Troup Trends | August 2023 Issue

LAGRANGE-TROUP COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

August 2023

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HIGH SKILLED

HIGH TECH

JOHNCARE

John Petrick loves the simple life – like crisp wind in his face during his morning bike ride and the spin of the reel on his fishing rod when he’s hooked a “big one.” Perhaps he revels in simplicity because, beneath the surface, John’s heart health is rather complicated. With diagnoses of ventricular tachycardia (VT), atrial fibrillation (AFib) and congestive heart failure, one thing is certain – John’s heart requires tailored treatment. That’s why he chose Wellstar.

Here, we know every person’s heart is one-of-a-kind. At Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, our entire team of general and interventional cardiologists as well as electrophysiologists treat conditions from murmurs to heart attacks. Patients with complex cases can access advanced heart failure and structural heart care experts. And, when it comes to our world-class cardiac surgeons, your heart is in the best hands.

That way, you can focus on the more important things in life.

Which, in John’s case, is going fishing. wellstar.org/westga 2

August 2023

HEART CARE | PRIMARY CARE | HEALTH PARKS | HOSPITALS

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August 2023 VOLUME X, ISSUE III A publication of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce 111 Bull St./P.O. Box 636 LaGrange, GA 30241 (706) 884-8671 www.lagrangechamber.com EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair: Brandon Eley EleyDigital Past Chair: Jamey Jackson TalentKinect Chair Elect: John Westmoreland, CPA Boatwright Secretary/Treasurer: Summer Deal True North Investments

CHAMBER STAFF President: Connie Hensler Director of Member Experience: Leslie Traylor Communications & Events Director: Christan Spires Accountant: Melanie Key, CPA Design: Christan Spires

TO CONTRIBUTE Troup Trends welcomes your ideas.

Please send inquiries to info@lagrangechamber.com for consideration.

This publication is produced by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written permission is prohibited. All claims, materials and photos furnished or used are, to the publisher's knowledge, true and correct. Publication of any article or advertisement is not an endorsement by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.

CONTENTS 4 | A Letter from the Chairman 5 | Cover Story High Skilled, High Tech

14 | History CW Coleman & the "School of Smiles"

9 | Sidebar Story

16 | Education A Letter from the Superintendent

11 | Marketing

18 | Non-Profit Celebrating 100 Years of Rotary in LaGrange

Catalyst for Success Why Your Website is Still Your Best Marketing Tool

26 | Movers, Shakers, & Risk-Takers

12 | Healthcare 24 | Troup County Wellstar Health System Becomes A Positive Partnership Exclusive Sports Medicine Provider for LaGrange College 26 | Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

13 | Small Business SEO on the Local Level 28 | Business Spotlight Thrive Studios

30 | Chamber Events 38 | 2023 Valor Awards Nominees 42 | Young Professionals

ON THE COVER West Georgia Technical College Leadership

Troup Trends is published quarterly by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.

Please send news items, suggestions, advertising requests and comments to:

P.O. Box 636 • LaGrange, GA 30241 lagrangechamber.com

www.lagrangechamber.com

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CHAIRMAN

Contributors

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hile it’s still technically summer for a few more weeks (and will likely feel like summer here in Georgia for even longer), most of us with school-age children mark the “end of summer” with back to school.

It’s often a little bittersweet, it seems like summers keep getting shorter and shorter.

Summer is typically a pretty slow time at the Chamber, as many of our members take vacations or are busy with other activities. I hope you all made the most of your summer by taking advantage of all that our community has to offer, from the many incredible concerts at Sweetland Amphitheatre to visiting our different breweries and wineries to boating on West Point Lake.

CHALTON ASKEW Trustbuilding three colleges, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of educational options to fit different needs and desires. If you are interested in the state of education in Troup County, I encourage you to register for the upcoming State of Community Luncheon on Monday, August 21. Hurry, seating is limited and they sell out fast.

Lastly, I’d like to thank all our Chamber members, and welcome new members.

The past few months have seen dozezns of new chamber members, and we’re excited to meet each and every one of you, and hope you will join us at an Early Bird Breakfast, ribbon cutting, Business After Hours, or other event soon.

BRANDON ELEY EleyDigital & 2BigFeet IRISHA GOODMAN Troup County School System CAROLINE JOHNSON Troup County Government ANDREA LOVEJOY Community Member KAYE MINCHEW Community Member

We’re excited to be back in the swing of things, starting with the Early Bird Breakfast and continuing through August with our State of Community Luncheon series with a focus on education and the 2023 Valor Awards at the end of the month. Be sure to check out the calendar on the Chamber's website for a full list of upcoming events.

MATTHEW OLESON UGA Small Business Development Center LEWIS POWELL Troup County Archives

In this month’s Troup Trends, our focus is on education in Troup County. From public and private K–12 schools to our

SHELLEY STRICKLAND BRANDON ELEY Chairman, Board of Directors LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce

Wellstart West GA Medical Center

Special Thanks to Our 1911 Society Presenting Sponsors!

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t was big news in 2022 when Delta Airlines chose West Georgia Technical College to provide advanced training to almost 700 skilled workers from its Ground Support Division. That multi-year process is well under way at the Regional Workforce Training Center at the college’s LaGrange campus.

Now, in this back-to-school season, West Georgia Technical College has a message for the community: It’s not just Delta.

Many local companies have formed successful training partnerships with WGTC. Leaders say the technical college is both an “incredible launching point” for students and a vital resource for employers.

“The whole point of technical education is to support the community and contribute to its economic vitality,” said

Dr. Julie Post, WGTC president. “Our message it that we are here to serve and to help. We want people to know what we can do and call us.”

Degree, diploma and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study and workforce-focused adult education are the two best-known technical college services, but the “third leg” of the WGTC tripod is economic development. That role is significant. And growing.

“Technical education equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to work in specific industries, such as advanced manufacturing,” said Latesa Bailey, head of Human Resources at Kia Georgia and chairman of the WGTC Foundation. “As an HR leader responsible for meeting manpower targets to support production, it is critical that we are able to attract, retain and engage individuals with

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the necessary skills a technical education could provide.”

In the case of Delta, the partnership is having economic impact well beyond the classroom. Almost every Sunday, eight to 12 Delta workers from across the country arrive in LaGrange for a week of intense training. They stay at the downtown Courtyard by Marriott, eat and shop in local businesses and take their enhanced expertise back to their home airports.

Many are from major cities, and the beauty, ease and amenities of LaGrange’s downtown have surprised them and produced numerous favorable comments.

“Think of how many people know about LaGrange because of this,” Post said.

Steve Cromer, West Georgia Tech’s vice president of economic development, says the same expertise that led to Delta’s decision is available to employers across

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the seven-county WGTC service area – Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, Heard, Meriwether and Troup.

From fully customized apprenticeships for Kia’s advanced manufacturing maintenance technicians to customized assessment and training for Duracell, Kimberly Clark, Weiler, Milliken and many others, West Georgia Technical College is totally committed to workforce development.

One reason Delta, Kia and others have partnered with WGTC is that “we have the best training equipment in the state,” Cromer said.

