Biz1 MAY 2021 contents Chairman’s Column page 2 Meetings & Events page 3 Small Business of the Month page 6 Member Announcements page 10 New Youth Leadership Hall Class page 11 Ribbon Cuttings page 14 New Members page 15 South Hall Business Coalition Hackers Holiday Highlights Chamber President & CEO Kit Dunlap page 16 addresses a gathering of Chamber Members Tuesday, May 25 at Lanier RacePlex. With social distancing/ masks, Chamber in person networking events Elachee Nature Science Center are in full swing. Attend the upcoming South save the date Hall Business Coalition meeting on May 25 at Come network in the great outdoors! Elachee Nature Science Center! Friday, May 7 Vision 2030 Art in the Park Laurel Park Tuesday, May 11 Small Business Seminar via Zoom Meet the NEW Youth Leadership Hall Class on page 11. The 16th YLH Class graduated in April, and Tuesday, May 25 we now have 1,023 student graduates. Founded in South Hall Business Coalition 2006, the Chamber's YLH program is grooming our Elachee Nature Science Center next generation of community leaders. member featured Biz2 from the chairman BUSINESSLINK VOLUME 26 ISSUE 11 McKemie West, Editor • Email: [email protected] 230 E.E. Butler Pkwy • Gainesville GA 30501 • 770-532-6206 • GreaterHallChamber.com Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce SMALL Business Makes BIG Impact 2020-2021 Executive Committee Chairman Vice Chairs, Education Vision 2030 Executive Director Small business accounts for provide everything from fresh flowers or dry cleaning to Brian Rochester Andi Farmer Elizabeth Higgins Rochester & Associates Milton Martin Honda half of America’s workforce, web design services. Co-Chairs, HALLmark Lauren Armour Talley Chairman-Elect Paul Chambers, AT&T and more new jobs come Lanier Technical College Phil Sutton Mimi Collins, Longstreet Clinic from small business than Along with the Greater Hall Chamber's community Kubota Manufacturing of America Vice Chair, South Hall Council Randall Frost, Stewart, Melvin & Frost any other source. Small busi- partners – Small Business Access Partners, Northeast Treasurer Terry Merck, American Yazaki Glennis Barnes, Georgia Power Vice Chairs, Membership Senior Advisor Brian Daniel nesses are vital to keeping Georgia SCORE, UGA Small Business Development Vice Chair, Economic Brett Fowler Carroll Daniel Construction America running. Some Center and the Business Incubator at Brenau University Development Turner, Wood & Smith Insurance David Lee, Jackson EMC Phil Bonelli, Regions Bank Immediate Past Chair 90% of the Greater Hall – your Chamber is providing our small businesses vital Carol Burrell Vice Chair, Marketing Vice Chair Community Northeast Georgia Health System Chamber's membership is resources. From Small Business Seminars to Social Media Missy Burgess, Lanier Islands Development Haley Bower, Clipper Petroleum Greater Hall Chamber Vice Chair, Government Affairs Brian Rochester comprised of small business. Marketing Workshops, programs that can significantly President & CEO Philip Wilheit, Jr. Chair, Vision 2030 Kit Dunlap Rochester & Associates Small business makes a BIG impact business are available consistently throughout Wilheit Packaging Tate O’Rouke, Jackson EMC Chairman, Greater Hall impact in many ways. the year. In 2017, the Chamber CERTIFIED Small Business Chamber of Commerce 2020-2021 Board of Directors Partner program was implemented, and in the last four Christa Andrews, Corporate Storage JD Mealor, Regions Bank When we spend dollars locally, we create jobs locally and years, 112 businesses have been certified. Many of these Norman Baggs, The Times Ashton Meeks, Starke Family Office Neal Booth, Pinnacle Bank Mike Miller, Mayor, City of Flowery Branch keep our money close to home. Thriving small businesses partners have been certified for multiple years. Chris Braswell, The Norton Agency Sheri Millwood, Oakwood City Council create thriving communities. Neighborhoods, education Chris Brown, Delta Community Credit Union Caitlin Mincey, Mincey Marble Manufacturing Whitney Brown, Stewart, Melvin & Frost Dr. Kirsty Montgomery, Lakeview Academy and schools improve. Quality of life improves, drawing If you're not already taking advantage of these pro- Nick Bruner, Rushton Terry Morrisey, Intelligent Energy more people to move into the community – and more grams, check out the events on the Chamber's website at Dan Carey, BB&T/TRUIST Chris Nish, Cottrell Tammy Caudell, Carroll Daniel Construction James Nix, Mayor, City of Clermont small businesses to invest in it. It’s a virtuous cycle. GHCC.com/EVENTS, and sign up for one. See the list of Sean Couch, Northeast Georgia Health System Bill Orr, Mayor, Town of Braselton Shanna Cronic, Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic Dr. Jeff Payne, North Georgia Eye Clinic upcoming Small Business Seminars on page 6, and con- Ashley Davis, Lawson Air Conditioning & Plumbing Todd Pennington, McGarity’s Business Products Beyond the direct economic effects of buying locally, sider attending the next one on May 11 as Terry Merck, Larry Derby, Liberty Michele Piucci, Peach State Bank & Trust David Dickerson, Law Office of David H. Dickerson Col. Stas Preczewski, Riverside Military Academy small businesses offer a community character and are American Yazaki, gives tips on "How to Cross Train Your Stacey Dickson, Lake Lanier CVB Brad Puryear, Mansfield Energy generally more shielded against economic distress. Workforce." Danny Dunagan, Mayor, City of Gainesville Derek Reyes, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Drew Echols, Jaemor Farms Vanesa Sarazua, Hispanic Alliance Georgia Small businesses add diversity across a wide range of Dr. Suzanne Erickson, Brenau University Will Schofield, Hall County School System Josh Everett, New Leaf Landscape Services Mulham Shbeib, Mar-Jac Poultry business – such as retailers that are focused on selling When small business succeeds, communities succeed – Jim Grier, Mayor, City of Lula Dr. Anne Skleder, Brenau University various types of goods and service companies that might making our community better in every way. Emily Hayes, Milton Martin Toyota Terry Spicer, King’s Hawaiian Bakery Tracy Hoeltke Herter, Netchex Margaret Spratlin, Longstreet Clinic Richard Higgins, Chair, Hall County Commission Kevin Strada, The Atlanta Falcons Anna Jacobs, AccessWDUN John Turner, Northeast Georgia Health System Governmental Affairs Ben Jarrard, University of North Georgia Roy Turpin, Mayor, City of Gillsville Logan Jones, Wilheit Packaging Philip Wilheit, Wilheit Packaging Brooke Kalinauskas, Conditioned Air Systems Dr. Jeremy Williams, Gainesville City Schools Jay Kilroy, Willis Investment Counsel Darryl Workman, South State Bank Geoff Lee, Craton, Inc. John Wright, Fieldale Farms Dr. Kate Maine, University of North Georgia Mike Zeiler, Bitzer US, Inc. Ward McCamy, Bank of America Nancy Jo Zimmer, JP Morgan Chase Bank Tim McDonald, Lanier Technical College Greater Hall Chamber Staff Executive Government Affairs Kit Dunlap, President & CEO Madison Hopkins, Project Manager Gerri Collins, Executive Assistant South Hall Council Economic Development Kara Tate, Vice President, Sales & Programs Tim Evans, Vice President Nikki Chandler, Vice President Existing Industry Community Development Amanda Lewis, Project Manager Robin Halstead, Vice President Madison Hopkins, Project Manager VISION 2030 Finance & Operations Elizabeth Higgins, Executive Director David Umberson, Vice President, Finance & HR Marketing & Communications Membership Development Kemie West, Business Link Editor/Consultant Mandy Lathem, Vice President, Events Christen Wilbanks, Vice President, Sales Greater Hall Chamber Welcome Center Kara Tate, Vice President, Sales & Programs Robin Halstead, Manager Congressman Andrew Clyde, 9th District Georgia, recently visited the Greater Hall Chamber. (L-R) Chamber Chairman Elect Education & Leadership Andi Tippens, Vice President Phil Sutton, Kubota Manufacturing of America; Philip Wilheit, Wilheit Packaging; Congressman Andrew Clyde; Rob Fowler, The mission of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce is to improve the overall Turner, Wood & Smith Insurance; Kit Dunlap, Greater Hall Chamber; Jimmy Adams, Corporate Storage/The Adams Companies; business climate for member growth, promote community development, facilitate political action, and enhance the quality of life. Randall Frost, Stewart, Melvin & Frost; Andi Farmer, Milton Martin Honda. 2 May 2021 | GreaterHallChamber.com Biz3 meetings events calendar VISION 2030 Art in the Park May June Wednesday, May 5 Wednesday, June 2 Join Vision 2030 Public Art volunteers, family and friends Healthcare Committee Healthcare Committee on Friday, May 7 (6-9pm) for Art in the Park at Laurel 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Park. This is a free event with live music, food trucks, drinks and artwork to purchase. Hall County Parks & Friday, May 7 Friday, June 11 Leisure and Vision 2030 Public Art are celebrating the Economic Development Council Economic Development Council recent addition of Hammock Hollow installed at Laurel 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Jackson EMC 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Park. To commemorate the collaboration, a ribbon cutting Lanier Technical College Art in the Park Ramsey Conference Center will take place followed by a "Block pARTy" where original artwork will be for sale, all for Vision 2030 Public Art Event less than $100. The free ART IN THE PARK event at Laurel Park, 3100 Cleveland Highway 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | Laurel Park Tuesday, June 8 in Gainesville. Info: Elizabeth Higgins, [email protected] Small Business Seminar