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Legendary Atlanta hip-hop/Southern-nouveau-funk duo, OUTKAST, blesses thousands of NWGA fans with a long-awaited reunion show; meanwhile placing a bow on Counterpoint 2014

J. BRYANT STEELE explains why avoiding Augusta-based dives that bear "the Green Jacket" anywhere in their names is a wise maneuver on one's path to proseperity

Pep rallier-in-chief, HOLLY LYNCH, illustrates through personal experience how America's small businesspeople are the lifeblood of our economy

Model High basketball standout and first-time journalist, VICTOR SAXTON, JR. (right), fires off an impressive and poignant round of questions to ATLANTA HAWKS FORWARD DEMARRE CARROLL

34

It took eight long years of prodding and couched negotiation from friends, family and staff, but at long last, in honor of their 100th issue, V3 MAGAZINE'S COFOUNDERS FINALLY TELL THE LONG-ODDS STORY BEHIND THE COMPANY'S SUCCESS

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A

fter eight years of being in business, 99 issues, and a whole lot of prodding from friends, family and staff, V3 creative partner Neal Howard and I have reluctantly decided to dedicate the 100th edition of V3 Magazine to telling our story. A somewhat iffy proposition, without a doubt, particulary when it comes to the appearance of self-aggrandizement.

Howard had protested it even harder than I, citing additional concerns involving journalistic integrity, before finally caving just last month.

There was a brief round of negotiations as to how the story would be conducted, and we ultimately came to feel more comfortable with it.

Thankfully, the piece newcoming writer Oliver Robbins submitted was a touching, fun, gag-free joyride through our company bio. And, if I'm being completely

Ian Griffin MANAGING PARTNER+ HEAD OF ADVERTISING

Publishers' Note

honest with you guys, it is something of a milestone.

Funny, I remember one local news operation publishing a thinly veiled, but clearly derisive, little snippet about our potential for success after the release of our June 2006 inaugural issue. It patronized V3 as “a project of passion" that "might" make it a few more issues before, as our editor later joked, “being shipped off to the Island of Misfit Magazines."

To its credit, however, that purveyor of fine news actually hit the nail right on the head: It was—still is—a project of passion for both of us. The only Neal Howard CREATIVE PARTNER+EDITORnumbers it forgot to predict were the flattering, IN-CHIEF+V3 MAG DESIGN very real ones to ring in—a readership of 30,000 by the end of our second year, for instance.

It isn’t tough to be passionate when there’s so much love being thrown your way.

And it isn’t tough to brush off a bad review if you have enough good ones.

For me, though, the most enriching aspect of working for V3 has come through sharing so many unique and wonderful stories firsthand. It’s something I could never have imagined in the beginning. We have also been blessed with wonderful employees throughout our time in business, both past and present.

During my early twenties, I helped manage a kitchen at the Mellow Mushroom in Charleston, S.C. After receiving my first raise, I began to notice that I would work really hard, wait a few months, then ask my bosses what I could do to earn another increase. They would give me a list of expectations; I would meet them; get the raise; repeat. Until one day I asked what I could do, and they told me I’d done everything possible. They literally had no further experience left to offer me. It was just months later that V3 presented me an invaluable gift that I will never take for granted: ownership.

That being said, please try to forgive our one-time self-pat on the back. You have allowed us to do a job that we truly love, and for that, we are forever grateful.

Ian Griffin, V3 Managing Partner 8

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + PRODUCTION MANAGER + MAG ART & DESIGN Neal Howard WRITERS J. Bryant Steele, Luke Chaffin, Oliver Robbins, Holly Lynch, Kent Howard, Neal Howard, Ian Griffin, Matt Davis PHOTOGRAPHY Derek Bell, MFA 706.936.0407 CHIEF OF ADVERTISING + OFFICE MANAGER + SALES DIRECTOR Ian Griffin AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS Shadae Yancey-Warren, Chris Forino AD DESIGN + MARKETING CONCEPTS Ellie Borromeo, Laura Briggs PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT One West Fourth Avenue Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 Email>v3publications @gmail.com

v3magazine.com

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M 4.27.2014 WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

ore than 65,000 music fans celebrated the return of the CounterPoint Music & Arts Festival April 24-27, and the debut of its new expansive and breathtaking 5,000-acre Kingston Downs festival grounds. The festival closed out on a high note with a Sunday night headlining set from hometown heroes Outkast, about whom the ASSOCIATED PRESS (4/28) said, “…the energy was high for Outkast’s performance (shown left) in their home state at the CounterPoint Music & Arts Festival…[they] put on an energetic show that kept the crowd jamming in the late hours.”

