Albany Business Magazine September-October 2018

ALBANY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Business SOUTHERN POINT STAFFING Supplying a work force for local businesses SELLERS TILE New showroom expansion plans for downtown

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

Complex businesses demand expert banking solutions.

That’s where we come in.

At Synovus, we mean business.

From commercial financing and capital market expertise to treasury services and international expansion assistance, we have the banking solutions to successfully address your complex business needs.

Find out how we can help you.

1-888-SYNOVUS | synovus.com

Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.

VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 5 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.

U.S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation Date of Filing: 9/29/08

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 06 Comments from the Chairwoman

Tammy McCrary emphasizes the impact small

businesses make on the community and the economy

07 A Message from the Chamber President

Bárbara Rivera Holmes discusses the

importance of business and educational partnerships

08 A Bright Future for Albany

14

18

Kindergarten student Jason T. Harris Jr. gets a high-five from city of Albany employee Alonzo Lewis III (left) at Lamar Reese Magnet School of the Arts on the first day of school. On August 2, more than 14,500 students returned to school in the Dougherty County School System.

Southern Point Staffing partners with Sunnyland Farms to produce big results

Committed to Downtown

Sellers Tile expands downtown location to include a new tile showroom

When Small is Big

Insight from state leader on thriving marketplace of small businesses in Georgia

20 Major Industry Chooses Albany Dougherty County

Georgia-Pacific announces new lumber facility in Albany

22 Going Beyond the Clock

Deerfield-Windsor School discusses scientific approach to scheduling for students

26 Highlights ON THE COVER: Brianna and Jason Wilson of Southern Point Staffing and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Small Business of the Year—visit with employees at Sunnyland Farms. The staffing firm helps to provide a work force to meet the company's seasonal needs.

AlbanyGA.com

31

Recent Chamber events and highlights

Albany Under 40

The Albany Area Chamber announces winners for young professional awards

Follow us on Facebook

COMMENTS

FROM THE 2018 CHAIRWOMAN "Small businesses are the backbone of our community."

Let me begin by saying something to all small businesses that just doesn’t get said enough: Thank you. Thank you for doing business here, for making investments in our community, for investing in the Chamber and for creating jobs. I’m grateful for what you do, because, as we all know, small businesses create economic opportunity and growth.

In May, as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, the Chamber recognizes our local small businesses and hosts many events focused on small business. The week kicked off with a SOLD OUT Women in Business Luncheon. The panel included: Sharon Subadan, of the city of Albany; Jenny Savelle of Bishop Clean Care; Penny Gregorio of 229 Yoga; and Carlton Grubb of Grubbwear.

Congratulations to Southern Point Staffing for receiving the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce's 2018 Small Business of the Year award and the Albany YMCA for receiving the 2018 Nonprofit of the Year award. Thank you to the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center for closing out the week with our Lunch & Learn Live Stream on “Build a Local Presence.”

We all rely on small businesses in our daily lives, yet many of us may not realize their true impact. Whether it’s the local coffee shop you visit every morning, the parts manufacturer that employs a member of your family or the accounting firm that helps you manage your finances, small businesses help shape our community. Small businesses are the backbone of our community.

Remember, supporting small businesses keeps money in our community and enhances our local economy. #ThinkLocal -TAMMY MCCRARY

This isn’t your grandfather’s credit union. There’s no secret code for membership. There’s no long list of complicated requirements. Just a high level of excellence and friendly service for a growing and expansive list of members. From dentists to electricians to interior designers, DOCO Credit Union is the right choice – for anyone.

THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR

T H E R I G H T C H O I C E F O R A N YO N E .

DOCOCU.COM

6 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO In this issue, we highlight businesses, organizations and individuals who help make Albany and the Albany Area a place where people want to live and businesses want to invest.

Small businesses continue to invest in the community and educational partners find innovative ways to invest in our students and our work force. Through their varied missions, they share a common vision of creating a stronger, healthier community.

Southern Point Staffing, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Small Business of the Year, provides staffing services to some of Albany’s best-known industries and also some of the area’s hidden jewels. The company is expanding its local operations and growing its regional footprint throughout Southwest Georgia.

Geoffrey Sudderth, headmaster at Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany, understands that educating students isn’t just about curriculum and textbooks. Maximizing students’ ability to process and retain information is also about neuropsychology. Deerfield’s subtle shift in its upper school schedule has allowed for stronger relationships between students and teachers, and increased test scores.

