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We are a well-rounded community alive with community spirit, a touch of urban chic and plenty of down-home natural charm.
Nestled among lush trees, you’ll feel at home in our diverse neighborhoods. Residents and visitors enjoy access to indoor and outdoor amenities, from boating on the Chattahoochee, to biking, walking, or running along our trails, watching baseball at the Battery, or catching good vibes in our downtown.
Vol. XX, No. 6
40 Years And On...
Why Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele’s legal legacy is a dedicated work in progress.
5 HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
A glimpse at some of the holiday events happening in our community this season
6 SHARPER FOCUS
Find out what’s going on throughout Cobb County with our news updates and calendar of events.
8 HONORING MILITARY VETERANS
VECTR Center at Chattahoochee Tech serves veterans, and has more to give.
12 BUSINESS
As the holiday season approaches, Glory Haus offers a unique approach to special events and gatherings.
The Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s Metro Atlanta Capital Readiness Program is supporting local entrepreneurs.
20 LEADERS OF COBB
Connect with a local leader who strives to make Cobb County a better place.
27 EDUCATION
Honoring local teachers. Plus, Brookwood Christian School has been serving the needs of dyslexic students for 20 years and counting.
30 IN YOUR COMMUNITY
MUST Ministries celebrates 30 years of helping families through the MUST Toy Shop.
32 FINAL FOCUS
Our editor found a new way to kickstart his day.
On the cover: From left to right: Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele attorneys Matthew Howard, Steve Steele, Robert Ingram, Kevin Moore, William (Bill) Johnson, and Phillip Beggs.
Photo: LaRuche Photo
Nationally recognized care in Cobb County means more expertise in your community.
Cobb County can count on Wellstar for expert care close to home.
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center offers the most advanced care available for all your surgical, medical, rehabilitative and emergency care needs. In addition to a highly qualified team of physicians, nurses and clinical staff, we offer the latest in technology and diagnostic imaging capabilities.
Our hospital has achieved the prestigious Level I Trauma Center verification—the highest level possible—from the American College of Surgeons and the Georgia Department of Public Health State Office of EMS and Trauma. The ACS verification is the gold standard for trauma centers in the state of Georgia.
Level I Trauma Center verification requires consistently delivering a high level of clinical expertise at all times for a range of severe injuries. It also further improves patient outcomes through trauma research and education.
A Level I Trauma Center designation means:
• 24/7 availability of specialized trauma care
• Comprehensive services and resources to handle the most complex trauma cases
• A multidisciplinary team approach involving surgeons, specialists, nurses and support staff
• Advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities
• Ongoing trauma research and education initiatives to continuously improve patient outcomes
Wellstar Kennestone is also certified as a Level I Emergency Cardiac Care Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health and a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and the Georgia Department of Public Health. We are proud to be recognized with one of the nation’s top patient safety distinctions with an “A” grade from the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. Our expert, multidisciplinary teams are committed to the health and safety of the people we serve. At Wellstar, we’re combining cutting-edge innovation with personalized care, right in our communities.
Learn more about expert care at Wellstar Kennestone at wellstar.org/kennestone
With the sixth and final issue of this magazine each year, we strive to demonstrate the many ways in our business community gives back to the people of Cobb and the wider metro area. For our cover feature, we spotlight the law firm Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele, which, among its many generous offerings to the community is the Moore Scholarship Program. To date, the firm has handed out nearly half a million dollars in scholarship funding!
Next, we share an update on the VECTR Center at Chattahoochee Tech, which helps U.S. military veterans and their family members with transitioning into post-secondary educational systems and into the civilian workforce. As we report, in 2023 alone, the Cobb County VECTR Center supported 3,000 veterans with resources and services such as obtaining benefits, getting counseling, and finding housing.
In our business section, we profile a local wholesaler who not only established a manufacturing facility to help impoverished women in India, but she also opened a school in Marietta for children with dyslexia. It would appear there’s nothing Ms. Molly Holm can’t accomplish! And speaking of business owners, some of you will want to read our profile of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s Metro Atlanta Capital Readiness Program, which is designed to support socially and economically disadvantaged individuals as they seek capital for their businesses.
As you continue through this issue, you also will find our profile of Brookwood Christian School, which founder Kim Wigington established in 2004 to help her daughter — and many other children — adapt to and push beyond their dyslexia to excel in their early education. It’s a remarkable story.
Finally, as the holidays approach, we get an update from MUST Ministries on the MUST Toy Shop, which last year alone helped more than 6,000 children have a happy and memorable Christmas — made possible by donations of new toys and baby items from the community. All the people and organizations mentioned here — as well as those of you who help the misfortunate in countless ways are an inspiration to us all. n
Contact Cobb in Focus
We want to hear from you! Share your story ideas and comments with our editor. Visit cobbinfocus.com or send your suggestions to: cory@newsouthpublishing.net or
Cobb in Focus™ is published six times a year by New South Publishing Inc., 9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA, 30350. Direct all editorial queries to (770) 650-1102, ext. 100. Direct all circulation queries to (770) 6501102, ext. 130. Direct all advertising queries to (770) 500-5112. All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of the publisher’s ability. No responsibility is accepted for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies. Material in this publication may not be reprinted without written permission from the publisher. Copyright 2024 by New South Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
For address changes, email afine@cobbinfocus.com.
Photo by LaRuche
Photo
Holiday Happenings
11/1 – 12/31
Glory Haus Christmas
Extravaganza
Celebrate the season with through a variety of events and experiences at Glory Haus.
More info: gloryhauschristmas.com
11/8-9
Kennesaw Holiday Market
The Kennesaw Holiday Market returns for 2024 to help you get a jump start on your holiday shopping!
More info: kennesaw-ga.gov
11/15
Santa’s Arrival and Parade
Jingle all the way into festival fun as Santa makes his way to Town Center at Cobb. More info: towncenteratcobb.com
11/15-17
SCAA Holiday Artfest & Market
South Cobb Arts Alliance celebrates Christmas with special events and juried arts and crafts from local artists. More info: southcobbarts.org
11/16-12/24
Pictures With Santa
Town Center at Cobb will host Santa Claus to help you create lasting holiday memories.
More info: towncenteratcobb.com
11/23 – 12/1
Georgia Festival of Trees
The Georgia Festival of Trees at Gas South Convention Center will get you into the holiday spirit. Proceeds benefit Street Grace.
More info: gafestivaloftrees.org
11/28 – 12/31
Lights of Life
Life University’s Lights of Life holiday displays are a Cobb County tradition that is not to be missed!
More info: life.edu/lights-of-life
11/30 – 12/15
Letters to Santa
Stop by the Santa Station at the Youth Services desk of the Smyrna Public Library and write your letter then pop it in the Santa box to send straight to the North Pole. More info: smyrnaga.gov
12/6
Santa’s Arrival in Acworth
The City of Acworth welcomes Santa Claus to downtown on Friday around 5:30 p.m. More info: acworth-ga.gov
12/6
Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
The Powder Springs Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting begins at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Powder Springs. More info: cityofpowdersprings.org
12/7
A Day With Santa
Santa’s arrival in Kennesaw begins at 1 p.m. with a Main Street parade. More info: adaywithsanta.com
12/7
Christmas in Acworth
Join Santa for photos in Downtown Acworth! Festivities begin at 1 p.m. More info: acworth-ga.gov
12/7-8
Smyrna Handmade Holiday Market
The 4th Annual Smyrna Handmade Holiday Market will have vendors set up at Brawner Hall and the Reed House. More info: smyrnaga.gov
12/7-8
Holiday Pops!
