ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton Hospital has announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Quackenbush to its medical staff.

Quackenbush is board certified in orthopedic surgery with areas of interest in orthopedic trauma surgery, fracture and fracture reconstructive surgery and repair of slow Quackenbush healing/non-healing fractures. He is also an AO International Fellow through Charité, Humboldt Universität in Berlin, Germany.

Quackenbush received his medical degree from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. He then completed his residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Stratford, New Jersey, followed by a fellowship in orthopedic trauma at University of California – Davis in Sacramento, California.

For more information, visit www.nfultonhospital. com.

SouthCrest Bank adds three vice presidents FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Kenneth H. Maloy, president and chief executive officer of SouthCrest Bank, announced that the bank has added three vice presidents to its staff in Georgia. Deidre (Dee Dee) McIntyre has joined the company as vice president, SBA lending. Claudia Wilson has joined as vice president, McIntyre SBA lending, and Dottie Williams has joined as vice president, commercial relationship manager.

Williams will work out of the bank’s Cumming loan production office, where she will be responsible for delivering banking and credit services to businesses, professionals and individuals.

McIntyre will work with small Williams businesses to tailor solutions to meet business banking needs. She uses the Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 loan programs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s B&I program to equip her toolbox with the credit facilities that help small businesses advance to the next level.

Wilson will be dedicated to Willson serving businesses in the state of Georgia and beyond, concentrating on SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 lending programs for small businesses.

Wade joins Renasant Bank’s Forsyth lending team CUMMING, Ga. — The Georgia Division of Renasant Bank announced that Donna Wade has joined Renasant Bank as a senior commercial relationship manager in Renasant’s Forsyth locations. Wade will serve the Forsyth County locations based at 500 Canton Road and 5395 Atlanta Highway in Cumming.

She has over 30 years of banking experience in

diverse roles that include extensive experience in business development, credit administration, management and leadership. Wade is a graduate of Georgia Southern University. She contributes to her community through leadership roles such as Rotary Club of Forsyth County, Cumming/Forsyth ChamWade ber of Commerce and North Forsyth Local School Council. She and her husband, Jim, have two children, Morgan and Blake. The Wades attend Browns Bridge Church in Cumming.

For more information, contact Wade by calling 678-513-5357 or 770-827-9470, or email dwade@ renasant.com.

Alpharetta lawyer joins family law practice ATLANTA — Ashley Sawyer of Alpharetta has joined the family law firm of Hedgepeth, Heredia, Crumrine & Morrison as an associate.

Sawyer, a Marietta native, currently serves on the board of directors for the Family Law section of the Atlanta Bar Association. in Atlanta. She is a member of the Sawyer Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Family Law Council of Younger Lawyers and Women in the Profession sections of the Atlanta Bar Association.

Before joining HHCM, she was an associate at Waggoner Hastings LLC and Levine Smith Snider & Wilson. She received her juris doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Neurosurgeon joins staff at Gwinnett Medical Center LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Neurosurgeon Robert Ayer, MD, has joined the Brain and Spine Institute at Gwinnett Medical Center.

Ayer comes to the institute after having completed training at Loma Linda University Medical Center and the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. He comSawyer pleted a fellowship in complex and minimally invasive spine at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute in Seattle. At the University of California, Irvine, he was a clinical instructor for the Department of Neurosurgery as well as a fellow in skull base surgery.

“Dr. Ayer’s expertise in adult spinal deformity, which refers to abnormal curvatures of the spine in patients who have completed their growth, was of particular interest to us,” said Michael Stechison, MD, PhD, medical director of GMC’s Brain and Spine Institute.

Ayer also worked at the Loma Linda University neuroscience laboratory, where he published numerous articles on spinal trauma and spinal cord injuries, stroke and brain injury. He also has published many articles on the clinical management of stroke and brain injuries and subarachnoid hemorrhage. For his efforts, Loma Linda University elected him to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Ayer is board eligible in neurosurgery.

The Brain and Spine Institute of Gwinnett Medical Group provides comprehensive neurosurgical care, with particular expertise in the management of brain tumors and pituitary tumors, as well as disorders of the brain, spine and peripheral nervous system.

GMC’s 4,800 associates and 800 affiliated physicians serve more than 400,000 patients annually.

MOVERS & SHAKERS Jennifer Cruce hired as executive director for Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism SANDY SPRINGS, —Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism announced the hiring of Jennifer Cruce as Executive Director on Oct. 23. Cruce will direct the efforts of Sandy Springs hospitality and tourism to develop and implement the city’s tourism strategy.

“We are excited to have Jennifer Cruce join and lead efforts in highlighting the many attributes of Sandy Springs,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul. “It is an exciting time for the city, from the opening of Abernathy Greenway Park to the development of our City Center. Jennifer’s background as a strategic marketer makes her well suited to lead our hospitality and tourism marketing efforts.”

Cruce brings more than 10 years experience in hospitality and tourism to her position. She was previously the senior marketing manager for Turner Broadcasting/Inside CNN Studio Tours where she directed branding and marketing strategies.

Her experience with Turner Broadcasting includes development of consumer promotional programs, educational programming and social media. Cruce also worked with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism’s Film, Videotape and Music Office promoting Georgia as a location for filming. She is a board member of the Atlanta Metro Travel Association.

MAC Names Vice President of Economic Development ATLANTA, Ga. — The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) welcomed Cathy A. Martin to the staff as Vice President – Economic Development responsible for project development and regional partnerships Martin comes to MAC with a deep background in strategic planning, serving more than a decade in Martin executive leadership positions. In her new role at MAC, she is responsible for lead development on economic projects – including retention, expansion and recruitment – and managing multiple strategic initiatives together with key constituents and partners.

“We are thrilled to have Cathy join our team,” said Brian P. McGowan, executive vice president and chief operating officer at MAC. “Her reputation as a change agent along with her collaboration skills and management experience will be critical in her role as she develops new relationships with key partners and manages economic development projects throughout our region.”

Previously, Martin served as chief procurement officer at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in Laurel, Md., one of the nation’s largest water/wastewater utilities. In her role at WSSC, she was responsible for developing and directing operations and overseeing an average of $800 million in annual contracts over the most recent fiscal years.

Submit your Movers & Shakers We want to hear about your new hire, promotion, board of director changes and recognitions, email a brief and headshot to business@appenmediagroup.com.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 11

NEWS

12 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Hatcher Hurd/Staff

Avalon opens on time Oct. 30 with the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle and NAP Managing Partner Mark Toro wielding the scissors.

Effortless, Meaningful, Memorable:

Avalon celebrates opening – with further ado Much-ballyhooed ‘Next Big Thing’ debuts with live concerts, chef tastings, fashion shows in four-day event blitz

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga – The wait is over.

The buzz is over. It is here. Avalon, the “Next Big Thing,” has flung open its doors, and within are the beckoning calls of its 54 Aladdin-like stores, restaurants, upscale houses and apartments, entertainment and more. And just in time for Christmas, too.

Another 18 stores will open after the first of the year for a full complement of 72.

The Oct. 30 VIP breakfast kicked off the grand opening of the $300 million Phase I of the 86-acre mixed-use development from North American Properties at Ga. 400 and Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta.

There were smiles all around as the grand opening went off as scheduled and on a bright sunny morning for good measure.

From the time residents and visitors drive onto the property, they can expect an experience unlike any other shopping and dining foray, said North American Properties Managing Partner Mark Toro.

“Their experience will be effortless, meaningful and memorable,” Toro told the gathered dignitaries.

“When people come here, they will find that there are stores here, but it is

not a shopping mall,” he said. “They will find apartments here, but it is not an apartment complex. They will find homes here, but it not a subdivision.”

Avalon, Toro said, “is an experience.”

When the property was first assembled by its former owners, it was called Prospect Park.

In terms of design, Prospect Park would have looked much like what had come before it – retail here, Class A office there and some residential attached.

When that project was swallowed up in the Great Recession, the property sat for several years while the banks dithered about what to do with it.

Then, the property came under the scrutiny of North American Properties.

NAP had recently acquired the troubled Atlantic Station mixed-use development and was in the midst of turning it around, when the company became aware that Wells Fargo owned Prospect Park and would listen to a serious offer for it.

NAP President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Williams saw the potential it had as the economy emerged from the doldrums of 2008-11.

“We came here and saw the opportunity the property presented. We saw how strong the demographics were,” Williams said. “We had become involved with

JONATHAN COPSEY/Staff

Atlantic Station, so we were here; we had learned a lot about the Atlanta market.

We saw it was a very unique property. So we decided to take on the challenge.”

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President Brandon Beach said when NAP first presented the Avalon plan that it was “iconic, transformational and a game-changer” for the entire region.

At the grand opening, he said he sees nothing that would make him change that statement.

“I mean how many $600 million projects [with Phase II] are getting built in the United States today?” Beach said.

“Not only will this be the first gigabyte community in Georgia – streaming data 100 times faster than anything today – it

offers company CEOs and regional directors a place to live and enjoy the lifestyle they want to have.”

Beach has returned from a recent tour of Google headquarters. He said they interviewed all of their employees under 30. The survey showed: 100 percent of them no longer owned a landline phone.

80 percent did not want to own a home.

50 percent didn’t own a car.

“They don’t want the hassles of insurance and maintenance of car. They bike or take local transit. They don’t want to be tied down by a mortgage, and they live, breathe and sleep with their mobile phone in their hand,” Beach said.

Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle

NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 13

Hotel, conference center OK’d for Avalon

By JONATHAN COPSEY ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Just days before the 86-acre Avalon mixed-use project by North American Properties opened to rave reviews in Alpharetta, the city approved NAP’s Phase II, including an additional 250 apartments.

With a 6-1 vote, Avalon’s second phase was approved by the Alpharetta City Council Oct. 27, paving the way for a 4-star hotel and conference center, along with the new apartments.

