September/October 2025 Columbus & the Valley

Establish YOUR LEGACY

— Established 1992 — 706-324-6214

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Jodi Saunders jodi@columbusandthevalley.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Becky Kenimer

Advertising Account Executive becky@columbusandthevalley.com

Margie Richardson

Advertising Account Executive margie@columbusandthevalley.com

Julie Lauzon Sales & Marketing Manager salesassistant@columbusandthevalley.com

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Rebecca DeLoach 62graphicstudio.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Frank S. Etheridge IV

FEATURE WRITERS

Brett Buckner

Frank S. Etheridge IV

Doug Gillett

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Brad Barnes

Tyson Begly

Pat Daniel

Scott Phillips

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ker-Fox Photography

years’ Five Under 40 recipients, (L-R) Allen Whitley, Denise DuBois Phelan, Ryan Willoughby, Anthony Montgomery and Shane McDougall inside the Aflac Club at Synovus Park.

Valley Life Ventures

Ready or not, it’s almost time to Fall forward!

At some point this summer I meant to stop and smell the roses, but the temperature in the Chattahoochee Valley had other plans. While my rose bed succumbed to pervasive weeds and fried under the heat of what felt like a tropical sun, our region continued to bloom.

Pitched against Paris, France, Columbus came out the clear winner with the International Canoe Federation. The thunderous Chattahoochee River that flows between two cities and states is the ticket that won us international status to host world class athletes at the 2028 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup and the 2029 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championship. This event brings an investment with a new, challenging whitewater course, a section of our Chattahoochee Riverwalk reconfigured for maximum spectator viewing and we are the first-ever “Freestyle Kayaking Center of Excellence” in the world with the creation of a youth education training program.

Enjoyed hanging out with this year’s 5 Under 40 recipients at their cover choot.

once a month “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” with your fellow bikers in Uptown.

Summer at Columbus & the Valley is a time when our 5 Under 40 and Rising Stars nominations begin to drop into our inbox. We had an amazing pool of young people to present to the review committee made up of former Five Under 40 recipients. Our leaders—be they homegrown or transplant—are in the public forum or working behind the scenes. Our Rising Stars are those that are stepping up into leadership roles and are making waves. Read all about them on pages 15-28.

Thank you to the Columbus Clingstones for hosting us at Synovus Park for our cover photo shoot. Not to be deterred by the rain that promised to hang around all week, we maximized the wonderful facilities in the Aflac Club overlooking the field.

We applaud one of our former Five Under 40 recipients, Amy Bryan, who is now at the helm of Direct Services. She has met head on the voluminous task of providing for seniors and the disabled in their homes from meals to maintenance but most importantly making a human connection for those that are homebound in our area.

Keeping on the theme of outdoors news, the 2025 Georgia Bike-Walk-Live Summit to be held in Columbus had me looking for opportunities to get on my bike. It was only apt to tie it in with a ghoulish theme with the Witches annual ride happening on October 26, or you can get out

Those are just two of the many opportunities to make the most of Fall. Check out What’s Happening? on pages 12-13. We’ll keep you busy! And on that note, plan ahead for Steeplechase at Callaway courtesy of Race Director, Carolyn Bettin by checking out her curated race day on pages 56-57. This year will be one for the books so get yourself race ready with all that you need to know about this staple community event that supports local arts organizations.

Columbus is close to the heart of Keni Thomas who, having lived a life less ordinary, brings his combat and musical career to the stage as a nationwide motivational speaker. We caught up with Keni on his recent visit back to the Valley as he was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame.

A leader in philanthropy, our local United Way will be celebrating its 75th anniversary, and that is certainly cause for celebration. They have pivoted, adapted and realigned their goals to continuously provide the much-needed resources to the Chattahoochee Valley area.

We love our Hometown Businesses. From new business entrepreneurs to long established institutions they tell their stories that shapes their business environment. They are not only succeeding, but they are thriving!

Look for me out and about this Fall—hopefully on my bike. Enjoy the read!

Jodi Saunders Publisher/Editor

Proud to be a local, independent small business in the Valley area for 30+ years.

Our Team

Becky Kenimer Advertising Account Executive

706-289-8338

Margie Richardson Advertising Account Executive 706-575-7825

Julie Lauzon Sales & Marketing Manager

706-324-6214

We are happy to provide our publications for your events. Gift a great read showcasing the best of our region. Digital options available by request. Request at contactus@columbusandthevalley.com. Please give 6 weeks advance notice

We want to hear from you! Share your stories and ideas with us. Our region is rich in its heritage, arts and culture scene, entrepreneurial endeavors and big business corporations. Everything is happening right here in the Chattahoochee Valley. Connect at contactus@columbusandthevalley.com. PROUD PARTNERS OF

Contact your chamber regarding benefits of membership

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Ongoing

Uptown Market Days

SATURDAYS THRU OCTOBER

Each Saturday, four blocks along Broadway host over 200 local and regional vendors. Visitors can expect to find fresh and organic produce, home goods, jewelry, unique crafts and delicious baked goods. Market Days is the perfect Saturday activity for family, friends and visitors. Don’t forget to bring your furry pals to get in on the fun.

AlwaysUptown.com

Uptown’s Friday Night Concert Series

FRIDAYS THRU OCTOBER 17

All outdoor concerts are FREE and open to all ages. Bring your lawn chair, blanket and your family for a night of great music and fun. Coolers, tents, outside alcoholic beverages and glass containers are prohibited. Visit one of the Uptown restaurants to purchase food and alcoholic beverages. All concerts are on Broadway from 7 to 10 p.m. AlwaysUptown.com

September

Columbus Clingstones Final Home Series at Synovus Park

SEPTEMBER 2-7

Get your tickets to see the Braves Double-A affiliate baseball team play during this six game series against the Montgomery Biscuits. Visit the website for tickets and the full season schedule. Clingstones.com

Pine Mountain Art First Friday

SEPTEMBER 6

Reception from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Featuring Watercolor Artist Barbara McCrea. Located at Pine Mountain Art & Jewelry. 141 North Main Avenue, Pine Mountain

One Night of Queen at RiverCenter

SEPTEMBER 10

For over 20 years Gary Mullen and The Works have been performing their world-renowned One Night of Queen live concert. They “will rock you” and are “guaranteed to blow your mind!” RiverCenter.org

House of Heroes Bids & Bubbly

SEPTEMBER 11

An evening of champagne, live music and auctions— all to support local veterans and first responders through House of Heroes Chattahoochee Valley. GiveButter.com/c/HOHCVC_25

Harris County 36th Annual Professional Rodeo

SEPTEMBER 12

Feel the thunder of cows, horses and the mighty bulls as they pound the arena with riders on board. HCCAOnline.com/tickets

Bradley Olmstead Garden Talk & Tour at Columbus Museum

SEPTEMBER 17

Join COMU Horticulturalist Matt Thompson for a special morning exploring the past, present and future of the Museum’s historic Bradley Olmsted Garden. Enjoy an engaging talk followed by a guided tour through the grounds. Light refreshments will be provided. ColumbusMuseum.com

Artist Talk with Coulter Fussell + South Arts 2025 Reception at the Bo Bartlett Center

SEPTEMBER 18

Hear Coulter Fussell talk about her fantastical quilted sculptures from her HOT WATER exhibition at 5:30 p.m. HOT WATER is the first comprehensive survey of Coulter Fussell’s years-long, evolving series of hand sewn quilted sculptures called “River Raft Quilts.” Stick around for a reception celebrating the 2025 State Fellows for Visual Arts from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The South Arts State Fellowship is a state-specific prize awarded to artists whose work reflects the best of the visual arts in the South. Events.ColumbusState.edu

The Wiz at Springer Opera House

SEPTEMBER 19-28

Come on and Ease on Down the Road with Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion—with a funkadelic twist!

A beloved Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel and soul music, bringing an electrifying energy to the classic story. SpringerOperaHouse.org

Fountain City Tattoo Expo at Columbus Trade Center

SEPTEMBER 19-21

Enjoy three full days of incredible tattoo artistry, live entertainment, contests, vendors and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re getting tattooed, shopping for unique merch or just coming to enjoy the atmosphere, this is an event you won’t want to miss. FountainCityTattooExpo.com

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents Tchaikovsky & Dvorak at RiverCenter

SEPTEMBER 20

Violinist Bella Hristova returns to the CSO for Dvorák’s deeply expressive Violin Concerto, a work that blends fiery passion with haunting lyricism—perfectly suited to her playing, described by The Washington Post as possessing “impressive power and control.” CSOGA.org

Midland

Commons’ Fall Festival

SEPTEMBER 20

Enjoy all the fall things, including local vendors, food trucks, music and plenty of kid-friendly activities like a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting and a train ride from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MidlandCommons.com

Schwob Wind Orchestra Concert at RiverCenter's Legacy Hall

SEPTEMBER 25

The Joyce and Henry Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University presents Schwob Wind Orchestra Concert at 7:30 p.m. Events.ColumbusState.edu

Yoga in the Garden at Columbus Botanical Garden

SEPTEMBER 26

Mary Liwanag will be teaching Vinyasa 101, which is a 60-minute, all-levels yoga class. The purpose of this class is to increase student strength, flexibility and confidence. Each class includes a warm up, flow, balance work, relaxation and breathwork. Pose variations are encouraged. Students learn to listen to their bodies and choose the options that bring them steadiness and ease.

ColumbusBotanicalGarden.org

R&B and Art Show at Columbus Trade Center

SEPTEMBER 27

Looking for something new to do on a Saturday night. Come out and enjoy a night of art, line dancing, live performances, R&B and soul music, fun games, contests, good food and more.

eventbrite.com/e/rb-and-art-show-tickets-1390869280459? aff=ebdiglgoogleliveevents&source=ecat

Fall for Local Outdoor Market at Bluebelle Local Mercantile

SEPTEMBER 27

Shop local from almost 300 vendors inside and outside the store.

BluebelleColumbusGA.com

The Art of Sound: Sound Bath at the Bo Bartlett Center

SEPTEMBER 30

Enjoy this special experience—a calming and restorative sound bath surrounded by beautiful art. Led by Jeffrey Oakman of Sonic Wellness, you will be guided through meditative breathing, deep relaxation, and a lush soundscape, using instruments like gongs, flutes, drum, handpan and more. ColumbusState.edu/bartlett-center

October

2025 Georgia Bike-Walk-Live

Summit at Columbus Trade Center

OCTOBER 2

Experience informative presentations and exciting, interactive mobile workshops in one of Georgia’s favorite places to bike and walk. eventbrite.com/e/2025-georgia-bike-walk-live-summittickets-1474456622449?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Patriotic: USA 250 Concert

OCTOBER 6

The Columbus Community Orchestra will have a free Patriotic: USA 250 concert at St. Mark Church Activity Center 6795 Whitesville Road. Call 706-575-5371 for info.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at CSU's Riverside Theatre

OCTOBER 7, 9, 10, 11

Join Columbus State University's Joyce at Henry Schwob School of Music at they collaborate with musical theatre program to present the musical comedy, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Events.ColumbusState.edu

The Book of Mormon at RiverCenter

OCTOBER 7

This irreverently hilarious musical follows two young Mormon missionaries, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, who are sent to Uganda to spread the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This nine-time Tony Award®- winning musical was called “The best musical of this century” by The New York Times RiverCenter.org

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra Presents The King of Instruments at RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall

OCTOBER 11

Experience the power and majesty of the organ reverberate through Legacy Hall as the CSO welcomes organist Christopher Houlihan. Unlike any other concert this season, this rare and resplendent program places the mighty organ center stage paired with the grandeur and sonic brilliance of a symphony orchestra.

CSOGA.org

Paint the Town Pink 5K at Woodruff Park

OCTOBER 17

The 16th annual Paint the Town Pink 5K Fun Walk & Run starts with a Survivor Parade at 5:45 p.m. and race kick-off at 6:30 p.m. to benefit the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Cancer Assistance Fund. Best of all, 100% of proceeds stay local, helping families facing cancer in our community.

RunSignUp.com/Race/GA/Columbus/PaintTheTownPink

Dracula:

A Comedy of Terrors at Springer Opera House

OCTOBER 17 - NOVEMBER 2

This lightning-fast, laugh-out-loud reimagining of the gothic classic blends the legendary vampire tale with the zany humor of Mel Brooks, Monty Python and The

39 Steps. Full of clever wordplay and over-the-top antics, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors is guaranteed to increase your pulse and cause blood-curdling screams of laughter! Recommended for ages 13 and up. SpringerOperaHouse.org

Astronomy

Night at FDR State Park

OCTOBER 18

Staff and students from the Coca-Cola Space Science Center will have telescopes set up in the baseball field, across from the Liberty Bell Pool at 7:30 p.m. with a presentation on objects in the summer evening skies, then (weather permitting) move to a night sky tour and close-ups with the telescopes. CCSSC.org

Fall Festival at Columbus Museum

OCTOBER 18

Don’t miss the annual Fall Festival with creativity and experimentation for the whole family! Complete art making activities throughout the Museum inspired by the work of glass artist John Miller. Take part in a fun scavenger hunt, engage in activities from a variety of community partners, catch live performances and indulge in delicious bites from local food trucks. ColumbusMuseum.com

TOAST—The No. 1 Tribute to Bread at RiverCenter

OCTOBER 23

Over their career, Bread scored 13 hits on Billboard’s Top 100. With a surprising fidelity rarely heard from a live tribute band, TOAST’s sound is often described as “spot on” to the original recordings of Bread. Audiences everywhere rave about closely their live performances sound like the cherished records they listened to back in the day.

RiverCenter.org

Columbus Hospice presents Denim and Diamonds with Clint Black at Columbus Civic Center

OCTOBER 24

Country singer Clint Black headlines the annual fundraiser for Columbus Hospice. This event allows Columbus Hospice to continue providing exceptional and compassionate care to all eligible patients, regardless of their ability to pay. All proceeds from this event will directly support the Charitable Care Annual Fund, which provided $1.68 million in unfunded care during 2023.

