August 2017
Chamber News
The Award Winning Monthly Newsletter of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce
Speaker for August
Membership
Breakfast
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald
Director
Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention
See Page 7 for details
Chamber News August 2017 3
Advantage Office Solutions
Bank of North Georgia
Brookdale Carrollton
Bank of the Ozarks
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
Carroll County Water Authority
Cottage Landing Senior Living
Gas South
Hughes Ray Company Inc.
Southern States Bank
Southland Insurance Agency
State Farm Insurance/Amy Brown
Times Georgian
AgSouth Farm Credit ACA/AgSouth Mortgages
Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic
Milestone Investment Management, LLC
State Farm Insurance/Jill Duncan
Edward Jones Investments/Fred O’Neal
Garrett, Thomas & Fazio PC
Grant $$$$ For YOU/Sandra Morris
Pine Knoll Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Pugmire Ford
Rushton & Company, LLC
Tisinger Vance PC
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
4 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org
Chamber Upcoming Events
Daniel Jackson ♦ President & CEO [email protected]
Donna Armstrong-Lackey ♦ Senior Vice President [email protected]
Andy Camp ♦ Vice President, Economic Development [email protected]
Suzy Montalto ♦ Director, Operations [email protected]
Suzy McCorkel ♦ Director, Programs & Events [email protected]
Lisa Ledbetter ♦ Director, Communications [email protected]
Lauren Holverson ♦ Director, The Burson Center [email protected]
Joan Finch ♦ Information Specialist & Drugs Don’t Work Coordinator [email protected]
Your Chamber/Carroll Tomorrow Staff
Workforce Education Task Force Meeting
Wednesday, Aug. 9
8:30 am @ Chamber
Business Development Committee
Thursday, Aug. 10
8:30 am @ Chamber
Business of the Month
Thursday, Aug. 10
Board Meeting
Monday, Aug. 14
WBA Coffee Break
Tuesday, Aug. 15
8-9 am @ Carrollton Courtyard by Marriott
Business Success Seminar: Lead with Linked In
Wednesday, Aug. 16
11:30am @ the Chamber
Membership Breakfast
Thursday, Aug. 24
7:30 am @ Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton
Client Attraction Bootcamp
Thursday, August 31
9:00am—1:30pm @ The Burson Center
LOOKING AHEAD
Membership BBQ
Thursday, Sept. 7
6 pm @ Mill Town Music Hall in Bremen
(Featuring live entertainment and presenta-
tion of Small Business Person of the Year
Award and a new entrepreneur award)
Chamber News August 2017 5
Carrollton-Carroll County Education Collaborative
2017 Regional Summit
The CCEC hosted their second annual Regional Summit as the inaugural event in the
stunning new Carroll County Schools Performing Arts Center. Following an impressive
welcome by the band, keynote addresses were given by Dr. Steve Wrigley, Chancellor of
the University System of Georgia, and Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Technical
College System of Georgia. Informative break out sessions were conducted and local
educators, community and business leaders, and legislative representatives had the oppor-
tunity to network concerning educational issues within Carroll County.
The mission of the Carroll County Chamber is
“Growing Business in Our Community.”
Each month the Chamber News will feature a member start-up business
to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive and well in Carroll County.
6 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org
RN and International Board Certified Lac-
tation Consultant starts business: Nursing
From The Heart
“I’ve always wanted to help and empower
women in any manner to achieve their goals.
Knowledge is power and I want mothers to
make evidence-based choices.”
These are the words of start-up business owner
Anne Lussier, BSN,
RN, and International
Board Certified Lacta-
tion Consultant
(IBCLC). And she is
doing just that as her
business provides edu-
cation, support and
assistance to empower
families to overcome
breastfeeding concerns
and challenges.
Nursing From The
Heart is a natural out-
come of Lussier’s path
in the medical profes-
sion. She has worked
in pediatric office practices, pediatric intensive
care and postpartum units in hospital settings,
and now serves as a school nurse in addition to
running her own business.
“Although breastfeeding is a natural biological
process, there is a learned technique and often
moms and their families need support. Some-
times that means emotional support in addition
to providing educational support,” Lussier said.
Lussier is proud to be part of a profession that
is moving in a positive direction. In addition to
international and national organizations that
support breastfeeding, Georgia Governor Na-
than Deal signed House Bill 649, Georgia
Lactation Practice Act, to standardize and li-
cense nurse lactation consultants.
