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November/December 2012 | BUSINESS

BUSINESSAlbany Area Chamber of Commerce Magazine

President/CEOChris Hardy, IOM

ChairMiles Espy

Chair-ElectCynthia George

Senior Director ofPublic Policy and Communications

Deborah V. Bowie, IOM

Director of CommunicationsRachelle Bitterman

PrintingBoyd Brothers

PhotographyTodd Stone

Director of SalesDonna Gray

Business (U.S.P.S. 886-680) is published bi-monthly by the Albany Area Chamber ofCommerce, 225 W. Broad Avenue, Albany,Georgia 31701. Subscription rate of $50 isincluded in membership investment. Periodicalspostage paid at Albany, Georgia.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:Business Magazine, 225 W. Broad Avenue,Albany, Georgia, 31701. For more informationabout this publication or advertising rates, call(229) 434-8700. This publication is produced bythe Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.Reproduction in whole or part of thispublication without expressed written consentof the publisher is prohibited. All claims,materials, and photos furnished or used are, tothe publisher’s knowledge, true and correct.Hence liability cannot be assumed by thepublisher for errors or by the publisher forerrors or omissions. Advertisements and editorialinformation published in this publication issubject to the unrestricted right to edit of, andby, our editor/publisher.

U.S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership,Management and CirculationDate of Filing: 9/29/08

Business (U.S.P.S. 886-680) is published bi-monthly by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, 225 W. Broad

Avenue, Albany Georgia 31707. Subscriptionrate of $50 is included in membership investment.Periodicals postage paid at Albany, Georgia.

Owner/Publisher: Albany Chamber of Commerce225 W. Broad Avenue, Albany, Georgia 31701

4 www.AlbanyGa.com

www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS

CONTENTS

About the Cover:Imagine what Albany would be if we allworked “together.” These folks can! Readthe story on page 8.

From left: Miles Espy, LaKisha Bryant, BilSadler, Dr. Everett Freeman, BobbyMcKinney.

Design by Rachelle BittermanPhotography by Todd Stone

January 31, 2013

103RD

ANNUAL DINNERInstallation & Awards

Albany Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn

5:30pm reception6:30 dinner & program

The Chamber will present its highest honors,

the Lifetime Service Awardalong with Ambassador and

Non-Profit of the Year.

$60 per person

$575 for table of 10General Seating

$75 per person afterJanuary 25th

For more information or to make reservations

contact Sue [email protected]

or 317-7172.

The Albany Area Chamber's AnnualDinner is the region's premiere

business event, attended by nearly 400 area business executives and

civic leaders.

Comments from the 2012 Chair of the Board

page 6

Tobether We Can...page 8

Water, Gas & LightCelebrating 100 Years of Service

page 10

A Message From MCLB Albanypage 12

Lunch & LearnCloud Computing

page 13

Did You Know...page 15

Star Business of the Weekpage 16

Get Connected page 19

A Message From thePresident/CEO

page 20

Legislative Rise N Shinepage 22

Business After HoursChehaw & BreakAway Cycles

page 23

Ribbon Cuttingspage 24

Monarch Butterfly Pollinator Garden Dedication

page 26

Shop These New Starspage 26

SOWEGA Council On AgingGroundbreaking

page 26

Thank You Renewing Members

page 28

Emerge Updatepage 30

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 20 12 – VOLUME 1 2 NUMBER 6

5November/December 2012

It is hard to believe that 2012 will soon come to a close. We began this yearwith our Annual Meeting, which emphasized what we could accomplish workingtogether as a chamber, a business community, and as a region. It has been aprivilege to serve as the Chairman of your Chamber’s Board of Directors this yearand to witness so many pulling together for the common good.

Your Chamber is governed by a Board of Directors that has a genuine passionfor your Chamber’s mission and that is actively involved throughout its body ofwork. However, the excellent staff of your Chamber carries out the mission anddeserves the full credit for the success of our Chamber. During the year, yourChamber Board was pleased to bring Chris Hardy on board to serve as ourPresident and CEO and lead our very talented and dedicated team of employees.In 2013, your Chamber is positioned to continue its long heritage of promotingand stimulating the economic well-being of its membership.

Representing our members’ interests in major issues of economic and publicpolicy is a continual focus of your Chamber. To that end, the Chamber is servedwell by an engaged Legislative Affairs Committee that works with federal, state,and local elected officials with your best interests at heart.

Our Convention and Visitors’ Bureau works very closely with those hosting events, like the annualmarathon, that have a significant impact on the Albany Area. As our CVB Manager, Rashelle Beasely worksclosely with volunteers and staff to ensure these events are a success and to actively market the Albany Area asa tourist destination. We were not surprised, therefore, that Rashelle was named the “Rising Star” of 2012 by theSoutheast Tourism Society.

