Women Leading the Way in Dawson

in DAWSON

Women Leading the Way

Christie Haynes

Andrea Phillips

Kendy Bennett

Kathy Fuller

Rachel Burton

Sharon Fausett

Carolyn Sweatman

Bonnie Warne

Sherry Weeks

A Special Section of

April 2015

2 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Wide range of careers helps accountant better serve clients

By David Renner

Kathy Fuller and her daughter Erin celebrate climbing Katahdin, the topmost part of the Appalachian Trail.

drenner@dawsonnews.com

Certified Public Accountant Kathy Fuller still remembers an experience in college that still drives her to this day.

“When I started at Georgia Tech as a 19 year old student in architecture, I had a professor tell me: ‘You don’t need this job. There are men out there supporting families that need this job.’ He told me this to my face,” she said. “It was disheartening. I had wanted to be an architect since I was 13 or 14 years old.”

However, Fuller said she didn’t let that stop her from exploring numerous career paths, most of which were considered to be “male dominated.”

“When I got to Georgia Tech in 1969, I had decided I was going to be the next Frank Lloyd Wright. I quickly realized that I wasn’t sure I had the talent – not that it had anything to do with my gender,” she said. “I’m more on the technical side of things, not the design. I had thought I could overcome it, but then hearing that professor and the fact that the only way you could excel was through appearances not production, I decided not to play those games.“ After three years at Georgia Tech, Fuller decided that – despite her professor’s words – that the architectural field was not for her.

She decided instead to try her hand in construction.

“This wasn’t really a woman’s field either, but it was more technical and what I was better at,” she said. “After working there for some time, I decided I wasn’t ready for that either, so I quit school and kept working. I was 9 months pregnant with a hardhat doing construction inspections.”

Fuller stayed in the construction field until the birth of her children.

It was then that she decided to be a stay at home mom – with a twist.

“After I had my kids, I decided I couldn’t do construction, so I quit and raised cattle,” she said. “I learned to artificially breed cattle, built fences, [did] farm work and raised my kids.”

Fuller said that she kept her farm going until her children were in middle school.

Once they were old enough to see to themselves for the most part, she decided to go back to school.

After graduating in 1992, Fuller worked for Gainesville accountant Frank Henry, who she credits as being her mentor in the accounting field.

“He taught me everything that I know about accounting,” she said.

“I started a Dawsonville office of his in 1997. I got my CPA certification in 1998, so I’m in my 40s by then. I didn’t get into accounting in the typical way.”

She purchased the firm from Henry in 2004 and has been in business in Dawsonville for more than 10 years.

She said that, while unconventional, her career path has helped her understand her clients better.

“I think one of the plusses of

making my career in the way I have is that by the time I got into the business, I had already been on the client side of things,” she said.

“That helps me immensely when dealing with my clients. I don’t know how I would be able to do this if I wasn’t on the other side first and knowing how clients want to be treated.”

As a self-professed, non-militant feminist, Fuller wants other women to realize that it’s OK to have both a family and a career.

“I was once asked to be on a panel of accountants at UNG. My firm was by far the smallest there and the rest of the panel was men. I had several young women tell me they didn’t want to get their CPA but just wanted to get married instead,” she said. “I told them how ridiculous that was. They had done all of this work, it would be insane not to. I told them to go and get married and have a family, but finish their certification, too.”

It’s because of questions like these that Fuller wants other women to know that it’s possible to do what they want in life.

See ACCOUNTANT | 3

Photos for the Dawson Community News

The Fuller family poses together in front of the Christmas tree. Below, Kathy Fuller visits with her three granddaughters, the children of her son Alex and his wife Naomi, who live in Montana.

Index Kathy Fuller...................................................Page 2 Carolyn Sweatman...............................................Page 3 Sharon Fausett......................................................Page 4 Rachel Burton........................................................Page 5 Christie Haynes......................................................Page 6 Andrea Phillips......................................................Page 8 Bonnie Warne.......................................................Page 9 Kendy Bennett.......................................................Page 12 Sherry Weeks........................................................Page 13 Women Inspirations..............................................Page 15

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | 3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Retired chief ranger fought fires ‘as one of the guys’

By David Renner

drenner@dawsonnews.com

A lifelong resident of Dawson County, retired Chief Ranger Carolyn Sweatman said she has always loved the land here.

“I’ve always loved the outdoors. In school I was in FFA,” she said. “I had a twin brother, so that made me kind of be a tomboy, so I was always interested in doing stuff outside.”

And that’s precisely why she decided to make a career in forestry.

“My dream originally was to be a game warden. That’s what I went to college for – I got my degree in conservation law enforcement,” she said. “Right after I graduated from that, a job with the

Georgia Forestry Commission opened here in Dawson.”

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is a state agency that protects forest resources from wildfires, promotes fire prevention, performs fire control and suppression duties on wildland fires using heavy equipment and hand tools, installs pre-suppression firebreaks and assists with prescribed burns.