RiverCenter.org

Paint en plein air with Pine Mountain Art Alliance

OCTOBER 25

Join the Pine Mountain Art Alliance from 4 to 5 p.m. for their Easel & Mingle Award Ceremony at Pine Mountain Art & Jewelry followed by an evening of painting en plein air starting at 6:30 p.m. Register by emailing pinemountainartsalliance@gmail.com. Facebook.com/groups/1353927782197587

The Phantom of the Opera Silent Film with THE WAVE at RiverCenter

OCTOBER 25

This 1925 silent horror film adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s novel stars Lon Chaney in the title role. The Phantom haunts the Paris Opera House, causing murder and mayhem in his quest to make the woman

he loves a star. Organist Ron Carter returns to RiverCenter to provide live accompaniment on THE WAVE theatre organ for this fun and spooky classic. Costumes encouraged! RiverCenter.org

Book Binding Workshop at Columbus Museum

OCTOBER 25

Learn and explore simple bookbinding techniques with COMU staff inspired by the exhibition Hadieh Shafie: Beautiful Words. Beginners are welcome. Registration is required. ColumbusMuseum.com

Uptown’s Spooktacular

OCTOBER 25

Broadway in Uptown Columbus will transform into a Halloween celebration packed with festive fun for the whole family from 1 to 3 p.m. They’re bringing all the kid-friendly tricks, treats, costumes and spooky surprises to help you get into the Halloween spirit. AlwaysUptown.com/spooktacular

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (the movie) with Live Shadow Cast at Springer Opera House

OCTOBER 25

This year marks the 50th anniversary of this gloriously weird, wild and wacky film. Admission includes a props bag to interact with the cast and movie. No one under the age of 17 admitted without adult present.

SpringerOperaHouse.org

Columbus Witches Bike Ride

OCTOBER 26

A community of your favorite neighborhood witches on a 2 mile bike ride heading out candy goodies. Event proceeds benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and will go toward the Bill and Olivia Children’s Hospital. Witches must sign up on the website to participate. ColumbusWitchesRide.com

November

Fountain City Classic at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium

NOVEMBER 8

Fountain City Classic returns to Columbus for it’s 35th year—and you already know the vibes! Tailgate all day and then watch two HBCU football powerhouses—Albany State University Golden Rams and Fort Valley State University Wildcats— battle it out on historic turf. FountainCityClassic.com

5U4 2025

by Doug Gillett

Columbus & the Valley, in partnership with the Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, is honored to present our 2025 Five Under 40 honorees along with this year’s Rising Stars. These individuals were chosen by our panel of judges and are recognized for exceptional leadership in both their professions and their communities. We’re excited to share their stories in their own voices on the following pages. The Rising Stars represent standout nominees who are seen as the visionaries and trailblazers of tomorrow. Together, these 10 remarkable locals are shaping a brighter future and leaving a meaningful impact on our community—in and out of the workplace.

photos by Ker-Fox Photography

Ryan Willoughby

CEO Jordan Vocational High School

History and heritage abound in Columbus, from the revitalized cotton mills downtown to the National Infantry Museum, Springer Opera House and beyond. But even some lifelong Columbus residents might not know there’s a milestone of national significance tucked away on Howard Avenue in the Rose Hill Heights neighborhood—Jordan Vocational High School, the first public vocational high school in the United States.

Ryan Willoughby takes immense pride in that history—as both a member of Jordan’s class of 2003 and for the past two years, the school’s CEO. Willoughby is responsible for building connections with the business community and ensuring that Jordan’s graduates meet the expectations of those potential employers. “We’re focused on developing the workforce for today and tomorrow,” he says.

That mission has taken on greater significance—and a higher profile—as the skyrocketing costs of traditional fouryear colleges have prompted educational leaders to examine alternatives that might better meet students’ needs, and to some extent, reevaluate the purpose of public education itself.

“We have to change our thought processes as to what college is.” Willoughby asserts. “It’s not just fouryear colleges and master’s degrees and Ph.D.s. At the same time, “some sort of post-secondary education is going to be necessary for most of the workforce—even if you went straight into a blue-collar job, like being a plumber, you’d have to take a

whole lot of classes after high school. In so many ways, education exists to serve the local economy, so there needs to be a handin-hand relationship between the public education system and the business entities. That’s what a college and career academy really exists to do.”

Willoughby also takes pride in the fact that while Jordan emphasizes vocational classes, it doesn’t give short shrift to the liberal arts or athletics—it’s what’s known as a “wall-to-wall” vocational school where “A kid doesn’t just drop in. They’re there, and they get everything.” And while most such schools are located in rural areas with no other public education options, Jordan exists in a bustling multi-school district. “So even in the college and career academy world, we provide something that’s unique,” he says.

While Willoughby originally took the CEO job not expecting to have much day-

to-day contact with students, he says it’s become the most rewarding part of his job.

“Man, getting to spend time with them and getting to know them and their interests has been great,” he says. “Other people may not feel this way, but I’m really bullish about this generation—I think they have a lot of potential. They’re very intelligent, and they’re very capable. I love watching them use their creativity to figure out problems, share ideas and just be themselves. They’re really pretty awesome.”

Willoughby expresses similar sentiments about his hometown. “What I see when I look at Columbus is a community with amazing potential,” he says. “I want to see it continue to develop that potential. And as leadership continues to investigate that and to explore opportunities that are emerging here, I really think Columbus could be a thriving, amazing community like nothing else in the state of Georgia.”

More About RYAN

HOMETOWN

Columbus

EDUCATION

University of Georgia, Columbus State University

FAMILY

Wife Christy, Daughters Lydia and Ruby

Anthony Montgomery, Jr.

REALTOR®

Coldwell Banker/Kennon, Parker, Duncan & Davis

The COVID pandemic of 2021–22 is something nobody would choose to relive, but as Columbus realtor Anthony Montgomery can attest, sometimes even the worst circumstances can produce something positive.

Montgomery was working as a budget analyst in the city of Columbus’ finance department when the pandemic hit— and the Federal Reserve, attempting to stabilize the flailing economy, sent interest rates plummeting. “It got down to two or three percent, and I said, ‘Gosh, I think I want to buy a property,’” he recalls. With a little help from his parents, he bought a house and began renting it to tenants.

He liked the passive income coming in, but Montgomery—who remembers watching the “Kennon & Parker Home Show” as a child with his mom—liked the idea of investing in property even more. By October 2021, he had his real estate license, and today he’s a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker/Kennon, Parker, Duncan & Davis in Columbus.

Montgomery says the social aspect of his job gives him the greatest satisfaction. “When I was in high school, we had to do these presentations about what our talents were. I never thought I had a talent, but my teacher said, ‘I think people are your talent,’” he remembers. “I don’t think I understood what that meant until I got my real estate license and joined a REALTOR® team, and then I kind of understood more of what she’d been saying.

“You’re really just trying to help people find a home and a place to grow a family, so you end up making connections with

folks—you feel like you’re a part of every single deal, and I really like that. I love helping people, I love giving back and I love helping people find the solution to a problem. Real estate really turned out to be that avenue for me.”

Recently Montgomery and a colleague took that problem-solving effort to a grander scale by forming a partnership to create affordable housing in the Columbus area. They buy properties, spruce them up and put them back on the market at a low price—ideally, less than $150,000.

“We were able to help a lady move from Florida to Columbus and buy a house for $109,000 that we helped renovate and update,” Montgomery says. “We’re really big about giving back to the community in any aspect we can. It’s just a joyous feeling

seeing someone obtain a home when they never thought they could.”

Montgomery has also joined Columbus’ Community Development Advisory Council in the hopes of making an even greater impact. He says he’s proud of what the city has become since his family moved to Fort Benning in 1999, and he’s excited to help that progress continue.

“Really, it’s a ‘big small town,’” he says. “It’s been great seeing the growth of Columbus, how much we have developed and the new companies and businesses we’re bringing in. But I still love that when I walk into a restaurant or bar or something, it’s like [the sitcom] Cheers—we all say hi to each other, and we all know each other’s names. You don’t get that everywhere, but you get it here.”

More About ANTHONY AGE

HOMETOWN

Ft. Bragg, North Carolina

EDUCATION

Columbus State University

FAMILY

Father Anthony Montgomery, Sr.;

Sister Anet Mellivora

Allen Whitley

Senior VP-Investments

Synovus Securities, Inc.

“It was a tough time coming out of college,” Allen Whitley remembers. He definitely has a gift for understatement: Earning his bachelor’s degree in finance in December 2009 put him smack in the middle of one of the worst job markets in America’s history. Fortunately, he could count on his hometown of Columbus to provide shelter from the storm—and a starting point for what has become a very successful career.

Now a senior VP of investments with the Sexton Wade Whitley Group at Synovus Securities, Whitley got his start in the management associate program of what was then Columbus Bank & Trust. Not only did the program expose him to many different aspects of the bank’s business, it also provided early experience in managing a bank branch. By 2015 he had received an offer to move to Synovus’ private wealth management unit, achieving a significant career goal in the process.

“It’s something I’d always wanted to do, to eventually get to this role, and Synovus has been so good to me,” Whitley says. “And the people I’ve been around have been good to me, too. So many doors have opened up for me along the way.”

Partly for that reason, Whitley is eager to promote Columbus as a place of opportunity for new college grads and other young people looking for a place to get their start. “I’ve always loved Columbus—I thought it’s a great place to be, it’s a great place to raise a family one day,” he explains. “I think there’s a draw to some of the flashier big cities that a lot of

college graduates feel, but I also knew that it would be easy to get lost in the shuffle in some of those bigger places. This was a great place to set my roots.”

Even as one of the Chattahoochee Valley’s biggest cheerleaders, though, Whitley says he’s been amazed by the transformation that has taken place in Columbus in recent years, especially in downtown, midtown and along the Second Avenue corridor. “Just seeing it come to life, all the new restaurants and places to shop, having [Columbus State University] down there and seeing so much youthful energy in the heart and the hub of our city, it’s been awesome. When prospective new members of our community, particularly folks about to graduate, are thinking about where they want to live, I think it’s important to see those things.”

Whitley says that he and his wife Kathleen, along with their three young

children, have definitely taken advantage of the diverse dining opportunities that have been part of Columbus’ revitalization. But he’s also helped continue that transformation through his participation in organizations ranging from United Way, Columbus Botanical Garden, Open Door Community House to Young Life, Clement Arts and being a deacon at his church, St. Andrews Presbyterian.

“Whatever you’re passionate about, I guarantee you there is an organization to get plugged into here in Columbus,” he says. “It’s been really rewarding to see the inner workings of these organizations and the dedicated staff they have—things you just don’t know about until you get involved and see it firsthand.

“Columbus has always been a great place to live, but the changes that have gone on in the last 15 or 20 years have been extremely exciting to see and be part of.”

More About ALLEN AGE

HOMETOWN

Columbus

EDUCATION

Georgia Southern University, Auburn University

FAMILY

Wife Kathleen, Daughters Jane and Lucy, Son Mack

Denise DuBois Phelan

Director of Membership and Marketing East Alabama Chamber of Commerce

“There was another guy who came on two weeks after me,” Denise DuBois Phelan said of the start of her career at the Phenix Citizen newspaper (now The Citizen of East Alabama). “I was showing him around, and he said, ‘How long have you been here?’ I said, ‘Two weeks.’ He said, ‘Oh? Because you act like you run the place!’"

Just five years later, Phelan was actually running the place. In an industry where the title of “editor/publisher” is something most people have to work for decades to achieve, she’d earned it at just 25. Between her media experience and her current position as director of membership and marketing for the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce, she has never lacked for reminders of how special her community is.

“Honestly, I fell in love with telling stories about the community,” Phelan said. “After 17 years, I figured out that I had written between 7,000 and 7,500 articles, but it’s because people allowed me into their lives. I think God gifts us with certain abilities, and he gave me the ability to love on people, relate to them, listen to them and share their stories. I don’t think you get any better than that in your career.”

“I got to be one of the first people to raft down the Chattahoochee River. In downtown Columbus, there were people who wanted to see it grow, so they made it happen. I’ve been part of stories about regular people rallying around a young girl with cancer to help make her dreams come true, entrepreneurial women

building an entire brand and city leaders praying over their community. When we talk about what makes our community unique, it always comes back to the people.

Phelan says her work with the East Alabama Chamber isn’t altogether different from what she did at the newspaper. “We also get to tell business stories through advertising and marketing, and what I learned is that a lot of businesses don’t know how to tell their story,” she said. “Our mission is to build relationships that grow business, so we are constantly connecting business owners and leaders with other people who can help create those opportunities for each other to grow.”

“We get to mentor some, and we get to put on programs for small businesses to help them do what they’re doing better. The part I love is that we get to raise up the next generation of leaders through our junior leadership program. We have an adult leadership program as well. It’s incredible to know you’re making a difference. It makes me really happy.”

Now that Phelan has adapted to one new role, she gets to adapt to two more—brandnew wife and stepmom. “At 38 years old, the Lord sent me the husband I’ve been praying for my whole life,” she said. “I had a career change, and a month later I met the man I was going to marry! The kids are incredible, and so far it’s been wonderful.”

More About DENISE AGE 38

HOMETOWN

Smiths Station/Phenix City

EDUCATION

University of Alabama, Columbus State University, Troy University

FAMILY

Husband Patrick, Stepdaughter Trinity, Stepson Noah

Shane McDougall

Executive Director

Spring Harbor at Green Island

If you’d told 18-year-old Shane McDougall that one day he’d be back in his hometown of Columbus running a senior living facility, he might have been less than thrilled. But the path he’s taken since then has taught him that the best opportunities are often the ones you least expect.

“There have been so many people who saw things in me that I didn’t see yet,” says McDougall, who since 2021 has been the executive director of Spring Harbor at Green Island, a senior facility in the Piedmont Healthcare network. “I never thought in a million years I’d be sitting where I’m sitting, and I’m beyond thankful to those mentors who took the time to say, ‘Hey, I think you should be involved in this’ or ‘I think we can build off this.’ They would open up doors for me that I probably would not have walked into for a very long time.”

