North Atlanta Business Post, December 2015

December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Best of the Best

Did we see you at Appen Media Group’s Gala? PAGE 12

Meet the Chambers

Chambers tell successes, future plans. PAGES 16 – 17

Volume 2, Issue 12 • Cherokee • Cobb • Forsyth • Fulton • Gwinnett • Hall • An Appen Media Group Publication

Sold! For $2.7B

MedAssets bought by Pamplona Capital. Page 7

Entrepreneurial spirit GATN, Coke listen to tech startups. Page 14

First of its kind

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit #3592

Meet Hall County’s Sweet Acre Farms Winery. Page 30

Forsyth in the forefront

Forsyth County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, and we’re here to tell the story. Mixed-use, diverse economy and the Ga. 400 widening project are just some of the topics we touch on. (Pictured: the recently unveiled Lady Justice statue by artist Gregory Johnson in front of the new Forsyth County Courthouse).

Read more, Pages 22 – 27 Kathleen Sturgeon/Staff

Appen Media Group 319 North Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

A L P H A R E T TA C H A M B E R

Gala 2016

January 23

Save the date for the 2016 Alpharetta Chamber Gala at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Alpharetta, January 23.

Learn more, Page 7

2 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

WELCOME

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 3

Letter from the publisher It’s holiday season and North Atlanta is a buzz. Recently I was at Avalon in Alpharetta to see a movie with my wife. We took some time to watch all the folks enjoying the ice skating rink, and walk the grounds looking at all the Christmas lights, sounds and smells. I’m not one that enjoys the cold weather, but I love the spirit of the season.

It’s fun to take some time away from our busy lives and just appreciate more of the small things.

We’ve had an exhausting, but rewarding year with the Business Post. We’ve had a lot to cover with all the new major projects, development and recruitment of new companies. We saw Mercedes locate to Sandy Springs, all the development in and around downtown Alpharetta, Gwinnett Tech open a campus in North Fulton, updates on the new Braves stadium, etc. We also hosted a Leadership Summit in March and ran a 40 Under 40 program July-November. We will look to do more of the same and then some in 2016. As always, we appreciate your support and ideas – call anytime.

One of the features this month is on the North Atlanta chambers of commerce on pages 16 and 17. Many of these chambers have been tremendous partners with this publication in helping us identify the latest news that our readers should

know about, and most recently in helping us to compile our 40 Under 40 list.

The chambers’ primary responsibilities typically are to help promote and network its members to help them grow, often from the very day they open and even before. I would encourage anyone not familiar with what chambers have to offer to consider looking into joining one for 2016.

Also this month we feature Forsyth County. I recently attended the Forsyth Chamber year-end gala, and walked away very impressed with what James McCoy and his chamber team have done. I was unaware of the sheer volume of international companies who do business out of Forsyth, in particular German companies. It goes to show our proximity to HartsfieldJackson airport, mixed in with a high quality of life and great schools, still go a long way towards economic development in the region.

Until next time,

Meet the staff OWNERS Ray & Christina Appen

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Georgia Power opens new Cumming business office CUMMING, Ga. — Georgia Power hosted a ribbon cutting event Nov. 19 to mark the opening of its new business office at 1648 Market Place Blvd. in Cumming.

Georgia Power Region Manager Doug Jenkins and employees were joined by Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt, Forsyth County Commission Chair Pete Amos, Georgia State Senator Michael Williams, Georgia State Rep. Sheri Gilligan and President and CEO of the CummingForsyth Chamber of Commerce James McCoy.

The new office will serve thousands of Georgia Power customers in the area and offer a full suite of customer services including account management, bill payment assistance, metering services and energy efficiency advice. Georgia Power currently operates more than 130 local business offices in communities across the state as part of its commitment to providing customer service to 2.4 million customers.

Georgia Power’s previous Cumming business office was located on

North Main Street and operated for 40 years, closing on Oct. 30. Georgia Power relocated the office to its new location to improve convenience and access for local customers.

In addition to local business offices, Georgia Power serves customers through more than 2,600 authorized payment locations throughout the state, over the phone and online every day. To locate a Georgia Power business office, APL, or access customer service 24 hours a day, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com.

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NEWS

4 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Renasant, KeyWorth Bank announce merger Merger worth $58.7M

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Renasant Corp., parent company of Renasant Bank, continues to grow its presence in Georgia and north metro Atlanta with the merger of KeyWorth Bank. Under the agreement, KeyWorth will merge with and into Renasant Bank in a transaction valued at approximately $58.7 million.

Founded in 2007, KeyWorth operates six offices in the Atlanta metropolitan area and, as of June 30, 2015, had approximately $389 million in total assets, which included approximately $246 million in total loans and approximately $336 million in total deposits. The transaction is expected to enhance Renasant’s existing presence in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, and complements its recently completed acquisition of Heritage Financial Group Inc., which operated 36 branches throughout Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

“This is an attractive opportunity for us to acquire a community banking franchise which focuses on the greater Atlanta market area. KeyWorth Bank is a high-quality commercial bank, with a strong credit culture and an attractive

customer base. We believe this combination will be additive to Renasant’s growing Georgia franchise and will provide us with additional scale and commercial banking expertise in the POPE Atlanta market,” said Renasant Chairman and CEO E. Robinson McGraw. “KeyWorth has a team of quality bankers and we are excited for them to become part of our company.”

The merger puts KeyWorth Bank in a stronger position, as well, according to its executives.

James F. Pope, CEO of KeyWorth, said, “This is a logical combination with one of the most attractive banks in the Southeast. Our customers will become part of a multibillion-dollar banking franchise with immediate access to an expanded array of products and services.”

KeyWorth’s shareholders will exchange their shares for Renasant common stock, which is listed on NASDAQ and which KeyWorth says is well positioned for continued growth.

Pope will join Renasant as chairman of Renasant Bank’s Atlanta metro division. In addition, Neil Stevens, KeyWorth president and chief operating officer, will

become the Atlanta division metro president for Renasant Bank. Renasant’s Ken Davis will continue in his role as president of Renasant Bank’s North Georgia Division.

“It’s a good marSTEVENS riage for us,” said Renasant’s Stevens. “This is a positive thing for both organizations. It rounds out Renasant’s footprint in Atlanta, especially the northern crescent,” which includes Jasper, Big Canoe and parts of Alpharetta.

The merger also makes Renasant a much stronger force, he said.

“It’s good for Renasant because it gives us a lot more horsepower. We’ve aligned now with a very successful, wellrun institution that allows us to make larger loans and have a wider array of products and services we can offer customers,” Stevens said.

Renasant does not anticipate changes in its front-line office staff, Stevens said.

According to the terms of the merger agreement, unanimously agreed upon by the boards of directors of both companies, KeyWorth shareholders will receive 0.4494 shares of Renasant common stock for each share of KeyWorth common stock.

Based on Renasant's closing price of

“This is an attractive opportunity for us to acquire a community banking franchise which focuses on the greater Atlanta market area.”

E. Robinson McGraw, Renasant Chairman and CEO $33.38 per share as of Oct. 19, the aggregate deal value is approximately $58.7 million, or $15 per share. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Renasant’s estimated earnings and tangible book value per share and has an interest rate risk which exceeds internal thresholds.

The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of 2016, subject to KeyWorth shareholder approval.

Renasant was advised by the investment banking firm of Raymond James & Associates Inc., and the law firm of Phelps Dunbar LLP. KeyWorth was advised by the investment banking firm of Banks Street Partners LLC, and the law firm of Alston & Bird LLP.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 5

NEWS

6 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Georgia named No. 1 for business decade, holding the top spot for the last ATLANTA – Gov. two years.

Nathan Deal has “Georgia is a regular top finisher in announced that yet our annual analysis of state business again Georgia has been climates,” said Site Selection editor-innamed the No. 1 state chief Mark Arend. “But three consecutive in the nation in which first-place finishes in this ranking is a to do business for pattern. It says the state clearly has in the third consecutive place the business-attraction attributes year by Site Selection DEAL most required by companies expanding magazine, a leading and establishing new facilities.” economic development trade publicaThe rankings are determined by a tion. survey of corporate site selectors paired “Once again, Georgia has been with an index of tax burnamed the top state in den criteria according which to do business, to the Tax Foundation; reflecting our success in and KPMG’s Location strengthening Georgia’s Matters analysis; and economic environment performance in Conway and creating a top-notch Data’s New Plant Dataworkforce,” said Deal. base, which tracks new “Through collaborative and expanded business public-private sector facility activity. efforts, we have created “Site Selection’s hundreds of thousands third-time No. 1 ranking of jobs for families, speaks volumes to our invested millions in our business-friendly envilocal communities and ronment, world-class improved the overall infrastructure network, quality of life for our top-notch academic citizens. institutions, nation“This ranking is not ally-ranked training only a testament to our programs and vibrant strong business climate, socioeconomic culture,” but it also speaks to the said Georgia Department commitment and supof Economic Developport from our industry Mark Arend, Site Selection ment Commissioner partners, communities editor-in-chief Chris Carr. and the people of Geor“We provide comgia.” panies looking to locate Each November, or expand here an experience that they Site Selection releases rankings for cannot find anywhere else, and we will the top states in which to do business. continue to work hard with our partners Georgia has been ranked among the top from around the state to maintain this 10 states in Site Selection’s business reputation,” Carr said. climate rankings throughout the last

“Georgia is a regular top finisher in our annual analysis of state business climates.

But three consecutive first-place finishes in this ranking is a pattern.”

Hall Chamber 2015 Industry of the Year Awards GAINESVILLE, Ga.– The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Industry of the Year Awards were presented at the 7th Annual Industry Appreciation Luncheon Nov. 17 at the Chattahoochee Country Club. Sponsored by Lanier Technical College, the awards honor area industry leaders based on economic impact, workforce excellence and corporate responsibility. Winners included: • Small Industry Category (0-50 employees): Poly Enterprises, 1168 Palmour Drive, Gainesville.

• Medium Industry Category (51200 employees): Mugele of America, 1245 Palmour Place, Gainesville.

• Large Industry Category (201+ Employees): Marel Stork Poultry Pro-

cessing Inc., 1024 Airport Parkway, Gainesville.

• Corporate Responsibility Award: Wrigley Manufacturing, 4500 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch, GA 30542.

• Safety Recognition Award: Sapa Extrusions NA – Gainesville Facility, 2905 Old Oakwood Road, Gainesville.

• Environmental Steward Award: ZF – TRW Automotive, 5531 Rafe Court, Flowery Branch.

• Workforce Excellence Award: PERFORMANCE Foodservice, 3501 Old Oakwood Road, Oakwood.

• Workforce Development Award: IMS Gear Georgia Inc., 1234 Palmour Drive, Gainesville.

NEWS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 7

SAVE THE DATE! A L P H A R E T TA C H A M B E R

Gala 2016

January 23

MedAssets’ corporate headquarters in Alpharetta.

MedAssets sold for $2.7B

6:00pm - 10:00pm Music by

Tickets $125 each Tables $1,500 each (12 seats)

Founder John Bardis grew company from scratch in just 14 years ALPHARETTA, Ga. – John Bardis, the health care maverick who has been one of the few industry voices championing the Affordable Care Act, has sold his business, MedAssets, for $2.7 billion to Pamplona Capital, a private equity firm.

Pamplona has announced it will in turn sell off one half of the company while merging the other with its Precyse subsidiary.

A 30-year veteran of managing health care costs, Bardis will step back now as the health care industry continues to wrestle with rising costs.

Bardis’ company, a maker of revenue cycle and performance improvement tools, continued to be successful since he founded it in 1999.

