September - Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce

GREATER ROME CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | ROME, GEORGIA
Inside
New Members/Renewals
Ribbon Cuttings
Operation Thank You
Leadership Rome XXVII
Small Business Spotlight
-After Hours Auto Boutique
What’s That Project
-Park Recreation Centers
ShopRomeSM Campaign
Chamber Calendar
Innovation
September 2009
Vol. 33 | 84
Register: www.romega.com
Conference
Alternative Energy • Angel Investing
U.S. Senator Saxby
Chambliss Speaks on
Health Care Reform
>>
More than 50 Chamber
members met with U.S.
Senator Saxby Chambliss to hear
his views on the proposed health
care reform.
After Senator Chambliss
spoke, Dr. Ken Davis, Harbin
Clinic President & CEO, Kurt
Stuenkel (LR’85), Floyd
Medical Center President & CEO,
and Carlton Ulmer (LR’07), Redmond
Regional Medical Center
COO spoke about the issue from
the perspective of Rome’s
medical community.
Questions submitted by
Chamber members were
answered by the Senator. To
learn more, visit
www.romega.com.
>>
On November 12, the Chamber is hosting an
Innovation Conference which will take a deep
look into the topics of alternative energy and
angel investing networks. Jill Stuckey, Director of
Alternative Fuels with the Georgia Environmental
Facilities Authority, will give the keynote
address in Berry College’s Science Auditorium.
Other speakers throughout the conference
will include Terri Denison, Georgia District
Director for the Small Business Administration;
Florian Stamm, associate in the Corporate,
International and Sustainability practices of
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP; Stephen Barry,
Vice President of Operations for MiaSole, ‘ a
manufacturer on solar photovoltaic modules, and
Straight Facts: November SPLOST
>>
The proposed November
SPLOST package will be a continuation
of the current SPLOST
that will expire in April 2010.
$5.9 million
>>
has been requested
to purchase the North Floyd Industrial
Site which has been identified by Georgia Power
engineers as the top site in Floyd County for
industry. This is due to its proximity (7 miles) from
Interstate 75 and will benefit the ongoing effort to
recruit industry and create jobs.
>>
Almost 1/3 of SPLOST revenues are generated
from visitors that do not live in Rome and Floyd
County.
>>
Barron Stadium renovations will serve as an
economic development tool. The renovations will
many more. Conference attendees will gather at
9:00am for the keynote address and then choose
a breakout session discussing alternative energy
or angel investing networks. The conference will
conclude at 11:30am.
The Innovation Conference is supported by the
Chamber’s Partners in Prosperity Major
Investors. Thanks to the following investors for
supporting the conference: City of Rome, Floyd
County, Coosa Valley Credit Union, Pirelli Tire
North America, Southeastern Mills, State Mutual
Insurance Company, Temple-INLAND, Georgia
Power, Harbin Clinic, SunTrust Bank and
Wachovia.
To register, visit www.romega.com.
better situate our community to host the NAIA
Football National Championship Game for longer
than the committed two years. The 2008 game
brought more than a million dollars of outside
money into the local economy.
>>
Due to visionary community leadership,
innovative methods like SPLOST prevent the tax
burden from falling 100% on the residents and
their property taxes.
The Chamber of Commerce strongly
>>
supports
this SPLOST package and believes it is the most
efficient and effective way of funding community
projects. Members, please spread the word about
how important this vote is for our community!
-More information about the complete SPLOST
package will be featured in the October Pinnacle.
WWW.ROMEGA.COM
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New Members/Renewals
New Members
Duffey Southeast
Construction
Mr. Keith Johnson
(770) 748-1230
209 Ware Street PO BOX 108
Cedartown, GA 30125
www.duffeyinc.com
Construction
Human Capital Group, Inc.
Mr. Gordon Renshaw
(706) 993-6969
1223 George C. Wilson Drive Suite B
Augusta, GA 30909
www.HumanCapitalGroupInc.com
Executive Search
Trussell and Associates, Inc.
Mr. L. James Trussell
(706) 235-3164
708 Glenn Milner Blvd. PO BOX 2728
Rome, GA 30164
www.trussell-insurance.com
Insurance
Renewals
A Cut Above
Automax Rent-A-Car @ Salmon Auto
SuperStore
Barnsley Gardens
Beninato, John J., DDS, P.C.
Berry Construction Company, Inc.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Blackberry Mountain Studio, Inc.
Blossman Gas and Appliance
Bud Self Company, Inc.
