Horizons june 2013

Horizons June 2013

A publication of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

Prestige Members Northside Hospital-Forsyth Premier Corporate Sponsor

Chamber leading way to boosting economy T

Forsyth County Government

DeKalb Office

The City of Cumming

Georgia Power

Taubman

St. Joseph’s Children’s Healthcare Hospital of Atlanta of Atlanta

Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry

The Dentist

jTech Networks

Anchor Home Mortgage

Kaiser Permamente

he Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce leads the effort to recruit new business investment in the community and work with expanding local companies. Since January, the chamber has participated in six economic development projects expected to collectively generate nearly 100 new jobs and about $5 million in new capital investment.

The chamber generally secures four new economic development clients per month and has successfully announced one new project per month in 2013, including the $4 million expansion of the headquarters of Italian gear manufacturer, Motovario.

But why is this important to Forsyth County residents?

The chamber is focused on strategies that create long-term

Italian manufacturer Motovario hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expansion of its U.S. headquarters located in Forsyth County.

economic opportunities that benefit everyone. The new jobs help the county’s unemployment rate to continue to be lower than both the national and state rates. (The national unemployment rate is 7.6 percent; the state of Georgia’s unemployment rate is 8.4 percent, and Forsyth County’s

unemployment rate is 6.1 percent.) New jobs and capital investment from business firms have a positive impact on the local economy. For more information about the chamber’s Economic Development Department, please call 770-8876461.

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Member Spotlight

Certified learning improvement F

orsyth County residents Karen and Douglas Grochau have opened Omega Learning CenterSouth Forsyth, a K-12 tutoring center that offers individualized instruction in reading, math, writing, language arts, sciences, foreign language, study skills, test preparation, homework help, CRCT and SAT/ACT preparation. An individualized, custom program is developed for each student based on skill gaps identified by an initial academic assessment.

Omega’s certified teachers work with your school curriculum to help you fill skills gaps and improve grades. Omega tutors provide individualized instruction, positive reinforcement and daily tutor communication to parents.

Students have the same tutor each session, providing the consistency needed for maximum academic growth. Tutors use a combination of teaching resources to accommodate different learning styles. A student’s average academic growth is two years and six months after completing the Omega program.

Summer programs include Math Boot Camp, SAT/ ACT Preparation, Summer Study Skills, Summer Writing Skills and Summer Enrichment and build important critical thinking/ application skills. Omega can even help your child

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HORIZONS June 2013

with their required summer reading.

Omega Learning Center-South Forsyth is a Partner in Education with the Forsyth County Schools and is Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited. Omega Learning Center is a national franchise organization founded in 2005 in the greater Atlanta area.

“We selected Forsyth County to start

our new business for several reasons,” said Omega Learning Center owner Douglas Grochau. “First, we are local residents ourselves and know what a wonderful community we have here in Forsyth County, where residents value both a sense of community and a high quality educational system.

Additionally, Forsyth County’s growth potential over the next ten years is

exceptional.”

As part of the center’s grand opening, Omega Learning offered free Woodcock Johnson III academic assessments during the month of May. Throughout the year, free full-length SAT practice tests are offered the third Saturday of every month.

Omega Learning Center-South Forsyth is located at 2585 Peachtree Pkwy. at the intersection of Mathis Airport Parkway next to Walgreens.

Partners in Education

System thanks United Credit Union

F

orsyth County Schools would like to thank Georgia United Credit Union for the initiation of their Vernon E. Carne a n d A r c h b i s h o p J o h n F. Donoghue Catholic Scholarship programs. The t wo programs awar d ed a total of $12,500 to 13 high school seniors, four of which were from Forsyth County Schools. This was a record number of winners from one county. Recipients are cho-

sen based on an essay competition with consideration given to academic accomplishments, leadership and participation in both school and community activities.

Winners included Preston “Bailey” Howard of Forsyth Central High School, Savannah Chapman of North Forsyth High School, Rebecca Raines of Lambert H i g h S c h o o l a n d Ke l s ey M a rg a r e t B r o k a o f We s t Forsyth High School.

Left, from left, Forsyth Central High Principal Rudy Hampton, scholarship recipient Bailey Howard and Dino Miller, Georgia United Credit Union Cumming branch manager. Right, North Forsyth High Principal Dr. Beth Hebert, scholarship recipient Savannah Chapman and Miller.

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In-Depth

Keeping a clean workspace will help increase your productivity

By Dan Slott

Owner and President, ServiceMaster Expert Cleaning

I

f you’ve ever felt that you’re not getting much accomplished these days in your office, try detail cleaning and organizing your workspace from top-to-bottom. Let’s Slott face it; most of us spend a lot of time in our workspaces. Does your workspace make you feel refreshed, nimble and quick to respond? Or, does it feel like an anchor dragging you down or a noose tightening around your neck? There are some simple steps you can take to get your workspace working for you and you will be amazed how investing a little time in this simple activity makes you feel great and puts you back on the track of productivity.