Beginning with American Hospital Supply and Baxter International, Bardis held various senior management positions, including vice president of the Baxter operating room division and General Manager of the eastern zone.

In 1987, Bardis left Baxter to join Kinetic Concepts, at that time the nation’s largest specialty bed and medical equipment rental company. From 1992 to 1997, he was president and CEO of TheraTx Inc., a leading provider of

rehabilitation services and operator of skilled nursing facilities.

In 1995, Bardis was named Entrepreneur of the Year by INC Magazine.

In 2007, MedAsBardis sets successfully complete its initial public offering and is now a publicly traded company (MDAS) on NASDAQ. Today, MedAssets has 2,700 hospital clients for its revenue cycle products, managing more than $450 billion in patient revenue annually.

It is precisely because he has studied these costs that Bardis is acutely aware that, as medical and insurance costs continue to rise, companies like his will be in high demand to reduce those costs.

The disparity in costs are so great now between what wage earners can pay and what care costs, many of that 40 million uninsured do not seek care until they are at such a point of deterioration that they must walk into an emergency room.

“There couldn’t be a more expensive place to get your primary care than the ER,” Bardis said.

Today, MedAssets has 2,700 hospital clients for its revenue cycle products, managing more than $450 billion in patient revenue annually.

Event Location:

Contact Kristen at Kristen@alpharettachamber.com for sponsorship information Sponsorship Deadline is December 31st Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce alpharettachamber.com (404) 545-0212

REAL ESTATE

8 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Roswell’s City Walk apartments open

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Roswell’s first new apartments in years have opened, with city leaders gathering Nov. 17 at the grand opening of Roswell City Walk.

Located near Canton Street and Roswell’s City Hall, City Walk features 320 one- and two-bedroom luxury apartments. It opened for leasing in late March and now sits at 85 percent leased.

Chris Cassidy, division president for the Southeast for Lennar Multifamily, the builder, said it was one of the fastestleased properties built by Lennar.

“This is a product people want to live in and Roswell is a place where people want to live,” Cassidy said.

He predicted 95 percent occupancy by early next year.

One challenge, he said, was that while Roswell was known for its single-family housing, the price points of the homes often kept younger families out.

“We think we have provided that,” he said. “The city recognized it needed alternative housing types for the downtown [Roswell] area,” Cassidy said. “We came in with a solution to provide that alternative.”

High-end apartments close to numer-

JONATHAN COPSEY/Staff

The Roswell City Walk apartments officially opened Nov. 17 near Canton Street. They now sit at 85 percent full. ous amenities were ideal, he said. The resulting development fits for the younger, millennial contingent who like urban, walkable living and also with downsizing baby boomers who want to get rid of their large houses.

Roswell Mayor Jere Wood said City Walk was an important project for the

city, calling it “critical” for a mix of housing.

“For years, Roswell did not approve any new apartments or rental housing,” Wood said. “We focused on singlefamily development, which is Roswell’s strength. But not everyone wants a big lot. This gives is an alternative place to

live that we did not have.”

He said such housing projects were the “right type for certain areas in Roswell.”

For more about Roswell City Walk, visit them online at roswellcitywalk.com or visit the leasing office at 3000 Forrest Walk, Roswell.

ECONOMIC FORECAST

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 9

Attitudes changing about home ownership among young

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Metro Atlanta’s housing market continues to climb out of the recession but remains well below the levels it enjoyed in the early 2000s.

Figures from the DHAWAN Georgia State University Economic Forecasting Center show the number of housing permits for single and multifamily homes are at about 60 percent of the levels seen in the boom years, from 2002-2006. Moreover, the center predicts the housing recovery will be most prevalent in north metro over the next two years.

And while the pulse of the national market is getting stronger, the housing industry is facing new hurdles, said William Strauss, senior economist and economic adviser with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Speaking at the quarterly Economic Forecast Center Conference at GSU recently, Strauss said there has been a growing trend toward continued urbanization of companies, leading many millennials to find housing in urban centers.

This trend, he said, opens the doors to multifamily construction.

“The millennials are in the city, not in

“Multifamily is happening in Fulton County, inner city highrise apartment buildings, mostly.

The single-family is happening in northern counties, north of I-20, Cherokee and other areas, where the lots are still available at a fair price.”

Rajeev Dhawan, Director of the GSU Economic Forecasting Center

Metro Atlanta Housing Permits Here’s a look at the recent history of north metro county single and multihousing permits by quarter and the predicted trends, according to the GSU Economic Forecasting Center. Source: Georgia State University Economic Forecasting Center History County

Forecast

Type of Permit

2014:2

2014:3

2014:4

2015:1

2015:2

2015:3

2015

2016

2017

Single

391

409

426

404

547

485

1,882

2,127

2,446

Multihousing

547

0

0

89

0

5

178

194

215

Single

354

401

283

366

455

378

1,611

1,692

1,810

Multihousing

125

650

624

59

410

107

821

903

1,011

Single

605

743

653

676

807

792

3,099

3,502

4,027

Multihousing

178

246

194

21

184

0

378

412

457

Single

706

589

564

801

715

783

3,057

3,210

3,435

Multihousing

1,208

675

1,911

1,184

2,441

935

5,589

5,290

4,771

Single

916

731

698

723

964

844

3,311

3,477

3,720

Multihousing

205

4

0

27

0

244

323

355

398

Cherokee

Cobb

Forsyth

Fulton

Gwinnett

the suburbs,” he said. “And I think that’s going to have an effect with regards to the type of housing choices.”

Strauss said he thinks there is also a shift in regard to the attitude of home ownership among the young.

“You look at what happened to the generation that came through the Great Depression and their attitude toward a whole bunch of things,” he said. “Spending and saving was very different from later generations.”

Anyone who has come of age in the past 10 years, he said, has probably seen a different view with regard to housing. “[They’ve] seen families who have been challenged with home losses through foreclosure, families who have this home that they’ve not been able to sell and maybe have to struggle through maybe renting it out and holding more housing assets than they desire,” he said.

“So I think people who have witnessed that are going to have a very different attitude about home ownership.”

Those who own homes, Strauss said, understand there is a lot more that goes with home ownership than meets the eye. The view that it might not be as great of an asset as once perceived might work against market growth, he said.

While home values have been rising and the inventory of homes has fallen since 2009, Strauss said, home ownership rates have been moving lower, to just above 63 percent currently. He said he sees the trend continuing downward to possibly 60 percent, which would be a huge reduction from today.

“That being said, I would still say that the vast majority of Americans still

would like to own a home,” he said. “So it’s not like it’s going to go from the 64 percent it has averaged from 1984 to 1995 down to 20 percent, I’m not talking about anything like that.”

Rajeev Dhawan, director of the GSU Economic Forecasting Center, said Atlanta is seeing strong growth in multifamily building. The difference between today’s growth and that which took place before the recession, he said, is that the new construction is being funded primarily by private investors, not small banks.

“Multifamily is happening in Fulton County, inner city high-rise apartment buildings, mostly,” he said. “The singlefamily is happening in northern counties, north of I-20, Cherokee and other areas, where the lots are still available at a fair price.”

Trying to build a single-family home in Brookhaven, he said, will be much more expensive

than building the same home in Cumming. In Brookhaven, the builder will most likely tear down an existing structure to build the new home, while lots at reasonable prices are still available in Forsyth County, he said.

While homebuilding is continuing a slow, steady rise, he said, the market remains restrained from previous levels.

“In the 2003-2007 phase, we were building those $800,000 homes near a golf course 50 miles from the center of town,” Dhawan said. “That is not happening now.”

RIBBON CUTTINGS

10 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

New businesses in your area

Business: Navadina Hair & Wigs Opened: Oct. 17, 2015 Owner: Morgan Martinez What: Navadina Hair & Wigs carries the finest quality grade Virgin Remy Brazilian, Malaysian, Peruvian, Indian, Cambodian, Mongolian and

Eurasian hair extensions, along with premium-made closures, frontals and wigs.

Address: Kings Market, 1425 Market Blvd., Suite 525, Roswell Phone: 678-585-0615 Website: navadinahair.com Business: Alkaline Wellness Center Opened: October 2015 Owner: Connie Jeon What: Combines the benefits of modern physical therapy work and the ancient art of yoga practice.

Address: 6955 McGinnis Ferry Road #112, Johns Creek, GA 30097 Phone: 678-335-5566 Website: alkalinephysical therapy.com

Business: Celebration Village Forsyth Opened: October 2015 Owners: Paul Aase, Larry Landry, Mark Lichtenwalner, David Mills What: An active senior living community with five distinct neighborhoods that promote individualized growth in older adults, helping them to maximize their potential through social, intellectual, physical and spiritual enrichments.

Address: 2623 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 300, Suwanee, GA 30024 Phone: 770-886-6565 Website: cvillage.com

Business: MaThCliX MaTh Learning CenTer Opened: December, 2015 What: Math tutoring and learning center dedicated to solving math problems and helping students do

and learn math to be successful in their classroom.

Address: 1105 Parkside Lane Suite 1322, Woodstock Phone: 770-852-0314 Website: mathclix.com

Did your business recently cut a ribbon?

Submit it to business@appenmediagroup.com

Business: Used PC Outlet Opened: June 2015 Owners: Johnson Mathew and Philip Itty What: Offering off-lease commercial-grade desktops and laptops at below-market prices as well as

computer repairs and electronics equipment recycling, including old cell phones and computers.

Address: 595 East Crossville Road, #200, Roswell Phone: 770-993-0603

Business: Forever Gems, Body, Hearth and Soul Opened: Aug. 28, 2015 Owners: Jacky Harjani, Sanjana Harjani What: A fine jewelry store located in downtown Alpharetta with unique

treasures and home accents, offering great value, exceptional quality, excellent service and custom products.

Address: 41 Milton Ave., Suite 101A, Alpharetta Phone: 678-566-0900

Business: Salon Lofts Opened: June 2015 Market Manager: Mary Eyler What: Salon Lofts is a community of experienced beauty professionals who enjoy all the benefits of owning a

salon without the risks.

Address: Roswell Marketplace, 10800 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell Phone: 404-673-2477 Website: salonlofts.com

What: J.B. Owens Park Opened: November, 2015 What: Community park in Holly Springs with pavalions and multipur-

pose fields available for rent.

Address: 2699 Hickory Road, Holly Springs Website: hollyspringsga.us

SOUND ADVICE

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 11

North Fulton growth double-edged sword Hatcher Hurd Executive Editor

During this political season, there has been much discussion on what to do about growth in North Fulton. True, a lot of it is driven by the recent elections (and the runoffs in Johns Creek).

I have had several one-on-one conversations with folks at various times asking my opinion regarding what the various cities ought to be doing – or not doing – about growth and economic development.

I’ve heard the gamut from “It’s not the government’s job” to “Cities should vigorously support new business” to “Let’s raise the drawbridge.”

They ask me because I am always at the meetings where these things are discussed and have written at length about what the cities are doing. Let’s say up front that experience does not make me an expert.

It makes me a newsman. I observe and tell as best as I am able what is happening and why. But the experts are the ones who get paid for their opinions.

That said, I have observed quite a lot about all of metro Atlanta in the last 30 years. So first let me say that most of the rest of the metro area would kill to have North Fulton’s problems. That is not to say North Fulton’s problems are not real and need solving, but they are the kinds of problems you want because they mostly result from a surfeit of good things: good schools, high-grade housing stock that appreciates, lots of good-paying jobs and high-tech companies that don’t come with smokestacks or other environmental liabilities.

But as metro Atlanta grows, it can kill what is best about an area through sheer weight. In the 1970s, Decatur,

Vinings, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Buckhead and Marietta were trendy places everyone wanted to be.

