Peachtree Corners Magazine - February/March 2020 by Peachtree Corners Magazine

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PEACHTREE CORNERS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 ISSUE 7

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MAILED TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE CITY!

Vibrant Technology at the Heart of Five Innovative Companies Also in this issue:

Tara’s Journey Leads to a Healthier Path for Georgians

MATT MELLOTT, CEO BRIGHTREE

NEW SIMPSON ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL PAGE 43

6 PLACES TO EAT ASIAN IN PEACHTREE CORNERS PAGE 56

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together Now

for your health.

Northside Hospital and Gwinnett Medical Center have joined forces to bring better health care to the communities we serve. We don’t take this mission lightly. That’s why our new system unites our many convenient locations, our broad network of distinguished physicians and extensive array of comprehensive services. Because exceptional health care isn’t any one thing. It’s everything.

Welcome to your Northside.

northside.com

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

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February/March 2020 â&#x2013; Peachtree Corners Magazine

CONTENTS EVENTS

First Up

BUSINESS LIFE

Tara’s Journey Leads to a Healthier Path for Georgians

Jewish Black History at MJCCA

COVER STORY

20 Vibrant Technology at the Heart of Five Innovative Companies

Vibrant Technology at the Heart of Five Innovative Companies

BUSINESS LIFE

Tech Companies Flock to Peachtree Corners

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

Brightree Grand Opening

SUMMER CAMPS

Summer Camp, Where Every Day Is an Adventure

KNOWLEDGE

New Simpson Elementary Principal Aims to Help Build Tomorrow’s Leaders

Flex Friday: A Sporting Opportunity

BELIEVE

Chabad of Gwinnett Builds on Faith

14 Tara’s Journey

43 New Simpson Principal

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wesleyan Artist Market Slated for April

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Returns for 20th Year

NOURISH

6 Places to Eat Asian in Peachtree Corners SPACES

Market Snapshot

OFFICIAL CITY NEWS

Inside Peachtree Corners

On the Cover

37 Summer Camps

Matt Mellott, CEO of Brightree, one of 5 companies in Peachtree Corners that we featured in a high level profiles. Photography by George Hunter.

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

PEACHTREECORNERS THE TEAM & CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER

RICO FIGLIOLINI CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

RICO FIGLIOLINI

KATHY DEAN

Rico Figliolini is a creative director and social media strategist, three-time magazine publisher and podcast host. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York and is a political junky, sci-fi and anime fan, and avid reader and movie binger.

Kathy Dean has been a writer and editor for over 20 years. Some of the publications she has contributed to are Atlanta Senior Life, Atlanta INtown, Transatlantic Journal and The Guide to Coweta and Fayette Counties.

Publisher & Executive Editor

KATHY DEAN EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

RITA FIGLIOLINI

Contributing Editor

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

PATRIZIA WINSPER

JULIE DAVIS julie@livinginpeachtreecorners.com

PEACHTREECORNERS

COCKTAIL DRINKS FOR MOST ANYTIME ■ REAL ESTATE SNAPSHOT

RITA FIGLIOLINI

Writer

INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS

Editorial Consultant

Patrizia hails from Toronto, Canada where she earned an Honors B.A. in French and Italian Studies at York University, and a B.Ed. at the University of Toronto. This trilingual former French teacher has called Georgia home since 1998. Catch her reporting about our vibrant city on the Peachtree Corners Network.

Rita Figliolini has lived in PTC for 23 years with her husband and life partner, Rico Figliolini. Proud mom of 3 — Jason, Kinsey and Jack. Former Managing Editor of the original Inside Gwinnett, she’s now Advisor to PTC Magazine. Telling stories is in our blood!

WINTER ISSUE 2019 LIVINGINPEACHTREECORNERS.COM

IoT. 5G. AI. City as Living Lab

TOWN CENTER PREVIEW PULLOUT

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PEACHTREECORNERS SPRING ISSUE 2019 LIVINGINPEACHTREECORNERS.COM

ISSUE 2 ■ FREE

PEACHTREE CORNERS FESTIVAL

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JUNE/JULY 2019 ISSUE 3

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RETIREMENT LIVING SUMMER CAMPS

SMART CITY EXPO ATLANTA 2019

AGING IN THE PERFECT PLACE

INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS

DON’T WAIT TO PLAN SUMMER CAMP FUN!

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PEACHTREE CORNERS PET RESCUE

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Local heroes come to animals’ rescue

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSUE 4

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HOT! HOT! HOT!

There are many options for homebuyers in Peachtree Corners, but more are needed 4/1/2019 5:42:56 PM

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PEACHTREE CORNERS SWIM MEET PETS & THEIR PEACHTREE CORNERS PEOPLE ■

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FITNESS & FRIENDSHIPS FOR THE WIN!

MAILED TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE CITY!

INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS

A Summer of Rivalries, Friendships & Family

POSTAL CUSTOMER

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION

IB Programme takes local schools DECEMBER to an international level 2019/JANUARY 2020

POSTAL CUSTOMER

PAGE 33

ISSUE 6

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BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Preparing for Life Through Scouting

GWINNETT SWIM CHAMPS City Swim Teams Shine

MAILED TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE CITY!

SPACES: APARTMENT LIFE

20 UNDER 20

A Guide to 20 Locations in the City

GREAT SPACES FOR CORPORATE & HOLIDAY EVENTS PAGE 20

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VOICES OF FOOTBALL

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Local groups help businesses come and grow

PHOTO GALLERY AND WINNERS OF OUR “PETS & THEIR PEOPLE” GIVEAWAY

Donna Williams Lewis is a freelance journalist who covered metro Atlanta for decades as a writer and editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Writer

MAILED TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE CITY!

ACTION!

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 ISSUE 5

Julie Davis is an accomplished sales rep with over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry. When not working or spending time with friends and family, Julie can be found melting glass, as she is an avid fused glass artist.

LIGHTS, CAMERA

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TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SCHOOLS

DONNA WILLIAMS LEWIS

Account Executive

sweets & treats

Intelligent vehicle test track brings the future, and the world, to Peachtree Corners

JULIE DAVIS

YMCA HONORS RESIDENT WITH NEW PLAYGROUND PAGE 44

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY FOODS & DESSERTS PAGE 40

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PUBLISHED BY MIGHTY ROCKETS LLC. 4305 River Stream Circle, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 678-358-7858 editor@livinginpeachtreecorners.com Peachtree Corners Magazine is published four times a year by Mighty Rockets LLC. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers and editors are not necessarily those of the publishers, editors or Peachtree Corners Magazine. The publisher will not accept responsibility for submitted materials that are lost or stolen. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement it seems unfit for publication or does not fit in our guidelines. February/March 2020 issue Volume 2 Number 7 ©2020 Peachtree Corners Magazine

GEORGE HUNTER

REMI DELONG

George Hunter is an IT professional from Alaska by way of Texas. His primary hobby is photography, covering a wide range of subjects from pets to cosplay, sports to fashion. Volunteering and fostering dogs brings him much joy. George, his wife Lila and their rescued dogs have made their home in west Gwinnett for almost 20 years.

Remi DeLong is a student at Norcross High School, aspiring to be a special education teacher in the future. In addition to her studies, she is a part of the yearbook staff and is a varsity cheerleader. Her main hobbies include photography and raising her two pet goldfish.

Photographer

JUDI KANNE

JOE EARLE

Judi Kanne is a registered nurse and independent journalist, who offers readers clinically credible health information in an easy-to-understand format. As a freelance journalist, she’s consulted with national and international public health organizations. She’s a regular contributor to local, regional and national media.

Veteran newspaperman Joe Earle has covered Georgia and Atlanta and its suburbs since the 1980s. Before that, he worked for newspapers in Kansas and South Carolina.

Writer

FAMILY OF PODCASTS |

Writer

Capitalist Sage, Peachtree Corners Life, Prime Luncheon with the City Manager, The ED Hour

KARL BARHAM

ALAN KAPLAN

Karl Barham’s company, Transworld Business Advisors, specializes in M&A and business valuations. For fun, Karl and his family can be found enjoying the family amenities around Peachtree Corners.

Alan Kaplan is a Realtor with Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International Realty and a Peachtree Corners resident for 18 years. He is married with two young boys who are working actors and students at Peachtree Elementary School.

Co-Host on the CAPITALIST SAGE

Co-Host on the ED HOUR

The editors welcome submissions, event listings, achievements and photography. Please direct them to editor@ livinginpeachtreecorners.com. This publication is privately owned and managed.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

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December 2019/January 2020â&#x2013; Peachtree Corners Magazine

FIRST UP Photography and Video for Business and Social Media February 6, 6-9 p.m. Peachtree Corners City Hall, Community Chest Room 310 Technology Parkway Peachtree Corners 30092 Contact Jim Stone at jstone@tytancreates.com for more info and to register. Covers how to set up a vlog and tell your story on websites, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Instructors Jim Stone and Roxy invite everyone—from beginners to seasoned pros—to learn how to create better still images and video to promote their business and/or use on social media. Open to Peachtree Corners residents, students and workers, ages 11 and up.

Events, Programs & Fun Things to Do Everyone with a passion for photography who wants to share their interest, ideas and experience is invited to join the Peachtree Corners Photography Club. Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month.

Purim Carnival, Star Wars Style Congregation Beth Shalom 5303 Winters Chapel Road Dunwoody, 30360

225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville 30044

Postproduction ABCs, Basics, Tricks, Secrets and Hacks

Reserve tickets at bethshalom.net

gsgginfo@googlegroups.com

Come to the “Star Wars: Episode Purim” Carnival dressed as your favorite Star Wars character and enjoy games, music and dinner. Children’s Megillah Reading and Costume Parade begins at 6:30 p.m.

gwinnettseniorgoldengames.org

February 27, 6-9 p.m. Peachtree Corners City Hall, Community Chest Room 310 Technology Parkway Peachtree Corners 30092 Contact Jim Stone at jstone@tytancreates.com for more info and to register. Covers postproduction techniques in software programs such as Lightroom and Photoshop. Instructors Madie Bryson and Jim Stone

March 9, 5-7 p.m.

Gwinnett Senior Golden Games March 25-May 6 Bethesda Senior Center

Presented in partnership with Gwinnett Parks & Recreation, Gwinnett Senior Golden Games provides adults 50 years of age and older with an opportunity to participate and compete in a variety of sports. There are events in archery, billiards, bowling, darts, pickleball, pinochle, table tennis, tennis and much more. Registration is open online; mailed registration forms must be postmarked by March 1.

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival February 10-27 | AJFF.org The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is celebrating its 20th year. This year’s diverse lineup includes 48 features and 16 short films. Screenings will be held in theatres and venues throughout metro Atlanta.

Peachtree Corners Photography Club February 13 and March 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Berkeley Lake 30096 pcphotoclub.org

Important Dates Valentine’s Day Friday, Feb. 14 President’s Day Monday, Feb. 17 Daylight Savings Time Starts Sunday, March 8 Purim Tuesday, March 10 Pi Day Saturday, March 14 St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday, March 17

invite everyone—from beginners to seasoned pros—to learn how to adjust and touch up images that you’ll want to share. Open to Peachtree Corners residents, students and workers, ages 11 and up.

Rock ‘N Roll-A-Thon February 29, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA 5600 W. Jones Bridge Road, Peachtree Corners 30092 770-246-9622 facebook.com/FowlerY Everyone is invited to the Fowler YMCA’s annual day of fun and fitness. Choose from Zumba, Body Pump, Step-a-thon or Spin-a-thon and bring some friends! The event helps to fund the Giving Campaign, allowing families and individuals who can’t afford memberships to participate in YMCA programs.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

CornholeATL Peachtree Corners Registration is open until March 9 for the Spring League Play runs March 18-May 13 Peachtree Corners Town Center 5200 Town Center Boulevard, Peachtree Corners 30092 Contact Marjie Foley at info@cornholeatl.com or 404-771-1010 cornholeatl.com Four different divisions of play are offered to accommodate all levels. Matches are held at Town Center and run for seven weeks on Wednesday nights.

peachtreecornerslife

True Wood Fired Flavor

PEACHTREE CORNERS 5215 Town Center Blvd FirebirdsRestaurants.com

New Listing

3656 E. Bay Street, Duluth GA 30096 Charleston Bay | $235,000

Julie Barnash 404-384-4886

New Listing

5325 Foxhill Dr. Peachtree Corners, 30092 Foxhill | $360,000

Renee Reddic 770-317-3500

3930 E. Jones Bridge Road, Suite 100, Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092

678-578-2700

February/March 2020 â&#x2013; Peachtree Corners Magazine

on stage Tuck Everlasting Wesleyan School Powell Theatre 5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners 30092

Greater Atlanta Christian School

770-448-7640 wesleyanschool.org The Wolf Players present the musical version of the beloved novel. Set in 1880, 10-year old Winnie discovers the secret of the Tuck family and has the opportunity to join them in eternal life on Earth.

Wiley and the Hairy Man February 21 & 22 Duluth Wildcat Theatre 3737 Brock Road, Duluth 30096

This screwball romantic comedy by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman centers on a guest who won’t leave.

wits to overcome his fears.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

February 5-8

lionhearttheatre.org

March 5-8 Williams Fine Arts Center, Clifton Jones Theatre

Footloose

1575 Indian Trail Road, Norcross 30093

March 13 & 14

770-243-2000

3737 Brock Road, Duluth 30096

greateratlantachristian.org GAC’s Kings Gate Theatre presents The Hunchback of Notre Dame, inspired by the Victor Hugo classic and including songs from the Disney animated feature.

The Man Who Came to Dinner March 6-22

770-476-5206 duluththeatre.weebly.com Based on the 1984 film, Footloose is a musical about a teenage boy from Chicago. He and his mother move to a small town where he finds himself at odds with most of the residents.

770-476-5206

Lionheart Theatre Company

duluththeatre.weebly.com

10 College Street, Norcross 30071

Greater Atlanta Christian School

678-938-8518

770-243-2000 greateratlantachristian.org Middle school performers at GAC bring favorite Dr. Seuss characters to life—Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and more— in a fantastical musical extravaganza.

Duluth Wildcat Theatre

Seussical Jr.

Haunted by a Hairy Man who lives in the mysterious Tombigbee Swamp, young Wiley must use his

1575 Indian Trail Road, Norcross 30093

March 19-20 Williams Fine Arts Center, Clifton Jones Theatre

The Jungle Book, KIDS March 20 & 21 Cornerstone Christian Academy 5295 Triangle Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 770-441-9222 cornerstonecougars.org Adapted from Disney’s beloved animated film, the musical features a host of colorful characters and favorite songs from the movie.

Sense and Sensibility April 2-4 Wesleyan School Powell Theatre

Through the Storybook

5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners 30092

February 27-March 1

770-448-7640

Norcross High School Auditorium

wesleyanschool.org

5300 Spalding Drive, Norcross 30092

Jane Austen’s novel is transformed into a play, presented by the Wolf Players, that follows the adventures of the Dashwood sisters after the death of their father leaves them without financial support.

770-447-2667 | nhs-drama.com Norcross High School Players present the adventures of Rebecca, an imaginative young girl, whose storybook characters have come to life.

Wesleyan School Invites Community to Sozo Children’s Choir Concert on February 26 On Wednesday, February 26, Wesleyan School invites the community to spend the evening with the Sozo Children’s Choir. The concert will take place in Wesleyan’s Powell Theater at 6:30 p.m., is open to the greater community, and is free of charge.

dren in Uganda. Through a continuum of care provided by a team of Ugandan caregivers, the children of Sozo are loved, nurtured and equipped with proper nutrition, healthcare, quality education, spiritual development and life skills to impact positive change in their communities The Sozo Children’s Choir is part of Sozo Chil- and Ugandan society. dren, a ministry in Uganda working to empower Wesleyan School is a Christian, independent vulnerable children. The group is touring the Unit- K-12 college preparatory school located in ed States performing to raise awareness for the Peachtree Corners, Georgia. At the start of the ministry back in Africa. The choir is talented, high 2019-2020 school year, Wesleyan enrolled 1,179 energy and is a treat for audiences of all ages. students from throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area. To learn more about the school, visit Sozo Children provides care for over 120 chilwesleyanschool.org.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

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Peachtree Corners Library Branch Calendar Highlights 5570 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners 30092

The Intenet is for Looking... Travel Advisors are for Booking!

770-978-5154 | gwinnettpl.org

Climate Change and the Global Order March 8, 3 p.m. Gwinnett County Public Library Peachtree Corners Branch Join Professor Jamie Mitchem to learn what the U.S. and the rest of the world are doing to combat climate change and the impact it has on geopolitics. This program is part of the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions Series, which discusses America’s most critical issues each year. Free and open to the public.

Writers Remember Pat Conroy: A conversation with Anthony Grooms, Mary Hood, Teresa Weaver and Jonathan Haupt March 22, 3 p.m. Peachtree Corners City Hall, Community Chest Room 310 Technology Parkway Peachtree Corners 30092 Moderated by co-editor and Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt, this panel discussion features some of the collection’s Georgia-based contributing writers as they discuss the inspirational roles Conroy played in their own writing lives. A book signing follows the discussion. Free and open to the public.

Conversations & Cocktails with New York Times Bestselling Authors Patti Callahan Henry and Joshilyn Jackson

HERE’S HOW AN EXPERIENCED TRAVEL ADVISOR CAN MAKE YOUR VACATION AMAZING. (You won’t ﬁnd these services online!)  GUIDANCE stemming from extensive knowledge and experience  Adding EXCLUSIVE value-added amenities on selected trips  We’ve got people on the ground to ENHANCE your vacation  GETTING MORE for your money  EXCLUSIVITY via our preferred partnerships  ACCOUNTABILITY in case things go sideways on your trip

March 27, 7:30 p.m. Peachtree Corners City Hall, Community Chest Room 310 Technology Parkway Peachtree Corners 30092 Patti Callahan Henry, a former Peachtree Corners resident, is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of 15 novels. She will be interviewed by Joshilyn Jackson, a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of nine novels. Complimentary wine and nibbles provided by the Friends of the Library. Books are available for sale and signing. Free and open to the public.

770.952.8300 • tcava.com Mon-Fri 9-6 • Sat 11-3 December 2019/January 2020■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

Pinckneyville Park Calendar

Tandem Bank Committed to Community

PEACHTREE CORNERS TEAM

LOCAL • ENTREPRENEURIAL • BUSINESS-FOCUSED

Weare Gratwick

470-482-1818

Wendy Willis

470-482-1819

Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Berkeley Lake 30096 678-277-0920 | gwinnettcounty.com To register for events, call or go to the website, click on Departments, Scroll to Parks and Recreation, then click on Events.

Canvas Mocktails

Lucky in Love

February 8, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

February 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Light refreshments, morning mocktails and art supplies are provided as you follow the instructor to create your own canvas masterpiece. Ages 15 and up; $15 per person.

