Official Newsletter of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
THE CHAMBER CORNER
Volume 13, Issue 6
On Tuesday, May 21, the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce held Coffee Connections at Spillin the Beans where a new format featuring a guest speaker was introduced. Charlie Giffen, business and industry recruiter for Putnam County, served as the first guest speaker and gave updates on his new position with the Putnam Development Authority and the economic development for our community. Giffen has brought in a nationleading site selection consultant, who is a good friend, to create an assessment that will identify what Putnam County needs to improve in order to be competitive. The Development Authority website has relocated to the Putnam County website and is in the process of being redesigned and updated. Giffen let the group know that everyone can participate in economic development by sharing thoughts, ideas and suggestions. The business community has leads and connections; everyone can promote Putnam County and be part of the process. Charlie urged the group repeatedly to contact him anytime to share leads and ideas. He can be reached at 706-485-1884 or crgiffen@putnamcountyga.us.
June 2013
Congratulations to the 2013 Annual Awards Banquet winners! Please see the insert inside for a full recap of the evening’s festivities.
Strategic Plan Launches New Programs for Chamber At the Annual Awards Banquet, the 2013 Program of Work to support the Strategic Plan was announced. The Program of Work includes new opportunities for Chamber members to get engaged which include the Putnam-Greene Young Professionals Group, Advocacy Committee and volunteer opportunities.
Advocacy Committee The Chamber is looking for members to serve on the new Advocacy Committee. As the voice for business, this committee will review issues affecting the business community on the local, state and federal level, to ensure that Putnam County is a great place to do business. If you are interested in serving, please call 706-485-7701 or email becky@eatonton.com.
The Eatonton-Putnam and Greene County Chambers of Commerce have joined together to form the Putnam-Greene Young Professionals group. This group is open for anyone ages 21 to 45 and will hold a monthly meeting called Sipn-Bites on the third Tuesday of each month at local restaurants. The program will bring together young professionals in the area to connect, give back to our community, and engage in leadership Ambassadors & Volunteers and professional development training. The first The Chamber has revamped the Ambasmeeting will be Tuesday, June 18 at Bone Island sador Program and is looking for memGrill from 5:30 to 8 p.m. bers to serve in this leadership role to asPlease share the news about the new PGYP group sist with membership, event planning and with your coworkers, friends and family. The marketing. The Chamber is also reaching Chamber would like to thank Sarah Evans and out for volunteers who want to become Donnan Oyler for their leadership as Co-Chairs. involved in various areas from office work to greeters and more. If you are interested For more information: 404-597-6620, in volunteering, please call 706-485-7701 www.facebook.com/putnamgreeneyp or or email becky@eatonton.com. putnamgreeneyp@gmail.com.
Meet Halley, Summer Intern!
Halley White is an upcoming senior Mass Communication major at Georgia College with a double concentration in Public Relations and Advertising and a minor in Digital Media. Her duties as a summer intern at the Chamber include writing press releases and feature stories, aiding in the planning and execution of Chamber events and marketing plans, managing social media outlets and performing daily office tasks.
Upcoming Events, Save the Date!
RSVP: 706-485-7701 | becky@eatonton.com
Friday, June 7: Working on Wellness with Angie Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, at 4 p.m. in conjunction with First Friday at The Village at Harmony Crossing. Come learn more about the business and the owner, Angie Helmly, a nurse who works with people to help them improve their lifestyle which helps with diabetes control and weight loss. W.O.W. with Angie is located at 103 Harmony Crossing. Thursday, June 13: Business After Hours, co-sponsored by Crooked Pines Farm & Nichols Security, from 5 to 7 p.m. This joint effort between Crooked Pines Farm and Nichols Security will feature food and beverage, door prizes, a cornhole tournament and fun for everyone. The event will be held at The Barn at Crooked Pines Farm, located at 355 Harmony Road. Tuesday, June 18: Sip-n-Bites, Putnam-Greene Young Professionals monthly meeting, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Support, grow, lead and connect with young professionals from Putnam and Greene counties over food and drink specials. The meeting will be held at Bone Island Grill, located at 920 Lake Oconee Parkway. For more information, contact Sarah Evans at putnamgreeneyp@gmail.com or 404-597-6620. Saturday, June 22: “3 for 30,� Leadership Putnam 2013 Class Project, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Participate in innovative and fun movement that will change how you view exercise. Taste, feel and learn about healthy food that will leave your mouth watering for more. The event will be held at Crooked Pines Farm, located at 355 Harmony Road. To register, call 478-456-6317, 678-773-1853 or visit www.3for30.wix.com/3for30. Tuesday, June 25: Coffee Connections, presentation by Eatonton Main Street, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Connect over coffee with a representative of the Chamber board and staff along with fellow members. The guest speaker will be Jenny Clarke, the Director of Eatonton Main Street. The meeting will be held at Blackwell Furniture located at 107 N. Madison Avenue.