We’re proud of these organizations, and many more, and their roles in building a stronger community.

September | October 2018

- B ÁRBARA RIVERA HOLMES

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 7

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR

ALBANY

Nicole Penix, left, of Southern Point Staffing is onsite daily at Sunnyland Farms during the busy months and splits time between the farm and the Southern Point office during the offseason. She works with six managers at Sunnyland Farms to ensure successful staffing.

8 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

THE SURGE IN POSITIVE ENERGY that Staci Willson has experienced in Albany over the last two years reminds her of another Southern city.

She came to Albany three years ago with her husband, Alex Willson, who returned to his family’s Sunnyland Farms.

Sunnyland grows Southwest Georgia’s signature pecans and ships them all over the world.

The couple had resided in Nashville, Tenn., which, she said, “Was not the city it is now when we moved.” She sees a similar path being blazed by the “urban pioneers” leading a downtown renaissance in Albany.

“Nashville’s the ‘it’ city now,” Staci Willson said, and offered that Albany has some familiar characteristics. “It reminds me a lot of Nashville. It’s right on the river, the infrastructure is there and it has that charm.”

Willson feels positive energy, and it's with good reason. Metro Albany’s latest jobs picture is bright, matching its record low unemployment rate. The May 2018 jobs report from the Georgia Department of Labor shows Metro Albany down 1.3 percentage points from May 2017 to tie with its own record low of 4.2 percent unemployment.

It’s a strong turnaround from January 2010, during the Great Recession, when Metro Albany hit its all-time high jobless rate of 12 percent (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

A tight labor market is generally lauded. But for employers, it can also make finding the right workers a bit tough.

Businesses such as Southern Point Staffing, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Small Business of the Year, play an increasingly vital role in pairing employers and employees.

“It’s been harder to fill certain highly qualified positions,” Alex Willson said. “We’ve got companies like P&G and MillerCoors expanding in Albany, national companies with huge benefits. It’s hard for us to compete against companies like those in the labor force.”

Southern Point Staffing is owned by husbandand-wife team Brianna and Jason Wilson.

September | October 2018

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 9

can not only help themselves and their family, but also the company they’re working for.”

Nicole Penix of Southern Point Staffing is onsite daily at Sunnyland during the busy months and splits time between the farm and the Southern Point office during the offseason. She works with six managers at Sunnyland to ensure successful staffing.

The most satisfying result, Penix said, is when someone she sends to Sunnyland for a seasonal job is called back the next season.

“It makes you feel good,” Penix said. “You chose the right person.”

That is Southern Point’s mission.

“We’re very passionate about what we do. We care about people,” Brianna Wilson said. “That’s the very core of our company. That’s helped us change lives and build futures.”

Through Southern Point Staffing and the couple’s heavy involvement with the community, educational system and the Chamber, the Wilsons see Albany’s economy on the upswing.

Last year, Sunnyland Farms ended a decades-long relationship with another staffing company and contracted with Southern Point Staffing. “One of the reasons we use Southern Point is we can bring in people for certain jobs and we can gauge if the work ethic and skillset match what we’re looking for before we bring them onto our payroll,” he said.

“We have a lot of seasonal workers, and that (the Southern Point Staffing relationship) lends itself to that pretty well.”

“Community involvement is extremely important,” she said. “If we’re all going to do good, we’ve got to all work together.”

Soft skills, such as punctuality, dressing properly and conflict resolution ability, are at a premium. “They (Southern Point Staffing) help with that a lot,” he said.

Southern Point Staffing Chief Operating Officer Brianna Wilson, who with her husband, Jason Wilson, co-owns the five-year-old firm, said that the company strives to match its partners with the right workers.

“Seventy-four percent of the people we put to work get hired to a full-time position with that client or are hired as a long-term employee through us,” Brianna Wilson said. “There are lots of job openings, but people are looking for the right people.

“These companies are looking not just for the right skillset, but also the right mindset. Our company is different. We’re not trying to place a warm body. We’re trying to help them get to where they’re happy, where they 10 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

SOUTHERN POINT STAFFING OFFERS EXPERTISE IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: Agricultural Carpenters Construction Workers Commercial Truck Drivers Custodial Services Electricians/Electrician Helpers Forklift Operators HVAC Technicians Landscaping Manufacturing Machine Operators Mechanics Medical Support Staff Plumbers Production Workers Warehouse Staff Welders/Fabricators

1107 8th Ave A, Albany, Georgia 229-405-2284 Southernpointstaffing.com

September | October 2018

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 11

joins forces with

.com

CALL TODAY!

