Gwinnett Magazine Summer 2021 by Story Road

HELPING YOU BUILD A

PROMISING FINANCIAL FUTURE

ROGER S. GREEN President/CEO

ANDREW GREEN Investment Adviser Representative

770.931.1414 ROGERSGREEN.COM GREEN FINANC IAL RESOURCES, LLC 3700 CRESTWOOD PKW Y NW, SUITE 140 DULUTH, GA 30096

Roger S. Green, MSFS, CFP®, and son Andrew Green, AIF®, of Green Financial Resources, LLC (GFR) are here to help you with your financial planning and investment decisions. Roger has over 30 years of experience helping individuals and small business owners do more with their money. Both Roger and Andrew are National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®) certificate holders, and Andrew is trained to provide guidance as a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro. Whether you are just getting started, heading into retirement, or simply wanting a 2nd opinion on your existing plan, Green Financial is here to help – with no-cost Zoom and phone consultations, and no asset minimums. Their primary focus is on helping you invest with the goal of pursuing long term growth, and they have the knowledge and experience to provide guidance in most financial matters along the way. Take action now to plan for your financial future, and put the entire service focused team at Green Financial to work for you. Investment Advisor Representatives offering securities and advisory services through Cetera Advisors LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, member FINRA, SIPC. Green Financial and Cetera Advisors are not affiliated. Awards are not to be considered a guarantee of future results, nor as an endorsement by any client. Best of Gwinnett winners are chosen via voting and editors’ input, & opinions are vetted with the use of other available information.

GREEN F

this issue In

SUMMER 2021

16 Meet the Marvelous Katie Blum! She’s an advocate, her students’ #1 cheerleader and Teacher of the Year!

66 34

Private School Perks

31 Your Dream College is Calling!

64 08

Here’s your complete guide to finding the right college to call home!

24 56 6

Choose the right place for your little learner.

38 25 Years on Top! Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks reflects on a lifetime leading our schools.

L O V E G W I N N E T T. C O M

08 10 48 66 76

Fire Up the Grill for… Watermelon Salad? Treat your tastebuds to a Grilled Watermelon Salad—packed with summertime flavor! On a Road to Nowhere Have you seen this Auburn man’s van around Gwinnett? It’s hard to miss … to say the least. Aerial Vistas of Your City You won’t need a helicopter to take in bird’s eye views of Gwinnett cities! Your Monthly Box of Excitement! Date night, gourmet coffee, dog toys—find subscription boxes for everything you love! A Penny Saved... Don’t let that money burn a hole in your pocket – invest it!

SUMMER 2021

FOODIE HOUR SCAN FOR MORE! “YUM IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT”

So Fresh & So Green

Grilled Watermelon Salad Expand your summer grilling horizons with this refreshingly flavorful salad of the season! The juicy, caramelized watermelon and peppery arugula paired with zingy balsamic vinegar and blue cheese makes for a decadent (yet healthy) summer treat. So, fire up your grill and try it this weekend!

WHAT YOU NEED: Watermelon, arugula, blue cheese, pistachios, lemon juice, olive oil, balsamic glaze, salt and pepper

WHAT YOU DO: 1. Add your arugula, blue cheese, pistachios, lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper to a medium-sized bowl. Toss the ingredients together, then set aside. 2. Lay a disk of watermelon on cutting board and use a cookie cutter to cut out two circular pieces of watermelon. Use a paper towel to soak up excess moisture, then lightly brush both sides of each watermelon piece with olive oil. 3. Turn the heat up to high on your griddle pan and grill the two watermelon slices for a few minutes on each side, or until black grill marks appear. 4. Place each grilled watermelon slice on a plate and sprinkle with a dash of salt. Then top with a handful of your arugula salad and finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. 5. Serve and enjoy!

SUMMER 2021

Looking for nowhere BY FR A N K RED DY

L O V E G W I N N E T T. C O M

WANDERLUST SCAN FOR MORE! ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Pull up to the stoplight and take in the details of Nick Crosby’s 1994 Mitsubishi Delica Starwagon. It’s not the sort of thing you see every day. Check out the ladder and roof rack with extra storage. Look at that twotone paint coating the squat van. The body rises unusually high off the simmering asphalt. And Crosby, the driver, sits on the right-hand side. Crosby can feel your eyes on him and his imported four-wheel drive, turbo diesel. He doesn’t mind – though, it’s a lot for a guy who says he’s never sought the limelight. A self-described attention shunner, Crosby, 34, of Auburn and formerly of Dacula, says he’s used to “seeing the heads turn” at any given highway crossroads. “It never gets old,” Crosby says. “My wife and I are introverted in a way as far as not wanting the attention on us, but the van attention is different, because people just light up. It makes people smile.” Not minding getting noticed in the Delica could have something to do with the pride he feels for it. He and his dad “put a lot of blood and sweat” into customizing the interior after Crosby bought it in January 2020. The van’s short length is deceptive, given all the modifications Nick and dad, Barry Crosby, crammed inside. Over the summer of 2020, they gut-

SUMMER 2021

WANDERLUST

“ That’s when I knew I’d found the right one – when I realized she was down for traveling and down for sometimes sleeping in a parking lot. ted the inside. They installed cabinets, a wood floor, drawers, a foldout bed, and insulation in the walls and ceiling. They also installed a solar panel and a rear bumper with swing-out spare tire and drop-down table for dining on the road. In addition, Crosby got the suspension lifted to “help us get out in the middle of nowhere without getting stuck.” This notion of “looking for nowhere” is a theme with Crosby. A stated destination of nowhere is an oxymoron that makes better sense the more you talk to him, especially given the origin of his and wife, Lara Crosby’s, courtship. “When I met Lara, we would travel around … we would be vagabonds and hit the road, going camping, hiking, heading out west,” Crosby says. “There were times we’d be sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot or just

about anywhere we could find on the way there.” Added Crosby, laughing: “That’s when I knew I’d found the right one – when I realized she was down for traveling and down for sometimes sleeping in a parking lot.” Crosby actually proposed to Lara while driving the Delica. They got married in September 2020 and drove the van to Colorado for their honeymoon. “We spent a couple weeks there just moseying around trying to find nowhere, trying to dodge all the popular spots,” Crosby says. It was the planned wedding and honeymoon trip dates that spurred Crosby and his dad to finish modifications in the summer of 2020. They did the interior work, but

