Horizons May 2013
A publication of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce
Prestige Members Northside Hospital-Forsyth Premier Corporate Sponsor
Business First initiative to boost local growth W
Forsyth County Government
The City of Cumming
DeKalb Office
Georgia Power
St. Joseph’s Children’s Healthcare Hospital of Atlanta of Atlanta
The Dentist
jTech Networks
Taubman
Anchor Home Mortgage
Kaiser Permamente
ith the first quarter of 2013 coming to a close, the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce announces an initiative to begin implementing a five-year economic development program called “Business First.” Recognizing its responsibility to take the lead in issues that are critical to maintaining and growing the quality of life in Forsyth County, the chamber recently enlisted a private company to conduct a feasibility assessment for the community. Overall survey results indicate that while the economy and quality of life is good in Forsyth County there are areas that must be addressed in order to continue to attract a quality work force that will positively impact the area for the future.
‘The chamber has worked with companies that have created more than 6,000 new jobs and $857,000 million in capital investment.’ The typical Forsyth County homeowner’s property taxes are far less than the cost of delivering basic services such as police, fire and other infrastructure. This scenario creates a growing fiscal challenge for the area. The residential sector of the Forsyth County tax digest is 70 percent compared to surrounding areas where it accounts for 56 percent in Hall County and 59 percent in Dawson County. The Forsyth commercial and industrial sectors account for just 20 percent of the tax digest (28 percent in Hall and 16 percent in Dawson). To close this gap and assure prop-
erty taxes are not raised, stimulated growth is needed in Forsyth’s commercial and industrial sectors. Over the past few years, the chamber has been increasing its economic development programs. Since launching the current economic development model in 2005 the chamber has worked with companies that have created more than 6,000 new jobs and $857,000 million in capital investment. However, a greater level of success must be achieved to grow the tax digest without increasing taxes. See FIRST, Page 2
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Business First FIRST, from Page 1 The Business First plan will allow Forsyth County to continue to invest in the infrastructure that enhances local quality of life. The plan will focus on these key initiatives:
Economic development
Economic development ranks as the most important initiative of the five-year plan. The chamber would increase its capability to help local businesses expand thru programs such as branding the community as a desired location for commercial and business investments, evaluating the effectiveness of incentives in recruitment, establishing community improvement districts and expanding opportunity zones.
Visitor development
With modest financial investments, tourism/visitor development has been a recent area of success within the county and is targeted as another important growth initiative with the Business First plan. The chamber would focus marketing and recruitment activities in areas such as regional and national sports competitions, film location sites, convention and conference opportunities and leisure activities.
Advocacy
Another potential initiative highlighted in the program is a combined collaboration between the chamber and its public sector partners in advocacy for action in areas requiring improvements.
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Through lobbying efforts focusing on transportation needs to reduce congestion in particular areas, developing suggested architectural guidelines for industrial and commercial districts, facilitating the design and implementation of the beautification of community gateways and the building of a more business friendly environment the chamber will further strengthen the community. While focusing attention to these areas of potential growth, the chamber remains completely committed to sectors that have represented significant accomplishments to the community. The partnership programs with an excellent public education system, tremendous health care initiatives,
continued support of a strong small business community and the chamber’s recruitment of international business all will have a h i g h p r o p e n s i t y f o r ex p a n s i o n within the successful implementation of the Business First program. Forsyth County’s population is g r ow i n g a n d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e A t l a n t a R eg i o n a l C o m m i s s i o n , will continue to be a population growth center. This residential impact continues to outpace the development of commercial and industrial sectors, creating growing fiscal challenges. In order to close this gap there must be growth stimulation within both commercial and industrial communities. The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is
prepared and ready to meet the challenge. To further the Business First plan, the chamber will create an Investors’ Council comprised of the leading private sector investors. This council will provide oversight and direction for the initiative. The five-year outcome metrics will include: • $1.7 billion capital investment • 11,200 new jobs created • $10 million economic impact from tourism • Improved transportation infrastructure on GA 400 and Hwy 20 • 435 clients served through the Small Business Services Center. For questions and more information on Business First please contact Chamber President and CEO, James McCoy at 770-887-6461.