Post credits that to careful commitment of resources, key donations and an advisory board of area employers who insure WGTC has the right equipment to offer the right training.

It doesn’t hurt, she adds, that Cromer has an “amazing ability” to recognize required skill sets and development assessments to pinpoint individual training gaps.

It’s not a one-size-fits all approach.

When WGTC begins a partnership with an employer, the first step is an “observation day.” Using information gained from on-site visits, Cromer and his precision manufacturing instructors develop a customized assessment. Once employees’ skills are assessed, the WGTC team can provide individualized training.

“We don’t waste the company’s time (by teaching the wrong skills), and we don’t waste the workers’ time (by teaching skills they already know),” Cromer said.

Within the next few months, a long-awaited advanced manufacturing mobile trailer will enable the WGTC team to go to a company’s location, broadening their reach to employers that can’t spare workers for training at the WGTC campuses.

Cromer routinely meets with industrial prospects being recruited by area development authorities, listening to their needs and outlining training options available through WGTC. He can’t remember ever saying, “No, we can’t help with that.”

“We are supposed to figure it out,” Cromer said. “That’s what drives me. If you need it, we’ll figure it out.”

Cromer’s passion for technical education derives from personal experience.

A self-described poor student in high school with no intention of pursuing higher education, he found his way -and his calling – at Central Georgia Technical College.

Through his grandfather’s ham radio hobby, Cromer realized he had a knack for problem solving and figured he might do something with electronics. He enrolled in an electronics technician program at the technical college and within days was saying, “I can’t learn this.”

A perceptive instructor convinced him otherwise. He successfully completed the training and learned a vital life lesson.

“One right instructor, one right teacher, can turn a life around,” Cromer said.

He went on to earn a business degree from Mercer

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and later a master’s in training and performance improvement from Capella University.

After almost 25 years in technical education, Cromer still feels the impact of his early experience. It influenced how he worked as an instructor himself and now guides him as a manager of instructors.

“I didn’t select technical education. It selected me,” Cromer said. “My story is really a testament to how technical education can change a life.”

Post’s path to a career in technical education was more traditional. An Ohio native, she wanted to be a teacher from an early age and her high school introduction to computers pointed her in that direction.

She earned an undergraduate degree in Business Education from Northern Kentucky University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Marygrove College and spent several years as a high school teacher. After relocating to Dacula, she took an opportunity at Gwinnett Technical College and was hooked on the mission of technical education.

“I feel like this work really matters,” said

Post, who spent 16 years at Gwinnett, serving in progressively larger roles, including Vice President of Student Affairs.

During that time, she earned the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Georgia.

Post was named President of West Georgia Technical College in 2021 and was tapped for the Georgia Trend list of “Georgia’s 500 Most Influential Leaders” last year.

Both Post and Cromer focus heavily on forming partnerships with businesses and the community.

“There can’t be any daylight between WGTC and the businesses and communities we serve,” said Cromer.

That requires, he said, much transparency and consistent follow-through. The word “repeatability” is a constant in his vocabulary.

Post’s vision for West Georgia Technical School also focuses on partnerships, one of the strongest being with the Troup County School System. She praises Superintendent Brian Shumate as a strong advocate for technical education and

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recruited him to the WGTC board, which he will chair in the year ahead.

The two leaders share a commitment to “blurring the lines” between traditional high school and technical college.

Georgia’s flexible guidelines allow students to attend both at the same time, for example, either through dual enrollment, work-based learning, Thinc College and Career Academy or the Troup County Career Center, a Troup Schools program located on the WGTC campus.

“Having West Georgia Tech in our backyard has been very beneficial to the Troup County School System,” Shumate said. “Dr Post has been very forwardthinking, and we share a similar vision for creating more technical education opportunities. There’s basically been a perfect alignment, a confluence of ideas and people to broaden access to technical education.”

The Troup County Career Center, for example, started primarily as a dropout prevention program, targeting students who weren’t keen on spending six to seven hours a day in a traditional high

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school setting. Post offered use of a then-vacant building on the WGTC campus, making it easier for students to work toward graduation through a combination of regular classes, online classes, technical college classes, dual enrollment and even employment, Shumate said.

ready-to-hire workers has never been more difficult or more important.

“For so many years, the connotation of technical education was that it should not be the first choice. Some saw it as more of a last resort. Now, in many cases, “It’s helped our graduation rate, helped employers see it as a first choice,” the technical college attract students she said. and allowed us to do here in Troup Post suggests an easy way to see County something others in Georgia the value of technical education to have been struggling with,” he said. a community: pay attention to your The real beneficiaries, Shumate adds, activities for three or four days. are the students whose chances for “If you use a computer, drive a future success are multiplied. car, turn on your air conditioning “I really appreciate Dr. Post,” he said. or heating, receive health care, “She understands the needs of those buy a product – almost anything kids, and they have greater access you do- you’ll find yourself to opportunities because of her running into technical education leadership,” he said. at least 25 times in just three or four days. Almost everything The success of the public school/ that is developed, designed, technical school partnership, Post manufactured, transported, believes, helps underscore the value marketed and accounted for has a of technical education in today’s connection to technical education.” employment scene. Finding qualified,

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“FOR SO MANY YEARS, THE CONNOTATION OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION WAS THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST CHOICE. SOME SAW IT AS MORE OF A LAST RESORT. NOW, IN MANY CASES, EMPLOYERS SEE IT AS A FIRST CHOICE,”

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or almost 35 years, the West Georgia Technical College Foundation has raised funds to aid and enhance the learning environment for students seeking to “kick start” their careers through technical education. Donations to the Foundation provide assistance across the seven-county area served by WGTC, including the LaGrange campus.

‘We are here to support the college,” said Brittney Henderson, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.

The Foundation works alongside community members, corporate partners, alumni, faculty, staff and friends to enrich the student experience through private financial support.

That help takes many forms, Henderson said, including need-based scholarships, gap funding, adult education programs and capital outlay projects. Several scholarships, including the Holland Ware Foundation, Randy Jackson Legacy, the LaGrange Kiwanis Club and Frear Family partnership, are targeted specifically for Troup County students.

The Foundation is guided by a board

of trustees composed of community leaders who serve as ambassadors for the college. Current Foundation Board Chairman, Latesa Bailey, a lawyer and Department Head of Human Resources at Kia Georgia, said board members welcome the opportunity to serve.

“Ambassadors are individuals who are passionate about furthering the mission, vision and core values of WGTC to support student success, economic development and community by providing a skilled workforce through education and training,” she said.

In addition to Bailey, Troup County representatives on the Foundation board include Aaron Mabon of True North Investments and Helen Rice, a member of the Georgia Board of Education.

Jane Fryer, a Troup County resident and former Chamber President, represents Meriwether County, where she is President of the Meriwether Development Authority.

Financial aid is especially important, Henderson points out, because a majority of WGTC students are nontraditional, meaning they are also working, sometimes two jobs. Many are raising families while attending school.

She is especially proud of a program called Project Care that provides assistance to students and staff in times

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of crisis and also the “Gap Funding” grants that provide temporary loans to students when shortfalls might force them to leave school.

“Over 90 percent pay it back,” Henderson said.

