400 LIFE FEBRUARY 2020
On the right path Pilates instructor. Financial advisor. Talk show host. Real estate agent. Self-taught barista. Workforce development director. How these people found purpose in unique careers
from the editor When I entered college (I won’t tell you what year), I had a level of certainty about the direction I wanted to take my career. I enjoyed reading and writing growing up, and so journalism felt like a natural path to combine my interests. My certainty only intensified after my first few assignments at my college’s newspaper my freshman year. I could sense I was on the right path, and so I kept on it. And here I am, however many years later (I won’t tell you how many) still in the same field. But that’s not everybody’s story. Paths change (two roads diverged, and all that) and can lead to exciting places. Could Amy Lyle and Gina Ryals have guessed they’d ever have their own talk show? Could Brenda Usher have guessed she’d left a successful career in corporate America to sell real estate? Could Emily Condensa have ever predicted she’d create a growing community around her Pilates studio? I’d guess not, but they prove that careers aren’t set in stone, and you can find a fulfilling one in Forsyth County, no matter what path you started on. — Brian Paglia
inside
contributors Publisher STEPHANIE WOODY Editor BRIAN PAGLIA Production Manager TRACIE PIKE Staff Writer ALEXANDER POPP Staff Writer KELLY WHITMIRE Advertising Director NATHAN SCHUTTER Advertising STACY CLARK DEBORAH DARNELL STEPHANIE MCCABE
Performance Pilates
Local studio owner builds a family atmosphere. Page 4 IN THE BURBS Local women’s online show inspires others. Page 12 CUP OF JOE Jalynn Barr shares her love of coffee, community. Page 20 400 HOMES Meet Realtors of The Love Team and Brenda Usher of Keller Williams Community Partners. Page 8, 11 400 FACES David Fountain dishes on nonprofit, his favorite food . Page 16 400 GIVES The Place of Forsyth, Lynn Sennett help residents find jobs. Page 18 400 READS These books help parents cultivate love of reading in children. Page 22
Photographer BEN HENDREN Special contributors JENNIFER COLOSIMO BECKY CAHILL
This magazine is a product of the www.ForsythNews.com
February 2020 | 400 LIFE | 3
Emily Condensa guides a client at Performance Pilates and Training.
Great Performance
Emily Condensa’s Pilates studio is growing more than clients’ muscles – it’s growing a family, too Story by Brian Paglia | Photos by Ben Hendren
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n a recent Monday, Emily Condensa watched her family buzzing around the studio space of Performance Pilates and Training. While Condensa worked with a client on a Pilates machine, she watched her oldest daughter, Justina, 22, the studio’s general manager, taking a chair Pilates class. At the front desk was her youngest daughter, Lucia, 15, the office manager, working on a computer. In walked her middle daughter, Sophia, 19, one of the studio’s personal trainers, to teach a strength training class. At some point, Condensa’s husband, Mike, was likely to stop by. It wouldn’t have been surprising if either of the couple’s two sons, Sebastian, 20, and Lorenzo, 17, arrived at some point in the day, too. The three Condensa men 4 | 400 LIFE | February 2020
‘Most clients want to get in shape and look better, which Pilates can do for you. But in the long run, Pilates can do all kinds of corrective exercises for you that you didn’t even realize you needed.’ - Emily Condensa, Owner of Performance Pilates and Training
are just as much believers in Pilates as Emily and the rest of the family, so they often take classes at the new studio (that the three built, by the way) since it opened this past November off Peachtree Parkway. Emily’s Pilates business wasn’t always such a family enterprise. Emily was a reluctant convert to the trendy fitness method herself. Emily started out as a runner. A doctor told Emily to stop running after she started having children, so Emily shifted to group fitness, mostly boot camp-style classes. When the family moved to Wisconsin, Emily didn’t like the quality of fitness classes she found at a small gym. So she started teaching them herself. Emily moved to a YMCA and soon started hearing about this trendy fitness program called Pilates. It was developed by Joseph Pilates around World War I, when he developed an apparatus and exercise routine that focused on strengthening the connection between mind and body with an emphasis on stretching, strength, core strength and body alignment. But Emily wasn’t convinced of Pilates’ effectiveness — until she tried it herself. “When I started working on the equipment, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, everybody