November Business Magazine

November 2016

Royal Collection 2016 Small Business of the Year

From a little sketch to a big success.

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B U S IN E SS Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Magazine

President and CEO Editor Bàrbara Rivera Holmes Chair Ed Newsome Chair-Elect Jenny Savelle Director of Communications Rachelle Bitterman Printing Colson Printers Photography Todd Stone Rachelle Bitterman Ad Sales Mary Bickerstaff Business (U.S.P.S. 886-680) is published bi-monthly by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, 225 W. Broad Avenue, Albany, Georgia 31701. Subscription rate of $50 is included in membership investment.

Periodicals postage paid at Albany, Georgia.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Business Magazine, 225 W. Broad Avenue, Albany, Georgia, 31701. For more information about this publication or advertising rates, call (229) 434-8700. This publication is produced by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without expressed written consent of the publisher is prohibited. All claims, materials, and photos furnished or used are, to the publisher’s knowledge, true and correct. Hence liability cannot be assumed by the publisher for errors or by the publisher for errors or omissions. Advertisements and editorial information published in this publication is subject to the unrestricted right to edit of, and by, our editor/publisher.

U.S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation Date of Filing: 09/15/14 Business (U.S.P.S. 886-680) is published bi-monthly by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, 225 W. Broad Avenue, Albany Georgia 31707. Subscription rate of $50 is included in membership investment.

Periodicals postage paid at Albany, Georgia.

Owner/Publisher: Albany Chamber of Commerce 225 W. Broad Avenue, Albany, Georgia 31701 Extent and Nature of Circulation:

A. Total No. Copies (Net Press Run) B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation 1. Sales through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, and Counter Sales (Not mailed) 2. Paid or Requested Mail Subscriptions (Include Advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies) C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of B (1) and B (2) D. Free Distribution by Mail E. Free Distribution Outside the Mail (carriers or other means) F. Total Free Distribution (Samples, complimentary and other free) (Sum of D and E) G. Total Distribution (Sum of C & F) H. Copies not Distributed 1. Office Use, Leftovers, Spoiled 2. Returns from News Agents I. Total (Sum of G, H(1), and H(2)

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November 2016 | BUSINESS

Avg No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months

Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date

1,700 1,540 0

10,200 9,240 0

0

0

1,540

9,240

0 110

0 610

110

610

1,650

9,900

50 0 1,700

300 0 10,200

www.AlbanyGa.com

N ov E M B E R 2 01 6

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C O N t E N t S

Comments from the 2016 Chair of the Board

17 America’s Home Place and Griffin Lumber & Hardware Host Business After Hours

28 Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau Update

vo lu M E 1 5

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Royal Collection: 2016 Small Business of the Year

2016 Small Business of the Year Finalists

Lunch & Learn Focuses on Available Recources for Small Businesses

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Chamber Ambassadors Receive Awards At Luncheon

Ribbon Cuttings

Partners In Excellence Rise N Shine Breakfast

Thank You Renewing Members

18 Star Business of the Week

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Lunch & Learn: Changes to the FLSA White Collar Exemption Rule

Message From the President and CEO

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Cintas, WSWG, Albany Museum of Art and Locos Grill & Pub Host Business After Hours

2016 Business Expo

34 Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau, Albany State University & Sonny’s BBQ Host Business After Hours

ABOUT THE COVER Royal Collection, owned by Terri Stumpe, was named the 2016 Small Business of the Year. Read her story and the stories of the runners-up and finalists starting on page 8.

Design by Rachelle Bitterman Photography by Todd Stone

w w w. a l b a n y g a . c o m

November 2016

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COMMENTS FROM THE 2016 CHAIRMAN Small businesses are the backbone of the United States, Albany and especially the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 90 percent of our members are small businesses, so it is fitting that we honor these hardworking business people each year by selecting a “Small Business of the Year.�

Membership is asked to nominate businesses they think are deserving of this award. This year we had 13 nominations. The nominees are asked to send in answers to specific criteria about their business and are encouraged to be creative. The submissions are judged by the Chamber’s volunteer-Small Business Resource Committee, which carefully go though each entry to select the winner and two runner-ups.

This year the Chamber is pleased to honor Royal Collection, owned by Terri Stumpe, as the 2016 Small Business of the Year. Terri has owned and operated Royal Collection for 30 years.

Congratulations Terri – this is a testament to your business prowess and Chamber and community involvement.

Ed Newsome I also want to recognize our first runner-up - Southern Commercial Materials owned by Bill Albany Air and Candy Parks and second runner-up - Cycle World, owned by Terry Hoffman.

Conditioning Congratulations to both these businesses; they exemplify the best of the best of family owned & Heating small businesses.

The Chamber is all about promoting our local businesses in Albany and what better way to promote them than through the Think Local Business Expo. Every booth space for the 2016 Business Expo was sold out and hundreds of people strolled the aisles where they were able to gather information and discussed ideas directly with representatives from more than 50 businesses.

