November Troup Trends by LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce

TROUP trends A publication of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce

November 2014 Volume I, Issue IV

C liff R ainey :

A C lear V ision for L a G range Troup Trends | November 2014

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Helping the people of west Georgia and east Alabama is our reward.

Being recognized for medical excellence is a bonus. It’s not really the style of West Georgia Health to stand up front and center to proclaim our achievements. But every once in a while, you just want people to know how good you really are. West Georgia Health is recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for achieving excellence in performance on its accountability measures during 2012 for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care.

So Healthy Together

According to the 2014 CareChex* report, West Georgia Health is ranked:

4th out of 124 for overall hospital care in Georgia 81st of 4,185 hospitals in the U.S. As a top 100 hospital in the U.S. for Medical Excellence in three distinct categories: - Overall Hospital Care - Overall Medical Care - General Surgery

1514 Vernon Road LaGrange, Georgia 30240 706-882-1411 To learn more or find a physician visit WGHealth.org.

We’ll admit, it’s nice to be recognized. But it’s even better to serve great people every single day. *These rankings are based on independent research conducted by CareChex®, a division of Comparion®. Comparion determines these rankings via its National Quality Rating Database which includes virtually all general, acute, non-federal U.S. hospitals and incorporates the most recent three years of federal fiscal year data. To learn more, visit www.carechex.com.

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Troup Trends | November 2014

Contents

Troup trends NOVEMBER 2014 VOLUME I, ISSUE IV A publication of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce 111 Bull St./P.O. Box 636 LaGrange, GA 30241 (706) 884-8671 www.lagrangechamber.com EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Robby Burch, Chair Interface

Libby Willingham, Chair-Elect & Vice Chair for Public Affairs Mallory Agency Grey Bell, Secretary/Treasurer J.K. Boatwright Scott Landa, Immediate Past Chair Interface

4 | A Letter from the President

Page Estes, President

6 | Cliff Rainey: A Clear Vision for LaGrange

Casey Smith, Vice Chair for Leadership Development LaGrange Banking Company Dave Marler, Vice Chair for Community Development LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce Cliff Meeks, Vice Chair for Business Retention Georgia Department of Labor Renae Willis, Vice Chair for Business Recruitment LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce Jake Behr, Vice Chair for Diplomats ‘round and ‘bout Publications Derrick Lewis, Vice Chair for Tourism Explorations in Antiquity

8 | Tourism Talk 10 | Mover, Shakers, Risk-Takers 12 | Finance – How Banks are Transforming to Serve the 'Underbanked'

16 | Christmas, Giving and It's a Wonderful Life 18 | Christmas on the Gridiron

Chris Joseph, Vice Chair for Capital Campaign Gay & Joseph

20 | Business Spotlight – Interface, Inc.

Bill Stankiewicz, Hogansville Business Council William & Mary Antiques Joanne Mabrey, West Point Business Council Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. This publication is produced by the LaGrangeTroup County Chamber of Commerce. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written permission is prohibited. All claims, materials and photos furnished or used are, to the publisher's knowledge, true and correct. Publication of any article or advertisement is not an endorsement by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce. Troup Trends is published quarterly by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce. Please send news items, suggestions, advertising requests and comments to: Trey Wood Director of Communications P.O. Box 636 • LaGrange, GA 30241 trey@lagrangechamber.com Troup Trends | November 2014

22 | Technology – Social Media Safety for the New Year 26 | Gift Ideas for the Holidays

Photography

28 | Healthcare – Healthy Tips for Healthy Holidays 30 | 2014 Resource Troup Expo and Taste of Troup Award Recipients 32 | Spotlight on Hogansville

14 | Planned Giving

Patricia Rogers, Vice Chair for Special Events West Georgia Health

27 | Local Gifts that Keep on Giving

Special thanks to Lee Cathey of Multi-Image Studio for providing photography for this issue of Troup Trends. Multi-Image Studio (706) 884-7101 1550 Lukken Industrial Blvd. LaGrange, GA 30240 multiim@bellsouth.net Page 3

• from the president

Happy holidays from your Chamber of Commerce!

ear friends: Ever notice that at any party or event, guests always migrate toward the kitchen? It’s the place of good smells, tasty morsels and the juiciest conversation. It’s where we are the most comfortable. With the holidays approaching, that feeling intensifies. The aromas bring back memories for young or old. Whether it is the fun of decorating holiday cookies or a turkey that is prepared to perfection, food comforts us with warm feelings and rewards us with full bellies. Think back on your favorite food memory, and I bet a smile will cross your face. This issue of Troup Trends is our effort to venture into the “kitchen” to bring you a sampling of special people, places and traditions. Of course, I hope you will remember to shop locally for your own “Santa’s list.” Be sure to look for the Chamber’s membership decal when deciding from which business you make your holiday purchases. I am fortunate to have already received the best gifts for which I could wish—the gift of a great team, a dedicated board of directors and engaged Chamber members. I fear that I do not say it often enough, so please accept my very sincere “thank you” for your continued support—support of our organization, our staff and this magazine. I extend special thanks to my friend Cliff Rainey who is featured in this issue as our 2014 Christmas Parade Grand Marshal. Albert Pike once said, “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” What a legacy Dr. Rainey has established! This season, take time to make new memories, cherish the old, try something new and celebrate the holidays in your own way. Your own special touch will make these occasions all the more delicious—no recipe required!

Speaking of great teams, the LaGrangeTroup County Chamber of Commerce recently added three people to its staff to better serve our members! The Executive Committee of the Chamber Board of Directors approved a staff reorganization plan at its September meeting that led to the hiring of Renae Willis as Vice President of Business Development & Marketing and Dave Marler as our Director of Tourism. Renae, who has served as senior vice president at Commercial Bank & Trust (CB&T) for the past 13 years, is a longtime education advocate and chamber volunteer, and former chairman of the Chamber Board. Dave recently served as the Executive Director of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra and has been an ardent community volunteer and Chamber board member. Trey Wood began in August as Director of Communications. He most recently served as a communication specialist with West Georgia Health. In addition, he has six years of experience as a newspaper writer and editor. Check out page 24 for some great gift ideas from our new staff members and some Chamber family!

Renae Willis

Happy holidays,

Page Estes, President LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce pestes@lagrangechamber.com

Dave Marler Page 4

Trey Wood Troup Trends | November 2014

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www.combanktrust.com 706.880.2200 Troup Trends | November 2014

The Right Place. The Right People. The Right Bank. Page 5

• cover story city spread its wings from textiles to a myriad of other industries, from logistics with the Walmart Distribution Center to paper-based products with Kimberly-Clark to newspaper production through Dow Jones. He acted, on his own, as the Salvation Army, finding food, shelter and work for needy souls who found themselves within the city's limits. "We’d get people who’d come in here – they were transients," he said. "They were coming through here to go to Florida or go to work in the tobacco fields in south Georgia or the fruit growers down in Florida, and we’d put them up." A diesel mechanic who had his tools stolen found hot meals, a warm bed and employment after meeting with Rainey. Rainey would assist stranded drivers, share food with the hungry and provide places to sleep for the homeless and unemployed. He has provided free eye examinations for Salvation Army clients with vision problems and partnered with the local Lions Club to pay for glasses for those in need. He received the Boy Scouts of America's Silver Beaver Award and the Lions Club's Melvin Jones Award, two of the highest designations in the organizations; is a life board member for the Salvation Army; currently is the most senior member of the Chamber's Past Chairman's Club, having served in 1965, and served as president of the Georgia Optometric Association. Rainey made sure he had his hands in everything. When he saw a chance to do some good, he took advantage of it. "I have been blessed," he said. "I really have. I’ve been everywhere and done everything, so to speak, and been

"I don't think people know what they have in this little town," Rainey said.

"I'll tell you a funny story."

Dr. Cliff Rainey: A Clear Vision for LaGrange by Trey Wood

"I'll tell you a funny story." aGrange Eye Clinic optometrist Dr. Cliff Rainey starts a lot of his conversations just like this – "I'll tell you a funny story." Rainey is a storyteller. His life has been one of those rare existences, one that has been full of interesting people and stories and happenings. He has a plethora of tales to weave, and he weaves those stories from all the things he knows, and there are few things he knows better than optometry and the city of LaGrange.