should do this,’” Emily said. So Emily became a certified Pilates instructor. When the Condensas moved to Georgia, Emily worked stints in physical therapy offices and big-box gyms but wasn’t satisfied in those environments. She struck out on her own and ran a Pilates studio out of the family’s house, and her clients from the big-box gyms followed her. The number of clients gradually increased, and so did the number of Pilates machines. If the family moved, the new house had to have space for a Pilates studio. When Sebatian and Lorenzo came home, they often stopped at the machines to do a few pull-ups before walking to the kitchen. Eventually, Emily’s business grew too large for the Condensa’s
home, so she opened her first studio in a commercial space near First Redeemer Church. Business kept growing, and so this past November she moved Performance into the new 5,000-squarefoot studio. The Pilates equipment classes are Performance’s main staple. The studio has nine Pilates machines and seven instructors. But the studio has evolved to offer more and more varieties of fitness classes as Emily’s expertise and training has increased. They now have CoreAlign machines to improve posture and balance; a TRX apparatus for suspension training; cardio kickboxing classes; circuit training; and more. They have Pilates classes especially designed for kids and teenagers. Because unlike its reputation, Pilates is a fitness method that anyone can benefit from, Emily says. Sure, most of her clients are interested in building strength and toning muscle, but Emily is also trained to use Pilates to help clients with severe back, knee or shoulder pain. She’s trained to help clients with multiple sclerosis and neurological disorders. “Most clients want to get in shape and look better, which Pilates can do for you,” Emily says. “But in the long run, Pilates can do all kinds of corrective exercises for you that you didn’t even realize you needed.” For Emily, Pilates has even been almost a life-saver. Six months ago, she was struck by a car while running with Mike. Emily suffered a second-degree ligament sprain in her knee and a fractured foot. “My orthopedic said had I not been in such good shape from Pilates and not had the flexibility, it could’ve been a lot worse,” Emily says. Emily still isn’t 100%, but she’s back to running, even on the
Continued on Page 6
February 2020 | 400 LIFE | 5
same route where she was hit by the truck. She had to, she said. She didn’t want it limiting her. Emily prioritizes growing mentally, physically and spiritually, and it’s important that her clients and kids see that. In fact, it was the premise of how Emily and Mike raised their five kids. Emily and Mike pushed them to always be growing in every facet of their life, whether by being active in sports or reading books. They hoped Justina, Sebastian, Sophia, Lorenzo and Lucia developed a growth mindset and an entrepreneurial spirit. They’ve largely seen that come to fruition with Justina and Lucia both becoming certified Pilates instructors and taking on integral parts of the business. Meanwhile, Sebastian and Lorenzo work in Mike’s home renovation business (and come for a Pilates workout every now and then). Sophia is the latest to join the family enterprise. Her passion for personal training inspired Emily to develop a studio concept that would combine Sophia’s area of expertise with the Pilates (hence the name Performance Pilates and Training). Emily added
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more traditional gym equipment and classes not often associated with ordinary Pilates studios, and Sophia jumped onboard as one of the studio’s four personal trainers. “There’s certainly a need for Pilates and a need for the strength training and personal training,” Emily says. “I wanted a combination of the two. And I also wanted to bring [Sophia] into the business as well.” Lucia added, “We all love each other and love working with each other.” On that recent Monday, clients came from near and far to Performance. Debbie Kennedy drove from Lawrenceville for her regular two-hour Pilates class. Kennedy first met Emily when she taught Pilates at Lifetime Fitness and has followed her ever since. Kennedy remains a client of Emily’s because of the results she’s experienced, yes, but also because of the family atmosphere she first felt working out in the Condensa’s home studio. “The atmosphere around that family is such a positive, encouraging atmosphere,” Kennedy says.
PERFO RMANCE PILATES & TRAINING
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Keller Williams Community Partners
The Love Team
The Love Team, from left, Adrienne Postell, Sam Love, Steve Shultz and Abbye Love.
