Business Magazine August 2015

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IN E D A M #

A G , Y N A B L A

B U SI N ES S Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Magazine

Interim President and CEO Editor BĂ rbara Rivera Holmes Chair Tommy Clark Chair-Elect Ed Newsome Director of Communications Rachelle Bitterman Printing Colson Printing Photography Todd Stone Rachelle Bitterman Director of Sales Donna Gray

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

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AuGuST 2015

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C O N t E N t S

Comments from the 2015 Chair of the Board

13 Mark Your Calendar

22 Ribbon Cuttings

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Vo lu M E 1 4

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NuMBER 4

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Thank You To Our Sponsors of Celebrate Small Business

Thank You To Our Door Prize Donors

2015 Small Business of the Year Finalists

ComNet Technical Solutions, 2015 Small Business of they Year

2015 Small Business of the Year Runner-ups

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CVB Update

Small Business Partnerships Leading To School Successes

Star Business of the Week

MetroPower Was Fired-up About Business After Hours

#15on15ALB Commuity Card Winner

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Albany Area Chamber Donates $500 to ARC

Welcome To Our New Members

Holiday Inn Express Business After Hours Was Smoking

30 Thank You Renewing Members

31 And the Chamber Wins

Callie Hughey $1,000 Winner

32 Message from the President and CEO

34 To Grow or Not to Grow...

ABOUT THE COVER ComNet Technical Solutions, 2015 Small Business of the Year, is a managed and help-desk service provider. Read their story 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

THE BRANDS YOU WANT AT THE PRICE YOU LIKE FORM THE PEOPLE YOU TRUST

146 North Slappey Blvd.

229.432.9338

August 2015

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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COMMENTS FROM THE 2015 CHAIRMAN Let me start by highlighting some events that have had a great impact on our community.

First, the Small Business celebration was held in May at Merry Acres. We had a record number of applications once again. There were more than 15 small businesses that submitted packages for consideration and this event continues to grow and be yet another example of showing off our local businesses’ talent and contributions to our community. CTSI was the winner of the 2015 Small Business of the Year. Hughey & Neuman was the first runner-up and Artesian Contracting Company was the second runner-up. The Bread House and Granery received the Chambers Innovative Community Service Award.

I would like to personally congratulate all of these small businesses for everything they do in and around Albany, GA and for continuing to make Albany a great place to not only do business, but to live and enjoy the many things we have to offer. Kudos to all of the companies that took the time and effort to participate in this event and the chamber commends all the finalists vying for this prestigious award. tommy Clark HeritageBank of the South

The second annual State of the Community luncheon was held in August at Albany State University. This year’s event was another successful program that your Albany Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored. The format of the event was a panel discussion with community leaders and involved the crowd by being able to engage and ask questions of our leaders. The feedback was very positive and we expect this chamber led program to continue to grow as well.

Both of these events speak to the “There’s Only One Albany” movement. We saw collaboration of our community leaders in the panel discussion and there is nothing more exciting than to see our leaders working together to move our great city and surrounding area forward. Your Chamber is definitely one of the cogs in the wheel of progress in this movement! Our multiple divisions and committees within the Chamber are engaged across all fronts that have an impact on our region, especially in the Albany area.

Albany is on the cusp of great things and we all need to work together to make this one of the best cities in the state to live, work and do business.

Our continued partnership with the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission has been very successful.

These two organizations collaborating together make for a stronger community and we are seeing the results. I invite you to join the movement of “There’s Only One Albany” by getting involved in some aspect of serving your community. There are several great opportunities within the chamber to serve on one of the various committees. These dedicated groups of volunteers that serve are making a difference for all of us.

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Opportunities ...

Our focus will always be on you and your needs. We will dig deeper, understand your goals and help you meet challenges.

We prepare you and your business to take advantage of the opportunities.

Timing is everything!

A UDIT | A CCO U NTIN G | T AX S ERVI CES

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

August 2015

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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ComNet technical Solutions

2015 Small Business of the Year

In the fast-paced, changes-in-an-instant world of information technology, complacency is the unpardonable sin. For such businesses, staying ahead of constant change is the difference between relevance and extinction.

In its 17 years of business, managed and help-desk service provider ComNet Technical Solutions (CTSI) has not only stayed ahead of the IT industry’s learning curve, its unique approach to business has established standards that leave other such companies playing catch-up.

That’s one of the primary reasons CTSI was named the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Small Business of the Year. The award was handed out at a gathering that marked the culmination of Small Business Appreciation Week in Albany.

