ChamberLink - Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce
Transcription
ChamberLink - Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce
ChamberLink A Publication of JANUARY 2012 Meet The 2012 Executive Board! Diplomats: Out & About Grow Greater Dalton…Providing Results! www.daltonchamber.org Chairman’s Message CALENDAR Happy New Year! In this first edition of ChamberLink for the new year you will see that there are many exciting events and activities in store for the coming year!! Dalton as the economic engine for this region. Also, our first Wake Up…Whitfield of 2012, featuring Dean Sumichrast with the Terry College of Business, who will be visiting to give us his Economic Outlook. Please keep abreast of our future programs and make reservations for upcoming Chamber Events on our all new website at www.daltonchamber.org. Remember these programs would not be possible without our 2012 Chamber Sponsors. We are preparing for the 2012 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly, which starts January 9th. Each January we welcome our legislative delegation as they join us for our “Good Morning Dalton” breakfast. Our local legislators help ensure that all of our members are informed on the critical issues facing the Legislature. We appreciate their service and dedication to our Greater Dalton community. Please be sure to read our special feature this month introducing your Chamber’s Executive Board. We hope you enjoy the opportunity to learn more about the Board members, and we hope to personally meet you at an upcoming networking opportunity. Chamber Connections Friday, January 13th 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Outback Steakhouse $15.00 Each participant has 45 seconds to do a “commercial” about their business. Member Mixer Thursday, January 19th 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dalton Depot 110 Depot Street Free to attend Morning Member Mixer Tuesday, January 24th 8:00 a.m. to 9 a.m. Salem Baptist Church 1448 Pleasant Grove Drive, N.E. Free to attend Wake Up...Whitfield Economic Forecast featuring Dean Sumichrast Tuesday, January 31st 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Dalton Golf & Country Club 333 Country Club Way Tickets are $15.00 We will be very busy this month with a Legislative Reception in Atlanta reminding the full State Legislature of the significance of Greater Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce 890 College Drive, Dalton, GA 30720 (706) 278-7373 www.daltonchamber.org Mission To serve as the unified voice of business, to promote the economic prosperity of the region and to build partnerships and leadership that improve the quality of life while delivering superior member services. Vision The Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce will provide the leadership necessary to leverage community resources and build partnerships that are focused on positive community growth. Organizational Priority Strengthen our ability to marshal the resources necessary to achieve positive community growth by focusing on three core areas: economic development, leadership development and community development. 2 Chamber Link All my best wishes to you for a most prosperous 2012! Joe Yarbrough, Chairman Executive Board of Directors Joe Yarbrough, Chairman..................Mohawk Industries Bryan McAllister, Chairman-Elect.......Brown Industries Penny Carpenter, Treasurer................Morehouse Group Lynn Laughter, Past Chairman............Laughter & Jones Financial Management Brian Anderson, President & CEO.......Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce Don Adcock.....................................Adcock Financial Group Carl Bouckaert.................................Beaulieu Group Vann Brown.......................................ArrowStar, LLC John Davis.......................................Peacock Alley Kelly Fletcher....................................North Georgia Business Machines David Jolly.......................................J&J Industries Jim Kortum.......................................Windstream Communications David Morgan.................................Shaw Industries, Inc. Jeff Myers........................................Hamilton Healthcare System, Inc. Pablo Perez, M.D.............................Saint Joseph Clinic, P.C. Dan Rogers.....................................OMNOVA Solutions Robert H. Smalley III..................................McCamy, Phillips, Tuggle & Fordham, L.L.P. Andy Walker.........................................Alliance National Bank Staff Brian Anderson......................President & CEO Michelle Bartenfeld.................Membership Account Executive Andrew Carnes......................Economic Development Project Manager Elyse Cochran………..............Senior Vice President of Economic Development Beth Morrison……..................Vice President, Member Services Summer Nix..........................Administrative Assistant Judy Sawyer….............