Love-ly situation
Family real estate team has each other’s back for clients’ sake Photos by Ben Hendren
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am Love was looking forward to a recent trip to Colorado to go snowmobiling with friends, but there was just one problem: Love, a realtor, had a few showings with prospective homebuyers scheduled for the same weekend. No problem: Sam’s mom, Abbye Love, stepped right in. “She just started covering for me,” Sam says. “I didn’t even have to ask her.” That’s how things work with The Love Team. The family foursome of Abbye, Sam, Steve Shultz and Adrienne Postell form a unique real estate team in North Georgia. Abbye and Steve live on Lake Lanier in Flowery Branch. Sam lives in Braselton. Adrienne (Abbye’s daughter) lives in Cumming. So while The Love Team is based out of the Keller Williams Community Partners office in Forsyth County, their footprint allows them to serve clients throughout 8 | 400 LIFE | February 2020
‘Probably the best part is when you show somebody 10 homes, and then you show them the 11th, and that’s the one. You can see the sparkle in their eyes.’ - Sam Love, real estate agent with The Love Team North Georgia. Even though they’re spread out, The Love Team’s family bond means everyone’s got each other’s back if the need arises. When a client emerges, say, in Athens, then Sam can help them. Maybe Adrienne meets a potential homebuyer from Lumpkin County; she can put them in touch with Abbye and Steve. Joining forces also allows The Love Team to cover for one another, like during Sam’s snowmobile trip or Abbye and Steve’s annual retreat in the mountains. There’s always someone available on The Love Team to help a client. “It’s honestly just a great plan to work together and back each other up,” Abbye says. Each member also brings a special skill set to the team. Steve is the numbers guy who studies market trends to know just the right price that homes should be selling for. He also leans on his 35 years of experience as a certified appraiser, plus his familiarity with both Hall County, where he lives now, and Forsyth County, where he lived for 35 years. Abbye is the problem-solver who is able to bring stakeholders together to navigate the twists and turns of a real estate transaction. As the youngest member of the team, Sam is the “millennial man” who is able to build relationships with a demographic full of newly-weds and first-time homebuyers. Adrienne, the newest member, brings her marketing background to The Love Team, but also her extensive knowledge
about life for young families in Forsyth County, from youth sports leagues to pediatricians to school districts and more. “Everyone’s got their role on the team,” Steve says. The Love Team started to form four years ago when Abbye and Sam started working together. Two years later, Steve joined. Then Abbye convinced Adrienne to come aboard this past January. They’ve used their geography, numbers and combined 50 years of experience in real estate to provide the best possible service to their clients, no matter their situation. The Love Team has sold everything from mobile homes to multi-million-dollar listings. They’ve sold new construction and helped investors find smart properties. But they also relish the relationships they build with clients and the community along the way. All four volunteer with local organizations. The Love Team also provide special assistance and discounts to veterans, first responders and teachers. Above all, The Love Team aims to cultivate trust with their client, which has led to many lasting friendships. One client even used Abbye as an emergency contact for their kids at school. “It’s not just about real estate,” Abbye says. “It’s about relationships, too.” Because for The Love Team, being realtors isn’t a job. It’s just what they do. And The Love Team truly loves what they do. “Probably the best part is when you show somebody 10 homes, and then you show them the 11th, and that’s the one,” Sam says. “You can see the sparkle in their eyes.”
February 2020 | 400 LIFE | 9
We are excited to announce a transformation here at the Keller Williams Realty Community Partners office located at 540 Lake Center Parkway. With our doors opening in December 2004, our belief is that real estate is a local business driven by individual agents and their presence within their communities. After 15 years of service we felt it was time for a complete remodel on our Market Center. Our goal was to offer a collaborative work space for our agents and their clients offering a brand new work center with computers, and a technology driven development and training center. In May our agents came together with local families and businesses to participate in our annual 5K Red Race. This past Tuesday we celebrated by giving a check for $15,000 to the Bald Ridge Boys Lodge as well as $5,000 to the Reading Education Association of Dawson County. The KWCP Market Center has become home to over 240 agents and we would like to invite you into our family. We believe mindset matters and If you don’t decide what you want to be known for someone else will. “KWCP is to be a development center for agents providing culture, training, solutions and support to lift the lid in their personal growth and business.“
540 Lake Center Pkwy, Ste 201 Cumming, GA 30040 (678) 341-7400
400 homes Keller Williams Community Partners Brenda Usher
Brenda Usher’s latest client is looking to sell their 74-acre estate in Pickens County, which is a 6-bed, 5-bath, 6,221-square-foot home at the center of farmland that includes a 12-stall state-of-the-art horse barn.
