Momentum April 2016
G R E AT E R R O M E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
CONFLUENCE RETURNS TO ROME Also: zTrip brings 160 new jobs to Rome Real Simple Solutions, LLC. Homeschool Book Lounge Top 5 Reasons to Join the Chamber
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PlAcE An OrDeR ToDaY, TaStE It ToMoRrOw. @ 2103 Shorter Ave. Rome, GA 30165 Phone: 706-234-1441
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Momentum April 2016
Momentum (USPS 395-030)
Published monthly by the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, 1 Riverside Parkway, Rome, GA 30161. Periodical Postage Paid - Rome, GA 30161. Subscription Rate: $25 per year in U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MOMENTUM, 1 Riverside Parkway, Rome, GA 30161
G R E AT E R R O M E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Welcome Mrs. Krueger The Chamber welcomes Director of Membership
Jeanne Krueger Congratulations
on your new position at the Chamber!
Content and Design by: Carolyn McFry
Chamber Communications Coordinator Contributed story content: Chamber Intern Ayana Walker Greg Jackson, APEX Direct Care
In this Issue...
4 Community Events............................................................................... 4 Letter from the Chairman...................................................................
Chamber News:
5 Confluence Returns to Rome...................................................................... 6 Big Time Products celebrates Expansion...................................... 7 Delegates return from Washington, D.C. Conference.............. 7 Real Simple Solutions, LLC.: Motivating the Future Workforce....... 8 Ambassador of the Quarter Highlight.................................................. 9 The Two Steves: Minnow Works and Enived Tech ........................ 9 Ztrip to Open Call Center in Rome, Bringing 160 jobs...................10 Top 5 Reasons to Join the Chamber.................................. 11, 13 Recent Chamber Happenings................................................................12 Homeschool Book Lounge Opens as Educational Hub...........
On the Cover
CONFLUENCE RETURNS TO ROME
Confluence Returns to Rome: The two-day innovation conference Confluence will be returning to Rome this month on April 14th15th. This year's keynote speakers include (Clockwise, from top left) Sarah Hays Coomer, Will Harbin, Dr. Robert T. McNally, and Cordell Carter, II. To learn more more about each of these keynotes, visit page 6. Cover Illustration by Carolyn McFry
Membership Report:
13 Advertiser’s Index..............................................................................14 Visitor’s Guide.....................................................................................14 New Members and Renewals.......................................................
April 2016
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Upcoming
Community Events
April 8-9
Breaking Down Barriers Men's Conference Location: Fellowship Baptist Church 314 Burnett Ferry Road, Rome, GA, 30165 Time: 6:30 p.m. Friday; 12:30 p.m. Saturday Breaking Down Barriers Men's Conference will feature six dynamic speakers. Great music,food, fun, and fellowship will also highlight the conference! For more information, visit fellowshiprome.org.
706-234-9416
April 14-15
2016 Confluence Location: The Historic Desoto Theatre 530 Broad Street, Rome, GA, 30161 Time: Thursday and Friday at 8:00 a.m. Confluence is a two day conference of INSPIRATION, INNOVATION, and MOTIVATION for business leaders, technologists, educators, entrepreneurs and students. Visit page 6 or www.ConfluenceRome.org
706-291-7663
April 21-24
The Imaginary Invalid Location: Callaway Theatre at Shorter University 315 Shorter Avenue, Rome, GA, 30165 Time: 7:30 p.m. nightly and 2 p.m. Sunday matinee Enjoy the comedic tale of Argan, a miserly, sedentary hypochondriac. Based on the 1673 French play by Moliere.
706-233-7288
April 30
JSL Rome in Bloom Garden Tour Location: Between the Rivers Historic District and the College Heights neighborhood Time: 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Junior Service League of Rome presents Rome in Bloom Garden Tour, a self-guided tour of gardens in the Between the Rivers Historic District and the College Heights neighborhood. Proceeds benefit League for Learning and other local Rome charities. Tickets are $25 for the self-guided tour, or $60 for the tour and admission to the Cocktail/Patron's event.
706-235-8725
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Greetings Momentum Readers! I have to confess that April is one of my favorite months out of the entire year. The early Spring, with it's greening foliage and bright blooms, awakens our community and breathe life into the natural beauty of our town. The temperature begins to rise to that perfect level of comfortable warmth, just enough to allow for numerous traditional Roman/Floyd Countian activities in this community we cherish. Family picnics in the park — with barbecue, of course. Social events that showcase the history and natural beauty around Floyd County, like the City of Rome's Downtown Tours and the Junior Service League of Rome's "Rome in Bloom" garden tour. Brave water adventures on stand up paddleboards with our River Dog Paddle Co., or kayaks/ canoe tours with the Coosa River Basin Initiative folks on one of Rome's three rivers. And of course, the Rome Braves will be swinging into the season with the great American sport baseball at State Mutual Stadium. As the season warms up, the downtown night life seems to follow suit, and most nights you'll find that music comes from almost every section of Broad Street. Downtown becomes a bustling epicenter of excitement and community. It seems that Romans and Floyd Countians love April just as much as I do! As the vibrancy of Rome and Floyd County starts heating up, so does the community's business creativity. April is an exceptional month of growth and innovation. It's this month that our community will welcome the return of Confluence, Rome's Innovation Conference on April 14 & 15, that is sure to awaken our minds and inspire our creative spirits. I encourage everyone who hasn't had a chance to attend this annual event to drop in for a few sessions to be motivated and inspired. You'll be hooked! To learn more about Confluence, flip forward a few pages! To celebrate local innovation and the coming of Confluence, April's issue of Momentum reflects the local endeavors of the forward-thinking and creative business leaders and entrepreneurs whose innovative businesses are making waves in Rome and Floyd County. Inside this issue, you'll be inspired by one of Rome's newest businesses: the Homeschool Book Lounge, an inviting children's book store opened by two homeschooling parents who dreamed of creating a local resource center for others who are active in the education of their children. While on the topic of innovative educations, enjoy the read on Real Simple Solutions, LLC, a company geared toward helping our young adults prepare to graduate college before they even step foot on a campus, with their Day One College Success program. Then learn how MinnowWorks, LLC and Enived Tech, LLC are putting Rome and Floyd County on the map when it comes to computer sciences. Finally, learn how to stimulate your business through the Chamber, as Small Business Action Council Chairman Greg Jackson, of APEX Direct Care, shares his top 5 reasons to join our organization. As always, I would like to extend an invitation for you to visit the Chamber of Commerce located at 1 Riverside Parkway and meet the Chamber staff for a firsthand look at where Rome and Floyd County's economic growth buds. At the Chamber, you will find an incredible group who are committed to the future of Rome and Floyd County. Feel free to drop by at anytime to say 'Hello' and to find out about many of our wonderful and upcoming business events. Happy Reading!