The Foundation’s signature fundraising event, Black Tie and Boots, is now in its 21st year. Last year’s Black Tie and Boots was held at the Callaway Conference Center in LaGrange for the first time.

With a crowd of more than 250, the event raised a record $154,000.

“We were able to help so many students,” Henderson said.

This year’s Black Tie and Boots event will be September 15 at the Murphy Conference Center in Waco featuring country artist Michael Ray. For information on reservations or to help sponsor the event, contact Henderson at Brittney.Henderson@westgatech.edu.

The event will return to LaGrange in 2024.

Supporting technical education is especially important in today’s work environment, Kia’s Bailey believes.

“Technical education is the catalyst for student success and workforce development,” Bailey said. “Donors change lives.”

www.lagrangechamber.com

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THE OPIOID CRISIS: IT'S CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS

THE RAPID RISE IN OPIOIDS Opioids were initially prescribed by providers for severe pain management.

The trend began with prescription opioids in the 1990s and evolved into synthetic opioids (i.e. heroin and fentanyl).

In the last 3 years, there has been a significant increase in fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses (OD) nationally, largely due to fentanyl.

Fentanyl is 50x stronger than heroin and 100x more potent than morphine.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Signs/Symptoms of an Opioid Overdose: Pinpoint Pupils Respiratory Depression Unconsciousness Prevention and Treatment Resources: Naloxone- medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose Deterra- medication disposal kit Fentanyl Test Strips- a strip used to detect the presence of fentanyl in various drugs to prevent an overdose

Fentanyl is used illicitly as a recreational drug, often mixed with heroin, and/or cocaine — with or without the user's knowledge — to increase its euphoric effects.

Contact your District 4 Public Health Analysts for Health Education, Naloxone Training and any further information: Gabrielle Graham, MPH gabrielle.graham@dph.ga.gov Nala Richards, MPH

nala.richards@dph.ga.gov Protecting and improving lives in Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Henry, Fayette, Lamar, Meriwether, district4health.org Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

DISTRICT 4 PUBLIC HEALTH 301 Main Street | LaGrange, GA 30240 Serving Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson counties 10

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WE INFORM, WE PREVENT, WE PROTECT!

Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 1.800.715.4225 SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Suicide and Crisis Line: 988

district4health.org

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Why Your Website Is Still Your Best Marketing Tool In today’s rapidly changing online landscape, it seems like there’s a new social media platform launching every month. Have you signed up for Threads yet? With Facebook, Google, and all the other platforms out there, why do small businesses and local businesses still even need a website?

Having a website remains important for small and local businesses for several reasons.

Ownership & Control

Data Analytics

On your website, you have full control over the information, branding, design, and functionality, allowing you to shape the user experience as you see fit. In contrast, social media platforms can change their policies, design, algorithms, or features at any time, which can negatively impact your business.

We’ve seen this recently with Facebook Ads and business page reach. Your website remains the one digital property that you fully own and control.

Social media platforms have data analytics, but do you really trust the company that is selling you ads when they tell you how successful the ad campaigns were? With your own website as a destination for ads, you can track website visits, goals, and conversions separately from the ad platform metrics to see whether they are just generating some views or really driving business.

Your website should be the core of your marketing strategy, and all of the other platforms and marketing channels should send traffic to and support your website.

Credibility & Trust Even if you get most of your business through word of mouth referrals, a website is important to building credibility and trust with potential customers or clients. The higher the cost of your product or service, the more trust you have to build before someone will be willing to give you a try.

Bottom Line At a bare minimum, a website shows your potential customers that you have a real business. It separates you from the side hustles and fly by nights. But it has the capability to do so much more… from showcasing your brand the way you intend to being an integral part of your digital marketing, a website should be at the core of your marketing strategy.

Just having a simple, professional website can build a lot of trust, but below is a list of content that you can add to your website to do even more: • Customer testimonials and reviews • About / history of the company • Third-party reviews or endorsements (BBB, etc) • Customer surveys (BizRate, TrustPilot, etc) • Business affiliations (Chamber, industry associations) • Media mentions • Awards (Chamber Small Business Award, etc) • Client logos or names

Showcase Your Business A website is like an online billboard – but with a lot more information! When customers search your business, your website will come up at the top of search results. Where social media profiles are limited in the design and what the content looks like, you are free to design your website to match your company’s brand and style.

You can add all of your important information like location, hours you are open, products or services offered, but you can also add calls to action - buttons that call your phone number or forms that send you a service request. Or even online ordering of products or real-time scheduling of your services.

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Wellstar Health System Becomes Exclusive Sports Medicine Provider for LaGrange College

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ellstar Health System is pleased to announce it is now the exclusive sports medicine provider for LaGrange College’s athletic program. Wellstar has entered into an exclusive partnership with LaGrange College to provide sports medicine coverage to its 400 student-athletes. The partnership includes providing physician and ancillary services, such as orthopedics, imaging, urgent care, surgery, rehabilitation and athletic training services.

Wellstar Orthopedics and Sports Medicine will work along with Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center to deliver these services.

“Wellstar is looking forward to partnering with LaGrange College and providing quality care to its athletes,” said Coleman Foss, SVP and president of Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center. “This college is an integral part of our neighborhood, and with this relationship, we are cementing our commitment to this community.”

On competition fields and courts located on the institution’s 140-acre campus, LaGrange College student-athletes participate in 16 different sports, ranging from football and baseball to cheerleading and beach volleyball.

“Teaming up with Wellstar will allow us to draw upon the health system’s deep resources and expertise for the benefit of our Panther student-athletes,” said Terlynn Olds, vice president for Athletics and Recreation at LaGrange College. “For example, having an onsite orthopedist will provide more convenient care, and if off-site services are needed, the process will be seamless.

Our student-athletes and their families can be confident that

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they are receiving the highest level of care from one of the renowned providers in the state.”

Among the many benefits provided to the athletes through this new partnership, LaGrange College’s sports teams will have access to athletic trainers who will work with Wellstar Orthopedics and Wellstar Outpatient Rehabilitation to provide a seamless care process.

“Being the exclusive Dr. Jeremy Reifsnyder, orthopedic sports medicine surgeon with Wellstar Orthopedics provider with LaGrange and Sports Medicine College is an incredible opportunity,” said Dr. Jeremy Reifsnyder, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Wellstar Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. “We plan to work closely with the athletes, evaluate their needs, keep them healthy and be there when they need us.”

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SEO On The Local Level

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ne of the best ways for a business to see growth is through local search engine optimization, also known as SEO. Whether you have a website or not, you can be successful on your local level with a little effort. The first, and most important, step you can take as a small business is claiming your business listing on Google.

By claiming your Google business profile, you take control of your business’ story. This is important for brick-and-mortar and even service-based businesses that service a defined area, as it is the first step in the relationship between you and your customer.

Your Google business profile provides your customer with key information about your business – contact information, hours of operation, website URL, and existing customer’s reviews. It is important to build out your profile with as much information as possible help keep your customers informed.

You can add photos to demonstrate who you are and what you do. This will help explain your business to the customers.