Enjoy timeless favorites and fresh new classics from the Georgia Symphony Orchestra that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
More info: georgiasymphony.org
12/9-15
Elf Extravaganza: A scavenger hunt for kids
Santa’s elves are visiting the library to check who’s being naughty and nice. Find them all then turn in your checklist to a staff member to receive a special prize. More info: smyrnaga.gov
12/14
Christmas Movie in the Park
Watch the holiday movie “Christmas with the Kranks” on Smyrna’s LED screen in the park! More info: smyrnaga.gov
12/14
Breakfast with the Grinch
The City of Acworth is excited to host Breakfast with the Grinch at the Acworth Community Center from 9-11 a.m. More info: acworth-ga.gov
12/18
Light Up Main Parade
Join Acworth for its annual Light Up Main Golf Cart Parade! Participation is free, but registration is required to join the parade line-up. More info: acworth-ga.gov
S harper Focus
Cobb Community Foundation Welcomes News Board Member
The Cobb Community Foundation recently announced the appointment of Matthew Teague to its Board of Directors. Teague, director of new development at Walton Communities, an Atlanta-based apartment development company, has a passion for designing communities where people thrive. Teague also serves as the 2024 vice chairman of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Cobb Alumni Association, and he contributes to several local boards, including the Cumberland Community Improvement District and Town Center Community Alliance.
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes New Electronic Detection K-9
This past September, the Cobb Sheriff’s Office introduced its newest member, K-9 Sherlock, an electronic detection canine. K-9 Sherlock is specially trained to detect various types of electronic devices, including laptops, cell phones, and devices submerged underwater. He was donated by Defenders for Children, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse, trafficking, child pornography, and other related crimes.
Mableton Improvement Coalition Announces New Leadership
In September, the Mableton Improvement Coalition (MIC) named four new executive committee members to help continue the group’s mission to promote activities, enhance communication, and facilitate initiatives that benefit the welfare of Mableton. The new members are Chairmen Elizabeth Akers, President Joel Cope, Vice President Jim Lyons, and Vice Chair Linda Pharr. The new officers worked closely with former President, Ray Thomas and former Chairman, Nate Smith, and are expected to continue the work accomplished by MIC in the past. Learn more about them at mableton.org.
Credit Union of Georgia Names New Executives
Credit Union of Georgia recently named Michelle Dobbins as its new VP of marketing and Wes Hilliard as its new Chief Technology Officer. Dobbins brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in strategic marketing, having previously worked within the financial services industry. Hilliard has more than 18 years of credit union technology experience, including cybersecurity.
Cobb Again Earns Triple AAA Credit Rating
For the 27th year in a row, Cobb County has been awarded a AAA credit rating by the nation’s top credit rating agencies, marking the highest level of creditworthiness. This rating benefits Cobb County residents by lowering the county’s borrowing costs, attracting investments, and offering greater financial flexibility in emergencies or other unusual circumstances. Learn more about the ratings system at spglobal.com.
Cobb Galleria Centre Plans Major Renovation and Expansion
The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, owner and operator of Cobb Galleria Centre, recently announced plans to break ground in fall of 2025 on a renovation and expansion. The project includes demolishing the Galleria Specialty Shops and 2nd floor meeting rooms, creating a new 2-story grand entryway, a new junior ballroom, and two unique outdoor event courtyards with gardens.
CCYA Opens Rise Up Studios
The Center For Children & Young Adults, which provides safe & suitable housing, youth development activities, and comprehensive supportive housing services for at-risk homeless and foster care youth, has opened Rise Up Studios as an extension pilot project of the current Rise Up Academy residential program. The Studios will be an 8-bed “practice apartment”” pilot offering single efficiency apartments for young adults (ages 17-20) who are preparing for Independent Living Programs (ILPs). Learn more about the program and CCYA’s mission at ccyakids.org
Cumberland CID Breaks Ground on New Day Palisades
The Cumberland Community Improvement District, One Cumberland, and the National Park Service announced recently that Phase One of the New Day Palisades project to renew Paces Mill in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) has broken ground. New Day Palisades is a $15.8-million project that will rehabilitate Paces Mill in the Palisades Unit of the CRNRA, a 22-acre recreational greenspace along the Chattahoochee River.
Sheriff’s Office Enhances Security at the Adult Detention Center
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office deployed DEKA state-of-the-art Sentry robots at the Adult Detention Center. Designed to reinforce security across the 10-acre property, the advanced Sentry robotic system will assist Sheriff’s Office personnel with perimeter patrols and security rounds in select dormitories, providing a new layer of safety and operational efficiency.
NOVEMBER
11/9
Casino Night
The Cobb Library Foundation’s Casino Night at the Atlanta Country Club is your chance to live out some “Casino Royale” fantasies while helping fund the Foundation’s programs. More info: CLFCasino2024.GiveSmart.com
11/15
Thanks For Giving
The Center for Family Resources is hosting its 38th annual Thanks for Giving food drive through November 15. More info: thecfr.org
11/28
Gobble Jog
Editor’s note: Due to evolving community needs, these events are subject to change or cancellation.
11/16
America Recycles Day
Each year, Keep Smyrna Beautiful celebrates at the Smyrna Recycling Center with a variety of activities. More info: keepsmyrnabeautiful.com
11/23
Acworth Turkey Chase
The 16th annual Acworth Turkey Chase is an exhilarating 5K run and 2K walk through Historic Downtown Acworth and along the shores of beautiful Lake Acworth. More info: acworth-ga.gov
Help raise money for MUST Ministries’ 22nd annual Gobble Jog by participating in a 10K, 5K, 1K, or a Tot Trot. More info: mustministries.org/gobble-jog
12/3
Holiday Canned Food Drive
11/26, 12/27
Sensory Friendly Afternoon
The Southern Museum welcomes visitors with Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing issues, or special needs to explore the museum at their own pace. More info: kennesaw-ga.gov
11/9
Sensory Friendly Concert
The Georgia Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Superheroes event relaxes house rules and encourages the audience to respond to the music however they choose. More info: georgiasymphony.org
11/23 – 1/5/25
Six Flags Holiday in the Park
Get the holiday magic started. More than 1 million LED lights and dozens of Christmas trees will create the perfect, magical atmosphere. More info: sixflags.com/overgeorgia
11/30
Shop Smyrna Saturday
Support local businesses on Shop Smyrna Saturday and enter drawings for $100 gift cards! More info: smyrnabusiness.org
*See page 8 for info on local Veterans Day events.
DECEMBER
12/6-8
The Marietta Pilgrimage
Tapp Middle School’s SERVE Team has partnered with the Kiwanis Club for its annual Holiday Canned Food Drive through December 3. More info: 11alive.com/ canathon
12/6
Golden Eagle Luncheon
For the 38th annual Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, get a glimpse inside private homes located in the Kennesaw Avenue Local Historic District. More info: mariettapilgrimage.com
12/21
Join more than 1,000 of the Atlanta Area’s top business and community leaders as they celebrate the Boy Scouts of America and pledge to support its future. More info: atlantabsa.org
Dashing Through The Square
Dash through historic Marietta Square for a holiday 5K walk/run. The 9th annual race begins at 7:30 a.m. More info: visitmariettaga.com
Honoring Military Veterans
In recognition of Veterans Day, Cobb In Focus wanted to make you aware of a few events and other news items related to local military service members and those who assist our service members.
11/1
Remember the Brave
The Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square honors our veterans with a special event to raise funds for the Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation. More info: cobbsalutes.org
11/7-13
Cobb Senior Services Events
Cobb Senior Services is holding several events at its senior center locations through November 13. More info: cobbcounty.org/ senior-services
11/7
Military Appreciation Luncheon
The 72nd Annual ARMAC Military Appreciation
Luncheon is a celebration of Cobb’s military community, recognizing the service and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. More info: cobbchamber.org
11/8
Families of Fallen Soldiers & 1st Responder Weekend
The Warrior Alliance and Camp Twin Lakes host a weekend retreat for active and retired service members and their immediate family members of all ages. More info: camptwinlakes.org/ veterans
Veterans Memorial 5K
11/11 Veteran’s Day Ceremonies
Join the Cobb County community in honoring United States military veterans. Event details and start times will vary by municipality. Note: Some events may be scheduled before November 11.