“Trends are changing as more people become
aware of the benefits of breastfeeding for both
the mom and the baby,” Lussier said. “But
more conversations need to be started, not on-
ly in the medical community, but in the
general community as well.”
Lussier is starting
those conversations.
She began by visiting
business owners on
the square in Carroll-
ton, educating them
concerning nursing,
and asking them to
make a pledge to sup-
port breastfeeding
mothers. Many down-
town businesses now
have a decal on their
door stating
“Breastfeeding Wel-
come Here.”
Lussier noted that several barriers to breast-
feeding still exist in communities such as lack
of knowledge and awareness, poor family and
public support, social norms (need for normal-
izing breastfeeding as a means for providing
nutrition to a baby), and sexualizing the act
that leads to embarrassment.
Lussier has enlisted the assistance of profes-
sionals to help her raise community awareness
and to advise her as she grows her business.
A task force of healthcare professionals and
small business owners partner with Lussier in
such activities as publishing a resource guide
Continued on page 20
Anne Lussier (seated left), owner of Nursing From
The Heart, and members of her task force joined
Carrollton Mayor Walt Hollingsworth when he
declared August as “Breastfeeding Awareness
Month.”
Chamber News August 2017 9
Holverson promoted to director
of The Burson Center Lauren Holverson, incubator manager at The
Burson Center, has been promoted to Director of
The Burson Center upon the completion of the
Business Incubation Management Certificate
Program offered by the International Business
Innovation Association.
Holverson first worked at The Burson Center as
a graduate assistant while obtaining her MBA
from the Richards College of Business at the
University of West Georgia. She also holds a
B.A. in Marketing from the University of Monte-
vallo.
Daniel Jackson, President/CEO of the Carroll
County Chamber of Commerce and Carroll To-
morrow, commends Holverson for an outstand-
ing job for the past two years as incubator man-
ager.
“When I first met Lauren as an intern, she im-
pressed me as a bright, young talent and we were
delighted that she joined our team after she
earned her MBA,” Jackson said. “She has done
an outstanding job with our Burson Center cli-
ents and handling the day to day activities of the
Center. Beyond her duties at the Center, she has
become a valuable member of our Chamber/
Carroll Tomorrow team.”
The Burson Center, a 501c3 economic develop-
ment public-private partnership, facilitates entre-
preneurship, innovation, and business growth by
assisting new ventures. It fosters an environment
for planning, organizing, and expansion in addi-
tion to building a solid foundation while mini-
mizing risk. The center provides business plan-
ning, expansion coaching, counseling, technical
support, affordable office space, an entrepreneur-
ial environment for clients, and more.
The Burson Center has incubated 130 businesses,
creating more than 900 jobs and over $80 million
in capital investment since opening in 2006. In
addition to the companies that are in residence at
The Burson Center, the Center’s staff, and re-
source partners are currently working with over
250 other businesses annually of varying sizes
through the northwest Georgia region. The Center
has hosted more than 20,000 visitors for over 3,100
seminars, expos, and programs.
Holverson has implemented several new initiatives
to benefit clients such as Tech Time, a weekly ses-
sion for technical assistance; new training opportu-
nities for topics such as social media, sales, elevator
pitches, business model canvas, etc.; and a user
friendly website.
New levels of membership at The Burson Center are
now available to include those businesses that need
occasional assistance and those looking for expan-
sion. Holverson has developed additional partner-
ships within the community to better assist entrepre-
neurs including local accountants, the West Georgia
Regional Library system, Goodwill Career Center,
and more.
“This new title as Director allows us to formally
recognize Lauren and acknowledge her desire to
continue to lead The Burson Center which has been
recognized as a top performing incubator in the re-
gion, state and beyond,” Jackson said.
12 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org
How can you participate?
Stop by the Chamber to pick up a #ThinkCarrollFirst kit with window cling, tee shirt, phone
wallet and campaign information
Or, call and request a kit and/or a chalkboard – (770)832-2446
Choose a positive word that describes your business and fill in the blank on the chalkboard.
For example: Dine, Buy, Serve, Visit, etc.
Gather your employees and get a few fun photos with the chalkboard.
Post on your website, Facebook, Instagram and all of your social media…tag
#ThinkCarrollFirst and the Carroll Chamber.
Place the #ThinkCarrollFirst window cling for best visibility.
Download the “#ThinkCarrollFirst” logo from our website
www.carroll-ga.org to use in your promotions.
Insert your photo with the logo to create a mini ad, print and post in your business window,
at the cash register, any place that grabs your customers’ attention.