During the expo, booths were judged for creativity, overall appearance, information availability and interactivity. The City of Albany won best booth for the 2016 Business Expo. Second runner-up was Unifirst and third runner-up was ComNet Technical Solutions. Congratulations to all the winners and all the exhibitors. It was a fantastic show with great networking opportunities. If you want to be a part of the 2017 Business Expo I encourage you to sign up quickly so you will be assured a booth.

Don't forget about all the other Chamber events such as Business After Hours, Rise N Shine Breakfasts and 2017 Annual Meeting. These events offer businesses the opportunity to promote themselves through sponsorships and networking opportunities. Check with Donna Gray at the Chamber to assess which opportunities best fit in your business plans for 2017.

Please join me at these upcoming events: December 1 - Military Affairs Christmas Party; December 2 - Strive2Thrive & Nonprofit of the Year Rise N Shine Breakfast.

B 6 3 @ 7 5 6 B 1 6 = 7 1 3 4 = @ / < G= < 3 B63 @756B 16=713 4=@

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November 2016 | BUSINESS

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Royal Collection 2016 Small Business of the Year

There was no mistaking the unbridled joy on Terri Stumpe's face as she fairly ďŹ&#x201A;oated to the podium at Chehaw Creekside Education Center on May 5 to collect the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year Award. Like her fellow nominees and the hundreds of other small businesses that are the lifeblood of the region's economy, Stumpe doesn't have a lot of time to plan on things like awards.

"You spend all your time just doing the job, serving the community," Stumpe said after her Royal Collection ladies' apparel business was named the 2016 Small Business of the Year. "I've been doing this 30 years now, and the lesson that's stayed with me most over the years is that when you own a small business, you have to be prepared to do it all."

Stumpe has done just that during the three decades that the Royal Collection has been open, as have done Bill and Candace Parks of runner-up business Southern Commercial Materials, and Terry and Terrell Hoffman of second runner-up Cycle World.

And while the Chamber's volunteer Small Business Resource Committee 8

November 2016 | BUSINESS

bestowed its honors on those business leaders on this May night, the formula is the same for the event's other finalists -- Charlie's Paint and Body, the Bread House & Granary, and Southern Point Staffing -- as well as the other nominees for the awards that were handed out for the 16th time.

"Small businesses are the heart and soul of the free enterprise system," said Chamber Board Chairman Ed Newsome. "We give out these awards each year to highlight the impact local entrepreneurs and small business owners have on our community."

Chamber President and CEO BĂ rbara Rivera Holmes offered statistics that drove Newsome's point home.

"The impact of small businesses is

most significant when consumers think local and shop local," Holmes said.

"For every $100 spent at a small, locally-owned business, $68 of it stays within the local community. Those dollars help create jobs, support families, fund government services through sales taxes, provide investment for neighborhood improvements and promote development within the community."

Which made winning top Chamber honor kind of a big deal for Stumpe.

"This is such an honor for me and for my five employees," the Royal Collection owner said. "You commit your life to a business when you own a small business, and my shop has consumed my life six days a week for www.AlbanyGa.com

30 years. But this award really puts a nice finish on our first 30 years. Now we can look forward to the next 30."

The Parkses started Southern Commercial Materials 28 years ago, specializing in sales of Sheetrock, insulation and ceiling tiles. But changes in the industry, especially those brought about by the Recession of 2008, forced the duo to diversify.

"The local building industry was particularly hard hit by the recession," Bill Parks said. "So we were faced with the challenge of reinventing ourselves or going away."

The company branched out into various other areas of the construction industry, becoming something of a one-stop shop for area builders.

"Making such a change was a big thing for us," Parks said. "We had to find the people to teach us about these other different areas of the industry, about the materials, and it was on us to learn as much as we could. We managed to get through those tough times and then to thrive by consistently offering the best customer service in the industry.”

The Hoffmans have no choice but to know all the ins and outs of their business and to keep up with the latest product lines in the ever-changing cycle industry. They are, after all, the 42-year-old business' sole employees.

"We've been here 42 years, and we still have people come in and say, 'I didn't know y'all were here,' " Terry Hoffman said. "That can be disheartening, but we've managed to persevere by providing top-of-the-line products, maintenance and customer service. It's reassuring when we have the 20- and 30-somethings come in now whose parents and grandparents are long-time customers.

"There's no such thing as time off when you have a small staff like we do, and it can be a grind at times,” he said. “But being recognized by the Chamber is big for us; it validates what we do."

Chamber Small Business Resource Committee Chairwoman Tammy McCrary, who handed out awards along with Newsome and Holmes, said she has a good idea what the 2016 award winners were feeling as their names were called. Her ComNet Technical Services (CTSI) business was November 2016

Southern Commercial Materials (above), owned by Bill and Candy Parks, a 28 year old locally owned business, was the first runner-up for 2016 Small Business of the Year. Cycle World (below), owned by Terry Hoffman, a 42 year old locally owned business, was the second runner-up.

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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November 2016 | BUSINESS

the 2015 recipient of the honor.

"I feel a little like Miss America giving up her crown tonight," McCrary said before the winners were announced. "But I'm so honored that CTSI won the award last year. It's had such an impact on our business over the past year.