Curtis Gardner (LR XXVII)
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q 2016 Chairman of the Board, Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce
Check the community calendar at www.romega.com for event details.
INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT
Homeschool Book Lounge Owners Audri Cook (left) and Kat Fisher
Homesch 506 Avenuool Book Lounge e A SW 706-591-8 , Rome, GA 532 Tues. – Th urs. 1 - 6 p .m. Fri. 10 a.m . – 3 p.m.
Homeschool Book Lounge opens as hub for educational, social activities for Rome and Floyd County homeschoolers In the heart of downtown Rome, a budding new business is taking aim at bringing the local homeschooling community and those interested in enriching their children’s education together— all under one roof. Homeschool Book Lounge, located at 506 Avenue A, opened its doors in March, as an educational resource center for parents teaching or supplementing their children’s education. Owners Audri Cook and Kat Fisher have turned their passion for learning into an inviting, comfortable meet-up space for parents and children — school ages Pre-K through 12th grade — to socialize and enjoy fun and youthful activities. Ms. Cook and Ms. Fisher, who both homeschool their children, said the idea of starting a business targeting the community of nearly 2,000 students in Rome and Floyd County who are homeschooled came while they were organizing their private, extensive collection of homeschooling books and resource materials. The two said there was a definite need in the Rome and Floyd County community for a homeschooling specialty shop, selling education-based books and classroom materials and supplies, since the closest store catering to homeschoolers was nearly 70 miles away. “Audri and I were sorting through our bookshelves when I jokingly said to her that I have always wanted to own a bookstore,” said Ms. Fisher. “Our discussion became more serious the longer we talked about it, and we started to really believe we could do this. Since Audri has a degree in business from Berry College, she knew she could draft the business plans, obtain the business license and manage the books. All we needed was a location.” The two entrepreneurs said they fell in love with their Avenue A site because of its central location, and have creatively utilized all of the rooms of the downstairs suite. In one side of the building, Ms. Cook and Ms. Fisher have displayed an impressive inventory of more than 6,000
children’s books, and the two are hoping to add new books and kid-approved merchandise soon. When it comes to purchasing books, customers have the option of even bringing in their own books to trade in or obtain store credit. In the adjoining room, cozy chairs welcome customers to grab a seat and skim over the books or to grab a board game and hang out for a while. “We wanted to create a space that would be parent- and kid-friendly,” said Ms. Cook. “This way, parents can shop for books while the kids can play and have a good time. It works out well for everyone.” On the opposite side of the building, Ms. Cook and Ms. Fisher have readied a room with large tables and an abundance of craft supplies for projects, parties and other festivities. “This will be where we will host our clubs and seasonal parties,” explained Ms. Fisher. “A lot of homeschoolers miss out on the parties and festivals that they would have in school, and we wanted to have a space where the kids could get together and celebrate.” Ms. Fisher added that Homeschool Book Lounge is starting their first two 6-week clubs, Lego Club and Book Club, this month. Parties, like the Spring Party planned for April 14th and the Star Wars party on May 4th, are planned for at least once a month. One of the unique aspects of Homeschool Book Lounge is their membership program. By purchasing a membership, parents get discounts on all clubs offered at Homeschool Book Lounge and free entry to one party each month, good for a year. Members can also check out educational DVDs and games on a rental basis. “Membership is a cost-effective way to have a great time at the Homeschool Book Lounge,” said Ms. Fisher. “We wanted to make sure everyone can come, learn and have a great time, all for a great price. Homeschoolers aren’t the only ones who can benefit from our events, all kids are welcome! The more the merrier!”
April 2016
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Confluence — a two-day conference of inspiration, technology and motivation for business leaders, manufactureres, technologists, educators, entrepreneurs, and students — will be returning to Rome this month on April 14th and 15th at the Historic DeSoto Theatre, 530 Broad Street. This year's programming promises to provide the latest trends in innovation and technology, as presented by locally-, regionallyand nationally-recognized leaders. Tickets available on romega.com
For a full list of speakers, visit confluencerome.org
2016 Keynote Speakers
Will Harbin Will Harbin is Chairman & CEO of KIXEYE, a leading developer and publisher of online games and a pioneer in free-to-play gaming. Over the last six years, Mr. Harbin has led KIXEYE to become one of the top gaming companies in North America producing titles like Backyard Monsters, Battle Pirates, War Commander and VEGA Conflict. Prior to KIXEYE, he co-founded Affinity Labs, a company focused on building a global network of online communities.
Dr. Robert T. McNally Dr. McNally is the CEO and President of GeoVax Labs and serves on the advisory board of Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Dupree College of Management at Georgia Institute of Technology. Additionally, he has over 35 years of experience in academic and corporate clinical investigations, management, research, business, quality and regulatory affairs. Dr. McNally will be discussing the innovation and thought that goes into designing vaccinations for viruses like Zika, HIV and Ebola.