Here are three helpful tips to get you started: 1: Be a visitor in your workspace Check out your workspace as if you are visiting it for the first time. Does it confidently say, “A professional accomplishes things in this space?”

Or does it scream “Call security! Somebody ransacked Kerry’s cubicle again!”

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HORIZONS June 2013

Take the time to evaluate what is needed, what has changed and what needs to change. Did you get a little sloppy with your filing? Are magazines and old files piled up in the corner? Also, take note of what needs to be cleaned.

Take a few minutes now to impact your efficiency in the months ahead. Even though you may tell yourself you don’t have time for this, do it anyway.

2: Kill the clutter and assign a place for everything The magnet business cards, the colorful array of cheap pens, the coffee cups, the calendars — all freebies that you just couldn’t say no to. Now, they’re strewn all over your workspace.

It may seem like stuff that’s useful or may be useful “one day,” but really it’s just stuff that clutters up your space and makes you feel guilty for throwing it away. We know it’s hard to resist free swag, but learn to just say “no.”

The key to making cleaning easy is to put everything in its rightful place. This means that

ServiceMaster Expert Cleaning Phone: 770-531-9307 Web site: www.smexpertcleaning.com E-mail: info@smexpertcleaning.com

you need to assign a place for everything and label it clearly so you can find it in a pinch.

Once you get in a habit of putting things away, de-cluttering becomes a quick task that’s second nature. This also means not filling up every single inch of storage. New items will come into play and need a place to live, so keep a few empty shelves or drawers to make room for the new.

3. Don’t just surface clean, detail clean Detail cleaning is different

than maintenance cleaning in that you are deeply cleaning every inch of space, not just organizing your workspace.

Think about it in terms of how we clean our kitchens; if the kitchen is really dirty, we detail clean it from top to bottom and then we maintain it until it’s dirty again. We do this in the interest of good health.

Your workspace should be treated the same; however, we very rarely get around to detail cleaning our workspaces.

For example, if you eat at

your desk, you know that your keyboard and mouse likely have the remnants of that sub you had two days ago on them.

This can be a breeding ground for germs that can make you sick. Regularly cleaning your electronics is a great practice to get into, one that could prevent you from getting sick.

When cleaning your workspace, start at the top and work down to the floor. Clean ceilings and light fixtures first and then work your way to down to pictures, moldings and desk surfaces. Your final step is sweeping or vacuuming the floor. This method allows you to “capture and remove” any debris or dust that comes off versus simply moving them from one area to another.

Call ServiceMaster Expert Cleaning for all your workspace cleaning needs.

ServiceMaster Expert Cleaning is a full-service janitorial services company specializing in cleaning businesses. We offer one-time, monthly, weekly and daily business cleaning services including floor refinishing and window washing for businesses in Forsyth, Hall and Gwinnett counties.

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Month in Review

State of Community

Sponsor Turner Construction representatives chat before the event gets under way. Right, City of Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt.

Above, Forsyth County Commission Chairman Pete Amos.

Left, Forsyth County Board of Education Chairwoman Darla Light.

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HORIZONS June 2013

Month in Review

Business After Hours

Scott Kessler and Nancy Babbitt

From left, Brandon Bowers, Reva Jennings, Jackie Johnson and Jared Jones

From left, Melody Rhoads, Bruce Wing, David Massey, Napoleon Foster and Randy Boll HORIZONS June 2013

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HORIZONS June 2013

The Number of Adults Without a High School or GED Diploma in Forsyth County

Literacy Forsyth Learn more about programs that help adults earn their diplomas at www.literacyforsyth.com. *Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2012 statistics

HORIZONS June 2013

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SBSC

HR Council

Event to focus on cost control A

s the nation begins to recover from the economic downturn, many companies are facing a new series of workforce challenges. According to a recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, “HR professionals say that the three biggest challenges facing HR executives over the next 10 years are retaining and rewarding the best employees (59 percent), developing the next generation of corporate leaders (52 percent), and creating a corporate culture that attracts the best employees to organizations (36 percent).”

“The HR Council is a group of HR professionals and managers with HR responsibilities. It is a service that the Chamber provides to help keep members up to date on laws and rules that apply to the Human Resource field. The HR Council is a resource to local businesses because it provides them with up to date information about the newest policies in Human Resources,” explains Tracy Moon, Chair of the Chamber’s Workforce Development Committee.

In 2012 the HR Council hosted several successful programs including a one day HR Boot Camp, as well as an overview of the impact of the new federal health care policies. These programs collectively attracted over 200 participants.

