Quarterly Commerce Magazine Spring 2020

QUARTERLY COMMERCE THE EATONTON-PUTNAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPRING 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE Discover information and services offered for your business

LEADERSHIP PUTNAM PROGRAM

WE MOVED! We are now located across the street from the Putnam County Courthouse

Get ready for Summer!

Mark your calendars for the Sweet Tee Off Golf Tournament and Annual Dinner

Photo courtesy of Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee

QUARTERLY COMMERCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome from the Chairman

03

COVID-19 Updates

04

Putnam Strong

05

Chamber & Welcome Center Move

06

Tourism Update

07-08

Membership Update

09-10

2020-2021 Ambassador Team

11-12

President's Notes

13

Scholarship Recipients

14

Leadership Putnam

15-18

Chamber Events

19

Sweet Tee Off Golf Tournament

20

THE CHAMBER STAFF Roddie Anne Blackwell President

Emily Holt

Tourism Marketing & Special Events Coordinator

Brooke Barrett

Membership Manager & Services

Board of Directors: Marie Rainey - Chairman Maddie Atkinson - Vice Chair McKenzie Davenport - Treasurer Sarah Peacock Linda Moore

Member Milestones

21-22

Annual Dinner

23

Summer Intern

24

New Member Spotlight Chamber Event Calendar

Jesse McMillen Cynthia Wallace Keith Hill Jason Green Tommy Jeffords Matt Wilson

25-26 27

THE EATONTON-PUTNAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE P.O. Box 4088 | 108 W Marion Street Eatonton, GA 31024 (706) 485-7701 | info@eatonton.com | www.eatonton.com www.facebook.com/epchamber | www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber The Quarterly Commerce is published by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce.

Editorial and design created by Brooke Barrett and Emily Holt.

Photography by Tytan Pictures, HHL, Twynn Takes Photography, Kaley Wilson Photography, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, and the Chamber.

JOIN THE CHAMBER! Contact Brooke Barrett, Membership Manager, at (706) 485-7701 or email at brooke@eatonton.com.

visit our website to download and application!

WELCOME From the Chairman of the Board

Welcome to the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce magazine and to our community, one of the best places in Georgia to live, work and raise a family.

The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce understands that in order to have a strong economic environment you must have a strong community. We are truly blessed in our community to have leaders, business owners, educators and citizens who realize that we all share in the responsibility of creating economic success and happiness within our community.

The Chamber’s goal is to work toward improving the quality of life for all through the support and commitment of its members, volunteers and committees. The Chamber is proud to sponsor events throughout the year to help support the community.

As the 2019-2020 Chamber President, I am honored to work alongside our dedicated Board who all share the same vision, business growth and healthy community environment.

If you are not a member of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, please join us today. Your membership will benefit your business and the community. I look forward to working with everyone during my time as President.

Thanks, M A R I E R A I N E Y , Chairman of the Board Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce QUARTERLY COMMERCE

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SPRING 2020

COVID-19 UPDATES & SERVICES

The Eatonton-Puntam Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping businesses create a positive work climate. We continue to work hard on your behalf and will continue to provide our members education and resources as it becomes available. We encourage everyone to diligently practice preventative actions and to continue to monitor the situation closely. We also want to encourage everyone to support locally as best they can during this time.

RESOURCES Here is a list of resources to check out: Center for Disease Control & Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/ Small Business Disaster Loans - SBA https://www.sba.gov/page/disaster-loan-applications Georgia Chamber of Commerce https://www.gachamber.com/covid19/ For the Complete Resource Guide, please reach out to Brooke Barrett at brooke@eatonton.com.

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SPRING 2020

Putnam Strong To all those who have remained open during this time to make sure we have the resources we need, THANK YOU! Thank you for putting it all on the line to make sure our community is able to get the things we need, this includes (but is not limited to) healthcare workers, grocery store employees, law enforcement, EMT's, public safety officers, first responders, maintenance workers, farmers, transportation workers, and restaurant workers.

As a part of our thank you, the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber in collaboration with Dalton One Carpet, made goodie bags that were distributed to our member businesses who have continued to serve. We hope each of you found these gift bags helpful in keeping your employees, families and customers healthy and safe during this time. We hope you know how appreciated you truly are.

In addition, The Chamber sold shirts depicting the graphic with the words "Putnam Strong" on the front. We could not think of a more appropriate phrase during this time. This community never ceases to amazing us with their willingness to step up and help one another in times of crisis.

