Horizons August 2014 by Forsyth County News

Horizons August 2014

A publication of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

Prestige Members Northside Hospital-Forsyth Premier Corporate Sponsor

Forsyth County Government

DeKalb Office

The City of Cumming

Georgia Power

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Inspiring Smiles

Taubman

Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry

Kaiser Permanente

Michael Williams Smithfield Farmland

jTech Networks

Lou Sobh Honda

A Fresh Look With The Title Sponsor When is the 2014 Business Expo? 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at the Forsyth Conference Center. What attracted Forsyth County News to the Title Sponsorship of the Business Expo? As the new guy, I’ve heard quite a bit about the Business Expo, and my staff raves about the way it’s grown over the years, so it’s a partnership I’m excited to continue. We at the Forsyth County News are already integrated with many of the businesses in the county that make this area great, and this a perfect opportunity to showcase some of the new, exciting things that are happening at the FCN. We’re

grateful to be working with the Chamber of Commerce on this annual event. How many years has Forsyth County News sponsored the Business Expo? 10 years, or so I’m told! How has the Expo evolved during FCN’s involvement? I’ve heard about the incredible growth of the Expo over the past decade, and it sounds like it’s right in line with this community and what it represents. This fastgrowing, business-oriented community is a large part of the reason I decided to come to the FCN, and I’m excited to see my first Business Expo.

Vince Johnson, Publisher, Forsyth County News

With all the innovation in media today, what can attendees expect at this year’s Expo? It’s going to be fun. As our community evolves, the Forsyth County News is committed to evolve with it as the county’s leader in media. In addition to our exclusive print products that we’ve produced for more than a century, we’ve recently upgraded our website, mobile site and social media pages. Plus, we’ve added a new video studio, Studio Forsyth. We may put a few of our new tricks on display at this year’s Expo. Stay tuned.

Member Spotlight

Automation Direct Serves the North American Industrial Market from Cumming

utomationDirect has made Forsyth County home since its inception in 1994. As a direct seller of industrial automation products for more than 20 years, AutomationDirect had led the industry in offering many customer services not common for more traditional distributors. They created a print catalog, and later an online store, that provides complete product information and pricing so that customers can make informed decisions on their automation purchases quickly and independently. AutomationDirect’s standard for products is that they are practical, easy to use, and offer a low cost of ownership. The company works with dozens of national and international suppliers to bring customers the best products at prices typically 50 percent below national chains or m a n u f a c t u r e r s ’ d i s t r i bu t i o n channels. In addition, the company has created an in-house product development group to design cutting-edge software and firmware for certain core products such as programmable logic controllers.

Award-winning services satisfy customers

AutomationDirect maintains a huge inventory in its Cumming warehouses, shipping 99.7 percent of orders complete the same day. They were among the first to offer free 2-day shipping, available for any order over just $49. AutomationDirect’s online store is one of the most exhaustive in the industry – all technical documentation can be downloaded free of charge, as well as software and firmware updates. Hundreds of instructional videos are available for viewing without registration. The company’s phone technical support staff has garnered top awards in service from industry magazine readers 13 years in a row.

HORIZONS August 2014

With an average of 23 years of experience for a Tech Support person, customer questions are handled quickly and completely.

Award-winning culture satisfies employees

The company’s success is d r ive n b y m a ny fa c t o r s , including a visionary company leader and progressive benefits and culture that have won state and national accolades. AutomationDirect has been recognized as Metro Atlanta’s Top Midsize Workplace by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in both 2012 and 2014. The Atlanta Journal Constitution, partnered with Workplace Dynamics, evaluates input on specific categories relating to a company’s workplace culture; the survey covers areas such as company direction, workplace conditions, execution, management, career, and pay and benefits. Also, in 2011, AutomationDirect was recognized as the fourth in the top 25 best small and medium companies to work for in America by SHRM/Great Places to Work Institute. The company has also won top honors in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Healthiest Employer to Work For” survey multiple times, most recently for 2014. These awards reflect the ongoing efforts by the company to retain and encourage professional and personal growth of its employees. Current job openings can be viewed at http://jobs. automationdirect.com .

