THRIVE | Issue 5 | Fall 2019

A Quarterly Business Publication of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber

SMALL TOWN HOME FOR

INTERNATIONAL

BUSINESS International companies employ nearly 30% of Coweta’s manufacturing workforce

plus Think Tanks: Newnan’s Liveable Centers Initiative indicates development of Caldwell Tanks site The State of Economic Development: Chamber’s tri-annual luncheon offers insight on workforce development in Coweta

Issue 5 | Fall 2019

HERE TO PROTECT YOUR TODAY. HERE TO PROTECT HERE TO PROTECT YOUR TODAY. YOUR TOMORROW. HERE TO PROTECT YOUR TOMORROW.

Protecting the things you’ve worked hard for today is an important step towards making your dreams for the future your reality.

Let’s talk about your future plans, and how I can help you protect them.

Protecting the things you’ve worked hard for today is an important step towards making your dreams for the future your reality.

Let’s talk about your future plans, and how I can help you protect them.

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C on t e n t

F E AT U R E S

38

Tales from the Frontline Jason Lammers shares his journey in international manufacturing

6 Letter from the Editor Shining the Light on Coweta

40

8

Take Me to the River

Impact in Action

The Newnan’s “Chatt Bend” promises big draw as portal to Blue Trail project

Maria Hall of Ignite Business Coaching gives back to the community via OneHope

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14 Women of Prosperity Shan Cooper, global business leader, lends insight and inspiration to Coweta’s female business leaders

50 A Family Team Builds Dreams McKinney & Son Builders bring more than just new homes to Newnan’s “Gardens”

54

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For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow

The Town of Sharpsburg Mayor Blue Cole innovates to ensure the future of Sharpsburg

Chamber’s Cynthia Bennett selected for Education Fellowship

18 State of the Economy: Economic Development Trae Westmoreland presents renewed vision for economic development in Coweta

20 Coweta 2030

60 Consumer Sales in Coweta

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Coweta retails outlets draw large percentage of out-ofcounty patrons

ON THE COVER

Local leaders find valuable takeaways in the 40-year history of Greenville, South Carolina

22 Caldwell Tanks Property Defunct property holds great potential for Newnan’s downtown development

26 Home Away from Home International business calls Coweta a home away from home

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Caps made at Corvaglia Closures, one of the many international companies with US branches in Coweta County.

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SHINING THE LIGHT ON ON COWETA LETTER FROM THE EDITOR SUSAN M. KRAUT

T

VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS | NEWNAN-COWETA CHAMBER

H R I V E endeavors to shine

a spotlight on the many facets of our community which lend themselves to an environment in which businesses flourish. While each feature unpacks another chapter in the story of how this came to be, it’s time to succinctly acknowledge what we already know: Coweta County is one of the best managed and best-led counties in the state of Georgia. Via informed, responsible and thoughtful leadership, our school system, public safety structure, healthcare system and quality of life are superior and those who live here enjoy the privilege of citizenship in a highly desirable community.

This exceptionalism comes at a cost. Just as a car requires regular maintenance, so does a successful community. Ignore routine maintenance, and you’re facing expensive repairs and safety issues. Kick the can down the road, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t address the problems when they first appeared…and were much cheaper to remedy.

This is why the recent disappointing defeat of Coweta County’s Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) referendum was a setback for the future of continued quality of life. Attracting a record number of voters during a county-wide special election on November 5, the referendum was rejected by voters on a 3:1 margin, negating the county’s ability to collect additional sales tax that would address many of the area’s transportation infrastructure challenges.

While it is disheartening that a majority of Coweta’s voting residents failed to acknowledge the importance of funding safe, reliable transportation infrastructure, more alarming is the 6

organized movement which boldly takes credit for this failure and the staggering disinformation campaign that preceded the election, and which persists. Elements in our community rejoice in failing to responsibly plan for our future. Yet, you can count on one hand the number of citizens who attend public budget hearings each year. Where is the concern when it matters most?

Shrinking access to a professional newspaper exacerbates the lack of readily available public information. A daily, well-managed paper promotes a well-informed citizenry, better equipped to make decisions when it comes to re-investing in our community. In the absence of the due diligence of print media, the result is the reliance on social media and its misinformation, or worse, willful disinformation.

Our deliberate and measured efforts to foster a high-quality and well-governed community will continue to attract new residents. We will continue to grow. This growth will naturally require continued investment in transportation and other facilities and conveniences, and the Chamber will remain active and involved in the continued success of Coweta. We will continue to partner with our local government, business and industry, school system and citizens to ensure that we remain an intelligently run community that makes sound decisions.

Community advancement calls for a thoughtful and strategic methodology — a collaborative vision understood and crafted by key community stakeholders.

And this marks a new chapter in the everevolving community visioning of Coweta County.

Susan Kraut

PUBLISHER Newnan-Coweta Chamber EXECUTIVE EDITOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR Susan M. Kraut susan@newnancowetachamber.org SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Colleen D. Mitchell colleen@newnancowetachamber.org GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Susan M. Kraut, Newnan-Coweta Chamber Paul Lewis, Luz Design Nikki Rich, Rich Graphics, Inc. PUBLICATION LAYOUT Nikki Rich, Rich Graphics, Inc. CONTRIBUTORS Carla Cook-Smith Melissa Dickson Jackson Susan M. Kraut Katie Stepp Larisa Mitchell Scott Annie Singh-Quern PHOTOGRAPHERS Keith Brazie, Pork Pie Pictures Matt Cone, Downtown Sign Shop Linda Edmonds, Portraits by Linda E. Katie Stepp, Newnan-Coweta Chamber TO CONTRIBUTE: THRIVE welcomes your ideas. Please send queries to Susan M. Kraut at susan@newnancowetachamber.org for consideration.

THRIVE is published quarterly. Neither the Newnan-Coweta Chamber nor THRIVE is responsible for unsolicited material. Such material will become the property of THRIVE and is subject to editing and digital use.

Reproductions of this publication in part or whole is prohibited without the express consent of the publisher.

THRIVE is available at various locations throughout Coweta County. You can also email info@newnancowetachamber.org to request a copy.

A Quarterly Business Publication of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber 23 Bullsboro Dr. | Newnan | 770.253.2270 susan@newnancowetachamber.org

Fall 2019

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • SALES & SERVICE

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Maria Hall, Ignite Business Coaching

IMPACT I N AC TI ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IGNITES HOPE

Successful entrepreneurs pursue business ideas that inspire passion. It’s what drives them. Often this passion is driven by a sincere desire to help people.

T

his is part of the

The importance of community,

reason why social

of creating opportunities and

entrepreneurship is

moments

on the rise especially

others in a meaningful way, is

among

also crucial to me, as it ties into

young

entrepreneurs.

I’m

to

connect

with

another of my entrepreneurial

no different. My business is built

philanthropic

on the ways that I can help people,

IgniteHope is the fundraising

and for me, coaching encapsulates

arm of my business. Each

everything

to

quarter I raise funds in support

accomplish. As a business coach, I

of a specific charity or cause

get to be a teacher, a cheerleader,

through the sale of OneHope

that

I

aspire

a mentor, a confidant, a sounding board, a guru and more. Helping

MARIA HALL, CHIEF EMPRESARIA, IGNITE BUSINESS COACHING

wine.

vehicles.

This

quarter

the

proceeds are going to support

people realize the best parts of

cancer-related charities. Past

themselves and what they can

organizations I’ve supported

lend to the world is incredibly

include the Newnan Coweta

fulfilling.

Humane

Society

and

the

Fayette Care Clinic.

While you’ll typically find me hosting one of many educational

OneHope is a Napa Valley-

workshops and the

or

around

gatherings

Coweta,

opportunity

I

to

in

based vineyard that donates

enjoy

a percentage of its proceeds

blend

to

philanthropic pursuits with my business,

the

most

recent

in

support of cancer patients and their families.

MARIA HALL AND PIEDMONT NEWNAN’S STEPHANIE MARTIN ROHLING, O N C O LO G Y N U R S E N AV I G AT O R

with cancer patients, their caregivers, and Cancer

is

an

important

charity.

The

charitable

component was the basis for the company - not an afterthought. Each bottle or blend supports

a

cause

such

as

autism, veteran affairs, child hunger, or literacy, in addition

and

patients in remission, and work with them

personal topic for me, as my

through exercises on how to be, how to

husband

from

cope, and how to understand through the

melanoma in 2011. It was a

power of listening. I was able to provide a

difficult time that had a profound

safe space for introspection in dealing with

My

impact on my family and me.

their situation and help them realize they

presents an opportunity to

This past October I was fortunate

are not alone in their feelings. Community

gather with family or friends

to be able to share our story at

is such a vital part of the healing experience,

over a glass of wine and stories

Piedmont Newnan Hospital as

and I felt very blessed to be part of their

of hope and perseverance...

part of a remarkable support

community and share the unexpected

that’s the Ignite impact in

program through the Thomas

moments of joy my family found during

action.

F.

our cancer journey, even if for moments at

passed

Chapman

away

Family

Cancer

Wellness Center. I was able to talk 8

to a local organization chosen by the fundraising host.

OneHope

partnership

a time.

Fall 2019

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Welcome New Members

3rd Quarter 2019 has welcomed 38 new or reengaging members and we're thrilled to introduce them to #chamberlife! Please join us in welcoming these businesses across the threshold of prosperity's front door...

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AFLAC Air Logic Heating & Air Conditioning Airgroup Atlanta Allison Ziegler - Bush Real Estate Cabinet Envy Cakes by Debbie Clarks Plumbing Compass Travel, LLC - Dream Vacations Costco Wholesale Edward Jones - Derrick Cumming Edward Jones - Mike Lonas Eleven 11 Accounting Services, LLC Etiquette Finley's Boutique Foundation Academy Georgia Military College Georgia Rheumatology Clinic Huggins Cleaning Service Humming Ink Inserve360 Interim-Global Jimmy D Photography Lead Edge Design Group, Inc Leaf & Bean Newnan Meredith Kavanaugh Photography NatureLink, LLC Newnan Ink Screen Printing Northpoint Roofing Systems One Divine Design Promenade at Newnan Crossing Resource MFG Rosenzeig, Jones, Horne, & Griffis Starwalk Events The Parlor Salon and Dry Bar True North Investments Virginia Elliot Your CBD Store

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When Bob McKoon was diagnosed with bladder cancer, he wanted expert care that was close to the community where he lives and works. That’s why he came here, to Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Newnan, where he could meet with his entire team of doctors, nurses, therapists and more—all under one roof and right down the road. At CTCA®, we’re here for every aspect of a patient’s journey and treat everyone the way we’d want our own families treated. It’s what we call our Mother Standard® of care, and it’s right here in Newnan.

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Who's Knockin'?

Chamber member-businesses are prospering! Read on to learn of recent member milestones and accolades...

Impact: Education I am honored to serve as your state representative for House District 70.

Please contact me at lynn.smith@house.ga.gov facebook.com/lynnsmithforhouse

Newnan's Ruth Hill Elementary is named a finalist n the Star 94.1 Jenn & Friends Podcast Giveback Giveaway. "The Launch Pad Library Heroes" are creating "Sweet Dreams" bedtime comfort bags for kids who need it most.

Supplies are collected, donated, or hand-made by the students and given to kids in the community who have experienced crises such as house fires, homelessness, abuse, neglect, separation from parents, or death of a loved one. To learn more about the Sweet Dreams project or to donate, visit launchpadlibrary.org/sweet-dreams-1 Great schools serve at the foundation of a great community! Congratulations to the Coweta County School System, ranked among the top 8 percent in the state of Georgia. CCSS received a score of 84.8 on the College and Career Ready Performance Index, ranking it 14th out of 181 school districts in the state.

The CCRPI assesses student performance in content mastery, progress, closing gaps, readiness, and graduation rate. Great job to all of our teachers and school system staff who help our students achieve excellence.