Partners in Education
Forsyth schools salute Jim ‘N Nick’s
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ince coming to Forsyth County, Jim ‘N Nick’s has been a valued Partner in Education. They have sponsored the REACH Award program recognizing outstanding employees in the system, donated food for various functions, offered discounted gift cards for all FCS employees and many other activities. Jim ‘N Nick’s recently donated free kids meals to all the incoming 2013-2014 kindergarten students. This was a great way to start new students out in the Forsyth County school system, showing them the support
they can find in the community. We appreciate the continued partnership, support and delicious food from this great restaurant!
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Member Spotlight
The Dentist improves local health
T
he Dentist has been part of Cumming culture for nearly 15 years. During that time, it has provided all phases of dental services for many people, and through the original Dr. Birch ow n e r, D r. John Birch, established a strong relationship with Northside HospitalForsyth. It is an office where Dr. Barden just about all of your dental needs can be met in one place. Doctors Barden and Birch place a strong emphasis on the overall health of the patient, and believe that the mouth is not a separated part of the body. When the health of a patient is in question, all available disciplines need to be brought into consideration. That is why The Dentist also has a strong association with the medical community in Cumming. When a patient contacts the office they are greeted by a staff who knows that dental experiences may not be high on the list of “wants” people have, but fall under the “necessary” category. The staff makes every attempt to smooth the way into the office as well as making your time in the office as pleasant as possible.
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HORIZONS May 2013
Once inside patients notice that they’re not in a typical office, but the entry way is like coming into a friend’s home. Fresh flowers are present and patients are offered a choice of beverages. One of the staff is always present to help them and practice manager Joyce is a “patient’s advocate.” She will assist in any way needed to make what can sometimes be confusing, simple. She is also dedicated to sharing her knowledge in dentistry with the patients in order to help them get exactly what they want. The office is state of the art with technological advances all directed to making the visit as pleasant and comfortable as possible. From subdued lighting to three-dimensional imaging of the head and neck, it is all directed to gaining the most information needed in a very comfortable manner. The Dentist offers all types of dentistry, from the most simple to the complex. The staff is critically trained in all phases to make the journey pleasant. One of the problems we see is that as people age they change and even the distance between the tip of the nose and the chin changes. This occurs because of the natural wear of
teeth or loss of teeth. What also happens here is that the muscles of the face get shorter causing us to look older than we are. When you factor in the loss of teeth and what that does to the appearance of a person, the consequences are dramatic. The chin becomes more prominent and the “sags and bags” become more noticeable too. This also may affect the jaw joint and pain can occur when eating. By being able to return to a time in life where everything was in harmony, the appearance and comfort are improved.
Another important part of the philosophy of The Dentist is that gum disease affects the rest of the body. The bugs and germs in the mouth can travel to other parts of the body when gum disease is present. That sight of blood on the toothbrush signals that there is a problem. Once the bacteria are in the blood they can wind up anywhere from the brain to the heart. Diabetics can often see dramatic results in their sugar levels once they have gum disease under control. Orthopedic and cardiac surgeons recognize the importance of having this under
control as well when going into surgery, and routinely request clearance of their patients. Working with our patients to recognize and control the beginnings of gum disease is important to not only their oral health but to their overall health. At The Dentist we believe that good oral health can and does promote a younger and healthier you. The Dentist is a new addition to the prestige l eve l o f t h e c h a m b e r ’s Chairman’s Cabinet. For more information on The Dentist go to www.thedentistincumming.com.
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
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Month in Review
Business After Hours
Irene Doehring, left, and Debbie Booth enjoy the Business After Hours event held recently at Rensant Bank. Right, the team from Renasant Bank.
Above: Rob Kemmer, left, and Michael Van Umm. Left, from left: Pam Culberson, Laura Curtis and Kathleen Rastetter.
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HORIZONS May 2013
Month in Review
On the run with Boulder Dash
Girls on the Run team members finish the race together.
Batson-Cook Construction employees horse around next to a Bluegrass Materials earthmover.