……....Vice President, Finance & Administration Alex Stall...............................Economic Development Senior Project Manager Phyllis Stephens……................Senior Vice President Barbara Ward…….................Director of Workforce Development www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Feature Story 2012 Executive Board A Georgia native, Joe was born in Rome, and has resided in Dalton since 1972. Joe and his wife of 27 years, Nanette, have five adult children and eight grandchildren. An active member of Grove Level Baptist Church, Joe currently serves on the Long-range Planning Committee, the Watchman Prayer Ministry, as an Adult Sunday School leader, and an usher. He is a graduate of Auburn University (1970) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has since completed numerous Leadership Development and skill improvement programs. After six years in various positions with Coronet Industries, Joe joined Aladdin Mills in June, 1978 as Director of Manufacturing. Aladdin Mills was merged into Mohawk Industries in February, 1994. In the first quarter of 1995, he Joe W. Yarbrough was named Vice President Manufacturing and in March, 2004, Joe became Executive Vice President – Operations. He currently serves as Senior Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. Senior Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing These roles provided an opportunity to lead the integration of new technologies for the business and to be active in the Engineering assimilation of numerous mergers and acquisitions. Mohawk Industries Also an active community leader, Joe currently serves on the Boards of Directors of: RossWoods Adult Day Services and is the Chairman of the Building Campaign Steering Committee; the Chairman of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce; the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership; Georgia Northwestern Technical College; and the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). Additionally, Joe serves as Chairman of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Strategic Issues Leadership Council. Favorite Quote from the Auburn Creed: I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work. I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God." -George Petrie (1945) Bryan McAllister Chairman-Elect Brown Industries, Inc. Robert Smalley Bryan is a certified public accountant. He worked in public practice for twenty-five years, the last ten years as tax partner in the Dalton office of Decosimo CPAs. Since 2006, he has worked in private industry as Vice President of Finance for Brown Industries, Inc. His professional responsibilities have included serving as President of the Northwest Georgia chapter of the Georgia Society of CPAs, as well as serving on the state board of directors of that organization. Bryan’s civic and charitable responsibilities have included stints on the board of directors/trustees of the Kiwanis Club of Dalton, Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, Hamilton Healthcare System, Dalton State College Foundation, Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center and the Family Support Council. In addition to serving on the current board of the Greater Dalton Chamber, Bryan has served over twenty years on the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee. Bryan is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Dalton and takes great joy in performing with its Men’s Ensemble at various community events! He is a life-long resident of Whitfield County and currently lives in the Cohutta area. Robert graduated from Davidson College as a Religion Major in 1989, then graduated with honors from UGA School of Law in 1992. Since then, he has worked as an attorney with the McCamy Law Firm in Dalton. In addition to a general civil law practice, Robert has served as Whitfield County Attorney since 2001. A past graduate of Leadership Dalton-Whitfield in 1995, Robert currently devotes much time to the community as Chairman of the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation and serves as a member of the Board of Bar Governors of the State Bar of Georgia. He is an active member of the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee. Robert and his wife Rachel live in Rocky Face with their teenage children, Rob and Mary Charlotte. Chairman-Elect Designate McCamy, Phillips, Tuggle & Fordham LLP Penny Carpenter Treasurer Morehouse Group January 2012 Penny has a degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting from the University of Georgia. She became a principal in 1987. Her professional and civic responsibilities include being a member of the Georgia Society of CPAs, Murray County Community Christmas, Corporate Board of the Gordon, Whitfield and Murray Counties Boys & Girls Club, board member of Murray County Family Connections, board member of Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, member of the 2002/2003 Leadership Dalton/Whitfield Class, President of the 2007-2008 Leadership Dalton/Whitfield Class, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is a past president of the American Business Women's Association, and she received the American Business Women's Association “Woman of the Year” award in 1991 and the “Professional Development” award in 1994. She received the Northwest Chapter of the Georgia Society of CPAs “Member of the Year” award for 1994-95. She and her husband Marc jointly received the 2011 Whitfield-Murray Historical Society Preservation award. Penny and her husband, Marc, reside in Crandall, Georgia. www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 3 Feature Story R. Lynette Laughter Past Chairman Laughter & Jones Financial Management I graduated from the University of NC, Chapel Hill, with a BS degree in Industrial Relations in 1973. I have a Masters in Business from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management with concentrations in finance and accounting. In 1998 I started