Impact: Business A special congrats goes our to Shelby Tidwell of Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center as our November Ambassador of the Month! Shelby also recently passed her Certified Veterinary Practice Management exam.The CVPM designation is considered the highest level of credential for professional veterinary managers.

Impact: Quality of Life Golf Life Ladies - Public League donated $15,000 raised as a result of their 6th Annual Tournament O'Fun to Meals On Wheels of Coweta! MOWOC assists at-risk elder adults in living safely in their own home for as long as possible.

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Over the past 6 years, Golf Life Ladies have donated over $95,000 within Coweta County.Congratulations ladies on another successful Tournament O'Fun and thanks for supporting your fellow community members.

Impact: Housing Congratulations to Realtor Tim Stout, named one of The Atlantan's leading 100 agents, an honor which is based on hard work, passion for the business, and commitment to both their industry and their clients, on whose behalf they labor tirelessly. Theirs is an accolade much deserved, and it is with great pleasure that we communicate that achievement to the community at large—to industry peers and to the clients who rely so heavily upon their valued service.

Fall 2019

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WOMEN of

PROSPERITY WITH SHAN COOPER

Regional c-suite icon lends valuable advice to Coweta’s female leaders

By Carla Cook-Smith Photos by Keith Brazie, Pork Pie Pictures

Global business leader Shan Cooper engaged dozens of Coweta’s female business leaders as the keynote speaker at the Newnan-Coweta Chamber’s Business Women’s Alliance Luncheon presented by Progressive Heating, Air, and Plumbing on September 4, 2019. Her address provided insight into her success, empowering the thought-forward audience to be themselves, consider personal value, be expressive but understand the culture of the work environment being careful not to put limitations on themselves, be a good listener, provide solutions to employers, and to be transparent within themselves about non-negotiables.

A senior executive since the age of 28, Shan currently serves alongside forty senior executives within the Atlanta metro community comprised of CEOs, university presidents, and civic leaders as the Executive Director for the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP). ACP serves as the cabinet for the city’s mayor.

Following a storied career, Shan recently retired and initially declined the opportunity with ACP, but soon changed her mind when the mission tugged at her heartstrings. Once she learned that a child born impoverished in Atlanta had only a 4.8% chance of living a life outside of poverty, it didn’t take much to coax her out of retirement. “I could not hear that statistic and not do something to make a difference,” she said.

Growing up, Shan was raised to give back to the community. To date, she has served on the board of directors for the Georgia Power Company and Atlanta Capital Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of Atlantic Capital Bank, NA, the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Board of Trustees of both Emory University and the Woodruff Arts Center, the Board for the Technical College System of Georgia and is a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club as well as a life member of the Board of Councilors for the Carter Center.

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Cooper’s unprecedented career has broken numerous barriers, including that of being the first woman and the first non-engineer to hold the office of vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. No one expected a woman to be in her role at Lockheed. Cooper earned the job over men who had been building aircraft for thirty years or more. “It wasn’t pretty in the beginning,” Shan shares. “A local newspaper interviewed one of my employees who said I was not qualified for the job. I did not fire the employee,” she said. “He was right.

Fall 2019

I could set strategy, understand the financials and do customer engagement, but I did not know how to build military aircraft.”

The pressure during the early days of her employment with Lockheed drove her to perform as she literally crawled on her hands and knees through airports looking at planes from all angles in her quest for answers. Then she found a person within Lockheed she could trust to answer questions, who helped educate her about building aircraft. She relates, “It took about four months for me to feel comfortable in the role. I learned a lot, and it was the greatest working experience I have ever had.”

Before retiring from Lockheed in 2016, Shan gave notice of sixmonths to her employer, asking what she could do to help the company before her departure. “You always want to leave well,” she emphasized to her audience.

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During her career, Shan never asked anyone to change who they were under her leadership. She addressed her work-life balance while serving as the face of Lockheed Martin at three plants and traveling to 72 different countries. There were numerous events to attend for the company. Shan shares, “I chose the black-tie events to attend with my husband as date nights, developing a work-life integration rather than work-life balance. I am a familyoriented person and have not missed but one family event during my career.”

In answer to the question: “Do you think it is still difficult for a woman in the workplace?” Shan shared some sage advice.

“When asking for a salary increase or promotion, talk about your accomplishments and what you can bring to the future of the company. Ask yourself, ‘What can I deliver in terms of results?’

This is the value I bring to the company. Here is what the team and I accomplished. Here is the measurable, clear result of what I achieved within the team. You are valuable. Don’t demand. Ask for what you want and ask with a smile. Yes, it is still difficult for a woman in the workplace. In every position I have held, I have had capable, powerful women whom I have promoted.

Never promote a woman because she is a woman, or she will fail. I always gave a challenge before a promotion. Promote if the woman is prepared. People are always watching.”

Fall 2019

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Small in size.

Big in history.

Great in vision.

the town of

SHARPSB UR G

The Town of Sharpsburg, Georgia, may be just under 400 acres with 354 residents, approximately 125 homes, a few historic buildings, and a handful of family-owned businesses throughout town, but its big on passion.

By Annie Singh-Quern

A

t the helm is Mayor Blue Cole, who works alongside a town clerk and four council members, to ensure that the little town of Sharpsburg, with its proud past, remains strong and stable as the community tills its soil for the future.

Cole’s roots run deep in a town that has survived the test of time since the 1920s when Judge Elias Sharp, Cole’s great, great, great, great grandfather, was one of Sharpsburg founders and the proud owner of one of the first homes in Sharpsburg. Like most towns in the South, subject to the state of the nation, both Sharpsburg’s economy and population have ebbed and flowed for the last century.

During the 1800s, the town boomed with cotton farming, until it fell under a cloud of the Great Depression and the upswing of agricultural progress. By the 1930s, dream seekers making their way to bigger cities led to a steady decrease in population. The pendulum took another swing a decade later with a steady flow of migrants into the little town, a pattern that has persisted ever since.

Now, the little town of Sharpsburg continues its march in time. Maintaining

Mayor Blue Cole’s roots run deep in Sharpsburg where he

works to ensure it remains strong and stable.

the steadfast mission of sustaining relevance in a growing southwest 16

Fall 2019

Georgia. Cole’s top focus is on building partnerships with the neighborhood school system, local government, and the greater Coweta business community. By creating a sense of place for passersby, the town hopes to become once again a bustling hub of activity, with craft fairs, a community library, and a place for neighbors to gather.

The steps are small but unmistakenly crucial in improving

Empowering Georgia’s workforce Georgia Power is proud to support Coweta County School’s workforce development initiatives. We are honored to help prepare the next generation of Georgia’s workforce by working with chambers and other organizations that help local communities grow and prosper. It’s not just where we do business; it’s our home, too. Visit georgiapower.com/careers.

upon essential community infrastructure, such as roads, sewer, water, and broadband. And Cole is passionate about telling and re-telling the Sharpsburg story. He realizes that the past must be balanced by the present to sustain and survive growth. It’s not by chance, Blue Cole cautions.

“We make our town stronger when we add amenities, bolster development, and incorporate smart growth. But, we want to honor the history, and reflect on the positives that brought us to today.”

Start Here … Go Anywhere!

Since taking office in 2018, Cole has implemented a variety of improvements, including street signs and a reinvigorated community library.

Further, Cole

has championed a new municipal logo, as well as a revamped website, which focuses, not only on the Town of Sharpsburg but on the surrounding area, half-jokingly, referring to this as the “metropolitan Sharpsburg area.”

Welcoming small businesses and non-profits through creative barters and space-sharing is also central to Cole’s mission in allowing others to occupy space in the town’s library free-of-charge if they agree to help staff the library for public use. Further, the town’s community center and park welcome hundreds of visitors each year with facility rentals, and it’s only a matter of time before businesses realize dividends in this charming small town.

Fall 2019

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BY KATIE STEPP

ECONOMIC

T

DEVELOPMENT

he third and final in the Chamber’s 2019 State of the Community Luncheon series presented by NuLink | WOW! welcomed Trae Westmoreland,

president of the Coweta County Development Authority, who enlightened guests as to the state of economic and

The community’s expansion is a result of the hard work put forth by the Development Authority, local municipalities, and the Chamber to create this highly sought-after business-friendly environment. With such extensive amounts of advancement underway, it is crucial that key stakeholders purposefully manage such rapid growth.

talent development in Coweta - topics of great interest and intrigue to residents and business leaders alike.

Westmoreland lent valuable insight into what is coming down the pipeline in Coweta County as together we continue to foster a productive business environment and a community which enjoys high quality of life and livable wages. One of the most attractive counties in the region, Coweta is expected to substantially grow when it comes to population as well as business and industry.

Westmoreland explained, “Coweta County cannot thrive as a community from either residential or commercial property or retail. This community needs industry, and industry is the direction we’re heading towards.”

Recent examples include Blickle USA and Corvaglia, two international corporations that have established U.S. headquarters in Coweta and, as a result, have directly contributed to local economic prosperity. Corvaglia, for example, created 40 jobs for Cowetans and added 48 million dollars in capital investment.

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When asked why his company chose Coweta, Blickle USA President, Scott Chahalis, acknowledged, “during our relocation process, the people here were fantastic; the team of folks here in Coweta are off the charts, so that’s a huge reason why we’re here today.”

The Development Authority is intentional in their recruiting efforts insomuch as they no longer incentivize businesses like distribution centers, but instead carefully seek out and recruit manufacturing facilities, as well as back office, blue-collar, and corporate environments. Westmoreland and his team are drilling down and asking the question, “what exactly is the right kind of growth?” and then structuring that growth accordingly. This strategy is one of the critical pieces of the puzzle in fostering a thoughtful Coweta.

Ronnie Clotfelter, Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Thomas Crossroads, explains, “both expansion and growth are going to come, and it’s pertinent that we manage that growth well or Fall 2019

Trae Westmoreland, president of the Coweta County Development Authority

GUESTS ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION BY TRAE WESTMORELAND AT THE CHAMBER’S STATE OF THE COMMUNITY LUNCHEON Photos courtesy of Portraits by Linda E.

Photo by Keith Brazie, Pork Pie Pictures

there will be consequences. {Let’s} have a community that reaches the pinnacle of where it can be by making the right decisions.”

Randy Cardoza, Cardoza Consulting Principal and longestrunning commissioner in the Georgia Department of Economic Development, touts Coweta by noting, “this community’s vision is unlimited, and this is an investment that will return, tenfold.”

Moving forward, collaborative efforts between the Chamber and the Development Authority will build a pipeline for companies seeking to establish or expand their presence within the county.

Serving as the primary point of contact for all economic development activities, the Development Authority recognizes the value of the Chamber’s efforts in asserting a thoughtful partnership between the city, county, and municipal stakeholders. Through this collaboration, the Chamber will establish a foothold in assimilating new industries and pioneering talent development and employment; job opportunities and expansion will flourish as a result.

“By collaborating, we’ve strengthened our ability to serve our manufacturers and our businesses and to develop better-trained employees and a more skilled workforce,” Candace Boothby, President and CEO of the NewnanCoweta Chamber describes. “Our community leaders collaborate extremely well, and that doesn’t happen in all communities. However, in Coweta, we have been fortunate to execute a successful collaboration that will absolutely contribute to keeping Coweta in the spotlight and on the rise.”

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COWETA 2030: INTER-COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP VISIT

BY CARLA COOK-SMITH

HISTORICALLY, COWETANS ARE KNOWN FOR THE INTELLECTUAL ASSETS BROUGHT BACK FROM THEIR TRAVELS, LENDING INSIGHT AND IDEAS TO OUR COMMUNITY. Following his aid in the organization of the Coweta County Medical Association in 1882, Dr. J.T. Reese invested in arts and education when he built the Reese Opera House. Once Central Baptist Church was established, a provision was made to include a replica of a stained-glass window from Notre Dame in the construction of its church building. When Katie Arnall Freeman discovered the American Red Cross in another city, she spearheaded the effort to establish a chapter in Newnan. In that same vein, a contingent of our city and county leaders recently traveled to Greenville, South Carolina to draw on resources from that city’s success story.