• Acworth: acworth-ga.gov
• Kennesaw: kennesaw-ga.gov
• Marietta: mariettaga.gov
• Powder Springs: cityofpowderspring.org
• Smyrna: smyrnaga.gov
11/11
Veterans
Day Parade
The Horace Orr Post 29 American Legion and City of Marietta honors the community’s veterans November 11, on the Marietta Square. More info: post29marietta.org
12/14
Wreaths Across America
Sponsor a wreath to be placed on a veteran’s grave this December at Marietta National Cemetery. More info: wreathsacrossamerica.org/ GA0378P
Lace up for a cause and honor America’s veteran community on November 9. The 10th Annual Veterans Memorial 5K Run is presented by American Legion Post 29. Horace Orr American Legion Post 29 of Marietta produces the event. Post 29 is one of the oldest Legion posts in America, founded Sept. 29, 1919. This event fulfills several of the group’s mandates as a veterans organization. The money raised is all distributed to honorable charities serving veterans in need in our community and state.
The 5k Run helps the Legion engage with the non-veteran community in a positive and patriotic manner, sharing its belief in Americanism, patriotism, and the importance of honoring our fallen veterans. This is a fun, family event that continues to grow each year. Spend the day at the Marietta Square, running safely, and helping to support veterans’ causes. More info: post29marietta.org
43rd Annual Georgia Veterans Day Parade
The Georgia Veterans Day Association (GVDA) will host the 43rd Annual Georgia Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 9. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. Midtown Atlanta (Peachtree Street from 15th to 5th Street). The GVDA says There are plenty of parking options, convenient MARTA stations, and plenty of amazing restaurants to enjoy after the parade. For more information, visit georgiaveteransday.org/parade.
VECTR Serves Veterans, and Has More to Give
By Anjana Kallarackal
In just a few years, the Superior Plumbing Veterans Education and Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center has become a vital part of the Cobb County community. The VECTR Center, housed within Chattahoochee Technical College on South Cobb Drive, helps U.S. military veterans and their family members with transitioning into post-secondary educational systems and into the civilian workforce. The efforts of the college, along with the addition of the VECTR Center, has earned them the designation of “Top 10 Military Friendly Schools” amongst large community colleges this year.
Early funding for VECTR came from appropriations by Georgia’s General Assembly. Additional funding was received from Jay Cunningham of Superior Plumbing, for whom the VECTR Center is named. The Veteran’s Lounge located in VECTR is named for and in honor of Cunningham’s father, 21-year U.S. Army veteran, Jim
Cunningham. The school’s Marietta Campus is home to one of the two VECTR Centers in Georgia (the other is in Warner Robbins). Cobb County’s VECTR Center was opened in October 2022, making official the historic connection that the college had with veterans because of their proximity to the Dobbin’s Air Reserve Base, which was established in Cobb County in 1949.
Because of the longstanding tradition of veteran students attending Chattahoochee Tech, the Jim Cunningham Veterans Center was created in 2018 to provide dedicated space and resources to support veteran student success.
Last year alone, the Cobb County VECTR Center supported 3,000 veterans with resources and services such as obtaining educational benefits, filing disability claims, getting counseling, and finding housing.
One of the VECTR Center’s primary roles is to assist veterans with identifying a good career path based on both their interests and experience. To help with this goal, the VECTR Center offers interview preparation, coaching in job-related skills, and job search training. Beyond career guidance, VECTR also helps with obtaining financial aid, federal and state grants, and scholarships. The financial transition into civilian life often can be difficult for students to navigate. While the GI Bill does cover some educational expenses, it does not cover all. Last year, VECTR gave over $15,000 in grants and scholarships to 12 recipients to help pay for bills, books, and emergency situations they faced. VECTR also assists with one-off situations, such as costly school supplies, or with life expenses like an unexpected car repair.
Another major goal of VECTR is to assist with the transition process from military life to civilian academic life. Many veteran students find that it is difficult to transition out of the highly organized, structured environment of the military where discipline and routine is demanded, and then to suddenly be forced to determine how to structure a day and develop a routine for oneself. VECTR has a wealth of experience and resources to help veterans learn how to navigate life outside of the military and help create the habits needed to be successful in a new academic or professional environment. Additionally, at Chattahoochee Tech, faculty and staff undergo training called Green Zone, to help cultivate the awareness and sensitivity needed to cater to the unique needs of veterans, making their acclimatization to civilian life as smooth as possible.
At the helm of several of these efforts is Michael Payne, the current
director of Chattahoochee’s Veteran Services and a Veteran Champion of the Year, as named by Military Friendly, a career assistance service for veterans. Payne oversees the VECTR program with the unique perspective of having a military background himself. After serving in the military for six years and transitioning into civilian life, he has been able to help many other veterans. After leaving the military, Payne, worked with the Georgia Department of Labor’s Disabled Veterans Outreach Program and later with the Chattahoochee Tech Office of Career Development.
According to Payne, one of the best features of VECTR is that no appointment is needed to take advantage of the Center. When you visit, you will immediately be greeted by someone who will take you directly to the department that you need without any of the long wait times that many other facilities suffer from. Getting people enrolled in school is one of VECTR’s top priorities, but being a student is not mandatory to make use of the Center. VECTR also serves veterans who need help with other areas of life, such as filing disability claims and enrolling in healthcare.
To cater to as many veterans’ needs as possible, VECTR collaborates with a multitude of partner programs. These include, but are certainly not limited to, services for managing post 9/11 cases, mental health counseling, behavioral health services, rehabilitation programs, services with access to food and groceries, and senior services. Some of the reputable organizations that VECTR works with include the Georgia Department of Veteran Services, VA Healthcare, the Warrior Alliance, and Connecting Cobb Veterans.
Director of Veterans Services, Michael Payne
Last year alone, the Cobb County VECTR Center supported 3,000 veterans with resources and services.
VECTR Center offers interview preparation, coaching in job-related skills, and job search training.
As Jennifer Nelson, the Vice President of Advancement at Chattahoochee Tech explains, “the facilities at VECTR and Chattahoochee Tech are so robust that they want to be able to share all the useful tools they have with as many people as possible.” This is why you might hear Michael Payne or other representatives of VECTR advocating on behalf of the Center in the local Cobb Community. VECTR is trying their best to connect as many veterans with the wealth of resources that are available to them by speaking at local community events and meetings such as Veterans Supporting Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legions, and Cobb Collaborative.
It is also worth noting that VECTR is open to donations of money and time. VECTR often collaborates with other organizations in the
Now
While VECTR is housed in Chattahoochee Tech, it is available to the entire veteran community of Georgia and is deeply committed to helping veterans and their family members get the best possible education and gain access to the many resources available to them.
community. Recently, the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a breakfast for veterans. And with Veteran’s Day on November 11, this is an especially meaningful time to learn more about the VECTR Center and support their efforts.
While VECTR is housed in Chattahoochee Tech, it is available to the entire veteran community of Georgia and is deeply committed to helping veterans and their family members get the best possible education and gain access to the many resources available to them. The creation of VECTR serves as a nexus point for veterans to plug in, find community, and access the support they need. For both individuals and organizations interested in working with VECTR, the Center can be visited in person without an appointment or contacted directly at veteranservices@ChattahoocheeTech.edu. n
VECTR Center
A Season for ‘Glory’
As the holiday season approaches, Glory Haus offers a unique approach to special events and gatherings, as well as memorable shopping experiences for Cobb customers, vendors, and community peers.
By Jennifer M. Todd
Molly Holm was on a mission. She would answer what she felt to be a true calling — creating meaningful art that would bring hope and truth to the lives of others through her wholesale business, Glory Haus, Inc.
Holm truly put her interior design degree from The University of Texas to work. A decade of designing with Home Depot’s EXPO design centers across the country encouraged and prepared her to realize her dream. In 2008, her curiosity, ambition, and hard work paid off as Glory Haus became a reality — a wholesale business that has allowed her to use her creativity for the common good.
From inspirationally messaged throw pillows and an expansive collegiate collection
of coffee mugs and wooden wall art to handmade jewelry and trendy kitchen accessories, Glory Haus took off 16 years ago with, seemingly, no ceiling for growth and success. “My mission as a business owner is to make the world a little brighter and better for everyone I come into contact with,” Holm says. “Personally, I am always trying to figure out how to give glory to God and love people.”