229.888.9343

LOCAL | REGIONAL | NATIONAL

S

Sellers Tile Expansion

COMMITTED to DOWNTOWN Sellers Tile Expands Downtown Showroom

Tucked away in the 100 block of Flint Avenue, Sellers Tile has quietly become one of downtown Albany’s greatest success stories. Currently undergoing a massive renovation and expansion that will result in a 12,000-square-foot showroom by the end of 2018, Sellers has grown extensively since its doors first opened in 1965.

When Rodney Fickel purchased the business in 1986, he bought a 700-square-foot showroom that sold to local tile installers. Now, 32 years later, under the leadership of Fickel and his son, Stewart, Sellers has expanded to include five additional stores with more than 80 employees in Georgia and Florida.

With 50 of those employees located in Albany, the downtown location serves as the hub of the operation, distributing to the other stores in Columbus and 14 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

“Our staff – everyone from our designers, marble shop team, managers and office personnel, to the warehouse crew – are here to serve our customers every step of the way,” said Stewart Fickel.

Macon, and Florida’s Tallahassee, Eastpoint and Santa Rosa Beach. By choosing to grow their company in and from Albany, the Fickels have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to downtown, proving that hard work, great products and first-class customer service make a winning combination.

“Our staff – everyone from our designers, marble shop team, managers and office personnel, to the warehouse crew – are here to serve our customers every step of the way,” said Stewart Fickel. “They all know [the business] and many have been part of Sellers for a long time – some almost from the very beginning.”

Sellers offers commercial and residential services, and employs six designers who work with homeowners, AlbanyGA.com

builders and interior designers within a 100-mile radius. From the beginning of the design process to product selection and on through the final installation, they are guided by Sellers’ commitment to creating spaces that are comfortable, functional and beautiful.

“A home is where life happens, and we’re honored each time we have a part in making a family’s house into a place they love to be,” Stewart said.

Originally known for its wide selection of tile, Sellers now offers granite, marble, quartz, wood, carpet, luxury planks and other solid surface materials, as well as custom countertop fabrication and installation. Sellers imports stone and granite from around the world, and in-house skilled fabricators are responsible for the largest granite fabrication center in South Georgia. Here, customers, with the help of a designer, select unique pieces of granite from Sellers’ large stone yard. After the Sellers team takes measurements, a computerized template is then constructed for each specific countertop installation. The information is sent to a state-of-the-art Computer Numeric Control machine that cuts each stone precisely, using the computer-generated template.

September | October 2018

The countertops are touched up, finished by hand and inspected by experienced fabricators before installation.

In addition to the showroom and fabrication center, Sellers also occupies most of a city block with office and warehouse space, a tile yard and a carpet barn.

In order to accommodate the company’s growth and provide the best shopping experience, renovations started with updating the designer office spaces and remodeling the wood and vinyl display room. After researching and visiting showrooms in larger cities, the Sellers team chose to part with outdated shopping methods of racks with small, loose samples and instead give customers a better visual and a more organized experience when selecting flooring.

Factoring into the design was the company’s commitment to respect the historic integrity of its renovated downtown building.

The result is a beautifully crafted space with high ceilings and an art gallery feel. Paved with herringbone patterned brick, the floor is inset with large samples of Sellers’ most popular flooring options, giving customers a realistic idea of how a choice would AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 15

S

Sellers Tile Expansion

WHY DOWNTOWN ALBANY? "I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THE UPCOMING DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN. WE’VE HAD NEW BUSINESS AND APARTMENTS POPPING UP, AND THAT HELPS BRING THE FLOW THIS WAY. IT ALSO HELPS MAINTAIN A CERTAIN ENERGY DOWNTOWN." - Mitch Mercer, owner, PJ's Fabrics

look when installed. More samples, mounted and hung uniformly, are displayed on the painted brick walls.

“With this showroom expansion, we’re working to make the shopping experience even better,” Fickel said. “These are big choices. It’s your home.”

With the wood and vinyl area renovation completed, the new tile showroom is now under construction. This 2,600-square-foot space is being converted from an empty warehouse adjacent to the current Sellers offices. Sellers is making every effort to preserve as many of the original features as possible, including the exposed ceiling beams and brick walls. Plans call for another airy, open space with large hanging tile displays, freestanding partial walls in the center for more samples, as well as kitchen and bath vignettes. The floor will be finished with large 36-inch by 36-inch tiles for a dramatic effect.