"I think the thing about this award that makes it even more special is that the committee doesn't use the 'buddy system' to select the winners.

(Winners) are determined by a points system created for us by professors at Darton State College based on contributions to the Chamber and the community, growth, economic development, sustainability and 'green' contributions, as well as extra points for creativity. The businesses that win these awards earn them."

Holmes commended all small businesses in the community during remarks at the awards ceremony, which hosted a sold out crowd with Cinco De Mayo-theme festivities.

"Every day, our small business owners work diligently to grow their businesses and provide quality products and exceptional customer service," the Chamber president said.

"Albany's small businesses, as exemplified by our finalists and winner, are the best of the best. We are proud to call them Chamber members and to support their businesses through our efforts."

The Small Business of the Year awards reception served as the culmination of the Chamber's May 2-6 Celebrate Small Business Week, which aligns with National Small Business Week. Also during the week, Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard and Dougherty County Commission Chairman Christopher S. Cohilas read a joint proclamation celebrating small businesses in the community and commemorating the week county- and citywide.

www.AlbanyGa.com

2016 Small Business of the Year Finalists

Charlie's Paint & Body, Inc. focuses on customer service, honesty and returning customers’ vehicles to pre-accident condition.

Don’t let your brand just sit there.

{Put it to work.}

Southern Point Staffing develops strong partnerships with the area’s top employers, finding jobs and new opportunities for applicants.

Marlin Jones marlin@logosplus.com

Kendyl White kendyl@logosplus.com 229.435.0000 | logosplus.com

Let Us Put Your Brand on Unique Items for: Trade Shows Marketing Campaigns Golf Tournaments School & Team Spirit Customer Appreciation and More

the Bread House & Granary is a for-profit “all natural” granary/bakery that helps fund a local non-profit recovery community for women.

November 2016

Specialty Advertising Products

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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Lunch & Learn Focuses On Available Resources for Small Businesses The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a Lunch & Learn educating the business community on small business resources available through the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

The Lunch & Learn, facilitated by Ryan Waldrep, assistant director of entrepreneur and small business and regional project manager with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, focused on the definition of small business; business opportunities created by tourism and entertainment; financial resources available to small businesses; how “Makers Space” is improving collaboration between entrepreneurs; and the 2017 Small Business Week and Rock Star awards.

Georgia businesses with less than 10 employees make up 77.7 percent of companies in the state and in the Albany Area. “We are talking to individuals every day looking to establish a small business that may be able to take advantage of some things, including tax credits, that they may not know they are eligible for,” said Waldrep.

“There is a lot we can do to connect people to resources we may have. Some think they are only for big companies.”

Waldrep provides assistance to companies considering Georgia as a business destination and identifying and pursuing prospective companies with expansion and/or relocation potential. He assists local chambers of commerce and development authorities in their economic development activities. Prior to joining the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Waldrep served as president of the Telfair County Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority, and as an economic development planner at the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission.

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November 2016 | BUSINESS

www.AlbanyGa.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Cintas, WSWG, Albany Museum of Art and Locos Grill & Pub Business After Hours

December 1 MILITARY AFFAIRS CHRISTMAS PARTY Officers Club aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Open to members of the Military Affairs Committee. To join the Military Affairs Committee, contact Cassandra Mathis at 229.434.8700 or cmathis@albanyga.com.

December 7 STRIVE2THRIVE & NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR RISE N SHINE SOWEGA Council On Aging 335 W. Society Ave. 7:30 a.m. Networking & Coffee 8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Program sponsored by Albany State University

November 2016

Tina Harrell was the lucky winner of the $100 drawing.

The Albany Museum of Art (AMA), was the perfect location for the Business After Hours hosted by the AMA, Cintas, WSWG TV and Locos Grill & Pub. They rolled out the red carpet to welcome guests as they entered the museum.

Cintas featured some of their new products, WSWG touted their upcoming 2016-2017 program lineup and Locos put out a great spread featuring some of their most popular foods.

Cintas leads the industry in supplying corporate identity uniform programs, providing entrance and logo mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services, and industrial carpet and tile cleaning. It operates more than 400 facilities in North America including six manufacturing plants and eight distribution centers.

WSWG is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southwest Georgia. WSWG is a digital, full-power television station and is owned by Gray Television. The station maintains an advertising sales staff on Pine Avenue in Albany.

The AMA collection of art includes 19th and 20th century American and European paintings, drawings, sculptures, watercolors, prints and photographs and what has become one of the largest collections of traditional African art in the Southeast outside of a university setting. The Albany Museum of Art offers more than twenty art exhibitions annually, including its permanent collection exhibits. The museum facility contains a 200-seat auditorium and a classroom for studio arts. AMA has met the highest standards of the museum field by gaining and maintaining accreditation for more than 20 years a mark held by only three percent of institutions nationwide.

