Southern Journal Sept/Oct 2016 digital edition

Family First: THE LEGACY OF JOHN AND MARY BROCK

September/October 2016

Travel

Healthy Kids

Cindy Crawford

Discover

2016 Healthy

Conquering

San Juan, P.r.

Georgia awards

Diabetes

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contents

features Travel: Experience Old San Juan Take me to Old San Juan where luxury and charm abounds. An easy, direct flight from Atlanta, Georgia and before you know it you are shopping the cutest boutiques finding authentic treasures, eating delicious, traditional food and embracing century old traditions. The San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino is designed to cater to your every want and need. Rooms that offer breathtaking beach views, award winning massage therapy, a treasure you will want to visit again and again.

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inaugural Healthy Georgia Awards Mark your calendar for the inaugural Healthy Georgia Awards hosted by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle’s Healthy Kids Georgia and Georgia Department of Public Health at the College Football Hall of Fame.

An event you don’t want too miss! Tickets and sponsorships available now.

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Cindy Crawford: Defeating Diabetes Sugarloaf resident, Cindy Crawford, is a Tupe 1 diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. The American Diabetes Association reports that only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Simply put, Cindy’s body does not produce insulin. Cindy road to recovery has not been easy but with determination and a great team, Cindy has beat the odds.

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

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publisher’s letter

E

very publishers letter for September/October will begin with…Fall is hereeeeee….because in the south we cherish the change of seasons. We long for the crisp mornings and cooler nights that we fill with campfires and smores, football and back-to-school field trips to the pumpkin patch. The leaves change and the wheat fields sway with the winds. Life in the south during the fall is a very special time of the year.

In this issue, we share with you not only one of our favorite places to travel too, San Juan, Puerto Rico but fabulous businesses that are here to serve you and amazing stories that will surely inspire you.

Our cover story has a very personal connection for me. John and Mary Brock are two of the nicest, most humble people you will ever meet. They met when John was 12 and Mary was 10 years old. One of my favorite stories that Mary will often share is that after she had known John for a few years, she wrote in her journal…”John Brock seems to be a very nice boy, maybe I will marry him someday.” In a world where we often talk of the importance of relationships, John and Mary SHOW us the impact of actually implementing the value of honoring friends, family and our significant other.

In a time where families struggle to stay together, where businesses are desperate for leadership and consistency, John and Mary share with us that dedication, love, relationships, education, compassion, benevolence and family first are a few core strengths and priorities.

We hope you enjoy this issue of SJM and as always, we love hearing from you. Your feedback and story ideas are our heartbeat.

Lisa Kinchen Publisher/Editorial Director lisa41.sjm@gmail.com

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Lisa Kinchen Mary Ann Parsons Patricia Prosser Denese A. Rodgers Beverly Van Gorder

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september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

5

EXCEPTIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC CARE...

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Todd Schmidt, MD

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Tracy Wimbush, MD

Austell • Brookstone • Douglasville • Fayetteville • Gwinnett • Johns Creek Kennesaw • Marietta • Newnan • Paulding • Piedmont • Stockbridge

OrthoAtlanta.com

contents

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24

38

inside: 4

Publisher’s Letter

5

Contributors

9

Chaplain’s Corner

12 business profile: Orthoatlanta

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12 22

14 Southside Realtors: Agent Spotlight 16 business profile: Women’s Specialists of fayette 20 cindy crawford: Defeating diabetes 24 Family first: Mary and John Brock 34 Locust Grove: WildCats Win 38 Travel: san juan, puerto rico 45 Inaugural Healthy Georgia Awards

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46 Georgia state 4-h Congress september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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chaplain’s corner

The Battle for Our Minds

Brother Ralph and Gwen Easterwood - Pastor Emeritus - Glen Haven Baptist Church, McDonough

By: Beverly Van Gorder | Photo: Picture This Studio

A

ccording to a recent Nielsen company study, the average American spent more than ten hours every day during the first quarter of this year engaging with some aspect of technological media. This is a full hour more than spent within the same time frame during 2015.

We Americans are having our thoughts consumed and influenced more and more by the technology which can be held in the palm of our hand. As a result, real interpersonal interaction is suffering and diminishing as less one-on-one human exchange is perceived necessary in order to accomplish the tasks required by our typical work-a-day lives.

Brother Ralph Easterwood believes, “The most powerful function within our human body is the ability to comprehend, to understand, to think. Without that ability no one could ever be saved, for we must be able to understand the truth of the Gospel in order to make a decision about whether we will believe it and choose to live by it.

The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”

As technology feeds the thoughts of man, whatever the technology promotes becomes predominant in the life of that man. Brother Ralph suggests, “Our society is in a dangerous place. We are experiencing ever growing incidences of violence, racial tension and divorce. With the decrease in meaningful face to face relations, men and women have become desensitized to the value of human life and the importance of nurturing the human spirit. Graphic images of death, dying and violence in our world, available for instant viewing on all the varying devices at our disposal, have eroded our moral conscience as a people.

We are no longer shocked by certain actions undertaken, attitudes adopted, or

choices made on a daily basis in our society.