Speaker Sponsors:
Sarah Hays Coomer Sarah Hays Coomer is a writer, certified personal trainer, and wellness consultant. We all know that health and wellness impact our ability to be creative but often find ourselves stuck in unproductive habits that limit our ability to effectively pursue our dreams. What if, instead of pursuing fitness to bolster our creativity, we leverage our desire to be creative to bolster our fitness? What if we use the drive to innovate as a primary motivator to get in better shape, rather than the other way around?
Charging Station Sponsors:
Cordell Carter, II Mr. Carter serves as CEO of TechTown Foundation, Inc., an operator of technology and arts education centers designed to level the playing field for young innovators through access to state of the art technology, training in 21st century skills and career awareness. Mr. Carter was recently named one of nine White House Champion of Change for Computer Science Education. Mr. Carter will be speaking about how coding is the language of empowerment in the digital age.
Investing Sponsors:
Partners in Prosperity Investors:
April 2016
6
“Wow! What diversity of thought and action!" — Diane Manning, of Human Capital Group
Big Time Products celebrates new, state-of-art showroom
Big Time Products, LLC Vice President Mike Burkhalter and CEO Harry Pierce (LR XXII) cuts the ribbon, celebrating the company's recent renovations, expansion and new showroom at 2 Wilbanks Road. Pictured: (Front Row from Left) Moriah Medina, of Merry Maids, Jonathan O’Hara, Rick Erebia, Mike Burkhalter, Harry Pierce, Carl Koebbe, Andy Bolt —all of Big Time Products, LLC — and Stephanie Nichols, of Rome Cleaners. (Back Row from Left) Eric Burton, Greg Benner, Kraig Ingalsbe, Chase Patterson, Chase Buck, Jill Sito, Chris Weed, Heather Leason, Michael Pennington, Lauren Simpson, Carrie Kraus, Stephanie Burkhalter, Teresa Groce, Michele Rikard, Korbyn Boyd — all of Big Time Products. Innovation and Design drives Big Time Products. In January of 2016 Big Time opened the doors to a state-of-the-art Show Room that features the Company’s newest glove and rain gear technologies and designs. Since opening the new Show Room, or “World of Gloves,” Big Time has hosted an array of corporate buyers from some of the largest Retailers and Home Centers. A link to the Ribbon Cutting and Show Room Sneak Peek can be found at https://www.youtube.com/bigtimeproducts.
Chamber Delegation Visits Washington, D.C. for Annual Issues and Opportunities Conference
A delegation of Rome and Floyd County Business Leaders representing small business, technology, healthcare, aviation, primary and secondary education, and manufacturing took a three-day visit to Washington, D.C. last month, as part of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce’s annual Issues and Opportunities Conference. During the trip, the group met with U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, U.S. Senator David Perdue, U.S. Representative Tom Graves, and other Congressional leaders to discuss priorities for Rome and Floyd County. "These trips are very beneficial as they allow each sector of our community to communicate our priorities to the nation’s key decision makers,” said Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Chairman Curtis Gardner, Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q. “By traveling to Washington, D.C., we are able to present our issues and opportunities and have the voice of Rome and Floyd County heard.” This year, education and its importance in continuing to foster skilled workforce was a major focus of discussion during the visit to Capitol Hill. "We had a wonderful opportunity to share the advancements, innovation and continual improvements our community has made and continues to make in education, and it was extremely well received by our national lawmakers,” Floyd County School Board Chairman Chip Hood, of ForEvergreen Landscape and Maintenance. Transportation needs — such as the proposed RomeCartersville Development Corridor which will connect U.S. 411 with Interstate 75 — and funding needs for improvements to Richard B. Russell Regional Airport/Towers Field were also hot-topic issues for the Chamber delegates.
Floyd County School Board Chairman Chip Hood (LR XXVI), of ForEvergreen Landscape and Maintenance, speaks to U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and U.S. Senator David Perdue in front of a delegation of Rome and Floyd County business leaders.
The unified economic and community development effort in Rome and Floyd County was noted by the Congressional delegation during the trip. "Rome, Floyd County and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce’s culture of cooperation is a strong advantage when discussing priorities,” said U.S. Senator Isakson. City of Rome Mayor Jamie Doss thanked U.S. Senator Isakson for his acknowledgment of Rome and Floyd County’s joint efforts through the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce to build and promote the community. "We appreciate all of our elected officials' recognition of the hard work of our local team," added Mayor Jamie Doss.