“When my dad bought this company in 1986, he began with a commitment to hard work and customer service. Since then, we have followed that example and really tried to set the bar high in the flooring and countertop industry,” Fickel said.

“We’re proud to be in downtown Albany. We love Albany, and we’re thankful for the support from our community, he said. “We’re excited to see downtown growing, and we’re proud to be investing more down here by revitalizing another special, old building.”

Sellers Tile is located at 129 Flint Ave. in downtown Albany. Showroom hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. -5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Find them online at sellerstile.com.

16 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

PJ'S FABRICS 511 West Broad Ave. Albany, Georgia 229.439.7265 info@pjsfabrics.net pjsfabrics.net AlbanyGA.com

The World Awaits Time is a child’s currency. How they spend it, and with whom they spend it, greatly determines their future success. At Deerfield-Windsor, we specialize in time management. We have

TIME TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION IT OUTSOURCING PHONE SOLUTIONS

the unique opportunity to innovate and adapt a daily schedule that allows children to flourish emotionally and academically. Come visit us today, and learn how we can partner together to give your child academic success.

NETWORK DESIGN MANAGED SERVICES

DEERFIELD-WINDSOR SCHOOL Celebrating 20 years 229.446.9641 CTSIoutsourcing.com

Lower Campus: 1733 Beattie Road, Albany, GA 31721 | 229.883.3731 Middle/Upper Campus: 2500 Nottingham Way, Albany, Georgia 31707 229.435.1301

State of Small Business

Small Business Thrives in Georgia

When Small is

BIG

S

NO MATTER HOW YOU DEFINE "SMALL BUSINESSES," ONE THING IS CERTAIN: THEY HELP DRIVE OUR ECONOMY, AND THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (GDECD) SUPPORTS THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA. In Albany, and all over the state, small businesses are finding access to resources, tools and partners they need to remain competitive in the marketplace, and meet the growing demands of their customers.

But, what exactly is the impact that small businesses have on our state? Small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all businesses in Georgia. Additionally, 94.1 percent of businesses in Georgia employ less than 50 people, and 75.6 percent of Georgia businesses employ less than 10 people. These small businesses are no small players in our state’s economy.

WRITTEN BY

Ryan Waldrep, Georgia Department of Economic Development

The Albany region is home to many of the state’s 129 “Entrepreneur Friendly” communities, including Dougherty, Calhoun, Colquitt, Lee, Mitchell and Worth counties. Georgia’s Entrepreneur Friendly Community Initiative helped communities build entrepreneur and small business strategies into their overall economic development efforts. Through the six-month process, communities were able to identify strengths, weaknesses, resources and

18 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

eye-opening best practices to help them build and sustain an enabling business environment.

One of the questions frequently asked is: “What resources are available to me as a small business owner?” Entrepreneurs and fledgling small businesses oftentimes don’t know where to turn with questions and may feel overlooked.

GDEcD has the answer to this question and many others. By establishing relationships with groups such as the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center and other local partners, local entrepreneurs and small business owners can quickly increase their knowledge base of resources and where to turn for help.

This is why relationships with area and statewide partners are so valuable.

With the growth of technology, new business ideas with worldwide reach are being developed every day. From doing business through social media, to developing new applications and methods to communicate with potential customers, technology is bringing us closer AlbanyGA.com

together and uniting service providers with new customers and markets.

Small businesses are also finding success and growing in new markets across the globe. The GDEcD’s International Trade Division, with representatives throughout Georgia and in 12 key global markets, assists small businesses with accessing new markets. GDEcD’s Trade Division assists companies of all sizes by identifying market-entry strategies and connecting them with vetted customers, distributors and agents in international markets. Of the businesses the GDEcD’s Trade Team assisted last year, 48 percent had fewer than 20 employees. No business is too small to develop a customer base overseas.

Establishing partnerships for small businesses within the arts, film, music and tourism helps create new jobs and business opportunities throughout the region and strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Connecting small businesses,

partners and resources: It’s what the Georgia Department of Economic Development does every day.

Do you have a small business question?

Contact Ryan Waldrep, assistant director for Entrepreneur and Small Business Development, at 404- 877-8406 or rwaldrep@georgia.org. Visit georgia.org/ smallbusiness for more on how the GDEcD can help your business thrive in Georgia.

