Albany Business Magazine May-June 2018

ALBANY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Business

CONNECTING WITH HISTORY U.S. Civil Rights Trail tells region's story LET'S RIDE Mountain biking offers outdoor adventure

MAY / JUNE 2018

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VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 3 ALBANY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAGAZINE

BUSI NE S S PRESIDENT & CEO, EDITOR Bárbara Rivera Holmes CHAIR Tammy McCrary VICE CHAIR Scott Tomlinson PRINTING US Business Products PHOTOGRAPHY Todd Stone AD SALES Mary Bickerstaff MARKETING AGENCY MADlab Marketing

Business (U.S.P.S. 886-680) is published 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.

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS 06 Comments from the Chairwoman

Chamber Chair Tammy McCrary shares why it's important to unplug

07 A Message from the Chamber President

Bรกrbara Rivera Holmes discusses the

correlation between tourism and small business

08 Connecting with History

Turning a complicated history into a journey of discovery

14

Making a Splash

New feature offers relief in hot summer months

15

Kayak Adventures

Explore rivers and creeks aboard your own kayak

16

Let's Ride

Teenagers cruising into a lifetime love of cycling

20 Lake Park Archery Visitors of all ages immerse themselves into the depths of the blue hole spring at the Flint RiverQuarium. Still one of only a handful of open-air aquariums in the world, the RiverQuarium continues to delight visitors as they learn about Southwest Georgia's native fish and wildlife.

Focusing on their goals on the field and in the classroom

24 Business After Hours

Recent Chamber events and highlights

26 2018 Industry Winners ON THE COVER: Kids go wild at Chehaw. From the Wild Animal Park to the endless recreational opportunities, Chehaw has an activity for every visitor. Most of the younger visitors are looking forward to the new splash pad scheduled to open this summer. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development

AlbanyGA.com

The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission celebrates existing industries

30 Albany Events

Keeping Albany on the minds of state and federal legislators

32 Building the Future

Equipping students to compete after graduation

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COMMENTS

FROM THE 2018 CHAIRWOMAN “Let’s wander where the WiFi is weak.” - Anonymous As we find ourselves entrenched in technology, we don’t take time to enjoy all the many places that can be found right in our own backyard. I was surprised the first time I visited our new Pretoria Fields Collective Brewery in downtown Albany, because they don't have TVs nor free WiFi. It’s a place to enjoy each other and unplug. It’s a place to have a conversation and not pick up our cell phones.

As we hosted our 11th Snickers Marathon and Half Marathon in March, everyone had the opportunity to visit downtown and see all the excitement taking place – new businesses opening, brand new loft apartments and our beautiful riverfront. I highly recommend you grab a box lunch, take off your shoes, grab a spot on the riverfront and turn off your cell phone.

Don’t forget there are bikes for rent at the Albany Welcome Center for your enjoyment. One of the things our past Chamber board chairs told me was that they were amazed at how fast the year would go, and I am discovering they were correct. It reminded me that we must all continue to take time to enjoy the many places we are fortunate to have here in Albany.

Things are moving forward in Albany and you don’t want to miss it!

Consider a STAYCATION: Don’t travel hundreds of miles; we have beautiful hotels, museums, parks, walking/biking trails and restaurants.

Thank you to all our small businesses, members, Chamber team, Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau team, the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission team, volunteers, visitors, partners and Chamber Presidents for moving Albany forward and making Albany a place to discover!

-TAMMY MCCRARY

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6 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO Tourism and Recreation From attractions to cultural institutions and from trails to the river, Albany has so much that offers a unique experience to visitors and residents alike. The mix is further enhanced by the community’s warm hospitality, its array of local shops and eateries and its convenient accommodations.

Tourism and recreation isn’t just about fun; it’s also big business for the community. In 2016, the latest year for which data is available, Albany’s tourism industry reached $244 million, an increase of 5 percent over the previous year. And, according to the Georgia Department of Labor, in 2016 Albany supported 4,880 hospitality-related jobs, a growth of 14.5 percent since 2012.

Our tourism assets help support small businesses in other industries, from service to retail. Our recreational assets, such as trails and parks, encourage outdoor activities and wellness. Our nature-based assets, such as hunting, fishing, kayaking, appeal to a broad resident and visitor base.

As we go through the summer months, I encourage all of our members and citizens to explore Albany and all it has to offer.