Healthcare itself was a door McDougall didn’t expect to walk into. He first joined the staff at Columbus Regional Healthcare as a second-shift security guard while pursuing a degree in criminal justice at Columbus State. He found, though, that the “healthcare” part of the job piqued his interest more than the “security” part. He soon got a job in CRH’s medical staff office, and in 2012 his superiors tapped him for a two-year internship that set him up for a new position as director of business development and strategic planning.

“It was the first time that they’d had a position like that at Columbus Regional,” McDougall says. “It was something

completely different—interaction with physicians, community leaders and obviously leaders within the healthcare system. And it continued to spark my interest in being a leader myself.”

After three years in the business development position—an eventful stretch that included both CRH’s 2018 merger with Piedmont Healthcare and the COVID pandemic—McDougall was chosen as the new executive director of Spring Harbor. Though he “never thought [he’d] be in senior living,” he says he’s found a degree of satisfaction even beyond what he’d gotten from his previous healthcare experience.

“At the hospital you have a lot of time to connect with the employees, but you have a very short time to build relationships with patients—the goal is for them to not be there that long,” McDougall explains. “In a retirement community, that’s just not the case. My favorite thing about this role thus far is being able to connect with

our employees and watching them build relationships with residents. This past Friday we had our 20-year anniversary at Spring Harbor, which was a huge milestone. And our employees didn’t just work the party, they were part of the party—they were out on the dance floor, engaging with residents, making connections. That type of thing is invaluable.”

The act of relationship-building—and the ease of doing it in Columbus—has given McDougall new perspective on his hometown.

“I had this conversation with some of our friends, and none of us thought we’d end up in Columbus,” he says. “But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown more appreciation for this town, for a few different reasons. But my favorite part is that it has such a small-town feel. It’s the people of Columbus—everywhere you go, you know somebody, and you can build long-lasting relationships. That’s the best part.”

More About SHANE AGE

36

HOMETOWN

Columbus

EDUCATION

Columbus State University, Louisiana State University Shreveport

FAMILY

Wife Brittany, Sons Hunter and Braxton

Rising Stars Brittany POLLOCK

PROFESSION

RN MSN, Founder and Lead Aesthetic Clinician at Toxcology Regenerative Aesthetics and Wellness

EDUCATION

Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Chamberlain University

FAMILY

Husband Justin, Sons Kaden and Lexton

With over 13 years in nursing and a passion for helping others look and feel their best, I transitioned from acute rehabilitation to aesthetics to offer results-driven, regenerative treatments. My mission is to provide personalized, holistic care that enhances natural beauty and confidence. Opening Toxcology allowed me to combine my clinical expertise with my entrepreneurial spirit, creating a space where clients receive innovative, science-backed treatments. My husband is the backbone of my business, and it is truly a family affair with my mom working alongside me as our front desk receptionist. Family and faith are my foundation, and their unwavering support has made everything I’ve achieved possible.

Mercer CLARK Marika BELL

29 PROFESSION

President & CEO of Pound-Clark General Contractors, LLC.

EDUCATION

Auburn University

FAMILY

Fiancé Brett Beavers

My career formed from humble beginnings, hard work and risk. I learned heavily from those before me and grew to admire the continuous task of being a problem solver in order to build buildings. With any career decision, I asked the question of “Why” I do what I do. We strive to build relationships first and the building second. The greatest satisfaction of my job is building teams and developing people to produce great results. Our success is a testament to our values, innovation, efficiency and work ethic. Pound-Clark General Contractors, LLC (formerly Pound Construction Company Inc.), will be 100 years old in 2029, and I am honored to take Pound-Clark to the next 100 years.

33 PROFESSION

REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty River Cities

EDUCATION

Columbus State University, University of Maryland Global Campus

FAMILY Daughter Alani

My work as a REALTOR® goes beyond contracts and closings—it’s about building connections that strengthen the community I love. Real estate wasn’t just a career choice. It became the path where my passion for people and my drive to create lasting change came together. Every client has a story, every home a new chapter, and I’m honored to walk beside people as they step into their next beginning. My goal for my job is simple—add value into every room I enter.

Melissa GUTHRIE Brittany SANTIAGO

39 PROFESSION

Owner of A Southern Clean

EDUCATION

Columbus Technical College

FAMILY

Husband Lee, Daughter Dakota, Sons Mason, Memphis and Miller

After graduating from Jordan Vocational High School, I worked two jobs while attending Columbus Technical College. After several years of being a stay at home mom, I decided to start my own business, A Southern Clean. We specialize in detailed cleanings, deep cleanings and move out cleanings. We seek out college students and military wives for our ideal candidates for employment.

37 PROFESSION

Director of Community Affairs & Public Information Officer with the Columbus Police Department

EDUCATION

Alabama A&M University, Columbus State University

FAMILY

Husband Carlos, Sons Tré and Bryson

Part of my career at the Columbus Police Department is to shape how our stories are told in both crisis and celebration. My background in journalism and PR taught me to tell stories that matter, but public safety gave those stories purpose. I chose this work to bridge gaps and build trust, blending my passion for storytelling with service. Everyday, I have the privilege of showing our community, the real people behind the badge.

Valley Business Insider

by Tyson Begly

What the Synovus/Pinnacle Merger Means for Our Community

The big news recently is the announcement that Synovus will merge with Nashville-based Pinnacle Financial Partners and adopt the name Pinnacle Bank. As one of the largest and most historic employers in Columbus, it’s natural that everyone is curious about the impact on our community— and on the approximately 1,200 local employees and their families.

The roots of Synovus go back to an act of kindness at the Eagle & Phenix Mills when the W.C. Bradley Company offered to hold employees’ money for safekeeping, so it wouldn’t have to be sewn into their clothing. That operation would eventually become Columbus Bank & Trust, which was officially unified under the Synovus name in 2018—a relationship-driven philosophy that continues to this day. Over time, Synovus grew by acquiring 35 regional banks, eventually becoming the 43rd-largest bank in the country, with nearly 5,000 employees across the Southeast.

As a spinout of W.C. Bradley, Synovus inherited a tradition of servant leadership focused on investor value while also improving the community. Current CEO Kevin Blair, who joined in 2016 and became CEO in 2021, has continued that tradition—improving stock value, overseeing the strategic acquisition of Florida Community Bank and serving as United Way Program Chair in 2019. Synovus has been a strong corporate partner with the city, building its new headquarters along the Chattahoochee River, and few were surprised when the company secured naming rights to Synovus Park.

Why Did They Merge With Pinnacle?

Executives have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to grow the share price. Mergers and acquisitions are monumental events in the life of a company that often help drive share prices

upward. Companies pursue acquisitions for several reasons, typically to:

1. Expand their market footprint and capabilities to build a more comprehensive organization

2. Acquire a similar company and consolidate redundant roles to increase profitability

3. Achieve a mixture of both

Based on the profiles of Synovus and Pinnacle, this deal appears to reflect more of the first category—more comparable to the Florida Community Bank acquisition for market expansion than to smaller regional bank consolidations.

In addition to Synovus gaining access to the Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Maryland markets, the combined bank will benefit from some of Pinnacle’s unique offerings—such as their shared equity homeownership program and niche commercial lending services. On the other hand, Synovus has already built a strong Southeastern presence, offering consumer retail banking and fostering deep relationships with local business partners. Rather than emphasizing redundant cost reductions—often called “cost synergies”— the two banks appear more focused on cross-sell synergies. This means offering existing Synovus clients access to Pinnacle’s products while expanding Pinnacle’s presence in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

So, What Does All This Mean?

For investors, it’s still unclear. Acquisitions that generate significant cost savings—usually through job reductions—often create quick value because the path to profitability is obvious. Since that’s not the case of Synovus and Pinnacle, the response has been mixed. The newly combined bank will need to prove that a “merger of equals” can continue to deliver meaningful revenue growth, especially as it crosses the $100 billion asset threshold and enters a more complex regulatory category.

For the Columbus community, we are cautiously optimistic. Kevin Blair has been a committed local leader, both professionally and personally, and is slated to become CEO of the combined company. While some Synovus executive roles were already based in Atlanta, we’re hopeful there will not be a significant impact on existing jobs in Columbus, as these roles are presumably more cost-efficient than similar functions in Atlanta or Nashville. As for Synovus Park, we’ve already heard the name won’t change in the short term—but expect a rebranding, perhaps to “Pinnacle Park,” sometime in 2027. Of course, this also serves as a timely reminder of why continued investment in economic development is so important for our city. Columbus has long benefited from strong employers, and our future momentum depends on fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of major employers.

Dareion

Jerica McCrary

FOLLOW LEADER the

Country singer and motivational speaker Keni Thomas traces his path from van life to the Ranger Hall of Fame

by Frank S. Etheridge IV

photos courtesy of Keni Thomas

When Keni Thomas first moved from Columbus to Nashville to make it big in the music business, he admits he was reluctant to share his story.

Back home in Georgia, his story was well known. By the time he and his Cornbread bandmates were packing the Loft in the late ‘90s with a good-vibes scene drawn to the group’s infectious Southern boogie, Thomas’ fans were already all too aware of his heroic combat valor that would earn him the Bronze Star in 2007. After all, his story is the one he shares with his Army buddies in Bravo Company, Third Ranger Battalion, based at Ft. Benning—elite soldiers whose faces were familiar around the Chattahoochee Valley to Little League dads and guys at the bar. It’s the story of the deadly Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993 immortalized in the blockbuster 2001 film, Black Hawk Down

“When I first got to Nashville, I tried to hide the story of Black Hawk Down,” Thomas admits in a phone call with Columbus & the Valley in July. “I kind of thought it was a curse. I just wanted to stay in my lane—just write my songs and do my thing. I didn’t

want to be Keni the Singing Ranger, but then the movie came out and the [Global War on Terrorism] began and Fox News is calling me to talk about it. I had to accept being known as the Black Hawk Down guy. It took me a while to come to peace with that.”

Reflecting on his Cornbread days in Columbus, back before he was a country-music star in Nashville to when he was busy renovating his home on Second Avenue in the burgeoning Historic District downtown, Thomas says his favorite memory is “just the thrill of watching it grow because of all the hard work we put into it.”

“We would practice on Tuesday nights then pile into Dean [Castile]’s van and drive around the South to play until Sunday,” Thomas remembers

of what he calls the “original recipe Cornbread” made up of top regional talents such as the late, great Paxton Nash, whose debut single “Crystal River” debuted on Kissin’ 99.3 in 1996—not the line up that enjoyed breakout success from singing Skynyrd songs in Reese Witherspoon’s 2002 smash film, Sweet Home Alabama .

“We’d get paid $200, and we were happy to do it,” says Thomas. “I loved playing RiverFest, all the Backyard Boogies. I remember we would play at the Loft and the floor would shake from all the people dancing. When I moved more toward country music, I started spending a lot of time in Nashville. When I was offered a songwriting contract, that’s when I knew, ‘Okay, I can make this work.’ That’s when I moved from Columbus because it had gotten to the point where I just came home to mow my grass.”

A few years later, Thomas received a phone call from a friend back home in Columbus. It was Pastor Jeff Struecker, founder of 2 Cities Church on Gentian Boulevard, who fought alongside him in Mogadishu. “Jeff saw me on TV doing an interview on CMT one day and called me up,” Thomas recalls. “And Jeff was like, ‘What’s wrong with you? You didn’t say anything about us.’ I explained to him about not wanting to be Keni the Singing Ranger. Jeff asked, ‘If you’re not going to tell your story, who’s going to tell our story?’ Then he told me, ‘You can do more with one song than I can do with 100 sermons. So you better figure out what you’re going to say about us, and you better figure it out fast.’”

“Keni tells our story exceptionally well,” Pastor Struecker said. “I’ve been around a lot of incredible warriors. Most of those guys don’t have a chance to stand on stage and use that to become an influence for the future of our country. People need those types of heroes to aspire to be. But if you look at famous public figures— music, sports and business leaders—many of them are morally bankrupt. Keni is a strong leader morally and militarily who happened to be a very talented musician.”

A decorated war hero known for his ministry as well as books on leadership development, Struecker had been in combat twice before Somalia, having fought in Panama in 1989 and Desert Storm in 1991 after he enlisted in the Army

as a private at age 18. He says those who survive combat have experienced their biggest life-shaping event that will forever inform their perspective on life. “Hey look, things are bad here at work or at home with my family, but at least nobody’s trying to kill me,” Struecker says of the veteran’s outlook.

“Leadership is hard—never easy,” continues Struecker. “I’ve watched Keni as a soldier and a statesman on our behalf. He has represented us really, really well. Not with a guitar, but it’s his character and integrity that represents us so well.”

“That’s when I started actually embracing my story and learning how to tell that story to people,” Thomas explains of the impact Struecker’s personal call to action had on his life trajectory.

BOTTOM: Thomas (center) and his Cornbread bandmates on an album shoot in the mid-‘90s

TOP: On October 3, 1993, Thomas (far left) was part of the Ranger Task Force at the Battle of Mogadishu, later depicted in the 2001 film, Black Hawk Down

Today, Thomas is 60, married and a father of two children. He reserves weekends for family, Mondays for creativity and Fridays for teaching private flying lessons. In between, his schedule is packed, criss-crossing the country as a motivational speaker and leadership-development consultant in high demand.

“Team building is trust building,” Thomas says, explaining that his work in August took him to the North Carolina mountains, where he pushed a group of corporate executives along a confidence course in the wild. “And the quickest way to bring a team together is to share hardship, unfortunately, which is very difficult to recreate in a work environment unless it’s forced upon you.”

Thomas’ view on leadership, focused through the lens of his harrowing mission accomplished in Mogadishu, is, “The value of the people around you is as good as you’re going to be. You can’t do anything alone.”

In June, Thomas was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Ft. Benning (reception at the Loft later, naturally) with Struecker and dozens of Army buddies in attendance. Thomas explained at the event that he continues to recite the Ranger Creed everyday.

“It’s not some formal thing where I’m yelling it at the kids,” he says of the creed, revered as a guide for how Rangers live their lives and conduct themselves. “I just mix it in with my morning prayers. It’s woven into who I am.”