The festival weekend was also marked by peak moments with main stage closing sets from Pretty Lights on Friday and Foster The People on Saturday. The music didn’t stop there; each day, late night sets—Krewella (Saturday, 12:30 AM), Above & Beyond (Sunday, 12:30 AM) and Flux Pavilion and Tycho (both Sunday, 11:45 PM)—rocked the grounds until 2 a.m.

“We couldn’t be happier with this past weekend’s CounterPoint,” said Jonathan Fordin, Partner of MCP Presents. “Even with the Sunday rain, the feedback from our fans has been incredible and exciting to say the least! We know what we did right, from sound to space, we know where we need to make some changes and we will work over the next year to make this an even better experience for all moving forward.”__OFFICIAL MCP RELEASE

COOLER THAN A POLAR BEAR'S TOENAILS

W

ith another Masters Tournament in our rearview mirror, it’s a fine time to talk about life lessons I’ve learned from golf. I realize a lot of people talk about the sport in this way, but my perspective is different.

First, I don’t play golf. I don’t understand golf. I do know, however, that golf has lessons that can be applied to life and to work.

For instance, I read recently that some golfer had won his round despite posting a double-bogey. Now, I don’t know what a bogey is, but it doesn’t sound good. And to win a round despite a double-bogey, well, it just goes to show what you can accomplish if you keep plugging away.

And those windmills—you’ve just got to ignore them. The purists out there are probably saying That’s miniature golf, not real golf. You can’t compare.

Yes, I can. I am. I’ve won lots of free golf and Cokes and pizza with only a putter, so I know a thing or two about windmills. They block the objective.

Yes there’s always the temptation of gambling for the hole-in-one, but if you can accurately calculate the width of the green-felt fairway against the speed of those pesky vanes, then manage to strike the ball at the precise moment with the precise force necessary to thread that small, split-second opportunity through the open windmill door, you’re probably an engineer making enough money to buy all the Cokes and pizza you could ever want.

For the rest of us, the best strategy is to bank the ball around the

Cents& Sensibilty with J. Bryant Steele

Washington Road—in my opinion, the ugliest stretch of commercial estate in Georgia. And if you’re ever in Augusta for any reason, don’t patronize any business named “the Green Jacket" this, or "the Green Jacket: that. Misappropriating an iconic image for your business’ name doesn’t lend class to the joint; it only inflates the prices.

But back to Mr. Woods: This is a man who serially cheated on his wife, which his popularity somehow survived. But after Bill Clinton and his now-reemerged intern, little surprises me. Let us also not forget that Tiger’s wife was a teen male’s fantasy: a Scandinavian swimsuit model. Which brings into question the man’s eyesight, and may explain why his game has been slipping in recent years.

But all’s well that ends well. The Green Jacket is now worn by a fella named Bubba. This is Georgia. The winner of the Masters should be named Bubba.

Biz Bits

T Mastering the Game of Life

windmill to the other side, where your objective lies.

The absence of Tiger Woods from this year’s Masters shows what happens when an individual’s “brand” is bigger than an event’s brand. TV ratings were down 25 percent from last year, and 16

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ticket scalpers along Washington Road were discounting prices heavily. I guess people don’t really tune in or turn up to behold the beauty of Augusta National.

It’s all about the game.

The entrance to Augusta National Golf Club is off the aforementioned

he National Labor Relations Board has ruled that scholarship football players at Northwestern University are, in fact, employees.

Therefore, they have the right to unionize and enter into collective bargaining with the school—something many who follow the sport have long argued. Colleges and the National Collegiate Athletic Association counter that scholarship athletes are, instead, students who receive room and board, textbooks, and a “free” education. They believe this to be adequate compensation for their student-athletes’ service on the field of play.

A scare-tactic adjunct to the NCAA’s argument is that without the money spillover from football’s horn of plenty, non-revenue-generating sports, especially those played by women, would be

diminished or even vanquished outright.

I can’t wait to see how this plays out on multiple levels. A good deal of financial data will be tossed back and forth.

Is the money players at football-first schools generate greater than their scholarships’ collective value? How do you put a price tag on the lifelong value of a college education? Will Northern schools be more likely to unionize than

ism, but you just know there are hordes of lawyers eager to take on General Motors in wrongful death suits. Not for a big payday, but to make a name for themselves.