Locos Grill & Pub’s mission is simple — Great Food, Fast! It is your local spot for food, fun, beverages and all the sports you can handle. Locos is the place to catch the game or just hang out with friends and family. For more than 25 years Locos has been making good times. www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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2016 Business Expo

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Ann Carter's not a paid spokesperson for the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, but if Chamber officials ever needed one ... they could do a lot worse than the Colson Expert Printing print specialist.

Set up shop in her familiar northeast corner booth during the Chamber's annual Business Expo Sept. 22 at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn, Carter reflected on her seventh consecutive year at the Expo.

"Every year it gets better," Carter said while offering greetings to faces both familiar and new at the Expo. "You might think there'd be a lull at some point, but there hasn't been in all the time I've been here. It's like things get better and better and you think they couldn't be any better. And then, you get here and they are."

November 2016 | BUSINESS

Such a glowing review would be enough to endear Carter to Chamber staff for years to come.

But she's not finished. Her final take on the Expo is the money shot, the kind of unrehearsed great line that the Chamber can hang its proverbial hat on.

"Every year," Carter says, "I've gotten new customers."

That, Chamber Board Chairman Ed Newsome says as he watches happy members of the public, most with teeming goody bags of swag collected from the 50-plus participating vendors, and the vendors themselves make their way out of the Hilton Garden Inn ballroom, is what makes the Business Expo so special.

"Everywhere I walked in here today, I heard the same thing," Newsome said. "The vendors were happy with the

relationships they were able to build through networking at the Expo, and the 500 to 600 visitors who went through to check out the exhibits were having a ball.

"I'm so proud of our Chamber staff for the wonderful job they do every year with the Expo, and this was no exception. We sold out (of vendor space) early, and the folks with the Hilton Garden Inn helped us make sure things went off without a hitch. They are just great partners, and I think the relationship we've built has allowed us to turn the Expo into not just the Chamber's, but one of Albany's signature events."

And, make no mistake, the Expo is nothing if it's not an event, morphing rapidly into one of the Good Life City's must-do gatherings for Chamber members looking for new and effective www.AlbanyGa.com

ways to get the word out about the services and products they supply.

"Our biggest draw in coming to Albany was the location," Webstaurant Store Customer Service Manager Tyler Newhook said as he told interested patrons and fellow business reps about the restaurant equipment supplier that has been operating in the community for nine months now. "We ship all over the country and even internationally, but in Albany we're perfectly located to ship (equipment) to the Atlanta and Florida markets."

But Newhook's work force assessment underscores the Chamber's efforts to support job-readiness efforts

in the community.

"We haven't lacked for applicants; we've had plenty of people express interest," he said. "But out of 3,500 applications we screened, we ended up hiring only 14 of the 230 people we plan to hire. That's why an event like the Expo is important for us. It gives us an opportunity to get the word out to other businesses that we're not just looking for people to fill positions, we're looking for the right people.

"Hopefully some of those right people made contact with us here today."

Jon DuMond, representing the nonprofit Challenger League, which

The City of Albany walked away with the “Best Booth” award during the 2016 Business Expo. Booths were judged on creativity, appearance, information and interactivity.

uniFirst’s booth was chosen by the judges as the first runner-up durning the 2016 Business Expo.

November 2016

specializes in providing opportunities for area special-needs children, said he was encouraged by the response to the organization at its first Expo.

"We're meeting a couple of our most important needs here," DuMond, who is president of the Challenger League's board of directors, said. "We're getting volunteers to sign up, which is a growing need as more and more people learn what the Challenger League offers special-needs children.

But we're also spreading the word about the league.

"It seems odd to say, but as much as has been written about the Challenger League in local media, as much as we

Charlie Gilbert, with Steve Perrine State Farm, won the Weber Gas Grill from Modern Gas.

ComNet Technical Solutions’ booth was chosen by the judges as the second runner-up.

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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spread the word on social media, and as much as word of mouth spreads throughout the area, we still run into people every day who say they haven't heard of us. That's why the favorable response we're getting at the Expo is so important to our organization. We're making contacts that will help us spread the word even faster."

General Manager Christina Ethier and Service Manager Cindy Willis have no such identity problem with their business: Red Lobster restaurant. The eatery did, after all, Ethier and Willis point out between greeting visitors and inviting everyone to enjoy some of the restaurant's signature biscuits, recently celebrate its 45th year in Albany.

"This is awesome," Ethier said of the Expo. "As long as we've been in business in Albany, this is our first time being at the Expo. It's amazing the number of people who've come by to welcome and talk to us ... and to get some of our biscuits.

"This is an opportunity for us to kind of remind everyone in Albany that we're still one of the premiere

restaurants in our community, but it's also our way of letting the Chamber and its members know that we support them, too. We want everyone to know that we're proud of our long-term relationship with Albany, and it's a relationship we share with the other businesses in the community."

Paul Senkbeil, the director of sales and marketing for Southern Point Staffing, said the Expo has been the perfect forum for him and other Southern Point employees to clear up misconceptions about the employment service.

"Our business is not just about providing employment services, it's about getting to know and understand our clients' needs so that we have the opportunity to place the best employees possible with them," Senkbeil said. "We've reduced that old cliche' revolving door' of employees coming and going. We talk with our clients and then talk with our employees so that they understand clearly what's expected of them.