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GWINNETT MAGAZINE

Crosby found the perfect mechanic to tune up his import: Paul Brodie, owner of Auburn Automotive. Prior to running his own business, Brodie worked for Mitsubishi from 1984-1999 as the southeast region’s master technician. Brodie says working with Crosby was “a breath of fresh air. Nick knew what he wanted, and it turned out really neat. That [Delica] gets a lot of attention too, because you don’t ever see anything like it here.” Brodie explains that Mitsubishi never imported the Delica for sale in the United States: “They had a van similar to it in the mid-80s, but it was gas powered and not four-wheel drive. So, having a diesel, four-wheel drive Delica here is very unique. I’d actually never seen

SUMMER 2021

one in the U.S. until Nick brought it over.” After saving from his day job as a Publix manager and side job as a screen printer, Crosby found a Delica he liked from a Pennsylvania business that imports the vehicles from Japan. “These things aren’t cheap,” Crosby says. “It led to two years of grinding and saving my nickels and dimes.” Crosby’s screen printing business helped financially – especially after comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan sported one of the company’s shirts on a video of one of his podcasts. Whether screen printing or managing Publix stores, friend Kyle Prater says Crosby’s commitment is a testament to his character. “When Nick gets locked in on something, he stays locked in,” Prater says. “Once he sees something and wants it, he’s going to do it and finish it. His commitment to getting that van and seeing it through, that’s everything Nick is and everything he does.” Crosby says it’s been well worth the effort. The attention he gets driving it around – and sometimes, sitting at stoplights – have also prompted many a conversation from curious car enthusiasts. “A lot of people have offered me money for the van but there’s no way in hell I could ever let go of it,” Crosby says. “All the work my dad and I poured into it, it’s definitely got a sentimental attachment for me.”

E D U.YO U SCAN FOR MORE! (UNLESS YOU’RE IN CLASS)

“ WE ARE CAPABLE OF

BY S A L I N A JI VA N I

AMAZING THINGS! “ KATIE BLUM, TEACHER OF THE YEAR

“I am kind, I am brave, I am intelligent, and I am important. Mrs. Blum loves me, my family loves me, and I love myself.” Swing by second-grade teacher Katie Blum’s classroom at Sugar Hill Elementary first thing in the morning and you’ll hear tiny voices chorusing this affirmation. Peek in and you’ll catch sight of small faces following that up with actions: a kiss to the right side and left sides of their brains, their hearts and finishing off by giving themselves some magic before shouting, “We are capable of amazing things!”

SUMMER 2021

EDU.YOU

STU DEN TS

12,542 TEA CH ERS

21,625

EMP LOY EES

12,500 GRAD UATES IN 2020

GCPS IS THE COUN TY'S

179,943

LARG EST EMPL OYER

(GCPS QUICK FACTS!)

% .5 97 OF STUDENTS ATTENDING IN PERSON

2.5

OF STUDENTS ATTENDING DIGITALLY

1,900

99 SCHOOL BUSES

DIFF EREN T

LANG UAGE S

SPO KEN

18,162,460 STUD ENT MEALS SERVE D

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“Amazing”, too, could be used to describe Blum, Gwinnett’s latest recipient of the Teacher of the Year designation. From the moment she was a young girl, Blum was obsessed with everything related to school. She pretended to be a teacher, wielding Expo markers and worksheets; she played school, forcing family and friends to sit in obedient deference as she taught lessons; and she spent every summer eagerly awaiting shopping for school supplies the way most kids awaited the ice cream truck. Each time the magical moment of anticipation finally materialized, she’d scurry through aisles laden with school supplies, enchanted by rainbow colored folders, Post-it notes, markers, and gel pens, tossing everything from workbooks to whiteboards into the cart. It’s no surprise then that Blum didn’t hesitate when it came to selecting a career path. “Many educators I know were inspired by family, teachers, or moments in life,” says Blum. “However, I believe I was genuinely born to be a teacher from the start.” Blum was hired by Gwinnett County Public Schools five years ago, where her zeal for teaching children became immediately evident. She started as a kindergarten teacher at Sugar Hill Elementary, then ventured out to teach nearly every elementary grade in a variety of subjects including math, technology, science, social studies, writing and reading.

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EDU.YOU

“

Many educators I know were inspired by family, teachers, or moments in life, however, I believe I was genuinely born to be a teacher from the start! - KATIE BLUM

Today, Blum cherishes her second graders, having fallen into an effective routine that helps her most impactfully nurture their young minds. She arrives thirty minutes to an hour early, when the hallways are pindrop silent and she’s most productive. She uses that time to tackle emails, grade papers, set up centers and activities and prepare for meetings. When the bell rings at 7:45, she’s ready to greet what she calls her “class family” with a smile, high-fives, hugs and toetaps--just a few of the ways she fosters a positive, safe, and loving environment. Throughout the day, Blum aims to make learning fun by playing songs, encouraging movement and engaging kids in hands-on activities. Her educational philosophy is to inspire, encourage, motivate, and help students rise to expectations through acceptance, love, genuine relationships, and self-efficacy. Blum also believes in celebrating every accomplishment, big or small, so students learn to believe in themselves and realize they can do difficult things. Although it’s still early days into what’s sure to be a lifelong career for Blum, her unyielding passion and

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unique approach to children is eye-catching, even if she herself doesn’t realize it. Initially when she was selected as GCPS’ Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Blum was surprised, even caught off guard. From there, her name was fed into a candidate pool of 139 teachers across the county until one by one each was eliminated in the draw for the county winner. When her name was announced as the county’s Teacher of the Year recipient, Blum was simultaneously floored and flabbergasted. But Blum doesn’t accept the credit singlehandedly for her hard work and dedication, instead passing it with grace to a network of her supporters, her husband being top among them. “I would not be the GCPS Teacher of the Year without

SUMMER 2021

the guidance, encouragement, and influence from my family, friends, mentors, colleagues, and the educators in my life,” she says. “I also would not be here without God’s blessings and His grace. Becoming Gwinnett County’s teacher of the year is not just a reflection of my own abilities and accomplishments but moreso the leadership, teammates, colleagues, and students that I am surrounded by each and every day, who challenge me and support me as I aim to be the best teacher my students deserve.”