Our Legislative Affairs Division and our CVB are good examples of the required teamwork it takes toachieve the objectives of your Chamber. Similarly, numerous individuals, businesses, and organizations worktogether to promote economic development and provide resources. To that end, we are proud to partner withthe Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Georgia Chamber Council on shared goals for theregion.

Without each and every member’s direct support through the payment of dues, none of these programs orefforts so vital to our business community would be possible. We value our relationship and appreciate youallowing us to serve you and your business.

In Service to Our Business Community,Miles V. Espy, Sr.

Miles EspyDraffin & Tucker, LLP

Partner

COMMENTS FROM THE2012 Chairman

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www.AlbanyGa.com | BUSINESS 7November/December 2012

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TOGETHER WE CAN

Looking for a yearly theme under which he'll serve his term asChairman of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce's Board of

Directors, Miles Espy thought less about what might sound good asa campaign slogan and more about the issues that confront memberbusinesses and other elements of the community. His eureka

moment offered the best of both worlds:

Special to the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce

”“


"For this community to move forward— and I mean this entire community,not just the businesses that make upthe membership of the Chamber —everyone's going to have to plug in,"Espy said. "Everyone in this community— the economic development folks,the government leaders, the schools,the businesses, the entire population —has a role to play. Everyone hasresponsibilities."When everyone comes to the table

and starts to identify what theirindividual roles are, and we all startworking on them, that's when we startto move forward. Together, we can."Espy, a principal in the Draffin and

Tucker CPA firm, is already getting anenthusiastic buy-in from some of thecommunity leaders who will play vitalroles in promoting the Chamber's pushfor inclusion and its call to worktoward a common vision."There's a saying — I think it was

made by Abraham Lincoln — that a'house divided against itself cannotstand'," Bill Sadler with Sadler CapitalManagement said. "Albany is a townright now, but if it wants to be acommunity, it has to put aside oldanimosity and dissent and worktogether. I think Miles' vision of'Together We Can' is a challenge forthis entire community to work toward afuture in which we're one Albany."I think we have to look at the

resources we have available — thewater from the (Flint) river and ouraquifers, our farmland, our institutionsof higher education, our work force —and reach out to businesses that couldbest benefit from those resources. Weneed to work together on a plan thatcan help our community grow."Albany Technical College President

Anthony Parker agrees with Sadler'sassessment. His institution, after all,implemented a logistics trainingprogram geared specifically to meet theneeds at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany. But Parker said the concept ofworking together with common goalsin mind must stretch beyond theboundaries of the business community."We can't tell businesses and

manufacturers that we have a trainedwork force in place if our state has a 67percent graduation rate," Parker said,noting recent statistics released by theGeorgia Department of Education. "A

large dropout rate is not just a problemfor the education system in ourcommunity, region and state, it's aproblem we all must take on. Tobecome a certified literate community,we've all got to do what we can tokeep our students in school workingtoward a legitimate high school diploma."Then we've got to expand our

vision beyond high school graduation.

Manufacturers came to the Southback in the 1960s because there was apopulation in place willing to workhard. Now we've got to supply apopulation with the ability to worksmart."United Way of Southwest Georgia

President/CEO Lakeisha Bryant saidvarious groups in Southwest Georgiawill more readily work together whenthey come to the realization that theirgoals are similar."We have to take our blinders off,"

she said. "We all live in the samecommunity, and we have to start torealize that we're all facing the sameissues. The problems of any onesegment of the community are theproblems of the whole community; weall have the same issues. We've just gotto do more on the grassroots level."As a native of Albany, I've seen the

kind of community spirit it takes towork together and accomplish commongoals during emergencies like thefloods in 1994 and 1998. We need thatsame kind of spirit, that same sense ofurgency, without a crisis. I saw thatspirit recently when I found out abouta group of women who couldn't affordto have (needed medical procedures). Italked with the medical community andfound people willing to completetesting at no charge, but there was acost of $25 per person for lab work. Iput out a plea to other women on myFacebook page, asking if any couldspare the $25, and within a week I hadenough for 70 women to have the tests.Sometimes it just takes someone simplyasking."Bobby McKinney, whose civic

involvement includes work with theChamber, the Albany-Dougherty

Economic Development Commissionand the Albany Convention and VisitorsBureau, said the community shouldapproach its current situation "still incrisis mode.""We don't have the kind of thing we

went through with natural disasters, butwe are in crisis right now," he said. "Wehave some critical issues in ourcommunity that must be addressed. Butwe also have opportunities, and I'veseen those things turned around herewhen people get involved and worktogether."There was an effort to push for the

state to finance the needed Fine ArtsBuilding at Albany State University, andI was asked if I could help relay to ourgovernment leaders how much itwould mean to our community. I askedseveral of our institutions if they'dmake an effort to speak out on behalfof ASU, and they all did ... Procter &Gamble, M&M Mars, Phoebe (PutneyMemorial Hospital), MillerCoors, theChamber, the EDC, LRA Constructors,(Dougherty County CommissionChairman Jeff) "Bodine" Sinyard,(Albany Mayor) Dorothy Hubbard, (StateRepresentatives) Winfred Dukes, CarolFullerton. They all wrote letters thatwere collected and sent to the stateLegislature. That's the kind ofcommunity spirit we're talking about."Espy, who admits to being a "glass-