"We don't just place an employee

and then forget about them. We go onto the job sites, make sure they understand and are meeting expectations. I was on a job site at 5:45 this morning, making sure the employees we'd placed at that site were the kind of fit the client needed.

And that's typical of the kind of services we provide. We've been able to tell business representatives our story today at the Expo."

As Newsome beamed at the chaos around him, offering well-wishes to business reps he knew and to visitors who were making their way toward the exits, he made it clear that, despite a call by some to expand the Expo into a larger venue, the Chamber is happy with its arrangement.

"Everybody always wants to do things bigger and bigger," he said.

"There's nothing wrong with that, and I certainly feel that there is enough interest for us to expand. But, man, this thing is just about perfect right now. I know we could make the Expo bigger, but I don't know that we could make it any better."

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November 2016 | BUSINESS

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America’s Home Place and Griffin Lumber & Hardware Business After Hours

Lisa Vinavong, with Spectacular Vision, won the $100 drawing.

America’s Home Place and Griffin Lumber & Hardware hosted the August Business After Hours. America’s Home Place opened its doors for the after hours event during which guests enjoyed great networking opportunities and delicious food from Austin’s Firegrill & Oyster Bar. America’s Home Place builds quality custom homes better, faster and at a lower cost. America’s Home Place is a large volume, scattered site custom homebuilder, solely owned by Mr. Barry Conner, with more than 38 building centers and model centers located throughout the Eastern United States. America’s Home Place has proudly served more than 8,000 families and continues to build in excess of 800 homes per year on customer-owned lots. Building consultants help make the homes they build unique to the customer by adding special touches such as hardwood floors, granite counter tops and much more in its one-stop showroom. America’s Home Place is located at 1220 N. Westover Boulevard in Albany.

Griffin Lumber & Hardware was founded in 1898 as Cordele Sash, Door and Lumber Co., and has operated continuously since its founding. The company still has its location in Cordele and now has locations in Leesburg and Tifton. Griffin Lumber & Hardware provides fast and reliable service, as well as a qualified staff, that can help its customers with any project needs every step of the way. Griffin Lumber & Hardware’s Leesburg location is at 153 Robert B. Lee Drive.

November 2016

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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Star Business of t The Star Business of the Week initiative is an exciting "random draw" p

ALBANY MUSEUM OF ART 311 Meadowlark Driver | 229.439.8400 www.albanymuseum.com

DOUBLEGATE COUNTRY CLUB 3800 Old Dawson Road | 229.436.6501 www.doublegatecc.com

Contact: Paula Williams

Contact: Danny Souza

Sponsored by

CLEAN START 114 Baldwin Drive | 229.432.7871 www.cleanstartinc.com Contact: Marcy Schneider Thank you for providing donuts to our Star Businesses

Thank you to our additional sponsors ...

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November 2016 | BUSINESS

www.AlbanyGa.com

the Week

rogram for our 900+ regional member businesses in good standing.

RICHTER CONTRACTING/ JOHNNY RICHTER ROOFING 807 N. Washington St. | 229.436.0572

RENTAL DEPOT 2200 Gillionville Road | 229.883.5777 www.rentaldepotonline.com

Contact: Greg Richter

Contact: Trav Walden

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF ALBANY 711 N. Monroe St. | 229.439.0196 www.bgcalbany.org

L. CLAYTON SMITH, JR., P.C. 504 N. Jefferson St. | 229.434.1070 Contact: L. Clayton Smith, Jr.

Contact: Marvin Laster

November 2016

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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Star Business of the Week continued from page 19

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TECHNICAL ASSOCIATES 2423 Westgate Drive | 229.888.6632 www.technicalassociates.com

CUSTOM INTERIORS, INC. 1310 U.S. Hwy 82 W. | 229.420.8781 www.custominteriors-fa.com

Contact: Graham Thompson

Contact: Shelly Green

DRAFFIN & TUCKER LLP 2617 Gillionville Road | 229.883.7878 www.draffin-tucker.com

BAM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC. 1108 W. 3rd Ave. | 229.888.1515 www.bamrentals.com

Contact: Jeff Wright

Contact: Brian Miller

November 2016 | BUSINESS

www.AlbanyGa.com

Chamber Ambassadors Receive Awards At Luncheon The second quarter luncheon for the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors was held at BJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Country Buffet. Mary Bickerstaff, director of membership, welcomed the Ambassadors and thanked them for all they do for the Chamber. Awards were given to Joanne Jasper for Ambassador of the Quarter; Jonathan McNeilly with Kelly Services was runner-up for Ambassador of the Quarter; and Leonard Montgomery with WSWG and Jimmy West with Manna's Cafe were recognized for their recruiting efforts.

Ambassador awards are calculated through a points system on their participation at events and interaction with members.

This energetic group of volunteers helps the Chamber by attending Chamber functions and serving as meeters and greeters at events such as Business After Hours, Rise N Shine Breakfasts, ribbon cuttings, Star Business of the Week, Business Expo, Lunch & Learns and much more. Ambassadors are always there helping the Chamber make it happen.