Follow Keni Thomas on instagram @thekenithomas or visit kenithomas.com.

Thomas now travels around the country as a motivational speaker sharing his story and his lessons in leadership.

A Diamond in the Rough

Approaching its 75th birthday, the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley is needed now more than ever

by Frank S. Etheridge IV

On the wall of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley’s (UWCV) conference room is a quote by legendary late Columbus businessman and philanthropist William Bradley (“Bill”) Turner: “Leadership is an opportunity for service, not an opportunity for power.”

“I think it’s an important statement that we need to do things for the right reasons and do the right things for the community,” Ben Moser, UWCV’s President & CEO, replies when asked to reflect on what stalwart servant leader Turner’s message means to him. “The United Way’s role is to provide a voice for those who don’t have one in the community and advocate for issues that are unseen by a lot of folks.”

Speaking with Columbus & The Valley soon after returning home from a trip to Washington, D.C., Moser explains he was in the nation’s capital to advocate for 211, a United Way initiative he describes as “a vital resource for people to call and connect with the help they need in a real time.” It’s recently helped a female caller escape a dangerous domestic situation as well as avoid eviction for a family when a desperate father called 211 in tears.

“We’re really working to highlight 211 because of that access,” says Moser, who went to DC with United Way of Georgia’s state association as its 211 committee chair. “We’re fortunate to be covered with our call center here but we’re only at 72 percent coverage in the state right now. Even though 211 started in Atlanta 30

years ago, Georgia is the state with the lowest coverage in the country.”

Moser worked both sides of the aisle during his visit. The group had a conversation with Sen. Raphael Warnock about expanding 211 statewide in Georgia by sponsoring a Senate bill for $250 million in funding. Meeting in the offices of other Democrats in Congress (Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Sanford Bishop), the group also convened with newly elected Rep. Brian Jack, a close associate of President Trump, who Moser believes will be “a great advocate for our region and an important figure in our efforts because of his deep ties to the administration.”

Now six years into his leadership role at UWCV (after a successful stint

with the Asheville-area United Way in his native North Carolina), Moser made an immediate impact with the Community Schools United initiative. Arriving hopeful to replicate a model he saw succeed in Asheville, Moser started his tenure here with a big bang, securing a half-milliondollar donation from a family foundation— which, despite deep roots in Columbus, no longer had members living in the area and had never given money to UWCW before—to launch the initiative.

“It’s a tried-and-true strategy of making the schoolhouse the center of the community that’s been around for hundreds of years, but only gained prominence in the United States over the last 20 years,” Moser explains. “We place a United Way employee into high-poverty elementary schools, so students and their family can access services through that employee, creating a real hub of service at the school.

“And it just makes sense, right?” Moser continues. “Because the parents are there every day, twice a day, for drop off and pick up. The kids are there. And the teachers, administrators and coaches who care about these children are there.”

UWCV has since raised millions of dollars to support Community Schools United (including $900,000 from Columbus 2025 over the past three years) and “‘formed wonderful partnerships” with the Muscogee County School District as well as Phenix City Schools, Moser says. The idea helped inspire MCSD’s new Brewer Early Innovation Academy

(formerly MLK, Jr. Elementary) which brings together underperforming students in grades K-2 across the district “to laser focus on bringing them up to grade level.”

“Getting to these kids at a very early age is paramount to creating success for them moving forward,” Moser says. “Our focus needs to be on the youngest in our community. When you get to a kid who’s five, six or seven years old, you have a real opportunity to shape their future.”

Moser leads a nonprofit organization that started in 1950 to better coordinate charitable giving through the Columbus Community Chest. Realizing this model wasn’t as effective as hoped to meet the needs of the less fortunate in a city with a booming post-World War II economy, United Givers was incorporated on August 6, 1951. During his time at UWCV, Moser has overseen and implemented new strategies and platforms, notably in efforts to help the homeless, working families struggling to make ends meet and reducing poverty through economic development.

As mandated by federal law for cities under 500,000 in population, issues related to homelessness are handled by a designated Continuum of Care. Since 2015, our CoC has been UWCV agency Home for Good. Its efforts to connect with and provide services for the unhoused here are coordinated with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Home for Good’s annual Point in Time count of individuals and families living on the streets or in shelters, is designed to shed light on their experiences and better define their needs. After seeing improvements from 2016 to 2021, the number of local homeless has increased over the last three years. The count in 2025 revealed an 11 percent increase, with a staggering 83 percent of the 300-plus people considered “newly homeless” (less than 12 months unhoused). Children account for more than 15 percent. UWCV’s HMIS data shows the increase stemming from a sharp increase in rent, up more than 50 percent since 2020, while incomes have been flat.

“As seen in communities all across the country, Columbus is seeing a substantial uptick in our homeless population,” Moser says. “HMIS is a really important part of our effort to coordinate care with shared data between the partners working to deliver services to them.”

A new data piece implemented this year

at UWCV deals with working families living paycheck to paycheck termed ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed). Defined in Georgia through “basic costs” of $31,920 a year for a single adult and $76,884 for a family of four, ALICE families along with those living below the federal poverty level make up 45 percent of the state’s population.

“ALICE and below is 56 percent of the Chattahoochee Valley,” Moser explains. “That’s the poverty population plus those that will be thrown into poverty potentially by a car breaking down, a job loss, having to move out of the family home after a domestic-violence incident or a medical bill. These folks are working, working really

By the Numbers

Since 2003, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley has invested $109 million in our region.

To date from the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley’s 2024-25 annual report, the organization operated with a yearly budget of:

$11,278,384 in revenue (19% grants, 25% other income, 56% annual campaign)

$11,085,324 in expenses (38% grant-funded investments, 41% allocated community investments, 21% support services)

Here’s a rundown of those dollar’s impact over just 12 months, broken down into focus areas:

HEALTHY COMMUNITY

332 trained to provide trauma services

4,642 given access to health insurance

6,625 treated by a primary-care physician

FINANCIAL SECURITY

2,754 received housing services

2,940 accessed financial services (tax prep, savings account, public benefits)

354 adults provided job-skills training

YOUTH OPPORTUNITY

3,000,000+ meals served to children

76,000+ hours of child care provided 27,000+ children helped

COMMUNITY RESILIENCY

4,367 received emergency assistance

5,320 children & adults educated in harm-prevention

620 people benefited from regained stability (reliable transportation, housing, employment)

Ben Moser, UWCV President & CEO

hard, but still not able to get by because of the large increase in the cost of living. That’s our ALICE population.”

Focusing on the struggles of ALICE families inspired Moser to become involved in economic-development initiatives over the past three years. “The way this community will become successful is to economically develop the region and create thousands of high-paying jobs,” he says. “And that directly benefits that ALICE population because they can go from working in retail and restaurants to working in advanced manufacturing, where starting pay is $60,000 to $80,000 a year.”

Noting the region lagged behind in economic development while new manufacturing (such as massive electricvehicle factories and the $75 million invested in a semiconductor chips plant in Covington in 2024) came to Georgia, Moser explains, “United Way stepped into that gap and provided some leadership the past couple of years. Fortunately, the economic-development structure of the Chattahoochee Valley has changed. Choose Columbus was created this year as an organization dedicated solely to economic development, a model that works really well in other parts of the country. They’re the experts, and they’re going to lead us into the future. I feel like United Way had a role in highlighting the issue and ultimately creating that change.”

“We see that as a great role for United Way,” he continues. “When there’s a gap, we can step in, catalyze, change, then hand that off and move on to something else. I like to keep our organization very flexible, so that we can ramp up on opportunities as needed and ramp down when necessary, as well.”

CHIPS4CHIPS

“I wasn’t surprised when Ben seemed to be the first person in our community who knew how much huge potential chip manufacturing and its related industries might hold for our area,” Betsy Covington, a driving force in local philanthropy as president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, says. “He assumed that our normal economic development engine would see that potential and would lead the work. When that didn’t happen, Ben’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in, and he found a way to make it happen.”

Why We Support United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley

GwenDolyn Hargrove Ruff Senior Vice President, Columbus Water Works

Karprice Bentley-Brown Principal, Brewer Early Innovation Academy

“The work of United Way is critical to the economic success of the community. A rising tide lifts all ships. When the overall economic environment improves, our whole community benefits. When we can address small challenges and create opportunities for all to thrive and succeed, the entire community benefits from this positive impact. I have personally experienced the benefits for my family with the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Girls Inc. I see the wide reach of United Way in our schools to support the education and home needs of our students. We all have the honor, privilege and responsibility to not only make our community better for today but also to plant seeds that will leave a lasting legacy. Investing in youth programs, educational programs, medical and mental health support and other areas will have a long-lasting impact. This investment can be in the form of time, talent or financial gifts.”

“I have the privilege of being a personal donor and a partner through the Community Schools United initiative. Our connection began at MLK Elementary in 2022 and has since grown even stronger at Brewer Early Innovation Academy. We've been truly blessed to have Mr. Jarvis Hamilton as our on-site school coordinator. His consistent presence, passion and commitment have helped bridge the gap between community resources and student needs. Seeing students and families receive the tools they need to thrive, all thanks to partnerships like this, is truly powerful. I’ve seen the impact firsthand, from food, clothing and essential resources to mentorship and mental-health services that nurture the whole child. Through Mr. Jarvis’s coordination, these supports have brought consistency, connection and care to our school. United Way doesn’t just show up, they stay and they partner. They walk alongside our families, uplift our educators and stand in the gap when times get tough. Being part of this community means standing together, not just in words, but through meaningful action. It means loving our neighbors by showing up, listening and doing the hard work together. Brewer is more than a school, we are a family. And thanks to partners like United Way and Mr. Jarvis our family unit has grown stronger.”

“It” refers to CHIPS4CHIPS (C4C), the Chattahoochee Hub for Innovation and Production of Semiconductors. “It was bold leadership that ruffled some feathers,” Covington says of Moser and UWCV establishing C4C, “because it wasn’t how things have always been done.”

Covington says C4C “produced solid results that laid the groundwork for the kind of regional economic transformation we believe can happen.” This includes securing $4.3 million in funding; renewing a regional focus on advanced manufacturing; developing with CSU a GIS mapping tool to identify potential industrial sites ideal for development; and developing a partnership with Georgia Tech to leverage the school’s expertise in semiconductor packaging. The move to house these efforts at Choose Columbus “is an affirmation of Ben’s vision and commitment to boldness.”

Saying Columbus has a long, strong history of innovators not native to the

region whose success enabled “tremendous philanthropy that powered our town for decades,” Covington hails Moser as one such innovator “whose new outlook, energy and willingness to pursue new ideas is already fueling positive change in our community.”

UWCV's COVID Response

Covington and Moser worked closely together months after he arrived in town to meet the enormous, unprecedented challenges of the COVID pandemic. The pair’s organizations worked to jointly operate the Coronavirus Response Fund, which distributed $2 million to Chattahoochee Valley nonprofits.

“COVID was a crisis, obviously,” Moser says. “However, it was a novel situation for the country and the federal government, corporations, private donors, who all really responded to the crisis by increasing the resources available.”

While “not technically a crisis,” Moser

says the dire situation facing nonprofits nationwide, especially those serving our high-poverty region, poses some serious problems. “Right now, resources are being cut drastically while we’re seeing homelessness rise. We’re seeing SNAP benefits cut, so people’s access to food goes down. Cuts to Medicaid have 17 million people potentially losing health-care coverage. And no resources are coming in to fill those gaps. It’s a daunting task, and United Way can’t do it all.”

Another challenge United Way faces today is “very different giving behaviors” among both corporations and younger generations, Moser says. “Studies show Baby Boomers give to three or four organizations over the course of their lifetime, whereas Millennials will give to 40 or more over the course of their lifetime.”

“We need to have a much more engaging relationship now because they’re being solicited by so many online platforms,” he explains. “It may be causes they really

Jimmy Yancey’s United Way Journey

Retired Synovus Chairman James D. (“Jimmy”) Yancey, who rose from humble beginnings in the Peabody Homes to decades of leadership atop banking and financial-services sectors, has supported the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley annually since 1959. Here, Yancey explains his steadfast support.

“My affinity for United Way goes back to childhood, as I grew up in the North Columbus Boys Club. I have so many wonderful memories from there. I got my first baseball hit at the Boys Club. I built soapbox cars at the club to race in the derby. It was a safe environment a place where I could just belong. It was a very meaningful place for me.

The North Columbus Boys Club was a benefactor of the United Way so I knew what the United Way was doing for the boys clubs when I started to work at Columbus Bank & Trust on October 2, 1959. Right about that time, the United Way was kicking off its annual campaign. Our bank had an internal campaign to get people to sign up to give back from what we earned, called Fair Share, to which you commit to donating one percent of your earnings. I felt like it was a great way to raise money for all these causes in Columbus because basically one call gets them all covered.

I asked to get more involved so I started working on the United Way campaign by calling on small businesses for contributions, and I’ve worked on every United Way campaign since then. I was chairman of the campaign in

1982; was president of the United Way board the year after that; and served on the board off and on until I sort of moved away from those roles after retirement in 2004.

One thing I always appreciated is that a very low percentage of the money that we raised went toward administration. Most of it—over 90 percent at least— went straight to help the organizations it was being raised for.

Poverty is a problem in our community. It’s a problem in so many communities and it’s a very, very difficult problem to overcome. I certainly think United Way helps in a large way overcome that problem by supporting these organizations that are out in the community, especially the social programs like the boys clubs and girls clubs, that do help break the cycle of poverty by getting the children into good, safe locations where they can grow up in a better than environment.

I think the United Way’s always been focused on economic development and job creation. When I worked at the bank, a lot of my extracurricular community activity was in economic development because, if you got enough good jobs in the community, you don’t have a lot of problems. So if you create jobs, you help break that cycle of poverty. And you improve the quality of life in a community, too.

Every community needs people who will volunteer and get out there and try to help make the community better. So you try to find who’s doing that for the community. Certainly United Way, with all the agents that they help, is one of the best ways I know of for raising funds to keep these organizations going. I just always felt like supporting the United Way was the right thing to do.”

care about, but they may not be local. United Way has a large role to play in that ecosystem because we’re a trusted agency, and all local funds raised in the annual campaign are distributed to local organizations—raised locally and stays local.

