April 4, 2017 • Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce
From the Chairman
Bridging our Past to the Future
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“Blending Cultural Heritage and Business Growth” is my theme this year as Chairman of the Greater Hall Chamber. A fine line exists between promoting economic growth and development while preserving our landmarks and heritage that gives our community its diverse and unique identity. As a sixth generation Hall County native, I am dedicated to maintaining our quality of life and making an impact for future generations by focusing on agritourism, historic farming, and preserving and restoring historical structures that meant so much to those who came before us. As we celebrate the success of our current leaders in farming and agriculture (see 2017 Ag Award Recipients on page 5), I press forward in preserving those things that help us remember the past its importance to our future generations. Lee Hemmer The Simpson Company Healan’s-Head's Mill is a nearly 170-year-old gristmill located along the GA Chairman, Greater Hall 365 corridor that has been in grave disrepair. Built in the early 1850s, the mill Chamber of Commerce
served in many capacities throughout its 100 years in operation. A group of historical minded people have worked for over 20 years to save this property and are now making significant progress with their partnership with Hall County. Their goal is to implement a four phased plan to restore this mill, make it operational, and create a Visitor and Heritage Center that will consist of exhibits which illustrate what life was like for those who lived during the time when the water-powered mill was in its peak of operation. Projects like this are forging ways to bridge the past to the future. For inquiries regarding the Healan's-Head's Mill Project, please call Assistant Hall County Administrator Marty Nix or PR Officer Katie Crumley at 770-535-8295. hallcounty.org
Already in place is the Greater Hall Chamber’s VISION 2030 initiative to preserve Green Space in hopes that Gainesville-Hall County will have the greatest amount of protected Green Space of any urban county in Georgia. The group is committed to a process of identifying land for permanent protection based upon its recreational, ecological, environmental, aesthetic, cultural, historic or agricultural value. Elachee Nature Science Center, Atlanta Botanical Gardens Gainesville, and Don Carter State Park are key anchors of the green space effort, and we anticipate that Healan’s-Head’s Mill Historic Site will soon join that list. vision2030.org Also highlighting this initiative is the Highlands to Islands Trail from Downtown Gainesville to South Hall County for walking and biking which opened last year. Highlands To Islands is a multiuse trail system connecting the many great cities together within Hall County with a paved path winding past businesses, scenic areas, college campuses and retail shops. The trail will eventually unite any existing green ways together under one-name/one trail for the maximum benefit to the community and its citizens. highlandstoislands.org As we enjoy an environment of healthy economic growth in Gainesville-Hall County, let's be reminded that our ancestors and visionary leaders of the past helped build this wonderful community. As we surge ahead in constructing new roads, bridges, industries and businesses, we must keep an eye on the past and embrace our heritage and culture. We must teach our youth the significance of our forefathers work, the history of our land and the Rendering of the Healan's-Head's Mill Preservation Project that will include a importance of protecting it Heritage Center with exhibits to illustrate what life was like for those who lived for generations to come. during the time when the water-powered mill was in its peak of operation.