Reviews are also an important aspect of SEO for local businesses. Your business profile allows you manage reviews from your customers. It is always important to respond to both good and bad comments, to present yourself as empathetic to those who had a bad experience and appreciative to those who leave good reviews.

The goal with this process is to establish local credibility, so when people search for you or your type of business locally, you give them as much accurate information as possible to make it easier for them to do business with you.

If you need help with local SEO or other needs for your business, please reach out to your local UGA SBDC office to request a consultation and we will be happy to assist you with your business.

to advertise in

contact:

CHRISTAN SPIRES 706.884.8671 christan@lagrangechamber.com

For an SBDC consultation at the Chamber of Commerce contact Matthew Oleson at moleson@georgiasbdc.org

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C.W. Coleman and the "School of Smiles"

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here are many in the community who remember spending their formative years amongst the stacks at the CEA's Coleman Library, yet there are few who know the man for whom the library was named. Fewer still might know of the extensive connections between Mr. Coleman, the library, and the school located just down the street.

Callaway Mills was enjoying a banner year in 1920. Its founder, Fuller E. Callaway, Sr., was celebrated in the media for his work in building not only a successful company, but in building up his workers as well. While much of the mainstream reporting focused on Mr. Callaway, others honed in on one of the "men behind the curtain," Chilton Willis Coleman. In 1920, Coleman was busy as the General Education Director for the Callaway Mills; that is overseeing the educations of the millworkers' children, as well as the education and edification of the millworkers themselves.

Chilton Willis "C. W." Coleman arrived

in LaGrange for the first time in 1910. He had just graduated from Macon's Mercer University and been hired as a faculty member at Southern Female College, the Baptist counterpart to the Methodistaligned LaGrange Female College on the Hill. After a year's hiatus working with schools in Pensacola in 1915, he returned to LaGrange in the employ of Fuller Callaway. This idealistic young man was tasked by an equally idealistic mill owner to manifest their ideals among the several thousand millworkers in LaGrange.

To build an education system from scratch, Mr. Callaway handed the efforts over to C. W. Coleman who quickly organized Southwest LaGrange School which was constructed on Washington Street near the Baptist and Methodist churches, and a short walk from the Hillside Business District.

As school superintendent, Coleman could directly supervise the students' education, a departure from the "reading, writing, and

Southwest LaGrange School probably after 1928.

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'rithmatic" of old to incorporating play and the arts to produce well-rounded children. Indeed, Coleman's educational model relied on a quote from inventor Thomas Edison, "The moment the school is made less interesting than play it is an injury." In a profile of the school written in the 1920s, the author muses, "Emphasis is accordingly laid on interest, and as a consequence the recitation room presents the unusual spectacle of children thoroughly enjoying the process of education." This progressive model quickly proved successful.

When the city of Southwest LaGrange was merged into LaGrange in 1920, the school was wholly transferred to the city school system with the autonomy to continue its educational model. After a fire claimed the building in 1928, a

C. W. Coleman at his desk, 1941.

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new building was constructed behind the old building.

A new building opened in 1953 facing Forrest Avenue, continuing to provide a progressive education to the students in the mill villages of Southwest LaGrange. After he gave up his position as school superintendent in 1920, Coleman returned as the school's principal between 1923 and 1929. In 1929, the position was awarded to Herberta Weathersbee, known affectionately as "Miss Berta," who served as principal for more than forty years. Shortly after her death the name of the school was changed from Southwest LaGrange School to Berta Weathersbee.

Coleman Library dedication, 1955.

C. W. Coleman (far left) with a group of students from Southern Female College, probably around 1916.

Coleman Library around the time it opened in 1955.

Coleman's altruism extended not only to the education of the students and the employees of the Southwest LaGrange mill villages, but to the spiritual and physical needs of the community as well. He helped organize the LaGrange Welfare Association, worked with local boy and girl scout troops, served as the first president of the local Rotary Club, organized the local chapter of the American Red Cross, was instrumental in the founding of Camp Viola, and oversaw Baptist Sunday School for countless adults and children. When he died in 1946, his obituary noted that "No person was ever too humble to be worthy of Mr. Coleman's interest and help. And he was called upon by leaders as well, for his intellect and wealth of information were a source of help to hundreds." Perhaps there was no great an honor than the Callaway Educational Association naming their lending library for him.

A 1920s-era profile of the school, entitled "The School of Smiles," described C. W. Coleman as having "a hint of austerity about him which characterizes those who are devoting themselves to a life of service to others."

His life was so dedicated that he never married nor had children of his own. The profile continues, "But there are little lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth, and when, perhaps, he learns you, too, are interested in this greatest of all work, they break into a welcoming smile--a smile so contagious that is has produced a perfect epidemic of smiles among assistants, teachers, and pupils, and serves best to symbolize the atmosphere of an entire community."

Berta Weathersbee School as it appears today.

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A Letter from the Superintendent

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e are extremely excited about the great things to come in the Troup County School System (TCSS) in the coming year! As I enter my 5th year as the TCSS Superintendent, I am honored to serve our 12,000+ students and their families, our 1,800+ employees and I believe that the positive energy and momentum we have will propel our school system in the coming years.

We have executed and will continue to execute an outstanding instructional plan and we have outstanding operational support services, improved school safety measures, a multitude of wrap-around student services and a wealth of curricular

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and co-curricular options that are designed for ALL students! We also have outstanding leaders, teachers, academic and operational support, and students and families which will propel everything we do as we strive to be a Premier School System in the state of Georgia!

Looking back at the 2022-2023 school year - We embarked on an ambitious and focused instructional improvement plan that will yield improved results in our state testing data (the final data will become public in August). We have invested a great deal in school security by adding School Resource Officers (SROs) at each school, improved school entrance electronic buzz-in systems,

increased cameras both on the campuses and in classrooms, added vape detections systems, implemented security badges for all employees and added weapons detection systems in our secondary schools. Pathway options continue to grow with expanding orchestra to the high schools, expanding the Greenpower program to now include 18 of our 20 schools, began an International Baccalaureate program and added dual enrollment opportunities for all of our secondary students. And lastly, we have continued to expand our student services which includes additional social workers, nurses, a school based health clinic, activity buses for the secondary schools and expanded mental health services.

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In reviewing our accomplishments and upcoming plans, we must continue to view them through the lens of our core values which were determined through many focus groups that included staff, community, parents, and students. They are: Connections, Equity, Achievement, Resilience, Integrity, and Compassion.

These values give us the framework to assess our work and plan for the future to ensure that we are truly meeting the needs of every learner in our district.

In June, an administrative retreat was held for all system leaders, principals and other administrators. The focus of the retreat was instruction, student achievement and leadership.

This work continued in late July with a three-day Summer Learning conference. A fourth day during the conference was just for new teachers. More than 500 attended the conference held at Troup High School.

The purpose of the conference:

In the coming year, we will focus on our system strategic plan by focusing on system wide instructional improvements, expanding career and technical experiences into the middle and elementary schools, expanding curricular and co-curricular opportunities at all levels, and expanding dual enrollment opportunities so that students may access college opportunities earlier and more frequently. All of this is designed to offer more options in our school system so that we can truly become ‘A Place for Every Kid!’ Further, TCSS will continue to improve our school security measures, undergo a system accreditation process with the Cognia group, continue to work on operational efficiency and remain focused on the facilities improvement projects that are outlined in our ESPLOST plan.