None of us know how long this will last, so it is more important now than ever to support local. Many businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, so we need to make sure to do our part to support them where we can! Get takeout, order online, share their content and show your support!

Distance socially, support locally.

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SPRING 2020

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOME CENTER The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center has relocated from the Plaza Arts Center to 108 West Marion Street in downtown Eatonton. We encourage everyone to stop in and say hello and see what our new space has to offer. We will have a Ribbon Cutting and Open House once the CDC and the Governor allows us to resume our in-person programming.

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SPRING 2020

TOURISM UPDATE Moving, Events & Recreation!

EMILY HOLT

Tourism Marketing & Special Events Coordinator

Since Winter, Eatonton has had an eventful few months and the Chamber and Welcome Center has had many exciting changes! The Chamber had the opportunity to host the Lake Country Entertainment 100 event on December 12, alongside Georgia Entertainment News with their partners including Herc Rentals, Crafty Apes, Tytan Pictures, Moonshine Post and many others. The event was held at Barrel 118 and highlighted the Lake Country’s growth as a film and entertainment destination.

This event opened the door for businesses in the industry and scouts from Atlanta and out of state that were unfamiliar with our destination. Since then, numerous scouts have reached out to tour our location which has included companies such as Marvel Studios and Disney Plus. If you or your business is interested in being involved in the film industry whether it’s your time or services, feel free to reachout to me at emily@eatonton.com!

The Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center moved from the Plaza Arts Center to downtown Eatonton’s square! We are now located at 108 West Marion Street, across from the courthouse. With the move, the building needed updates along with a new awning, signage and paint. I was able to apply for the 2020 Regional Visitors Information Center Grant for $2,000 which was to be put toward marketing materials for your Welcome Center.

Our Welcome Center received the grant and I was able to put the money towards new brochures featuring updated information on attractions, events, dining, lodging and added some history of Eatonton and Putnam County. The money also went towards the new signage for our building and directional signs leading to our new location. The Chamber also received a Facade Grant from the Downtown Eatonton Mainstreet for exterior paint and an awning. If you are in need of our new brochures, send me an email and I will gladly save you a stack or ship them to you if preferred!

The new year also brought about event planning for the 6th Annual Sweet Tee Off Golf Tournament and the Rock Hawk History Mystery Cruise. The golf tournament is held at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, a private residential course. This fundraising event gives golf players the opportunity to play one of the areas’ most prestigious courses. Since 2015’s first tournament took place, the Chamber has awarded 4 $500 scholarships to local students from PCHS, Gatewood School and Central Georgia Technical College. From past

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SPRING 2020

years efforts, we are able to raise the scholarships to $1,000 each to help students with their continuing education in 2020. This event also helps raise money for the Chamber’s Leadership Putnam Program. 2019’s class of 23 who chose to work with Vizitech USA were able to raise money to fund state of the art virtual and augmented reality software installed in our county school systems, as well as raised funds to support scholarships for our 2020 Leadership Program. The Rock Hawk History Mystery Cruise is put on by the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway Corporation. Local historian Larry Moore and Georgia Power Lake Resources Manager Keith Hill explore the archeological sites, history and culture of Lake Oconee including some of the many mysterious archaeological sites hidden by the lake, prehistoric ceremonial sites, early historical plantations, as well as Wallace Dam, the Oconee Wildlife Management Area and Rock Hawk Effigy, Educational Trails & Park. Ancient artifacts are displayed including a dinosaur egg and other multi-million yearold fossils and old Native American items during the cruise. The money raised from cruise tickets, raffles and silent auction items all go towards preserving Rock Hawk Effigy, Educational Trails & Park.

Due to COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution and for the health and safety for our staff, visitors, attendees, sponsors and our community, both of these events have been postponed for later dates. To find out the latest information on both, please visit our Facebook Page. If you are interested in partaking in the golf tournament later this summer as a player, sponsor or both, feel free to reach out to me at emily@eatonton.com with any questions! Thank you for the continued support, and we look forward to seeing you all later this summer.

Many of our local restaurants are offering take-out, curbside pickup and delivery. Small businesses are offering gift cards, shipping and advanced orders. If you are in need of fresh air and need to stretch your legs, Eatonton and Putnam County have numerous recreational options! Butterflies and Blooms located in the Briar Patch city park in downtown Eatonton is home to numerous butterfly species and flowers for their habitat along with a .25 trail that is pet friendly. Rock Hawk Effigy and Trails offers running, biking, and educational trails that are pet friendly, along with museums and an archery range. Both Lake Oconee and Sinclair are still accessible through Georgia Power’s parks. Please continue to support locally while distancing socially!