The war is on. Ephesians 6:10-12 says, “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Brother Ralph submits, “One of Satan’s greatest tools against us is that of distraction with the intent of controlling our thoughts and our actions that come from those thoughts.”

1 Peter 5:8 instructs us in this regard, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Additionally, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 describes the battle and clarifies our means of defense, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

As we go about our day, we need to capture our thoughts and re-focus our thinking. Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Let’s take a break from ten hours a day with technology and wage war against this battle for our minds. And perhaps one by one we can turn the tide on mindsets which corrupt our world today. september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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Behind the Scenes of a Bowl Game By: Patricia Prosser | Photos Provided by: OrthoAtlanta

C

ollege football is big in Georgia. Two premiere events, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game held on the opening weekend of the season and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl held on New Year’s Eve, combined to bring more than 144,934 fans to Atlanta last year alone, and both serve as major economic engines in the state. Held in the Georgia Dome, and televised by ESPN to over 8.4 million viewers around the world, the games are ranked as Atlanta’s fifth and sixth highest revenue generating events in 2015 with a combined economic impact last year of $70.6 million. Servicing the needs of the competing teams during the games -- their players, coaches, staff and families -- is yearlong in planning, but short turn in the execution, including the need for top medical services. This is where OrthoAtlanta orthopaedic and sports medicine specialists has played a major role for over two decades.

OrthoAtlanta proudly serves as the official orthopaedic and sports medicine provider to the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, a role it has held since the inaugural 2008 game. Matching two top football teams in a neutralsite, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is the nation’s longest running kickoff game. This year’s game, scheduled for Saturday, September 3, pairs the No. 16 ranked Georgia Bulldogs against the No. 20 University of North Carolina Tar Heels in a sold-out game. “OrthoAtlanta physicians and medical staff will be there providing on-site orthopaedic medical services throughout the game day to the players of both teams, their coaches, staff and officials,” cites Todd A. Schmidt, M.D., OrthoAtlanta orthopaedic surgeon and medical director for the 2016 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

Fast forward to December. An Atlanta institution since 1968, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is the ninth-oldest college football game in the

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

country and is one of the six elite bowls in the nation. In 2016, the road to the National Championship comes through Atlanta, as the Bowl will host its first College Football Playoff Semifinal (#1 vs. #4 or #2 vs #3), in what is arguably the most significant college football game ever played in the city. A week-long series of events culminates in the New Year’s Eve game day seen around the world.

OrthoAtlanta has served as the official sports medicine provider of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl for over 20 years. Working largely behindthe-scenes, the OrthoAtlanta medical staff provides on-site orthopaedic medical services on game day and throughout game week to the players of both teams, their coaches, staff and officials. OrthoAtlanta physicians serve as the key medical point of contact for the visiting teams while they are in town. They provide 24/7 availability from the time the teams arrive in Atlanta, staying with the teams, traveling to all practices, and working in the training rooms with the team medical staff. In conjunction with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, OrthoAtlanta hosts a medical team dinner for the medical staff of both teams, allowing them to socialize in a casual setting, a service no other Bowl game provides.

Planning and preparation for these two events is a year-round activity.

The OrthoAtlanta medical staff and management personnel work together with Peach Bowl, Inc., management to insure the medical needs of both teams, coaches and staff are served. With only four weeks separating the announcement of the competing teams and game day, this is no small feat.

“The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl serve as the ‘book-ends’ to the college football season,” explains Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. president and CEO. “The level of expertise and detail required

“

to bring the events together is tremendous. We value our partnership with OrthoAtlanta, who works seamlessly with the Peach Bowl, Inc., staff, the teams, and officials, to deliver top level medical service each year.”

To share the excitement of these national sporting events with their patients and the greater Atlanta communities they serve, OrthoAtlanta grassroots activities have included greeting visitors at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game FANZONE presented by Coca-Cola pre-game event, marching in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl event day parade, and ticket giveaways via the company website, OrthoAtlanta.com. In addition to prized bowl game tickets, the company makes available tickets to behind-the-scenes events such as the popular Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Chalk Talk Luncheon, and popular area attractions including the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience.

You can be sure that the energized team of 37 physicians and over 425 staff at OrthoAtlanta will bring added excitement to college football again this season.

“

OrthoAtlanta has served as the official sports medicine provider of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl for over 20 years. Working largely behind-thescenes, the OrthoAtlanta medical staff provides on-site orthopaedic medical services on game day and throughout game week to the players of both teams, their coaches, staff and officials.

OrthoAtlanta is one of the largest orthopaedic and sports medicine practices in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area, with 37 physicians and 12 physician offices, including convenient locations in Fayetteville, Newnan and Stockbridge in the southern crescent. OrthoAtlanta offers easy accessibility to patient services including on-site physical therapy, pain management, five imaging centers and two AAAHC surgical centers.