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Share and Train on the Instructional Plan for the Upcoming School Year

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Invest in our Teachers: Adding to Their Toolbox

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Create Teacher Leaders

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Create Curriculum Coherence

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Enhance our Professional Learning Communities

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Enhance Instruction and Improve Student Achievement

I am extremely excited about this school year and look forward to our collective quest to create: •

A Place for Every Kid

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Outstanding Results for Every Kid

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A Hopeful Future for Every Kid

Thanks for your commitment to our school system and welcome back to the 2023-24 school year!

Brian T. Shumate, Ph.D. Superintendent Troup County School System

www.lagrangechamber.com

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Celebrating 100 Years of Rotary in LaGrange

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eptember 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the organization of the Rotary Club of LaGrange.

Fuller E. Callaway, Sr., urged city leaders to organize a Rotary Club after becoming familiar with clubs in Chicago and Atlanta. 20 business leaders joined as charter members and the civic club has been active in the LaGrange community ever since that date.

Tripp Penn, President of LaGrange Rotary for the anniversary year of 2023-2024 states: “We are all excited to celebrate our 100th year of ‘Service Above Self’ in Troup County. This is a huge milestone in the history of our club. When you think about the thousands of community leaders who have shared their time and talent to help improve LaGrange and the lives of our fellow citizens, you realize the power and impact of civic service over time through a group like Rotary.

As I look at the organization I serve, it is humbling to see the names of some of our former Rotary Presidents who were associated with Callaway Foundation…

Hatton Lovejoy, Fuller Callaway, Jr., Charles Hudson Sr., Skin Edge, J.T. Gresham, Leon Pitts and Charles Hudson Jr. In addition, Mr. Callaway Sr. helped

to found the Club in 1923. Again, this is a great time to reflect on the past century and recommit to serving our community for the next 100 years.”

LaGrange Rotary has provided an opportunity for men and women (since 1993), who are leaders in business, government, education, and non-profit arenas in the community, to meet each week for lunch. Weekly programs mean the club members are better informed about activities in the community and the region. Fellowship before and after programs has assured that people from different professional fields have known and worked together on projects benefitting the region. Ever since the organization of the first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905, employment status or vocation has been an important component of Rotary. The goal has always been to have representatives of different occupations as members so that people of various professions get to know each other and help make the community a better place. Early members included many men involved with textile manufacturing in LaGrange, including representatives of Callaway, Dunson and Dixie mills. Today, the

LaGrange Rotary 1930 in front of Memorial Library on Church Street

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"When you think about the thousands of community leaders who have shared their time and talent to help improve LaGrange and the lives of our fellow citizens, you realize the power and impact of civic service over time through a group like Rotary. "

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In 2018, Rotarians are holding their fingers to show how close Rotary and the world are to eliminating polio. club has representatives from both large and small businesses and people at various stages of their career.

With a motto of “Service above self”, Rotarians have long been involved in supporting public projects, from fully funding the original Memorial Library in 1925 to sponsoring scholarships at LaGrange College and working to eradicate polio from the world. Through the years, members of LaGrange Rotary have helped support Boy Scout troops, hosted foreign students, rang the bell for the Salvation Army, sponsored the community Health Fair for over 25 years, served as marshals of the Sweetland of Liberty parade each July 4th, and much more.

As the club celebrates 100 years and remembers the many business and civic leaders who have been part of the organization, the focus continues to be on bringing together business and professional leaders of LaGrange and Troup County and helping make our community a better place.

Rotarians who served as marshals during the Sweetland of Liberty parade, July 1, 2023

www.lagrangechamber.com

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FIND THE RIGHT PHYSICIAN FOR YOU. We have all the care you need.

Olumuyiwa Adeboye, MD, MBBCH

Cameron Body, MD

J. Robert Coggins, MD

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Michael Bakarich, DO OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

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1551 Doctors Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

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Alexander Gedevanishvili, MD CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

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Tom Gore, MD CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

1602 Vernon Road, Ste. 300 LaGrange, GA 30240

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Torey Harden, MD PEDIATRICS

Andre Filipe Miranda, MD

Charles Roberson, MD

UROLOGY

ORTHOPEDICS

(706) 812-2655

1555 Doctors Drive Suite 101 LaGrange, GA. 30240

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Madhavi Naik, MD, FACOG

Vincent Scoglietti, MD

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

GENERAL SURGERY

301 Medical Drive, Ste. 504 LaGrange, GA 30240

Richard Jadick, DO UROLOGY

1555 Doctors Drive Suite 101 LaGrange, GA. 30240

(706) 242-5201

300 Medical Drive, Ste. 707 LaGrange, GA 30240

1600 Vernon Road, Ste. A LaGrange, GA 30240

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Samer Kabbani, MD

Jingzi Shang, MD

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Ravina Kadam, MD, FACP

Ariyo Olobatoke, MD

Mandy Snyder, NP

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FAMILY MEDICINE

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HOSPICE CARE

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(706) 845-3905

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1600 Vernon Road, Ste. A LaGrange, GA 30240

John Major, MD GENERAL SURGERY

Janese LatimerPierson, MD

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1600 Vernon Road, Ste. G LaGrange, GA 30240

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Robert Taylor, MD, PhD

WOUND CARE

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

(706) 880-7366

(706) 845-3544

RHEUMATOLOGY

Kalyani Rajeev, MD, FAAP

Karin Whitlock Taylor, MD, FAAPMR

PEDIATRICS

(706) 880-7465

301 Medical Drive, Ste. 504 LaGrange, GA 30240

REHABILITATION MEDICINE

1600 Vernon Road, Ste. A LaGrange, GA 30240

Sana Makhdoom, MD 1555 Doctors Drive, Ste. 102 LaGrange, GA 30240

1555 Doctors Drive, Ste. 102 LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 812-2655

Shawn Mathews, MD EAR NOSE & THROAT

Jeremy Reifsnyder, DO

(706) 880-7144

(706) 880-7320

300 Medical Drive, Ste. 705 LaGrange, GA 30240

111 Medical Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 298-5592

Venu Thirukonda, MD, FACP

ORTHOPEDICS

300 Medical Drive, Ste. 707 LaGrange, GA 30240

HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY

111 Medical Drive LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 812-2426

wellstar.org

www.lagrangechamber.com

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MOVERS, SHAKERS, RISK-TAKERS

MOVERS, SHAKERS, RISK-TAKERS Tickle promoted at Georgia Power efforts, and educating the public on the benefits of nuclear energy at Plant Vogtle, the company’s nuclear energy site located south of Augusta. Through her leadership, Georgia Power’s headquarters in Atlanta was named a Storm Ready Supporter by the National Weather Service for increasing weather awareness and preparedness for its stakeholders, and her team won the coveted national PRSA Silver Anvil Award for its statewide response leading up to and following Hurricane Irma.

Lawson made Executive Director

Before joining Georgia Power, Adrienne worked in non-profit, finance and the aero-space industries utilizing her unique skillset to impact the communities in which she served.