ABOUT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) plans, manages and mobilizes state resources to attract new business investment to Georgia; drives the expansion of existing industry and small business; locates new markets for Georgia products; inspires tourists to visit Georgia; and promotes the state as a top destination for arts events and film, music and digital entertainment projects.

LBANY ELEVATOR SERVICE 1432 US Hwy 19 South 229.436.7131 AlbanyElevator.com September | October 2018

Georgia small businesses requested export assistance to the following countries last year: ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA BRAZIL CANADA CHILE CHINA COLOMBIA COSTA RICA CROATIA FRANCE GERMANY GUADELOUPE HONG KONG INDIA IRAN IRELAND ISRAEL JAPAN KOREA LEBANON MEXICO THE NETHERLANDS NIGERIA PANAMA PERU POLAND SENEGAL SOUTH AFRICA SPAIN SWEDEN TAIWAN UAE UNITED KINGDOM UZBEKISTAN Source: Georgia Department of Economic Development AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 19

N New Industry Major Industrial Development to Create New Jobs to Albany ALBANY-DOUGHERTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND GEORGIA-PACIFIC ANNOUNCE STATE-OF-THE-ART LUMBER PRODUCTION FACILITY

The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, together with Georgia-Pacific and the state of Georgia, announced recently Albany-Dougherty County as the site of a new, state-of-the-art lumber production facility to be located at the Albany-Dougherty Industrial Park.

Construction on the $150 million, 320,000-square foot, technologically advanced plant is scheduled to begin in 2018 with an anticipated startup in late fall 2019.

ONCE FULLY OPERATIONAL, THE PLANT IS EXPECTED TO EMPLOY MORE THAN 130 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND GENERATE AN ESTIMATED $5 MILLION IN ANNUAL PAYROLL. In addition to the 130 full time jobs at the facility, operations will support another 100 jobs in the Albany area and more than 100 elsewhere in the state either indirectly or through an induced effect. The capital investment in Dougherty County will support approximately 440 full time jobs in the

20 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

From left, Justin Strickland, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission; Christopher Cohilas, Dougherty County Commission Chairman; Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard; and Rick Kimble Georgia-Pacific senior manager.

state during construction including construction workers, associated trades, and jobs at suppliers providing materials for the project.

“Georgia-Pacific choosing to locate its newest modern lumber production facility here showcases that advanced manufacturing works in Southwest Georgia. This plant will create significant investment and for our community and jobs for our residents,” said Justin Strickland, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission.

“We are proud that Georgia-Pacific lumber will soon be on the extensive list of quality products that are made in Albany-Dougherty County.”

Currently, there are more than 7,200 Georgia-Pacific employees at 18 facilities in Georgia that represent an additional 21,500 indirect jobs.

Since 2012 Georgia-Pacific has invested approximately $1 billion in additional capital and acquisitions in Georgia.

AlbanyGA.com

business internet that is years ahead of the competition.

The time to prepare for the future is before it arrives. Our network is ready today. Now we’re increasing business internet speed levels across the board. Experience speeds up to 1 gigabit over our existing network.

Revolutionize your business with Mediacom.

MediacomBusiness.com 800-479-2091

BUSINESS INTERNET

REV2_albany_chamber_bizmag_7.5x10_1.indd 1

BUSINESS PHONE

BUSINESS TV & MUSIC

7/2/18 3:13 PM

E

Education

GOING BEYOND THE CLOCK DEERFIELD-WINDSOR SCHOOL (DWS) HAS SHOWN ITS DEDICATION TO FURTHERING STUDENTS' EDUCATION SINCE 1964.

The school has constantly strived to prepare students for the most demanding work in the leading colleges and universities. Now under the leadership of Head of School Geoffrey Sudderth, the school has developed a more efficient way to help students improve time management skills and prepare for the next phase of their lives.

For years, a middle school student and high school student at DWS followed essentially the same schedule, which made it easier for teachers to crossover and teach at the lower and upper levels, but Sudderth recognized that a 12-year-old

22 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

DEERFIELD-WINDSOR STRIVES TO PREPARE STUDENTS

student and an 18-year-old student need different structures.

Sudderth approached the upper school director, Janet Guillebeau, about ways the school could restructure the students’ day. Guillebeau was initially hesitant, she said. She didn’t understand why the school would want to change after so many years of success with the schedule they had implemented.

“I did not know the possibilities and potential it would create,” Guillebeau said. “Once I realized all the opportunities it would provide, I was on board.”

With Guillebeau’s help, Sudderth compiled a committee of middle school and high school teachers who studied 60 schools successfully organizing their time.