Such challenges also provide for what Moser calls UWCV’s biggest opportunity: “forming deeper relationships and partnerships.” He points to the creation of the Chattahoochee Valley Poverty Reduction Coalition, which has a goal of a 50 percent reduction in poverty over the next 10 years. The Office of Poverty Reduction is a community led initiative led by local attorney and state Rep. Teddy Reese and is supported by the partners of the Chattahoochee Valley Poverty Reduction Coalition including United Way.

“It’s important to mark the success of 75 years of being here, serving the community, and talking about 75 more years,” Moser says. “But it’s more important to show we’re a living, breathing organization because, really, we’re at a critical moment right now. We’re at a real inflection point in Columbus. If we don’t fix some of our problems—primarily, generational poverty and lack of upward mobility—we could be in a lot of trouble 10 years from now. That’s why I believe your primary giving should be local because that’s what’s going to affect your family, your community, those people and places that you see every day. We know Columbus can be a community of opportunity for all.”

Want to help? Learn about community volunteer opportunities at unitedcv.org/volunteer.

Need help? Call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to connect with health and human services near you.

Thursday, September 18

Bibb Mill Event Center

5:30-7:30 p.m. cocktail reception, 6 p.m. brief program

Admission $50 single, $75 couple

This special section is dedicated to celebrating the vibrant local enterprises that make our community unique. Each of these businesses play a crucial role in shaping our area’s character and economy. By exploring this section, you’ll not only discover exceptional services and products but also support the local entrepreneurs who contribute to our community’s growth and well-being.

Mallard Insurance Group

Josh Whitehead, CEO HEART OF A TEACHER

For Josh Whitehead, founding Mallard Insurance Group was a mission 10 years in the making.

After serving as an agent for Allstate, which he calls an “outstanding company,” he felt limited by the options he could offer clients. So, Whitehead chose to strike out on his own. He implemented a business plan that promises clients the best possible rates by providing coverage options through multiple carriers to meet the needs for home, auto and business insurance.

“As an independent agency,” Whitehead said, “we have access to over 20 top rated carriers that we can shop rates through and allow the opportunity to have a personal relationship with your agent and know you can stick with us for the long run.”

When creating coverage a new customer needs, it begins with “having the heart of a teacher,” Whitehead said. He explained, “While insurance is trending towards a quick transaction, I hear

the disappointing stories when new potential customers call me believing they had correct coverage in place. After our conversation they thanked us for creating the vision of what they need and why.”

Whitehead was born and raised in Columbus, and where he’s raising a family of his own. It’s where he watched his parents run two successful businesses for more than 40 years. With that history, comes a unique pressure to practice what he preaches.

“Columbus is my heart and pride,” he said. “I watched my parents treat employees and customers as they would treat their own family, and I honestly feel that I am inspired to do the same every day. I feel a huge sense of pride when we are out and customers will give us a hug and a simple thank you for our help.”

Before founding Mallard Insurance, Whitehead found inspiration in a quote that continues to drive his faith and his business— In life, you need to

define your purpose.

“First, my purpose is serving the Lord and being the best person I can be while having a servant’s heart,” he said. “I feel that through my journey, the Lord has given me the knowledge and inspiration for insurance.” Adv.

Columbus Speech & Hearing Center

Dr. Alice Cellino, Owner

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

It’s all a balancing act. That’s true when it comes to a client’s physical health and when it comes to building a partnership. Columbus Speech and Hearing Center (CSHC) and Human Performance Rehabilitation Centers (HPRC) have mastered the former and are now perfecting the latter.

“We have long been friends and colleagues and enjoyed when our paths overlapped, but now we're being deliberate about it,” Dr. Alice Cellino, CSHC executive director, said. “We felt like the best practice was a combination of specialties, so we decided to create channel that can prioritize certain patients who benefit from our shared expertise.”

Columbus Speech and Hearing Center provides diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology, speechlanguage pathology and occupational therapy services. Columbus Speech and Hearing Center (CSHC) exists to help people with medical communication disorders.

HPRC provides highly trained physical therapists who specialize in balance and inner ear treatments, explained Patrick Graham CEO. “The coordination of CSHC’s evaluations and testing,” he said, “only elevates our PT’s ability to treat the specific problem faster for better results for the patients.”

But it’s more than simply making referrals back

and forth. “We don't just send it to HPRC,” Dr. Cellino said. “We work together on it and make sure we are following through, making sure we’re both seeing the desired results.”

And HPRC has long been a trusted part of the community.

“They’re wonderful local partners who’ve been seeing patients in Columbus for more than 50 years,” Dr. Cellino said. “They know what they’re doing and are eager to utilize the Columbus network to help patients heal faster.”

Their partnership is mutually beneficial and driven by respect. HPRC has a long history with CSHC of providing exceptional care for their patients. “This new venture allows both of us to excel at what we do best in caring for our patients,” Graham said. “CSHC has very technical and skilled audiologists that can help diagnose with much more precision the balance issues in our patients. This testing allows our therapists better information to provide exact treatment and care for these patients.”

When treating patients alongside HPRC, Dr. Cellino views balance as a three legged stool—ears, eyes and muscular frame. When all three areas are healthy, you take it for granted. Whether upright or laying down, you can do any activity, in any position and feel good. Nothing's

compromised. But when there’s a problem everything else can be thrown out of alignment.

For example, if a patient has an inner ear disorder, they are likely to experience vertigo and disequilibrium.

If there’s an issue with a patient’s muscular frame or vestibulo-ocular reflexes, HPRC offers a full spectrum of vestibular rehab.

“When patients get a correct diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic care ,then they really have a chance of improving their quality of life,” Dr. Cellino said.

"Together, we can provide superior care for Columbus and the surrounding area,” Graham said. “We both bring our expertise together/ independently but with coordination to provide the best care in Columbus.”

Both CSHC and HPRC are especially proud of being hometown businesses.

“Being local is a superpower,” Dr. Cellino said. “We are able to utilize the existing resources that Columbus has and that makes us so much more efficient.” Adv.

Learn More

706-324-6112

2424 Double Churches Road ColumbusSpeechAndHearingCenter.com

Columbus Tape & Video

Brice Patterson, Owner

BUILT TO LAST

Columbus Tape & Video has been around since 1982,” Patterson explained. “My father opened it up as a movie-rental place back in the '80s, when everybody would come to a mom-and-pop store and rent a movie.”

While earning his Business Administration degree from Columbus State University (CSU), Patterson, along with his sister Jennifer, worked part-time in their late father William’s five stores around town. However, after graduating college and moving on to pursue a career with the Columbus Fire Department, where he recently retired as battalion chief, Patterson was looking for ways to earn extra income.

At the time, Columbus Tape & Video had lain dormant after Blockbuster had entered the Columbus market and had purchased small businesses, including Columbus Tape & Video in the early nineties. Patterson approached his father about revamping the company and continuing some of the services, such as video transfers, VCR rentals and TV rentals.

While he was managing this new business venture and being a firefighter at the same time, Patterson recalls changing his mind about the company’s identity. “I didn’t want to start out with a new company name because nobody would know who that was,” he said. “My time at CSU taught me that branding is very important, so when I get asked why I don’t change the name or why we have ‘tape’ in the title, I tell them, ‘It’s the name that’s been synonymous with excellent customer service since the early 1980s. Columbus Tape & Video is a staple in our community. It would be the death of this company to change it to something else.”

Keeping the well-established, trusted name makes sense. But how has Columbus Tape & Video not only survived, but also thrived—while the technology behind audio-visual production changes at lightning speed? Now in its 27th year in of business, Sun Video inc. dba as Columbus Tape & Video has grown its services to where they can handle large events and all of the audio and visual requirements involved. “Excellent customer service is key,” Patterson said, echoing his statement on the unshakable high standards set at his company.

Located on the corner of 10th Street and Third Avenue, Columbus Tape & Video’s physical location houses a neat, orderly warehouse that’s lined

with rows and rows of cutting-edge audio-visual equipment. This equipment is all a part of the company’s full-service “creative solutions” which translates to providing services for everything from high school graduations to corporate conventions.

Patterson’s team recently helped CSU with their convocation. “That’s when they bring in 850 to 900 kids who are starting college, and we set up a big A/V event for them,” he said.

While CSU’s convocation was a great event, some other community favorites Columbus Tape & Video works with include Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens, Dancing Stars, Creative South, Aflac’s Christmas Party and the Miss Georgia Pageant.

“Miss Georgia is one of our biggest events we do annually as well as many corporate events,” Patterson said. They also recently were contracted to install the city’s new emergency operations center in city hall and are currently installing a stunning new sound system at the Civic Center.

Besides the many ongoing advances in the digital world, Patterson and his team have also had to pivot during the pandemic due to changes in the hospitality industry that required Columbus Tape & Video’s services. He is proud of his entire, highly qualified team who adjusted to the ever-changing challenges of the digital world to virtual.

“Our business is made up of 50 percent audio visual production and 50 percent audio and visual integration,” Patterson said. “During the pandemic we’ve had to focus more on the integration side in order not to lose any employees and meet the demands of the digital age.”

Some of the services Columbus Tape & Video offers include:

• Audio/Visual Productions

• Audio and Visual Installations

• Event & Legal Videography

• Equipment Rentals

• Live Streaming

• Editing

• Video and Audio Transfer

Columbus Tape & Video has always been community-focused supporting the Miracle Riders over the years; Country’s Midnight Run and other charitable events.

Additionally, even though it makes up a small percentage of its revenue, Columbus Tape & Video continues to offer video transfer services to individuals and families. “We thought for sure after 40 years people's 8-millimeter film, pictures and slides would’ve given out by now, but we continued to do it,” Patterson explained. “It’s the nostalgia that our customers are seeking. From the DVD and VCR formats they leave with us we return all of their cherished memories on a thumb drive. That’s why we're a storefront, customers continue to come in for transfers and that allows us to provide a personal tie and build relationships, which is something that is important to us and we always strive to do.” Adv.

Learn More

706-322-4885

300 E. 10th Street

ColumbusTapeAndVideo.com

Learning Curves

DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS FOR JASON MCKENZIE

Hosted by his shop Ride on Bikes since 2017, the popular monthly Full Moon Ride moves slow and easy, designed not so much for exercise but inspired by the idea of bringing people together. Hundreds of people, of all stripes—little boys and old ladies, speedracers in spandex, some huffing and puffing as they jump off their bicycle to push it up a hill—all riding as one through a moonlit city, protected by a police escort with officers shifting through the group to ensure every turn is safe.

“Thankfully it was this big out of the gate, so we could learn and grow with it,” McKenzie says, after the July outing, which brought together about 200 riders into a pedal-powered mass marked with

bright, blinking LED lights spinning on tire spokes, amplified music and laughter.

“The idea was for the non-cyclist,” he continues. “I wanted a place where anyone could come and not be intimidated, where everybody feels super welcome no matter their background. That’s the whole idea behind the Full Moon Ride—just have fun.”

Even so, July’s ride started on a serious note. Kicking off on a wet and warm night around 8 p.m., McKenzie addressed the crowd from the 1000 block of Broadway median by asking everyone to take a moment of silence in honor of a first responder with the Columbus Fire Department who had just died. “We are all about community and these are the folks who are working tonight—and

by Frank S. Etheridge IV

“I wanted a place where anyone could come and not be intimidated, where everybody feels super welcome no matter their background.”

-Jason McKenzie

every night—to keep our community safe,” McKenzie said, acknowledging the uniformed officers ready to escort the ride before bowing his head down into shared seconds of reverential quiet.

The group then hopped on their seats and headed north on Bay Avenue to Front Avenue. After a quick stop to regroup in the TSYS parking lot, the ride proceeded up First Avenue into Bibb City before heading down a steep, winding path to the RiverWalk just south of the North Highland Dam. With the Chattahoochee glorious in its reflection of the pink/orange sunset, the ride took the RiverWalk the rest of the way to its destination on Ninth Street—stylish new cocktail lounge, Stirrup Trouble. “We always offer the first round

after the ride on us as an extra incentive to come have fun,” McKenzie says.

A Family Affair

McKenzie’s partner in Ride on Bikes as well as his uncle, Buddy Nelms enjoyed July’s Full Moon Ride on a comfy-seat, wide-handlebar cruiser.

“There’s something magical about getting a big group of people, especially all the kids, together just to enjoy a bicycle ride,” says Nelms.

When he opened Ride on Bikes in 2003, Nelms based his business around the RiverWalk attraction and $10 daily rentals for people to enjoy it. Calling his nephew “a real rascal as a boy,” Nelms took McKenzie on bike rides when he was just “old enough to hang on” and hired him to work at Ride on Bikes while he pursued his marketing degree at Columbus State. Nelms noticed the ship’s improved marketing (new logo, new stickers).

“Then the money started growing,” recalls Nelms, who credits McKenzie’s “magnetism” as key to the shop’s success. “He built this business as an employee. When I approached him about being partners, I told him, ‘You’ve earned a percentage of this business, and I want you to grow it.’ So it was a business move for me. The fact he’s my nephew is a plus.”

Today, Ride on Bikes is Georgia’s only Platinum certified shop by the American League of Cyclists and regularly makes Top 10 lists nationwide and Top 100 lists worldwide.

Now 41, married with a 15-month old daughter, McKenzie laughs when he looks back on his 19-year-old self, the kid who was fired by Uncle Buddy soon after he opened Ride on Bikes. He says he fell in love with cycling “by accident,” after doing a study for a course in college showed he could commute to CSU’s main campus faster riding his bicycle than driving a car. “I lost weight and felt great,” he says of the experience riding his bike daily. “There's an independence and a freedom that comes with the bicycle. It's not just the exercise; it's the rhythm of pedaling and the balance.”