It also issues burn permits and assists with other forestry programs, such as educational tours.

Sweatman served as the chief ranger for Dawson and Forsyth counties before her retirement earlier this year.

“I loved the challenge of firefighting. I still remember

driving the ‘dozer to dig trenches,” she said. “I stuck with that career. Plus, it was in my hometown, so you can’t beat that.”

Dawson County Fire Chief Lanier Swafford said he remembers working alongside Sweatman during forest fires in Dawson County.

“Carolyn was always a pleasure to work with. Her knowledge of the county and her outdoor skills gave her an exceptional advantage in terms of wildland fire suppression and planning,” he said.

“Carolyn was a very approachable and hardworking ranger and will be remembered, just as her pre-

Retired Chief Ranger Carolyn Sweatman pauses for a moment while on the scene of a forest fire.

See RANGER | 10

For the Dawson Community News

FROM 1

Accountant “Live your life however you want, but don’t ever deny yourself and always think you need someone to lean on,” she said. “I lean on my husband, but I don’t have to. Never think that you are incapable of standing alone. As women, we are strong enough to do whatever we want, whenever David Renner Dawson Community News we want.”

Kathy Fuller takes a moment to crunch a few Her employees said they numbers the old-fashioned way in her office. see her as a role model.

“I’ve worked with Kathy society, Beta Alpha Psi, at the Club of Dawson County.

She is currently the treafor 10 years,” said Angela University of North Georgia.

She (and her agency) is a surer of the Dahlonega Harben. “She is such a great leader for us. She helps us member of the Dawson and Rotary Club. learn things and drives us to Lumpkin chambers of comShe and her husband, do better for ourselves. She’s merce, where she served as Robert, a professor at the a great mom and teacher and many years as a board memUniversity of North Georgia, just all around a good person.” ber of the Dawson chamber.

She has also previously have been married for 44 Fuller is a Certified Public Accountant and one of the served as treasurer of the years. They have two chilfounding sponsors of the local Dawson County Chamber of dren, Alex and Erin, both are chapter of the accounting Commerce and the Rotary grown with families.

4 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Commissioner is proud of Dawson County ‘I’m one of these that when I take a vow, buddy, I’m going to stick to it. I said for better or worse, but I didn’t know what was coming.’

By Michele Hester

mhester@dawsonnews.com

Commissioner Sharon Fausett is a walking billboard for Dawson County agri-tourism destinations.

“You remember that song about being country when country wasn’t cool,” she said. “Well, country’s cool now. It’s what everybody wants.”

So “cool,” in fact, that she and her husband Danny have transformed a vast track of the family farmland in weste r n D aw s o n C o u n t y t h a t dates back to 1858 into a agri-tourism destination with horse trails, creeks, beautiful scenery and picnic tables for the public.

“You know, country was kind of made fun of, but now it’s what everybody wants to do, and we’ve had all this land for so many years,” she said. “My goal is for people t o e n j oy w h a t w e e n j oy, because I think this way of life is leaving us unless there are people like us that really want to hang on. I want people to enjoy it.”

Looking back, Fausett reflected on a time when losing the farm and all its heritage was a distinct possibility.

“It’s no secret that Danny was in prison for 12 years. I was just gripped with fear.

You’re in a shock. Your life completely changes,” she said. “But I told my son one day…we’re either going to sink or swim. The best thing that we can do is get out and work and do well.”

While her husband served his time on drug charges, Fausett, along with her son Brett, who was 24 at the time, kept the family business afloat.

“My son did the physical

Sharon Fausett

County Commissioner

Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Commissioners Sharon Fausett and James Swafford discuss county business at a recent meeting of the board.

The Fausetts are a tight-knit family that continues to work together to keep farmland, that goes back many generations, thriving.

For the Dawson Community News

labor and I did the financial end, and it was a beautiful partnership,” she said.

Still, as a woman running the business, she was often looked at in a negative light for gender.

“What difference does it make whether I’m a woman or a man if I can do the work,” she said. “I just kept going. I kept hammering at

it, and I kept being me.”

At the time, Dawson County was still pretty small town America, so there were also the negative reactions and remarks about her husband’s arrest.

“Nobody I’ve ever talked to said they would do what I did. They said they would have left and stayed gone,” she said. “But I loved it too

much, and I had a son, and I knew he loved it.”

A wo m a n o f h e r wo r d , Fausett stood by her husband and maintained the family’s viable and profitable business in his absence.

“I’m one of these that when I take a vow, buddy, I’m going to stick to it. I said for better or worse, but I didn’t know what was coming,” she said. “I’m not a quitter. I’m such a fighter.

When I’m committed, you better get out of my way, because I’m going to stick to it.”

That can-do attitude will serve the county well, according to Commission Chairman Mike Berg.

“She has a great personality. She’s a very happy person and adds to the board by comment and views on the county,” he said. “I think she’s done well in the short time she’s been there. She’s learning and wants to learn.”