Joanne Jasper, Ambassador of the Quarter

Jonathan McNeilly, Jimmy West, Recuiter Ambassador of the of the Quarter Quarter Runner-up

Our roots run deep.

Providing audit, accounting, business advisory & tax services to Southwest Georgia for more than 65 years.

2617 Gillionville Rd.

November 2016

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(229) 883-7878

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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Ribbon Cuttings

in elevator sales and service for over 45 years!

1432 US Highway 19 South 229-436-7131 | Fax 229-436-1188 www.albanyelevator.com

SALLY WETHERBEE ADOPTION CENTER

Contact: Peggy Davis 2223 Dawson Road | (229) 299-4504 www.albanyhumanesociety.com

AAPHC BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS CENTER Contact: Heather Combs 1712 E. Broad Ave., Suite B (229) 639-3135 www.aaphc.org

AAPHC HOTZ SCOGGINS FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

Contact: Heather Combs 401 South Madison St. | (229) 405-6959 www.aaphc.org

CATERPILLAR CLUBHOUSE ACADEMY & PRESCHOOL Contact: Virginia Harris 1206 Whispering Pines Road (229) 436-0531

Discover Albany

on a bicycle BLUE JAIE LEARNING

Contact: Katie Locke 2355 Lake Park Drive | (229) 854-5702 www.bluejaielearning.com

CAVALIER FASHIONS

DASHER & PADGETT FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Contact: David Castellano 2231-T Dawson Road | (229) 435-5185 www.hamiltonrelay.com

Contact: Anthony Fino 2542 Dawson Road (229) 435-9077

BIKE RENTALS AVAILABLE Albany Welcome Center 112 N. Front St. 229.317.4760 www.visitalbanyga.com

Contact: Thomas Padgett 2551 Lafayette Plaza | (229) 883-3500 www.dasherandpadgett.com

HAMILTON RELAY

If your business has moved or expanded and you would like to have a Ribbon Cutting or Groundbreaking contact Mary Bickerstaff at 317.7183 or mbickerstaff@albanyga.com.

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www.AlbanyGa.com

• We are your Human Resource Solutions provider, specializing in temp to perm and direct hire placements. We also provide temp labor, day labor and skilled labor.

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Partners In Excellence Rise N Shine Breakfast

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The Partners In Excellence Rise N Shine Breakfast, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, drew more than 300 business leaders and Dougherty County School System (DCSS) representatives.

Ed Newsome, chair of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce board of < < << << guests < << and < directors, welcomed introduced the DCSS students who were the star of the event. Monroe Comprehensive High School ROTC presented the colors, the national anthem was sung by Chantel Johnson

of Albany High School and the invocation and pledge was given by Andrew Davenport of the DCSS College & Career Performance Learning Center. The highlight of the program was the Lake Park Elementary Show Chorus, directed by Anthony Clements, who took center stage with a stellar performance that brought smiles to the faces of the crowd.

Chandu Kuntawala, Education Committee chair, discussed two new programs that will involve the business community with the DCSS. The first

program called, “Priority One,” is a volunteer mentoring program between the business community and the schools and is based on needs requirements from the schools.

The second program, called “Go See,” is a school-touring program during which the business community will have an opportunity to see, tour and visit schools and experience first hand all of the great things that are happening.

Dr. David (Butch) Mosely addressed the crowd about the progress that is

PRINCE OF ALBANY

2701 Ledo Road, Albany 229-432-6271 PrinceAutoAlbany.com 24

November 2016 | BUSINESS

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November 2016

table decorations. Dougherty County Pre-K was the winner and International Studies Elementary Charter School came in second.

The Partners in Excellence Program, celebrating its 30th year, is the school system’s premier school/business partnership program and pairs businesses, community organizations and civic organizations with individual schools to promote excellence in education. The event was sponsored

by Procter & Gamble, U Save It Pharmacy and The Staffing People.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

being made in the school system.

“We’ve built a lot of fires, and we are trying to keep them hot while we climb this mountain, but we’ve made a lot of progress - a lot of progress,” Mosley said.

The Partners in Excellence Program ushered in 48 new partners, pushing the total number of participating organizations to more than 260 businesses. SB&T was honored as the program’s Partner of the Year for 2016.