- BÁRBARA RIVERA HOLMES

Photo courtesy of: Shae Foy Photography

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May | June 2018

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 7

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Albany Civil Rights Institute

CONNECTING WITH

HIST ORY U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL TELLS REGION’S STORY

HistoryLED – U.S. Rights Trail Tells Region’s Story THE Connecting FREEDOM with SINGERS, BYCivil ORIGINAL SNCC FREEDOM SINGER RUTHA HARRIS, ENGAGE VISITORS THE SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH DURING AN ORAL HISTORY PRESENTATION FILLED WITH DYNAMIC TESTIMONY OF THE ALBANY CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

Photo courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development 8 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

W

ith the exception, perhaps, of a small sampling of historians and friends and family members of the brave foot soldiers who put their lives on the line during the Albany Civil Rights Movement, the actions of most have remained unsung as the turbulent days of the early '60s slip further away.

But, thanks to the development of a new historic trail whose focal point is the Southern United States – the site of many landmark events of the national Civil Rights Movement – those unsung heroes may finally get their due.

Officials planning and designing the landmark U.S. Civil Rights Trail announced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January that the trail will include 11 historic sites in Georgia and two in Albany: Shiloh Baptist Church and the Albany Civil Rights Institute.

The purpose of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail is to turn a complicated history into a journey of discovery. By combining the events, people, places and stories that defined the Civil Rights movement, the trail will connect and commemorate seminal elements of the Movement through immersive and educational travel experiences. Along the way, visitors will hear stories that shifted the course of history.

Frank Wilson, director of the Albany Civil Rights Institute, acknowledged that inclusion on the Civil Rights Trail offers the local attraction an opportunity to share the region’s story with the world.

“For us, it’s not only important to be under that banner, but we do believe that what happened here in Albany changed the world,” Wilson said.

“It’s an honor to be mentioned along with other, betterknown civil rights sites such as the Lorraine Hotel and the 16th Avenue Church in Birmingham. All of this helps support my long-held contention that the Albany Civil Rights Institute is an economic generator.

“Travelers will sleep in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores. This is a win-win for the Civil Rights Institute and for the city."

May | June 2018

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 9

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Albany Civil Rights Institute

ALBANY CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, ALBANY

"I am very excited for this recognition," Wilson said. "It is long overdue, and it will put us in our rightful place in the Civil Rights conversation.”

Shiloh Baptist Church’s pastor, the late Rev. L. M. Boyd, stood up boldly to the threats of anti-civil rights groups in Albany, welcoming and sheltering members of the Movement even in the face of threats against his life and against the church. He memorably preached a fiery sermon one Sunday after church deacons warned him of a bomb threat at the church.

MT. ZION CHURCH, ALBANY the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Georgia is flourishing with existing landmarks and museums that immortalize this piece of monumental history,” Langston said. “Much of this history can be experienced at the 11 sites in Georgia, and we encourage travelers to visit the other sites across the South during their trip. At every point along the trail, people will be walking where leaders of the Civil Rights Movement walked, connecting them at an intimate level to this important story.”

For more information on each site along the trail, visit ExploreGeorgia.org.

“I figured if it was my day to meet the Lord, what better way to go,” Boyd said in an interview days before his death.

The U.S. Civil Rights Trail features 11 sites in Georgia, each of which has a strong connection to the state’s civil rights heritage. The sites include:

Shiloh hosted the overflow crowd when King spoke to more than 1,500 at the old Mount Zion Baptist Church, which is located across the street and is now part of the Albany Civil Rights Institute. ACRI includes a museum, research center and the rehabilitated Mount Zion structure.

APEX Museum in Atlanta: Contains artifacts and exhibits and offers presentations depicting the often untold story of African and African-American history and culture.

Kevin Langston, Georgia Department of Economic Development deputy commissioner for tourism, announced that the Georgia and Albany sites would be included as part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.

“Georgia has always been a centerpiece of the Civil Rights Movement. As the birth home of Martin Luther King Jr. and 10 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

Dorchester Academy Boys’ Dormitory in Midway: Once a school for African-American children, Dorchester’s dormitory was used by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to train activists and leaders during the Civil Rights Movement.

Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta: The church where Martin Luther King Jr. was baptized, ordained and served as co-pastor with his father until 1968. It also functioned as a spiritual haven during the Movement.