Holm is particularly proud of the culture she has created at the Glory Haus warehouse, where workers can make extra money to make ends meet between jobs or during a transition in a time of need. And her generosity and kindness do not stop there.
Glory Haus is a founder of Daughters of Hope, a fair-trade factory in India. Daughters
B usiness
of Hope trains and employs women from the slums in south India who have no other options for employment. “Our employees are brought into a loving community where they are given a fair wage, free and healthy lunches, childcare, health insurance and, most important, an opportunity to rise above their circumstances,” Holm says. “Daughters of Hope currently employs more than 50 women who have been freed from the cycle of poverty.”
Building a business
Holm has built an amazing business in the Cobb community, including a partnership with MUST Ministries. “We have employed many folks that have been transitioning out of homelessness over the years,” she says. “We currently still have an employee who was homeless when she came to us and has been able to have her own place for over eight years now.”
Professionally, Holm’s path was not exactly traditional. She garnered experience beyond her years while working for Home Depot EXPO. The dynamic reach of that company presented a world of opportunity for Holm. She learned and adopted an important mantra: put the customer first. From there, she soared into the global businesswoman she is today.
“My first action was taking a trip to China with my father to source our very first products,” Holm says. “In this very first act, Glory Haus became a family business. The name came from our missional purpose, which is bringing the glory of the Lord from our house to your house.”
The German spelling of “house” is “Haus,”
and the rest is history. Beyond that, Holm spent years visiting factories overseas and learning the business of manufacturing artistic and inspirational products that uplift customers. Quality has been key, and innovative design has kept Glory Haus products in demand.
Holm leads the creative charge in concert with a director of design. She takes Glory Haus’ merchandise to market twice a year in two, 1,500-square-foot showrooms located in Atlanta, Georgia and Dallas, Texas, for retailers to shop wholesale. Online sales are strong for the company as well.
Glory Haus employs several artists who work exclusively for the company and focus solely on what their customers want — or will want. Bearing in mind that no idea is a new idea, Holm and her team are constantly
Glory Haus Event Space
Need a space to host an event? Glory Haus Event Space is a new venue in the heart of Marietta. Holm says the aesthetic is a blend of old and new — an industrial warehouse feel combined with antique and rustic furnishings, old brickwork in the kitchen, and warm, cozy seating by the wood fireplace. Glory Haus can accommodate weddings, showers, private events, and more for up to 100 guests.
“My mission as a business owner is to make the world a little brighter and better for everyone I come into contact with.”
–Molly Holm
clipping pictures, researching, and cultivating the next best-selling merchandise.
Passion project
In addition to a thriving business, Holm’s also makes time for what she calls her “passion project,” GRACEPOINT School. The mission of the school is near and dear to Holm, who is one of three founders. “This is a school we started when I discovered my middle child had dyslexia,” she says. “The northwest corner of Atlanta did not have a school that served students with dyslexia, so a friend and I enlisted the leading expert in Georgia on dyslexia, Brenda Fitzgerald, and started our own school. Glory Haus was the financial funding force to get the school started, and we continue to highly invest in the school.”
Holm describes GRACEPOINT School as her passion project. “We’re the only Christian school in the country that strictly remediates dyslexia. We’re pretty proud about that.”
GRACEPOINT School remediates through Orton Gillingham training, allowing children to enroll for two or three years. Once they learn how to read, says Holm, they move on. “My son learned how to read,” she says. “He has probably read more books than anybody I know, and he wrote a novel during his senior year in high school. So, for a kid who didn’t know how to read or write, it’s pretty amazing.”
To be sure, Glory Haus is doing good things in the Cobb community. “One of the things about Glory Haus is that we are an inspirational company,” Holm says. “In almost every piece we make, we ask who would buy it and why.”
Holiday extravaganza!
Glory Haus will soon open its doors for an upcoming Christmas extravaganza event that is not to be missed. “Warehaus” sales are set for the weekends of November and December, but that’s not all. Known by the painted water tower at the intersection of US-41 and Canton Road, Glory Haus will turn from a “little red barn” to a holiday wonderland, complete with extraordinary lights and spectacular décor that are sure to get everyone into the spirit of the season.
“Our building has a fantastic public space, especially our kitchen,” Holm says. “So that’s where we’re putting lights — on every inch of the walls and the ceilings. We will have
Santa, gingerbread baking, wreath making, and more.”
Holm hopes to book 60 days of events, whether for corporate parties, a girls’ night of shopping, or a fun outing for families. Since Glory Haus does not typically open its warehouse doors to the public during the rest of the year, November and December will be ideal times to visit and take in the wonderfully extravagant decorations. Additional vendors will be brought in to expand the reach of this holiday shopping event — a must for an exciting and whimsical night out.
A change of pace and opulent environment are guaranteed. Glory Haus will even host a comedy night to round out the fun, featuring Kenn Kington, a comedian and inspirational speaker known nationwide.
At Glory Haus, you can host the ultimate corporate event or personal gathering, with the option to add activities sure to get your guests into the holiday spirit. From cookie decorating and wreath making to pictures with Santa and a candy bar, Glory Haus offers lots of options at a venue that rivals the North Pole itself! n
The best kind of facial recognition is face-to-face.
A smiling face helps open your phone and, at Capital City Bank, it helps open lasting relationships. We’re proud of our online banking and app, yet face-to-face is how we get to know you personally and match your financial needs with the best banking solutions. ccbg.com.
Shelly-Ann Watson, Universal Banker
Metro Atlanta Capital Readiness Program
The Urban League of Greater Atlanta is supporting local entrepreneurs.
By Cory Sekine-Pettite
As every experienced business owner can tell you, one of biggest obstacles to starting a venture is getting the initial funding — whether that’s a bank loan or finding investors who believe in your vision. This process can be more difficult for minoritygroup entrepreneurs, who are half as likely to be approved for financing, according to the Federal Reserve. The Urban League of Greater Atlanta is working to improve the chances of success for minority-owned businesses through its Metro Atlanta Capital Readiness Program (MACRP).
The League launched its MACRP within the Entrepreneurship Center to support socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (or SEDIs, including minorities, women, veterans, and other underserved entrepreneurs) across six counties (Cobb, Clayton, Dekalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Henry). Entrepreneurs in the program learn how to successfully apply for financing via the State Small Business Credit Initiative or other programs that support small businesses.
The program, which began in 2023, is a four-year initiative that offers entrepreneurs “business assessment and coaching with an individualized action plan, financial education, certification(s), and capital readiness for a variety of funding sources (traditional funding, CDFI funding, lines of credit, angel investors, etc.), and procurement education,” said Stephaney Bolden, MACRP program manager.
MACRP offers two tracks for SEDIs: 1) a small business incubator early-stage platform and 2) a small business capital readiness accelerator with technical assistance model. The program launched with a four-year federally funded grant awarded by the Minority Business Development Agency to support small businesses. Bolden says MACRP has assisted more than 128 businesses and connected them to more than $1.7 million in capital.
For example, The Entrepreneurship Center provided $420,000 in small business grants to 21 small business owners in Cobb County in 2024 and guided those businesses in pitch coaching and business technical assistance.
Bolden says businesses are encouraged to apply to the program on the League’s website (ulgatl.org), selecting the Entrepreneurship Center icon. There they will see the various programs available with descriptions, and they can register for free programs that fit their needs.
Lisa Lindsay, owner of FruiTea Bubbles Café in Smyrna, sought help from the League to overcome the high costs of equipment upgrades and investing in new product development. Additionally, she wanted to secure sufficient funding and resources to support strategic marketing efforts. She said that through the MasterCard accelerator, she was able to review her business strategies, learn how to develop a better business plan, and determine better ways to market the FruiTea brand. “Although I was already in business, the knowledge gain through this accelerator
B usiness
and the associated coaching helped me to develop a more focused growth strategy,” Lindsay said. “I was also — through the business coaching program — able to understand funding, marketing, and many other aspects of running my business.”