Becky Belcher, with DOCO Credit Union, announced the winners of the

• COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL 705 Canal Street www.awestenterprise.com

(229) 888-8347

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

25

THANK YOU RENEWING MEMBERS July-August 2016

ACC Distributors, Inc. ...................2013 ACMI Inc. .....................................1993 Advertising with Lisa, LLC............1996 Affinis Hospice..............................2014 AHERA Response Services, Inc. ............................2007 Albany Advocacy Resource Center, Inc.................1989 Albany Auto Service .....................2008 Albany Civil Rights Institute..........1998 Albany Land Co., Inc. ...................1979 Albany Mall, LLC ..........................2001 Albany Motorcars/ BMW of Albany .........................2004 Albany OB-GYN, LLC ..................1984 Albany Symphony Association .....1988 Albany Typewriter Exchange ........1975 Aldridge-Jordan, Inc. ....................2010 American Business Center, Inc. ................................2013 America's Home Place .................2011 Amputee Prosthetic Clinic Company ...................................2013 AutoNation Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Albany ......................1992 Badcock Home Furniture & More .......................................2010 Battery Source .............................2007 Bennett Feed & Seed....................2011 Beverly Pressley Mary Kay Independent Consultant ............2015 Bishop Clean Care, Inc. ...............1975 BJ's Country Buffet .......................2013 Byne Memorial Church .................2013 Cancer Ties, Inc............................2014 Captain D's Albany .......................2013 Central Plumbing & Heating Contractors of Albany, Inc. .........2013 Colson Printing Company .............2010 Communities In Schools, Albany/Dougherty Partnership in Education .............................1993 Concierge Catering.......................2015 Cycle World Bike Shop .................2013 Dawson Road Pawn Shop Dawson Road ............................2013 Divine Finney, PC .........................2011 Dougherty County Rotary Club ....2013 26

November 2016 | BUSINESS

Fast Copy and Blueprint ...............2013 Flint Office Furniture.....................2000 Garden Path .................................2013 Glass Service Center ...................2004 Golden Corral...............................1998 Griffin Lumber & Hardware ...........2014

PetroSouth, Inc. ............................2012 Phoebe Health Partners, Inc. .......2009 Professional Networking ..............2007 PT Gym Personal Training............2002

Hall, Thomas K., CPA...................1992 Hall, Williamson & Hart, PC..........2001 Harold Boling Designs ..................2015 Hilton Garden Inn Albany .............2005 Holiday Inn Express & Suites .......2014 Hughston Clinic, PC,The ..............2001

Ralph Paustian Jr. ........................2014 RE/MAX - Sylvia Phillips ............. 2009 Renasant Bank.............................1976 Reynolds, Shugart & Associates, Inc.......................2002 Rock Albany, The..........................2007

Industry Insulation, Inc. ................2007 JeWels of Albany ..........................2015 Jones Welding & Industrial Supply, Inc. ................2010 Journey Counseling and Psychological Services.......2015 King, Charles, Dr. .........................2005 L. Clayton Smith, Jr., P.C...............2011 Leadership Albany, Inc. ................2001 Leesburg Air .................................2009 LifeLink of Georgia .......................2002 Magnolia Plantation......................2001 Majors Electric & Mechanical Co., Inc...................2002 McAfee, Emily Jean......................1988 Microf Financial Services..............2012 Mikata Japanese Steak House & Lounge .......................1987 Mission Change............................2013 Navy Federal Credit Union ...........2002 Newell Construction......................2013 Nexus Pain Center of Albany, LLC ...........................2013 Nonami Plantation ........................2013 North Slappey Pawn Shop ...........2013

Quality Wrecker Service, Inc.........2011

Salt Lick Sausage Company.........2013 SB&T............................................1975 Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. ....................2003 Sherwood Baptist Church ............1998 South Georgia Bail Bonding .........2013 Southeastern Aluminum Recycling/Paper Stock .............2008 Southern Woods Plantation200 ............................2003 Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center, Inc................2002 Southwest Georgia Obstetrics & Gynecology ............................2012 Southwest Georgia Workforce 44 .............................2015 Southwestern Machine & Tool Works..............................2013 Sowega Chlorinator Co., Inc. .......2009 Starter Home Builders, LLC .........2015 State Farm Insurance Andy Christo ..............................2013 Sunniland Corporation..................2013 Total Merchant Services of Georgia..................................2010 TTL, Inc. .......................................1991 Turner's Fine Furniture .................1993 Utopia Concierge Travel................2015

Overhead Door Company of Southwest Ga. .......................2012 Papa John's Pizza........................1995 Pearly's Famous Country Cooking........................2013

Vision Source Albany Eye Care ...................................1985 WALB-TV .....................................1975 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC1975 www.AlbanyGa.com

Whiddon Wealth Management, LLC .....................2010 Wildfair Plantation, LLC. ...............2012 Williams Transmission Service .....2009 Windham Builders ........................2010 Wingate Inn Hotel.........................1998 WJ Kirksey Construction, LLC .....................2007 WorkLife Solutions, LLC ...............2015 Wright Turf Farms .........................2001

Make Your Home a Dream Home wood carpet tile granite marble area rugs

Yielding, Wakeford & McGee, Architects, A.I.A ........2013

Rest easy.

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27

CVB UPDATE Albany Marathon, Inc. donated $25,000 from this year’s SNICKERS® Marathon and Half Marathon to the Willson Hospice House. During the past 10 years the Albany Marathon, Inc. has donated $215,000 to the Willson Hospice House.

CvB welcomed Gabi Garrett to the team as the Manager of Marketing and Communications. Gabi comes to us from valdosta, where she worked at the Turner Center for the Arts.