AlbanyGA.com

THE TEACHERS NOT ONLY STUDIED THE SCHOOLS AND THEIR ROUTINES, BUT ALSO VISITED SOME OF THEM AND CAME BACK WITH "A TREASURE TROVE OF INFORMATION," SUDDERTH SAID. DWS’ Jonathan Davis visited the University School of Nashville and Katie Sullivan visited Ravenscroft School. When the teachers returned, they compiled a list of commonalities between schools that had successfully implemented time management. They then began focusing on how to address these practices at DWS. Sudderth brought in several books on brain-based research and how people process information.

He then brought in friend Anna Moore, who has a PhD in neuropsychology, to explain “chunking information” and the amount of time one usually spends on a subject.

She told the committee that the adolescent brain takes approximately 17 minutes to transition. Once the transition has occurred, the brain can focus on one subject for 12-18 minutes before the teacher needs to make a subtle shift.

Guillebeau found that the transitions Moore Prince new ad_Layout 1 1/6/14 5:21 transitions PM Page 2 were discussed were key. “The

something the school already had in place,” she said, “but, the longer class periods and subtle shifts allowed for more quality teaching time and a deeper dive into the subject matter.”

Students previously attended seven classes every

day, but Moore’s suggestion on transitions helped the faculty realize that asking students to attend seven classes with little to no time in between was not only an inaccurate depiction of how college would be, but just no longer feasible.

Students are enrolled in seven classes, but only five subjects meet daily. The first period begins at 8:15 a.m. and lasts 75 minutes, while the four subsequent classes meet for 60 minutes. After the 75 minute class in the morning, every teacher is required to hold office hours for 30 minutes and students are encouraged to take advantage of them.

Guillebeau said the office hours have been a huge help, especially for students involved in extracurricular activities. Student athletes can come to office hours to make up for class time they missed and ask questions about things they don’t understand.

PRINCE OF ALBANY

2701 Ledo Road, Albany 229-432-6271 PrinceAutoAlbany.com September | October 2018

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 23

D Deerfield-Windsor

“The old schedule really lacked finding time (for students) to meet with teachers, so this has been very advantageous,” Guillebeau said.

High school students aren’t the only ones who have been using these office hours to help them outside the classrooms. The middle school now offers a tutorial period at the end of each day, during which students can get a head start on homework and ask teachers questions about the homework.

Sudderth said this one-on-one time with teachers really helps students build a personal relationship with their teachers and advocate for themselves in certain situations.

THE NEW SCHEDULE AND ABILITY TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUBJECT MATTER BROUGHT ABOUT A TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN NOT ONLY THE WAY STUDENTS INTERACT WITH THEIR TEACHERS, BUT ALSO IN THE WAY THEY TEST. Students who take Advanced Placement classes need a score of three or higher to gain college credit for the class. In 2016, 67 percent of AP students at DWS were making a three or better on their AP exam. The 67 percent was higher than the Georgia average of 58 percent, but the new schedule changed that percentage in ways Sudderth didn’t predict. In 2017, 83 percent of AP students made a three or better and in 2018 the number grew to 84 percent.

“The only significant change we made those years was the schedule,” Sudderth said. Guillebeau echoed Sudderth’s statement, saying this change has skyrocketed test scores, and now the sky is the limit for these students.

“At the end of the day,” Sudderth said, “all we wanted to do was help students find success.”

24 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

GEOFFREY SUDDERTH

Head of School for Deerfield-Windsor School

AlbanyGA.com

Photo courtesy of: Shae Foy Photography

Proudly serving Albany and beyond since 1948.

More than just your CPA, we are your trusted advisor in all things business.

Albany: (229) 883-7878 | Atlanta: (404) 220-8494 | www.Draffin-Tucker.com

H Highlights M I LITARY

BUSINESS

R I S E-N-S H I N E

A FT ER H O U RS

J U LY 1 8

JULY 24

HONORING MILITARY PERSONNEL

ALBANY SURGICAL PC

T

he Albany Area Chamber of Commerce honored military personnel during the Military Appreciation Rise-N-Shine Breakfast at Merry Acres Event Center on July 18. The event featured Col. Alphonso Trimble, the new commanding officer of the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, and David Clifton, executive deputy of the Marine Corps Logistics Command.

Sponsors of the Military Rise-N-Shine Breakfast were A. West Enterprise; Albany Air Conditioning and Heating Co.; Artesian Contracting Co.; and Albany State University.