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"I don’t think people know what they have in this little town," Rainey said. "I’ve been selling LaGrange for 60 years." It makes perfect sense that one of LaGrange's greatest advocates and cheerleaders was named in August as the grand marshal for the city's annual Christmas parade. Since taking his first tour of the city in 1954 and setting up his practice soon after, Rainey has worked to make his city, his home, prosper. His work with the LaGrange Development Authority saw the

Troup Trends | November 2014

just really, really lucky." His volunteerism has led to LaGrange being a better place both for residents and industry. When he was chairman for the Chamber, he had his treads on the ground in recruiting businesses. "I got active in it, and I’d go and knock on doors to get people to join the chamber because we needed the money and we needed to promote LaGrange." He was on the forefront of LaGrange's migration away from the textile industry. Alongside his close friend Walt Lukken and others, he helped build LaGrange into a place more conducive to an array of different industries. Although cities and towns that bordered the Chattahoochee River in west Georgia and east Alabama were deeply involved in the textile industry, the dwindling of the industry led to suffering economies and loss of livelihood. LaGrange needed new industries. "We were in the development authority over 25 years," Rainey said. "We sold this town. We got all these industries here, and some are still here." Similarly, his optometry practice, although not an industry, has been here almost as long as he has. After his start in the late 1950s, he Troup Trends | November 2014

built the current location of LaGrange Eye Clinic at 208 Smith St. in the early 1960s. "I mortgaged my soul to build this building," he said, and it continues to stand as a testament to his work. Rainey graduated from North Fulton High School following several years of schooling in New Orleans. He attended Emory University in Atlanta and the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. He then served at the Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, now the Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center, in Aurora, CO, before arriving in LaGrange in 1954 to set up his practice. Optometry is in his blood. His grandfather was one of the first optometrists in the state, and his uncle also was an optometrist. Rainey almost opted for studying geology, thinking he'd "go find oil," but his family made a promise to pay for his education if he went into optometry. "I took off, got on the train to Memphis, and I was the kid. I was one of three (in my class) who hadn’t been to World War II," he said. In his early days, he trained in industrial vision practices through the Georgia Institute of Technology. He modernized, cleaned and properly placed lighting fixtures to increase production in manufacturing areas.

"They had sweet old ladies who knew how to make teacakes as (industrial lighting) inspectors. They couldn’t find their butts with both hands in the right room," he said with a laugh. Since those early days he's become a celebrated optometrist, father and husband. He's watched the city he's so deeply intertwined with grow and evolve, spread itself into new industry and opportunities. He's been a champion for the city and its surrounding county, its residents and its visitors for more than 60 years, and he has no plans to give up on it anytime soon. Honestly, it's no wonder he was named grand marshal. "I’ve been blessed with a good career, and I’ve been blessed with health. I should (be blessed) since I'm 100 years old," he said with a laugh. Being named grand marshal is not small potatoes. For Rainey, it's proof that his life, his career, has been for the betterment of a community – and the betterment of an amazing storyteller. Following the announcement, "I’ve never been so overcome. It actually brought tears to my eyes, and I didn’t expect it."

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• tourism

Tourism Talk by derrick lewis

hristmas. The word itself evokes personal memories for each of us. For me, it’s looking out across the snow-covered hills of Tennessee where I grew up, listening to school choirs singing Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells as we joined the hustle and bustle of the crowds in the mall, sitting by a warm fireplace early in the morning listening to the “oohs” and “ahhs" of my sisters as they opened presents, calling my friends, when the party-line was free, to see what they received – Christmas. It’s hard not to smile with joy when I hear the word. Though also filled with joy, the first Christmas was a far cry from the

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holiday we celebrate today. It’s very easy, in our hindsight, to imagine the biblical Christmas Story much differently than it was in reality. One of our most important goals at the Explorations in Antiquity Center (EIA) is to help people better understand the original context of the stories in the Bible – including the Christmas Story. How long was the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem? Did Mary ride a donkey to Bethlehem? What kind of inn were they turned away from and why? What was the stable like in Bethlehem? How many wise men visited the family? These questions and many more are explored in our annual Follow the Shepherds Walks. Docents, trained by biblical archaeologist and scholar Dr. James Fleming, lead guided tours through archaeologically and historically accurate settings as they help visitors understand the cultural, political, geographical and religious setting surrounding the birth of Jesus. This December, EIA has a new sound and light show about King Herod, the ruler of Israel during the time of the Christmas Story. He was a cruel and self-centered man who built an incredible palace in Jerusalem called the Herodian, which later became a monument to himself in death. Residents of Jerusalem and Bethlehem would have been very familiar with this looming landmark. Joseph, Mary and Jesus

may well have passed within view of the Herodian as they fled to Egypt after King Herod ordered the deaths of all male children two years of age and younger. When they returned, the Herodian had changed drastically. Recent archaeological discoveries shed light on those changes and their significance. Dr. Fleming will use these new discoveries – and their implications – to illuminate the Christmas Story as he contrasts the cruelty shown by King Herod with the hope promised in King Jesus. Follow the Shepherds Walks will be held at 6, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night in December, as well as on Christmas Eve. The multimedia sound and light show is at 7:30 every Friday and Saturday night in December, and on Christmas Eve. Don’t forget that all of our regular programs – such as Biblical Meals, Shepherds Bread Making, Kid’s Archaeological Digs, lectures and Biblical Life Artifacts Gallery tours – are still offered daily. And if you’re looking for a special, unusual gift for Christmas, our Gift Shop features everything from olive oil soap to olive wood Christmas ornaments made in Bethlehem, as well as books and games for children. Explorations in Antiquity is open year round, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (706) 885-0363 or visit our website at digging4it.com.

Follow the shepherds this holiday season at Explorations in Antiquity.

Dr. Derrick Lewis is EIA’s Chief Operating Officer and the tourism Vice Chairman of the Chamber's Board of Directors. Reach him at derrick@explorationsinantiquity. com. Troup Trends | November 2014

E F

Downtown LaGrange Development Authority invites you to experience shopping at Tournesol in Downtown LaGrange There is no need to travel out of town in search of exquisite gifts.Visit Tournesol to find the best for your friends and family. The hottest items from Kate Spade,Vera Wang, DKNY, Baggallini, Lotti Dotties and Ginger Snaps await you there. Brides will love selecting from Lenox, Spode, Waterford and Wedgewood china and crystal patterns. Be sure to inquire about Tournesolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s registry rewards program and engraving services. Come meet Eric, Sandra and Will â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are ready to serve you! Tournesol honors Downtown LaGrange Development Authority gift certificates, too. DLDA gift certificates can be purchased M-F from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the DLDA office at 200 Main St., Suite1B. Visit Tournesol for your holiday shopping! Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 10-6 p.m. Friday, 10-8 p.m. Troup Trends | November 2014

Find them at Facebook.com/Tournesol 108 Main St., (706) 756-1554 www.TournesolShop.com Page 9

â&#x20AC;˘ newsmakers

THE MOVERS, THE SHAKERS, THE RISK-TAKERS

Charter Business has added a new representative to the Troup County area, Luis Luciani. Luis is a business account executive with Charter out of Columbus. Welcome to the area! Splash Kitchens and Bath was selected as the cover for the fall issue of Signature Kitchens & Baths Magazine, a nationally recognized publication dedicated to kitchen and bath design. Splash received second place for their design at an award ceremony held in Pittsburgh in September. (Top photo) Denise Oliver of Batson-Cook Co. and her family recently were chosen to be on Family Feud. They played for Fast Money and won $20,000 on the first show but lost the second to a family from Tennessee. The shows will air on WLTZ out of Columbus at 7 p.m. on Nov. 20 and 21. (Second photo) Commercial Bank & Trust recently celebrated the promotions of Jake Jones to senior vice president and Holly Anderson to assistant vice president, and the addition of Dawn Ware as a mortgage loan originator. Jones has been with CB&T since 2004, beginning as a mortgage originator and Anderson has been with the group since 2010 when she started as a credit analyst. Ware, who has more than 15 years experience, most recently served in Page 10

mortgage origination with Heritage Bank in Jonesboro. Congratulations! Mark Hinson, owner of SOS Cleaners recently earned the title of Certified Professional Drycleaner (CPD) from the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI). Mark earned the CPD title by proving his knowledge of the drycleaning process in a written examination. Healthy Troup, an initiative of the Troup County Center for Strategic Planning, recently unveiled their updated website. Designed to provide comprehensive information about the programs and services they offer, www.healthytroup.org is an excellent resource for healthy eating and lifestyle tips. The initiative is built around the concept that residents of Troup County, LaGrange, West Point and Hogansville can work together to provide and promote healthy choices and support the pursuit of healthy lifestyles. (Third photo) Coldwell Banker Spinks Brown Durand Realtors recently announced Ben Yates as the new president and qualifying broker for the group. Yates has more than 30 years of real estate experience. The group also added James Potts, Ron Martin, Shanna Alexander and Alisa Matheny as new licensed realtors, bringing their number of agents to 25. DASH for LaGrange recently held a ground breaking in West Point for Forest Mill Apartments, an 80unit apartment complex on Pear and

Hatchett streets. The complex will hold 16 one-bedroom, 40 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom units, with pricing based on an applicant's income. (Fourth photo)

Troup Trends | November 2014

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n l

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Troup Trends | November 2014