GM, meanwhile, will have a pickle of a time defending its decision to let cars go to market and, subsequently, our roads, delaying the recall of those cars until long after a safety defect in the ig-

shift in the buying habits of American consumers, which levies all the more proof that state and local governments need to be able to collect taxes from online revenues just as they do from stores with doors.

Finally, this: We have all been surprised by the auto-correct “feature” offered on our computers or smartphones at one time or another. I think this is the

...If you're ever in Augusta for any reason, don't patronize any business named "the Green Jacket" this, or "the Green Jacket" that." Misappropriating an iconic image for your business' name doesn't lend class to the joint; it only inflates the prices.

Southern schools? Will we one day have “right to work” colleges, as we have right-to-work states?

Here’s a personal prediction based on the belief that college sports is big business and that colleges, along with their godfathers in the NCAA, get wealthy off the players in questions. It’s a big cake, after all. If players vote yes to unions, colleges will offer to slice that cake before they’ll leave it in the rain. But they’ll never have the old recipe again.

In other business news, it’s certainly not the top rung on the ladder of altru-

nition switch led to dozens of crashes and 13 deaths. GM has its own highly paid lawyers to ensure pretrial delaying motions and to minimize payouts to the families of its victims. But there will be large payouts, and possibly government action.

In retail headlines, Staples has emerged as the latest chain in the office-supply/small tech suppliers market to abandon brick-and-mortar stores, saying it will close 225 locations. Radio Shack says it is set to close more than 1,000. The reason is the continuing

topper, though: In an email I was composing to a couple of dozen writers and editors—people to whom I do not want to appear foolish—auto-correct tried to change “not surprising” to “biotech sheep rising.” Fortunately, I caught the “correction” and fixed it before I hit the send button. Unfortunately, now I have one more thing to keep me awake at night. VVV

J. Bryant Steele is an awardwinning journalist and feature writer based in Rome, Ga. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 17

I

named my company “The Season” because, at the time of the company’s inception, I was personally and professionally ready for a new season, a new time in my life. I never dreamed I would own my own business, and always thought of myself as the girl who needed stability in her life. Turns out I have a fairly restless spirit—something I now recognize in other business owners.

When I was working for “someone else”, I tamed this restless spirit by tackling new tasks on the job, acquiring a new job altogether, or simply rearranging my office.

Trends& Traditions with Ho l l y Lynch

Hacking through the toughest of times in pursuit of their dreams, small businesspeople are still the gears that keep America’s economic clock ticking

Cog Day Afteroon Nothing has changed. Apparently, I still do the same thing.

The name, The Season, is also a nice double entendre to phrases like wedding season, party season, and Christmas season. With a nod to my British alter ego, The Season is also a reference to the period of social history when a daughter of aristocracy was debuted to society (i.e. the social season).

This season we’re in now, the first third of 2014, has been a trying and exciting time. My company has expanded into catering, by way of joining forces with an already successful catering operation, and one of our first jobs has been to help assist in the restart of a local swim and tennis club. As much as I love the excitement of these opportunities, however, I’ve been a little overwhelmed. I love being an entrepreneur and I love the opportunity to hire more employees, meet more people, and one day, God willing, make a bit more money. I often wonder if the average person realizes how much fear and trepidation many entrepreneurs feel. Perhaps they do, and that’s why they work for someone else. Or maybe some of my entre18

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preneurial counterparts are just naturalborn risk takers and have no qualms or “what if” questions. I doubt it, though.

I have certainly had days where all I wanted to do was put on my stretchy pants, grab my husband and my dogs, then hit the road. I don’t know exactly where we’d go; it would just be nice to get in my car and drive and forget about everything else. No health department or alcohol-control commission, no sales tax reports or bank statements to balance. I daydream about this random road trip. I would probably even settle for what my dad calls a “Beetle Bailey day”—that’s a day when you sleep in, don’t get out of your P.J.’s, and half participate in mindless activities all day, such as watching HGTV for hours on end, boot up a Lifetime movie (or four) and snack on peanut butter crackers.

You know, live off the grid for a day— better yet, a week. Wouldn’t a pure vegout month be fantastic?

But then there would be no brides.

And I love my brides. There’d be no sentimental dads or fun-loving bridesmaids, no dancing bartenders or singing caterers, and I love all of those peo-

ple because they’re my people and my kind of people.

This morning as I was getting dressed, I started to put my tennis shoes on, only to realize that I had yet to put on my jeans. This backwards moment was both symbolic and symptomatic of the perils and joys of entrepreneurship, and reminded me that before I can hit the ground running (literally) with my sneakers on, I need to make sure all my parts are covered. Those people who I love, who I work with and for, need to make sure that I’m covered. Are my ducks in a row?