L O V E G W I N N E T T. C O M

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Private School

SUMMER 2021

E D U.YO U SCAN FOR MORE! (UNLESS YOU’RE IN CLASS)

If you’re contemplating private school for your child, finding the school that's the best fit for your child is a big part of your decision. Different schools offer different teaching philosophies and learning environments, and making the right match for your child is key to their success. Here are eight important questions that you should ask as you consider a private school. The information you receive will help paint you a clearer picture and guide you in making the best choice for your child.

EDU.YOU

WHAT CURRICULUM IS FOLLOWED?

A curriculum is simply what your child will be expected to learn throughout the school year. It’s imperative that you know what is going to be taught to see if there are any potential questions or disagreements. Private schools are not required to adhere to the state of Georgia’s public school curriculum, but it is easily available online and will tell you what their peers will be learning. This can be helpful so as to have some sort of comparison between the school you’re considering and its public school counterpart. Is it more rigorous? Less? How does it compare to other private schools that you’ve interviewed? Knowing your child’s current academic ability and strengths should help you analyze each school’s curriculum and factor it into your final choice appropriately.

WHAT IS THEIR PHILOSOPHY ON EDUCATION?

This is an area where you can choose your child’s school according to the environment in which they naturally thrive. Some schools have structured, disciplined methods based on fact memorization. Others have a discussion-based approach that is meant to encourage independent thinking. Schools can have a tailored lesson design based on the different learning styles (auditory, visual or kinesthetic). Technology could be heavily featured. Faith could play a part. These are all considerations you have to make in keeping with the child’s needs and your values.

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WHAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED?

Education is well and good, but it’s not the only thing that matters to a student. Extracurriculars provide important social interaction with groups of people with similar interests. They have the power to motivate and inspire children to succeed in other areas as well. What sports do they offer? Are there any student clubs? Are the clubs offered of any interest to your child? Are new clubs allowed to be made? These are the kinds of questions to ask.

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HOW ARE THE PARENTS INVOLVED ?

Parents need to be involved in some way with the education of their children. How do your potential schools foster parental involvement in a healthy way? Are there regular parent-teacher conferences? Is there a parent-teacher organization? What lines of communication are open between the parents and teachers?

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE ?

More individual attention from the teacher results in higher student performance. You want to make sure that the average class size in your potential school isn’t too large. Big class sizes can signal that the school is understaffed and will be unable to give your child the amount of personal education they require.

EDU.YOU

WHAT FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED?

You may want to ask about the school’s facilities to see if they have any truly special offerings. Do they have a computer lab? An audio-visual room? A nice gymnasium? A library? A theater? Depending on your child, a school having one of these paired with an interesting extracurricular can make all the difference.

WHAT IS THE TURNOVER RATE FOR THE STAFF?

This can be an overlooked question, but the answer will provide a key insight in regard to the quality of the school. Would you want to work somewhere with an abnormally high turnover rate? Probably not, so sending your child to a school that churns through teachers can be problematic. Having staff stability shows that both the teachers and the administration are happy with each other. Plus, if your child does eventually have a favorite teacher or teachers, you can be reasonably confident that they will be able to stay in touch with them through the school for years. This builds mutual trust and respect between the students and faculty throughout their education.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOUR SCHOOL HAS OVERCOME?

Every school faces challenges. Whether they have to do with funding, serious issues with the faculty, difficulties with students or anything in between. How they overcome these can reveal the true nature of the administration. If a school claims they have had no challenges or won’t discuss them, it can raise potential red flags. You deserve to see how the administration handles adversity. There are other pertinent questions, but these will get the ball rolling in your interview and ensure that you have a clear perception of the school’s values. Once those have been established, compare them against your own and your child’s requirements to make an informed decision. It can seem daunting, but we know you’ve got what it takes!

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E D U.YO U SCAN FOR MORE! HERE'S TO A BRIGHT FUTURE!

Knowledge is power. The more you know, the further you go. You’ve probably heard these phrases a million times, but if your high schooler is considering higher education, they definitely resonate! It seems a tad early to start digging into the college search process, but it’s worth kicking off those first steps now and save some future stress. Thankfully, there are plenty of accessible resources to help you, from counselors to advisors to websites like BigFuture.org! Ready to get started? A good first step is to understand all the types of colleges and college programs to choose from

SUMMER 2021

GWINNETT MAGAZINE

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES

LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

Public colleges are funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located. Private colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students.

These colleges offer a broad base of courses in the liberal arts, which include subjects such as literature, history, languages, mathematics and life sciences. Most are private and offer fouryear programs that lead to a bachelor’s degree. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study. UNIVERSITIES

FOUR-YEAR AND TWO-YEAR COLLEGES

Four-year colleges offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor’s degree. These include universities and liberal arts colleges. Two-year colleges offer programs that last up to two years and lead to a certificate or an associate degree. These include community colleges, vocational-technical colleges and career colleges.

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Universities often are larger and offer more majors and degree options—bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees—than colleges. Most universities contain several smaller colleges, such as colleges of liberal arts, engineering or health sciences. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study.

GWINNETT MAGAZINE

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

COLLEGES WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS

Community colleges offer two-year associate degrees that prepare you to transfer to a fouryear college to earn a bachelor’s degree. They also offer other associate degrees and certificates that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Community colleges are often an affordable option with relatively low tuition.

Maybe you’d prefer to go to school with classmates who share a certain interest or affiliation. There are many types of specialized schools to choose from, including arts colleges, single-sex colleges, religiously affiliated colleges and specialized mission colleges. FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES

TECHNICAL AND CAREER COLLEGES

Technical and career colleges offer specialized training in a particular industry or career. Possible programs of study include the culinary arts, firefighting, dental hygiene and medical records technology. These colleges usually offer certificates or associate degrees.