half-full kind of guy," said the varioussegments of Albany and the regionmust overcome the negatives thatpersist in the community."We hear the negatives all the time,

but our community is a wonderfulplace with a lot of wonderful attributes,"the Chamber chairman said. "It's timewe put aside the differences that havebeen dividing us and start looking atthe common things that will benefit allof us. We can't stick our heads in thesand any longer and ignore what'sgoing on around us; we have toaddress our challenges as well as ouropportunities."We have to improve the image we

present to those outside ourcommunity, but before we can do that,we have to improve our own self-image. We've seen glimpses of what wecan accomplish when we worktogether. Now we must make plans toexpand those efforts, to continuemoving forward together."

Albany is a town right now,but if it wants to be a

community, it has to putaside old animosity and

dissent and work together.

www.AlbanyGa.com10 November/December 2012 | BUSINESS

3303 Gillionville Road Albany, Georgia 31721

Phone: 229-432-9301Fax: 229-436-31891-800-226-9301

www.albanygacomm.com

Albany Communications, Inc.

SOLUTIONSRadio Solutions Channel Partner

The Water, Gas & Light Commissionis a municipally-owned and operatedutility system furnishing water, gas, andelectricity to the citizens of Albany, GA. Currently it servesover 40,000 customers and is the largest public utility inGeorgia. The utility marks its 100th anniversary this year. In 1892 the City of Albany, bought up several small

privately owned and operated water supply systems – thisbecame the Albany Water Works. This successful experienceled to the purchase of the privately owned electric plantoperating in the city in 1900. In1912, in answer to a demand by thecitizens of Albany, a modern gasplant was built. The City of Albany has been a

pioneer in the field of municipallyowned public utilities. It hasexperienced such marked success,both in the character and economy ofits services that many other cities havebeen influenced to follow Albany’sexample and benefit by Albany’sexperience.The Mayor of Albany serves as the

ex-officio chairman of the Commissionwith other members appointed by theCity Commission to serve terms of twoyears each. The commission is vestedwith the exclusive authority to establishwater, gas and electric rates and tomake and enforce rules for thecollection of the same.The mission of WG&L is to provide

reliable cost-competitive services toresidential and commercial customersthroughout our city. As a utility andactive member of the community, the

commission values…..• Quality customer service• Openness and honesty in everything we do• Finding innovative approaches to serve businesses andindustries interested in this area.

• Maintaining high reliability for servicesOur purpose is to be the lowest-cost supplier among our

competitors of high-value energy and water.

Congratulations to Water, Gas & Light Celebrationing 100 Years of Service


November/December 2012 | BUSINESS12 www.AlbanyGa.com

I would like to thank the Albany Community for getting down and dirty with theirfellow Marines at the installation’s first-ever Dirty Devil Dog Mud Run. The fact that wewere able to garner more than 500 participants in such a short time shows thecommunity’s interest and willingness to support Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany andall those who call the base home. This is just the tip of the iceberg as the base looks toopen itself up to the community more often. We will either succeed or fail as one country,one Corps and one community, and events such as the Mud Run show we’re truly onecommunity.

Sure it was fun, muddy and even a little slapstick, but it shed light on the relationshipson what really matters – our ties to each other as Americans. “MCLB Albany knows howto find the heart of the community,” one local citizen said.

Other participants even remarked on how Marines lined the course and encouragedthem to finish or overcome an obstacle. Being cheered on by Marines gave them the pushthey needed to surmount such obstacles as a freezing mud pit or climb over a barrier

more than two and a half miles into the course.

Events like these are important. As Americans, we face more stringent obstacles than a mud pit, and our barriers as acommunity, Corps, and country are more difficult to climb. However, the Greater Albany community is overcoming itsobstacles. As Marines of MCLB Albany and its tenant commands, not only will we cheer Albany on and encourage itscitizenry, we realize we must climb these obstacles with you as one team. Opening the base to the community is our way ofshowing its young members what is possible, that they can be successful, and also shows the community-at-large we willalways find the resources to open our doors and extend our hand regardless of economic hardships.

Service to the public means more than wearing the uniform and training to fight our nation’s battles. As Marines, we wearthe title even when we’re not wearing the uniform. Being a Marine means serving the public all the time. This idea stands asa driving force as we continue to reach out to the Greater Albany area.