my own investment firm and now my son-in-law is in partnership with me at Laughter & Jones Financial Management. I am involved in several non-profit organizations around town: Past-Chairman of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce; Board member of Dalton State College Foundation and serve on the investment committee; member of Dalton Rotary Club; and, Deacon and Staff Committee at First Baptist Church. I was involved with the Dalton/Whitfield Habitat for Humanity for twenty-one years and served as Treasurer, President and VicePresident. Ben and I have been married 39 years. We have three grown children, all married and all graduated from college, one with a Master's degree, one with a PhD and one working on a Master’s degree. (Yes, I am proud of them!). We also have three wonderful grandchildren and one on the way. Brian received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Francis Marion University. He served four years as a Military Intelligence Officer for the US Army. After 18 years as a sales and marketing executive in the beverage industry with Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch, he was selected to lead the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO in 2008. Brian is the former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Whitfield County. His professional and civic responsibilities include member of the Founders Group and Review and Approve Committee of the 16-County Regional Growth Initiative, member of the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, board member of Georgia Northwestern Technical College Board, board member of the Northwest Georgia Regional Development Commission, member Corporate Board of the Brian Anderson Boys and Girls Clubs of NW Georgia, member of the Rotary Club of Dalton, graduate of Leadership Dalton-Whitfield President & CEO Greater Dalton Chamber (2002), graduate of Leadership Georgia (2006), graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development of Commerce (2009), graduate of the Georgia Tech Economic Development Basic Course (2010). In 2011, he was recognized as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Notable Georgians by Georgia Trend magazine. He was awarded the W. Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational excellence by the Carpet City Rotary Club (2006). He was recognized as a “Certified County Commissioner” by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (2007). Brian and his wife, Heather, reside in Dalton. They are the parents of Douglas, who is a sophomore at Georgia Southern University and Sarah Whitney who is a senior at The Girls Preparatory School. They are active members of the Dalton First United Methodist Church. Don Adcock Don graduated from the University of Georgia with a Management Major in the Terry School of Business Administration in 1967. After graduation, he was a Trade Examiner with the Coca-Cola Company based in Atlanta. In 1969, he entered the insurance business with The Travelers Insurance Company in Atlanta. He began in the insurance business with Franklin Life in 1971 in Dalton and led the nation in volume of life insurance sold in 1972 and 1992. He is a past President of the Dalton Association of Life Underwriters and the Cherokee Area Estate Planning Council. He has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Board of The Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, The Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership Board of Directors, The Rotary Club of Dalton Board of Directors and currently serves on the of the Hamilton Healthcare System’s Board. He is Founder and CEO of Adcock Financial Group, Inc. in Dalton. Don and his wife Diane live in Dalton. They have three children who work in the business and also have five grandchildren. Adcock Financial Group Carl Bouckaert Beaulieu Group 4 Chamber Link Carl Bouckaert co-founded Beaulieu of America in 1978. A native of Belgium, Mr. Bouckaert studied engineering at Louvain University, and in 1977 began work at Beaulieu Group of Companies in Belgium. In 1978 he moved to the United States, starting a small rug weaving operation in Dalton, Georgia. Under his leadership, that startup has grown into the world’s third largest (and largest privately held) carpet manufacturer, with sales of well over $1,000,000,000. An avid horseman, Mr. Bouckaert participates in, and promotes equestrian sports. He has attained world-class standing and competes internationally in the “Three-Day Eventing”, an equestrian triathlon competition which includes dressage, cross country jumping, and show jumping. He was a participant in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, competing for the Belgium Equestrian Team. Mr. Bouckaert continues to live in North Georgia. He has four children – Stephanie, Nathalie, Nicolas and Stanley. www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Feature Story Vann Brown ArrowStar, LLC As President of ArrowStar, LLC, Vann Brown leads the company in developing advanced chemical technologies and concepts that deliver tangible, environmentally responsible, market-focused solutions for the floor covering industry. Vann has over 20 years experience in research management with multi-national, technology-based durable goods & chemical companies. Prior to his present position, he served as Vice President of Innovation & Technology at Mohawk Industries where he directed the company's research & development, environmental