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Brenda Usher leaves corporate world to impact lives through real estate
renda Usher was ready to take a leap of faith. Usher knew that she had a good job selling million-dollar network systems at AT&T. She was great at it, too, becoming a leader in the company and a mentor to other businesswomen in metro Atlanta. But three years ago, Usher felt unfulfilled. She wanted to focus on making an impact on people in a new way. After much prayer and with the support of her husband, she decided to leave AT&T and start making million-dollar deals in real estate with Keller Williams Community Partners. Going from a massive corporation to a local real estate office might seem like a big transition, but it’s been the perfect place for Usher’s new career. Usher instantly felt at home at KWCP surrounded by agents and office staff who went out of their way to make her feel welcome. One aspect of KWCP that stood out to Usher was its Agent Leadership Council, which acts as a liaison between agents and upper management. Usher was in charge of a similar group at AT&T, called Women of AT&T, an employee resource group that advocated for employees with upper management. Usher was CEO for the Atlanta chapter and regional director for the whole Southeast. She made sure that more than 6,000 employees at AT&T developed personally and professionally, and that AT&T stayed connected to local communities.
Usher has found more than enough opportunities at KWCP to develop her real estate career, particularly through its signature training program, BOLD: Business Objective: A Life by Design. The seven-week program develops powerful mindset exercises, language techniques and lead-generation strategies in agents. Usher has combined KWCP’s training with the same qualities that Photo by Ben Hendren made her so successful in the corporate world: commitment and consistency. Usher goes into the KWCP office everyday “suited and booted” (that’s the commitment) and resolves to find something she can do to help her clients (that’s the consistency). “I totally understand that my purpose in life is to impact lives,” Usher says. Usher has worked harder in real estate than she ever did at AT&T. Her latest opportunity is a client looking to sell their 74-acre estate in Pickens County. It’s an escape from city life, with a 6-bed, 5-bath, 6,221-squarefoot home at the center of the farmland that includes a 12-stall state-ofthe-art horse barn. But it doesn’t feel like work for Usher. Three years after taking that leap of faith, Usher is having more fun than ever. She even put a reminder on her business card. It reads, “It’s better than I ever expected.”
February 2020 | 400 LIFE | 11
Keeping up with what’s happening ‘In the Burbs’ with Amy and Gina
Local comedian and fitness instructor inspire other women with online show Story by Kelly Whitmire | Photos courtesy ‘In the Burbs’
S
ome shows focus on making their audience laugh. Some want to give advice. Others are a chance for hosts to give their thoughts, and then, some shows combine a little bit of it all. Last fall, Amy Lyle and Gina Ryals hosted their first episode of “In the Burbs,” a live-streamed show available every other Wednesday where the pair and their guests — who can range from comedians to musicians to professional organizers and more — can talk and be honest about issues that impact women in their middle ages. “We’re really open and our guests are open, so it’s really fun,” Lyle said. “We want everyone to feel like they’re part of our tribe and no
12 | 400 LIFE | February 2020
shame in forgetting to pick your kid up from carpool. There’s no shame in that, we’ve all done it. We just talk about it. We talk about motherhood, marriage, divorce, menopause, just anything that has to do with women in their 30s, 40s, 50s,” Ryals said. Now with a growing audience, the hosts met when Ryals moved into Lyle’s neighborhood — where they would joke about doing a morning show — and more importantly, on the tennis court. “We won when we played with each other, but when we played with other people, we weren’t very successful,” Ryals said. “So, we kind of had an instant bond, and we
‘We want everyone to feel like they’re part of our tribe and no shame in forgetting to pick your kid up from carpool. There’s no shame in that, we’ve all done it. We just talk about it.’ - Gina Ryals, Co-host of ‘In The Burbs’ knew we had something ness classes for over 25 years, special, so we’re glad we so I’ve always been in front of get to share it now with people, in front of large the community.” groups of women encouragLyle, a comedian who ing and motivating, that’s has written “The Book of kind of been my thing, and Failures” and “We’re All I have a little bit of an a M e s s , I t ’s O K ,” h a s obsession with the media, become a familiar face — with celebrities, with the a n d vo i c e — o n o t h e r world out there.” local shows in the Atlanta With two co-hosts who area, including Atlanta & are constantly riffing off Company and programs each other, and one of on the UI Media Network, them being a comedian, an app and streaming site it’s no surprise that comethat produces original condy is a big part of the tent. show, but it’s far from the After a number of suconly focus. cessful appearances, Lyle “It’s like, yes, we want said she was approached the show to be light and by UI, where she had been funny, but we also want a guest and filled in for people to walk away like, other hosts, about hosting