Berg said she also brings a much needed farming community perspective to the board.

“The board is best when you bring a lot of aspects to it. In this case, Sharon brings a large landowners perspective, a generational perspective,” he said. “That’s positive for us.”

Preserving the county’s agricultural areas was a large part of the reason Fausett ran for the District 1 Commission seat last year.

But she also understands the importance of quality and sustainable growth.

“Just like I said when I was campaigning, I’m still into preservation, but I know we’ve got to have growth.

But I’d like for it to stay on the south side,” she said. “I still say we’ve got to deal with growth on 400. I think we need that for our tax base. We’ve still got to keep our focus on the outlet mall, because that brings in so much revenue.”

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Planning director welcomes challenges

By Michele Hester

mhester@dawsonnews.com

Rachel Burton has a framed inspirational quote hanging on the wall in her office at the Dawson County Government Center.

“Your future is created by what you do today not tomorrow,” she said.

Those words hold true for the county’s new director of planning and development, a position she’s held since February.

“When I came to work for Dawson County, the goal was always to work my way into the planning

department,” she said.

A trained landscape architect with a degree from the University of Georgia, Burton worked in the private sector before starting her career in county government.

“I started here about four years ago as the county’s public information specialist,” she said. “Then when a position opened in the planning department, I applied for the zoning administrator and transferred over.”

That was in 2012.

Less than three years later, she landed the position she had hoped to achieve when David

McKee was promoted to director of administration in January.

“Rachel’s private sector experience paired with the recent public sector experience sets her up to succeed as the planning and development director,” McKee said. “Rachel is a dedicated employee willing to do whatever task is in front of her.”

With a staff of six, Burton is responsible for zoning, permitting, business licensing, code enforcement, inspections and alcohol licensing.

While familiar with See PLANNING | 6

Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Dawson County Director of Planning and Development Rachel Burton reviews site plans for a new shopping center on Ga. 400.

6 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Chamber leader brings fresh ideas focused on promoting Dawson

By Michele Hester

mhester@dawsonnews.com

When Christie Haynes moved to Dawsonville nearly three years ago, her goal was to bring a new image to the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce.

“My personal vision for our organization is that we continue to play an integral role in protecting, promoting and improving our community and local economy,” she said.

Chamber leaders were looking for a fresh face, someone with a new perspective that could help the organization soar into the future as Dawson County grows and prospers.

Carla Boutin, chairman

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Planning While familiar with the office structure and the mechanics of the department, Burton said she still has much to learn as she progresses into this new phase of her career.

“There’s so much to learn. I just want to do my best for the county,” she said.

County Manager Cindy Campbell said she has high hopes that Burton will accomplish each goal she sets for herself and her department.

“She is very bright, has a positive out look, seeks to grow p r o f e s s i o n a l l y, a n d

of the board of directors, said that was exactly what the chamber got with Haynes.

“I think Christie is a very passionate leader.

She is laid back and easy to work with. She’s brought a fresh, new perspective to our county through the chamber,” Boutin said. “And I really appreciate her hard work and how driven she is.”

As president of the chamber of commerce and the county’s office of tourism development, Haynes, 26, oversees operations for the combined agency, which includes more than 350 businesses and dozens of tourism destinations across the county.

During her tenure, the accepts a challenge,” she said. “When she began working at D a w s o n C o u n t y, I was impressed that s h e n ev e r h a d t h e attitude of ‘that’s not my job,’ but instead an attitude of ‘let me see how I can help.’”

Burton knows firsthand the perseverance and stride it takes to overcome challenges, even those that come from left field and shake up “your whole world.”

At the age of 20, while a sophomore in college, she went through reconstructive surgery to remove cancerous growths doctors diagnosed as melanoma.

“That was an eyeopening experience,” she said.

But also one she

chamber has gone through a complete rebranding process that focuses on promoting local business, created a legislative agenda and rallied at the state level on issues that affect the local business community, and revamped the county’s tourism initiatives with a goal to drive visitors to destinations throughout the community.

“A major success for tourism has been creating a brand and advertising campaign that is recognizable and award winning,” Haynes said. “We h ave b r o a d e n e d o u r reach, witnessed our requests for visitor inforSee CHAMBER | 7

didn’t let get her down.

Now living cancerfree for nearly 10 years, she proudly passes on the vital lessons she learned about protecting her skin from the sun’s damaging rays and tanning bed lights.

“I’m a huge advocate of sunscreen and l i m i t i n g s u n ex p o sure,” Burton said.

Continuing to push the message, Burton is the county’s Relay for Life team captain this year.

The American Cancer Society’s sign a t u r e f u n d r a i s e r, Relay for Life in Dawson County was held Saturday at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

Te a m s c o l l e c t e d nearly $30,000, in

For the Dawson Community News

As president of the local chamber of commerce and office of tourism development, Christie Haynes, along with membership director Melissa Mayton, promote the county at various events.

support of cancer research, patient programs, services and education efforts.

