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in Women & s Busines g Leadin Law yers
ALTERNATIVE ROCK KATIE DURRENCE & NICK RADKO
New Year, New You !
INDUSTRY
UPDATE 2021
Whyit it pays pays to Why
Bank BankBlue. Blue.
a southern staple in our naaon, the live oak graces our coastal lands with the strength to leave As aAssouthern staple in our naaon, the live oak graces our coastal lands with the strength to leave marks in history, resilience to withstand trying mes, and outstretching arms to provide shelter to marks in history, resilience to withstand trying mes, and outstretching arms to provide shelter to those around it. At Morris Bank, many of these principles mirror our daily operaaons, and we apply those around it. At Morris Bank, many of these principles mirror our daily operaaons, and we apply them to our long standing presence through fluctuaaons in the financial world. them to our long standing presence through fluctuaaons in the financial world. Strong Base for difficult times
Strong Base for difficult times
Continual Growth to help build our community
Continual Growth to help build our community Flexibility to better serve our customers
Flexibility toFor better customers Prepared Anyserve Stormour to support one another
Prepared For Any Storm to support one another
FOR THE
CUTTING EDGE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY Today’s industries need engineers that are work-ready. That’s why Georgia Southern University invested $53 million in the new Engineering and Research Building with nearly two dozen instructional and research labs, equipment usually found only in the most sophisticated companies, and a large high bay projects area the size of a football field. Manufacturing, renewable energy, robotics — you name it — it’s here. We make sure students are ready to dig in from day one. Ready to design. Ready to create. Ready to engineer. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/CEC
WE LIVE HERE
from the editor
W
hat a year it’s been! The holidays are a blur because we were so excited to begin anew in 2021 and leave 2020 with its COVID-19 behind us. We are so looking forward to a new year and a new start! We found a newly married couple, Katie Durrence and Nick Radko, who have taken a whole new approach to living downtown. These crazy kids have built a brand new home in a neighborhood established pre-WWII, so they can be within walking distance to the Blue Mile, downtown, the University, parks, trails and the West District. Come with us as we visit Katie and Nick in their beautiful new home and see how they’re really rockin’ it in downtown Statesboro. We also thought it would be a good time to check in with Statesboro’s manufacturing and industrial base to see how the pandemic has affected that segment of our local economy. We chose eight companies to talk to: AgSouth Farm Credit, Braswell’s Food Company, Briggs & Stratton, Brodie International, EGRMC, Great Dane, M-D Plastics, and Walmart Distribution Center #6061, to find out how they’re doing and what the future holds for those industries. One common thread we saw emerging when we talked to our local industries was workforce development. That led us to Vice President of Economic Development Jan Moore at Ogeechee Technical College who shared information on OTC’s innovative full access program for development of the local manufacturing workforce recently cited in Site Selection magazine. We chose this issue to highlight our local Leading Lawyers and our outstanding Women in Business. Plus there’s a bonus section for everybody else that’s ready for a healthy change in 2021, New Year, New You! We hope you enjoy our annual Economic Development issue of Statesboro Magazine. We’re sure that inside you will find some good news to start the New Year about our local economy that you didn’t already know. Enjoy!
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Jenny Foss, Editor
January/February 2021
contributors
Ric Mandes Ric Mandes, a popular essayist, retired after 27 years as Director of Public Relations and Development for Georgia Southern. His memories about growing up and living in South Georgia inspire his writings. He’s a published author and former newspaper columnist for the AJC.
Carolyn Altman Carolyn Altman is the Director of the Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University. She holds degrees from Cornell University, Portland State University, and the University of Nebraska and has published, produced, and taught creative work of all forms, including dance, film, and writing. She spends as much time as possible outside, and has backpacked the Pacific Crest, telemark-skied the Northwest, white water paddled the Northeast, cycled Europe, and bike raced throughout the South. These adventures provide opportunities to learn local plants and how people live among them. Her son, Colby Parker, and daughter-in-law Jordan Miller, are USAF musicians who join Carolyn on wildflower expeditions in the Rockies and river trips through the Ogeechee cypress.
Frank Fortune Frank is the national award winning freelance photographer who holds the distinction of shooting 20 years’ worth of covers for Statesboro Magazine. He retired from Georgia Southern after having been responsible for capturing the University’s history on film and video for 30 years. Throughout his career Frank’s enjoyed all aspects of photography, including sports, still-life, landscape, and architecture. He and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of teens, Jack and Cate.
WE LIVE HERE
Lazar Brown Oglesby Lazar Brown Oglesby is the owner of Honey Catering and Café and Dolan’s BBQ both located in Millen and Honey Too located in Statesboro. Lazar attended Ogeechee Technical College where she earned a Culinary Arts degree. In 2012 Lazar followed a lifelong dream and opened Honey Catering and Café. She enjoys cooking Southern food with an adventurous twist! Lazar is known for her famous cheesecakes of which she has over 100 flavors. Lazar recently started the Honey Blog to share her recipes and stories.
Doy Cave From Eagle Nation is a column brought to you by Georgia Southern University, where we cherish our place in the larger Statesboro community. In each issue, we hope to bring interesting and informative stories to the readers of Statesboro Magazine.Doy Cave is the Marketing Content Manager in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University, and resides with his family in Statesboro.
Rev. Dr. H. William Perry Bill Perry grew up in Live Oak, Florida, a small town just south of Valdosta, GA. After graduating from Stetson University, he earned three degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2004, he retired as pastor of First Baptist Church of Statesboro after serving that congregation for 22 years. He and his wife, Margaret, registrar of Statesboro High School before her retirement in 2005, have two daughters, five grandsons, and one granddaughter. Bill has been very much involved in community life in Statesboro. He is an avid reader and has been a runner since 1973.
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table of contents
ESTABLISHED MARCH 1, 2000
THE CULTURE Alternative Rock! A New Way of Living Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune
Jenny Starling Foss Editor
Joe McGlamery
16
Publisher
Hunter McCumber
2021 Industry Update 8 Local Companies Share What the Future Holds Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune
28
Building Programs that Build Skills Contributed by Savannah King © 2020 Site Selection Magazine
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Senior Creative Director
Auna Phillips Director of Business Development
Frank Fortune Contributing Photographer Statesboro Magazine is proudly produced by:
SPECIAL SECTIONS 2021 Leading Lawyers New Year, New You! 2021 Women in Business
IN EVERY ISSUE From the Editor Contributors News & Notes Calendar of Events Look Around Transitions
21 43 48 4 5 8 10 64 66
FEATURED COLUMNISTS Buzz Worthy Bites
54
Written by Lazar Brown Oglesby
Garden Variety
56
Written by Carolyn Altman
Garden Variety
58
The Spiritual Pathway
60
The View from Here
62
Written by Carolyn Altman
Written by Rev. Dr. H. William Perry
Written by Ric Mandes
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FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL: aphillips@StatesboroMagazine.com FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL: editor@StatesboroMagazine.com MAILING ADDRESS: PHYSICAL ADDRESS: P. O. BOX 1084 One Herald Square, Statesboro, GA 30459 Statesboro, GA 30458 p: 912.489.2181 f: 912.489.8613
January February 2021 Priceless
ABOUT THE COVER
As part of our 2021 industry update, we visited OTC to learn about what they’re doing new in the area of Workforce Development. We found out they’ve recently been certified as E TIV NA ALTER ROCK an official FAST training RY UST IND E NC KATIE DURRE UPDATE 2021 site for FANUC America & NICK RADKO with their new industrial robotics lab. We captured OTC’s Director of Marketing Sean Payne, along with Industrial Systems Instructors Travis Wright and Justin Goodman testing out the new equipment. Photo by award winning photographer Frank Fortune. in Women ess & Busin ing Lead rs Law ye New Year, New You!
“Thank you everyone at Renasant Bank. You’re a pleasure to work with!
It is hometown banking at its best.” Shannon Keith, Laura Owens, and Shay Durden
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Statesboro, GA 173 Northside Drive East | 912.489.9500 | 335 South Main Street | 912.764.8900 www.renasantbank.com January/February 2021
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the calendar
FRIDAYS - TUESDAYS AT MIDNIGHT STATESBORO MAIN STREET MARKET2GO
Order the season’s freshest local fruits, vegetables and homemade baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, candies and relishes. You’ll also find locally sourced meat, seafood, spices, dairy and eggs. Home and garden items, honey and locally grown flower bouquets. Shop online Friday – Tuesday at midnight at statesboromarket2go.locallygrown.net. Pick-up on Thursday afternoons at the Statesboro Visitors Center, 222 South Main Street or in Sylvania at the Victory Garden General Store, 124 West Telephone Street.
JANUARY 15 BEHOLD: HERE COMETH THE DREAMER 7:30 P.M. $15/PERSON - $13/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS $8/STUDENTS EMMA KELLY THEATER | AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
JANUARY 7 - 10 THE LADY LEGENDS & GUESTS JANUARY 7 – 9 @ 7:30 P.M. JANUARY 10 @ 3:00 P.M. $25/PERSON - $23/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS $15/STUDENTS EMMA KELLY THEATER | AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., theater director Mical Whitaker has assembled local artists and the area’s most distinctive voices to bring to life the words of poets Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Maya Angelou, and Jill Scott, among others. An inspirational fusion of music and spoken-word performances. www.averittcenterforthearts.org
Celebrate some of the legendary ladies of country music with talented local singers Brandi Harvey, Christie McLendon and Rachel Elkins accompanied by a five-piece band. This talented trio covers some of the most popular tunes from the 1930s to the 1990s. The 30-song set includes music from The Carter Family, June Carter, The Good Sisters, Kitty Wells, The Davis Sisters, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Dolly Parton, Jeannie C. Riley, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Bobby Gentry, Lynn Anderson, Tanya Tucker, Jessie Colter, Barbara Mandrell and Reba McEntire. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.
JANUARY 14 LEONARD JONES EXHIBIT OPENING & RECEPTION 5:30 P.M. MAIN GALLERY | AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Leonard Jones is a self-taught artist who is a native of rural Lincoln County, GA. He was born in the early 1950s and made his first painting while he was still in school, but ended up having to put it aside for a while in order to support himself as a laborer for a number of years. Jones paints scenes that are inspired by childhood memories on roofing tin and plywood. Jones still lives in a no-frills farmhouse with very few amenities that he prefers because he says it inspires him and enables him to let his paintings “take him to places.” His works have come to receive much acclaim in recent years, appearing in various gallery shows and at the House of Blues. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.
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JANUARY 23 BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE 7:30 P.M. $25/PERSON - $23/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS EMMA KELLY THEATER | AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Join us for a bluegrass filled night featuring the Runnin’ Rich Band and the Evan Rose Band live! www.averittcenterforthearts.org.
2021 January & Feburary FEBRUARY 25 - 28 ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE FEBRUARY 25 – 27 @ 7:30 P.M. FEBRUARY 28 @ 3:00 P.M. $30/PERSON $28/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS EMMA KELLY THEATER | AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
FEBRUARY 11 - 14 THE SUNSHINE BOYS BY NEIL SIMON $25/PERSON - $23/MEMBERS/MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS - $15/STUDENTS FEBRUARY 11 – 13 @ 7:3 0P.M. FEBRUARY 14 @ 3:00 P.M. EMMA KELLY THEATER | AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
This story follows the attempt by a young theatrical agent to re-unite his elderly uncle, a former vaudevillian great, with his long-time stage partner for a TV reunion. Despite their celebrated reputation, the two old men have not spoken in 12 years. Besides remastering their sketch, the two men have numerous issues to work out before they are ready to return to the public eye. The two-act comedy had a long run on Broadway in the early 1970s and was revived in the 1990s. It was adapted into a 1975 feature film starring George Burns and Walter Matthau. Burns won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance. www.averittcenterforthearts.org
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S END US YOUR EVENTS! EMAIL THEM TO EDITOR@ STATESBORO MAGAZINE.COM
Always...Patsy Cline is based on the true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. In 1961, when Cline went to Houston for a show, Seger and her buddies arrived about an hour-and-a-half early and, by coincidence, met Cline who was travelling alone. The two women struck up a friendship that was to culminate in Cline spending the night at Seger’s house. The relationship, which began as fan worship, evolved into one of mutual respect. The play, which was created and originally directed by Ted Swindley, focuses on the fateful evening at Houston’s Esquire Ballroom when Seger hears of Cline’s death in a ‘plane crash. Seger supplies a narrative while Cline floats in and out of the set singing tunes that made her famous - “Anytime”, “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “She’s Got You”, “Sweet Dreams”, and “Crazy” to name a few. Brandi Harvey and Christie McLendon star in this delightful musical about friendship, country music and a brilliant artist who left us too soon. www.averittcenterforthearts.org.
FEBRUARY 12
FEBRUARY 27
PAINT—N-PARTY 6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. $35/PERSON (INCLUDES MATERIALS) ROXIE REMLEY FINE ARTS CENTER AVERITT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
3RD ANNUAL BROKEN CLAY SHOOT 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. BAY GALL SPORTING CLAYS 6808 ROCKY FORD ROAD GARFIELD, GEORGIA
No experience necessary! Just come and have fun with friends and your favorite drink! (21+ to drink) Price includes a 16 x 20 canvas and art supplies that you will use to create your very own masterpiece. Don’t wait, sign up today! Our instructor, Lorie Ward, will guide you through the steps to paint your version of the painting-of-the-month. Call us at 912-212-2787 to register.