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SPRING 2020

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE New year, new decade, new beginnings and a new Chamber!

We are so excited to see all that 2020 has to bring. Despite starting out a little rough, we are confident that our community is going to thrive. We have already seen how united we are as we have continued to support one another through this difficult time.

BROOKE BARRETT

The Chamber has been hard at work to connect with our members and send out any information and resources as related to the COVID-19 crisis as possible. Many of those resources can be found in this issue of the magazine. We appreciate the effort from the community to continue to support our local businesses while also exercising precaution as we all work to "flatten the curve."

Membership Manager

On a happier note, our offices have previously moved, and we can't wait to share this space with our local business community once this pandemic is over. The new building is going to allow us to serve our members in a whole new capacity. One of these new perks is the use of our meeting space in the back! We have also been able to expand our lobby to be able to include more promotional material for our member businesses. If you would like to have your brochure or rack card put in our lobby, please send them to us at P.O. Box 4088.

We will be having a Ribbon Cutting and Open House for the public to see the new space and to get the full effect of what we can and will be offering. We will notify our members and the public once a new date for this event has been set.

We cannot wait for this pandemic to be over so we can get back to our in-person programming and events as normal. At this time, our Sweet Tee Off Golf Tournament has been moved to late summer and the Annual Dinner has been postponed to a later date as well. We will make sure to keep you updated on these changes and new dates as we learn more. In the meantime, don't forget to get your nominations in for the Annual Dinner. These applications can be found on our website or can be requested via email. Contact brooke@eatonton.com for more information. We will be giving awards out for "Business of the Year," "Breakout Business of the Year," "Citizen of the Year," "Youth in Excellence," and the new "Ambassador of the Year." These will be accepted until further notice but please do not wait. The deadline will depend on the new date of the event.

We have and will continue to work on behalf of our local business community and we thank all of those who continue to support us! If you need any assistance or any resources for your small business, please feel free to contact us at 706-485-7701.

If you are a business owner who has yet to join a Chamber, we encourage you to make that investment in your business as soon as possible. We understand first-hand the impact that this pandemic has caused, so if you're interested in joining but concerned with the dues, we will be more than happy to work with you so you don't miss out on any of the benefits of being a member.

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R E N E W E D Members WALLLACE & KING REAL ESTATE 1ST FRANKLIN FINANCIAL FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK PIEDMONT FINANCIAL SERVICES EATONTON HOUSING AUTHORITY OCONEE CABINETS GREGORY BRIDGE COMPANY PUTNAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT GEORGIA WRITERS MUSEUM GEORGIA WATERSPORTS CENTURY BANK & TRUST PUTNAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LAW OFFICE OF RUSSELL WALL BLACKWELL FURNITURE COMPANY OCONEE CLIMATE CONTROL PUTNAM COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION BONE ISLAND GRILLHOUSE COWLES CLINIC DREAMBUILT THE PILOT CLUB OF EATONTON OCONEE RADIO GROUP DR. KIMBERLY PHILLIPS DMD J.V. DELL PC HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FERST READERS LAKE OCONEE DENTISTRY CRAIG-MASSEE INSURANCE AGENCY TRI-COUNTY EMC AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALISTS GATEWOOD SCHOOLS PC SIMONTON ENGINEERING PRECISION APPROACH EATOTON-PUTNAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY ROSSEE OIL COMPANY A2B FULFILLMENT METRO WATER FILTER HARMONY CROSSING ANIMAL HOSPITAL MIDDLE GEORGIA CONSORTIUM LAKE OCONEE LUTHERAN CHURCH LAKE OCONEE RENTAL TCH WATERSPORTS

N E W Members LAKE OCONEE PARTNERS IN HEALTHCARE START TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION J&J BRICK AND MATERIALS THE INSURANCE PEOPLE