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“We started out 17 years ago with one client and six employees,” ComNet Technical Solutions CEO Tammy McCrary said after accepting the Chamber award. “We knew customer service was going to be crucial to our business. We have 25 employees now with contracts in 13 different states. I think we did some things right.”

McCrary, who said she was “totally stunned” by CTSI’s selection as Small Business of the Year, praised her employees for their innovative approach to business solutions.

“I wondered if I should prepare an acceptance speech just in case, but I didn’t want to jinx myself,” the CEO said. “But I am so humbled and so glad that this (award) gives me the opportunity to share with everybody what I already know about our employees, that they work incredibly hard and give excellent customer service.

“I want to thank them and thank everyone involved in this, especially the Chamber. These guys work nonstop for us.”

Real estate and property management firm Hughey & Neuman Inc. was first-runner-up in the quest for the Small Business of the Year trophy, while Artesian Contracting Company was second runner-up. The Bread House and Granary received the Chamber’s Innovative Community Service Award.

Jenny Savelle, the chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Resource Committee, outlined the criteria for selecting the honorees. The pointsbased matrix included 55 points for

August 2015

economic impact, 25 points for community impact, 10 points for environmental impact and 10 points for unique additional information about the company.

CTSI’s economic impact centers around its 45 percent client base increase in just the past two years.

McCrary said such innovative IT initiatives as its voice-over IP phone service and its IT Timeshare program have bolstered the company’s growth.

“IT Timeshare is one of our own programs, an idea that came from one of our employees,” the CTSI CEO said.

“The process is simple but effective: We complete a needs assessment for our clients, a technician makes a visit to the business at the same time each week, and that technician provides services that include break/fix, training, upgrades, disaster recovery planning, virus protection and Web development.

“The way we see it, for less than the cost of a full-time IT technician, our clients get the benefit of an entire IT company. And since this is one of our innovations, we plan to expand the service, particularly throughout South Georgia.”

McCrary said CTSI’s relationship with the Albany Procter & Gamble plant helped the company expand into other states.

“When the managers of the local P&G plant leave Albany, a lot of them want us to continue our service with them,” she said. “They tell me they can’t get the same kind of service elsewhere. Those relationships have been a major factor in our expansion outside Georgia.”

CTSI provides community service through its relationships with such nonprofits as Habitat for Humanity, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Salvation Army, the SOWEGA Council on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program, and the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office’s CHAMPS drug-prevention program.

Company employees are encouraged to volunteer for community service projects a minimum of eight hours a year, but McCrary said they typically far exceed that number.

Other finalists in the Small Business of the Year competition were the Clay Spot, Smallcakes: A Cupcakery, Healthy Living Farms, Cycle World, Microf Financial Services, and Southwest Georgia Living magazine.

“Choosing from these finalists was extremely difficult,” Savelle said. “We had a record number of nominees, and the Small Business Resources Committee judged the nominees on criteria that included business growth, customer service, innovation, community involvement, environmental impact, Chamber participation and creativity, to name a few.”

CTSI will compete for Chamber Small Business of the Year recognition on the state level. “(CTSI) will have an opportunity now to submit its application for statelevel competition, and the Chamber will support this effort,” interim President and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Bàrbara Rivera Holmes said. “We hope this will allow additional recognition and accolades for the business.”

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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2015 Small Business of the Year Runner-ups Hughey & Neuman Inc. has surpassed 60 years and counting as one of Albany’s most prominent familyowned businesses. Founded by George W. Hughey Jr. and Carl Neuman in 1954, the company’s copresidents today are Hughey’s granddaughters, Callie Hughey Walker and Katie Hughey Gatewood. On January 1, 2014, the sisters succeeded their father, Bill Hughey, who became president of the company in 1968. Both Bill Hughey and the sisters’ mother, Sharon Hughey, have spent most of their business careers with the company.

“Our father started preparing us to take over the company when he became president,” Gatewood said. “Being recognized by the Chamber is an honor.

Hughey & Neuman has always been about family, and Callie and I feel it is our duty to uphold that tradition.”

Established in 1988, Artesian Contracting Company has grown from three employees to more than 40. The minority-owned business, which has satellite offices at three military installations — Moody Air Force Base, Robins Air Force Base and Fort Rucker — has completed more than 400 construction projects in both the private and public sectors.

Company CEO Glenn Singfield said he and his employees are involved in such community projects as the Chamber’s Military Affairs program, Strive2Thrive, Meals on Wheels and a number of programs at Albany State University.

“It’s a privilege to be recognized by the Chamber as one of the top small businesses in our community,” Singfield said. “We believe in Albany, and we take pride in serving the people here who are our friends and neighbors.”