her ‘Oh, now I know why I own show. Lyle said working can’t lose the five pounds,’ on an emerging media plator to see something differform meant the support strucent,” Lyle said. “So, we try ture to get the show out was to balance funny with tips already in place and let the …” hosts focus on writing the “… and inspiration,” show and finding guests. Ryals added. “We try to “The reach is really good, inspire and motivate peoso it’s like we get total conple, too. That’s what we’re trol of the content, but we all about.” Want to watch? have a platform with a larger Ryals said for her, the area than what we would You can check out “In the Burbs” on the UI Media App, show was a second act that have,” Lyle said. UIMediaApp.com, 99.1 FM, Binge TV network, Facebook gave her a chance to try Originally, the show was Live, YouTube and other podcasting apps. something new after her planned with only Lyle and a kids moved out of the rotating cast of co-hosts but it house. didn’t take long for Ryals to “We’re these two moms … that get an opportunity to express become a permanent addition. ourselves and celebrate this time of our lives,” Ryals said. “I think “I asked Gina to be my first co-host, and I was just going to have different that’s who mainly watches our show, women of a certain age that cohosts every time,” Lyle said. “Well then, we saw how difficult it was to do a show and come up with an hour of content. Gina and I were tennis think, ‘I’ve experienced that too.’” Like they were given a chance to do something new, the cohosts partners, and we just got along so well and even though we are friends, we have very different points of view and we grew up very differently, so said they hope the show inspires others, particularly women around their age, to get out and try something. it’s nice because we’re not the same person.” “I guess the best thing out of all of this is that we can be encouragAfter the first episode, Lyle asked Ryals to stay on as co-host. Ryals said while she didn’t have the on-camera experience of Lyle, ing to women over 40, over 50, that you don’t just have to shrivel up and die. There are opportunities,” she said. “With the world we she was still used to talking to large groups. “I do not really have a background in the network and radio hosting,” live in, social media, all the platforms out there, there’s so many she said. “However, I have a background in education and I’ve taught fit- things that you can do.” February 2020 | 400 LIFE | 13
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400faces
David Fountain Fountain Financial Advisors
David Fountain remembers one of his roles as a grandson was to do the little things for his grandparents: change a lightbulb, fix the VCR, even just provide some company. Fountain has brought the same spirit to his career as a financial planner with Fountain Financial Advisors, the company he cofounded a decade ago to provide individuals, families and businesses with analysis and guidance to make smart financial decisions. Yes, he gives clients advice about typical financial decisions — Should I downsize? Can I retire at 62? How do I eliminate my debt? — but those situations often come with complicated underlying issues. Fountain doesn’t shy away from those issues. He takes them head-on with his clients. “People don’t hire me for that, but that’s what we do for them to help them find clarity in their own life,” Fountain said. Fountain has extended his giving spirit further. He recently joined the board of The Place of Forsyth County, a local nonprofit organization that provides financial emergency assistance, clothing, food and other support services to help people in need become self-sustaining. Fountain talked with 400 LIFE about his first job, the best career advice he ever received and his favorite pizza toppings.
What was your first job? “My parents owned a department store, Fountain’s Department Store, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and I was a stock boy. It was like a warehouse, so I just organized jeans and clothes and prepared them to ship to the different stores. “You wanted to be there. It was more than just a family business. My friends worked there, too. So we had a big family, so to speak. It was fun.”
What’s the best career advice you have ever received? “Putting other people first. That’s probably my main thing is not to think of myself first. You can ask any of my employees — they love working for me, because I put them first. It’s not about me, it’s about making them happy. Because if I’m not making them happy, then my clients aren’t going to be happy. I think it’s just a good cycle, that if you treat people right, then what goes around comes around. “And then sticking to it for the long run. Not making quick changes. It’s not the way the world works.”
How do you unwind from a busy day? “A drive in the car helps, but I usually want to get outside so my mind can think. I might go for a hike at Sawnee Mountain or go for a run on the Big Creek Greenway.”
People have started to know you for your food reviews through Fountain’s Food Adventures. You did your first one on pizza. But what’s your favorite food? “The funny thing is pizza is my favorite food. That’s why it was a no-brainer to be the first one. But I like all food. I could go anywhere and be fine with any food. But my favorite food has 16 | 400 LIFE | February 2020
always been pizza. My family is the same way. I just think of my childhood as baseball and pizza. We ate lots of pizza.”