WELCOME B&B ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS OF ALBANY

T

he Albany Area Chamber hosted Business After Hours on Tuesday July 24 at Albany Surgical. Guests enjoyed refreshments by Seasons Catering, medical vendors, door prizes and the chance to win a $100 cash. The winner of the cash prize was Jennifer Horton of Sol Power Yoga.

Pictured above, Tiesha Howard of Turner Job Corps was the lucky winner of the gift basket at the night’s event.

NEW MEMBERS

KETZEL’S CHEM DRIY

RALEIGH WHITE BAPTIST CHURCH

2008 W. Broad Avenue Albany | 229-435-0287

230 S. Jackson Street Suite 244 Albany | 229-999-4549 ketzelschemdry.com

JOE NAJJAR

STAPLES STORE #1077

VICTORY TABERNACLE VICTORY KID’S ACADEMY

415 Meadowlark Drive Albany | 229-435-5744

PICKLE PATCH

148 Chicory Court Leesburg | 229-938-0781 facebook.com/picklepatch229

26 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

501 N. Slappey Boulevard Albany | 229-639-1887 staples.com

2804 Phillips Drive Albany | 229-432-0222

3250 Sylvester Road Albany | 229-435-0900 victorytabernacleofalbany.com

telaGen

1108 N Jefferson Street Albany | 850-694-0371 telagenllc.com

AlbanyGA.com

PHOEBE CORPORATE HEALTH IS NOW OFFERING

On-Site Flu Vaccines

Phoebe Corporate Health is now offering on-site flu vaccines for employers with 10 or more employees or employees can bring company authorization to receive walk-in service.

Call 229-312-9233 to schedule your appointment today.

Phoebe Corporate Health will take care of all your needs to ensure your employees are vaccinated for the flu.

By providing our On-Site Delivery of services, your employees will have access to conveniently located testing. Also included in the On-Site Delivery of services are all administrative services and a comprehensive report of testing to the employer.

Phoebe Corporate Health | 2410 Sylvester Road | Albany, Georgia 31705 | 229-312-9220

Ga m e c h a n g e rs PRESENTATION 2 LOCATIONS IN ALBANY ORTHOTIC SERVICES ADULTS AND PEDIATRIC • Diabetic Shoes/Inserts • Wrist Braces • AFO’s • Knee Braces • Spinal Supports • Pediatric Bracing • Custom Bracing • Toe Off • WalkAide

Community leaders gathered on August 10 at Albany State University’s West Campus Theatre to hear innovative ideas from the 2018 Gamechangers, whose presentation included ideas on improving the downtown business corridor, growing Albany’s talent pipeline to help Albany become a hub for innovation and business, and leveraging natural resources to create a more connected community.

The Young Gamechangers are made up of professionals from across the state between the ages of 24 and 40 who work in diverse sectors including business, law, non-profit, education, finance, media, engineering, agriculture, healthcare, politics, tourism, marketing, urban and economic development. One third of the class was comprised of Albany-Dougherty participants.

PROSTHETIC SERVICES UPPER & LOWER EXTREMITIES • Upper Extremity - Arms Below & Above Elbow i-LIMB™ Hand (body powered or myoelectric limbs) • Lower Extremity - Light Weight - Legs Below & Above (Microprocessor) Rheo Knee® • Post Mastectomy Certified Mastectomy Fitter

Open 5 Days a Week 24-Hour Emergency Call Free Evaluation

1.855.639.3202 www.limbcareonline.com

Don’t let your brand just sit there.

{Put it to work.} Marlin Jones

marlin@logosplus.com “The community, business and political leadership in Albany-Dougherty County have given the Young Gamechangers tremendous support during our time here,” said Kris Vaughn, executive director of GeorgiaForward. “This area has had weather-related disasters in the last few years and other challenges, but they are rebuilding better and stronger. It was exciting to see the Young Gamechangers share their recommendations with the Albany community. These ideas are designed to help take Albany to the next level.”

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

For more information about the Young Gamechangers program, visit georgiaforward.org/young-gamechangers.

28 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

Specialty Advertising Products

AlbanyGA.com

229-432-7345 www.metropower.com www.essmpi.com

ALB

albany area chamber of commerce The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 2018 Albany Under 40 awards, a program launched earlier this year that honors and celebrates the Albany Area’s emerging leaders and professionals in a variety of business sectors, each representing a component of the area’s diversified talentpool and economy.