The Bread House and Granary is a for-profit granary/bakery whose profits — 100 percent of them — help sustain the GraceWay Recovery Residence, a nonprofit alcoholism and addiction recovery community for women. Its “Nutrition with a Mission” has been recognized nationally, and its business plan includes providing job skills and employment opportunities for graduates of the GraceWay program.

Debbie Mazur, who founded GraceWay, which received the Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Nonprofit of the Year award in 2007, noted that the same recipe for success with the recovery community is used at the Bread House. Mazur said, “When you mix dedication with a whole lot of faith, miracles do happen.

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thank you to our sponsors for their support of Celebrate Small Business Presenting Sponsors

A. West Enterprise Stewbos Gold Sponsor

ComNet Technical Solutions Silver Sponsors

Albany Air Conditioning & Heating Draffin & Tucker Prince Automotive SB&T Bronze Sponsors Albany Communications Albany Vascular Bishop Clean Care Mauldin & Jenkins Smallcakes

thank you to the businesses that donated door prizes for the Celebrate Small Business awards reception Royal Collection Good life Vapor Country Inn & Suites Best Western Albany-Dougherty EDC Renasant (HeritageBank) Procter & Gamble ComNet Technical Solutions Central Monitoring Bishop Clean Care The Garden Path

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August 2015

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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2015 Small Businss of the Year Finalists

Cycle World Bicycle Shop, a family-owned business enjoying 41 years of operation, is proud to have the only certified mechanics from an accredited school in the Albany market. Continuing education from the Barnett Bicycle Institute allows Cycle World to stay ahead of the many technological changes prevalent in the cycling industry.

Healthy Living Farms is a chemical-free, naturally grown supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables. By providing quality produce, nutrition education, healthy cooking ideas and participating in community gardening, Healthy Living Farms seeks to teach and help families understand the long-term health benefits of eating nutritionally.

Microf is a locally-owned and operated business that opened in 2013. Microf was the first to market a concept of lease-purchase options to replace residential HVAC units with an affordable monthly payment. Microf plans to have a presence in all 50 states by 2018.

Smallcakes’ Albany location was the 20th franchised location to open nationwide. The Albany location, which opened in 2013, continues to be the franchise’s top selling store. Smallcakes uses fresh ingredients for its products, and everything is baked fresh daily.

Southwest Georgia Living magazine enjoys an outstanding reputation for quality among thousands of loyal readers and subscribers. The magazine is always cognizant of its mission to inform, enlighten and delight readers. The magazine strives for accuracy, visual appeal, and relevance.

The Clay Spot, originally opened in 1998, was purchased

by Stacy Brown in 2014. The paint-your-own-pottery studio makes itself available to help customers one-on-one with their projects and gives mini tours of its glazing and firing room.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR September 17 BUSINESS EXPO: THINK LOCAL Albany Convention Center at the Hilton Garden Inn 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Sponsors: AT&T A. West Enterprise Central Monitoring ComNet Technical Solutions MillerCoors Pellicano Construction Pfizer WSWG

September 22 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS CINTAS | WSWG LOCO’S GRILL & PUB Albany Museum of Art 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Go Back. Move Ahead.

If you’re ready to finish that degree – or start on one – Darton has the degrees and support services to help adult students reach their goals.

Darton’s Office of Military and Adult Education is here to help you make it work.

Call 229-317-6740 and let’s get started.

It’s a fact that a degree will increase your value and Darton has helped thousands get their degree.

Darton offers the most direct path, with adult-friendly programs that fit a working adult’s busy schedule. Many degrees can be earned fully online.

You may get college credit for life experience through a Prior Learning Assessment.

What a great idea.

A college for everybody.

Darton wants to see you graduate. For information, call 229-317-6595 or go to darton.edu

October 13 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS ASU HOMECOMING Eula Lovett Hall 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Sponsors: Albany State University Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau

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

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www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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CVB UPDATE

Welcome Katie Hughes! the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new Sales Manager.

CVB hosted Katie Reeder with Laurie Rowe Communications in July. the focus was on new story ideas and packages to promote the Albany area as a tourist destination and how to pitch these ideas to publications.

the Music Voyager Red Carpet event was held July 16 at the FlintRiverQuarium.

Deputy Commissioner Kevin Langston, State Project Managers Chris Cannon and Amanda Peacock with the state tourism office were in attendance. the event featured performances by Bo Henry and the Freedom Singers who were featured in the Music Voyager video that aired on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

CVB hosted 12 writers for the travel Media Market Place State of Georgia FAM tour. Local cuisine was the focus of this FAM tour. the CVB treated the writers to a progressive dinner complete with frog legs, quail, duck and alligator tails.