April 2016
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INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT
Real Simple Solutions, LLC: Motivating Tomorrow’s Workforce
T
ransitioning into college life can be tough. Transitioning to the workforce...well, that can be even tougher. That’s why Romans Janet Byington and Steven Safigan created Real Simple Solutions, LLC.: a cutting-edge online company based out of Rome, Georgia, that is equipping parents nationwide with the necessary skills to prep their kids with the “mental toughness” for college success. Formed in January 2015, Ms. Byington and Mr. Safigan’s company has premiered the “Day One College Success System”— a five-week online course of motivational, athome classes designed to coach parents through the process of launching their children into the adult world. “A lot of parents worry about whether or not their children are going to graduate from college, or if they will find or maintain a steady job,” said Mr. Safigan. “They have concerns if their kids will make the right decisions or do the right thing. Our goal is to outfit parents with the skills to teach their kids to be independent.” Ms. Byington, whose previous work experience includes District Director for former U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey and Principal for St. Mary’s Catholic School, and Mr. Safigan, seasoned entrepreneur who co-founded Rome’s former Universal Tax Systems, said their new company offers moms and dads “simple solutions” to many common concerns parents have when sending their kids to a secondary education institution. Through education-based marketing, the two seek to inspire others and encourage them based on their personal and professional experience. “Over the course of our professional careers, Steve and I hired, and even fired, a lot of first-time job holders, many of which were fresh out of college,” said Ms. Byington. “What we saw was, quite frankly, a lot of kids not prepared to take up that mantle of work. We want to make sure that this next generation of students is prepared for the workforce.” Mr. Safigan, who is also certified as a positive psychology coach, said the “Day One College Success System” was molded from the responses and needs of parents, educators, school counselors and college advisors. The “Day One College Success System” provides course participants with fresh video content online each week. These lessons are then supplemented with an eBook, webinars, live workshops, group or individual coaching, and conference calls. “The program concentrates on two core outcomes,” added Ms. Byington. “We seek to teach parents how to motivate their students to motivate themselves, and instill self-confidence in our children, so they have the personal strength to make it on their own. With the ‘Day One College Success System,’ your child will start off from Day One, ready for whatever college throws at them. ” Mr. Safigan describes this concept of student readiness as “mental toughness.” “Heading to college is kind of like going to a foreign country,” he added. “You don’t how to speak the language; you don’t know anyone there. It’s all so new. You have to be mentally tough to make it, and so it’s important for
April 2016
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Real Simple Solutions, LLC., owners Steve Safigan and Janet Byington
parents to train their kids to not lose that confidence.” Ms. Byington and Mr. Safigan have developed an online quiz to help parents assess their child's readiness for college. It can be found at www. Day1CollegeSucess.com/ csrquiz. In addition, Ms. Byington and Mr. Safigan travel the United States sharing their company’s story, and speak to parents and students at schools and colleges about the success of their program. Thinking ahead, Real Simple Solutions, LLC., wants to incorporate more courses for parents to further enhance the success of the youth. “What we found as we develop these courses is that there is a need to teach children entrepreneurial skills and business skills, so we will be developing courses that address those opportunities as well,” said Ms. Byington. “We want to offer a variety of future courses online that move past college and ensure our youth is primed to have successful careers.We're also working on courses for parents of children with specialized needs, such as teens with ADHD and dyslexia.”
Day1CollegeSuccess.com
INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT
The Two Steves: Rome's Software Development Dynamic Duo
Enived Tech, LLC and MinnowWorks, LLC team up to put programming on map in Rome Steve Devine (LR XXX) and Steve Trautman have a lot more in common than just their names. As entrepreneurs of two independent software development consulting and website/mobile application design firms — Enived Tech, LLC and MinnowWorks, LLC — the duo are both on the forefront of innovation for Rome and Floyd County's technology sector. Mr. Trautman and Mr. Devine first met as co-workers in Maine, and both moved to Rome when the software company they worked for relocated to Floyd County. When that business decided to move again, the two men opted to stay in the Greater Rome area. "Rome has a great community with an amazing quality of life," said Mr. Devine. "I didn't want to move, I wanted to stay here." Mr. Devine said he originally started Enived Tech in 2008 as a way of doing freelance consulting on the side. But in 2016, he jumped head first into fulltime consulting. Today, the company has contracts ranging from website development to mobile app creation to software development. "The beauty of consulting is that you can be anything the customer needs you to be," said Mr. Devine. "My strategy as a consultant is to have a broad base of skills so that I can be anything the customer needs me to be... I can act as database administrator, business analyst, and software engineer, depending on what
the customer needs" Much like EnivedTech, MinnowWorks was started in 2015 as a freelance contract-based business for software development, said Mr. Trautman. "Software development is a specialty, but MinnowWorks focus has moved to include mobile applications," he added. Since the line of work of the two businesses is so similar, Mr. Devine and Mr. Trautman often work closely together on projects. "Most recently we were working on a mobile application for farriers and created a real interesting problem to solve since a lot of the farms do not have cell phone coverage, " said Mr. Devine. "We find that working together, we can use our talents and join forces to solve the problem. I guess you could say that sometimes, two Steves are better than one." This year, the two companies are sponsoring Confluence, Rome's innovation conference, because of the creative nature of their technology businesses. Mr. Devine, who serves as the Confluence Committee Chair of the Chamber, is credited with naming the conference. "Confluence is inspirational, and in our line of work, inspiration goes a long way," said Mr. Trautman. "We hope that others become inspired to follow their dreams like we have, and become the next group of inventors and MinnowWorks, LLC Founder Steve Trautman (left) entrepreneurs to make a difference." & Enived Tech, LLC Founder Steve Devine (LR XXX)
INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT
zTrip to bring customer service center to Rome, creates 160 jobs Transdev will be opening a customer support center in Rome, Georgia, bringing 160 new jobs to Floyd County. The Lombard, Illinois-based public transportation company has leased a portion of the former State Mutual Insurance building in Berry Corporate Center off Redmond Circle and is expected to open the center in May 2016. zTrip is a subsidiary of Transdev, the largest private-sector operator of multiple modes of transit in North America. Transdev’s brands include; SuperShuttle, Execucar, 10/10 Taxi, Yellow Cab and zTrip. Bill George, President of the Taxi & Sedan Division of Transdev, stated, “We are looking forward to becoming a member of the Rome community and have already recruited Joel Serbousek of Atlanta and Terri Waters of Rome to lead this important new division. Mr. George added, “Our Rome National Operations Center will support our fleet of more than 3,000 taxicabs in 14 U.S. cities.” SuperShuttle is the leading airport shuttle service in the U.S., serving over eight million passengers a year, and expanded to include the North Georgia market in 2014. zTrip is Transdev’s newest brand and provides on-demand taxi service through use of a call center or the zTrip app. Along with the support center, Transdev will also start a zTrip taxi service in the Rome area. All zTrip employees in the Rome center will receive monthly credits to use the local zTrip taxi service. Interested applicants can learn more about job opportunities at www.transdevztripnoc.com. The announcement from Transdev follows several months of working alongside the Dallas-
Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Chairman Curtis Gardner (LR XXVII), of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q (from left), shakes hands with Joel Serbousek, Vice President of National Operation Centers for TransDev, in front of Floyd County Commission Chairman Larry Maxey and City of Rome Mayor Jamie Doss.