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These are businesses that offer a variety of degree programs which typically prepare students for a specific career. They tend to have higher costs, which could mean graduating with more debt. Credits earned may not transfer to other colleges, so be sure to check with the admissions office at each college.

GWINNETT MAGAZINE

HERE’S A LIST OF MANY OF THE OUTSTANDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF ALL KINDS ACROSS GWINNETT AND OUR ENTIRE STATE! LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

+ Georgia State University

+ Agnes Scott College

+ Kennesaw State University

+ Berry College

+ University of Georgia

+ Gwinnett Technical College

+ Morehouse College

+ University of North Georgia

+ West Georgia Technical College

+ Oglethorpe University

+ University of West Georgia

UNIVERSITIES + Clark Atlanta University + Emory University + Life University + Georgia College & State University + Georgia Institute of Technology + Georgia Southern University

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Perimeter College

COLLEGES WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS

+ Spelman College + Young Harris College

+ Georgia State University –

COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL & CAREER COLLEGES

+ Agnes Scott College

+ Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

+ Spelman College

+ Atlanta Institute of Music and Media + Central Georgia Technical College + Chattahoochee Technical College + Georgia Highlands College + Georgia Military College

+ Brenau College + Wesleyan College + Morehouse College + Savannah College of Art and Design + The Art Institute of Atlanta + Covenant College + Emmanuel College

LEADERS & LEGENDS SCAN FOR MORE! LET’S MAKE SOME HISTORY!

A Lasting Legacy BY PAUL RY D E N

GWINNET T MAGA ZINE RECENTLY SAT DOWN FOR A LONG CHAT WITH J. ALVIN WILBANKS ABOUT HIS LIFE IN EDUCATION.

It was a snowy day in 1986 and the president of two-year-old Gwinnett Technical College had just discovered, firsthand, that getting to school that day was going to be a lot harder than he thought. “I had gone up to school and as I crossed what is now Sugarloaf, there was kind of a (low place in the road). Well, unbeknownst to me, the snow was deep (there) … and the car just stopped.” J. Alvin Wilbanks laughs, recalling his struggle to keep the school open.

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LEADERS, LEGACIES & LEGENDS

“So, I went out and got a tractor from the horticulture department and cleaned out the snow. We spent a good day cleaning off the parking lot and the sidewalks.” It got the job done and school was open for business. “You do what you need to do,” Wilbanks says. More than three decades later as superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools, Wilbanks kept that determination to stay open whether the obstacle was snow, natural disasters or even a global pandemic. “I’m a firm believer that kids need to be in school…We have a job to educate kids,” he says. Education and its impact on the community have been Wilbanks’ passion for almost 60 years, and until the Gwinnett County Board of Education terminated his contract a year before it expired, nothing had slowed him down. No reason was given for releasing Wilbanks before his contract expired, though the vote to do so ran along party lines, with the three Democrats voting to remove him. Wilbanks had already announced he’d be leaving when his contract expired in 2022. "Don't feel sorry for me,” said Wilbanks at a school board meeting the night of his dismissal in March. “I've had a great career. I've worked with some of the finest people that exist, most of them here in this district ... but there is a time for all things and sometimes it comes (to an end) maybe in a different way than you would like it to be, but I'm going to be OK." That career overseeing what has become the 13th largest school district in the country seemed to be the fur-

GCPS DISTRICT HONORS DURING WILBANKS’ TENURE

thest thing from young Wilbanks’ mind as a growing boy in Jackson County.

‘A family that worked hard’ “If I had breakfast at home and I didn’t have ham or something else, I thought the world was going to end,” he recalls with a laugh, remembering food aplenty along with his mother’s homemade biscuits. His dad held down two jobs: textile mill worker and farmer. “We were a family that worked hard,” Wilbanks recalls. And that manual labor wasn’t reserved for Dad on the farm and Mom in the kitchen. “I came home every day and on my father’s desk was a list of things for my brothers and me to do,” he says. With hogs, chickens, and cows on the premises, there was plenty of work to go around: mending fences, tending to chickens, feeding cows. “One of the hogs was always unlucky come fall and one of the cows was also unlucky,” he says. Such was life in peaceful Nicholson, Georgia where, Wilbanks says, “I would have had to go five or six miles to get in trouble.”

THREE-TIME FINALIST (2009, 2010, AND

RECOGNIZED ON FORBES’ LIST OF

2014) AND TWO-TIME WINNER (2010 AND

BEST EMPLOYERS FOR WOMEN

2014) OF THE BROAD PRIZE FOR URBAN

2020 AND AS A FORBES TOP STATE

EDUCATION

EMPLOYER FOR 2020

COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT

ONE OF THE NATION’S BEST COM-

(AP) DISTRICT OF THE YEAR (2017)

MUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION (MULTIPLE YEARS)

OUTSTANDING GREAT DISTRICT FOR GREAT TEACHERS (2017)

GEORGIA’S 2018 GOVERNANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR

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He was accepted to North Georgia College after high school but instead ended up at the University of Georgia looking to major in political science with an eye toward a possible career in politics. “I was like most 18-year-olds and didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” he says. That all changed when he got a look at the head of the education department, Orville Harrison. And what about his appearance appealed to the impressionable youngster? With a chuckle, 61 years later, Wilbanks says: “He looked like a professor, in my opinion.” With the fatherly threat of vanishing funds if he didn’t keep up his grades, Wilbanks got his degree and went to work as an industrial arts teacher. “I was nervous, to say the least. I wasn’t sure, totally, what to expect because from the time I was a student in high school to the time I started was four years and things had changed a little bit,” he says. So, he honed his skills and made every effort to be as relevant as he could be.