Welcome Center YTD • 8,811 visitors • 2,344 out of state visitors • 28 international visitors • 110 meetings, reunions, and weddings • 2,378 leads generated from advertising

CVB held a family reunion tour on July 10.

In addition to the Albany Civil Rights Institute they visited Radium Springs Gardens where they received a special treat watching the Albany Fire Department during a training exercise.

Visit the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) at www.visitalbanyga.com for information on upcoming events, attractions, historic sites, dining, shopping and much more. Come by and see us at 112 N. Front St. Monday-Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday 10am-4pm; Sunday noon-4pm or call us at 229.317.4760 and we will personally help you plan your family gathering, meetings or special event.

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August 2015

Member FDIC

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Small Business Partnerships Leading to School Successes

By J.D. Sumner Dougherty County School System Public Information Office For Jay Sharpe (right), the impact of education on his business and his way of life is as apparent as the wind blowing the shrubs in front of the Meredyth branch of U-Save-It Pharmacy.

A product of the Dougherty County School System, Jay and the U-Save-It family understand the importance of having a successful and vibrant school system. But it’s more than just school pride that drives Sharp’s support of the DCSS; it comes down to economics and quality of life.

“If you think about it, everything really revolves around education,” Sharpe says.

“Selfishly, I want to see the school system succeed because, if it does, it means our city will thrive and our business will grow.”

So the Sharp family, like many small business owners in Albany, have stepped up to provide their time and money to support schools within the Dougherty County School System through the Partners-in-Excellence program.

There are currently more than 217 Partners-In-Excellence assisting DCSS schools. Most of them are small businesses, churches, non-profits, or local manufacturers. Each of them came to the same realization, on a personal level, as Sharp: education is a community responsibility.

“We do what we can as a district to educate the children in this county but we can’t do it by ourselves,” DCSS Superintendent Dr. David C. Mosely said. “The old adage that it takes a village to raise a child is right. And so we work to build relationships with our local businesses and churches to help us where they can.”

Those relationships lead PIE members to give back in different ways. Some do school supply drives that help put paper and pencils into the hands of students who otherwise wouldn’t have them. Some raise funds for scholarships to give students an opportunity at higher education. Some simply provide after-school tutoring or mentoring opportunities to help get students on the right path intellectually and emotionally.

As a result of these partnerships and a renewed focus within the district on excellence and accountability, students in Dougherty County are performing better on exams. They’re graduating at higher rates, their discipline referrals are down and their classroom attendance is up.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, and we need more community support to do it, but we’re heading in the right direction,” Mosely said. “Our goal is to have our students graduate our system career-ready; whether that means ready to head off to college or technical school or to head directly into the workforce.”

“We feel that a community can only be as strong as its public education,” Sharpe said. “And we’re proud of the work that’s being done here in Dougherty County.”

To learn more about the Partners-In-Excellence Program call the Dougherty County Public Information office at 229.431.1264.

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

ASHLEY RIVERSIDE 320 S. Jackson St. 229.430.9973

LMC-AG, LLC 1715 S. Slappey Blvd.

229.639.1775 | www.lmcag.com

Contact: Renee Rowden

Contact: Michael Gassett

Sponsored by

GEORGIA PACIFIC 405 Maxwell Drive 229.435.3431 | www.gp.com Contact: Teddie Triplett Thank you for providing donuts to our Star Businesses

Thank you to our additional sponsors ...

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the Week

rogram for our 1000+ regional member businesses in good standing.

WOMEN'S HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 414 5th Ave. 229.883-4555 | www.womenshealthalbany.com

WELLS FARGO ADVISORS, LLC 618 N. Westover Blvd.

229.436.0501 | www.wellsfargoadvisors.com

Contact: April Cook

Contact: Vic Sullivan

UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA, INC. 112 N. Westover Blvd.

229.883.6700 | www.unitedwayswga.org

J. SMITH LANIER & CO. INSURANCE SERVICES 611 Pointe North Drive 229.883.2424 | www.jsmithlanier.com

Contact: LaKisha Bryant Bruce Contact: Edwin Bell

August 2015

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MetroPower Was Fired-up About Business After Hours MetroPower fired-up their grill for the June Business After Hours. Guests enjoyed sliders with all the fixing while networking with old friends and future customers. MetroPower also gave tours of their facility where they proudly displayed artwork from students of the Dougherty County School System. A gym bag, an alarm system and electrical services were a few of the doors prizes MetroPower provided. The chamber’s $100 drawing was won by Joel Johnson with Merts, LLC. Upon leaving everyone received a gift bag and a hardbound coffee table book about the history of MetroPower.