Mark Toro, of North American Properties, Avalon’s developer, asked council to approve 276 additional luxury rent apartments as well as increase building heights for a parking deck, Class A office building and hotel.

Phase II for Avalon will also feature a proposed conference center if the city and NAP can agree to terms for a public-private partnership.

There are already 250 for-rent apartments in the first phase of Avalon, along with 101 single-family homes. Rather than add more park space, Toro offered $1 million to the city to put toward any public spaces within 3 miles of Avalon. That covers much of downtown Alpharetta.

As well as the office space and hotel, the plan will include plenty of apartments above retail space.

“There is an overwhelming demand for all three aspects [of Avalon] – convention, retail and office,” said Peter Tokar, Alpharetta’s

economic development director.

“There is also an absolute need for Class A office space. Alpharetta has 10 percent vacancy now, which is the lowest in metro Atlanta.”

The city and Avalon are still discussing details of a public-private partnership on the convention center.

As such, Councilmember Jim Gilvin suggested it was premature to come to council with plans for one if the deal could never materialize.

His fellow members of council disagreed.

“It’s very different from what we have done in Alpharetta,” said Councilmember Mike Kennedy.

“This is a great project for Alpharetta and is exciting.”

Kennedy said Avalon has met the city’s requirements for public spaces, which do not have to be green spaces – plazas, fountains and other gathering spaces count.

Councilmember D.C. Aiken said homeownership across the nation is falling continuously, as baby boomers and millennials are shifting priorities away from owning homes.

“I don’t like the idea [of apartments],” he said, “but perhaps we have found a mix where it makes sense.”

Mayor David Belle Isle, in his comment of approval, said Avalon and Alpharetta are in a close partnership.

“Our future is inextricably linked to Avalon,” Belle Isle said. “Whether you like it or not, it just is. We need Avalon to be a home run.”

David Brown/Staff

Shoppers take a stroll around Avalon.

Abby Breaux/Staff

Abby Breaux/Staff

Abby Breaux/Staff

Shoppers eagerly await stores to open at Avalon. said Avalon is a perfect fit for Alpharetta.

With its 600 technology companies encamped in greater Alpharetta, the new $25 million Gwinnett Technical College campus going up across the street, the lifestyle and the great public and private schools in the city, it is easy to see why Avalon wanted to be here as well, the mayor said.

“This will be a springboard for future development as well,” Belle Isle said.

He pointed to the Alpharetta City Center already under construction downtown with the new City Hall rising as just one example of more things on

HATCHER HURD/Staff

the way.

There is one technology company in Alpharetta for every 100 residents, the densest ratio in the country.

There are also new residential developments going up downtown and the city has a shortlist of three developers for the City Center project.

On opening day, no one was happier than Toro, who has nurtured the project from the neighborhood meetings through rezoning and construction.

“I’m elated,” Toro said. “Avalon has exceeded all of my expectations. Now, I will start on Phase II Monday morning.

Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle.

HATCHER HURD/Staff

North American Properties President & CEO Tom Williams.

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerace CEO Brandon Beach.

Abby Breaux/Staff

Mark Toro of North America Properties.

NEWS

14 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Small businesses find home among giant retailers

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Along the avenues of Avalon, amid the stately, chic retail shops, Vanessa Schepis surveys the passing crowds. The giant fountain in front of her small outdoor kiosk reflects the morning sunlight, forcing her to squint sometimes.

But she never misses a chance to greet a customer.

Schepis’ store, The Red Hound Gifts, is one of eight kiosks sprinkled strategically on the upscale sidewalks of Avalon.

“We knew Avalon would bring a lot of people to the area, and we just wanted to say we’re a local store that supports the community,” Schepis said. “We’re a ‘mom-and-pop’ operation.”

Schepis’ main store on Jones Bridge Road in Alpharetta carries an array of home and personal items, from dinnerware to body lotions to clothing. No way could she represent everything from her large store within the confines of the Avalon unit, but she does make use of every inch.

Seven other businesses are doing the same thing.

North American Properties, which operates Avalon, decided to add the kiosks to its upscale development as a

Nancy McMinn cuts the ribbon at her new Avalon merchandising unit. gesture to the community that it supports local businesses, spokeswoman Suong Nguyen said.

“It provides local merchants the opportunity to enter into a world-class retail environment and sell products alongside national and international brands,” she said.

Larger tenants appear to have accepted the idea, Nguyen said, because the small shops offer merchandise that supplements the retail mix and further enhances guests’ shopping experience.

While large tenants pay from the high $20s-$60 per square foot for their retail space, each kiosk, or “merchandise unit,” rents for between $2,000-$4,000 per month.

Tenants may not duplicate products or services offered at other kiosks, and they must adhere to guidelines to ensure their display is consistent with the surrounding environment. There are also guidelines in place regarding dress code and employee conduct to maintain a professional environment.

Avalon has a “visual merchandiser” available to guide the process, Nguyen said.

The restrictions are no problem for Holly Jones, studio director for New York-based Exhale Spa, which operates a facility in Midtown Atlanta.

Jones said Avalon management has assisted every step of the way in the setup leading to the opening.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to experience the growth here,” she said.

“We’re having a good time.”

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CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 15

North Atlanta Chambers of Commerce We sent out a survey to the local chambers of commerce. Here are their responses. (Content was edited for space, visit NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com for all the questions and answers.)

Pamela Carnes Call: 770-345-0400 Web: www.cherokeechamber.com

Cobb County Chamber of Commerce

Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce How many members do you have?

185 How are you helping the community?

Our mission has always been to connect the Alpharetta residential and business communities. We feel that Alpharetta hosts the best live, work, play environment in the state. We have incredible schools, jobs, low crime and a business-friendly local government. It’s our job as a chamber to foster the development of these amenities and use them as selling tools to grow and retain business.

What is the chamber’s recent accomplishments?

We launched in November of 2013 and have since grown membership to 185, and project over 200 by the end of the year. During our first year, we have hosted 40-plus events – all of which focus on connecting business in the city and encouraging growth.

Who is the CEO/executive director?

Hans Appen What is the best way for the public to contact you?

Feel free to call or email any time. We also have a wealth of information available on our website, alpharettachamber.com.

How many members do you have?

Over 2,500 How are you helping the community?

The Cobb Chamber is dedicated to bringing the community and its leaders together to create jobs and strengthen the economy and quality of Connell life for residents in Cobb. Supporting the business community allows Cobb to attract residents and visitors with its high-performing schools, charming neighborhoods and endless recreation and entertainment options. Our education, public safety and military programs are also community-focused. Our Partners in Education program is valued at bringing $9.1 million in resources to our local schools. Our Public Safety Appreciation Week and awards bring much-needed awareness to our public safety agencies. Our military programs also educate our community on the role Dobbins Air Reserve Base plays in Cobb.

What are the chamber’s recent accomplishments?

• Named one of the Top 3 chambers in the nation.

• Through our economic development efforts, 5,332 jobs were created and $1.04 billion of investment was made in Cobb in 2013.

• Earned the U.S. Chamber’s highest accreditation designation of 5 stars.

Who is the CEO/executive director?

David Connell What is the best way for the public to contact you?

770-980-2000, www.cobbchamber.org

Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce How many members do you have?

975 How are you helping the community?

The mission of the Cherokee County Chamber is to promote business and the community while expanding the economy and enhancing the quality of life.

What is the chamFrom left: Lewis Cline, ber’s recent accom- Bank of North Georgia, 2014 Chamber chairplishments? man; Pam Carnes, presAt this point in the ident and CEO, Cherokee year, the chamber has County Chamber; and met the majority of Joe Brywczynsk, Wellits goals for 2014. Our Star Health System.

Board will be reviewing the organization’s accomplishments at their annual planning session in November.

Who is the president/executive director?

Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce How many members do you have?

The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has more than 900 members.

How are you helping the community?

Our chamber’s mission is to foster a superior quality of life in Cumming and Forsyth County. Our economic development strategy exists to counteract our community’s fiscal challenges and limit the need to raise property taxes in the future. The chamber’s Tourism Department attracts visitors to the region in an effort to obtain tax revenue from outside the county that benefits our residents and community. The advocacy arm of the chamber strives to be the voice of business, both large and small.

What are the chamber’s recent accomplishments?

This year, the chamber participated in 19 economic development projects that are forecasted to generate more than 660 new jobs and approximately $92 million in new capital investment. The chamber assisted more than 300 small businesses and generated more than

8,200 room nights through tourism development.

The chamber worked loosely with local delegation, county commissioners and business leaders in the McFarland Road/ McGinnis Ferry Road area to lay groundwork for the formation of the South Forsyth Community Improvement District.

Who is the CEO/executive director?

James McCoy What is the best way for the public to contact you?

We welcome visitors to the chamber office located at 212 Kelly Mill Road in Cumming. People can also reach out to us by calling 770-887-6461 or visiting www.cummingforsythchamber.org.

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce How many members do you have?

1,400 members What are the chamber’s recent accomplishments?

Avalon opening up was truly a partnership with the city of Alpharetta and North American Properties. Our chamber was instrumental in connecting individuals to the Avalon project. It’s a community that came together to help make that a reality. We’ve created a technology forum that’s really taking off and it’s providing an additional voice for our members who are involved in technology.

Our chamber is also working closely with the community improvement district here in North Fulton.

We are working with State Farm and keeping jobs in our footprint. We work with our business leaders and city leaders to make sure that businesses are able to grow and expand and stay in North Fulton, and that we provide whatever resources or tools they need.

Who is your CEO? Brandon Beach.

What is the best way for the public to contact you?

The best way for the public to contact us is directly to main office number, at 770-993-8806.

Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce How many members do you have?

2,500 How are you helping the community?