Join us for our 3rd Annual Broken Clay shoot! This is a 100 target sporting clays shoot that will also be hosting a turkey shoot and silent auction. This shoot raises money for the local Bulloch County Horseman’s Association youth scholarship fund. Over the last 2 years BCHA has been able to award $2,000 thanks to this shoot! The shoot is held at Bay Gall Sporting Clays. http://www.bchainc.org S
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News & Notes Sponsored By:
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U.S. Commerce Awards $2M to Grow Georgia Southern Statesboro City Center
Andrea T. Whitfield Named Chamber Ag Partner of the Year On Thursday, November 19th, the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce’s Agribusiness Committee hosted the 2020 Farm-City Luncheon at the Bulloch County Ag Arena, and announced Andrea T. Whitfield, AgSouth Farm Credit Crop Insurance Agent, as the 2020 Bulloch County Ag Partner of the Year. Whitfield is also a long-standing member of the Chamber’s Agribusiness Committee, which honors an agricultural partner or farm family every year during Farm/City Week. Other committee members surprised Whitfield with the award at this year’s luncheon, which featured guest speaker Tom McCall, Georgia State Representative and Chairman of the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee, who also serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Transportation, and Game, Fish & Parks committees at the capitol. Whitfield gave credit for the recognition to area farmers, many of whom serve as her customers and friends. Whitfield has worked for AgSouth for 16 years. First as a loan assistant, then in accounting. For the last five years she has worked directly with farmers in insuring crops in Bulloch, Evans, Tattnall, Bryan, Effingham, Screven, Jenkins and Emanuel counties. Whitfield was honored for her long term dedication to the area’s agricultural community. Since working for AgSouth, Whitfield has also held a leadership role for 15 years on the Chamber’s Agribusiness Committee. One of the Chamber’s most active committees, Agribusiness hosts the annual Ag Night Out with the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority, the annual Farm/City Week Luncheon, the yearly Blessing of the Crops Prayer Breakfast, while supporting local agricultural endeavors including the Bulloch County Young Farmers, Ag scholarship endowments, Bulloch County FFA and 4-H Chapters. Whitfield has been married to Jason Whitfield for 17 years and they have two children – son Tanner, a junior at Portal Middle High School, and daughter Taylor Ruby, who is in 8th grade at Portal Middle High. 10 statesboromagazine.com
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Two U.S. Department of Commerce officials came to downtown Statesboro recently and ceremonially presented local officials a $2 million grant for an expansion of the Georgia Southern University’s downtown Statesboro City Center, including its Business Incubator. Since Statesboro’s mayor and council agreed last January for the city to provide a $500,000 required local contribution toward the project’s $2.5 million budget. The general plan is to renovate 64 East Main Street, former home of The Plunderosa, as the new part of the Georgia Southern City Center. The concept will also create a training and conference space, which has been called a ‘mini-civic center’ facing across Railroad Street toward East Main Street and Savannah Avenue. The Downtown Statesboro Development Authority, or DSDA, which owns the 12,000-square-foot 64 E. Main Street building, was the official applicant for the $2 million grant. But the University, the City and the DSDA cooperated in the proposal, as they have done with the GS City Center, originally called City Campus, since it was conceived a decade ago. “When we say Georgia Southern is ready to power, serve and transform lives within our communities, the region and beyond, projects like this are the exact epitome of what we mean,” said GS President Kyle Marrero. “Here we are … partnering with the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority and the City of Statesboro to fuel opportunities for the people of this region.” The first official to speak during the ceremony, he noted that the expansion is projected to contribute to the creation of more than 300 jobs in the region and have an economic impact of more than $40 million over nine years. BIG, an extension of the university’s Parker College of Business, provides information, specialized classes and other support for businesses and makes rentable, shared workspace and product- development equipment available to innovators and start-ups. The expansion will be Phase 3 in the City Center’s development and the second time it has benefited from construction funding obtained through the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a part of the Commerce Department. A $1 million EDA grant went into the creation of the center. With the new project, BIG will be expanding into a third downtown building. Phase 2 of the original project, completed in 2016, added the Fabrication Lab and Business and Arts Incubator. The Fab Lab and Business Incubator fill 62 E. Main St., while BIG’s offices and classrooms occupy most of the front of 58 E. Main. In back, facing Vine Street, the Averitt Center for the Arts operates the arts incubator as the Roxie Remley Center for Fine Arts.
Felicia Washington Wins Synovus/ Chamber Local Business Prize During the month of November 2020 the Statesboro Bulloch Chamber of Commerce teamed up with Synovus Bank to do a BIG Thanks recognition for members of the Chamber. The BIG Thanks initiative asked members to send in a picture of themselves doing business locally. The business owner’s/manager’s name were entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card from Synovus for each day of business in November 2020. Felicia Washington of Emergency Business Training, LLC, was one of the first to win a $100 gift card. She’s been a Chamber member for about three years. Washington teaches CPR/First Aid Classes at the Statesboro Bulloch Chamber of Commerce weekly. To register for her classes call Washington at (912) 515-8759.
OTC And Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Partner To Provide Scholarships Ogeechee Technical College and Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Disease (ROAD) Foundation are partnering to provide scholarships to students in the Nurse Aide Certificate Program at OTC to assist with tuition, books, and other academic materials. Chandler Dennard, executive director of Willow Pond Senior Care, and Darron Burnette, divisional CEO of Synovus, were instrumental in making the partnership come to life. “We are extremely excited that the Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Foundation is able to contribute to the CNA program at OTC. The nursing assistants being trained at OTC will be the front-line caregivers, for patients with Alzheimer’s, in our hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities,” said Dennard. “With that being said, there is not a more needed or important group of people being trained in the medical field than a CNA. The Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Foundation is proud to be a part of providing scholarships for this much needed program.” The $10,000 scholarship pool will be divided annually to provide scholarships of up to $1,500 to students in good standing with Ogeechee Technical College and who are enrolled in OTC’s Nurse Aide Certification program. Preference is given to students working in geriatric settings or seeking a career working in geriatric care. “Ogeechee Tech is incredibly grateful to the Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Foundation for this partnership,” said Michelle Davis, Vice President for College Advancement. “This last year has introduced new challenges for many of our students and these scholarships often serve as the catalyst that propels them on to complete their programs and enter the workforce.” To learn more about the Nurse Aide Certificate Program at Ogeechee Tech, please visit www.ogeecheetech.edu/PNSG. Interested in providing opportunities for a deserving student, go to www.ogeecheetech.edu/give.
SEB Middle School Receives $25K Grant Howmet Aerospace Foundation Invests in Education
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S END US YOUR NEWS & NOTABLE EVENTS! EMAIL THEM TO EDITOR@ STATESBORO MAGAZINE.COM
Southeast Bulloch Middle School (SEBMS) received a $25,000 grant from the Howmet Aerospace Foundation to bolster its STEM education program. The Howmet Aerospace Foundation seeks secondary schools (K-12) to apply for its competitive grants, particularly those like SEBMS who want to expand learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and help foster student interest in STEM-related careers. Ivey Goodman, a senior mechanical drafter with Howmet Aerospace’s Midway, Georgia, facility, and James Evans, its procurement operations manager, made the ceremonial check presentation to Derrick Mathis, SEBMS’s STEM Lab teacher and the school’s principal, Brad Boykin, at the November 12, 2020, Board of Education meeting. Bulloch County Schools provides STEM labs in each of its nine elementary schools and four middle schools. At the high school level STEM is infused into academic core classes, specialized career pathway courses in the district’s Career Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) program, and in multiple student technical organizations like SkillsUSA, the Technology Student Association, the Health Occupations Student Association, and the National FFA Organization which have student chapters at each of the system’s three high schools. The Howmet Aerospace Foundation is an independently endowed charitable unit of Howmet Aerospace. It grants more than $7 million annually to schools and nonprofit partners around the world. STEM, technical education, and workforce development initiatives are a particular funding focus, along with an emphasis on increased access to STEM fields for underrepresented individuals. www.bullochschools.org.
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Georgia Southern Realizes Goal of New Engineering & Research Building
Statesboro’s favorite place to retire since 1988 We boast being the region’s only community to offer a National Board Certified Assisted Living Executive Director as well as a National Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner to meet the needs of our families, residents, and employees. With 45 private rooms in addition to a large spacious sun room, lobby and lifestyle center, our Residents and Families will agree we are the very finest in retirement living! Call us for lunch and a tour at 912.681.2686 or visit us online at southernmanorstatesboro.com
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Georgia Southern has officially opened its new Engineering and Research Building for students and researchers, a facility that will serve as the epicenter for engineering excellence and innovation in southeast Georgia. The building is designed to facilitate academic and institutional partnerships, inspire creative engineering and accelerate academic success for students in the College of Engineering and Computing. Through the instructional research labs and academic spaces that bridge theory and practice, students will be prepared to solve today’s challenges and to make tomorrow’s discoveries. “The Engineering and Research Building will greatly enhance our research capabilities as well as opportunities for our faculty to engage students in handson research and teaching projects,” said Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing Dean Mohammad S. Davoud, Ph.D. “It will also increase our faculty’s ability to develop collaborative research projects with local industry and agency partners.” “Today marks the culmination of years of forethought and investment from a number of state leaders, industry leaders and local advocates, who paved the way for us to be here,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Leaders who, dating back to the 90s, could see the future of a growing industry, a state on the precipice of being a national leader in technology and innovation, and a critical need to develop talent in applied engineering across South Georgia.” The Engineering and Research Building’s sleek, contemporary environment defined by glass and natural light, soaring high-bay ceilings and modern, industrial feel is strengthened by new, industry-relevant equipment, instrumentation and technology that encourage active learning and sustainability. The highly efficient facility includes sustainable features that complements existing spaces on campus. The three-story building houses applied research spaces with a strong focus on manufacturing engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering. The workspaces can be easily reconfigured for various uses, projects and applications and provide students with access to industry-grade equipment as well as expanded opportunities for undergraduate research. The 140,625-square-foot facility houses robotics and automated manufacturing labs, a nano materials manufacturing lab, a traditional and CNC finishing lab, a materials science and characterization lab, an industrial instrumentation and controls lab, a joining and welding lab, a renewable energy roof deck lab (solar, wind, weather), in addition to flexible research space and metal and non-metal 3D-printing spaces. Impressive high-bay spaces for large projects run nearly the length of a football field in the building. The $60 million project was funded by the state of Georgia. Stevens & Wilkinson is the design architect/architect of record and SmithGroup is the associate architect. The construction firm is JE Dunn Construction and the program manager is BDR Partners. www.georgiasouthern.edu. S
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ou could say it was an earth-moving experience when Katie Durrence, a student from Savannah, met Senior Geology Lecturer Nick Radko, in one of Nick’s Environmental Geology labs. The introductory geology class she was taking was about things like volcanos, earthquakes and tectonic plates. A non-traditional student, Katie already had a successful career as a realtor with Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners when she came to Georgia Southern to complete her degree. “After the class ended, we kept running into each other, and that grew into intentional meet ups,” said Katie. “We haven’t stopped hanging out since.” Katie was the first to make a move when she asked Nick to join her for a couple of beers at Gnat’s Landing.