Celebrate the season of love with your spouse, boo, friend or favorite family member. Each person will hand build their own clay creation with step-by-step instructions in the pottery studio. All supplies and refreshments are provided. Cost is $21 for an individual, $38 for a couple; childcare is provided for an additional $6 per child.

Jr. Create Canvas Paint February 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

www.tandem.bank

LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO BRING THE BANK TO YOU Proud Members of:

Little ones can explore their creative side with monthly creation events geared just for their little hands. This month, each participant will paint their own canvas to take home. All supplies provided. Ages 2 to 7; $4 per child.

Munchable Masterpieces February 26, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn how to work with what’s in your pantry to make a low-cost gourmet-style meal. Ages 50 and up; $6 per person.

Gwinnett County’s Annual Valentine’s Day Weddings and Vow Renewals February 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Isaac Adair House 15 South Clayton Street Lawrenceville 30046 Call 770-822-8081 for details or to make a reservation.

NancyMinor 770.652.3469

Laurie Rogers 678.427.7218

PeachtreeCorners.com

The Nancy Minor Team Keller Williams Chattahoochee North 404.955.7653 | 404.955.SOLD

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

For information on obtaining a marriage license, call 770-822-8350. The annual Valentine’s Day wedding and vow renewal event is co-hosted by Gwinnett Parks and Recreation along with Chief Magistrate Kristina Hammer Blum and Probate Court Judge Christopher Ballar, who will be performing the ceremonies. Couples getting married must bring a valid marriage license from a Georgia Probate Court obtained prior to the ceremony. Couples renewing their wedding vows do not need to bring a copy of their license. No out-of-state weddings will be performed. peachtreecornerslife

peachtreecornerslife

Peachtree Corners Business Association “Where Businesses Come To Grow”

The Peachtree Corners Business Association is the premier networking organization for Gwinnett County and its largest city, Peachtree Corners. PCBA hosts networking events, keynote speaker series, Connecting Over Coffee, grand openings/ribbon cuttings and more. In addition, PCBA actively supports charities, nonprofit organizations, and student scholarships donating over $87,000 in the last 6 years.

PCBA offers membership levels starting at just $125 / year. Save $5 Off our February 27th Business After Hours. Use promo code “PCBA2020” at online registration to redeem. Discount off regular event registration price. Cannot be combined with other offers. No cash value.

Join the PCBA today! Now through February 29, 2020 receive an Extra Month Free! Offer valid on any new 12-month membership/sponsorship. Call for details.

678.969.3385 www.PeachtreeCornersBA.com

Pms 350 c Pms 369 c

December 2019/January 2020■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

COMMUNITY

Tara’s Journey Leads to a Healthier Path for Georgians

eachtree Corners resident Rich DeAugustinis is driven in what he’s doing to bring about specific legislative changes for Georgia. It’s important. That’s because Tara, his late wife and teenage daughter Aubrey’s mom, lost her battle against mesothelioma far too soon. “Most Americans aren’t even familiar with the disease,” Rich said. “It’s a rare cancer, but deadly.”

Tara’s Journey

Tara was diagnosed with mesothelioma (or meso) in early 2016 at age 45. Just before her lung surgery in 2016, she wrote: “I am mentally and physically ready. I know this will be difficult, but I am a fighter.” Throughout her 15-month ordeal, with surgery, setbacks and sadness, Tara pushed forward with all her strength. As the months slipped by, the DeAugustinis family continued to share their thoughts, as well as prayers for their family, friends and for those who might be facing similar circumstances. By November of 2016, Rich wrote: “Tara will be continuing radiation treatments through Thanksgiving week. As a result, we expect the next couple of months to remain challenging.” By spring of 2017, the journal betrayed a hint of sorrow: “This week we have learned that Tara’s latest scan shows the mesothelioma has spread to her remaining left lung, and also in the abdomen and in several lymph nodes. Bottom line,” Rich wrote, “the immu-

By Judi Kanne

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

Above, Aubrey DeAugustinis and her mom, Tara Opposite page, top left Tara, Aubrey and Rich DeAugustinis Opposite page, top right, Rich DeAugustinis lobbying elected representatives and senators on Capitol Hill to support and fund the creation of a national mesothelioma patient registry. Photos courtesy of Rich DeAugustinis peachtreecornerslife

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notherapy is not working.” Tara continued to be strong as she added later: “So what is next?... I keep fighting…We focus on one day at a time. I start a new drug protocol at the end of the month. It is a combination of two immunotherapy drugs.” But, on May 19, 2017, her husband added his most heartbreaking note: “Tara’s battle with mesothelioma is coming to an end…we don’t know how much time she has left.” Sadly, four days later, Tara died.

What’s Next?

Working through a tremendous amount of personal grief, Rich knew he had to change the public’s awareness of meso through education. “That first year, I was shellshocked,” he admitted. It took him about a year to emerge. He wanted to move forward with his life and be the father his daughter needed. When he decided to take on the battle of educating others about meso, he realized how difficult it was to find credible

TARA’S JOURNAL When death comes to one mother, one daughter, just one person, it takes on a deeper meaning. To help others understand Tara’s journey, the family shared their deepest feelings from the beginning to end. Every stage of the journey has been chronicled in Tara’s journal, which is online at curemeso.org/blog/tara. ■

information. In fact, it was challenging. Many folks don’t have the resources that Rich does. As a highly educated Georgia Tech alum and 30-year Coca-Cola executive, he has the background to understand the research and the finances to travel wherever is necessary. So today, he is fighting for Tara as well as all the families who experienced meso before her and those who are experiencing it today.

Finding the Cause

Meso is associated with environmental and occupational inhalation exposure to asbestos fiber, according to the experts. Rich said that meso’s delayed attack can take place decades after initial exposure. “Asbestos is still very much present in the community around us,” he said. For years, asbestos was widely used as a form of insulation in many industries. People who worked in paper mills, shipbuilding or construction are particularly vulnerable. The microscopic fibers can get lodged in the lining of the lungs or tissue surrounding other organs. Loose asbestos fibers breathed into the lungs can cause several serious diseases— including malignant mesothelioma. Tara didn’t work in any of those industries. She was exposed to baby powder during her childhood years, according to her husband. And it is that powder that Rich believes contained asbestos. “I believe that’s what happened to my wife,” he said. This led to his conviction that

Georgia should ultimately ban asbestos in all products. Although the dangers of asbestos are well known, and building codes were changed throughout the 70s because of it, the use of asbestos is still alive and well in Georgia, Rich said. “Many people think of asbestos as yesterday’s problem,” he explained. “It’s today’s problem, too. Years ago, we figured out it was a deadly carcinogen.”

A Day of Mesothelioma Awareness

To support meso awareness, Rich and his daughter Aubrey were at the state Capitol on September 26, 2019. The date was proclaimed Mesothelioma Day by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. Rich and Aubrey were joined by state Rep. Beth Moore and state Sen. Sally Harrell, both of whom plan to introduce legislation to ban asbestos in products during the current legislative session. At the Capitol, Rich took time to share his wife Tara’s battle with the debilitating disease. “Tara lost everything to mesothelioma,” he said, “and we lost Tara.”

Continuing the Journey

Today, Rich is on the board of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a nonprofit charity dedicated to ending meso and its suffering. For him, success would be “banning asbestos completely and educating the public about its dangers.” Asbestos has been banned in 55 countries worldwide, according to asbestosnation.org. Rich stated that most people don’t

realize that among industrialized nations, the U.S. is one of the few that doesn’t have a ban on asbestos. “There’s no such thing as an understandable or acceptable cost to including asbestos in any products,” he said. Meso is one of the most painful and difficult cancers for any human being to go through, Rich said, “and yet it propels me to get out of bed every day to fight the good fight.” He added that he’ll be motivated for the rest of his life to help drive the necessary legislative changes for Georgians. “Tara’s death was a preventable tragedy,” Rich said. “I’m seeking justice. I want society to make different decisions to protect the health of our citizens. It’s only those who are left behind, who have had their lives profoundly and completely changed by this disease, who can say, “this is unacceptable.” ■

MESO INFO AND SUPPORT Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation 703-879-3820, curemeso.org American Cancer Society 800-227-2345, cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma.html National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCA) 800-422-6237, cancer.gov/types/ mesothelioma Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 800-CDC-4636, atsdr.cdc.gov/ asbestos ■

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

Jewish Black History at the MJCCA The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) invites the community to two fascinating speakers in celebration of Black History Month, as they discuss topics related to Jewish and African American relations. Both programs are free and open to the community. For more information, visit atlantajcc.org/blackhistory or call 678-8124070. Growing Up Black and Jewish, February 10, 10-11 a.m., features speaker Dr. John Eaves. Dr. Eaves’ grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica with big dreams, but life was not easy for a black, Jewish man. Despite the obstacles he faced, he raised a large family, instilling the values of hard work, faith and service. Inspired by the legacy of his family, Dr. Eaves has dedicated his life to learning and service. A Select History of Black and Jewish Relations in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 27, 12-1 p.m., features speaker Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins. Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins was taught to read at the age of 4 by his Jewish neighbors, the Rubins, in Savannah. They were the first Jewish family Dr. Jenkins knew, and became his great friends and influenced his life. Dr. Jenkins believes Jewish people set an example for the world by valuing a good education, love and family.

Left to right, Dr. John Eaves and Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins.

Single Mom Network Hosts Inaugural Benefit Retreat

Single Mom Network Founder TJ Ware and team is excited to announce that they will be hosting their Inaugural Benefit Retreat in Cancun, Mexico July 31 through August 3, 2020 as the first round of fundraising for the SMN Resource Center & Program

Development. Over the past year, the Single Mom Network has worked hard to bring resources to moms through quarterly brunches, meetups and their podcast The Single Mom Life. “Now it’s time to take things to the next level. We want to be able to service more

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

women and create programs that can serve moms more consistently,” Ware said. The retreat will bring moms together from all over the world to experience a weekend of workshops and amazing speakers to motivate them in all areas of life. All proceeds from the retreat peachtreecornerslife

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will go towards program development and the very first Single Mom Network Resource Center, projected to open Winter 2020. Anyone interested in supporting the Single Mom Network can visit their site at singlemomnetwork.info or smnbenenfitretreat. com. ■ peachtreecornerslife

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Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelter Expands

Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters is expanding to add a Pet Adoption and Community Resource Center in Peachtree Corners, conveniently located next to the existing Furkids Thrift Store. The new facility will house adoptable cats and kittens, and it will be open seven days a week for adoptions, beginning on Feb 1. Veterinary services will follow, beginning with a series of vaccination clinics to be announced. “We are thrilled to kick off 2020 with a brand new facility to serve pet lovers in Peachtree Corners and surrounding areas,” said Samantha Shelton, Furkids CEO and Founder. “We are so happy to welcome friends and neighbors to our newest location as we once again expand the array of our lifesaving programs.” More info is available at furkids.org. Save the date for Furkids 18th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March 21, 6:30-10 p.m. at Mason Fine Art, 415 Plasters Avenue, Suite 100, Atlanta 30324. There will be live music, a seated dinner with open bar, live and silent auctions and more. Dess code is cocktail attire. Go to furkids.org for details and tickets. ■

Portion of Spalding Drive to be Widened

Relief is finally in sight for commuters and residents who regularly drive the heavily traveled section of Spalding Drive in Peachtree Corners from Winters Chapel Road to Holcomb Bridge Road. Plans have been approved for the project which includes road widening, replacing the Crooked Creek bridge and adding pedestrian walkways. The work on this .6-mile section of road will be partially funded through $2 million in grants issued to Gwinnett County through the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA).  The total contracted project cost is $6.6 million and will be a coordinated effort by Gwinnett County and the cities of Peachtree Corners and Sandy Springs. The work will involve widening Spalding Drive from two to four lanes plus a center turn lane from Winters Chapel Road to just west of the intersection with State Route 140/Holcomb Bridge Road; replacing the bridge over Crooked Creek and installing sidewalks and a multi-use path on Spalding Drive. The project also includes constructing a dedicated right turn lane from Winters Chapel Road onto Spalding Drive. In addition, the existing traffic signals on Winters Chapel Road and River Exchange Drive will be upgraded and curb and gutter and associated drainage improvements will be installed. “This is welcome news,” said Councilmember Phil Sadd. “Spalding Drive is a very busy road that runs through our city and is used not only by our citizens but those traveling from Gwinnett County to Sandy Springs. Additionally, the new bridge and pedestrian improvements will further enhance our efforts to make Peachtree Corners a more walkable city.” The project has been awarded to CMES, Inc. Work is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2020 and is expected to take 24 months to complete. ■ peachtreecornerslife

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COVER STORY

Vibrant Technology at the Heart of Five Innovative Companies

rom cloud-based software delivering healthcare business management solutions for home medical equipment providers to streamlining industrial purchasing. From screen and document protection using futuristic biometrics to the protection of patients and medical staff from unnecessary radiation. From trailblazing start-ups to a society on the cusp of celebrating its 125th anniversary of setting the standard for efficient commercial buildings. I was able to pick the brains of five top-level executives who shared details behind what their dynamic technology companies are doing in Peachtree Corners.

By Patrizia Winsper

rightree was formerly located in Lawrenceville, off of Sugarloaf Parkway. They moved to Peachtree Corners in December of 2019, after completing a massive remodel of the old Hon-eywell property at 125 Technology Parkway, built in the 1970s. I met with CEO Matt Mellott at their beautiful new facility. He was excited about the innovative, open and collaborative office space that’s been created there. I was delighted to get a tour of their new headquarters. It’s now a large, modern, three-story building that’s been opened up with tons of natural light pouring in through large windows. Varying shades and sizes of overlapping blue squares mimicking the company logo are painted against the backdrop of a tall white wall in an indus-trial staircase spanning all three stories. The custom design continues to the lighting fixtures high in the soaring ceiling, also square-shaped. Vividly colored upholstered furniture in the gathering spaces

Matt Mellott, CEO, Brightree Photography by George Hunter

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

and a cheery blue backsplash in the kitchen area make for a welcoming, fun environment. Mellott said of the new space, “We were introduced to a developer who owned this property. When he showed us what he could do with it, we realized we really couldn’t do any-thing that transformative in any of the other areas we were looking at. Peachtree Corners was the right place at the right time to do something very unique.”

What’s the Bright Idea?

Brightree is a technology company that makes cloud-based software to help home med-ical equipment (HME) companies run their businesses in a more streamlined fashion. HME companies deliver items such as diabetic supplies, ostomy supplies, beds, walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen equipment and noninvasive ventilation equipment to patients’ homes, usually after pa-tients have received acute care and have been released from the hospital to continue their re-covery at home. Often, someone clinical like a respiratory therapist is also scheduled to visit the home with more complex equipment, to provide training and assess the setting, ensuring the patient is receiving proper treatment.

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There are a lot of moving parts to keep track of in the HME world: These companies usually receive a physician’s prescription, and in turn, they deliver the required medical equipment directly to the patients’ homes. HMEs must keep track of physician referrals, employee scheduling, delivery scheduling, inventory management and billing Medicare or other payers in a systematic and timely fashion in order to provide the best care for patients. “Our software helps them do all of that. Brightree’s software helps them manage their entire business workflow,” Mellott said.

That Lightbulb Moment

In 2002, Brightree spun out of an actual home medical equipment company. They saw the need in the marketplace for software that would help them run their business, so they started developing just that. Once their software was up and running, they realized it had uses beyond their own company. They took it to market, turning it into a commercial software package that was sold to HME companies all over the U.S. “Today, probably 55% of the home medical equipment providers out there are using Brightree,” Mellott stated.

Modules Make it Personal

In addition to Brightree’s core software, HME companies can purchase Modules to meet their particular needs. Mellott elaborated, “For example, if you’re an HME company that has trucks that do delivery to patients’ homes, we have a Module that helps you with the logistics of delivering. It would help you do route optimization, help you understand what’s on those trucks in a given day, and also it helps create a paperless

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transaction with the patient in the home, rather than having a lot of paperwork they need to sign. That Module would help you do that in an auto-mated, digital fashion.”

Ongoing Innovation

Brightree is incorporating new technology into their software regularly and sharing it with their customers. “Whether it’s scanning technology or new technology we can use on pa-tient intake with documents so that we can hopefully replace faxing one day,” Mellott said. IVR (automated calls) helps their customers with patient outreach. “Patients can click through and place orders for HME for example,” Mellott explained. Patient Hub is a recently created patient engagement app tailored to each customer. Patients can engage in direct, secure messaging, get updates on appointments and resupply shipments. Analytics was just publicly released, adding functionality and access to data to their ex-isting software.

The Benefits of Brightree

Utilizing Brightree solutions are small mom-and-pop HMEs, large regional providers, to two of the five nationals with a coast-tocoast presence.

According to Mellott, all HME companies operating on their software benefit greatly from increased efficiency, growth in revenue, and interoperability— connecting all interested parties around the care of a patient.

Brightree’s Got Sass

Actually, they are a subsidiary of ResMed, a medical device corporation, specializing in the respiratory care space. “We are part of their SaaS Division (software-asa-service),” Mellott explained. Together they work on Connected Care, making data readily available to patients and all their caregivers.

Why Peachtree Corners?

It’s no coincidence that Brightree is considered among the most innovative companies in Peachtree Corners and they’re appropriately located right along Curiosity Lab on Technology Parkway. Being a resident himself, Mellott was well aware of the city’s important technology hub. Peachtree Corners caught their eye because of all the exciting things going on here. Re-cruiting software engineers was also high on their list of priorities. It seems there is a concen-tration of candidates in the areas of Roswell and Alpharetta. If anyone has ever braved a commute from there to Lawrencev-

ille, it’s easy to understand how that drive would soon become too painful. “We have a lot of software engineers here. Moving to Peachtree Corners, the initial thought was let’s just get closer around the arc (I-285) a little bit, to Alpharetta and Roswell,” Mellott said. The move also allows them to reach the employee pool in the Midtown area, which would not have been an option from Lawrenceville. “We’re closer to the airport than we used to be. That’s a huge plus. As we’ve gotten to know the community, there’s definitely a lot for our employees, our customers and other peo-ple who visit us,” Mellott said. “Peachtree Corners Town Center offers quite a bit that our em-ployees are definitely enjoying. I’d say the amenities are great, they really support our employ-ees and our customers.” The city’s ideal location is also a draw for Mellott. “We are close to downtown Atlanta, but close to all the great things that are north of Atlanta as well. “We are very excited to be an active participant in the community,” he continued. “We’re excited about the talent level in Peachtree Corners. We hope to be a growing employer here, and also give back to the community and find ways that our folks can donate time and energy to various causes here.” ■

We’re excited about the talent level in Peachtree Corners. We hope to be a growing employer here, and also give back to the community and find ways that our folks can donate time and energy to various causes here. Matt Mellott CEO, Brightree

Executive Vice President of ASHRAE, Jeff Littleton Photo courtesy of ASHRAE

oming soon to 180 Technology Parkway, the innovative heart of Peachtree Corners, will be the global headquarters of an organization dedicated to energy efficiency, ASHRAE. This professional society is a huge player in the climate change/global warming frontier because 40% of the energy consumed in the US is actually Continued on page 22 2020■ ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine December February/March 2019/January 2020

Continued from page 21 consumed in commercial buildings, and ASHRAE sets the standards for energy efficiency in, you guessed it, commercial buildings.