Bringing new industry and retail development to GainesFrom left: David Lee, ville – Hall, working Jackson EMC, chairman; with existing indusKit Dunlap, president try, providing small business seminars and and CEO; and Brian Daniel, Carroll Daniel guidance, addressConstruction, chair-elect. ing health care issues, providing three leadership programs, providing men-

See CHAMBERS, Page 18

16 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Education keys economic growth, chamber leaders say

By Patrick Fox pat@appenmediagroup.com Their names are attached to countless civic events. They sit quietly at school and city council meetings.

The average citizen has to wonder: “What do these chamber of commerce people do?”

Prevailing wisdom suggests they move about the community finding ways to help foster business, communicating in numbers rather than words.

What do chambers of commerce do for average citizens?

“When you think of a chamber of commerce, our mission statement is very simple, to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of North Fulton,” said Brandon Beach, president and chief executive officer of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. “We really do believe that jobs are a good thing. There’s nothing wrong with having a job. You don’t have employees without employers.”

While the chamber’s key focus is on business retention, expansion and recruitment, nothing fosters economic growth more than a sound quality of life, Beach said.

“You’ve got to have the community, you’ve got to have health care, you’ve got to have public safety,” he said. “But the first thing you’ve got to have as the foundation for any kind of successful community is education, K-12 education.”

An excellent education system breeds excellent prosperity, he said, adding that North Fulton is fortunate to lay claim to some of the best schools in the state.

In addition, the area now has a technical college, thanks to an effort led by the chamber.

“With all the high-tech companies we’ve been able to recruit up here in the past 15 years, they need an institution like a technical college to recertify their employees and for continuing education and training,” he said.

Up to a few years ago, North Fulton fell in the Lanier Tech footprint among the state’s technical college districts. The chamber convinced state leaders that the area would benefit more by being associated with Gwinnett Technical College, which offers more classes suited to the high-tech industries in North Fulton.

As a result, ground was broken last month on a Gwinnett Tech facility in Alpharetta. Through the chamber’s political ties, the state appropriated $25 million toward construction of the first building.

“That would never have happened without the chamber,” Beach said. “We made our calls and made sure the elected officials were behind it.”

The chamber also took the lead in forming the North Fulton Community Improvement District, a self-taxing, quasigovernmental body comprised of business property owners. Among its list of

The GNFCC helped start The Drake House, which provides short-term crisis housing, education and empowerment programs for homeless mothers and their children. The Drake House has since opened two resale stores in Roswell and Alpharetta. accomplishments since its formation in 2003, the CID has spent millions helping get extra turn lanes added to Westside Parkway and landscaping interchanges along Ga. 400.

“Now, when a citizen exits Ga. 400 at Windward Parkway, and they see that Tennessee stack stone and the monuments and landscaping and the pansies and all that, hopefully they say, ‘We’re in a special place,’” Beach said. “That makes a difference. That’s a quality of life issue.”

Another community improvement spurred by chamber involvement is the creation of The Drake House, which provides short-term crisis housing, education and empowerment programs for homeless mothers and their children. The facility was formed out of the Chamber of Commerce leadership program, Leadership North Fulton.

The chamber also mounts a food drive every year, which raises about three tons of food for North Fulton Community Charities.

And finally, Beach said he is most proud of the role the chamber played in bringing about the completion of the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, a state-of-theart performing arts center in Alpharetta.

The project was withering on the vine after the death of its greatest advocate, former County Commissioner Bob Fulton in 2004.

“The chamber was very involved with other business leaders to pick the ball up, negotiate the deal with Woodruff and Verizon Wireless and get it built,” Beach said.

The project came about through $2 million in public money and $38 million of

“...The first thing you’ve got to have as the foundation for any kind of successful community is education, K-12 education.”

Brandon Beach, president and chief executive officer of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

private money.

“The chamber didn’t do it all by itself, but it was heavily involved,” Beach said.

Community involvement is no less apparent in Cobb County, where Chamber President David Connell began an economic development program four years ago to bring high-paying jobs to the area.

Over the past two-and-half years, that initiative has helped create some 12,000 new jobs and about $3 billion in new investment.

“What that does is it lowers the unemployment rate in Cobb,” Connell said. “It puts money in people’s pockets so they can buy cars. They can buy food. They can put clothes on their kids’ backs. They can

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Co improve lives.

“That’s what makes my motor run.”

Connell said the hallmark of a strong community is education. Education has been and continues to be one of the driving forces of the Cobb Chamber, he said.

The chamber is a national leader in Partners in Education, a program whereby a business is linked to a high school or middle school. The chamber has 1,575 separate businesses that have become partners with one or more schools. Those partnerships begin with a formal signed arrangement where a company meets with the school administration and agrees to help in certain areas. Depending on the nature of the business, the help can span from providing cash to fix a problem at the school that can’t be paid for or providing supplies and volunteer labor.

“When I was at Georgia Power Com-

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 17

ommerce played a big role in landing The Verizon Wire less Amphitheater in Alpharetta. pany, I was partnered with a school, and we bought reams of paper to go in those schools,” Connell said. “I wrote a check one year to fix the PA system in their auditorium because they couldn’t do it.”

In direct dollars, Connell said, the chamber delivers more than $9 million to schools in Cobb and Marietta.

The chamber also sponsors the Teachers of the Year Awards Program, which involves some 125 schools in a formal process of selecting their own best teachers.

As part of the overall process, there are four county-wide Teachers of the Year by category. Through chamber sponsorship, an event is held where these teachers put their permanent handprints on the square in Marietta. This year, the county’s four Teachers of the Year will be allowed to drive a car of their choice from Ed Voyles Honda for one year.

The chamber is in the process of setting up a program to get internships for high school students, technical school students and students at Kennesaw State University to help them understand career opportunities, Connell said.

“That’s something we hope will help dropout rates and also help people better determine what they need to do in their careers long-term,” he said.

Public safety is another concern vital to the community’s health, Connell said.

The chamber organizes a Public Safety Week each year to recognize all members of the police, fire and emergency services, from 911 operators to sheriff’s deputies.

At a breakfast gathering last month, the chamber hosted close to 1,000 public safety workers and presented the Public Safety Employee of the Year Award, as well as awards for merit, valor and distinguished

achievement.

Also last month, the chamber hosted Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, the highest ranking enlisted person in the U.S. military and advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff. In meetings with members of local and state veterans groups, Battaglia was brought up to date on the state of veterans’ services in Georgia.

The event was part of the chamber’s commitment to the military, and especially Dobbins Air Force Base, Connell said.

For the past 32 years, the chamber has partnered with Dobbins to hold its annual Honorary Commander event.

The program pairs a military commander with a business leader in the community. The two spend the year together, getting to know each other better. One of the events includes a visit to Parris

Island to attend a U.S. Marine graduation ceremony.

Closer to home, the chamber provides free space and staff support to the Cobb County Community Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization which provides support for charitable causes, including education, the arts, health and the conservation of historical, cultural and environmental resources.

Beyond these efforts, Connell said, the chief role of a chamber of commerce is to promote economic wellbeing in a community.

“When you’re in the business of creating jobs – and that’s what we’re in the business for – you’re giving people hope, and you’re giving people opportunity,” he said. “You’re helping people in ways that go beyond the generally accepted role of a chamber.”

18 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Chambers bring unique tools to government initiatives

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com Today’s most active chambers of commerce have extended their reach well beyond local board rooms and meeting halls, affecting the lives of citizens and the direction of governments.

These private organizations have become a mainstay in many major events that shape communities.

Less than a decade ago, Partnership Gwinnett, the economic development arm of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, began making inroads to Asian markets. This courtship included frequent visits overseas to South Korea, China and Japan with county government leaders.

Today, as part of that effort, Gwinnett County is home to close to 600 internationally based business locations from more than 40 countries.

Part of any effort to court businesses involves government participation.

Governments lend legitimacy to the relationship and can offer inducements through tax breaks, zoning changes and infrastructure. Chambers throughout north metro Atlanta have stepped in to guide the romance.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development regularly brings local chambers into the mix when seeking new

businesses to relocate.

“All our divisions work closely with local chambers of commerce, whether it is through our global commerce, tourism, entertainment, international trade, BEACH workforce and arts divisions,” said spokeswoman Stefanie Paupeck.

The state agency works with local entities on a variety of things, Paupeck said, from business recruiting to establishing a workforce infrastructure.

Once the state is notified that a company has targeted the area to relocate, they usually make a call.

“The department wants to call one voice, one contact,” said Brandon Beach, president and chief executive officer of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. “They don’t want to call six cities.”

It’s up to the chamber to work with all six cities, Beach said.

“There are a lot of 40-50-60,000 square-foot deals where we’ll let Johns Creek know about it, we’ll let Roswell know about it, Alpharetta,” he said. “We don’t try to steer them anywhere. The real estate steers the project.”

Beach said the chamber’s job is to

“We’re the entity that can speak for all six cities in a way that sells North Fulton.”

Brandon Beach, president and chief executive officer of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

give the company all the options they can, based on the criteria the company presents.

“We’re the entity that can speak for all six cities in a way that sells North Fulton,” Beach said.

Another thing a chamber can do, Beach said, is bring everyone together. A chamber can assemble all the cities and state representatives and serve as a conduit to bring decision-makers together on important issues.

One good example of that is a recent summit of school and community leaders in south Cobb County, where those in attendance addressed issues of providing

Chambers:

youth with recreation facilities.

“It took us two weeks to get the meeting together,” Cobb County Chamber President David Connell said. “We didn’t have to go get approval. We didn’t have to write letters; just make a few phone calls.”

The chamber hosted the event, served refreshments and even had a staffer take minutes.

“We have people in the business community who make a living in project management,” Connell said. “We bring them to bear on projects like that.”

Chambers have project management tools, state-of-the-art technology and financial resources they are willing to share with governments to help push initiatives along, he said.