Questions? Call Donna at 678/890/2332 or email [email protected]
The campaign topic for the month of August is “Education.”
If your business is included in the following list, be sure to participate
during August with a #thinkcarrollfirst chalkboard Facebook post.
Carroll County Board of Education
Carroll County Training Center
Carrollton City Schools
Carrollton High School
Carrollton-Carroll Co. Communities in Schools
College of Social Sciences, UWG
Oak Grove Montessori School
Oak Mountain Academy
Que Pasa
Richards College of Business, UWG
Strides Horse Park TEMS, Inc
University of West Georgia
West Georgia Technical College
Collaboration leads to
win-win-win partnerships
When The Burson Center opened its doors in
2006, a partnership was formed with the Rich-
ards College of Business (RCOB) at the Univer-
sity of West Georgia that has proven to be a win-
win-win experience.
As with the many internships and mentoring op-
portunities available throughout Carroll County
via local business and industry, public and pri-
vate Pre K- 12 school systems, West Georgia
Technical Collage and the University, all of the
participants come out as winners in various
ways.
Graduates Assistants pursing an MBA (master-
level management, marketing and accounting
students) have been placed at The Burson Cen-
ter to assist the director in research, program
planning and management, and the development
of related presentations and reports.
Zeb Ott, the most recent graduate student to
work at the center, describes his experience as
“amazingly beneficial.”
“I have had meaningful projects such as creating
an employee handbook for one client, producing
marketing flyers for another, and compiling a
resource guide for yet another client,” he said. “I
have been able to observe different start-up busi-
nesses as they determine their very different
needs. It is rewarding to help clients forge their
own path.”
Ott noted that having this experience not only
contributes to his resume, but provides profes-
sional networking opportunities.
“I have met community leaders and numerous
business owners and as a grad assistant, I am on
16 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org
SmartWorks In collaboration with the Workforce Education Task Force, a monthly feature
story will focus on workforce education and development from the perspective
of real people who are making a real difference in our communities.
#thinkcarrollfirst—everyone has the potential to learn, work and thrive right
here in Carroll County!
a different level in the networking scenario. I have
been able to grow the roots I previously had with
many individuals,” Ott said.
Win Number One – the graduate assistant.
The collaboration provides an excellent source of as-
sistance to The Burson Center Director Lauren Holv-
erson. She knows first-hand how valuable a mentor-
ing/intern opportunity can be – it led to her being
hired for her current position.
“My graduate assistantship introduced me to the
Chamber world and through that association, I devel-
oped a passion for helping the community and seeing
small businesses thrive,” Holverson said.
Now as the manager for grad assistants, she knows the
importance of providing hands-on assignments and
introducing them to as many individuals as possible,
affording them a wide range of experiences.
“If it hadn’t been for my graduate assistantship, I
wouldn’t have been introduced to business incubation
and it opened an entire career path I didn’t even know
was available,” Holverson said.
Lauren Holverson, Director of The Burson Center,
reviews a project developed by Graduate Assistant
Zeb Ott, MBA graduate from the RCOB.
Continued on page 22
Chamber News August 2017 17
The Carroll County Farm Bureau was chosen as the Business of the Month. Located at 324 Colum-
bia Drive in Carrollton, leadership includes Randall Crumby, County President; Brandi Few, Office
Manager; and Beau Luckie, Agency Manager. The insurance agency was established in Carroll
County in 1964. Georgia Farm Bureau is the leading agriculture promotion organization in Geor-
gia, and Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company is Georgia’s largest domiciled personal lines
insurance carrier.
Groundbreaking The City of Villa Rica conducted a ground-
breaking ceremony for the Villa Rica Wel-
come Center in the former Butterball’s Auto
and Repairs facility on Bankhead Highway.
(L-R) Mayor Jeff Reese, Councilman Gil
McDougal, City Manager Tom Barber and
Director of Downtown Development and
Tourism Christopher Pike were on hand cel-
ebrate the renovation project which will
serve as a combination visitors center and
retail space for start-up businesses.
18 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org
(Photo at left) Southern States Bank opened its door at
905 Maple Street, Carrollton.
(Photo at right) Carroll County School System celebrat-
ed the opening of its new Performing Arts Center, a
42,500 square foot venue. The auditorium seats 1100,
and there are two additional large multi-use rooms to
accommodate activities, such as art exhibits, music fes-
tivals, educational programs and meetings.