Education Lanier Tech Admits First Physical Therapist Asst. Class

Dr. Stancil working in the PTA lab with two PTA students, Clara Zarouk and Jamie Stewart.

even teen s t u d e n t s h ave b e e n admitted to the first class of Lanier Tech’s new Physical Therapist Assistant program, and they are excited. Clara Zarouk says she’s “excited about learning different ways to help people improve their quality of life.” Speaking about the program’s state-of-the-art lab facility, Zarouk’s classmate Jamie Stewart says “I’m excited just being in that room. Seeing all the stuff we’re going to get to work with was awesome. And the clinicals and everything, getting to go out in the field and work with people, I think that will be really fun.” Zarouk and Stewart should graduate in spring 2016. They can expect a healthy

job market when they do: demand for physical therapist assistants in Lanier Tech’s service area is projected to increase by 66 percent in the coming decade, and median salary for physical therapist assistants in this area is over $42k per year. As Clara Zarouk points out, “Because baby boomers are aging, there’s going to be greater need for PTAs.” Dr. Patty Stancil, director of the program, agrees: “These graduates will fill a real need, and expand the pool of qualified PTAs in the area.” In addition to job opportunities and competitive salaries, students are attracted by the nature of the work. “I like that you’re not on call,” says Zarouk, “it’s a

C O M P U T E R

family-friendly career.” “And, you have a lot of options for where you want to work,” says Stewart. Dr. Stancil offers regular information sessions for prospective students in the Lanier Tech PTA program. Prospective students who want to be considered for admission to the fall 2015 class should plan to attend the next scheduled information session on August 5, at 6:30 pm, in building C104 on the Forsyth Campus. Additional information is available at http://www.laniertech.edu/ A c a d e m i c P r o g r a m s / LT C P r o g r a m s . aspx?id=100.

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HORIZONS August 2014

In-Depth

Integrated Innovation Flow

By: Saquib Hyat-Kahn

nnovation – creating something anew or out of something which did not exist before – is the true engine of economic growth. This has been true since ancient times, although only fully recognized in modern times. “New creations” can enable us to raise our productivity. Whether they are fundamental or disruptive, innovations have the power to create jobs, companies and industries. The resulting innovation paradigms can generate economic growth for decades. Business owners often ask themselves, “Why aren’t we better at innovation?” After all, there is no shortage of sound advice on how to improve: Come up with better ideas. Look outside the company for concepts and partners. Establish different funding mechanisms. Protect the new and radically different businesses from the old. Fine-tune the execution. Such strategic counsel, however, is based on the assumption that all o rg a n i z a t i o n s fa c e t h e s a m e o b s t a c l e s t o d eve l o p i n g n ew services, products, or lines of business. In reality, innovation challenges differ as companies vary widely in size and capacity for growth. They are characterized by independence of action, differing operational structures, and varied management styles. Otherwise commonly followed advice can be wasteful, even harmful, if applied to the wrong situations. Buying into the latest advice about innovation—businesses should focus on generating more ideas—managers set up a series of formal brainstorming sessions. Idea generation isn’t always the problem, however. Some companies have inadequate screening, development