Connell added that partnering with government requires a level of transparency and a clear separation of powers, but, in general, it proves beneficial to communities.

The $834 million Northwest Corridor Project along I-75 and I-575 is another example of private interests pairing with government, Connell said. The initiative will feature 30 miles of managed toll lanes through Cobb and Cherokee counties.

“In our country, as we go forward, we’re going to have to get creative about public-private partnerships,” he said.

We welcome the opportunity to work for you.

Continued from Page 15 toring and business partners for all schools, interacting with governments to address issues like water, sewer, transportation infrastructure, VISION 2030 initiatives like green space, downtown redevelopment, public art and harbor town on Lake Lanier.

What is the chamber’s recent accomplishments?

In the 2013-14 fiscal year, we created 2,033 new jobs with $281 million in new capital investment by 57 firms, hosted 12 small business seminars annually, hosted at least two marketing seminars annually with emphasis on social media, hosted an annual community Healthcare Reform Seminar, hosted an Annual Healthcare and Wellness Interactive Expo with free health screenings, recognized the Most Fit Companies for their wellness programs, hosted Annual Buy Local/ Safe and Green Expo, hosted annual 5K Chamber Chase and Wellness Walk for businesses and individuals, recognized industry, small businesses and family businesses, Citizens on the Year and sponsored three leadership programs (youth, professional, senior).

Who is the CEO/executive director?

Kit Dunlap What is the best way for the public to contact you?

Kit Dunlap…kit@ghcc.com, 770-532-6206, www. greaterhallchamber.com

Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce How many members do you have?

2,300 and growing.

Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce How are you helping the community?

By serving as a forum where business, government, education, health care, arts/culture/entertainment and philanthropic and public service communities come together to advance our region’s economy and enrich Gwinnett’s quality of life.

What are the chamber’s recent accomplishments?

We are fortunate to have received many awards and other recognitions this year. Our small business initiatives are leading the way and have been touted as among the best in the region by the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In addition, we have an internationally award-winning community economic development initiative that is considered a model for others to follow. As we put our first strategic plan into place, we are looking forward to many continued successes.

Who is the CEO/executive director?

Dr. Daniel Kaufman What is the best way for the public to contact Gwinnett Chamber?

Call 770-232-3000 or visit GwinnettChamber.org.

How many members do you have?

440 How are you helping the community?

Our mission is: “The Johns Creek Chamber strives to be the premier resource to help Johns Creek business Connect, Grow and Thrive.”

We are connecting through our weekly e-bulletin, communicating chamber and community news to 3,500 subscribers. We also offer several networking events to help businesses connect, including but not limited to Wednesday Morning Networking, Business After Hours and Women’s Breakfast Networking. We also host three signature sell-out annual events – a business expo, golf tournament and membership appreciation gala. Growth opportunities are presented through our monthly membership breakfasts that present a variety of notable speakers such as Fulton County School representatives, small and large local business owners and managers, political figures and community advocates.

Who is the CEO/executive director?

John Bemont What is the best way for the public to contact you?

Maria Rose, mrose@johnscreekchamber.com 770-495-0545, ext. 107

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 19

From humble beginnings, North Fulton Chamber grows in influence

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. — What has become one of metro Atlanta’s largest and most influential business organizations began with a Boy Scout excursion in 1947.

Zachary “Zac” Henderson, then 13, was a member of an Atlanta troop that spent a weekend at the scoutmaster’s summer cabin in rural Mountain Park.

“That’s when I fell in love with North Fulton,” said Henderson, who turned 80 in September. “I’m an Atlanta native, and I’d never seen North Fulton before.”

The pastoral image stuck with Henderson throughout his young life, prompting him eventually to lead the charge to preserve it and give residents there a say in how it was developed.

“We originally formed (the North Fulton Chamber) to give our people a voice in North Fulton from all the outside forces that were trying to mess up our quality of life,” he said. “‘Quality of life’ was our motto before it was a popular term.”

Henderson said he never planned to be an activist, and throughout the course of his work with the chamber, he tried to keep the direction positive rather than confrontational.

In 1963, he bought his own house in Mountain Park, where he, his wife and three city daughters would spend weekends.

Two years later, he founded his own architect company in Buckhead. But, he always felt the tug of the country.

“One of my dreams had always been to raise Palomino quarterhorses,” he said. “My father and his father were horsemen, so I had a dream to start my own ranch.”

In 1968, Henderson bought 62 acres on Freemanville Road in Crabapple and was planning to build a ranch.

“That’s when I found out Atlanta had preliminary plans to cross over that property with a second airport, believe it or not, way back then,” he said.

At the same time, he found out that the city of Atlanta was considering annexing all of North Fulton, something Henderson found greatly disturbing.

“The thing that finally prompted me to do something specific was the Georgia DOT was going to ‘improve’ Holcomb Bridge Road from a two-lane road through Roswell to a limited-access highway that would ignore our local business needs,” Henderson said. “That was just incredibly stupid.”

Henderson put his plans for a ranch on hold and leased a 55-acre parcel on King Road where the present Roswell High School now stands, and moved his family in.

That same year, concerned residents held a community meeting to address the

proposed road upgrade, the annexation effort and the second airport.

There were raised voices and calls for a mounted protest.

“Someone asked what I thought, and I Henderson said ‘Well, I’m not much on protests. I’m more of a positive guy and would rather do something positive,’” Henderson recalled.

He told them that if they formed a chamber of commerce to speak for residents, it would be a positive voice that would have a lot more force.

As the guy with the idea, Henderson was recruited to form a chamber.

“I didn’t know a thing about them, so I called the U.S. Chamber and asked for a ‘do-it-yourself’ kit,” he said.

The first meeting to form the chamber took place four years later in Henderson’s living room at his new ranch on Freemanville Road. On hand were Harry Rucker Jr., George Will Sr. and several other local business leaders.

Not long after the announcement, Henderson was contacted by the Sandy Springs Chamber proposing a merger, but Henderson resisted, saying the issues faced in Roswell, Alpharetta and Mountain Park were different from those south of the Chattahoochee.

Years later, both chambers would merge to form the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

“One thing Zac realized when he coalesced the business community was he realized the word ‘community,’” said Greater North Fulton Chamber President Brandon Beach.

Each year, the organization presents a Citizen of the Year Award in honor of Zac Henderson.

“It’s given to someone who’s had an impact on the community, not just the business community, but the whole community,” Beach said.

In retrospect, Henderson said he thinks he tapped into something that was of paramount concern to businesses and residents.

“Nobody wanted to think about being a part of the city of Atlanta,” he said.

“But, as is often the case, you need the power of businesses and businesses’ money to run engines like this, so it was a natural fit for it to be a chamber of commerce.”

The chamber’s influence has grown over the years. Today, it speaks for thousands of businesses and influences the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.

All of which leaves Henderson a bit humbled.

“That’s how it started, and it’s one of the things in my life I’m really proud of,” he said. “It’s not something I intended to do, which is kind of like life is, isn’t it?”

Only in Alpharetta Nation’s #6 Fastest Growing City U.S. Census Bureau (2013)

America’s #1 Best Place to Move Forbes (2009)

#2 Best Place for Job Seekers in Georgia NerdWallet (2013)

Become a member today!

From the simple pleasure of the outdoors to the vast array of events, shops and dining, Alpharetta has it all. The historic downtown district is a favorite destination to explore the quaint boutiques along Main Street and there is certainly no shortage of wonderful restuarants in the area.

www.AlpharettaChamber.com

20 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

FORSYTH COUNTY

A rendering of the new courthouse and jail.

Courthouse project spruces up outside Town Green to feature statue, fountain

By KATHLEEN STURGEON and ALDO NAHED kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The team in charge of overseeing the new jail and courthouse project in Cumming is moving forward with plans to add a fountain and a Lady Justice sculpture.

The team is also discussing ways to beef up security at the courthouse after an incident earlier this year when a man tried to storm the existing courthouse.

Although the fountain is not funded, the team suggested soliciting donations from private groups.

The basic groundwork for the fountain is in place, said Forsyth County Commission Chairman Pete Amos.

At their Oct. 16 regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners authorized $5,000 for the design of the fountain to be installed in front of the new courthouse. The money will be transferred from the county’s capital projects fund,

said Finance Director David Gruen.

Cleaning and maintaining the fountain would cost about $5,000 per year, county staff said.

At first, the fountain idea could not move forward because a percolation test found the area was unsuitable. In place of the fountain, the team decided to install a Lady Justice statue instead. When a drainage system later made it possible to place the fountain on the grounds, the team chose to construct both the fountain and the statue.

The statue will be made by renowned local sculptor Greg Johnson.

Johnson said the base of the statue will be about 5 feet and the statue itself will be about 8 feet tall and feature the traditional blindfolded Lady Justice, holding balanced scales, a sword, snake and a book.

Johnson said the everlasting bronze statue will stand on a Dakota Mahogany granite base and will take about nine months to complete. Johnson recommended a warm amber lighting for the statue.

The Rotary Clubs of Forsyth County along with the Development Authority of Forsyth County will assist in funding the

The statue itself will be about 8 feet tall and feature the traditional blindfolded Lady Justice, holding balanced scales, a sword, snake and a book. statue and fountain construction at the Town Green.

Superior Court Judge David L. Dickinson will also approach private organizations for fountain funding, which could cost about $150,000 to complete.

The team also discussed at their Oct. 23 meeting enhancing security at the new courthouse, which would cost $315,476.

Forsyth County Sheriff Duane Piper suggested the jail’s name be “Forsyth County Jail,” and the rest of the project team agreed.

In addition, the team chose lettering for the courthouse and jail. The choices

were between putting lettering on the lighter surface or on brick, and the team chose the lighter surface.

The font will be “Book Antique” and it will be finished in aluminum with dark bronze colors to match windows on both building.