Noted for being the “textile capital of the world,” Greenville, South Carolina had 18 textile mills, 13 of which have been preserved today through revitalization. Greenville enjoyed a thriving downtown business community until the textile industry died, and it became a blighted area in the 1970s.

Greenville’s first step toward the regeneration of the city was the construction of the Hyatt Regency 20

Hotel, which ultimately opened in 1982. The plan for the hotel was initially met with resistance, and it took 12 years to come to fruition, but something profound happened during that time. To put the $34 million-dollar hotel deal together required tremendous financial resourcefulness. The hallmark package included $2.5 million from the city’s reserve fund, a $1.9 million U.S. Economic Administration Grant, a $5.5 million HUD grant, $1.3 million from the Hyatt, and a $16 million bank loan.

While progression was slow in the revitalization of downtown Greenville, the idea to pool resources from within both the public and private sectors has become the foundation of partnerships that have advanced a myriad of successful projects throughout the city.

The consulting firm LDR International was hired in the 1970s and again in the 1980s to conduct a feasibility study for Greenville. During the process, they discovered a hidden treasure: Reedy River Falls. The Reedy River (once dubbed “Rainbow River” because of the multi-colored pollution from the dyes of the textile mills) flows through downtown. Covered by a 4-lane bridge, few residents knew of the fall’s existence. Uncovering this gem provided a natural anchor for the city, which would serve as an in-town attraction and community gathering spot. And so the renaissance of Greenville began, built around the river. Falls Park and the Liberty Bridge are the result of a genuine collaborative effort and have become two of the most popular destinations in the city today.

Connectivity is key to Greenville’s success story. RiverPlace, a mixed-use development that includes restaurants, retail, and housing, connects to Falls Park. The Swamp Rabbit Trail, similar to the LINC in Newnan, connects walkers and cyclists via a 19.5-mile trail that feeds into Main Street, including several “anchors,” which provide connections across the city. One such anchor is the baseball stadium, which the city elected to relocate to its Fall 2019

N O W6 weeEksNtoRageO12LyeLarsI—N G —

L to R: Chris Stephens, Coweta-Fayette EMC; Kim Learnard, Friends of LINC; Dr. Tonya Whitlock, West Georgia Technical College; Cynthia Jenkins, City of Newnan; Mayor Knox White, City of Greenville; Candace Boothby, Newnan-Coweta Chamber; Andy Miller, Printsource; Melvinor Kendrick, Nissan of Newnan; Maria Hall, Ignite Business Coaching

current downtown location. The world-class Peace Center is Greenville’s performing arts center, which offers Broadway shows and entices patrons beyond South Carolina.

The result of Greenville’s 40-year rejuvenation is a vibrant city that embraces nature, celebrates art, and provides solid foundations for education and business while encouraging fellowship as a livable and walkable community. As a result, Greenville’s flourishing downtown inspires city leaders from across the nation to study its plans to duplicate its success.

As local leaders joined the Newnan-Coweta Chamber in visiting Greenville on the first of many Inter-community Leadership visits, one key takeaway was evident. We’re ahead of the game. Coweta County brims with thriving businesses, as well as local gems and innovations such as the Central Educational Center, the Carnegie Library, ample healthcare assets and amenities, and thriving Main Street communities.

But, if you’re not moving forward, you’re standing still or, worse yet, regressing. Coweta’s next chapter has begun with the Inter-Community Leadership visit. As the Chamber works with government leaders to maintain Coweta’s position at the height of its advantage, the convener role takes center stage as the result of the jamb-packed three-day experiential visit designed to spark dialogue about alternative development practices, neighborhood revitalization, tourism, and a great deal more.

Coweta’s next phase promises to be multi-layered and efficient.

“To properly unmask our next steps for visioning, we must continuously prepare the groundwork for the environment we seek,” said Candace Boothby, NCC’s President and CEO. “Our relationships and partnerships with elected officials and municipal leaders must be meaningful because community development succeeds best through collaborations. It works better if we are many…together.”

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Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to conduct a Livable Center Initiative (LCI) study covering 338 acres in historic downtown Newnan. Included in the study was the industrial area at the edge of town and neighborhoods to the east near the railroad line. The goal: develop a strategy for measured economic growth, which included improvements to connect the east end of town to the center of the city.

ne of the primary areas for re-development consideration in the five-year plan was the Caldwell Tanks property. First, the area would require rezoning from a central business district to mixed-use development.

The large, unused parcel has historical significance. The land was the original site of the R.D. Cole Manufacturing Company, which was contracted to build the courthouse in the center of town and many of most of the historic houses surrounding it, earning Newnan its reputation as “The City of Homes.” Newnan citizens are proud of the reference to their fair city and have used it in a successful grassroots effort to stop the large-scale development of 340 luxury apartments on the property and a proposed 408-space parking deck nearby.

The catchphrase used in the campaign to halt development

by Kurt Alexander and The Residential Group (TRG), Inc. was “City of Homes, Not Apartments.” Hundreds of signs dotted the lawns of downtown residences in opposition to the development, and record numbers attended town meetings to voice their concerns. The backlash from those who disagreed with the grassroots effort reminded those sporting yard signs that people who live in apartments consider that residence their home. While catchy, the phrase seemed a poor choice of words at the moment, and those against the apartment development backtracked to explain that the concern was not apartments per se, but the large number proposed as well as the impact on safety and traffic. In the end, the issue 22

came down to density. The developer countered by lowering the amount of apartments by one hundred, to no avail. For the people of Newnan, 250 apartments were still too many.

Elected officials voted against the development 7-0.

Local historian Elizabeth Beers noted the historical significance of the Cole Town District and expressed concern that rezoning the area might jeopardize the district’s designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Mrs. Beers further commented that the Cole family was very involved in the Newnan community and contributed to the local economy.

She reported that the standard practice for apartment developers is to build apartments and leave the city. Many residents expressed fears that apartments would not be kept up over time and become a crime-ridden eyesore for future generations. Several of those in opposition pointed to a solution via ownership and were open to townhouses.

Local realtor J.J. Thomasson of 75 Jackson Properties brought other issues to light: “There is a Level 5 contamination of lead-based paint and asbestos in the soil of the property. The soil must be removed or treated to remediate the land for development. TRG, Inc. would not only build apartments for the city but foot the $12.5 million-dollar bill to remediate and invest a total of 70 million dollars in developing the land.”

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According to J.J., the professionals of the millennial generation tend to be transient in their late 20s and 30s during their career growth, at which point they cannot afford a $400,000 townhouse. J.J. notes, “Our generation remembers well the 2008 housing crisis which caused a general mistrust of personal real estate. A lot of millennials prefer to rent and not take the risk of having an investment turn upside down.

The increasing value of downtown Newnan

use and is open to the public. Even if the hotel is at full capacity for its 95 rooms, there is still plenty of parking for the city.”

Mayor Thornton also notes, “We created a primary incentive to bring a hotel downtown by designating the area as a TAD (Tax Allocation District), which essentially means that the increase from the incremental property tax will be rebated to the developer for construction costs over the next twenty years.

This is the same method used to fund Atlantic Station. Neither the city nor county loses tax revenue, but the developer receives tax credit on the increase for a period of time.”

and the development of the Caldwell Tanks site has the potential of becoming a renaissance area for East Broad Street with an Inman Park kind of feel. It is human nature for people to be afraid of the unknown. That is not a reason to discriminate against tenants who are not homeowners.”

Chip Barron, who has done business in Newnan for over sixty years with Lindsey’s Realty, said he would rather see the property used as a hotel rather than apartments. “With weddings, class reunions, and popular events, we need a hotel downtown. I am concerned about what a large number of apartments would look like in forty or fifty years. When apartments get old, they are often not kept up. I would like to see something like what Marriott has done with the old Mansour building in LaGrange.

A hotel on the Caldwell Tanks property is more likely to bring people downtown to visit shops and restaurants; it would provide a service we do not currently have and is more likely to be kept up than apartments.”

According to Newnan’s City Manager, “Over the course of several years, numerous investors who had the Caldwell Tanks property under contract needed a subsidy from the city to develop the land. While many had the real estate under contract for due diligence, not one of them made an application to develop the property. The only application the city has received to develop the Caldwell Tanks property is from TRG, Inc., which is 100% privately funded.”

It is important to note that the Caldwell Tanks property remains under contract with TRG, Inc., which is presently evaluating the possibility of developing the land under its current zoning status as a Central Business District (CBD). According to Cleatus

Staff for the City of Newnan conducted economic development studies for hotels and reached out to several developers. City Manager Cleatus Phillips reports, “Developers cannot make the numbers work for a hotel without subsidies from the city.” LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton commented that the 95-room hotel developed on the site of the former Mansour building in downtown Lagrange has had a positive effect on the community. “The hotel is a great, new addition to our city and brings people in for events who also eat and shop here. I have been surprised at how busy it stays. A lot of travelers enjoy the experience of staying on the square and shopping downtown. The Marriott brand, which is new to our community, is a welcome asset. Overall, I would say we could not be happier with the hotel being in the downtown area.”

Mayor Thornton explains that hotel development in LaGrange is a public/private partnership. “The hotel itself is a private investment via the Ray-Lin Group out of Carrollton. The City of LaGrange built the 200-space parking deck with a grant from the Callaway Foundation. The parking deck has no restricted Fall 2019

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Phillips, “A CBD zoned property permits retail, office, professional services, as well as restaurants and would not allow manufacturing, car lots, or heavy commercial businesses. The only approval needed to develop apartments on the second and third floors of a structure on this property would be a Certificate of Appropriateness, which would be reviewed by the City of Newnan’s Planning & Zoning Department to ensure that architectural standards are met.” Cleatus noted that the only option available for that plan would be if the developer asked for a variance from city development standards, and a variance would be subject to approval.

Where do we go from here? Only time will tell, although J.J. Thomasson’s observation sheds a positive light. “Newnan has never had a rock bottom moment. New people bring prosperity and new ideas.

678-321-5409

Once developed, I believe Newnan residents will be proud of the new additions on the Caldwell Tanks property. The people of Newnan are proud of their city today and will continue to be tomorrow.”

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The Georgia Department of Economic Development reports that Georgia is in “one of the fastest-growing and most populous regions” in the U.S. and that companies “can reach 80% of the U.S. market within a two-hour flight or a two-day truck drive.”

Georgia also offers tax exemptions for sales and use taxes on many expenditures made by manufacturers. These include machinery and equipment, repair and replacement parts, molds, tooling, raw materials, packaging, supplies, and energy “integral to the manufacturing process.”

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From Japan to Germany, and Ireland to Switzerland, international business in Coweta thrives because of several factors: convenient access to an interstate, an easily accessible international airport, an international port only hours away in Savannah, an available workforce, and favorable local economic circumstances including affordable real estate and competitive incentives like Georgia’s 5.75% corporate tax rate for income earned in Georgia. If you’ve ever driven down Bullsboro at 4:30 in the afternoon wondering who all those people were and where they work, Coweta’s many international industries may be one answer.

For a community with a small-town ethos, Coweta County hosts several international industries that employ thousands of residents.

In fact, nearly 33% of Coweta’s manufacturing employees work for international companies.

BY MELISSA DICKSON JACKSON

For Newnan, the presence of international business has had a symbiotic relationship. The community has grown and benefited from the ideas and influence of these international members.

At the Central Educational Center, the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (GA CATT) models the German Apprenticeship program because of partnerships between executives at E.G.O. North America and Grenzebach, with a steering committee that included local and state representatives who worked together to respond to the needs of industry with innovative educational solutions that allow students to graduate with a high school diploma, a college certificate “stackable towards an associate’s degree,” and an “apprenticeship certificate backed by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce” (Coweta County Development Authority).