Adrienne Tickle was recently named Lagrange Area Manager for Georgia Power. In this role, she is responsible for community and economic development activities along with providing operations support for Troup, Meriwether, Harris and Talbot counties.

Since joining the company in 2015, Adrienne has served in multiple capacities as a crisis communicator, supporting the hydro fleet, leading outage communication enhancement

In the community, Adrienne has a passion for helping others and currently serves on the board of the United Way of West Georgia, the Meriwether Chamber of Commerce, DE&I Committee of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, the Harris County Chamber of Commerce, the chairwoman of the Newnan Crossing Elementary School Advisory Council, a member of the Emerging Leaders Initiative on the Council for Quality Growth, volunteering as a life coach with Partners in Change.

Lane receives award and relocates business Donte Lane, owner and operator of the D. Lane Agency, moves the full-service insurance agency into a brand new office in the heart of the city, now located at 505 Hill Street in the heart of LaGrange. The independent insurance broker/agent says the move will allow his agency to serve more clients and expand its services.

In the new location, Mr. Lane was able to hire two new agents and additional support staff to meet the needs of his growing clientele. Mr. Lane purchased the building earlier this spring and has made significant renovations.

Donte Lane was recently named the winner of Best Insurance Agency at the BeeTV Awards in April 2023. He was also also recently named the top individual Affordable Care Act Agent. He is a member of the first Minority Business Accelerator program established by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.

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Shannon Lawson was named as the new Executive Director of CASA of Troup County on June 20, 2023. Shannon has been active in community level change work for all of her professional career.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of North Georgia. After graduation, she went on to serve the communities of Hall and Troup County as a special needs educator for several years and then transitioned to family engagement work for the Troup County School System. Shannon then took her love for community beyond the school walls when she joined a local substance abuse prevention coalition as its Project Coordinator and immediately was energized for the task at hand of helping to improve the health, safety, and wellness of the community in which she lived, worked, and raised her family.

Most recently, she has worked for the Council on Alcohol and Drugs as the Project Director for the Upson GenRx Project, serving the Upson County/ City of Thomaston community.

A native of LaGrange, Shannon is excited to be working in her hometown community once again in this new role. Advocating for those most vulnerable has been a lifelong passion and one she is ready to continue to foster while supporting the staff and volunteers of CASA of Troup County and its many community partners.

LaGrange College faculty members honored with teaching awards Three faculty members at LaGrange College were presented with awards centered on research and teaching excellence at the institution’s Honors Day ceremony on April 20.

Allyson DeBlois, assistant professor of film and media arts, received the John Hines Jr. Undergraduate Research Faculty Award. It recognizes a professor whose work supports the college’s undergraduate research program.

“Professor DeBlois understands how to work with students and get them to move far beyond what they may have thought they can do,” said Dr. Brian Peterson, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Her collaborative work with students not only benefits the students, but it benefits the institution and larger community as well.”

She first arrived at LaGrange College as a visiting assistant professor in 2020.

Previously, DeBlois was employed as a lecturer at the University of Central Florida.

DeBlois’ bulk of professional experience comes from working on commercial video and photography productions for clients that include Uber and Wyndham.

She received a bachelor’s degree in film production and a master’s degree in emerging media: entrepreneurial digital cinema from the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Linda McMullen, Ely R. Callaway Sr. professor and chair of the college’s business department, received the 2023 United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Exemplary Teacher Award. She was previously named the recipient of this award in 2015.

Each year, GBHEM member schools select one faculty member who exemplifies excellence in teaching, civility and concern for students, the institution and the community.

“Dr. McMullen takes time to get to know students as individuals and uses what she learns to help them succeed academically in her classroom,” said Dr. Brian Peterson, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “She

is a mentor to every student she meets.”

McMullen came to LaGrange in 1999 as the director of the evening college. She transitioned to an assistant professor of management position in 2004, and then associate professor and chair of the business department. She also served as the co-director of the college’s Cornerstone First Year Experience program from 2019-2021.

She received a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Geneva College. In addition, McMullen earned a second master’s degree as well as a doctorate in human and organizational systems from Fielding Graduate University.

Outside of work, McMullen serves on the board of directors for the Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network.

She was also a board member of the Calumet Park Neighborhood Association, Lafayette Alliance and Hillside Montessori School.

Dr. Kevin Shirley, professor of history and chair of the humanities and social sciences department, received the 2023 Vulcan Materials Company Teaching Excellence Award.

Established in 1991, the annual Vulcan Teaching Excellence Awards honor an outstanding professor selected by member campuses of the Georgia Independent College Association.

The award recognizes an exceptional

faculty member who demonstrates strong academic skills in the classroom and provides leadership and support in other areas of campus life. The recipient assists the institution in nurturing an academic climate that fosters learning and leadership to enhance the campus community.

“Dr. Shirley has a sincere desire to not just have students understand history, he wants them to live it, to know that history’s impact on our present and future is organic and dynamic,” said Dr. Brian Peterson, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “His work with Georgia National History Day has made LaGrange College a place high school history and social studies teachers talk about when working with their students on projects.”

Dr. Shirley received a bachelor’s degree in humanities, a master’s degree in religion, a second master’s degree in history and a doctorate in history from Florida State University.

He started at LaGrange College in 1998 as an assistant professor of history. He would later move up to professor and chair of the department. Before working in LaGrange, Shirley was employed as a lecturer at the United States Naval War College.

Outside of teaching, Shirley also serves as the co-coordinator of National History Day Georgia. Since 2014, LaGrange College has served as the state cosponsor of National History Day with Georgia Humanities.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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A Positive Partnership

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roup County was thrilled to partner with Positive Contribution for their annual "Haircutz and Stylez 4 Kids" again for their 2023 educational program and school supplies drive!

Hosted at the newly remodeled William J. Griggs Recreation Complex, this event offered boys and girls of all ages the opportunity to receive free haircuts and styles before the new school year, stock up on everything they needed to succeed in their academics, and enjoy a fun-filled, interactive day of entertainment, food, and games!

Positive Contribution is a non-profit organization that provides education and outreach services in the Central Georgia Region.

Michael Fannin, CEO of Positive Contribution and Troup County native, founded the encouragement initiative "Haircutz & Stylez 4 Kids" to ensure that low-to-moderate income families are equipped with the right tools to promote positive learning experiences, which in turn, equals classroom success.

"You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you do good," explained Fannin. "Our goal has always been to boost kids' confidence and encourage them to embrace the best versions of themselves as they begin a new school year!"

Fannin is amazed at the growth he's seen in the program over the past 16 years. Since its 2007 start in a local barber shop, "Haircutz & Stylez 4 Kids" has served over 100 youths each year and has

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expanded to include between 85-100 volunteers as well as several sponsors. Fannin would like to thank all of the dedicated and talented barbers, stylists, and volunteers who help make this program possible, as well as his generous sponsors: Sommer Lewis with Amerigroup, Chick-fil-A, Hills & Dales, Kimberly-Clark, and Kia Georgia.