We stand as fellow Americans and we want the community to keep this in mind first and foremost. Regardless of theuniform, we’re all Albanians. Together WE CAN overcome the obstacles in our path. We are One Nation, One Corps, OneCommunity, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

COUNTRY, CORPS, COMMUNITYA message from MCLB Albany

Col. Don Davis Commanding Officer

MCLB Albany


CLOUDCOMPUTINGhe re and now

LUNCH & LEARN

Tammy McCrary, CEO of ComNet Technical Solutions,presented the Lunch & Learn on Cloud Computing, theChamber’s final Lunch & Learn for 2012.

Tammy McCrary, CEO of ComNet Technical Solutions,facilitated the Chamber’s final Lunch and Learn of 2012.During the seminar participants learned: cloud computingbasics; understanding what a cloud is; how you can use acloud in your business; examples of cloud computing;investment in clouds; future applications of clouds -Quickbooks and Microsoft Office 365. Thanks to TheAlbany Herald for sponsoring this event.


229-446-3600 | mjcpa.com 2303 Dawson Road | Albany, GA 31707

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A national survey of 2,000 adults reveals that being activein a local chamber of commerce is an effective businessstrategy because two-thirds of consumers believe that suchcompanies use good business practices, are reputable, careabout their customers, and are involved in the community.The study, conducted by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-

based strategic consulting firm, found consumer perceptionsof chamber members to be positive in many ways:When consumers know that a small business is a member

of the chamber of commerce, they are 49% more likely tothink favorably of it and 80% more likely to purchase goodsor services from the company in the future.If a company shows that it is highly involved in its local

chamber (e.g., is a chamber board member), consumers are10% more likely to think that its products stack up betteragainst its competition.When consumers know that a national restaurant franchise

is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 68%more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months.When consumers know that an insurance company is a

member of the chamber of commerce, they are 36% morelikely to think favorably of the company.The key factor in developing and maintaining positive

consumer perception of chamber members, the SchapiroGroup said, was that "positive outcomes only occur whenconsumers know that a business is a chamber member (i.e.,being involved in the chamber is a known facet of thecompany's reputation)." Accordingly, when consumers knowthat a large business is a member of the chamber, they arelikely to patronize the company more often, to expressfavorable opinions about the company, to know more aboutthe company, and to buy the company's products.Go to www.albanyga.com and browse our website or our

FB page at www.facebook.com/albanyareachamberofcommerce.While on our Facebook page please click “like” to keep upwith all the latest activities at your Albany Area Chamber. For more information on what the Albany Area Chamber

of Commerce can do for your business, contact MaryBickerstaff at [email protected] or 229-317-7183.

DID YOU KNOW...Chamber Membership is An Effect ive Business StrategyCourtsey of Albany CEO

DOHERTY, DUGGAN AND ROUSE INSURORS2301 Dawson Road

229-888-2040 • www.ddrins.com

Contact: Rick Doherty

DOCO CREDIT UNION107 N. Westover Blvd.

229-435-1715 • www.dococu.com

Contact: Barry Heape

BRAD LANIER OIL COMPANY, INC.611 W Roosevelt Avenue

229-436-0131

Contact: Hans Pomeroy

Thank you to our additional sponsors ...

Sponsored by

The Star Business of the Week initiative is an exciting "r

ALBANY INTERNAL MEDICINE2402 Osler Court

(229) 438-3300 • www.albanyim.com

Contact: Bruce Trickle

KING FAMILY DENTAL CARE915 W. Highland Avenue

229-435-0677

Contact: Dr. Charles King

THE ROYAL COLLECTION2347 Lake Park Drive

229-446-1106

Contact: Terri Stumpe

ALL AMERICAN FUN PARK2608 N. Slappey Blvd.

229-436-8362 • www.allamericanfunpark.com

Contact: Buddy Blackwell

random draw" program for our 1200+ regional member businesses in good standing.


ORTHOPAEDICASSOCIATES

SEATED

T. GLENN WILLIAMS, M.D., A.A.O.S., F.A.C.S.FROM LEFT

TASON J. POTOCKI, M.D., A.A.O.S., F.A.C.S.THOMAS M. DARDEN, JR., M.D., A.A.O.S., F.A.C.S.PAUL A. MICHAS, M.D., A.A.O.S., F.A.C.S.JAMES S. MASON, D.O., F.A.O.A.O.MARK A. WOLGIN, M.D., A.A.O.S., F.A.C.S.

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PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES OFFERED WITHIN OUR PRACTICE

As an added benefit to membership, the Albany AreaChamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a new

partnership with member Total Merchant Services ofGA, an independent credit and debit card processing

company owned by Lizzi Cochrane of Albany, GA.

• Save 25% or more on monthly credit/debitcard processing services

• Credit/Debit card rates starting at 1.24%• New, fully warranted equipment at no

charge• No termination fee or annual fee

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* If your business is undercontract to another serviceprovider, you may be able totake advantage of the program

prior to current contractexpiration date. Contact Mary

Bickerstaff [email protected] or

317-7183 to inquire.

* Initial one-time $49 equipment installation fee.