All have undergone the spate of “hot real estate” then the burden of overbuilt centers or stifling traffic or overcommercialization.

As the metroplex expands, it changes those edge communities. Some are just consumed, such as East Point, College Park, Forest Park, Tucker, Stone Mountain and others.

North Fulton remained the “undiscovered country” until the 1990s. Now, as we all know, it is the discovered country.

From what I have seen, it is the communities that have a plan for growth that do well. Decatur has become a vibrant city again. Cityhood was a major reason. Local leadership is one of the keys to vibrancy, because that gives the community the chance to react.

But the one thing I have observed in the cities that deal successfully with growth are the ones that have planned for it. I don’t mean just a comprehensive land-use plan.

Everyone has that.

I mean a strategy to decide what will give you that elusive term “quality of life.”

In the last 20 years, traffic has been an increasing problem. The one thing you can’t do is stop it. Developers are already transforming rural south Forsyth County to a point where Sharon Springs is talking cityhood.

So Milton and Johns Creek can’t “just say no” to growth. It is already on the way and will continue to pass through those cities as the metroplex expands.

One issue is how is the traffic that comes will affect the cities. That is not the same as what the traffic does to the city and its quality of life. That is where a real plan is needed.

If a city is to be a city, it must have a downtown. And to have a downtown, people must live there. That is not optional. Roswell is a city of 90,000-plus.

With the exception of its Canton Street

In the last 20 years, traffic has been an increasing problem.

The one thing you can’t do is stop it.

Developers are already transforming rural south Forsyth County to a point where Sharon Springs is talking cityhood.

and some small spillover onto Atlanta Street, there is no life in downtown Roswell.

It has tremendous potential. Roswell’s Uniform Development Code was supposed to be a key tool to redevelop downtown. But there is a disconnect between Roswell’s plan and its residents based on the lopsided defeat of two long-serving Roswell councilmembers.

But Roswell sends mixed messages.

For example, the most vibrant part of the city is its Canton Street. It is so successful that parking is its biggest problem. The city studied adding a parking deck but decided against it, saying that is not the government’s “job.”

So whose job is it to build infrastructure? And this for the largest visitor destination in the city?

Alpharetta, the poster child for dealing with North Fulton growth, is revamping its downtown, which includes townhomes a block off Main Street and apartments above the retail planned for its public square.

Oh, and Alpharetta has already built a parking deck downtown.

Alpharetta’s plan is clear and transparent, and that city canceled its elections because everyone was unopposed.

In Johns Creek, they are trying to do something similar to infuse life in what would be a downtown. Right now Johns Creek does not have a downtown, just a hodgepodge of shopping centers in various degrees of health.

The status quo is a recipe a slow recession of quality retail, as witnessed in Roswell.

Grandiose renderings from early consultant meetings have not gone over well in Johns Creek. The city seems to be stepping back from the 728-acre plan (although it all should be part of a 20-year plan), and looking at something smaller.

The idea is to have something that will attract residents of the city. Then visitors will want to know what the fuss is about. But back to square one: people have to live there. Don’t worry about the added traffic, it is coming anyway.

Johns Creek is a city of 80,000-plus people and, barring a catastrophe, they are not going away.

So how does the city enhance the quality of life there?

The model followed by Alpharetta, Duluth, Suwanee, Woodstock, Norcross and a host of others is to create a livable downtown.

I know of no metro city that could be deemed successful that does not have a downtown that is attractive to live in and to visit.

You add to it from that, but that is where you start.

Surveying your customers Dick Jones Founder, President Jones Simply Sales

With the end of the year coming up, do you have plans to survey your customers? Getting feedback from your customers can help you identify what you are doing well, and where you may need to make improvements. Surveying your customers can also help improve your relationships as it provides an easy vehicle to identify ways to serve your customers better.

There are many low-cost survey “systems” available for you to use to facilitate this process. Survey Monkey and Constant Contact are two examples of easy-to-use systems that you can use to not only create the survey, but also distribute it via an email and also tabulate the results.

If the survey has a lot of questions and it takes more than five minutes to complete, you probably won’t get a lot of feedback.

Your survey should include both multiple choice questions, such as rating your company’s products or services, and also open-ended questions requesting written feedback. You’ll want to keep your survey short to maximize the responses you get.

If the survey has a lot of questions and it takes more than five minutes to complete, you probably won’t get a lot of feedback. The most important part of surveying your customers is doing something with the data you collect.

If the survey identifies that you are not meeting their expectations, it’s a great opportunity to improve in areas that are identified.

Year-end customer surveys are very commonplace with large corporations, but many small-business owners don’t take advantage of this.

Surveying your customers, and improving your small business from what you learn, is a great way to continue to grow your small business!

SAY CHEESE

12 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Did we see you there?

Appen Media Group hosted its annual “Best of the Best” awards gala at the Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta, Nov. 12.

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Only the best get to walk the red carpet, and that holds true in North Fulton and Forsyth counties as much as it does in Hollywood.

For the third year, Appen Media Group hosted the “Best of the Best” awards gala to congratulate the winners of a regionwide poll of readers. Each business honored was voted the best in their field. Categories from “best chiropractor” to “best dessert” and everything in between were honored.

This year’s event was Nov. 12 and held at the Metropolitan Club, off Windward Parkway. It had a red-carpet theme, treating 350 guests to a glitzy, show-stopping Oscar-styled night, complete with paparazzi along the red-carpet entrance.

“Our annual gala is a chance to celebrate the winning ‘Best Of’ businesses for setting their business standards high, focusing on customer service and satisfaction and continually innovating and figuring out ways to over deliver to their customers. It is our celebration of those businesses and business owners for whom, to quote Steve Jobs, ‘good is not enough.’ We celebrate their ‘can do’ attitudes and their ‘finding a way’ to make their business the best it can be – day in and day out,” said Ray Appen, publisher of Appen Media Group.

Jim Pope, of KeyWorth Bank, the red-carpet sponsor, said there was great “energy” in the event.

“Thanks to Appen Media Group for doing this. It means a lot to the community,” he said.

As a winner of “Best Bank,” Pope said KeyWorth Bank “appreciates the support.”

Anthony DeTommaso, with Alpine Bakery, supplied the evening’s desserts.

“I like the Oscar feel of it,” he said. “It makes it feel like something large.”

For businesses to be named the best in their field — which included Alpine Bakery — means a lot, DeTommaso said.

“The support for local business owners is worth its weight in gold,” he said.

“This was a fantastic affair.”

Brian Iroff, of Iroff & Son Jewelers, agreed, saying the gala is important for the business community.

“This is bringing the No. 1 businesses together and being with the best is the only way to be,” he said.

“It’s good to be part of the community and participate in such a grandiose affair offered by Appen Media Group,” said Jeff Jordan, of Jordan Orthodontics.

He said he sponsored the event to be a part of the wider community.

“It’s good to be part of the community atmosphere and support each other.

Tonight was a lot of fun.”

The evening was capped off with a champagne toast and live music by the Shaky Jane Band as guests danced the night away.

The ladies from The Rustic Vineyard pose at the photobooth provided by On the Spot Memories.

Abby Breaux/Staff

Alpharetta mayor David Belle Isle accepts on behalf of The Taste of Alpharetta for best festival.

Abby Breaux/Staff

Appen Media Group publisher Ray Appen addresses the crowd.

Photos by Jonathan Copsey and Abby Breaux

Guests strut their stuff on the red carpet.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 13

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14 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

ENTREPRENEURS

GATN, Coke play pitch with tech startups Davids get chance to work with Goliath

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – For the second year in a row, the Greater Alpharetta Tech Network invited North Fulton and Forsyth startup companies to play a game of fast-pitch with Coca-Cola executives Nov. 6.

GATN has partnered with the Advanced Technology Development Center and Coca-Cola to give local tech startups an opportunity to hear Coke market segment execs talk about their needs and then pitch their technology.

All startup attendees were invited to network with Coke’s team and share their elevator pitches one-on-one. Six of the startups were invited to fast-pitch their company directly to the execs.

Last year’s inaugural GATN’s fastpitch event wound up with two companies working with Coke to further develop their technology.

“The idea is to fast-track a company’s ideas with a company that can make something happen, but it doesn’t happen overnight,” said Karen Cashion, founder and president of GATN. “We feel like last year’s fast-pitch was successful, and we

think this year will be the same.”

Mike Lowry, a principal of Vendesco Inc. and a startup expert, said companies such as Coca-Cola recognize the value of tech startups and how they can profit by getting in early and directing the new technology solutions that will keep its corporate cutting edge.

“The social dynamic that startup entrepreneurship can create is huge right now,” Lowry said. “There may be a fiveyear tail getting the company going, but the payoff is there.”

Mark Baule is just such an entrepreneur. He was there to pitch his company, Cause Local, and won the leadoff spot in this year’s coveted fast-pitch lineup.

“It’s like a two-hour hackathon. You pitch until everyone leaves,” Baule said.

His company has an app that tracks event results as they happen. When a company partners with a cause, it does not know what effect their marketing effort had, if any, on the people who participated.

Baule’s company can track in real time how people are reacting to it.

“Branding is important, but you need people to act on that brand. Seventy-five percent of people are confused about

HATCHER HURD/Staff

Coca Cola executives introduce themselves at the GATN FastPitch. They are looking for fresh ideas in technology that can help their departments. brands. Yet there is $120 billion spent in U.S. groceries alone where branding is key.”

Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, who has led the effort to brand his city as the Technology Capital of the Southeast, said events like the fast-pitch collaboration with Coke, a consistent Fortune 100 Top 10 performer, gives GATN stature as well.

“To have this opportunity to present your ideas and have them heard by a company that can act on them is what it’s all about,” Belle Isle said.

The mayor noted Coca-Cola may seem like a “slow-moving machine” because of its worldwide production

and marketing, but it is the leader in its industry for a reason.

“It is looking for ideas that can lead to tremendous results. Coke recognizes the value of entrepreneurship and that allows it to remain the leader in its field,” he said.

“This is also what brings startups to events like this. They can find a company with the resources to take their ideas to the next level,” Belle Isle said.

“And Coke would rather turn to startup technology and find out what’s being done rather depend on their own R and D. They stick with what they do best, and then use the startups to help them do it better.”

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 15

CHAMBERS OF

16 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Meet the Chambers of Commerce of Nort Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce President: Hans Appen Contact: 404-277-4930 hans@alpharetta chamber.com Full-time paid staff: 3 Part-time paid staff: 2 Current membership: 299

Major accomplishments in the past year: Aaron’s, Atlanta United FC training facility, Synovus, Fresenius Medical are all either expanding or locating a major project in Cobb.

We launched our Workforce Development Partnerships program uniting education and business communities. We brought commissary services to Dobbins Air Force Base and launched new costsavings programs for members.

APPEN

Major accomplishments in the past year: We increased member benefits across the board with our programming, events, networking and continuing education. As a result, we saw tremendous growth in membership, participation and in chamber staff.

Plans for 2016: In addition to continuing all the major programs and member benefits of 2015, we will be revamping the Alpharetta Business Academy through partnership with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Georgia State University (Alpharetta Campus) and launching a pure networking event, Thirsty Thursday!, hosted by Village Tavern.

Cherokee County Chamber Of Commerce President: Pamela W. Carnes Contact: 770-354-0400 CherokeeChamber.com, Info@CherokeeChamber.com Full-time paid staff: 5 Part-time paid staff: 2 Current membership: 915

CARNES

Major accomplishments in the past year: Continuing to meet the needs of our business community through workforce and business development and educational initiatives.