Lindsay added that the League programs prepared her to apply for additional funding, including a Cobb program in which she received a $20,000 grant.
MACRP is one of various programs the League operates to help small businesses develop, grow, and thrive. Dedicated to ensuring the civil rights and economic success of African Americans, the League began operations in Atlanta in 1920 as an affiliate of the National Urban League to support Black families who were migrating from the rural communities of Georgia in unprecedented numbers to the industrialized city of Atlanta.
Today, the agency focuses on preparing the workforce for high-demand, high-income careers; raising the graduation rate and preparing youth for college and careers; facilitating homeownership and wealth creation; supporting entrepreneurship and small business growth; and advocating for education, civic engagement, and economic development for the undeserved in the Atlanta region and beyond in the state of Georgia.
Over the years, the League has aided more than 250,000 low-to-moderate income people
in securing jobs, purchasing homes, improving their job skills and education, and starting or growing their businesses.
“ULGA is a trusted and respected community stakeholder that prides itself on being a good steward of its partners’ support and delivering outcomes that help families become financially stable and begin to build generational wealth,” Bolden said.
ULGA extends appreciation to their numerous partners including Cobb County, Invest Atlanta, City of Atlanta, Dekalb County, Fulton County, Georgia Power, UPS, and Delta.
Public Safety Works Recognized
Cobb public safety workers were recognized recently at the Cobb Chamber Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon. Public Safety Appreciation Week (Oct. 7-11) provides an opportunity to thank those who keep us safe every day. The Chamber spotlighted several public safety workers who have gone above and beyond.
• Former Cobb Police Officer Thomas Weldon won the Medal of Valor for confronting an armed robber inside a gas station in September 2023.
• Cobb Police Sgt. William Nerio won the Distinguished Achievement Award for his work improving relations between the department and the Hispanic community.
• Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Company 7, B shift, earned the Award of Merit for entering a burning home in July 2023 and rescuing three people who were inside.
To learn more about how you or your organization can become a partner, visit ulgatl. org/become-a-sponsor, or contact John E. Armstrong Jr., chief fund development officer, at jarmstrong@ulgatl.org or 404.798.3463. Your support helps individuals and families advance through economic mobility, financial security, and civic activism to strengthen their neighborhoods and communities. ULGA hosts events throughout the year that bring together entrepreneurs, business owners, and finance experts. Visit ulgatl.org/ all-events to see what is coming up. n
Cobb PARKS is Agency of the Year
The Georgia Recreation and Parks Association 5th district selected Cobb PARKS as its 2024 Agency of the Year. The department was recognized for its contributions, community engagement, events, and more. Recreation Program Coordinator Debbie Parrish was also named Outstanding Programmer for her contributions to Therapeutic Recreation Services.
*Introductory rate of 1.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles on Platinum, Rewards, and Signature Rewards Consumer Credit Cards for new cardholders. Balance transfer fees apply and must occur within the first three billing cycles of account opening to qualify. After intro period, your APR will be a variable rate based on Prime Rate and creditworthiness at account opening. Effective 9/19/24, Platinum rates range from 13.49% – 29.99%; Rewards and Signature rates range from 15.49% – 29.99%. **Rewards and Signature Rewards Consumer Credit Card new cardholders will be awarded 20,000 points for spending a cumulative total of at least $500 on five (5) or more qualified transactions within 90 days of account opening. Program, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Membership eligibility apply and requires a regular savings account that maintains a minimum $10 balance. Insured by NCUA.
Leaders of Cobb
Since its establishment more than 180 years ago, Cobb County has been defined by its people. Some of these individuals have made their mark by becoming pioneers of business, captains of industry and heads of state.
And if you’re reading this, you likely know why Cobb is attractive to so many. It hosts exceptional schools, is within close reach to the world’s busiest airport, has all of the convenience of proximity to the
big city and is fertile ground for entrepreneurship. The list goes on, but it always comes back to the people who have built this county into what it is.
On the following page we have profiled an individual who is among Cobb’s premier leaders. We wanted to find out about his job, delve into his personal life, and gain some words of wisdom. And of course, we asked: Why have you picked Cobb County?
THE STORY: I graduated from Brown University in Rhode Island, where I studied Organizational Behavior & Management along with History. I was considering becoming an attorney, but after college, I started in consulting at Accenture. I spent eight years there supporting many e-commerce and retail brands in defining and implementing innovative solutions to their challenges. Then I joined Office Depot to lead their merchandising efforts. After gaining additional experience at several other major retail brands, I joined Aaron’s in 2016. I’ve had multiple roles since — Chief Merchandising & Supply Chain Officer, Chief Transformation Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at the Aaron’s business. Most recently, it has been my pleasure to serve as President of Aaron’s since November 2020, and as President of BrandsMart U.S.A. since Aaron’s acquired the company in 2022.
WHY I CHOSE TO WORK IN COBB: The Aaron’s Store Support Center, which is what we call our corporate office, is located here in Cobb County at the Galleria. That area really showcases a lot of what Cobb has to offer, so it was top of our list when it was time to consider locations for a new BrandsMart U.S.A. store.
Leaders of Cobb
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I love leading a business that allows me to engage consumers and find ways to meet their needs. The market is always changing and customers are always changing, so you must be proactive, stay ahead of the curve, and innovate to keep up and develop new ways to meet their needs.
LEISURE TIME: Outside of work, I enjoy staying active by running and hiking, and I love watching sports. But most of all, I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife, Melissa, is a pharmacist, and we have been married for 27 years. We have two kids — Natalie who is a rising senior at Northeastern University, and Andrew, who is a freshman at The University Of The South in Sewanee, Tennessee. We also have two lively dogs — Sierra, a Portuguese Water Dog, and Baxter, a Maltese. They keep our house busy and interesting!
BEST ADVICE: I’m a big believer in avoiding complacency. Take challenges head on and use those situations to help mold
Steve
Olsen President, BrandsMart U.S.A.
you as a person — and as a business leader — so that you can face the next challenge that comes (and another one always will) with greater confidence and more experience.
WHAT’S NEXT? We’re super excited about the BrandsMart business. We have 12 locations now, eight in Florida and four in Georgia, including our newest location in Cobb County near Kennesaw State University, which opened earlier this summer. The store is doing tremendously well, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring BrandsMart back to Cobb County. Next up, we want to continue to grow the business — inside Cobb County, outside Cobb County — anywhere we need to be to meet the customers’ needs for home goods, such as furniture, appliances, and electronics, with the greatest product selection and the lowest prices available.
Photo by LaRuche
40 Years And On...
Why Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele’s legal legacy is a dedicated work in progress
By Michael J. Pallerino
From left to right: Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele attorneys Phillip Beggs, William (Bill) Johnson, Robert Ingram, Matthew Howard, Kevin Moore, and Steve Steele.
All photos by LaRuche Photo
The team at Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele (MIJS) knew.
Before the rest of metro Atlanta and the baseball world heard about the Braves moving from Turner Field to Cobb County in fall 2013, members of the MIJS law firm were hard at work behind the scenes. In what would be one of those game-changing moments for Cobb County, the City of Atlanta, and Major League Baseball overall, the secret (as it is fair to call it) was entrusted to one of the metro area’s most respected legal teams.
In the lead up to the announcement, MIJS lawyers from its real estate, zoning and land development areas were doing due diligence on all the tax consequences and governmental red tape involved. For its part, the firm was representing both the landowner where Truist Park sits, as well as the governing authority for The Battery Atlanta and the park.
“We actually knew about the Braves coming to Cobb County before it was announced publicly and obviously kept it a secret,” recalled Administrative Partner Bill Johnson. “It was a great project for Cobb County and one about which we remain proud.”
With eight offices in six states (Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania), 100-plus attorneys, 13 practice areas, and over 20,000 clients, Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele is entering its 40th year of operation as one of the most respected firms in the nation.