Credit/Debit Card Processing SavingsGET CONNECTED

More than 20 members attended thebi-montly Get Connected lunch. Theywere shown how to utilize theChamber to market their businessesand increase their bottom line throughevents and by using the Chamber’swebsite. They received their login andpassword to access their company’sinformation on the Chamber site sothey would be able to keep theirnformation up to date. Thank you toFirehouse Subs for sponsoring theGet Connected lunches for 2012!

PRINCE OF ALBANY

YOUR GM SUPERSTORE


MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEOWhat’s in Store for 2013As the Chamber and business community approaches 2013, there are a multitude of issues that

we can and must begin addressing now to ensure our growth and sustainability. The week beforethis article was written the Chamber of Commerce and other area business partners hosted the2013 Economic Forecast luncheon presented by the Terry College of Business at the University ofGeorgia at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Albany. As an attendee and moderator for theprogram, I was extremely interested to hear what many experts believe we can expect thisupcoming year.

This year’s program featured thoughts from several leading faculty at the School of Businessincluding Robert Sumichrast, Dean of the Terry College of Business, who delivered the Stateforecast; Beata Koschut, Research Professional at the College, who spoke more on the local forecastfor Albany, Dougherty County and Southwest Georgia; and Mark Masters, Director of Projects at theGeorgia Water Planning and Policy Center, who presented the Agricultural Forecast.

I want to share some key points made during the morning-long event. They were:

• Georgia will continue to rebound much more quickly in 2013 post-recession at a rate of 3/10 of a % higherthan the national average.

• Considering Georgia is heavily dependent on oil as a State and is drastically affected, any numbers inexcess of $140 per barrel would possibly send Georgia into a second-dip recession. Projections are that oilwill not exceed $100 barrel which is great news, if of course projections become reality.

• Two industry sectors were specifically mentioned as projecting to show great promise, Bio and NanoTechonologies. Three other industries where growth is expected are manufacturing, professional andleisure/hospitality.

• Another good sign is that Real Estate is beginning to show signs of progress, which of the upmostimportance in attracting new industry and creating new jobs.

I would be remiss if I also did not include a few projections that were not so positive: Though the job growth trend is upat 1.4%, that is certainly not enough to restore Georgia to the number of jobs lost over the last several years. That fullrecovery is not predicted to happen until 2016. Other factors that could negatively affect Georgia are education, federal cutsand uncertainty along with continued lack of confidence in new market expansion.

Ok, so where’s the silver lining, you ask? I believe these projections are a way for us to realize where our strengths andour weaknesses are so we can address them strategically with a knife rather than with a bazooka and hope we hitsomething. We all know that Public Education is an important part of our and any community. There is a way the Chamberand business community can do our part to help right the ship. We as an organization understand it is our duty to bring

Chris Hardy, IOMPresident/CEO

1001 S. Slappey229.432.6271PrinceAutoAlbany.com

Coming soon to corner of Ledo and Nottingham Road


decision makers to the table where productive and meaningful discussion can take place. We must do what we can to helpour teachers, our principals, and help the systems administration by showing our support with the goal in mind to raisegraduation rates, educate our youth so that they are better prepared for the workforce, and provide a superior quality of lifefor our citizens and provide a vibrant economy for our businesses.

We have a detailed focus in 2013 which will address the primary issues affecting our community with education beingone of them. We look forward to being able to share our accomplishments with you throughout the year. Our goal is to notonly be the best Chamber of Commerce we can be, but also be one of the best service providers to our members in thearea. Your Chamber appreciates the opportunity to serve you and as always, if there is anything you feel we can do for youor your business, please don’t hesitate to call any of our Chamber staff. We are here for YOU!

Regards,

Chris Hardy, IOM

Poverty Affects Us All

WE NEED YOU!• Businesses • Churches • Faith-Based Organizations• Educators • Social & Civic Organization• Law Enforcement • Government Officials• Neighborhood Watch Groups• Human & Social Service Agencies

For ways to get involved withStrive2Thrive, please call

229-317-7175 or visit our website

www.strive2thrive.org


The Legislative Rise N Shine Breakfastwas the once again the conduit to presentthe 2013 Legislative Agendas for bothAlbany and the Southwest GeorgiaChamber Council to more than 140 earlyrisers. Held at Doublegate Country Club,the RNS also gave our local legislators theopportunity to talk about the upcomingissues facing the 2013 legislative session

when it convenes in January. Tofamiliarize yourself with the Chamber’slegislative agenda go towww.albanyga.com then click on the“Advocacy” button and click on“legislative agenda”. If you would like tobe a part of the Legislative Committeeplease contact Deborah Bowie [email protected] or 229.317.7178.