Comprehensive operative and non-operative musculoskeletal care and expertise includes sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, hip replacement, knee replacement, neck and spine surgery, elbow and shoulder surgery, ankle and foot surgery, pain management, general orthopedics, work related injuries and acute orthopedic urgent care. OrthoQUICK Urgent Care services in the OrthoAtlanta Fayetteville office provides after hours care until 9 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Learn more at: OrthoAtlanta.com or call 770-953-6929. *Sources include: Peach Bowl, Inc. May 2016 press release

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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Agent Spotlight

Heidi Baxter Phone: 678-859-4462 Email: heidibax@gmail.com

Stuart Sons & Kristi Sons Stuart: Phone: 404-272-8723 Email: stuart.sons@gmail.com Kristi: Phone: 404-357-9834 Email: kristiksons@gmail.com

Heidi is passionate about helping people reach their real estate goals! Heidi, a Henry County resident for over 20 years, graduated from UGA with a degree in Housing. Her experience in property management, new construction, listings and resales has given her a thorough knowledge of the process of buying or selling a home. Heidi is a member of the Circle of Excellence 2015 and of Metro South Association of Realtors.

She lives in McDonough with her husband, Jeff, of 10 years and three boys, A. J., Ty, and Mark. Heidi is empowered by her love of God and people in all aspects of her life.

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

Stuart and Kristi are a husband and wife team who have merged their unique talents in the real estate world. Stuart is the “people person” who loves to chat about his passion for real estate. Kristi is the “numbers cruncher” who enjoys the challenge of making sure that all the numbers line up for their clients, so they have the best experience possible. Together they have over 16 years experience. So far in 2016, the “Sons Team” has surpassed $3 million in residential sales, with the ultimate goal of $5 million. They enjoy working together, and being at SouthSide Realtors has proven to be a winning combination.

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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T en Years and Still Growing By: Denese Rodgers | Photos: Images by Amie Photography

P

lease join Southern Journal Magazine as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Women’s Specialists of Fayette. The formal celebration was held in July at the Georgia Aquarium.

Practice Administrator, Michele Brandt, explained, “Celebrating our anniversary at The Georgia Aquarium was an easy decision; since from the beginning, Dr. Cook has had a “state of the art” aquarium in the waiting area of our office suite. Our aquarium was ready for our patients and employees to enjoy from the first day we opened our new office back in 2006.”

In 2006, when Piedmont Fayette Hospital began providing obstetrical services, founding physicians Dr. William Cook and Dr. Matthew Ralsten teamed up in order to focus their practice on the needs of the Fayette community. Dr. Cook was able to secure an office suite situated just steps away from Labor and Delivery making it very accessible for our obstetrical patients.

Dr. William Cook started his career in 1989, delivering and operating at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. In 1995, he moved to Peachtree City and anchored a satellite office for his group in Fayette County. As Piedmont Medical Center built the new hospital in Fayette County, Dr. Cook became involved in many aspects of the hospitals development, both with its

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

medical staff and facilities. From 2003 to 2006, he was Board Chair of Piedmont Fayette Hospital. Dr. Cook is married and has three children. He and his wife enjoy spending time with their dogs, Daisy and Teddy, as well as doing some gardening in his spare time.

Dr. Matthew Ralsten joined Piedmont Fayette Women’s Specialists from Asheville, North Carolina. He completed his training at the Mountain Area Health Education Center, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill community program, and West Virginia University where he was recognized as the outstanding teaching resident. He presently serves on the Obstetrical Practice Guidelines Committee and Ethics Committee at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. He also serves on the board of the Joseph Sams School in Fayetteville, GA. Dr. Ralsten is married with twins and enjoys traveling with his family, Crossfit workouts, and golf.

Along with the Fayette community, the practice grew and flourished.

Dr. Marlo Carter joined the team in 2009. Dr. Carter focuses on the health needs of women at every stage of life. Her areas of interest include adolescent gynecology, family planning, and preventative medicine. She offers care to both low risk and high risk pregnant patients. She is trained

in minimally invasive procedures, vaginal and abdominal hysterectomies, and pelvic floor procedures.

In 2014, Dr. Lillibird Pichardo came on board. Dr. Pichardo, an Atlanta native, completed her B.A. degree at Emory University, and then obtained her M.D. degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Pichardo’s interests include high risk obstetrics, medical and surgical management of common gynecologic issues, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, contraception, and family planning. She also has a special interest in the Hispanic/Latino community and is fluent in Spanish.

Most recently, the team welcomed Dr. Nicole Quinn, M.D. She finished her residency at Case Western Reserve/Metro Health in Cleveland Ohio. She is originally from New Orleans, and has relocated to GA with her husband and three children. She began accepting patients at the end of July.

The Women’s Specialists of Fayette offices are located at: 1267 Hwy 54 West, Suite 3200 in Fayetteville, Ga. The telephone number is 770-632-9900. The website is: www.wsfayette.com with a link to their Facebook page. september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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19

When Diabetes Doesn’t Win

By: Denese Rodgers | Photography: Antonio Garcia Photography

S

ugarloaf resident, Cindy Crawford, is a Type I diabetic.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. The American Diabetes Association reports that only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Put simply, Cindy’s body does not produce insulin.