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Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta: Housed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that worked to enforce Brown vs. Board of Education while fostering and implementing significant Civil Rights legislation.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home in Atlanta: King spent his formative years at this home on Atlanta’s Auburn Avenue.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta: King’s birth home was also the site of his baptism and ordination, and the early headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta: Exhibits at this multicultural center highlight the Civil Rights Movement and the modern Human Rights Movement.

The Carter Center in Atlanta: Namesake of former President Jimmy Carter, who was a tireless advocate for civil and human rights. The center also includes the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

The King Center in Atlanta: Hosts the crypts of Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King.

The eternal flame also is featured on the King Center grounds, along with Freedom Hall and an exhibition area.

May | June 2018

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AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 11

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Chehaw's New Splash Pad

MAKING A

A

s it’s heating up outside and the school year nears its end, children and parents alike are thinking of ways to cool off this summer. Chehaw Park hopes to provide the perfect retreat with its highly anticipated Splash Park, set to open this summer.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to provide a place for kids and families to get outside during times they need to be outside the most,” said Chehaw Park Executive Director Don Meeks. “We hope this will get kids away from their video games, away from pestering their parents that they’re bored, and outside enjoying nature with their families.”

Meeks looks forward to getting more people to Chehaw, too, as the heat of summer tends to keep crowds away.

“The Splash Park will provide the Park with revenue and attendance at a sorely needed time,” Meeks said. “Our attendance drops dramatically during the hot summer months and the Splash Park will provide a way to combat that.”

Chehaw’s Splash Park will feature several interactive sprinklers, water buckets, water cannons and more, making it enjoyable for all ages. It will be wheelchair accessible and designed with safety in mind, keeping the areas for potential roughhousing away from the areas that would be more interesting to small children.

SPLASH Water Odyssey, on board building Chehaw’s Splash Park. Great Southern Recreation has built water features for parks around the country, including Disney theme parks.

“The community has shown passionate interest in a water feature for years,” Meeks said, “and we are excited to be able to provide them a quality Splash Park thanks to SPLOST funding.”

Phase 1 of the project will include the creation of all infrastructure and basic water features, with the ability to add more interactive features during a later phase. Meeks also hopes to build several small shade structures in the Splash Park area for families to be able to cool off and picnic while children play.

"This is an exciting time for Chehaw and the community," Meeks said. "We hope the community will come together to help us make the Splash Park a premiere attraction for Southwest Georgia."

The land has been cleared for the Splash Park and Chehaw is currently in the permitting phase of the project. Once everything is cleared, the build process is a relatively short one.

Meeks is excited to have Great Southern Recreation, a part of

14 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

KAYAK

ADVENTURES THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES MAKE IT EASY TO EXPLORE THE FLINT THIS SUMMER KAYAK ATTACK ADVENTURES Trips range from one to seven hours long. Choose from Kinchanfoonee Creek, Flint River or Muckalee Creek. $35/single kayak, includes full day rental, life vest, shuttle pick-up and drop-off. Open seven days a week. Visit kayakalbanygeorgia.com or Chehaw for rentals. 229-669-1259.

KAYAK KRAZE Trips vary in length and location. $25/single kayak, includes full day rental, paddles, life vest, shuttle pick-up and drop-off. Open Monday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Visit @kayakkraze (Facebook) for rentals. 229-869-1983.

FLINT RIVER OUTPOST The Outpost has several trips to offer, ranging from two to eight hours; the most popular trip is from the Radium Springs landing to the Flint River Outpost, which is approximately eight miles. $35/single kayak, includes full day rental, paddles, life vest, shuttle pick-up and drop-off, dry storage and trash disposal. Open Sunday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. 229-787-3004.

THE YAK SHACK - UP THE CREEK KAYAK ADVENTURES & SOUTHERN PADDLERS CLUB The Yak Shack offers a three-to four-hour trip from Hwy 32 bridge in Leesburg down the Kinchafoonee Creek. $30/single kayak, includes full day rental, life jackets, paddles, shuttle pick-up and drop-off. Open seven days a week. 229-886-1060.

May | June 2018

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 15

M Mountain Biking

LET'S RIDE MOUNTAIN BIKING OFFERS OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

16 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

Do you remember learning to ride a bike?