Plans for 2016: Focus in the coming year will be on community workforce needs and leadership development.

Cobb County Chamber of Commerce President: David Connell Contact: 770-9802000; cobchamber.org Full-time paid staff: 35 Part-time paid staff: 1 Current membership: 2,500

CONNELL

Plans for 2016: Continue workforce development efforts to bolster workforce of the future. Continue with the Cobb’s Competitive Edge strategy, which outlines plans to create 7,500 new jobs, increase payroll earnings and income by $420 million and $7,000 per capita, reduce unemployment to 5.5 percent, increase public school graduation rates by 4 percent, increase the number of college-bound students by 7 percent, increase existing industry visits from 30 to 100 annually, and increase quality of life, as measured

by Kennesaw State University’s Quality of Life Survey.

Cumming/Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce President: James McCoy Contact: 770-887-6461 cfccoc@cumming forsythchamber.org Full-time paid staff: 10 Current membership: Nearly 1,000

McCOY

Major accomplishments in the past year: The chamber participated in eight economic development projects that are forecasted to generate more than 520 new jobs and more than $6 million in new capital investment.

The Human Resource Council (a program of the chamber) hosted seven seminars featuring a variety of topics pertinent to human resource professionals. The chamber hosted six startup coffees to connect local technology entrepreneurs with one another and with resources available from the chamber.

The chamber’s Small-Business Services Center rebranded as the Business Advancement Resource to better serve our small-business members.

The BAR served more than 200 small businesses in 2015.

The Healthcare Association of Forsyth County (an initiative of the chamber) hosted five lunch-and-learn events for health care professionals. Despite rainy weather, the Healthcare Association’s annual Boulder Dash race attracted more than 500 participants. The chamber’s tourism department generated more than 8,800 hotel room night stays in 2015, predominantly by attracting amateur sports tournaments to the area.

Plans for 2016: You can expect to see the chamber announcing new collaborative initiatives with our partners to better serve entrepreneurs, startups and even local craftsmen and women.

You will see a “Forsyth Made” initiative to better help us brand and promote products that are made in Cumming and Forsyth County. The chamber will also be more competitive in recruiting commercial films to our community. We also hope to complete the certification of the vote to approve the South Forsyth Community Improvement District.

Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce President: Kit Dunlap Contact: 770-532-6206 greaterhallchamber.com Full-time paid staff: 11 Part-time paid staff: 2 College intern: 1 Current membership: 2,300

DUNLAP

Major accomplishments in the past year: The chamber recently completed a visual geographic information system study of 339 Hall County health care providers by employment with a variety of medical and dental service providers profiled.

The study concludes the community’s growing health care sector employs 11,520, or approximately 14.6 percent of the workforce in Hall County. This translates to 221 health care service provider locations employing 9,159 and an estimated $457 million in annual payroll.

Gainesville-Hall County’s newly formed Workforce Development Task Force seeks to collaborate with area employers, educators and leaders to create new programs, market existing programs, remove barriers and influence perceptions.

Plans for 2016: Continue meeting benchmarks set by the chamber’s Vision 2030 Plan with the goal of developing a stronger workforce, exceptional quality of life and a thriving economy.

Gainesville-Hall County’s newly formed Workforce Development Task Force seeks to collaborate with area employers, educators and leaders to create new programs, market existing programs, remove barriers and influence perceptions. The group is dedicated to making an impact by building on a sustainable workforce that possesses the skills needed by today’s and tomorrow’s employers.

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO: Brandon Beach Contact: 678-397-0564; gnfcc.com Full-time paid staff: 19 Part-time paid staff: 1

Current membership: 2,200 Major accomplishments in the past year: The Gwinnett Technical College, Fiserv and Mercedes-Benz coming to North Fulton.

BEACH The I-285/ Ga. 400 interchange improvements.

Workforce development initiatives.

Major plan for 2016: Roll out the workforce development initiatives begun in 2015.Concentrate on education and transportation issues.

Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce President: Daniel J. Kaufman Contact: 770-2323000; gwinnettchamber.org Full-time paid staff: 33 Part-time paid staff: 2 Current membership: 2,200

KAUFMAN

Major accomplishments in the past year: In addition to recruiting new businesses through Partnership Gwinnett, the chamber’s economic development arm, the chamber implemented its 2014 Strategic Plan, with a mission to enhance retention and attract new members, put in place a comprehensive economic development strategy to facilitate quality job growth, improve communications with constituents, engage minority communities and address regional issues with regional partners.

Plans for 2016: Continue efforts to expand membership reflecting evolving Gwinnett community; develop Partnership Gwinnett 3.0 Strategic Plan.

Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce President: John Bemont Contact: 770-495-0545 johnscreekchamber.com Full-time paid staff: 3 Part-time paid staff: 1 Current membership: 450

BEMONT

Major accomplishment(s) in the past year: This year we have focused on enhancing our services with emphasis on providing small businesses one-on-one assistance through our Small-Business Resource Center. We have also increased our educational offerings through both an online research library and additional learning workshops and seminars.

F COMMERCE

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 17

th Atlanta Plans for 2016: Next year, 2016, is our chamber’s 10th anniversary. We have many plans for the new year, with particular emphasis to be placed on Johns Creek’s thriving health care industry and expanding our services to our rapidly growing restaurant sector.

Sandy SpringsPerimeter Chamber of Commerce President: Tom Mahaffey Contact: 678-4432990 sandyspringsperimeter chamber.com Full-time paid staff: 5 Current membership: More than 500

MAHAFFEY

Major accomplishments in the past year: We created the Executive Roundtable for owners and CEOs of small companies to come together once a month to collaborate and share ideas on building their businesses. Also, we had the CEO for a Day, where all the Sandy Springs school principals would go into a business and meet with the executives for a day.

We sponsored monthly lunches with speakers including Mercedes CEO Steve Cannon and Miguel Southwell, aviation general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Membership has grown more than 30 percent in 2015.

Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the board: Dave Jones Contact: 678-5803281, ext. 101; djones@ imgarchitectural.com Full-time paid staff: 1 Current membership: 165

JONES

Major accomplishment in the past year: Creation of the Business Engaging Students and Teachers program to encourage membership participation in the Norcross cluster of schools.

Establishment of a Southwest Gwinnett Chamber Virtual Academy for online learning and professional development for our members; Launched an eight-week leadership challenge workshop for all our members to develop and enhance their leadership skills Plans for 2016: Joint sponsorship with the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club for an April 2016 job fair and internship program for our Tri-City High School students.

Local businesses will have booths with comprehensive information on career, internship and job opportunities before and after graduating from high school.

Northeast Georgia Health System opened their Braselton facility this spring.

Gainesville-Hall Chamber realizes vision it saw a decade ago

By Patrick Fox pat@appenmediagroup.com GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Few counties in Georgia have undergone the economic changes apparent in Hall County over the past 10 years.

The north metro county of 180,000, once known as a leader in the poultry industry, has gathered one of the most diverse economies in the state, with manufacturing, health care, professional services and tourism leading the way.

Through these changes, the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce has attempted to steer business growth in a way that preserves the rural heritage of the area, said Kit Dunlap, chamber president.

Even in the depths of the state’s worst drought in a generation in 2008 – when commercial marinas at Lake Lanier saw earnings drop by $4.7 million and purchases of new and used boats in the five lake counties fell by $35 million – plans were in place to grow the local business base.

“We’ve had real, real strong leadership in Gainesville and Hall County over the years that helped set the tone for our economic development efforts,” Dunlap said.

While Hall County’s sizeable tourism industry was struggling with the drought,

the recession hit, dropping property values by close to 22 percent.

“Since the recession, things have improved significantly,” Dunlap said.

“With Gwinnett on one side and Forsyth with the growth they’ve had on the other, it’s natural.”

Even before the onslaught of the drought and recession, the Hall Chamber had put into place Vision 2030, a comprehensive plan drawn through public input that provides a blueprint for how the county would be developed over the next 25 years.

“We did that because we saw the fast growth coming our way,” Dunlap said.

“The main objective of Vision 2030 is to preserve what is good about Gainesville and Hall County and make plans for other big ideas.”

The plan outlined a series of major projects to be implemented that would provide a trained workforce, art and cultural attractions, superior health care, transportation, green space and preservation of its historic sites.

Since the plan was adopted in 2005, and more recently through the recession, business growth has taken off. And the list of initiatives are being checked off.

This year alone, Wrigley’s said it will add another 150 jobs at its Flowery Branch plant, and California-based

Kubota announced plans to expand its existing operations in Gainesville. Hall County is home to 47 Fortune 500 firms, more than 300 manufacturing and processing concerns, and 45 international companies representing 19 foreign countries.

Lanier Technical College recently announced the development of a new campus on Highway 365 North in Hall County.

The 85-acre campus is scheduled for completion in 2018.

Northeast Georgia Health System, based in Gainesville, opened a new $100 million hospital in wt this spring. The facility features 100 beds, 17 emergency room bays, seven operating rooms, two catheterization labs and two endoscopy suites.

With 11 full-time staffers – only two have been added in the past five years – Dunlap said the flurry of business expansions and economic growth has kept the chamber busy. She allots much of the credit to volunteers.

“Hall County, Gainesville, Oakwood, Flowery Branch and the business community come together once a month – and we’ve been doing this for 20 years – and talk about economic development,” she said. “That strong leadership that has been there remains today.”

18 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

TRANSPORTATION

Johns Creek Council comes down on T-SPLOST Resolution opposes 1-cent sales tax if MARTA included

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – A proposed 1 percent Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax could be on the ballot in 2016 that would raise a potential $1.2 billion over five years for transportation, but the Johns Creek City Council objects to a substitute plan that would divert funds to MARTA. As originally proposed, the Fulton County T-SPLOST would raise money through a sales tax that would garner Johns Creek $100 million over the life of the tax. But MARTA is pushing a substitute plan that would carve into that $1.2 billion. And council members are balking at that.

The MARTA proposal is seeking to raise its sales tax from 1 cent to 1.5 cents on the dollar. That would cut into the $100 million Johns Creek is estimated to receive over the life of the T-SPLOST. Councilman Bob Gray introduced a resolution – passed unanimously -- to oppose a sales tax increase for MARTA. It is nonbinding since such a tax would require a vote of the people. But it served notice that not everyone is on board with

MARTA’s inclusion in a T-SPLOST tax.

Gray said one of the primary reasons for his resolution was to point out that North Fulton, and especially Johns Creek residents, GRAY derive little benefit from the MARTA tax now that has been levied since the 1970s.

Moreover, Gray said the MARTA hub-and-spoke design is flawed in that it is designed to take the majority of its passengers into Atlanta.

Meanwhile, MARTA does not address the overwhelming traffic problems of congestion that do afflict this city and North Fulton.

The resolution also stated expansion of MARTA would increase high-density housing, which would further increase traffic, concentrate traffic at the most congested intersections, strain the public school system and “erode the residential character of the surrounding areas and reduce property values.”

Mayor Mike Bodker said he agreed with the resolution’s conclusions and does not support the extension of

MARTA in Johns Creek.

However, he said many of the statements in the document were inaccurate and sometimes inflammatory.

All of the council members asked him to hold the resolution a week for public comment, but Gray declined. And if “certain parties” found the resolution inflammatory, that was all right with him.

None of the council members opposed the resolution’s ultimate conclusion to oppose raising the MARTA tax and all supported it 5-0.

Bodker noted that, in all the years since MARTA was incorporated, it has never served the residents of Johns Creek nor would it be likely to even after the five years of the proposed length of a T-SPLOST referendum.