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• finance

CB&T President and CEO Frank McRae

How Banks are Transforming to Serve the 'Underbanked'

by Frank McRae

he financial crisis of 2008 and the emergence of Gen Y has created a large number of digital consumers who have higher debt, lower incomes, less trust of traditional financial institutions and a view of banking that differs greatly from their predecessors. This has kept traditional banks on their toes trying to find products to meet the needs of the “underbanked” consumers who are looking for banking products that provide value, convenience and functionality. The underbanked are those who “conduct some or all of their financial transactions outside of the mainstream banking system.” The “underserved” market represents 20 percent of all U.S. households, so this segment of consumers is impossible to ignore. Many of those who fall into this category rely heavily on fringe financial service providers and pay high fees in the process. However, the emergence of new banking products and services, such as prepaid cards and more technically advanced ATMs, has broadened the menu available to the underbanked. In an effort to meet the needs of this segment, the majority of which have steady income, CB&T and its parent company, Synovus, have introduced several new products including a new generation of ATMs that not only dispense cash, but accept deposits through cash and checks, provide check images on screen and on receipts, and can send receipts to your email address. Another challenge is that many younger customers who Page 12

would normally choose a traditional checking account as the foundation of their banking relationship are increasingly choosing to use a prepaid debit card. This segment doesn’t view checks as being important, yet they value the ability to get realtime balances and not overdraw their account. The Synovus Connections Card is one such pre-paid card product that provides a customer the convenience of a check card, but there’s no checking account or credit approval required. The card can be used for cash withdrawals at an ATM or for purchases at stores, restaurants, and online. Money can be loaded onto the card through direct deposit through their employer or at any CB&T/Synovus branch location. FDIC insurance applies to funds loaded on the card, and a small one-time activation fee and a monthly fee apply. CB&T also offers check cashing services, Western Union money transfers, bill payment and money orders for those without a traditional banking account, with fees applied. Underbanked consumers need minute-to-minute information about their finances, and mobile financial services are well suited to deliver it. Although these consumers often have insufficient access to financial services, their access to mobile phones is fairly widespread; therefore, mobile channels are becoming increasingly popular. Because most cell phone users carry their phones with them at all times, financial providers can use mobile phones to deliver time-sensitive information, such as fraud alerts and low-balance warnings, and consumers can use them to get immediate account information. Mobile access is consistently high across demographic and socioeconomic groups, so banks can be certain that mobile services will reach a large percentage of customers. The increasing sophistication of mobile phones increases the possibilities for financial providers to use them to interact with consumers for more complex purposes, such as check depositing and fraud detection. Troup Trends | November 2014

As new technology evolves, banking will continue to transform to try and bridge the generational divide. In the future, you might see quasi-Internet cafes in banks offering a high-tech lounge environment with relaxing furnishings and wi-fi access, along with ATMs, selfservice kiosks, areas for plug-in consumer devices, tutorials for mobile and web banking, and videoconferencing for service consultations. The large and growing underbanked market represents a unique opportunity and challenge. The key will be how to reach and serve this diverse market efficiently and effectively, including meeting their immediate cash-flow requirements, establishing a mainstream financial footprint, developing better saving and investing habits, and better managing personal finances. The hope is that some of these products will be starting points to enable the underbanked to graduate to the full spectrum of financial products that will provide them a solid financial foundation.

Networking group strikes $1 million

All the business card swapping and information sharing has paid off for the Chamber’s networking group which recently celebrated reaching its first million dollars in business referrals between members. The networking group is comprised of Chamber members representing a variety of businesses such as insurance, real estate, computer repair, photography and many others. The group is limited to one member per classification of each business. With better knowledge of what the businesses offer, members are encouraged to refer business to one another when the

opportunity arises. The October meeting featured State Farm Insurance agent Mable Sharp. The networking group meets at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesdays, except for the weeks that the Chamber has an Early Bird Breakfast. If you are interested in learning more about the Chamber’s networking group, call the Chamber at (706) 884-8671 or download a form from the Chamber’s website at www.lagrangechamber.com. The cost is $20 per year, which includes breakfast.

LaGrange Equipment & Tool Rental

From tent tops to tabletops and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. Weddings and special events, tents, tables, chairs, china, barware, flatware, and more!

202 Greenville St. LaGrange, GA 30241 (706) 882-8665 Troup Trends | November 2014

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• planned giving

The Down-Home Philanthropist D

by Wayne Abbott

oes writing a big check to a favorite charity seem far beyond your reach? If your dream is to make an extraordinary gift to charity, chances are you do have the potential to make a significant donation as part of your legacy. The key is timing. Luckily, a steady flow of smaller gifts is what keeps charities going year after year so they can accomplish their good work. But, the larger, unexpected gifts can help them expand their reach, create new programs, upgrade facilities and purchase much-needed equipment. Planned gifts – such as donations through your estate – could allow you to give larger gifts to your preferred charities without having to use current assets that you may need during your lifetime. Planned gifts can also generate income tax deductions, stretching the dollars you have now. How can I create a legacy? While a cash donation is one of the simplest charitable gifts, other options could provide greater tax benefits, now and in the future. Bequest When updating your will, simply ask your attorney to include a paragraph designating a specific amount or percentage of your estate to the charity(ies) of your choice. Life Insurance A gift of life insurance can be one of the most convenient ways to support a charity. By naming a charity as owner and beneficiary of a paid-up life insurance policy, you can receive a charitable deduction for the policy’s cash surrender value. Securities A gift of appreciated securities held for more than one year can avoid capital gains taxes, allow a deduction of up to 30 percent of adjusted gross income and carry forward for five additional years. For depreciated securities, selling the assets then donating the proceeds to charity allows you to claim the loss and a deduction. Retirement Plan Retirement plans are often subject to high estate taxes and fully taxable income is paid to your heirs. Donating a qualified retirement plan – such as a 401(K), 403(b), IRA or Keogh – to charity generates tax savings while fulfilling important community needs. Simply name the desired charity as beneficiary of the plan. You control the asset during your lifetime then it passes to charity free of income and estate taxes. Real Estate Making a donation of real estate can also provide significant financial benefits. Property donated outright generates an income Page 14

tax deduction based on its appraised value. Real estate may also be used to fund a life income gift, such as the Charitable Remainder Trust. Charitable Remainder Trust A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) funded with appreciated assets can help you avoid capital gains and generate an income tax deduction upon creation of the trust. A CRT pays the beneficiary(ies) a fixed or variable income payment over a set number of years, after which the remainder passes to the specified charity. Charitable Lead Trust A Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) provides income to a charity for a fixed period of time, after which the assets that funded the trust are returned to the donor. This type of trust may offer significant tax benefits to you as the donor while providing current support for causes that are important to you and your family. Putting It All Together Planned gifts are a valuable tool in a well-designed financial and estate plan, with the power to turn almost any of us into a DownHome Philanthropist. Plus, most charities have planned gifts societies that can provide current recognition of your future gift. Your legal, tax and financial advisors can help you design an estate plan that will meet your needs, take care of those you love and ensure that your legacy of caring will live on. Often, the plan will include several elements that must work together to achieve your desired objectives, so expert assistance is important. To promote the benefits of planned giving in our community, I am pleased to offer you, as a reader of Troup Trends, a no cost onehour conference on how one of the tools above could work for you. My fellow West Georgia Health Foundation volunteer, Grey Bell with J.K. Boatwright & Co., has agreed to make the same offer. To claim your free conference, please call Wayne Abbott, CPA, Abbott & Associates, at (706) 882-9226 or Grey Bell, CPA, J.K. Boatwright & Co., at (706)298-6649 and reference this article. Wayne Abbott is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with Abbott & Associates LLC, as well as Treasurer and Chairman of Planned Gifts with the West Georgia Health Foundation Board of Directors. He can be reached at wabbott@abbottllc.com Troup Trends | November 2014

The holiday card you’ll keep

all year!

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*Buyers subject to credit approval and lending guidelines. 100% Financing available for qualified buyers through USDA Rural Development Program. All information herein subject to error, omission and/or change without notice. Equal housing opportunity. Listings held by Coldwell Banker Spinks Brown Durand Realtors 706-884-5681.

Troup Trends | November 2014

Page 15

• small business development

Christmas, Giving and "It's a wonderful life" by Mark Lupo

s with many of us, one of the highlights of the Christmas season in our home is the watching of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Something about Jimmy Stewart’s character, George Bailey – one of innocence, hope, adventure and energy – rings true about the season and touches a part in all of us, I believe. There is a scene in that film where George Bailey is defending his father’s efforts to Mr. Potter to keep the building and loan business going after all these years. If you look over Jimmy’s shoulder, there is a small plaque next to a picture of his father, Peter Bailey, which reads: “All you can take with you is that which you have given away.” That statement has really taken on a significance to me. During the holiday season of 2006 and early 2007 I lost my mother and father – my Mom to cancer and my Dad to Parkinson’s disease, devastating diseases which seem to take a part away of someone you love, one facet at a time. My mother and father were teachers all their lives and loved giving, through their lectures, through their experiences, their knowledge and love. As I watched Mom and Dad slip from this life, I realized, as anyone who has lost someone close understands, that all that we work for and toil at each day, in the end, will have limited significance. True significance comes only through our ability to give away that which we have, whether it is compassion, knowledge, experience, money or love. This past year has been a tough one for many of you. The challenges we experience seem like they grow in intensity each year. Some of you are dealing with major issues right now, with little hope of having time with your families and friends this holiday season. The demands of your work or business seem to take on a life of their own and require so much more than what you have to offer. The holidays may become just another season. Andy Andrews, a comedian and, more recently, accomplished author, made the statement, “We are either in a storm in our life right now, we have just left a storm or there is one on the horizon. That is just the way life is.” This statement also relates to life in a small business. We are either dealing Page 16

with a challenge right now, we have just finished responding to a challenge or the potential is out there for one coming. As you reflect back over this past year, what are those instances where you or someone close to you gave something away to others? It might be your time, your effort or expertise in handling a certain situation – possibly financial resources directed to prepare or to respond to someone in need. Some of you have lost someone dear to you who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service to others. Let’s remember these times, these individuals and the investments made to assist friends, neighbors, community members in their times of need. Savor those memories. Ultimately, it is in the giving that we create an impact long after we are gone. Regardless of your faith, the Christmas season is one accented by giving. Though commercialization has taken its toll on the holiday, underneath lies that spirit of giving, that spirit of love. As you gather with friends and families this year, as you open the presents under the tree, as some of you respond to the needs of those in your community on Christmas Day, and as we all prepare for the next “storm” on the horizon, let’s remember those parts of ourselves given and the sacrifices of others made as memories to be cherished. In this season of giving, wherever you are in life, remember that statement from, It’s a Wonderful Life, “All you can take with you is that which you have given away.”