Buffey’s Tanning & Style Salon
Courtesy Finance of Georgia, LLC
E.M. Hunt & Assoc., Inc.
Floyd County Health Department
Floyd County Wildlife Association
FLOYD Primary Care Network
ForeOrthodontics
Pinnacle (USPS
395-030) Published
monthly, except
January, by the Greater
Rome Chamber of
Commerce, 1 Riverside
Parkway, Rome, GA
30161.Periodical
Postage Paid - Rome,
Ga 30161. Subscription
rate $20.00 per year in
U.S.A. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes
to PINNACLE, 1
Riverside Parkway,
Rome, Georgia, 30161.
JULY 1-31, 2009
Free Clinic of Rome, The
Georgia School for the Deaf
Grasshopper Lawn-Landscape
Great Outdoors Landscape
Greater Rome Bank
Harbin Clinic L.L.C.
Healthfield, a Gentiva Company
Dennis Heller, DDS
J Supply Company
J.H. Barnette, Inc. General Contractors
Jim’s Tire & Service Center
K. C. Homes, Inc.
Kathleen S. Kinney, DVM
Kelly Services
La Scala Restaurant
Logical Systems, Inc.
Los Portales Mexican Restaurant
McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith &
Manning, LLP
Moore’s Gourmet Market/For The Love of
Food Catering
Mount Berry Square Mall
NWGA Parkinson Disease Association
Peach State Labs, Inc.
Plainville Brick Company
Pruett & Associates Insurance
David Prusakowski State Farm Insurance
Agency
PSC Metals, Inc.
Purchasing Alliance Solutions, Inc.
Roman Court
Rome Little Theatre
Rome News-Tribune
ServiceMaster by Twins
Source Care Management
Southern Bracing Systems Enterprises, LLC
Stay Lodge
Sullins Enterprises
Sylvan Learning Center of Rome
TLC Consulting
V3 Publications, LLC
The Village at Maplewood
Wada Metal of America Corp
Wade Appraisal Service
West Rome Baptist Church
WGJK Radio - AM 1360
WinShape Centre
Members Thank Members
Operation Thank You
Chamber Chairman David Newby (LR’97), Profile Extrusion
Company, thanks Dr. Neal Brackett, Dr. Kathy Kinney, and Dr.
Amy Johnson of the After Hours Emergency Pet Clinic of Coosa
Valley for their support of the Chamber.
Thanks to all who volunteered for Operation Thank You:
Lamante Attaud, TENDO technologies
Marty Bergstrom (LR’09), Georgia Power
Michelle Branton, Action Rent All
Chanterria Brown, Hampton Inn of Rome
Kevin Calahan, Alternative Mailing Systems
JoAnn Carter, Yellow Book USA
Kay Chumbler, Greater Rome Bank
Sharon Collins, Keller Williams Realty
Teresa Cordle, Georgia Power
Kay Dixon (LR’04), Redmond Regional Medical Center
Angie Douglass, Kelly Services
Darcy Duvall, F & P Georgia
Jan Fergerson (LR’87), Ford, Gittings & Kane Jewelers
Sharon Foxworthy, The Clean Air Campaign
Curtis Gardner, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Tamara Garner, Action Rent All
Kristie Gentry, Heritage First Bank
Morgan Gentry, ServiceMaster by Twins
Tiffany Greenway, Northwest Georgia Credit Union
Lila Guerra, Ga. Dept of Labor Vocational Rehab Program
John Gunn, Betts & Associates
Rob Harbison, Peachtree Planning Corp.
Karen Hayes (LR’95), SunTrust Bank, Northwest Georgia
Angela Haynes, Yellow Book USA
Robin Hice, Harbin Clinic L.L.C.
David Hughes, Rolan Business Machine Co., Inc.
Thomas Humphrey, Great Outdoors Landscape
Lyn Ingram, Pruett & Associates Insurance
Mardi Jackson, Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Paula Jasper, Greater Rome Bank
Joan Ledbetter, Shorter College
Sandra Lindsey (LR’02), SunTrust Bank, Northwest Georgia
Charles Long, RE/MAX of Rome
Britt Madden, Shorter College
Debarah McCarley, Armuchee Village
Thomas McNally, SOHO Office
Doug Modlin, Schnitzer Southeast
Bridgett Moore, Teresa Lumsden, State Farm Insurance
David Newby (LR’97), Profile Extrusion Company
Sandra Oliver, Apria Healthcare
Justin Perkins, In-Touch Computer Services
Larissa Perry, F & P Georgia
Jim Powell (LR’97), Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Brad Reeder, Abbott & Richardson CPAs
Joe Rickman, Parnick Jennings Sr.’s Good Shepherd Funeral Home
Michele Rikard, Adams Management Services Corporation
Patrice Rivet (LR’05), RJ Young Company
Brad Roberts, Citizens First Bank
Lee Robeson, Yellow Book USA
Megan Ruppert, ServiceMaster by Twins
Michael Schrimsher, DocuTEAM, Inc.