based site consultant firm, Site Selection Group; the City of Rome; Floyd County Government and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce to secure the jobs in Rome. Rome Mayor Jamie Doss said he was proud of Transdev’s decision of choosing Rome for their latest facility. “Transdev is a well-established company with a superb reputation,” said Mr. Doss. “With their arrival to Rome, they will build upon our community’s strengths of a welleducated labor force and an existing infrastructure that provides the necessary technical and logistical resources for companies to thrive.” Floyd County Commission Chairman Larry Maxey said the county welcomes the addition of zTrip in Rome. “This is a positive indicator of our community’s continual growth,” added Mr. Maxey. “Floyd County consistently attracts diverse business and industry that look to grow and develop
Ambassadors of the Quarter QUARTER 3 of 2015:>>> Congratulations Moriah Medina, of Merry Maids! <<< QUARTER 4 of 2015: Congratulations Kimberly Gardner, of Ashton Staffing! Thank you both for your contributions and dedication to the Chamber and its mission of prosperity!
April 2016 10
their market share for the future.” Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Chairman Curtis Gardner, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, said zTrip’s coming is a prime example of when public and private entities works together for the common goal of job growth. “Whenever an industry, like zTrip, moves into our community, we can count on quality jobs for area residents,” said Mr. Gardner. “This translates to having more business for the entrepreneurs, small business owners, and service providers, as more people who work here stay here to live and play. From a small business owner’s perspective, zTrip bringing 160 jobs is tremendous news for Rome and Floyd County.” Special Thank You To: Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Georgia Power, City of Rome, Floyd County, Rome-Floyd County Development Authority, Development Authority of Floyd County, and Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce
Top 5
Reasons to Join the Chamber
...with Small Business Action Council Chairman Greg Jackson, of APEX Direct Care
Looking to BOOST your business? Then it's time to think about joining the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. Don’t just take it from us; take it from someone who has seen firsthand the benefits of membership — 2016 Small Business Action Council Chair Greg Jackson, of APEX Direct Care. Mr. Jackson first became active as a Chamber volunteer when he moved back to Rome after graduating from college in 2013. Over the past year as the Marketing Director for APEX Direct Care, he oversaw his company’s rebranding from Your Personal Phyiscian to APEX Direct Care while completely changing the business model from fee for service insurance to a direct primary care model , to which he credits the Chamber with aiding in the successful transition. Here are Greg Jackson’s 5 Quick Reasons to Join the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce:
1. Growing Your Community.... ....To Grow Your Business
"This concept is probably the single most important reason to get involved, but often is the most often overlooked part of the Chamber. Our Chamber is the marketing agency of Rome and Floyd County community, and its staff works constantly to recruit new businesses and companies who offer primary employment to our area. You might ask, how does that benefit me or my business? Well, take a look at the recent announcement from zTrip, who is putting a customer care center in Rome, creating 160 new jobs for our community. More jobs equal more people spending money in the community which translates to more customers for your business. Those 160 zTrip employees will become immersed in our community by looking for places to have dinner with their families, buy their new car, do some afternoon shopping for home decor or new clothing, or find a new dentist or, hopefully in our case, a new doctor. Growing the community helps your business grow too."
2. Membership = Credibility
"When it comes to attracting potential clients, there are plenty of places to list or advertise your business, Greg Jackson, but none that has the reputation of of APEX Direct Care the Chamber. That's because the Chamber, chartered in 1876, has established itself as a network of reputable businesses. Everyday, people call or email the Chamber as the trusted source of where to go when they are looking for a specific business type. By joining the Chamber, you are making a solid statement to the community that you care about your community and the individuals in it, while adding yourself to the list of respected companies the Chamber refers. The visibility that the Chamber offers is unparalleled." Continued on P. 13
Twinkle twinkle little star, Transfer money wherever you are. MOBILE BANKING MADE EASY
by River City Bank
GREENE’SJewelers INC 328 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
Serving the Community since 1948 GreenesJewelers.com 706-291-7236
April 2016 11
Ribbon Cuttings
Operation Membership Directory
General Manager Rodriquez White cuts the ribbon during the Grand Opening celebration of Krispy Kreme, 1602 Turner McCall Boulevard. The Rome store is open 24 hours a day, with a staff of 70-80 employees.
Kat Fisher (left) and Audri Cook cut the ribbon for the Homeschool Book Lounge. The Homeschool Book Lounge is a homeschool resource center and used children's bookstore, located at 506 Avenue A. To read more about the Homeschool Book Lounge, visit page 5.
General Manager Sheena Sisco cuts the ribbon for the Grand Reopening of the East Rome Burger King, 1313 Turner McCall Boulevard. The fast food restaurant's exterior and interior dining spaces were upgraded, equaling approximately $400,000 in renovations.
Does your
business
have an
advantage?
Check out romega.com for a full list of member-to-member discounts
April 2016 12
ABOVE: Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Chairman Curtis Gardener (LR XXVII), of Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q (right), shakes hands with Dr. Dan Pate, of West Rome Animal Clinic, while dropping off the Chamber's 2016 Membership Directory. Extra Membership Directories are available at the Chamber and are free for members. RIGHT: Chamber Ambassador Stephanie Nichols, of Rome Cleaners, looks over the printed list before heading out to distribute Membership Directories.