THOMAS BROWN DDS HOUSEMAN PEST CONTROL PINNACLE CREDIT UNION WC RALSTON & SONS PUTNAM CHRISTIAN OUTREACH MARBLEWORKS MIDDLE GA TIMBER PCCSS PIGGLY WIGGLY SKYLINE CONSTRUCTION GEORGIA CENTER FOR SIGHT CGTC LAKE OCONEE AREA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION THE GAILEY LAW FIRM EATONTONMEDICAL AND SURGICAL CENTER PCHS MCDONALDS BO TRAWICK- STATE FARM OPAS EATONTON HEALTH & REHABILITATION DAVID GIDDENS BETH'S BOARDING & GROOMING RON TAYLOR CUSTOM HOMES EATONTON SERVICE LEAGUE OCONEE REGIONAL HUMANE SOCIETY PLUMBING DISTRIBUTORS REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE BLASINGAME BURCH GARRARD & ASHLEY PC PURCHASING ALLIANCE SOLUTIONS CROW MARINE ROBERT A REYNOLDS CPA PARKSIDE MAIN 8 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH INTERFOR EATONTON COOPERATIVE FEED CO RICH HARDIN CONSTRUCTION GRO TECH ZAXBY'S JOE'S ROODING UNCLE REMUS MUSEUM FOWLER FLEMISTER CONCRETE THE LODGE ON LAKE OCONEE THE PEOPLES BANK PUTNAM-JASPER SUPPORT SERVICES LAKE OCONEE SELF STORAGE ADVANCE DISPOSAL TWIN BIDGES LANDING HOLLOWAY'S ACE HARDWARE EATONTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AU HEALTH SERVEPRO OF BALDWIN PUTNAM & JONES ROCK EAGLE 4-H CENTER EDWARD JONES-TERESA DOSTER EMBRY FARM SERVICE SAVANNAH COURT OF LAKE OCONEE MADISON STUDIOS ELKINS ENTERPRISES GA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PCMS GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

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HARMONY PET RESORT LIGHTS OF OCONEE LAKE OCONEE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EPWSA DALTON ONE CARPET HARMONY CROSSING U.S. BREAKER INC. MAGNOLIA MEDICAL CENTER LAKE OCONEE TOOL & EQUIPMENT WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME ALGIN REALTY S&S RENTAL PROPERTIES SAMMONS CONSTRUCTION ROCK EAGLE TECHNOLOGY PARK STEFFEN THOMAS MUSEUM LAKE OCONEE ACE HARDWARE SMITH COMMUNICATIONS CEMENT TECHNOLOGY TOWABLE TAILGATES TOWN & COUNTRY OUTDOOR PRODUCTS STATE OFFICE FURNITURE PUTNAM GENERAL HOSPITAL JUTURNA WATER EVERGREEN PROPANE

SPRING 2020

Sidney Alexander The Glen Lake Oconee Meet your 2020-2021 Ambassador Team! We are extremely happy with this year's Ambassadors and we cannot wait for you to meet them in person!

Each of these hardworking men and women serve the Lake Country in a multitude of ways. They are each dedicated to the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber and want to make sure that other businesses in the area are taking full advantage of the services we offer. You may have already heard from a few of them but I encourage you to stop by any of our networking events to say hello!

Jeff Davis The Wizardz

If you're interested in being an Ambassador yourself, please email brooke@eatonton.com

Heather Harris Smith Communications

Meet the Ambassadors QUARTERLY COMMERCE

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SPRING 2020

Burton Ayres High Priority Pest Control

Terry Emlet The Mosquito Authority

Amy McElhenney Farmers & Merchants Bank

Todd Arrington Your CBD Store

Meet the Ambassadors QUARTERLY COMMERCE

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SPRING 2020

PRESIDENT'S NOTES Oh my goodness, It's early April and I am sitting at my desk, alone in the office.

This might be ok if I were working at night or on a Saturday to do some catch up work, but it is now the new "normal." It's strange how quickly things can change in a little over a month, but we will continue to assist our members to do business.

RODDIE ANNE BLACKWELL

We were so excited to move into our new building and everyone was looking forward to our ribbon cutting. It was a time to share the new facility with our members, the community and tourist. Our new Welcome Center is beautiful, complete with Chloe the Cow to welcome our visitors to the Dairy Festival. We are ready for our Spring events, the Sweet Tee Off Golf Tournament and the Chamber's Annual Dinner & Awards, and instead we got the "virus."

President CEO

Now we are collecting information to share with our members and assist in whatever way we can to keep them in business. Over the years I have had the opportunity to watch Putnam County overcome many obstacles, everything from several tornadoes to the closing of manufacturers, throwing our unemployment rate to over 15%, the highest in the state at that time, and we always bounce back bigger and better. The spirit of this community is to help your neighbor in time of trouble and need and that's what we do best. The Chamber looks forward to being part of the team and being better that our old normal. We thank everyone for being a part of the puzzle that makes our community such a great picture.