Jeremy Schwanbeck, Randstad Work Solutions
Suzanne Scott (LR’09), Shorter College
Clyde Spivey, Georgia Power
Ron Tomlinson, Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union
Rhonda Wallace (LR’98), Citizens First Bank
Cyndi Westmoreland, Regions Bank
Steve White (LR’02), Citizens First Bank
Sheree Williams, Horizon Bay - Retirement Living
Lagene Williams, Regions Bank
Barry Wright, The Babcock Agency, LLC
WWW.ROMEGA.COM
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Leadership Rome
Welcomes its 27th Class
Diane Miller (LR’06), United Community Bank,
and Ken Wright (LR’08) announce that the
following members of the Greater Rome Chamber
of Commerce have been selected to participate in
Leadership Rome XXVII.
Elaine Abercrombie, Greene’s Jewelers
Terry Autry, Rome Police Department
Sheila Bennett, Floyd Medical Center
Sonya Blankenship, River City Bank
Jason Broome, Floyd County Government (Animal Control)
Jennifer Chandler, Exchange Club Family Resource Center
Denise Ferguson, Watters & Associates Landscape
Lydia Fields, Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce
Steven Foy, City of Rome
Curtis Gardner, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Joe Gleason, Redmond Regional Medical Center
John Head, Shorter College
Gordon Henderson, City of Rome-Fire Department
Robin Hice, Harbin Clinic, LLC
Clark Hiscock, SunTrust Bank
Lee Jennings, R.L. Jennings & Associates, PC CPAs
Todd Kelley, United Community Bank
Andy Kight, Vend-Rite, Inc.
Ashley Kingsolver, Sexual Assault Center of NW Ga, Inc.
Jordan Knight, McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning, LLP
Emmett Long, Jowers-Sklar Insurance Agency
Julie Lucas, Darlington School
Brooks Mathis, GA Department of Economic Development
Brad Reeder, Abbott & Richardson, CPAs, PC
Brad Roberts, Citizens First Bank
Jason Sanker, McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning, LLP
Ansley Saville, Coosa Steel, Corp.
Kendra Scott, Northwest Georgia Credit Union
Becky Smyth, City of Rome
John Spranza, Georgia Highlands College
Timothy Turner, Georgia Power Company
Molly Willis Lopez, CCH Small Firm Services
Greg Wooten, Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center
The Shadows for this class are Kristy Treadaway (LR’01), Brinson,
Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson & Davis LLP, and
Steve Graves (LR’08), Hardy Realty & Development Company
Past coordinators are Jackie Moreland (LR’96), Hype, Inc., and
Tony Daniel (LR’06), Alexis International
The leadership Rome Program was established in 1983 as a
result of the outgrowth of Tomorrow’s Leaders Program that was
sponsored by Georgia Power Company, the Georgia Chamber
of Commerce and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, in
the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. The purpose of the program
is to provide an understanding of what a leader is, to create an
awareness of issues facing Rome and Floyd County and to discuss
how leaders should deal with these issues.
Ultimate Customer Convenience
with After Hours Auto Boutique
small
Business
Spotlight
>> Every vehicle owner can relate to the hassle of buying new
tires. Michael Manikas (pictured right), owner of After Hours Auto
Boutique, believes, “it is crazy that people have to spend large
amounts of time to have their tires changed.” To address this issue,
Manikas created an innovative business model for his after hours
based company that fills a once unserved market. “We operate
with the foundation of customer convenience and have a mobile
unit that can complete wheel and tire packages at any location.”
His idea for a mobile tire service is a first in Rome and Floyd County
and it provides the ultimate convenience for a task that normally
causes customers to wait for hours.
The custom-built mobile unit gives Manikas and his crew
great flexibility in serving customers. “Today, more than ever, it is
important for a person to stay at work all day. With this unit, we
can provide service in a workplace parking lot and even a home
driveway,” comments Manikas. “We work to meet people’s needs
and treat them the way they want to be treated.” After Hours Auto
Boutique also works at a stationary building located at 2937
Martha Berry Highway and is open from 7:00am to 7:00pm. “Our
extra hours allow customers to have their vehicles serviced before
and after work.”