services, and sustainability efforts. In addition, he formerly was the Global Carpet Business Manager for Shell Chemicals, moving PTT (Triexta) polymer into a leading position for carpet applications, and he pioneered the product applications and business development activities to commercialize bio-based Polylactic Acid (PLA) polymers at NatureWorks. He currently serves on the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Piedmont College Alumni Association, Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, and The Roman Open Charities boards. Vann is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Dalton-Whitfield and an alumnus of Piedmont College where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He married his college sweetheart, Valerie Powell Brown, and has three children, Garrett, Tyler, and Kendall. John graduated from North Whitfield High School in 1975 and signed up to join the Army. John served as a Military Police Officer and, spent 3 years in Germany. Upon his return to Dalton he worked as a police officer. He received his BS in Criminal Justice from Brennan College. John became an entrepreneur and founded Affordable Sales in 1986. He currently spends the majority of his time in Real Estate Investments. John has served his community on several boards such as the Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dalton Downtown Development Authority, Cherokee Estates Youth Home among others. John and wife Jackie live in Dalton and have 2 children, Kate and Alexander. John Davis Peacock Alley Kelly Fletcher North Georgia Business Machines David Jolly Kelly, born and raised in Dalton, owns and operates North Georgia Business Machines, located in downtown Dalton, where he provides sales and service of office equipment to North Georgia businesses. He graduated with honors from Furman University in 1990 where he earned a B.A. in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Georgia and worked from 1990 to 1997 for Arthur Andersen in Atlanta, Georgia where he specialized in real estate tax consulting. From 1994 to 1997 he further specialized in Initial Public Offerings where he helped develop the concept and implementation of tax deferred Initial Public Offerings for Real Estate Investment Trusts, called UPREITs. Kelly moved back to his hometown in 1999 and founded North Georgia Business Machines. He has served as a board member for the Downtown Dalton Development Authority since 2008 and has chaired that board since 2010. He and his wife Haley live in Dalton. After graduating from Dalton High School in 1984 and receiving a BS in Financial Management from Clemson University in 1988, David served three years on active duty in the US Army. Upon his release from active military service, he returned to Dalton and began work at J&J Industries in September of 1991 in the Marketing Department. He was named president in 2007 and CEO in 2010. David graduated from the Leadership Dalton/Whitfield course in 1993 and was president/chairman from 2001 through 2003. He graduated from Leadership Georgia in 2009 and currently serves on the following local boards of directors: United Way of Northwest Georgia, Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, The Carpet and Rug Institute, and Christian Heritage School. David and his wife, Karen, have 3 children and reside in Whitfield County. J&J Industries Jim Kortum Jim Kortum is vice president of Windstream’s Georgia and Alabama operations. The Nebraska native holds a bachelor's degree in business administration. Jim transferred to Georgia prior to Windstream’s formation in 2006 through the spinoff of Alltel’s wireline business and merger with VALOR Communications Group. Jim, a graduate of Leadership Dalton, class of 2008, is currently on the boards of the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation and Junior Achievement of North Georgia. Jim and his wife Laurie, have three children, Christopher, Claire, and Jacob. Windstream, headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., is a communications and technology solutions provider, specializing in complex data, highspeed Internet access, voice and transport services. Dalton Georgia serves as a regional hub for Windstream, with over 400 employees in the Operations, Engineering, Sales, and Customer Services divisions. Windstream Communications January 2012 www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 5 Feature Story David Morgan Shaw Industries, Inc. Jeff Myers Hamilton Health Care Systems, Inc. David is the Vice President of Manufacturing for Shaw Industries Group, Inc. A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, David started his career in Central Engineering assigned to the carpet division. After 6 years in various engineering assignments, David moved to a role in production. Additional assignments followed over the next 21 years with opportunities in yarn, backing, and carpet manufacturing as well as Director of Operations Support and Vice President of Logistics. He has served various community organizations and activities including Chairman of the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, board member and Chairman of Cross Plains Community Partner, Inc., board member for Whitfield County’s Career Academy, volunteer for Junior Achievement, and Trustee of Whitfield Healthcare Foundation. He was a member of the 2007-2008 Leadership Dalton/Whitfield Class. David and his wife, Angie, live in Dalton and are active members of First