This debilitating disease has taken its toll on her. She was not diagnosed until she was 28. Since then she has had seven surgeries in order to keep her eyesight. In 2008, she suffered a series of seizures and had to have brain surgery for a hematoma. She had complete neuropathy in both feet. That is to say, she has nerve damage that caused her to have no feeling in the bottom of her feet. By 2014, Cindy was in Stage IV Kidney Disease, and she was being evaluated for a kidney transplant.

Cindy recalled, “My children encouraged me to get strength training, to make myself stronger. I thought it would help prepare me physically for the transplant procedure. I said, ‘Okay, I’ll try it.”

In February 2014, Cindy contacted Diana Severson, the Sports Center Director at TPC Sugarloaf. “Cindy came to me with well thought-out goals, a great attitude, and a willing spirit. Her goal was to build up her physical strength to withstand the transplant and assist her with balance issues. Her doctors suggested an exercise routine to help with her objectives.

Needless to say, I was a little taken aback with this news and was completely honest with her that this could be a little over my scope of expertise. I told her that I needed a doctor’s release and to do a bit of research. She is one of the most positive, caring people that I have ever met and truly wanted to help her have the best chance with her surgical recovery.

Utilizing the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Corrective Exercise protocol, I did her movement assessments which showed an inward turning of her knees, an excessive forward lean with a low back arch -- and a limited range of motion in her shoulder complex (frozen shoulder).

Her total kidney function with both kidneys was at 17%. Anything less than 20% function means a possible transplant. The lack of sensation in her feet was causing her to trip or fall 3-4 times a week.

She was having major sugar issues, musculature weakness, and complications from frozen shoulder that resulted in a limited range of motion in the left rotator cuff.

Cindy has been training with me twice a week with 30 minute sessions. Her progression is more than either one of us could have ever imagined.” Cindy agreed, “It has been energizing to have come so far in two and a half years.” Diana said, “She gives it everything she has and that kind of motivation makes the difference.”

And what a difference. Cindy is no longer facing a transplant.

She is now at a stable 28% kidney function. She has been able to correct the inward turn of her knees and the low back arch. She has full, pain-free, range of movement in her shoulders. She is now doing strength and balance training.

She was already on an insulin pump prior to beginning the program; her doctors have added a separate sensor device that sets off an alarm if her sugar levels spike or drop.

“Could this be a new strategy to assist in the treatment of diabetes?”

Diana believes so, “I think that this is a story that needs to be shared with others having complications from diabetes. Sometimes, people lose hope when they are battling an illness, and they need to hear of someone who never gives up regardless of their personal struggles. september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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feature

Family First:

The legacy of John and Mary Brock By: Denese Rodgers | Photo: Images by Amie Photography

J

ohn and Mary Brock have spent their lives together building both their personal and professional legacies. John is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola European Partners, Inc., the world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler based on revenues. His wife, Mary, is co-owner of the WNBA Atlanta Dream professional women’s basketball team.

In May, Georgia Tech presented the Brocks with honorary Doctorates for their many years of support and guidance. Mary was the Commencement address speaker for that momentous occasion. Her theme was “The Power of Possibility.” She said, “I don’t believe in labels, but I believe in their power to do harm. If I had believed in the labels that

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a young woman in 1970 often had thrust upon her, I would not be the kind of mother, business leader, wife, and community devotee that I am today…the truth is that you chart your own destiny – and here we go – the power of possibility is within your own control.”

John was born down on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, where he met Mary. She recalled, “We met when we were 10 and 11 years old at church, in Moss Point Mississippi. We were in the same school, band, attended the state piano contest annually, and we were active in school. John was President of his class, and I was Secretary of the Student Council and sang in the church choir. I wrote in my 7th grade diary that “John Brock was such a nice boy, and I thought I’d marry him.” John has a power point of that diary page.

“

“

If I had believed in the labels that a young woman in 1970 often had thrust upon her, I would not be the kind of mother, business leader, wife, and community devotee that I am today…the truth is that you chart your own destiny – and here we go – the power of possibility is within your own control.

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We got married because John was going to California for a summer internship in 1969, and I wanted to go! Getting married was the only way it was going to happen! So I married my high school boyfriend, and we spent an amazing three months living in Berkeley, waited ten years to have children, with both of us finishing our undergraduate and graduate degrees!

We literally grew up together in that time.”

John earned both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech. Mary graduated summa cum laude from Miami University of Ohio, earning her Bachelor of Science in Science & Math Education and her Masters of Science Education in Curriculum Development. In 2012, Georgia Tech made Mary an Honorary Alumnae.

In 2006, John joined Coca-Cola Enterprises as CEO and in April 2008 was named Chairman.

Under John’s leadership, CCE sold its North American operations to The Coca-Cola Company and acquired bottling operations in Norway and Sweden in October 2010. In 2012, Brock was named Business Leader of the Year at Ethical Corporation’s 2012 Responsible Business Awards for leading and implementing Coca-Cola Enterprises’ sustainability plan. In May of this year, CCE became Coca-Cola European Partners; a combination of Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola Iberian Partners, and CocaCola Erfrischungsgetränke.