LEGISLATIVE RISE N SHINE

From left: Miles Espy, Katrina Barinko, RepresentativeGelald Greene, Senator Freddie Powell Sims,Representatives Ed Ryanders, Winfred Dukes, andCarol Fullerton, Deborah Bowie and Chris Hardy


Preparing today’s students to become tomorrow’s community and business leaders

Congratulations to Rusty Skalla ‘01, the 2012 recipient of the DWS Young Alumni Award for his leadership as Chief Operating O�cer of SASCO Chemical Group and active role in charitable organizations.

For moreinformation call

229-435-1301 or visit www.deer�eldwindsor.com

Learning Today . . . Leading Tomorrow

Preparing today’s students to become tomorrow’s community and business leaders.

BUSINESSAFTER HOURS

CHEHAWBreakAway Cycles

Chehaw and BreakAway Cyclesteamed up to sponsor the NovemberBusiness After Hours. Members filled theCreekside Education Center at Chehawand networked while enjoying greatfood and beverages. Jay Funderburk(bottom photo second from the left)won the $100 jackpot drawing.

MODERN GAS COMPANY, INC.pROpANE gAS-SALES/SERvICE

Contact: Steven Holloway1335 Us Hwy 82 West

435-6116www.moderngascompany.com

SPRAYGLO AUTOREFINISHING & BODY REPAIR

AUTOMOTIvE/REpAIR/pARTSpAINT & BODy/TOWINg

Contact: Kevin Lewis 1124 US Hwy 19 S.

639-1919www.sprayglo.com

sponsored by Albany-Dougherty EDC

PHOEBE DIGESTIVE HEALTH CENTER

HEALTH SERvICESpHySICIANS SURgEONS

Contact: Michele Moody-Jones2 Meredyth place

2740 Ray Knight Way, Suite 100312-0698

SOUTHWEST GEORGIAOBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

HEALTH SERvICESpHySICIANS SURgEONSContact: Dr. J. paul payne

409 4th Avenue434-7640

www.swgaobgyn.com

If your business has moved or expanded and you would like to have a Ribbon Cutting or Groundbreaking contact Mary Bickerstaff

at 317.7183 or [email protected].

in elevator sales

and service for

over 45 years!

1432 US Highway 19 South229-436-7131 | Fax 229-436-1188

www.albanyelevator.com


VERIZON WIRELESSWIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Contact: Jennifer Clark1100 N. Westover Boulevard

431-2355www.verizonwireless.com

ALBANY TECHNICAL COLLEGEBOOKSTORE

EDUCATIONALINSTITUTIONS/RESOURCES

1704 Slappey Blvd.430-3500

www.albanytech.edu


MAC BUSINESS SYSTEMSCOMpUTER/SALES,SERvICE

CONSULTINg,SOFTWAREContact: greg Colovos2418 Dawson Road #4

436-3622www.macbusinesssystems.com

MANPOWEREMpLOyMENT/TEMpORARy/LEASINg

Contact: Stacie Wills2822 Nottingham Way, Suite 102

883-2428www.manpower.com/albany-ga

Monarch Butterfly PollinatorGarden Dedication

A Monarch Butterfly PollinatorGarden was dedicated at RadiumSprings Gardens. At the dedication,County Commission Chairman JeffSinyard commented that this projectis one that will benefit theSouthwest Georgia region forgenerations to come.

Freeze Frozen Yogurt Inc.ICE CREAM PARLOR629 N. Westover Blvd., Suite CAlbany, GA 31707(229) 432-9492Fax (229) 432-1640

State Farm Insurance - Dan Hobby, Agency Field RecruiterINSURANCE & INSURANCEADJUSTERS112-114 East Pine StreetFitzgerald, GA 31750(229) 426-0048www.statefarm.com/careers

Bowl-A-RamaRECREATIONP.O. Box 601Albany, GA 31702(229) 405-1712Fax (229) 405-1713

Vital Smiles Georgia, PCDENTIST1030 A West Gordon Avenue Albany, GA 31701(229) 439-2240

Olive Garden of Albany, GaRESTAURANTS2701 Dawson RoadAlbany, GA 31707(229) 883-8282Fax (229) 883-8832www.olivegarden.com

Mattress FirmFURNITURE STORES2723 Dawson RoadAlbany, GA 31707(229) 435-5227Fax (229) 435-4882www.mattressfirm.com

Albany Pathology AssociatesPHYSICIANS/SURGEONS1905 Palmyra RoadAlbany, GA 31707(229) 439-7170Fax (229) 431-0770

Miller ApartmentsAPARTMENTS2335 Stuart Avenue, Suite E-14Albany, GA 31707(229) 436-5354Fax (229) 436-5545

Cool ScoopsICE CREAM PARLOR106 Pine AvenueAlbany, GA 31721(229) 439-2445www.coolscoopsdowntown.com

KingsMark Private Financial AdvisorsPROFESSIONALSP.O. Box 70998Albany, GA 31708(229) 439-2348Fax (229) 434-19791-800-999-3094

Grace LivingHEALTH PRODUCTS828 W 2nd AvenueAlbany, GA 31701(229) 395-4874

Send Out CardsMARKETING/PUBLICRELATIONS/GRAPHIC DESIGN2829 Burlington RoadAlbany, GA 31721(229) 854-0148www.sendoutcards.com/JeanBently/

SHOP WITH THESE NEW STARSSeptember/October

Please visit www.AlbanyGa.com and view the web pages for all Chamber members.