Campbell said she a d m i r e s B u r t o n ’s drive.

“Rachel is always willing to roll up her sleeves and contribute to whatever task is in f r o n t o f h e r,” Campbell said.

Burton and her husband Jeff are South Georgia transplants to D a w s o n C o u n t y, where they love spending time with their infant son Levi, who is eight months old.

The couple attends For the Dawson Community News Pleasant Grove U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t Rachel Burton and her husband Jeff have an infant son, Church in Dahlonega. Levi.

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | 7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

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Chamber mation grow year after year, increased the number of engaged local tourism partners, and watched our community and businesses benefit more and more from the investment of visitor dollars.”

In April, Haynes spoke to a subcommittee of the state’s Senate Regulated Industries committee to explain the importance of the legislation that will allow the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery to take home a bottle of the backwoods spirits when they tour the grounds.

Designed to create jobs while increasing tourism in an industry that is relatively new to the state, the bill, she said, will

“enhance the distillery experience of those visiting our area” and “bring more jobs to the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery.”

Dawsonville was also recently in the international spotlight when several businesses and tourism destinations were visited as part of a three-day tour of north Georgia by dignitaries from nearly 30 countries.

“In addition to the opportunity to showcase the business climate and quality of life that Dawson County offers, tours such as the International VIP tour allow our community to further promote our area as a top tourism destinat i o n ,” H a y n e s s a i d .

“These tours help our community continue to develop relationships

with international groups which in turn increases the amount of tourism expenditures in our local economy.”

A Georgia native whose family roots go back 10 generations, she grew up in Marietta and is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she holds double degrees in political science and history.

She is currently working on a master’s in strategic communication.

“I’m the kind of person that believes you can always improve. That’s probably the one thing that drives me the most,” she said.

A proud Georgia Bulldog, Haynes remains actively involved with her alma mater.

“I’m currently serving as chair of the alumni

File Photo

The chamber celebrates new businesses in the county with ribbon cuttings.

board for the school of public and international affairs,” she said.

She also holds several positions locally and statewide, including an appointment by Gov.

Nathan Deal to the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism.

“Being both on the younger end of things and being female in the business world and the politi-

cal world, there are many times when I am the only female sitting at the table, which can be a challenge…but I think you just have to face them head-on,” she said.

8 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Dawson postmaster realizes lifelong goal

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHOSEN WOMAN LEADING THE WAY IN DAWSON DAWSON COUNTY’S POST MASTER

David Renner Dawson Community News

Dawson County Postmaster Andrea Phillips, left, and post office supervisor Jo Waters prepare packages to go out on daily mail routes.

By David Renner

drenner@dawsonnews.com

When Postmaster Andrea Phillips began her postal career in Alpharetta in the 80s, she always knew she would come back home.

“I’ve got 26 years with the post office and it was my goal to be the postmaster here in Dawsonville,” she said.

“This is my hometown. I finally achieved that two years ago.”

Phillips was named the postmaster of Dawson County in 2013.

She began her career straight out of school in 1988.

“I was originally looking for a job right out of school,” she said. “I took the postal worker test and scored really well and the post office gave me a call.”

Phillips said the test, administered by the United States Postal S e r v i c e , wa s m a i n l y memorizing street addresses and names.

After she got the job, she said she began working her way up to her dream.

“This is one of those fields where you have to work your way in and move up the field,” she said. “You just have to get in and move up the

ranks, working different positons to get to where you want to be.”

Phillips said that the j o b r e q u i r e s s eve r a l forms of training.

“The post office requires lots of training, in terms of human resources, safety and finances - anything really that we need to know to keep the mail moving,” she said.

Phillips supervises 44 employees, including 38 postal workers on 19 rural routes.

It’s not a position, she said, that she has ever felt that others had an unfair advantage over her.

See POSTMASTER | 14

ANDREA PHILLIPS An honor well deserved!

Your co-workers appreciate you!

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | 9

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Dawsonville city clerk is ‘Superwoman’ to coworkers

By David Renner

drenner@dawsonnews.com

Dawsonville City Cerk Bonnie Warne is not one to toot her own horn.

Any of her co-workers and even her boss, the mayor, will tell you that about her. But she’s one of the most dependable employees the city has.

“I can call on Bonnie on any day for a piece of information and she’s got it back to me almost before I ask for it,” said Mayor James Grogan.

“She takes great pride in what she does, but she’s not one to seek the spotlight.”

City utilities clerk Betty McGehee, a friend of Warne’s since the two

started at the city 10 years ago, compared her to a superhero.

“I started about four months before she did at the city, so we’ve been on this journey together,” she said. “Bonnie is very dependable, very organized, very detailed … and thorough. We really should put a red cape on her and call her Superwoman.”

Warne, who became the city clerk in August of 2010, is responsible for keeping the city’s records, including records requests, any human resource tasks, such as payroll, and keeping the city’s finances in good standing.