“All you can take with you is that which you have given away.”

Mark Lupo has been with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in Columbus since 2005. Reach him at mlupo@georgiasbdc.org.

Troup Trends | November 2014

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• education

Christmas on the Gridiron

hristmas is a time for family and friends to come together and enjoy the company of one another. Every family, however, has different traditions when it comes to the holidays. Whether sitting by a fireplace playing card games, enjoying a full day's worth of A Christmas Story on TV or finishing off an entire holiday turkey in record time, traditions play an important role in how families celebrate the holidays. There's one holiday tradition that holds true for most families – football. College, professional, high school, whatever it may be, football is a tradition all in itself,

"Holiday times are very special to me and my family." - Pete Wiggins particularly in the South. In that case, what better traditions could there be than those celebrated by football coaches themselves! Troup High School Coach Lynn Kendall, Lafayette Christian School Coach Nick Nehring, LaGrange High School Coach Dialleo Burks and Callaway High School Coach Pete Wiggins all provided ways they celebrate the holidays with their loved ones. So kick back, grab a cup of hot chocolate or your favorite eggnog, and enjoy a little Christmas on the gridiron!

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Lynn Kendall Our house is heavily decorated inside by my wife. We have two Christmas trees – a traditional tree and a Georgia Bulldog Christmas tree. Go Dawgs! It will also feature Troup Tiger related ornaments. We have a large extended family gathering during Christmas Eve featuring my wife, Nancy’s, famous lasagna. We all exchange one gift and have a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. During the Christmas season we will watch Christmas movies as a family, including the Grinch that Stole Christmas and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. On Christmas morning, Nancy will cook a huge breakfast for family and guests, and we will open presents. I will prepare a Scottish venison roast which requires a few days' preparation, fried Cajun turkey and occasional corn pudding from an old colonial recipe. We then usually will have Christmas dinner with friends and family, visit, watch college and pro football games, and play with the kids. Thanksgiving and Christmas are important family gatherings for our extended family. Nick Nehring Christmas traditions I’m fond of would probably relate to food. I love to eat! My background is Norwegian, so at Christmas, we would traditionally have some lefse (a traditional soft, Norwegian flatbread) with Christmas dinner. Now I seldom get back to Wisconsin for Christmas, but my in-laws are Italian, so I usually get some good Italian cuisine at Christmas.

Dialleo Burks Holidays are about family – my family gets together. We always try to help other families in need by participating in Feed a Family and Angel Trees at Cracker Barrel every year. As far as dinner goes, we always get together for dinner and play board games. We usually play something like Taboo or we play cards or Uno. We usually get two decks and we go at it. My family’s very competitive so pretty much anything with some rules to it, we like to play! Pete Wiggins I grew up in a small town where Christmas traditions and holiday traditions were very important. They all centered around my Meemaw and Pawpaw's house. Family, food and fellowship were all very important during the holidays, and I know that it brought a great sense of togetherness to our family. Today, Amy, Monroe, Sydney and I, we will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Amy’s family. Fellowship with family and great food mean a lot as far as the holiday season. On Christmas Day and Christmas night we’ll spend that time with my side of the family, and, again, the fellowship with our families and the food – the ham, the turkey, all the desserts – are very special to us, and it means a great deal to keep carrying on those traditions and getting together, and it brings a great closeness to our family.

Troup Trends | November 2014

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• business spotlight

Interface Inc. Address:

1503 Orchard Hill Road, LaGrange

Chairman & CEO:

Dan Hendrix, Interface Inc. chairman and CEO.

Founded:

1973 in LaGrange by Ray Anderson. Publically owned and traded under TILE.

Business motto:

“Doing Well by Doing Good” – Ray Anderson

Number of employees: About 1,400

What we do:

Interface is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial carpet tile and offers residential products as well under the FLOR brand.

How we're different:

For 41 years, the company has

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consistently led the industry through innovation and now leads the industry in environmental sustainability. Interface is setting the pace for development of modular carpet using materials and processes that take less from the environment and is well along the path to “Mission Zero®,” the company’s promise to eliminate any negative impact it has on the environment by the year 2020. Interface annually publishes its sustainability progress on its website at www.interfaceglobal.com. The following are some key metrics.

materials are recycled or biobased. • Water intake per unit of production is down 83 percent since 1996. • Waste sent to landfill per unit of production is down 94 percent since 1996. • Diverted more than 287 million pounds of material from landfills since our ReEntry program began in 1995. • Safety performance has improved with our Total Reportable Accident Frequency Rate down 68 percent since 1999.

2013 Manufacturing Highlights • The carbon footprint of our carpet is down 25 percent on average since 2008. • Energy use per unit of production is down 39 percent since 1996. • 35 percent of the energy we use is from renewable sources. • GHG emissions per unit of production are down 71 percent since 1996. • 49 percent of our total raw

Interface is celebrating its 20th anniversary on its sustainability journey that started with a vision by Interface founder Ray Anderson to “be the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire industrial world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: People, process, product, place and profits – by 2020 – and in doing so we will become restorative through the power of influence.” Every business decision Interface makes is in regard to

How that success happened:

Troup Trends | November 2014

how it will impact the environment. The company measures its progress by the 7 Fronts of Sustainability: Front 1 – Eliminate Waste: Eliminate all forms of waste in every area of business. Front 2 – Benign Emissions: Eliminate toxic substances from products, vehicles and facilities. Front 3 – Renewable Energy: Operate facilities with 100% renewable energy. Front 4 – Close The Loop: Redesign processes and products to close the technical loop using recovered and bio-based materials. Front 5 – Resource Efficient Transportation: Transport people and products efficiently to eliminate waste and emissions. Front 6 – Sensitize Stakeholders: Create a culture that uses sustainability principles to improve the lives and livelihoods of all of our stakeholders – employees, partners, suppliers, customers, investors and communities. Front 7 – Redesign Commerce: Create a new business model that demonstrates and supports the value of sustainability-based commerce.

Our business journey:

Interface is celebrating 20 years on its sustainability journey and is known for its “Mission Zero®,” brand promise – the company’s promise to eliminate any negative impact it has on the environment by the year 2020.

Find Your

SHINE!

Locally owned and operated! Open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (706) 884-2566•307 Vernon St.

We wash cars at 20 degrees and above!

Busiest time:

We're consistently busy throughout the year!

Future plans:

Interface now offers commercial carpet tile for every market segment and plans to expand its offerings to every segment, including corporate, health care, education, retail and government/institution. Furthermore, it plans to fully close the loop on its production process, keeping products out of the landfill and introducing them back into its closed loop process, eliminating its reliance on oil and virgin materials.

Contact:

For communications issues, call Bruce Brooks at (404) 543-3530 or Andrea Sanders at (706) 812-6238.