HORIZONS August 2014

and funding processes: Concepts never flourish, nor die. The brainstorming sessions inadvertently aggravate the innovation process—employees pump ideas without tangible outcome. Even the strongest analgesic won’t mend a broken bone. Likewise, companies can’t just import the latest innovation fads to cure what’s ailing them. Instead, they need to consider their existing processes for creating innovation, pinpoint their challenges, and develop ways to address them. To innovate, managers need to view the process of transforming ideas into commercial outputs as an integrated innovation flow. The first of the three phases in the flow is to generate ideas; this can happen inside a business or outside a business. The second phase is to convert selected ideas for funding and developing

them into commercial outputs. The third is to implement the commercial outputs. The integrated innovation flow offers a customized, systematic approach for assessing your business’ innovation and adopting best practices. The flow-based view enables managers to pinpoint strengths and deficiencies for realizing their business’ true potential. Saquib Hyat-Khan is Founding Chief Executive of AppliedTechonomics. An incubator and management consulting company, AppliedTechonomics helps prestartups, startups and existing companies worldwide unleash unique profitable products, services, and b u s i n e s s e s . To l e a r n m o r e , v i s i t w w w. AppliedTechonomics.com.

Integrated Innovation Flow: Viewing innovation as a process instead of focusing on a part allows you to pinpoint strengths and deficiencies.

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HORIZONS August 2014

Month in Review

Chairmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cabinet Event

Derek Brooks and Family

Matt McClure and Family

HORIZONS August 2014

Jerry and Pam Bowman

Bert and Melissa Durand and Family

Month in Review SBSC & WWMB Lunch and Learn

The SBSC and the WWMB gather to discuss customer service challenges at Julyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lunch & Learn.

Lunch & Learn panelists included (L to R) Perry Tomlinson, Executive in Residence at the University of North Georgia BB&T Center for Ethical Business Leadership; Lynn Basinger, Vice President of Customer Care and Leadership Development Programs for Sandler Training and Danette Smith, Regional Coordinator for Economic Development â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Region 2 GA Department of Labor

Triple Crown National Fastpitch Softball Tournament

Crowds gather to view the Triple Crown National Fastpitch softball tournament at Fowler Park in Forsyth County.

Local business-owner, Nelish Patel, is interviewed live on CBS Sports at the Triple Crown National tournament.

HORIZONS August 2014

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Economic Development

HCA

Chamber Recruits Retail and Restaurants I

n December of 2013 the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce conducted a retail opportunity gap analysis to assess the condition of Forsyth County’s retail market. The report revealed that the community was underserved in several major retail sectors. In January of 2014 the Chamber of Commerce announced plans to address this issue by growing the commercial segment of Forsyth County’s tax digest from its current level of 20 percent to 25 percent over the next five years. The plan, which is appropriately named “Business First,” specifically calls for the recruitment of new restaurants, hotels and large-scale retail establishments. Historically, the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has successfully attracted retailers to Forsyth County and the City of Cumming. Past projects include such establishments as Academy Sports, Carrabba’s, and Value Place Hotel; as well as the expansion of the Hampton Inn on Buford Highway. Since January of 2014 these successes have continued to occur at an accelerated pace. According to recent reports, the Chamber of Commerce successfully recruited a new Fairfield Marriott to the Collection Shopping Center. The project is expected to generate 15 new jobs and $7 million in new capital investment. In 2013 the Chamber of Commerce successfully assisted the Lou Sobh team with opening a new Honda d e a l e r s h i p w i t h i n C u m m i n g , G e o rg i a . T h e organization is currently assisting the Lou Sobh team with bringing a new $10 million Kia dealership to the community as well. The project is forecasted to create approximately 50 new jobs and $10 million in new capital investment. This year the Chamber also participated in the expansion of Polo Golf & Country Club and Lenny’s Sub Shop. Collectively, Polo Golf & Country Club’s remodeling project and Lenny’s Sub Shop’s expansion into Bald Ridge Marina are projected to generate more than 50 new jobs and approximately $2 million in new