The Best of the Old and the New

How does a society on the verge of celebrating its 125th Anniversary also remain on the cutting edge of its industry and end up on the list of ‘Innovative Companies in Peachtree Corners’?

New ASHRAE Headquarters Building Renderings. Courtesy of ASHRE

I spoke with Executive Vice President Jeff Littleton to find out. His pride in ASHRAE’S heritage shone through as he shared with me all the amazing things about this important group, both past and present. ASHRAE is a professional society. Donations made to ASHRAE are fully tax deductible. As such, they have an obligation to serve the public trust and advance the arts and sciences of HVAC and R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration). They host conferences and events all over the world. They’re expecting 65,000 people at the Winter Conference in Orlando, as they celebrate their 125th anniversary in February. ASHRAE is also a publisher of books and three different magazines: ASHRAE Journal, High Performance Building Magazine, and Science and Technology for the Built Environment. Professional certification can be obtained through ASHRAE. One may become a Certi-fied Building Energy Assessor, for example. ASHRAE invests about $5 million a year on a research program. They conduct research using their findings to help develop

their technical guidance, and to update their standards. “We write professional standards that are oftentimes adopted into law. From a technol-ogy standpoint those standards into laws are building codes. We have about 130 standards in our portfolio of products,” Littleton shared. “If we’re going to have a big impact on climate change, we’ve got to take the energy out of buildings and make them more energy efficient. We write all kinds of standards on how to do that and how to make sure buildings are healthy and comfortable,” Littleton said.

90.1

Not the radio station, but a commercial building energy standard that has been adopted into law: Energy Standards for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. All states must adopt building codes that mandate energy efficiency in commercial buildings, adhering to ASHRAE 90.1. This flagship standard is updated every three years. Then the US Department of Energy issues a sort of declaration proclaiming that the standard has advanced. “They reaffirm it as the law of the

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

land. This has been going on since the 1970s,” Littleton explained.

Walking the Talk

It’s an easier task to build a net-zero energy building (one that produces as much energy as it uses) from scratch, yet when they decided to relocate their headquarters from Atlanta to Peachtree Corners, ASHRAE embarked on the $20 million renovation of an existing 1978 era building instead. “It’s 67,000 square feet, sitting on 11 acres, on the lake near City Hall,” Littleton said. The goal is to turn it into a net-zero energy building. However, at the time of the interview, they had yet to secure a contract on the PV— photovoltaics (solar panels)—so they’re unsure those will be installed by the time the renovation is projected to be completed in October, 2020. Without the photovoltaics, it will be net-zero energy ready at move-in. The building will be so efficient that once the PV are installed on the roof, and maybe a few in the parking lot, it will have all it needs to power itself. “We will be connected to the grid. Once the PV are in place it will be a net-zero energy building,” Littleton said. “That’s sort of Nirvana.” peachtreecornerslife

peachtreecornerslife

Since 80 to 90% of the buildings that are going to be here in 30 to 50 years from now are already built, “If we’re going to move the needle in energy consumption in the built envi-ronment, then we have to address existing buildings,” Littleton stated.

ASHRAE’S Net-Zero Energy Headquarters

The changes being made to the older building are an attempt on ASHRAE’S part to demonstrate that it can be done so that the return on investment you get from the energy sav-ings is very high compared to the investment you put into the building. “We want it to be re-peatable,” Littleton said. The exterior of the building— the envelope—will be stripped and replaced with a higher performance envelope in terms of insulation. There will be a reduction in the glazing ratio—glass to wall ratio—to balance the light coming in against the heat gain that results. Don’t panic! I asked, and there will still be plenty of beautiful windows throughout the building. ASHRAE partnered with the International Code Council to create The International Green Construction Code, or standard 189.1 for high performance buildings. This code surpass-es their 90.1 standard which is considered a minimum energy efficiency

peachtreecornerslife

standard although it is ever evolving. Other important components driving energy efficiency at the 180 Technology Parkway building: A Radiant Panel Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning System, a sophisticated building automation system and lighting controls, the use of LED lights, optimized ventilation systems and landscaping that does not require a sprinkler system. You can see building renderings on their website, ashrae.org.

Why Peachtree Corners?

“We’re really excited about being in Peachtree Corners,” Littleton said. “We’re in the process of establishing an MOU (Mem-

orandum of Understanding) with Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners.” The MOU with Curiosity Lab will provide a foundation of ASHRARE / Curi-osity Lab collaboration on issues of common interest with particular focus on Smart Cities and how buildings integrate with the Smart City architecture. ASHRAE is very involved in the changes that buildings will have to make to adapt to Smart City infrastructure. Smart Cities need to do a better job of moving power in and around the city, in a more efficient way than is typically done today, with power going from a power plant to users. “With more renewable energy

sources like PV and wind farms popping up around the country, the electricity grid has to be adapted to move power in many different directions,” Lit-tleton said. With all their members being technologically inclined, Littleton sees Curiosity Lab as a great fit. “I think it would be fantastic to have our members jump onto Ollie and take an auton-omous vehicle…from the hotel to our headquarters, where they may be participating in helping drive standards for buildings. That’s pretty cool.” With Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta buying up everything around ASHRAE’s Atlanta offices to build a medical campus,

Fluoroscopy, used by doctors like cardiologists, spine surgeons and urologists to see specific organs in real time and to deploy devices inside the body like stents, without having to perform exploratory surgery, “subjects medical staff and patients to a tremendous amount of dangerous and unnecessary x-ray exposures in a single procedure,” Bailliard said. “A certain percentage of that prolonged radiation exposure scatters outside the body to the medical staff and to patients needlessly.” During a fluoroscopic procedure, the physician is at the table beside to you, deploying the devices and getting radiated in very close proximity to the x-ray unit.

ounded in 2010 by three men of Israeli descent, ControlRad has recently relocated from Pennsylvania to Georgia. I was able to speak to CEO Guillaume Bailliard as he settled in at their new Global Headquarters in Peachtree Corners. They moved from Atlanta Tech Park to their new office space at 275 Scientific Dr. N.W. after securing $15 million from Questa Capital in September. “That helped fuel the growth of the company, including planting our flag here, at this facility,” Bailliard said. Their Research and Development Team, comprised of 20 R&D engineers, is located in Kfar Saba, just outside of Tel Aviv. “The number one place in the world today for startups per capita is Israel,” Bailliard shared.

What Drives ControlRad’s Innovation?

X-rays Come at a Cost

To fully appreciate ControlRad’s innovation, it’s important to understand a bit of x-ray technology. Hint: think ‘control radiation.’ “The radiation you get from x-ray is ionizing radiation— high-energy wavelengths or particles that penetrate tissue to reveal the body’s internal organs and structures. Ionizing radi-ation can damage DNA.”

ASHRAE sought a place that would provide room for expan-sion. “We wanted nice esthetics for our members and our staff working in the building, close proximity to restaurants and hotels, a good infrastructure to support a happy member when they come to visit the society,” Littleton said. Peachtree Corners’ green spaces and trails were also appealing to ASHRAE. A wide con-crete path between their building and the lake has Littleton picturing ideal walk-and-talk meet-ings. “Our members and staff can go outside and think about the next technology that’s going to conquer the world in terms of building energy efficiency!” ■

CEO of ControlRad, Guillaume Bailliard Photo Courtesy of ControlRad

[Radiation Risk from Medical Imaging (2018), Harvard Health Publish-ing, Harvard Medical School] X-rays allow us to see inside the body without invasive surgery. Traditionally, static x-ray

is used if you break your arm, in order to see the fracture. It’s the same type of x-ray you get at the dentist’s office. “There is very little risk with that single exposure,” Bailliard explained. However, continuous x-ray or

The issue is that much of the scattered radiation reaches the medical staff. “They get roughly 150,000 worth of chest x-rays over a lifetime. This is a lot like the NFL concussion sto-ry,” Bailliard said, “in the sense that the issues with concussions have always been there, but it is only recently that we truly understand the long-term impact of repeated concussions.” Similarly, medical staff have always been subjected to radiation, but the adverse effects of Continued on page 24

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

Continued from page 23 this have not been well-documented until now. Risks include increased incidents of cataracts, atherosclerosis, strokes and leftbrain tumors. (The x-ray tube is closest to the left side of the physician’s head during procedures.)

Don’t be Afraid to Seek Treatment

While we may have a fluoroscopic procedure once or twice in a lifetime, physicians are performing them repeatedly throughout the day. ControlRad helps protect the medical staff providing life-saving treatment to patients. “I don’t want readers to be afraid of going to see a cardiologist to get treated, or to get an x-ray of the hand,” Bailliard said. “Everyone should ask the right questions about the risks of radiation with their physicians. The risks for patients are very low. It’s a risk-benefit ratio and the benefits typically greatly outweigh the risks.”

How Low Can You Go?

Since no amount of radiation from an x-ray is good for you, ControlRad adheres to the FDA espoused guiding principal of

radiation safety: ALARA, which stands for: As Low as Reason-ably Achievable. In other words, how low can you get the radiation exposure without impacting the ability to treat patients? Am I the only one singing “How Low Can You Go” in my head right now? To that end, it is ControlRad’s mission to dramatically reduce the unnecessary risks as-sociated with gratuitous radiation exposure without compromising image quality or workflow. It’s an undertaking that benefits both patients and physicians, but their primary focus is on pro-tecting medical staff who are in harm’s way for the span of their careers.

ControlRad Reduces Radiation by up to 89%

510(k) Cleared—the FDA has granted permission to go to market—ControlRad’s device consists of three components retrofitted onto existing x-ray units. (See Figure 1.) 1. EYE TRACKER / TABLET Used to select the region-of-interest (ROI), either by detecting where the doctor is look-ing, or by allowing the doctor to draw an ROI manually on the tablet.

2. INTEGRATED SEMI-TRANSPARENT TITANIUM FILTER The filter sits on top of the x-ray tube. It moves in real-time focusing on the selected ROI and reducing the x-ray beam outside the ROI, thereby filtering out unnecessary scatter radia-tion. 3. ADVANCED IMAGE PROCESSOR Image processing algorithms help improve the image quality delivered to the physician.

The Launch

A published and peer-reviewed study has demonstrated a 75% radiation reduction to both patient and medical staff, using ControlRad’s technology. This ground-breaking device has recently been launched and is currently in limited release. “The objective is to pressure test the product, the feature sets, our logistics, our service, and our training,” Bailliard said. “We’ve done a number of installations and are actually looking into having some installations in Atlanta. We’re in the process of talking with those teams.”

Feedback

Dr. Andrew Cappuccino in

Niagara Falls suggested that not only was radiation exposure to himself and to his patient drastically reduced, but he believes he saw an improvement in im-age quality as well. “It makes sense to us that there is an improvement in image quality because we’re re-ducing the amount of scatter radiation in the ROI, but we’ll do additional studies to validate that,” Bailliard noted. “Our objective was to reduce unnecessary x-ray radiation and not nega-tively impact image quality. What we’re finding is that there’s potentially a very strong im-provement in image quality as well.”

Why Peachtree Corners?

Bailliard cited the convenient location, its proximity to Atlanta, as well as access to a critical mass of medical device talent. “The key to any business is to be able to attract the right people. Being nicely centralized in this area we have folks coming from Marietta, from down-town and from further north.” He also referred to the fact that the cost of doing business in Peachtree Corners is lower than in the Northeast where they were previously located, and certainly lower than in Atlanta. Perhaps my favorite reason they’ve chosen our city for their global headquarters: “We’re outside of the craziness of inside the perimeter, yet we’re in this Technology Park. That’s been the key,” Bailliard stated.

Looking to the Future

I wondered aloud if one day, patients would be able to seek out physicians who employ ControlRad’s technology. “Actually, hospitals that are looking at our technology are looking to market to patients. Because there is a benefit to patients, we’re reducing the amount of unnecessary radiation ex-posure. That’s a good story,” Bailliard proclaimed.

CONTROLRAD SOLUTION

Eye Tracker/Tablet

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eibus is changing one of the oldest industries in America, the industrial metal space. In an industry that has not really had notable innovation or advancements in technology for many years, Reibus entered the scene in May of 2018. It seems they’ve found a simple solution to a very BIG problem. In the U.S. alone, millions of tons of steel is scrapped or landfilled every year. With decades of metal industry experience under his belt, data and tech-driven Founder and CEO John Armstrong set out to eliminate waste and find a way to trade industrial material more easily. “We use technology to make the supply chain of the steel industry much more efficient,” he said. “The industry is really large, but they find it very difficult to forecast and manage their inventory. Reibus becomes a platform that sits in the middle between suppliers, producers, fabricators and manufacturers. Using our technology to access thousands of buyers and sellers enables a much deeper reach across all participants in the supply chain.”

Using Technology Among the Captains of Industry

Older men in their 40s to 60s make up the demographic of the decision-makers in supply chain and many of them have not fully embraced technology. Yet Armstrong has observed their resistance to technology break down considerably in recent years. “The opportunity we see, because of Amazon and Uber who have brought technology to the masses, is that they are now more comfortable using technology,” Armstrong explained. “And importantly, the generation that’s coming up behind has used technology their entire lives. That’s really helping us gain a foothold. When people see problems now, they’re looking to technology for the solution, because they can see it in their everyday

lives. That really helps us and will give us a nice tailwind for the next several years,” he added. Reibus’ platform is very clean, simple, and to the point. As described by Armstrong, “Our customers are professionals in their workplace. It’s not about pretty pictures or making marketing statements. It’s about providing them with the information they want and in the style they want it, giving them intuitive tools that allow them to navigate through the purchasing process.”

Industriously Revolutionizing Industrial B2B Buying and Selling

Reibus contributes innovation to the industrial metal space by using machine learning—code for AI (Artificial Intelligence)—to help people identify what they’re looking for before they need it. It seems large manufacturers and distributors have a common problem: they either have too much inventory or they don’t have enough. Reibus helps customers balance that problem. “By capturing the data from our customers and the data of our products, we can actually cross-match the details of the customer profiles versus the product profiles and cause suggestions and tracking of when that material is going to come

up,” Armstrong explained. “Instead of waiting for the event to happen, by using machine learning, we can actually track when these events are going to happen and be in front of the problem for our customers.” B2B, or business to business sales, prove challenging in the realm of industrial materials. Trying something new could mean risking one’s career. It’s not exactly akin to buying a pair of sneakers on Amazon; if they’re not to your liking when they arrive, it’s easy enough to send them back from whence they came. However, if you purchase a million dollars’ worth of steel and it’s not precisely what was needed for a project when it shows up, you’ve likely created a bigger problem than the one you were trying to solve. “I understand their resistance to change. It is a big change for them. But the tool that we’ve provided and the support we give customers as they onboard with us, really helps show them that we’re actually reducing their risk, not increasing it,” Armstrong said.

It Takes Nerves of Steel

When asked about how politics or the economy might affect the availability of materials in his industry, referring to things like trade tariffs and major weather

John Armstrong, CEO of Reibus Photo by George Hunter

events, Armstrong replied, “The good thing about our business model is, volatility is actually our friend. So anytime there is any disruption in the supply chain, it’s actually good for us because those volatile events cause mistakes to happen, and we are there to help people manage those mistakes. Volatility is good for us and the steel and aluminum industries have been volatile for at least the last 15 years. I think it’s the new normal.”

Reibus Puts the Pedal to the Metal

As part of their growth strategy, Reibus has been able to secure venture capital from top tier investors in Silicon Valley and New York. “I knew a guy who knew a guy, who got me an opportunity to give my pitch Dragon’s Den style. A few weeks later we received our first investment,” beamed Armstrong. The company has grown from two to 15 people, outgrowing their dedicated office space in Atlanta Tech Park. They’re Continued on page 26

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

Continued from page 25 currently on the hunt for a larger facility in Peachtree Corners. A small customer base in an extremely large market allows Reibus to target the right customers—85% of those who view their solutions in a demo sign up for their service. “We deal with everything from very large multinational companies like U.S. Steel or Ryerson,” Armstrong said. “We also work with small fabricators making metal components for furniture

or buildings. They can range from being a five-million-dollar company up to a billion-dollar company. We have a very wide range of customers. A lot here in Georgia, but also plenty in Texas, California, up in the Midwest and the Chicago area.”

As the Future Materializes

Reibus has taken off in the U.S. and in Canada. They have imported steel coming from countries like Korea and Thailand. “It’s certainly in our plans over the next two or three years to look

for expansion into mainland Europe, and then further, into Asia,” Armstrong said. They’re looking to develop opportunities for paper and plastics in addition to steel and aluminum. “One of the challenges is hiring the right people to help us springboard into those markets,” Armstrong shared.

Why Peachtree Corners?

“Serendipity: when I first moved to the U.S., I worked in Peachtree Corners, literally across the street, for seven or eight years,” Armstrong remembered. “Then we were having a meeting with my former company to do some business and we saw that Atlanta Tech Park was available. We were looking for office space, it was only

the two of us then. We thought it was a great location. It’s close to many of our potential customers. The Park itself offers a low-cost entry into office space, and the ability to learn from and partner with people to leverage some of their experience in building companies has also been useful.” Reibus is continuing to grow and plans to stay in the Peachtree Corners area. The way technology is promoted in this region is conducive for their business. They are looking for talent and encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to them on their website at reibus.com. “We are continually looking to hire the best talent we possibly can find. We have a lot of fun here at Reibus. We have a really nice culture. We try to provide everybody with meaningful work, meaningful opportunities and meaningful rewards,” Armstrong said. ■

The Reibus Team Photo Courtesy of Reibus

mart Eye Technology will change the way the world sends and receives documents. This fledgling company has devised a high-tech way to protect and secure digital documents and all types of saved files using biometrics. I spoke to CEO Dexter Caffey on a WebEx Meeting while he was in Tel Aviv for the CyberTech Global Conference, preparing to give a speech about Big Data.

The Birth of Smart Eye

Caffey founded Smart Eye Technology two years ago. He was returning from a trip to Israel at a cyber security event, sitting next to a cyber securi-

ty expert. He noticed when he looked at the cyber expert’s screen, he could see what should have been private Word and PDF documents. Caffey thought, “Why should I be able to see documents on this security expert’s laptop screen? It’s none of my business!” That’s when he first envisioned the development of an app that would shut off his computer screen if anyone else were to look at it, because the device would recognize his face only. Working with a group of Israeli software developers in Kiryat Gat, the first prototype was ready by May of 2019. “Within 60 to 90 days, we’ll have the full app up and ready for people to download,” said Caffey. It was about a 27-month process from conception to product in hand. Cognizant of the fact that he was embarking on an extremely complex task, Caffey didn’t want to be told, “No, this could not work.” He chose to develop his

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

Founder and CEO of Smart Eye Technology, Inc., Dexter Caffey Photo Courtesy of Smart Eye Technology, Inc.