Want to see your organization spotlighted in Troup Trends? Come to the Early Bird Breakfast to be entered into a drawing to win as the next business or non-profit feature! Troup Trends | November 2014

sales@kimblesfood.com 800-490-1445 or 706-837-9009

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• technology

Social Media Safety for the New Year by Brandon Eley

here are no shortage of scams circulating around social media these days. While some are nothing more than an annoyance, many can be dangerous. Here you'll find some of the most popular scams and how you can spot them. You're not really getting a free iPhone 6 Plus Or a new iMac. Or a Corvette. Or a $100 gift card. These scams are everywhere. They often use the word "official" in their page title, but they are anything but. They want you to "Like" their page to register for a free gift, usually something very expensive. There are no freebies, they only want you to like their page so they can access your personal information and your friends' data. Another scam very similar to these contests is the "open box" giveaways. They promise to give away free electronics that they "can't sell" because they were opened. I promise you, Apple and Samsung certainly *can* sell products that have been opened. They just repackage them, label them refurbished and sell them at a slight discount. The old saying is true – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Having Deja Vu? Did you recently get a friend request from someone you thought was already on Facebook? When I got a friend request from my mom a few months ago, I knew something was up. First, she already has a Facebook account, I helped her set it up. Second, she doesn't even know how to log into it. By the time "mom" friend requested me, she already had dozens of our friends and family accept her requests. These are usually the first step in a two-part scam. Next, they would send a message saying they're stuck out of town and lost their wallet, or are in jail and need money wired to them. If you get a friend request from someone you already know has a Facebook account, pick up the phone and give them a call to Page 22

verify it's really them. OMG you won't believe who died! Celebrity death hoaxes often start on Facebook and Twitter. Without verifying, thousands of people retweet and repost before they are discretited. Do your research, simply Google search the person's name. Chances are if they have really passed away, a major news network will be reporting it. Wikipedia is also a great website to check as it is often updated almost immediately and is fact verified by its own members. While celebrity death hoaxes are not necessarily a scam, it's never good to propagate that kind of information if it's not true. Spending one minute to verify can help stop them from spreading further. Staying Safe on Facebook. As a general rule, be extra cautious anytime a Facebook page or post, or another website, requests access to your Facebook account. While some apps are trustworthy – like Words With Friends – this is the most common way scams propagate. Once you give them access to your account, they automatically post, sometimes repeatedly, on your wall, spreading the scam to all your friends. To see what apps currently have access to your Facebook account, click the privacy lock in the top right corner and click Privacy Checkup. Step 2 will show you all the apps you have given access to, and will let you delete any you don't recognize or use any longer. Brandon Eley is the owner of 2BigFeet.com, an online retailer of large size shoes for men. He also writes, speaks and consults on e-commerce and online marketing. He can be reached at brandon@brandoneley.com Troup Trends | November 2014

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Troup Trends | November 2014

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Troup Trends | November 2014

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• gift ideas

Gift Ideas for the Holidays What to Buy

Where to Buy it

For the Man in the House - Dave Marler

• Apple iPad Air 2 Verizon • North Face 3-in-1 Jacket Solomon's • Dinner for Two Venucci's For the man this year, the simple things in life, more often than not, are exactly what's needed. An iPad gives a handheld screen to watch movies, check email, read books, whatever is required wherever it's required; a North Face 3-in-1 gives plenty of wintry options, and what's better than a delicious, already-paid-for meal when cooking's out of the question!

For the Woman Behind it All - Renae Willis

• Annie Greene print MarketPlace at Lafayette Square • Julie Vos bracelet The White Orchid • Pandora charm bracelets Stephens Exclusives Christmas is a great time to replace those not-so-fond decorative pieces scattered about the house, and there's no better way than with local artist Annie Greene's prints. Fashion up a bit with a Julie Vos bracelet and Pandora charm bracelet, and there are plenty of charms for almost every occassion throughout the year!

For the Teenager - Henry Smith Son of LeTisha Smith

• Apple iPhone 6 Verizon • Automobile accessories Fryer's Tire Center • Hunting and fishing supplies Full Metal Jacket There are plenty of items to choose from for the teenager. Beside the iPhone 6 and it's larger brother the 6 Plus, automobile upgrades like high-end stereo system and dual exhaust kits are easy to pick up, and you can never have too much ammo, lure or clothing layers for those early morning hunting and fishing trips.

For the Tweenager - Mary Frances Smith Daughter of LeTisha Smith

• Arts and crafts supplies Grammy's Quillows • Samsung Chromebook Walmart • Clothes Shoe Junkie/Whimzey Nothing goes better with arts and crafts than a tough computer that can take getting jostled around a bit. At less than $200, a Samsung Chromebook does everything you need on Android software, meaning if an art project goes crazy, the laptop won't be a worry. Finding the cutest clothes can be a difficult process, but you're sure to find something appropriate at Whimzey and Shoe Junkie!

For a Technology Fan - Trey Wood

• Apple TV Walmart • Home theater system Southern Integrated Systems • Microsoft Xbox One/Sony PlayStation 4 Walmart The battle for attention in your living room is roaring. Both the Xbox One and PS4 provide, or will provide, live TV support along with ample gaming opportunities; the Apple TV allows cable cord cutters to watch most, if not all, their favorite shows through online services, and there's little point in going through all this trouble without an awesome theater system to work with! Page 26

Troup Trends | November 2014

• giving back

Give a gift that gives back

t's impossible to find the perfect gift for every person on your list. You can stress about it all you like, but there's no one "perfect" gift for everyone. Honoring a person or family through basic necessities, however, may be a gift everyone can get behind. It's becoming increasingly more popular for holiday shoppers to give gifts that give back during the holidays, presents that honor their friends and family through good deeds or donations. Instead of heading to the mall with a list of people to shop for and spending hours stressing over those "perfect" presents, some shoppers have begun spreading holiday cheer by giving back in honor of those they give gifts to. "Troup County is blessed with several non-profit organizations that support those in need, particularly during the holidays," Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services' Samantha Link said. Twin Cedars is one local group that supports community-based gifts, a Christmas tradition that fills a necessity for a needy family, from school supplies to bill payments. The group touches more than 1,700 babies, children, youth and their families each year, serving five cities throughout the state of Georgia. Volunteers and private donors are their lifeblood, allowing them to provide these services to families in need of the most basic needs. A donation of $42 can provide school supplies for a child in care or $31.50 for a week’s worth of heating and air. Giving $10 can provide training to prevent child sexual abuse, $50 provides a teenage mother with diapers for her baby for a month or $300 provides a forensic interview for an abused child. There are several options for local giving that can be found on the Twin Cedars website at www.twincedars.org.

Troup Trends | November 2014

Whether it's providing 30 haircuts for 30 children or giving transport for a child for a full month, there's a plethora of options guaranteed to assist local children in their daily lives. Twin Cedars is a private non-profit specializing in services for children and families. Anyone interested in donating can mail a check to P.O. Box 1526

LaGrange, GA 30241. If you have additional questions, call Samantha Link at (706) 594-0188 or email slink@ twincedars.org. The holidays are about love, giving, and holiday cheer, so why stress when there are more meaningful ways to shop for your loved ones – all while making a difference.

Tree Health Care Preservation Removals Fertilization Professional Tree Services

Growing & Caring for the Next Generation

ISA Certified Arborist Licensed and Insured

www.diversifiedtrees.com (706) 663-0300 Here Yesterday. Here Today. Here Tomorrow. Serving Our Neighbors. The Neal family is proud to carry on the Hunter-Allen-Myhand name and tradition, which has been a part of the community for the past 99 years. - Mark and Cherie Neal

Hunter-Allen-Myhand Funeral Home

506 Hill St. • LaGrange, GA 30241 (706) 884-5626 • hunterallenmyhand.com Page 27

• healthcare

Happy Thankxmasyears

Healthy Tips for Healthy Holidays by Linda Mack

he period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is a whirlwind of stress. Now that you’re smack dab in the middle of this stress, it is a good time to evaluate just how you’re doing. Here are some suggestions to get you through to 2015 feeling less stressed, bloated and tired. Take a deep breath – slowly breathe in through your nose, fill your lungs completely, then slowly breathe out through pursed lips – and read on. Take a walk. Walk for half of your lunch period, walk the dog, park farther away from the front door and/or take the stairs. Walking is great for elevating your mood, clearing your head and relieving stress, plus it helps your body use the calories you eat. Even a 10 minute walk benefits your body. Dancing, running, lifting weights, throwing a football, playing tennis or any other exercise you like works, too. Eat your vegetables. Include leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, onions, peppers and cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. The list is endless so choose the ones you like and try Page 28

new ones. Roasting vegetables in a little olive or canola oil produces broccoli that even George H.W. Bush would like. Try Googling "roasted vegetables" for recipes. Drink water, coffee and tea. Water is essential for the body to function. Infuse it with fruit if you have not yet acquired a taste for plain water. Unlike soda, coffee and tea both are full of antioxidants. Furthermore, studies show that coffee helps protect the liver. Just try not to go overboard with the cream, sugar or artificial sweeteners. Speaking of the liver, if you drink alcoholic beverages, limit them to one a day for women and two for men. This amount of beer or wine has been shown to improve health. At parties, drink a nonalcoholic beverage between each alcoholic one to limit the calories and effect of alcohol. Eat some protein at each meal. Studies suggest that a low carb meal plan trumps a low fat diet for weight loss and health benefits. That does not mean you should eat bacon at every meal or even every day! Lean protein, especially fish that is high in the omega 3s, definitely Troup Trends | November 2014

should be on your menu. The Heart Association, Cancer Society and Diabetes Association all recommend fish at least twice a week for good health and disease prevention. Try them grilled, baked, on salads, in tacos and even poached. Eat/drink anything in moderation and nothing in excess. Be mindful of the amount of food you are eating. Relax, enjoy your families and friends, laugh often, get plenty of sleep and be thankful for all of your blessings. Bring joy to those around you and accept the season’s imperfections with grace. Max Erhmann said it best: "Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence… strive to be happy."

“Eat/drink anything in moderation and nothing in excess. Be mindful of the amount of food you are eating.”