This program also acts as a back-to-school drive, collecting and distributing donated school supplies to local students and families. This initiative was initially funded out-of-pocket

by Fannin, but has since grown tremendously thanks to gracious contributions and the support of donors over the years.

Troup County Parks and Recreation looks forward to future events with the non-profit.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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DIVERSITY/EQUITY/INCLUSION

Promoting Diversity & Inclusion: Strategies for Counteracting Unconscious Bias in the Workplace

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uilding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace is essential for all businesses. “The impact of workplace diversity is far-reaching, and workplaces that ignore this will not remain competitive or sustainable,” per Janice Asare, Harvard Business Review.

Companies with great cultures and DEI practices have seen huge returns on their investments in building these welcoming high-functioning environments.

you think of it — seeks to remove barriers to equal opportunity, so it’s consistent with the “colorblind” philosophy laid out by the six conservative justices in the court’s recent ruling.

Many common diversity and inclusion practices involve de-biasing the workplace. In one example, several decades ago, women composed only 5% of musicians in the top five orchestras in the United States. As of 2016, they were more than 35%. Researchers attribute this dramatic increase in part to a simple design fix: The orchestras obscured the gender of musicians by requiring them to audition behind a screen.

Three common practices will endure even if the law continues to evolve in a conservative direction: 1) practices to counteract bias, 2) ambient policies that work to advance overall diversity, such as employee resource groups, mentorship programs, or family-friendly policies, and 3) universal policies, such as increasing psychological safety. These strategies are legally safe because they benefit everyone. Still, it’s the people at the margins who stand to benefit most, precisely because they feel most excluded from workplaces without such initiatives.

While using a physical screen to improve the hiring process is impractical in most workplaces, many employers adopt similar initiatives to de-bias their environments, such as purging stereotypical language from job advertisements, conducting structured interviews with consistent questions, and refining promotion processes to make them more transparent and merit-based.

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Given the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce for innovation, productivity, and employee engagement, such initiatives are not just an ideal, they’re a necessity for businesses in the 21st century.

Broaden diversity beyond race and gender. Too often, DEI programs are solely focused on race and gender and alienate the majority group (white men) that feel they are not a part of DEI. When we bring in more layers of identity — neurodiversity, mental health, LGBTQ+,

disability, age, social class, education, housing, body size, and more — we engage more potential allies in the conversation. We also see the benefits of diversity more clearly when unique perspectives are welcomed and listened to, leading to higher rates of innovation and better business outcomes.

An estimated 15-20% of people worldwide identify as neurodiverse.

Neurodiversity could include ADHD, autism or Asperger's, and many more diagnoses. Neurodiversity means cognitive differences where people's brains work differently than those that identify as neurotypical. Including neurodiversity in DEI work helps maximize the full diversity of the workforce, especially younger people with higher rates of diagnosis and awareness.

Breaking DEI into smaller chunks of learning, communications, and experiences threaded over time creates a more lasting impact. Some examples are regular communications, training, guest speakers, and leadership discussions — essentially putting DEI wherever important topics are communicated regularly.

Diversity and inclusion efforts are a necessary and vital piece of a successful company culture that fosters equality amongst all employees.

BUILDING NEW NEURONS

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Brain Jogging is a proven, web-based software program that significantly elevates cognitive performance. In just 7-10 minutes twice daily, neurogenesis (the building of new neurons) is enhanced. The more your child uses the program, the better and more efficient their brain becomes.

"Students improved, on average, over two grade levels of reading in 8 weeks. I was amazed!"

-Alicia Cooper, ESOL Language Arts Department Chair, Berkmar High School

Studies show that at least 66% of 4th graders are NOT reading on grade level. Of those, 74% will never catch up.* *Source: The Children's Reading Foundation

(706) 884-4492 | BRAINJOGGING.COM www.lagrangechamber.com

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Enterprises (706) 885-2985

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Team and Leadership development creates cohesive teamwork, organizational strength, and an undeniable sustainable competitive advantage. As team members and leaders align with an organization’s mission, vision, and values, overall work performance and teamwork improve.

Furthermore, when individuals understand and trust one another, everyone does the right things for the right reasons— resulting in everyone embracing a common purpose and understanding and setting aside individual needs for the good of the whole, creating solid working relationships that allow strong and productive teams to emerge and a foundation to accomplish what might have looked impossible on paper.

• Build a cohesive team • Increase competitive advantage • Enhance confidence and credibility • Foster Wellness & Well-being • Increase teams’ capacity to adapt • Expand strategy and product innovations • Create alignment • Clarify succession planning

Additional critical factors for team and leadership success are supporting and fostering a healthy workforce from the inside out: mind, body, and spirit. Components of a healthy work team include emotional, psychological, and social well-being, known as mental health. Well-being and mental health determine how individuals relate to others, carry out everyday activities, maintain relationships, make healthy choices, and think, feel, and act in the community. Well-being is how an individual perceives life, how they cope with stress, work productively, attain goals, and reach their full potential.

THRIVE Enterprises guides your organization toward enhanced team and leadership results.

Call Selina for a consultation: (706) 885-2985

Holistically exemplifying that leaders and teams are among the most valuable resources in a thriving organization.

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www.lagrangechamber.com

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C H A M B E R

E V E N T S

EARLY BIRD BREAKFAST MAY

Presented by

May Gold & Registration Sponsors

In May, the Early Bird featured speaker, the Troup Strategy Center team, unveiled the organization’s new name, as well as, provided an update on the mission, vision and recently completed strategic plan.

JUNE

June Gold & Registration Sponsors

The June Early Bird Breakfast featured entrepreneur and inventor Rashmi Hudson.

Rashmi gave us an overview of her experience conceptualizing a project and seeing it come to life through sourcing, patenting, and prototyping.

T-SHIRT FRIDAY

T-Shirt Friday Sponsored by

Fantastic Friday is an opportunity to have some fun while promoting your business through the Chamber's social media. Thank you Kemp’s Dalton West Flooring for our t-shirts and joining us for lunch at Your Pie!

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MORNING BREW

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION

Our Morning Brew featured guest was April Ross, owner of BeeTV Network and Grow with Google Digital Coach.

April joins a network of Digital Coaches dedicated to helping grow the small businesses in their communities.

April provided an update on the Grow with Google campaign and taught our participants how to utilize Google Analytics.

Designed with our new or re-engaging members in mind, Member Orientation is an interactive opportunity to learn more about the events, programs, alliances, costsaving benefits, and development opportunities that are exclusively available to LaGrange-Troup County Chamber members! Join us again in September!

SMALL BUSINESS BOOK CLUB

MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

Our Small Business Committee chose ‘Kick Up Some Dust’ by Bernie Marcus as the first SB Book Club read.

‘Kick Up Some Dust’ is a business memoir from Home Depot cofounder filled with personal stories, savvy business advice and timeless lessons for a well lived life.

Thank you Pretty Good Books for hosting us! Contact info@lagrangechamber.com to join the club.

As part of the Chamber’s ongoing support for the Minority Business Accelerator program, members of the inaugural cohort attended their second educational session of the year. During this session, the cohort learned about the importance of branding and marketing with Atomic Brand Energy owner, Andy Fritchley.

www.lagrangechamber.com

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C H A M B E R

E V E N T S

Join us in celebrating our members!