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#15on15ALB Community Card Winner #15on15ALB came out of the chamber’s Small Business Resource Committee as part of the “Think Local” initiative. The idea is to make the 15th of every month a day where you commit to spending at least $15 at a local business. While you're at it we are asking you to help spread awareness about thinking local by using #15on15ALB and posting a selfie of you and your purchase or just your purchase if you are camera shy.

Once a quarter a winner will be drawn from all those that have posted to #15on15ALB. Our first winner of a $25 community gift card was Jawahn Ware with Dougherty County.

Congratulations to Jawahn for supporting our local economy.

Remember to keep those dollars close and support our local businesses! $68 of every $100 spent in our community returns to the local economy.

START SAVING ON OFFICE PRODUCTS TODAY The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Office Depot to provide our members with deep discounts on office supplies.

August 2015

Go to www.albanyga.com and click on programs to start saving today!

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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Ribbon bbon Cuttings Cu uttings utting

in elevator sales and service for over 45 years!

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

EASTSIDE PET SALON AT THE DOG PARK Contact: Donna Lespesance 2908 Gillionville Road | (229) 435-0350

MINT CONDITION CONSIGNMENT Contact: Kelly Corley 1561 US Hwy 19 S, Suite 9 (229) 405-3331

POP'S DETAIL SHOP INC. Contact: Carlton Arnold 501 S. Slappey popsdetailshop.com (229) 296-4806

ANT HILL PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC Contact: John Antoniewicz 4820 Millbrooke Rd. www.anthillphotography.com (229) 575-6383

Discover Albany

on a bicycle PAULA DEEN SUITE AT MERRY ACRES INN Contact: Sandy Gregors 1500 Dawson Road www.merryacres.com | (229) 435-7721

JEWELS OF ALBANY Contact: Susan Tucker 2510 Archwood Dr., Suite 15 (229) 483-0602

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

SWAIN EQUIPMENT CO

LEGALSHIELD

Contact: Danny Swain 1718 W. Oakridge Dr. (229) 883-1827 | (800) 554-1428

Contact: Sherranda Ivey 102 Coastal Court, Byron, GA legalshieldassociate.com/sherrandaivey.com (478) 318-4631 | (888) 235-4035

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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August 2015 | BUSINESS

Albany Area Chamber Donates $500 to ARC

Being named “Not for Profit of the Year” comes with more than name recognition from the Albany Area Chamber; it comes with a financial reward. The Chamber sponsored a raffle culminating with a drawing at the Celebrate Small Business reception. $500 from the proceeds of the raffle is donated to the chamber’s “Not for Profit of the Year.” Albany Advocacy Resource Center is the “2015 Not for Profit of the Year.”

Bàrbara Rivera Holmes (left) presented the check to Sanford Knight. Also pictured from left are Sonny Slate, laura Calhoun and Justin Strickland.

Callie Hughey $1,000 Winner

Tommy Clark, chairman of the board of the Albany Area Chamber, gave Callie Hughey with Hughey Neuman, a check for $1,000. Callie was the big winner of the chamber’s raffle. The drawing was held during the Celebrate Small Business reception.

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www.AlbanyGa.com

Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center 101 S. Front Street • Albany GA

4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

FREE to the public with a valid business card or pay a $5 entry fee.

Meet new customers • Sample local cuisine See first hand what products & services local businesses have to offer

Win a Weber Spirit E210 Gas Grill from Modern Gas You must be present to win -- Door prize drawings all evening August 2015

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS June/July

VISIT WWW.AlBANYGA.CoM AND VIEW THE WEB PAGES FoR All CHAMBER MEMBERS. American Fast Lube AUTOMOTIVE/REPAIR/PARTS PAINT 2311 N Slappey Blvd.

Albany, GA 31707 Contact: James Bingham (229) 435-6020 www.lubefast.com jbingham@lubefast.com American Fast Lube 2 AUTOMOTIVE/REPAIR/PARTS PAINT 2413 Sylvesteer Rd. Albany, GA 31705 Contact: James Bingham (229) 436-09043 www.lubefast.com jbingham@lubefast.com American Fast Lube 3 AUTOMOTIVE/REPAIR/PARTS PAINT 221 E Oakridge Dr. Albany, GA 31705 Contact: James Bingham (229) 888-9120 www.lubefast.com jbingham@lubefast.com Bombay RESTAURANTS 1561 US Hwy 19 Suite 4 Leesburg, GA 31763 Contact: Raj Kumar (229) 494-1054 rcratra@yahoo.com