Linda Mack has served as West Georgia Health's Director of Food and Nutrition Services since 1995. She is an advocate for healthy eating, as well as as certified diabetes educator. She can be reached at mackl@wghealth.org

Troup Trends | November 2014

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• award winners

20 14

Resource Troup Expo and Taste of Troup Award Recipients Taste of Troup People's Choice Longhorn Steakhouse Longhorn Steakhouse at 1518 Lafayette Parkway in LaGrange took home Taste of Troup’s People’s Choice Award. Receiving the award from LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Robby Burch, far right, were, from left, Katie Cunningham, Mandi Murphy and chef Johnny Brown.

Best New Booth Disaster Services

Best Booth Commercial Bank & Trust

Disaster Services at 187 Oak Ave. in Pine Mountain received the Best New Booth Award. Receiving the award were, from left, Hellene Preston, Alan McDaniel and Jimmy Lynch.

Commercial Bank & Trust at 200 N. Greenwood St. in LaGrange received the Best Booth Award. Receiving the award were, from left, Renae Willis, Kim Skiff and Ashley McWhorter.

The Resource Troup Expo and Taste of Troup continue to be an annual highlight for the Chamber! This year, more than 700 people came out to see what a collection of Troup businesses and organizations were all about, picking up some delicious eats and having a great time along the way. There were games to play, prizes to win, items to take home and networking to revel in. Chamber business members and their employees represent a variety of services, and groups were busy hobnobbing and mingling with their fellow Chamber members. That networking is what continues to make the Resource Troup Expo such a fantastic benefit to LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce members! Want a front row seat next year? Reserve a booth spot early! Page 30

Troup Trends | November 2014

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Troup Trends | November 2014

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• spotlight on hogansville

Hummingbird Festival works to beautify Hogansville

ogansville's Hummingbird Festival is a wonderful event with sights, sounds and tastes to humor even the most stubborn festivalgoer. Since its inception 17 years ago, it has been a commercial force within the small city, attracting vendors and visitors from communities all across the United States. This year's event was no different, breaking numerous records – everything from overall turnout to number of vendors. In total, it brought in more than

For Hogansville, “What the future holds remains to be seen.” $52,000 for the city with more than $32,000 going toward the Hogansville Charitable Trust. It's a far cry from what the city had to work with in the past. When he first moved to Hogansville to become city manager, "There was a blue tarp over city hall because the roof leaked," Mayor Bill Stankiewicz said. He asked what funds were set aside to fix it, and the question, more or less, was met with blank stares. The city didn't have enough to repair the roof, let alone the other repairs that needed to be made across the city. The city then formed the Hogansville Charitable Trust, "and their mission is to preserve and improve historical and municipal properties in and around Hogansville," he said. The Hummingbird Festival was put into place as the chief fundraising arm for the trust in the early 2000's, with funds earmarked to repair city hall. The next steps taken by the trust allowed the continued beautification of Hogansville and the continued growth of the city. "The board of the trust decided a long time ago the most effective way to use the

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money would be for cash matches on grants," Stankiewicz said. That's when the city's Tower Trail went from a dream to a reality. Members of the trust began applying for any cash grants that fit their project – state, local, federal, anything they could get to begin the first three phases of the Tower Trail and several streetscape projects. The trail currently is a loop that begins outside Hogansville Elementary School at the Hogansville Water Tower, built in 1916 as a storage facility when running water first was introduced to the city. It follows down to the previous water treatment plant before coming back up to the tower. Future phases would bring the trail up to the tennis courts near the entrance where bathrooms would be constructed. The ultimate goal is the renovation of the amphitheatre, earmarked for future special-purpose local-option sales tax funds. "There’s about $300,000 set aside for the amphitheater renovation," Stankiewicz said. After all phases are completed, there's still plenty to do. The Hummingbird Festival will continue to be the primary source of funds for the trust, and the funds will continue to be used for cash grant matches to set Hogansville ahead of the pack of other cities its size. The possibilities are endless for the city of Hogansville, and it'll be an exciting time to be a resident of Troup County's northern hemisphere. Needless to say, it's amazing what a little ingenuity and some forward thinking can do. "What the future holds remains to be seen," Stankiewicz said.

Troup Trends | November 2014

Congratulations to Libby Willingham! The Kiwanis Club of LaGrange welcomes Libby as the 2015 Chairperson for the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Kiwanis is an organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child at a time. Libby is a perfect example of dedication and servant-ship in our community. Best wishes to Libby Willingham, Kiwanis Club secretary, on her upcoming role!

Lifting lives.

Supporting Roosevelt Warm Springs in their mission to â&#x20AC;&#x153;empower individuals with disabilities to achieve independence and employment successâ&#x20AC;? since 1986. 706.655.5666 | rooseveltrehab.org Troup Trends | November 2014

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• non-profit spotlight

Community Action for Improvement (CAFI) CAFI Executive Director Edna Foster with Head Start students Address:

1380 LaFayette Parkway, LaGrange.

Opened:

Dec. 30, 1966

Number of employees: 255.

What we do:

We provide comprehensive child care services to children and families in an eight-county service area and work with families to remove barriers to self-sufficiency. We assist with classes to help individuals to improve their family livelihood and make repairs to families’ homes to help make them safe and reduce energy bills. We also assist families through onetime payments to assist with heating bills and preventing termination of their services and preventing families from being homeless by helping with rental assistance. Page 34

Who we serve:

We provide full service to families and children in Troup, Carroll, Coweta, Heard and Meriwether counties, and provide only weatherization in Harris, Douglas and Muscogee counties.

Why we do it:

We are advocates for children, families and communities. We stand behind our Mission, Vision and Value. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals and families by providing services and resources that will facilitate the building of self-esteem and self-sufficiency through the active involvement of the total community. Our vision is to become an agency with unlimited avenues of resources for our communities, taking advantage of every opportunity for growth. Our value is to be a well-respected organization of excellence in which services and resources are delivered with

the utmost integrity, recognizing the diversity of the customers we serve.

How we are different:

We are different because we encompass the needs of the “whole family.” We not only provide comprehensive education services to our students, but we also provide our families with case management where we go into the home and assess the needs of the family and help them set individual and family goals. We provide resources and monthly contacts to help families reach levels of greater self-sufficiency. When an individual applies for assistance, we assist them with establishing goals of self-sufficiency.

A measure of our success:

Seeing our former Early Head Start/ Head Start students excel academically after leaving our program. Individuals are working and providing for their Troup Trends | November 2014

families without ongoing agency help.

How "that success" happened:

Success happens when we as a community assist with helping those in need who have barriers meet basic needs.

Best advice received:

Make sure we involve the entire community.

Our goal:

To be the agency of choice when services are needed in the community to assist families and children living in poverty.

A time-saving tip for non-profits: Call partners first.

Things to avoid:

Negativity. If the door is closed, there is always a way to get in – perhaps through a crack?

Future plans:

To be the one-stop agency of choice to serve families and children in need.

How we put clients at ease: By putting customers first.

Joynus Staffing is a growing company with more than a decade of experience in human resources. We help individuals find new jobs and open new career opportunities every day. Companies that partner with us discover a flexible and efficient way to enhance their work force. We boast a professional yet family atmosphere, and a proactive approach sets us apart from the competition. Joynus Staffing specializes in providing employees to tier 1, 2, 3 and 4 companies in the automotive industry as well as light industrial employees to a wide range of clients.

Putting People to Work and Providing Superior Customer Service LaGrange Office 1506 Whitesville St. • LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 443-5184 Apply today at www.joynusstaffing.com

Our partners:

We view everyone as a potential partner as we continue in our quest to be an agency that provides our children, families and communities with unlimited resources. Everyone has something they can bring to the table that can help achieve this goal.

Why LaGrange works for us:

LaGrange has great community partners we work with everyday.

Business motto:

“New Day/New Way.”

Favorite quote:

“Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime.” (Old Chinese Proverb)

Contact:

Edna S. Foster, Executive Director (706) 884-2651 (706) 594-2085 esfoster@cafi-ga.org

Troup Trends | November 2014

Page 35

• spotlight on west point

On Point in West Point

How Point University has changed West Point When Point University opened its doors in West Point in 2012, the initial impact was almost tangible. Students began swarming the downtown area and businesses began locating left and right. Collegiate sports became a reality as baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, football all began playing on city of West Point fields emblazoned with Point University emblems. More students located, bringing the tally to more than 600. Faculty and staff began mingling in downtown West Point, hitting pizza places and enjoying all the new development West Point had to offer. "All of those people are going to want some place to eat, somewhere to shop, many of them want somewhere to live in the downtown area," Mayor Drew Ferguson said. It's a much different atmosphere than what was previously there. Where there are now endless amounts of student activity and economic development, there was nothing but a few shoe stores and the occasional financial business. When the textile industry left West Point, it took more than just industry – it took commercial businesses, population and culture with it. Now, Point University has begun refilling all those missing pieces, and as President Dean Collins said, this is only the beginning of chapter one. "From a purely economic development standpoint, the impact (of Point University) has been incredibly positive," Ferguson said. "We have over 600 students plus faculty plus staff plus vendors in the downtown area, so almost 1,000 people associated with the university in one way or the other, are coming in to downtown." West Point has become a hotbed of development and commercial success. Restaurants like Johnny's Pizza came in fresh and LaGrange's Pizza Villa brought its own local eats. It's not just business that's shifting West Point's landscape – it's the student and faculty themselves. "We’re beginning to see the impact of having students from outside our area Page 36

coming to our businesses and helping transform the business community," Ferguson said. Point University students work in downtown West Point and may soon be able to live in downtown West Point. Their parents arrive for football and basketball games, and they expect places to eat and lay their heads. Those same students also help beautify West Point, providing valuable volunteer hours and services. And the Point faculty and staff are replacing a group long since missing from West Point's environment. "The students are fantastic individuals. They work with youth services and youth groups; they volunteer on various projects. But the faculty and the staff are having a very positive impact because they are joining volunteer organizations. They are joining churches, and they are repopulating a part of this community that went away many years ago when the textile industry left." For Collins, West Point offered the university a place where its students could grow in a more intimate enviroment, a place where their volunteer actions and services would be well respected and nurtured. That's exactly what they received in West Point. "It’s bigger than a city. It’s a community. We’re a community in this area of multiple dependencies," Collins said. "Since