The resolution does not bind the council to any action; indeed, there is no action it can take. It only states the council’s position on MARTA. Any T-SPLOST would have to be approved by voters in an initiative on an upcoming ballot, and that is only in the “kicking the idea around” stage.

Any change to the MARTA funding formula would go through the General Assembly for legislative authority.

TRANSPORTATION

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 19

Work is to begin in January on replacing the bridge over Encore Parkway. It will be widened and include bike lanes, sidewalks, landscaping and a raised median.

Work to begin on Encore bridge Construction to start after holidays

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Those who take the Encore Parkway Bridge across Ga. 400 to North Point Mall, take heed – for most of next year, it will be shut.

The bridge is to be closed beginning in January 2016 as part of a widening and improvement project.

The existing bridge over Ga 400 will be replaced and upgraded to accommodate anticipated future Ga 400 widening.

“The new, improved bridge will provide safer pedestrian access between the retail centers and the trailhead to the Big Creek Greenway on North Point Parkway and the residential centers and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Westside Parkway,” said Ann Hanlon, executive director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District.

She said the project was originally identified to be improved as part of the city of Alpharetta’s Livable Centers Initiative, which was a partnership with the NFCID. Begun by the NFCID, the nearly $18 million project will widen the existing two-lane bridge between Westside Parkway and North Point Parkway to include two 14-foot-wide travel lanes, two 6-footwide bike lanes, 8-foot-wide sidewalks, landscaped buffers on each side and a raised, landscaped median.

A sidewalk will be constructed on the east side of North Point Parkway, using shared lanes to connect the new Encore Parkway bridge to the existing Big Creek Greenway trail and parking area on the other side of North Point Parkway.

The new bridge and roadway will include streetscape features such as trees, landscaping, pedestrian lighting, street furniture and architectural bridge elements.

Preliminary construction is planned to start in fall 2015, with the bridge closure occurring from January 2016

“The new, improved bridge will provide safer pedestrian access between the retail centers and the trailhead to the Big Creek Greenway on North Point Parkway and the residential centers and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Westside Parkway.”

Ann Hanlon, Executive director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District. through November 2016. The entire construction schedule is expected to last approximately 18 months.

Halon said the actual bridge demolition will take place after the holiday shopping season. There are still many items that need to begin, she said, such as utility coordination and locations.

Of the total projected cost of nearly $18 million, the NFCID is putting up a third of it ($6.2 million); the remaining funds will come from state and local governments, including the city of Alpharetta ($1.7 million), Georgia Department of Transportation ($8.4 million) and the State Road and Tollway Authority ($1 million).

The NFCID is part of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. It aims to serve as a catalyst for transportation planning, investment and improvement.

For more on the project and the NFCID, visit northfultoncid.com.

BRINGING THE ENERGY

TO THE NEW YEAR Is getting ready and through the holidays draining every ounce of your energy? You’re in luck. Our January edition will focus on the energy and recourses that power North Atlanta and its citizens.

To advertise, call 770-442-3278 or email advertising@appenmediagroup.com

NEWS

20 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Alpharetta approves new housing developments Townhomes, condos add to mix

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Alpharetta City Council unanimously approved a new residential development Nov. 16 on Thompson Street, an area quickly filling up with such projects.

The project will have four buildings, each containing six for-sale condos, for 24 total units of residential on 2.3 acres.

This would give it a density of 10 units per acre, far higher than other, nearby projects.

However, Kathi Cook, Alpharetta director of Community Development, said staff was more lenient on this project since it was bordered on three sides by commercial properties along Old Milton Parkway.

In front of the buildings would be a large formal garden that follows Thompson Street. Part of it would be public use and part would be private, for residents.

All would be cared for by the develop-

A new development was approved Nov. 16 with 24 for-sale condos off Thompson Street in Alpharetta. It will feature extensive gardens. ment’s homeowners association.

Parking would be below ground.

The developer, Richard Sjoholm, of Thor Management, said he has lived in Alpharetta for decades and used to own the shopping center where City Hall now stands.

Thompson Street is perfect for such a

development, he said.

“Thompson Street has a unique opportunity to be something special,” he said. With downtown Alpharetta on the west end and the new, high-end Avalon on the east, Thompson Street is a perfect way to bridge the two.

“It has access within walking distance

of City Hall, Avalon, as well as the pubic and other assets created here [in downtown Alpharetta],” he said.

Sjoholm said his target demographic is downsizing baby boomers and millennials and that the units are expected to fetch between $500,000 to $1 million each on the market.

Forsyth renews contract with Lake Lanier Association

Hall Chamber hosts annual Eggs & Issues

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com

HALL COUNTY, Ga. – The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce continues to assist local businesses and citizens in communicating their concerns and discussing issues with their legislative delegation at the Annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast on Thursday, December 10 from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at the Gainesville Civic Center.

The event is open to the public. Reservations are required. Eggs & Issues will feature Lt. Governor Casey Cagle the Gainesville-Hall County Legislative Delegation for the Georgia House of Representatives and State Senate: Panel: • Lt. Governor Casey Cagle • Butch Miller, State Senator, 49th District • John Wilkinson, State Senator, 50th District • Lee Hawkins, State Representative, 27th District • Carl Rogers, State Representative, 29th District • Emory Dunahoo, Jr., State Representative,30th District • Timothy Barr, State Representative, 103rd District “The Greater Hall Chamber always has 100 percent participation from the Hall County delegation at this event,” said Kit Dunlap, Greater Hall Chamber

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Since 1966, the Lake Lanier Association’s mission has been to protect Lake Lanier and its watershed, ensuring a clean, full and safe Lake Lanier that enhances the lake’s economic value to Georgia. And now they’ve been granted the opportunity to continue their partnership with Forsyth County for another year.

On Nov. 10, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0, with Jim Boff absent, to renew the agreement for 2016 and to provide $20,000 for the cause.

This past year was one of the best for the association, according to Val Perry, president. Many of the programs were highly successful, including Shore Sweep, which was held on Sept. 26 and is a massive community service cleanup day.

“From Shore Sweep, collecting more than 40 tons of trash in the lake with at least 15 tons of that from Forsyth County, and that was in spite of it raining all day,” Perry said. “We’ve also done a thing called rip-rap, which is putting rocks on islands that are eroding into the lake. The first one was in Forsyth County and is a $55,000 to $60,000 job.”

Another project the association does is removing large objects from the lake,

“Some of the projects you’ve undertaken, including improving hazard markers, are really something that was needed out there.”

Brian Tam, Forsyth County Commissioner

including 12 items removed this year, six of which were from Forsyth County, Perry said.

“You all have been the leader in supporting and investing in our organization,” Perry said. “You all helping us may convince the other surrounding counties.”

Brian Tam said he thinks the association has been a great asset to the area and community.

“Some of the projects you’ve undertaken, including improving hazard markers, are really something that was needed out there,” Tam said. “It’s hard to say how many accidents were prevented because of that, but the $20,000 is well worth it.”

President and CEO. “Our legislators remain interested in hearing what the citizens of this community have to say, and the attendees want to hear what the legislators have to say. The issues that have already been identified prior to the legislative session have a direct impact on our community, and we need to better understand the issues as well as have an understanding of the legislators’ positions on these important issues. Issues to be discussed at the event include transportation, water, taxes, jobs, reapportionment and education.”

Eggs & Issues is sponsored by Jackson EMC. The event is open to the public though reservations are required; $25 for Chamber members or $30 for non-members. Includes a full buffet breakfast.

For reservations call Gerri Collins, 770-532-6206 x 106. or email gcollins@ghcc.com

FULTON COUNTY

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 21

Roswell DDA buys Southern Skillet property $5 million loan given by city

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – The Roswell Downtown Development Authority will soon be the new owner of the Roswell Plaza Shopping Center, located at the corner of Norcross Street and Ga. 9.

According to Monica Hagewood, chairperson of the DDA, the 4.3-acre property was sold for $4.8 million to the DDA. She expects the property to close by early next year.

The site of the former Southern Skillet restaurant, the shopping center has seen a decline in recent years as tenants left.

Being a prominent corner in downtown Roswell, redevelopment was only a matter of time.

“This is a critical piece of property for the City of Roswell in an area where we need redevelopment,” said Councilmember Rich Dippolito. “This is a parcel we all think about when we talk about redevelopment. It’s been a focus for everybody.”

The property abuts the newly opened Roswell City Walk apartment complex, and is close to both City Hall and Canton Street.

The sale was made possible by a $5 million loan from the city of Roswell. The money comes from the city’s solid waste fund. Officials said that fund was making less than one-half a percent each year on the capital.

Under the DDA arrangement, the $5 million will earn considerably more, at 3 percent interest.

This is the first time the city has made such a loan, say officials.

“This site is potentially catalytic to

The Roswell Plaza Shopping Center, at the corner of Ga. 9 and Norcross Street, was the home of the Southern Skillet restaurant for decades. The property has been bought by the Roswell Downtown Development Authority to be redeveloped. preserving, enhancing and showcasing Roswell’s charming, historic character, while encouraging local commerce,” said Hagewood. “We are extremely excited about this opportunity for a public-private partnership with the common goal of preserving and elevating Roswell’s signature ambiance while encouraging sustainable economic growth.”

Hagewood said there are no concrete plans for the property.

“We would like to see mixed use but it must be financially viable and must serve the needs of the community,” she said.

Ideally, a developer will come in with a new project for that corner and buy the land. As a part of the deal, the DDA could include a public-private aspect, such as a parking deck.

“There are no definite plans,” Hagewood said.

The primary focus of the DDA is to promote business and employment op-

BRIEFS & SHORTS: Fulton County New Planet Fitness opening in Milton MILTON, Ga. – Planet Fitness, the innovative health club franchise known for its “judgment-free zone” and affordable prices, announced a new club will be opening the end of December in Milton’s Deerfield Place, 13071 Highway 9.

The new Milton Planet Fitness will be 20,500 square feet and will include new cardio machines, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, two massage chairs, 27 full-size flat-screen televisions, four hydro-massage beds and two tanning booths, among other offerings. The club will be open Mondays from midnight through Fridays at 9 p.m., then 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Through Dec. 18, members can join for $1 down and then $10 a month before the club officially opens the

end of December. The presale office is located at 13065, Suite 120, Highway 9, Milton, and is open MondayFriday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Unlimited small-group fitness instruction is included in all memberships.

Lennar Atlanta anniversary, staff promotions ROSWELL, Ga.– In conjunction with the celebration of Lennar Atlanta’s fifth anniversary, Todd Jones, division president, announced three promotions within his management team. All three members have been with Lennar Atlanta since the start of this division in 2010.

Ginny Bryant, who joined Lennar Atlanta as director of sales and marketing, has been promoted to vice president of sales.

Christopher (“Chris”) Recker, who has been Lennar

portunities in Roswell’s central business district.

These goals are facilitated by the pursuit and creation of various programs, both public and private, that encourage redevelopment and growth within the district. They were the initial driving force behind the proposed City Green project, between City Hall and Canton Street.

For more about the DDA and its mission, visit www.roswelldda.com.

Submit news to business@appenmediagroup.com

Atlanta’s director of construction, has been named vice president of operations.

Seth Brown, previously one of the company’s area construction RECKER managers, has been appointed director of construction.

Since 2010, Roswell-based Lennar Atlanta, part of Lennar Corp., one of the leading new homebuilders in the U.S., has completed more than 1,200 new single-family residences and townhomes in 35-plus communities throughout the greater metropolitan Atlanta area and Georgia.

BRYANT

BROWN

22 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

FORSYTH COUNTY MARKET REPORT

Planning Commission approves The Collection overlay

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Collection at Forsyth, an outdoor shopping mall, could soon be adding housing to its complex.