The courthouse’s rotunda will have the inscription “Equal Justice Under Law,” the same as the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. The opening date of the new courthouse is mid-February 2015, and the jail is anticipated to open in March.

For more information, visit www. forsythco.com.

FORSYTH COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 21

SHARON SPRINGS:

Debate for new city intensifies Town hall draws 200 interested citizens

By ALDO NAHED news@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — There’s a lack of local government representation, a growing number of south Forsyth residents are saying.

But what are the alternatives?

A grassroots effort, the Sharon Springs Alliance, continues to gain traction for the formation of a new city, and a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Mike Dudgeon (R-25th District) was just the latest in the efforts to inform county residents.

About 200 people participated in the town hall debate held Oct. 14 at Lambert High School.

Dudgeon organized the event and led the back-and-forth discussions and crowd polling.

“I wanted to do it because over the last several years, I have been thinking about the changes in Forsyth County with all the growth and the number of new people that we have,” Dudgeon said afterward. “It made made sense to look at whether we have the right model for government in the county.”

Discussion revolved around county commissioners, the number of cities in the county and what type of representation residents are getting.

Dudgeon, who published an editorial in the Forsyth County News, said because the subject has reached a critical mass with lots of people very fired up, it needs to become a public conversation.

Other representatives will also hold town hall meetings on the same topic, including Rep. Geoff Duncan (R-26th District) and newly elected District 27 state Sen. Michael Williams, who takes office in January.

Dudgeon said this will allow county residents to voice their opinion, and a poll of constituents will see if there is

Proposed boundaries for the city of Sharon Springs; East: Chattahoochee Rivern South: Fulton County West: Ga. 400 (From Fulton County line to Cumming city limits) North: Bordering Cumming city limits to Ga. 20 down to Samples Road and then Haw Creek toward the Chattahoochee River. enough support to make changes.

One of the ideas is the formation of the city of Sharon Springs.

A nonprofit group called the Sharon Springs Alliance is leading this effort and looking at getting a feasibility study of a new city of Sharon Springs in the southern part of Forsyth County.

The Georgia General Assembly requires an official feasibility study be performed by the independent Carl Vinson Institute of the University of Georgia.

The group is seeking funding through online donations for the study and cur-

rently needs about $5,000 more.

The idea is to incorporate into a “city light” model, unlike Johns Creek or Milton, which have full service with police, fire and roads departments.

The proposed “city light” government model would be similar to Peachtree Corners. It would include services like zoning, code enforcement and sanitation, but still rely on the county for general services such as police, fire and parks and recreation.

Proponents of Sharon Springs say the move would help manage growth and

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Fulton County Harry Norman honors two agents CUMMING, Ga. — Harry Norman, Realtors congratulated Pete Clay and Christina Abunassar for achieving senior marketing consultant status.

The SMC designation is awarded to Harry Norman sales associates who distinguish themselves through exemplary achievements in the field of real estate. Senior marketing consultants must maintain outstanding production levels and command a thorough knowledge of marketing, contract negotiations and finance. In awarding the SMC designation, Harry Norman considers such factors as personal integrity, tireless commitment and

enthusiastic effort on behalf of clients.

For more, call 770-497-2000 or visit www.harrynormanforsyth.com.

Results Realty raises funds to benefit Easter Seals CUMMING, Ga. — Century 21 Results Realty Services raised more than $17,000 to benefit Easter Seals at a recent charity fundraiser at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College in Cumming. The Party with a Purpose was a benefit for Easter Seals North Georgia, a lo-

zoning issues in the southern part of the county as well as establish and maintain a community identity.

Other ideas floated at the town hall include countywide voting for commissioners, instead of district wide, which was changed in 2008.

“Some people would want to go all countywide voting,” Dudgeon said, “but there’s a compromise position where you have some district commissioners and at a minimum a countywide chairman.”

Some at the town hall meeting said a new city would simply add another layer of government and they are happy with the status quo. Others even suggested consolidating the city of Cumming with Forsyth County to further minimize government.

Why do you need more government, which will inevitably lead to more taxes, they asked.

But Phillip Barlag, one of the founders of the Sharon Springs Alliance, said property taxes of the cities incorporated in the last decade are the same as before incorporation.

“Your property taxes will end up the same,” Barlag said. “It sounds too good to be true, but it’s correct when you get to know how the cities are financed and how this would work.”

During the meeting, Dungeon held text messaging polling of the audience.

One question was, “Do you think we should change in some way how Forsyth County is governed?” Of the 85 people who voted, 84 percent (or 72 individuals) voted “yes.” There were six “no” votes and seven “maybe” votes.

In another poll question, Dudgeon asked, “Do you support a serious feasibility study for a city of Sharon Springs?”

Of 91 respondents, 72 voted “yes,” while 15 voted “no” and four voted “maybe.”

After seeing the results, Barlag said, “I think we’re on the right track.”

“People in this area deserve better.”

For more information, visit www. sharonspringsga.org.

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cal charity that helps disabled children, as well as children with other challenges, and their families. The organization’s primary goal is to help them have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

The themed event was called “Denim and Diamonds,” and organizers said the fundraiser will become an annual tradition.

Guests of honor included McKenzie Fishback, her parents Clint and Christina and younger sister Meadow.

McKenzie was born prematurely at 24 weeks. Speaking to a crowd of more than 150 attendees, Christina applauded the assistance that her daughter and family have received from Easter Seals.

HALL COUNTY

22 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Hall chamber to recognize local leaders in industry

Nordstrom to close doors at Mall of Georgia location BUFORD, Ga. – Nordstrom, one of the initial anchor stores at the Mall of Georgia, is closing its doors early in 2015, company officials announced. The decision will affect 174 non-seasonal employees.

In a written statement, President Jamie Nordstrom said that despite the

company’s best efforts, the store could not generate enough business to continue operating.

“We had the opportunity to end our lease and in looking at our options, it made the most sense for our business to make the decision to close the store,” Nordstrom said.

The company, which also operates two full-line stores at Phipps Plaza and Perimeter Mall and four Rack stores at Buckhead Station, North Point Market Center, Perimeter Expo and Mall of Georgia Crossing, said it will work with displaced employees to find positions at nearby locations or offer severance packages.

GAINSVILLE – The Greater Hall Chamber’s 6th annual Industry Appreciation Luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m., Nov. 13 at the Chattahoochee Country Club, with awards honoring area existing industry leaders.

The Industry of the Year Awards program is presented by Lanier Technical College and sponsored by AT&T, Liberty Utilities and Rushton & Company. The awards honor area existing industries based on economic impact, workforce excellence and corporate responsibility.

Chamber Existing Industry Vice President Shelley Davis said, “Honoring the best of the best in manufacturing, processing and distributing acknowledges the impact industry has in the area,” said Shelley Davis, Chamber Existing Industry vice president. “Some 26 percent of Hall County’s workforce is represented in goods producing.”

The cost for the luncheon is $35 for chamber members and $50 for guests.

Contact Amanda Lewis, 770-5326206, ext. 111, for reservations.

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CHEROKEE COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 23

Cherokee Schools graduation rate increase CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. – The Cherokee County School District’s four-year graduation rate increased to 82 percent for the class of 2014, making it the second-highest ranked metro Atlanta county school system, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Education.

The district’s graduation rate rose from 78 percent in 2013, and it continues to exceed the state average, which was 72 percent in 2014.

“Graduation is the culmination of many years of hard work by not only students, but also the parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors, administrators, support staff, business partners and volunteers who together prepare every one of our community’s children for future success, no matter the path they choose,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo.

In addition to the school district’s four-year graduation rate increasing by four points, every high school’s rate remained steady or increased, with Cherokee High School steady at 72 percent, Creekview HS increasing from 87 percent to 89 percent, Etowah HS steady at 83 percent, River Ridge HS increasing from 84 percent to 91 percent, Sequoyah HS increasing from 77 percent to 87 percent and Woodstock HS increasing from 80 percent to 81 percent.

These increases can be attributed not only to successful strategies developed over the past 16 years to ensure every student completes high school and is

prepared for success in college and careers, but also to a number of strategies to ensure students graduate on time, as implemented at the recommendation of the Superintendent’s Ad Hoc Graduation Rate Committee.

Improvements began with the superintendent’s appointment of a district-wide graduation coach, who is based primarily at Cherokee HS, the school with the greatest population of at-risk students. It continued by sharing “best practices” among high school principals and counselors to improve

intervention and graduation data tracking practices, offering more online credit recovery courses and pursuing grants to fund scholarships for these courses, enhancing training for school staff on state reporting requirements, targeting graduation rate as a component of School Improvement Plans and Innovation Zone initiatives and developing a successful pilot program at Cherokee HS – “CHOICES” – to provide tutoring, mentoring and other additional services to aid special education students in earning regular education diplomas.

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Cherokee County Holly Springs receives financial reporting award HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. – For the second year in a row, the city of Holly Springs has received the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

City Manager and Finance Director Rob Logan was presented with the award for the city’s 2013 comprehensive annual financial report.

“The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management,” said the GFOA. “The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users or user groups to read the CAFR.” To receive this award, the city’s 2013 budget had to be rated as “proficient” for serving as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device, as well as meet 14 other mandatory criteria within those four categories. Although GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting, recipients have led the way to improve the quality of budgeting and provide

an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

Holly Springs streetscape improvements coming HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. – The city of Holly Springs recently completed its 2014 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant project.

The grant is funded by the Georgia Department of Transportation with a required minimum 30 percent local match. The city of Holly Springs receives $82,950 annually from GDOT based on current center line data for city streets.

The 2014 project was awarded to C.W. Matthews Contracting Company Inc. of Marietta in the amount of $723,559. The local match is funded with the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and contributions from developers. The contract included the repair and resurfacing of Marble Quarry Road, Holly Street, Manous Way, Manous Drive, P. Rickman Industrial Drive, Palm Street, Hickory Road, Morgan Way, Morgan Springs Court and Springs Drive.