The couple met in 2015, and married in 2020, amid the pandemic on the front porch of city hall in Statesboro. When it came to choosing a location for their first home, Katie and Nick did something very unusual for a couple just starting out. They decided to build a small home in one of Statesboro’s historic neighborhoods adjacent to the Blue Mile. They built a brand new home in a well-established district made up of bungalows from the 1920s and 1930s. They designed their 1,171 sq. ft. custom cottage on a large January/February 2021
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residential lot with the idea of being one of the first to see the potential of new development and renovations that could complement the historical features of an already established downtown neighborhood. An idea that they hope will spread. “We love the location for the walkability,” said Katie. “The Blue Mile is the perfect midpoint to downtown Statesboro and the campus of Georgia Southern. There isn’t any other location in town that gives you such close access for walking or biking to both the University and the downtown shops and restaurants.” The couple built the two bedroom, two bath home with plans to make it their forever home. “We have plans to stay here long term,” said Nick. “We have future plans (if needed) for an easy third bedroom addition as well as a single car detached garage with an efficiency apartment upstairs. We really love the community and have established really great friendships here and don’t see ourselves going anywhere for the foreseeable future.” Their future plans have taken into consideration that they will be living in close proximity to the West District and the Creek on the Blue Mile, too, and any prospective new development by the City at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department land on Fair Road. The location of Nick and Katie’s home makes it easily accessible to a large area already under consideration for retail, restaurant and other commercial and residential development. “Walkability is a huge plus for us,” said Katie. “We love to run errands on foot. We walk to restaurants downtown and along the Blue Mile, to Food World on Fair Road, to pay bills, and Nick walks to work. We even hop on our bikes for a short and fun ride to the SS Greenway and over to the mall area. Statesboro is small enough that the city should really encourage more walkability in our town with sidewalks and pedestrian corridors.” When they’re not walking or riding bikes, Katie and Nick like to enjoy the outdoor living space they have created. There’s a screened back porch and patio area perfect for entertaining and enjoying a fire in the fire pit or a barbeque with friends. January/February 2021
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THE CULTURE
alternative rock
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“Nick and I love being outside, so having ample outdoor living spaces was a top priority,” said Katie. “We have large porches of every style: covered and open, screened and deck. The weather in South Georgia is great year round and we love taking advantage of that.” The covered front porch is 17.6 ft. x 7 ft. The back screened porch is 14.4 ft. x 12 ft. and the open back deck measures 15.10 ft. x 12 ft. That gives them almost 500 sq. ft. of outdoor living space in addition to their cozy cottage. “Use of space was really important to us,” said Katie. “We love living a minimalist lifestyle, but we didn’t want to compromise on spaces that were really important to us like our kitchen. For the size of our home, I love how open and spacious it is. One of my other favorite spaces is our master bathroom, I can’t get enough of our vanity!” Since the home is small, Katie and Nick wanted to make sure the two bedrooms were separate from each other to maintain privacy even though they were located on the same side of the house. “We were strategic in the layout so that the two bedrooms had lots of separation,” said Katie. One of Nick’s favorite features is the soapstone fireplace. Nick wrote his Master’s thesis on the mineral chemistry of Southeastern Piedmont soapstone. This naturally quarried stone is softer than most other naturally occurring minerals. Although soft, soapstone is a very dense (non-porous) stone; more so than marble, slate, limestone and even granite. Since soapstone is impenetrable, it will not stain, no liquid will permeate its surface. Other stones, including granite, have a propensity to soil; this is why soapstone (steatite) is widely used in chemistry lab countertops and acid rooms. Versatile like marble and granite, soapstone can be used in kitchens, outdoor areas, and in fireplaces. Nick special ordered the soapstone for theirs. The fireplace provides a warm center piece to the open floor plan. The living room, dining room and kitchen create one large area with an unobstructed view. “We love to host dinner parties and have friends over,” said Katie. “Our home has a fully open concept but still manages to feel warm.” Katie and Nick like to enjoy the fireplace, cook food from places they’ve traveled, kayak on nearby rivers or at the coast, and listen to music from Nick’s extensive record collection from the 1960s and 1970s, something he inherited from his father when he set out for college. They have added to the collection over the years. “We like to thrift shop and there’s typically a great selection of records at the Pembroke auction,” said Katie. They can’t pick one favorite artist, but the collection includes a wide variety of musicians. “We enjoy Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Grateful Dead, and the Rolling Stones,” said Nick. “And Katie likes female vocalists like Joni Mitchell and Carole King. Really anything from the late 1960s through the 1970s. We like newer music too, but if it’s on vinyl, it’s from the 1960s – 1970s.” Nick also enjoys cooking and fishing, while Katie takes joy in playing her guitar and practicing yoga. Together they love outdoor recreation and long walks around Georgia Southern and downtown Statesboro, the place they now call their hometown. “It feels good to feel like you’re in the heart of the city,” said Katie. “We love the people here from our neighbors and friends, to the local business owners and service employees we’ve met along the way. It’s great to walk into any business in your community and know all the people by name.” Through determination and inspiration, Nick and Katie have created the perfect small town life together. Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “There will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how you use them.” Katie and Nick saw an old neighborhood and envisioned the perfect location to complement their lifestyle and to build their forever home. They hope their vision will be a stepping stone for others. S January/February 2021
WE LIVE HERE
leading lawyers
Leading LAWYERS S
ince 2000, Statesboro Magazine has helped consumers of all levels find a better lawyer faster. From those who have never hired an attorney and are searching for representation in a personal injury case, to counsel for local entrepreneurs developing new products and protecting trade secrets, we offer a trusted source of reliable names and biographical information on attorneys representing over 100 areas of law. From adoption to workers’ compensation, child custody to real estate, our 2021 Leading Lawyers provide the best assistance in navigating the legal system. Law is not an abstract practice. Lawyers work with people, on behalf of people, and the decisions that are made affect people’s lives. They must be personable, persuasive and able to 22 statesboromagazine.com
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read others. This allows them to gauge juror’s reactions and the honesty of witnesses. They are able to decide upon the best approach to take in order to achieve the most desirable outcome: either clients taking their advice or reaching a favorable negotiation with the opposition. These Leading Lawyers are not only committed to serving clients with professionalism and sound advice, they are your neighbors and leaders throughout the community in churches, charitable services, membership in professional associations, supporting local schools and businesses, and through countless hours of volunteer work. They represent many firms upholding a legacy, often handed down through generations, of providing professional services from the simplest legal matters to unexpected legal crises. In whatever legal area you may need help, Statesboro Magazine’s Leading Lawyers can assist you in maneuvering through the processes of the legal system. When selecting the best type of lawyer the people of Bulloch County can find comfort in the solid judgment and expertise of these outstanding local attorneys and the firms they represent.
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STAFFORD LAW GROUP, LLC APRIL R. STAFFORD
117 S. ZETTEROWER AVENUE | STATESBORO, GA 30458 | 912.764.5555 | STAFFORDLAWGROUPLLC.COM Years in Business: 11 | Family Law, Real Estate, Criminal, and Personal Injury At Stafford Law Group, LLC, we consider all our cases to be important. There is no case that is necessarily “bigger” or that deserves more attention than another. We devote our time and dedication to ensure that all cases are represented to our full potential. Stafford Law Group, LLC takes pride in ensuring all clients have a successful and satisfactory outcome for their personal cases no matter if it is a simple name change or a custody action.
Honors/Awards: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,
My/Our biggest accomplishment was:
and 2020 Best of the Boro – Best Attorney, 2017 Statesboro Magazine’s Fabulist Winner – Most Fabulous Attorney, 2018 fabulist – Most Fabulous Sttorney, 2019 fabulist – Most Fabulous Real Estate Firm
Being a leading female attorney among so many top performing colleagues
My/Our charity of choice is: Statesboro Bulloch County Breast Cancer Foundation
My/Our mission and/or motto is: Team
My/Our biggest passion is …At Stafford
work makes the dream work
Law Group, LLC, we have a large practice that ranges from minor child support issues to complex adoptions. Working in the family
law field, we are seen not only as legal representation, but also act as advisors and are happy to offer a shoulder to lean on in a time of need. Family law can be emotional for all parties involved, but in the end, the outcome can be satisfying when your client gains custody of a child or is granted an adoption of a child. Stafford Law Group, LLC, takes pride in representing our clients in such cases without hesitation or regard to the time-consuming issues that may arise, as our clients are most important to us and we demonstrate that within the courtroom.
- ADVERTORIAL -
DAVIS BOZEMAN JOHNSON LAW MAWULI DAVIS, ROBERT BOZEMAN, FRANCYS JOHNSON
STATESBORO: 51 EAST MAIN STREET, STATESBORO, GA 30458 | SAVANNAH: 208 HALL STREET, SUITE A, SAVANNAH, GA 31401 DECATUR: TRINITY OFFICE PARK C, 4153 FLAT SHOALS PKWY #332, DECATUR, GA 30345 | 912.225.1600 | DBJLAWYERS.COM Years in Business: Over 75 Years Combined Experience | Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Civil Rights You will never feel like a number or a file on a shelf. If we represent you or your loved one; we take your trust seriously. That is how we differ from 99% of other firms. We answer your calls, we return your emails, and we listen to your concerns. We are plain-spoken; straight-talking; no-nonsense practitioners who command respect because we are accountable servant-leaders to the communities we serve THE DBJ DIFFERENCE: GET THE MOST COMPENSATION FOR YOUR INJURIES. OVER 100 MILLION RECOVERED!
My/Our biggest passion is: DBJ law was created to fill a need in our community for the highest quality legal representation paired with taking each client’s injury personally. Davis Bozeman Johnson Law is the legal remedy for those who have suffered harm due to someone else’s negligence or intentional conduct.
I/We are known for: We help families
face life-changing injuries and death to another’s fault or negligence. Results matter and that’s the secret to our success!
I/We are practicing in Statesboro because: Davis Bozeman Johnson Law was formed in 2020 when Attorneys Mawuli Davis, Robert Bozeman of Decatur’s Davis Bozeman Law, and Attorney Francys Johnson of Statesboro partnered to expand the vision of providing best-inclass legal representation grounded in liberation to communities across Georgia.
Other thoughts/comments:
We are Accountable Servant-Leaders We help communities help themselves
by serving across the communities we represent as leaders within civic, social, academic, and faith institutions. Moreover, through our Division of Community Affairs, we are the collaborators of choice for progressive groups seeking to build community. From the Kilombo Academic & Cultural Institute, Let Us Make Man, and the SisterCARE Alliance to the State Bar of Georgia, Georgia NAACP, and New Georgia Project; Attorneys Davis, Bozeman, Johnson, and Spence are accountable servant-leaders. We are guided by the words of the Hebrew prophet Micah 6:8 that admonishes us to Love Mercy, Do Justice and Walk Humbly.
- ADVERTORIAL -
HALL & NAVARRO, LLC J. MICHAEL HALL, MARTHA C. HALL, AND PAIGE BOYKIN NAVARRO
5 OAK STREET, STATESBORO, GEORGIA 30458 | 912.764.6757 | WWW.HALLNAVARRO.COM Years in Business: 30 | Family Law, Bankruptcy, Criminal/DUI Defense, Commercial Litigation Hall & Navarro has been recognized as “Most Fabulous Law Firm” by Statesboro Magazine for multiple years. Paige has been named Statesboro Magazine’s “Most Fabulous Attorney” for two years in a row and has been nominated for the 2021 Fabulist. The attorneys of Hall & Navarro have consistently been recognized as leading lawyers by many local publications and organizations.
Our mission and/or motto is: (Martha
Our biggest passion is… (Martha) Trial work
Our biggest case was: (Martha) In the area of criminal law, I have provided representation in death penalty cases. In the area of commercial litigation, I have litigated on behalf of local farmers against mammoth corporations in California.
The best business advice I ever received was… (Martha) If you work hard, the work will
about the Practice) We
provide fearless representation to each and every client.
Our biggest accomplishment was: (Martha) Growing
our business into a neighboring county (Effingham) has been one of my biggest accomplishments. I’m looking forward to expanding again to Emanuel County (Middle Judicial Circuit) in 2021.
of any nature or description. We especially love advocating for our community’s children.
come.
We are known for: (Martha) Untiring
advocacy and fearless trial skills.
My charity of choice is: (Paige about the Practice) The attorneys in our office dedicate ourselves to providing representation to victims of domestic violence. We donate our time to Safe Haven on a regular basis, and we appreciate the efforts they make to expand their essential services across neighboring counties.
My role models are… (Paige) As the youngest partner in this firm, I have really valued the mentoring I’ve received from Mike and Martha since 2014. I also have great respect for other local attorneys who have consistently encouraged my growth as an attorney and business owner. I pratice in Statesboro because… (Paige) Bulloch
County has been my home for over 30 years. As I was attending college and law school at University of Georgia, I always hoped I would have the opportunity to return home and provide exceptional legal representation to our community. It’s really been a dream to connect with the people of Statesboro and become more involved in the community, both inside and outside the four walls of Hall & Navarro.
THIS IS
YOUR CITY STATESBORO, GEORGIA
The City of Statesboro uses an innovative approach to doing business! We partner with private, public, and nonprofit entities to recruit, retain, and expand local business. Statesboro is a place your business can call home! 912-764-5468 50 EAST MAIN STREET, STATESBORO, GA WWW.STATESBOROGA.GOV Mayor Jonathan McCollar
DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN This year, the City of Statesboro will undertake an update to its downtown master plan. The plan will analyze current market dynamics, consider new zoning for the historic crossroads of Downtown, develop strategies to increase the presence of the Georgia Southern University and students within the study area and integrate all of the plans previously developed during the past ten years such as The Blue Mile Master Redevelopment Plan, the 2019 Transit Feasibility Study and the South Main Street Streetscape Plan.
COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING STUDY To better understand the Statesboro housing market including the current demand for certain types of housing units, driven by such factors as age and price points, the City of Statesboro determined that a comprehensive housing study was needed. Accordingly, the city has contracted jointly with the Bleakly Advisory Group and the Coastal Regional Commission for this purpose. This study will start in early 2021 with a completion date anticipated by the end of June. The comprehensive housing study will examine the following: rental residential market, singlefamily residential market, and an affordable housing plan.
TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN In 2018, the citizens of Bulloch County approved an additional one-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements. Over the next five years, the City of Statesboro is projected to receive $20 million from the sales tax revenue and will undertake several road projects to significantly improve the local transportation system. The City has budgeted $250,000 for Fiscal Year 2021 to prepare a Transportation Master Plan and $100,000 for Fiscal Year 2024 to develop a transportation study. The goal of both the plan and study is to enhance safety, manage congestion, increase bicycle and pedestrian mobility and support redevelopment within the City of Statesboro.
Industry Update
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B
TABLE OF CONTENTS AGSOUTH FARM CREDIT
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BRASWELL’S FOOD COMPANY
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BRIGGS & STRATTON
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BRODIE INTERNATIONAL
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EGRMC 35 GREAT DANE 36 M-D PLASTICS 38 WALMART DISTRIBUTION
39
ulloch County has always been blessed with a growing economy facilitated by a strong and thriving industrial base, a growing and flourishing university and technical college, and a regional medical center. We are fortunate to have positive assets that are attractive to industries and companies looking for a desirable location. We have a new 200-acre industrial park that is certified by the Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) program with easy interstate access to the Port of Savannah. We’re home to a Carnegie Research University, a Georgia Technical College of the Year, a skilled workforce, and tangible amenities sought after by large employers, such as an excellent quality of life for working families with children. Our existing diversified manufacturers, who produce everything from balsamic sweet onion jam to Vanguard lawnmower engines, provide attractive wages and benefits for employees, along with workforce development opportunities, making employment attractive to both local and regional workers. Even with all of these favorable assets, a major change in the way we all do business came in 2020 with the worldwide pandemic. Statesboro Magazine decided to touch base with some of our area industries to see how they have been affected by the spread of COVID-19 in the past year. We talked to the general managers and CEOs of eight of our largest manufacturers and employers: AgSouth Farm Credit, Braswell Foods, Briggs & Stratton, Brodie Meter, EGRMC, Great Dane, M-D Plastics and the Walmart Distribution Center, to see just how well we are doing, and what the future holds for our manufacturers, our markets and our local economy.