Baptist Church where David has served as deacon. Jeff Myers is a results-oriented healthcare executive with more than 25 years of diverse experience in facilitating, managing, and leading health organizations successfully through rapidly changing environments. He currently serves as President and CEO of Hamilton Health Care System, Inc., a comprehensive, nonprofit health care system that serves as the parent corporation for ten affiliate organizations. The mission of Hamilton Health Care System, Inc. is to provide leadership, partnerships and seamless resource coordination to meet health care needs that advance the quality and dignity of life; and its vision is to be the region’s first choice for health care and to excel in clinical quality and patient and community satisfaction. Jeff is a member of the Georgia Society of Managed Care, where he has served as Legislative Chair, Vice Chairman and President of the organization. He also serves as Board Member and Legislative Committee Member of the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership. He and his family reside in Whitfield County. Pablo Perez M.D. graduated from State University New York in the field of Internal Medicine American Board Recertified, moved from New York to Dalton in 1999. Practice as medical director at St. Joseph Clinic and has active admitting privileges at Hamilton Medical Center. He participates actively with the Volunteers medicine at Whitfield health department and the Northwest Georgia Health Care partnership and other nonprofit organizations. Dr. Perez participates annually in overseas medical missions to Haiti and Peru. He is married to Clarena and has two kids Kevin and Christian both in elementary school. Pablo Perez St. Joseph Clinic Dan has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He and his spouse, Diane, reside in Varnell, GA, and have two children - Allyson, a freshman at GA Tech and Jake, a junior at Northwest Whitfield High School. Dan is active in the community and in addition to the Chamber sits on the Executive Board of CRI and chairs the Authority Board of the Northwest GA Trade and Convention Center. He was co-president of the Leadership Dalton/Whitfield Class of 2005/2006 and co-chaired the Emerging Leaders Class of 2009. Dan Rogers OMNOVA Solutions Andy Walker is the CEO of Alliance National Bank a community bank in Dalton. He has been in the banking industry for 38 years. Among his civic responsibilities he is the Chairman of the Board for the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority and serves on the board of the Dalton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Andy is married to the former Janet Turner from Dalton and they have one adult son who resides in Cumming, Georgia. Andy Walker Alliance National Bank 6 Chamber Link www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Diplomats Diplomats Caroling Pictured L to R: Tyler Brown (Temporary Resource Personnel), Lacey Bennett (Servpro of N. Whitfield, Walker and E. Catoosa County), Linden Stricker (NW Georgia Financial Solutions/Compound Profit), Michael Green (Creswell Richardson), Brandon Combs (State Farm, Brandon Combs), Tony Burress (Cross Plains Community Partner), Marlene Jones (Cross Plains Community Partner) and Vanessa Cole (Coffee News). Diplomat Michael Green “plays” the saxophone during a visit with the residents of Ridgewood Manor. Diplomats even encountered Sheriff Scott Chitwood and stopped to wish him a Merry Christmas. Toys for Tots Greater Dalton Chamber Diplomats Crawford McDonald, Vice President of EMC Real Estate Investments and commercial real estate agent, along with Andrea Gravitt, Select Leasing and Management came together to host a free Christmas lunch for anyone who brought in a new and unwrapped toy to donate to the U. S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots. In just 3 short hours Crawford, Andrea and their guests gathered over 135 toys! Later that day the toys were brought to the Salvation Army, where local U. S. Marine Soldiers gave out the toys to waiting needy families. ***The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. January 2012 Pictured above are some Diplomats who made this day successful (L to R) Lenora Johnson (J & J Carpet Mart), Shane Wilson (Edgepoint Web Design), Andrea Gravitt (Select Leasing & Management), Crawford McDonald (ECM Real Estate Investments), Lacey Bennett (Servpro of N. Whitfield, Catoosa & E. Walker County) and Bob Sheth (Super 8 North). www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 7 Morning Mixer Morning Mixer at Posche Salon Justin Quillen (Al Johnson Volkswagen-Volvo, Inc.) and Stacey Gibson, owner of Posche Salon get to know each other at the event. Chamber President Brian Anderson and Lenora Johnson ( J & J Carpet Mart) visit during the event. Michelle Fountain (Alliant Health Plans), Connie Carter (Dynamic Displays & Graphics), and Damon Walker (Congressman Tom Graves office) enjoy the hospitality at Posche Salon. Robby Brown (Regions Bank), Summer Nix (Greater Dalton Chamber) and James Kelley (h2b creative) get to know each other at the Morning Mixer. Next Morning Mixer: Tuesday, January 24 Salem Baptist Church 1448 Pleasant Grove Drive, NE 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Free to attend! 