Attendees enjoy the Spring Fling at the end of the Boulder Dash 5K
Overall men’s and women’s winners David Rindt and Caroline Patterson. HORIZONS May 2013
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SBSC
HR Council
Programs help educate those in field of HR
Marketing: The business of keeping business
s the nation begins to recover from the economic downturn, many companies are facing a new series of work force 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,” said Tracy Moon, chairman of the chamber’s Workforce Development Committee. “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,” Moon said. “At the upcoming events we will discuss what an employer needs to take into consideration when writing an employee handbook for 2013.”
arketing begins with a simple question: What business are you really in? For most, the answer is equally easy: I am in the business of (fill in the blank). This answer may be easy, but it is wrong. Show me an attorney/accountant/banker/doctor/dentist/trash collector/etc. without clients or patients and I’ll show you a failed business. Consider this: all business owners are really in the business of attracting and retaining clients on a profitable basis. The better we are at attracting clients, the faster our business can grow. However, unless we retain those clients, it can be unprofitable growth. Remember that new Internet coupon company that was hot a couple of years ago? Many business owners who signed up for a “discount Internet coupon” to attract new customers didn’t have a process in place to convert one-time bargain shoppers into repeat clients. As a result, they lost money and did not repeat. Their business did not grow and, ultimately, the coupon provider fell short, too. A c c o r d i n g t o Wi k i p e d i a , “Marketing is the process of communicating the value of a product or service to customers. It is a critical business function for attracting customers.” So, marketing is really the business of staying in business by communicating our value proposition
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By Don Kemp
M
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 more than 200 participants. The HR council hosted its first event of the year on April 18. This seminar focused on “The ABC’s of Policies, Procedures and Handbooks.” The council’s next event will be at 8 a.m. May 9 at the University of North Georgia’s Cumming campus. This seminar will focus on “Discipline and Discharge.” The council will host another event at 8 a.m. June 13, also at the Cumming campus. This event will guide attendees in “Controlling Costs by Managing Risk.” The seminars cost $25 for members and $30 for non-members. To register for these events please visit the chamber web site at www.cummingforsythchamber.org.
with those we consider to be ideal clients … and then the activities to retain them as clients. The Small Business Services Center will host a marketing lunch and learn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 22 at the University of North Georgia’s Cumming campus. Lunch will be sponsored by Russell Landscape Group. The workshop will provide a better understanding of these areas: • The business of marketing • The business you are really in • The difference in customers and clients • Who is your client • How to create a strategic positioning statement • The lifetime value of a client…. and your marketing budget • The (only) three ways to grow your business….and which is best • Developing a marketing plan • Marketing tactics to make any business thrive. For more information or to register please visit www.cummingforsythchamber.org. Don Kemp spent 20 years in corporate sales and marketing with companies like Procter & Gamble, Borden and Mrs. Smith’s Bakeries. Don currently is a financial adviser with New England Financial.
HCA
Tourism
Forsyth County on the map F
orsyth County’s tourism resources are now on the map. The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Forsyth County Parks Foundation to create a pad map. This map will target visitors and residents looking for information on local schools, parks, dining establishments, shopping opportunities and the Cumming Fairgrounds. About 25,000 maps will be distributed across the county, including at Fowler Park Community Center, Old Atlanta Park Community Center,
Central Park Community Center, Forsyth hotels and Sawnee Mountain Welcome Center. Maps will be provided to tournament organizers when teams are in town for sporting events. This map will satisfy a great need hotels have been identifying for quite some time. The chamber would like to thank all the partners who made the map possible including the Forsyth County Parks Foundation, Mary Helen McGruder and all map advertisers.