Greg Wright, former president of the Coweta County Development Authority, explains, “International companies have played an important role in the economic success of Coweta County. In addition to providing good-paying jobs, these companies are actively engaged in helping make Coweta County better. A great example of this commitment is the vision and determination to start the work of the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training. It was two of our international companies – Grenzebach and E. G. O. North America – that teamed up to help get the program started and to help make it a model for other communities in Georgia.”

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DAVID KELLER, CEO OF E.G.O. NORTH AMERICA In a similar effort, TenCate, a protective fabrics company founded in the Netherlands, partnered with Quick Start, “the state’s No. 1-ranked workforce training program” to provide “customized training for TenCate to support a $5 million investment in new technology” (Newnan CEO).

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David Keller, CEO of E.G.O. North America, says that the challenges of running a facility for an international company are not so different than running a company based in the US. “The tariff situation,” he points out, caused the company to “reorganize [its] entire supply chain structure,” but domestic industries importing supplies face that challenge as well. He doesn’t anticipate any significant impact from the impending Brexit upheaval except that it may result in a stronger dollar, something he’s not concerned about since it can only benefit American facilities.

The main problem Keller confronts is a lack of skilled and willing employees.

“I read somewhere that baby boomers are retiring at a rate of 10,000 a day,” he exclaims “and millennials don’t want to drive forklifts.” They don’t realize that “a good machinist can make more than a schoolteacher.”

While it’s true that 10,000 people reach retirement age each day, the Chicago Tribune reports that “an April 2018 Gallup poll showed 41 percent expect to be working beyond age 65 Fall 2019

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Keller encourages other industries to work directly with the Coweta school system and with the Central Educational Center to develop certificate programs that help generate a ready workforce.

As a result of increasing human capital expenses and decreasing availability, Keller has also ushered E.G.O. North America toward automation. Production hasn’t decreased, and E.G.O. remains the leading supplier of its primary North American product (radiant heat elements used in smooth-surface stovetops), but the work force required today is 30% smaller than it was a few years ago.

At peak employment, E.G.O. employed 260 skilled laborers. Today the same workload is carried by 190 employees supported by automated systems. Keller anticipates that more companies will seek to resolve the worker shortage through automation, if they want to stay viable in the marketplace.

TASS (TIN AIR SPEED STACKER) MOVES LARGE PLATES OF GLASS VIA A SYSTEM OF SUCTION AND HYDRAULICS AS GRENZENBACH. — a huge jump since Gallup started tracking in 1995, when it averaged 13.5 percent.” Nonetheless, an aging workforce without clear successors troubles many industry leaders across the production spectrum, international and domestic.

In anticipation of the worker shortage, Keller has been instrumental in creating attractive educational alternatives for students interested in a more pragmatic approach to their careers.

At Grenzebach, a German-based manufacturer of high-tech equipment for the glass and solar panel industry, automation rules the day, too. In a showroom festooned with Octoberfest-themed vinyl banners and faux-evergreen wreaths suspended from the ceiling, an imposing innovation gleams luminous and ready.

Grenzenbach sales manager for advanced manufacturing, Jason Lammers, says it can do the work of two employees in a fraction of the time and without breakage or product loss. The machine, called TASS (Tin Air Speed Stacker), moves large plates of glass via a system of suction and hydraulics. Before this innovation, “two men

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AT WINPAK FILMS IN SENOIA EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND WORK CULTURE TAKE THE LEAD. in suits of armor” would have done the work, says Lammers with a twinkle in his eye. Breakage was a common problem, and injury was always a risk. TASS represents a one-milliondollar investment for the companies that order one from Grenzebach, but in the final analysis, customers are happy to make the upgrade. It saves them time and money in the long run.

At Canadian-founded WinPak Films in Senoia, employee satisfaction and work culture take the lead in solving the labor issue. The company currently employs 300 people in the production of plastic film and packaging for the food and medical industry. “Automation only goes so far,” says Mike Cruise, Winpak HR manager. Employee retention and creating an attractive work culture have helped Winpak improve employee satisfaction year after year since the initiative began. Cruise says that they’ve structured wage increases and made that information available to employees, so that they have a clear understanding of future opportunities. Winpak also offers a competitive benefits package that encourages employee loyalty. Cruise agrees with other international executives that having a Canadian origin and corporate hierarchy has little impact on the dayto-day enterprise of running a production facility in Coweta.

Of course, Coweta also has industries that originated domestically but ship products globally. Burl Finkelstein, executive Vice President and General Counsel of Kason Industries, has worked in Coweta since 1979 when he oversaw the construction of the plant. Founded in 1926, Kason produces hardware for refrigeration, foodservice, step van, and industrial equipment that they export worldwide. They design, build, and deliver “the world’s most dependable lines of commercial hardware and accessories.”

Finkelstein says the company picked Coweta because the business environment was more favorable than New York, and it was “just off the interstate near a large airport and a good workforce.” Kason started with 35 employees in 1979 and now employs 285 people.

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Finkelstein once thought he’d come to Coweta to establish the facility and then leave. That was 40 years ago. “I can’t think of another place I would want to live,” he says.

It seems that Finkelstein’s sentiments are widely shared by many of the companies and employees who call Coweta home.

Corvaglia Closures opened a 100,000 square foot facility in February of this year. The company makes one-piece polyethylene terephthalate (PET) caps for use on bottled beverages like sports drinks, sodas, and water. By relying on automation and robotics, Corvaglia produces its product with only 12 employees, though they hope to expand to 30 over the next two to three years. J.B. Fisher, President of Corvaglia USA, says the company maintains a competitive edge because their product is fully recyclable, unlike many of the bottle caps available in the industry today. Fisher says that the company’s decision to open a facility in Coweta has worked out “very nicely from a labor perspective and for other strategic reasons.”

It’s worked out nicely for the Coweta County tax base, too. The Coweta County Development Authority helps to attract and manage domestic and international industry to Coweta. Trae Westmoreland, president of the Authority, explains that despite the many tax incentives available to companies, the property taxes paid by industries still represent a significant portion of the tax base. Two international companies opened shop in Coweta last year, paying $328 thousand in property taxes. Westmoreland says it would take 137 homes on over 220 acres of land to equal the same tax revenue. “Any [home] under 375k doesn’t satisfy the cost of services” like roads, fire and rescue, and police. “We need more industry to satisfy the tax digest,” Westmoreland concedes.

In addition to the revenue generated by taxes, Coweta’s international industries employ approximately 2,600 people (according to figures on the CCDA website and interviews). The average manufacturing wage, says Westmoreland, is “over $23 an hour,” as opposed to an average wage of $19.90 an hour for all employees county-wide including skilled and unskilled services from retail to legal and medical. “Manufacturing is bringing our wages up,” says Westmoreland. The potential wages earned because of Coweta’s international industries could be in the neighborhood of $1.2 million per year with an average annual income of$46,000 per industrial employee. While not all those employees live in Coweta, the net effect of Coweta’s international presence, is nothing short of a win-win for homeowners, business owners, and community leaders.

Unlike other metro-area counties, Coweta isn’t out of room for more facilities.

Westmoreland says the county has thousands and thousands of acres ready and available for the next industry proposal. With the county’s commitment to educating the next generation of skilled labor, Coweta is set to be a destination for international industry for decades to come.

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INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY IN COWETA AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT CONE, DOWNTOWN SIGN SHOP

GRENZEBACH | GERMANY Founded in 1960 by Rudolf Grenzebach, Grenzebach specializes in mechanical engineering and plant construction.

The Coweta manufacturing site produces equipment for glass and solar panel manufacturing facilities. According to Jason Lammers, Advanced Manufacturing Sales Manager, the company’s largest U.S. customer is a solar panel manufacturer that purchased $30 million in new equipment last year. The company has a 90%+ market share in the flat glass production cold end equipment market. As a result, there’s a high probability that any new glass has encountered Grenzebach equipment at some stage of manufacture or transport. The company has 100 employees and currently has three positions open in manufacturing and quality control.

E.G.O. | GERMANY E.G.O. is an international high-tech company and one of the leading global manufacturers of domestic appliance technology, components and products. Founded in 1931 in Germany, E.G.O. is a family-owned global manufacturer of appliance components.

E.G.O. is the leading manufacturer of specific components to Whirlpool, Electrolux, General Electric, LG, Samsung, and also supplies specific commercial laundry applications. The company came to the US in 1980 and moved to Newnan in 1982. E.G.O. invented the radiant heating element used in smooth top electric ranges in the early 90s. Today they produce 27 million - well over 60% of the global market share of that product line. They currently employ 190 people.

MALLAGHAN | IRELAND Originally established as a Civil Engineering Firm in the 1960s, Mallaghan was founded by Terry Mallaghan is one of the leading aviation industry suppliers in the manufacturing of airport ground support equipment, producing highly acclaimed GSE products to a global network of customers. Products include catering and cabin cleaning trucks, motorized and towable passenger stairs, toilet and water service trucks, medical lifts, Airbus A380 GSE range, Bendi belt baggage handling systems, maintenance platforms and rapid delivery vehicles, deicers. Mallaghan has offices in Ireland, London, Berlin, Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai, and the USA, including Newnan. The facility employs 45 people.

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CORVAGLIA CLOSURES USA | SWITZERLAND Corvaglia Closures engages in cap design and development, mold design and manufacturing, cap production and providing cap application technical support to clients. An innovative supplier to the beverage industry, Corvaglia sets global standards when it comes to cap solutions for PET bottles. Over a period of three decades, a company group with three sites and a worldwide network of partners was established, which now counts renowned multinational conglomerates as some of its customers. Another of Corvaglia’s strengths is their fully integrated process chain – from the creation of cap solutions

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to fitting them on the bottle. The 100,000 square foot Coweta facility employs 12 people.

BLICKLE | GERMANY Founded in 1953, Blickle is one of the leading manufacturers of wheels and casters worldwide. The company employs manufacturing, engineering, laboratory, operations, customer service, marketing and sales personnel at its new facility in Newnan. The site has room for further expansion of the facility to an area of more than 200,000 square feet. In the Coweta County news coverage regarding the company’s intention to locate in Newnan, Scott Chahalis, President of Blickle U.S.A. and long-time Coweta resident, said, “Blickle is recognized

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as the preeminent global caster and wheel manufacturer. We are delighted to have chosen Newnan and Coweta County as the headquarters of Blickle U.S.A. and highly appreciate the substantial support we received from Coweta County and the State of Georgia.” The company currently employs 25 people.

its 1,355,000 square foot Coweta facility, which consists of four plants and two distribution centers.

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY | JAPAN

Founded in 1967, Maxxis International began as a manufacturer of bicycle tires in Taiwan. Since then Maxxis has become the largest manufacturer of bicycle tires in the world. With over fortyfive years of manufacturing and ingenuity experience, Maxxis has created new technologies to diversify their tire products allowing them to expand into new markets offering products for motorcycles, cars, 4x4s, light trucks, trucks and buses, ATVs, lawn and garden products, race karts, industrial vehicles and trailers. According to the Coweta County Development Authority, the Newnan facility employs 20 people.

Hitachi (formerly Kowasaki) manufactures machine loaders for the construction industry. The corporate headquarters relocated from Kennesaw to Newnan in 2019. According to the company website, “The origins of KCM loaders can be traced to 1962 when Kawasaki Heavy Industries built their first articulated wheel loader in Japan. As one of the largest heavy industries in Japan, Kawasaki provided a depth of engineering expertise that eventually made their wheel loader a major global player. As they introduced the wheel loader into the North American market in 1978, they found a positive reception for the productive, high quality loader. They established a solid support system built around an extensive, independent network of dealers that were committed to providing quality support along with quality equipment.” According to the Coweta County Development Authority, the local facility employs 55 people.