Warne was originally

Dawsonville City Clerk Bonnie Warne reviews city water infrastructure maps with Mayor James Grogan.

hired to work with planning and zoning for the city, but it was her banking background that landed her the clerk position.

“My journey with the city started in February 2005. I was brought in as the planning and zoning technician,” she said. “I eventually moved up to zoning administrator and when the previous clerk was terminated, the previous mayor at that time asked if I could fill in that spot. I had the banking experience and accounting background, so I could handle it.”

But city finances and

David Renner Dawson Community News

See CLERK | 10

Congratulations to our City Clerk,

Bonnie Warne

for being chosen as a 2015 Dawson's Women Leading the Way.

An honor well deserved.

Mayor James Grogan City Council and Staff

415 Hwy. 53 East • 706-265-3256 • cityhall@dawsonville-ga.gov • www.dawsonville-ga.gov

10 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com FROM 9

Clerk records weren’t Warne’s orignial career path.

“I originally wanted to be a nurse, but my first job ended up working in credit unions for the hospital,” she said. “My personality fit as a nurse, and after my second child and my husband got back from the Gulf War, I went to nursing school. I found that I liked the numbers better, so I went back to the banks, helping people in that way.”

It is Warne’s personality that her coworkers say makes her such a great fit as the city clerk.

“She is a very kind hearted and giving per-

FROM 3

Ranger decessors, for her leadership and for our department, the great working relationship we enjoy with GFC.” One of the projects Swafford and Sweatman worked on was a plan to minimize the risk for forest fires in Dawson County.

“Over the years Carolyn and I worked on a number of projects for the betterment of the community, including the completion of the Community Wildland Risk Reduction Plan, which identified high risk areas for forest fires across the county and ways to mitigate them,” Swafford said. “As Chief Ranger, she was instrumental in Dawson County receiving two type six brush trucks, at no cost to the county. These units are on

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

‘I can call on Bonnie on any day for a piece of information and she’s got it back to me almost before I ask for it.’

son. She would give you the shirt off her back,” McGehee said. “No matter what she is doing, if you walk into her office, everything is pushed to the side and you have her attention. It’s like she doesn’t have anything else to do today, you’re the most important person.”

Warne is originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Due to her husband’s previous military career, the Warnes moved frequently, settling into Dawsonville in 1999.

She holds several certifications due to her job with the city, including certified local government finance officer level one, certified municipal clerk level one and the Georgia Financial

Officer Association certificate of excellence.

Warne said that, on top of the continued education, one of her biggest challenges with being the clerk is the difference between the public sector and the private sector.

“It was difficult, learning the difference b e t w e e n g ove r n m e n t accounting and the bank accounting I did with the credit unions,” she said.

“You have to be transparent with the government.

Our records are transparent and open for review, so getting everything categorized in the right spot is important.”

Warne is a member of Grace Presbyterian, where she was instrumental in helping set up the Good Shepherd Clinic as a member of

the board. She was also a member of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inaugural board.

She and her husband, Kevin, have two children, Kurtis and Kimilee, and two grandchildren.

loan from Georgia Forestry Commission to assist in battling wildland forest fires.”

Sweatman said that the field was one that she fought hard in – both fires and people.

“The field was male-dominated when I first started. I had felt like I had to work harder than they did just to prove myself,” she said. “I always grew up taught to work hard and do your best.

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right, so I was always taught to be a hard worker.”

However, she said that when the fires erupt, the gender lines become ignored.

“When you’re fighting fires on the line, everyone is the same,” she said.

“Everybody helps out as much as the others.”

Sweatman has fought fires across the country, including Oregon, Idaho, California and Montana.

“Every fire I went to was

different. You have to keep an open mind with all of them – none of them are the same,” she said. “The bigger the fire, the harder it is to fight. You have to watch out for your safety and the safety of your folks. There’s a lot of decisions being made.”

And it’s these differences, Sweatman said, that can make or break a fight.

“Some memorable calls I went on was out west on a detail there. Their fires are completely different than the ones we have here,” she said. “Also, there were swamp fires down in South Georgia. The last time it burned, I stayed down there for three tours, about a month and a half non continuous. It was interesting to see how they burned and it was more challenging.”

A s c h i e f r a n g e r, Sweatman was in charge of not just her own safety, but the safety of everyone else, too.

“Safety is always our number one priority,” she said. “The fire dictates the pace of the fight. Sometimes you can be lax and sometimes you have to be on top of where it’s going to go.”

Sweatman retired from the forestry commission with a distinct credit to her name.

“As far as we know, and my supervisors checked it out, too, I was the first woman to retire from the fire patrol that did my whole career with the forestry,” she said.

But Sweatman said she isn’t going to take retirement sitting down.

“I’m going to enjoy my time off for a while, but I’ve already got some volunteer work lined up,” she said.