Is my business something they can be sure of? My clients count on me and my business. Knowing each and every day that someone is counting on me to step up and perform is both exhilarating and terrifying.

People who upstart and run small businesses are historically the wheels that keep this country’s economy moving. The longer I’m a small business owner, the more I realize the very cogs

Continued on pg.43 >>>>

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Great feats often start with a dream, so when I began coaching for the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority, I decided to offer an environment to other young players who wanted to dream bigger than I had at their age.

“Never give up” was taught in my gym more than layups and free throws. You see, sheer will was the driving force I used to motivate other young athletes—to insist they never give up on a dream no matter how impossible it may seem to achieve.

After the second season of my six-year coaching stint, I reached out to the Atlanta Hawks in hopes of getting some affordable tickets for my youngsters who had worked so hard all year. I wanted them to see the game being played at the highest level, and imagine themselves emerging from the tunnel to the roar of the crowd. I wanted them to be enveloped in the moment, in hopes that after they left my team, they would spend every waking minute striving for what they wanted, letting nothing stop their grind. The Hawks organization gladly agreed to help and the doors to Philips Arena opened wide. Soon after, my kids were standing a bounce pass away from some of the biggest stars in basketball. The team was allowed to stand on the court during the halftime warm-ups, and watch the best players the world has to offer. I just wanted my boys to dream, and the Atlanta Hawks have been great at helping my young players to imagine flying above the rim in the NBA. Thanks to Kevin Gibson (Sr. Consultant, Premium Group Membership) and Jon Steinberg (Director of Hawks Media Relations), V3 was granted an interview with one of the Atlanta Hawks stars. When I learned our player interview would be with DeMarre Carroll, I knew this conversation had to be meaningful. Carroll’s ability to overcome adversity and reputation for going the extra mile provided a unique opportunity to uncover substance beyond the bright lights and big plays of the NBA. I had to approach this interview differently, and not make it another standard Q&A. As I mulled over the options, I thought back to my boys on the side of the court, who beamed with excitement, and the answer became clear.

Victor Saxton Jr., a Model High School stand-out who is heading into his senior year, has the talent and family support to realistically consider his place in the world of basketball lore here in Rome, Georgia. He is the product of two local hardwood heroes from different sides of town, who found love in one another’s arms. Victor Saxton, Sr., a former East Rome High dominant big man and University of Central Florida highlight reel, provided one set of genes. Consuelo Saxton, a West Rome High basketball legend, who played with the Alabama Crimson Tide against the UNC Tar Heels in the 1994 Final Four, completes his DNA. Now standing at 6’4”, Victor Saxton Jr. is quickly becoming the force anticipated since he played in the local Rec. league. He wears the MHS Blue Devils on his chest, and is often called upon to carry the team on his back. Mr. Carroll was kind enough to present some real knowledge to a young player, and very possibly has given Victor, Jr. a reason to continue to dream. On April 8th, I was fortunate to be in the room during such an amazing exchange.

A DREAM INFERRED

ATLANTA HAWKS FORWARD DEMARRE CARROLL OFFERS SOME NBA-GRADE ADVICE TO MODEL HIGH BALLER AND FIRST-TIME JOURNALIST, VICTOR SAXTON, J.R.

Intro Oliver Robbins Q&A Victor Saxton, Jr. Photos Derek Bell

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VSJ . . . Tell me briefly about your background. . .

DC I’m from Birmingham, Ala. I grew up in an area called Ensley, then my family moved to Faunsdale. I went to Minor High School, then I transferred to [John Carroll Catholic High].

My parents really sacrificed for me.

They wanted to help me to better myself as a basketball player, so they put me in a good Catholic high school. So, we had a house and an apartment, knowing that we couldn’t afford both of them. But my father is a big believer in education and basketball, so I was able to experience the best of both of those worlds. I won two state championships there and I was the MVP during one of those seasons.

After high school, I decided to go to the University of Vanderbilt because I really wanted to focus on my education. But then my game started to blossom, so I transferred to the University of Missouri where my uncle Mike Anderson was the head coach. I had a great career there. We went to the Elite Eight (in the NCAA tournament) and I was first-team academic, All Big 12, because I am a big believer in academics.

If I had to give you any advice, the best advice I could give you is that hard work is a talent. No matter how many people may be more talented than you are, if you work harder than the next guy, you can reap the same benefits.

In the classroom, for example, some people are able to make A’s on tests and maybe you are a C student. But if you complete extra credit assignments your teacher gives you, your hard work before and after class will even you out.