Manikas has an impressive history of working with ultra high
performance vehicles. With his knowledge and experience,
Manikas saves many luxury vehicle owners a trip out of town for
quality service. “I treat every car as if it was my own, and I’m not
just saying that as a salesperson,” he adds. Helping Manikas run
the business is his good friend Phelan (pictured left). “We all have a
true passion for wheels and tires. This is not just a job, it’s what we
love to do,” he comments.
The passion and customer focus found at After Hours Auto
Boutique is also evident in their commitment to the community.
“We buy everything locally and support other small businesses
in town which in turn supports the local economy,” explains Sara
Manikas, Michael’s wife and manager of the business. When asked
about Chamber membership, Sara replied, “It’s all about meeting
people.” It was at the Chamber’s Membership Orientation where
the Manikas’ found other local businesses to help them open. “The
Chamber is a great way to find other businesses that you can trust
and rely on. People who take the time to join the Chamber are the
kind of people I want to do business with,” she explains.
To learn more about the After Hours Auto Boutique, visit the
Business Directory at www.romega.com.
WWW.ROMEGA.COM
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What’s That project
NORTH FLOYD AND SHANNON PARK RECREATION CENTERS
North Floyd Park Recreation Center
Shannon Park Recreation Center
>> The 2006 SPLOST package, approved by
a vote from Rome and Floyd County citizens,
is providing visible upgrades in many areas
throughout the community. Projects like the
Town Green, South Rome Youth Center and
Historic Courthouse Parking Deck are all a
result of the community’s decision to
designate a penny tax to projects enhancing
Rome’s quality of life. North Floyd Park
and Shannon Park will soon have completed
recreation centers from SPLOST funding.
Before the Rome-Floyd Parks and
Recreation Authority submitted projects for
the 2006 SPLOST package, they completed
an in-depth process to determine the needs
of their existing facilities. Richard Garland
(LR’95), RFPRA Executive Director, states,
“We had several community meetings where
we listened to what the citizens of Rome
Robert Finley, Networking Solutions of Georgia,
Inc.; Chamber Chairman David Newby
(LR’97); Profile Extrusion Company; Paula
Jasper, Greater Rome Bank; Small Business
of the Year’s Lee Jennings, RL Jennings and
Associates, and Chair of the Small Business
Action Council Paula Blevins, C&S Trophies,
Inc., discuss ShopRomeSM efforts after a press
conference that was held to announce new
initiatives with the ShopRomeSM campaign.
and Floyd County wanted. We then built our
proposals around that input.”
The North Floyd Park Recreation Center
will be 27,000 square feet and feature two
gymnasiums, a fitness room with cardio
equipment, a rock climbing boulder and
meeting rooms. “The facility will be available
for groups to rent for meetings, parties and
other activities,” states Garland. The facility
will also showcase a new playground and
commercial grade kitchen.
The recreation center at Shannon Park
will consist of a new 6,500 square foot building
attached to the existing scout hut. “This
building will feature a kitchen, game-room,
multi-purpose activity room and playground,”
explains Garland. “This is already one of
our most popular buildings for rental. We
expect this upgrade to serve our community
WWW.ROMEGA.COM
in an even stronger way.” The scout hut will
also receive bathroom, kitchen and meeting
room upgrades along with an updated sewer
system.
Both buildings are planned to be
complete by December 2009 depending on
weather delays. “We appreciate the vote
of our citizens in 2006 to support these
improvements in our parks system as well as
throughout the community,” says Garland.
To learn more about these projects or the
facilities available through the Rome-Floyd
Parks and Recreation Authority visit the
Business Directory at www.romega.com.
Many projects to enhance our community
are included in the SPLOST package to be
voted on in November. To learn more about
this important vote, read the front page
article in this edition of the Pinnacle.
ShopRomeSM Campaign Expands Efforts
WWW.ROMEGA.COM
>> A new approach has been taken with relevant, in a time when our local businesses
the annual ShopRomeSM Campaign. The need that extra support,” said Chair of the
campaign that was only visible around the Small Business Action Council, Paul Blevins,
holiday shopping season is now encouraging C&S Trophies.
citizens to shop with local year-round.