Founded in 1984 by John Moore, the original offices were housed in what was once the
old Greyhound bus terminal, which stood one block from the Cobb County courthouses until 1982. Over the years, MIJS updated and expanded the historic Greyhound building to help house its growing legal team and support staff. In 2008, the office relocated to its current location at Emerson Overlook, a seven-story building in the heart of Marietta developed specifically with Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele in mind.
The expansion that John Moore envisioned continued with offices in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee, and a Jacksonville, Florida office to serve parts of Southern Georgia and Northern Florida. More growth followed with offices in Lexington, Kentucky (2011), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2017), Orlando, Florida (2018) and Fairfield, New Jersey (2024).
With each expansion, MIJS remained true to John Moore’s originating philosophy that for quality legal representation, a firm must address the law and the specialized needs of each individual client. He believed that to provide the best quality legal services, each attorney must be committed to giving its client personalized attention. There were no shortcuts or exceptions.
“That one is fairly easy,” Johnson said. “It’s the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It sounds very simple, but if you treat your clients and others with that simple principle, everything else will fall into place.”
Johnson, along with Partners Robert Ingram, Phillip Beggs, and Kevin Moore, are core members of the MIJS team. Joining
the firm in 1986 to assist in the formation of a civil litigation department, the Atlanta native’s areas of concentration include civil litigation, insurance defense litigation, and product liability defense.
“The opportunity and lessons that John Moore gave me with this firm [live on],” Johnson said. “First, he emphasized professionalism when dealing with all people. He was a master of that. Sometimes, I fail in that regard, but I always try. John also always told me there were many good lawyers in the practice, and what would set you apart was how you responded to clients and treated other people.”
Johnson was just 29 when John Moore gave him the opportunity to head up the business side of the firm. “I would always consult with my other partners on big issues, but many of the day-to-day operations were my decision. That gave me a chance to build a business as well as being a lawyer. My dad was a businessman, and that was extremely important to me.”
One of the most important lessons Johnson learned — and one that every member of the MIJS team has taken to heart — is the ability to stay connected to his family and the community at large. “Being in Marietta allowed me to be extremely involved in my children’s activities. I coached both boys’ baseball into high school and made all my daughter’s plays when she was performing at Pebblebrook [High School in Mableton]. There were times when I may have to come back to the office to do work after those events, but the flexibility
that John gave me, and that we still give our attorneys, allowed me to take part in my children’s lives that I would have never been able to take if I had remained downtown.”
Giving Back
Today, one of the legacies that MIJS has bestowed upon its team is the firm’s connection with the community. Moore Ingram
Johnson & Steele encourages its legal team to be involved in the community service initiatives that interest them. “We do not stipulate a particular cause or activity,” Johnson said. “We allow them the freedom to choose.”
From an overall firm standpoint, the community service initiative that stands out is the Moore Scholarship Program, which is named in honor of founding Partner John
“We give yearly scholarships, usually around $40,000 a year, to deserving students. It is a way for the students to change not only their lives, but their family’s lives in the future. It is something about which we are very proud to be able to do.”
— Partner Robert Ingram
Moore, who passed away in 2018. In 2006, John created the MIJS Scholarship Foundation in conjunction with Marietta High School. Through the program, the two work together to identify promising students who need financial assistance.
The first “Moore Scholars” recipient, as it was called, graduated in 2011. Since then, an additional 26 Moore Scholars have graduated from various colleges, including Georgia State University, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, Clayton State, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina, Armstrong Atlantic State, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Texas Christian University.
To date, the MIJS Scholarship Foundation has provided more than $470,000 in scholarship funding. “We give yearly scholarships, usually around $40,000 a year, to deserving students,” Ingram said. “It is a way for the students to change not only their lives, but their family’s lives in the future. It is something about which we are very proud to be able to do. We want to be good members of Cobb County. We also donate to numerous causes in Cobb County because Cobb County has been good to us. We want to ‘pay it forward.’”
help keep its clients from becoming faceless in a corporate sea. The firm’s ability to remain rooted in these founding principles while expanding its reach across multiple states reflects a remarkable balance between tradition and growth.
Ingram said that the “pay-it-forward” philosophy continues to be at the true heart of what John Moore’s vision stands for. “God’s word teaches us that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’ MIJS has truly been blessed over the past 40 years starting as a small firm with a few lawyers and growing to where we are today. In recognition of that blessing, we have made it a priority to give back to the community and to do our best to provide the highest quality legal services to our clients.”
History + Commitment = Legacy
As MIJS looks to the next 40 years, the firm continues to stand as a testament to John Moore’s vision, which was created to provide the Cobb County area with specialized legal services that could rival any downtown Atlanta firm.
The caveat was that each of these services would include a personal touch that would
In those early days, John’s first hire — a tax partner — set the tone for what would become a full-service law firm dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of its clients. John believed deeply in providing personal, high-quality service, and he knew that the key to long-term success would be the relationships built with each client.
“He also demanded respect from his lawyers for all people with whom they came in contact, such as judges, staff, clerks, et cetera,” said Beggs, who joined the firm in 1986. “He thoroughly believed that there was a great deal of very good attorneys in the community, but what set our firm apart was the service and courtesy with which we treated everyone.”
John’s vision wasn’t about expansion for expansion’s sake, but about being where his clients needed the firm to be. This approach led to the opening of MIJS’ first satellite office in Knoxville, Tennessee, a decision born out of client demand and the firm’s commitment to maintaining those close relationships. “Expansion was never the primary goal,” Beggs recalled. “It was always about being
responsive to the needs of the firm’s clients. This adaptability has helped shape our success.”
As MIJS’ client roster expanded and moved into new regions, the firm’s growth followed, ensuring it could continue to offer the same level of specialized, personalized service regardless of geographic location. All the while, John’s vision was kept intact. “Respect, courtesy and professionalism have always been at the core of MIJS’ culture,” Beggs said. “John emphasized that the firm’s success wasn’t just about legal expertise, but also about how clients, adversaries, and colleagues were treated. He knew that there were plenty of skilled attorneys, but what would set Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele apart was our unwavering commitment to respect and courtesy in every interaction. It’s a philosophy that continues to define the firm to this day.”
MIJS’ areas of expertise are wideranging, including real estate, corporate work, litigation, tax, estate planning, and captive insurance. Unlike many firms where attorneys may cross over between specialties, MIJS prides itself on ensuring that each attorney remains a specialist in their field. This guarantees that clients receive the highest level of expertise and attention, no matter their legal needs.
Staying at the forefront of legal developments is another cornerstone of MIJS’ success. The firm is committed to continuous professional development, both attending and speaking at seminars across the country. This commitment to education allows MIJS to stay ahead of changes in legislation and case law, ensuring that its attorneys are always equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge to serve their clients effectively.
As MIJS enters its fifth decade, the firm remains steadfast in its commitment to the principles John Moore established 40 years ago. The firm’s success, rooted in personal relationships, specialized expertise, and a deep respect for others, is a living testament to John’s vision. And as the firm looks to the future, it does so with the same spirit of service, integrity, and community that has guided it from the beginning. Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele is not just a legal firm; it’s a legacy in progress, one that will continue to shape the legal landscape for years to come. n
MIJS leadership standing below a painting of the firm’s founder, John Moore.
Cobb Teachers of the Year
The Cobb Chamber recently celebrated the 35th year of Give Our Schools a Hand (GOSH), which brings educators, students, parents, businesses, and community leaders together to honor education through three distinctive events: the Handprint Unveiling Ceremony at Glover Park on the Marietta Square, and the Teacher of the Year Breakfast and Pep Rally.
On October 8, Karen Wright of Big Shanty Intermediate School and Maria Nelson of the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics unveiled their handprints. Wright, a fourth grade English Language Arts teacher, has been teaching in the Cobb County School District for 27 years. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University, and recently finished her Education Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership at Valdosta State University. Wright holds endorsements in reading and gifted education, as well as certifications in STEM and Microsoft Innovator Education.
Nelson has taught fourth grade at the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics for
eight of years. She holds a Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership and has endorsements in ESOL, Gifted, STEM, and Coaching. Aspiring to be an instructional leader, Nelson has led professional development on her school’s STEAM initiatives, leveraging data, learning retention strategies, and reading curriculum implementation.