Katie Corley, Albany CvB Sales Manager, attended Going on Faith marketplace and met with 42 meeting planners. Going on Faith is an association of 3,000 religious travel planners, serving the religious travel community. It acts as the source between travel planners and the travel industry.

Travel Industry of America reports that the religious travel community travels twice as often on a group package tour than the general population.

The Albany Welcome Center staff participated in the valdosta Georgia on My Mind Day, handing out brochures and Albany giveaway items. More than 40 tourism partners were at the center welcoming travelers and educating potential visitors on attractions and things to do in South Georgia.

The Albany CvB has rebranded with a new look and website. It is fresh, bright and is designed to make it easier for the visitor to navigate. It will have an enhanced event calendar, itinerary builder, and much more to help inform the visitor of all Albany has to offer.

Lunch & Learn: Changes to the FLSA White Collar Exemptions Rule

The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce held a Lunch & Learn at the Albany Welcome Center on the U.S. Department of Labor’s changes to the salary level requirements for white collar overtime exemptions. This important topic touches all businesses.

Sherrie Maxwell, SPHR, Human Capital Management Consultant with Moulton and Hardin, Inc., discussed what the new changes mean to businesses and explained the steps employers needed to start taking to ensure they are in compliance with DOL’s Final Rule: from exploring the myriad of options that are available, to developing plans to reclassify employees and to communicate the changes. This session provided valuable information about how to ensure a smooth implementation and minimize the impact to the

business and the workforce.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Final Rule on defining and delimiting the exemptions for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales and computer employees under the FLSA (the “Overtime Rule”or “Final Rule”) updates the salary level required for the executive, administrative, and professional (“white collar”) exemption to ensure that the FLSA’s intended overtime protections are fully implemented, and to simplify the identification of overtime-exempt employees.

Lunch was sponsored by Moulton and Hardin, Inc.

Any Home.

Any Phone.

Any Time.

Just dial 229.903.1200 and enter the address of ANY local property that catches your eye. You can search local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) right from your phone!

WALDEN AND KIRKLAND www.CBWaldenandKirkland.com www.facebook.com/WandKrealtor

601 N. Slappey Blvd. • Albany, GA 31701 Office 229-436-8811

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November 2016 | BUSINESS

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO Nearly 95 percent of the 689,567 registered establishments in Georgia have fewer than 50 employees, and 78 percent have fewer than 10 employees. Those figures are surprising when one considers the amount of commerce that takes place in our community and state.

From 1992-2013, small businesses – defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a firm with fewer than 500 employees – created 63.3 percent of net new jobs in the United States. These statistics substantiate why small businesses have long been hailed as the backbone of the American free enterprise system, and why the commercial fortitude of communities is often judged by the ability of its small businesses to thrive.

It takes a lot for a small business to be successful. According to SBA, 50 percent of businesses close after five years in operation, and just one-third survive 10 or more years.

Defeating the odds is one of the numerous reasons why Royal Collection, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Small Business of the Year, is worthy of recognition. This year, Terry Stumpe’s ladies apparel business, which has five employees and Stumpe, celebrates 30 Bàrbara Rivera Holmes years in operation.

President and CEO "You commit your life to a business when you own a small business,” Stumpe said, “and my shop has consumed my life six days a week for 30 years.”

Longevity was a theme among the top three honorees of this year’s chamber awards. Southern Commercial Materials, which was first runner-up, has operated for 28 years. Second runner-up Cycle World has been in business for 42 years.

The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s membership is diversified in industry sector and employee size; the chamber represents individuals, mom-and-pop shops, medium-size businesses and large industry. We take pride in providing services, programming and resources that enhance and strengthen our members. We congratulate – and thank – all our member businesses that open their doors each day, put people to work and help define Albany as an ideal business location.

Sources: Georgia Department of Economic Development; Georgia Department of Labor; Georgia Secretary of State; U.S. Small Business Administration.

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Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau, Albany State University and Sonny’s BBQ Business After Hours

Billy Edwards, with ASU, won the $100 drawing from the Chamber

The Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau, Albany State University (ASU) and Sonny’s BBQ joined forces to help kickoff ASU’s homecoming week. The kickoff party was held in Eula Lovett Hall in front of the stadium. Patrons were treated to a performance by the ASU Marching Band and dance team.

The Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), located in the historic Bridge House at 112 N. Front St., focuses on “putting heads in bed” by promoting Albany through advertising in travel publications, welcoming travel writers, touting Albany’s amenities at group meeting/travel conventions and much more. The CVB also houses the Albany Welcome Center.

The primary mission of Albany State University is to educate students to become outstanding contributors to society. Offering bachelor’s, Master’s, and education specialist degrees and a variety of non-degree educational programs, the university emphasizes the liberal arts as the foundation for all learning.

Sonny's BBQ is a barbecue restaurant chain founded by Floyd “Sonny” Tillman in Gainesville, Fla. in 1968. Sonny’s slow-smokes over oak for up to 12 hours at a time and still serves generous portions. Sonny’s believes people should be able to go out to eat and feel right at home.

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DISCOVER ALBANY

Where history & nature flow

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November 2016

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35

Building our Community Locally!

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