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AgSouth Farm Credit PAT CALHOUN, CEO
A
gSouth Farm Credit is a one of the largest and most successful agricultural cooperatives in the Southeast which provides loans, mortgages, insurance and related financial services to farmers. Their corporate headquarters is located in Statesboro, providing administrative, operational and branch financial services to 93 counties in two states. AgSouth customers are members of the cooperative and share in the dispensation of a patronage or portion of earnings each year. In 2020, AgSouth’s patronage was $40 million, a record year according to CEO Pat Calhoun “We faced the same challenges as many in the financial industry,” said Calhoun. “Like many others we were forced to move to a remote working posture. We had to get 75% of our staff prepared to work from home and we did it in two days because of our strong network and our human resources department which moved quickly in February-March of ’20. We did not see a disruption in our area of service. We did not have to lay-off any employees, we accelerated on-line initiatives, and, it’s really counterintuitive, but we saw business grow during 2020. Demand for loans and services flourished in spite of the pandemic.” Two main reasons for the increase in demands for services: (1.) Agriculture never sleeps. Traditional customers continue with production of peanuts, timber, livestock and other agricultural products unabated. And, (2.) Increases in real estate transactions. Real estate transactions were fueled by the relatively low interest rates on loans that the Federal Reserve did as a stimulus.
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“In our service territories near metro areas we saw increases in real estate transactions from people moving to the country,” said Calhoun. “People were looking for 15-20 acres to get out of town and find a place where they could grow their own food – the lifestyle farming sector.” Calhoun predicted that AgSouth would continue to operate the physical property in downtown Statesboro with a limited staff model seeing customers by appointment with safe social distancing practices because of current rising COVID cases across the nation and a predicted surge after the holidays. Fortunately for AgSouth, Calhoun’s greatest challenges this year have been those that come with success. “Keeping up with demand while keeping people safe was our number one concern,” said Calhoun. “We were able to do it because we have a business continuity plan that we test annually anyway. That allowed us to change our business posture quickly to continue to meet our customers’ needs.” Like many lenders, AgSouth has worked with the PPP program to help folks out financially during the pandemic. They also offered loan deferrals to help some impacted customers. “I’m proudest that through cost containment in areas like less travel for our employees, and quick responses to changing business environments, we were able to pivot operations to meet the growing demand of our customers and have a successful year,” said Calhoun. As for 2021? “For 2021, most likely we will operate under two assumptions,” Calhoun related. “That things will return to normal and the pandemic’s impact will improve during 2021. We are encouraged by the vaccines that are becoming available.” He also believes that people will continue to follow the dream of a rural lifestyle. “We expect another strong patron distribution in 2021,” said Calhoun. “Injecting more money into our rural communities and putting those profits back AGSOUTH FARM CREDIT into the pockets of $2 Billion in Loans our hard working 93 Counties patrons.” 2 States 250 Employees 24 Branches 1 Headquarters in Statesboro
Braswell’s Food Company ANDY OLIVER, CEO
2
021 will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Braswell’s Since the pandemic hit in 2020, Braswell’s has continued to Food Company by Albert Braswell, who got things started with one operate in a safe way. steam kettle and a bushel of local pears. Small batch cooking and “We jumped on it right away,” said Oliver. “My brother is a keen attention to detail are practices still employed by Braswell’s doctor, so we were aware of what was coming and starting making today. Under the leadership of CEO Andy Oliver, today Braswell’s still adjustments in the offices and in production. We implemented somanufactures pears and other preserves along with salad dressings, muscial distancing, masks, taking temperatures and other precautions. tards, fruit butters, sauces and marinades, which are pantry essentials made This is our only production plant, so we were able to successfully from the finest ingredients, many locally sourced. Braswell’s food products implement many safety precautions immediately.” are found in national grocery stores, Initially, in early 2020, high end retailers and under private production and sales slowed BRASWELL’S FOOD COMPANY labels distributed around the globe. down just a bit. 50% of products are produced under the Braswell’s label. “Our products are great tasting “May sales came back 50% of products are produced co-packed or under private label. and naturally good,” said Oliver. strong,” said Oliver. “We’ve Braswell’s has 2 fulltime R&D ladies who taste test recipes. “All of our products are Georgia been catching up ever There are 400 Recipes to choose from. Grown and produced in an envisince.” Audited for exacting food production standards by ronmentally friendly way.” Some items were not able the state and federal governments and the company’s own auditors. All of Braswell’s containers are to be produced out of an Hand labor is used in packaging all the products. It’s a labor of love. environmentally safe and green, abundance of caution, like meant to be recycled and reMr. Braswell’s pears that are used. Top quality ingredients are purchased from local vencombined with very few additives which are only added for stabilization. dors who traditionally bring them by the truckload to the plant. And some of the upscale glassware that can be reused for drinking glasses Braswell’s had to limit plant visits from the outside world. is sourced from France. The lids of the top quality packaging come from “We feature for sale the jams and jellies up front, so we had to Europe, too. be very careful and limit all visitors,” Oliver said. “When you’re done with the product, you don’t want to throw away Braswell’s will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021. A the glass,” said Oliver. “Only 10% of glass is recyclable, so we got reusable milestone occasion they’re looking forward to celebrating along glass with easy peel labels. The jellies come in European glassware, while with a bright future ahead. our dressings are bottled in ¼ liter wine carafes of an Italian design. “Overall, I’m pleased with where we are,” said Oliver. “We They’re beautiful, you can use them for vases, and the caps are reusable, didn’t have to shut down production in 2020 and in 2021, we’ll be too.” adding a new production line, and with that, more employees.”
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Proud Past, Promising Future: A New Briggs & Stratton A
fter emerging from Chapter 11 restructuring as a new company with a new owner and a new CEO, Briggs & Stratton, LLC, a company with a 113-year legacy, also has a new beginning. Steve Andrews assumed the position of Briggs & Stratton’s President and CEO just over a month ago after most recently serving as CEO of International Equipment Solutions, LLC. While still new to the role, he reflects on early observations and reinforces a strong, promising future for Briggs & Stratton.
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WE’RE SEEING A COMEBACK.
It’s no secret that Briggs & Stratton has had significant hurdles to overcome as of late - but that’s changing. “Many of the external challenges that seemed to hit the Company all at once are starting to stabilize: weather is in our favor; the stay-at-home environment has positively impacted our business … and, we’re now a well-capitalized company, unencumbered by past liabilities, so we can focus on growth,” says Andrews. “In the first three months of our fiscal year, nearly all parts of our business globally are performing stronger than last year. In fact, this is a better start than we’ve seen in a number of years.” WE’RE INNOVATIVE PROVIDERS – AND APPLIERS – OF POWER.
Briggs & Stratton’s legendary past enables the Company to understand power in a way nobody else in the industry can. “I’m really impressed with our Vanguard® Lithium-Ion Commercial Battery System. It’s an example of using our power application expertise to quickly expand into new markets with an innovation that remains unmatched and has exponential growth potential,” says Andrews. Within the outdoor power space, Briggs & Stratton’s team of forward-thinking innovators continues to develop ways to better support its customers with residential and commercial engines as well as end products and other technologies that improve lives by making tough work easier, safer and more efficient. The innovation heritage will continue. Andrews affirms, “Innovation and new products will be a key focus going forward, so stay tuned for a lot more from us.” WE’RE FOCUSED ON GROWING COMMERCIAL.
Briggs & Stratton remains the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, but its portfolio of brands and products showcases so much more. Andrews states, “While residential engines and products remain a core part of what we do, we will continue to strategically focus our offerings to include commercial engines and products, lithium-ion batteries and other systems and products that will help make our commercial customers more productive and profitable.” The growth opportunity here is significant. WE’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
Briggs & Stratton has deep roots in the Milwaukee community and that will not change. Andrews confirms, “The Milwaukee community – and all of the communities within which we currently operate – have been good to us and we will remain a strong community partner that stands behind its products and supports its customers, for many years to come.” WE’RE HIRING.
The Company has more than 100 salary and hourly positions available in Milwaukee and hundreds more throughout the U.S. and globally. According to Andrews, “Now is an exciting time to join Briggs & Stratton and be part of a new beginning. Many opportunities are available to be a part of an iconic company with a renewed focus on innovation, new products, quick action and growth. I’m impressed with the talented team of employees at Briggs & Stratton and look forward to growing that team to support what will again be a very successful business.” To learn more about Briggs & Stratton and its family of brands, visit www.basco.com. If you’re interested in joining the Briggs & Stratton team, visit careers.basco.com for available opportunities and to apply.
“In the first three months of our fiscal year, nearly all parts of our business globally are performing stronger than last year. In fact, this is a better start than we’ve seen in a number of years.” – Steve Andrews, President and CEO
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Brodie International RUPPI VON GWINNER, CEO
T
he World Trade Center Savannah named Statesboro-based Brodie International as the 2020 World Trade Center Savannah International Business of the Year in October. Given annually, the award recognizes companies that excel in international trade and acknowledges the importance of trade to the region’s economy. Formed in 1928, Brodie is a manufacturer of liquid flow meters, equipment and engineered measurement solutions for the petroleum and industrial markets. Brodie sells flow-meters to industries on six continents, with 50% of sales in the U.S. Brodie’s Statesboro campus is where employees design, engineer and manufacture world class measurement and control solutions. The 165,000 square foot facility contains one of the largest flow calibration centers in North America and is certified by the International Organization for Standardization. “We manufacture the cash registers of the petroleum industry,” stated Ruppi Von Gwinner, CEO. “The rotors turn as liquid passes through. The faster it turns the more liquid is measured.” A German engineer hired by the late Tom Clark, Von Gwinner has been with Brodie for seven years, and remains amazed that such a world class product is manufactured in Bulloch County. Brodie International is now owned by a group of Statesboro-area private investors. The manufacturing plant has a long history. The building dates back nearly 60 years, and companies that occupied it in the past employed as many as 900 people under Rockwell and Brooks Instrument. It became independent in 2003 when a group of employees bought the plant from Emerson. Today Brodie International employs only about 75 people, most of whom work on the shop floor on U.S. Highway 301 North, and five of whom are engineers. It is Brodie’s worldwide headquarters, but the company has sales representatives in the place that cover Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. Brodie’s mission depends on maintaining its place in global competition. “We continually work to improve our products by listening to our customers and adapting our meters to their differing requirements and needs,” said von Gwinner. Brodie established a relationship with Georgia Southern’s School of Engineering to help with research and development and workforce development. They contribute to the local workforce by growing the skills of students through internships.
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“We developed improvements for new meter with software they had in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Southern,” said von Gwinner. “Students worked on analyzing the gray areas. They simulated flow conditions in computers, take the data and crunch it. The data is used to make recommendations on how to optimize flow by creating the least resistance.” Brodie’s operations are very manual, an old school approach to manufacturing with no robotics. Employees are trained on the job and are preserving skills that have been lost in U.S. manufacturing to countries like China. Instead of importing components from other countries, Brodie makes all parts of the meters at the Statesboro plant, which gives them a competitive advantage. They’re never waiting on parts because of import quotas or tariffs. But, they do have to compete against companies that can produce a lower cost product. Brodie’s annual revenue is typically in the $15 million to $20 million neighborhood and fluctuates along with oil prices. The pandemic hasn’t affected Brodie negatively. “We have been lucky that the company has been spared by COVID,” said von Gwinner. “We use lots of caution: social distancing, masks. We take it very seriously. We are very concerned that it could get worse before it gets better.” Brodie faces other challenges and opportunities in the future. “We are working to turn the company into a modern manufacturing facility with the lean manufacturing process,” said von Gwinner. Which will enable Brodie to increase production, reduce costs, improve quality, and increase profits by following five key principles: identify value, map the value stream, create flow, (something Brodie is already expert at achieving), establish pull, and seek perfection. “Our greatest accomplishment by far is turning an existing manufacturing situation into a modern operation of the 21st century,” said von Gwinner. Something that will continue in 2021. “We are in a good place,” said von Gwinner, “but, there is more work to do.” BRODIE INTERNATIONAL Manufacturers of the most accurate custody transfer flow meters available on the worldwide market today. Also does maintenance and repair of valves, measuring tools and miscellaneous equipment used in the petroleum industry. 77 total employees $25.23 million in annual revenue Brodie is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) operating on 6 continents
East Georgia Regional Medical Center STEPHEN PENNINGTON, CEO
R
ecognized as the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce 2020 Business of the Year, East Georgia Regional Medical Center was celebrated at the annual meeting in December for “staying strong and taking really good care of Bulloch County citizens during the pandemic.” Accepting the award on behalf of the hospital was CEO Stephen Pennington, “We try to focus on a few things,” he said. “We try to improve communication. We try to also recognize employees and work on courtesy and respect and transparency and visibility. We take our jobs at the hospital very seriously and our role as being servant leaders. I want to be clear, our goal is to be the best community hospital in the country, and we’re improving each and every day.” Pennington’s plan does seem to be working. Patient satisfaction scores are trending up because the focus is placed on service recovery through communication, follow-up and addressing individual patient needs. Employee satisfaction has also increased this year through recognition programs designed to highlight dedicated employees and through management imparting a skills set that gives the employees ownership in the overall improvement of services. “If the task seems unattainable, then focus on improving a little bit every day,” said Pennington. “Always trending in the right direction.”
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GreaT DANE
EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (EGRMC) Licensed for 149 in-patient beds. Operated by Community Health Systems. 600 Employees 95 Physicians 24-Hour ER Level II Neonatal Care Unit Surgery and Ambulatory Care Pain Center Wound Healing Center Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nuclear Medicine MRI 64-slice CT PACS and PET Scans Services Include: Cancer Care Critical Care Diagnostic Imaging Emergency Services Heart Care Laboratory Services Neurology Robotic Surgery Woman’s Pavilion
HEATHER J. MERRITT, MHRM HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
The pandemic has created a list of challenges and the hospital has recognized strengths and weaknesses that have emerged during the crisis. They have had to restrict some areas, create isolation units for COVID patients, provide outdoor testing, and protect employees and physicians during the pandemic. “This isn’t a sprint, it’s a full on marathon,” said Pennington. “COVID has made us all work more as a team. We rely more on each other both for emotional and spiritual support. It has made a cohesive team out of everyone.” Pennington also gives kudos to Ted Wynn, Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management for Bulloch County and Mayor Jonathan McCollar. “We are not an island,” said Pennington. “We are a community. We have received care packages from churches and restaurants. People can’t congregate so they come up with ways to be the church without being in the church.” Hospital volunteers had to leave with the pandemic but they still wanted to contribute. At Thanksgiving, they put together bags of food for families less fortunate and those affected by the virus through Pastor John Long’s Christian Light Ministry. “They exceeded the previous year’s donations with 301 bags,” said Pennington. “David Keene the president of our hospital authority leads, and we all pitch in, doctors, employees, and volunteers, who are always working to help us help others.” Having a regional medical center in the community has been an extraordinary resource for Bulloch County residents during the pandemic. EGRMC continues to serve patients safely delivering babies and preforming surgery throughout the crisis. To be part of creating a turn around with the virus, Pennington has some advice for readers going forward, “Stay positive, get a vaccination, wear a mask, wash your hands for 20 seconds, social distance, and be careful about large gatherings,” he said. “There are a lot of people who are at risk and who are susceptible, so be careful out there. But, know that we’re here to help if you need us.”