Due to upcoming construction of the downtown Holly Springs sanitary sewer project and the Livable Centers Initiative streetscapes project, the scope of the paving was reduced on Hickory Road and Palm Street.

Both of these streets will be impacted by the construc-

This is the fourth year the Georgia DOE has used a more challenging adjusted cohort formula to calculate graduation rates in the state. The cohort begins when a student is a freshman.

The previous formula defined the cohort upon graduation and included students who took more than four years to graduate from high school.

While the school system is enthusiastic about the increased graduation rate, they remain committed to supporting every student who is not included in this total. It’s important to note that the inverse of these rates is not a “dropout” rate.

The students not counted by the state’s formula in the four-year rate include many of the system’s most challenged, such as those who take longer than four years to graduate due to serious illness or the need to work to support their family, those who choose to pursue a GED and those who earn a special education diploma.

The school system supports these and other non-traditional students by continuing to provide them with choices to assist them in reaching the goal of graduation through options as its ACE Academy, an alternative day middle school/high school program, the Polaris high school evening program, the online middle and high school C3 Academy, summer school and the expansion of the CHOICES program, which now is serving twice as many students this school year as last year.

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tion of the sewer mains and sidewalks in 2015 and 2016.

Therefore, the western section of Hickory Road and the northern section of Palm Street will be resurfaced in a subsequent year after the completion of the sewer and sidewalk projects.

New members elected to Cherokee Chamber Board CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. – Seven new members have been elected to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

The newly elected members include Neil Blackman of Corblu Ecology Group, Dr. Brian Hightower, Karen Mathews of WellStar Health System, Jeff Mitchell of South State Bank, Michael Searcy of WLJA 101.1 FM/ Enjoy Cherokee magazine, Jennifer Stanley of Northside Hospital-Cherokee and Alan Thompson of MOJO Productions.

“I look forward to working with these new Board members, as well those who will be continuing to serve the chamber as we work collaboratively to meet the chamber’s mission,” said Jeff Rusbridge of Dyer & Rusbridge PC and 2015 chairman of the chamber.

The mission of the Cherokee County Chamber is to promote business and the community while expanding the economy and enhancing the quality of life. To learn more, visit www.CherokeeChamber.com.

24 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

FULTON COUNTY

Medical research facility moves to Alpharetta ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Atlanta Institute of Medicine and Research has moved its offices to Alpharetta from Sandy Springs and will change its name to the Institute for Advanced Medical Research. The Institute for Advanced Medical Research conducts neurological research, including studies in the area of depression, Alzheimer’s disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, adult and adolescent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fibromyalgia and anxiety.

Medical Director Dr. Angelo Sambunaris of IAMR explained the move and name change.

“We wanted our offices to be more convenient for people who want to participate in our research studies,” said Sambunaris. “The name selection better describes what we do. Not only do we conduct research, but we also provide educational resources to those who need more information about these diseases.”

IAMR is a leading clinical research facility and was founded in 1998. It is the only neuroscience facility of its kind in the area. Sambunaris is the founder and has more than 20 years of psychiatric clinical experience, including a fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health. For more information, visit iamresearch.org or call 770-817-9200.

Alparetta Mayor David Belle Isle, center, helps open The Atlanta Institue of Medicine and Research.

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Fulton County Area schools employ career-mapping service ROSWELL, Ga. — Fellowship Christian School in Roswell and Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw are partnering with ed-tech start-up YouScience to help students forge a clearer career path.

The company’s College Success Profile uses research from The Ball Foundation, HumRRO and government organizations to create a scientific online profile directed to individual students’ strengths and interests. It is designed to help students graduate on time and improve career readiness. Fellowship Christian has distributed the College Success Profile to approximately 75 juniors and seniors and will require it as part of its 2014-2015 junior class curriculum.

“In addition to helping students understand their aptitudes and interests for a potential college major, the profile offers our students a leg up – an advantage – in

the competitive application process, because they better know who they are and can speak about themselves in an intelligent way,” said Fellowship Christian School counselor Beth Buchweitz. “We are using it to teach students to see themselves in their best light and to ultimately sell themselves when applying for college or a job.”

Ace Hardware Crabapple celebrates customer satisfaction award ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Ace Hardware’s J.D. Power Award Neighborhood Tour is headed to a store near you.

Ace Hardware Crabapple is celebrating Ace Hardware ranking “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores” for the eighth year in a row

by J.D. Power by hosting a customer appreciation event on Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is part of a cross-country tour celebrating Ace’s achievement, visiting Ace Hardware stores nationwide between August 2014 and April 2015.

“The J.D. Power Award Neighborhood Tour gives us the opportunity to thank our customers for ranking Ace highest in customer satisfaction for eight years in a row,” said Herb Velazquez, owner at Ace Hardware Crabapple.

For more information, visit www.acehardware.com.

Providence Group has final opportunities at Highlands NORTH FULTON, Ga. — The Providence Group of

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Georgia’s popular community, Highlands of Sandy Springs, is down to 10 luxury townhomes remaining.

With condos and single-family homes sold out at the award-winning master-planned community, construction is well underway on the final phase of townhomes, and interested buyers must act quickly to call this community home.

For more information, call 770-522-0291 or visit www.TheProvidenceGroup.com.

Loving Hands’ Judi Bailey earns CVPM accreditation ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Loving Hands Animal Clinic and Pet Resort congratulated Judi Bailey on achieving the national accreditation of certified veterinary practice manager.

In addition to passing a rigorous examination, the CVPM program requires a minimum of three years of practice management experience, Bailey 18 college semester hours of business management courses, a yearly fulfillment of approved continuing education courses and a minimum of four professional recommendation letters. It is accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. Bailey is now one of only nine CVPMs in the state of Georgia.

Bailey is the founder and president of BG Southeast, a veterinary management consulting company, and the Georgia Veterinary Managers Association, where she mentors veterinary managers all over the state. She joined Loving Hands Animal Clinic in 2011.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 25

CONNECT TO YOUR COMMUNITY December is our Entrepreneur focus, so don’t miss out.

We will cover: • By the numbers: Chambers New tech saves limbs • What’s the next move: How to keep the economy growing • What makes a good leader • Getting the most of your current customers July, 2014

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Tech capital

Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle makes case. PAGE 20

Hospital profiles

By the numbers on the hospitals north of Atlanta. PAGE 10

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

Land of innovation

Metro-Atlanta leads nation in health-tech. PAGE 12

Safety first

Hospitals with strict guidelines perform better. PAGE 15

Sprouting up

Sprouts Farmers Market opens in Snellville. PAGE 18

Dr. Greg Robertson of Emory Johns Creek uses a tiny laser camera to detect clogs in arteries which leads to lose of limbs. See story, page 8.

EMORY JOHNS CREEK HOSPITAL

Roswell, Georgia — a classic, southern town where small business makes a big impact

Learn more about how your small business can find success in Roswell on page 26

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COBB COUNTY

26 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Wells Fargo honors Cobb groups with $1,000 Days of Giving grants COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Twenty-nine Cobb County nonprofits were honored by Wells Fargo team members with $1,000 Days of Giving donations. Similar events are taking place this fall across Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Wells Fargo also announced that its Atlanta-area employees gave or pledged $1.8 million this fall in the United Way and Community Support campaign.

In all, 240 groups are receiving $1,000 checks at a series of community breakfasts across Atlanta. Twenty-four of the Cobb groups were honored at a breakfast at the Mansour Center on Oct. 29.

“To some, a $1,000 grant may seem small, but we know each of these great groups will be able to make a huge difference with this,” said Wells Fargo Area President Jim Lawrence in a statement.

“Collectively, this will have a major impact in our community.”

With the program in its sixth year, giving across Georgia will exceed $1.5 million this fall.

The Cobb groups receiving $1,000 grants were as follows: • 40 Girls and Some Shoes • Center for Children and Young Adults • Center for Family Resources • Cindy Donald Dreams of Recovery Foundation • Cobb Community Foundation • Cobb Habitat for Humanity • Destiny’s Daughters of Promise

Twenty-nine Cobb groups received $1,000 donations as part of Wells Fargo’s Days of Giving on Oct. 29 at the Mansour Center. From left: Mike Knowles with Wells Fargo, Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood representing the Cobb Community Foundation, Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee, Pam Brems with the Center for Family Resources and Andrea Watkins with the Center for Children and Young Adults.

• • • • • • • •

Family Life and Restoration Center Feeding the Homeless Project Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Heaven Sent Outreach I Give Myself Away Loving Arms Cancer Outreach Marietta Museum of History McCleskey-East Cobb and Northeast Cobb YMCA

• • • • • •

MUST Ministries Operation P.L.A.Y. Operation Stars and Stripes Renovacion Conyugal Safe America Foundation Safe Patch Children’s Advocacy Center • Simple Needs • Smith-Gilbert Gardens Foundation

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Gwinnett County LogFire appoints two to board of directors ATLANTA – LogFire, a multi-tenant, cloud-based supply chain solutions provider with headquarters in Cobb County, has selected Neil Thall and Ken Walters as new members to their board of directors. Thall, former chief executive officer of Acsis, will serve as the head of the customer success and support committee, and Walters, former executive at Infor, will serve as the head of the strategy and growth committee.

As CEO of Acsis Inc., Thall guided Acsis in developing products to fill current and future tracking needs in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries worldwide.

He transitioned the company into a predominantly product-based provider of serialized supply chain track and trace software, consolidating Acsis’ offerings into a strategically directed set of customer-centric products.

Previously, Thall was executive vice president of Manhattan Associates, managing all operations. A published author of several articles on inventory management, Thall holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin in organization and management.