The Council will host an event on

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HORIZONS June 2013

June 13, 2013 at 8 a.m., located at the University of North GeorgiaCumming Campus. This event will guide attendees in Controlling Costs by Managing Risk. Risk management serves as one of the top concerns for business leaders, HR professionals and managers.

However, many local businesses are often unable to access proper training on this topic. In response to this need Georgia United Credit Union is pleased to host this seminar, open to all Chamber members and NonMembers. The cost to attend is $25 for Members and $30 for NonMembers. Speakers Tracy Moon of Fisher & Phillips, LLP and Corey Berghoffer, Vice President of Risk Management at Randstad US will provide attendees with information on: • How to Identify and Asses Potential Risks • How to Establish Safety Procedures • Financial and Legal Benefits of Managing Risks To register for this event please visit the Chamber’s Web site at www.cummingforsythchamber. org.

HCA

Tourism

Demand drives business sales G

eorgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, today announced that tourism demand generated $51.2 billion in business sales including direct, indirect and induced impact in 2012, up 4.6 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. This visitor spending generated $2.8 billion in state and local tax revenue to Georgia. Every Georgia household benefited from state and local tax savings of $767 as a result of the tourism industry’s tax contribution.

“Georgia Tourism had its best year ever,” said Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “With more than 405,000 jobs directly or indirectly sustained by tourism activities, our industry is responsible for 10.2 percent of all jobs in the state.”

According to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics, Georgia’s visitor impact now stands 12 percent higher than its pre-recession level in 2007.

The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. This year’s theme for the 30th annual event is Travel Effect, U.S. Travel’s new advocacy and awareness campaign. For more information about National Travel and Tourism Week, visit www.ustravel. org.

This influx is evident in CummingForsyth County’s tourism numbers as well. Anna Barlow, the Chamber’s Director of Tourism, has seen a positive economic impact with tournament groups and leisure travelers.

Thus far the qualified leads generated by the Chamber and sent to local hotels are estimating an economic impact of approximately $425,000.00 spent in the community for the first half of 2013.

Based on feedback from the Sawnee Mountain Welcome Center it is evident that leisure travelers have been increasing at Sawnee Center. With the Chamber’s newly produced brochure and pad-map numbers are expected to continue to increase.

Jazz in June a celebration of health care T

he Healthcare Association of Forsyth County (HCA) is a business unit of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. One of the fastest-growing and influential industry sectors in Forsyth County is the health care industry. The HCA is a collective voice for current health care issues affecting Forsyth County and provides a conduit for information and resources to ensure the highest quality of health care to meet the needs of those living and working in the community.

The organization’s mission is to expand and strengthen local health care commerce through the combined efforts of physicians, health care professionals, organizations and community leaders. Five years ago the HCA formed its annual event, Jazz in June, a networking meet and greet that brings community health providers together to network with one another.

The HCA is continuing this tradition in celebrating the summer in style. This year’s Jazz in June will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Northside HospitalFo rs y t h ’s Wom en’s Cent er Galleria. This event will feature

heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, with smooth jazz music by KLF Pro Entertainment.

If you have any questions about The Healthcare Association of Forsyth County or would like to RSVP for Jazz in June please contact Jason Mock, Director of Small Business Services and HCA at jmock@cummingforsythchamber.org or by calling 770-887-6461.

HORIZONS June 2013

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Gratitude for SOC sponsors

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HORIZONS June 2013

Membership Information

Forsyth school system invites members to use job board F

orsyth County School Systems invites all Chamber members to utilize the newly created Forsyth County Schools job board. This free posting board is the result of the Workforce Development Committee and the Principal for a Day program. Job opportunities specifically available to high school students in the surrounding

area are listed by employment category. The school system created this board for employers and businesses to seek qualified employees or interns. To utilize the board please visit www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/jobboard or scan the QR Code on this page. For questions please contact Valery Hall at vhall@forsyth.k12.ga.us.

Member News YMCA summer camps open registration to local families

R

egistration is open for Forsyth County Family YMCA summer camps. The Y offers a wide variety of camps for all ages.

Day camps, sports camps, overnight camps and specialty camps (such as LEGO Engineering Camp and Chef’s Camp) are all options through the Y. For a full list of camps, pricing and registration information visit www. ymcadaycamping.com and click on “Cumming.” Camp, like many Y programs, is about learning skills, developing character and making friends.

But few environments are as special as camp, where kids become a com-

Belk celebrating its 125th anniversary with great style

B

munity as they learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social and educational activities.

elk celebrates its 125th anniversary on May 29th with celebrations at three hundred Belk locations including the local store at 520 Lakeland Plaza in Cumming. The 29th celebrates the day that William Henry Belk opened his first store in Monroe, NC. “Our 125th anniversary is an opportunity for us to say a big thank you to everyone who has made Belk successful over the past 125 years,” said Tim Belk, Chairman and CEO of Belk, Inc. “Thank you to our associates, our customers, our communities and our vendor partners. We look for-

ward to the n ex t 1 2 5 years with p r i d e , excitement and anticipation as the best is yet to come.”