YAMAHA |

JAPAN

Yamaha designs and manufactures four recreational product lines including Golf Cars, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Personal Watercraft and Recreational Off-road Vehicles (ROVs). They do not sell directly to the public. The products are sold and distributed in the U.S. by Yamaha Motor Corporation USA headquartered in California. Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America employs approximately 1600 people in Fall 2019

MAXXIS CORPORATION | TAIWAN

NYCO AMERICA | FRANCE NYCO is a French independent and privately-owned company with expertise in the development and manufacturing of high-performance lubricants and synthetic ester bases for aeronautics, defense, industry and automotive. In 2017, NYCO brought their U.S. headquarters and operating platform to Shenandoah Industrial Park in Newnan. The company press release acknowledged that “As a strategic industrial site in Newnan, Georgia, this platform affords responsive air/ground supply logistics from Atlanta, a core technical staff home base, ready access to Charleston and Savannah ports and an outstanding Newnan community pro-business growth environment.” In a 2017 interview with the Newnan Times Herald, CEO James Mustacchio said, “the manufacturing sector of the business should be operating in 2019, which would raise the number of employees to between 12 and 15.”

33

OLDCASTLE INFRASTRUCTURE | IRELAND Oldcastle Infrastructure (formerly Oldcastle Precast) is one of North America’s largest manufacturers of utility products and construction accessories for the telecommunications, energy, transportation, building structures and water markets. They offer flexibility of scale, engineering expertise and a large product portfolio with local responsiveness and delivery options. Oldcastle Building Envelope and Oldcastle Infrastructure employ a total of 110 people.

PAXXO | SWEDEN Paxxo USA Incorporated, which also operates under the name Paxxo USA, is located in Newnan, Georgia.

Paxxo primarily operates in the liners/lining industry within the fabricated metal products sector. In operation for approximately seven years, the Newnan facility is engaged in manufacturing and importing activities. Paxxo manufactures a unique, economical and environmentally friendly waste bagging system that is used in a variety of industries such as hospitals, pharmacies, food services and treatment plants.

PAXXO IN NEWNAN, GA MANUFACTURES INDUSTRY SPECIFIC LINERS

Paxxo USA Inc. is estimated to generate $279,854 in annual revenues, and employs approximately two people at this single location.

TENCATE | NETHERLANDS TenCate provides a wide range of high-quality industrial safety fabrics that combine protection, comfort and durability. Protective garments incorporating its fabrics are found in many sectors, including utilities and infrastructure, energy, oil and gas, chemical, metal, steel and mining and manufacturing. TenCate employs 255 people at two locations in Senoia.

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Fall 2019

WINPAK FILMS | CANADA Founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Winpak is part of a global packaging group with ten manufacturing facilities in North America. They manufacture and distribute high-quality packaging materials and innovative packaging machines primarily used for the protection of perishable foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals and health care applications.

Winpak specializes in three main streams of packaging; flexible packaging, rigid packaging and lidding, as well as packaging machinery. Winpak employs 300 people at their Senoia facilities.

YOKOGAWA CORPORATION | JAPAN Yokogawa is a leading provider of Industrial Automation and Test and Measurement solutions. Combining superior technology with engineering services, project management and maintenance, Yokogawa delivers field proven operational efficiency, safety, quality and reliability. Yokogawa Corporation of America has become a leading manufacturer and supplier of test, measurement, field instrumentation, process control and information products for North America since its establishment in 1957. Originally named Yokogawa Electric Works, Inc., Yokogawa Corporation of America began in New York and became Yokogawa’s first overseas affiliate.

In 1980, Yokogawa opened its first manufacturing facility in Newnan to provide a broad range of capabilities, including complete product manufacturing, product modification, product customization and full-service calibration. The local facility employs 255 people according to the Coweta County Development Authority.

Fall 2019

2018 Global Trade Highlights from the Georgia Department of Economic Development 2018 was a record-setting year for Georgia trade with exports exceeding $40.5 billion for the first time. Across the state, exports sustain thousands of businesses with nearly 90% of Georgia exporters consisting of small and medium-sized firms. In 2018, exports reached 212 unique markets, and Georgia reclaimed its rank as the 11th largest exporting state in the nation. In the past decade, Georgia exports have grown by 71%.

Georgia’s international representatives located in 12 strategic markets - Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Peru and the United Kingdom and Ireland – play a critical role in facilitating exports and introducing Georgia businesses to new global customers. In 2018, 60% of exports went to markets where Georgia has international representation.

Total trade exceeded $139.3 billion in 2018, spanning 223 countries and territories. The state’s top trading partners include China, Germany, Mexico, Canada and Japan. Georgia’s total trade value has nearly doubled in the past ten years. Imports grew to $98.7 billion in 2018, and Georgia ranks 7th among U.S. states for imports and total trade.

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Community Involvement

Local Business Partners

Kiwanis | Newnan-Coweta Chamber

Yokogawa | Cargill | Newnan Utilities

Angel House | The Rutledge Center

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Tales from the Frontline:

W Grenzebach’s Jason Lammers WHEN I BEGAN WORKING FOR GRENZEBACH

Corporation, my professional experience was limited to working in the offices of American-based corporations.

Though the customer service team I joined was made

up of Americans, it quickly became apparent that any success within the company would involve enlisting the help and cooperation of my German colleagues.

as my own. While managing a small industrial parts

Admittedly, I would face several challenges over the

store in Alabama I wore many hats. I would explore

first months that stemmed from my lack of knowledge

new opportunities, qualify leads and negotiate with

of the German organizational mentality. But the

customers and vendors. Then I would manage the

lessons I learned while navigating this new space are

customer order, the vendor PO, receipt of goods and

invaluable and I will carry them with me for the rest

even collection efforts. I had a team of people who

of my life.

would fluidly shifted between jobs. So in my mind, this is how business was done.

The first lesson was adhering to the organizational chart and not taking on the roles of my coworkers as well

Working with a German organization didn’t allow for this level of role fluidity. I found myself frustrated as I would visit a customer and receive a request and then pass these inquiries off to the appropriate party and wait for them to finish the process. I wanted to jump in and start doing calculations and calling vendors because that’s what I did in the past.

However, the separation of labor that initially frustrated me quickly became a lifeline. I was soon personally responsible for far more business than would have been possible the old way. Instead of dealing with constant interruptions and frequently bouncing between dissimilar tasks, I could now organize my work for better flow and set aside time to focus on tasks that required more concentration.

My productivity increased without cutting heavily into my family life like my previous job did. Instead of owning transactions from start to finish, I was free to develop customer relationships and trust that the team of people behind me would handle their work as diligently as I pursued my own.

Another lesson that stretched and humbled me after joining the Grenzebach team was learning how to handle a crisis without involving my manager at

38

Fall 2019

every step. At my previous employers, whenever an emergency arose that threatened your relationship with the customer, you immediately informed the boss and took your direction from them. This conditioned me to act autonomously only when things went well.

I would often know the best course of action and understood the manager well enough to take charge of most situations as he would. But unilateral action would challenge the executive’s sense of control and

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was strongly discouraged.

When I transitioned to my role with Grenzebach I did as I was conditioned. When major challenges would inevitably come, I would call my supervisor and get his input before moving forward. He never reprimanded

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me for relying on him, he would only ask what I had done to solve the problem. After a few phone calls of this nature, I began to realize that I was not only trusted, but expected to deal with these situations on my own. I would, of course, keep him informed of any major issues but I was fully empowered to take the steps necessary to fix the problem. When I did make a mistake or take an action in the wrong direction, I could count on him and my teammates to support me. Being both empowered and supported allowed me to build

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my crisis management skills and my confidence.

Coming from an American-based business background, I had certain ideas about how things should operate.

Since then, I’ve learned that there is more than one

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right way to approach the business world. Working for a German-based company has proven difficult at times, but it was often the result of imposing my own ideas about how it should be. I eventually discovered that there was a good reason behind the processes and policies that seemed wrong at first. Sure, improvements and refinements are always needed because we are all human, but sometimes what’s most critical is a new perspective.

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39

Take me to the

River

BY LARISA MITCHELL SCOTT

Take a 15-mile drive

due northwest from downtown Newnan. There the

Chattahoochee River makes a broad curve as it flows along the county line.

Nestled just south of that curve or “bend” sparkles a Coweta County jewel known as Chattahoochee Bend State Park - often called “Chatt Bend.” Developed eight years ago, the park boasts dozens of amenities and activities; however, it’s the 5.5 miles of river frontage that excites Coweta’s State Representative for House District 70, Lynn Smith.

“Lynn Smith is our biggest fan,” says Chattahoochee Bend State Park Assistant Manager, Jessica Fangmeyer. “She comes out to enjoy the park, and she’s

Lynn Smith, Coweta’s State Representative, is a huge proponent of the Chattahoochee Bend State Park and of the preservation of the river.

40

playing a huge role in its continued development.” During a recent paddling event, Georgia River Network, a group advocating for river health and enjoyment, happily presented Lynn Smith an award for being a water trail champion for their organization. While floating, Smith was all smiles pointing out sedimentation and other interesting aspects of the river. With a sparkle in her eye she told of exciting developments to come with land and river trails connecting to become “blue trails.”

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L

ater in an interview, Smith explained how the Trust for

bringing positive attention to rivers, water trails, the increase of

Public Land, a respected conservation group, is presenting

recreational opportunities, health, conservation, tourism, and

studies of the river from the Buford Dam at Lake Lanier

economic development within communities and throughout

all the way down to Chattahoochee Bend and how the findings

the state.” Peck Stricker also says that Georgia River Network is

are encouraging for future river trail development. Representative

excited to work with Representative Lynn Smith on a water trail

Smith calls the river “one of Atlanta’s best resources, similar to the

designed to help people who want to hike and connect with the

beltway.” Continuing she says, “The water serves as a connection

water. She says Chattahoochee Bend State Park is a model for

for 100 miles, from the dam to the park.” She calls Chattahoochee

hiking and water trails together and that boat launches hosted

Bend the “Southwest portal” to the river “blue trail” project.

by GRN and the Department of Natural Resources help boost eco-tourism in the area.

According to Rena Peck Stricker, executive director of Georgia River Network, “Water trails are a popular way to highlight rivers and are highly desired by communities around the state. The Georgia Water Trails Program helps form water trail stakeholder

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partnerships that encompass all sectors of a community by

In Georgia, outdoor recreationists spend $11.3 billion annually on canoeing, kayaking, and rafting.

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Approximately one million paddlers use water trails across the state. Georgia River Network has plans to focus more attention on rivers and water trails with the development of the soon to debut Georgia Water Trails River Guide app. The guide incorporated with the app informs river recreationists of places to put in and take out along the river, trail location and where to pause to enjoy wildlife. Peck Stricker also notes that GRN is enthusiastically supportive of bringing more recreation access to Coweta County.

Before efforts to turn the area into a state park, Representative

1065 Sullivan Rd, Suite B, Newnan GA, 30265

Smith says it was land treated “passively” and “lying fallow” until Governor Roy Barnes set it aside for future public use; the effort to develop it into a state park initiated by Governor Purdue. But before the park, with the primary land use of foresting timber coupled with a lack of river access points, Coweta was left with a somewhat barren, near useless corridor of the Chattahoochee. Back then the water was nowhere near clean enough for recreational use. Smith calls the river in those days a “liability.”

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terms like “Urban Tourism” and “Eco-Tourism” to describe the direction of the park. She, along with others, envision the park as “a portal into this huge dedicated tourism and recreation area.” As more people enjoy being on the water there is increased awareness to the importance of having a clean river.

Henry Jacobs, middle outreach director for Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, discusses the “blue trail” initiatives as becoming Fall 2019

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“a valuable resource for the region to access the river, enjoy kayaking, paddling, and fishing at the same time.”