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August 2015 | BUSINESS

Clearly Speaking by Debra, LLC COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING 230 South Jackson Street Albany, GA 31701 Contact: Debra Capers (229) 343-6369 www.clearlyspkng.com debra@clearlyspkng.com

Journey Counseling & Psychological Services COUNSELING REHABILITATION SERVICES 2339 Lake Park Drive Albany, GA 31707 Contact: Katie Phillips (229) 255-3099 www.journeypsychological.com journeypsychological@gmail.com

Dunkin Donuts Dawson Road RESTAURANTS 2409 Dawson Road Albany, GA 31707 Contact: Mark Weber (229) 496-1210 www.dunkindonuts.com mweber@rajanpartners.com

Kingston Commercial Real Estate REAL ESTATE/COMMERICAL P.O. Box 70352.

Albany, GA 31708-0352 Contact: Mary Carter (229) 343-3151 mcarter@kingstoncommercial.com

Etch Creative, LLC ADVERTISING/AD SERVICES 1201-B W. Third Avenue Albany , GA 31707 Contact: Ansley Cotton (229) 638-6422 www.ansley@etch-creative.com etch-creative.com

Marine Corps Community Services GOVERNMENT AGENCY/MILITARY 814 Radford Blvd Suite 20322 Albany, GA 31704 Contact: Joseph Wombough 229-639-9223 womboughjj@usmc-mccs.org

Ephraim Fellowship NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS 401 N. Jackson Street Albany, GA 31701 Contact: Albert Bob (229) 395-1439

Nghe Phan INDIVIDUAL 5886 Hwy 111 Hartsfield, GA 31756 (229) 439-8164 nghe1960@gmail.com

JeWels of Albany JEWELRY STORES 2510 Archwood Dr. Suite 15 Albany, GA 31707 Contact: Susan Tucker (229) 483-0602

Oakie Hill Missionary Baptist Church CHURCHES/RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 4713 Gillionville Rd. Albany, GA 31721 Contact: Rev. Willie King (229) 221-3946 jjking19662@gmail.com

www.AlbanyGa.com

NEW MEMBERS continued Panda Wireless ELECTRONIC/SALES/SERVICE/ SUPPLIES 2416 Dawson Rd. Ste 7.

Albany, GA 31707 Contact: Ahmod Shmod smart_repair@hotmail.com Quickie Restaurant RESTAURANTS 1906 N. Slappey Blvd Albany, GA 31707 Contact: Tamara Layfield (229) 432-1906 t.layfield@yahoo.com Smart Repair Inc ELECTRONIC/SALES/SERVICE/ SUPPLIES 2601 Dawson RD. Ste. 18 Albany, GA 31707 Contact: Ahmod Dhmod (229) 405-2929 smart_repair@hotmail.com

Rest easy.

It’s Wingate.

Southwest Georgia Workforce 44 EMPLOYMENT/TEMPORARY/ LEASING 75 West Broad Street Camilla, GA 31730 Contact: Pascha Spencer Phone: (229) 336-2378 Fax: (229) 336-8190 www.workforce44.org pspence@colquittga.org

Starter Home Builders, LLC CONTRACTORS/BUILDERS 1913 Weymouth Drive Albany, GA 31721 Contact: Lindsey Powell Phone: (229) 446-0999 www.starterhomebuilders.com lpowell@starterhomebuilders.com

State Farm Kent Nance INSURANCE & INSURANCE ADJUSTERS 110 Cordele Rd. Suite 5 Albany, GA 31705 Contact: Kent Nance (229) 485-1385 kent.nance.dzpw@statefarm.com

Temple B'Nai Israel CHURCHES/RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 3917 Gillionville Road Albany, GA 31721 Contact: Rabbi Holly Cohn Phone: (229) 446-6536 www.tbialbanyga.org rabbi.holly.cohn@gmail.com

Technology T echnolog echnology hn no gy @ work k for you VOIP Training T rain raining Networking etworking Helpdesk pdes Solutions tions Managed aged Services ices

Continental Breakfast Bar • Free Wireless and Wired Internet Access • Pool • Fitness Center • Whirlpool • Micro-Frig In Every Room • Meeting and Banquet Facilities • Business Center

Afternoon receptions Mon-Wed.

2735 Dawson Road, Albany • 229.883.9800 Reservations 800.228.1000 • Fax 229.883-9855

www.wingatehotels.com

August 2015

229.446.9641

www www.ctsioutsourcing.com .ctsioutso .ctsioutsourcing.com www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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August 2015 | BUSINESS

www.AlbanyGa.com

Holiday Inn Express Business After Hours Was Smoking The Holiday Inn Express and Smoke & Fire restaurant joined forces for the July Business After Hours. Guests enjoyed networking in the Holiday Inn’s beautiful meeting room as well as their patio where Smoke & Fire was preparing their handmade oven-fired pizza. Dylan Loft with the Courtyard Marriott was the winner of the chamber’s $100 raffle.