Now you have straight A’s as well.

How old were you when you decided you wanted to make basketball a career?

Basketball is part of my family. I think everyone in my family has played basketball. When I was maybe 5 years old, I realized I wanted to play basketball and make it a career. When I hit a growth spurt around 7 or 8, everyone started to tell me how good I was. I decided then that I was going to the NBA. My mother and I worked on my autograph when I was 8, and I still have the same autograph we worked on years ago.

Was it difficult for you to balance working on your game with studying?

Yes, but you have to find common ground for both of them. My mother allowed me to go out and work on my game right after school.

Most mothers might not allow this, but at night I was not allowed to watch TV. I had to do my homework.

That was the sacrifice: I had to do my homework late.

My mother was a big influence on my game. My dad…would say get your schoolwork done, then you can go play. But my mom would tell him that it might be too dark later, so let him go play and then do his homework. They were great at helping me find a common ground.

What were some things you did that helped you get better at the game, keep good grades, and still have fun with your friends?

Whew, that’s a hard one right there. Sometimes your friends don’t understand that you have to make sacrifices. Sometimes you have to separate yourself, man.

It may be hard sometimes, but you have to step outside your comfort zone and let your friends know that basketball and schoolwork are most important to you. Sometimes you have to tell them, ‘I can’t go out with y’all.’

Today, I still have only one best friend.

He stood by me after a lot of my friends fell off. Some of them wanted me to do the wrong things, like go hang out instead of working on my game and my grades. I think you will see the benefits in the end if you stay the course.

Was there a [change in your] habits when you got to college?

Well, when you get to college, there is a lot of peer pressure and many temptations. It helps to have a solid background, like good parents and people who care about you in your corner. If

you don’t have those types of people around you, then you can get pulled into bad things. I have seen guys who are much better than me go left instead of going right because of the influence of people who didn’t care about them.

You really have to choose the right people to associate with when you go to college.

How did you decide which of your friends were good for your life and which were bad influences?

I’m really strict, man. I am really about business. I respect others because I want them to respect me, but some people don’t respect what you do. They have to realize that school and basvini vidi vici / v3 magazine 27

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dividual, man. He is a pharmacist and a preacher. He did play basketball, as well. He was an all-American at Samford University in Birmingham.

When my brother died, he put his life in perspective. He decided not to pursue basketball at the professional level [so he could take better] care of me, my brothers and my sisters—you know, be a family man. That is when he became a pharmacist and a preacher.

Was there a coach who was inspirational to you?

Yes. My uncle, Mike Anderson, was very inspirational to me. He was the head coach at UAB, then he went to Missouri.

I could’ve gone to UAB right out of high school, but I decided to go to Vanderbilt. Still, he called me to let me know I was doing the right thing, and when I transferred to Missouri, he encouraged me even more. I still talk with him at least twice a week. ketball are your main two objectives.

They have to fall in line, and sometimes they try to put themselves before those things. If you just continue to stay your course, they will eventually fall by the wayside.

Who encouraged you most?

My dad. [Edward Carroll] is a strong in-

Do you feel that playing basketball in college better prepared you for pro ball?

Yep, I think so. It helped me to mature.

The beginning of my career in the NBA was rough, like 75 percent of the guys who get to the NBA. Unless you are like Lebron James or Kevin Durant., you have to go through the transition of

not being the best player on the team.

You are not going to get plays called for you.

Going to college helped me to realize that, and when I got to the NBA, I was ready to work just as hard as the next person so that I could get out on the court.

Can you remember a time when you were discouraged about your basketball dreams? How did you overcome that kind of challenge?

When I was going into my junior year of college, I just wasn’t mentally there.

I got hurt—broke my finger, hurt my knee—and I just felt it wasn’t meant to be. But like I said, I had my family and my dad in my corner telling me you just have to continue to keep fighting and pushing through. Then I let God do the rest. That’s what I did, man. With God and my family on my side, I was able to make it to the NBA. What are some potential roadblocks a successful athlete faces in pro basketball today?

There are a lot of obstacles. You’ve got bad friends—that can be one. Really, there are a lot of outside sources. Anyone who is not in your core group, don’t try to bring them in. Some guys in the NBA try to bring in outsiders who never help them to reach their goals. You have to really keep your core group close to the vest.