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product in Israel, echoing what Guillaume Bailliard of ControlRad believed about start-ups there. They have a saying, “If we don’t understand something, we’ll figure it out,” said Caffey.

your face is recognized, you have to stay in front of the camera. If you move, the document immediately closes because it can no longer scan your face; it shuts down immediately.

What Makes Smart Eye Technology, Inc. Innovative?

For Your Eyes Only

They use biometrics including facial, iris, voice and fingerprint recognition. With facial recognition, if someone looks over your shoulder, your computer screen is immediately blocked and a “Multiple Viewers” message pops up. Nobody else can see your documents. They also use a new type of biometric called print behavior; the device recognizes how you print letters, giving you access to a document or not, based on its recognition of your printing on the screen. When using this feature, if you are asked to print the letter “A,” it knows how you hold the phone, how you touch the screen with your finger, how much pressure you put on the screen as you print, and how you physically move your hand back and forth to print the letters A, C, L, U, for example. You are prompted to print four random letters. Your hand movement is unique to just you. The use of their app permits one to determine how long someone is allowed access to a document being shared—24, 48, or 72 hours. After the selected time period, the document disappears. Users can also enter a physical address requirement, so the person receiving the document can only open it if he or she is at the exact place specified. All the biometrics and the documents are encrypted. Smart Eye does not require a username or password. The only password required is your face, your fingerprint, your voice, your iris, as well as print behavior.

Beyond Facial Recognition

Most facial recognition systems work by showing your face one time, and you are granted access to a device or a document, which unlocks and stays open. Smart Eye Technology uses continuous authentication. Once

Invoice fraud is a real problem. A hacker can find emailed invoices, and resend them pretending to be the original sender, but providing new wiring instructions. For example, one would say, “Patrizia, this is Dexter. We had a problem with the other bank. Here are our new wiring instructions. By the way, it was great talking to you this morning.” Thinking it was really Dexter, one might indeed think they were wiring him $20,000, for example, but that money would go directly into the hacker’s account. Instead of sending invoices through email, corporations could send their documents directly to Smart Eye. Then one could verify beyond a shadow of a doubt that only intended recipients would receive them. Fraud is prevalent in the real estate field. When you want to put a down payment on the new home that you’re so excited about, the hacker poses as the wiring attorney. You’ll receive a message about new wiring instructions with the request that you please send it to the new address. If legal documents were to fall into the wrong hands, that could compromise an attorney’s case. Smart Eye eliminates that risk completely. Only the attorney you want to see a given document would be able to access it. Any corporation that sends and receives sensitive documents, whether it’s board minutes or invoices, would benefit from using Smart Eye Technology.

from either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once you do that, there’s a monthly subscription for the software, depending on the size of your organization. It’s a monthly flat fee no matter how many documents you send and receive. Both sender and receiver must have downloaded the Smart Eye app. Facial recognition is immediate, and you are up and running very quickly. No extra hardware is required because you would be using your cell phone, laptop or desktop. Smart Eye is device agnostic: Regardless of what device you use, as long as you have a camera on it, you can use Smart Eye Technology. If you don’t have a camera on your desktop, a push notification is sent out to your cell phone and you can verify all of your biometrics from your phone. Then the desktop will unlock the documents.

The Peachtree Corners Connection

Although located in Buckhead, Smart Eye Technology, Inc. holds a membership at Atlanta Tech Park in Peachtree Corners, benefitting from the use of its facilities as well as a relationship with its Founder, Robin Bienfait, who sits on their board of directors and acts as an advisor. “We attend several events there,” Caffey shared. Atlanta Tech Park holds a special place in Caffey’s heart. That’s where they launched their prototype on May 7, 2019. “We had over 300 people show up; it was a huge event,” he said. “We had several successful technology leaders come up, some of the oldest names in technology came to see Smart Eye for the very first time. It was a huge success. When we showed how Smart Eye shut off when someone looked over my shoulder, there were oohs and aahs from the crowd.” ■

Beta Testing Smart Eye Technology

Several hundred people and major corporations are currently beta testing Smart Eye Technology. Feedback about their security features has been overwhelmingly positive.

How it Works

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February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

BUSINESS

Tech Companies Flock to Peachtree Corners Peachtree Corners launched its Curiosity Lab test track not with a bang, but with a drone. Actually, a pair of drones. When city officials cut the ribbon last year on the new high-tech test track that runs through town, two drones piloted by students from Paul Duke STEM High School flew in the red streamer that was to be scissored. With that, Peachtree Corners’ latest effort to bring high-tech jobs to town was open for business. “There’s nowhere else in the world that has anything like this,” City Manager Brian Johnson said recently.

BRIAN JOHNSON

Curiosity Lab and Technology Park

The city already operated a business incubator for startup businesses and invested $4 million on the 1.5-mile-long, interactive test track to create a place where innovative companies could test such things as driverless cars in the real world. “When you need to set your technology free to learn in the wild, bring it here,” Curiosity Lab’s webpage

By Joe Earle

tells interested companies. “Test, Curiosity Lab’s test track demo and deploy in our ecosysappears to be catching on. It tem.” already has been used to test The idea is to attract innovadriverless buses and scooters and tive companies is drawing notice to town so they’ll from a variety spend money of businesses. while they’re there “There’s interest and then perhaps from around the some of them may world,” Curiosity put down roots Lab executive and stay. director Betsy Curiosity Lab Plattenburg connects to the said. “There will city’s history as a be a lot of interplace for high-tech esting things BETSY PLATTENBURG companies and testing.” innovation. The city grew from Technology Park, a development Some companies that have that grew up in the 1970s as a tested products on the place for tech companies and was city’s Curiosity Lab track intended to keep startups that Tortoise, a San Francisspun off from Georgia Tech and co-based company founded by other universities from leaving a former Uber metro Atlanta. executive, used Some companies say the lure the smart track to of setting up shop alongside othtest devices that er innovative companies is part allow scooters and of what drew them to Peachtree bicycles to be drivCorners in the first place. en remotely. The “That was definitely a contribidea is to allow uting factor to our decision,” said “micro-mobility” Trish Nettleship, senior marketcompanies that ing director for Brightree, a softprovide rental ware company, “When we were bikes and scooters considering a new location for to use a package of devices such our headquarters, Peachtree Coras cameras and training wheels ners had a lot of what we were that will allow remote drivers to looking for in a community. The operate the vehicles. That could vibrant technology community mean fewer abandoned scooter of Peachtree Corners, innovative pileups on city sidewalks and spirit, in particular the Curiosity allow abandoned scooters to be Lab, and the active business comreturned to their owners more munity were driving forces that quickly. lead to our decision.” Local Motors is a “ground moMark Bouzyk, co-founder bility company” with operations and chief scientific officer of in Arizona and Tennessee that AKESOgen, a genetics-testing used the Curiosity Lab to test its company, said his company driverless shuttle buses. One of located in Peachtree Corners its shuttles, called Olli, made its because it was an affordable inaugural run on the track Oct 1, place that offered a new company 2019. The test was set to end Jan. a lot of support. “There’s a lot of 31, 2020. like-minded companies that work in technology,” Bouzyk said.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

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Companies that have used or are using the city incubator

Insiten builds custom digital tools that it says will allow business managers to make better decisions. It says its products allow managers and consultants to “digitally transform” the execution of company strategies and mergers and acquisition planning and execution. Insiten offers products dealing with financial analysis, data collection and aggregation, project analytics and communication with clients. The company was founded in 2016 and set up shop in December of that year in the Peachtree Corners technology incubator. Insiten opened an office in New York in 2018, and by August of 2019, employed 20 people. Sanguina markets a device that tests blood to determine the level of hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen in the blood. For its rapid, color-based tests, the device, called the AnemoCheck, requires less than half a drop of blood, the company says. “We are dedicated to developing simple, rapid testing to populations who need it most,” Sanguina says on its webpage. The company was founded in 2014 to develop and market the device developed in the biomedical engineering and pediatrics departments at Georgia Tech, Emory University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Sanguina recently was listed on Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list for promising healthcare companies. Continued on page 30 peachtreecornerslife

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First Friday Breakfast

features a notable speaker at our monthly breakfast. February The retail market is changing. Get Insight from the experts, Retail Strategies’ Scott VonCannon and Jeff Sommer on how it may impact YOUR business. March 6 Gwinnett Stripers V.P. & General Manager, Adam English with an update on the team, schedule and some special dates for SWGC members. with some news about special dates.

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Connect Over Coffee is our weekly morning networking group at the Atlanta Bread company at 8:30 – 9:30 am every Friday except the First Friday of each month. Join us for a casual networking session with other business professionals from around the Southwest corner of Gwinnett County.

Community Volunteer Opportunities

Members of the Chamber will be volunteering at the March Junior Achievement “Finance Park” on March 2nd with Summerour Middle School Students. This is an opportunity to “pay it forward” in a fun environment. It’s a day with 8th grade students learning the realities of family budgeting. Join us for the

Southwest Gwinnett Chamber’s Annual Gala

Saturday, March 21 Play it Again Dinner and a play

Dinner at the Norcross Community Center and Lionheart Theater’s presentation of the romantic comedy

The Man Who Came to Dinner

For details on these and other events contact Southwest Gwinnett Chamber www.southwestgwinnettchamber.com | 470-482-1899

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

BUSINESS LIFE Continued from page 28 Eventeny says it can take the stress out of planning festivals and other large events. The idea for the company arose a couple of years ago when CEO Aly Hussaini watched his sister pull her hair out as she tried to juggle organizing the various parts of a big event, according to Hypepotamus, which covers the tech industry. The company, co-founded by Hussaini and Nausheen Punjani, automates many of the processes associated with running large events and puts them on a single platform, Hypepotamus reports. After just two years, the company’s clients include the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Anime Weekend Atlanta and the Kirkwood Spring Fling. “Eventeny was founded on the belief that managing largescale events with hundreds of exhibitors, vendors, sponsors and volunteers should not be stressful and burdensome,” the company says on its website. “Our mission is to remove event organizers from being the fifth most stressful job in the world.”

Other Peachtree Corners companies noted for innovation

AKESOgen does genetic and genomic testing for universities, government agencies and businesses such as pharmaceutical companies, said Chief Scientific Officer Mark Bouzyk, a PhD who was on the faculty at Emory University when he left to cofound the company in 2010 with financial executive Robert Boisjoli, who

had experience with successful startups. The company says that even though it launched during the recession, it has grown quickly as genetic and genomic testing has caught on. According to Inc. 500 magazine, in 2016 AKESOgen was the second fastest-growing healthcare company in Georgia. State officials named the company “a small business rock star” in 2018. In December 2019, AKESOgen was acquired by Tempus, a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. “AKESOgen’s breadth of capabilities strategically complement our own, and we look forward to bringing the power of data and artificial intelligence to healthcare and advancing the field of precision medicine together,” said Eric Lefkofsky, Founder & CEO of Tempus. Bouzyk said AKESOgen, named for the Greek goddess of curing and healing, now is engaged with one of the largest genetics projects in the world, a Veterans Administration project to develop genetic profiles for a million vets. So far, the company has sequenced about

350,000 samples, he said. Alogent consults with and creates software for financial institutions such as banks and credit unions. The company was formed

by the merger of the former Alogent, which was founded to provide deposit automation in the United Kingdom, and Bluepoint Solutions, which focused on credit unions. Alogent says on its webpage that it is “the market leader in providing banks and credit unions with deposit automation, item processing, enterprise information management and mobile and online banking solutions.” The company has more than 2,400 clients worldwide, and last May it was named one of the fastest-growing companies in Georgia by the Atlanta chapter of the Association for

Corporate Growth. DataOceans creates communication management systems for businesses that allow targeted content, cut costs and connect communications across various departments. Founded in 2005, DataOceans’ products deliver enhanced interactive communications, creating items such as bills, statements, invoices and notices. “We focus on developing technology that is innovative and disruptive,” the company says on its webpage. “We strive to enable our clients to deliver the right message to the right person every time, through every channel.

GeneCure Biotechnologies, a privately-owned biotech company, focuses on developing gene therapy-based technologies to treat genetic and acquired human diseases. The company works with pharmaceutical companies to develop its patented gene transfer technology into treatments for various genetic diseases, infectious diseases and cancers. One product under development is a vaccine

against HIV/AIDS. RayBiotech says it serves the scientific research community by providing cutting-edge technologies that aid in areas such as the identification of new drug targets and the advancement of personalized medicine. Its customers include scientists in industry and academic or research institutions in 41 countries. The company started in 2001, after then-Emory University professor Dr. Ruo-Pan Huang published an article about a new method to streamline certain laboratory tests. The article drew attention from other researchers, so Huang, working in his basement with members of his family, developed the idea and introduced the company’s first product by the end of that year. RayBiotech has continued to expand and now claims more than 150 employees. ■

Stay tuned for our future Capitalist Sage podcasts with guest interviews from this cover story!

►Business Briefs New Approach to Wellness in Peachtree Corners

Recently, Elite Personalized Medicine held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their opening. Among the attendees were members of the Peachtree Corners Business Association (including Lisa Proctor, President), Mayor Mike Mason and city council members Phil Sadd and Lorri Christopher. Elite Personalized Medicine’s offers a personalized approach to wellness with a range of wellness treatments that include chiropractic care, whole body cryotherapy and IV nutrition in-fusions. Skilled practitioners work with clients to design custom health plans for specific needs. Visit them at 5270 Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners or elite-personalized-medicine.business.site.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

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Hancock Askew Opens New Peachtree Corners Office

◄ More than 75 well-wishers joined Hancock Askew’s partners, staff and city leaders recently to celebrate the opening of its new Peachtree Corners office with a reception and ribbon-cutting event. The accounting and CPA firm relocated into a 13,000 square-feet remodeled office on Davinci Court from another Peachtree Corners office. The new office accommodates the firm’s 60 employees and has room for 30 additional workers as the company expands, said Hancock Askew partner Russell Reece. Mayor Mike Mason, Councilmembers Phil Sadd, Eric Christ, Lorri Christopher and Weare Gratwick were on hand for the celebration along with members of the Peachtree Corners Business Association and Hancock Askew partners and business supporters. “The city council and I are delighted that you have again chosen Peachtree Corners for your business location,” Mason said. “It speaks volumes to our efforts as a business-friendly city.”

Coworking Franchisor Set to Open Third Georgia Location

Somerset Trust Company Moves to Alogent Software

Somerset Trust Company, a full-service community bank with assets over $1.2 billion, has expanded its footprint to include document and check processing with its enterprise capture software solutions. It will replace its legacy systems with Alogent’s FASTdocs suite of content and information management (ECM / EIM) and its ImagePoint suite for item processing. A global software leader in end-to-end payment processing, content and information management, digital banking and loan origination solutions, Alogent is located on Technology Parkway in Peachtree Corners. “Alogent’s capabilities already proven within the bank, combined with the company’s flexibility to deploy the software in a model that supported our strategic plan, were key factors in our decision,” said John Gill, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating and Risk Officer at Somerset Trust Company.

Twice a month we feature entrepreneurs & experts that speak to the real-world life of doing business, sharing their sage advice & tips to improve yours.

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Karl Barham Continued on page 32

PODCAST

Office Evolution, the largest coworking franchisor in the U.S., is signing a development deal for a new location in Atlanta. The newest Office Evolution location will be owned and operated by business partners Stan Brovont and Charlene Sosack. Though an address has yet to be announced, the duo is eyeing potential sites in Johns Creek, Peachtree Corners and Duluth and hopes to open in June of this year. Go to officeevolution.com for more.

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Rico Figliolini

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

Continued from page 31

Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce 107 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 678-906-4078, southwestgwinnettchamber.com

First Fridays

At the recent Brightree ribbon-cutting, left to right, CEO Matt Mellott, Mayor Mike Mason, Councilmembers Phil Sadd, Weare Gratwick, Lorri Christopher and State Rep Beth Moore.

Healthcare IT Company Relocates Headquarters to Technology Park

On Dec. 13,, Brightree a cloud-based healthcare company, celebrated the opening of its new 60,500 square-foot headquarters in Peachtree Corners’ Technology Park Atlanta. The 1970s-era three-story office building, formerly occupied by Honeywell, Inc., was completely renovated and now features open layout work areas, gathering spaces and an outdoor amenity space for its 160-employee work force and guests. “When considering a new location for our headquarters, we were won over by the vi-brant technology community of Peachtree Corners,” said Matt Mellott, CEO of Brightree. “The recently opened Curiosity Lab, in particular, has generated a powerful synergy that speaks to the collaborative values of the companies and people here.”

Lifestyle Fitness Facility Now Open

Burn Boot Camp is a perfect fitness solution for busy women and their families. The workouts are designed to maximize results in just 45 minutes, with an average burn of 700 calories per camp. The focused meeting system consists of unlimited one-on-one sessions; free childwatch is available at various times throughout the day. Burn Boot Camp is located at 5450 Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners. More at burnbootcamp.com.

Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners

147 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 470-550-1727, curiositylabptc.com Visit curiositylabptc.com for more events, including off-site conferences and seminars.

V2X—Where We Are and Where We’re Headed

February 12, 12-1 p.m. Dr. Billy Kihei, an active wireless researcher and expert in signal processing, gives an introduction to Vehicle-to-Everything, or V2X, technology that can make roads safer by allowing vehicles to communicate with each other. Registration required.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

February 7 & March 6, 7:30-9 a.m. Hilton Atlanta Northeast, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners 30092 In February, speakers Scott VonCannon and Elliott Cook of Retail Strategies provide an overview of the retail market and trends that may impact local businesses. Admission is $40.

Coffee Connections

February 14, 21 & 28, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Atlanta Bread Company at the Forum, 4880 Peachtree Corners Circle, Peachtree Corners 30092 Start your Friday morning with

Peachtree Corners Business Association 4989 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 678-969-3385 peachtreecornersba.com

Connecting Over Coffee

February 11 & March 10, 8:30-9:30 a.m. The Flying Biscuit Café, 5270 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 Meet with other PCBA members and business professionals for networking in a positive setting. No admission cost for PCBA members and their guests and no registration is required.

IP Law for Startups

February 17, 12-1 p.m. Troutman Sanders partner Jim Schutz shares the top things startups need to know about intellectual property (IP) law. Registration required.

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coffee and conversation with other business professionals.

Launch Your Membership Marketing

February 11 & 25; March 10 & 24, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Conference Room 500 Learn to use the SWGC website and tools to improve your company’s visibility and grow your business. Members only; please make a reservation.

Junior Achievement Finance Town

March 2, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett, 1333 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville 30046 Register online to join SWGC for a team day with Junior Achievement of Gwinnett and Summerour Middle School students to help students develop the skills to navigate today’s economic environment.

PCBA Lunch Club

February 19, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 5215 Town Center Boulevard, Peachtree Corners 30092 Join the PCBA Lunch Club and enjoy special offers from PCBA member restaurants.