Renewals Action Rent All Apollo Marketing, LLC Aramark - Berry College AT&T Georgia Bagby Transfer Company Best Western Executive Inn Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center Brandon Burke State Farm Brugg Cables, LLC Buckle C & S Trophies and Corporate Awards Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House Commercial Fluid Power Cornerstone Church David F. Guldenschuh, PC DIGS, Inc. Edible Arrangements Floyd Medical Center Foss Manufacturing Foundations Orthodontics Healing Arts Center of Rome Heritage First Investments & Insurance Hogan Construction Group, LLC HoneyBaked Ham Company & Cafe J Supply Company The Lewis Chemical Company McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Monroe, LLP Meadow Lane Apartments Muller, Richard L., Jr., DDS, PC Murphy-Harpst Children's Centers, Inc. MySupplies Northwest Georgia Dermatology & Skin Surgery Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Professional Screening & Information (PSI) R.H. Ledbetter Properties, Inc. R.J. Fricks RICOH USA, INC. Rocky Mountain Hydroelectric Plant Rome Area History Museum & Rome Area History Store Rome Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Rome Orthopaedic Center Schroeder's New Deli-Downtown Sears Hometown Stores Sharp Business Systems of Georgia SilverLeaf Insurance Agency LLC Smith, S. David, Jr., P.C. Attorney at Law Specialty Commercial Contractors Tallatoona CAP, Inc. Tanner Electrical Contractors, Inc. Tom Bennett Company, Inc. Tyson Foods, Inc. dba Hillshire Brands United States Postal Service University Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Wallis Printing Company Walmart Supercenter #5151 Warren & Griffin, P.C. Westminster Townhouse Apartments WMP Crates, LLC
TOP 5 REASONS TO JOIN THE CHAMBER 3. People do business.. ....with People they know
"You might be surprised how beneficial face-to-face networking can be for your business. Chamber events and programs are designed for cultivating and maintaining valuable business relations. By taking part in the many events the Chamber hosts, such as "Business After Hours", "Business Before Hours", Young Professionals of Rome, Business EXPO and committee meetings, you will generate new business leads, sometimes in ways that aren't expected. For example, I met Randy Baker, of Transamerica Agency Network, at the Business EXPO. Months later, Mr. Baker was working with a few clients from a single business that missed the open enrollment period for insurance, and he referred the individuals of that business to APEX Direct Care for their healthcare needs. That generated client referrals that could benefit from our new health care model. It's examples like this that show how our business community works together for the greater good."
4. But It's more than... ...."Just Networking"
"When I first moved back to Rome after graduating from Centenary College of Louisiana, I didn't know anyone. To change that, I decided to start attending Chamber events and activities, so that I could mingle and make meaningful relationships
Continued from Page. 11
with like-minded business persons. I decided to get involved with the Young Professionals of Rome and that's where I met some of my closest friends. That being said, I quickly realized that it wasn't just about networking and getting my name out there, but it was about building lasting relationships.Many of the friendships that I have made originated from relationships founded during Chamber events."
5. Development & Exposure
"New members can definitely reap the benefits of Chamber membership from committee meetings and activities. Besides the exposure through the Chamber's Business Directory or highlighted in Momentum Magazine, the Chamber often highlights their members at events and programs. Every little exposure adds up and generates leads. Additionally, at committee meetings, members get a wealth of information on how to sharpen their business skills. The Small Business Action Council hosts seminars on topics such as taxes or customer service, that can really boost your business's potential. Knowledge is power, and that power can translate into how successful you run your company. That's one of the reasons I became involved with the Small Business Action Council, so that I can help create beneficial programs for small businesses like APEX Direct Care. "
New Members Life Force Ms. Katie Black 975 E. Third Street Chattanooga, TN 30161 (423) 778-5534 www.Izontheweb.com
Econolodge Motel Mr. Harry Patel 390 Dodd Blvd. Rome, GA 30161 (706) 234-0014 www.econolodge.com
Eagle Christian Tours, LLC Mr. Sam Naff P.O. Box 512 Rome, GA 30165 (706)314-8684 www.eaglechristiantours.com
Homeschool Book Lounge, LLC Ms. Audri Cook 506 Avenue A Rome, GA 30161 (706)591-8532 www.homeschoolbooklounge.com
Sheffield Office Products Ms. Dianne Kerce 327 Brewer Road Kingston, GA 30145 (800) 873-3920 www.sheffieldop.com
Krispy Kreme Mr. Rodriquez White 1602 Turner McCall Blvd. SW Rome, GA 30165 (706) 295-1880 www.krispykreme.com
The Partridge Restaurant Ms. Angelle Thornton 330 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161 (706) 314-9369 www.partridgecafe.com
Spartan Smoothies Mr. Michael Pearson 315 Riverside Parkway NE STE 160 Rome, GA 30161 (706) 676-2320 Burger King - East Rome Ms. Sheena Sisco 1313 Turner McCall Blvd. SE Rome, GA 30161 (706) 234-0072 www.bk.com Burger King - West Rome Mr. Cory Vande Zande 2114 Shorter Avenue Rome, GA 30165 (706) 232-2621 www.bk.com
Farrell's Frame &Design MainStreet Tax Solutions Ms. Amanda Farrell Mr. Tom Hughes 116 Broad Street 320 Glenn Milner Blvd. Rome, GA 30161 Rome, GA 30165 (706)584-7816 (706) 378-8010 www.mainstreettaxsolutions.com www.farrellsframeanddesign.com
Want to Join the Chamber?
Call 706-291-7663 to speak with Director of Membership Jeanne Krueger about the benefits of membership today!
April 2016 13
Visitor’s Guide
Points of Interest
Downtown Rome 12
W.
1 3
6 10 5
t tS
1s W.