The ShopRomeSM Campaign is funded by
The first ad in the new campaign proceeds from the Chamber’s Business EXPO
appeared during Georgia’s sales-tax holiday which is held each fall.
and targeted back-to-school shoppers. A web “The Chamber takes very seriously the
ad quoted Greater Rome Bank’s Paul Jasper current economic situation we’re in,” said
as saying, “I ShopRomeSM because I know I Chamber Chairman David Newby (LR’97),
can find everything for back-to-school and Profile Extrusion Company. “We want to take
that saves me time and money!”
any opportunity possible to encourage folks
The reformatted campaign will showcase
ads that feature a Chamber Member’s economy.”
to shop locally in order to bolster our local
testimony about why they shop in Rome and To learn more about the ShopRomeSM
Floyd County. “Restructuring the campaign campaign and the 2009 Business EXPO, visit
will help our message be more timely and www.romega.com.
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Darlington Middle School
Ribbon Cuttings
Joel McCool Agency (Alfa Insurance)
Darlington School celebrated the grand opening of the new
Darlington Middle School with a ribbon cutting. The building was
built to code with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) standards. Darlington is located at 1014 Cave Spring Road.
Fuddrucker’s Mobile Unit
Joel McCool, owner, held a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of
the Joel McCool Agency (Alfa Insurance). The Joel McCool Agency
offers auto, home, health, life and long-term care insurance and is
located at 4 Central Plaza.
The Steele Agency
Charles Curlee, owner of Fuddruckers, held a ribbon cutting to
announce the addition of its mobile unit. The unit provides fresh and
hot on-site catering for events. Fuddruckers restaurant is located at
595 Riverside Parkway.
Open House
Rome Radiology Group
Tricia Steele, owner of The Steele Agency, celebrated the opening of
her new office with a ribbon cutting. The agency is a news, marketing,
and event planning collaborative agency specializing in email and
social media applications and is located at 108 E. 5th Avenue, Suite B.
Ground Breaking
Shorter College Ben Brady Field
U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey addresses a crowd at Rome Imaging
Center for Rome Radiology Group’s open house to celebrate the
acquisition of the new TruePoint Biograph 16-slice PET/CT imager.
“The new Siemens 16 slice PET/CT will most certainly improve patient
care. It will allow high definition imaging with faster scan times, and
because it is larger it will also be more comfortable for our patients,”
says Dr. Rusty Roberts (pictured next to Rep. Gingery), Nuclear
Medicine Specialist with Rome Radiology Group.
Photo Courtesy: Shorter College
Shorter College Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Nelson Price, along
with Shorter College Athletic Director Bill Peterson, The Benjamin F.
Brady Charitable Foundation President Phill Bettis, and Shorter
College President Dr. Harold Newman break ground for Shorter’s
new Ben Brady Field. The field will serve as a practice field for
various Shorter athletics.
WWW.ROMEGA.COM
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PERIODICALS
POSTAGE
P A I D
ROME, GA
30161
1 Riverside Parkway
Rome, Georgia 30161
706.291.7663
WWW.ROMEGA.COM
Member Receives
Patriotic Employer Award
Chris Carey (LR’08) (center), Logical Systems, Inc.,
receives an award from retired General William
V. Wigley (left) with the Employer Support Guard
and Reserve for exhibiting qualities of a patriotic
employer. The award shows appreciation of
Carey’s “contribution to national security and
protecting the liberty and freedom by supporting
employee participation in the National Guard and
Reserve Force”. Carey received the award for being
supportive and flexible with his employee Michael
Bailey’s (right) schedule and demands of serving in
the Coast Guard.
Tuesday, September 1
•Business Before Hours
Wednesday, September 2
•Transportation Committee
Tuesday, September 8
•Small Business Action Council
Thursday, September 10
•Membership Orientation
•“Better Bids for Better Business”
SBAC Free Seminar
Friday, September 11
• Education Committee
• Leadership Rome Retreat
Wednesday, September 16
•Governmental Affairs
Thursday, September 17
•Business After Hours
Friday, September 18
•Economic Development
Committee
Wednesday, September 23
•“Tax Secrets for Improving
Profitability” SBAC Free Seminar
Friday, September 25
•IT Roundtable
Business Before Hours
Tuesday, September 1
7:30am - 9:00am
3126 Cedartown Hwy.
Rome, GA 30161
Register: www.romega.com = $3
Business After Hours
Thursday, September 17
5:30pm - 7:00pm
101 Highway 411, East
Rome, GA 30161
Register: www.romega.com = $4
asmith@romega.com or
706.291.7663 = $5
At the Door = $7
Register for Chamber events at www.romega.com!
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