PCBA Business After Hours February 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m. CMX CineBistro, 5180 Town Center Boulevard, Peachtree Corners 30092 Enjoy evening of networking and delicious appetizers that include wagyu beef sliders. Registration fee of $30 includes drink and food.

GTA & Data

February 20, 12-1 p.m. One service of the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) is helping businesses access data they need to grow. GTA takes requests from the business community for information held by Georgia state agencies.

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February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

>>More photos from the Brightree Grand Opening Photos by George Hunter

Peachtree Corners Magazine â&#x2013; February/March 2020 â&#x2013; LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

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Peachtree Corners Magazine

Austin’s Best Summer Camps

Club

SciKidz Where Sc ience & Te chnology Co nnect!

ACTIVE PLAY. ENRICHING EXPERIENCES. TRUE RELATIONSHIPS.

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Early Bird Registration

Code: CLUB20. See our website for details!

From day camp to dozens of specialty camps, GAC offers something for every camper from the age of 3 to 18. 8 weeks of day camp for K4-8th & specialty camps for K3-12.

Extended care is available 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

June 1 - July 31, 2020, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Lunch is provided for day campers

Multiple Camps To Choose From! NEW Including: 2020 CAMPS!

• Minecraft • American Girl • Video Gaming • Kerbal Space • F/X - Zombie

Weekly field trips

Questions? Email summercamp@greateratlantachristian.org or call 770.243.2275

Camps feature general recreation activities with a thematic twist. Bring lunch, snack, and drink daily.

Community Recreation Center

678.277.0850

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DACULA

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Community Recreation Center

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LILBURN

Lilburn Activity Building 678.277.0875 Mountain Park Park Depot Building

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Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

Complete registration online!

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peachtreecornerslife

SUMMER CAMPS

Summer Camp, Where

Every Day is an Adventure

Left to right: MJCCA, Greater Atlanta Christian School, Peachtree Corners Baptist Church

here’s no reason for students to get bored during summer break. With all the camp opportunities in the Peachtree Corners area, there’s bound to be something that will spark their interest and keep them active. Sure, they’ll have fun, and they may even learn something new. Don’t wait to get them signed up, though. Space fills up quickly, so it’s best to get registered as soon as you’re able.

Schools Stay Open for Summer Fun By Kathy Dean

Even though school sessions are suspended for summer, that doesn’t mean the campuses close down.

Many open their doors for summer camps. Greater Atlanta Christian (GAC) offers a variety of summer camps. There are two separate full-day camps for lower school and middle school children that include activities and field trips. In addition, GAC has camps that feature a full range of sports, fitness and specialties. Campers can choose from baseball, flag football, cheerleading, swimming, golf and tennis. GAC is the only K-12 school in Georgia with an indoor tennis facility. It’s state-of-the-art, air conditioned and winner of the 2019 USTA Outstanding Facilities Award. GAC’s tennis pro also received an award: Tennis Director of The Year, State of Georgia 2019. All kids are welcome at GAC summer camps; they don’t have to be GAC students to attend. Visit greateratlantachristian.org/summer-camp for details and to

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

register. The Summer Adventure Club at the Primrose School of Peachtree Corners is designed for ages 5 to 12. It allows children to become artists, explorers and scientists as they’re challenged by experiments and other themed activities. Register and get more info by calling the school at 770-409-8732 or visiting their website, PrimrosePeachtreeCorners.com. For children aged 4 to 14, Wesleyan School’s summer camps run half or full day. The camps cover everything from athletics and arts to STEM and study skills. Camp topics include Adulting 101 and Intro to Babysitting, as well as architecture, cooking and baking, coding and Lego robotics, creative writing, theatre and improv, sewing, movie making and forensic science. The sports camps include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, tennis and volleyball. Lunch and a snack are included in full-day camps; before and after care is also available. Campers do not need to attend Wesleyan to participate in camp. Learn more at wesleyanschool. org/summercamps. It’s worth the trip to Athens, Ga. for your child to attend camp at UGA Summer Academy. Not only do students stay academically engaged while school is out, they can explore their own interests and passions. UGA hosts several academic camps for ages 11 to 17. A sampling of the available specialties includes animation, film, mini medical school and game design. Registration opens Feb. 5, 2020, and financial aid is available for students based on need. Visit georgiacenter.uga.edu/youth or call 1-706-542-3537 for the full list of programs and to register.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

Other Spots to Enjoy Camps

Top to bottom: Wesleyan School, Wesleyan School, UGA Summer Academy; left—UGA Summer Academy, right— MJCCA; Peachtree Corners Baptist Church

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Peachtree Corners Baptist Church offers several sports camps through their recreation ministry. But there’s much more, like a Beach Camp, for students who have completed grades 6 to 12, from May 31 to June 5, or Lifeway’s “Concrete and Cranes” Vacation Bible School running June 8 to 12, 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., for children who have completed Kindergarten through grade 5. Centri-Kid Camp, July 6 to 10, will be offered at Shocco Springs Retreat Center in Talladega, Ala., for kids who have completed grades 3 to those in grade 5. Take advantage of early bird pricing through Feb. 28 for Peachtree Corners Baptist Church’s Summer Daze camp for children aged 2½ to those who have completed grade 3; it runs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from June 23 to July 23. Register and get additional info at pcbchurch. org. At Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA, there are so many camp opportunities that choosing can be a challenge. Sports lovers can pick from gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, baseball, basketball, flag football, volleyball and more. There’s also swim and skate camp. Junior Ranger Camp, a traditional camp with full and half-day options for ages 5 to 12, takes students on nature walks, canoeing and swimming in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, park of the National Park Service. That’s not all. There’s also half-day preschool camp for ages 4 to 6, full-day teen camps for ages 13 to 15 that prepare them for leadership, and specialty camps including STEM, film and creative arts. To find out more and register, go to ymcaatlanta.org, click on Summer Camp and choose the Robert D. Fowler location. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta hosts their MJCCA Summer Day Camps for Pre-K to grade 10 students from

peachtreecornerslife

Violin Camp 2020!

W E S L E YA N

June 15-28th

SUMMER CAMPS

Sait Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, GA

Do you have a child interested in learning violin or who wants to continue playing? Your child will learn and enhance their skills on violin, while also learning leadership skills and meeting other kids who love music! Space is limited, so sign up today! Elementary and Middle School Students of ALL Skill levels, as well as a select number of Intermediate - Advance High School Students! Tuition: $400 but if you register by April 20th you can receive a $100 discount!

www.LStringz.com

2.5 - 12 Year Olds

Vacation Bible School June 8-12

Kids Sports Camps Various Weeks

Summer Daze June 23-July 23 www.pcbchurch.org

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

May 26 to August 14 in three locations: Dunwoody, Intown and East Cobb. Some of the unique camps available are Sports Broadcasting, led by Atlanta Hawks’ very own Bob Rathbun, and Teen E Sports, which combines the best of both the real and virtual sports worlds. Sports camps include the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Camp with Hawks’ professional team of coaches leading focused practices and games. Partnering with Concorde Fire, MJCCA Camps offer a one-of-a-kind soccer camp experience, challenging campers both technically and tactically. Some of the new active 2020 MJCCA Day Camps are American Ninja Warrior (for teens), Bring the Hype Dance Camp, Challenger Soccer Camp, Cheer and Dance Camp and Dancing with a Purpose. Campers can also opt for MJCCA Day Camps’ Camp Isidore Alterman (CIA), where they can

enjoy lake activities, archery, ropes course, zip lining, outdoor cooking, swimming and fishing. To register, go to mjccadaycamps. org or call 678-812-4004. Gwinnett Parks & Recreation works with local instructors and sports-based companies to offer a variety of camps where kids can learn new sports and enhance their skills. Sports camps include baseball/softball, basketball, soccer, flag football and tennis. Adventure Camp, for ages 7 to 13, and Jr. Adventure Camp, for ages 5 and 6, feature general recreation activities with a different theme each week. For example, the June 1 to 5 camp theme is Earth, Wind & Fire which will allow campers to explore the elements, and July 20 to 24’s Full Steam Ahead camp will explore renewable energy with STEAM activities. Campers should bring a lunch, snack and drink daily. Camp runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6

Dream it. Plan it. Make it happen. SUMMER ADVENTURE CLUB Ages 5 - 12

At Primrose Schools Summer Adventure Club, children become engineers, ar�sts, explorers and more as they discover the joys of design thinking, a fun and innova�ve way to learn. Engineering design challenges, experiments and themed ac�vi�es await as children unlock new ways of thinkingall while having a blast!

Primrose School of Peachtree Corners

770.409.8732

PrimrosePeachtreeCorners.com

Each Primrose School is privately owned and operated frachise. Primrose Schools is a trademark of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2018 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. *Ages for Summer Adventure Club program vary by loca�on.

1 2

SESSION

June 20-24

Have to be Two by December 31st 2018

SESSION

Christ the King Preschool Summer Camps for ages 2 - Rising Kindergartners

August 10-14 Have to be Two by December 31st 2018

M-F from 9:30 - 1:00 $125.00 per session, Half due by 5/11, remainder due on first day of camp

www.ctk-preschool.org ☼ 770.449.7217 5575 Peachtree Parkway, in Peachtree Corners

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

p.m. daily, and costs $126 per child per week of camp. Register for Gwinnett Parks & Recreation sports camps and Adventure Camps at gwinnettcounty.com. Click on Departments, then Community Services, then Parks & Recreation, then Camps and, finally, Camp Registration. You’ll find the full listing of all the available options with details. The weekly themes at Lifetime Fitness summer camps span many interests—animation, dinosaurs, glitter and slime, emojis, escape rooms, space travelers and so much more. All the activities focus on healthy eating, physical activity, character development, community connections and STEAM. Call Lifetime Fitness in Peachtree Corners at 770-4496060 for more information and to get signed up. Full-day camps at Camp All-American are for kids aged 5 through 17 and feature Bible study, physical activity and a wide range of specialties. Camp runs for 10 weeks and is held at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek. Day camps for students in grades 1 to 6 are held at Dunwoody Bap-

Top to bottom, MJCCA, Camp All-American and Club SciKidz

tist Church. Get more info and register at campallamerican.com.

Special Times with Specialized Camps Each summer, Club SciKidz offers four themed camps for grades Pre-K to 5. Themes this year are By the Beautiful Sea,

peachtreecornerslife

Be Be Be Be

an individual. part of a community. strong in faith. challenged academically.

Come discover what it means to Be Greater. Join us for Open House January 29 February 26

Be Greater.

discoverGAC.org

1575 Indian Trail Road, Norcross, GA 30093 | 770.243.2000

February/March 2020 â&#x2013; Peachtree Corners Magazine

Left, Peterbrooke Chocolatier at the Forum

Cosmic Cookie Dough, Robot Rumble and Coding Kaleidoscope. The American Girl camp is open campers in grades 1 to 5. Campers in grades 5 to 8 can choose from the Tech Scientific division. Concentrations include Veterinary Medicine, 3D Printing, Chemistry, Rocketry, Drones, Stop Motion Animation, Harry Potter, Minecraft with Java Programming and Advanced LEGO Robotics. Each day, campers rotate through four classes which incorporate science, technology, art and an outdoor component.

Pre-camp and post camp hours are available. Club SciKidz camps are held at several locations near Peachtree Corners, including Duluth First United Methodist Church. Enroll and get details at ClubSciKidz.com. Does your child love chocolate? The answer is probably yes. Consider Chocolate Summer Day Camp at Peterbrooke Chocolatier at the Forum. Not only will campers learn all about the history of chocolate, they’ll also get to be chocolatiers for the day. After dipping caramel apple, pretzels,

Oreos, potato chips and graham crackers into Peterbrooke chocolate, the kids will package their creations to take home. Camp is held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 31 through August 9. The daily session cost of $50 per child includes Jason’s Deli Lunch and gelato for dessert, and of course, Peterbrooke Chocolate. Space is limited; call Peterbrooke Chocolatier at the Forum for details at 770-817-8118. New this year is the Animal Ambassador Camp with Gwinnett Animal Welfare and

Enforcement for children aged 7 to 14. Students can become a junior animal ambassador by learning all about pet care. The $80 per week cost includes animal interaction, arts and crafts, educational activities and special guests. Camp runs 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; register at GwinnettAnimalWelfare.com. At Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center in Johns Creek, kids are encouraged to reconnect with nature and history. Campers enjoy activities and learning opportunities while having time to explore and imagine. There are several options of full-day summer camps for campers 5 to 13 years old; half-day camps are available for 4-yearolds. Find schedules and more at autreymill.org. ■

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Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

peachtreecornerslife

Education & Experiences

KNOWLEDGE

New Simpson Elementary Principal Aims to Help Build Tomorrow’s Leaders

new principal has taken the helm at Simpson Elementary School in Peachtree Corners. In January, Taffeta Connery, Ed. D. replaced retiring principal Bron Gayna Schmit. Dr. Connery’s previous positions include principal of Sugar Hill Elementary School and Assistant Principal at Corley Elementary School in Gwinnett County. Her education career began in 1996 and, in 2008, she earned her Doctor of Education degree from Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Connery said she wants to continue to build upon the legacy of high engagement and student achievement at Simpson Elementary. “In Gwinnett County Public Schools, we truly believe that great schools build

By Kathy Dean

great communities…and likewise, great communities help build great schools,” she said. “It is my desire to continue to build a strong relationship between Simpson Elementary, the Norcross Cluster schools and the City of Peachtree Corners.” She added that she’s excited about the opportunities that students have to explore ground-breaking innovation and technology by partnering with the Peachtree Corners Curiosity Lab and Tech Park. “Students will be able to engage in real-world applications, problem-solving solutions and critical-thinking skills that are aligned to our AKS Standards,” Dr. Connery said. “Our students will be prepared to work in an industry that is constantly evolving, and they will be able to adapt and excel! My job is to build future leaders for tomorrow.” Dr. Connery said she believes in servant leadership and fostering positive relationships. “Shared decision-making, for me, is essential to student success,” she stated. She explained that, during the next few months, she plans to continue asking questions,

soliciting opinions and listening to suggestions from all school stakeholders as to what makes Simpson Elementary feel like home to them. “My primary role is to support teaching and learning,” Dr. Connery said. “I want to ensure that students and teachers have all the curriculum resources and materials they need in order to be successful. In addition to our work to provide students a good foundational core, I want to be sure to support our connections (Music, Art, Media, STEM, Spanish and PE) team.” Dr. Connery and her husband have lived in Peachtree Corners for more than eight years, and

Top left, Ryan shares what he’s learning with Dr. Connery. Above, students from Ms. Michelle Guy’s class with Dr. Connery in front of one of her favorite quotes posted around the school. Photos by Rico Figliolini

she’s excited to live, work and play in the community. “I am proud to be principal of Simpson Elementary School and I look forward to working with all of our Simpson Superstars!” ■

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

Flex Friday: A Sporting Opportunity

aul Duke STEM High School provides many options for students that are out of the box. One of these is Flex Fridays. On Fridays, students are not required to be on campus; teachers post lessons digitally, and students choose to either attend school or complete classwork remotely. All Flex day assignments are submitted online. This cyberlearning option has opened the doors for students to personalize their education and pursue their passions. Paul Duke’s principal, Dr. Jonathan Wetherington, explained, “Our schedule, including Flex Fridays, helps Paul Duke STEM High School meet the individual needs of each student and

By Helen West

support them to be successful in high school and after high school. Flex Fridays provide students with the opportunity to learn online through digital lessons and engage in experiences that enrich the whole student on campus or off campus. “For some students, Flex Fridays provide the opportunity to engage in athletic activities, and for others, it allows them to seek powerful employment opportunities or internships. Other students enjoy coming to school on Friday and getting additional help from their teachers as they complete their digital assignments.”

Time to Spend on the Ice

For some elite athletes who compete in sports not typically offered in high school, this flexible schedule holds a unique appeal. This was the case for ninth grader Matthew Goring, who plays travel ice hockey. Influenced by his Canadian parents and their love of hockey, Matthew began with roller hockey

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

at Pinckneyville Park at age six. A year later, he asked to try ice hockey, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history. Outside of school, Matthew spends many hours on the ice, practicing three to four times a week and traveling out of state one to two times per month for tournaments. According to Sandra Goring, Matthew’s mother, the Flex Friday schedule at Paul Duke was a factor that drew them to the school: “Matthew has played travel hockey for several years, and many of his teammates have done online school due to the heavy travel hockey schedule. Matthew really enjoys school and his classmates; therefore, online school wouldn’t have been a good fit for him, but missing lots of school for hockey isn’t ideal either. When we heard about Paul Duke and the Flex Friday schedule, it seemed like the perfect option.” Last year, Matthew’s team, the Atlanta Fire Bantam Elite 14U AA, won the State Championship peachtreecornerslife

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and went on to win the 2019 USA National hockey championship in South Bend, Indiana, at Notre Dame University. The championship game was televised on Hockey TV and was, hands down, the highlight of Matthew’s hockey experience so far. Currently, Matthew plays for the Atlanta 16 U AA travel team and for North Gwinnett High School and plans to compete in approximately 65 games this hockey season. Because most of his tournaments begin on Fridays, Matthew often travels on Thursday evenings. In Matthew’s words, “I like the Flex Fridays because I don’t miss out on a valuable day of learning.” Completing schoolwork in the car, airport, hotel or in between games is Matthew’s regular routine.

Balance Between Training and Classes

Another elite student athlete is senior diver Quinn Watch. When she was in fifth grade,

peachtreecornerslife

Left to right, Matthew Goring, Quinn Watch and Noah Budnitz

she was introduced to diving in a class at the West Gwinnett Aquatic Center. Quinn’s background in gymnastics laid the foundation for diving, so it is not surprising that her favorite dives are three-meter and reverses. One of Quinn’s favorite dives are from the three-meter height because “three-meter dives are fun because you have more time, so you feel like you are flying.” Unquestionably, Paul Duke’s Flex Friday schedule has helped Quinn balance academics and a challenging training schedule. Quinn is a year-round springboard diver at the Georgia Diving Club. A typical week includes three days of dive practice in Athens. She also travels out of state for meets. In the fall of 2020, Quinn plans to study education at Sewanee: The University of the South and compete there as a collegiate diver. Flex Friday brings to life one of the core values of Paul Duke: a differentiated learning experience. As Terrie Watch, Quinn’s

mother, notes, “the best thing about Flex Friday is that it respects the needs of each individual student.” These Fridays give teachers and students some latitude to remember the bigger goal of helping every student succeed and pursue their passions. For Quinn, the opportunity to develop in diving will continue after high school.