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Upcoming Events June 4

WWMB Empowerment/MPNL — Noon, TBD

June 18

Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Business After Hours — 5 p.m., Panera Bread

June 11

June 20

July 16

June 13

June 25

July 23

June 13

July 2

July 30

June 18

July 9

Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Tacos and Tequilas

HR Council Workshop — 8 a.m., University of North Ga.-Cumming

Business After Hours — 5 p.m., Marriott Hotel-Alpharetta

Post Legislative Session Breakfast — 7:30 a.m., FCC

Jazz in June — 5 p.m., Northside Women’s Center

Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Blu Bay Seafood Restaurant

Women Who Mean Business — 7:30 a.m., TBD

Key to the events

July 11

Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Quanto Basta

Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Good Grub Subs

Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Norman’s Landing

Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, TBD

• Please visit our Event’s Calendar at www.cummingforsythchamber.org to see a full list of events, more information and registration.

Member Power Networking Lunch — Meets every Tuesday at noon at a different location and includes casual networking for 20-35 other business professionals.

Business After Hours — Meets the second Tuesday of every month from 5-7 p.m. at a different host location every month. The purpose is networking and to experience new businesses in the community.

Women Who Mean Business — Meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 a.m. This is a specialized networking group of over 50 female business professionals. Join them for breakfast.

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Horizons 2013 Officers

Board of Directors

Linda Cole, Chair,

Jerry Bowman

David Seago, Past-Chair

Jonathan Green American Proteins

Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete

Drew Walker

Lynn Jackson

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Georgia Power - retired

Ann-Margaret Johnston, First Chair-Elect,

Johnston & Associates, Inc.

John Hall, Second Chair-Elect, Forsyth County News

Ann-Margaret Johnston, Secretary/Treasurer

Johnston & Associates, Inc.

Cardinal Logistics Management

Bruce Longmore

Tracy Moon

Connie Sanders

Jason Teter

Jeff Pruitt

Bert Durand

Lenny’s Sub Shop

Alliance National Bank

Northside Hospital-Forsyth

Chuck Button

Shawn LaFave

Jacobs Engineering Group

North Georgia Promotions

Mike Caspar

Scott Jordan

Walmart

BB&T

John Deruki

Cindy Mills

Deruki Construction

Bryan Properties

Nelish Patel

Chris Etheridge

Hampton Inn

Frazier & Deeter, LLC

Fisher & Phillips LLP

Forsyth Conference Center

Royce Owens

Mimms Enterprises

Bruce Hagenau Metcam John Rasper

Dekalb Office

Tim Perry

Citizen’s Bank

Bob Russell

Russell Landscape

Terry Smith

A.C. Smith Poultry Co.

Ex-Officio

Chamber Staff

Rep. Mark Hamilton

James McCoy

Randall Toussaint

Dr. Buster Evans

Mary Helen McGruder

Jay Ryerse

Doug Derrer

Rep. Mike Dudgeon

Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey, & Smith LLP

Fran Forehand

Hon. Phil Smith

Sen. Jack Murphy

Alex Girrbach

Pete Amos

Mark Bond

Bobby Thomas

Sen. Steve Gooch

Laura Stewart

Rep. Geoff Duncan

Jason Mock

Wells Fargo

Superintendent, Forsyth County Schools

United Community Bank

Jtech Networks, LLC

Ethan Underwood

Chairman, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners

Bill Cupp

Blake House

Darla Light

Jon McDaniel

Chair, Forsyth County Board of Education

State Court Judge

Hayes, James & Associates, Inc.

H. Ford Gravitt

AGL Resources

Forsyth County Manager

Georgia Power

Paul Chambers AT&T

Sawnee Mountain Foundation

Mayor, City of Cumming

Chair, Forsyth County Development Authority

Dr. Joanne Tolleson Lanier Technical College

President & CEO

Vice President of Economic Development

Director of Operations

Director of Communications & Events

Director of Small Business Services

Anna Barlow

Director of Tourism Development

Sawnee EMC

Jimmy Lane, Jeremiah Dickerson Sales Executives

Forsyth County Public Library

Maggie Schmitz, Sherri Klug Administrative Assistants

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In an emergency, experience matters Emergencies happen. And when they do, rest assured that you’ll get the best care close to home. Northside’s board-certified emergency medicine physicians and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certified nurses are just right up the road.

We hope we don’t have to see you, but if we do, you’ll be in the best possible hands.

Visit us online at www.northside.com.

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HORIZONS June 2013