Favorite toppings? “Sausage, pepperoni, onion and bacon is my family tradition. That’s kind of what we grew up on.”
How did you get involved with The Place of Forsyth County? “I started helping them five years ago. We go to Browns Bridge Church, and my daughter got really involved there. We went through the ‘Be Rich’ campaign, and our project was The Place. We volunteered during the Holiday House, and I just loved it. Helping those families pick out gifts for their kids meant a lot to me. Now, I’m getting involved with their finances and helping them make decisions. “I think it’s all about giving. When you achieve things, that’s great, but when you’re able to give back to others, it’s so different. A lot of people have to get there, but I think once you do, you really can live more.” — Story and photo by Brian Paglia
2019,Workforce WorkforceDevelopment Development InIn2019, programhelped helped136 136people people program findemployment! employment! find SEARCH ASSISTANCE JOBJOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE Leads JobJob Leads Resume Preparation Resume Preparation Access computers Access computers Interview Preparation Interview Preparation Career Closet Career Closet CAREER COUNSELING CAREER COUNSELING Individual Career & Life Planning Individual Career & Life Planning On-going Career Follow-up & Support On-going Career Follow-up & Support WORK READINESS TRAINING WORK READINESS TRAINING Microsoft OffiTutoring ce Tutoring Microsoft Office Forklift Certifi cation Forklift Certifi cation Scholarships for Career related trainings Scholarships for Career related trainings Assistance Applications to WIOA Grant Assistance withwith Applications to WIOA Grant & & Technical College Technical College Classes in collaboration Literacy Forsyth GEDGED Classes in collaboration withwith Literacy Forsyth
JOBJOB FAIRFAIR When: February | 10:00 am -12:00 When: February 7th |7th 10:00 am -12:00 pm pm Where: Browns Bridge Church | 3860 Browns Bridge | Cumming Where: Browns Bridge Church | 3860 Browns Bridge Rd | Rd Cumming Sponsored Sponsored by: by:
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES PARTICIPATING COMPANIES • TROC Cellular • Northside Hospital • TROC Cellular • Northside Hospital GA Dept. of Corrections • DOL Veterans Services • GA• Dept. of Corrections • DOL Veterans Services • FOCO Schools • Autobell Wash • FOCO Schools • Autobell Car Car Wash • Domino Pizza • BOS • Domino Pizza • BOS StaffiStaffi ng ng • Southern Companions • Kroger • Kroger • Southern Companions • Summit • Randstad • Summit • Randstad • American • ServPro • American BoaBoa • ServPro CONTACT: CONTACT: • Waffl e House • Bright • Waffl e House • Bright Star Star Sennett, Workforce & Education Director LynnLynn Sennett, Workforce & Education Director • Tyson Foods • Arise: Work Home• Tyson Foods • Arise: Work fromfrom Home 770-887-7098 | Lynn@theplaceoff orsyth.org 770-887-7098 | Lynn@theplaceoff orsyth.org Where Person, Dollar, and Hour a PURPOSE. Where everyevery Person, Dollar, and Hour has ahas PURPOSE.