The Forsyth County Planning Commission voted 3-1, with Greg Dolezal against and Alan Neal recused, to approve the proposed overlay.

Next, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and then provide the final vote.

Ethan Underwood, an attorney with Miles, Hansford and Tallant, gave a presentation on The Collection’s expansion initiative earlier this year to the BOC. “We are asking to help expand The Collection,” Underwood said. “It is the commercial center of south Forsyth County and we want to make sure we’re continuing to attract excellent tenants.”

The Collection, 410 Peachtree Parkway, needs to evolve into a true mixeduse development, Underwood said.

“When you’re competing with Internet sales, retail is hard,” Underwood said. “You really have to make shopping an experience rather than just going into a store. We want to make The Collection the commercial jewel of Forsyth County

and utilize it to its fullest extent.”

Part of the initiative would include a town center with a town green where concerts, plays and special events could be held.

Underwood said they are looking to create a mixed-use area with a 24-hour customer base for residents living onsite, additional offices, retail area and park space.

One thing The Collection has over other similar developments, he said, is the fact retail is already there and residential would come next, which is opposite of most developments.

“A lot of mixed-use developments have said they want to build but need a residential first,” Underwood said. “I’m not aware of any folks who go with the commercial component of that. This is a development where we already have commercial on the ground. Now we want to utilize the residential.”

There would be 309 housing units, Underwood said, all one- to two-bedroom apartments.

Because of the pressure on schools to avoid overcrowding, Underwood said they are not looking into making threebedroom units.

Ultimately, Underwood said they’re looking to create an atmosphere where workers at The Collection would like to

“A lot of mixed-use developments have said they want to build but need a residential first. I’m not aware of any folks who go with the commercial component of that. This is a development where we already have commercial on the ground. Now we want to utilize the residential.”

Ethan Underwood, attorney with Miles, Hansford and Tallant

live there, as well.

They also want empty nesters and young professionals to live there, similar to Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd., in Alpharetta.

Underwood said many people have noticed Avalon’s success, where the average age of apartment dwellers is 54.

Tom Brown, director of Planning and Community Development for the county, said they want to create a signature event with The Collection, and that the health, fitness and green aspects of the development were considerations.

Underwood said they wanted to cre-

ate an overlay district that identifies this as a special area with high standards.

“This portion of the project is not in the Peachtree Parkway overlay,” Underwood said. “It can really be developed with anything. By developing an overlay, you’ll be creating cultural standards. An overlay is important so it doesn’t open floodgates. If you create a specific zoning overlay, you don’t have folks two miles down the road saying they want to do the same thing.

This will help bring The Collection up to where it’s completing the experience.”

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FORSYTH COUNTY MARKET REPORT

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 23

Photos by Kathleen Strugeon/Staff

Telecommunications Technical Services, a full-service, telecommunications consultation and implementation company, is one of the thriving businesses in Forsyth County.

Forsyth economy: Diverse, vibrant and booming

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — It’s no secret that Forsyth County is one of the fastestgrowing counties not only in Georgia, but in the nation. With schools topping graduation and test score lists and the lowest tax rate in the region, people are flocking to this Atlanta suburb.

But, at the heart of what really grows a county or city is its economy, and Forsyth has a very pro-business culture The fastest-growing industries in the county are health care and advanced manufacturing, according to James McCoy, president of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.

“The Cumming and Forsyth County economy are extremely diverse,” McCoy said. “We have experienced impressive growth in advanced manufacturing, health care, technology firms, international business firms and retail businesses.”

There is also a vibrant entrepreneur community with an impressive network of support for those starting their own businesses, he said.

One of the county’s many thriving businesses is Telecommunications Technical Services, 9335 Industrial Trace.

TTS is a full-service, telecommunications consultation and implementation company. The company works with construction, operations and engineering teams in figuring out what’s needed to launch new networks and ensure network qual-

ity and performance for their customers.

TTS Senior Vice President Pascal Gagnon said the company, stared in 2008, originally leased a building in Forsyth but later decided to stay McCOY for the long run and bought a building instead. He said the location is where multiple employees live or live nearby.

In addition to being close to home, the taxes and accessibility drew TTS to Forsyth.

“The location is awesome for what we’re doing,” Gagnon said. “Alpharetta, which is close to us, is one of the capitals of the technology communication industry in Georgia. We’re very close to where the big players are located. We want to be where the industry is and also have lower taxes.”

Before moving to America from Canada and before the economy crashed years ago, Gagnon said he had heard that Cumming was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.

“The economy is good here,” Gagnon said. “Honestly, North Atlanta, including Alpharetta and Forsyth, is the place to be. You cannot say everywhere is like this. It’s very stable. There are a lot of businesses in Forsyth and a lot of international businesses that take their business to Forsyth.”

However, property values in Forsyth

“The Cumming and Forsyth County economy are extremely diverse. We have experienced impressive growth in advanced manufacturing, health care, technology firms, international business firms and retail businesses.”

James McCoy, President of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

have returned to prerecession levels and in many areas they are higher, McCoy said.

“We have had seven project announcements this past year and I am optimistic that we will exceed 10 by year’s end,” McCoy said. “That is only a fraction of the actual business activity out there.

Our occupancy for industrial space is the highest it has ever been. We have four new flex industrial buildings under construction right now with two more in the pipeline.”

And the McFarland Road area is poised for enormous growth, he said.

“The Halcyon development, the continued commitment of Taubman and the new flex industrial buildings are just the

very beginning,” McCoy said. “The new interchange at McGinnis Ferry Road and the widening of McGinnis Ferry from Sargent Road to Fulton County will open some new opportunities for both Forsyth and North Fulton. We also expect to see the South Forsyth community improvement district to get off the ground in 2016 and that will help facilitate some great infrastructure projects that will further enhance the area.”

But, for now, Gagnon and his group maintain that they picked the right location for TTS. “Forsyth is a very good location for growing a company and a business,” he said. “It’s a key player in the economy of Georgia.”

24 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

FORSYTH COUNTY MARKET REPORT

Q&A with Frank Norton Jr.

By Patrick Fox pat@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — For nearly three decades, Frank Norton Jr., CEO of the Gainesville-based Norton Agency, has presented his annual Norton Native Intelligence Forecast. As head of Norton one of north Georgia’s leading real estate and insurance firms, Norton has developed a reputation as an expert on market information gathering and as an economic visionary.

His 2016 Native Intelligence Forecast will be Jan. 14 in Gainesville, and part of it will focus on the explosive economic growth and growth potential in Forsyth County.

We asked him to share some of his insights.

Q: What is the overall market outlook for Forsyth County?

A: Forsyth County has tremendous momentum, accelerating far greater than any other county in the Southeast. The housing growth and quality of housing growth, coupled with the income growth, is a phenomenon in all of metro Atlanta, if not the Southeast.

You’re going to permit in excess of 2,500 houses, and the average price is moving up. The housing inventory in south Forsyth is almost nil for lots, and you’re starting to have major conversation for horizontal development, which will really be the first area for major horizontal development since 2006 in the entire Atlanta region.

Q: What is the chief draw for this housing development?

A: This demand for quality housing -- $350,000 to $450,000 seems to be the sweet spot – is driven by families seeking quality school systems.

Q: How do schools factor into the equation?

A: Test scores in Forsyth County are the best in the state, which is driving all of that growth. Because of that you have an executive housing base that, long term, will draw businesses farther and farther up Ga. 400. Once you have children, you look for school systems, and you kind of look for free schools. Why pay for a private school situation when you have unbelievable test scores in a market like Forsyth?

Q: How does the housing market in Forsyth compare to neighboring markets, say in Hall County, where development and job growth is also on the rise?

A: Most of those Hall County jobs are manufacturing and food, so they have a much different complexion than the job

As the population grows, the number of services provided by Northside Hospital in Cumming will also grow, making the area a medical hub, says Frank Norton. growth up Ga. 400. In essence, Ga. 400 jobs are white-collar jobs, and I-985 is more blue collar and technical and food production. I sometime refer to it as the tale of two roads.

You’ve almost got to look at the wage scale and how it translates to an economy. The average price for a house in Hall County is roughly $180,000, including weighing the lake houses, versus Forsyth County at $380,000. So there’s a very different complexion between those two markets.

Q: You’ve spoken in the past about Forsyth’s local initiatives for transportation – the T-SPLOST, for example. How does that play on the county’s economic outlook?

A: It’s very interesting and heartwarming to see the federal government and state recognize that “pull-ourselvesup-by-the-bootstraps-mentality” of Forsyth County and award them larger amounts in matching funds for their highway and roadway improvement projects.

All of that goes to building infrastructure for housing.

Now, as Forsyth becomes the easiest place to get in and out of over the next four years, you will see more corporate relocation along the intersections on Ga. 400 through Forsyth County.

Q: How will these transportation improvements translate to economic growth?

A: Let me give you an example. The highway improvements that are going to happen on Ga. 400 and Ga. 20 are going to greatly affect Northside Hospital, which occupies one-quarter of that intersection. It will make medical services easier to get to and will allow Forsyth County to draw from other areas, stimulating additional medical office space and medical services in that region.

We’ve never really viewed Forsyth as a medical hub, but fast-forward that five to 10 years, and because of this roadwork, it becomes a medical hub, drawing people from Cherokee and probably western Gwinnett as these improvements take place.

Another problem we see and hear a lot about is the congestion that currently exists around Johns Creek, where it may take you 25 minutes to get through at certain peak times. Some of the Forsyth road improvements might help some of that, but what we think is going to happen is you’re going to have McFarland and these other intersections along Ga. 400 capture some of that new-era office growth.

Q: Do you see any hurdles the county faces in its path for growth?

A: There’s a wild card in Forsyth

County, and that is the proposed and much-discussed impact fees. The impact fees could affect residential and commercial property.

While I’m a big fan of paying a reasonable amount to support government services, sometimes impact fees slow down growth, which is really not their purpose. (Using them to slow growth) is a political purpose – not a services purpose. So I have some concerns.

Q: Does Forsyth have the higher education facilities to retain the white-collar jobs it attracts?

A: We really don’t need as much of the technical training because of the worker profile as we do the MBA programs and the business-enrichment programs that a University of North Georgia can provide.

You may see more of a need for votech along I-985, which is why they’re adding a Lanier Tech on 985. This can help support the technical industry in that area.

At the same time, I see the growth of University of North Georgia along the Ga. 400 corridor, maybe significant growth over the next 10 years to help serve that executive base. They do have a new campus in Cumming, and you can expect that to probably triple or quadruple in size over the very short run.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 25

26 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

FORSYTH COUNTY MARKET REPORT

PHOTOS BY Kathleen Sturgeon/Staff

Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and the Georgia Department of Transportation broke ground on the Ga. 400 widening project Nov. 4.

Forsyth breaks ground on Ga. 400 widening project To be completed in 2018

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — For those who commute along Ga. 400 from McFarland Parkway to Ga. 369, traffic and congestion will soon ease up.

Forsyth County and the Georgia Department of Transportation broke ground Nov. 4 to celebrate the widening project’s beginning. The project will add one lane in each direction, including widening bridges at Big Creek and at Lake Lanier/Sawnee Creek, and is made possible through a partnership between the county and GDOT. GDOT contributed $13 million to this work and is managing the project. The remainder of the project funding — approximately $34.5 million — will come from the Forsyth County Transportation Bond. Approved by 63 percent of Forsyth County voters in November 2014, the transportation bond will finance a variety of transportation projects throughout the county.

Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Chairman Pete Amos said the citizens put a small tax on themselves to help improve transportation in their county.