There is an application process, which includes applicants writing essays about themselves and the community. We have a set of 4 judges (3 retired educators and a Board Member). All reference to the applicant's name, parents, address etc. are all redacted on the application forms for the judges so they do not know which applications belongs to which student. the judges score each applicant on a set of criteria and then their scores are averaged. Now, I'd like to announce the Chamber's Annual Scholarship Award Winners:

BROOKLYN MCLAULIN Gatewood

Each Spring, part of the proceeds from the Sweet Tee Off Golf Tournament are used to further the education of some of Putnam County's outstanding college bound youth. This program was begun several years ago with three $500 scholarships. It Members has now grown to four $1,000 scholarships, one to a graduating senior atPARTNERS Gatewood, IN a graduating senior LAKE OCONEE at Putnam County High School, a student at Central HEALTHCARE GeorgiaTO Technical College and a student whose START FINISH CONSTRUCTION parents are either a Chamber business member or J&J BRICK AND MATERIALS employees of a Chamber member.

JAMES MEAD Putnam County High School

NEW

LANDON BEALL Lake Oconee Academy CATHERINE HANCOCK Central Georgia Technical College

THE INSURANCE PEOPLE

More on each of these students can be found on the following page.

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SPRING 2020

S C H O L A R S H I P Recipients Brooklynn McLaulin My name is Brooklyn McLaulin and I am a senior at Gatewood School. I am a member of the National Honor Society and served as the class treasurer for the last four years. I have also participated in varsity softball and cheerleading. I have a passion to serve and have done so through Anchor Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and lower school drop-off duty. I look forward to attending the University of Florida in the fall and majoring in Biology. I plan to further my education by attending a Physician’s Assistant bachelor program.

James Mead My name is James Mead and next fall I will be attending Georgia Tech in Atlanta as part of the class of 2024. While enrolled, I will be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with an intended minor in Physics. I hope that through my studies I can gain the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the world, a difference the people of Putnam County can be proud of.

Landon Beall My name is Landon Beall and I am attending the University of Georgia this fall. I have lived in Eatonton all of my life and I have attended Lake Oconee Academy since the sixth grade. I've spent my middle and high school years riding horses and playing softball, which have always kept me grounded. I have decided to go to the University of Georgia this fall because it has always been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, and it is fairly close to home. I have visited many other schools, but the University of Georgia holds the key to my heart. I am very grateful for this scholarship and cannot wait to see where the next 4 years of my life takes me.

Catherine Hancock My name is Catherine Hancock. I am a proud wife and mother to 2 beautiful children. I graduated from CGTC in 2009, and after some time as a stay at home mom, I decided it was time to start something new. I am now currently enrolled at CGTC in their Welding and Joining Diploma Program. When I graduate, I will have acquired a trade that I can use in the future for my family financially and I will enjoy doing it. Thank you to the Chamber and the Hank Griffeth Foundation for giving us the opportunities to apply ourselves for assistance for further education.

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LEADERSHIP PUTNAM 2020

This year the Chamber will graduate their 25th Leadership Putnam Class! This year's class is a diverse group full of big personalities and even bigger ideas! While their graduation has been postponed until further notice, they have each maintained a positive attitude and have come together to find ways to serve the community.

Once things return to normal, their hopes are to start programs in the school system that will assist those students who need essential items to be able to obtain those at school.

"I have learned a lot about myself and the community during this class. I appreciate the approach of the program, focusing on our strengths and utilizing them to be a great leader. All of the classes have been amazing and I am so thankful to have been a part of this class."

-John Moon The Glen Lake Oconee / Carlyle Place, Navicent Health

"I wish this experience did not have to come to an end so soon."

-Gwendolyn Brundage Baldwin County Correctional Facility

"All of the experiences and classes have really had high moments and have all been a great learning experience but my favorite was the community tour. I always think- what if these places didn't exist in Putnam County? This shows me the importance of all the entities we have here, even the ones we did not get to visit."

-Judy Fain

Former Educator & Community Volunteer

"I couldn't be more proud of how our class has learned to work together over the course of our class. The time in class definitely taught us how to be unstoppable once we set our mind to a common goal."

- Kandice Cantrell Aalto Scientific

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"The bond built over the past few months has been strong and rooted in love. If I had doubted in any moment the significance of joining leadership this year, the night we chose our community project crushed those doubts and reminded me the strength of our community."