Finalists were considered from among the nearly 300 nominations that were received for Albany Under 40 and were recognized at the Albany Under 40 Awards Reception on August 16 at the Albany Museum of Art, during which category winners were announced. One overall Albany Under 40 award winner, selected from among the category winners, will be announced at the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s 109th annual dinner on January 24, 2019.

Sponsors of Albany Under 40 are: The Albany Herald; Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission; Leadership Albany, Inc.; Albany Museum of Art; Procter & Gamble; Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital; Southern Point Staffing; Dougherty County School System; Albany Area Primary Health Care, Inc.; and Draffin & Tucker, LLP. *indicates the winner of the category

2018 FINALISTS ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, CULINARY ARTS, EVENTS, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY *Chloe Hinton, Albany Museum of Art; Anthony Johnson, Singer/Songwriter; Michael McNeal, Eggs Up Grill CIVICS, DEFENSE, GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS *Kerrie Davis, City of Albany; Tennasha Gresham, City of Albany; Emelia Lake, Marine Corps Logistics Command FINANCIAL & INSURANCE SERVICES Kelly Courtney, F&W Forestry Services; Merrit Garnto, Draffin & Tucker; *Allison Ray, PeopleSouth Bank

September | October 2018

The Best Electricians, Plumbers & Systems Integrators in Albany.

ď Ź

Locations: Albany, Macon, Norcross, Columbus & Hazelhurst, GA ď Ź ď Ź Santa Rosa Beach, FL & Greer, SC ď Ź

229-432-7345 www.metropower.com www.essmpi.com

INNOVATION & START UP Gene Kirk, Break Away Cycles; Morgan Layfield, Downtown Dawsyn Boutique; *Brianna Wilson, Southern Point Staffing

NON-PROFIT *Mary Martinez-Allen, Lily Pad SANE Center; Joshua Bower, First Presbyterian Church of Albany; Rosalynn F. Fliggins, Open Arms

JOURNALISM, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS Morgan Burnette, Chehaw; Candice Franklin, Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau; *Matt Reed, Georgia CEO

SPORTS, WELLNESS & FITNESS Sherie Gordon, Albany State University; *Dr. Kiani Rodriguez, Marine Corps Community Services; Haley H. West, Aspire Behavioral Health

LEGAL *William J. Godfrey, W.J. Godfrey Attorney TECHNOLOGY At Law; Campbell W. Kirbo, Kirbo & Kirbo, Jodie J. Kretzer, Albany State University; P.C.; Smith Nall Wilson, Gardner, Willis, *Kenyetta Nesbitt, Albany State University; Sweat, Plaire & Prickett, LLP Daniel Titus, DanielTitus.com MANUFACTURING, SERVICE INDUSTRIES, ENERGY & ARCHITECTURE *Mike Gonzalez, Pro Outdoors; Milan Patel, Indusa Investments; Joseph Richard Wade Jr., Pfizer

YOUTH & EDUCATION Chevonne Denson, Dougherty County School System; *James Little, Dougherty County School System; Kanese Rachel, Dougherty County School System

MEDICINE & HEALTHCARE *Clifton Bush, Albany Area Primary Healthcare; Jessica Michelle Collins, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital; Melissa B. Sumner, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital

AlbanyGA.com | BUSINESS 31

H Highlights THE

WELCOME WAGON

THE ALBANY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOMES THE PHOEBE FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY CLASS OF 2021 On June 27, the Phoebe Family Medicine Residency class of 2021 was welcomed to Albany with a New Residency Welcoming Ceremony. During the ceremony, they received wagons full of white coats, medical pagers and items contributed by 54 Albany-Area Chamber businesses chamber businesses to jumpstart their careers.

The class is composed of Drs. Travisha Vaughn, Christopher Thaver, Nguyen Nguyen-To, Jefferey Nasworthy, Kyle Libbey, Tarah Henderson, Keylon Glawson and Amanda An.

32 September | October 2018 | BUSINESS

AlbanyGA.com

Audit | Accounting | Tax Services

For 100 years our goal has been to build relationships through commitment, quality and dedication to our clients.

There’s no better time to see how we can help your business exceed your goals, overcome challenges and take advantage of unique opportunities!

229-446-3600 | mjcpa.com 2303 Dawson Road | Albany, Georgia 31707

PELLICANO C O N S T R U C T I O N

ALBANY|MACON|ATLANTA Free Chapel Church, Gainesville, GA

www.pellicanoconstruction.com