35
et st
1 E.
St
nd
2 E.
3rd Ave
7
4
4th
St rd
Ave
3 E.
St
Ave
oa Br
6th
d
11
e Str
7 US 2
nue Ave 2nd 8
2
t dS 3r
nue Ave 5th
9
1 Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce 2 Rome and Floyd County Library 3 City Hall 4 Clocktower 5 Historic DeSoto Theatre 6 Old Courthouse 7 Myrtle Hill Cemetery 8 Heritage Park 9 Tennis Complex Barron Stadium 10 The Forum 11 Rome Area History Museum & Welcome Center 12 Harbin Clinic Tony E. Warren Cancer Center
Floyd County
Points of Interest
GA -156 GA -1 13 Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum 14 Chieftain’s Museum 15 Greater Rome Convention & Visitors US 27 Bureau and Rome Visitors Center 33 22 16 Ridge Ferry Park GA-53 18 17 Shorter University 23 36 18 Mount Berry Mall 19 Cave Spring 30 26 13 14 25 20 Lock & Dam Park GA-20 16 15 29 17 GA-293 21 Coosa Valley Fairgrounds 21 24 22 Stonebridge Golf Course 31 28 GA-20 23 Berry College 27 GA-100 20 24 Floyd Medical Center 34 25 Harbin Clinic 411 GA-101 19 US26 Redmond Regional US-27 32 Medical Center page 12 27 Darlington School Hanging Around Rome 28 Georgia Northwestern by Studio Siri Technical College 1205 Dean Ave. www.studiosiri.com 29 Unity Christian School 706-409-3022 30 State Mutual Stadium Inside Front Cover page 11 page 15 31 Saint Mary’s Catholic School Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q River City Bank Hardy Realty & 32 Georgia Highlands College 2103 Shorter Ave. 228 N. Second Ave. Development Co. www.sonnysbbq.com www.rivercitybankonline.com 33 Richard B. Russell Regional Airport 1609 Martha Berry Blvd. 706-236-2123 706-234-1441 www.hardyrealty.com 34 Georgia School for the Deaf 706-291-4321 page 9 page 11 35 Downtown Welcome Center Back Cover F.A.D., Inc. Greene’s Jewelers 36 Rome Tennis Center at Ford, Gittings & Kane Jewelers (Floyd Against Drugs) 328 Broad St. 312 Broad St. http://www.romefloyd.com/ Berry College www.greenesjewelers.com
Advertiser’s Index
April 2016 14
floyd-against-drugs
706-291-7236
www.fgkjewelers.com 706-291-8811
2201 SHORTER AVENUE
EUNEVA RETROHS 1022 THE GRIFFIN - 215 BROAD ST. .CHigh C denend, oz gbeautifully nidliub .�restored .qs 007,1 1office/retail 307-643-6commercial 07 ,yelleK yspace. mmiJ Jimmy Kelley, 706-346-7031
EVISHORTER RD LAINOAVENUE LOC 4 2901
.CC desq. no�z.,grestaurant nidliub � qw/ s 0full 00,2kitchen revO 5,037 .kitchen 000,511&$seating .erca 2for /1180. .xorpOn pa2.5 ezacres. is toL 1307Steve -643-6Graves, 07 ,yelle770-547-2401 K ymmiJ $275,000.
706-291-4321
908 WEST AVENUE
DVL1013 B YRRNEBFIFTH AHTAVENUE RAM 1161
1,700 sq. �. building zoned CC. Jimmy Kelley, 706-346-7031
510 BROAD STREET
411 EVIR D XBROAD ODDAMSTREET NHOJ 111
TECENTRAL ERTS TSRPLAZA IF .E 214 THE GRIFFIN - 215 BROAD ST.
915TNORTH EERTS DBROAD AORB 1STREET 09
High end, beautifully restored office/retail commercial space. $425,000. Jimmy Kelley, 706-346-7031
.�Ansley .qs 00Park, 8,4 ,Medical gnidnatsoreerelated rf A ssuse, alC .seplumbing tius 2 otnavailable i edivid exam lliW .grooms, nidliubapprox. ecffio 3400 706-346-7031 150sq. 9-ft. 60Jimmy 5-607Kelley, ,srayB ymmiJ
Two 2 dnStory, a sm5,775 oor msq. axeft.,7 new htiwroof noit& acHVAC. ol laedI Second level lacidem etaisvistreet rp rof level tcefreatPrear. .seci$349,000 ffo etavirp 6Kimberly 758-643Prusakowski, -607 ,retseL e770-712-4250 nyaW .ecitcarp
Old car wash next to .hSt. tnoMary’s m/057,1Church. $ .etius .t$425,000. f .qs 952,1 edulcni706-506-9051 seitilitU Jimmy.dByars, 1509-605-607 ,srayB ymmiJ
Four spaces. .erauqS refor wotlease. kcolC Available . e l b a l i ava se706-346-7031 tius lareveS Jimmy Kelley, 6461-643-607 ,hctaH loraC
30 CHATILLON ROAD DVL3Boffices, YRRreception EB AHarea, TRA M 5061 bathroom.
208 BROAD STREET E2nd VIRDoor,SR EVIR the EEhome RHT of69 currently
2901 SHORTER AVENUE
.moorFor htablease, ,aera n$3,000/ oitpecermonth. ,seciffo 3 .sJimmy eitilitu sByars, edulcnI706-506-9051 .tf .qs 050,2 1307-643-607 ,yelleK ymmiJ
4 COLONIAL DRIVE
1605 MARTHA BERRY BLVD DAO OLceLIspace TAHCw/0u� 3 li�es. 3,000 sq.R�N . offi
T908 EERTWEST S DAOAVENUE RB 015
gnidlisq. ubft.ywarehouse rots 2 w/office Cedartown..60,000 .00loading 0,006$dock .de& sacooler/freezer el roo mo�onoB4.64 area, 321-643-6Nick 07 Rogers, ,remm706-252-0303 uS lliB acres.3$1,100,000.