Ribbon Cuttings, Anniversary Celebrations and Grand Openings

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The Exceptional Way 1200 S. Davis Road, LaGrange

Willow Medical Aesthetics 305 Haralson Street, LaGrange

Wild Animal Safari 1300 Oak Grove Road, Pine Mountain

Second Time Around 300 E. Bacon Street, LaGrange

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Your Buried Treasures 1902 Roanoke Road, LaGrange

Infinity Plus 815 3rd Avenue, West Point

Chick-Fil-A 2110 Vernon Street, LaGrange

LaGrange College Aviation Program LaGrange Callaway Airport, LaGrange

Thank you to our Ribbon Cutting Sponsor

Moss & Wood Park 118 Brown Street, LaGrange

www.lagrangechamber.com

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STATE OF COMMUNITY Presented by

Presented by Jackson Services, we were joined by Brent Hess of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Jay Jamison of the US Army Corps of Engineers. They spoke about the management of the lake and how their departments work together, access to recreation and fishing to Troup County residents, as well as the challenges of development and tourism to West Point Lake.

SAFETY COUNCIL Safety Council learned about multi-employer policy from OSHA Assistant Area Director, Keith D. Hass,W MPH. Special thanks to our registration and breakfast sponsor, Development Authority of LaGrange.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE On June 15th, the Chamber hosted a Legislative Update Luncheon withGeorgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger. During the update, Secretary Raffensperger shared his vision for a thriving business environment in Georgia and took questions from the audience.

Presented by

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

This quarter, the Chamber hosted its first Business After Hours of the year at Overlook Plaza. The event was presented

by EleyDigital and sponsored by Community Bank and Trust who had recently sponsored the Overlook Plaza.

Presented by

www.lagrangechamber.com

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GACCE EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE Chamber President, Connie Hensler, and Director of Member Experience, Leslie Traylor attened the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Conference in St. Simons. The pair brought back a ton of great new ideas and information to benefit our members.

LEADERSHIP TROUP ALUMNI MIXER Over 50 Leadership Troup Alumni gathered at the Deck at Hillside for a summer social! Special thanks to DASH for sponsoring this event. The event was a great way for members of different classes to get to know each other.

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Congratulations to the 2023 Graduating Class of Leadership Troup! This year's class was made up of some exceptional leaders that chose to benefit their community by installing an outdoor activity space and garden at The Exceptional Way,

Congratulations Leadership Troup 2023 Graduating Class Debbie Bazen - Acti-Kare Responsive In Home Care

Stacey Karr - Fokker Services Americas

Nathan Brown - Gay & Joseph, CPA, PC

Molly McKeen - McKeen Realty

Sam Craig - DASH

Amber Mullaney - Great Wolf Lodge Georgia

Kay Crowder - Stellar Staffing LLC

Tara Ogletree - Chef Tara

Jennifer Daniel - Turnkey Corrections

Melissa Pittman - Callaway Foundation, Inc.

Jennifer Emery - JYEmeryArt LLC

Socorro Rodriguez - Georgia Power

Dwayne Fuller - Striffler-Hamby Mortuary

Leslie Sims - KIA Georgia

Irisha Goodman - Troup County School System

Cindy Skipworth - The Exceptional Way

Nicholas Griffin - Communities In Schools of Georgia

Michael Taylor - Hogansville City Council

Joquona Hall - West Georgia Technical College

Ben Turner - Teaver Road Baptist Church

Lily Hamilton - DLDA

Tara Vaughn - Wellstar West GA Medical Center

Krystal Hart - Dr. William Miller, DMD

Kelly Veal - The Veal Group

Jeffrey Higgins - Higgins Funeral Home

Chris Warrick - Highland Country Club

Christy Hilyer - Malone Solutions

Charlie Whitley - Airforce Heating & Air

Lynne Holle - Visit LaGrange

Jennifer Whitlow - Association Services Group

Mark Huffman - Mark Huffman Consulting

Holly Winner - American Red Cross

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023 VALOR AWARDS NOMINEES Join us this year at the Awards Ceremony to hear who this year's winners are!

American Medical Response

LaGrange Police Department

Troup County E-911

Paramedic Amy Sheppard Paramedic Hailee Roberts Paramedic Kaitlyn Gates

Captain Eric Lohr Corporal Curtis Spivey Corporal Michael Willoughby Corporal Mike Barton Detective Darrell Prichard Detective Stephen Spivey Lieutenant Christopher Pritchett Major Dale Strickland Officer Alan Bates Officer Brandon Wright Officer Braxton Willis Officer David Horseman Officer Drew Billingsley Officer Hassan Harb Officer Hope Everhart Officer Jim Davison Officer Matthew Turner Officer Mohammed Salihi Officer Noah Shelnutt Officer Riley Densmore Officer Stephen D'Angelo Officer Todd Haire Officer Wendy Bryant Officer Whitney Harris Sergeant Clayton Bryant Sergeant John Slonaker Sergeant Joshua Clower

Alyssa Ward Amy Mains Danielle Howard Dispatcher Shannan McLaughlin

Georgia State Patrol Trooper Courdarious Nunn

Hogansville Police Department Officer Conrad Guillot Sergeant Richard Milliron

LaGrange Fire Department Firefighter Bailey Purvis Firefighter Brandi Capes Firefighter Cameron Byers Firefighter Evan Rhoades Firefighter Jacob Monteith Firefighter Jonathan Huang Firefighter Rich Mounts Firefighter Zack Domantay Lieutenant Caleb Harrison Lieutenant Dusty Helton Lieutenant Mike Cosmah Sergeant Jake Scott Sergeant Michette Moon

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August 2023

Troup County Sheriff's Office Captain Nathan Taylor Deputy Anthony Smith Deputy Brandon Long Deputy Joshua McCoy Deputy Raymond Gates Investigator James Robson

West Point Fire Department Firefighter / Paramedic Willam Claypoole Firefighter EMT-A Matt Knight Firefighter/ EMT-A Thomas Baker Firefighter/ Paramedic Dillon Rogers Lieutenant/ EMT-I Devin Arnold Lieutenant/ Paramedic Brad Walker Sergeant / EMT Didar Suleman Sergeant / Paramedic Zac Smith

West Point Police Department Detective Kristin King PIO Cedarious Thomas Sergeant William O'Steen

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www.lagrangechamber.com

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Presented by

On May 18th, the Chamber hosted its inaugural ChamberMasters Golf Tournament. The event was themed after the Masters Tournament down to the pimento cheese sanwiches and classic green jackets. The Chamber looks forward to making this an annual event.

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August 2023

CNA Training & More!

(706) 756-2164

Get there with Synovus.

888-SYNOVUS synovus.com Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.

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YOUNG

PROFESSIONALS

This quarter the Troup County Young Professionals group toured the Kia Georgia facility in West Point. They also attended the Chamber's first Business After Hours of the Year at the newly sponsored Overlook Park.

Want to know more about YP? Email us at info@lagrangechamber.com

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August 2023

www.lagrangechamber.com

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August 2023