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It’s a wonderful place to camp, hike and enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities. A lot of credit goes to the people working together to help advocate and see it through.

Jacobs expresses excitement about the “revival of the Chattahoochee downstream for Atlanta,” and explains that the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers’ mission to protect and preserve the river is met with success because the river is much cleaner today

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as it flows downstream. He notes that with continued monitoring of the river, many years of enjoyment from those wanting to connect with nature in and around the Atlanta area is possible.

With all this talk of camping, hiking, and paddling for the enjoyment of nature, Smith is quick to point out the economic benefit to our area. “Those wanting to enjoy the park are coming here, visiting our downtown areas to shop, eat and stay. They like what they see, and they are coming back time and again to enjoy the park and Coweta.

There is economic value in all of this. Tourism brings in dollars just like manufacturing.

The park is such an asset to our community and one that everyone can get behind to support and enjoy.”

Meanwhile, back at Chattahoochee Bend State Park, Jessica Fangmeyer, along with other park personnel, are preparing for a full calendar of seasonal activities geared toward families, eco-tourists, and weekenders wanting to relax in nature. Visitation has increased over time. The park is now eight years old. Word is getting out, and more people are coming for programming created by an on-staff naturalist. In the summer and fall the RV campground is full every weekend. Fangmeyer is proud of the

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float back down the river. Leaders from the Friends group teach paddling, river safety, Fall 2019

A T R U S T E D PA R T N E R

and techniques for navigating the river. Fangmeyer points

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out the river is perfect for beginning paddlers. “It’s definitely a beginner paddler’s dream,” she says. “The river moves quickly, but there is a low risk of rapids or white water. The park has five miles of riverfront and fall is a great time to enjoy the colors.”

Friends of Georgia State Parks has chapters throughout the State of Georgia, and one of them is The Chattahoochee Bend State Park Friends group established 2009. Before the park opening, the Friends group was already active clearing trails like the River Bend and readying the park for visitors.

The group, established by the Coweta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Department of Natural Resources and Representative Lynn Smith, are active today with trail maintenance, creating bike trails, programming, setting up archery, and as one Friend board member Dean Jackson says, “helping the park reach its full potential.” The group also holds RiverFest, a popular annual event in Newnan held once a year to garner support for the park and increase awareness about its programs. The group erects and fills a large pool where people can try out kayaking. Friends encourage Cowetans and people everywhere to take full advantage of Chatt Bend. It’s continually budding assets in a beautiful naturalistic setting.

Jackson says others can become a “Friend” by going online to friendsofgastateparks.org.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park has 2,910 acres, three cabins, close to 70 campsites of various kinds, picnic shelters, a boat ramp, gift shop, and a playground. As far as activities, visitors may bike 3.2 miles of trails, boat, fish, geocache, hike 12 miles of trails, kayak, canoe, and picnic.

For more information visit gastateparks. org/ChattahoocheeBend.

Fall 2019

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45

NEXT LEVEL LEADERSHIP

Increasingly, a dedicated community of leaders is coalescing around a vision of prosperity that serves the collective benefit of those who live, work, play and THRIVE in Coweta.

The Newnan-Coweta Chamber enjoys the participation of over 50 key stakeholders who, together, render a positive impact on the prosperity of one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.

Newnan-Coweta Chamber Program

Being an Enhanced Investor gains your business immediate, high-profile exposure and recognition throughout the Coweta community. Enhanced Investors also receive exceptional opportunities to advocate for their companies with Coweta’s decisionmakers and have a leg up when it comes to planning for business growth. From customers to policymakers to the community at large – everyone will know that your business is a powerful community asset.

ClubCorp | White Oak Golf Club | Gold Investor Based in Dallas, Texas, ClubCorp operates in 27 states, two foreign countries and the District of Columbia. In Coweta clubs, sports, business and alumni clubs offers the community

Coweta County Water and Sewerage Authority | Silver Investor

Canongate I in Sharpsburg and White Oak in Newnan. World-

In its effort to protect and enhance the environment, the Coweta

renowned golf course architects Joe Lee and Dick Wilson

County Water & Sewage Authority (“CCWSA” or the “Authority”)

designed nine holes each in Sharpsburg for the Canongate I

has received numerous awards from the Georgia Association

Golf Club in 1965. An additional 18 holes designed by Rocky

of Water Professionals (GAWP). Its wastewater treatment plants

Roquemore and Jeff Burton were added in 1999, integrating

at Arnco, Sargent, and Shenandoah have received several gold

four distinct nines into the natural landscape surrounding the

awards from GAWP for excellence in wastewater collection and

course. The White Oak Golf Club opened to Newnan in 1986

treatment services. CCWSA has been consistently recognized

and features both traditional and modern courses, making up

for its water conservation efforts, superior customer service and

36 holes of golf. Additional amenities for club members include

its innovation via the Cross-Connection Control Program and

tennis, pickleball, swimming, a double-sided driving range,

its dedication to safety. CCWSA credits its sterling performance

short game practice area, bar and grill, pro shop, locker rooms,

to its dedicated employees.

County, the owner/operator of more than 200 golf and country

and fine dining with stunning views of both golf courses.

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Fall 2019

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It is the mission of the CCWSA “to enhance and preserve the

quit smoking and/or develop relationships by recognizing core

quality of our community by being a responsible steward of the

characteristics. There are no referrals needed for mental health

water resources with which we have been entrusted.” CCWSA

care whether dealing with addiction or depression, and discounts

continues to be a recognized community partner and leader

are provided for alternative therapies such as acupuncture.

in the water and sewer industry because of its dedication to recruiting the best employees and providing an “open, inclusive workplace that makes it an organization in which employees are proud to work.”

A coordinated approach to healthcare enables the teams of specialists at Kaiser Permanente to provide better care and healthier outcomes as they work and think as one. Doctors work as personal advocates for patients catching problems before they become serious via health screenings and relying on cutting edge technology for serious issues. To its credit, Kaiser Permanente leads the nation in controlling blood pressure, and

Honda of Newnan | Silver Investor

its research bank is one of the most significant research projects in the U.S.

Honda of Newnan is proud to be an active part of Coweta County’s vibrant community. Their mission via their parent company, Hendrick Automotive Group, aka Hendrick Cars, is to further the Hendricks Cares Program: One Team. United for Good. The policy of Hendricks Cars continues through Honda of Newnan with their commitment to teamwork, caring for others within their dealerships, with their customers, and in our

Working within its integrated network, the Kaiser Permanente team can provide a complete picture of health at every visit.

Through proactive primary care, Kaiser Permanente gives its patients the first line of defense and the foundation for a long and healthy life.

community. Coweta County’s newest dealership, which sits on 17 acres of land and supports over 80 employees, opened in May of 2018 in Newnan.

On the site of its dealership at 391 Newnan Crossing Bypass, Honda of Newnan currently offers 300 new and 100 pre-owned vehicles with access to over 43,000 vehicles at HendrickCars. com. Customers enjoy the benefit of 40 service bays and stateof-the-art amenities within the 64,000 square foot facility, which includes a courtesy shuttle to local attractions and retail centers as well as free Wi-Fi and a snack bar.

PrintSource | Silver Investor PrintSource is an award-winning company that has served the Newnan community since 1996. The business has been recognized for excellence by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber, the Printing Industries Association of Georgia, Survey Advantage, and Idealliance via numerous awards, including small business of the year and the prosperity award, as well as best in the graphic arts and self-promotion category two years in a row.

PrintSource owner Andy Miller has been active in the Chamber since 2008 and has been a board member for the last four years, serving as chairman in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente | Silver Investor Kaiser Permanente delivers a team approach to support total health for its 11.8 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. The implementation of a health plan for doctors, specialists, and hospitals to work together has resulted in quality care, affordable plans and a choice of doctors. The philosophy behind this plan, which formed this not-for-profit healthcare organization in 1945, is that, when careful attention and coverage connect, the result is quality care. Using highly trained specialists, evidence-based treatments and advanced technology, Kaiser Permanente promotes good health in place

Concerning trends in the printing industry, Andy notes, “The dissemination of information has changed tremendously with the rise in digital communication over the last decade. Printing now has a unique place amid saturated digital dialogue. If a business wants something to get noticed, the inclination is to go to print. There has been a significant increase in direct mail because business communications are more easily noticed with print in the current market.” The importance of customer service is paramount to the core values of PrintSource, a faith-based company that seeks to honor God above all.

of just treating illness. Members are given opportunities to work with a wellness coach to improve eating habits, reduce stress, 48

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From Newnan, drive north on Highway 29 and make the first left into Arbor Springs. Situated on the left, discover an idyllic new neighborhood simply titled, “The Gardens.” It is a new housing development for the 55 and over set by McKinney & Son featuring cutting-edge amenities, thoughtful execution, and beauty. Lots of beauty! “The Gardens” is a business venture by longtime area builder, Mac McKinney, his son Austin and daughter Evan.

Evan markets the property and is the primary listing agent. Individually and as a trio, they are striking, with matching blue eyes, welcoming smiles, and an easygoing forthright manner.

Upon entering the front gate, visitors to “The Gardens” notice the pleasing

By Larisa Mitchell Scott Photos by Katie Stepp

sound of a fountain trickling in the courtyard “splash” pool suitable for refreshing “dips.” The houses, designed by Southern Living architect, Mitch Ginn, of Newnan, are a visual delight from the outside, through the courtyard (a room itself) and on into the interior. Austin and Mac McKinney are a father and son team developing this unusual, yet practical and inviting housing option for senior living.

50

Fall 2019

“IT’S DIFFERENT,” SAYS AUSTIN MCKINNEY WITH A PROUD SMILE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT PLENTY “OUT OF THE BOX” THOUGHT AND SPECIAL CARE ARE A PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

The McKinney Clan is an outdoorsy

meetings, helps keep me and my

bunch fond of motorcycling and

team organized and ahead of the

deep-sea fishing, and the homes

game.” Austin is no doubt, learning

in their development reflect their

a lot from his dad, a veteran of the

love of the outdoors. A nod toward

building business since 1980. As a

alfresco living is evident in the

team, Austin handles the building

design of the home. Options such

construction while Mac focuses on

as

the business end.

Forty-nine homes are in the works

and dining areas, a garden patch,

for the first phase with another 22

all encourage residents to relish

for Phase two on an adjacent lot.

opportunities to embrace fresh air

Accessible floor plans, a caretaker

and nature. Earthy reclaimed wood

apartment, geothermal heating and

accents honed by mother nature

cooling, master on the main, flush

allow the McKinneys to bring the

entry showers, secure courtyards,

feeling of the outdoors inside.

outdoor

fireplaces,

cooking

natural lighting, and other features are included to appeal to those entering a new phase of life. When asked her favorite feature of the homes, Evan McKinney replies, “I personally love the courtyard design.

The houses are solid, eco-friendly, and a quality product which is rarer these days.”

The McKinneys exude the “work

BEST LESSON FROM DAD? AUSTIN ANSWERS, “TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE, WHETHER IT IS PROVIDING A TIMELY PAYCHECK OR HELPING OTHERS WHEN THEY NEED SOME ADVICE.

hard, play hard” way of life, and for

Austin

McKinney

there

is

definitely the belief that the “early bird

gets

the

worm.”

He

says,

“Having a clear process, such as our 6 a.m. superintendent morning

We

have

some

of

the

best

subcontractors and vendors in the business, and I believe a lot of that is due to his open concern for the people that build our homes.”

the

GARD E NS is a McKinney family business. Pictured are longtime area builder, Mac McKinney, and his son Austin.

Fall 2019

51

After walking around the development with Mac, it becomes apparent there is also a concern for the residents who inhabit his dream development for those 55 and over.

He wants the neighborhood residents to “have fun” and be “social.” He purposefully places

central

mailboxes

outside

the

clubhouse so that homeowners must walk to or stop by to retrieve their mail. This way, they would bump into neighbors and hopefully sprout friendships to savor in their new location. Inside the clubhouse there is a place to enjoy a game of cards or jam to live music with fellow neighbors.