5,037 sq. �. restaurant w/ full kitchen kitchen & seating for 180. On 2.5 acres. $275,000. Steve Graves, 770-547-2401
1,259 sq. ft. suite. $1,750/month. ot txeUtilities n hsaw rac dlO included. .000,Jimmy 574$ Byars, .hcru706-506-9051 hC s’ yraM .tS 1509-605-607 ,srayB ymmiJ 411 BROAD STREET
96 THREE RIVERS DRIVE
TEsq.Eft. RTbuilding S DAonO2.5 RB 80Two 2 12’x 12’ 10K acres. parking frollup o emodoors h ehtw/ yltn erruc ,rfor oo20. dn$650,000. 2 Kimberly .baL Prusakowski, ngiseD NAIVE770-712-4250 C 3321-643-607 ,remmuS lliB
Two Story, 5,775 sq. ft., new roof & HVAC. Second level is street level at rear. $349,000 Kimberly Prusakowski, 770-712-4250
901 BROAD STREET TEERTS DAORB HTRON 519 CENTRAL PLAZA
Four spaces. Available for lease. Jimmy Kelley, 706-346-7031
208 BROAD STREET
2nd oor, currently the home of CEVIAN Design Lab. Bill Summer, 706-346-1233
Clocktower Square. .secapsuites s ruoFavailable. Several .Carol esaelHatch, rof elb706-346-1646 aliavA 1307-643-607 ,yelleK ymmiJ
Cedartown. 60,000 sq. ft. warehouse w/ office area, loading dock & cooler/freezer on 4.64 acres. $1,100,000. Nick Rogers, 706-252-0303
A412 ZALE. P LFIRST ARTNSTREET EC
2 story building. Bo�om oor leased. $600,000. Bill Summer, 706-346-1233
1611 EUNEMARTHA VA HTFIFBERRY N 3101BLVD
.CAVIdeal H & location foor wenwith ,.tf .q7sexam 577,5rooms ,yrotS oand wT 2 ,esuClass detaAlefree r ro lstanding, acideM ,kr4,800 aP yelsq. snA�. ce building. Will divide into 2 suites. 000,private 943$ .raoffices. er ta lePerfect vel teerfor ts siprivate level dnmedical oceS .xooffi rppa ,smoor maxe elbaliava gnibm ulp 052practice. 4-217-0Wayne 77 ,ikswLester, okasur706-346-8576 P ylrebmiK 1307-6Jimmy 43-607 Byars, ,yelleK y706-506-9051 mmiJ .tf .qs 0043
Over 2,000 sq � building, zoned CC. Lot size approx. 1/2 acre. $115,000. Jimmy Kelley, 706-346-7031
1013 N FIFTH AVENUE
915 NORTH BROAD STREET
1611 MARTHA BERRY BLVD
901 BROAD STREET
Old car wash next to St. Mary’s Church. $475,000. Jimmy Byars, 706-506-9051
111 JOHN MADDOX DRIVE
412 E. FIRST STREET
1,259 sq. ft. suite. $1,750/month. Utilities included. Jimmy Byars, 706-506-9051
30 CHATILLON ROAD
3 offices, reception area, bathroom. 2,050 sq. ft. Includes utilities. Jimmy Kelley, 706-346-7031
111 TEEJOHN RTS DMADDOX AORB 114DRIVE
EU NEV A TSEW 809 510 BROAD STREET
eciffo/wesuoh2erastory w.tf.qbuilding. s000,06.nwotradeC 46.4 nBo� o rezom eerf /roor eloocleased. & kcod$600,000. gnidaol ,aera 3030-25Bill 2-60Summer, 7 ,sregoR kc706-346-1233 iN .000,001,1$ .serca
Ansley Park, Medical or related use, plumbing available exam rooms, approx. 3400 sq. ft. Jimmy Kelley, 706-346-7031
Clocktower Square. Several suites available. Carol Hatch, 706-346-1646
1605 MARTHA BERRY BLVD
EUNE4VA RETROHSDRIVE 1092 COLONIAL
nehctOver ik lluf2,000 /w tnsq aru�abuilding, tser .� .qzoned s 730,CC. 5 .sercaLot 5.2size nO .approx. 081rofg1/2 nitaeacre. s & n$115,000. ehctik 1042-745-Jimmy 077 ,seKelley, varG e706-346-7031 vetS .000,572$
1706-291-4321 234-192-607
Class A free standing, 4,800 sq. �. office building. Will divide into 2 suites. Jimmy Byars, 706-506-9051
96 THREE RIVERS DRIVE
3,000 sq. �. office space w/ u�li�es. For lease, $3,000/ month. Jimmy Byars, 706-506-9051
derotser yllufituaeb ,dne hgiH .000,524$ .ecaps laicremmoc liater/eciffo 1,700 sq. �. building zoned CC. 130Jimmy 7-643-6Kelley, 07 ,yel706-346-7031 leK ymmiJ
Ideal location with 7 exam rooms and 2 private offices. Perfect for private medical practice. Wayne Lester, 706-346-8576
10K sq. ft. building on 2.5 acres. Two 12’x 12’ rollup doors w/ parking for 20. $650,000. Kimberly Prusakowski, 770-712-4250
.TS DA ORBSHORTER 512 - NIFFAVENUE IRG EHT 2201
.se�il�u2,050 /w esq. caft. psIncludes ecffio utilities. .� .qs 000,3 .hJimmy tnomKelley, /000,706-346-7031 3$ ,esael roF 1509-605-607 ,srayB ymmiJ
’21 x’21 owCEVIAN T .serca 5Design .2 no gnLab. idliub .tf .qs K01 .000,05Bill 6$ Summer, .02 rof gn706-346-1233 ikrap /w srood pullor 0524-217-077 ,ikswokasurP ylrebmiK