Opportunity to Climb High

In December, Noah Budnitz, an elite rock climber and Paul Duke sophomore, had the honor of representing the United States at the PanAmerican Youth Championship in Ecuador where he placed 4th in Speed Climbing. In order to compete, Noah had to miss a week of school, and his teachers encouraged him to go. Technology was already in place for posting assignments, and Flex Fridays helped Noah make up tests without creating undue stress on him or his teachers. Noah was first introduced to rock climbing in 2012 at a birth-

day party, and in 2014, he joined the Stone Summit team. He enjoys speed climbing especially because “it provides a real, tangible goal and sense of improvement.” Now, Noah competes with the Stone Summit Elite Team and regularly practices on Fridays in a Kennesaw gym since it is the only regulation height speed wall available in the state. Because of the Flex Friday schedule, Noah is able to balance a rigorous academic course load and compete on a national level. Most of Noah’s teammates are either homeschooled or attend schools with flex Monday/Fridays.

Lessons in Time Management

A side benefit to Flex Friday is that students have additional practice with time management. Effective time management skills are important for all people; however, elite athletes in training must plan and prioritize to a greater degree in order to achieve

success. These student athletes are learning to make choices in order to effectively juggle the demands of life at school, home, and in their sport. Tina Budnitz, Noah’s mother, recognizes this as an important added bonus to Flex Fridays: “The Flex time has had an added benefit giving Noah practice planning and managing his time and commitments. I feel he’s mastering a skill I didn’t truly master until college.” Paul Duke’s Friday plan, according to Dr. Wetherington, is to engage students “to learn in the environment of their choosing, which empowers students to seek their personal best in and outside of the classroom.” Though in its early stages, the strategy works. For Matthew Goring, Quinn Watch, Noah Budnitz and others, Paul Duke offers the unique opportunity to receive high quality instruction at a STEM school, with the flexibility and school support needed to simultaneously excel in academics and their chosen sport. ■

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

►Education Briefs

Wesleyan Adds Three Inductees to the Athletics Circle of Honor

On January 10, Wesleyan School inducted the 2020 class to the Wesleyan School Athletics Circle of Honor. This year’s inductees were: Cort Coxhead, Wesleyan class of 2014; Rhett Delk, Wesleyan Class of 2014; and Kelly Hall Stafford, Wesleyan class of 2007. Cort Coxhead was a member of the soccer, basketball, cross country, and swim and dive teams at Wesleyan. He lettered in cross country and basketball. In soccer, Coxhead was a record-setting four-year letterman and named to the All-County team for three years. He went on to play soccer at Davidson College and is now attending medical school at Emory University where he is studying internal medicine. Rhett Delk lettered on both the Wesleyan football and wrestling teams. In football, he holds the school record for longest field goal, a 49-yard game winner. As a wrestler, Delk was state champion in 2013, and was a four-time state place winner while at Wesleyan. He attended Washington and Lee University where he played football and wrestled. Delk now works in commercial real estate for Cresa Atlanta and serves as a volunteer community coach in Wesleyan’s wrestling program. Kelly Hall Stafford earned 15 athletic letters during her time at Wesleyan. She participated in cheerleading, basketball, track and field, soccer and lacrosse. At Wesleyan, she held the record for charges in a season and in her four years playing varsity basketball, she won three state championships and one state runner-up. Stafford went on to cheer at the University of Georgia. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband and their young children.

NHS Robotics Team Receives Tournament Champions Award

The Norcross High School’s Robotics VEX Competitive Team, the Gear Devils (Team #1379A), was awarded the Tournament Champions (VRC/VEXU) award at the Battle in the Mountains: Tower Takeover event in Ellijay, Ga. on Jan. 11. The Gear Devils team consists of members Josh Mao, Adalberto Nunez, Allen Nunez, Samir Knauff and Gerald Champion. The award qualifies the team for the Georgia VEX State Championship on Feb. 7 and 8 at Ola High School in McDonough, Ga. This is the

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

first State Championship qualifier that the Vex Robotics Team has won in 10 years of competition. Additionally, the NHS Robotics FIRST/VEX Competition Teams received a $5,000 sponsorship from the Nordson Corporation. This is the eighth consecutive year that Nordson has sponsored the NHS robotics teams.

Wesleyan School STAR Student and STAR Teacher Named

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce honored Wesleyan senior Andrew (Andy) Yang (left) as Wesleyan School’s STAR student for the 2019-2020 school year. Yang selected Wesleyan Latin teacher Abby Holmes (bottom left) as his STAR teacher. Beyond his outstanding academic record and membership in numerous honor societies, Yang is president of the Wesleyan Honor Council, captain of the math and science bowl teams and a fouryear member of the cross-country and soccer teams. He is also Wesleyan’s nominee for the prestigious Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia. Outside of Wesleyan, Yang was named to the American Math Competition’s Distinguished Honor Roll and he helped lead his Georgia chapter of the American Regions Mathematics League to a Division B victory in 2019. When asked why he selected Abby Holmes as his STAR teacher, Yang said, “Mrs. Holmes’ class was always fun, engaging, and full of positive energy. Her encouragement gave me confidence when I needed it and spurred intellectual growth in me. I continue to benefit from the problem-solving skills that Mrs. Holmes taught me through Latin translations.”

peachtreecornerslife

Norcross High School Students Included in All State Art Symposium

Five Norcross student artists—Isis Wood, Anna Katherine Sutton, Samuel Torrecilla, Abby Willis and Sofie Pokharel—were accepted into the All State Art Symposium. More than 2,000 student artworks were submitted, and only 133 were selected for inclusion.

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February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

NHS Mock Trial Team Comes Out on Top The Norcross High School Mock Trial Team was undefeated, 3-0, at the Gwinnett region tournament, held the first weekend of February 2020 in courtrooms at the Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center in Lawrenceville, Ga. “I am very proud, along with fellow local attorney Matt McGahren and NHS Social Studies teacher Hal Wright, to coach this terrific group of young people,” said Richard Harris, PC. This was the second consecutive year the NHS team finished undefeated in the region. The competition included nine other schools in Gwinnett County: Brookwood High, Dacula High, Duluth High, Greater Atlanta Christian School (GACS), Lanier High, North Gwinnett High, Parkview High, Paul Duke STEM High and Wesleyan School. Norcross was paired against Brookwood, GACS and North Gwinnett. Harris said that each member of the team was poised, prepared and contributed to the team’s success. Juniors Khadijah Akbar and Martin Lachev both earned outstanding attorney awards. Sophomores Aidan Moss and Zach Susskind earned outstanding witness awards, with Zach winning twice. Junior Moira Christ received well-deserved high scores for her blistering cross-examination. Juniors Teagan Crye and Ainsley Clayton were believable, vibrant witnesses, and freshman Elyse Loew was flawless in the crucial timekeeping role. The team will compete in the district rounds on Feb. 22, also in Lawrenceville, with teams from Duluth High School, Atlanta International School, Johns Creek High School and Westminster. The top two teams at district will advance to the state finals in March. ■

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

Above, Norcross High School Mock Trial Team members. In front, left to right: Elyse Loew, Moira Christ, Khadijah Akbar and Ainsley Clayton. In back row, left to right: Aidan Moss, Teagan Crye, Martin Lachev and Zach Susskind. Left, the two outstanding witnesses, left to right, Aidan Moss and Zach Susskind. (Photos above and left by Richard Harris) Below, the three NHS student who took on the roles of lawyers with Jon Setzer, a Gwinnett Assistant District Attorney who helps run the competition, second from the left. The students with him, left to right, are Khadijah Akbar, Martin Lachev and Moira Christ. (Photo by Eddie Sinitsin)

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February/March 2020 â&#x2013; Peachtree Corners Magazine

BELIEVE

Faith, Belief & Purpose

Chabad of Gwinnett Builds on Faith Left, Rabbi Yossi Lerman of Chabad of Gwinnett, at left, and Scott Frank, who is leading the fundraising drive for the planned expansion in Peachtree Corners. (Courtesy of Atlanta Jewish Times) Right, the planned Chabad Enrichment Center. (Rendering courtesy of Chabad of Gwinnett)

getting all the wheels in motion,” he reported. While they’ve raised a lot of the money, they still need more to reach their goal. The land purchased by Chabad of Gwinnett is shaped like a triangle, so “the building is somewhat triangle-shaped, but it’s a beautiful structure,” Frank said. The Center also had the opportunity to purchase the land beside their new site, so they can expand when necessary.

Part of the Community

or more than 18 years, Chabad of Gwinnett has been part of the Peachtree Corners community. It was begun in 2001 on 9/11. “I knew right away what my mission is,” said Yossi Lerman, an Orthodox Rabbi and head of Chabad of Gwinnett. “I figured if 11 people can cause so much panic in the world, we can find 11 people to bring more peacefulness into the world.”

What Is Chabad?

Gwinnett County is home to about 10,000 Jewish homes. The Chabad Enrichment Center serves Jews of all backgrounds, and, in fact, all people of faith. “Chabad is an international

By Kathy Dean

educational and cultural humanitarian organization,” Rabbi Lerman explained. “Chabad has over 5,000 offices throughout the world.” The word ‘Chabad’ is derived from three Hebrew words that represent wisdom, understanding and knowledge. It’s rooted in the ancient Jewish tradition of Kabbalah. “Chabad has utilized lots of the Kabbalistic teachings for one purpose, and that is to enrich people’s lives,” Rabbi Lerman said. “Through Chabad, people learn that joy is the ultimate experience. If you’re not joyful, then you’re not really experiencing life.”

A New Center for Faith

Currently, the Chabad Enrichment Center is housed on Holcomb Bridge Road, but the Rabbi said that they’ve outgrown the facility. “We’re bursting at our seams,” he added. “If you were interested in holding a bar mitzvah for your son, I wouldn’t have

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

space for it.” The Center began searching for a new site in 2006. They purchased property on Spalding Drive, not far from Peachtree Corners Elementary School. They worked with architects and civil engineers, then the economy collapsed and pledges for financial support disappeared. “And now, more than 10 years later, God blessed me with Scott Frank,” Rabbi Lerman said. “Scott is the chairperson of the building campaign. He’s leading our campaign.” Frank said that they kicked off the building campaign about three years ago. “Before I was affiliated with this project, Chabad of Gwinnett had the architectural drawings done for a two-story, 12,000 square foot building,” Frank said. They pulled out the architectural plans and simply needed to raise the money. “Ten years later, it costs a lot more money, so we started fundraising again, and we started talking to the city and

peachtreecornerslife

Jim Gaffey, president of the men’s club at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, is one of the many people supporting Chabad of Gwinnett. He said that their growth reminds him of the early days of many area churches. “It almost mirrors the experience of Mary Our Queen,” he noted. The Catholic church developed from a mission from All Saints in Dunwoody, then was centered in an office park before acquiring land for their current location. “I remember when Peachtree Corners Baptist Church was two double wide trailers on their property,” he said. Gaffey stated that when a church opens, it raises the standard of the community and the value of homes in it. “Of course, we’re going to help the Chabad. Of course, we want them here in our community,” he said. “How could you not want to continue to build our very diverse, inclusive community?”

Overcoming Speed Bumps

Rabbi Lerman said he does realize that there are traffic issues to consider. An open meeting was

peachtreecornerslife

Less Stress, More Joy

held Nov. 15, 2019 about rezoning for the proposed building, and the council committee recommended denying its approval. Unfortunately, no members of the Chabad were able to attend the meeting since it was held on a Jewish holiday. “Our service is held Saturday morning, or as we call it, Shabbat morning,” Rabbi Lerman explained. “Most people are still asleep or having their first cup of coffee when we’re holding services, but, yes, there will be some traffic.” He added that he wants to work with neighbors to

work things out in a peaceful way where everyone agrees, and everyone sees the Chabad’s passion and vision. “I want to see Peachtree Corners succeed because this is where my home is,” Rabbi Lerman said. “I’m here to build and make this a place where you and I can raise our children and bring our families together.” ■ Learn more about Chabad of Gwinnett at chabadofgwinnett. org. Click on the Building Campaign link to see the building plans.

To listen to a podcast about Chabad of Gwinnett and their building plans, visit livinginpeachtreecorners.com and click on the podcast link.

Rabbi Yossi Lerman and Scott Frank have co-authored a book, “Less Stress, More Joy: The Peace, Harmony Joy Approach.” Their collaboration grew out of a meeting at a Rosh Hashanah dinner in 2012. “I had never met an Orthodox Rabbi before,” Frank said. He didn’t expect to see the Rabbi again, but “he followed up with a phone call and said, would you mind having lunch?” According to Frank, he didn’t know what the Rabbi wanted, “but I went with an open mind and a peaceful heart. And it turned out we had more in common than I’d expected. I’d never met someone who, 24/7, was giving his life and his family’s life to helping people. And we connected.” Likewise, Rabbi Lerman was surprised by Frank. Here was someone about his age who didn’t seem to be engaged in any religion, “yet he’s just like me, devoted to the cause,” Rabbi Lerman said. “All Scott wants to know is: how can I make this world a better place?” Their lunch became monthly get-togethers and has now developed into a weekly meeting. Together, they came up with the “peace, harmony, joy approach to living a better life.” They began holding classes and workshops for the Jewish community in Gwinnett County, and their work eventually developed into their book. “My contribution comes directly from my studies of the Torah in Kabbalah and Hasidut,” Rabbi Lerman said. “I wasn’t raised very Jewish,” Frank explained, “I come at it from self-help books and conferences and radio shows and podcasts. But we had the same goal of trying to live a joyful life and help people.” By approaching their message from very different angles, they believe it has a better chance of resonating with more people. “Less Stress, More Joy: The Peace, Harmony Joy Approach” is available for $3.58 at Amazon.com.

Buenos Dias! Bonjour! Guten Morgan! Bom Dia! Shuprobhat! Good morning! I t i s so good to be wit h you!

SUNDAY GATHERINGS @ Duluth Middle School

10:00 AM

Reconcile Church 3200 Pleasant Hill Rd Duluth, GA 30096

@reconcileatl @reconcilechurch www.reconcileatl.com

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

►Faith Briefs Marriage Tune Up Forever Families, the Ministries Jeff & Debbie, presents a Marriage Tune Up Conference to help couples learn to manage their differences. The event is focused on everyone having a great experience with plenty of laughter while addressing deep issues and Scriptural truths. The conference will be hosted by Peachtree Corners Baptist Church, 4480 Peachtree Corners Circle in Peachtree Corners, on Friday, Feb. 21, 7-9:45 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m. For more info, visit pcbchurch.org and click on Events, or contact Brett Davis at 770-448-1313.

Career Management Workshop at Unity Atlanta

The new year is a good time to reflect on your job or career. DRIVEN Career Map™ is a one-day career management workshop for professionals at all levels who are ready to change their career paths, re-enter the workforce or re-energize their careers. Facilitated by certified executive coach and Unity Atlanta Volunteer

Alicia Reece, the workshop will be offered Saturday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at Unity Atlanta, 3597 Parkway Lane in Peachtree Corners. The cost of $75 includes workshop materials, lunch and snacks; there is a limit of 10 participants.

Stories of Courage during the Holocaust

The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust presents Rescue: Stories of Courage, featuring profiles presented by Judy Schancupp and Dan O’Lone. The event will take place Sunday, Feb. 23, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Katz Social Hall at Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody 30360. Find out more at bethshalom.net or call 770-399-5300.

Unity Atlanta Hosts Child Behavior Seminar

Unity Atlanta will present Bob Lancer’s New Great Child Behavior Seminar on March 14, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The seminar will help parents take the stress, strain and power struggles out of their relationships with their children. Some of the areas that will be covered are: ■ Learning to free yourself from frustration and feeling overwhelmed by guiding child behavior through “hot spots” like transitions, bedtime and leaving in the morning. ■ Understanding and improving your child’s behavior at school, in public and at home. ■ Developing your child’s social and emotional skills for improved cooperation. ■ Enjoying more peace, harmony, love and order in your relationship with your child—and your life. The seminar will be held at Unity Atlanta Church, 3597 Parkway Lane, Peachtree Corners 30092. For more information, visit UnityAtl.org or call 770-441-0585.

Pancake Dinner at Christ the King Christ the King Lutheran Church will hold a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6-7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092. Get info on this and more events at ctklutheran. org or call the church at 678-557-7563.

The LIFT Tour Students are invited to join Peachtree Corners Baptist Church (PCBC) for an amazing weekend as they team up with other churches in Gwinnett County for fun, worship and teaching. Participants stay each night in a local host home and enjoy sessions with a guest speaker and worship leader at Cross Pointe Church. The cost is $50; registration forms are available online at pcbchurch.org.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

peachtreecornerslife

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wesleyan Artist Market Slated for April

lans are being finalized for the 22nd Annual Wesleyan Artist Market, a three-day fine art, jewelry and fine wares show.

This lush immersion into the art world will be held April 23-25 at Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners. The event features the work of about 75 local and regional artists, with exhibiting artists in attendance throughout the show. The Wesleyan Artist Market is the school’s largest community building event and is an open invitation to the public to celebrate the visual arts. Peachtree Corners resident Elizabeth Ables, a ceramics artist and Wesleyan School art teacher, is a longtime exhibitor at the event. “The Wesleyan Artist Market is an incredible opportunity for Peachtree Corners residents to get to shop through hundreds of pieces of original artwork and meet the artist behind them,” Ables said. “Artwork becomes a part of our families and a part of our homes and it should touch your heart and be something that you resonate with personally. I’m so proud to be a part of this artist market and what it provides to the community!” The Market has something for everyone, from casual shoppers to avid collectors, with prices ranging from a couple of dollars to several thousand dollars. Shoppers will see art ranging from acrylic painting, ceramics, glass and jewelry to oil painting, photography, sculpture textiles, watercolor and more. Wesleyan middle school and high school student artists are part of the event as well, with their own artwork, including edibles, for sale. Events especially for children include a free Sand Art Cart on Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., while

By Donna Williams Lewis

supplies last. The Market will also feature live entertainment, food trucks, free admission and free parking. It all kicks off on Thursday with a special lineup of Opening Night events including: ■ Designer Preview Hour— 5 p.m. The design community is invited to preview artists’ booths an hour before the Market’s official opening at 6 p.m. ■ Book Signing—6-9 p.m. Interior designer James Farmer will sign copies of his most recent book, “A Place To Call Home,” and copies of his

Wall Street Journal best-selling books “A Time To Plant,” “Dinner on the Grounds” and “A Time To Cook.” Admission is free. ■ Silent Auction—Donated art pieces will be auctioned to provide arts and crafts supplies for communities served through the Wesleyan School Missions program. ■ Complementary Light Desserts—Provided by Delicious Dishes by Gail Catering.