Mac McKinney wants residents to relish life at “The Gardens.”

“HOPEFULLY IT WILL TURN INTO A REAL CLOSE COMMUNITY,” HE SAYS. Homeowners in “The Gardens” are sure to revel in the carefree benefits such as lawn maintenance, ease of access to the interstate, and the ability to ride a golf cart to a grocery store planned for Arbor Springs.

For the Mckinney family team, they are just as much builders of dreams as they are of homes.

To schedule an appointment at The Gardens at Arbor Springs, contact Evan McKinney of The Storrar Group with Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International Realty, evanmckinney@atlantafinehomes.com or gather more information at TheGardensAtArborSprings.com

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Fall 2019

Fall 2019

53

for she’s a jolly good fellow Chamber’s Cynthia Bennett selected for Education Fellowship

By Susan Kraut

C

Cynthia Bennett, recently named Vice President of Advocacy and Talent Development at the Newnan-Coweta Chamber, has been selected by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) to participate in a ten-month professional development program designed to assist in improving education and talent development outcomes in their communities.

In 2018, the Chamber launched Coweta Works, a unique program that provides every eighth-grader in Coweta County’s public and private schools a chance to learn about local career opportunities. Most recently, the Chamber demonstrated an even stronger commitment to developing Coweta’s talent pipeline by redefining the role of Vice President Cynthia Bennett. Beginning in August 2019, Bennett’s role shifted to an elevated dedication to education when named as the Vice President of Advocacy and Talent Development. In this

The Fellowship for Education & Talent Development

role, Bennett will oversee a comprehensive workforce

is an immersive executive development program that

and industry support program uniquely aligned with

provides chamber professionals the ability to interact

the diverse needs of Coweta’s business community.

with peers, ACCE staff, and national experts. Through a combination of in-person and virtual activities, fellows are exposed to a deep dive into the cutting-edge theories, approaches and best practices in talent development.

Throughout the program, participants will focus on addressing specific education attainment or workforce development issues in their communities.

Chamber

President

and

CEO

Candace

Boothby

explained, “Cynthia Bennett’s expertise and experience makes her uniquely qualified to lead our Chamber’s talent development initiatives. Her passion and deep knowledge, coupled with her ability to build strategic relationships and capitalize on unique opportunities guarantee many wins for our education stakeholders

The Newnan-Coweta Chamber enjoys a rich history

and the community at large. We are thrilled that she has

supporting

been selected to represent our community in ACCE’s

meaningful

education

initiatives.

The

Chamber played an integral role in the development

Education Fellowship.”

of Georgia’s original career academy, the Central Educational Center (CEC), more than twenty years ago.

Today the Chamber is actively involved in a governance role with CEC, and in recent years, has been influential in the development and launch of the Georgia Consortium of Advanced Technical Training (GA CATT), the first of its kind nationally.

54

Boothby added that Bennett’s participation in the Education Fellowship would benefit our community through exposure to new best practices. She also shared that the members of the cohort group would receive great value from Bennett’s knowledge and experience Fall 2019

while learning about the innovative work being done in

where these professionals can expand their portfolios

Coweta through the CEC and GA CATT programs.

and

evolve

their

already

impressive

community

initiatives,” said ACCE President and CEO, Sheree Anne “We’re proud of Cynthia and our community and look forward to sharing our Coweta story on the national stage. It’s a great day in Coweta County!” she said.

“The new cohort of fellows is a thoughtful, experienced and knowledgeable group with a broad range of perspectives. With the creativity and energy they give their organizations, we are delighted to offer a program

Kelly. “This class represents some of the foremost leaders in the chamber industry, and the impact they will have on their communities, as a result of their determination, will be immeasurable.”

Leaders

selected

to

participate

in

the

2019-20

Fellowship represent communities including Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rogers, Arkansas, Orlando, Florida,

Here matters.

Here is where we are committed to building personal relationships, meeting individual needs and supporting the communities we serve. We’re here for each other.

1-888-SYNOVUS synovus.com

Fall 2019 Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.

55

Huntsville, Alabama, Green Bay, Wisconsin, McKinney,

About the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives:

Texas, Hickory, North Carolina, Rochester, New York,

Established in 1914, ACCE is an association of 9,000

Ocala, Florida, Newnan, Georgia, Lubbock, Texas, Phoenix, Stamford,

Arizona,

Wake

Connecticut,

Forest,

Stevens

North Point,

Carolina, Wisconsin,

Albany, New York, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Memphis, Tennessee, Springfield, Missouri, York, PA, Columbia, Tennessee, and San Jose, California.

leaders from 1,300 chambers of commerce, including 93 of the top 100 U.S. metro areas. The combined membership of ACCE chambers is close to one million businesses. Chamber leaders look to ACCE for best practices, networks and new ideas that will help them advance the interests of their communities. ACCE recommends successful programs and strategies, and identifies trends, partners and business models that show promise. For more information, visit ACCE.org.

A career worth sharing A career as a financial representative with Modern Woodmen of America is worth sharing, and I’d love to tell you why. Call me to find out how you can love your 9 to 5 as much as your 5 to 9.

www.mwacareers.org Danny Nungesser, II, FICF, RICP, CFFM Suite C 2511 Highway 34E Newnan, GA 30265 B 706-389-9538 C 678-910-0727 daniel.nungesser.ii@mwarep.org

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Fall 2019

COWETA LEADERS GRADUATE FROM THE GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HOME for the

HOLIDAYS For every tree harvested, another is planted!

Front L to R: Cynthia Culbreath; Susan Kraut; Anissa Patton; Abby Smith; Back L to R: Carrie Barnes, Georgia EMC; Scott Berta; Blue Cole; Norman Lundin; Jim Lovett, Georgia Power ON NOVEMBER 12, THE BOARD OF THE GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED COWETA COUNTY GRADUATES FROM THE 2019 REGION 4 MULTI-DAY TRAINING PROGRAM. Participants represented a number of professionals and non-professionals including elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators and social service providers from ten counties in west central Georgia.

Over 800 fabrics to fit any style!

Created in 1993, the academy offers training for economic developers in all twelve service delivery regions of Georgia by assembling a cross section of resources.

Georgia EMC and Georgia Power provide facilitators and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs provides staff support for the training.

The academy includes training in the basics of economic and community development plus specialized segments on business recruitment and retention, tourism development, downtown development, planning and other essentials for community success. The curriculum also features leadership skills such as consensus building, ethics in public service and collaborative leadership.

“One of the goals for the academy is to encourage multi-county cooperation,” says Kelly Lane, Director of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. “Many times the participants discover the issues facing their community are the same in others and can then combine resources to address the issues.”

Coweta County graduates at the November ceremony included: Scott Berta, Managing Partner, Tree Protection Supply; Blue Cole, Mayor, Town of Sharpsburg; Ashley Copeland, Communications Manager, City of Newnan; Cynthia Culbreath; Cynthia Jenkins, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Newnan; Michael Lear, Chief Marketing Officer, The Southern Credit Union; Norman Lundin, Board Member, Coweta County Development Authority; Susan Kraut, Vice President of Strategy and Operations, Newnan-Coweta Chamber; Anissa Patton, Esq., Anissa R.Patton, Attorney at Law; and Abby Smith, Communication Specialist, Newnan-Coweta Chamber.

Largest Display of Home Furnishings in the area

75 Greenville Street

Just south of the court square

Newnan, GA • 770-253-4040 www.knoxfurn.com

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

er

mb Meet the dedicated team of professionals who are in the a h privileged position of working with you to render a thriving and C prosperous Coweta. Take a peek behind the curtain and meet the team m that rallies day in and day out in support of our members. It's never just Tea "a day at the office!" Interested in reaching out? Call 770.253.2270 and ask to speak to the dynamic professional who best suits your needs.

Susan Kraut Cynthia Bennett Vice-President of Vice-President, Advocacy Candace Boothby President & CEO Strategy and Operations and Talent Development

Valerie Ward Executive Assistant Office Manager

Jennifer Garcia Member Relations Program Support

Katie Stepp Member Relations Event Support

Abby Smith Communications Specialist

Colleen Mitchell Sales and Business Development

Celenna Davis Bookkeeping

Bob Coggin Governmental Affairs

Nora Ann Wood Member Retention Specialist

Beverly Garner Administrative Support

SUSAN KRAUT NAMED VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS In November 2019 the Chamber’s Susan Kraut was promoted to Vice President of Strategy and Operations. In this expanded role, her strategic responsibilities include growth, events, programs, member benefits, communications and support for community initiatives. In the operational role, her responsibilities include day-to-day support in organizational management, processes, budgets and personnel.

With nearly twenty years of marketing and communications experience and five years in planning, strategic execution and budget management, Susan plans to continue to use her extensive professional background to the benefit of Chamber member businesses and the community at large.

“My vision has always been to positively contribute to the progress and prosperity of our community at large while lending my diverse experience to the benefit of the businesses of Coweta County. I want to effectively serve the existing membership while working steadfastly to innovate continued growth and retention,” she said.

Susan is also a certified yoga instructor, passionate about community wellness, and in 2017 she was the lead organizer of the First Annual Newnan Yoga and Wellness Festival. “Mind-body wellness is as essential a component to a life well-lived as financial security or material success. My manifesto includes a whole-person approach to happiness in supporting a thoughtful means by which we can thrive – individually and in contribution to our community. I look forward to continuing to champion a healthy, wealthy Coweta,” Susan said.

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Fall 2019

NONE ARE AS OLD AS THOSE WHO HAVE OUTLIVED ENTHUSIAM. —Henry David Thoreau

WELCOME TO “RIGHT THIS WAY, PLEASE.”

We can’t talk about Wesley Woods without talking about the food. It really is that good! All meals are served restaurant-style in our elegant dining room or more casual bistro. And the menu? It changes daily, and there’s always a surprise -- maybe a shrimp etouffee special one day and beef pot roast the next. Sound delicious? We’d love to give you a tour.

Wesley Woods is the only Life Plan Community in the Newnan area – offering independent living, personal care, memory care and skilled nursing.

WELCOME HOME.

2280 North Highway 29 | Newnan, GA 30265 | wesleywoods.org/newnan | 770.683.6859

CONSUMER CONSUMER SALES SALESININ COWETA COWETA A RECENT DATA ANALYSIS OF COWETA COUNTY RETAIL SPENDING SUGGESTS THAT OUT-OF-COUNTY RESIDENTS ACCOUNT FOR UP TO 78% OF PATRONS TO LOCAL RETAIL OUTLETS.

BY SUSAN KRAUT

he report, based on a range of diverse geographic

“Many of those estimates were anecdotal, or focused on one

and retail locations within the county, provides

location,” said Susan Kraut, the Chamber’s Vice-President

a consumer breakdown of visits generated by shoppers

of Strategy and Operations. “This study provides us with

within a localized Regional Trade Area (RTA). The

a much more comprehensive survey of current travel,

Birmingham-based NextSite, LLC study was commissioned

shopping, and spending patterns, how those things happen

by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber and sought to provide

all over the county {and region}, and how that affects us in

a more detailed analysis of local shopping habits and the

Coweta. It should help us make more informed decisions as

impact on local sales tax revenues.

a community.”