547 N. Westover Blvd.

229.888.5055 • www.locosgrill.com

SHOP AT PJSFABRICS.NET 511 W. Broad Ave., Albany, GA 229.439.7265

August 2015

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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THANK YOU RENEWING MEMBERS May/June 2015

AB&T National Bank ....................1998 Advertising with Lisa, LLC ...........1996 Albany 8 Inn .................................1999 Albany Area Clergy Women, Inc. ..............................1997 Albany Dermatology Clinic, PA.....2001 Albany Honda...............................1999 Albany Word Processing Services & One Plus ..............................1996 Allergy and Asthma Clinics of Georgia, PC .........................1995 Ameris ........................................1991 Artesian Contracting Co., Inc. ......2002 Auto Damage Appraisers, Inc.......2009 Baymont Inn and Suites ...............1994 Belk Inc. .......................................1975 Best, Lou Ann, DMD.....................1996 Brown, Michael E., Maj. USMC (Ret.) ......................2003 Child Care Resource & Referral of Southwest GA, Darton College..2010 CINTAS ........................................2005 Clenney, Powell, & Rentz, PC ......1977 Coach's Sports Bar LLC ...............2013 ComNet Technical Solutions.........2010 Cordele Intermodal Services ........2014 Cycle World Bike Shop .................2013 David Smith Autoland, Inc. ...........2000 Dougherty County Farm Bureau ..2008 Dougherty Glass Company ..........1975 Econo-Lodge Inn & Suites ...........1994 F & W Forestry Services, Inc. ......2007 Fastrack Immediate Care..............2014 First Baptist Church......................1995 Flint RiverQuarium........................2011 Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Broad Ave., Inc. .....................2013 Fullerton, Carol H. ........................1998 Garden Path .................................2013 GCSA Georgia Charter Schools Association ..................2014 Gillespie Printers ..........................2001 Golden's Fire Fighting Equipment, Inc. .........................2008 GraceWay Recovery Residence ..2003

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August 2015 | BUSINESS

HoneyBaked Ham ........................1995 Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc..............................2013

Raymond James .........................2003 Resora - New Communities Inc. ...2014 Robert Baker and Associates, CPA's.....................1997

Invision Technologies ...................2008 LeeDurham, LLC ..........................2010 Liberty House of Albany, LLP.......2004 Lily Pad SANE Center ..................2014 Longleaf Dental............................2002

WE DO COMPOUNDING

229-434-1414 • 610 N. Slappey Blvd.

Sadler Retirement ........................2004 Safe Aire Heating & Cooling Co., Inc.........................1964 Seminole Pest Management ........2008 Slater H. King Center....................1997 Smallcakes ...................................2013 South Georgia Heating & Cooling ..................................2008 South Georgia Medical Education & Research Consortium Inc. .........2012 Southern Point Staffing .................2011 Southwest Georgia Pediatrics, PC............................1981 Southwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery .................1981 Subway-RKJ Enterprises .............1995 Sunbelt Business Forms, Inc. ......1989 Sunnyland Farms, Inc. .................1986 Taylor Chandler, LLC ....................2012 Technical Associates ....................1989 Trans Waste Services...................2000 Turner Job Corps Center..............1978 Veilands, Anna S., DDS, PC.........1977

Marketing Communications..........1999 Matre Forestry Consulting, Inc. ....2008 Members United Credit Union ......1995 Mike's Country Store ....................2013 MillerCoors ...................................1979 Moe's Southwest Grill ..................2003

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC ...........1975 Whiddon Wealth Management, LLC .....................2010 Wild Adventures Theme Park........2011 Wildfair Plantation, LLC ................2012 Wyle - Aerospace Group...............2013 Wynfield Plantation, LLC ..............2013

Open Arms, Inc. ...........................2003 Parlor Hair Fashions & Boutique, The ............................1989 Pellicano & Blankenship, LLC ......1994 Pointe North Apartments ..............2014 Popham Mechanical Contractors,Inc. .........................2014 Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church ......................2014 Portman's Music Superstore.........2014 Premier Pediatrics ........................2010 Private Clinic Albany.....................2004 Pro-1 Sportswear, Inc...................1995 Professional Plumbing..................1995 www.AlbanyGa.com

And the Civilians Win The Salty Sandbagger Golf Tournament, held at Stonebridge Country Club, was a hard fought battle between the Marines and the chamber with the chamber coming out victorious.