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THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED IMPACT ON FREIGHT. HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED PRODUCTION AT GREAT DANE IN STATESBORO?
As Covid-19 related city-wide lock downs happened, we saw some major customers impacted in their standard operations. One of our market segments within the refrigerated trailer industry is food service. Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on restaurants across the United States as State Governors enacted closures and restrictions. As a result, we saw a dramatic reduction in the demand for food service trailers last year however that demand has bounced back. AND, HOW HAS IT AFFECTED THE COMPANY OVERALL?
Overall, the company was also dramatically impacted with investment in new trailers diminished as the world waited for Covid-19 to subside. The new-normal includes restaurants coming up with unique opportunities to sell their product and safe transportation of their products, including the newly released Covid-19 vaccines. Overall, the company saw dramatic reductions last year, but that demand has dramatically rebounded.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GOODS TRANSPORT IS UP AS HIGH AS 85% FOR THIRD QUARTER 2020. DOES THIS MEAN THAT GREAT DANE HAS INCREASED PRODUCTION TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR TRAILERS TO TRANSPORT GOODS BEING ORDERED FROM CONSUMERS?
We too are seeing exceptional demand throughout Great Dane for our customizable trailers and have been hiring since November. We are looking to increase our headcount by almost 200 employees in the next three months. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS GREAT DANE STATESBORO’S GREATEST SUCCESS IN 2020?
The ability to adapt to a national pandemic by providing steadfast leadership to our employees, ensuring we communicated with them and consistently get their feedback to ensure we ease their fears and were responsive to the changing CDC guidelines while encouraging employees to take advantage of the masks we hand out daily, social distancing, increased sanitization and answering pre-screening questions daily to ensure everyone was working in a safe environment. Despite the pandemic, we had five employees qualify for a year of perfect attendance. We recognized 15 employees of the month. Although 2020 was exceptionally difficult due to Covid-19, our team responded to the challenge. Across the board, we achieved dramatic improvements in all of our metrics. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE?
Covid-19 most definitely has been our greatest challenge in 2020. Through it all, we continued to move ahead and produce transportation solutions to help our customers keep moving American industry moving forward. Our commitment to safety is our top priority, and we continue to Think Safety First to provide a safe environment for our workforce to do their job with confidence. We have a new challenge in 2021, which is to increase our production and hire a large number of employees to begin a second shift. This is an exciting challenge for us and the team. We have plenty of work to do, and solid career paths for those who are ready to start their journey with Great Dane. With growth, there is a lot of opportunities for our team members IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT 50,000 CLASS 8 TRUCKS HAVE BEEN ORDERED FOR NOVEMBER 2020. A RECORD. IS GREAT DANE PART OF THIS
HAVE YOU PARTNERED WITH ANY LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT? CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PARTNERSHIP?
We have partnered with Ogeechee Technical College and will offer a “Signing Day” event for all of those in high school who complete the Manufacturing Pathway in their schools and successfully meet employment prerequisites. Incentives will include a sign-on bonus, higher starting rate of pay, and many other benefits. When the plant first opened, Great Dane stated, “The Statesboro facility was designed and built to include breakthrough technologies, including the use of robotic welding, automated production processes, computer-controlled foaming operations and an optimized material-handling system for quality and efficiency.” Is this still accurate and has anything new been added or taken away from the manufacturing process? We have made numerous investments in the plant since it originally opened in 2012, which continuously improves our processes to meet the needs of our customers.
DEMAND FOR TRAILERS AND ARE YOU ABLE TO MEET THAT DEMAND?
In Statesboro specifically, we are confident in our ability to meet the demand and are rising to the challenge. What is your total number of employees in Statesboro? We should be around 500 employees once our recruitment activities have concluded.
ANY NEW GREEN INITIATIVES THIS YEAR?
We participate in many reduce, reuse and recycle programs including those for scrap metal, aluminum and computer components. WHAT ARE GREAT DANE’S PROJECTIONS OR EXPECTATIONS FOR 2021?
GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE PLANT’S STATISTICS. HOW MANY LINES ARE RUNNING? HOW MANY SHIFTS. HOW MANY TRAILERS ARE BEING PRODUCED ANNUALLY?
We build refrigerated trailers at this location. We are currently running on one shift but will be adding a 2nd shift by March and more than doubling our production. WHAT MODELS OF TRAILERS ARE YOU PRODUCING? EVEREST? TL MODEL REEFER? CL MODEL REEFER?
Under the Everest brand, we produce hundreds of customized trailers to meet the needs of our customers.
We anticipate doubling our production by the end of 2021 and ramping up levels of our staff including hourly employees and support teams. WHO IS ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM?
The majority of our leadership team is comprised of employees who have developed with leadership training courses, experience, and applied for opportunities within our company. We are proud of the fact that all of our shop floor supervisors are employees who began their career with us as assemblers, welders and quality inspectors.
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M
M-D Plastics JASON HARMON, GENERAL MANAGER
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-D Plastic’s manufacturing facility in Brooklet, Georgia, extrudes flexible, rigid, dual durometer profiles in plastics. They also manufacture foam weather stripping and high-quality sealing components for the door and window market. M-D Plastics is a subsidiary of M-D Building Products, Inc., a supplier of high quality custom engineered products for the construction industry. M-D Building Products is based in Oklahoma and manufactures flooring products, plumbing and pipe insulation, and window/door screens, among other items, through various locations nationwide. The products are marketed across the U.S., Canada and abroad. M-D Plastics division has six national plant locations. The one in Brooklet creates weatherization and threshold units. At the Brooklet plant, their mission is to provide quality plastic extrusions both efficiently and reliably. The extrusion of plastic means pellets of plastic are melted, forming a liquid, and are forced or pushed out through a mold or die, the shape of which the plastic then forms. “We are your one-stop source for plastic extrusion,” said Jason Harmon, general manager of the Brooklet plant. “We will create, finish, stock, and deliver your engineered product on your schedule. We will keep your custom dies on file and can deliver more of your product on-time, any-time.” M-D Plastics products are also sold at home improvement stores under their own brand. “You can walk into Lowe’s and find our products on a kiosk for sale to the general public,” said Harmon. During the first couple of quarantine months, April – July, of the pandemic in 2020, M-D Plastics saw a dip in demand for their products. “In August, the numbers started to climb,” said Harmon. “We’ve been busy and profitable since. It has helped us that we are diverse in our production.” It also helps that many families were stuck at home during an initial national “shut-down” phase of the virus and started to do home improvement projects while quarantined, increasing demand for the weatherization products. Harmon is part of a management team that has been in place for about two years. He has overseen capital investment in the plant and in equipment. But, he places the highest value on his employees. “Our corporate culture is employee centric,” said Harmon. “We believe in engaging our employees which creates higher retention and better personal connections.” The company’s core values of commitment, stewardship, communication, vision, and integrity foster loyalty, dependability, and accountability among the employees. The core values support creative problem solving, a long term focus, and a passion to succeed. Harmon takes the company culture out into the surrounding community by speaking to mechanical engineering classes at Georgia Southern, employing college interns, and doing special projects with students at the plant level. “We mainly have two goals,” said Harmon. “To keep our employees safe and to meet and beat the expectations of our customers. I believe M-D PLASTICS 75,000 sq. ft. Facility we will continue to be 100 Employees successful and profit40+ Acres for Expansion able it we do these two Services Include: things.” Custom Plastic Extrusion Custom Fabrication Custom Product Finishing Stock and Release Delivery Custom and Retail-Ready Packaging
Walmart
with employees each morning. “We have videos and do town hall meetings that way with smaller sessions,” said Garner. “We give our employees an eye full of leadership to keep them motivated.” Another way employees are engaged and retained is through community involvement. The Statesboro distribution center gives $32,000 back to the community each year through schools and charities. And provides $2.1 million in damaged freight to surrounding organizations like the animal shelter, the K-9 unit, the Hearts & Hands Clinic, and the Food Bank. Garner estimates there are 1,100 or so agencies affected by Walmart’s generosity. So many that there is an employee on staff dedicated to overseeing charitable donations. “Our employees also volunteer,” said Garner. “We donate volunteer hours to the community and Walmart provides grants to help with that.” Employees have been involved in the Ogeechee River clean-up, for example. “Every other month we volunteer,” Garner said. Those generous employees handle unloading, stacking, wrapping and reloading merchandise for eight he Walmart Distribution facility on A.J. Riggs Road has been operating as one of regional distribution centers in two states, Georgia Statesboro’s leading industries for over 25 years. The 2.2 million sq. ft. facility is and Florida. The Statesboro managed by a team that drives golf carts to keep up D.C. will be adding another with all the rows and rows of merchandise including WALMART DISTRIBUTION CENTER 6061 400 employees by the end of everything from freezers to diapers – anything you may see 1,000 Employees this year to keep up with the in the local Walmart when you shop. It would take walking Import Distribution Center. demand. a ½ mile to cover it on foot. Consists of a 2.2 million sq. ft. “Walmart is a great place “We peak every year between August and October,” said company owned facility and to work,” said Garner. “We a second 304,000 sq. ft. leased facility built Bill Garner the plant’s AGM who has been at #6061 for employ 68% female employin 1994. Started as a 1.7 million sq. ft. facility in three years. “We were loaded with Christmas merchandise 1995 and expanded by 500,000 sq. ft. in 1999. ees. We have more women last fall and we loaded 200 – 300 direct to store trailers per than men here working at day.” Intakes products from the Port of Savannah at any given time. We have That’s a lot of toys from a busy merchandise center that another compound located in Pooler that employs employees that started here must rival Santa’s Workshop. 250 people. Pallets are wrapped in Statesboro to part time as students at “Now we’re getting ready for spring,” said Garner. “We’re distribute bulk goods to regional Walmart D.C.s Georgia Southern who have getting in lawn furniture, grills, lawnmowers, and pools.” which then ship directly to the company’s stores. gone on to manage facilities The Statesboro location sorts all Walmart At this time last year, the distribution center saw a drop in other parts of the U.S. merchandise excluding clothing and food items. in shipping of 31%. We do everything we can to “We were still able to keep a full staff and needed more show our appreciation to our employees as the year progressed,” said Garner. “We had associates. We offer a family 700 employees at the beginning of 2020. By April we had environment with generations working here. We offer 738. We have now increased our employee pool to 1,000.” great wages. We had three quarter-based bonuses this Walmart draws employees from Bulloch and surrounding counties through job fairs and year. We value them and all they do. We could not do marketing. They haven’t experienced any employee anxiety at work because they follow what we do without them.” CDC guidelines to protect them. Missing are the large group pep rallies traditionally held
Distribution Center #6061 STANLEY WOODS, GENERAL MANAGER WILLIAM “BILL” GARNER, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
T
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Building Programs that Build Skills
OGEECHEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SPEARHEADS INNOVATIVE FULL ACCESS PROGRAM FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE
WRITTEN BY SAVANNAH KING, MANAGING EDITOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT
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anufacturing is, understandably, the backbone of economic development. Touching each industry in unique ways, manufacturers across the country need skilled workers to meet production demands. But where do manufacturers turn to build up their own talent pipelines? For that, they turn to local community colleges. For decades, community colleges across the country have partnered with local industry to produce the skilled talent needed to keep the country’s largest economic engine running smoothly. Though one of the smallest in the Technical College System of Georgia, Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) in Statesboro offers several game-changing programs to keep the sector’s talent pipeline full. Innovative programs like the Full Access Training Program offer the college’s local manufacturing partners full access to the college’s industrial maintenance training capabilities for a set annual fee. Launched in January 2020, the program was an instant hit – saving its partner companies more than $300,000. Additionally, the college us also the only in the state to be FANUC robotic training certified. Recently certified by FANUC America Corporation, the world leader in industrial robotics, as a FANUC Authorized Satellite Training (FAST) site, the college is one of only 4 in the United States and the only certified training site in the state of Georgia. We spoke with Jan Moore, Vice President of Economic Development at OTC, about how community colleges can benefit the local manufacturing workforce. CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN YOUR COLLEGE AND A LOCAL MANUFACTURER?
Moore: We work very closely with Briggs & Stratton. They are the world’s largest small engine producer, the No. 1 marketer for pressure washers, and a leading manufacturer of power generation, lawn and garden turf care and job site products. There are 600 employees in the Statesboro plant, which was named Georgia’s 2019 medium-sized Manufacturer of the Year. We also work closely with Koyo Bearings. Koyo is the JTEKT Corporation brand for bearings. JTEKT stands at the forefront as a technological leader in the world bearing industry. They have 450 employees ion their Sylvania plant, which was named the 2019 International Business of the Year by the World Trade Center of Savannah. Both companies are participants in the college’s Full Access Industrial Maintenance Training Program. HOW DID THOSE PARTNERSHIPS COME ABOUT?