He serves on the board of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and previously served as a Director of Dow Jones & Company, the Campbell Soup Company, and Reed Elsevier, Plc in London. He has served on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board and is currently serving on the Georgia Tech Foundation Board.

In 2010, the Brocks donated $3.5 million to Georgia Tech’s football program for the construction of a state of the art football facility. The John and Mary Brock Football Practice Facility is a $7 Million, 80,000 square-foot facility with indoor and outdoor practice football fields. It required 590 tons of steel to build and consists of a full-sized enclosed football field with massive hangar doors that permit access to and from the outdoor facility, situated directly adjacent to the new building.Indoor lights replicate the lighting one would expect to see in an outdoor stadium. A viewing platform surrounds the field, with a camera system mounted in the ceiling, allowing practices to be filmed.

Additionally, John and Mary had funded and endowed faculty chairs dedicated to cancer research at Georgia Tech and Emory University as a result of a crushing personal experience. Mary explained, “The year we moved to Atlanta (10 years ago), John’s Mother was diagnosed with lung cancer (never a smoker), and we were devastated.

She got excellent attention at Winship Cancer

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Center, but the time from diagnosis to death was only four months. We became aware of the connection and partnership between Georgia Tech and Emory in biomedical engineering and endowed two chairs; one at each school, which are focused on using nanotechnology to impact the detection and treatment of cancer.”

Mary now serves on the Board of Advisors of the Winship Cancer Institute, and she is a member of the Board of Trustees of Spelman College. She also serves on the boards of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She and her business partner, Kelly Loeffler, comprise the Dream Too, LLC. co-owners of the Women’s National Basketball Association team, Atlanta Dream.

Her interest in sports goes back to her youth in Mississippi, “I grew up in the deep south where sports ruled the weekends.

Essentially everyone in our hometown went to Friday night football games, and Saturdays/Sundays were all about who won which games.”

In 1972, Congress passed Title IX as part of the Higher Education Amendments. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance including athletics and sports. Mary is helping to advance the field of women’s athletics. Because of

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“

With my interest in young women and the impact sports clearly has on their future success in the world, partnering in the ownership

“

of the Dream was clearly

something that intersected many of my interests.

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her interest and commitment to sports, Mary endowed a full scholarship in women’s basketball to Georgia Tech.

Mary explained her move to support a professional women’s basketball team, “As Kelly and I say, I was pre-Title IX, and she was post-Title IX. With my interest in young women and the impact sports clearly has on their future success in the world, partnering in the ownership of the Dream was clearly something that intersected many of my interests.

Young women who participate in sports at any time in their lives are more likely to graduate from high school, have reduced teen pregnancies, do something post-secondary school (4-year college, technical colleges, etc), have better jobs in their 30s, and of the Fortune 500 companies, 80% of the women in C-suites participated in sports. WNBA players are college graduates, well-spoken, great role models and believe in the League and their role in impacting young lives.

The Atlanta Dream are 2010, 2011, and 2013 Eastern Conference Champions having been to the WNBA Finals three out of eight seasons as an expansion team. The Dream can be followed on line at www.dream.

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wnba.com/ - or by Twitter at @AtlantaDream John and Mary have three children and five grandchildren with two more on the way. “John and I really enjoy spending time with our families, and at this time, particularly with the children and grandchildren. John travels quite frequently with his job, and we look for times when we can combine that with fun trips ourselves. We lived in Europe the 10 years preceding our current 10 years in Atlanta, so we do enjoy travel! But honestly, anyone who knows us would say off the top of their heads, seeing our children and grandchildren is at the top of our list at all times.

John is J3, and I am MeMe. I think it’s safe to say there is a crazy and amazing connection between us and them.”

www.cnbc.com/2016/05/31/coca-cola-european-partners-stock-risesamid-finalized-combination.html www.philanthropy.gatech.edu/building/mary-r-and-john-f-brock-iiifootball-practice-facility

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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Wildcats

Win! By: Denese Rodgers | Photos Provided by: Locust Grove High School

T

he Locust Grove High School Wildcats have won the 2016 Class AAAA State Baseball Championship!

Construction of this championship team began long before that final glorious pitch against AAAA powerhouse Buford High School this past May. Since their inaugural season in the Spring of 2010, the baseball team has made it to the post-season compeition six times.

Head Coach, Stephen Phillips, has made it a priority the past seven years to do more than develop players. He and his coaching staff develop young men, building strength of character in tandem with strong batting averages.

Pre and post-season, Phillips and his staff spend time on and off the field, building positive relationships and mentoring these young athletes.

From the start of the 2016 season, and it did not take long for Locust Grove to prove why they were to become State Champions. The Wildcats persevered through a competitive region schedule, and faced elimination all three rounds of the GHSA state playoffs. Advancing to the finals in a three game series against three-time state champion Buford, the Wildcats knew that it would take each and every player to do their part to be successful.

Buford had defeated Locust Grove in the state playoffs the previous year, and the sting of that loss still lingered for the Wildcats. The

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

opportunity to defeat the Wolves in their own backyard would be poetic justice for Locust Grove.