- Maggie Milner The Plaza Arts Center

"I am so grateful that I was nominated to attend the Leadership Putnam program. Since I was new to the area, it has given me an opportunity to see many parts of Eatonton and some of the businesses. I find it difficult to chose which class was actually my favorite because I have throughly enjoyed them all."

-Scott Wilson.

Window Wizardz

"One of the most impactful and meaningful moments of this experience was our first trip to Rock Eagle for our Low Ropes Course. We arrived strangers and had to trust one another to the fullest. When we left that day, we left as the united class we are today. I am grateful to have been a part of it and I will carry what I learned with me forever."

-Pegz Fazio Putnam County Charter School

"The Leadership classes have allowed me to meet new people and discover new things about myself. It also taught me to trust a group of strangers and enjoy doing so. It's astonishingly how initially I didn't want to participate because I assumed I wouldn't have anything in common with my classmates but this class has taught me we are all so different, yet the same!

-Muriel Moss

Putnam County Magistrate Court

"Leadership Putnam Program has been an eye opening and enlightening adventure. On top of everything I have learned about our community and myself, I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know great individuals."

-Emily Holt Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce

"There is a lot to see and experience in our little town and I am excited to work with my Leadership group to work on a project for our community."

- Anna Nolan Rock Eagle 4-H Center

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"The Putnam County Leadership 2020 program has been an excellent experience for me. This program has brought out so many skills and interests for building our community. The entire class was diverse in age, race, gender, and occupation. I learned that together as a union we can all become more successful."

-Melissa Williams Peaceful Purpose Hospice

"I am very proud to work for a company that sincerely values total commitment to the communities in which we serve, and was honored to be given an opportunity to participate in the 2020 Leadership Putnam program. Overall, the program exceeded my expectations."

-Lennie Brame Georgia Power Company

"I have learned a lot during this experience and met some great people who I consider to be life-long friends. I am very grateful for this opportunity."

-Lee Witcher Tri-County EMC

"My favorite part of the program was the visit to Putnam General Hospital during the community tour. I learned how the local community can help the hospital, how the community already helps and how imperative the hospital is to the community."

-Undrey Bostic Rock Eagle 4-H Center

"My favorite experience was in St. Simons when we did an activity where we had to come to a unanimous decision on how to spend 10 million dollars. I learned that the selflessness or the selfishness of people can impact the lives of so many."

-Laura Ladiner Putnam General Hospital

"I have always adhered to the basic statement - "First you have to be visible in the community. You have to get out there and connect with people. It's not called net-sitting or net-eating it's called networking and you have to work at it." I wasn't sure what the leadership program was all about, I soon realized it was about sharing my experiences, both professionally and personally, with others and as an added bonus I made life-long friends. I am so grateful."

-Rick Richards RTS Oconee

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"This has been a great experience and I wish it didn't have to end so soon... they are all my family now!"

- Tanisha Humphries Farmers & Merchants Bank

"This experience has been thought provoking, fun, strengthening and motivational. It makes me want to do more for our community."

- Amy McElhenney Farmers & Merchants Bank

"The class that I took the most away from was the class on Group Dynamics. We learned how people take on distinct roles and behaviors when they work in a group. The reason I enjoyed this class so much is because I work with a group of people and we are all on a team. It was great to see things that both can cause a group to fail and things that make a group great."

-Heather Harris Smith Communications

"Leadership Putnam 2020 has been a wonderful experience for me. I have been enriched the most, from the amazing friendships I developed, during all the classes."

-Wendy Jarrard.

Lake Oconee Living Magazine

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SPRING 2020

Ribbon Cutting for J & J Brick and Materials

Business After Hours at Barrel 118

Ribbon Cutting for Pro Tech Resourcing

Cocktails & Community Conversation with Ashley Bell

CPR Crash Course at our Lunch N' Learn hosted by CGTC Spring Coffee Connections at Farmers & Merchants Bank

Chamber Events

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS - COFFEE CONNECTIONSRIBBON CUTTINGS - PUTNAM GREENE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS QUARTERLY COMMERCE

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SPRING 2020

POSTPONED

PROJECTED FOR LATE JUNE For more information regarding updates on the golf tournament, registration, and sponsorship opportunities, please email Emily Holt at emily@eatonton.com.