Moore: Our region has a very robust industry group that has been meeting for more than 45 years. The group includes 19 manufacturers and 14 regional stakeholders. They share information with one another, seek solutions that will benefit the industry sector as a whole and work as a group with the college to determine training needs throughout the region. That relationship has resulted in the development of unique training programs being offered by the college to its industry partners. These programs are unique to the state of Georgia and include the following: • Full Access Industrial Maintenance Training Program (Nonaca-
demic): Participating industries receive full access to the college’s nonacademic industrial systems (maintenance) training programs, including apprenticeships, Fast Track comprehensive industrial maintenance training program, and short courses in electrical, mechanical, motor controls, fluid power, and Programmable Logic controllers. Companies are billed a flat annual fee and are not limited to the amount of training their employees receive. • Manufacturing Engineering Technology Assistant 1 (META1) and Manufacturing Engineering Technology Assistant 2 (META 2) (Academic): Manufacturing engineering technology graduates assist engineers to design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices including tools, engines, and machines. • FANUC Fast Site Robotics Training Lab (Nonacademic and Academic.
“Technical colleges should be the backbone of workforce development for advanced manufacturers. Working together as a group with your technical college can literally produce remarkable game-changing results.” – Jan Moore, Vice President of Economic Development at OTC
WHAT SHOULD COMPANIES UNDERSTAND ABOUT PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS LIKE OTC TO FULL THEIR WORKFORCE PIPELINE?
Moore: Companies should look at a comprehensive strategy when establishing pipelines to meet their workforce needs and commit to that strategy. Upskilling your existing employees via a comprehensive training program is one of those strategies that is proving to be more and more successful. Companies should also consider their succession planning needs when working with a college. Technical colleges should be the backbone of workforce development for advanced manufacturers. Working together as a group with your technical college can literally produce remarkable game-changing results. S
January/February 2021
Reprinted by Permission from Site Selection Magazine Workforce 2021 Issue c. 2020 by Conway Data, Inc.
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Find your new best friend today! YOUR SUPPORT MEANS A LOT TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR PETS. The Humane Society of Statesboro & Bulloch County, Inc., (HSSBC) is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)3 animal welfare organization that works to end the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals in Bulloch County through its rescue program and its spay/neuter program. The HSSBC does not receive any funding from local government agencies nor national societies for its activities. All services are provided through donations. The Humane Society rescues adoptable pets and works to place animals in loving foster homes, with some adoptable cats temporarily housed at the local Petco store. The Humane Society of Statesboro and Bulloch County’s mission is to end the pet overpopulation in the area through adoption, spaying and neutering, and education. It is only affiliated with the Bulloch County Animal Shelter in an effort to encourage the adoption of animals temporarily housed there. The ultimate goal of the Humane Society is to make Bulloch County a “nokill” community. With a philosophy which includes the belief that companion animals improve the physical and psychological lives of their humans and that each pet deserves a loving home with adequate food, water,
shelter, preventative and veterinary care, and companionship. The Society is in need of volunteers to help at monthly adoption events and at the ReTails thrift store which benefits the program. Volunteers also play an important role as temporary foster parents for cats or dogs in the Humane Society’s care. In addition to volunteering, the Humane Society welcomes donations of gently used items for ReTails and supplies such as dog & cat food, leashes & collars, cat litter (non-clumping), wire crates, gift cards to PetCo, Wal-Mart, Tractor Supply, Anderson’s General Store, etc. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. Humane Society meetings are open to everyone and are held the first Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the Adoption Center beside ReTails, in Downtown Statesboro. Check the Society’s Facebook page for updates on meeting times during COVID-19 @ The Humane Society of Statesboro & Bulloch County, Inc.
Shop & Drop! Every purchase made at ReTails benefits the Society’s rescue and spay/neuter programs and saves local animals. ReTails sells clothing, household and decorative items, furniture, sporting goods, books, media and more. Donations of gently-used items are greatly appreciated & are tax deductible.
ReTails Thrift Store
Wednesday - Friday: Noon – 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closed: Sunday – Tuesday 105 N. College Street, Statesboro, GA 30458 912-489-6376 retailsthrift@gmail.com Please wear a mask, social distance, and follow the shopping flow patterns while in the shop.
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new year, new you!
WE LIVE HERE
newyear, newyou! Whether you believe in keeping a New Year’s resolution or not, the start of a new year is always an opportune time for a new beginning and instilling new habits that’ll lead to a healthier, more fulfilling day-to-day life. To help you have a fresh start in 2021 (especially after the year we’ve all had), Statesboro Magazine has partnered with medical teams, body slimming and skin rejuvenation therapy systems, pharmacies and a local wellness and chiropractic center to bring you the latest in fitness and wellness advice. Together with our community wellness partners featured here, we have come up with a few tips and product suggestions so you’ll have everything you need to reach your fitness goals, stay healthy and be energized throughout the coming year.
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WE LIVE HERE
new year, new you!
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1. TAKE FIVE DEEP BREATHS America is one of the most stressed countries globally - 55% of us report feeling stressed out each day. Our simple tips to stay healthy start with our most basic bodily function. Deep breathing causes a physical reaction within our body; it activates the parasympathetic nervous system to calm our minds. If you find yourself stuck in a stressful or anxiety-inducing situation, one of our favorite mental wellness tips is to stop and take five deep breaths. Breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 5, and breathe out for 5. 2. APPLY THE 2-MINUTE RULE Procrastination is not just the rite of passage for distracted college students - we all procrastinate in our day to day lives, putting off little tasks that pile on each other quickly. An easy way to be more productive is the simple 2-minute rule. If you have a task you can finish in less than two minutes, do it right now. It’s a great way to knock out most everyday chores in a short time and feel productive, which multiplies into more productivity. Break large tasks into smaller increments, and commit to just two minutes at a time. 3. PRACTICE 5 MINUTES OF MEDITATION Emotional wellness tips that incorporate meditation foster the brain-body connection. People who regularly meditate permanently change their brains; grey matter volume increases, and stress levels reduce. Adding another item onto the list of daily healthy things to
do can feel overwhelming on busy days, so make a small commitment to meditate for just 5 minutes a day. 4. START A BEDTIME ROUTINE YOU CAN STICK TO A lot of us struggle to turn off our minds before sleep. Our daily wellness tips include starting a wind-down bedtime routine doing things you enjoy so that you’ll want to stick with it. Remove the digital screens at least an hour before bed, and read, do some yoga, take a bath, journal, or relax in whatever way you see fit. Start at the same time every evening, and your body will recognize the pattern and start getting into sleep mode so that you sleep more soundly through each night. 5. WAKE UP CONSISTENTLY Humans are animals by nature, who reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and regular sleep pattern. One of our ways to wellness is to set an alarm for the same time every morning, regardless of schedule. Sleeping in can be tempting, but it’s not worth the potential struggle to fall asleep at your regular bedtime the next night. 6. EAT MORE PLANTS AND LESS MEAT We’re not suggesting a completely vegan or vegetarian diet
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if that’s not for you. Try adding a few entirely plant-based meals into your week to get a hefty dose of vitamins, minerals, and lean proteins without the saturated animal fats. 8. BALANCE YOUR MEALS The best way to eat for weight loss and sustained energy is by eating a big breakfast, medium lunch, and small dinner around 6:00 p.m. Eating a big breakfast gives you energy for the day and satisfies hunger cravings. Your metabolism functions best in the morning upon waking and slows down through the day, working at its slowest in the evening. 9. INCORPORATE MINDFULNESS In a nutshell, mindfulness is focusing on the present
instead of running internal dialogue about the past or the future. Being mindful throughout the day can help to relieve stress and improve emotional intelligence. Using mindfulness is one of the best wellness tips for today because you can practice it during any task - even washing the dishes can be done mindfully. Focusing on the sensations of the present moment can put our worries into perspective. 10. START A GRATITUDE JOURNAL One of our easiest mental health wellness tips focuses on daily reminders to show gratitude for our blessings. Buy a notebook, write down three things each day you’re grateful for and practice being thankful. Repeat tomorrow. Your gratitude will begin to change the way you feel about life’s challenges leading to a more rewarding and affective spiritual journey for you and your loved ones. S
FINAL NOTES: HEALTHY LIVING AND WELLNESS ADVICE Try our small, achievable tips or create your own. Keep the goals small, monitor them often, and reassess as you progress. Instead of beating yourself up if you fail, accept that you’re a human and adjust the goal. Happy living is much closer than you think. We wish for 2021 to be your best year yet, without the pressure of impossible-to-achieve resolutions!
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women in business
Women in BUSINESS S
tatesboro Magazine’s Women in Business celebrates the success and achievements of women across the area’s diverse business community. Women who have truly excelled, not only in their professional lives but also as leaders and role models within their communities. While many of these women come from different industries and walks of life, they share several traits — a strong sense of self, a success-driven work ethic, creative energy, the ability to lead, and the generosity to give back to their community. 48 statesboromagazine.com
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Women-owned businesses continue to be the shining light of economic development in today’s broader marketplace. According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, female entrepreneurs generate $2.3 trillion to the American economy and employ more than 18 million people. We’re proud to shine a spotlight on some of the outstanding women in our area who demonstrate their business acumen by being an important part of Statesboro’s overall economy. The mission at Statesboro Magazine has always been to showcase the very best that our area has to offer, which means helping to create a business friendly environment by bringing leaders together and showcasing their outstanding attributes and contributions. We believe their commitment, vision and talents make them true leaders in their chosen fields. We salute these 2021 Women in Business!
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The best business advice I ever received was: Teamwork makes the dream work.
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What is your ‘why’?
I wanted to offer quality medical care and also give back to the community. Statesboro has become my home and opening a business gives me an opportunity to give back and serve my community.
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UP MARKET MEDIA, INC. Sharon Persinger, President | Hayden LaTulip, Client Success Manager
100 BRAMPTON AVE | SUITE 2 F-B. STATESBORO, GA 30458 | 912.536.4898 | UPMARKETMEDIA.NET Years in Business: 7 years | We are a full-service marketing agency, focusing on online solutions. We use quantifiable insights, industry knowledge, and our valuable expertise to increase our clients’ bottom line.
Honors & Awards: Most Fabulous Marketing Agency 2019 & 2020 Statesboro Magazine Fabulist Awards, Best Local
Marketing/Design Team 2019 Discovering Bulloch Awards, Best Brand/Marketing Strategist 2018 Connect Best Choice Awards
Tools of the trade: A team mentality, perseverance, planning, a competitive drive, continued education, ability to read and understand data, and communication skills. Our mission is: To simplify the marketing
process, while helping our clients get the best return on their advertising investment.
The best business advice I ever received was: (Sharon) Don’t take every job that comes
your way. Making sure the client is the right fit for us is vital to a beneficial and longlasting relationship. | (Hayden) My former colleague always stressed the importance of communication in the workplace. Knowing what to say, and when and how to say it, makes a huge difference in any work environment.
We stay involved in the community by: Everyone on our team at UP Market
has their own way of staying involved in the community - we are all passionate about contributing to our community. Being socially and philanthropically involved in the community where we live, work and play is so important to all of us. Sharon is currently a board member with Habitat for Humanity of Bulloch County, and both of us are members of the Statesboro Jaycees. We also contribute our services for various non-profits as we are able. Cool fact about Hayden - she’s also a member of the Ogeechee Beekeeper Association.
Our biggest strength is: Making sure our number one asset, our clients, feel as important as they are, maintaining transparent
and honest communication with them, and staying organized to keep our collective goals on track. Our strength as the team at UP Market Media is in our differences—when we come together and share our ideas with each other, we produce the best strategies.
Our biggest accomplishment is: Achieving Google Partner status. This is a huge honor for our “small” agency. Achieving Partner status means that we have demonstrated Google Ads skill and expertise, met Google ad spend requirements, delivered company agency and client revenue growth, and sustained and grown our client base. Given that many of our clients don’t have huge advertising budgets, this means that we have to make sure we’re doing our best to get our clients a positive return on every dollar invested.
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Word of wisdom I/we would offer other women in business: (Sharon) Don’t sell yourself short. Educating people on your strengths and touting your successes is important in helping educate others on what you can contribute. Use rejection as the opportunity to learn, regroup, and grow your abilities. And most of all, support each other! | (Hayden) Your voice and expertise is important and valuable. Never be afraid to speak up!
What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned in your career? (Sharon) Don’t
try to do everything yourself. Giving people the power to contribute to the success of the organization, and celebrating the successes is incredibly motivating. And, communication is key. | (Hayden) As a leader, respect can never be bought. It can only be earned through honesty, leading by example, and by showing respect to those you are leading.
What are some strategies that can help women achieve a more prominent role in their organizations?
Keep track of how your work has benefited your company directly: time saved due to the new process you created, number of clients you brought on board, sales this quarter, etc. Hard data could be the final push you need to get that promotion. (It also looks great on a resume!)
(Hayden)
What is your ‘why’? (Sharon) I started UP Market because I wanted to help small and medium sized businesses succeed by helping business owners better understand and utilize online marketing solutions. I love working with people who are passionate about serving others and creating a better world for all of us.
SOUTHERN CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTER Dr. Amy Kitching, DC, Doctor of Chiropractic, Owner
116 SAVANNAH AVENUE | STATESBORO, GA 304588 | 912.243.9200 | SOUTHERNCHIRODC.COM Years in Business: 25+ years | We are here to improve and maintain the overall health of our patients and have designed our business model to be a “one stop shop” for a patient on their wellness journey. We offer complete Chiropractic Care, Medical Massage, Acupuncture, Hypberbaric Oxygen Therapy, and so much more.