County ranks tops in health in Georgia T
he 2013 County Health Rankings were released in March and Forsyth County has been named the healthiest county in Georgia. This is an improvement from years past when Forsyth County repeatedly landed the secondplace spot. Rankings are based on a model of population health that emphasizes the many factors that can help make communities healthier places. Building on the work of America’s Health Rankings, the U n i v e r s i t y o f Wi s c o n s i n Population Health Institute has used this model to rank the health of Wisconsin’s counties every year since 2003. Forsyth County’s ranking can be contributed to many factors, including a high percentage of adults with some college education and a high percentage of adults with an income twice the federal poverty level. The County
Health Calculator [online at www. countyhealthcalculator.org] stated if five percent more people attended some college and two percent more had an income higher than twice the federal poverty level we could expect to save 44 lives, prevent 715 cases of diabetes, and eliminate $5.2 million in diabetes costs every year in Forsyth County. Another factor that has helped Forsyth County achieve such a high racking is the partnership the county has with Northside Hospital-Forsyth. Since 2002, when Northside Hospital acquired Georgia Baptist Medical Center, health care has been a top priority for this community and is one of the fastest growing industries in Forsyth County. With this growth, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta was able to open a pediatric outpatient location serving more than 50,000 children in Forsyth County.
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Membership Information Member News Dentistry will again offer free care to African children’s choir
T
he Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry North Point office will be providing free dental care for the third consecutive year to the children of the Daraja Children’s Choir of Africa on May 11. For the past three years, Dr. George MacMaster (Dr. Mac) has been celebrating “Daraja Day” when the children’s choir visits Georgia on its tour of the United States. A team of Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry pediatric dentists, hygien-
W
ists, assistants and volunteers will gather together to provide dental care to these children who do not have access to pediatric dental in Uganda.
Kaiser Permanente researcher presented $50,000 grant
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Kaiser Permanente of G e o r g i a researcher will receive $50,000 from The New York Academy of Sciences’ Sacker Institute for Nutrition Science to pursue innovative research related to nutrition. Kristina H. Lewis, MD, MPH, SM is one of three researchers to win the inaugural award — the first-ever research award from the academy — designed to solicit proposals in a critical knowledge gap area. This year the
Refer members, build incentives
theme was the intersection of nutrition science and chronic disease prevention. The research award is intended to provide support to researchers seeking to close nutrition science knowledge gaps that could ultimately help to create solutions to large-scale health issues such as obesity and diabetes.
hat is a key component to bringing new businesses into the CummingForsyth County Chamber of Commerce? Chamber members of course! That is why the chamber developed the “Leadership Referral Campaign” for members of the chamber board of directors. This program offers board members the opportunity to refer local vendors and other businesses for chamber membership. A tally for each member is kept and incentive levels can be reached by referring businesses that join the chamber. Board members Jay Ryerse of Jtech Networks and Shawn LaFave of North Georgia Promotions are leading the program with more referrals than any other member. Non-board chamber members can
also benefit from referring new chamber members. To find out how, contact Jimmy Lane, director of membership services, at 770-8876461.
HORIZONS May 2013
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Upcoming Events April 26
Real Estate Roundtable — 11 a.m., University of North Georgia, Cumming campus
Discipline and Discharge — 7:45 a.m., University of North Georgia, Cumming campus
April 30
May 9
May 2
May 14
May 7
May 21
Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Wildflower Eatery
State of the Community Address — 11:30 a.m., Forsyth Conference Center
Women Who Mean Business — 7:30 a.m., Market 334
Business After Hours — 5 p.m., Location TBA
Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Luce Italian Restaurant
Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Location TBA
May 7
Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, ’Cue BBQ
Key to the events
May 9
June 4
Member Power Networking Lunch — Noon, Dickey’s BBQ
• 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
Forsyth County Manager
Georgia Power
State Court Judge
Hayes, James & Associates, Inc.
Paul Chambers
H. Ford Gravitt
Bill Cupp
Blake House
Darla Light
Jon McDaniel
AT&T
Sawnee Mountain Foundation
Dr. Joanne Tolleson
Mayor, City of Cumming
AGL Resources
Chair, Forsyth County Development Authority
Lanier Technical College
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
Chair, Forsyth County Board of Education
President & CEO
Jimmy Lane, Jeremiah Dickerson Sales Executives
Forsyth County Public Library
Maggie Schmitz, Sherri Klug Administrative Assistants
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Still the #1 place to celebrate a birthday A birthday. It’s a day we celebrate our entire lives. Northside would be proud to be part of your baby’s special day. No one is more prepared or has more experience. We’ll make the big day a celebration from day one. Visit us online at www.northside.com.
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HORIZONS May 2013