Balancing his time running Ride on Bikes, McKenzie recently accepted a job at Complete Tire & Service, which operates five stores and one plant. He’s “the righthand man” for owner Dan Snavely, who approached McKenzie a few years ago about the position after getting to know

him as his stepson’s boss at the shop, the same shop where Snavely had a problem with the bike he purchased.

“We made a mistake, and I had to fix it,” McKenzie says. “It was about a $3,500 mistake. At a little business like this, that’s a huge mistake. I took a big hit on the chin, but I had to make it right. That comes from growing up having Buddy as a mentor with all his restaurants and businesses. I’m now able to take all that into my job with Dan. And I’m not abandoning the bike shop. It’s a family business, and it’s a long-term business for me; I’m just adding the new business into the mix and pedaling on.”

Learn more at rideonbikes.com.

Join a Full Moon Bike Ride

Upcoming Rides: Sept. 7 (Corn Moon) Oct. 6 (Hunter's Moon) Nov. 8 (Beaver Moon) Dec. 4 (Cold Moon)

Meet in front of Ride On Bikes on Broadway in Columbus. Ride leaves at 8 p.m. Please arrive before 7:30 p.m. if you need to rent a bike. The leisurely paced ride lasts between 4-7 miles with varying routes each month. All ages are welcome!

ABOVE: McKenzie (L) with brother Shon (R) and CSU Police Officers Andrew Einsel and Kelley Joyner.

RIGHT: McKenzie and Uncle Buddy Nelms, many full moons ago.

On Film

I Call It “High Dramedy”

When I first met Zack Collins, I addressed him as Your Honor.

We weren’t on a film set. I was presenting a case in a courtroom in the Russell County Courthouse where he presides as a Circuit Court Judge. So, it was surreal on September 1, 2024 when I was sitting in the fine dining room at the Goetchius House as an extra in a television pilot co-produced, written, directed and (ultimately) edited by none other than … the Honorable Zack Collins.

That pilot, Going Postal, has been making waves since it wrapped its principal photography that night. Two sold-out screenings on May 24th and June 27th (nearly 600 tickets sold) were held on the IMAX screen at the National Infantry Museum. And now, the cast of 16 performers and the dozen creatives behind the camera have been notified that Going Postal will be playing at the International Black Film Festival in Nashville, Tennessee the week of October 1st.

I had the privilege of hosting both Q&A sessions following the IMAX screenings of Going Postal, and Zack addressed the crowds with the fervor of a tent revival minister. He encouraged the creatives in the audience to pursue their dreams and to “find their tribes” of local collaborators.

He emphasized the need to get out of your comfort zone and make your dreams happen.

“The pilot isn’t perfect,” Zack tells me during a recent interview at the AC Hotel in Downtown Columbus. “I know where the flaws are, but you can’t wait for perfect. At some point, it’s time to go for it. You’ve gotta step out and make it happen. You’ve gotta be bold.”

Going Postal was born from that creative work ethic. Zack teamed up with his co-producer and local filmmaker Paul Rowe and director of photography Trey Walker, and in one week, they shot a compelling pilot episode of a projected 10-episode series.

What’s It About?

Going Postal is the tale of Mike Benjamin, an African American mail carrier, and his wife, Cherry. The Benjamins are a blended family with Mike struggling to create a relationship with his two stepchildren while dealing with fertility issues as he and Cherry try to have a child of their own. Mike then finds himself an innocent bystander in a convenience store robbery that changes the course of their lives.

“I call it a high dramedy,” Zack says as he tries to put a genre label on his unique

by Scott Phillips

work. “It has a middle-class emphasis. It addresses serious issues, but with humor.” Zack feels that, in industry terms, this DIY pilot episode is a “proof of concept”, a visual resume to shop around to production companies with the goal of finding the funding to complete the series. Being on the slate for the 20th edition of the International Black Film Festival amps up the profile of the project as it searches for a home on a streaming service or network.

So What’s Next for Zack Behind the Camera?

“A slasher film set in the world of black fraternities,” he replies with a mischievous smile. “It’s called The Haze, and it’s the first film to take place in what I call the Black Greek Cinematic Universe.” I ask him if I can have the honor of dying in his horror film. He pauses a moment, leans forward and asks, “Do you think you could play the local butcher?” Sounds like I might get to do more than just write about film.

DIRECT Connection

Guided by the leadership of CEO Amy Bryan, Direct Services expands its vital services to meet the growing needs of the Chattahoochee Valley’s elderly and disabled.

by Frank S. Etheridge IV

Local attorney Robert L. Wadkins, Jr. admits he wasn’t fully aware of just how much Direct Services does, day in and day out, until he was recruited to join the nonprofit’s board 10 years ago.

“And then I started doing a route once a week,” recalls Wadkins, now in his fourth year as board chairman, referring to the delivery model known nationwide as Meals on Wheels. “And that’s what really did it for me. Getting to know the seniors, their dogs, I got to see just how important this service is. It doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but that’s because most people aren’t aware of the scale of what Direct Services does. They wouldn’t know that we provide nearly 400,000 meals a year and that we serve 16 counties.”

“I didn’t realize the scope of the operation until I was physically here,” Amy Bryan, Direct Services Chief Executive Office since July 2021, adds, talking about the organization along with Wadkins in Direct Services’ conference room at its headquarters across Second Avenue. “You can say those numbers out loud but, until you’re living it and seeing it everyday, you can’t realize it.”

“It’s more than a meal,” says Bryan, who was previously an executive with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and elected two years ago to the Meals on Wheels of Georgia Association Board of Directors. “What we do takes some really good employees, and we have an incredible team.”

Bryan oversees a staff of 73—including an

“amazing” kitchen crew prepping 1,300plus meals a day out of Direct Services’ Culinary Center on Hamilton Road, drivers, a nutritionist, care coordinators, nurse coordinators and more—and learned from Meals on Wheels America Conference that her regional operation is much larger, in terms of its coverage area’s size and high poverty rate.

Incorporated in 1979 as Lower Chattahoochee Direct Services, the nonprofit was established to provide services mandated by federal law via the Older Americans Act. First passed by Congress in 1965, and repeatedly reauthorized with bipartisan support ever since, the act was part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society legislation that also created Medicare, with the express purpose of “helping older Americans live with independence and dignity in their homes.” The resulting requisite services were overseen by their region’s Area Agency on Aging, now folded into the Administration for Community Living under the Dept. of Health and Human Services.

“The Older Americans Act is how we came into existence,” Bryan explains, noting that Direct Services has since expanded to manage six senior centers, facilitate caregiver support, change lightbulbs and clean gutters with its HomeAid program, help pay utility bills and more. “When the law was passed, there

were no providers. There was just nothing there. And so Direct Services gradually started getting in that game, and it grew larger and larger and larger. We’ve become the primary resource for this kind of work.”

While Wadkins and Bryan both express concern over massive cuts in federal budgets for such programs, Direct Services is not dependent on government funding, they say. “We get state funding and we get federal funding, primarily in support of HBCSs,” Bryan says, referring to its HomeBased Care Services, “and that money is filtered through the River Valley Regional Commission, which houses our Area Agency on Aging.”

RVRC’S INVOLVEMENT

Jim Livingston, Executive Director of the River Valley Regional Commission, says RVRC “monitors and audits” all of Direct Services’ programs and budgets. Bryan and her team, Livingston says, “are doing a great job taking care of the public resources they are entrusted with.”

Noting that RVRC “monitors and audits” all of Direct Services’ programs, Livingston says the “work Amy and her team are doing is especially important as our region is older and poorer, than most places in the country.” Outside of Direct Services work providing meals to Head Start programs in Russell County, Alabama, the two’s combined service area is Georgia

counties of Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor and Webster. RVRC’s other meal provider is Middle Flint Council on Aging in Americus.

“In simple terms, Area Agency on Aging funding comes down from the federal government to the state and then we are responsible for making sure we’ve got a good provider,” the 12-year RVRC veteran explains. “Amy does a great job getting the meals out, and their kitchen does a superb job preparing them.”

Echoing the Direct Services CEO’s sentiments, Livingston says, “The meal is important to me but, just as important, is the eyes on the clients. Having a driver go up to their door and say, ‘Hey, how are you doing? What’s going on?’ Direct Services’ drivers know what’s happening with their clients. That’s so valuable because they may be the only people who come in contact with them for days at a time. Social isolation is extremely harmful for seniors.”

However, due to the nature of government funding, there’s only so much RVRC can do to help.“Direct Services definitely wants to do more than we’ve got the funding to be able to support,”

Direct Services CEO, Amy Bryan, with board member Robert Wadkins

“Direct Services definitely wants to do more than we’ve got the funding to be able to support. We have a long waiting list of people needing services. We have limitation.”

-Jim Livingston

Livingston admits. “We have a long waiting list of people needing services. We have limitations.”

Yet, thanks to Bryan’s “exceptional entrepreneurial mindset,” Direct Services is able to expand beyond what government support provides by creating new revenue streams such as its casserole program plus contracts with poverty-fighting nonprofit Enrichment Services and its Head Start programs. “Being able to use their entrepreneurial efforts to serve more people means those services go beyond what federal regulations allow. And that’s really great in the Chattahoochee Valley.”

The casseroles are a delicious deal at $25. “We did a lot of casseroles over the holidays,” Bryan says. “We took a breakfast casserole to the beach. We did them for St. Luke School’s teacher-appreciation weeks. People order them a lot for families in bereavement. And they work well as a marketing mechanism.”

Combine the casseroles with the kitchen’s capacity to also now fulfill Enrichment Service contracts across the Valley, and the increased volume “has been super great for us because, obviously, the more meals we produce, the lower our margins are, the more people we can feed and keep our costs down.”

An increasingly popular ‘private pay’ option given inflation and limitations over who qualifies for services, the meals are also a delicious deal for $4.75. With an impressive variety of hot entrees, ranging from chicken fajitas to BBQ pork ribs and changing daily, the menus are created by Direct Services’ nutritionist, with input gathered over chats with clients at the senior centers every month, and requirements of protein, fruit and vegetable

servings and being low in sodium.

“The waiting list, and the vetting process, is so long at the Area Agency on Aging that we have clients that are 90-plus years old and we know they’ll never make it off the waiting list,” Bryan says. “So we’ve worked hard to let people know we offer private pay, and we’ve worked hard to find sponsors for these meals. Private pay has increased drastically over the last two years.”

Unfortunately, what has decreased in recent years, particularly since pandemic quarantines, is Direct Services’ pool of volunteers. However, this void was filled in part with a new partnership with the Columbus Police Department. “They’ll bring in a new group of trainees to us about every three months,” Bryan says of CPD. “The trainees come into the kitchen, help prep, then they’ll head out in squad cars and route their routes. It helps them learn the beats around town and helps connect with the neighbors there that they deliver to.”

Likewise, Direct Services’ substantial growth presents a challenge that also creates opportunity.

“We’ve outgrown the kitchen,” Bryan says, “and that space is not conducive to what we do without a major renovation. We’re looking at options to consolidate our kitchen, offices and warehouse needs. We’re going to get there. We’re looking into a food truck to go into food deserts in

Columbus. We want to get SNAP qualified, where they can use that to get a hot, healthy meal. More output, lower margins, more ways we can serve our primary client base. There are a lot of ways for us to grow and expand that reach those in need.”

Learn more how Direct Services serves our community or donate at DirectServices.org.

Jimmie Thomas and Ma’nic Thomas packing coolers for Direct Services Meals on Wheels Program.

Sow It Grows

Force Quit

When this magazine first approached me about writing a gardening column, two things made me hesitate.

First, I wanted to skew what I wrote about growing food much more than growing pretty things. It’s true that, as human beings, we need beauty to fully enjoy our lives—that’s the whole “pursuit of happiness” clause from the Declaration of Independence. But try going without food and you’ll realize in a few weeks’ time, on your deathbed, why the founding fathers listed “life” first. Columbus in particular is rife with pockets of places where residents simply don’t have easy access to fresh food. (Or happiness. Or, some would argue, liberty. But I digress.)

The second thing that gave me pause was, I didn’t want to write much about the little urban farm that my wife and I built. We want to keep focused on just doing the work and not talking about it.

I cheated on that point in my first column because I felt it was important for readers to understand that I would be basing the column on firsthand knowledge. I’m cheating on it again today, but it’s to make a point.

Recently I was doing some wrap-up number crunching on the farm’s 2024 food production totals. Typically we grow about 1,000 pounds of vegetables on our third-of-an-acre plot in MidTown. That’s a number we’re proud of, considering our planting area is only about one-fourth of the land, with the balance devoted to fruit trees and a storage shed.

Last year’s numbers took a hit. We grew just 615 pounds of produce.

What gives? Well, life delivered us an important refresher course in friability. Bodies may be resilient, but they’re susceptible to damage. As the wise Shakira once said, “hips don’t lie.” And our hips were telling us, “Hey, ease up a little.” And on the far side of the half-century mark, bones, muscles, joints and, it must be said, egos, are all far more vulnerable than in the past. One of us was stricken with plantar fasciitis last year, an excruciatingly painful foot ailment that’s harder to live with than it is even to say. It can make even bearing weight a challenge. Recovery can take years.

If there’s anything lucky about our situation it was this—the malady hit us before spring planting, so we were able to scale back our plans to alleviate a harvesting crisis where we had too much food coming from the ground without enough bodies to collect it. Where we typically would sow some 20 varieties of vegetables, last year we just planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and herbs.

Bodies at Rest

Harvesting more than two-thirds of a typical yield while down to half-staff is a success in our books. But the big takeaway to share from this is something marathon runners and Grateful Dead band members have known for ages.

You’ve got to pace yourself.

Also, sometimes it’s about the destination and not the journey. Triage

by Brad Barnes

in gardening can mean abandoning the plans you had for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, complete with Archimedes’ screws transporting water to the heavens, and working on just getting some tomatoes to their ripest and best, and getting them off of the vine before a pesky possum makes off with ’em.

As the Duke of Albany (A region of Scotland, not Georgia. The caliber of its aquarium is unclear, though) warned us in King Lear, “striving to be better, oft we mar what’s well.”

In our zeal to maximize what could be done by two people on one small urban farm, my wife and I neglected to ask how much those two people, of middling age in kindest judgment, should be doing.

