7 minute read
Noteworthy
Burpees for Veterans Heal
Andrew St. Bernard, chiropractor at Corrective Chiropractic in Woodstock, has an inspiring story to share.
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“For the month of April, I was challenged by a friend to complete 2,000 burpees while raising money for Stop Soldier Suicide. Amidst the challenge, I felt it necessary to up the ante to 6,000 burpees, completed as a whole office (staff and clients at Corrective Chiropractic). I also felt a burden to do more than just raise money, but physically touch the life of a local veteran in need.
“We said if we got to 6,000 collectively, which represents the average number of veteran suicides committed annually in the United States, we would sponsor chiropractic care through our Chiropractic For All Foundation for a veteran in need for a whole year.
“We crushed that goal, completing over 7,000 burpees. I reached out to Jim Lindenmayer, director of the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, to help with a nominee. He introduced me to Jim B., who is a paraplegic, and we were happy to award him with the gift of chiropractic care for a year! Since he started just a couple weeks ago, he says he has improved mobility in his shoulders and neck, and is sleeping better.”
Andrew St. Bernard with Jim B.
John Michael Bowling Woodstock Native Earns Medical Degree
John Michael Bowling of Woodstock has received a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and will undergo emergency medicine residency training with Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Akron, Ohio.
Club Provides Camp Tuition
The Laurel Canyon Optimist Club contributed $1,000 to help local high school students attend the summer day camp at Reinhardt University School of Performing Arts. This is the fourth year the group has offered support for the annual camp.
Reinhardt University School of Performing Arts’ summer day camp provides an opportunity for local high school students to enhance their theater skills, including workshops in singing and acting to set design and makeup. For camp information, visit www.reinhardt.edu/schools-programs/school-of-performing-arts/ musical-theatre-intensive/.
Children’s Book Donated to Libraries
For the sixth consecutive year, the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) and the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) are jointly promoting agricultural literacy by donating copies of the children’s book “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish” to the more than 400 libraries in the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS).
The GFA and Georgia EMC have given each county farm bureau in Georgia enough books for every public library in each county. Cherokee County Farm Bureau recently delivered a copy of the book to the following libraries: Ball Ground, Cherokee County Law Library, Hickory Flat, R.T. Jones, Rose Creek and Woodstock.
From left: John Bennett, vice-chairman board of directors Amicalola EMC in Jasper; Shirley Pahl program coordinator/office manager for the Cherokee County Farm Bureau, and John Rodgers, community engagement manager at the Sequoyah Regional Library System.
Novel Written to Help Youth
Former school psychologist and Cherokee County resident Dr. John Poidevant has written an adventure novel that addresses challenges faced by youth that often exceed their coping skills. Depression, anxiety and suicide are on the rise with tragic results.
“Into the Vortex” is intended to promote hope and resiliency for teens and tweens (ages 11-15). The story/plot is drawn from the author’s 30-plus years as a school psychologist and mental health consultant working directly with elementary, middle and high school students; many of whom faced life’s most difficult challenges. The story is fiction, but based on a series of real-life events.
Woodstock resident Craig Kramer has been named CEO of Gulf Georgia. Kramer has more than 30 years of experience in the oil industry with small companies and larger brand names, serving in roles ranging from consultant to regional manager.
Craig Kramer
Canton Piano Student Earns National Award
Ephram Key of Canton is a winner in the National Guild of Piano Teachers Guild auditions, which recognizes accomplished students at all levels of piano achievement. Ephram performed a 10-piece memorized program before a professional adjudicator, chosen by the national organization. The adjudicator scores the student based on his or her performance in the areas of accuracy, continuity, phrasing, pedaling, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, tone, interpretation, style and technique.
Each winner is awarded a certificate, a pin and a report card that acknowledges their areas of achievement and areas that might need additional effort. They also gain membership in the National Fraternity of Student Musicians.
Ephram is a piano student of Anna Lee Moss of Canton. Anna is a member of the American College of Musicians.
Communication & Collaboration
Executive coach leads interactive workshops and shares keys to success.
Whether a business is a Fortune 500 company or a small, locally owned operation, there are some basic guidelines in running a successful firm that apply to both. According to Justin Kier, the key is how people interact and communicate.
As the lead facilitator with Atlanta Challenge Team Building, Justin leads interactive workshops designed to help teams and organizations understand how to maximize their strengths and increase productivity.
As a coach and teacher at heart, Justin’s job comes naturally. He has a degree in health and physical education, has studied multiple team and leadership development coaching programs, and is a certified life coach.
His passion for helping others has taken him from the classroom and the gym to the boardroom.
“The beginning of my career was in the educationfitness industries, but standing in front of groups and helping them collaborate is my passion,” Justin said. “I also love the ripple effect it has of improving people’s career-work life, which improves their home life as well.”
Justin’s coaching skills easily transfer to what he does today. His goal is to help individuals recognize their potential, and learn how to tap into it through teambuilding workshops and activities, executive coaching, keynote speaking and strategic leadership work sessions.
“Much of the workshop leads each person through interactive exercises that help with self-discovery,” Justin said. “Understanding yourself is the first step in unlocking your potential.”
Atlanta Challenge has worked with companies across the Southeast for 17 years, hosting more than 200 events annually for the past 10 years. Justin has been involved with Atlanta Challenge for four years, and recently partnered with the company as a speaker, executive coach and lead facilitator.
While the company is based in Atlanta, the Cherokee County resident travels to work on-site with businesses across metro Atlanta. His clients have included Chickfil-A, Home Depot and Delta, in addition to multiple
Justin Kier's goal is to help individuals recognize their potential.
businesses that have small offices and a handful of employees.
Justin is looking forward to the future in teambuilding and leadership development, which involves a shift toward longer-term relationships with his clients.
“When the business first launched, it was back in the days of field games and ropes courses. We have continued to add deeper levels of training and, over the next five years, are shifting more and more into the leader-team development side, and less about just the fun and games,” he said.
“It’s still important to have time to build camaraderie and get to know your team better, and we still offer a little of that. But, you will continue to see us spending more time working with groups over longer periods of coaching, series of workshops, and keynote speaking.”
Atlanta Challenge Team Building | 3355 Lenox Road, Suite 750, Atlanta, GA 30326 | 404-848-1001 | www.atlantachallenge.com