The feel of the cool breeze on your face, the rush of the wind in your ears, and the exhilaration of zooming along faster than your two feet could carry you?

While some children still enjoy this simple pleasure, the rapid growth of technology and the insidious attraction of screen time have impacted the time kids spend outdoors, especially as they enter their teen years. The Chehaw Devo Youth Mountain Bike Team is hoping to help change that by opening up a new alternative - a world of fun, freedom and outdoor adventure for sixth through 12th graders.

Organized last spring by Coach Josh Fix, the small group of fewer than 10 riders spent their first season developing biking skills, building endurance, learning riding techniques and bicycle maintenance. As part of the Georgia High School Cycling League and the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, Chehaw Devo members had the opportunity to participate in races around the state last fall. Although they practiced regularly throughout the summer on the 11-mile bike trail at Chehaw and traveled to Tallahassee, Fla. to ride different trails, the team decided to postpone competitive cycling, not participating in any races their inaugural year.

This decision was based partly on the desire to build a strong foundation of cycling fundamentals and partly on economics.

Racing expenses can be steep, averaging about $100 per team member for the out-of-town events, which always require an overnight stay in addition to entry fees, travel expenses and meals. This year, Fix hopes to raise enough money through sponsors, donors and fundraising events to allow the team to participate in at least one race.

Vanessa Speigle, who had three children on the Devo team last year, said the experience helped her children grow on several different levels.

“Josh was a great coach. He taught them so much, from basic bike skills to learning to fix their own bikes. He pushed them to improve, but was always encouraging,” Speigle said. “It was great to have him focused on the kids and caring, rather than just competing.”

Fix, who grew up riding bikes and loving it, hopes to help kids in Southwest Georgia develop the same lifelong love of the sport.

May | June 2018

“Unlike many sports, like baseball or football, which peak when athletes are young, cycling is a sport that can last a lifetime,” Fix said.

“With Chehaw Devo, when we race it’s not just about winning.

It’s about experiencing success and growth in what we’re doing.

Our goal is to introduce a new generation to the joy of mountain biking and to instill an appreciation of the sport that will last their entire lives.”

For Chehaw Devo, part of the love for the sport involves volunteering to help build and maintain the local trails on which they ride. Last year, the emphasis was on rebuilding the trail system at Chehaw Park.

“Being on the team wasn’t always about riding,” Speigle said.

“After the storms of last year, Coach Fix encouraged the kids to help clean up the bike path and showed them how important it was to care for the track. He taught them not to just be on a team, but to be part of a team.”

The group also has been instrumental in developing a new multiuse biking and hiking trail in Downtown Albany adjacent to the paved riverfront trail. This 6 1/2-mile trail offers a more challenging ride than the one at Chehaw; Coach Fix rates it as intermediate AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 17

M Mountain Biking in difficulty. The path, which cuts in after the train trestle, should be fully usable by summer.

This summer also will mark the beginning of Chehaw Devo’s second season. There are no tryouts for spots on the team, and there is no cap on the number of team members. While the team is based in Albany, membership is open to any Southwest Georgia students in grades six through 12.

Visit the team’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/ ChehawDEVO or contact Coach Fix directly at joshfix5@ gmail.com if you are interested in learning more or joining the team. Informational meetings also will be held this spring.

“We are committed to providing a positive experience for all student athletes, regardless of their current ability level,” Fix said. “If you are interested, there’s a place for you here.”

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18 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

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Archery Program

L A K E PA RK

archery

20 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

F

or fourth- and fifth-graders at Lake Park Elementary School, dreams of becoming the next young Robin Hood or Katniss Everdeen seem within reach thanks to the school’s award-winning archery program. After 10 years of competition, Coach Jeremy McKinley led this year’s team to a first place victory in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Tournament, earning the State Archery Championship in the elementary division. More than 1,100 fourth through 12th grade students competed at the state tournament.

The Lake Park team is headed to nationals in Louisville, Ky., the second weekend in May, at which more than 16,000 students will let arrows fly in an attempt to take home the national title.

“In all of our years of competing, we have never placed higher than third at the state level,” McKinley said. “It’s a big adventure to be going to Louisville, and the team is really excited.” The national tournament is the culmination of a lot of hard work this school year. The team has been shooting since October in order to qualify at the district, regional and state levels of competition.