HORIZONS August 2014

capital investment. According to recent reports from the Chamber of Commerce, the revitalization of Lakeland Plaza has remained a focal point of their retail recruitment efforts. In 2013 Lakeland Plaza – which is located on the Southwest corner of the intersection of GA highway 20 and GA 400 – experienced the loss of such anchor tenants as Kroger, Blockbuster Video, and SteinMart. In keeping with the Business First retail recruitment strategy, the Chamber partnered with retailers and real estate brokers to fill each of the vacant locations. Blockbuster Video’s former location has been successfully redeveloped into the new home of Panera Bread. Additionally, the former Kroger location will soon become the new home of JoAnn Fabric — the nation’s largest specialty retailer of fabrics and one of the largest specialty retailers of crafts. These expansions have been echoed by a flurry of new retail developments along GA highway 20 – including the remodeling of Arby’s and Wendy’s; and by the opening of Buffalo’s and Texas Road House. Since January of 2014 the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has also attracted several major grocers to the community, including Aldi and Costco. As a leader in the grocery retailing industry Aldi operates nearly 1,300 stores in 32 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. Aldi’s newest location on Buford Highway is forecasted to generate 15 new jobs and $2.2 million in new capital investment. Additionally, Costco’s newest location is forecasted to bring 200 new jobs to the community. The new Costco store and gas station will open on Exit 15 of GA 400 in August of 2014. If you want to suggest a store that you would like to see in our community, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at (770) 887-6461, or recommend a location via Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CummingForsythChamber .

Health Care Industry Experts Share Financial Wisdom

he Healthcare Association of Forsyth County would like to invite all practice managers and physicians to the August educational Lunch and Learn on “Hidden Secrets to Improve Your Bottom Line.” Surviving financial pressures can be a challenge in today’s changing health care environment. Learn tips and tricks from industry experts on how to increase revenue and decrease expenses, improving your bottom line. Join the HCA on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm for this educational opportunity. The meeting will take place in the Bennett Room located at Northside Hospital-Forsyth (1200 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming GA 30041). To register please contact the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce at 770-887-6461 or via the web at www.cummingforsythchamber.org.

Welcome

Tourism Forsyth County Schools Welcomes Newest Team Member

Michelob Ultra Marathon® Moves to Forsyth County

orsyth County Schools (FCS) is excited to introduce the newest member of its Public Information and Communications Office, Hannah Orr. Orr is a native of Forsyth County and proud graduate of Forsyth Central Highschool. Following graduation from FCHS in 2005, Orr received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Shorter College in 2009. Prior to returning to the Forsyth County School System in July 2014, Orr was the Education and Workforce Development Manager at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. She served as the liaison between the business community, public school districts and post-secondary institutions in Cobb. She managed all programs between those entities, including Partners in Education, Give Our Schools a Hand Teacher of the Year celebrations, Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership, Principal for a Day and Teacher for a Day. In her new role as Communications and Partnerships Facilitator at FCS, Orr will work closely with community partners to plan special events, maintain and grow the Partners in Education program and other district-wide initiatives, and facilitate communication between the district and business community. “I am very excited about the opportunity to return home to work with the schools and community that mean so much to me. I look forward to working closely with the businesses, community agencies and organizations of Forsyth County to ensure success of our students and our community,” said Orr. To learn more about the Forsyth County School System, please visit www. forsyth.k12.ga.us.

fter a successful five year run in the Brookhaven area of Atlanta, the Michelob Ultra Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® has relocated to Forsyth County. The event will take place Saturday, October 4, 2014 and is expected to draw 3,500 runners and walkers from the metro area and around the southeast. The Atlanta Marathon is part of the nationwide Michelob Ultra 13.1 Marathon® series. Started in 2008, the series is unique in that it provides participants with the atmosphere and amenities of a large marquee event while maintaining the convenience and personalized experience of a smaller field. The series currently has stops in Boston, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Dallas. When asked about the change in location, race director, Bob Fox, spoke enthusiastically about the opportunity to serve the active running and walking community of the north metro area with an event “closer to home.” He is also pleased that the new location offers a venue that is a departure from the typical urban setting, but is still readily accessible to residents and visitors alike. Individuals, businesses and community organizations looking for more information or for opportunities to get involved with the event are invited to visit www.131atlanta.com or to contact Jayne Nickell in the Atlanta Race Office at jnickell@usroadsports.com.