ALL PLAYERS RECEIVE Lunch, Drinks (including Alcohol) & Snacks Tee Gift worth approx. $150 The chance to win over 20 great Prizes The opportunity to play a Members-Only Course

2020 SWEET TEE OFF GOLF TOURNAMENT CUSCOWILLA ON LAKE OCONEE RAISING MONEY FOR THE PUTNAM LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS Photo courtesy of Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee QUARTERLY COMMERCE

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SPRING 2020

MEMBER MILESTONES GATEWOOD SCHOOLS Gatewood Schools is currently in its 49th year of providing quality education to the students of Eatonton - Putnam County. They will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary in August.

important. The class of 2020 has over 90% participation in charitable organizations through Gatewood (Anchor Club, Key Club, FCA and Interact Club), and some also participate through their local church."

Gatewood prides itself on serving these students the best education in a nurturing, Christian environment while instilling lifelong characteristics of faith, honor, truth and loyalty.

Gatewood has a grand tradition of academic excellence, as evidence by the accolades from various colleges. The video-production class just released their first fully edited video. Spanish classes have experimental learning on the Spanish-Portugal Spring Break Trip.

"Gatewood understands that God is at the center of every pursuit of knowledge, and this evokes a resonant response of service," said Libby Rainey, Admissions Director. "At Gatewood, family and community are very

Gatewood also recognizes the importance of sports in teaching students how to set goals and then demolish them.

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SPRING 2020

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They boast 46 State Championships in the 49 years they have been in operation. The class of 2020 has a 95% participation in Gatewood athletics. The school offers 22 Varsity sports, 13 middle school teams, and 4 lower school activities. Gatewood has sent two to the Olympics , three alumni are professional athletes, many alumni athletes play in college, and yet they have fun, too, with Field Day events and Powder Puff games.

Gatewood provides opportunities and an environment which foster the growth of well-rounded young men and women and prepare them for collegiate life. the graduates of Gatewood excel wherever they go, and they can be found in 27 states and 5 countries. The school's administration stated that they "believe that every child is a gift from God, and the core of our education is faith first, academics, athletics and extracurricular activities complete that child's edification."

It is hard to believe that all this takes place in a small town in Georgia. If you want to see what all Gatewood has to

offer, you can visit them at 139 Phillips Drive or by phone at 706-485-8231.

The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber also wants to recognize all the seniors, from Gatewood and Putnam County Charter School System for their excellence in their education and want to congratulate them for all of the accomplishments.

This graduating class has been hit hard with the news that the COVID-19 pandemic has officially shut down schools for the remainder of this academic year. They are unable to experience their senior year in it's entirety. Our hearts go out to each and every one of you and we want you to know that we are in your corner.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and hope that you will be able to look back on your experiences and be proud of what you've accomplished during your academic careers here. Please let us know if you need any assistance in the next phase of your lives.

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SPRING 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recommendations by the CDC and Governor's Office, this year's Annual Awards Banquet has been POSTPONED to a later date. We are hoping to have it rescheduled for sometime in late summer or fall. We will make sure to keep you updated as we learn more.

In the meantime, we are still accepting nominations for our awards. Each year we give out awards for Breakout Business of the Year, which goes to a business who has been in operation for less than 5 years, Business of the Year, which goes to a business who has been in operation for more than 5 years, Citizen of the Year and Youth In Excellence. These winners are all nominated by you and selected by a committee of past winners and Board Members. We are also adding an Ambassador of the Year award, which will go to the Ambassador serving on the 2019-2020 Ambassador Team with the best performance.

These nomination forms can be found on our website at eatonton.com or you can email brooke@eatonton.com to get your nomination form. We will be accepting nominations until May 15th so don't wait! Nomination forms can be turned in by emailing brooke@eatonton.com or you can mail them into our office at P.O. Box 4088. If you have any questions about the nomination forms or the eligibility of a business, you can give us a call at 706-485-7701.

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We hope you will be able to join us for this exciting night.

This year's theme is Roaring 20's! We are going to party like Gatsby and celebrate all the great things that has happened in 2019. While 2020 hasn't started out the way we would have liked, we hope that this banquet will be a great way to celebrate the end of the pandemic and getting back to our new normal. Plus we are looking forward to seeing you all in person!

Tickets for the event are $45 per person. You can go ahead and pre-purchase your tickets now to reserve your spot. You can email brooke@eatonton.com or call our office to make reservations.

Thank you all for being patient during this time. We, along with so many others, are trying our best to navigate these difficult times and make it to where we can still hold our events and celebrate you, our members. We will continue to monitor the situation and will let you know as soon as we have more details on the event.

Nomination Forms are being accepted now!

Deadline is May 15th!

SPRING 2020

Meet our Summer Intern:

Lacey Cummings

We are so excited to introduce our new Summer Intern, Lacey Cummings!