SOWEGA COUNCIL ON AGING HOLD GROUNDBREAKINGSOWEGA Council OnAging broke ground ontheir long awaited seniorcenter in October. Thenew facility has been thedream of Kay Hind,executive director, formany years. The facilitywill house all of theservices the council offersin Dougherty County.

1 Key Realty LLC .......................9/12/08

A-1 Wrecker Service...................1/24/97A-West Enterprise ......................10/9/09AB&T National Bank ..................9/15/98Adams, Bob................................10/5/05Addison Properties, LLLP.........10/24/02Albany Area Hand Therapy ..........3/3/06Albany Area Primary Health Care, Inc. .....................10/4/02

Albany Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, LL ................................11/2/07

Albany Land Co., Inc. ...................1/1/79Albany Museum of Art..................9/1/87Albany Pet Partners ..................11/13/09Albany Regional Plastic Surgery..9/8/00Albany Springs Apartments..........9/1/95Albany State University ..............10/1/75Albany State University Foundation, Inc.........................10/2/96Albany State University National Alumni Association .....................9/4/07Albany Vascular Specialist Center.....................................10/15/08Alltech Service Company .........12/08/00Anchorage Inc., The .................10/10/00Andrew Tent Co. Inc....................10/1/89Anytime Bail Bonding .................9/21/11ATL Landscaping & Maintenance, Inc. .......................7/1/10

Barber Petroleum Equipment Company ...............................10/25/10

Best Western................................7/8/98Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany ....10/27/11Brickhaven Assisted Living, LLC...............................9/26/11

Capitol City Bank &Trust Company ..........................8/7/01

Carrington Plastering & Dry Wall, Inc. ...........................2/13/03

Carter's Grill & Restaurant..........8/23/11Checkers ....................................10/5/04Chehaw ......................................8/17/98Clean Start, Inc. .........................9/23/09Commercial Construction Consortium..............................8/31/09

Communities In Schools,Albany/Dougherty ...................2/24/06

Concurrent Technologies Corporation .............................10/9/07

Cookie Shoppe, The...................10/1/96Courtyard by Marriott .................8/11/04Crown Networking Consultants ...........................10/27/06

Custom Interiors, Inc. .................10/1/91

Dasher & Padgett Financial Advisors, Inc. .............................4/1/85

David I. Peterson, Inc..................10/1/97Deerfield-Windsor.......................10/1/81Dialysis Clinic, Inc.......................10/1/76DJ's Car Wash II...........................9/1/86Dougherty County Board of Education ..............................1/1/75

Dougherty County Schools ..........9/1/95

Dougherty Glass Company..........1/1/75Drawdy Roofing, Inc. ..................10/8/08

Eagle Cleaners .........................10/10/99Ellis Management Group, LLC ...7/16/02Enterprise ...................................5/11/09

F & W Forestry Services, Inc......10/5/07F&F Industrial Supply .................10/9/09Finnicum Motor Company ..........10/3/08Flint Community Bank ................10/7/05Flint River Materials, Inc...............9/5/97

Fowler, Michael ...........................11/3/11Futral, Harry M..........................10/13/03

Georgia & Florida Railway, LLC..10/1/94Greene Finance Company .......10/23/97

Hall, Booth, Smith, PC ...............10/1/89Hatcher Petroleum Transport, Inc...........................9/28/10

Heritage Health Career Center .....6/1/11Hester, J. Dennis, CPA ...............10/1/89Housing Authority of the City of Albany ...................................9/1/92

Huggins Outboard, Inc. ............10/23/97

J. L. Malone & Associates Inc.....10/1/75J. Smith Lanier & Company........4/12/90J.E. Knight Electric, Inc.............10/18/10John Ross Jewelers .................10/24/97Judicial Alternatives of Georgia, Inc. .........................04/05/00

Katz Floorcovering Inc. ..............8/17/07Knights of Columbus..................9/22/06

Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club............................10/13/97

Lanier Engineering, Inc. ...........10/23/97Lee County Chamber of Commerce.........................09/17/01

LifeLink of Georgia.....................7/22/02Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. ........9/22/06

Magnolia Pet Resort & Spa ......10/12/07Magnolia Plantation....................6/22/01Mallary Baptist Association, Inc. 9/22/06Marilyn Nobles, Freelance Creative Servic........................4/22/05

Mark's Melon Patch..................10/22/99Mary Linda Cotten-Coldwell Banker Walden & Kirkland.......11/2/07