As thrilling as it is to win a competition, though, these students are likely to reap the benefits of their involvement in archery in many other ways. According to NASP, students learn focus, self-control, discipline and patience. McKinley agrees.

“The ability to focus on a bullseye goes far beyond the archery range. Archery instills patience and focusing on a goal, which spills over into the classroom. I’ve had parents tell me their kids are more focused in class because they learned to calm and still themselves on the archery range.”

Allison Starr, whose 9-year-old daughter, Molly, joined the team this year, has been impressed by the discipline and structure archery has added to Molly’s life.

“Archery has been a great way for her to focus on something outside of the classroom,” Starr said. “Molly’s involved in other sports like soccer and cheering, but archery is totally different.

Instead of running and jumping, she has to stand still and learn to focus on the target.”

Starr also was pleasantly surprised to learn that although archery is often viewed more as an individual sport, success really is a team effort. “While they earn individual scores, those scores count toward the team score, so all the kids are pulling together to support and encourage one another. A real camaraderie develops.”

“I always tell them that the better you do as an individual, the May | June 2018

OLIVIA KEITH, A FOURTH-GRADE STUDENT AT LAKE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TAKES AIM DURING THE SCHOOL'S ARCHERY TEAM PRACTICE. better you do as a team,” McKinley said.

The co-ed Lake Park team is made up of 24 students in the fourth and fifth grades. All students learn the basics of the sport and spend two weeks shooting as part of the standard physical education curriculum. Once the unit is complete, McKinley holds open tryouts, with up to 125 students vying for the available spots on the team.

“With elementary archery, there is a new team every year as the older kids age out and the younger ones join the team,” he said.

“Kids in the lower grades see what the older kids are doing and want to be a part of it. Some of them have even asked for bows at Christmas so they can practice and be ready to try out in the fourth grade.”

Many of the team members, like Molly, practice at school, but also have targets set up at home in their back yards.

“Molly has been excited to try something new this year,” Starr said.

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Archery Program

MOLLY STARR, CENTER, PRACTICES WITH THE LAKE PARK ELEMENTARY ARCHERY TEAM. “Coach McKinley has done a great job of guiding the kids. Molly really appreciates it, and so do I, as a parent. Archery has been a very positive experience for her.”

Another aspect of archery that McKinley said he appreciates is that it is an activity not dependent on popularity, athletic skill, gender, size or academic ability. “It’s open to any student. With the right training and enough practice, it is possible to excel. These kids are learning not only a sport, but also life lessons they will need to be successful in the classroom and later in life.”

22 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

LBANY ELEVATOR SERVICE 1432 US Hwy 19 South 229.436.7131 AlbanyElevator.com

AlbanyGA.com

H Highlights BUSINESS

A F T E R H O U RS

Debbie Blanton getting her blood pressure checked by one of Phoebe medical students.

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PHOEBE PUTNEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

THE FLATS AT 249

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hoebe Putney Memorial Hospital hosted an Open House & After Hours Reception on February 8 at Phoebe Learning Center. Guests enjoyed door prizes and toured Flaggstone, housing for up Prince new ad_Layout 1 1/6/14the 5:21 PM Page 2 to 40 medical students and physician residents who are training at Phoebe. During the tours, residents shared about their experiences at Phoebe and in Albany.

This showed off also the Medical College of Georgia program at Phoebe and the UGA School of Pharmacy at Phoebe. These students are actually "Phoebe medical students," but they are MCG or UGA Pharm students doing their rotations here.

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he Albany Area Chamber hosted Business After Hours on March 27, at the Flats at 249 downtown, owned

by Pace Burt. The arpartments are now at 100% occupancy. Food was provideed by the Albany Fish Company, soon to have their second location, The Flint, in downtown.

Sponsors Karen Cohilas, State Farm agent, and the Flats at 249 had several giveaways including a Kayak Attack trip down the Flint River and a gift basket from Sol Power Yoga. Pretoria Fields Collective was on site for samplings of their home-brewed craft beers.