Continued on pg. 45 >>>>

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 29

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THREE MEN AND A BABY

100 ISSUES INTO THEIR HIGH-RISK EIGHT-YEAR, MARKETGENERATING VENTURE, V3 MAGAZINE'S TRIAD OF 30-SOMETHING COFOUNDERS FINALLY OPENS UP ABOUT HOW IT ALL CAME TO PASS

T E X T O L I V E R R O B B I N S P H O T O S D E R E K B E L L

E

N E A L H O WA R D 34

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ach of us can look into the window of the past and see a very different picture of what we thought our lives would be today. There are, of course, some exceptions to the rule, often found inside those who carefully plan their destinies and see the vision through until it becomes their reality. But for the majority of folks, ambitions are deconstructed and molded to fit what drives the desires of the heart, mind and spirit. And so, when reflecting on life’s adventures, the story makes for some very colorful commentary and retracing the journey is wholly satisfying.

The founders of V3 Magazine decided recently to recant their humble beginnings for their 100th issue. It is the story of a dream not realized until fate brought three young men back home.

Ian Griffin, Neal Howard, and Anthony Barba all grew up in Rome, and their friendship was the glue for the trio in the early years. All three young men were very driven, and involved themselves in many different extracurricular activities while attending Rome High School. These efforts would, eventually, build the foundation needed to enter the colleges of their choosing, and prompt them to leave Rome in the rearview. All three loved the town that had shaped their individual characters, yet they had always talked to one another about moving away to carve their place in a world far removed from the familiar comforts of Northwest Georgia.

Let’s first examine these three paths, which would ultimately converge on a small, frigid office in a wine-import warehouse on Romega Place:

After his graduation from Rome High in 1998, Barba headed south to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

In 2003, he walked the stage and received a degree in business and political science. “It was never the plan to do anything other than go to law school. I moved back home, started working with my dad, and was immediately taken with the life that comes when you work for yourself,” Barba recalls. “I may have benefited from taking some sort of corporate job for a few years, just to develop discipline. But, at the same time, I don’t know if that discipline would have taken away the ability to take risks— which, without them, you will never find success.”

What Barba was able to bring to the early years of a fledgling V3 Magazine was the numbers-crunching business sense necessary to pull off such a project. He undoubtedly gathered this wisdom from his father, Piero, a successful Rome entrepreneur best known for downtown’s La Scala Ristorante Italiano. But it was on the deck of the Waterfront Bar and Grill, a restaurant then owned by Piero and managed by Anthony, where he would be presented with the idea of starting a feature magazine by a friend returning home from Charleston, S.C. “At the time, there was no successful print publication in Rome that serviced our region directly—you know, that wasn’t covering a quarter of the state,” Barba says.

Who was the mystery man on the deck that fateful day, you may ask? The brain behind the venture, Neal Howard, who had determined to make his mark on the busy streets of downtown Atlanta after high school. Howard had been offered jourmalism scholarships to UGA and the University of Miami during his senior year at Rome High, mostly in response to his column, “The X Files", which had been running for three years in Rome High’s school newspaper, The Harbinger. But something about our state’s capitol beckoned his creative spirit. “People were telling me I should take [one of the scholarship offers], but I was always drawn to Atlanta," Howard says. “I always felt kind of boxed in when Rome was really small during the ’80s. I always wanted to be on the cutting edge of things, to contribute to the progress of mankind—you know, on a basic level. I just wanted to be in the game.”

ANTHONY BARBA

IAN GRIFFIN Howard left Rome for Georgia Tech with the goal of becoming an architect.

Although drafting was one of his many talents, in time, he would find it difficult to leave his true calling on the shelf. A talented writer, he had also served as an editor for The Harbinger while playing rhythm guitar for his high-school garage band. Though enrolled at the South’s most prestigious tech and engineering school, by the end of his first year in Atlanta, he was no longer able to deny his passion for the arts. While at Tech from 1998 to 2001, he also worked in the music industry as a producer, engineer and part-time talent scout for an indie Atlanta-area recording studio. “I had the great fortune of being sucked into artistic roles in Atlanta, and I realized I had to return to the arts. I knew I could return to writing, which was always in my back pocket...”

The College of Charleston would be Howard’s next stop, but because his

rigorous math and engineering course credits didn’t really figure into Charleston’s liberal-arts degree requirements, he was forced to restart his college path almost from square one. Fortunately, an established network of friends from Rome, whom he visited on occasion and were already students there, would make his transition into a new environment much easier. Griffin had already moved there, as well.

In 2004, Howard graduated from CofC with a degree in media communications, but after trying to squeeze his toes into any door that would crack for work in Charleston, he decided his best move was back to his hometown to gather his wits and develop a plan.