(Photo at left) Give Me Your List, a local concierge
service, has opened to provide services throughout
Carroll County. Owner Susan Logan provides conci-
erge services such as errand running, non-emergency
transportation, shopping, pet sitting/walking, etc. The
website, www.knockoutyourlist.com, provides a com-
plete list of services.
(Photo at right) Nursing From The Heart, a private lac-
tation consultant practice, celebrated the kick off of the
business with a ribbon cutting at their office at The
Burson Center in Carrollton. Owner Anne Lussier, reg-
istered nurse and international board certified lactation
consultant, specializes in breastfeeding education, sup-
port, management and lactation care.
Celebrate with a Carroll County Chamber Ribbon Cutting or Ground Breaking Ceremony
The Chamber would be delighted to help your business celebrate with a Ribbon
Cutting if the company: Opened its doors in the last 12 months or
Changed ownership or is under new management or
Moved to a new location or
Remodeled or expanded at its present location
To schedule a Ribbon Cutting with the Chamber of Commerce, we ask for a minimum of two weeks
prior to the event, to ensure no conflict of schedules. Ribbon cuttings will be scheduled Tuesday
through Thursday, between10 am—4 pm. for the maximum opportunity for attendance.
Chamber Staff will help to make things go as smoothly as possible by performing
the following tasks: Notify the Chamber’s Board of Directors and Ambassadors, city dignitaries and local media via
e-mail. We will encourage them to attend your event but cannot guarantee their attendance.
Provide mailing labels for the city officials of your choice.
Bring the giant scissors and red ribbon.
Take photographs at the appointed time. The photographs will be e-mailed to you upon request.
We contact the media, but cannot guarantee their attendance.
Ribbon cutting/groundbreaking pictures are included in the following month's Chamber News and
on our Facebook page and website (must be a Chamber member to receive this benefit).
The wooden scissors are available for after-hours ribbon cuttings, but they must be returned the
following day.
Checklist for a Successful Ribbon Cutting: Who should I invite?
Neighbor businesses
Existing customers
Suppliers of your trade
Prospects
Personal friends and family
To schedule a ceremony: call the Chamber at 678-890-2352
or e-mail: [email protected]
Chamber News August 2017 19
20 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org
Welcome New Members Please extend a warm Chamber welcome to the following new members
and remember them when you do business.
Abbott Solutions Group Jenny McCartney
133 Main St.
LaGrange, GA 30240
Phone: (706) 298-6285
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.abbottsoulutionsgroup.com
Category: Accountants
Hawkinson, Muchnick & Associates, PC Paul Hawkinson
4935 Stewart Mill Rd. Ste. 100
Douglasville, GA 30135
Phone: (770) 942-7944
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hma-cpa.com
Category: Accounting and tax preparation
Insul-Deck Georg Kustermann
65 Grady Knight Industrial Blvd.
Villa Rica, GA 30180
Phone: (727) 230-1717
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.insuldeck.com
Category: Building Materials and Supplies
Lake Tara III Lakeview Resort Diane Boyd
246 Clearview Ct.
Villa Rica, GA 30180
Phone: (770) 834-5585
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.laketara.com
Category: Hotel, Motel, Lodge & Resort
Lambert Tire Company Ash Edwards
134 Bankhead Hwy.
Carrollton, GA 30117
Phone: (770) 832-9465
Email: [email protected]
Website: lamberttireco.com
Category: Automobile Service & Supplies
ResourceMFG Abby Limberg
102 Bankhead Hwy.
Carrollton, GA 30117
Phone: (770) 830-1253
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.resourcemfg.com
Category: Staffing and Recruiting Services
for mothers, and promoting the “Global Big
Latch On.”
“On August 5 at 10:30 am, we will conduct
the first local Big Latch On at the Carrollton
Amp during World Breastfeeding Week,” she
said. “We hope to have more than 100 moth-
ers, babies, families and supporters present to
network and identify opportunities for on-
going support.”
Speaking of on-going support, Lussier is
grateful for the business guidance she has re-
ceived as a client of The Burson Center.
“As a client, I have an office on-site, have ac-
cess to the board room and conference room
for my Task Force meetings and my support
groups. The staff gives me direction every day
- from guidance in marketing and use of social
media, to legal services and more,” she said.
A huge challenge for all start-up business
owners is time management, according to
Lussier. “I’m raising my family, working part
time as a school nurse and running my busi-
ness. When I walk in the Burson Center, my
mind goes to ‘Nursing From The Heart’ and
what I need to do today to grow my business.”