PRINCE OF ALBANY

2701 Ledo Road, Albany 229-432-6271 PrinceAutoAlbany.com 24 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

WELCOME

NEW MEMBERS SOUTH GEORGIA STARZ ACADEMY, INC. 506-C South Slappey Blvd. | Albany 229-405-9089 | sgstarz.org

STATE FARM INSURANCE – WILL WORN 2818 Old Dawson Road Suite 10 | Albany 229-888-0007 | willworn.com

KAYAK ATTACK ADVENTURES WITH SMOOTHIE & JUICE BAR

127 N. Front Street | Albany 229-669-1259 | kayakalbanygeorgia.com

Debbie McGee from Integra Business Alternatives, Barbara Rivera Holmes and Justin Strickland

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WALMART #5797

AP R I L 5

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NEW YORK LIFE – RYAN GARNTO

262 Cordele Road | Albany 229-352-9332 | walmart.com

ALBANY-DOUGHERTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

he Albany Area Chamber hosted Business After Hours on April 5 on the lawns of the Manor House at Merry Acres Inn & Event Center. The AlbanyDougherty Economic Development Commission served up food, drinks and music to wrap up Albany-Dougherty Industry Celebration Week. Chamber members Project1_Layout 1 3/29/17 10:00 AM Page 1 were eligible to win a $100 cash prize drawing. Congratulations to Debbie McGee from Integra on winning the cash prize!

ARCADIA BAPTIST CHURCH, INC.

1214 N. Jackson Street | Albany | 229-435-7600

2 SCOOPS AND A DOG

2208 Palmyra Road | Albany | 229-420-9746

GRUBBWEAR

Albany | 229-854-2555 | Instagram: grubbwear

INTERSTATE NATIONALEASE, INC. 1400 Brickline Court | Albany 229-639-0781 | inlleasing.com

INTERSTATE WAREHOUSE SERVICES 2702 Palmyra Road | Albany 229-883-5200 | interstatewarehouse.com

TRANSPOWER, INC.

2700 Palmyra Road | Albany 229-883-6550 | transpower.cc

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FLATS AT 249

249 Pine Avenue | Albany | 229-496-6385

CARTER PROPERTIES

2231-Q Dawson Road | Albany | 229-432-2084

LOVE THAT HOUSE REALTY CO., LLC 3525 Wexford Drive | Albany 229-291-2272 | lovethathouserealty.com

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA SHRM ALBANY CHAPTER #0623 P.O. Box 70623 | Albany 229-343-3848 | albanyga.shrm.org

THE ANCHORAGE, INC.

162 Hampton Lane | Leesburg | 229-435-5692 anchorageofalbany.org

THE PHOENIX AT ALBANY

1721 Beattie Road | Albany | 229-483-0325

SPARK WIRELESS T-MOBILE

1.855.639.3202 www.limbcareonline.com May | June 2018

2725 Dawson Road Suite 2 | Albany 229-883-5790 | sparkwireless.com

FRED TAYLOR COMPANY, INC.

Albany | 229-883-5200 | fredtaylorcompany.com

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 25

H Highlights 2018

IN D UST RY WI N N ERS The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission held its 2018 ADEDC Industry Awards on April 4 during the Albany Area Chamber's annual industry luncheon. Existing industries Procter & Gamble, MillerCoors, Marine Corps Logistics Command and Phoebe Putney Health System were honored for their achievements in global exports, innovative practices, economic impact and corporate giving, respectively.

GLOBAL COMMERCE AWARD: PROCTER & GAMBLE

As the world’s largest consumer goods company, Procter & Gamble provides a multitude of household items to consumers across the globe, with more than half of its 2017 total sales occurring internationally. The P&G Albany plant currently employs an estimated 700 associates and is the primary supplier of Bounty and Charmin products to the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico, producing as a plant enough product to sustain the consumption of those regions for an entire year. In addition to its production role, P&G Albany is also a development site for Charmin products, responsible for gauging global consumer needs and translating those needs into product innovation.

EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AWARD: MILLERCOORS

MillerCoors and the Albany Brewery believe that producing great beer comes with great responsibility. That responsibility is ensuring the environmental sustainability of the Albany community through water stewardship, lessened energy and carbon footprints, being land-fill free and moving towards a zero waste operation – MillerCoors continues to seek out innovative practices to help further their mission of sustainability and meet these goals. Ninety-nine percent of MillerCoors’ generated waste is recycled or reused through innovative methods and collaborative partnerships. For example, all spent grain is donated to local farmers to be used for cattle feed, benefitting the region’s agricultural economy.

ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD: MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS COMMAND

Over the last year, the Marine Corps Logistics Command (LOGCOM) heavily invested in and made significant strides toward strengthening the Albany industrial base and economy by implementing a local hiring strategy, adopting better hiring practices, creating and strengthening relationships with local universities, colleges and schools, summer internship programs, and career fairs. The command employs more than 2,500 local 26 May | June 2018 | BUSINESS

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civilians and nearly 300 uniformed service members. In 2017, LOGCOM’s Marine Depot Maintenance Command processed in excess of $378 million in new work orders generating more than $460 million in revenue, totaling to an increase of $2.7 million in new work and $4.3 million in net operating income, respectively. Recovery efforts from the 2017 tornado impact resulted in $31.1 million in expenditures that included $1.9 million to support a labor surge and the activation of 175 Marine Reservists. The Reservists salary base of $2.6 million directly impacts local housing, dining, retail and entertainment industries.

ONLY ONE ALBANY AWARD FOR CORPORATE COMMUNITY CITIZENSHIP: PHOEBE PUTNEY HEALTH SYSTEM

In the 108 years since the first patient was treated at Phoebe, the organization has expanded its mission of community service in countless ways. In the last fiscal year, Phoebe provided more than $274 million in community benefit. Following the January 2017 storms, Phoebe not only provided housing and tens of thousands of dollars to help affected employees recover, but also opened an emergency clinic and initiated a mobile clinic to treat residents, volunteers and first responders. And, when the worst flu epidemic in a decade hit in early 2018, Phoebe quickly ramped its vaccination program and provided hundreds of free flu shots.

Phoebe is also a leader in sponsoring important community activities. From the annual Snickers Marathon to the recent Grow Albany Tift Park Community Planting Day, Phoebe is represented in virtually every major organization that is working to improve the quality of life in Albany.

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SMALL BUSINESS WEEK TUESDAY, APRIL 24 | Small Business Proclamation

Room 120 of the Government Center in downtown Albany. Noon.

MONDAY, APRIL 30 | Star Business of the Week Sunnyland Farms, Inc. 10:00 a.m.

MONDAY, APRIL 30 | Women in Business Luncheon

Sponsored by Renasant Bank The Bread House from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. $25 members, $35 non-members

TUESDAY, MAY 1 | Small Business Awards Reception

Doublegate Country Club from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. $35 members, $45 non-members

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 | Lunch & Learn - Google Live Stream: "Building a Local Search Presence" Albany Welcome Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Complimentary for members, $10 for non-members.

Includes lunch courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick.

THURSDAY, MAY 3 | Webinars throughout the day.

Visit this website for a complete list: https://score.6connex.com/event/vc/nsbw/login

LOCAL AREA BUSINESS Serving SWGA and Beyond for 30-plus Years

SPONSORS:

PLATINUM | COMNET TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS GOLD | A. WEST, PROCTOR & GAMBLE, WALB SILVER | DRAFFIN & TUCKER, SYNOVUS, SOUTHERN POINT STAFFING BRONZE | BISHOP CLEAN CARE, NEOS, MOULTON & HARDIN, STANLEY STEAMER, THE STAFFING PEOPLE, HUTCHINS CLENNEY RUMSEY HUCKABY, PC For more information on these events or to register, visit us online at AlbanyGa.com or call 229-434-8700.

2018 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES 229 YOGA | ALBANY SURGICAL L.E.G.A.C.Y. CASE MANAGEMENT | SOUTHERN POINT STAFFING

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRONIC QUOTES WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS/PRICE POINTS LOCALLY-OWNED FAMILY BUSINESS

NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR NOMINEES ALZHEIMER’S OUTREACH | EASTER SEALS KEEP ALBANY-DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL ALBANY AREA YMCA | THE SALVATION ARMY FLINT RIVER HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

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2807 OLD DAWSON RD • ALBANY (229) 435-0000 • WWW.LOGOSPLUS.COM KENDYL WHITE • MARLIN JONES

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H Highlights ALBANY-DOUGHERTY DAY FEBRUARY 20-21

Community and business leaders met with top state officials in Atlanta on February 20-21 to share the community’s story as part of Albany-Dougherty Day at the Georgia Capitol, an annual legislative event organized by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.

The goal of this event is to keep the needs and priorities of Albany-Dougherty County and the Albany Area top of mind with state leaders in order to facilitate opportunities and increase awareness about the region’s assets.