HORIZONS August 2014

Thank You to All of the 2014 Fireworks Sponsors!

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Member News Lanier Fuller Center for Housing Makes Stars and Strikes Celebrates New a Family’s “Dream Come True” Look with Grand Re-Opening

honda Hall and her family were left without a home when a terrible house fire struck in 2011. Hall and her daughters moved in with her sister in Dahlonega, forcing Hall to leave her j o b. I n a devastating situation, the family was in desperate need of help. A company that was aware of their hardship donated a mobile home, which they gratefully accepted. Unfortunately, the structure was in great disrepair and in need of remodeling that Hall could not afford. That’s when Chuck Ingraham and the Lanier Fuller Center for Housing, a local branch of an offshoot of Habitat

for Humanity, stepped in. The Fuller Center for Housing was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 2005 and was established to help families in need with home repairs. Chuck Ingraham founded the local Lanier chapter of the organization last year. Hall’s home was to be the branch’s first project. Over the course of several months, the team spent many hours working to transform the mobile home into a structurally sound, permanent building. On July 10th, Ingraham passed the keys to Hall and gave her a first look into her new home. Hall was beyond grateful for The Lanier Fuller Center for Housing’s work and dedication. To Hall and her children, the new home was more than a project, it was a “dream come true.”

Local Author Nominated for Georgia Author of the Year Award

ocal Georgia author, Terry Dodd, has been nominated for the 50th Annual Georgia Author of the Year Awards. His fiction novel that earned him the nomination, The Carpenter, tells the story of a man who lived in the first century and his struggles with faith. Terry is an author of ten books, seven of which are Christian novels. The other three are of the science fiction genre. He was honored with a 2012 Eric Hoffer Legacy Fiction Award for The Foursome. The Georgia Author of the Year Awards event has been sponsored by the Georgia Writers Association since 1994. It is the oldest literary awards in the southeastern United States. For more information, please visit AuthorOfTheYear.org.

fter completing a recent remodeling, Stars and Strikes ushered in a new look for their Cumming location with a grand re-opening and ninth anniversary celebration on July 12th. The building exterior has been updated with a modern and clean new look, with new signage and a redone façade. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting, giveaways, inflatables, face painting and special

discounts on games and fare including $2 bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, hot dogs, fries and more. They also hosted a silent auction to benefit the American Cancer Society. Stars and Strikes has invested close to $1 million in renovations and improvements during its nine years in Cumming. To learn more about Stars and Strikes, visit www.StarsAndStrikes.com or call 678-965-5707.

Cumming Hampton Inn Standing Out

he local Cumming Hampton Inn has been collecting accolades since its October 2013 renovation that totaled more than one million dollars. It’s most recent score of 97.5 on the Hilton Quality Assurance evaluation was the highest score in the history of the hotel. Just this year the hotel was awarded the Trip Advisor Award of Excellence. However, most impressive of all is that on July 9, 2014 the Cumming Hampton Inn was ranked the #1 Hampton in the entire world! Hotel owner and President/CEO of Sai Hospitality Management, Nelish Patel, readily credits his incredible staff and hotel General Manager, Freddy Burch for the hotel’s high rankings and great success.

HORIZONS August 2014

Upcoming Events July 29

August 5

Member Power Networking LunchNoon, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

Member Power Networking LunchNoon, El Don Mexican Bar & Grill

August 1

August 12

Real Estate Roundtable11:00 a.m., Forsyth County Library – Post Road

Member Power Networking LunchNoon, TBD

August 5

August 26

Member Power Networking LunchNoon, Alessio’s Restaurant & Pizza

August 27

2014 Business Expo1 p.m., Forsyth Conference Center

August 19

Women Who Mean Business Networking7:30 a.m., The Cupbearer

Member Power Networking LunchNoon, Buffalo’s Café

Key to the events 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.