Now, two of the pieces were in place and Ian Griffin as the only son of Rome who still remains abroad. Griffin graduated Rome High alongside Howard and Barba in 1998, and later that summer headed to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Like the other two founding partners, Griffin didn’t take a conventional route in obtaining his education, either. He would ultimately graduate from the Carolina School of Broadcasting in 2001, where he had worked the local sports circuit as an intern while in college. He has vivid memories of regularly shooting the breeze with Barvini vidi vici / v3 magazine 35

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ron Davis, the now-defunct Charlotte Hornets’ star player at the time, while simultaneously learning the ins and outs of the broadcasting business.

A few months after graduating from CSB, Griffin, too, migrated to Charleston, where his longtime close friend, Howard, was set to begin classes that fall.

“I was living in Charleston, S.C., working three different jobs: in sports television, managing a restaurant, and playing music with my band,” Griffin explains.

Four years later, the offer to get in on the ground floor with V3 four years later was not the only driving force behind his decision to relocate and return to the City of Seven Hills. “I had started dating Ashley (his wife). It was a long-distance relationship and we courted through letters, so it was very old school... The debate on if she should move to Charleston or if I should move to Rome was up and about. I had come home for Christmas in ’04, and at that point, I think I had decided I was going to move back to Georgia—but I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

During that Christmas homecoming, Griffin sat down with his two potential 36

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partners. Howard presented him the same hand-drawn mockup of V3 he had to Barba a month earlier, complete with sketches of individual layouts scribbled on the pages. They all thought, This magazine might just work. Barba could make the business profitable. Howard could make it pretty and substantive.

Griffin could make it sell.

“I had zero experience in sales. None," Griffin confesses. “Anthony was business-minded, but had a bit of a temper.

Neal is a brilliant writer, but he can be a bit introverted. So they needed a ‘people person,’ and they decided to give me that opportunity. I went back to Charleston and chewed on it for a little while.

The more I chewed on it and the more I talked to them, the more I liked the idea.

Also, I was ready to move back for Ashley and this gave me an excuse.”

The three were later able to pool their meager resources to obtain the highpowered computers and high-dollar design software needed to produce the magazine, but who was going to help three guys who hadn’t the first clue on how to use it all? And, more importantly, how would they sell ads for a book that

did not exist? They had to get creative and hit the ground running.

Piero Barba soon offered them a humble office space inside his warehouse on Romega Place, rent free. “In December of 2005 we got our license and we started in the little nook in Piero’s warehouse. I brought in a personal computer, Anthony brought in a personal computer, and we started doing research,” says Griffin. “We also consulted with Robert Weed from Edgehill Advertising. Robert was a very important part of our launch, and without him, we would have never gotten issue one out of the door.”

For the next couple of months, Robert Weed and Howard dug in, and Howard had learned the software by midway through the third issue in that first year of publication. Griffin now had to sell publicly the same vision he had been sold, or the magazine would fail as many before V3 had in years past.

“I called it the ‘magic-bean era,’ ” Griffin laughs. I had to come up with the ad rates, and that was my job... We put together this really nice, black and white, four-piece slick. I would walk into people’s office and, basically, promise them I was handing them a bag of magic beans. We were going to water them and they would turn into this beautiful, glossy, full-color publication about Rome and Northwest Georgia.

My very first sales meeting was with Dixie Sorrow at Heritage First Bank.

She believed in what we were doing and advertised with us, and they have advertised in every issue since.”

Since the first ad sale, V3 Magazine has been able to help its clients grow with the assistance of a few helpful hands along the way. Jeff Miller is a former V3 sales rep who all three partners agree single-handedly kept the ship from sinking in the early years. Barba, who no longer works for the magazine but still partners with V3 to promote La Scala (which he purchased from his father in 2010), would personally like to recognize former V3 photographers Sabrina Wilson and Kelly Moore. “Kelly Moore was one of the first professional photographers we worked with during those first six issues and he is an incredibly talented photographer,” Barba says.

Continued on pg. 45 >>>>

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Elsie had already had one heart attack, so she knew the symptoms and knew she needed to get to Redmond immediately. At Redmond’s ER, she got the fast treatment she needed. The physician confirmed that she had experienced a second heart attack and needed a stent. The experienced heart team at Redmond treated more than 5,000 patients last year, providing a full range of services.

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>>>> From pg.19, "Cog Day..." that keep the wheels turning are those most in need of a little figurative oil.

Spells of downtime, for us, are few and far between. There is no spring break, no summer vacation. We’re lucky if we can squeeze out a weekend to be with our families, for no one covers our shift if we’re not at work.