Clockwise from top left: Ai Leja, Duluth, GA - Dress Lisa Resnick of Lisa Jill Jewelry, Alpharetta, GA - Jewelry Elaine Jackson, Birmingham, AL - Black & White Floral Liz Lane, Birmingham, AL Abstract

For more information about the Wesleyan Artist Market, visit artistmarket.wesleyanschool.org. ■ February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

Mayra Cuevas’ Book to Hit Shelves this March Mayra Cuevas is a professional journalist and fiction writer who says that she prefers love stories with a happy ending. Her Young Adult contemporary #OwnVoices debut novel Salty, Bitter, Sweet will be available in bookstores and online in March. #Ownvoices, a hashtag started on Twitter, is used to recommend books that feature diverse characters written by authors with the same heritage or background. Like Cuevas, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, the main character, Isabella Fields, is a Latina with a strong connection to food and family. According to School Library Journal, the book is “a heartwarming

testament to the power of female friendships, the drive for success on one’s own terms and accepting one’s family, even if they turn out differently than originally thought.” “I was 12 years old when I discovered the amazing novels written by Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez,” Cuevas says on her website. “Following their example, I decided journalism was the best career choice for someone who wanted to tell stories.” A special projects producer and writer for CNN, Cuevas lives with her husband, also a CNN journalist, and their cat in Norcross. She added that she is also On Monday, April 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Mayra a stepmom to two amazing Cuevas will spend the day with the young men. students of Norcross High School. She Find out more about will share what it takes to become a published author, read from Salty, Bitter, Mayra Cuevas and her writSweet and sign books. ing at mayracuevas.com. ■

School Visit at NHS

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Returns for 20th year The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is back, with movie screenings to be presented across metro Atlanta from Feb. 10-27. Described as a “cinematic exploration of Jewish experience,” the festival uses the power of film to entertain and educate. It is Atlanta’s single largest film festival and in 2015 became the largest Jewish film festival in the world, with more than

38,600 moviegoers. Kenny Blank, Executive Director at AJFF, said the milestone anniversary is an occasion to reflect back on 20 years and to thank the community for helping to build a cultural institution that now produces programs throughout the year and attracts audiences of all backgrounds and faiths. “We are forever grateful to our audience, donors and volunteers who share our love of movies, and a commitment to dialogue and bridge building through the arts,” Blank said.

Saul & Ruby, To Life!

By Donna Williams Lewis

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

peachtreecornerslife

AJFF is an independent nonprofit arts organization that continues an active partnership with its founding agency, the American Jewish Committee. This year’s festival includes 48 features and 16 short films from 17 countries. Guest speakers will engage with audiences before and after select screenings. Opening Night presents the world premiere of “Shared Legacies: The African-American Civil Rights Alliance,” which explores the historic relationships among civil rights pioneers. Other films in the 2020 lineup include biographies such as “Oliver Sacks: His Own Life”; dramas, including Israel’s Oscar entry, “Incitement”; comedies such as “Serial (Bad) Weddings 2,” the sequel to a 2015 AJFF hit; and family-friendly movies such as “Abe” and “Flawless.” The festival closes with “Saul & Ruby, To Life!”, a film that salutes two Holocaust survivors-turned-musicians who have taken their call for peace and healing across the U.S. and to their birthplace of Poland. For a complete list of the 2020 festival films, visit ajff.org/films. The 2020 venues for screenings include Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Regal Perimeter Pointe, UA Tara Cinemas, Landmark Theatres Midtown Art Cinema, Plaza Theatre and Woodruff Arts Center. Tickets are $16 for each screening with $2 discounts for seniors, students and children 12 and under. Tickets are $36 for Opening Night, Closing Night and “Young Professionals Night, Presented by Access.” Buy tickets online at ajff.org or by calling the AJFF Box Office at 678-701-6104. ■

Book Notes

Peachtree Corners Library | What Our Neighbors Are Reading

TOP TEN ADULT FICTION BOOKS CIRCULATED AT THE LIBRARY 1. The World We Knew by Alice Hoffman 2. The Dark Side by Danielle Steel 3. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty 4. Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver 5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng 6. The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White 7. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate 8. China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan 9. The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict 10. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

TOP TEN KIDS FICTION BOOKS CIRCULATED AT THE LIBRARY 1. Dogman: A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey 2. Dogman Unleashed by Dav Pilkey 3. The Last Kids on Earth and the Cosmic Beyond by Max Brallier 4. The Adventures of the Super Diaper Baby: The First Epic Novel By George Beard and Harold Hutchins by Dav Pilkey 5. Big Nate: Welcome to My World by Lincoln Pierce 6. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Well by Chris Colfer 7. Big Nate on A Roll by Lincoln Pierce 8. Big Nate: Revenge of the Cream Puffs by Lincoln Pierce 9. Messenger, Shannon, Lodestar by Shannon Messenger 10. Attack of the Furball: A Christina Starspeeder Story by Jeffrey Brown

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

NOURISH

6 Places to Eat Asian in Peachtree Corners Lon U

Aomi Japanese Restaurant The new go-to lunch dish at Aomi Japanese Restaurant is the Chicken Katsu Bento Box. This chicken explosion is deep fried after being breaded in their signature Japanese panko, then served with shrimp and vegetable tempura, crunch shrimp rolls, two piece gyoza and soup or salad. Aomi has not only perfected their lunch menu, but also their hibachi show at night! Offering a variety of meats and sides, Aomi covers all tastes for every customer. 5145 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 470A, Norcross 30092 aomijapanese.com/norcross.html

Pictured is an authentic appetizer for a Thai-Style meal. The Basil Rolls are a combination of chicken, shrimp and avocado, layered in carrots, cucumbers and basil leaves. Finally, it’s wrapped in soft rice paper and served with a hoisin-peanut dipping sauce. You’ll experience every layer of flavor in each bite. It’s a perfect way to start off your dining experience at Lon U. 5005 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 860, Peachtree Corners 30092 lonunorcrosstogo.com

Royal Bistro If you love a tasty blend of sweet, spicy and salty, then this is the dish for you! Recommended by the Royal Bistro chef, the lava noodles are lightly fried and accompany chicken, shrimp, eggs, white onions, carrots and broccoli in a homemade roasted chili paste sauce. This delightful meal can be prepared mild, medium, hot or Thai hot upon request. 6365 Spalding Drive, Suite A, Peachtree Corners 30092 royalbistro.net

Photos & Article by Remi DeLong

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

peachtreecornerslife

Sushi Osawa Offering an assortment of rolls, Sushi Osawa is the perfect spot for sushi lovers. The Super Crunch roll is a delicious showstopper that includes shrimp tempura and cream cheese. To top it off, this roll is wrapped in salmon or avocado, spicy mayo, eel sauce and crunch. Sushi Osawa also offers an all-you-can-eat menu, allowing customers to get their fill. 5270 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 119, Peachtree Corners 30092 sushiosawa.online

Sushi Mito Sushi Mito, serving traditional Japanese cosine for 25 years, is proud to announce that they have a new special menu featuring the highest quality BlueFin Tuna. In Sushi Set A, toro and o toro nigiri, the most desired part of the tuna fish, is served with miso soup, salad and green tea. The menu is filled with different BlueFin combinations to suit every sushi loverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preference. 6470 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners 30092 sushimito.com

Taqueria Tsunami At Taqueria Tsunami, the Quatro is the way to go; you get to select three favorite tacos and a side from their delicious menu. Three highly recommended dishes are the BBQ Short Rib taco smothered in Kogi BBQ sauce; the Thai Chicken taco with cabbage and carrots; and the Rising Sun pork taco topped with Asian slaw. To complete your ultimate meal, add a side of the cucumber salad for an amazing balance to your tacos. 5160 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 510, Peachtree Corners 30092 taqueriatsunami.com

February/March 2020 â&#x2013; Peachtree Corners Magazine

►Nourish Briefs Firebirds Grill Celebrates One Year in Peachtree Corners Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is celebrating its one-year anniversary at Peachtree Corners Town Center with limited time three-course lunch and dinner menus for two featuring fresh, hand-cut, scratchmade favorites such as Wood Grilled Salmon and Filet Mignon through March 1. “We love being in the heart of this vibrant community, offering Peachtree Corners residents a truly unique dining experience right in their backyard,” said General Manager Mary Lou Metivier. “And we continue to find ways to enhance the Firebirds experience, providing guests the perfect setting for any occasion and offering savory options for every palate.”

Peachy Corners Café Opens Recently opened Peachy Corners Café offers coffee, bubble tea, super-food smoothies and a rotating assortment of pastries and desserts daily. Owners Long and Susie Tran always have something new and interesting for customers, like ham and cheese on a baguette, chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate matcha cupcakes. On Jan. 23, Mayor Mike Mason and Councilmembers Weare Gratwick and Eric Christ, along with members of the Peachtree Corners Business Association, were on hand to welcome Peachy Corners Café to the community at their red ribbon cutting. The café is located at 6365 Spalding Drive, Unit D, and is open daily, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check out facebook.com/peachycorners for their latest specials.

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

peachtreecornerslife

Soccer Midfielder Alex Garuba Signs with Oakland Roots

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Alex Garuba, a former Peachtree Corners resident and Duluth High School student, joined the Oakland Roots Sports Club as a midfielder in January 2020. Based in Oakland, Ca., the club began play in the National Independent Soccer Association in the fall of 2019. “I’m looking to make an impact on the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) stage and do anything to help Oakland win football matches,” Garuba said. He recently was graduated from Centre College in Danville, Ky., where he was a member of the men’s soccer program. During college, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team and was part of USL League 2 amateur powerhouse Des Moines Menace. Garuba is one of the most decorated individuals in Centre College men’s soccer history and scored the winning goal in overtime against Oglethorpe University, helping the team become NCAA Southern Athletic Association Conference Champions. He was ranked fifth nationally for most goals scored and broke records for the NCAA Southern Athletic Conference Region, including SAA Most Career Goals, Most Season Goals, Most Career Points, Most Season Points, Most Career Game Winner Goals, Most Season Game Winner Goals, SAA All American Team 2018 & 2019 and SAA Player of the Year in 2018. In 2015, Garuba helped the Duluth High School Wildcats bring home the state cup. ■

Sign Up Now for Youth Sports Leagues and Camps Registrations for spring and summer youth sports leagues are now well underway. If you’re interested, don’t delay. Get signed up now.

Soccer

The Peachtree Corners Football Club has seven soccer teams for ages U4 to U16 that play their games at Jones Bridge Park. The spring season starts March 7 and runs through to May; registrations are open now. According to their website, “the goal of PCFC Recreational Soccer is to offer a fun, exciting soccer experience where kids get to learn the game with their friends in a safe environment.” Visit pcfcsoccer.com for more details and to register. At Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA, Youth Soccer is open for registration to members. The U4 coed league is an instructional Saturday-only program designed to get kids familiar with soccer fundamentals. The season runs March 14 to May 5 and costs $100-125.

U6, U8, U10 and U12 are coed teams that practice one night a week with games on Saturday morning. Practices start the week of Feb. 24; the first weekend of games is March 7 and the season goes through to May 16. Youth volleyball, for ages 6 through 14, will also be offered this spring. And Tae Kwan Do classes are available through the year at Fowler YMCA. Check out ymcaatlanta.org/ymca-locations/ norcross for costs, details and to register.

T-Ball and Baseball

Peachtree Corners Baptist Church (PCBC) has several youth spring sports leagues that are filling up quickly. T-Ball, for boys and girls ages 4 and 5, and Baseball, for ages 6 and 7, run from March to May. The cost of $140 includes a preseason clinic, the seven-game season, umpire, trophies and more. Weekly practices are held on weekday evenings and games are on Saturdays. Find out more at pcbchurch.org.

If you miss out, don’t worry. Peachtree Corners Baptist Church has baseball and basketball summer camps for several age groups. There’s even a Dodgeball Day on July 24 for ages 8 to 12. PCBC camp info is at pcbchurch. org/camps. Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation offers Jump Start Sports Camps by working with local instructors and sportsbased businesses. All-Star Baseball/Softball, as well as other week-long sports camps, are held through the summer at Pinckneyville Park. Kids ages 4 through 12 can choose from World Cup Soccer, Flag Football/Cheer, Olympic Sports Camp and much more. The Parks & Recreation pages at gwinnettcounty.com will have updated info.

Roller Hockey

Registrations are open for youth roller hockey teams. Norcross Roller Hockey, in partnership with Gwinnett Parks and Recreation and Peachtree Booster

Club, is a recreational and travel roller hockey program based at the Pinckneyville Park Rink. There are two youth teams: Street Cats Jr. (ages 4 to 6) and Youth Hockey (8U to 18 U). Registration runs from Feb. 18 to March 4; late registration is March 5 to 31. The youth hockey season starts March 9 and goes through May 17. Registration costs are $60 to $80 for Street Cats Jr. and $120 for Youth Hockey. Norcross Roller Hockey also has travel hockey and adult hockey teams. Go to norcrossrollerhockey.com to register, find out more or volunteer. More summer sports league and camp information is coming online over the next few weeks. Be sure to check LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com. We’ll have updated information when it’s available. ■

February/March 2020 ■ Peachtree Corners Magazine

SPACES

Real Estate & Home

The Mansions at Gwinnett Park Opening

Market Snapshot By Alan Kaplan

Year End Real Estate Market Recap for 2019* Overall, the single-family housing market in Peachtree Corners for 2019 remained very stable, and consistent with 2018 sales and volume statistics. PEACHTREE CORNERS

280

Total Homes Sold

406

Total New Listings

$406,851

Median Sold Price

$441,177

Average Sold Price

135

he official opening date for Mansions at Gwinnett Park Assisted Living & Memory Care is set for February 17, 2020. The new Mansions Senior Living Commu-

nity, located in Lawrenceville, provides a beautiful setting with top-notch amenities and services.

“We’re pleased to open our doors to the community,” said Peppur Lewis, Executive Director. “This additional level of care provides an uninterrupted continuum of care on the campus that already hosts cottages, villas and apartments for Independent seniors. We welcome everyone to come by and see what makes The Mansions so special.” The Mansions has 48 assisted living apartments, as well as 46 memory care apartments. Activities, dining

Average Price Per Square Foot Sold

options and a selection of life-enhancing fitness and therapy services ensure that each resident lives their highest quality of life possible. Unique wellness programs and medication management are included in the ‘all-inclusive pricing’. The many Mansions Senior Living communities include The Mansions at Sandy Springs—Senior Independent Living and The Mansions at Sandy Springs Assisted Living & Memory Care, both in Peachtree Corners, as well as locations in Alpharetta and Decatur. For more information about The Mansions at Gwinnett Park Assisted Living & Memory Care, visit TheMansionsatGwinnettPark.com or contact Executive Director Peppur Lewis at 470-902-8480. ■

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

Median Cumulative Days on Market

97.8%

Median Sold Price vs. Original List Price

Months of Inventory

$129,529,606

Total Dollar Volume Sold *Based on detached home sales entered into in FMLS

METRO ATLANTA The Greater Metro Atlanta Real Estate Market for 2019 had 76,806 Single Family Detached homes sold with an Average Sale Price of $320,751, reflecting an increase in both categories of 4% over 2018. Housing sales have remained strong through the fall and winter months, supported in part by continuing low mortgage rates. The rates on a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped about 20% from this time last year, according to Freddie Mac.

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JULY 31STAUGUST 3RD

BENEFIT RETREAT WWW.SMNBENEFITRETREAT.COM

February/March 2020 â&#x2013; Peachtree Corners Magazine

PEACHTREECORNERS

magazine

DISTRIBUTION

Peachtree Corners Magazine pubished by Mighty Rockets LLC Rico Figliolini | 678-358-7858 | rico@mightyrockets.com

18,800 125+

22,000 COPIES PER ISSUE SIX TIMES A YEAR

COPIES MAILED

TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE CITY

DISTRIBUTION POINTS

IN PEACHTREE CORNERS TO BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL LOCATIONS

Every issue includes Inside Peachtree Corners, the official city information section.

ABOUT THE CITY

43,268 36.1 YEARS POPULATION

2017 CITY ESTIMATES

MEDIAN AGE

$291,100 $94,594 MEDIAN HOME VALUE

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME - FIFTH OF HH EARN OVER $100K

17,062

54%

HOUSEHOLDS

OF POPULATION HAS A COLLEGE DEGREE

24%

34.9%

OF POPULATION IS UNDER 17

POPULATION BETWEEN 40 AND 64 YEARS OLD Revised Jan 2020

www.livinginpeachtreecorners.com 62

Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ February/March 2020 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com

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INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS

From the Mayor’s Desk

The Year in Review – Another Banner Year for Peachtree Corners 2019 was a great year for our city. We have yet to reach our 10th anniversary but have accomplished much since 2012 when Peachtree Corners was incorporated. As we move forward into 2020, I would like to take this opportunity to review some of the city’s many accomplishments over the past 12 months. ■ Town Center Grand Opening: Our long-awaited Town Center officially opened on April 27 to great fanfare. The all-day celebration featured a ribbon-cutting, a parade led by the Norcross High School Marching Band, a Children’s Plaza dedication and recognition of the city’s Veterans Monument. The afternoon was filled with strolling musicians, stilt-walkers, balloon sculpture artists, food and drink, a live concert and a remarkable drone show. Since its opening, it has become a wonderful gathering place for our community. ■ Curiosity Lab Debuts: Our second big grand opening took place in September when Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners made its debut. The 1.5-mile 5G enabled autonomous vehicle and smart city test track, which runs along Technology Parkway, has already started to attract new technology-based businesses to test robotics, artificial intelligence, intelligent mobility and other applications in real-world conditions. Curiosity Lab is a major step forward in the city’s continued efforts to revitalize Tech Park which is an important driver of economic development for our city. ■ Veterans Monument Dedicated: On June 15 the community gathered at the Town Green to celebrate the dedication of its new veterans monument. It was a culmination of a years-long dream that began in 2015. The city will be forever grateful to the dedicated board members led by Peachtree Corners resident Bob Ballagh, a retired Army colonel, and the nearly 50 volunteers for the countless hours they spent overseeing the monument and sculpture design, fundraising and outreach efforts. ■ City Street Resurfacing: Over seven miles of city streets were resurfaced this year, and more residential and subdivision streets are scheduled for resurfacing in 2020. ■ New Sidewalks Installed: Nearly 2.5 miles

of sidewalks have been installed in the community, with additional sidewalks planned for 2020. ■ Intersection Improvement: This year the traffic roundabout on Medlock Bridge Road and Peachtree Corners Circle was completed. The intersection was reconfigured to reduce traffic backups and keep traffic moving. The roundabout was chosen over a traffic light primarily for safety reasons. The roundabout also allows for a greater volume of traffic through the intersection while minimizing delays. ■ Pedestrian Bridge: At last, construction is underway on the pedestrian bridge. When complete, it will provide safe passage over S.R. 141 for residents and visitors walking from The Forum side of the street to the Town Center. Work is scheduled to continue for the next 7 to 9 months. The bridge is a steel, thrust arch bridge, and its design is intended to be a tribute to Jones Bridge, which for nearly a century stretched across the Chattahoochee River. ■ Fiserv Property Sold for 55+ Community: The 115 acres located on East Jones Bridge Road that was once occupied by Fiserv recently sold and will be developed as a home development for residents age 55 and over. The new age-restricted development is expected to break ground this year and will offer condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes. This is important for our community. As our population ages, we want to make sure that housing is available for our citizens. ■ Economic Development News: A strong, thriving business community ensures that our property values continue to rise as the city prospers with robust economic development activity. In 2019 two Fortune 500 companies, CarMax and Mass Mutual opened offices in our city bringing a combined 400+ jobs here. Additionally, Brightree, a cloud-based software company moved its headquarters from Lawrenceville into the former Honeywell building in Technology Park bringing 160 jobs. Hapag-Lloyd announced it would invest $5.5 million to expand its offices here and Continued on page 56

Be sure to visit the city’s new YouTube Channel Peachtree Corners Network at Youtube.com/peachtreecornersnetwork

Mike Mason, Mayor

Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city, Peachtree Corners, was founded July 1, 2012 and is located along the Chattahoochee River in the southwest corner of the county. The city is home to over 40,000 residents and 2,700 businesses.