Honors & Awards: Athletic Hall of Fame – Gymnastics, Valley City State College My mission/motto is: Provide the best patient care possible. I treat my patients like they are my family, and I always want my family to be well taken care of so I do the same for my patients. I/we stay involved in the community by… We are heavily
involved in supporting the veteran community and providing services to our veterans with chiropractic care. We also founded Bulloch County AntiBullying & First Responder Day. We have put this event on for 3 years now and are focused on bringing awareness to preventing bullying, and also, to be there for our First Responders. We are also strong supporters of our schools in the community. When time allows, I also help sew costumes and work with the theatrical productions for Statesboro High School Drama Department, the music department and the Averitt Center for the Arts.
Our/My biggest strength is:
The ability to focus on Long Range planning. Also, providing education & empowerment to the 17 women who work at Southern Chiropractic & Wellness Center to be the best they can be. I am the biggest cheerleader to my team and I encourage them every day to push themselves and achieve their goals. If there is anything I can to do help them, I am always there and am so proud of them!
My/Our biggest accomplishment is: Restoring 116
Savannah Avenue to the beautiful building it once was in our downtown community. I have looked at that building for years and it has always been my dream to open a Chiropractic & Wellness center there. It truly is a dream come true!
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WE LIVE HERE
buzz worthy bites
You Never Know One Day What the Next Day Will Bring WRITTEN BY LAZAR BROWN OGLESBY
2
020 was pretty much the pits. COVID 19 started the trend and the year ended with an election whose results, no matter the outcome, surely made half of the American people anxious and bitter. How did we get to this place? I can’t answer that question. The challenges run deeper than I care to go in my friendly food column. I can tell you there is hope and there are still plenty of good people out there. I closed my restaurant in early March amid growing concern for the safety of my family, staff, and customers. The day we closed I knew in my heart we would not return to Honey Cafe in the same capacity as the previous 8 years. I shut down all operations for two whole weeks: no restaurant, no catering, no casseroles, no cheesecakes, and no worries. Those were the best days! I fished, sunbathed, read books, and cooked. I explored dirt roads, and walked paved roads by pecan orchards, old barns, across railroad tracks and river bridges. I recalled what life was all about. Upon my return to work and a new normal, I restructured my business to allow more time for all of the little things I no longer had time to enjoy pre-COVID-19. I focused on catering and wholesale of Honey’s specialty products like casseroles, chicken salad, pimento cheese, and of course cheesecakes. Life eventually resumed the same chaotic pace as before. I can’t say I didn’t have a hand in creating the rat race I tried to avoid. As an entrepreneur it is only natural to desire growth and exciting adventures. On a particularly rotten day in August, I was stressed with typical small business problems. How would I get it all done? Where was all my help when I needed them? Would I be able to keep my business afloat without the revenue my restaurant once created? I knew I was being a “pill”, but I could not seem to bring myself out of the pits of despair. My cell phone started ringing in the midst of the chaos. The number was one I did not recognize. I answered with a sharp, “Hello?” I wanted my greeting to sting the caller’s ear as I knew it had to be a telemarketer trying to sell me an extended warranty for my car or some zealot trying to implore me to vote for their particular candidate. Much to my surprise the sweetest voice replied to my “Hello.” I immediately took notice. Her voice was the kind that can only be mellowed by years of wisdom and kindness. The voice belonged to Mrs. Dorsie, as she introduced herself. She then asked if she could share a scripture from the Bible with me. I acquiesced with a tremor in my voice. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 When Mrs. Dorsie read those words, it was if God had “snatched a knot” in me Himself. My caller I.D. could have very well said The Heavenly Father. I needed the reprimand and words of hope that were shared. 52 statesboromagazine.com
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MRS. DORSIE’S RED VELVET CAKE INGREDIENTS:
2 c. Sugar 2 c. Crisco Oil 2 Eggs 2 oz. Red Food Coloring 1 tsp. Vinegar 2 ½ c. Cake Flour 1 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder 1 tsp. Salt 1 c. Buttermilk 1 tsp. Vanilla ICING:
1 stick butter 1 8 oz. block softened Cream Cheese 1 lb. Powdered Sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla ½ c. Pecans PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 350°. Cream sugar and oil together until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add food coloring and vinegar. Combine all dry ingredients and sift 8 times. (Mrs. Dorsie says this is the secret). Add dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately to red mixture and mix until combined. Add vanilla and mix. Grease three 8 or 9 inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool completely. Cream softened cream cheese and butter. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Beat until combined. Ice cake and sprinkle with roasted pecans. I doubled the recipe for icing because the icing is my favorite part!
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WE LIVE HERE
buzz worthy bites
PAULA DEEN’S RED VELVET CUPCAKES INGREDIENTS:
1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix 1 c. Sour Cream 1 (4 oz.) box Instant Chocolate Pudding ½ c. Water ½ c. Vegetable Oil 3 Eggs 1 (12 oz.) can Cream Cheese Icing PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 350°. Place all ingredients except icing in a stand mixer bowl. Beat at low speed for 1 minute and then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Line 24 muffin tins with paper cups and fill 2/3 with batter. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool completely and spread icing on cupcakes. Top with sprinkles of chopped nuts.
Mrs. Dorsie explained it was her ministry to call random numbers and share the good word. I asked if she would call my husband and she said, “Yes.” and so began a quick friendship of daily calls and conversations about scripture and life. I knew I had to tell Mrs. Dorsie’s story because sometimes the folks you never hear about are the true heroes and angels on this earth. Mrs. Dorsie is a native of Emanuel County. She was one of eight children and quickly realized she loved to follow the command, “Obey your parents and you will live a long life,” Ephesians 6:1. She married later in life and came to live with her husband near Cooperville. She began her phone ministry when COVID kept her from spreading the word in person. When asked why she chose this ministry she says, “because of my love for Jehovah and people”. She calls ten 54 statesboromagazine.com
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or more people each day. The numbers are selected through a random Google search. She also writes letters of encouragement to unsuspecting patrons with her sister. I made the drive one Friday afternoon before Christmas to Screven County to visit Mrs. Dorsie and take her picture. She navigated me down a dirt lane and through a field flanked by the homes of various family members. She was cooking an early supper of fried catfish because cooking some type of fish is her Friday tradition. We had a lovely talk about her faith as a Jehovah Witness and my faith as a Christian. Turns out we are not all that different. Our love for people is a common thread. I asked Mrs. Dorsie to share a recipe for “Buzz Worthy Bites.” Cooking for her husband each day is one of her love languages. As most good cooks will confess, they don’t cook from recipes they cook from the heart. Her voice perked up as she talked about a red velvet cake recipe she bakes for her grandson. I have included her recipe below along with a red velvet cupcake recipe I have used for years by Paula Deen. The recipes are similar, but I think we can all learn that we have more in common than we realize, and even slight differences can be a good thing. Open your heart because you never know who is calling or what they might say. S
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WE LIVE HERE
true blue gs
A New Business? In the New Year? In the New Normal? WRITTEN BY DOY CAVE
I
’m fully aware the new year is a time for new resolutions, new endeavors and a new lease on life. But for 2021, the only “new” thing I can presently imagine is trying to get a “new” view of my living room by sitting on the “other” side of the couch. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still hopeful we’ll get back to the “old normal” sometime soon, but for now, my kids still pop up like meerkats every time I leave the house. “Where are you going? And may we, too, venture out of doors with you, father?” “I’m just going to the post office.” “The outside world! Huzzah!” Knowing that my family, and families all over Bulloch County, are staying home more often than not, I was surprised to find an article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website suggesting it’s a great time to start a business — right now. To say that I was skeptical would be akin to saying one gets damp during a hurricane. 56 statesboromagazine.com
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I contacted Dominique Halaby, DPA, director of the Business Innovation Group at the Georgia Southern University Parker College of Business, to see if this was a bit of overzealous propaganda from the Chamber. To my surprise, he agreed with them. “[The pandemic] is creating new opportunities,” he said. “It is a disruption in the economic environment. But when you have that degree of disruption, it creates opportunities and those that are most nimble and flexible are able to capitalize on it.” So if your resolution this year includes pulling the trigger on a new business venture in these unprecedented times, here are a few tips to keep in mind: PASSION VS. MARKET
Halaby says the first thing to understand when starting a business is the difference between your passion for a service or product and having a viable market for it. Market research is key to launching a business — during a pandemic or not. “Passion can only get you so far,” said Halaby. “Do your customers share that passion? Is there a demand for your goods or your services? The market has to drive the demand for your products, not your own personal connection.” This means the difference between actually selling your homemade-secret-recipe cupcakes or having to eat every last one of them in the next week before they spoil...which I wouldn’t mind attempting. KNOW THY CUSTOMER
Closely connected to market research is getting to know your ideal customer. What do they want? What do they need? Halaby says to truly understand your customer’s needs is an art form that takes work to get right because the customer may not always know what he or she really needs. Henry Ford is often credited as saying, “If I’d listened to my customers, I would’ve created faster horses.” “It’s a delicate balance to really understand what the customers are saying,” said Halaby. “Not just what they’re telling you, but really interacting and understanding and hearing that dynamic — the ability to read between the lines to say, ‘Okay, this is what they’re driving toward,’ and then taking from that and crafting a product or service that will satisfy that need.”
MEET THE BBWH OWNERS WHO ARE READY TO SERVE YOU BRYAN R. BURKE - CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PARTNER | BRAD POWELL - PRESIDENT, PARTNER
ASHLEY H. ELLIS - EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PARTNER | JIM GRINDLER - VICE PRESIDENT/SALES, PARTNER WES POWELL - PERSONAL LINES MANAGER, PARTNER | RUSSELL MATHIS - NEW SALES MANAGER, PARTNER
THE DIGITAL NEW NORMAL
Once you’ve identified your market and honed in on your customer, Halaby said entrepreneurs need to understand that an online presence is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity. “For a lot of small businesses, this has really been a wake-up call,” said Halaby. “Where before they figured they could get by with just face-to-face interaction or taking out a few local ads or getting word of mouth out on a local level, now, the pandemic has actually spotlighted the need for companies to have that digital presence and really think about how you engage with your customers.” He says where business owners might have ignored Facebook or Google or Yelp reviews before, they now realize they can have a critical impact even in a small market like Statesboro. B BUSINESS Halaby says starting a business isn’t for the faint of heart, but there B BENEFITS are great opportunities out there for the brave entrepreneurs ready to start a new venture in 2021. And for all those entrepreneurs who have W WORKERS COMP B BUSINESS questions, they can visit the Business Innovation Group offices in B BENEFITS H HOME & AUTO W WORKERS COMP Downtown Statesboro to access business consulting, research, fundH HOME & AUTO P.O. Box 877 | Statesboro, GA 30459 ing, training and more — or visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/BIG. P.O. Box 877 | Statesboro, GA 30459 912.764.9602 | fax 912.764.2695 912.764.9602 WAY | fax 912.764.2695 In the meantime, you’ll find me at home...moving all the furniture 1208 MERCHANT | STATESBORO, GA 30459 PHONE: 912.764.9602 | FAX 912.764.2165 around...trying to create my own “new normal.” S
B B W H
P.O. Box 877 | Statesboro, GA 30 912.764.9602 | fax 912.764.269
®
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January/February 2021
BUS BEN WO HOM
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garden variety
Photos L to R: Japanese maples at the Botanic Garden properly planted high with organic material away from trunks. The overmulched shrub in foreground showing branch die-back and leaf drop. Shrub in background will soon look the same. ive oak suffering from volcano mulching. Note branch die-back on top.