But it’s a lesson that applies to all ages. Gym rats isolate and separate the parts of their body they will work on a given day. This allows them to hyperfocus on improving their quads on leg day, but it also gives those legs a rest the next day.

Take the same tack in the yard. Isolate tasks. If you can avoid the repetitive stress of harvesting every day, by all means, let that cantaloupe stay on the vine an extra day. It’ll be sweeter anyway. Weed one day, prune another.

Whether in college or in the real world, people are enriched by a liberal arts education, meaning bank some of your best hours for doing something that’s different from how you spend most of your time.

For a computer programmer, that might mean spending more time in the garden.

For a gardener or farmer, though, who spends more than a few hours every day working the soil or teasing the plants, it means planning some time off. Maybe you still need to pop the water on for a while, but maybe get out of the 110-degree heat index temps we hit this summer and head to a movie theater, a bookstore, a brewpub here and there.

Sometimes we need to take the liberty to pursue happiness to prolong our lives.

Brad Barnes was a journalist for 17 years

his wife, Jenn, started Dew Point Farm in MidTown Columbus in 2019. You

Carolyn’s Curated Day at Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens

Columbus native Carolyn Bettin has attended Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens since childhood—growing up perched on the iconic wooden rail in the infield. Her excitement for the event has only grown over the years, and after serving on the Steeplechase committee for several seasons, she’s thrilled to step into the role of this year’s race director. Carolyn is passionate about Steeplechase’s mission to support the arts—a cause that’s close to her heart. Carolyn is honored to help carry on this beloved tradition and looks forward to making this year’s event one to remember. Check out her suggestions to make the most of your day at this year’s race.

Start Your Day in Style

As you step through the gates, you’ll be welcomed into the Blade & Bow Terrace Pavilion, home to our Vendor Village, Auction and Souvenir Area.

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Shop the Vendor Village

Wander through a treasure trove of race-day finds. Wrap yourself in a stunning silk scarf from CB Grey, marvel at Mallory Norman’s intricate paper art or design your own statement-making hat at the 3:19 Brims Hat Bar—perfect for turning heads in the Hat Contest later on.

Bid Big at the Auction

Discover the Auction Area, brimming with must-have items. Among my favorites? The Varnish Collection’s coveted wicker champagne stand, Lulie Wallace’s brand-new Mahjong tiles (trust me, they’re fabulous!), and an intimate private dinner for eight prepared by Hotel Indigo’s Chef Troy Deano.

Try Your Luck

Catch the Game Football fans, rejoice! Our brand-new Daniel Appliance Touchdown Terrace is your raceday sports haven. Catch live games on the big screens.

While you’re out shopping, grab a raffle ticket for your shot at a $5,000 travel certificate from Columbus Travel. Only 500 tickets will be sold!

Carolyn and

husband Nick with sons Charlie and Jack

Strike a Pose

Be sure to snap a photo with Horace the Horse. He’s as much of a Steeplechase celebrity as the jockeys themselves!

Hat Contest Highlights

Don’t miss one of the day’s most anticipated traditions—the Pursona Hat Contest in the Blade & Bow Terrace Pavilion. Categories include Most Festive, Most Fru Fru, and Most Southern Flair, so bring your best race-day style.

Fun for the Little Ones

Kids will love our Kids Corral, where The Columbus Clingstones will be providing bounce houses and activities as well as a Columbus United FC Mini Field and Clement Arts race-day themed craft station to keep them entertained all day.

Celebrate Local Art

This year’s featured artist is Jennifer Keim. Don’t miss her beautiful piece, And They’re Off on display in the Terrace Tent. You can bid on race day art in the silent auction.

A Cause Near and Dear to Our Community

Did you know that Steeplechase has raised almost $4 million dollars for arts-related organizations throughout Columbus? Beneficiaries include the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Historic Columbus Foundation, RiverCenter, The Springer Opera House, Ida & Cason Callaway Foundation and Columbus Museum.

The Main Event

Watch the incredible thoroughbred horses jump over timber and brush hurdles with five races throughout the day.

Share YOUR Steeplechase

Moments

Post your best race-day snaps and tag us using #steeplechasin on Instagram, Facebook and X. We can’t wait to see the day through your eyes. Also, follow us @steeplechasin for all the fun!

Carolyn with her brother Mattox at Steeplechase in 1996

by Brett Buckner

GOOD WITCHES, GOOD TIMES

Annual Columbus Witches’ Ride Raises Funds for Children’s Hospital

With its depictions of flying around on broomsticks, casting spells, black cats lurking in the shadows, warts and spooky fashion sense, history and pop culture have rarely been kind to witches. But a new—and far better dressed— coven of ladies is restoring the good to a once wicked reputation.

Since they first took flight in 2023, the Columbus Witches Ride has raised more than $28,000 for the Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital, which, fittingly, opened just before Halloween in 2024.

“It was a tremendous jump from the first year to the second, both in participation and the funds we raised,” said organizer Molly Wallace. “So, there

was no doubt we were going to do it again this year to keep that momentum going.”

The Witches Ride follows a two-mile Flight Path that begins and ends at Clubview Elementary School, located in the Hilton Heights neighborhood. Women dressed in costumes inspired by everything—from Harry Potter to Hocus Pocus, Barbie, to hippies—to ride their brooms (bicycles) and vrooms (golf carts) tossing candy out to a growing crowd of spectators.

“It’s like reverse trick-or-treating,” Wallace said, “and a giant community watch party. It’s a really good time.”

Through registration fees and community sponsorship, The Witches

(L-R) Liz Godwin, Michelle Hudson, Christy Hubbard, Cathryn Pease, Erin Gregory, Katie Krieg and Erica Womack

Ride raises money that goes first to the Children’s Miracle Network, which then “sends every bit, 100 percent,” Wallace explained, “back to the local children’s hospital.” In this case that means the Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital. Located at the Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown campus, the $28 million hospital is West Georgia and East Alabama’s only freestanding children’s hospital dedicated to delivering bestin-class healthcare to sick and injured children from birth to age 18 years old.

The decision for The Witches Ride to

be a fundraiser for the children’s hospital was simple,” Wallace explained. “The event is very family-friendly, and every family can relate to the work our local children’s hospital is doing,” she said. “A new, state-ofthe-art children’s hospital is not only a win for the families who will seek care there, it elevates the caliber of our entire city.”

Jessi Brown, manager of the Major Gifts Program for the Piedmont Columbus Regional Foundation, has been impressed by how quickly the Witches Ride has grown into a major fundraiser. In its first year, the event raised $9,125. Last year, it raised $19,501.40. “It took off and everyone loves it,” she said. “We’re grateful that they chose the Children’s Hospital for that. I know there’s several amazing organizations in our community, but with the Children’s Miracle Network, it’s a beautiful thing because we treat all kids. We don’t focus just on one thing.”

While the Witches Ride is “crucial” for fundraising, Brown said, it also helps raise awareness.” It might drive [participants] to make a donation or donate toys during the holidays when a kid is spending Christmas in the hospital,” she said. “We would not have what we have here in Columbus in regards to our children’s hospital if it wasn’t for events like the Witches Ride.”

Since its inception, the Witches Ride has also received support from MidTown, Inc., whose mission is to increase quality of life in MidTown. “They believed in us so much from the start,” Wallace said. “Because it grew very quickly, from year one to the next—more than I was expecting— MidTown has been invaluable in making this a legit event.

“It’s like reverse trickor-treating and a giant community watch party. It’s a really good time.”

-Molly Wallace

Because it fits the kind of vibe that MidTown, Inc. wants to portray, boosting neighborhood energy and excitement, it made sense for the group to help foster the event, explained Julio Portillo, Jr., executive director for MidTown, Inc. “From the moment we first heard about this event, we knew it was destined to be a hit,” he said. “It has become a neighborhood tradition with residents along the route inviting friends and neighbors to tailgate in their yards as they await the procession.”

The MidTown Dad Band has added to the festivities by performing live music, including Halloween favorites like the Ghostbusters theme, “creating a lively and entertaining atmosphere for both participants and spectators,” Portillo added. MidTown, Inc. supports the Witches Ride by assisting with key logistics, including permits, insurance and securing police escort services. The team also provides on-site support with setup and registration. “We’re committed to continuing our support,” Portillo, “and are excited to offer even more resources in the future to help this event grow and become a signature celebration for MidTown.”

Last year, Wallace started signing

Leigh Anne Smith, Cortney Wilson, Sarah Varner, Ellie Fober, Melissa Thomas, Sarah Rumph, Laura Ann Mann, Tess Jenkins, Jen Cahill, Katie Forsyth and Megan Trocheck

sponsors in early September, followed by rider registration on Sept 29. She expects to follow the same timetable this year.

The first year saw about 100 witches follow the flight path with roughly 250 participating last year. But no matter the turnout, Wallace believes the Witches Ride is a success on multiple fronts. “It’s a great cause and a great feeling to know that our funds are making a difference,” she said, “not only to the families that will use that facility, but it really is a game changer for our whole city.”

“HAD TO BRING IT WITH ME”

When Wallace and her husband, Carter, moved their family to Columbus from Birmingham three years ago, she brought the Witches Ride with her. “It’s huge over there,” she said. “We’re talking easily with over a thousand people involved.”

Coming up on its 13th year, the Homewood Witches Ride benefits the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. Wallace was both a witch and a spectator in the event. “People come out in droves there,” she said. “It’s almost like your house has more real estate value if it’s on the Witches Ride route. And when we decided to move to Columbus, my husband’s hometown, I didn’t like the idea of leaving the witches’ ride behind, so I had to bring it with me.”

It took about a year of getting settled in her new home before Wallace launched the Columbus version of the Witch’s Ride, pulling it together with a few other ladies in the neighborhood whom she felt would be good gauges for what would work best in terms of sponsorship and fundraising opportunities.

“I had already had that idea,” she said. “The timing was spectacular with the new children’s hospital opening. So, there was a lot of energy in town. It feels good to give something and then to actually be able to see where those donations are going.”

Visit ColumbusWitchesRide.com to sign up.

Valley Scenes

Send us photos of your community event or achievement! We will publish as many photos as quality and space permit. Please identify all subjects with a brief description of the event and the date and the photographers name. Email them to: ContactUs@ColumbusAndTheValley.com,

Spring Harbor at Green Island’s 20th Anniversary Party

photos courtesy of Spring Harbor

Often referred to as the “cruise ship that never leaves port,” the theme for the party was “Cruising Through the Years.”

More than 1,150 residents, have called Spring Harbor “home” in the last 20 years. Residents and team members enjoyed festive cruise-themed décor, entertainment, refreshments and a nostalgic journey through the community’s history.

“We’re proud to mark this milestone with our residents, families and team,” said Shane McDougall, executive director. “For two decades, Spring Harbor has been a place where people truly enjoy retirement while knowing their future needs are already planned for.”

Columbus Airport Breaks Ground for New and Improved Runway

photo courtesy of Columbus Airport

We have lift off! Columbus Airport officially broke ground on the construction of a longawaited makeover of Runway 6-24. State and local officials gathered on the runway as the $24 million project got underway. The main runway will be closed to commercial flights through the end of November 2025.

1775 Society Gala

photos by Joel Price

The 1775 Society hosted their annual Salute to Soldiers Gala and Auction in an evening honoring the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. The National Infantry Museum was a beautiful venue aglow with candlelight and breathtaking flowers while guests were entertained with delicious food and jazz stylings all night. The 1775 Society is the membership group dedicated to supporting the National Infantry Museum Foundation’s (NIMF) mission of honoring Soldiers. Please visit nationalinfantrymuseum.org or contact us at 706-685-2604 to join.

(Standing) Mr. Sunny Park, 1775 Society Member and the Gala Event Sponsor, and Kevin Miller, 1775 Society Member and NIMF Board Member

Mr. Ben Williams and his wife Rose Marie looking over the silent auction items. Mr. Williams was employee #1 of the NIMF and helped bring the museum from idea to reality.

NIMF President BG (Ret) Pete Jones enjoying the evening remarks.

Quadasia Love Crowned 2025 Ms. Georgia USA World

As Ms. Georgia USA World and a Columbus native, Quadasia Love will represent Georgia at the upcoming Ms. USA World pageant, where she will compete for the national title and the opportunity to serve as a global ambassador for women’s empowerment, diversity and service.

Direct Services Unveils New Mural

Direct Services unveiled their new mural located at their kitchen on Hamilton Road. The new mural painted by Mackenzie DeClue is dedicated to the incredible staff and volunteers. The artistic tribute is a symbol of the gratitude to the unwavering dedication and compassion in serving the community.

NIM Relaunches

“NIM Events” photo courtesy of National Infantry Museum

The National Infantry Museum held a relaunch event and introduced their dedicated events team. Showcasing the variety of event spaces and local caterers the museum is ready to host weddings, galas, corporate events and military ceremonies.

Artist Talk with Butch Anthony

Butch Anthony shared the stories behind his latest installation, The Persistence of Form in Life’s Remains. This exhibition has broken attendance records at The Bo Bartlett Center. The discussion was facilitated by Mike McFalls, CSU professor and director of Pasaquan and the Bo Bartlett Center. A large crowd gathered to hear Anthony talk about his creative process and tales of his childhood that shaped him into the artist that he is today.

(L-R) Shy Walker, Kenley Johnson, Nixon Patterson, Amyia Phelps and Brittany Banks.

(L-R) Robert Wadkins, Amy Bryan, city councilman Travis Chambers, Mayor Skip Henderson, Mackenzie DeCluer, State Rep. Carmen Rice and State Rep. Teddy Reese

The Pharmacy Residency Program and honored eight graduates at a commencement ceremony. “Graduation marks the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication by these pharmacist practitioners,” said Pharmacy Residency Program Director Jamie Crossman, PharmD, BCACP. “During their time here, each of them helped care for people in the Chattahoochee Valley and have positively impacted our community as a whole.” Of the eight graduating pharmacists, four will remain with Piedmont: Graylon Cross-Penn, Emily Davis, Brooke Landry, Janna Lewis, Alexa McDaniel, Tyler Tolbert, Jennie Reese and Ethan Young. Piedmont Columbus Regional Graduates 54 from Nurse, Family Medicine and Pharmacy Residency Programs

The Transition to Practice Nurse Residency Program hosted a celebration for 35 nurse residents who completed their first year as a registered nurse. “Through learning and clinical experiences with preceptors, ongoing support from experienced educators, mentors and leadership, residents are integrated into a culture that prioritizes and supports their growth,” said Nurse Residency Program Coordinator Cheryl Navarrete.