‘There’s got to be trust’ He made his way through the education hierarchy – from a Tucker High School industrial arts teacher in 1964 to assistant principal starting in 1971, to principal the following year, to the Georgia Department of Education in 1981. When the GCPS superintendent at the time, Dr. Sidney Faucette, was about to be released from his duties, the call

SUPERINTENDENT HONORS FOR WILBANKS

went out to Wilbanks, who was assistant superintendent, Human Resources and Continuous Improvement, at the time. “I was going into the kitchen where we had a wall phone and as I passed it, it rang. It was Mrs. (Louise) Radloff, (chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Education.) And, she told me to ‘Get down here – now!’” Casually dressed in a red flannel shirt, Wilbanks said he was not properly attired to appear before the school board, but Radloff insisted. “Come on down,” she said, according to Wilbanks. “We don’t have time. Come on down now.” So, he did. Wilbanks was appointed interim superintendent that night, and two weeks later he was in charge. It’s a position he’s held till this summer. To head any organization for a quarter of a century requires staying power. That, and Wilbanks’ key to good leadership: “Number one, I think there’s got to be trust.” Trust is a word that exemplified Wilbanks’ leadership style, according to

OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR (2000),

FINALIST FOR NATIONAL SUPER-

AWARDED BY THE GEORGIA SCHOOL SU-

INTENDENT OF THE YEAR (2005)

PERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION (GSSA)

FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE GEORGIA EDUCATION COALITION (2006)

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD (2004), AWARDED BY EDU-

VANLANDINGHAM COMMITMENT

CATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

TO EDUCATION AWARD (2016),

INSTITUTE

AWARDED BY THE GEORGIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION

GEORGIA SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR (2005)

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CONTINUED ON PG.44

LEADERS, LEGACIES & LEGENDS

L O V E G W I N N E T T. C O M

GWINNETT MAGAZINE

“

Gwinnett County students, faculty, teachers and parents have benefited from the leadership of Wilbanks for 25 years. - GOV. BRIAN KEMP

people who worked alongside him. “He was really hands off and he was a leader, not a manager,” says Roy Rucks, a former principal of then Parkview Technical High School and Maxwell High School of Technology in Gwinnett County. He tells of meetings in which Wilbanks addressed school leaders, saying, “It’s like driving a car. If you keep your car on the road, we’re fine. But if you drive it into a ditch, we’re going to have a meeting.” Wilbanks’ leadership style served him in shepherding Gwinnett Tech through its first few years. His active involvement with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce gave him the contacts and credibility he needed to help Gwinnett County Public Schools as well. Talk to anyone looking to relocate and one of

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the first qualifications for where to buy a home is the local school system. How are the schools? Under Wilbanks’ leadership, Gwinnett County Public Schools – through its academic excellence – has been one of the biggest draws to people looking for the right place to live with the right schools for their children. “Gwinnett County students, faculty, teachers and parents have benefited from the leadership of [Wilbanks] for 25 years,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “During Mr. Wilbanks’ tenure, Gwinnett County Public Schools won state and national awards for excellence, including the prestigious Broad Prize for

LEADERS, LEGACIES & LEGENDS

Urban Education. [My wife], the girls, and I join Gwinnett families in thanking Mr. Wilbanks for his service and dedication to education in the Peach State.” Another Georgia governor, Nathan Deal, worked with Wilbanks quite a lot and says he too appreciated his style of leadership. “When we were having to make large decisions about funding for example, and making innovative changes in education, [Wilbanks] was always one of those you could count on,” Deal says. “He would give you his opinion, and he wouldn’t try to force his opinion on anybody – it’s just that he had a great deal of experience and he drew on that experience.” Adds Deal: “He had leadership qualities that were respected by many who knew him and observed what he was able to accomplish in the largest school system in the state.”

CONTINUED FROM PG.62

Wilbanks says that when at the helm of the largest school system in the state “ … You want people to appreciate it and feel good about it, and I think that’s the challenge we have, to continue making sure that people know we’ve got a good school district and we’re educating their kids.” And they’re graduating four-year students at an increasing rate, moving up from 80.2% in 2019 to 83.23% in 2020. That’s just an average; most are well above that, with all but two schools registering an increase in minting high school graduates. SAT scores in Gwinnett County are a cut above the national average. Twice, in 2010 and 2014, GCPS has won The Broad Prize for Urban Education, recognizing the district as one of the nation’s best. Wilbanks himself, among his many accolades, was named Georgia Superintendent of the Year in 2005 and has been a finalist for the national title four times.

‘I saw Alvin work day and night’ Obviously, a lot changed during Wilbanks’ tenure as superintendent. One of the biggest changes was triggered by a national tragedy in the spring of 1999, just three years into his first term. The first widely publicized school shooting made headlines and school systems nationwide felt the ripple effects.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD

SILVER BEAVER AWARD (2002),

(2005) AWARDED BY GEORGIA STATE

AWARDED BY NORTHEAST GEORGIA

UNIVERSITY

COUNCIL OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

AMERICA

(2016), AWARDED BY THE UNIVER-

SCOTT HUDGENS DISTINGUISHED

SITY OF GEORGIA COLLEGE OF

CITIZEN AWARD (2008), AWARDED BY

BILL BARR LEADERSHIP AWARD

EDUCATION

NORTHEAST GEORGIA COUNCIL OF THE

(2013), AWARDED BY GSSA

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA “A PAGE TURNING EVENT” HONOR-

RELAY FOR LIFE SUPERINTENDENT

EE (2016), EVENT HELD BY PROFES-

COMPAÑEROS AWARDS FOR OUTSTAND-

OF THE YEAR DIVISION AWARD

SIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA

ING PUBLIC SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP

WINNER (2013-14), AWARDED BY THE

EDUCATORS (PAGE)

(2007), AWARDED BY LATIN AMERICAN

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY-SOUTH

ASSOCIATION

ATLANTIC DIVISION

THE YEAR (2004), AWARDED BY THE

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY AWARD

LEADING BY EXAMPLE AWARD

GWINNETT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(2012), AWARDED BY GWINNETT CLEAN &