Too Much Mulch WRITTEN BY CAROLYN ALTMAN
L
et’s say you find that perfect shrub or tree for your garden. You pay good money, dig a nice hole, and settle your beautiful new baby into the ground at just the right height, a little higher than the surrounding plane of your lawn. Then, because you care, you mulch, and because you care a lot, you mulch some more. As a loving steward, you fend off lawn mowers and weed eaters by throwing on even more mulch as a barricade. As time goes on, you pile more mulch up against the trunk to keep things looking neat and because who knows when it will rain, and mulch is supposed to help with moisture retention. You work hard and mean well, but unfortunately your love and attention may actually be dooming the very plant you are trying to help. Over-mulching, or volcano mulching as we in the plant world call it, might at first seem like it makes sense. After all, wood chips or shredded bark comes from trees, so it must be good for them, right? Well, as I often suggest, consider the situation from the tree’s point of view. Imagine that you, barefooted and bare legged, were buried to mid-calf in sand at the beach. At first, it feels fine, maybe even a little cool and refreshing. But after a while, the sand and salt water irritate, and the constant moisture and lack of air starts to damage tissue. Stay planted long enough, and the results would not be pretty. The same thing happens to a plant. In nature, buildup on the ground happens away from the trunk of a tree, out under the branches, and consists of diverse materials that buffer each other and 58 statesboromagazine.com
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moderate the chemical composition of the mulch. These materials fall to the ground one leaf and twig at a time, layering with air to make a light mulch that ultimately breaks down into valuable nutrients, which are then taken up by the plant. Not so with volcano mounds. Pine bark, shredded bark, and pine straw, our most common mulches, are uniform and extremely acidic. When we pile them deeply and densely against a trunk, the mulch suffocates roots and traps moisture. The moisture destroys protective bark and other essential tree tissue and attracts insects. In peril, the plant will try to save itself, and those attempts are the clues that you’ve over-mulched. Branch tips, then whole branches will die back, and leaves will become sparse as the tree jettisons parts of itself in order to survive. Pull back some of the mulch and see if your plant is trying to send out new roots along its buried trunk. You might also see new shoots off the trunk just above the mulch. Basically, the plant is trying to create the parts it needs to breathe and survive. At this point it’s a race, since the trunk will be rotting faster than healing, and generally what the gardener will notice is slow decline and ultimately death. Usually the solution to gardening problems are complicated, but this one is simple. Your protective instincts are good. A two-to four-inch layer of organic mulch (as opposed to stones, rubber and gravel) conserves soil moisture, improves soil structure as it decomposes, protects from temperature extremes, and protects from those mowers and trimmers by suppressing weed growth. How you mulch matters. With a new planting, begin the mulch away from root flare, which is the swollen area on the trunk below which the roots begin to spread. There should be at least five or more bare inches around the entire trunk with no mulch. It is possible to try to rescue volcanoed trees and shrubs. With a trowel or your hands, carefully pull the mulch back to the root flare. You can spread that mulch out in a much broader circle two to four inches deep around the tree all the way to the drip line, leaving the trunk free. By doing so, you’ll be giving the tree all the love you’d intended, just in a healthier, more manageable way. Your tree will love you for it. S
WISHING YOU AND YOURHome FAMILY A New Year. New WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A Season HAPPY & HEALTHY Holiday to a Fresh New Start in 2021! WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A WISHINGCheers YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A Season WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A WISHING HAPPY & HEALTHY Holiday WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A
PPY & HEALTHY Holiday HAPPY Season & HEALTHY Holiday Season Holiday Season © HAPPY & HEALTHY HEALTHY HAPPY & HEALTHY Holiday Season Good to know. HAPPY & Holiday Season Everett Kennedy
Everett Kennedy “When Experience E Q D Counts” Everett Kennedy Everett Kennedy BERKSHIRE Everett Kennedy Everett Kennedy “When Experience Counts” Everett Kennedy
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1000 Bermuda Run Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 1000 Bermuda Run Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 BHHSKennedyRealty.com 1000 Bermuda Run Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 1000 Bermuda Run Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 ekennedy@bh hskennedy rea ltGA y.c30458 om 1000 Bermuda Run Road, Statesboro, © BHHSKennedyRealty.com
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the spiritual pathway
Comm(unity) WRITTEN BY REV. DR. H. WILLIAM PERRY
I
t is easy for us to get comfortable with the way things are and stick with them even when another way would be better. I remember when that truth came crashing down on me. I was in my last semester of graduate school, taking my last class, when a young man ten or twelve years younger than I, asked the professor where the left-handed desks were. The professor assured the student he would have one for him the next day. After class I walked up to the teacher and said I’d like a left-handed desk too. Sure enough, the next day there were two left-handed desks in the classroom. I was astonished. I had been in school most of my life: twelve years in public school, four years in college, three years in seminary, and was in my third year working on my doctorate. I had never even heard of a left-handed desk. All those years I had been making do with desks that were not designed to accommodate me. For decades I had sat in desks taking notes with no place to put my left elbow. It just hung off the side of the desk as I wrote. I tried and 60 statesboromagazine.com
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tried to adjust to a desk that was made for people like me: left-handers. But I couldn’t. So after a few days I abandoned that desk and moved back to a right-handed one. Old habits are hard to break. My experience in that classroom is insignificant when compared to matters of the heart and spirit. We become comfortable with attitudes and habits that are damaging. Why don’t we move out of our comfort zone and make efforts to correct such matters? Two men had a falling out. They were competitors in business, and something happened that made them enemies. The problem was complicated by the fact that they were both active in the same church. They still remained involved in their church but they sat on opposite sides during worship and never spoke to each other. The other members watched them, and in their minds even took sides. After a couple of years something dramatic happened. The pastor preached on unity and overcoming differences, and during the singing of the last hymn one of the men moved out of his pew, walked across the front of the sanctuary to the other side, walked to the pew where the other man stood, reached across to the man with an open hand, and the two shook hands. The other man moved out of his pew into the aisle and the two embraced. The people present that morning gasped, then clapped. What a difference that made in the church and community. We can become so comfortable with the status-quo. That’s why one of my prayers is that God would take us out of our comfort zones to do what is difficult but necessary. Only then can we become what God desires and bring unity in the community. S
SHOWCASING OUR COMMUNITY TO THE WORLD!
$980 MM TOTAL MANUFACTURING OUTPUT (2019)* *
BRIGGS & STRATTON • VIRACON GREAT DANE TRAILERS BRODIE INTERNATIONAL • VIRACON HYPOTENUSE, INC. • BRASWELL’S WALMART DISTRIBUTION THE SACK COMPANY • M-D PLASTICS GAF • W.L. PLASTICS • G.H. TOOL & MOLD
ADVANTAGEBULLOCH.COM | DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF BULLOCH COUNTY January/February 2021
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WE LIVE HERE
the view from here
Emma “Revisited” WRITTEN BY RIC MANDES
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T
he Lights are low. Conversation drifts in and out. Couples lean toward each other. Lonely men at the bar search the crowd for something they’ll never find...a face smiling back. The bartender wipes the mahogany one more time. Music completes the scene. Music fulfilling. Music that lifts the pain from the lonely. That adds to the couples’ leaning. Quietly the piano player, a lady in her mid-sixties, begins to sing. Sultry. Low at first. Everyone listens. She is quite something. Her eyes are closed. Her fingers trace the keys as Van Gogh his oils, with a touch, classical. Soon her mastery and its magic surround the lounge, the lonely, the loving... The singer, the pianist. The music of the evening is the one and only Emma Kelly. Wherever she plays becomes quality. The room fills with thrills. The very air becomes Broadway. Emma. Emma. How many know you? Thousands. Your music for over three decades has graced lounges, such as this one. Has brought joy to weddings, parties, church meetings, Boy Scout jamborees. Name it. She’s played it. She is magnificent. One fan calls her the John Wayne of music. “There ain’t nothin’ Emma can’t do when it comes to the piano.” Another, a retired soldier, said, “She played for us when we had no one. She’d come to the base and sing. And we’d sing with her. She’d be our home and heart.” If the hundreds of little girls and boys Emma has accompanied at dance recitals could be found, they would say. “She put magic at our feet. When we saw Miss Emma across the stage lights... we knew we were safe. If we messed up, she’d stay with us and dot out or mistakes.” Her music epitomizes the very light within her. God blessed her with a talent she has given back in life every one of her days. She and George had ten children. They reared them right. Each graduated from high school and all but one from college. Emma was a pianist. George a sign painter. Together they provided a home of love and security. Music by the grace of God and Emma was their life. She encouraged them to join in. Play an instrument. Sing. Dance. “I loved to have my children with me when I performed.” Music still is her life. This very day, she will drive to Lyons, Georgia, for a dance recital, make a quick trip back through Statesboro to play for Rotary, and then, on to Savannah for an evening with the loving, the lonely. She is an institution. She has lived in South Georgia all her life. Her music---forty years of it---lives throughout the world. Florence, Italy. The bridge, Ponte Vecchio: one of the walkways across the river. It is lined with gift stands. Stopping to admire one of the many treasures that lure the tourists, I heard a gentleman to my left say, in clear American, “Let’s get this one for Emma, honey, she’ll love it.” I mean the world. She is revered by mothers of little dancers. She is remembered by soldier boys far from home. Her music is the face that smiles at the lonely...That gathers closely the couples... that is the final hymn at church rallies. Emma, oh, you wonderful woman. Write her, c/o Statesboro... Let’s give her an encore. S
WE LIVE HERE
look around
Statesboro Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting Thursday, December 10, 2020 | 11:30 a.m. Hosted by Whitfield Sign Company, West District Guest Speaker: Georgia Southern Athletic Director Jarrod Benko | Guest Speaker: Honorable Senator Billy Hickman 2020 Business Leader of the Year: Randy Childs, CEO Ranco Event Rentals & Ranco Response. 2020 Business of the Year: East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Stephen Pennington, CEO. Chamber Champions: Core Credit Union, Lee, Hill & Johnston Insurors & Pioneer Design Chamber Spirit Award: DeWayne Grice of Grice Connect
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WE LIVE HERE
transitions When You Need The Strength of A Family
Curt Deal
Funeral Director
Jake Futch
912.764.5683 | WWW.DEALFUNERALDIRECTORS.COM Family Owned & Operated
Funeral Director
Mr. H.C. “Bud” Abbott 10.16.20
Mr. Johnny Leon Dixon 11.22.20
Mr. Johnny Beamon Johnson 11.28.20
Mr. Anthony Frank “Tony” Pugliano 10.12.20
Mr. Darrell “Pete” Aldrich 11.16.20
Mrs. Juanita Epps Durden 09.29.20
Mrs. Ethel Udell Jones 10.08.20
Rev. Frank Lewis Roberts 10.05.20
Mr. Arthur Barefoot 09.28.20
Mrs. Ethel Lee Wright Williams Ellis 09.25.20
Mr. Tom Keel, Jr. 10.08.20
Mr. Craig Henry Roell, Ph.D. 11.11.20
Mr. Ray Clifford “Buddy” Beasley, Jr. 10.27.20
Mrs. Sandra Akins Ellwood 10.13.20
Mr. William Lanier 11.13.20
Mrs. Bonnie Lanier Rushing 10.23.20
Mr. Donald Gary “Don” Berry 11.05.20
Mr. Tyler Keith Finch 11.14.20
Mrs. Lenora May Rivers Lee 11.17.20
Mrs. Lillie Idora Eason Sampson 10.11.20
Mr. George William Blackburn, Jr. 10.07.20
Mrs. Mary Kim Willard Freeman 11.14.20
Mr. Walter Alan Lordeen 10.06.20
Mr. Bruce Edward “Eddie” Sherrod 10.01.20
Mrs. Sweetie J. Blanton 10.25.20
Mrs. Jennie Mae Frost 11.13.20
Mr. Shellie Louis, Jr. 10.28.20
Mrs. Rhonda Kay Keel Smith 10.01.20
Ms. JoAnn Crosby Bowen 11.03.20
Dr. Howard Leslie “Les” Furr, Jr. 11.20.20
Mr. Ronnie H. Lowery, Sr. 12.01.20
Mrs. Roxie Creech Smith 11.07.20
Mrs. Frances Elizabeth Bradley 11.30.20
Mr. Harry Peter Gelis 09.25.20
Mrs. Judy Canty McBride 11.21.20
Mr. Wallace Reece Spivey 11.06.20
Mr. Henry Thomas “Tommy” Brannen 10.19.20
Mr. Andre Goggins 11.25.20
Mrs. Gail Barry Meyer 11.26.20
Mrs. Sandra Mercer Stevens 09.19.20
Mrs. Vivian Mercer Brown 10.08.20
Mrs. Stella Gerrish Greene 10.27.20
Mrs. Barbara Oglesby Mills 11.28.20
Mrs. Ruby Dell Watts Stowbridge 11.24.20
Mrs. Connie Davis Bryant 10.29.20
Mr. William Larry Grice 11.20.20
Mr. James “Jimmy” Mixon, Sr. 11.06.20
Mrs. Eary Benjamin Strickland 09.21.20
Mrs. Debra “Debbie” Bragg Buchan 10.31.20
Mrs. Emma L. Jaudon Griffin 11.28.20
Dr. William Boyce “Buddy” Morgan 11.16.20
Mr. James “Frankie” Tankersley 09.24.20
Mr. Jack L. Bunton 10.18.20
Ms. Emma R. Grimes 10.09.20
Mr. Kenneth Wayne Morris 10.12.20
Mrs. Winnie Mae Roberts Burgest 10.16.20
Mr. Jerome “Jerry” Gringer 11.27.20
Mr. Carl E. Mosley 11.16.20
Mrs. Gertrude Wilson Mock Thompson 10.19.20
Mr. Enoch Clark 11.08.20
Mr. James Carlton “Jim” Haddock 11.07.20
Mrs. Billie Ruby Garland Murray 11.24.20
Mrs. Patricia Tillman Clark 10.11.20
Mr. Don “Tweety” Harris 10.05.20
Mr. Milton Navrot 10.02.20
Mr. Jerry Irwin Cooper, Jr. 09.20.20
Mr. Timothy Harris 10.14.20
Mr. Martin Walton NeSmith 11.17.20
Mr. Frederick Cope 10.18.20
Mrs. Dorothy Dell Griffin Hautman 11.25.20
Mr. Carl Scott Newton 10.21.20
Mr. James Carlos “Jimmie” Costley 11.25.20
Mrs. Mary Jane Kinney Hay 09.29.20
Mrs. Nancy Brewton Odom 11.29.20
Mr. Vernon H. Cowart 10.14.20
Mrs. Lucille Solum Hoell 10.13.20
Mrs. Brenda Bowen Olliff 10.29.20
Ms. Ellen Crawford 09.28.20
Mrs. Marjorie Schneider Holland 11.25.20
Mrs. Janet Anderson Owens 10.01.20
Mrs. Claudia Pinckney Crumpton 11.07.20
Mr. Brian Ray Howell 11.17.20
Mr. James Willie Parker 10.28.20
Mr. Frank Davis, Jr. 11.09.20
Deacon George Jackson, Sr. 11.09.20
Mrs. Kathryn Smith Phillips 10.08.20
Mrs. Lois Riggs Deal 11.08.20
Mr. Larry Jamerson 10.31.20
Mr. Herbert Lee “Hub” Powell, Jr. 11.05.20
Mr. Don Alsa DeLoach 11.22.20
Mr. Camden Mercer Johns 10.06.20
Mr. Wade M. Price 10.22.20
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Ms. Sara Helen Usry 11.10.20 Mrs. Margaret Barrett Vozab 10.27.20 Mrs. Barbara B. Wald 11.04.20 Mrs. Nadine Caves Walker 10.02.20 Mr. Tony White 11.01.20 Mr. Walter Williams, Jr. 11.23.20 Mr. J.R. Williams, Sr. 10.07.20 Mr. Jimmie Floyd Williams, Sr. 11.08.20 Mr. Phagin “Notty” Wilson 10.31.20 Mrs. Barbara Heath Wilson 10.19.20
Warmest Wishes FROM CITIZENS BANK OF THE SOUTH www.cbots.com https://www.facebook.com/citizensbankofthesouthstatesboro/ https://www.instagram.com/citizensbankstatesboro/
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