Through the years, the GOSH program has motivated the community to take an active role in Cobb’s public school systems and has attracted attention to the quality of education in Cobb County. Dating back to
1988, GOSH has become one of the largest events honoring local educators, celebrating more than 130 teachers here in Cobb County.
More than 2,000 local students attend the pep rally each year to cheer on their favorite Teacher of the Year. The program includes performances by students from Marietta High School, a Voyles Automotive Group Car Drawing, and remarks from each district’s superintendent. On November 4, the top four teachers in the Cobb County District (Karen Wright; Maria Nelson; Shelly Quance, Palmer Middle School; and Jasmin Molina, Osborne High School) drove off with their new cars from the Cobb Chamber’s Nov. Marquee Monday, courtesy of Voyles Automotive Group.
Sponsors for this year’s events include Voyles Automotive, Cobb County School District Event Services, Atlanta Braves Foundation, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Cobb Community Foundation, Kennesaw State University, Lockheed Martin, The Lumistella Company, Superior Plumbing, LGE Community Credit Union, and Six Flags Over Georgia.
Serving Our Community for Over 60 Years
Karen Wright and Maria Nelson
A Personal Endeavor. A Community Need.
Brookwood Christian School has been serving the needs of dyslexic students for 20 years and counting.
By Donna Harris
There’s virtually no obstacle a parent won’t run through, over, or around to provide for their child. This is true for a myriad of issues from healthcare to access to a quality education. For example, one local mother’s feelings of frustration and helplessness led her to create a school that would provide her young daughter — and other students diagnosed with dyslexia — with the educational help she couldn’t find anywhere else.
In 2004, Kim Wigington founded Brookwood Christian School (BCS) in Acworth after her daughter, Kristen, was diagnosed with dyslexia, a specific language-based learning disability characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities.
“In 2002, my daughter, Kristen, was 7 years old, in first grade, had an IQ of 135 and couldn’t read,” Kim said. “It didn’t make any sense. Even though I had been a certified teacher, counselor, and administrator for 15 years, I had no idea how to help my own daughter.”
Kristen, now 29 and serving as Brookwood Christian’s director of marketing and
advancement, said she “struggled with reading and couldn’t seem to catch up” at the Cobb County private school she was attending. “By second grade, I was still having trouble with even simple words,” she said. “Midway through the school year, I was pulled for testing and diagnosed with dyslexia.”
Because there was no dyslexia school in north Cobb and only one in Cobb County at the time, Kim took matters into her own hands. She resigned from her position and began networking, asking questions, reading books, and studying anything she could find on dyslexia and sensory integration disorder.
“Step by step, I began to build my network,” she said. “I called a friend, a school psychologist whom I had worked with. She told me to call the Georgia chapter of the International Dyslexia Association and ask about a tutor. They led me to Bonnie CohenGreenberg. Bonnie connected me with a tutor, an occupational therapist, a developmental pediatrician, and Jean Derosa, a trainer for the Wilson Reading Program. I remember [Kristen’s] tutor, Loretta, asking Kristen if she was sad that there was no school
on Labor Day. Kristen, who was 7 at the time, looked up at me and said, ‘Mom, is she being facetious?’ Loretta looked at me and said, ‘Well, her IQ isn’t the problem, is it?’”
All the services Kristen needed was going to cost Kim and her husband, Kevin, $40,000 a year, which they couldn’t afford. “In addition to Kristen going to school, every day we had some sort of therapy for her or training for me,” Kim said. “By Thanksgiving [of] her second-grade year, something had to give.”
Kristen said her mom, who has three degrees in education, “made the difficult decision to pull me out of school and homeschool me while seeking the right remediation strategies to support my new diagnosis. This marked the beginning of our journey to find a program that truly addressed my learning needs,” she said.
“By Christmas, I was teaching reading lessons to eight students around my kitchen table,” Kim said, noting she now uses that table, which belonged to her great-grandmother, as her desk in her BCS office. That table, Kristen added, was “the beginning of what eventually grew into our own school.”
“The decision to start our own school happened organically,” Kristen continued. “Once word spread that my mom, who was highly qualified to teach, was home-schooling me, several families from our church reached out, asking if she could help their struggling learners, too. Before we knew it, there was a group of kids gathered around our dining room table, receiving the support they needed.”
Before long, Kim’s home-school classes were outgrowing the kitchen table. And since Kristen’s diagnosis came midyear, she couldn’t be enrolled in a dyslexia school until the next academic year. Additionally, the school wouldn’t allow the daughter Kim and her husband were adopting from Eastern Europe to attend classes there, even though the “dyslexia reading program was perfect for students learning English as a second language,” Kim noted. These circumstances created the “perfect storm” for starting Brookwood.
“It just made sense for the two girls and I to be together in one school,” Kim said. “I also wanted to continue working with my homeschool students.”
With a $50,000 personal loan and a few employees, Kim rented a room at a church in August 2004 to run her home-school co-op classes with another teacher. By Thanksgiving, “we were no longer a home-school co-op. We were a fully accredited school with 20 students,” she said.
Three years later, the new nonprofit private school had outgrown that space, and the Wigingtons bought the property at 4728 Wood Street in Acworth and began to construct their “little red schoolhouse,” according to the BCS website.
“Brookwood Christian School is the result of caring professionals asking ourselves how we would ‘do school’ if we could do it however we want,” Kim said. “It makes for a better experience for students and the teachers.”
The school now has 80 students in first through 12th grades — one of only two such schools for dyslexic students in metro Atlanta — as well as 16 teachers, three administrators, two interns and a marketing team, Lower School Administrator Danielle Anderson said.
The school’s mission is to encourage exceptional students in grades 1-12 to work to their very best abilities in a low-stress Christian environment. Teachers understand that traditional learning methods don’t always work for dyslexic students, and they strive to nurture individual learning styles and remediate specific learning deficits to improve students’ quality of life.
The school’s mission is to encourage exceptional students in grades 1-12 to work to their very best abilities in a low-stress Christian environment.
Teachers use a variety of techniques to help students cope and learn, including one hour a day of Wilson Reading Program classes that provide structured, multisensory instruction tailored to dyslexic learners’ needs. They also have an hour of reading comprehension and language arts daily.
“We also utilize specialized textbooks designed for their learning styles, along with hands-on activities that make learning more engaging and interactive,” Kristen said. “Additionally, we prioritize outdoor time, recognizing that a change of environment can stimulate focus and improve overall wellbeing, further supporting our students’ educational journey.”
“We remediate where needed but also push them to excel where they can,” Kim added. “Our methods and materials can help student test scores increase as much as four grade levels in a year.”
During the past 20 years, Brookwood has had roughly 500 students receive help for coping with their dyslexia, Kim said. Kristen added that she believes the school has been “incredibly successful in helping its students.”
“We administer the Woodcock Johnson Master Test at the end of each school year to monitor progress, and, on average, our students raise their reading level by two grades each year,” she said. “This significant achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of both our students and the teachers who support them.”
Lower School Administrator Danielle Anderson, whose son graduated from Brookwood, primarily measures the school’s successes by its graduates’ successes. “It makes our staff proud when we learn our former students are continuing their education,” she said. “Their choices have included KSU
[Kennesaw State University], Chatt Tech [Chattahoochee Technical College], Georgia Trade School, mechanical and automotive fields. Some immediately join the workforce after graduation. Often our former students stop by to check in with us. We have alumnionly events that help strengthen friendships that began at Brookwood.”
As a private school, BCS is funded by tuition, grants from foundations, donations from the community, sales of school T-shirts and fundraisers such as the Spring Tea and Auction, Acworth Charm Tour of Homes, and Storybook Golf Cart Extravaganza.
The school also accepts the Georgia Special Needs SB10 Scholarship and the Georgia Tax Credit Scholarship from Apogee Scholars.