(2016), AWARDED BY ADVANCED

GWINNETT CHAMBER CITIZEN OF

BEAUTIFUL

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GWINNETT MAGAZINE

“Columbine really established new procedures, how we deal with threats, anything suspicious,” he says. It wasn’t always that way. When, as assistant principal at Tucker High School in the late ’60s, he’d receive a bomb threat, he had only to look out the office window to the pay phone down the hall. “I’d look out and there the kid would be on the phone, calling in a bomb threat,” he says. It may have been the turbulent ’60s but it was still a more innocent time. Most other threats were treated as pranks. “You’d be dumb to do that today,” he says. “You just wouldn’t do it today. Any threat of that nature, you check it out and you prepare for it because of what has happened.” Back in those days, school counsel-

ors not only helped students prepare for college but walked them through the minefield of adolescence, guiding them through everything from boyfriend and girlfriend troubles to problems at home. Nowadays, the load has increased and with that, Wilbanks sees an opportunity and a challenge. “We refer to it now as SEL: Social Emotional Learning. (Counselors) have to do a lot of things just to make sure that kids know that somebody loves them, that somebody’s looking at their progress,” he says. That takes listening, something Wilbanks has made a top priority in dealing with critics and supporters. It also takes cooperation, a spirit of inclusiveness, and an ear for diverse input – the kind of collaboration fostered through Cross-Functional Action Teams, representatives from all areas of the school system and the community. Listening is only a small part of Wilbanks' leadership style. In his run-up to superintendent he proved himself a tireless worker. In 1981 he helped organize the International Skills Olympics, an event at the World Congress Center that attracted students from more than a hundred countries for a competition in career skills like auto mechanics, carpentry, cosmetology and electronics.

APPOINTMENTS FOR STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

GOVERNANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR

DURING MR. WILBANKS’ TENURE, HE

GOV. ROY BARNES APPOINTED MR.

AWARD (2018), AWARDED BY GEOR-

HAS BEEN TAPPED FOR A NUMBER OF

WILBANKS TO THE EDUCATION RE-

LEADERSHIP ROLES AND OPPORTUNITIES

FORM STUDY COMMITTEE (2000)

GIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION (GSBA) IN THE AWARD’S INAUGURAL YEAR TO MR. WILBANKS AND THE

TO SERVE AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

MEMBERS OF THE GWINNETT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

GOV. SONNY PERDUE APPOINTED HIM TO THE SELECT TASK FORCE

HE SERVED SEVEN YEARS AS CHAIRMAN OF

THAT RECOMMENDED REVISIONS TO

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE TEACH-

THE STATE’S QUALITY BASIC EDUCA-

ERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF GEORGIA.

TION (QBE) ACT SCHOOL FUNDING

(2019), AWARDED BY GEORGIA ASSO-

FORMULA (2004)

CIATION FOR CAREER AND TECHNI-

U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY ROD PAIGE

CAL EDUCATION IN THE AWARD’S

TAPPED MR. WILBANKS TO SERVE AS THE

GOV. NATHAN DEAL APPOINTED

INAUGURAL YEAR (GOING FORWARD,

ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTEN-

MR. WILBANKS TO CHAIR THE JOINT

THE AWARD WILL BE NAMED AFTER

DENT ON THE NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING

STUDY COMMITTEE CHARGED WITH

MR. WILBANKS)

COMMITTEE FOR TITLE I STUDENTS AND

ESTABLISHING A STATEWIDE SCHOOL

ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER THE FEDERAL

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOR GEORGIA

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (2002)

(2017)

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD (2021), AWARDED BY GSSA SUMMER 2021

LEADERS, LEGACIES & LEGENDS

“

I've had a great career. I've worked with some of the finest people that exist, most of them here in this district ... but there is a time for all things and sometimes it comes (to an end) maybe in a different way than you would like it to be, but I'm going to be OK. - J. ALVIN WILBANKS

“I saw Alvin work day and night. I’ve seen him stay up all night working. He was a principal in DeKalb at the time and he’d show up fresh the next morning for work,” says Rucks. Listening to different points of view reflects Wilbanks’ management philosophy, one that fosters innovation and teamwork, even in an organization as large as GCPS. Sometimes these seemingly small processes get taken for granted, but it's part of the protocol that drives teamwork and communication across the organization. “I’ll bring people in and run ideas by them and some of them like them and some have a lot of questions about them,” he says. “And I’ll bring the ones with questions back for a second conversation. Normally, they’ve had conversations with others. If you’re the only one who wants to do something, it’s not going to happen.”

‘Somebody who cared about people’ At the end of July, the school board voted unanimously to hire former GCPS school- and district-level administrator Dr. Calvin Watts to fill Wilbanks’ recently vacated post. Watts, who previously spent more than 10 years with the district, left GCPS in 2015 to be superintendent of the Kent School District in Washington. New leadership is here, and, on the very near horizon, a new high school – Seckinger High in Buford – that will emphasize an area of study unheard of when Wilbanks assumed the mantle of leadership at GCPS: artificial intelligence. “I’m here to tell you, I could’ve fit everybody that supported that idea when it was mentioned into this room.” Yet, feeder schools in the new Seckinger cluster are already laying the foundations of AI so that interested students will be ready to

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tackle those classes in high school and beyond. “The experts say that artificial intelligence – and it’s not going to happen, it’s already happening now – is going to do away with fifty million jobs. But, the good part of that is it’s going to create fifty million jobs.” The jobs that look to occupy Wilbanks’ time in the next chapter of his life will combine his passion for woodworking with a love of children, especially his five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Missing from his routine will be the Friday night dinner dates with Celeste, his wife of 57 years. That was a tradition they instituted during his tenure as superintendent. Celeste passed away this past May. Wilbanks reminisced about those date nights three months before she passed. “She never fussed when I got home late. Before the pandemic, Friday night was our night to go out and eat … We have no kids at home, our two daughters work too. So, I try to make that her night.” In his spare time, Wilbanks enjoys woodworking projects. When he was president at Gwinnett Tech, he built his own bookshelves, such is his way with hammer and saw. “I’ve got a pattern for outdoor swings and I’ve built three and I’ve got another one cut out. I’m going to finish it. I don’t want to sit down and not do anything.” Wilbanks keeps his mind fresh reading three or four journals a week and is currently engrossed in a book about