“THIS IS THE MOST DETAILED DATA WE HAVE SEEN ON

The analysis was informed by market research data used to

THIS SUBJECT,” SAID CANDACE BOOTHBY, PRESIDENT,

define the Regional Trade Area and analyze demographic

AND CEO OF THE NEWNAN-COWETA CHAMBER. “WE

profiles for Coweta County, GA, engaging PlacerAI – an

KNOW THAT THE IMPACT OF NON-RESIDENT SPENDING

advanced foot traffic analytics platform which leverages

IN OUR COUNTY IS SIGNIFICANT. THIS STUDY HELPS US

smartphone tracking and AI to estimate in-store traffic

UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THAT IMPACT BETTER

volumes – to determine consumer travel patterns and STI

THAN WE HAVE BEFORE. IT ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THE

Popstats – an established provider of population data products

IMPACT IS LARGER THAN WE KNEW.”

and technology that helps location-driven companies better understand markets, populations, and consumers – to

Boothby noted that it is well-known that significant numbers of shoppers spend in Coweta County because of

highlight demographics and consumer expenditure data and identify population and household-specific patterns.

the impact of Interstate 85 and county growth as a regional shopping and business destination, and that such spending

The identified Regional Trade Area (RTA) reflects the

results in a significant non-resident contribution to the

geographic area that local shopping districts draw from, i.e.,

county’s economy and tax base. Previous attempts to

the longest drive a customer is willing to make on a regular

estimate the impact – specific to sales tax contributions –

to semi-regular basis. The assessment provided by NextSite

have relied on a variety of estimates, including observation

concludes a total annual shopper draw of approximately

of shopper patterns at specific retail locations and

666,158 from within the Regional Trade Area, of which

businesses, and have lent themselves to a figure upwards

146,744 (22%) are residents of Coweta County, and 519,414

of 40 percent.

(78%) reflects those who travel into the county for essential goods and services.

60

Fall 2019

OUT-OF-COUNTY PATRONS CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND,

BY EXTENSION, TO THE LOCAL TAX BASE

Photos courtesy “Enjoy Senoia, Georgia” and “Main Street Newnan” Face Book pages

Fall 2019

61

Consumer journey analytics were gathered for several shopping districts

Our pediatric orthopedic physician at Georgia Bone & Joint is a recognized leader in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric orthopedic injuries and conditions. Dr. Jayson McMath specializes in providing the highest level of care and compassion to children experiencing orthopedic injuries or conditions. As the only pediatric orthopedist on the south side of Atlanta, Dr. McMath provides a wide range of services, from congenital limb deformities and fracture care, to adolescent sports injuries and scoliosis.

located in the county, including Kroger, Newnan (Lower Fayetteville Rd.); Ashley Park, Newnan; Sam’s Club, Sharpsburg; and Downtown Senoia, resulting in the determination that annual taxable spending by out-of-county residents from within the RTA totaled $3,567,129,283.

“Essentially, the data is telling us something we already know – that out-of-county shoppers contribute significantly to the

Jayson McMath, MD, is a board-certified pediatric orthopedic surgeon who is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He joined Georgia Bone & Joint in 2006 to fulfill the ever-increasing demand for pediatric orthopedic services in the South Atlanta region. Dr. McMath also has extensive training in both general adult orthopedics and accepts patients of all ages and performs knee and hip replacements (including the new anterior hip approach).

local economy and, by extension, to the local tax base,” said Kraut. “And while local Coweta residents spend more in Coweta per-capita than out-of-town shoppers, what is surprising is the sheer number of out-of-county shoppers. We did not expect to see that 78% of patrons were visiting, not only from out-of-county, but within close proximity.“

Move Better. Feel Better.

LIVE BETTER. Orthopedic Specialists | Spine Center | Physical Therapy | MRI | Surgery Center NEWNAN 1755 Hwy. 34 E., Suite 2200, Newnan, GA 30265 770-502-2175

PEACHTREE CITY 4000 Shakerag Hill, Suite 100, Peachtree City, GA 30269 770-626-5340

GeorgiaBoneandJoint.org Ankle 62 | Back | Elbow | Foot | Hand | Hip | Joint Replacement | Knee Neck | Orthobiologics | Pediatric Orthopedics | Shoulder | Spine | Wrist

78% of patrons are not Coweta County residents

*shaded blue area is the Regional Trade Area

Fall 2019

ASHLEY PARK HOME LOCATION MOBILE MAPPING

ESTIMATED # OF CUSTOMERS: 779.7K ESTIMATED # OF VISITS: 6.6M

ESTIMATED # OF VISITS BY MONTH

CENTRAL EDUCATIONAL CENTER

A Charter College and Career Academy

Mission: Ensure competitive talent for current and future careers.

Soft Skills Focus | Driven by Industry | Charter Innovation | Dual Enrollment | Apprenticeship

The Chamber

Newnan-Coweta

A model that has garnered international attention, CEC represents a joint venture among business and industry, the Coweta County School System, and West Georgia Technical College. CEC’s unique blend of academic and technical courses prepares local youth with real-world knowledge and experience to become productive 21st century citizens and key contributors to a rapidly changing local economy.

Learn more about the innovation of CEC at www.centraleducationalcenter.net MISSION: Ensure competitive talent for current and future careers

160 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. • Newnan, Georgia • (678) 423-2009 • www.centraleducationalcenter.net Fall 2019

63

Think Beyond

Accepting Applications for 2020-2021 Apply Online

DOWNTOWN SENOIA

HOME LOCATION MOBILE MAPPING

Every day, in every way, we encourage our kids to

Think Beyond: Beyond the walls of the classroom.

Beyond standardized test scores.

Beyond getting into college.

Beyond themselves, their high school, their town.

Beyond stereotypes.

Beyond their own perceived limits.

EST. # OF CUSTOMERS: 364.7K EST. # OF VISITS: 861.7K

To experience The Heritage School in person, schedule a tour today.

Contact: Lory Pendergrast, Director of Admissions 678-423-5393 admissions@heritageschool.com 64

Think Heritage.

Visit heritageschool.com to explore more.

ESTIMATED # OF VISITS BY MONTH Fall 2019

Surgical Expertise, Comprehensive Care Piedmont Physicians Obstetrics & Gynecology Newnan Professional Center 2 is now accepting patients at their new location in Newnan.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital

85

Cree

Poplar Road

Brett Bowie, M.D.

Burks Drive

oulevard gB sin os Cr an wn Ne

Poplar Road

Turke y

Michael Bakarich, D.O.

Hays Road

Laura Evors, M.D.

Tiffeny Carroll, M.D.

k Roa

d

2301 Newnan Crossing Boulevard • Suite 210 Newnan, Georgia, 30265

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 770.400.7810 or visit piedmont.org 08545-0819

Coweta’s 25th ANNUAL

BIGGEST and Most Influential Exposition!

WINTER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 WONDERLAND THE NEWNAN CENTRE 3-7pm BIG EXPO $5 – OR – ADMISSION HOUSE AD FREE Presented by:

1515 Lower Fayetteville Road

WITH DONATION

Waive the admission fee with donation to the Coweta County Family Connection and the community-wide Repack the BackPack effort. Visit newnancowetachamber.org/winterwonderland-big-expo for additional info and needs list.

Join us for Festive, Holiday Fun! Meet Santa and enjoy photo ops!

Product demonstrations Win prizes Tasty food samples

Presented By:

Corporate Sponsors:

66

Solutions for business and home Meet local merchants Special vendor pricing Expo only specials

Supported By:

I N F I N I T I Volkswagen

Fall 2019

TOGETHER

We are members and owners .

Your community is our community. We power homes, schools and businesses, but we also provide economic development services to help local communities thrive…and our most important asset is lasting relationships with people like you!

We’re also committed to caring for our neighbors everyday. Through Operation Round -Up, we’re preparing the next generation through Bright Idea Teacher Grants and Scholarships. When you join an EMC, you’re not just a member, you’re an owner. Together we power your life.

68

Fall 2019

Health Insurance Georgia Chamber SMART Plan Health Plans for 2-50 employees

John B. Williams, Jr. Authorized Independent Agent

(770) 253-9283 service@gahealthcoverage.com Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. Independent licensee of the Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

Fall 2019

69

Great Schools the Heart of

Coweta County

“A passionate and caring school system dedicated to excellence, energized by the notion of family, and committed to the success of each student.”

That is how the AdvancED Accreditation Review Committee described the Coweta County School System, following their review for five-year reaccreditation of our schools in 2016. According to the independent team’s evaluation, Coweta Schools performed at much higher levels than the average AdvancED-accredited learning institutions, in terms of teaching and learning, leadership capacity, and management of resources.

During accreditation, school system stakeholders – including students and parents, teachers and community members – described Coweta Schools in several ways:

“Student-Centered” “Caring” “Amazing” “Exceptional” “Accountable” “Safe” “Nurturing” “Rigorous” “Committed” “I would not want to be anywhere else.”

In the Coweta County School System, you will find schools among the top-performing in the state of Georgia and the nation: • On-time graduation rates and student performance on Georgia Milestones exams that well exceed state of Georgia averages.

• Student SAT and ACT performance that exceeds state and national averages.

• High rates of participation in Advanced Placement, college dualenrollment and apprenticeships and work-based learning.

• Distinctions such as robust fine arts curriculum, outstanding athletic programs, a sophisticated technology environment including 1-to-1 pairing of students with Chromebook devices, and other advanced opportunities for students.

• Honors that include a AP Stem and Humanities distinctions, state Reward schools, Georgia School Boards Association Exemplary School Board, state financial awards, and the Center for American Progress’ “Best Return on Educational Investment” distinction.

From academics to the arts to athletics – from college prep to career readiness – Coweta County Schools are committed to ensuring the success of every student. We invite you to visit our schools, tour the Central Educational Center College and Career Academy, or attend a performance at the Donald W. Nixon Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.

To learn more go to cowetaschools.net or call 770-254-5551

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 75 Jackson Properties....................................................................... 71 Air Logic Heating & Air Conditioning.............................................24 American Family Insurance | Renee Horton...................................2 Anthem Health Insurance | John B. Williams.............................. 69 Bonnell Aluminum.............................................................................25 Buffalo Rock....................................................................................... 38 Cabinet Envy...................................................................................... 43 Cancer Treatment Centers of America.......................................... 11 Central Educational Center............................................................ 63 Champion Cleaning Systems......................................................... 42 Clothes Less Traveled........................................................................ 12 Contemporary Catering, Inc........................................................... 34 Coweta County School System......................................................70 Coweta - Fayette EMC......................................................................67 Cracker Barrel.................................................................................... 30 Downtown Sign Shop...................................................................... 36 Fine Lines Art & Framing.................................................................. 44 Foundation Academy........................................................................ 21 Georgia Bone and Joint................................................................... 62 Georgia Power.................................................................................... 17 Georgia Military College................................................................... 17 Hammond Services........................................................................... 29 Honda of Newnan................................................................................3 Infiniti of South Atlanta | Heritage Volkswagen........................... 13 Insignia................................................................................................ 69 Kemp’s Dalton West Flooring.......................................................... 15 Kimble’s Events by Design................................................................ 15 Knox Home Furnishings....................................................................57 KRB Communications.......................................................................32 Lauren Carlson, Realtor....................................................................72 Lynn Smith, State Representative................................................... 12 Mail & Office....................................................................................... 43 Merle Norman.................................................................................... 44 Modern Woodmen of America | Danny Nungesser.................. 56 Monster Tree Service.........................................................................61 Newnan Utilities................................................................................. 31 Nissan of Newnan................................................................................9 NuLink | WOW!.................................................................................. 28 Odyssey Charter School...................................................................27 PhySlim.................................................................................................10 Piedmont Newnan Hospital............................................................ 65 Portraits by Linda E............................................................................27 PrintSource......................................................................................... 45 Progressive Heating, Air and Plumbing........................................... 7 SouthTowne Motors of Newnan.................................................... 49 Sugars Boutique................................................................................ 30 Synovus................................................................................................55 The Barbershop of Newnan...............................................................5 The Cellar.............................................................................................37 The Heritage School......................................................................... 64 Wesley Woods of Newnan.............................................................. 59 West Georgia Boat Center...............................................................41

J. J. Thomasson IV RealtorÂŽ Broker 770-362-9307 770-683-663 jjthomasson@7 ja kson. om

Gain a different perspective on commercial real estate 75JACKSON.COM