Kim and Kristen have definite ideas about what they’d like to see happen in the school’s future. Kim’s goal is to offer a quality education as long as there is a need in the community, while Kristen said her ultimate goal, which “might sound a bit cynical,” is to “run my family business out of business.”
“I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in moderate learning disabilities and researching how to create curricula that cater to all learners,” she said. “Through my educational research, I’ve discovered that counties don’t have to spend a fortune to adapt their curricula to meet everyone’s needs. I aspire to collaborate with public school systems to implement these changes, ensuring that every student has access to the same high-quality education we provide at Brookwood, and at no cost. Given that many families are facing financial challenges today, I want to work toward a future where, by the time I retire, every student in my community can receive the education they deserve without placing any financial burden on their families.” n
4728 Wood Street Acworth, GA 30101
678.401.5855
www.brookwoodchristian.com
Brookwood Christian School
I n Your Community
MUST Christmas Miracles MUST
Ministries celebrates 30 years of
helping families through the MUST
Toy Shop.
By Katy Ruth Camp
Imagine a child waking up on Christmas morning with no gifts to open, asking why Santa didn’t come to visit. That is the reality for so many of our neighbors in need struggling through poverty. For 30 years, MUST Ministries has performed Christmas miracles for thousands of children and families through its Toy Shop program.
The MUST Toy Shop program is unique in that it allows Cobb County mothers and fathers to visit its location in Town Center Mall to pick out a dozen new toys for each child, ensuring that their children will get just what they wanted and needed for Christmas. A volunteer acts as the family’s personal shopper, helping them navigate the areas that are divided by ages to pick out gifts catered to their children’s preferences. And it’s not just toys — families also receive necessary winter items like new blankets, socks, and underwear. Last year, more than 6,000 children received over 600,000 toys, thanks to donations from community supporters and the help of hundreds of volunteers.
“No child should wake up on Christmas morning and feel sad and deflated because they think Santa decided not to visit them,” said MUST President & CEO Dr. Ike Reighard. “We want everyone to have the
chance to feel the Christmas spirit, regardless of their financial circumstances. Christmas is a joyous time for many, but it can also be a very hard time for others. This is just one way that MUST can help these children and families to feel loved and take one less burden off them during the Christmas season.”
A humble beginning
Although MUST has been helping the community for 53 years, the Toy Shop program began 30 years ago when a kind volunteer, Sam Morris, saw the need to spread Christmas cheer to families who were having to decide whether to keep the lights on or bring joy to their children on Christmas Day. Morris purchased a mobile trailer unit that was placed at a church on South Cobb Drive to house donated toys that were then given out to families in need. “One thing that has stuck with me forever was, the first year I was involved in Toy Shop (1999), it was in the basement of some apartments and the families we helped were able to receive one new toy for someone in the family,” said MUST Community Outreach Director Paula Rigsby, who now oversees the Toy Shop program. “All other toys were used, though they were cleaned and fixed by volunteers.
I am so happy to say that everything now is brand new!”
Making a difference
Mother Priscilla Wiley has visited the MUST Toy Shop for the past few years and said that it has always been the best gift she receives at Christmas. “When I first came, I thought, ‘I hope they don’t give my kids things they don’t like,’” she said, with a laugh. “Most places pick it out for you, but not at this Toy Shop. You come in as a parent and you pick it out. It means a lot. Just to see my kids open their gifts, and to see the smiles on their faces, and it was something that they asked for and that they really, really wanted, it means a lot.”
Wiley said there have been times when she has wondered if she could pay a bill at Christmastime, much less afford toys for her children. “You can come to MUST and shop at the Toy Shop, that’s one less burden on you. It’s less stress, and you can get into the Christmas spirit and you’re able to do other things with your children. I like the people here because they’re funny, they interact with you, and they don’t look down on you. They want to help you.”
Wiley added that visitors to the Toy Shop can also be connected to the other resources
MUST provide, such as assistance with food, shelter, clothing, and other needs. “If you need help, they’ll find other resources to help you in other ways, too, in your time of need. Everyone has a time in their lives when they’re down. Everyone has a time in their lives when they have to get things together. If you don’t ask for help, you probably won’t get help. This is a place where it’s a helping place. It’s a hand-me-up, not a hand-me-down,” she said.
A resource for all ages
Many toy shops focus on children of a certain age but MUST is also unique in that it offers families with assistance for all children, up to age 18. Many families have multiple children of varying ages and MUST ensures that all children have gifts on Christmas morning. Two age groups often overlooked are babies and teenagers. MUST has a specific area for babies where families can collect “Baby Boxes” for children up to age 1. The boxes include items such as bottles, diapers, and wipes. Teenaged children can also receive items such as makeup kits, purses/wallets, and sports equipment. Proper hygiene is also important at any age, so MUST collects
How You Can Help
hygiene kits to give to the children with items such as shampoo, soap, and hair brushes. All items that are given to families through Toy Shop are new and unwrapped, and are collected through donations from the community. Donations can be dropped off at the MUST Donation Center (1280 Field Parkway, Marietta, GA 30066) or purchased through MUST’s Amazon Wish List, which
sends the toys directly to the Donation Center. Hundreds of volunteers are also needed to sort toys, help shoppers, and collect items, and MUST also accepts financial donations to purchase toys for children.
For more information on how to support the MUST Toy Shop through donating and/ or volunteering, visit mustministries.org/toyshop. n
Want to donate? Outside of general toys, there are many other ways to help children in need this Christmas through the MUST Toy Shop.
Baby Boxes
• Bottles
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Clothing
• Educational toys
Stuff-a-Stocking (filling a 1-gallon Ziploc bag)
• Ages 0-6: pacifiers, teethers, small toys, flashcards, crayons, etc.
• Ages 7-12: Matchbox cars, small toys, hair bows, candy, Pokémon cards, etc.
• Ages 13-18: earbuds,
nail polish, lip gloss, candy, etc.
Christmas Wishes
• Handmade Christmas cards (in English and Spanish), wishing the family a happy holiday season and Merry Christmas (signed by the group — no last names)
Family Fun Time
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Board games
• Yard games
• Lego kits
Crafty Christmas
• Coloring books
• Crayons and colored pencils
• Art supplies
• Project kits
Comfort
• No-sew blankets (there are several YouTube tutorials on how to easily make these)
• Stuffed “plush” animals
• Sensory pillows
• Plush “snuggler blankets” for infants
• Wearable blanket hoodies
• Underwear
• Socks
• Hats/gloves
Hygiene Kits
• Baby shampoo
• Shampoo
• Soap
• Toothpaste/toothbrush
• Hair brush/comb
• Deodorant
• Floss picks
• Diaper cream
• Cornstarch powder
• Lip balm
A Novel Approach To My Mornings
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By Cory Sekine-Pettite
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I love to shop — a pastime that apparently is rare among men. I enjoy the process — seeing the items up close, touching them, checking the quality, trying things on, etc. I also like spending time in bookstores. Of course, I typically gravitate to the magazine sections first — and I hope you still buy printed publications from time to time. During each visit, I eventually will explore the entire shop, looking for book covers that catch my eye, checking for new releases on the subjects I hold dear, and perhaps finding gifts I know friends will love. For a multitude of reasons, there aren’t as many bookstores left in the United States, but there still are several thriving independent booksellers within a few miles of my Smyrna home, and at least one retail chain has begun opening new stores here. And unlike the fleeting excitement from the experience of say, buying a new shirt, the gratification of owning a new book continues once you get home. There is great pleasure in reading a new novel or slowly thumbing your way through a photo book. This feeling can last much longer than the quick hit of dopamine from buying some random item of clothing you soon will forget having purchased in the first place.
I recently bought two novels and a notebook (I’ll share my love of notebooks and pens in another article someday.) from a bookstore in East Cobb. The first of the novels I’m reading is a darkly comic tale about a serial killer in the U.K. It’s one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I’ve had in years, and at the suggestion of my best friend, I’ve made it a part of my morning routine to read a few pages before I do anything else. I find that it centers me, improves my mood, gets my creative juices flowing, and puts me on a path to productivity. Now I ask you, can a new shirt do that? n
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