8 Chamber Link www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Wake Up...Whitfield January 2012 www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 9 Economic Development Grow Greater Dalton… Providing Results! The Mission of the Dalton - Whitfield County Joint Development Authority is to facilitate the long-term, positive economic growth of the community by attracting/retaining jobs, diverse investments and growing the tax base. The Development Authority represents a public-private partnership funded by Whitfield County, City of Dalton and Grow Greater Dalton. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Andy Walker - Alliance National Bank Vice Chair: Bill Davies – BB&T Secretary-Treasurer: Kevin Harris – Arrowstar, L.L.C. Dan Combs - State Farm Insurance-Dan Combs Bob Kinard - Kinard Realty, Inc. Lamar Lyle - Lyle Industires Frank Robertson – Robertson and Company Elyse Cochran, CCE Several years ago, Grow Greater Dalton was in its beginning stages. This program, under Brian Anderson and John Neal’s leadership, was designed to infuse private-sector funding combined with existing local government financial support. The four components of the GGD program, simply stated, were: dramatically accelerate job growth by creating new jobs through new business locations and supporting existing industry expansions; create green-field sites (new and existing); create a vision of a new Greater Dalton and make the vision real through the Archway Partnership; and marketing the community globally. Out of this, an aggressive existing industry program has been born and much has been achieved in each one of these initiatives. Under the leadership of JDA Chair Andy Walker, new jobs have been created and retained, Archway is well underway, Carbondale Business Park located its’ anchor tenant, and Atlanta and site location consultants across the nation and world know us. In the past twelve months prospect activity has continued to increase, with the JDA actively working 43 new projects. These projects consist of retail, existing industry and new attraction. During the past year, the JDA was able to land 10 projects, resulting in over $84 million in new investments and 400 direct jobs! Announced projects include XL Brands, Kohl’s, Puma Polymers, MFG Chemical (expansion), Engineered Floors, Mohawk (expansion) and many others. In addition, 13 previously unoccupied buildings have been taken off the market and filled with an industry. The JDA website, www.locationdalton.com, received over 5,000 visits in 2011 with visits coming from India, Russia, Brazil, Canada, Germany and others in addition to the United States. The unemployment rate for Whitfield County in November 2011 (latest data available) was 11.6%, a decrease from 13.2% from November 2010. Economic progress is being made locally, with much of the credit going to Grow Greater Dalton. Stay tuned… GGD “today” is designed to be a four-year initiative to take our economic development program to new heights. The JDA anticipates prospect activity to continue at a high level for 2012 and we look for Grow Greater Dalton to help with our continued success! Chamber-Senior Vice President of Economic Development Grow Greater Dalton Score Card Alex Stall Economic Development Senior Project Manager Barbara Ward Director of Workforce Development Andrew Carnes Economic Development Project Manager 10 Chamber Link www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Economic Indicators November Unemployment Rate 2010 14.4% 13.2% 10.4% 9.8% Not seasonally adjusted City of Dalton Whitfield County Georgia United States 2011 12.6% 11.6% 9.9% 8.6% November Building Permits Residential Number Issued Permit Value YTD Number Issued YTD Permit Value Commercial Number Issued Permit Value YTD Number Issued YTD Permit Value 2010 3 $610,000 50 $5,331,299 2010 0 $0 19 $7,796,396 2011 1 $115,000 22 $2,532,260 2011 1 $250,000 24 $28,743,161 Local Sales Tax Distribution City of Dalton (LOST) Whitfield County (LOST) Nov 2010 Jan-Nov 2010 Nov 2011 Jan-Nov 2011 $195,785 $2,313,118 $208,213 $2,377,867 $1,091,620 $12,897,074 $1,160,918 $13,258,180 Would you like to see your logo here? Contact Beth Morrison for more information on becoming the Economic Indicators Sponsor. Retail Sales - National Not seasonally adjusted; estimates shown in millions of dollars Oct 2010 Jan-Oct 2010 Oct 2011 Jan-Oct 2011 Total retail sales Automobile dealers Floor covering stores General merchandise stores Food services & drinking places 321,844 51,545 1,304 49,588 39,906 3,159,392 516,287 12,996 481,276 389,229 344,675 55,911 1,392 51,564 42,219 3,420,390 575,435 12,534 498,885 410,628 *Unemployment rates and local sales tax are the latest state-provided figures. Numbers for building permits are obtained from county records. National retail sales figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau. January 2012 www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 11 Good Morning Dalton/Summer Nix Good Morning Dalton Representative Roger Williams addresses the crowd at the annual Legislative Preview breakfast. Representative Tom Weldon and Senator Charlie Bethel prepare to speak at Good Morning Dalton. Mitch Sanford (First Bank of Dalton) and Tom Minor IV (Minor, Bell & Neal) catch up at the event. Dalton City Councilman, George Sadosuk, Chamber Chairman Joe Yarbrough and Dalton City Councilman, Dick Lowrey are excited to be at the Chamber breakfast. Summer Nix Summer is a 2010 graduate of Dalton State College, where she received a Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Prior to the chamber, she worked in retail management. Summer resides in Chatsworth with her 3 dogs. 12 Chamber Link www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Ribbon Cuttings W e wish the following businesses much success We &%$-'+/.