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

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For more information contact Ryan Garmon at 770-205-8960 or rgarmon@forsythnews.com. 14

HORIZONS August 2014

Horizons 2014 Officers

Board of Directors

Ann-Margaret Johnston, Chair,

Nelish Patel

Johnston & Associates

Linda Cole, Past-Chair CHOA

Chris Ethridge, Secretary/Treasurer Frazier & Deeter, LLC

Ex-Officio

Chamber Staff

Russell Landscape

Bob Russell

Bill Cupp

Jon McDaniel

Chris Stockhoff

Thom Smith

Rep. Mark Hamilton

James McCoy

Hampton Inn

Bruce Longmore

Terry Smith

Darla Light

Mary Helen McGruder

Walter Sears

Matt McClure

Vice President of Economic Development

Lynn Jackson

Connie Sanders

Rep. Mike Dudgeon

Dr. Buster Evans

Doug Derrer

Charles Banks

Hon. Phil Smith

Daniel Shaffer

A.C. Smith Poultry Co.

Lenny’s Sub Shop

Northside Hospital-Forsyth

Wells Fargo

Shawn LaFave

Bert Durand

Tracy Moon

Ethan Underwood

North Georgia Promotions

United Community Bank Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey, & Smith LLP

Fisher & Phillips LLP

Jeff Pruitt

Forsyth Conference Center

Bruce Hagenau Metcam

Pete Amos

Chairman, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners

Paul Chambers

John Rasper

AT&T

Dekalb Office

AGL Resources Chair, Forsyth County Board of Education Superintendent, Forsyth County Schools

Jay Ryerse

Jtech Networks, LLC

Mark Bond

Hayes, James & Associates, Inc.

H. Ford Gravitt

Mayor, City of Cumming

Blake House Sawnee EMC

Forsyth County Public Library Sawnee Mountain Foundation

Forsyth County Manager State Court Judge

David Seago

Chair, Forsyth County Development Authority

Dr. Joanne Tolleson Lanier Technical College

Jen Bruno Hansgrohe

Anchor Home Mortgage Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry PNC Bank

Snap Technology, Inc

Derek Brooks

Brandywine Printing

BB&T

Bank of North Georgia

Carter Barrett

Community Business Bank

Kevin Garmon

Bannister Creek, LLC

Drew Walker

Alliance National Bank

Pam Bowman

PB Consulting Services

Mike Wathen

Kaiser Permanente

President & CEO

Randall Toussaint Alex Girrbach

Director of Operations

Sen. Jack Murphy

Laura Stewart

Sen. Steve Gooch Rep. Geoff Duncan

Director of Communications & Events

Jason Mock

Director of Small Business Services

Anna Barlow

Director of Tourism Development

Jimmy Lane

Rep. Kevin Tanner

Director of Membership Services

Rep. Sam Moore

Maggie Schmitz, Sherri Klug

Jeff Tweed

Membership Services Executive Administrative Assistants

What do you do on a Friday or Saturday night in Cumming? Show Up. Leave the rest to us. Enjoy a luscious five course Chef’s Table featuring amazing food and optional wine parings. Friday & Saturday: 6:30 or 8:30pm: $30 Of course, you can enjoy our tapas and wine every other day of the week too. We’re open daily for lunch and dinner plus Brunch on Sunday. Visit our website for the current menu.

The Collection at Forsyth 678-513-0791 Ad Moments SipJuly-Aug.indd

Chef Greg DeMichiel Celebrity Chef. Food Network. VH1. Bravo

www.siprestaurants.com 5:16:18 PM HORIZONS 6/23/14 August 2014 15

Live Better. Live Healthier.

I’              . Northside Hospital is celebrating 30 years of bariatric excellence with the commitment to helping people battle obesity and take control of their lives. Call us to learn more about weight loss surgery and take that ﬁrst step to a healthier you.

Atlanta (404) 845-5457 • Forsyth (770) 292-4726

northside.com/bariatrics

HORIZONS August 2014