The Wildcats faced elimination after a tough 3-2 loss in game one.

Locust Grove had been here before, and they knew what it would take to keep the series alive. Locust Grove fought hard and forced the “if” game with a 4-2 victory in Game Two. Two days later, the weight of the season would come down to just seven innings.

It was a dream seven years in the making. The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-1 lead after just two innings of play; the electricity in the air was tangible. Momentum built with every pitch. With a quick two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the park itself seemed to hold its breath.

With a ground ball to second base and a short throw over to first, that breath erupted into cheers as the field flooded with Locust Grove Wildcat Blue! The Dream had become a reality.

Coach Phillips said after the game “People often ask me where Locust Grove is… well now they know.” The Wildcats can be followed on line at www.lghsathletics.com. Coach Phillips plans to continue their successful path, “We will return all, but three starters. We should be in position to make another run in the playoffs.” Congratulations Locust Grove!

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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Specializing in Gynecology & Urogynecology Surgery

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• Well Women Health Care and Comprehensive Annual Exams • Pap Smears, Breast Exams, and In-Office Ultrasounds • Full range of Contraception Options • Menopausal Management - Traditional and Alternative • Adolescent and Pediatric Gynecology • Infertility Workups • Hormone Replacement Therapy (including pellets, injections and compounding cream) • Bladder Problems and Incontinence • Accidental Bowel Leakage or Chronic Constipation Management • Pelvic Relaxation or Prolapse Management • Treatment for Fibroids, Endometriosis, Abnormal Bleeding, and Ovarian Cyst • Osteoporosis Screening and Treatment • Screening for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• Davinci Robotics Gynecological Surgery • Traditional Abdominal Hysterectomy, Vaginal Hysterectomy, and Laparoscopic Assisted Hysterectomy • Myomectomy for Fibroid Tumors • In-office ESSURE Tubal Ligation • Laparoscopic Surgery for Ovarian Problems, Endometriosis, Tubal and Adhesive Diseases • Hysteroscopic Surgery • Colposcopies for Abnormal Pap Smears and LEEP Procedures • Repair of Pelvic Prolaspe, Relaxation and Surgery for Bladder Leakage • In-Office Endometrial Ablation for Excessive Menstrual Bleeding • Procedures for Accidental Bowel Leakage including Interstim and Solesta Injections • In office Anesthesia provided by Board Certified Anesthesiologist

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What is a Urogynecologist?

By: Stephanie Gordon, MD A urogynecologist is a surgeon who has specialized in the care of women with pelvic floor disorders.

The pelvic floor is a set of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues in the lower part of the pelvis that provides support for a woman’s internal organs, including the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum.

Pelvic floor disorders can occur when women have weakened pelvic muscles or tears in the connective tissue due to excessive strain on the pelvis due to childbirth, repeated strenuous activity, menopause, chronic disease, or pelvic surgery. Other factors that can weaken the pelvic floor include repetitive heavy lifting, tobacco use, and genetics.

Dr. Stephanie Gordon is one of only 10 Board Certified Urogynecologist in the State of Georgia.

She is double Board Certified in the subspecialty of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery as well as General Gynecology. With this background, she is able to take care of the Well Woman as well as to give cutting edge medicine to the patient with complicated gynecology issues.

What type of problems can Dr. Gordon manage and treat?

Incontinence: loss of bladder or bowel control, leaking or urine or feces.

Prolapse: descent of the pelvic organs, a bulge and /or pressure; dropped uterus, bladder, vagina or rectum.

Pain: discomfort to the lower back, pelvic, bladder, or urethra- including Interstitial Cystitis (IC) or painful bladder syndrome, pain with sex.

Overactive Bladder: frequent need to void, bladder pressure, urgency, leaking of urine on the way to the bathroom.

How can Dr. Gordon treat these problems?

With conservative (non-surgical) or surgical therapy depending on your wishes, the severity of your condition, or your general health. Conservative options include medications, pelvic exercises, behavioral and diet modifications, vaginal devices (pessaries), Pelvic Floor Therapy (including InTone), and Biofeedback and Electrical Stimulation.

Safe and effective surgical procedures are also utilized to treat incontinence and prolapse.

Dr. Gordon also provides advance gynecology care including: Well Woman Annual Exams, Contraception including hormonal and non-hormonal therapies, ESSURE tubal lig tion in office, Nexplanon, Mirena and Paraguard IUDs, traditional tubal ligation. Treatment for heavy menstrual cycles-including endometrial ablation in office (Novasure, Thermachoice, and HTA. Myomectomy (fibroid removal) and Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) –over 95% of these can be performed vaginally or thru a laparoscope (tiny incisions on abdomen)-can be performed with the Da Vinci Robotic system with only an outpatient admission to the hospital.

Menopausal Management -including natural therapy, bio-identical hormones, compounded creams, injections, pellets, and traditional hormone replacement.

Pediatric and adolescent gynecology-HPV vaccines, acne, heavy/painful cycles, endometriosis, STD testing, and chronic infections.

Infertility work ups and therapies.

For your convenience-In office Ultrasound, Bladder testing, surgical procedures with IV anesthesia available with anesthesiologist.