Nursing From The Heart offers private home
lactation consultation, office lactation consul-
tation, and a monthly breastfeeding support
group.
Nursing From The Heart Continued from page 6
Volunteer Today! (678)890-2357 [email protected]
Chamber News August 2017 21
Thank You
Renewing Members Your membership is a symbol of confidence
in the work of the Carroll County
Chamber and its volunteers. We sincerely
thank renewing members
15-19 years
Buck's Electric, Inc.
Sugar Foods Corporation
10-14 years
Carroll County Animal Hospital
Carroll County NAACP
CharterBank
Hollingsworth Concrete Products
Magnolia Lake Apartment Homes
Nielson, Ward, Gann & Associates
North Point Baptist Church
Papa Johns Pizza #397
Purchasing Alliance Solutions, Inc.
5-9 years
Advanced Massage Therapies
Carroll County DFCS
Carrollton Civic Woman's Club
Gradick Communications, LLC
Hope for the Journey
Peachtree Immediate Care
Sterling Engineering & Fabrication
Villa Rica CVB
1-5 years
101 Sales & Supplies, LLC
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Greer Tisinger, LLC
Joshua H. Viau, Attorney
MHI Support
Strides Horse Park TEMS, Inc.
Top's Services Inc.
Weddings For You & Vintage Rentals
White Crest Farm Wedding and Special
Events Venue
Members
in the News
20 August 2017 www.carroll-ga.org
Donna Armstrong-Lackey, Senior Vice President for the
Carroll County Chamber and Carroll Tomorrow, notes
additional benefits of the RCOB partnership.
“Dean Faye McIntyre has served in various advisory
roles supporting the Center’s work, and the Small Busi-
ness Development Center has been a strong ally in refer-
ring start-up businesses to the Burson Center’s programs
and providing training opportunities for Chamber mem-
ber businesses, along with Center clients.”
Win Number Two – the organization.
For the RCOB, Dr. Faye McIntyre noted a number of
benefits to placing graduate assistants within the Carroll
Tomorrow organization.
“Partnering with The Burson Center helps the Richards
College achieve our mission of transforming lives
through education, engagement and experiences,” McIn-
tyre said. “Internships provide opportunities for students
to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom, engage
with the business community, and get actively involved
in what it takes to build a business.”
“Additionally, the partnership allows us to help expand
economic development in the west Georgia region,
providing jobs and a better quality of life for us all!” she
concluded.
Win Number Three – the Richards College of Business
As Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Technical
College System of Georgia, said recently, “Business is
the biggest customer of education.” Mentoring, intern-
ships, and graduate assistantships help link the two
worlds of education and business in Carroll County.
What’s good for one is good for the other – proving that
collaboration is yet another “Win” in this community.
SmartWorks Continued from page 16
U.S. News and World Report named Mount Zion High
School (Carroll County Schools) one of America’s Best
High Schools, based on performance on state-required
tests and how well prepared students are for college. Stu-
dents at Mount Zion High School have advanced learning
opportunities through industry approved programs at Car-
roll County Schools’ College and Career Academy south
campus, dual enrollment opportunities with West Georgia
Technical College and the University of West Georgia and
real life work-based learning through 12 for Life, a part-
nership with Southwire. In addition, West Georgia
Technical College offers two courses onsite to prepare
Mount Zion students for post-secondary education.
Carroll EMC was named one of the 2017 Best Places to
Work in Georgia by Georgia Trend Magazine. Carroll
EMC ranked fifth in the small/medium employer category.
Walker Cadillac Buick GMA received the Mark of Ex-
cellence Award from GMC for the 2016 year. This
achievement award is present to the top five percent of
dealers nationally.
The University of West Georgia’s Tanner Health Sys-
tem’s School of Nursing graduate online program rates
29th among all online nursing programs by the U.S. News
and World Report.
The Clinical Laboratory Technology and Phlebotomy pro-
gram at West Georgia Technical College is one of only
five in the nation to receive a grant from the American
Society of Clinical Laboratory Science. WGTC intends to
use the grant funds in a “students recruiting students” initi-
ative.
In more WGTC national news, seven Phi Beta Lambda
students placed in the top 10 of their respective categories
at the 2017 National Leadership Conference in Anaheim,
California.
Locally, Jordan Truck Sales donated a 2007 Freightliner
truck and 53-foot trailer to the WGTC Foundation for in-
structional use in the Commercial Truck Driving program
at the Carrollton campus.