Point University has been here, we have continued to find the entire community responsive to our needs. Part of that is in how they allow us to engage with them. We continue to find student projects. There’s always something going on either on the service side or the academic side." In short, Point University and West Point are symbiotes of sorts. Each feeds and gleans from the other, so when Point grows so does West Point and vice versa. The community continues to challenge Point University through projects and services. Point University challenges the community to grow. "They’re bringing new ideas; they’re bringing new perspectives into the community," Ferguson said, "and they’re helping us change the way that every part of this city works to be more inclusive and to be more forward thinking." For Collins and his team, they're just grateful for the opportunity to have such an impact. "Whether it’s a municipality or a church or a school or a local business or even a local family, the community has just been so inviting and welcoming in providing us ways to serve and grow," Collins said. "That makes us better and, it’s consistent with the mission we have to impact culture for Christ and train people to go impact the world."

Troup Trends | November 2014

Page 37

â&#x20AC;˘ chamber events

Follow-ups

All of these images and more can be found on our Facebook page at facebook.com/LaGrangeTroupCOC. Check it out!

Page 38

Lunch with U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland

Local candidates forum

"Holden On" fundraiser at Del'avant

2014 Korean Festival

HYPE Lunch and Learn with Andy Fritchley

"Managing for Results" with Chuck Stump

BASH - Business and Social Hour

Resource Troup Expo and Taste of Troup Troup Trends | November 2014

JOB SEEKERS! SURGE STAFFING IS LOOKING FOR YOU! We at SURGE® will partner with you and provide you with an opportunity to work with premier employers in your community. Surge offers a variety of placement options, from temporary to permanent hire. We are sure to have the right match of flexibility for you.

www.surgestaffing.com Apply in the office or online TODAY! LaGrange Office 229 S. Davis Road, Suite 700 LaGrange, GA 30240 Troup Trends | November 2014

The BEST technology solutions to MEET your business needs. PTS is a locally owned and operated technology consulting firm servicing businesses in the West Georgia and East Alabama area. With more than 20 years’ experience in IT management and services, we pride ourselves in providing customized solutions to meet each client’s expectations.

300 Broome St., Suite 106 • LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-4155 • ptscomputer.com Page 39

• HYPE - Helping Young Professionals Engage

HYPE is a high impact group of diverse young professionals working together to showcase Troup County as a unique and fun place to work and live. HYPE provides its members with opportunities for building relationships with community and business leaders and cultivates an atmosphere for building personal relationships and a sense of purpose within the community.

Member Spotlight Matthew Barrett

•Event in Review•

Where do you currently work? Axis Dental Milling. Can you briefly describe your company's work? We use the latest in milling processes and technology to create high-quality zirconia copings and full contour dental crowns.

You were recently shadowed by a young member of our community as a part of HYPE's collaboration with Troup's Boys and Girls Club. Can you tell us a bit about that day? My guest for the day was a young man named Caleb. He was very intelligent and interested in learning about our processes here at Axis. He actually got to work on a few different software programs that we use to design crowns and bridges with our Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems. What do you think was the most enjoyable part of the day for him? I think he really liked using the CAD software, he picked it up really quickly. Also, as we finished our time together, Caleb mentioned that he should come and work with us during his summers in a few more years which makes me believe he had a good time. What was the most enjoyable part of the day for you? Having the opportunity to sit and talk with Caleb about school, and learning about his different interests really made my day. Based on your experience, what would you say to encourage members of the community to participate in this event next year? It's always good for kids to get an understanding about how businesses work and to see what happens in a company so that as they grow, they can have a better idea about what they may want to become. As for me personally, it was a good break to step out of the dayto-day work and have a student come and learn about what I do.

College Football Kickoff

HYPE members kicked off the football season with a bang at the LaGrangeTroup County Chamber of Commerce BASH. They enjoyed pizza, beverages, college football and games like KanJam, a frisbee game similar to cornhole. Most of all they were able to connect with friends and network with people from around the county while watching the SEC match-up between South Carolina and Texas A&M.

•Upcoming Events•

HYPE Tacky Christmas Sweater Party

HYPE invites all young professionals to wear their tackiest Christmas sweater and gather with us to watch the Annual LaGrange Christmas Parade on Dec. 4. We’ll be meeting on Del’avant’s rooftop for the festivities while enjoying some merriment of our own. Come by anytime between 6 and 9 p.m. for music and gifts as well as free food and drinks. Families are welcome! RSVP recommended via email to letisha@lagrangechamber.com.

Connect with HYPE

Interested in knowing more about how you can get involved? We’ve got more opportunities to help you get connected: • We have just launched a new website. Check us out at www.hypelagrange.com. Be sure to check out our upcoming events section where we'll have all our HYPE events posted! • Sign up for our weekly email! By registering on our website at www.hypelagrange.com, we’ll be able to send you weekly updates of HYPE Happenings. These emails not only include upcoming events, but also points of interests and recaps of recent gatherings. • Like our page on Facebook for real-time updates. We regularly update the page with news and notes from HYPE and from around the community. Stay in the know! Page 40

Troup Trends | November 2014

Page 41

r e b m a h C n o b b Ri s g n i t ! t e t u a r C eb

• chamber ribbon cuttings

l e C s ' Let

Holiday Inn Express & Suites 205 Cotton Road • LaGrange

U.S. Renal Care 1300 Lafayette Parkway • LaGrange

Shoe Junkie 2 E. Lafayette Square • LaGrange

New Horizon Community Theatre's Naders Annex 408 W. 8th St. • West Point

Country Financial - Davis and Hosick 100 S. Lewis St. • LaGrange

DASH's Stony Ridge Apartments Lincoln Street • Hogansville

Grammy's Quillows 129 Bull St. • LaGrange

Mama Sherry's Homestyle Buffet 614 Lincoln St. • LaGrange

Dry Falls Outfitters 1501 Lafayette Parkway • LaGrange

Page 42

Troup Trends | November 2014

Maximum Staffing Solutions 300 Mooty Bridge Road. • LaGrange

America's Mattress 1300 Lafayette Parkway • LaGrange

Blue Train Books 200 E. Main St. • Hogansville

Autumn Ridge Apartments 1246 Mooty Bridge Road • LaGrange

Good Ol' Country Buffet 1597 Vernon Road • LaGrange

Hurst Accounting 706 Ave. C • West Point

Troup Trends | November 2014

Page 43

• upcoming events

Things to See and Do Friday, Nov. 21, 5-9 p.m. Candlelight Holiday Sip and Shop

Lighting And Santa’s Visit On The Square

Downtown LaGrange merchants stay open for this festive event. Enjoy sampling wine and food, special sales and complimentary gift wrap at your favorite downtown boutiques. Downtown LaGrange DowntownLaGrange.com | (706) 298-4534

Beginning at 3 p.m. with a visit from Santa and his North Pole friends, the parade begins at 6. This year’s theme is “Through the Eyes of a Child,” honoring grand marshal Cliff Rainey. Downtown LaGrange DowntownLagrange.com | (706) 298-4532 LagrangeChamber.com | (706) 884-8671

Saturday, Nov. 22, 5-9 p.m. Downtown Hogansville – Sip ‘N Shop

Dec. 5 and 6 – 6 and 8 p.m. Point University Concert

Stroll along downtown Hogansville and enjoy refreshments while doing your holiday shopping. Downtown Hogansville CityofHogansville.com | (706) 333-2520

Through Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 Athos Menaboni And 30s WPA Art

Explore some of Georgia’s historical architectural murals and Works Progress Administration artists’ projects through the art works of Athos Menaboni. Legacy Museum will exhibit several mural studies as well as a sampling of other genres of his paintings. During the holiday season, an exhibition of Menaboni’s beautiful Christmas cards will be added. He created the cards for more than 40 years. The artwork is from the Callaway Gardens collection housed at the Troup archives. Legacy Museum on Main LegacyMuseumOnMain.org | (706) 884-1828

Nov. 18 through Dec. 30 Fantasy in Lights

Advance tickets strongly suggested. This drive-through Christmas spectacular delights people of all ages. Callaway Gardens CallawayGardens.com/fil • (844) 265-7908