The Family Medicine Residency Program hosted a commencement ceremony for the 11 physicians in its 50th graduation class. Of the 11 graduating physicians, four will remain in Georgia. The graduating residents are: Neelam Badruddin, M.D., Ofure Harrison, M.D., Amirah Hill, D.O., Fares Hosseinzadeh, M.D., Njoud Jweihan, M.D., Shuja Kazmi, M.D., Abdul Khan, M.D., Addison Moore, D.O., Paul Nosa-Oviasu, M.D., Madonna Romaya, M.D. and Zachariah Smith, D.O. “Our primary goal is to graduate physicians who are excellent healers, engaged colleagues and thoughtful professionals who will impact the lives of others for many years to come,” said Director of Medical Education and Family Medicine Residency Program John Bucholtz, D.O. “These physicians are well-equipped to live the Piedmont Promise to make a positive difference in every life they touch.”

Nursing graduates

Family Medicine graduates

Pharmacy graduates

New Mural Unveiled in Midtown

Continuing to bring our community out in color, muralist Christoph Johnson recently completed this huge mural project painted on the side of the Extra Space Storage behind Publix on Macon Road. The design showcases scenes from Midtown Columbus. His collaboration with MidTown Inc., has been in the works for a while.

Columbus Tech Breaks Ground for the Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. VECTR Workforce Development Center

The VECTR (Veterans Education Career Transition Resource) Center will serve as a transformative hub for workforce development, career training and veteran support services. The center is designed to provide high-demand careers and expand access to short-term technical programs for transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses and the broader community.

Libations

What’s New in Cocktails?

It’s hard not to love the classics in cocktails. Who doesn’t enjoy an old fashioned, a margarita, a Manhattan, an espresso martini, a Negroni, a daiquiri, a whiskey sour or a Bloody Mary? They are all tried and true favorites, sure to please, and get a party rolling; however, the world is changing. The new trends in cocktails are mind boggling and fascinating! Here are some of the new ideas that are popping up:

New Smoked Cocktails

Smoked cocktails have been around for a few years now. The category started primarily with bourbons, scotches and other whiskey cocktails. The first of these cocktails were made by igniting wood chips (hickory, oak or cedar typically) with a lighter or torch, and placing a cocktail glass over the smoking chips, trapping the smoke inside before adding the cocktail ingredients. Another version uses a cloche or container filled with smoke, placed over a prepared cocktail.

Newer trends in this area include using different types of wood chips, such as cherry, apple, maple or mesquite, to infuse a different flavor. Other new ideas include using a wider variety of cocktails, such as martinis, margaritas, daiquiris or Bloody Marys. Another twist on this trend is smoking fruit such as peaches, pineapples, tomatoes or citrus before making the cocktail. Smoked herbs and spices, think rosemary, cinnamon or mint, can also be used. Maple smoked espresso martini, cedar smoked gin and tonic and smoked pineapple daiquiri are some newer versions of smoked cocktails.

Martinis Revisited

Martinis are hot again. Today’s versions are a twist on the classics, though. These versions include new ingredients and unexpected garnishes. The espresso martini is a classic favorite, but newer versions use high-quality local cold brew, different vanillas extracts and alternatives

to vodka, such as scotch, for a richer, smokier flavor. Today’s apple martinis are more refined, made with fresh pressed apple juice or tart apple liqueur. Upgraded classic martinis can be made with infused spirits, such as rosemary gin, truffled vodka or black tea-infused vermouth. Dirty martinis can be made using pickled caper juice or miso-infused water instead of olive brine. Garnishes for these new drinks include pickled vegetables, edible flowers or citrus peels.

Fat Washing: Altering the Texture and Flavor

Fat Washing techniques include using buttery, creamy or oily ingredients to create rich, smooth cocktails with great depth of flavor. The process involves adding a fat, such as coconut oil, butter, sesame oil or bacon fat to an alcohol and then freezing it. When the fat is solidified, it is separated from the liquid, leaving an infused flavor and a silky mouthfeel. Milk washed cocktails have been around for a while, but the new fat washed cocktails are an interesting extension of that process. Butter and coconut oil add creaminess to an alcohol, sesame oil brings an earthy depth and bacon fat infuses a smoky, savory flavor. Fat washed whiskey with brown butter can be used to create an Old Fashioned that seems like a dessert. Rum fat washed with coconut oil is a perfect ingredient for a tropical daiquiri. A sesame oil-washed gin can be used to create a martini with a crisp, nutty flavor.

Savory and Spicy Cocktails

Savory cocktails incorporate ingredients like anchovy essence, seaweed, mushrooms and miso to create umami inspired drinks that are rich with unexpected depth. The Bloody Mary and the dirty martini are classic cocktails that include similar flavors. Today’s versions push those boundaries. Imagine a gin martini with a touch of anchovy juice or shiitake mushroom or a Bloody Mary made with a

truffle infused vodka.

Spicy cocktails are all the rage today. Heat is trending. While jalapeño margaritas are classic, chili-infused syrups and wasabi-laced spirits are fresh new ways to turn up the fire. Balance is key in these drinks. Heat should flavor, not overpower! A cucumber wasabi martini has both heat and cool freshness. Tequilas can be infused with chili peppers, jalapenos, habaneros or Sichuan peppercorns depending on the flavor and degree of heat you prefer.

Switching: A High-Tech Approach to Cocktails

Invented in Scotland in 2019, this process involves freezing an alcohol in an ultra-low temperature freezer and removing the small amount of water present by removing the ice crystals formed, and replacing that liquid with another liquid, such as a clarified juice or a tea to intensify the flavors and add texture.

Mocktails!

The demand for no alcohol and low alcohol cocktails continues to grow. Western countries are seeing around one-third of the population practicing a low or no alcohol lifestyle; a number that is increasing. Today’s bartenders are challenged with creating sophisticated, well-balanced mocktails with the same level of creativity as traditional cocktails. One of the major challenges in this endeavor is the dearth of no alcohol spirits that have a comparable taste to the traditional counterparts. While zero alcohol wines that are flavorful are available. The spirit side of the zero alcohol offerings is lacking.

These are fascinating, new trends worth exploring. Find your new favorites, and, as always, drink what you love!

Tag @columbusandthevalley with your new cocktail.

Pat Daniel is the owner of Uptown Wine & Spirits in Uptown Columbus. by Pat Daniel

FOOD & DRINK GUIDE

BIG MAMA VIETNAM KITCHEN

Big Mama’s is proud to serve you fresh, homemade food made with local ingredients that you are sure to love. Our specialty involves healthy cuisine with plenty of fresh vegetables and a variety of flavorful spices. BigMamaVietnamKitchen.com

Tu-F 11AM-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa-Su 11AM-9PM, Closed Monday 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd., Unit 14

COUNTRY’S BARBECUE

Real barbecue slow cooked over hickory and oak. Casual dress, takeout, catering, kids’ menu, three Columbus locations. CountrysBarbecue.com

Open 7 days a week 11AM-10PM

The Original: 3137 Mercury Dr., 706.563.7604

Country’s on Broad: 1329 Broadway, 706.596.8910

Country’s North: 6298 Veterans Pkwy., 706.660.1415

MELLOW MUSHROOM

The combination of a great menu, hand-tossed dough, fresh ingredients and friendly service makes Mellow Mushroom a must when you have a taste for pizza. Come for a family-friendly dinner or join your friends in our comfortable neighborhood bar. MellowMushroom.com

M-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM 6100 Veterans Pkwy. • 706.322.4602

CLEAN EATZ

Clean Eatz is heart-driven to change lives through clean, balanced food, thought-provoking education and motivational support that inspires results. We know personal wellness is not one-size-fits-all, so we craft nutritional products and fitness opportunities that meet the needs of every type of lifestyle. CleanEatz.com

M-F 11AM-7PM, Sa. 11AM-3PM, Closed Sunday 3500 Massee Lane • 762.583.6170

FOUNTAIN CITY COFFEE

If you’re in the mood for anything from drip coffee to an iced Libbarace, come to Fountain City Coffee to support some locally roasted excellence. FountainCityCoffee.com

M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa-Su 8AM-7PM 1007 Broadway, 706.494.6659

RUTH ANN’S RESTAURANT

A Columbus tradition for families, friends and great food. Ruth Ann’s offers authentic Southern style lunches, and breakfast is served all day. RuthAnnsRestaurant.com W-Su 6:30AM-2PM 940 Veterans Pkwy., 706.221.2154

THE SPEAKEASY

A local favorite sering great, homemade food and drinks in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Home of the Camel Rider. SpeakeasyColumbus.com

Su-Th 11AM-8PM, F-Sa 11AM-9PM 3132 Mercury Dr., 706.561.0411

UPTOWN VIETNAM CUISINE

Our authentic, traditional Vietnamese dishes are both delicious and healthy and feature fresh ingredients and a variety of flavorful spices. Dine-in, carry-out and party trays available, and a 10% military discount. UptownVietnamCuisine.com

M-F 10:30AM-3PM & 5-9PM, Sa 11AM-9PM, Closed Sunday 1250 Broadway, 706.576.9922

WASABI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR

Traditional Japanese cuisine with hibachi grill tops and fresh sushi. Come and try our flavorful and fresh ingredients. WasabiJapaneseColumbus.kwickmenu.com

Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM 1080 Manchester Expy. • 706.642.0888

Conversations on the Couch with Hudson Terrell

LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNER

Columbus native Hudson Terrell, a graduate of Brookstone School and the University of Georgia, quickly rose the ranks in the restaurant business, from dishwasher to general manager, at acclaimed eateries in the Deep South. In 2021, he opened Animal Farm to rave reviews on 12th Street in downtown Columbus. Around the corner on Broadway, the chef/ owner followed up that smash success with excellent Italian-American fare at Gabagool, which opened this past April—one day after he welcomed his first child into the world.

When did you have the idea that you wanted to be a restaurant owner?

I’ve always liked cooking at home, and I’ve always been drawn to restaurants. When I was in college in Athens, I worked at Five & Ten, a really nice restaurant at the time. I started as a dishwasher and busboy and just kept moving up to server and bartender. Then I did all the positions in the kitchen. Before I graduated, I was the general manager for a couple of years. I got to learn from really talented people at Five & Ten—the owner back then was a multiple-time James Beard Award winner.

After I graduated, I managed Acre in Auburn. Then I came back to Columbus to open Animal Farm.

What was the inspiration behind creating Gabagool?

With Animal Farm, I had a partner in the beginning, so it was a joint idea. Gabagool’s my baby in the sense that everything—the decor, the branding, every little aspect of this place—was all my vision.

I love Italian food. Especially Italian-American. So I’ve had this concept in mind for years, just waiting for the right space. This space is so beautiful—it fits perfectly with the black-and-white tiles. It all just worked out—even down to the wine glasses.

Gabi [VanHorn] is an artist known for her Stinky Signs business but she also does branding and did a brilliant job bringing my vision to life with the logo and menu design. Katie [Jacobson Dion] painted original artwork for us. I picked out the decor, like the red booths, light fixtures and the paint job. I even reupholstered our red booths.

And I picked out the more fun type art you see. In the front, there’s a series of abstract paintings based on scenes from The Sopranos. [The name Gabagool is the slang term Tony Soprano and other characters from the fabled TV series used for capicola, a type of cured Italian pork.] In the back, we have some of Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup cans on one wall. On the other side are vintage photos of celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Marilyn Monroe—all eating spaghetti.

I banned Sinatra from our playlist. We play funk and soul from the ‘70s. I like a place to be fun and loud so when people walk in there’s a buzz to it.

What’s your overall impressions of the Chattahoochee Valley culinary scene?

It’s great, and it’s growing. A lot of great restaurant people put in a lot of work and laid the foundation for us to even be down here. Tom and

Buddy [Jones and Nelms, respectively, partners in Uptown Life Group’s Mabella’s, The Loft, Mix Market, Saltcellar] and Mike and Heather [Harrell, owners of 11th and Bay Southern Table]. They all do a great job and have done it for years. They laid a great groundwork for the city and the culinary scene. I’m just trying to help grow it.

Our biggest thing is that we want to have fun places to go eat. The music we play is not what you would expect from an Italian restaurant. Our servers don’t have uniforms and are encouraged to express themselves. We want it to be like a really fun, casual environment.

We take a lot of pride in the food and where we source it from. We make all the pastas in-house, daily, by hand.

Your menu features a lot of locally sourced foods.

At both my restaurants, almost all of our meats and seafood come from Georgia. All of our chicken comes from Georgia, and all of our ribeye comes from Georgia. All of our ground beef, ground pork, comes from a local farm. All of our fish comes from the gulf; our shrimp comes from Savannah. We’re very picky. Then we have a few different farmers in the area that we have a great relationship with and they supply us with, all kinds of great produce. If we can get it local, then we do.

What do you think makes for an excellent restaurant?

The most important thing about a restaurant is the people—the staff. Because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how good I can cook. I’m not the one putting out the food on a daily basis. Happy servers and bartenders translate to happy guests. The people working at a restaurant are the ones putting their heart and soul and their energy into it. If they’re coming to work happy, it translates. Obviously, the food and the drink and the environment are important, too, but it all flows together with people. That’s what separates the great restaurants from the good ones.

What’s an ideal dining out experience for you?

One of my favorite things to do every year for my birthday is go to Atlanta. Shared-plate places like The Iberian Pig. There’ll be around 10 of us, and we just order the whole menu. That’s really fun. Everybody has some drinks and shares a lot of food.

Make your reservations at GabagoolColumbus.com or TheAnimalFarmColumbus.com.