Mathews Funeral Home..............11/1/93Matrix Department, Inc...............7/19/88McAfee, Emily Jean....................7/19/88Mediacom ....................................1/1/75Moore, Clarke, DuVall & Rodgers, PC............................10/1/94

Pittman & Pool Construction ........9/9/09Premium Web Development, LLC...................12/3/99

THANK YOU RENEWING MEMBERSAugust/September


Quail Unlimited Inc. ....................5/28/10

Raytheon Technical Services Company ................10/11/06

Robins & Morton.........................10/3/11Rohde & Rohde, DDS, PC .......12/23/95

Sasco Chemical Group, Inc..........1/1/75SB&T............................................1/1/75Sherwood Baptist Church.........12/15/97Shutters Plus, Inc......................10/11/05Smart Cars Etc. ..........................10/6/08Southeastern Paper Group.........10/1/10Southern Elegance Catering ......11/9/07Southland Appraisal Services,Inc. ..........................11/10/97

Southwest Georgia Medical Center ......................10/22/01

Southwest Georgia Regional Airport......................................10/8/04

Southwest Georgian ...................7/19/10SRJ Engineering, Inc. ................10/9/09Sunbelt Ford Sylvester .............10/24/07Sveltey Habits ..............................7/2/07

Talecris Plasma Resources..........3/5/08Target Container.......................10/23/97The Youth Becoming Healthy Project (YBH) .............5/26/05

Todd Stone Photography..............5/6/06Turner Furniture Company ...........7/1/93

United Distributors ......................10/1/75

Vansant, Corriere, LLC...............10/1/77

Walmart - East..............................3/2/01Webco Electrical Construction & Design..................................4/18/00

Wendy's........................................9/7/10WESCO Distr. ..............................4/7/98Westmoreland, Patterson,Moseley and Hins ...................11/9/09

Westover Cleaners ...................10/21/11Westwood Apartments Office.....4/26/12Wingate Inn Hotel.......................8/26/98WJ Kirksey Construction, LLC ...6/25/07Wynfield Park Health & Rehabilitation Center ...............10/1/85


BUSINESS AFTER HOURSM O D E R N G A S & Q U A I L U N L I M I T E D

Hundreds of people poured into Modern Gas to see their new location duringthe October Business After Hours sponsored by Modern Gas and QuailUnlimited. Members of both the Albany Area Chamber ad the Lee CountyChamber networked while enjoying great eats that were being prepared onsiteusing some of the featured grills that Modern Gas carries. At the end of theevening Modern Gas and Quail Unlimited held drawings for items from kooziesto coolers.

30 November/December 2012 | BUSINESS www.AlbanyGa.com

Our Leadership at Colony Bank …

Whether it’s a simple question regarding one of your

accounts, or an in-depth consultation about your

financial goals, our team is ready to help.

At Colony Bank, finding solutions to meet your

personal satisfaction is our primary goal.

www.colonybank.com Member FDIC

Close to home. Close to you.

Standing: Bob Crew, Lisa Cannon and Joey Magaddino. Seated: Rosa Ramsey and City President Phil Franklin

Ledo Office2609 Ledo RdAlbany, GA 31707(229) 430-8080

Chehaw Office716 Philema RdAlbany, GA 31707(229) 439-4030

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Standing: Bob CrewJoey Magaddino. Seated: Rosa Ramsey

, Lisa Cannon andStanding: Bob CrewStanding: Bob Crew, Lisa Cannon andJoey Magaddino. Seated: Rosa Ramsey












Ledo Office

and City President Phil Franklin

2609 Ledo Rd, GA 31707AlbanyAlbany, GA 31707

(229) 430-8080

Chehaw Office

and City President Phil Franklin

716 Philema Rd, GA 31707AlbanyAlbany, GA 31707

(229) 439-4030

.colonybank.comwww


.colonybank.com Member FDIC


update

Members of Emerge Albany discuss components of itsstrategic planning session, facilitated by Chamber SeniorDirector Deborah Bowie, at their Second Friday Luncheonheld at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Albany. Morethan 40 members attended the session, including ChamberPresident Chris Hardy, 2012 Chairman of the Board MilesEspy and incoming chair, Cynthia George. The group

participated in a series of SWOT analysis exercises towardassembling its first long-term strategic plan for youngprofessionals in the Greater Albany region. For moreinformation about Emerge, contact the chamber at 434-8700or visit Emerge Albany on the chamber website atwww.albanyga.com.

www.draffin-tucker.com2617 Gillionville Road Albany, Georgia 229-883-7878

Your key toYour key toachievingachievingfinancialfinancialsuccesssuccessis closeris closerthan you think. than you think.

Draffin & Tucker professionals take pride in providing the guidance and knowledge clients need to achievesuccess and meet their financial goals. We can provide much more than accounting and tax preparation.

Rely on us as partners, planning advisors, business strategists, and financial guides.

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Nov/Dec 2012