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. Joyful Sounds of Christmas Concert

The First United Methodist Church of LaGrange’s Chancel and Youth Choirs and Orchestra will present a spiritual concert for the Christmas season. The event is free and open to the public. First United Methodist Church of LaGrange Lagrangefumc.org | (706) 884-4635

Thursday/Friday, Dec. 4-5, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2/8 p.m. Miracle On 34th Street

By chance, Kris Kringle, an old man in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy's. New Horizon Community Theatre nhct.org | (706) 518-6234

Thursday, Dec. 4 LaGrange Christmas Parade, Tree Page 44

Join the Point University Concert Choir/Signature Voices, Community Band and Children’s Choir for a holiday concert at Spring Road Christian Church. Spring Road Christian Church, Lanett (706) 385-1049

Friday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. • Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 and 7 p.m. • Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. The Nutcracker Ballet

One of the most popular and cherished ballets in history, and a Christmas classic, this wonderful annual production kicks off the Christmas season in Troup County. Troup High School Fine Arts Center Lafayette Society for Performing Arts LSPAArts.com | (706) 882-9909

Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 24 Follow The Shepherds Walks/Christmas Sound And Light Show

Follow the journey of Joseph and Mary as they travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem and learn new insights into the Christmas story. These walks can be done in conjunction with the Christmas Sound and Light Show. Explorations in Antiquity Center ExplorationsinAntiquity.com | (706) 885-0363

Saturday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m. Hogansville Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting

Join the Mayor, Council and Downtown Merchants for the lighting of the Hogansville Christmas Tree. Parade will immediately follow. Downtown Hogansville jackiewbyars@aol.com | (706) 594-3637

Sunday, Dec. 7 – 2-6 p.m West Georgia Hospice Tour of Homes

The event begins at Hills & Dales Visitor Center where vans will take participants to the homes on tour. Tickets include tours of four beautiful homes, live entertainment, refreshments and a fabulous boutique with gifts and jewelry. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Chamber, some downtown LaGrange retail stores and at West Georgia Hospice. Troup Trends | November 2014

West Georgia Hospice forbust@wghealth.org | (706) 845-3905

First Baptist Church on the Square www.fbclagrange.org | (706) 884-4832 or (706) 884-5631

Sunday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Lessons and Carols

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. Celebrating Christmas

The LaGrange College Choir directed by Dr. Beth Everett combined with Bible readings for the season unite for a spiritual start to the Christmas season. Event is free. LaGrange College’s Callaway Auditorium LaGrange College Music asellman@lagrange.edu | (706) 880-8351

The traditional Christmas concert features music from the season with special guests, the LaGrange High School Chorus. Katie Westbrook is the director. LaGrange College’s Callaway Auditorium LaGrange Symphony Orchestra LagrangeSymphony.org | (706) 882-0662

Thursday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m. Valleywide Christmas Parade

Saturday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m. through 1 p.m.

Beginning in West Point and proceeding down Third Avenue, this parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Tri-County Community Association lblount@cityofvalley.com | (334) 756-5281

The Living Christmas Tree: A 1940's Christmas Homecoming

First Baptist Church on the Square presents the musical consisting of more than 100 voice choir, orchestra, children’s and youth choirs; special new lighting effects, and a drama set in the USO years of the 1940’s. Dec. 11, 7 p.m. Dress Rehearsal open to public Dec. 13-14, 7 p.m. Free admission but tickets required. Tickets available beginning Nov. 24.

Children's Christmas Celebration

Children are invited to the Hills & Dales Estate Visitor Center to participate in this eighth annual event, which has become a community favorite. All morning, children will decorate their own gingerbread houses and craft Christmas ornaments. Santa will visit with the children from 10 to 11 a.m., and a holiday sing-a-long accompanied by an old-fashioned Christmas story time will follow. Come enjoy the festivities along with fresh cider and Christmas cookies, but come early as the supply of gingerbread houses is limited. All children’s activities are free. Tours of the home decked out for the holidays are available at regular price.

Hills & Dales Estate HillsandDales.org | (706) 882-3242

GUrneaiqtue LaGrange gifts for revleirsyto!ne n you oPlates Only at PLUM Plum SOUTHERN Southern �

Gifts & & Gifts Bridal Registry Bridal Registry Vietri Vietri Juliska Juliska M.Bagwell Bagwell M. Trollbeads Tyler Candles Tyler Candles find us on Facebook

see us at Facebook.com Troup Trends | November 2014

Come see us at our NEW location! 121 Main Street • LaGrange

121 lagrange,ga ga30240 30240 105 main broadstreet street • lagrange,

706-884-3134 Store Hours: 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday

Page 45

â&#x20AC;˘ advertiser index

Thank You Advertisers CharterBank: pg. 23 charterbank.net

Hillside Montessori: pg. 37 hillsidemontessorilagrange.com

Plum Southern: pg. 45 plumsouthern.com

Charter Business: pg. 31 charterbusiness.com

Hunter-Allen-Myhand Funeral Home: pg. 27 hunterallenmyhand.com

Professional Technology Solutions: pg. 39 ptscomputer.com

Joynus Staffing: pg. 35 joynusstaffing.com

Roosevelt Warm Springs: pg. 33 rooseveltrehab.org

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc.: pg. 47 kmmgusa.com

Splash Kitchens & Bath Design Gallery: pg. 11 splashkitchens.com

Kersey Dental: pg. 35 kerseydental.com

Surge Staffing: pg. 39 surgestaffing.com

Kimble's Food by Design: pg. 21 kimblesevents.com

THINC College & Career Academy: pg. 33 thincacademy.net

Commercial Bank & Trust: pg. 5 combanktrust.com Dan-Ric Homes: pg. 15 danric.com Del'avant: pg. 9 delavanteventcenter.com DeRamus Hearing: pg. 17 deramushearinginc.com DeRamus Hearing: pg. 19 deramushearinginc.com Diversified Trees: pg. 27 diversifiedtrees.com Downtown LaGrange Development Authority: pg. 9 downtownlagrange.com Emory at LaGrange: pg. 48 emoryclarkholderclinic.com

Kiwanis Club: pg. 33 lagrange.kiwanisone.org LaGrange Car Wash: pg. 21 (706) 884-2566 LaGrange Equipment and Tool Rental: pg. 13 (706) 882-8665

Explorations in Antiquity: pg. 23 digging4it.com

LaGrange Symphony Orchestra: pg. 39 lagrangesymphony.org

Heritage Bank of the South: pg. 15 eheritagebank.com

Outdoor Events: pg. 29 outdoorevents.com

Tulla White/Venucci: pg. 41 tullawhitecuisineandcatering.com Vernon Woods Retirement Community: pg. 43 vernonwoods.com West Georgia Health: pg. 2 wghealth.org West Georgia Hospice: pg. 29 wghealth.org West Georgia Physicians: pgs. 24-25 wgphysicians.org

Hills & Dales: pg. 11 hillsanddales.org

Troup trends Page 46

Troup Trends | November 2014

B:8.75” T:8.5” S:7.5”

kia.com

Kia. Championship-winning quality and performance. Built in the U.S.A.*

world-challenge.com | facebook.com/kiaracing | kia.com/motorsports *The Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX trims only) is assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally-sourced parts. Competition GTS-class turbocharged Optima shown.

Troup Trends | November 2014

Page 47

T:11”

S:10”

Congratulations to the Kia Racing Team for winning the prestigious Pirelli World Challenge Manufacturers’ Championship. The first-place finish caps off an incredible year that included 5 race wins, 13 podium appearances and more leading miles than any other manufacturer. The victory is also a testament to the capability of the turbocharged Optima and to the outstanding quality, dependability and performance found in every Kia vehicle.

Advancing the possibilities. Closer to home. WITH CONVENIENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT TROUP COUNTY, THE EMORY AT LAGRANGE PHYSICIANS ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING OUR PATIENTS WITH THE QUALITY HEALTH CARE THEY EXPECT AND DESERVE.

• BARIATRIC SURGERY • CARDIOLOGY • COSMETIC TREATMENTS • ENT • FACIAL PLASTICS • FAMILY MEDICINE

• GASTROENTEROLOGY • GENERAL SURGERY • INTERNAL MEDICINE • OB/GYN • ONCOLOGY • OPHTHALMOLOGY

• ORTHOPEDICS • PULMONARY MEDICINE • RADIOLOGY • SPORTS MEDICINE • UROLOGY

EMORY CLARK-HOLDER CLINIC

DAVIS ROAD PRIMARY CARE

WEST POINT FAMILY PRACTICE

EMORY SOUTHERN ORTHOPEDICS

303 SMITH ST. LaGRANGE, GA 30240

380 SOUTH DAVIS RD., STE E & F LaGRANGE, GA 30240

1610 EAST 10TH ST. WEST POINT, GA 31833

1805 VERNON ROAD, SUITE B LaGRANGE, GA 30240

706.882.8831

706.884.2691

V I S I T EM ORYCLARKHOLDER CLINIC.COM OR S OUTHE RNORTHOPE DICS .COM Page 48

Troup Trends | November 2014