“I’m working with my church association, the Hightower Association, has a food bank in Forsyth County. I volunteer there on Tuesdays to get ready for

James Grogan

Mayor of Dawsonville

For the Dawson Community News

Bonnie Warne and her husband, Kevin, get their picture taken while on a vacation to Hawaii.

For the Dawson Community News

Carolyn Sweatman and her husband Dorsey are avid fisherman.

distribution days.”

Sweatman and her husband, Dorsey, have no children. She says she has a large family full of nieces and nephews that she spends all her energy on.

Overall, Sweatman said that anyone can go into the

career they want – you just have to fight for it.

“Go for your dream. Don’t let the boundaries of the job stop you,” she said. “If you put your mind to it, it can be achieved. You need to work hard at it and don’t give up the first time you are told no.”

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | 11

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Wedding Show and Tasting Sunday, May 17th

Mother’s Day Brunch Extravaganza May 10th Join us Sunday, on Mother’s Day and treat the one you love to a feast that will let her know how much you appreciate her! This year at Forrest Hills Resort entertainment will be provided by Harpist Hailey Smith.

We will be serving from 11:30am to 2:30pm in our Rose Garden Dining Room. Outdoor seating will also be available, weather permitting.

Buffet includes: • Beef medallions with mint mustard sauce • Burboun Dijon Pork Loin • Grouper Florentine with angel hair pasta • Our famous fried chicken • Herbed red skin potatoes • Haricot Verts • Copper pennies • Roasted brussel sprouts • Blackeyed peas, • Fire roasted corn • Mixed golden and red beets. Plus a delicious assortment of gourmet salads, homemade desserts and more!

Featuring a Harpist for your listening pleasure.

Tour our wedding gardens, chapel, and all three unique reception venues. Honeymoon and wedding guest accommodations will also be available to view. Meet the chefs, cake baker and local vendors that make planning your wedding day a breeze! We will be featuring a variety of hors d’oeuvres, entrees and our most popular side dishes. Get two FREE tickets with a signed wedding contract. See website for details.

Reservations required.

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12 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Mother of two puts family before career

By Michele Hester

mhester@dawsonnews.com

Early on in her career, Kendy Bennett envisioned herself climbing the corporate ladder and bringing home the big bucks working in finance at a Fortune 500 company.

An honors graduate of the now University of North Georgia, she could have taken that path and been very successful. But family came first.

“Business is great, my civic involvement is great, but my family’s my world,” Bennett said.

“Even though I work fulltime, I’m still a fulltime mom. I want to be able to be there for my kids. I don’t want to miss ballgames or parties or fieldtrips or award ceremonies or any of those things.”

The mother of two teen daughters, Taylor and Chloe, and wife to Tim, Bennett is a lifelong resident of Dawson County, where her family roots date back many generations.

“My family definitely had to come first and that’s what led me back here and what’s kept me here and will keep me here until it’s eventually time for me to retire,” she said.

As vice president of Dawson Insurance, a business her mother Deborah Pelfrey purchased in the mid-80s, Bennett said she couldn’t ask for a better work environment.

“It’s like coming to work with great friends and family every day. We’ve got a total of six employees.

We’re very much a team atmosphere, so it’s not like it’s some kind of hierar-

chy,” she said. “We really work together and we’re very much a family.”

Working alongside her mother has also been a blessing, she said.

“I’m so much like her that people will call me Deborah. She was a great mom and always superinvolved with us, but she always worked fulltime and ran a business,” Bennett said. “And she’s always been active in the community. She set some pretty high ideals for me to achieve to.”

That support system, she said, helped shape the woman she is today.

“I’ve been so very blessed to have people who have loved me and supported me and I wouldn’t be here today without that,” she said. “The confidence, the drive, the ambition, all of that stems back to the unconditional love and support I’ve been given every single day of my life, and not everybody can say that.”

In recent years, now that her daughters have grown

older, Bennett has taken on a few new roles, both in the civic and government arenas.

“I’m very involved with K.A.R.E. for Kids,” she said.

The volunteer group provides Christmas presents and other necessary needs to underprivileged children in Dawson County.

“I’m their shopping coordinator for Christmas.

I coordinate all of the shopping, make sure all the gifts are purchased, help coordinate with all the boxing to make sure that every list is met, that every item is there,” she said.

“It’s a huge job, you put in lots and lots of hours from end of October through Christmas, but it’s great.

It’s super rewarding and I love it.”

David McKee, K.A.R.E. president, said Bennett is an invaluable asset to the organization.

“She does an outstanding job coordinating the task of shopping for hunSee MOTHER | 13

For the Dawson Community News

Kendy Bennett and her husband Tim have two daughters, Taylor and Chloe.

For businesswoman Kendy Bennett, who has two daughters, family comes first.

For the Dawson Community

14444 Wildbirds Unlimited 0429 dp

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | 13

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Interest in local government sparks woman to give back Mother FROM 13

dreds of children in a short period of time,” he said.