For more information, visit our website at www.womenscenterga.com

Take me to Old San Juan: Luxury and Charm Abounds

at San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino By: Lisa Kinchen | Photos Provided by: San Juan Marriot Resort

J

ust a short flight from the Southeastern coast of the continental United States, Puerto Rico is a gateway to a whole other world.

An American territory with European flair, all floating in the Caribbean Sea, this island treasure is a mecca of diversity and culture…no passport needed. In addition to places like Old San Juan – the second-oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas, which is obvious as you take in its quaint, colorful buildings, Spanish architecture and cobblestone streets – Puerto Rico is home to geographical gems: like the sprawling El Yunque rainforests and the glowing-blue Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques. And as you wind your way through everywhere in between, you might

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be drawn into adorable shops, grab a laid-back beer with friendly locals, go zip-lining through towering palms, tour Casa Bacardi, or just take in the artistry and exuberance that forms the core of Old San Juan. Because in Puerto Rico, as it should be everywhere, life is dazzling, interesting and best lived just as it comes.

On the other side of historic Old San Juan, in the glitzy neighborhood of swanky Condado, San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino brings travelers back to the 21st century. Standing on the silky shores of the shimmering Caribbean Sea, this locale is where convenience, elegance and the best of the island life collide. A tropical oasis tinged with a sophisticated flair, San Juan Marriott is a home-

travel

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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away-from-home by day and a non-stop party by night. Most importantly, it gives travelers the best of both worlds. Packed with the expected luxuries befitting any 21st-century jetsetter, in a place that is decidedly historic, this island resort is both an urban, modern-day hotspot and a peek into Old San Juan’s dazzling and exotic past.

Perfect for the leisure, family or business traveler, the resort boasts 527 guest rooms and luxury suites, all with city or beachfront views. Spread across 21 floors, with a two-level pool, a full-service yoga and fitness studio, Ocean Club Spa and sparkling 40

Condado Beach, this one-of-a-kind resort has everything you need, right at your fingertips.

So how do you spend your days at this iconic Marriott resort? In short, any way you want to.

Wake up with the sun and go for a stroll along the private beach, which spans 500 feet and includes a natural rock wall barrier, giving guests the utmost in privacy and peace. If you’re feeling particularly active, invigorate your day with a morning yoga class. Spend your afternoon at the onsite spa, where you can choose from a treatment list of body wraps, body scrubs, facial treatments,

SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

footbaths, manicures, pedicures and massages, or even get lessons from a professional masseuse and learn how to give a massage yourself.

For traveling families, a day at the pool entertains parents and kids alike. Spread across two levels, the resort’s outdoor pool complex invites vacationing adults to relax in the hot tub or sip on a piña colada at the swim-up bar, while kids zoom down the waterslide just nearby. If tanning is on your agenda, there are plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas that you can claim as your own. After the sun goes

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

down, the pool is still the place to be. A sexy summer spot, the upper pool deck has plush couches and beautiful views, making it the perfect place for cocktails and laughter with your special someone, family and friends.

When hunger strikes, San Juan Marriott has no shortage of bars and restaurants to choose from. For a quick breakfast before you hit the beach, grab a pastry and a steaming cup of mountain-grown Puerto Rican coffee from the Coffee Merchant & Bake Shop. If you wake up hungrier than that, head to La Vista Latin Grill for a “Nuevo Latino” breakfast of local treats and traditional Latin-fusion favorites.

Basking in the sun by the pool all day? Break for lunch with a barefoot feast at La Isla Grill & Pool Bar. Then when it’s time for dinner, go back to La Vista Latin Grill for oceanfront views and Puerto Rican dishes like Sancocho Stew and Tres Mofongos. Finally, if you’re planning on gambling the night away anyways, start with dinner at Wan Chai Noodle Bar, inside the Stellaris Casino. Hidden in the corner with only a few tables to choose from, and serving up savory noodles, dumplings and more, this Chinese spot in the middle of the Caribbean boasts some of the best food in town.

Everyone knows that, in Puerto Rico, life is nothing if not a party. And as a guest of San Juan Marriott, all you have to do is head downstairs to get a taste of what that means in Condado.

When the sun goes down, the hotel lobby wakes up. At Red Coral Lounge, hotel guests and locals alike surround the bar for handcrafted cocktails, sexy cuisine, and most importantly, dancing! Whether it’s a Tuesday or a Saturday, it’s not uncommon to see couples showing off their salsa or merengue skills, as a live Latin band keeps the party going all night long. Using design elements inspired by Puerto Rico’s most popular artists and sculptors, like wood sculptor Neftali Maldonado and famed muralist Carmelo Sobrino, Red Coral Lounge fuses hip vibes with the rich culture of its surrounding island.

In the mood for a night that’s a little more of a gamble? It is rumored that the Stellaris Casino has more penny slot machines, and the highest betting limits, than any other casino in Puerto Rico.

Packing your bags? So are we. With Puerto Rico’s great weather all year round, and our cooler temperatures just around the corner, we’ve got San Juan on our minds. See you at the Marriott!