+ , (%%$0"!)$% , (%#).*! Book Gallery Paul & Joy Mann 1001 Market Street, Suite 26 (615) 210-6365 North Georgia Surgery & Comprehensive Breast Center Rod Rodriguez 1504 N. Thornton Ave. Suite 101 (706) 275-9000 Renz Nest Catering Greg Renz (706) 463-1589 Walnut Square Mall Play Area Brandy Whaley 816 Walnut Square Blvd. (706) 226-5255 Giant Scissors Looking for Work If you are a new business, new to the Chamber or have moved to a new location....call us! The Chamber will provide the giant scissors and ribbon and will take a picture for The Daily Citizen and ChamberLink. AlliantPlans.com January 2012 www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 13 2012 Chamber Program Sponsors 2012 Chamber Program Sponsors Green Hospitality Platinum Gold Brandon Combs Silver Sponsor Aladdin Printing & Copying Advanced Insurance Strategies Fairway Outdoor Advertising G & S Office Supply Julian Peeples Funeral Home Laughter & Jones Financial Management 14 Chamber Link SANTEK Waste Services of Georgia Minor, Bell & Neal The Morehouse Group Hampton Inn Super 8 www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Diplomat of the Month Diplomats of the Month Heath and Bob earned the Diplomat of the Month award together by personally delivering over 200 Chamber Member Directories in our recent Operation Thank You. D. Heath Patterson Bob Sheth I am honored to be selected Diplomat of the Month. As a Dalton native, I am thrilled to be back in the community that I love, and that has been so good to me and my family in the past. Hi, my name is Bhavesh (Bob) Sheth. I am the general manager of the Super 8 Hotel. I am honored to win the Diplomat of the Month award. The Diplomat program has helped to excel my networking with many businesses. I feel that the Chamber has been a great asset for bringing business to my hotel. I have also made many friends through the Chamber. I believe it is important to be an active member of the Chamber as we continue to become part of the solution to our current economic trials. In addition to volunteering for the Chamber, I am a community varsity football coach at Christian Heritage and an active member of the Kiwanis Club. I am an agent for Advanced Insurance Strategies, an independent full service insurance agency located on 200 West Crawford Street in downtown Dalton. AIS provides all types of property and casualty insurance as well as life and health insurance for both businesses and individuals. I am looking forward to continuing my service as a Diplomat for the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. Super 8 offers guests a comfortable, affordable stay. We also have a meeting/party room available for rent. For additional information about the Super 8, please call me at 706-226-9579. If I can be of assistance, now or in the future, please feel free to contact me at 706-847-3338. Thank you for supporting the Chamber. Chamber Connections at Next Chamber Connections Friday, January 13th, Outback Steakhouse 955 Market Street 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. • $15.00 members $65 non-members January 2012 www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 15 Member Mixer Member Mixer at Cox’s Spirits Connie Carter (Dynamic Displays & Graphics) and Karen Ankrum (Edward Jones, Ashlee Godfrey) meet new friends at the Member Mixer. Lacey Bennett (Servpro of N. Whitfield, Catoosa & E. Walker Counties), Andrea Gravitt (Select Leasing & Management) and Linden Stricker (NW Georgia Financial Solutions/ Compound Profit) have a fun time at the event. Terry Shropshire (Aces Moving Company), Crawford McDonald (ECM Real Estate Investing) and Tyler Brown (Temporary Resource Personnel) enjoy the event at Cox’s Spirits. Owners, Pratibha and Pramod Naik (Cox’s Spirits) David Cook (Starr-Mathews) and April Avant (Parkridge Medical Center) get to know each other at the Member Mixer. Next Member Mixer: Dalton Depot Thursday, January 19 110 Depot Street 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Free to attend! 16 Chamber Link www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 Go Green Energy Savings by using Window Film to reduce Heat build-up in your home 2012 Chamber “Green” Sponsor If you have ever sat in front of a window that was just too hot or walked into a room that felt like a sauna, then you have experienced the "greenhouse effect". Untreated glass acts like a magnifying glass to draw in the suns infrared rays, creating well above average temperatures. When this occurs in your home, this heat build-up can cause frequently used rooms to become uninhabitable during daytime hours. It is also typical that as one room heats up, the other becomes colder, forcing your HVAC system to struggle to keep up. Whether you are in a southern climate where the suns heat runs year round or in the north where you feel it mostly in the spring and summer, window film can reject up to 79% of the incoming solar energy. By rejecting this energy, your rooms become much more comfortable and livable year round. You will notice within minutes of installation that your home has become cooler, more comfortable and temperature balanced between floors. Typically, if you put at least a 50 Rated Film (Rejects up to 50% of Solar Energy) on the South, East And West Sides of your home, you can get a payback on Energy savings in 3-5 years! Most home