She was also recently appointed to the Dawson County Tax Assessors Board.

“As a landowner, I am concerned with the growth in the county and the type of growth we have here,” she said. “I just started in January, and a lot of the people that are on there have been on there for years, so I’m just kind of playing catch up to become as familiar as they are, so that I feel like I could give more of an input.”

For her, having an active place in the community keeps her grounded in the family’s deep Dawson County roots.

“I grew up here. I’ve lived here all of my life,” she said. “I can’t think of a better place to live and work than here.”

For the Dawson Community News

Sherry Weeks, a member of the Development Authority of Dawson County, with her family.

By Michele Hester

mhester@dawsonnews.com

H av i n g p r ev i o u s l y served on zoning boards when she lived in Habersham and Cobb counties, Sherry Weeks was appointed to the Dawson County Development Authority about four years ago.

“I’ve always been interested in how government works and the things that citizens can do to make a difference. Everyone says, ‘oh, I’m one vote, or I’m just one person. I can’t make a difference.’

But people can,” she said.

Weeks is the only woman to currently serve on the board, whose charge is to bring quality economic development to the county. “ T h e d ev e l o p m e n t

authority is an agency that has a huge part in creating the future of Dawson County,” she said. “There are so many options that Dawson County is presented with that we look and we see what is important and we look and see what is best for Dawson County and our citizens.”

Weeks understands the stigma that can oftentimes be associated with a growing community.

“Yes we want to grow, but we also want to keep a lot of our hometown feel,” she said. “I would l i ke t o s e e D aw s o n County grow in a mature manner, and by that, I mean carefully planning and working with people here and helping the people here understand that growth is good as long as

it’s controlled growth.”

Offering high praise, Weeks said the county is in good hands with the authority’s executive director Charlie Auvermann.

“Charlie is an outstanding advocate for Dawson County,” she said. “He’ll bring those customers, those clients up to Dawson County, and what we do as a board is discuss those options as an authority and hopefully do what’s best for Dawson County.”

Auvermann said Weeks’ background in education and the business arena offers a unique perspective to the board.

“She is a very successful small family business See SPARKS | 14

For the Dawson Community News

Kendy Bennett, seated, is vice president of Dawson Insurance, a company her mother Deborah Pelfrey has owned since the mid-1980s.

Congratulations to our own

Kendy Bennett as being chosen as one of the 2015 Women Leading The Way in Dawson

I am so proud of the woman you have become.

Mom

14 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

FROM 8

Postmaster “There hasn’t really been as much of a challenge for me at the p o s t a l s e r v i c e ,” s h e said. “As long as I’ve been here, and that’s been 26 years, there have been lots of women post masters.

It’s a very even field here.”

E a c h d a y, P h i l l i p s and her employees begin preparing the mail for delivery. “ We r e c e i v e t w o trucks with mail in the morning, so my job is to make sure our carriers get their mail sorted and on the truck,” she said.

Phillips also manages

For the Dawson Community News

Andrea Phillips and her husband Mickey McGouch have four children, three sons and a daughter, as well as one granddaughter.

t h e p e r s o n n e l o p e r ations at the Dawsonville office. “ We a l s o h a v e t o

make sure that all mail sorting follows proper federal safety procedures,” she said. “My

supervisor and I also deal with the payroll and accounts payable.”

Phillips was voted as

Postmaster of the Year in 2013. “ I ’v e w o r k e d w i t h Andrea for two years, but I’ve been here for more than 30 years,” said post office supervisor Jo Waters. “She’s a good boss. She helps out and does whatever work needs to be done.”

Phillips said that she takes her employees’ well-being as her highest priority.

“I take pride in my job and I care about my employees,” she said.

“I want what’s best for them and I try to always look out for their best interest.”

And it’s because of her pride in her job that she said she wants other young girls to achieve their dreams, too.

‘I’ve got 26 years with the post office and it was my goal to be the postmaster here in Dawsonville.’

Andrea Phillips Dawson County Postmaster

“Just work hard and follow your dreams,” she said. “Do your best and achieve what you can to be successful.”

Phillips and her husband, Mickey M c G o u g h , h ave f o u r children and one grandson.

FROM 13

Sparks owner that has managed her company into a very strong growth position,” he said.

Weeks and her husband Bill own and operate a printing service business in Forsyth County. “[She] is also a retired post-secondary educational leader so she understands, perhaps more than anyone, the vital role workforce development and workforce training play in building a solid local economy,” Auvermann said.

A University of Georgia graduate with a doctorate in education, Weeks spent her later career as a professor at area colleges.

For the Dawson Community News

Sherry Weeks enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

“I really enjoyed that, because I was able to teach people how to be teachers,” she said.

While teaching was satisfying, even more rewarding for her was the role she played in developing a Master’s of Education program at Piedmont College.

“We wrote the catalog, wrote the course work, got the college SACS accredited and we started

a master’s program in education,” she said.