“Our citizens recognized the need to

Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, from left, Brian Tam, Todd Levent, Cindy Jones Mills and Pete Amos thank voters. continue to enhance transportation in our county and they decided to do something about it,” Amos said. “By approving Forsyth County’s Transportation Bond, they enabled the county to advance projects sooner than otherwise would have been possible, while leveraging state and federal funding, making the most of our bond dollars. It takes a lot of courage

to put a tax on yourself and they did it.

We’ll get some of the congestion solved in Forsyth County.”

The project is set to begin the week of Nov. 9, weather permitting, and finish some time in 2018.

“We’re about to make history here,” Amos said. “If it helps anyone get home quicker, a mom and dad or a business-

man get to a meeting quicker. We can quit using the excuse of ‘I’m late because of traffic.’ We don’t want to hear that anymore. We want everyone to move through Forsyth County.”

The bond was approved exactly a year prior to the day of the groundbreaking.

“It’s a great day for Forsyth County,” said Rudy Bowen, State Transportation Board member representing the 7th Congressional District. “Let there be no mistake, Forsyth County made a historic decision last year, taking control of their future and mobility through a transportation bond. The people of Forsyth County are purposefully investing in their own infrastructure. The widening of Ga. 400 is a product of that investment.”

The work is more than asphalt, concrete and steel, Bowen said.

“It is safety, more time at home with your family after a shorter commute and a more efficient movement of goods,” Bowen said. “Every lane mile is vital.”

The widening of Ga. 400 will yield 27 lane miles.

This fall, crews will concentrate on removing damaged concrete sections and replacing them with new concrete. This work will occur overnights and weekends.

Next spring, new construction will begin giving drivers one additional lane in each direction.

FORSYTH COUNTY MARKET REPORT

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 27

Forsyth County Economic Snapshot Population 2010 2014 Change 175,511 204,302 16.4% Population breakdown: Under age 18 Persons 18-64 28.9% 60%

65 and over 11.1%

Housing Housing units: 71,045 Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 85.6% Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2009-2013): $258,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More recent data from brokers puts the figure closer to $350,000.

Building Permits Residential building permits compared to neighboring counties.

Forsyth Year Total Single-family Multifamily 2014 3,530 2,576 954 2015* 3,507 2,734 773 Fulton Year Total Single-family Multifamily 2014 8,315 2,401 5,914 2015* 8,646 3,057 5,589 Cherokee Year Total Single-family Multifamily 2014 2,128 1,581 547 2015* 1,360 1,182 178

education in five colleges of study, including business and management, engineering and information sciences, health sciences, liberal arts and sciences, media arts and technology and the Keller Graduate School of Management.

University of North Georgia, 300 Aquatic Circle, Cumming – Formed in 2013 through the consolidation of Georgia College and State University and Gainesville State College, UNG’s Cumming campus is one of four sites contributing to its enrollment of 16,000. The university offers more than 100 programs of study ranging from certificate and associate degrees to professional doctoral programs. Besides a broad range of liberal arts and business classes, the school offers specialized training in mental and physical health.

Lanier Technical College, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming – With five campuses spread throughout north Georgia, the college awards technical certificates of credit, diplomas and associate degrees.

Reinhardt College North Fulton Center, 4100 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta – Reinhardt College is a liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Its broad range of academics includes masters programs in public administration, education and business administration.

University of Phoenix North Alpharetta Learning Center, 1725 Winward Concourse, Alpharetta – University of Phoenix is a for-profit college offering degree programs in seven colleges and two schools ranging from criminal justice to nursing to continuing education.

Tourism

*2015 figures are based on permits through September and estimated permits through the last quarter of the year, as per the GSU Economic Forecasting Center.

Number of hotels: 7 Sites: While Lake Lanier draws the bulk of out-of-town visitors, the county is home to several other attractions.

Sawnee Mountain Preserve provides visitors with 963 acres of scenic passive space, hiking trails and an interactive visitor center, which also serves as administrative home to the outdoor division of the county parks and recreation department. Named after a Native American chief, Sawnee Mountain provides a view to the summit of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range.

The Big Creek Greenway Trail, a concrete and boardwalk path through the woods along Big Creek, runs 6.8 miles from McFarland Parkway to Bethelview Road.

Future plans call for adding another eight miles of walking path, and eventually linking up with the Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway Trail in Fulton County.

Education

Employment

High schools: Forsyth County has seven high schools, two – South Forsyth and Lambert – named to the top 20 in the recent U.S. News and World Report rankings of the best high schools in Georgia.

In 2014-15 Forsyth County Schools had the highest district SAT scores and the highest graduation rate of Georgia’s 15 largest school districts.

The county’s five-year average unemployment rate is 4.19%. Here is a look at the historic unemployment rate for Forsyth County: Sept. 2015: 4.4% Sept. 2014: 5.2% Sept. 2013: 5.7% Sept. 2012: 6.5% Sept. 2011: 7.5%

The Top Five Industries for Civilian Labor Force: • Professional, scientific, management, administrative, waste management — 15.2% • Educational services, health care, social services — 14.3% • Manufacturing — 11.5% • Finance, insurance, real estate — 11.2%

Cobb Year Total Single-family Multifamily 2014 3,103 1,391 1,712 2015* 2,432 1,611 821 Gwinnett Year Total Single-family Multifamily 2014 3,341 3,097 244 2015* 3,634 3,311 323

School SAT score State rank South Forsyth 1626 19 Lambert 1618 21 West Forsyth 1550 47 iAchieve Virtual Academy 1539 50 North Forsyth 1534 52 Forsyth Central 1503 64 Forsyth Academy N/A N/A Higher education: There are five colleges of higher education serving Forsyth County: DeVry University, 2555 Northwinds Parkway, Alpharetta – The university offers on-campus and online

Largest employers: 1. Forsyth County School System Public school Total employment: 4,182 2. Northside Hospital Medical facility

Total employment: 1,500 3. Tyson Foods Inc. Manufacturer individually quick-frozen poultry products Total employment: 1,200 4. Forsyth County Government County government Total employment: 1,109 5. Koch Foods Poultry processor Total employment: 1,100 6. Scientific Games International Inc. Printed lottery tickets Total employment: 1,098 7. Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. Industrial systems Total employment: 1,000 8. Wal-Mart Retailer Total employment: 400 9. L-3 Communication Display Systems Military avionics & public safety Total employment: 286 10. American BOA Inc. Flexible metal components Total employment: 281 11. Hansgrohe Inc. Bath & kitchen product manufacturer Total employment: 265 12. DataScan Technologies Accounting & risk management Total employment: 235 13. S olvay Advanced Polymers LLC Plastics manufacturer Total employment: 192 14. Panduit Corporation Wiring accessories and identification products Total employment: 190 15. Automation Direct Industrial controls sales Total employment: 175

Transportation While metro counties to the south soundly defeated a transportation sales tax referendum in 2013, Forsyth County voters passed a $200 million bond referendum in 2014. With the money, the county will be able to address several pressing road problems, chiefly the widening of Ga. 400 from McFarland Parkway to Bald Ridge Marina Road, using $53 million of the bond funding. Plans also call for construction of a new interchange between Windward Parkway and McFarland at McGinnis Ferry.

Another major highway project under construction is the widening of Ga. 20 from Sugar Hill in Gwinnett County to Cumming. Upon completion in 2016, the highway will provide commuters with a four-lane artery connecting I-85 to Ga. 400.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Forsyth-Cumming Chamber of Commerce, Forsyth Public Schools, U.S. News & World Report.

Look for the Hall County Market Report in our February 2016 edition.

28 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Women in business: Debbi Shapiro Debbi Shapiro is the president and founder of Henderson Shapiro Peck. She and her partner, Jill Peck, are celebrating 21 years in business. HSP is an awardwinning marketing firm located in Roswell and was recognized by Working Mother magazine as one of the top 50 small businesses for working moms.

Shapiro is an entrepreneur. She started her first business out of college. She co-founded Gesher L Torah synagogue in Alpharetta, grouptickets. com (a startup during the dot-com boom) and was a founding member of the Tiffany Circle, an American Red Cross women’s giving society. Shapiro volunteers and has served on the board of directors for The American Red Cross (Georgia) and Gesher L Torah. Currently she is on the advisory board of the Southeast Arthritis Foundation and several other small, private health care boards.

Shapiro also mentors a lot of students and enjoys helping young entrepreneurs.

Shapiro was recognized by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as 2010 Small-Business Person of the Year and most recently was in the 2014 Enterprising Women of The Year class, an award presented by Enterprising Women magazine. She is a member of Women Presidents’ Organization.

What decision did you make that put you on the path to this career?

I entertained becoming an entrepreneur since I was a young adult, started my first business when I was 25 and sold it years later. Being raised in a family of entrepreneurs catapulted my interested in small business.

I followed the business growth, learned about sales and marketing, operations, HR and manufacturing challenges. I learned a lot from my dad and recall many discussions regarding various issues and solutions.

There was always a great amount of thought for me as it related to the sociological aspects and responsibilities of being a business owner. Very intriguing to me at the time, not knowing that someday I would put some of what I learned into reality at my own firm. I was always particularly interested in the impact “the business” had on others.

I made that decision to take my personal interest in practicing marketing and business strategy and started my firm after having been faced with a corporate marketing job transfer and finding out I was pregnant within the same week. It felt like the right time, and we just celebrated 21 years in business. I refer to my path as my success through adversity.

What obstacles, if any, did you face on your way up the corporate ladder?

My short number of years in corporate America were actually easy climbing, until I was faced with the decision to move from Atlanta to another major market.

That was a defining moment for me and so I decided to make my own ladder and start climbing. I have been at the top of my ladder and the bottom of the ladder, and learned many lessons along the way. My biggest obstacle on the HSP ladder was losing one of my business partners to cancer. And the biggest prize at the top of our ladder is my business partner, Jill Peck. We make ladder climbing fun!

What gives you the most satisfaction at work?

My greatest professional satisfaction stems from several areas of focus. As a leader, I am satisfied creating a work environment where team members enjoy their work, challenge themselves and each other, have time to watch their kids play sports and act in school plays while fostering their own professional and personal growth.

As a marketing professional, I gain a tremendous amount of satisfaction from being instrumental in providing strategic, award-winning solutions and outcomes

Debbi Shapiro, president and founder of Henderson Shapiro Peck. for our clients. Additionally, I enjoy learning and being participatory in the industries we serve, particularly health care. And finally, I love working and playing with my business partner and our team. We have been fortunate in having many staff members with us for literally over a decade and there are a lot of memories and good times. Satisfaction at work is important, but the work itself doesn’t have to define us as individuals.

What keeps you up at night?

Well, everything keeps me up at night! I think working women in general don’t sleep well. How can we? It is hard working, being a mom, a wife, a partner, a volunteer … and then being a leader, managing aspects of the business, being an account director, playing staff nurse , mediator and, in some cases, just the trouble maker!

So, in summary, all of those things keep me up at night.

But personally and most importantly, the physical and mental well-being and safety of my family and friends keep me up more.

What advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in business?

First, I feel it is important to have a passion and/ or an industry you are interested in and can visualize. Then, I believe in seeking out a business within your interests where you can pursue and optimize your passions, vs. simply wanting to work for a specific company. Having said that, it is also a gift to have some sense of self awareness, enough to know whether you are going to be the visionary, the strategic thinker, the creator or the doer. Matching your skills and passion to a business position will provide both personal and professional satisfaction. Additionally, I would like to add a few key points to business success … trust and integrity, relationship skills, communications, reading, handwriting notes, volunteering and giving back, and most importantly, finding the time to take care of yourself ( health) and spending time getting to know yourself.