Walters served as president and chief operating officer at Infor from 2002 to 2006. During this time, Infor executed more than 25 acquisitions and grew from $40 million to more than $800 million in revenue. Leading an initiative in 2006, Walters built a $500 million financial performance management software company

• The Extension Men’s Center • The Lupus Foundation of America, Ga. chapter • The Ronco Johnson Foundation • Voice Today • YELLS (Youth Empowerment through Learning, Leading and Service) • YWCA of Northwest Georgia

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called Extensity that merged with Infor in 2007. From 2007 to 2010, Walters led the Financial Solutions Group as president, during which time the combined company grew from $800 million to $2.1 billion. Previously, Walters served as COO at Internet Security Systems, president of Impact Innovations Group and managing partner at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Lori A. Johnson, Thomas E. Jones Jr., James M. Kane, J. Scot Kirkpatrick, Karen S. Kurtz, Courtney H. Moore, Hale E. Sheppard and Rosanne M.C. Smythe.

For details and to register, visit https://www.chamberlainlaw.com/news-events-rsvp-110.html.

Chamberlain Hrdlicka to host tax and business planning seminar

MARIETTA, Ga. — Fortress Builders is opening two new active adult communities in Cobb County.

Located off of Canton Road near Shallowford Road in Marietta, Madison Glen Commons is now selling active adult condominium homes priced from the $250,000s. Featuring extensive hardwood flooring, granite kitchen countertops and two-car garages, these homes will feature low-maintenance living, as the exceptional homeowners’ association covers all lawn maintenance.

The established Chimney Cottages, also on Canton Road in Marietta, will feature new ranch condominiums priced from the $240,000s. Sales opportunities will open at this community within 60 days, meaning buyers will be able to enjoy the gift of a new home during the holiday season.

For more information on the new active adult communities from Fortress Builders in Marietta, contact agent Kimberly Johnson at 678-658-0322 or visit www. builtbyfortress.com.

–Shannon Weaver

ATLANTA — Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry announced it will host the firm’s 29th annual Tax and Business Planning Seminar at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta on Nov. 12. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and includes a complimentary lunch.

The seminar will feature a luncheon keynote from David D. Aughtry, shareholder and managing partner of Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Atlanta office, discussing recent tax developments. Attendees may also participate in six workshops on various business and tax related topics.

The half-day seminar includes interactive workshops covering a diverse range of business topics, including intellectual property issues, IRS penalties, developments and disputes in tax controversy.

Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys facilitating these discussions include Aughtry, Scott A. Augustine, William E. Buchanan, David N. Dreyer, John W. Hackney,

Fortress Builders announces two active adult communities

GWINNETT COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 27

Partnership Gwinnett launches fundraising campaign GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – Partnership Gwinnett, Gwinnett County’s economic and community development initiative, launched Oct. 1 the public phase of a campaign to fund the acceleration of its five-year economic growth strategy.

The strategy is used to recruit, retain and help expand businesses, attract, educate and retain workforce talent and improve quality of life for county residents.

Randy Dellinger, campaign chairman and district manager of Jackson EMC, welcomed guests at a kickoff reception at the 1818 Club to announce the campaign’s progress to nearly 100 business and government leaders.

“Through the collaborative efforts of our business and community leaders, Partnership Gwinnett has already secured over $524,000 in annual private sector pledges,” he said.

That was an impressive 58 percent of the campaign’s stretch goal of $900,000 per year.

Nick Masino, senior vice president for Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett, said with the support of its partners, Partnership Gwinnett has produced tremendous results for businesses operating in Gwinnett. “[We are] maintaining our reputation

“Through the collaborative efforts of our business and community leaders, Partnership Gwinnett has already secured over $524,000 in annual private sector pledges.”

Randy Dellinger, campaign chairman and district manager of Jackson EMC

as one of the best places in the Southeast and nation to live and do business,” Masino said. “During our first five years, we recruited or assisted in the expansion of 112 businesses, achieved more than $900 million in capital investment and created more than 10,000 new jobs.

“We also went from one Fortune 500 company at the beginning of the recession to four by the end.”

Craig Monaghan, chief executive officer of one of the those three Fortune

500 companies, Asbury Automotive Group Inc., said Partnership Gwinnett was among the primary factors in the company’s decision to relocate from Manhattan to Gwinnett in 2008.

Masino noted past success but also emphasized the goals Partnership Gwinnett seeks to accomplish going forward.

“This initiative is about accelerating our approach to growing high quality businesses and high paying jobs in Gwinnett, strengthening workforce develop-

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Gwinnett County Massey Services acquires Baco Exterminating NORCROSS, Ga. — Harvey L. Massey, chairman and chief executive officer of Massey Services, announced the purchase of Baco Exterminating Services, a pest management company headquartered in Norcross.

“We are pleased to welcome the Baco Exterminating Services team members and customers to the Massey Services family,” Massey said. “We look for companies who have a reputation for exceptional customer service and Baco has done an outstanding job in their commitment to total customer satisfaction.”

Immucor acquires Sentilus NORCROSS, Ga. — Immucor Inc., a transfusion and transplantation diagnostics company, has acquired Sentilus Inc., a privately held company developing an inkjet-printed antibody microarray-based technology, Femtoarrays. Sentilus has been developing Femtoarrays and underlying technology for use in a variety of in vitro diagnostics areas, including transfusion diagnostics.

“We are very impressed with Sentilus’ Femtoarrays technology, which we think will be a great fit with our transfusion business as a potential next generation technology platform,” said William A. Hawkins, Immucor’s president and CEO. Sentilus, based in Durham, North Carolina, is led by Dr. Ashutosh Chilkoti, Duke University chair of biomedical engineering, and co-founder and CEO Angus Hucknall.

“We are excited to be teaming up with Immucor to advance the development of our proprietary technology,” Chilkoti said. “With Immucor’s focus on ensuring

ment and contributing in a variety of ways to the exceptional quality of life we enjoy,” he said.

“To ensure that we continue on this trajectory, it is our goal to fully fund Partnership Gwinnett, which has not been the case since its inception in 2006,” said Masino. “It is imperative that we have adequate staff dedicated to each of the priorities of our initiative.”

Dellinger and Masino credited Amity Farrar and Sean Mikula of Atlanta-based fundraising firm Power 10 for their excellent management of the campaign to date.

Partnership Gwinnett is a publicprivate partnership initiative for the retention and expansion of existing Gwinnett businesses in addition to the development of new business in five key target sectors: • Health sciences and services • Information technology solutions • Advanced manufacturing • Supply chain management • Headquarters/professional services The ultimate goal is to promote economic wealth and diversification, increase education and workforce excellence, improve quality of life and heighten visibility through marketing and outreach programs for the entire Gwinnett community.

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transfusion and transplantation safety, we are excited to join forces with them to bring our novel microarraybased technology to the market.”

pital has raised $4.7 billion in contributions to fund its work. Since 1992, RE/MAX has raised more than $140 million for the effort.

Gwinnett Tech horticulture students ace certification

Norcross packaging firm receives marketing honors

GWINNETT, Ga. — A group of Gwinnett Tech horticulture students earned a 100 percent pass rate on a national certification exam for the second consecutive year.

The Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Manager designation is offered through the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) with the University of Georgia.

Seven students in instructor Tony Gobert’s turf grass management class earned the designation.

For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

NORCROSS, Ga. – RockTenn Merchandising Displays received 27 Design of the Times Awards at this year’s Shopper Marketing Expo, held last month in Minneapolis.

RockTenn received more awards than any other entrant in the competition. The awards included work for Procter & Gamble, Disney, Colgate, Nestle Purina, Johnson & Johnson, Hasbro, Merck, Henkel, Pfizer, Unilever and Big Heart Pet Brands.

“This industry recognition of our innovation and creativity on behalf of our customers is simply phenomenal,” said Craig Gunckel, RockTenn’s executive vice president of merchandising display and folding carton.

“It substantiates our unique ability to provide our customers the most outstanding end-to-end products and services available.”

The Design of the Times Awards celebrate the most effective retail in-store activations, displays and campaigns. Entries are judged on their ability to command attention, connect with the shopper, convey information and close the sale.

The awards program is sponsored by the Path to Purchase Institute. The judging panel includes more than 60 industry executives representing major consumer product companies and retailers.

RE/MAX golf tournament aids children’s hospitals SUWANEE, Ga. – RE/MAX Center of Duluth raised $24,253 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital as part of a Columbus Day fundraiser in Suwanee. The 11th annual Play 4 the Kids Golf Tournament was held at Bear’s Best.

Patrick Finnick, broker/owner of RE/MAX Center, said the fundraiser could not have proven successful without the help of local business owners, other real estate professionals and bankers.

Founded in 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hos-

SOUND ADVICE

28 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Chambers of commerce champion real estate Brian Patton

brianpattonccim.com

Local chambers of commerce are increasing their roles in aiding businesses and entrepreneurs in their efforts to strengthen the economy and real estate community. Most chambers, through their economic development arm, are funding market studies, engaging and aiding development authorities and pushing local governments to update existing utilities and transportation infrastructure.

Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Tim Evans, vice president of economic development of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, a 1,600 member organization, is helping focus on business expansion and new business recruitment. There are about 120 commercial real estate agents in the Hall county area.

“We count them as a small army contingent of economic development cheerleaders,” Evans said.

The chamber holds quarterly networking and informational update meetings with the group to advise them of the latest happenings.

In a recent meeting, the group learned of improvements to the Highway 365 corridor.

With new sewer installations expected by March 2015, this corridor is expected to explode in growth. Technology Park Atlanta just recently purchased 145 shovel-ready acres along this corridor. The group’s plans for retail, office and industrial development will take advantage of land that is zoned, graded and all utilities ready to go.