Members of the locally elected legislative delegation – Sen. Freddie Powell Sims and Reps. Gerald Greene, Winfred Dukes, Ed Rynders and Darrel Ealum – participated in the event, presented resolutions to the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives and welcomed members of the community leadership to address both legislative chambers.

Community leadership met with state officials including Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, House Speaker David Ralston, University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn and Jay Roberts, director of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Albany-Dougherty Day is one component of the chamber’s legislative advocacy program, which includes the development of a state legislative agenda; professional representation at the state and federal Capitols by Cornerstone Government Affairs; and ongoing federal advocacy for Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.

During the event, leaders demonstrated Albany-Dougherty County’s cross-sector and public-private partnerships, highlighted advancements in economic and work force development, and had important conversations about the direction the community and region is headed, and the role the state plays in that.

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D.C. FLY-IN MARCH 20-21

Community and business leaders spent March 20-21 in Washington D.C. meeting with federal officials for the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s D.C. Fly-In, an annual legislative event that brings together the community, the Marine Corps and members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation.

This year’s trip was an important relationship-strengthening and information-sharing vehicle with high-ranking Marine Corps leadership, the Georgia Congressional Delegation and their senior staff. The group discussed the role and efforts of the Albany Area Chamber and community leadership in advocating and coordinating at the local, state and federal level on policies and initiatives that strengthen the installation and its long-term sustainability. The chamber hosted a successful reception at the AT&T Forum for the Congressional delegation – U.S. Reps. Sanford Bishop and Austin Scott, and U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue – and Marine Corps Leadership.

The local delegation discussed items of importance to the area with key senior Congressional staff.

The 2018 Albany-Dougherty delegation includes the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce; Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission; Albany CEO; Albany Technical College; Albany State University; City of Albany; Dougherty County; and Dougherty County School System. The chamber’s legislative program is supported by these partners as well as the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau; Georgia Power; Hoizons Community Solution; Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital; and Procter & Gamble.

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H Highlights

Building the Future MORE THAN 25 HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE STATE PARTICIPATED IN THE GEORGIA FIRST ROBOTICS PEACHTREE DISTRICT QUALIFIER ON MARCH 16-17 AT THE ALBANY CIVIC CENTER.

This event, sponsored by Procter & Gamble, was the third Georgia FIRST Robotics competition held in Albany. Eight of the participating teams were from the Albany Area. Of the eight teams, those from the 4C Academy, Lee County High School, Dougherty Comprehensive High School, Deerfield-Windsor School and Calhoun County High School advanced to the state competition at the University of Georgia in April. The Commodores, the 20-student robotics team at the 4C Academy, advanced to the national FIRST Robotics Competition, which was April 18-20 in Houston.

For the past three years, the Albany Area’s robotics program has been reinvigorated, thanks to corporate partners and members of the Albany-Dougherty Industry Roundtable coming on board with a focus on work force development, a well defined Georgia FIRST program, and community business leaders who are investing time and resources into these students. Rob Collins, chairman of the P&G FIRST Robotics Qualifier Local Planning Committee and senior mentor for the control systems and programming for the Albany Area teams, has played a part in working toward the goal of equipping young people with various skill sets to not only compete at the games, but after graduation.

“Everything in business is going automated, so the idea is to not only teach students how to build robots, but to provide them with tools and skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that they can use in the real world,” said Collins who owns NEOS Technologies in Albany.

The development of these skills in students will enrich the work force, which in turn attracts companies to South Georgia and keeps them here, Collins said. Leadership at P&G had the same vision to grow hometown work force when the company became the title sponsor – with a $50,000 donation – for the district qualifier competition.

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“P&G feels that it is very important to build a partnership with industry and the local education system in order to cultivate local talent and grow our hometown work force,” said Levent Gokcen, Initiatives delivery engineer for P&G and a member of the area’s robotics planning committee and judging panel.

“Also, STEM programs such as Georgia FIRST Robotics are critical to foster the innate curiosity, technical mastery and teamwork in students early in their education, which are all critical skills for employment. P&G is honored to be the title sponsor for this event and help students succeed. We hope to continue to grow this partnership with all the grade levels in the local area.”

Georgia First Robotics is a competition open to students in ninth through 12th grades whose mission is “to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.”

Learn more at gafirst.org.

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