For more information about San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, visit www.marriottsanjuan.com.

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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Nadia’s Boutique

So Everybody can have the Freedom to be Beautiful SJM reader code: LOVED (for 20% off) Location: Shoppes at Lake Dow 914 Highway 81 East McDonough, GA 30252 678-545-7728 • www.freedomtobebeautiful.com nadias_boutique

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Reservations must be made through ClubLine for My Community and My World benefits, and are subject to availability. Participating clubs subject to change. Cart fees and guest charges may apply. Alcohol, service charges and applicable taxes are excluded. Membership application or conversion form required, and membership is contingent on successful completion of the Club’s enrollment process. All offers are subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. See Club for details. © ClubCorp USA, Inc. All rights reserved. 0516 EA

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle’s Healthy Kids Georgia and Georgia Department of Public Health is pleased to announce the Inaugural Healthy Georgia Awards on October 10th hosted by College Football Hall of Fame in Downtown Atlanta.

Join business and community leaders from across the state of Georgia to recognize successful efforts in childhood health and wellness while we honor our award winners.

Date: Monday, Oct. 10TH 2016 Location: College Football Hall of Fame, Downtown Atlanta Time: 6:30pm - 9pm Event Information: www.georgiashape.org Applications for the 2016 Healthy Georgia Awards are now open at www.GeorgiaShape.org.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Saturday, Oct. 1st to be eligible.

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september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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Georgia State 4-H Congress By: Mary Ann Parsons | Photography: Blane Marable Photography

G

eorgia 4-H has been growing leaders and volunteers for generations. This year, Georgia 4-H has amplified its influence on both a national and local level. 4-H alumni have gathered on many different stages to speak about what the organization has truly meant to them.

In late July, Georgia 4-H’ers gathered together to compete in one of Georgia 4-H’s most prestigious competitions. State 4-H Congress is the pinnacle for youth that have dedicated countless hours to their project.

Students competed in a preliminary district competition to earn the right to interview and compete on the state level. One deserving winner from each category will then receive an all-expense paid trip to National 4-H Congress to participate in leadership activities with 4-H’ers from all over the nation.

National 4-H Council has initiated the “4-H Grows True Leaders” campaign. Georgia 4-H Alum, Jennifer Nettles, is the national spokesperson for the campaign. On countless occasions, Nettles has represented Georgia 4-H and all of the values we instill in our youth. The 4-H Grows Campaign focuses on the 4-H program’s ability to shape and encourage young minds to become the best that they can be. Nettles credits much of her history and development to the Georgia 4-H program.

“If I didn’t have the opportunities that I had at that young age to start honing my craft, I don’t know that I would be able to be as successful as I am today,” said Nettles in a national PSA. The dedication of our volunteers and supporters are truly the backbone 46

SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • September/october 2016

of our organization. Yvonne Childs is a prime exemplary definition of what it means to make a difference and grow true leaders. Recognized this year for her outstanding volunteer leadership in the lives of youth, Childs received the Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer award for 2015. She has volunteered 57,000 hours over the past 68 years.

The leadership skills Georgia 4-H presents its youth with are proven time and time again. This past year, seven Student Government Association Presidents were 4-H Alumni. Many of these SGA Presidents were involved in leadership opportunities with state and district boards but many took advantage of the different programs within the Georgia 4-H Program. In an interview with Juawn Jackson, former Georgia College and State University Student Government Association President, Jackson regarded Georgia 4-H as the pillar to his leadership development.

Many SGA Presidents are consistently involved with the program.

Media Sponsor:

september/october 2016 • SouthernJournalMAGazine.Com

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圀攀 挀爀攀愀琀攀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀 眀漀爀琀栀 猀栀愀爀椀渀最⸀

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⨀倀氀甀猀 攀砀瀀攀渀猀攀猀 椀昀 氀漀挀愀琀椀漀渀 椀猀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 漀昀 䴀攀琀爀漀 䄀琀氀愀渀琀愀⸀

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SOUTHERNJOURNALMAGAZINE.COM • july/august 2016

Visit us at any of our heart and vascular locations in the Southern Crescent: Emory at Riverdale 6507 Professional Place Riverdale, GA 30274

Emory at Locust Grove 4899 Bill Gardner Parkway Locust Grove, Georgia 30248

Emory at Stockbridge 1050 Eagle’s Landing Parkway Suite 101 Stockbridge, GA 30281

Emory at Fayetteville 115 Sumner Road Fayetteville, GA 30214

From having licensed physical therapists and certified athletic trainers who only work with kids to using Dartfish motion analysis to correct mechanics and prevent injuries, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta offers the specialized care needed to keep young football stars playing at the highest level. Whether it’s a torn ACL, a shoulder injury, or a concussion, the pediatric experts at Children’s will get your superstar back on the field as quickly and safely as possible.

We’re proud to serve Henry County athletes.

Find the location nearest you at choa.org/sportsmed.

©2016 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.

CHILDREN’S AT HUDSON BRIDGE | 1496 HUDSON BRIDGE RD., STOCKBRIDGE