owners choose a 35 Rated Film that will reject up to 65% of Solar Energy. Now those in northwest Georgia and surrounding areas have another option to installing window film themselves. Window Genie services Whitfield County, Catoosa County, Walker County, and Dade County as well as surrounding areas. For more information about Window Genie and Ben Hankins, call 706-866-6676 or email him at [email protected] Ben Hankins Window Genie of North Georgia [email protected] 706-866-6676 515 AIRPORT RD STE 102 CHATTANOOGA TN 37421-3525 www.windowgenie.com/locations/northwest-georgia Is your company Green? If so, share your story with us and the business community. Email your story to Beth Morrison: [email protected] and you may be featured in an upcoming issue of ChamberLink. January 2012 www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 17 Spotlight on Business Starr-Mathews Agency, Inc. Starr-Mathews Agency, Inc. is a locally owned independent insurance agency that has served Northwest Georgia since 1920. Growth in Northwest Georgia As the agency’s reputation grew in North Georgia, the Agency expanded its operations throughout the area by establishing agencies in Dalton, Rome, Cartersville, and Ringgold . It's intention...to become the largest independently-held agency between Marietta, GA and Chattanooga, TN. An Independent Agency As an independent agency Starr-Mathews represents over fifty financially sound insurance companies and spe- cialty markets. Through our core values and these company partnerships we act as advocates for our customers in the insurance market for their various insurance needs. We offer insurance knowledge, competitive pricing, and . a commitment to meet Serving Since 1920 the needs and objectives of our customers. Quality Employees The success of our agency is directly related to the quality of service given by our highly trained employees. Starr-Mathews currently employs more than forty producers and service representatives across its five locations, providing clients with risk management and compliance services, property and casualty insurance, health and benefits, and retirement strategies. STARR · ·MATHEWS AGENCY, INC Our Recent Addition In October of 2010, Starr-Mathews acquired David Cook, a native Daltonian, to help grow its presence in the Whitfield County area. After high-school graduation David went on to the University of Georgia to obtain his degree. Soon there after he was employed with CNA Insurance in Birmingham, AL. Almost a decade later David was ready to come home, establish his career, and become involved with a town and community he loves. Working out of our office in the Landmark Building (the old Hotel Dalton) in downtown, David specializes in Home, Auto, and Business Insurance. 18 Chamber Link www.daltonchamber.org January 2012 New Members & Updates Wilkins Research Services Becky Haney 1730 Gunbarrel Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-894-9478 NEW MEMBERS CJ Jewelry LLC Heenaben Soni 3896 Cleveland Hwy. Dalton, GA 30721 706-694-3463 Jewelry Sales & Repair Shopping & Specialty Retail MEMBER UPDATES Kaleen Rugs, Inc. Monty Rathi 1031 Bonny Oaks Drive. Dalton, Ga 30721 706-279-1122 Rugs Floorcovering & Related Industry Book Gallery Paul Mann 1001 Market St. Suite 26 Dalton, Ga 30720 615-210-6365 Books Gifts • HD Supply has changed their name to APEX Supply. They have a new website APEXsupply.com • Sikes Paper Company welcomes new salesman Gary Brock. Our apologies the address for Billy Willis Photography was incorrect in the last issue the correct address is: 304 Springdale Road Suite 2 Do you have changes at your company? E-mail Summer Nix at [email protected] to have them featured in the next ChamberLink. PS Nails David Huyn 785 Shugart Rd. Unit 6 Dalton, Ga 30720 706-226-0025 Manicures/Pedicures Nail Salon Artificial Nails January 2012 www.daltonchamber.org Chamber Link 19 PRST. STD. U.S. Postage PAID Dalton, GA Permit #502 Measure of Success: Having a commercial banker who is a partner and a friend Discover how successful your company can be when you have a personal relationship with a commercial banker you can count on and trust, day in and day out. > Commercial Lending > Business Internet Banking > Business Online Library > Commercial Deposit Products and Services Return Service Requested Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce 890 College Drive Dalton, GA 30720 Cohutta Banking Company commercial bankers work with you to help achieve your company’s financial goals. We offer the sophisticated products you need, including enhanced Business Internet Banking and our Business Online Library, paired with commercial banking expertise and local decision making to build powerful business banking solutions that are ready to work for you. > Treasury Services > Payment Services > 0.(2).*%&.*# "2)'$-2! > 3/,#&422 +2.21(! > Corporate Investments* cohuttabank.com | 706-695-9431 ?EFBK*@GKF@ <6)",=@* CF" *K6B4=K* C6K )+K6K" @76),%7 H&F)B,* HK=,649K*! EF=J! GKG>K6 0E5I#DHE1:J Not FDIC insured. No bank guarantee. May lose value. H&F)B,* HK=,649K*! EF=J 4* C *,>*4"4C6& )/ H&F)B,* 04FCF=4C- :)6<J CF" CF C3-4C@K )/ H&F)B,* ;CF2J :)7,LC ;CF24F% :)G<CF& 4* C "4B4*4)F )/ H&F)B,* ;CF2J H&F)B,* ;CF2! 8KG>K6 0$E:! 4* =7C6@K6K" 4F @7K *@C@K )/ .K)6%4C CF" )<K6C@K* ,F"K6 G,-9<-K @6C"K FCGK* C=6)** @7K H),@7KC*@J $4B4*4)F* )/ H&F)B,* ;CF2 C6K F)@ *K<C6C@K-& 0$E:(4F*,6K" >CF2*J A7K 0$E: =)BK6C%K K'@KF"K" @) "K<)*4@ =,*@)GK6* 4* @7C@ )/ )FK 4F*,6K" >CF2J