SUMMER 2021

one of his favorite presidents, Dwight Eisenhower. There’s a famous picture of Ike as general, taken the day before the D-Day invasion in 1944. In it, he is talking with the troops, the young men who would, in a matter of hours, stage the largest amphibious invasion in history, the event that turned the tide of World War II. “Most people would think they’re talking about the battle,” says Wilbanks, “But they’re talking about fly fishing. He was just trying to get their mind off the war.” Wilbanks isn’t saving the world for democracy or bringing down tyrants, but in an everyday way, he and those who have worked for him the last quarter of a century have been preparing Gwinnett County Public Schools students for their often-uncertain futures. Sometimes that means just getting their young minds off their own personal battles. And he returns to a familiar theme. “Sometimes, just speaking to a kid makes a huge difference. Or asking them, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ Something that’ll make a connection and get them talking. That’s what teachers need to do. There shouldn’t be a kid in a class that feels like nobody loves them.” Gwinnett County Public Schools is not a transportation company but shuttles thousands of students on 1,900 buses. GCPS is not a restaurant but in a typical year serves up millions of meals in their cafeterias. Nor is it a construction company but it’s built 49 new school campuses, seven replacement schools, and a charter school in the last 25 years, with another high school on the way. GCPS is also Gwinnett County’s largest employer and one of the top employers in Georgia. And over it all was J. Alvin Wilbanks, grateful to be working in education for 58 years and enthusiastic every time he walks through the doors of the building bearing his name. “I want to be remembered as a good person who treated people fairly, who did my part in what I was supposed to do. I also want to be a person that people can remember that made a contribution to society beyond me and my household. But more important, you just want to be remembered as somebody who cared about people – all people.”

Can you see your house from up here? Gwinnett Magazine recently sent a drone up in the sky on a special mission – to capture the unique features of each city from an aerial point of view. Flip through the following pages and examine every Gwinnett County city from a fresh perspective. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so enjoy!

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Where’s the best spot in your favorite city? Follow these directions and you could be in the next issue of Gwinnett Magazine!

STEP 1:

Tear out this page mind) (it’s ok, we won’t and cut along the dotted lines.

STEP 2:

d Use the frame an e! take a pictur

STEP 3:

Tag us! ine), (@gwinnettmagaz about Write a quick post u like that great place yo tt! to visit in Gwinne

HOME LIFE SCAN FOR MORE! KNOCK KNOCK , WHO'S THERE?

HAPPINESS AT YO U R DOOR STEP 7 MON THLY SUB SCR IPTI ON BOX ES TO BRIN G A SMI LE TO YOU R FAC E

These days, it’s no wonder why there’s a subscription box for

just about anything. Every month, you can look forward to a fresh box of unique and useful items at an unbeatable value! Isn’t it more fun to get a surprise gift (that’s specially curated for you) delivered straight to your door every month rather than spending hours circling the mall? Check out these seven premium subscription boxes that give everyone in the family (including Fido) something to look forward to!

L O V E G W I N N E T T. C O M

SUMMER 2021

HOME LIFE

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BARKBOX!

BARKBOX $23/month This popular subscription box will give your four-legged friend something to wag their tail about all month long! Every box comes with two fun and durable toys, two bags of all-natural treats with unique, tasty recipes and a chew—all totally customized for your dog’s size and dietary needs. Plus, each box has a new surprise theme—previous favorites include Space Jam and Barkfest in Bed! Subscribe and let the drool-worthy excitement begin!

2 THE HOUSE PLANT BOX $15.99/month SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBSCRIBE TO

THE HOUSE PLANT BOX!

There’s no better way to bring life, color and a feeling of completion to your home than with a beautiful house plant! The House Plant Box curates and safely delivers a happy, healthy, high-quality plant to you every month along with an informative care card and pot. Choose from various categories including aquatic plants, succulents, cacti and pet-friendly/non-toxic or seasonal garden herbs and veggies. They even offer air plants that don’t require soil to thrive! Order now and transform your home into a plant-filled paradise!

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3 ATLAS COFFEE CLUB $14/month

Start your morning (and your whole month) off right with amazing artisanal coffees from all across the world! Every month you’ll receive a bag of freshlyroasted premium coffee from a new country and an informative postcard with tasting notes and brewing tips—all personalized based on your taste preferences and coffee-drinking habits. Every batch of their single origin, micro-lot coffee is produced ethically, with high earnings for farmers SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBSCRIBE TO

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SUMMER 2021

HOME LIFE

5 CANDY CLUB $29.99/month Keep your sweet tooth satisfied with monthly gourmet treats from Candy Club–it’s like a candy shop wonderland in a box! Enjoy various premium candies from gummies to sours to chocolates, all specially chosen for you based on your taste preferences. Some best-sellers include the Sour Gummy Octopus, Cookies ‘N Cream Bites and Dark Chocolate Coffee Beans. Keep the sugar rush rolling and join

the Candy Club today—it’s a candy lover’s dream come true!

SAY IT WITH A SOCK $12.99/month Say goodbye to your boring, wornout socks and liven up your sock drawer with fun, fresh pairs from Say It with a Sock! Whether you want to go all-out with vibrant colors and quirky designs or prefer to stick with

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBSCRIBE TO

CANDY CLUB!

classic patterns, their high-quality socks will give your feet something to look forward to every month. Made with durable double knitting and premium fabrics, this monthly sock surprise will surely put a pep in your step!

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBSCRIBE TO

SAY IT WITH A SOCK!

L O V E G W I N N E T T. C O M

HOME LIFE

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBSCRIBE TO

DATE NIGHT IN BOX

DATE NIGHT IN BOX $41.99/month Get a magical date night delivered straight to your door—no need to go out and overspend! Every box is filled with interactive activities, themed accessories to set the mood, chef-curated recipes, a customized playlist and a delicious snack you and your partner will both enjoy. Past theme favorites include Roaring Twenties, 90’s Throwback and HGTV Adventure! Whether you and your partner want to stay in your PJ’s or dress up for the occasion, your at-home date will be a night to remember!

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7 KIWICO $19.95/month Ignite your child’s love of learning by sparking their curiosity and engaging them with rewarding challenges from KiwiCo! KiwiCo’s subscription crates are packed with hands-on projects, educational crafts and informative books and magazines—all made with high-quality, keepsake-worthy materials. They have eight unique crates designed for various age groups from newborns to teens, that dig into subjects from Science & Engineering to Art & Design to Geography & Culture! Kickstart your child’s next learning adventure today!