When times are simply too crazy, when we barely remember our own names, I find it important to remind myself who I am and why I’m doing this. For me that means looking at pictures of my dog on my phone, or scheduling my husband to work with me so I can spend time with him the only way I can: on the job.

I’m not too sure what other entrepreneurs do to keep their sanity, but I know that we have created a network in the Rome-Floyd community. The small business owners lining both sides of Broad Street have my deepest admiration and respect. Many have been doing this way longer than I have, others started just yesterday. There may bigger names in this town, people who’ve made a million or two, but even Nelson Rockefeller was once a small business owner.

Some of the best ideas begin in the garage or the shower, or are first drawn out on a cocktail napkin. Entrepreneurs are dreamers, after all, and our dreams ultimately bring you the services and goods you need and want. We employ your friends and neighbors, we reportedly have greater job satisfaction, and all with a restless spirit that drives us forward.

We’re also tired and afraid, but we forge ahead each morning knowing that the dream is worth the chase. Our motto: Dream big or go home.

The next time you’re out and about shopping locally, thank a small business owner. Try not to fuss at them too much if they’re late to a lunch date or take a call during your birthday party. We’re all doing the best we can to balance our love for doing business with the business of managing our personal lives.

Thank an entrepreneur for taking a risk, for sticking with it, and for facing their fears head-on. VVV

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>>> From pg. 29, “A Dream..."

When you were young, what NBA player did you most look up to?

Of course, Michael Jordan. He is a lot of players’ ultimate role model.

If I had to go outside of him, I would look at guys like Dennis Rodman. You know, guys who worked hard and perfected their craft. I looked up to guys who were not as talented as Michael Jordan and were not the most talented players on the team, but worked just as hard as the next person.

How difficult is life on the road in college and the NBA? Do you ever get homesick?

Me, personally, I rarely get homesick.

My family will usually fly out to see me. I will probably get a little more homesick now because I have a newborn baby, a little daughter.

But other than that, you have to be tough, man. The NBA is tough, and so many games on the road make for a long season.

How have you been received well by the city of Atlanta after coming from the Utah Jazz?

Atlanta has been great to me. The great people here really make me feel like I’m in Birmingham. You know, there is good food, and people can actually understand the words that are coming out of my mouth. (Laughs) It’s a beautiful thing, man. Utah took some getting used to, but down here I feel that I am back home.

What do you feel you bring to the Atlanta Hawks that could help secure a championship?

I bring the junkyard dog. I do the little things, you know, I’m the “glue guy”. I dive into crowds to get loose balls, bring the team together, and I’m scrappy. I bring heart and soul to the floor with me every night.

What are some things you do to give back to the community, and do you think mentoring is important for young men like me?

I try to do a lot of things to give back to the community. This year, I gave Christmas gifts to some struggling families to help with bills, and giving back to young guys like you is key. I think guys in the NBA should do it. I think it should be

mandatory, because to help you guys is ensuring the future. It’s important to help the young guys, especially African American guys, not fall and continue to do the right things. VVV

>>> From pg 36, “Three Men..."

Howard, too, would like to recognize an artist with whom he has collaborated since 2010. “Derek Bell has been huge.

Not only is he a fabulous photographer, but he has a really clear vision on how to shoot for a feature magazines. Derek is a chameleon who is able to give you whatever product you want. He just nails it.”

Griffin’s message for all the employees who have worked out of his office: “We have watched people grow up with V3 and then go out and do great things away from here. As an employer, that is about the biggest compliment you can be paid. While I would love to keep everyone who has helped this magazine grow, to see them move on and be successful is pretty rewarding.”

The guys at the core of the V3 organization were hesitant about telling their

own story. Their joy is a byproduct of highlighting the good works of others, and telling the stories of their hometown.

If something can be taken away from this piece, it should be that, first, a dream paired with hard work and determination is the essence of America, and should be celebrated. And second, the founding three are eternally grateful to the people of Northwest Georgia for giving them a chance to publish these stories of a home they once left with doubts of ever returning.

Their focus is still presenting a highquality feature magazine, but V3 is expanding their reach with new marketing tools and a growing, in-house graphic design team. They hope to continue helping NWGA businesses flourish, and to assist in making this corner of Georgia a shining example of main-street economy.

“We want to thank Rome for having a vision," Griffin says. “And while it moved way too slow for us when we were younger, with age we have realized that things don’t happen overnight. Thanks to the people who put the wheels in motion 14 years ago, when we all thought we might never come back.” VVV vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 45

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