“That was extremely rewarding to me, as a person, to see something where there was nothing and then help the professors. We helped each other pull all of our knowledge together to create that program.

“And still today, I believe it is a very good, solid program at Piedmont College.”

Congratulations to DR. SHERRY WEEKS Women Leading the Way In Dawson County Thank you for serving as the Chairman Of The Industrial Building Authority of Dawson County Thank you for serving as the Vice Chairman Of The Development Authority of Dawson County

WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO! Charlie Auvermann, Mary Simmons and your fellow Board Members

dawsonnews.com | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | 15

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

Women Leading the Way Following the past to shape the future

The women featured in this section share with readers who their role models have been.

Kendy Bennett “My great grandmother Thennie Elliott. She instilled that value of having faith in my life. She was a strong Christian woman. Her Bible was always visible in her household. She was always reading it. She was always quoting scripture to us, always telling us Bible stories, and I think that planted seeds in my life that blossomed later on. I also had two strong grandmothers. Both of them had careers outside the home, which was a little unheard of at that point at time. Then of course my mom, who definitely molded and shaped me.

She was a great mom and always super-involved with us, but she always worked fulltime and ran a business.

I’ve been blessed with some extremely strong and independent, smart, beautiful women in my life to follow suit.”

Rachel Burton “Hands down this is my mom, Mary Kate Gurley. She has been my inspiration in shaping me into the woman that I am today. I have watched her

move up the corporate ladder in her former career since she enjoys the retired life these days. I gained valuable knowledge from the challenges she faced in order to meet her professional goals. Never once did my mom back down. She kept trying until she attained the objective she sought after. At the end of her professional career, she went to college to acquire her degree, not because she needed it professionally, but rather to accomplish a personal goal for herself, since she was never given the opportunity following her high school graduation. Both she and I were in college during the same time and my mom worked full time and maintained a 4.0 average. Her determination speaks volumes and I hope to channel that and pass that on to my son. I am proud to call my Mom, my role model and best friend.”

Sharon Fausett “My mama, Clara Parks Robinson, she taught school for almost 40 years. She was ahead of her time. I was born in 1950. Mama had me at age 37. She wanted to get an education, but she didn’t get to finish her college until I was like 3 years old. She was a career woman back then when most women were housewives. She always got out there and did stuff that was ahead of her time. I didn’t

pay a whole lot of attention to that, because that was just Mama. She was so determined. She was so highly motivated. I’ve just never seen anybody with the drive she had.”

Kathy Fuller “My mother (Bessy Crawford) was an amazing person. She was difficult sometimes, but she was strong and very loving. I think I got a lot of that from her.

Sometimes I lack confidence, but because of her, I can really push through and be strong. My daughter (Erin), who is only 33, constantly teaches me things. My son does, too. I learn a lot from my children and they are very wise. I had teachers at school, like Martha Merritt at North Georgia, she was not only a good teacher, but she’s also a friend. Most of the people I’ve learned from are younger than I am.”

Christie Haynes “When I was in middle school, [my mother] went to seminary in Atlanta, which was really difficult being a single mom, providing for a child and still following her passion, so she

really instilled a passion in me to follow my passion. That it’s never too late to change that.

She also showed me intense hard work and high standards.”

Andrea Phillips “My mother, Lee Philyaw (Ledbetter) influenced me a lot. She was from Dawsonville, so she instilled those old southern values in me. She made me grow up in church and that helped me encounter and build my relationship with Jesus Christ, and that was the most important thing.

She also taught me to be a hard worker and to respect people. Those lessons really influenced me in being the person I am today.”

Carolyn Sweatman “My mom played a big role shaping who I am. We were raised in a Christian home, so that was the foundation, but my parents also taught us a strong work ethic. I come from a big family. I had six brothers and three sisters, so there were lots of us. We were taught to be hard workers.

We lived on a farm, so we had to work for what we had.

We were taught that whatever you do, do your best. If it’s worth doing, do your best at it.”

Bonnie Warne “My mom, Mary Flohr, really influenced me growing up. I’d have to say that there is nobody that I look up to more than her.

When I look back and see everything she has been through, the hard times, the bad times and the raising of our family, she has always been strong and kept her positive attitude through it all. I have my positive attitude because of my mom. Because of her, I have the outlook that life is good. You take one day at a time because you just don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”

Sherry Weeks “Barbara Bush is one. She’s an extremely strong woman to be able to handle rough and tumble times in stride and at ease. Maya Angelou because I think she has so much insight into what’s going on in the world. Mother Teresa for her compassion. My mom Wanda Cranford and my husband’s mom Bertha Weeks. She was a very, very strong woman. She knew what she wanted and she went after it. My mom has always taught me to think everything through before I did anything. I have two strong daughters Stacy and Becky. We raised them to be independent and strong.”

16 | DAWSON COMMUNITY NEWS | dawsonnews.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015

SALUTING

Our Leading WOmen of daWsOn, 2015

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