400 gives
Lynn Sennett Workforce and Education Director for The Place of Forsyth County
The Place of Forsyth County is uplifting job seekers with networking, career help Story by Alexander Popp | Photos by Ben Hendren
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o matter who you are, looking for a new job can be scary, confusing and stressful. Do you look for jobs online where hundreds of websites and services promise the moon and never seem to have just the right opportunity or do you go door to door and make cold calls to land the perfect gig? You might be bouncing back from a layoff, recovering from a domestic violence situation or just trying to work your way to a better life, the result is nearly always the same, the job search will be a lonely road with no promises at its end. But it doesn’t have to be like that, says Lynn Sennett, Workforce and Education Director for The Place of Forsyth County. According to Sennett, over the last five years The Place has attempted to work hand in hand with job seekers in the Forsyth County area, offering a wide variety of workforce development programs and services to people of all ages, backgrounds and economic status. “I always tell people that searching for a job online is like fishing in the ocean in a row boat with a cane pole; you might catch something, but you might not,” Sennett said. “Even the most educated and successful people can get stuck when it comes to looking for a job … The workforce development program teaches them how to fish.” Since the Workforce Development program was piloted back in August 2019, Sennett said The Place’s offerings have expanded from simple networking help to a handful of people, to a catalogue of trainings, quarterly job fairs at Browns Bridge Church, and personalized career counseling for hundreds of people each year. Sennett said that they are really proud of how well the quarterly job fairs have taken off. Their last fair in October had over 35 companies and about 100 job seekers. “We have more and more jobs, more and more companies and more and more job seekers,” she said. “And that’s a really good thing for us.” Each year Sennett sees between 250 to 300 job seekers and of those individuals, about 140 go on to get full time jobs through The Place. In 2018, jobs with salaries totaling $3.3 million were created by the program, she said. In 2019, that number rose to $3.5 million. 18 | 400 LIFE | February 2020
For all the services the program offers, Sennett said that the confidence boost the program can give job seekers is crucial. Most people come to them dispirited and as a last resort, she said. So in many cases it’s their mission to build back that confidence and “lift up” their clients. “We see people who have the criminal background, who have mental health issues, who were victims of domestic violence and who have been in poverty, so confidence is a big thing with almost everybody I see,” Sennett said. “I really feel that making people feel good about themselves is about 60% of what I do, maybe even more.” One recent participant in the program and local resident, Jonathan Burns, said that when he went to The Place looking for help he was “out of options and out of time.” Last year, Burns moved to Forsyth County, where he works full time at a local Walmart, and quickly realized that one full-time job wasn’t going to be enough to pay the bills, while also still having enough time to spend with his kids on the weekends. Like many participants in the workforce development program, Burns had difficulty finding additional part time work from the very beginning, and usually wasn’t even considered for positions when employers learned about his availability and employment at Walmart. “Everybody just wouldn’t have anything to do with me,” he said. “Because I work for Walmart that pretty much shuts any other retail or grocery store opportunities down.” Within just a few meetings with Sennett, Burns was able to land a part time position at a Forsyth County Chick-fil-A. “Because of that, I’m able to pay my bills,” he said. “Just that little bit of part time [work] right there was what I needed, I’m able to pay my bills and keep the roof over my head.” Learn more about The Place of Forsyth County’s Workforce Development program by visiting www.theplaceofforsyth.org/ workforce-development.
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“At the end of the day what we want to provide is an experience — a happy place, with fun and positive energy, that has unique and unexpected offerings, and most importantly, gives back to our community.” - Jalynn Barr
Percolating Passion Community Cup makes every drop count
Story by Jennifer Colosimo | Photos by Brian Paglia
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t’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t have an intrinsic need for their morning cup of coffee. That bold-roasted, steaming cup of joe is a must-have for many, whether enjoyed quietly on the porch, to-go in morning rush hour, or sipped slowly (and reheated) throughout the day. But for Jalynn Barr, it’s a little more than routine — it’s her passion. No joke. She “hearts” coffee. She’s been a coffee drinker since high school. She can’t wake up without her regular cup every morning. After years working in every other area of the food service industry, she decided it was time to use that passion for the benefit of her community. As a result, she opened downtown Cumming’s Community Cup in April of 2018. Now, the Northern California transplant is a self-taught barista serving up
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(way) more than that morning routine coffee to her neighbors, and it’s with a heathy dose of community that not only gives the shop its name, but is the reason she wakes up loving her job as much as she does that everyday cup. “I have worked in the food service industry ever since I was 15 years old, and have always just loved the interaction with people, and how I can spend the whole day on my feet,” said Barr. “My father and grandfather were both entrepreneurs themselves; so I knew firsthand what that meant: sacrifice, long hours, strong work ethic, no secure income. I also knew that I wanted to open something that was in my county, and could be a true part of the community, while still being a cute place where people would feel good entering our doors.” With her (new) roots here in Cumming, it was the perfect place to do it. “My husband, our general manager Allison Dekle, and I spent a lot of time checking out various locations in