Business Link VOLUME 22 ISSUE 10 McKemie West, Editor • Email: kwest@ghcc.com
GreaterHallChamber.com Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce
2016-2017 Executive Committee Chairman Lee Hemmer The Simpson Company
Vice Chair, Marketing Tate O'Rouke University of North Georgia
Chairman Elect Perry Barnett, CPA Rushton
Vice Chair, Membership Development Katie Dubnik Forum Communications
Treasurer Jimbo Floyd, Turner Wood & Smith Insurance Vice Chair, Economic Development Brian Rochester Rochester & Associates Vice Chair, Education Deborah Mack, Volunteer Vice Chair, Government John Breakfield Breakfield & Associates
Co-Chairs, HALLmark Paul Chambers AT&T Randall Frost Stewart, Melvin & Frost David Lee Jackson EMC
Senior Advisor Vice Chair, South Hall Council Dixie Truelove Andy Kalinauskas Truelove Dairy Conditioned Air Systems Immediate Past Chairman Vice Chair, Community Brian Daniel Development Carroll Daniel Construction Co. Lila Weaver Westmoreland President & CEO Brenau University Kit Dunlap Chair, VISION 2030 Greater Hall Chamber of Melissa Tymchuk, Northeast Commerce Georgia Health System Elizabeth Higgins, Exec Director
Board of Directors 2016-2017 Phil Bonelli, Wells Fargo Jay Cooper, Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia Dr. Wanda Creel, Gainesville City Schools Stacey Dickson, Lake Lanier CVB Danny Dunagan, Mayor, City of Gainesville Sam Evans, Councilman, City of Oakwood Josh Everett, New Leaf Landscape Services Andi Farmer, Milton Martin Honda Brett Fowler, Turner Wood & Smith Insurance Tony Funari, Funari Realty Col. Bill Gallagher, Riverside Military Academy Joy Griffin, United Way of Hall County Kenitra Halyard, Georgia Power Emily Hayes, Milton Martin Toyota Richard Higgins, Chair, Hall Co. Commission Morgan House, Lake Lanier Olympic Park Anna Jacobs, Jacobs Media Lane Jones, Community Volunteer Jay Kelly, Signs By Tomorrow Dr. John Kennedy, Lakeview Academy Caroline Lewallen, Jaemor Farms David Lloyd, Liberty Utilities Mike McGraw, PrideStaff / Ranger Lock
Terry Merck, American Yazaki Mike Miller, Mayor, City of Flowery Branch Steve Naughton, Enterprising Solutions James Nix, Mayor, City of Clermont Dr. Richard Oates, University of North Georgia Bill Orr, Mayor, Town of Braselton Dr. Ray Perren, Lanier Technical College Larry Poole, Mayor, City of Gillsville Barbara Rambo, ProCare Rx Jeff Reinhardt, MD, The Longstreet Clinic Josh Schlieman, Sullivan & Schlieman Will Schofield, Hall County School System Dr. Ed Schrader, Brenau University Carol Shirley, South State Bank Louis Smith, Northeast Georgia Health System Jody Spain, Cotton Eyed Joe’s Kevin Strada, The Atlanta Falcons Grier Todd, Lanier Islands Milton Turner, Mayor, City of Lula Philip Wilheit, Wilheit Packaging Philip Wilheit, Jr., Wilheit Packaging Arrik Williams, Tatsumi Intermodal USA
Associate Directors 2016-2017 Irineu Bragante, Mugele Tara Carney, AEON Global Health Kate Cook, Cook Law Group Brad Gooch, Lawson Air & Plumbing Jim Grier, Champion Capital Alliance Andrew Joyner, The Simpson Company Shane Lazenby, Lazenby Law Group
Sarita Madera, Homestar Financial Corp Kingsley Peeples, NEGA Health System Steven Pettit, Peach State Bank & Trust Stacey Poole, McDonald's, NEGA Alan Schuetze, Carroll Daniel Construction Ahna Still, Halski Systems Darryl Workman, BrandBank
Staff Executive Kit Dunlap, President & CEO Gerri Collins, Executive Assistant Economic Development Tim Evans, Vice President Shelley Davis, Vice President Existing Industry Amanda Lewis, Project Manager Peyton Wilhoite, Project Manager Finance & Operations David Umberson, Vice President, Finance and Human Resources Membership Development Mandy Lathem, Vice President, Events Christen Wilbanks, Vice President, Sales
Education & Leadership Andi Harmon, Vice President Government Affairs Peyton Wilhoite, Project Manager South Hall Council Mandy Lathem, Vice President, Events Community Development Robin Halstead, Vice President VISION 2030 Elizabeth Higgins, Executive Director Marketing & Communications Kemie West, Business Link Editor/Consultant Greater Hall Chamber Welcome Center Robin Halstead, Manager