Peachtree Corners City Hall 310 Technology Parkway Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 Telephone: 678-691-1200 February/March 2020 ■ Inside Peachtree Corners

INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS Continued from page 55

ASHRAE announced it would move its world headquarters to Technology Park, occupying the former Recall building. ASHRAE plans to invest $15.7 million to retrofit the 1970s-era building. This is excellent news for our city as we continue our efforts to reinvigorate Technology Park and attract top-tiered businesses to Peachtree Corners. ■ Tree City USA Recognition: For the fourth consecutive year, our city was honored as one of the state’s “Tree City USA” communities. The award recognizes the city’s commitment for caring for and managing its public trees. ■ Name-the-Trail Winner Announced: When we began the plans for the city’s multi-use trail, we also wanted to give it a special name. We solicited ideas from the community and received over 150 entries. Resident Randy Gilbert came up with the winning name, “Corners Connector.” We will soon be opening a new portion of the trail that partially rings Technology Park and will hold a ribbon-cutting to celebrate. ■ City Receives Distinguished Budget Awards: Peachtree Corners was honored to receive the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the second straight year. Presented by the Government Finance Officers Association, the award represents a significant achievement by the city’s Finance Department. ■ New Peachtree Corners-Focused Magazine Debuts: There is a lot going on in our community, so we were excited when we learned last year that a bi-monthly print publication focused on our city was going to begin publishing in 2019. The Peachtree Corners Magazine is mailed to every home in the city and is also distributed at points around the city. ■ New Waste Hauler Begins Offering Service: After learning that the former hauler would be raising its rates beginning in 2019, the city put the contract out for bid and found a new service provider that would provide garbage pickup and recycling service to our citizens. Waste Management’s bid was the lowest and offered upgrades such as new garbage trucks and technology to ensure there would be no missed pickups. We are fortunate to live in a flourishing city. Together, we will ensure our city remains one of the best communities to live, work, play and learn.

Sincerely, Mike Mason, Mayor

Keep Up with Road, Intersection and Sidewalk Improvement Projects The City’s Department of Public Works manages the municipal Capital Improvement Program (CIP). This program consists of survey, engineering, and construction projects that are funded by SPLOST, GDOT and Federal grants. Examples of CIP projects are: • intersection improvements, • sidewalk and pedestrian projects, • traffic signal improvements, • safety upgrades for vehicles and pedestrians, • road and street resurfacing. For more information, visit the city’s website, www.peachtreecornesga.gov, select the “Government” tab and then click on “Capital Improvement Projects” in the pull-down menu.

Matt Houser Recognized for Service as Planning Commission Chairman At a recent City Council meeting, Mayor Mike Mason recognized Matt Houser for his seven years of service as the Planning Commission Chairman for the city. Matt began serving on the city’s newly-formed Planning Commission shortly after the city was incorporated in July 2012. For a number of years Matt had served on Gwinnett County’s planning commission and brought a wealth of experience to the city’s new Planning Commission. Mayor Mason presented a proclamation and ceremonial gavel recognizing him for his dedicated service and leadership as the inaugural chairman of the city’s Planning Commission. Matt resigned his position in October 2019 and is replaced by long-serving commission member, Alan Kaplan.

Curiosity Lab Video Shows Off Technology of Tomorrow Two years ago, Peachtree Corners embarked on an innovative and bold initiative to create Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, a first-of-its-kind smart city and autonomous vehicle living laboratory -- a lab where advanced vehicles and technologies of all kinds come to be tested and perfected in an open and unchoreographed environment. This short video starts with the Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners of today and quickly journeys through the very near future where human intelligence, artificial intelligence and smart mobility converge. Please click on the following link to see this innovative and remarkable destination: https://vimeo. com/373942338

Inside Peachtree Corners ■ February/March 2020 ■ peachtreecornersga.gov

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INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS

Why you should participate in the U.S. Census By April 1 of this year, every home will have received an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. The U.S. Census is a count of every person living in the United States, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. A census is required by the U.S. Constitution every 10 years. ■ The census will provide essential data for

determining the location of new schools, hospitals and highways and provide information for tracking the well-being of children, families and the elderly. ■ The data are used by transportation planners to evaluate peak volumes of traffic in order to reduce congestion, plan for parking, and develop plans for carpooling and flexible work schedules. ■ The data will aid federal, state and local governments in distributing benefits fairly. When will the Census be conducted? ■ The U.S. Census Bureau will mail postcards to every household in the United States starting in March 2020. The postcard will request each household to complete the survey on April 1, 2020. How do I participate? ■ You can complete the census online, by

telephone or by mail. ■ The census data you provide is confidential. Other government agencies cannot access your responses, and it is illegal for the Census Bureau to share your information. Census information is used for statistical purposes only. ■ It is paramount that all Peachtree Corners residents participate. Parents should be sure their children are counted, and college students should be counted according to their residence as of April 1. We’ve added a page on the city’s website which provides additional information in an easy to read Q&A format and includes links to more resources. Please take time to peruse the information. To access the page, visit www. peachtreecornersga.gov; then under the “Residents” tab, select “2020 Census” in the pull-down menu.

City Receives ‘Imagination’ Award for Curiosity Lab The city of Peachtree Corners was recently recognized by Partnership Gwinnett for its innovative efforts in being the first in the United States to create a specially designed test track for autonomous vehicle and smart city research. Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, a 5G enabled 1.5-mile living laboratory made its debut in September. The award was presented on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019 before 120 elected officials, community leaders and chamber members at the annual event. Partnership Gwinnett presented awards for the categories of Innovation, Imagination and Influence. One “individual” and one “company” award was given out in each category. Peachtree Corners was presented with the Imagination award in the company category. “We are honored to be recognized by Partnership Gwinnett for our efforts in developing Curiosity Lab,” said Mayor Mason afterwards. “The new lab has already begun to attract new technology-based businesses to test intelligent mobility and other technologies.” The “Imagination” category recognizes the creative methods that have transformed the way entities market or engage with its customers, residents or students. The city was selected by a nomination committee which chooses the winners in each category. Additionally, a separate award, the Award of Excellence was presented to Nick Masino, President and CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber, for his unwavering support to Partnership Gwinnett and the economic vitality of Gwinnett County.

Be sure to visit the city’s new YouTube Channel Peachtree Corners Network at Youtube.com/peachtreecornersnetwork

Above, Peachtree Corners Councilmember Lorri Christopher, Mayor Mike Mason, Andrew Carnes, VP of Economic Development for Partnership Gwinnett and Councilmember Eric Christ.

February/March 2020 ■ Inside Peachtree Corners

INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS Townhomes at Town Center Under Construction The first five of the 72 planned townhomes adjacent to the Town Green are now under construction. Foundations have been poured on the new 3-story brick townhomes which will offer three- and fourbedroom/3.5-bathroom floor plans. The townhomes overlooking the Town Green feature rooftop access. Features include brick exterior, two-car garages, gas fireplace, stainless-steel appliance, and granite counter tops in the kitchen. The development is named 5200 at Town Center. The sales office is located at the Stonington community located at 3544 Medlock Bridge Road. Find a full list of amenities and pricing on the builder’s website: lennar.com/new-homes/Georgia/ atlanta/Peachtree-corners/5200-attown-center

Flooding – America’s No. 1 Natural Hazard Read these six priority topics to become flood smart and prepared! 1) Know your flood hazard It is important for residents to find out if their property falls in an area where flooding is a hazard. Properties located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) contain floodplain or are flood prone. Contact Katherine Francesconi kfrancesconi@peachtreecornersga. gov or consult the City of Peachtree Corners Floodplain Map to find out if your property is located in SFHA. 2) Insure your property for flood hazard Not only is it mandatory for a property located in the SFHA to purchase flood insurance, but it is a wise decision to do so. Consider purchasing flood insurance before the storm and contact your insurance agent! 3) Practice Flood Safety Deceptive in nature, floods can quickly become life threatening. Listening for flood warnings on local television stations and having an evacuation plan in place is key to avoiding dangerous situations. Note that a flood watch means conditions are favorable for flash flooding while a flood warning means that flash flooding is about to happen. DO NOT drive through a flood

area and DO NOT walk through flowing water (one foot of flowing water can sweep you away). 4) Protect your property You can protect your property by floodproofing basements, ensuring downspouts are pointed downhill and away from home, and storing valuables in waterproof containers. The City provides one-on-one advice specific to your property about how you could better equip your property to be resistant to flood damage. If you would like to discuss possibilities of improvement, please call our Stormwater Engineer, Katherine Francesconi at (470) 395-7033 to schedule an appointment. 5) Build Responsibly Prior to any building, please contact the Building Department at (470) 550 - 1729. Building in the floodplain can cause water levels to rise, worsening flooding. Land development changes the natural hydrologic system and forces water to find a new path. 6) Protect natural floodplain functions Peachtree Corners is located along the Chattahoochee river and has a number of small

Inside Peachtree Corners ■ February/March 2020 ■ peachtreecornersga.gov

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streams and tributaries throughout the city. Washing any trash or debris into our stormwater system and environment, directly impacts our floodplain and drinking water supplies. This is a public service announcement to bring awareness to the various resources provided by the City of Peachtree Corners for floodplain awareness. Peachtree Corners is bordered by the Chattahoochee river to the north and, also contains tributaries and streams throughout the City. Flooding damage can occur due to large rainfall events or when the natural flow of water is redirected. A wealth of information can be found on the City’s Floodplain Management webpage that pertains to: ■ Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) – the only legal document allowed to be used by lenders to write a flood insurance policy. ■ Floodway Data – Properties located in or near the floodplain have special regulatory requirements for development. Prior to any building construction, please apply for a building permit ■ Special flood-related hazards – such as local drainage problems, areas predicted to be flooded in the future, and erosion ■ Approximate Depth of Flooding –

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INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS City Launches Electronic Plan Review to Streamline Permitting Process Beginning in 2020 the City’s Building Department is pleased to offer a new permitting process that will facilitate and empower the Peachtree Corners citizens and contractor community. In keeping with the City’s endeavor to always offer innovative methods and processes, the City now offers an electronic plan review alternative to paper submittals. It is a cloud-based program called ePlan Solutions (EPS) which partners with local governments to provide plan review and other services. The EPS program provides plan and document uploading and enhanced speed of communication which all leads to faster turnaround times in most cases. There is an additional fee paid directly to EPS on its website, but the extra cost is offset through the elimination of printing paper copies until the end of the process. The link to EPS is located on the city’s website on the Building/Permitting page, as well as the

information about how deep flood waters can be anticipated on a property can be provided ■ Historical flood information – to find out if a property has been flooded in the past or is a repetitive loss ■ Wetlands and Natural Conservation Data – areas mapped in the: National Wetlands Inventory, critical habitat by the US Fish and Wildlife Services, areas receiving natural floodplain functions ■ Flood Insurance – it is mandatory for a property located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) to purchase flood insurance Please visit the City’s Floodplain management webpage at https://www. peachtreecornersga.gov/government/public-works/stormwater/floodplain-management Property Protection Advice: The City provides one-on-one advice specific to your property. If you are concerned and have any questions pertaining to flood insurance or are in need of any flood protection advice, please contact the City’s Certified Floodplain Manager, Katherine Francesconi at kfrancesconi@ peachtreecornersga.gov to schedule an onsite appointment or discussions can take place over the telephone or in person.

Land Development page. This process will enhance the way the City’s Building and Permitting Department approaches plan reviews for building and land development of both commercial and residential projects. The following are some of the enhancements and improvements by using the EPS program. ■ First and foremost, communication. Once submitted there is a Communication tab for all that may have access to the program for communication between all parties including plan review, design professional, contractor, etc. This provides a method for questions to be answered or issues resolved in a timely manner. ■ Not only will you be able to submit your plan on the EPS site, but you may submit other documents as well under the Open Files tab, such as engineer reports, engineer and architectural letters, post submittal documents, view and respond to requests by the plan reviewer, etc. The Open File tab will speed the sharing of documents with all involved. ■ Because there is no paper submittals, the entire electronic submittal process from the design professional to fire review through the building review will be expedited. ■ If resubmittals are needed, this will be a quicker transaction method, addressing comments and uploading resubmittals. ■ One outstanding advantage to customers is that EPS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be able to

resubmit or send revisions without coming to City Hall. ■ Another advantage is the speed of submittal: The average EPS submittal times take approximately 10 minutes as opposed to printing copies and bringing them in. Everyone will still have the option of paper submittal. For now, the rest of the submittal process will remain in place. You will still need to make application with the City online or in person. Building and land development permits applications are available on the City’s website. Trade affidavits must be submitted; a copy of State of Georgia contractor license , current business license, approved Georgia I.D. such as driver’s license is required. Please note, the City plan review fees are still due on submittal of the above documents. Mark Mitchell CBO, MCP mmitchell@peachtreecornersga.gov Chief Building Official City of Peachtree Corners, GA 30092

Two Most Frequently Asked Questions The City receives numerous calls daily on a myriad of topics. However the top two queries involve recycling and voting. Following is a short Q&A. Q: I used to drop off my old household batteries, printer ink cartridges and cellphones at the old City Hall building. Now that City Hall has relocated, where can I drop off these recycling items? A: You may drop the items off at the new City Hall. The three colorful bins are located at the back entrance of the new City Hall. Residents may dispose of printer ink cartridges, household (Alkaline) batteries and cell phones in the bins which are clearly labeled. The new City Hall is located at 310 Technology Parkway. Q: Why can’t I vote for all elections, city, county, state and federal elections, at our City Hall? A: Peachtree Corners residents may cast their ballots at City Hall for city elections only, such as mayor and council elections and referendums that affect Peachtree Corners. Only municipal (city) elections take place at Peachtree Corners City Hall. You must cast your votes for county, state and federal elections at your regular polling location. These voting rules are mandated by the Gwinnett County Board of Registrations and Elections.

Be sure to visit the city’s new YouTube Channel Peachtree Corners Network at Youtube.com/peachtreecornersnetwork

February/March 2020 ■ Inside Peachtree Corners

INSIDE PEACHTREE CORNERS Mayor Mason Elected to Atlanta Regional Commission Board

Coding School, Data Science Boot Camps Offered Due to the expanded demand for computer coding skills and those needed to analyze and solve complex data analytics and visualization problems, the city of Peachtree Corners, in collaboration with Georgia Tech Professional Education (GTPE), will again offer classes at Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners (formerly Prototype Prime), the startup incubator located at 147 Technology Park in Technology Park Atlanta. Because there was such a high interest in the first computer coding boot camps that began in 2018, GTPE is again offering a 24-week coding boot camp to begin February 24. Additionally, a data science boot camp will be offered beginning May 12. Details on the Classes:

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has announced that Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason has been selected to serve on its 39-member board. The ARC is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the city of Atlanta and 73 other cities. The commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention and planning resources on key regional issues. One mayor from each of the 10-member counties (with the exception of Fulton, which has two mayor representatives, one from north Fulton and one from south Fulton) is represented on the board and is selected by majority vote of the other mayors. Gwinnett County has 16 cities; Mason was elected by majority vote of the mayors and the Buford commission chair and will represent Gwinnett County. Additionally, each of the counties are represented by a commissioner from each of the 10-member counties, 15 citizen members who are selected by the board’s elected officials and a representative from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “I am truly honored to have been selected to sit on the ARC board,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “I look forward to being part of the organization which plays a very important role in ensuring the entire metro Atlanta area remains a dynamic region.” In addition to ARC board duties, Mason will serve on one of 11 committees that focus on key areas such as aging, budget, land use, transportation and air quality. Mason will begin his term in January which runs concurrent with his term as mayor of Peachtree Corners. He replaces Nancy Harris, Duluth’s mayor, who served on the ARC board for the past eight years. The board meets monthly at its offices located at 229 Peachtree Street in Atlanta.

Coding Boot Camp: Peachtree Corners Begins February 24, 2020 – 24 weeks Georgia Tech Coding Boot Camp teaches students the specialized skills to tap into this industry through a fast-paced, immersive curriculum. Students learn the skills needed to become proficient in front-end and back-end technologies. The classes cover front-end and back-end technologies. Students graduate with the skills needed to become a full-stack web developer. Classes will be held three days a week and taught at Curiosity Lab, 147 Technology Parkway. Data Science Boot Camps: Peachtree Corners Begins May 12 – 24 weeks Georgia Tech’s data science program focuses on teaching learners the practical and technical skills needed to analyze and solve complex data analytics and visualization problems. This program covers a broad array of technologies including Excel, Python, JavaScript, SQL Databases, Tableau, and more over the course of 24 intensive weeks. Students learn from skilled instructors and gain real-world experience by collaborating with peers on complex projects and building a comprehensive portfolio. The 24-week class meets three days a week and will be taught at Curiosity Lab, 147 Technology Parkway. To enroll, or for additional information on the Georgia Tech Professional Education coding boot camps, please visit the Georgia Tech Professional Education website at https://bootcamp. pe.gatech.edu/ or call 404-328-7187.

Understanding the Value of Your Code Enforcement Team The Peachtree Corners Code Enforcement team would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! As the 2020 year begins, we would like to take this time let you know what it is our team does in your community. Health and safety are primary ways that code enforcement officers impact our community. We are charged with enforcing adopted ordinances that take into consideration the safety and well-being of the public. Enforcement of these ordinances can be essential to the provision of safe and healthy living and working conditions for the members of the community. While respecting the rights of property owners, code enforcement officers take action to correct conditions that include issues such as – parking on grass/dirt, too many vehicles, overgrown grass (more than 12”), trash/debris, in-operable vehicles, regular maintenance of home/business exterior – these are just a few of the issues code enforcement addresses to ensure the quality of life for our residents and business owners.

Inside Peachtree Corners ■ February/March 2020 ■ peachtreecornersga.gov

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The Code Enforcement Officer will answer questions and investigate complaints from citizens on a wide variety of issues. Depending on the nature of the complaint and the results of the investigation, the officer will visit the offending property and work with the property/business owner or resident to abate any violations found. Code enforcement is a profession that requires continual training and education to stay informed of changing codes. Officers receive training through state and national organizations, including the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement, American Association of Code Enforcement, and the International Code Council. Through communication and education, Code Enforcement’s goal is to provide prompt courteous and professional service, to encourage responsible property maintenance, and to gain voluntary compliance which results in helping to keep Peachtree Corners the city we are proud to call home for both our families and our businesses.

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