Forsyth County,” Barr explained. “But, the building on Tribble Gap really spoke to us. As we all stood in the empty space with natural light pouring in on the exposed brick, we all looked at each other and said, ‘Yes!’” It wasn’t just good bones that made downtown Cumming the right spot. Barr could see Cumming’s city potential, and knew that playing a role in its evolution could further her goal of community. She envisioned many more local and unique businesses that could add to the city’s walkability and attract more visitors. Now we know she was onto something, but growing Cumming’s reputation as a destination city was only one of her goals. In addition — and rather simply — she just wants it to be a place that does a lot more than sell coffee. “Anyone can brew and serve coffee,” Barr said. “And there are plenty of other great coffee shops that do amazing things that we definitely do not. But at the end of the day what we want to provide is an experience — a happy place, with fun and positive energy, that has unique and unexpected offerings, and most importantly, gives back to our community. It makes going to work every day feel great when you know that you are doing something fun with great people, and hopefully making a positive difference.” Making an impact is also the reason behind her motto, “every drop counts.” Well — part of it is because a coffee lover would never leave a literal drop behind, but beneath the surface, this phrase stands to encourage community members that everyone can help make a difference, and that no amount of giving is too small to do so. “Every drop of kindness, every penny that someone can give —
literally every drop can work together with all the drops from everyone else to make a huge difference in the world,” said Barr. “So many times people stop themselves from doing or giving because they feel like what they have to offer is so small, like just a drop. But every drop truly counts.” You’ll agree to take it literally, too, once you’ve sampled the menu. Her customer favorite is the peanut butter and vanilla latte, mostly because it’s made with real peanut butter whipped into the espresso, but also because they don’t skimp topping it with whipped cream and Reese’s Pieces candies. Community Cup also serves every kind of coffee drink you can think of (obviously), including iced, cold-brew, nitro, espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, and more. Plus, use any of the above to wash down locally made scones, pies and pretzel bites, local gluten-free and vegan treats, hydroponically-grown lettuce salads, yummy sandwiches, and (have we said this, yet?) more. And what does a self-taught coffeeshop owner do when she’s not conjuring new, tasty brewed beverages? She’s at home with her family, loving that her new hometown offers culde-sacs, friendly neighbors and room in the schedule for fireside s’mores, potluck parties, bike riding, and … well, a true sense of community. That’s something else we’ll add to our routine’s must-haves.
For more information about Community Cup, visit www.communitycupga.com February 2020 | 400 LIFE | 21
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400 reads R
eading has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mother and I would make frequent trips to our local library and I could spend hours browsing and reading among the stacks. In fact, when I go home to New Jersey, I still visit that library every time. When I started my own family, reading remained a huge part of my life and it seems that love has transferred to my three children. Friends and other parents will often ask me how I helped my children become readers and the honest answer is that I don’t have an answer! (‘Readers’ in this context means they love and seek opportunities to read. The outstanding Forsyth County Schools gets all the credit for my children’s ability to read.) However, I am asked this question enough that I started to do some reading on the topic, and I have found three book selections that address the importance of reading and providing real-world steps to help any adult foster and cultivate the love of reading in children of all ages.
Maryanne Wolf is an authority on the neuroscience of reading. She has previously researched and written on the changes that occur within the brain as we learn to read and as we remain life-long readers. In her latest offering, Reader, Come Home, Wolf pens letters to readers on the perils and opportunities associated with reading in the digital age. She incorporates findings from her ongoing research, personal anecdotes and calls to action. This book is written for those interested in the cognitive side of reading and the impact of technology on the brain. Dedicated readers, educators, and those who are scientifically minded will find a plethora of material to consider.
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Becky Cahill
How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo is an excellent place to start and would make a wonderful gift for a new parent. In this book, Paul and Russo, editors of the New York Times Book Review, look at the developmental stages of childhood and provide tips to encourage a love of reading, pitfalls to avoid, and book recommendations for each stage. This book includes colorful illustrations and is written in a straight-forward way that will not intimidate an adult seeking suggestions for the children in their life. The authors provide ideas that address behaviors of the adults, as well as the children, to raise a life-long reader. In her 2019 publication, The Enchanted Hour, Meghan Cox Gurdon provides a reading experience that differs greatly from other books on this topic. Cox Gurdon, a Wall Street Journal columnist, writes about the importance of reading aloud to children (and adults) with such strong prose that you will feel like you are reading a well written novel. She examines the act of reading aloud, focusing on the importance of hearing the voice of another telling a shared story. Cox Gurdon weaves together scientific research, personal stories, and practical advice to create an overwhelming argument in favor of reading aloud from birth through old age.
Becky Cahill is a career educator and an avid reader. She reads extensively in her free time and tracks her favorites (and those that aren’t even close) on her blog at tobereadlist.home.blog. Becky is the host of ‘Read It or Leave It!’ a weekly reading podcast available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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