The Salty Sandbagger started in the early 1970s and is a way to bring business and community leaders together with representatives from Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany and LOGCOM for fellowship and friendly competition. The tournament is held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The next encounter will take place in October.

PRINCE OF ALBANY

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

August 2015

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO Small businesses are the backbone of commerce in America. In Georgia, 78 percent of all businesses have fewer than 10 employees, and 95 percent of businesses have fewer than 50 employees.

The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s Celebrate Small Business Week recognizes the impact of small businesses, which help create jobs, grow jobs and reinvest in our community.

As part of Celebrate Small Business Week, the chamber had the honor of highlighting the accomplishments of 11 outstanding small businesses and of recognizing ComNet Technical Solutions as the 2015 Small Business of the Year.

The chamber is passionate about promoting our small businesses. This year, we launched our Think Local campaign, which aims to stimulate and accelerate the local economy by encouraging business decision makers and consumers to keep their dollars local, where the impact can be most significant, as dollars recirculate locally.

Bàrbara Rivera Holmes Interim President and CEO

For every $100 spent at a small, locally-owned business, $68 stays within the local economy.

Those dollars help create jobs, support families, fund government services through sales taxes, provide investment for neighborhood improvements and promote development in our community.

A component of the Think Local campaign is #15on15ALB, a social media effort that promotes spending $15 locally on the 15th of each month. If you’ve not participated, please do so. If you have – thank you, and please continue to be a part of this campaign. Visit albanyga.com or facebook.com/albanyareachamberofcommerce for more details.

The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to represent Albany Area small businesses, and to recognize their incredible impact on our community and region.

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www.AlbanyGa.com

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

Make Your Home a Dream Home

• COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

wood carpet tile granite marble area rugs

705 Canal Street www.awestenterprise.com

(229) 888-8347 March/April 2015

129 Flint Ave., Albany, GA | 229.435.7474 or 800.532.TILE www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

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to Grow or Not to Grow . . .

By David Dunn, Senior Public Service Associate at the University of Georgia SBDC

Starting a business is a tough challenge, but there is a tougher one – growing that business successfully. In the company’s beginning, you are doing most of the work, you make the decisions, and you have more control.

Starting a business indeed requires long hours and lots of sacrifices, but growing the business is another great effort that requires different talents and skills.

Many small businesses want to remain small and will always do so, and there is nothing wrong with that if it can be done. Sometimes situations make growth necessary in order to stay in business. As Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn once said, “The minute you’re satisfied with where you are, you aren’t there anymore.” Prime examples of this abound in the technology industries of computers and mobile devices.

Other businesses strive to grow from the early days of the company. Many do so successfully, but unfortunately most do not. The entrepreneur himself is often a stumbling block. Great entrepreneurs frequently are not good business managers, and the company outgrows them. The same ego that drove them to be great entrepreneurs often limits them in growing the business due to their refusing to

S

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August 2015 | BUSINESS

relinquish any control or decision making. Thus, the business begins to stagnate if it outgrows the management desires or capabilities of its founder.

As a business grows, a good business person has to share responsibilities with others and have confidence in them to help grow his business.

So who are those others? A team should be identified, and although every situation is different, this team should reasonably involve key employees, a good accountant, a banker, and an attorney. Many growing companies set up a board of advisors and have regular meetings to discuss issues within the company.

Growth takes cash. I once heard an older, battle tested growth veteran tell a young growth oriented business owner that the only difference in their cash flow issues was where the decimal was placed in the figures. Lack of cash limits and sometimes kills growth oriented companies. What is your strategy to fund your growth plan?

Growth will take the business into uncharted territory. As a company gets larger, it needs different processes, more capable equipment, and more staff to handle the operation effectively.

Do you have the staff in place and the systems available to travel the course that you have set for the business?

In the life of any business, there comes a time when the owner has to step aside. This move may be by choice, or dictated by death or other circumstances. As a business grows, the importance of a succession plan becomes more critical. This written document provides for the continued operation of a business when the owner leaves the company, by choice or otherwise. A well done succession plan provides for the owner’s leaving and also those who remain at the company.

It takes discipline to manage a quality growth oriented company, and one of the best ways to develop such discipline is to produce a written strategic plan. Such a plan describes a company’s vision, mission, and goals, as well as its strategies for reaching these objectives based on the environment the company is functioning in.

One of the most important questions of all is: Is growing a larger business really what will make you happy? If so, go for it, but not haphazardly. Plan for it, and don’t let growth just happen uncontrollably. Business growth is a good thing, but only if it is planned growth and done in a reasonable, manageable manner. www.AlbanyGa.com