What degree do you think might prove most useful to students?

I think there are obvious degrees that will provide outstanding job opportunities; engineering, technol-

ogy, computer science, business, health care sciences and even sustainability. But what is “useful?” It’s a large question because, although a graduate with one of those majors might find a job easier than a history major these days, there is something to be said for learning and studying an interest and passion. And then you have to factor in education costs, starting salaries that might be higher in some of those majors, but flatten out in a shorter period of time than the “liberal arts” major who started their own firm, joined the family business or worked in a very specialized area resulting in the same or even higher salary with higher job satisfaction.

And I believe it is important to acquire strong academic footings and be well-rounded. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised with my son’s decision to major in business and get a minor in computer science. Perhaps minoring in something significant and/or double majoring in some instances would be of value to some high-achiever students. Additionally, trade/vocational degrees are providing a plethora of jobs, as well.

Where do you see the greatest opportunities today for young people?

Despite all the talk about business and technology and engineering, I believe the greatest opportunity for aspiring youth and students is within the social sciences.

Everything related to people.

And as of this writing, the baby boomer market is the universal target and economic opportunity for young people. Here are the facts. We can transfer exorbitant amounts of data in minutes across the globe, cure diseases and create robots. Yet, our crime rate is increasing, drug and alcohol usage alarming, the homeless situation continues to be disheartening, our youngest population is not as politically savvy and don’t appear to be as interested in politics as we were at their age., working families are parenting their children and their parents, most of work to live, not live to work and so spending time with family and friends is the hallmark of life- yet there is never enough time….and everything is moving at rapid speed. All of these areas of influence impact us at every level, and it is my hope that the upcoming generations begin thinking about careers that can positively impact and sustain us sociologically.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 29

Cumming-Forsyth Chamber names new economic developer Robert Long selected for position

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — The CummingForsyth Chamber of Commerce named Robert Long as its new vice president of economic development Nov. 4.

“The secret is out. Forsyth is a fantastic place to raise a family, operate a business and become an entrepreneur,” said Long. “I am excited to be joining the chamber at this time of tremendous growth and opportunity.”

Randall Toussaint served previously as vice president of economic development for the chamber before stepping down in August to relocate to Washington, D.C., with his wife and son. Kerry Campbell, a retired Georgia Power executive and a certified economic developer, has been serving in the role

since August and will work with Long during a transition period.

Long is joining the chamber from the Gwinnett County Planning and Development Department, where he was the ecoLong nomic development director. From 2008 to 2012, Long served as executive director of the Darlington County Economic Development Partnership in Darlington, South Carolina. He was in charge of all industrial, distribution and service-related projects considering expansion or relocation to the area.

Long has also held positions with the economic development partnership in Aiken, South Carolina.

He is also a certified economic developer, administered by the International Economic Development Council, which is the leading industry designation in the

CPA Wyssbrod wins service award ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- The Georgia Society recently awarded the 2015 Public Service Award to Mark Wyssbrod, CPA at the 2015 Spring Leadership Council meeting. The award recognizes a GSCPA member who has made significant contributions in public service activities at the local, state, regional or national WYSSBROD level.

A long-standing GSCPA member, Wyssbrod is an award-winning professional who regularly gives back to his community.

He has been honored as a Small Business Person of Excellence in 2012 and 2013 by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

He has been recognized by Atlanta magazine as a Five Star Wealth Professional for six years in a row, and he was the 2013 Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year As a CPA, Wyssbrod has a successful business history due to being a visionary. A graduate from the University of Kentucky, he has founded many business ventures, including the award-winning Pro@ctive CPA. Being “proactive” has been the foundation of his success.

Most recently, Mark sold his tax firm in order to increase his time with his family and community.

Lennar Atlanta wins awards, staffer elected to council ROSWELL, Ga. – At its 35th annual awards gala, the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association recognized Lennar Atlanta, a division of Lennar (NYSE:LEN), the secondlargest homebuilder in the country, with three gold and two silver OBIEs. The OBIE Awards are the premier awards in Atlanta’s new home construction industry and

Humphrey

“The secret is out. Forsyth is a fantastic place to raise a family, operate a business and become an entrepreneur. I am excited to be joining the chamber at this time of tremendous growth and opportunity.”

Robert Long, Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce vice president of economic development field.

“The chamber conducted an extensive search over the past three months to find a seasoned professional who can move our community forward in the areas of job growth and marketing,” said James McCoy, chamber president. “Robert has the skill set and knowledge to lead our organization to a new level and build upon the solid foundation put in place

recognize outstanding achievement in new homebuilding, marketing, remodeling and personal achievement categories.

Since opening its Georgia headquarters in July 2010, Lennar Atlanta has built more than 1,200 new homes in over 30 communities throughout Georgia, mainly along Atlanta’s northern crescent.

Also, the GNHBA’s Sales and Marketing Executive Council has elected Rose Humphrey, marketing manager with Lennar Atlanta, to its executive council. Her three-year term will start in January 2016.

During her first year on the council, Humphrey will serve as secretary-treasurer. In 2017, she will be vice chair and then assume the chairperson position in 2018.

For more information about Lennar Atlanta, call 404-931-7462 or visit www.LennarAtlanta.com.

Farrell joins Wealth and Retirement Partners CUMMING, Ga. – LuAnn Farrell, a registered representative, has joined Wealth and Retirement Partners in Cumming. Farrell will work closely with founder Robin Toms Grier.

Farrell has 20-plus years of financial-services industry experience with a background in municipal bonds and compliance.

Farrell She is also a co-founder and board member of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, a registered, nonprofit, largely volunteer-run charity organization dedicated to helping animals in need of homes. Farrell and her husband, Ray, live in Cumming.

“We are pleased to have LuAnn join our team,” said Grier. “A great individual, LuAnn will bring a level of professionalism and dedication I’m sure our clients will appreciate.”

The Wealth and Retirement Partners office helps individuals and their families with 401(k) rollovers, Individual Retirement Accounts, annuities, college-funding strategies and estate planning in addition to providing comprehensive insurance coverage.

over the past 10 years.”

Responsibilities in Gwinnett for Long included project management and support, incentive negotiations and fiscal impact analysis.

During his tenure, he participated in nearly $345 million of new investments for businesses and the creation of more than 3,500 jobs.

He will begin his new duties Nov. 16.

WellStar surgeon wins Statewide recognition COBB COUNTY, Ga. – WellStar Health System Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery William A. Cooper, M.D., MBA, was awarded the prestigious Georgia Hospital Heroes Physician Hero Award at the Georgia Hospital Association’s annual meeting Nov. 11. Cooper, who was one of only 10 individuals COOPER statewide to receive the award, was recognized for his remarkable patient care through his work as a cardiovascular surgeon.

Each year, GHA honors top health care professionals who go above and beyond in helping patients and their community.

Cooper has served as head of the cardiovascular surgery department at WellStar Health System since 2004. That same year, he established the heart surgery program at the health system and, since its inception, more than 7,000 heart surgeries have been performed.

Plastic surgeon hires skin care representative SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Edwin Pound III has hired Jennifer Hogan to take over the skin care area of his office.

Pound and his father have been fixtures in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery in Atlanta since 1961.

In the three months since Hogan’s arrival in the office, sales in Hogan skin care products and procedures have tripled over the previous six months of 2015.

Hogan has organized several Botox parties in Atlanta and at the practice’s newest office in Blue Ridge.

She says clients have expressed great interest in the practice’s new SkinPen II, a micro-needling procedure designed to reboot and rejuvenate the collagen in the skin, eliminating fine lines and wrinkles while tightening the skin.

FOOD & DRINK

30 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Photos by Jonathan Copsey/Staff

‘Georgia in a glass’

Fruit winery growing in Hall County First in the area to focus on fruit

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com HALL COUNTY – The first winery in Hall County is making waves in the industry, not just because it is the first in Hall, but it’s also making unique wine – fruit wine.

Sweet Acre Farms Winery, in Alto, Georgia, owned by Matthew and Lindsey Vrahiotes, only makes fruit wines.

“I’m the first and I earned it,” said Matthew Vrahiotes.

Sweet Acre Farms Winery is a farm first and foremost, Vrahiotes said. It just happens to also produce wine.

Vrahiotes said the state allows farms to also have wineries on their properties.

There are about 50 wineries in the state, but only a handful make fruit wines.

Blackberries, blueberries, peach and lemon wines are all made on site using 100 percent fruit. There are no additives or mixers or fillers, Vrahiotes said. Many fruit wines on the market – such as some blueberry wines – are actually muscadine grape wines with flavoring. Not so with Sweet Acre. Their wine bottles contain just fruit.

“It’s what you would expect [a fruit wine] to be,” he said.

The farm is about 46 acres, with only a small portion of that producing crops at this point – just blueberries and blackberries.

Much of the winery’s fruit comes from outside sources for now. Lemons,

strawberries and peaches are all locally sourced from Georgia growers, Vrahiotes said.

He said Georgia – especially northern Georgia – has a long tradition of country wines.

“Everyone has a grandfather who made wine in his basement,” he said.

“But it never got out of the basement.”

He said he hopes to change that, bringing the fruit wine up to the same level as grape wine.

Vrahiotes and his wife decided they wanted to have their own farm. Lindsey had grown up on one, and her family would be able to help get it started.

The couple bought land in northern Hall County in 2010 and set to work.

Initially, they offered pick-your-own blackberries and blueberries, but Vrahiotes wanted to focus on beekeeping.

He had dozens of hives – until he came to tend the bees one day and found them all dead.

“Someone nearby was cutting down trees and put out a herbicide,” he said.

That herbicide turned out to be poisonous to the bees.

Vrahiotes said that event changed his focus.

“I didn’t want to start a business someone else could ruin,” he said.

The young couple was already producing plenty of fruit. There had to be another use.

It turns out that wine is a good use of that crop.

He went from winery to winery in north Georgia and found that nobody was making fruit wines.

“There are a lot of grape wines but no one is doing a fruit or sweet wine,”

Matthew Vrahiotes and his wife, Lindsey, are the owners of Sweet Acre Farms Winery in Hall County, both the first winery and first fruit winery in the area. he said. “It’s a hole in the market that I enjoyed doing. So I jumped right in.”

First, however, came county approval of the winery. The county did not have a process to approve a winery and had to make one. Vrahiotes said there were “growing pains” getting started.

“When you start something new, it’s hard to see eye-to-eye right away,” he said.

Eventually, Vrahiotes got his approval and began his winery, the first in Hall County.

Vrahiotes said the winery is not yet open to the public and only has limited quantities going to the Gainesville area

and fellow wineries.

A tasting room is nearing completion on the property.

He plans to officially open for business in early 2016 to sell his wines to the general public.

One of his signature wines, a peach, tells the story of the farm, he said.

“It started off awful but it got better,” he said. “It’s like our journey of starting a business.

It ended up tasty, fruitful and fun to drink. It’s Georgia in a glass.”

To follow the latest on Sweet Acre Farms Winery, visit sweetacrefarms.com or on Facebook.com/sweetacrefarms.

NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com • December 2015 • 31

32 • December 2015 • NorthAtlantaBusinessPost.com

Forsyth County is for us.

“Forsyth County is for us because of the competitive, highly educated workforce environment here. We are proud to partner with educational institutions and industries in developing local workforcebased initiatives and proud to call Forsyth County our home.”

- Shujath Ali General Manager, Process Industries & Drives, Large Drives, Traction Plant Manager, Alpharetta Operations, Siemens Industry, Inc.

cummingforsythchamber.org