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SUBSCRIBE TO

KIWICO!

SUMMER 2021

PODIUM SCAN FOR MORE! HEADPHONES OUT, PEOPLE!

Nicole Love Hendrickson CHAIRWOMAN, GWINNET T COUNT Y BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Get vaccinated: Help defeat COVID-19 variants As the new school year begins and people resume their lives after a long year of isolation, it would be tempting to declare victory over COVID-19 and assume the threat is over. However, epidemiologists, virologists and other scientists are warning us that the Delta variant is spreading. It appears the variant is more lethal than the original virus and much more transmissible. In fact, it is the dominant version in the U.S. Experts say that the best way to fight the pandemic individually and collectively is to get vaccinated. You will be less likely to catch the disease and if you do, the symptoms won’t be nearly as bad. If you have not been fully vaccinated, you are most at risk. Studies show that 99 percent of the new COVID-19 cases are occurring in unvaccinated people. The good news is that everyone over the age of 12 is now eligible for the vaccine. The vaccines are free, and they are safe. Presidents Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush and Clinton have all been vaccinated. I have, too. The vaccine will help protect your family, friends, co-workers and people you meet, some of whom may have significant health issues. Even if you’ve had COVID-19, public health experts still recommend you get vaccinated.

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Finding a vaccination is easy – just visit VaccineFinder.org to make an appointment. I’m immensely grateful to the staff and volunteers at the Gwinnett Health Department who operated a mass vaccination site at the former Sears retail store at Gwinnett Place Mall. The department now offers the vaccine by appointment or walk-up at health centers and various locations around the county. I’m also proud that Gwinnett County has partnered with Eastside Medical Center in Snellville to offer a vaccine clinic. Some major pharmacy chains, grocery stores and healthcare providers are providing the vaccine as well. In addition to vaccines, the CDC advises that people should continue to use all the tools available to help stop the pandemic, such as wearing a mask in public, washing hands frequently, staying 6 feet apart and avoiding large crowds. Because COVID-19 affects people in different ways, it only makes sense to get the vaccine rather than risk severe illness or death or inadvertently infecting another person. As of mid-summer, Gwinnett County has had more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 1,200 deaths. That’s too many, which is why we’re sharing information from health experts and teaming up with experts at life – Gwinnett Moms – to encourage everyone to get vaccinated. To hear what these moms have to say, visit ListenToGwinnettMoms.com. Help us beat COVID-19 once and for all.

LEADERS, LEGACIES & LEGENDS

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MO' MONEY SCAN FOR MORE! DOESN' T GROW ON TREES!

Dollars & Sense Managing Money from Teens to Retirement

We work hard, and we want to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The temptation can be strong to spend money on extravagancies for ourselves and others. But putting money aside for later means investing in our future, and it’s just smart.

ur ears. ent for yo tm s e v in this story An to listen to

R Code cast! Scan the Q innett Pod on the Gw

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LEADERS, LEGACIES & LEGENDS

THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION HAS OFFERED SOME MONEY MANAGEMENT ADVICE THAT SPANS ALL AGE GROUPS, BEGINNING WITH TEENAGERS:

TEENS

YOUNG ADULTS

Save money before you’re tempted to spend it. When you get cash for your birthday, from chores, or a job, put 10 percent in a savings account. Also, put spare change to use. When emptying your pockets at the end of the day, put some of the loose change in a jar or container. At the end of the month, put it all in a savings account at the bank.

Start saving now for long-term goals like a house, owning a business, or saving for retirement (it’s a long time off, but it’s never too early). Create a budget for yourself. It’s a good way to see where your money is which can shape the way you spend it in the future. Get started building a good credit score by getting a credit card, spending wisely and paying it on time.

NEWLYWEDS

MIDLIFE

Have a candid talk with each other about finances. Set short-term and long-term goals. Talk about buying a home. Work through a monthly budget of expenses. Discuss whether or not you’d like to have a joint bank account or keep your earnings separate.

In this phase, and we’re talking late 30s to late 50s, you should focus on retirement and your child’s college expenses (if applicable). It’s important to determine how to maximize your income during your remaining working years, so that you’re well-positioned for retirement. Do this by contributing to an IRA and/or a 401(k). Explore ways to save money for your children. Use a 529 plan or other savings account.

AFTER YOU RETIRE Time to reap your reward: visit places you’ve never seen, take up a new hobby or spend more time with your loved ones. Being successful in retirement means you’ve got to make the most of your income and investments. Have your Social Security benefits, pension and other income automatically deposited into your account each month. Consider a second career or working part time to boost your retirement income. Be careful with credit cards and monitor your accounts closely.

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SUMMER 2021

GREEN FINANCIAL RESOURCES (GFR)/ROGER S. GREEN, MSFS, CFP ®

OF GWINNE

OFG

W I N N E T T.

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G R E E N F I N A N C I A L R E S O U R C E S , L LC 3700 CREST WOOD PK W Y NW, SUITE 140 DULUTH, GA 30096 770.931.1414 | ROGERSGREEN.COM

INVESTMENT ADVISOR REPRESENTATIVES OFFERING SECURITIES AND ADVISORY SERVICES THROUGH CETERA ADVISORS LLC, A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR, BROKER/DEALER, MEMBER FINRA, SIPC. GREEN FINANCIAL AND CETERA ADVISORS ARE NOT AFFILIATED. AWARDS ARE NOT TO BE CONSIDERED A GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS, NOR AS AN ENDORSEMENT BY ANY CLIENT. SMALL BUSINESS AWARD RANKINGS ARE BASED ON GROWTH, REVENUE, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND OTHER CRITERIA. BARRON’S RANKINGS BASED ON TOTAL ASSETS (AUM), REVENUE, AND OTHER FACTORS. BEST OF GWINNETT WINNERS ARE CHOSEN VIA VOTING AND EDITORS’ INPUT, & OPINIONS ARE VETTED WITH THE USE OF OTHER AVAILABLE INFORMATION. PUBLIC SERVICE VIA STANDING AND SERVICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.