Lacey is from Hoboken, Ga and is a Senior Mass Communication student at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga. She will graduate in December of 2020 with a Bachelor's in Mass Communication and a minor in History.

As part of the History minor, she took multiple research-based courses that focused directly on the Middle Georgia area. Work for these courses included historical research of area businesses and restaurants.

Because of her previous research in Middle Georgia, she has accepted an internship with the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce to better learn and effectively advertise local restaurants, businesses and industry. One of her most important goals is to provide skills wherever necessary for the local community to grow further.

After graduation this December, Lacey plans to continue working in the Georgia tourism industry. One of her goals is to help raise tourism at Georgia State Parks and the plethora of significant historical sites across the state.

We are so excited to have Lacey on board and she will have a full plate once this pandemic is over helping us plan and execute our major events this fall. We hope you will stop in and introduce yourselves once our offices have opened back up to the public.

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SPRING 2020

NE W ME MBE R SPOTL I GHT

Now more than ever it is important to remember that we are one. We are one community, one organization with one common goal.

We are the Chamber. We are Putnam County. We are the Lake Country.

Check out a few of our newest members here and find out what makes the Chamber so great!

Tim Broyles State Farm

Why did you choose to work for this company? | I was part of the 2008 economic downturn and my job was eliminated in my prior career in corporate industrial sales. After much prayer and desire to help others be best prepared for the unexpected I started looking at the insurance and financial services industry. I began looking at insurance companies and other investment companies then concluded that State Farm was the leader in the industry for many strong reasons. I began working for free for a State Farm agent in order to gain experience and show the company I'd be a good candidate for our own agency. This opportunity also allows my family to participate in ministry more freely. We had no idea that would lead to us bringing home our now adult daughter from Uganda 5 years ago.

What is your background work experience? | We have been in business for 10 years and I am excited we have opened our second location in Eatonton after Mr. Johnny Harrell's retirement. We have been a leader within State Farm and in the Financial Services Industry as well. We have qualified for Million Dollar Round Table and accomplished this by assisting our customers in retirement planning.

Why is your business located here? | With the success we've experienced helping prepare and protect families we were availed the opportunity of opening a second location. My wife Kathy and I prayed about and turned down a couple of other locations in order to be part of Eatonton /Putnam County. We love the history and community as our son and now our daughter have been students at GCSU in Milledgeville and we are looking for a home here in Putnam County.

Who is the most influential person in your life? | Without a doubt Jesus Christ! He is my Savior, my Rock and the One whom I seek wisdom and guidance as He leads me to be a better person for His glory.

What is your definition of success? | Being a leader and example of a life lived for our Lord to my family, friends and community. Maximizing each day by seeking God's will in helping as many people as He sees fit. This might be by means of encouragement, or showing folks, not just telling them how we care. This would include our business vision of "We Specialize in Protecting Your Dreams."

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SPRING 2020

Natalie McDonald Pro-tech Resourcing

NE W ME MBE R SPOTL I GHT

What is your background work experience? | After college, I worked in the financial industry for a little under 8 years. I was fortunate enough to learn many aspects of the banking system as I transitioned from Teller to Customer Service and, eventually, as the Mortgage Lender Associate tasked with progressing Fixed Rate Mortgages.

Who is the most influential person in your life? | The two most influential people in my life would be my parents. They have shown by example what it means to work hard to attain the things you want in this life. They led by faith and taught us that the true blessings in life are not in possessions, but the moments spent with those we love the most.

What is your definition of success? | I believe that success is a state of mind. It's pushing forward to be your best possible self, while being happy with the blessings in your life.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? | If I could have a superpower it would be the power of telekinesis. I lose my keys...a lot. I really believe that superpower would come in handy in quite a few situations.

What is your life motto? | Everything happens for a reason! So worry less, smile more and give it all to God.

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SPRING 2020

Please note that dates in the calendar are subject to change based on recommendations by the Governor and the CDC in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. All in-person networking has been CANCELLED or POSTPONED until the end of May. Our major events, Sweet Tee Off Golf Tournament and Annual Dinner, have been POSTPONED until further notice. We will let you know once a new date for these have been chosen.

Make sure to check our website and our Facebook page for the most up to date information on events.

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SPRING 2020

THE EATONTON-PUTNAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE P.O. Box 4088 | 108 W Marion Street Eatonton, GA 31024 (706) 485-7701 | info@eatonton.com | www.eatonton.com www.facebook.com/epchamber | www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber