April - Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce

smallBusinessSpotlightBentley Audio Visual Services, Inc>>Scott Bentley (LR’98) realized his life passion while taking an independent electronicsclass in high school. He was the only student to advance to the second level of the classwhich began the foundation for his long-time career in the field. After the needed education,experience and hard work, he opened Bentley Audio Visual Services, Inc., a company thatspecializes in a large variety of electronic needs.Bentley’s first job with the Northwest Georgia Cooperative Education Services Agency(CESA) gave him basic knowledge to excel in his college courses. He attended Floyd College(now Georgia Highlands College), and acquired even more knowledge at Georgia StateUniversity. “When I finished school, I came back to the area and ran into my old boss withCESA. He asked me to come back and work for him again.” By the early 1980’s Bentley begansub-contracting and was running his own independent company just a few years later.Technology is constantly evolving and Bentley understands the importance of staying onthe cutting edge with the services his company provides. Bentley Audio Visual Services, Inc.works with school systems, governments, churches and businesses to provide quality audio/visual equipment, laminators, cable TV systems, security systems, sounds systems and accesscontrols. They also work with a large variety of low voltage electronics and will custom designand install a variety of systems.His business has been successful for many years and Bentley believes that offering awide range of services along with future forecasting has kept him profitable. “I try to looksix months to a year ahead,” he explains. “We work with many school systems and they areseasonal, so we have to manage everything to account for the pace of business throughouteach year.” Bentley also contributes much of his success to the people that surround him.“David Dellis, Vice President of the company, and Faye Barnett, Secretary and Treasurer, are acrucial part of the Bentley AV services operation.”Facing various challenges each day is what Bentley loves most about his profession. “It’sbeen different every day for 30 years,” he comments. “I’m not the kind of person that enjoysdoing the same procedure over and over again, it’s too boring for me.” He understands thatmost people do not desire such a heavy workload, but he admits that he “thrives and getsmore done” with the challenge. His personal statement on responsibility is “if you do whatyou have to do and do it when you’re supposed to do it, there will come a day when you cando what you want to do, when you want to do it.”Despite his busy work schedule, Bentley is a strong advocate for community involvement.He has served on the board for the Georgia Highlands Foundation for 12 years and iscurrently the chairman. “The school, then Floyd College, was the stepping stone that gaveme the skills I needed during a difficult time in my life,” he explains. “I have a passion for nontraditionalstudents who just need a little help to make it.” Bentley also works with the RomeInternational Film Festival and the Coosa Valley Tennis Association. He is currently workingto help the envisioned Tennis Center of Georgia at Berry College become reality. Bentley’spersonal interests include staying fit, playing tennis and international travel. “I’ve only begunmy bucket list of places I want to visit,” he states.Along with community involvement, Bentley is also an active Chamber member. He shares,“The Chamber provides valuable networking opportunities, leadership development andsupport for small business owners and entrepreneurs.” Bentley is also a founding member ofthe Chamber-supported Northwest Georgia Regional Angel Investors Network (NWGRAIN).This emerging group of investors will support local entrepreneurs as they work to developinnovative ideas.To learn more about Bentley Audio Visual Services, Inc., visit www.romega.com.Lookingfor a newway to gaincustomers?www.romechambermarketplace.com>>Are you looking for a new way topromote your business? Sign on towww.romechambermarketplace.com!This virtual marketplace is open toanyone seeking a product or service.Once a request has been made, onlyChamber member businesses can placea bid to gain the business!So, how does Rome ChamberMarketplace work? Companies insearch of products or services canpost requests for bids on the site. Thebuyer chooses from a list of vendorcategories to automatically alertChamber members in that category thata request has been made. Buyers shouldprovide detailed information about theirrequest, including contact information,objective, detailed description,questions for vendors, vendor category,project start date and deadline.Chamber members that have signedup as “providers” with Marketplace canchoose categories in which they wish tobid. Any request for service that meetsthe search criteria of a company is sentvia e-mail to that company as soon as itis posted. Chamber members can log-onto the free service at any time to viewall requests and submit bids.Members and non-members can postprojects or requests to the Marketplacesite, but only Greater Rome Chamberof Commerce Chamber members canparticipate as vendors and bid on jobs.Sign up today at:www.romechambermarketplace.com!WWW.ROMEGA.COMAPR 10 PINNACLE.indd 33/22/10 4:24:29 PM