March 1, 2016 • Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce
Member Announcements
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• Rotary Club of Gainesville awarded Garland Reynolds as Man of the Year, while Deborah Mack was named Woman of the Year. Since 1939, the club has given the awards for leadership and service to the community, state and nation. rotaryclubofgainesville.com • Junior Achievement's Northeast Georgia Business Hall of Fame awards were presented to Don Carter, Georgia Department of National Resources board member; Ben Cheek, 1st Franklin Financial CEO; and Dr. Nabil Muhanna, neurosurgeon and inventor. Other JA Awards included: Nancy Norton, The Norton Agency, Volunteer of the Year Award; Rose Procter, Director of BB&T Center for Ethical Business Leadership at UNG, Educator of the Year; RichLife Advisors, JA Business Partnership of the Year Award; and Dr. Ron Wilson, Gus Whalen Rising Star Award for innovation, entrepreneurship and community service. juniorachievement.org • Hall County Government Scholars' Academy is March 15-May 10. Each of the nine sessions will focus on a different aspect of local government and include tours of many facilities. "We want to encourage citizens to be active in their local government," County Administrator Randy Knighton said. "Participants will gain an intimate understanding of how their tax dollars are spent and what issues face Hall County Government." No charge. Registration form and syllabus available online: hallcounty.org • The Rooster’s Perch is expanding and adding a multi-profession training program to help individuals with disabilities obtain skills for employment. Located three doors down from the Rooster’s Perch on Bradford Street in Gainesville, R&F Industries opens in March and features a variety of businesses run by individuals with disabilities. Colleen Pirkle, employment specialist with Randy and Friends, said the expansion will allow the organization to serve up to 35-40 per week. randyandfriends.org • The Chamber's Annual Job Fair is Wednesday, March 23 from 10am-2pm at the Gainesville Civic Center. Presented by Spherion Staffing Services, the event provides the perfect forum for companies hiring to recruit new employees and provides job seekers with valuable face time with hiring managers. No admission fee and open to the public. Details: Amanda Lewis, 770-532-6206 x 111. Email: alewis@ghcc.com • Chamber Board meetings are open to Chamber members. Attend a meeting, network with Chamber leadership and
learn what's happening in Greater Hall County! The next meeting is Thursday, March 24 at the Gainesville Civic Center, 12-1:30 pm. Reservations Required. $11 per person; includes lunch. Reservations: Gerri Collins, 770-5326206 x 106. Email: gcollins@ghcc.com • Hall County Animal Shelter's 1st Annual Wag at the Ag adoption event is Sunday, March 20 from 12-2pm at the Chicopee Woods Ag Center, 1855 Calvary Church Road in Gainesville. hallcounty.org • City of Gainesville welcomes Linda MacGregor as water resources director with 20 years of experience and work at the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. MacGregor is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and replaces Kelly Randall, who is retiring, as water resources director. gainesville.org • Elton Maddox, president and CEO of Wayne Farms, was named the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association's "Workhorse of the Year" and received the award at the International Poultry Expo in January. The award is considered the poultry industry's most esteemed honor. Maddox is a Georgia native and UGA graduate. He joined Wayne Farms in 1974 and has served as chairman of the National Chicken Council and the Georgia Improvement Association as well as president of the Georgia Poultry Federation and Georgia Poultry Processors Federation. waynefarms.com • Thank you Gwinnett Braves and Lanier Islands, the major prize sponsors for the Chamber's Membership Recruitment Campaign. Thank you HTI Employment Solutions for sponsoring the New Member Breakfast, and thank you to the following for donations as weekly incentives: Belk, Fajitas Restaurant, Oakwood Package Store, Pink Barre-Lake Lanier, Saul’s, Sweet Magnolia’s, The Spa on Green Street, and Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint. • The Longstreet Clinic, P.C. announces Rebecca Bedingfield Ando, MD to the Center for Women’s Health. She is an experienced OBGYN and comes to TLC from a private practice in Richmond, VA. TLC’s Center for Women’s Health has locations in Gainesville, Baldwin, Braselton and Dahlonega. longstreetclinic.com/women • Choices Pregnancy Care Center (CPCC) has added new staff members to its administrative team: Ann Milner, Marketing Specialist; Mary Baxter, Patient Services Manager; Elizabeth Fogarty, Administrative Coordinator; and Lisa Hes-
ter, Operations Director. CPCC's Annual Fundraising Gala is Thursday, March 10 at 6:45 pm at First Baptist Church of Gainesville. The event features Keynote Speaker Star Parker, a nationally syndicated columnist, Fox News contributor and author. $30 per person; $240 Table Sponsor. Additional sponsorships available. Must be 18 to attend. Reservations online: choicespregnancypartners.org • The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in Gainesville has moved to a new location and welcomes Bruce Cutler, Area Director, and Marjory Wooten, Program Coordinator. The office is now located in Interstate Ridge Business Park at 906 Interstate Ridge Drive, Suite B in Gainesville. Program info: 770-5315681 or visit georgiasbdc.org/gainesville • Headquartered in Gainesville, M3 Accounting + Analytics is the industry leader in hospitality accounting and analytics software and has promoted Casi Johnson, former Executive VP of Operations to COO-Innovations Leader.
M3 has over 500 customers (4,000 properties) and helps provide the hotel industry with access to the information they need in the most integrated and cost effective manner. m3as.com • Olympic qualifying canoe & kayak races are coming to Lake Lanier and organizers are seeking volunteers. The Lake Lanier Olympic Park will host the Pan American Championships Continental Olympic Qualifier for Juniors and Seniors from Thursday, May 19 through May 22. To sign up as a volunteer: visit lakelanierolympicvenue.org • Did you know that a listing of Retirement and Assisted Living Facilities in the Area is the Greater Hall Chamber's single most requested information? Welcome Center Manager Robin Halstead has recently updated material. For a copy, call Robin at 770-532-6206 or email rhalstead@ghcc.com
GOT NEWS? Email: kwest@ghcc.com
Small Business of the Month Oakwood Occasions With a love of food and Julia Child as her inspiration, Dannella Burnett has worked in culinary and special events since the age of 16. She holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University and has earned Gold Medals in international culinary competitions in the U.K. and Germany. Following college, she managed restaurants, catered and coordinated events and weddings in Washington, DC and Virginia. In 2009, Dannella created Oakwood Occasions to provide North Georgia with quality event solutions and to support her family. Over the last seven years Oakwood Occasions has Dannella Burnett Chamber Small offered custom catering, high end vending Business of the Month. options, fudge shipped nationally, coffee services with Organo Coffee, OO Coffee Shoppe, OO Café and Event Management. In 2015 Oakwood Occasions streamlined operations and now offers event solutions and production and wedding planning in addition to operating the OO Café in the Hall County Government Center featuring Organo Coffees and Teas. Dannella has been featured in several publications. She has been named in Gwinnett Magazine's "People to Know" for two years, and recently was nominated as North Georgia’s Best Event Planner and Best Wedding Cakes. She has become an author and sought-after speaker for Women's Empowerment and Small Business Ownership and Event Solutions. Dannella is truly a creative entrepreneur who believes in Multiple Streams of Income and always finding the Win-Win-Win combination. Through creative partnerships with her incredible network as well as high level of experience, Dannella brings everything to the table needed to make your event a success! 770-297-4750. oakwoodoccasions.com