With the chamber’s input, the county’s development authority is also nearing completion on 500 acres, along the same corridor, being labeled as GRAD (Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development). This state designation is a tool communities can use to prove that their sites are ready for accelerated growth.

The site is served by Norfolk Southern Railroad, along with all utilities, transportation and access roads.

The property is owned by the development authority, and their first purchaser is the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. This group is a research facility that randomly inspects Georgia’s poultry flock to help protect from pandemic diseases.

Their 45,000-square-foot building on 10 acres will be a shot in the arm for the development.

And, of course, one feather in their

cap is the first hospital expansion that includes new beds in the state in the last 20 years.

Known as the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, it is located in South Hall and is currently under construction.

Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce conducted a retail opportunity gap analysis in late 2013 to assess the condition of Forsyth County’s retail market.

According to Randall Toussaint, vice president of economic development with the chamber, after reviewing the results of that study, he and his coworkers embarked on a goal to increase the commercial segment of the county’s digest from 20 percent to 25 percent.

This plan, dubbed “Business First,” calls for the recruitment of restaurants, hotels and large box retail stores. The chamber, through its local professional staff, has been aggressively working with developers and commercial real estate agents to sound the drumbeat of Forsyth County’s amenities and, most importantly, its rooftop prowess.

It appears that this strategy, along with an improving consumer spending trend, has paid dividends in the first part of this year.

With the recent opening of Costco Wholesale Club, Forsyth County has taken a large step in the right direction of plugging the “large box retailer” hole outlined in its 2013 study. Additionally, a favorite grocery provider, Aldi’s, has just opened a new location on Highway 20 as part of their metro Atlanta growth strategy.

Additionally, Lakeland Plaza, an older big box retail project located at the corner of Highway 20 and Ga. 400, is under revitalization. Despite losing some strong tenants, the space is filling up with some well-known retailers, such as JoAnn Fabrics, which is the nation’s largest specialty retailer of fabrics. In addition, several restaurant sites nearby have undergone or have planned major renovations to update their look.

Since January 2014, these successes have continued to occur at an accelerated pace. According to recent reports, the Chamber of Commerce successfully recruited a new Fairfield Marriott to the Collection Shopping Center. The project is expected to generate 15 new jobs and $7 million in new capital investment.

In 2013, the Chamber of Commerce successfully assisted the Lou Sobh team with opening a new Honda dealership within Cumming, Georgia.

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Progress Partners, an economic

development initiative of GNFCC receives both public and private funds designated specifically for promoting new business and retention/expansion of existing businesses.

It is considered the regional economic development marketing arm for the GNFCC for all six cities that it serves: • Milton • Alpharetta, • Roswell, Sandy • Springs • Johns Creek • Mountain Park Bethany Usry, vice president of Progress Partners, is helping coordinate events to bring new folks into the region.

One particular proposal she is contemplating for early 2015 is an economic development summit. The Alpharetta Chamber and the Council for Quality Growth will be assisting in the planning and marketing of the summit.

Their plan is to attract the development community from the Atlanta metro area to explore development opportunities in the six-city region where they may have not explored in the past.

In addition, the group is discussing the idea of a bus tour for commercial real estate professionals to tour commercial real estate sites in the area – “just to give a small taste of what each city is all about,” says Usry.

Progress Partners, in the past, has also coordinated real estate broker roundtable discussions on a quarterly basis in conjunction with Roswell Inc, a private economic development organization working in partnership with the city of Roswell.

Of course, no discussion of North Fulton is complete without a mention of the $600 million Avalon development, which officially opened Oct. 30.

GNFCC and the North Fulton CID (Community Improvement District) were instrumental in completion of Westside Parkway, which in turn, was a big catalyst for North American Properties deciding to take on the Avalon development.

This is one of the largest developments in the state and the first “gigabyte community,” meaning Internet speeds are 100 times faster than most providers. Its list of 75 retailers in 570,000 square feet is impressive, as well as its potential for 750,000 square feet of Class A office.

There’s no doubt that the role of local chambers has expanded and that their injection of marketing and brand building will continue to benefit the communities and the real estate community, which they serve.

Brian Patton, CCIM is an author and trusted advisor on commercial real estate investments and development.

He can be reached at 770-634-4848 or via his website: www.brianpattonccim. com.

Live local in Roswell Jessica Diamond

Communications Coordinator, Roswell Inc Native Georgians and visitors alike are often surprised to learn that Roswell is, in fact, quite a large city. The last census counted just shy of 100,000 people, and the numbers continue to grow rapidly. A visitor sitting on a bench in downtown Roswell might guess that the population hovered somewhere in the hundreds. People walking the streets all seem to recognize one another.

Furthermore, they are on a first name basis with the business owners, most of whom can normally be found on any given day working in their shops and restaurants. People generally hold doors, share stories and extend a friendly welcome to guests. Despite the fact it is among the 10 largest cities in GA, Roswell has a way of feeling, well, like a classic small, southern town!

So, what would draw people to a suburban city like Roswell? The city’s unique duality plays a vital role in its appeal. Given that Roswell is a large and fairly affluent city, its amenities are extensive and diverse.

It is able to support a large number of businesses, given its population size, and the public services are well funded and impeccably maintained. Roswell’s award winning Parks & Rec Department boasts hundreds of acres of public recreation space, including a nature reserve that protects the natural beauty of the riverside town. The business community continues to thrive and grow, particularly as many natives who were raised and educated in Roswell choose to stay and open their own establishments. They, along with those who come specifically to Roswell to join the business community, are supporting a strong local economy that feeds itself through local spending, rising tourism and constant reinvestment in the community.

And yet, despite all of the growth, Roswell is anchored in a history and a culture that is distinctly southern and very “small town.” This is the secret to the city’s success. People have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the benefits of small town life, rich with community involvement, without losing any of the amenities associated with big city living.

There is no distinct line between the tourist experience and the native experience. Visitors are able to feel completely at home and actively live the life of a local. Roswell will continue to expand its horizons and provide limitless opportunity for business.

Yet, it will always retain the cozy, small town culture that gave it life.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 29

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More than a meal

By JESSICA DIAMOND Communications Coordinator, Roswell Inc Some believe that eating is the only thing to do at a Roswell restaurant. However, that is not the case! Restaurants everywhere are developing different ways to offer customers more than just great food. They are offering an entire experience. Whether you’re looking for live music, a spot to watch the big game or dinner and a show, Roswell has the perfect place for you to kick back and enjoy your night out.

At Tara Humata, located in the Sweet Apple Village, get a taste of real Mexican flair with authentic live music and enticing margaritas. The Mexican fusion menu combined with the lively atmosphere make for a night of entertainment that is sure to impress.

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to watch your favorite team on the big screen, head over to Coldbrew’s Sports Bar and Grill. Gear up for the big game

and bring your friends! If sports aren’t your main interest, not to worry. Trivia night is sure to deliver just as much excitement and fun. But, while you’re caught up in all of the action, don’t forget to order some extra hot wings or a burger to satisfy your game day cravings.

If you’re looking for a break from the usual dining experience, Cork and Canvas provides a fun way to enjoy food and drink with friends while showing off your creative side. Come with old friends, coworkers or even by yourself for a little relaxation and alone time. Just bring your favorite bottle of wine, some snacks and creative mindset, and Cork will take care of the rest. They’ll provide everything from the glasses and bottle opener to your art supplies. So go ahead and mix it up!

Whether you’re in the mood for a fiesta with live music, football on the big screen or creating a mini masterpiece with the wine of your choice, Roswell has a host of options for you. Get out there and be entertained!

Utopia gastropub blends art, taste, class

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com Utopia. n. A place of ideal perfection. Cit. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The newest nightspot in Johns Creek oozes understated cool. Owner Jamal Sahri is a restaurateur noted in New York not only for his eateries but as an artist of renown as well.

His sixth restaurant, Utopia at Medlock Bridge Road and Wilson Road, is a bar-lounge-gastro pub that offers a dining experience for those who what a change from the look-alike chains that pop up everywhere.

Restaurant operator Joe Gonzalez says it is a different kind of place from the look-alike restaurants you see up and down the road. First, there is the original Sahri art on the wall.

The food is superior with a wide selection and an ambiance that is unique, he said.

“We’re your local bar with food that is unique,” Gonzalez said. “This is not typical bar food.”

Instead, one finds pastas, seafood, blackened shrimp and of course, a great steak. He calls it American food with international flair.

“We do some gourmet foods – with the fine dining you find at Viand Rouge,” he said. “But it’s not expensive.”

Asked who the typical customer is, Gonzalez says it depends on the time. Early evenings, the forty and fiftysomethings trend in. A bit later on, the thirtysomethings are more likely to mingle.

And from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., it is turned over to the millennials. Paneled wood and leather chairs and couches set a tone of boardroom elegance.

“We have a dining area for about 30 tables – four-tops

HATCHER HURD/Staff

Restaurant operator Joe Gonzalez talks with a cigar merchant about carrying cigars for patrons.

Hanging on the wall behind them are some of owner Jamal Sahri’s original artwork that hangs in galleries nationally. and tables with high chairs. But we want to be a place where people meet and socialize too,” he said. “There are TVs around the bar, but Utopia is no sports bar.

“You come in, and there’s not a lot of loud music,” Gonzalez said. “We know people like to have a conversation. When the younger crowd comes in, we have an internet jukebox that is really popular.”

It is a small but friendly place with lots of room to

sit down and just enjoy company. There is a pool table and a tabletop shuffleboard for people who like to do something with their hands while they talk. The mood is relaxed.

It has a fine selection of craft beers as well as top brand bourbons and scotches.

“Jamal wants a nice bar. But what sets us apart is our food,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the differential.”

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • November, 2014 • 31

32 • November, 2014 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Appen Media is excited to announce Institute for Advanced Medical Research as a Title Sponsor for the upcoming 2014 Best of the Best Awards Gala.

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