Are You Hiring? The Georgia Department of Labor is looking for employers who are hiring to participate in the Career Expo on Thursday, June 20 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Central Georgia Technical College Milledgeville Campus Conference Center located at 54 Highway 22 West, Milledgeville, Ga. 31061. The Career Expo is sponsored by Oconee Area Employer Committee, Georgia Department of Labor and Central Georgia Technical College. For more information, contact Georgia Department of Labor at Elaine.Grimes@gdol.ga.gov or (478) 445-5465.
Welcome!
New Chamber Members! Lake Country Pharmacy & Compounding Center
Carey Vaughan & Chris Vaughan 706-923-2933 www.lakeoconeecompounding.com 1110 Commerce Drive, Suite 110, Greensboro Full service pharmacy offering retail prescription medications, health related over-the-counter items, specialty supplements and custom compounding.
Lake Oconee Animal Hospital
Michael Chapman, DVM 706-485-5119 613 Old Phoenix Road, Eatonton Veterinary practice, under new ownership.
Putnam Community Resources, Inc.
Bob Landau 706-484-2331 164 Rock Springs Road, Eatonton Organizer and principal sponsor of the monthly Putnam LifeSource Food Distribution Program.
W.O.W. - Working On Wellness With Angie
Angie Helmly 706-473-3501 www.workingonwellnesswithangie.com 103 Harmony Crossing, Eatonton Diabetes education, weight loss and wellness, and Zumba.
Community Newcomers!
Welcome these newcomers by sending information about your business. Consider sending a coupon to gain a new customer! Bernard Oxford, 415 Long Shoals Drive, Eatonton Matthew Shields, 280 Possum Point Drive SE, Eatonton Natisha Harvill, 104 Little River Run S., Eatonton
June 2013 / Page 2
______________Business & Tourism Recaps
The Harbor at Harmony Crossing Assisted Living and Memory Care officially broke ground within The Village at Harmony Crossing at Lake Oconee on Thursday, May 16. Developer and principal, Lowell White, fellow principal, Ray Kramer and owner of Thrive Senior Living, Jeramy Ragsdale, highlighted the exciting features of this new and innovative community including 41,000 square feet in single story construction, 60 individual resident suites, dedicated staff and cutting edge technology. For more information, visit www. HarboratHarmonyCrossing.com or call 706-438-4441.
Amedisys Home Health Care held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 22, to celebrate the new location at 571 Hammock Road, NW, Suite 114, Milledgeville. As a leading home health and hospice care company, Amedisys’ focus is to bring personalized home care to thousands of customers through its 71 locations in Georgia. For more information, contact Alicia Ramfos at 478-234-9196, Alicia.Ramfos@ amedisys.com or visit www.amedisys.com.
Dinner 4U held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 30. Owned by Arlie and Thelma Collins, Dinner 4U provides quality dinners delivered daily. Ordering is simple, just visit www.dinner4utonight.com or call 855-346-4800. The business is located at 102 North Laurel Avenue, Greensboro.
On Wednesday, May 15, Networking @ Noon was sponsored by The Mosquito Authority at The Lodge on Lake Oconee.
On May 2 & 3, the Chamber hosted the statewide 2013 Cultural & Heritage Tourism Seminar presented by the Georgia Department of Economic Development with over 60 attendees. A $7,600 boost to Putnam County’s economy was just one result of Eatonton hosting the tourism seminar. The economic impact figure is a result of the attendees sharing their spending details of hotel accommodations, meals, gas and shopping. The weekend of May 16, Georgia’s Lake Country hosted 31 travel writers from around the United States and Canada for Travel Media Marketplace. This event, jointly hosted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the host communities of Georgia’s Lake Country, was an opportunity to bring various media writers to Georgia’s vacation destinations and showcase what Georgia’s Lake Country has to offer tourists. On May 24, the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce participated in Lavonia’s Georgia On My Mind Day. Showcasing Eatonton’s attractions, hotels and restaurants, with displays and giveaways, the Chamber hopes to increase the visitor’s knowledge of Eatonton and create new visitors to this area. June 2013 / Page 3
After Hours
BUSINESS Sponsored By:
Crooked Pines Farm & Nichols Security Thursday, June 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. Business After Hours: Food & Beverage Door Prizes Cornhole Tournament Fun for Everyone Bring a Friend
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS will be held at
The Barn at Crooked Pines Farm 355 Harmony Road Eatonton, Ga. 31024 Eatonton‐Putnam Chamber of Commerce 706‐485‐7701 | fax 706‐485‐3277 PO Box 4088 | 305 N. Madison Avenue Eatonton, Ga. 31024
People do business with those that they know, epchamber@eatonton.com | www.eatontonchamber.com like and trust. Business After Hours creates www.facebook.com/epchamber opportunities to make new connections. www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber
The 34th Annual Awards Banquet Overview The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce held the 34th Annual Awards Banquet in early May at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. With more than 160 attendees, the event was a success. The Chamber believes it is important to recognize and encourage outstanding individuals, organizations and businesses that make a positive impact on the community; therefore, five awards were presented. David Collins, owner of Collins Auto Repair, accepted the Business Person of the Year Award. He was nominated for his excellent customer service, his timely and quality work, and his service to the community. His auto repair talent was passed down from his father, and his passion for it eventually resulted in owning his own shop in 1990. Now, almost 23 years later, Collins’ business still stays busy. Collins provides excellent customer service, and doing so has created a positive reputation for him and his business. Apart from his career, Collins volunteers for organizations such as WATCH D.O.G.S., a group of male role models that provide school security, and Crooked Creek Fire Department, where he acts as a volunteer firefighter. He enjoys giving back to his community because the people in it have contributed greatly to the success of his business. Collins’ involvement in the community, his talent, successful business, and respect from his peers and customers have earned him this award. The primary mission of Putnam County Resources, Inc. is to distribute food to approximately 300 families in Putnam County. Each month, the LifeSource Distribution Program, a program within Putnam County Resources, distributes the food. Since January 2009, LifeSource has distributed over 600,000 pounds of food to families throughout Putnam County. For these reasons, LifeSource earned the 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award, accepted by Bob Landau. Much of the donated food is collected from Harvest Food Bank, but over $20,000 is also raised each year through donations from businesses, organizations and residents of Putnam County and Greene County to help purchase the food. The caring staff of Putnam General Hospital, under the administration of Darrell Oglesby, was presented the 2013 Citizen of the Year Award. The hospital is the area’s only 100 percent digital nonprofit healthcare provider, and constantly updates its equipment to stay current with the latest medical technology. Providing medical assistance to the Lake Area for more than 40 years, PGH employs over 140 employees and serves as a sponsor for many local events. The employees strive to make a positive difference in the lives of customers, whether it is a patient or a family member, making PGH a respected establishment worthy of recognition.
Erin Wolf, a motivated and dependable 18-yearold senior at Putnam County High School, was recognized for the 2013 Edward Rice Youth in Excellence Award. Her nomination stemmed from her apparent eagerness to learn and her constant involvement in school and community organizations. Wolf has shown responsibility and leadership by serving as a member of the Junior Board of Directors for the Farmers & Merchants Bank, as Secretary of Beta Club, as President Elect of Anchor Club and as Co-Captain of her school’s competition cheerleading squad. When she isn’t participating in school-related activities, she also enjoys volunteering at the monthly food drives held by LifeSource and tutoring children at Putnam County Primary School. In addition to the Edward Rice Youth in Excellence Award, she has received other recognitions such as the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Certificate, the Freedom’s Foundation Leadership Summit Recognition and has most recently earned the title of STAR Student of the Year at PCHS. When she attends the University of Georgia in the fall, Wolf is sure to continue her legacy of leadership and drive and will always have the support of her community. Due to his complete dedication to his former position as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Wes Lewis was presented the President’s Award by Roddie Anne Blackwell, Chamber President. During his term, Lewis went above and beyond the call of duty. He juggled his job as Land Management Specialist at Georgia Power Company and his volunteer position as Chairman flawlessly. From running meetings to managing mediations, he maintained a positive attitude and always kept the best interest of the Chamber and community in mind.
Thank you to all the corporate sponsors of the 34th Annual Awards Banquet: Putnam General Hospital
Putnam County Charter School System
Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee
Smith Communications
Georgia Power Company
Farmers & Merchants Bank
The Peoples Bank
Pinnacle Credit Union, Putnam County
Bug House Pest Control
Thank you to all who donated a table centerpiece: Allgood Pest Solutions, Blackwell Furniture Company, Central Georgia Technical College, Crooked Pines Farm, Farmers & Merchants Bank, FERST Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Fowler Flemister Concrete, Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance: Putnam County, Justice Marine, Pinnacle Credit Union: Putnam County Branch, Putnam General Hospital, Rock Eagle 4-H Center, Rossee Oil Company/The Clothing Depot, Salon 195, Techknow Gurus and The Peoples Bank.
The Chamber Corner, June 2013 Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Eatonton, GA Permit No. 6
706-485-7701 | fax 706-485-3277 PO Box 4088 | 305 N. Madison Avenue Eatonton, Ga. 31024 Becky@eatonton.com www.eatontonchamber.com www.facebook.com/epchamber www.twitter.com/eatontonchamber
Chamber Staff: Roddie Anne Blackwell, President Becky Needham, Membership Manager Bonnie Simmons, Tourism Manager
Board of Directors: Lowell White, III, Chair Calvert & White Custom Homes Jay Gregory, Vice Chair Gregory Bridge Company Bryce McCuin, Treasurer 2JS Interactive Eric Arena Putnam County Charter School System
2013 Chamber Champions!
Terri Camp Rock Eagle 4-H Center Duncan Criscoe Crooked Pines Farm Rita Daniel Eatonton Chiropractic Center Carrie Dietrich Central Georgia Technical College Brandy Huskins Huskins Law Firm LLC Wes Lewis Georgia Power Company Brett Mauldin MarbleWorks, Inc. Cynthia Wallace Real Estate Agent
Mission:
The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is committed to the promotion, enhancement and unity of the business community, and is vested in the development of Eatonton-Putnam County as a premiere tourist destination.
Strategic Goals:
1. Support Business & Community 2. Support Tourism
Values:
Growth, Prosperity & Unity