March 2015 Features

  • First State Bank and Trust, Bill Cowart Support Invest. Ignite. Inspire. The Campaign for VSU

    March 30, 2015

    For Bill Cowart, Valdosta State University alumnus and president of First State Bank and Trust of Valdosta, the university’s Invest. Ignite. Inspire. comprehensive capital campaign helps ensure that the university maintains its place as an important economic engine for the community.

  • Building for the Future: Chamber to Launch Campaign to Spruce Up 100-Year-Old E.R. Barber House

    March 27, 2015

    You only get one chance to make a legendary first impression. The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber has made the E.R. Barber House its home since 1981, welcoming more than 2,800 visitors, Chamber members and citizens through its doors each year. At 100-years-old, the historic home, located at 416 North Ashley Street in Valdosta, is in need of a touch up.

  • Casino Gambling Legalization Introduced; Projections Suggest $250M For HOPE

    March 26, 2015

    Georgia legislators have toyed around with the idea of allowing horse racing at a new small scale race track. Yesterday, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers has dropped bills that would pave the way for Georgia to aim higher and assert itself into the major leagues of casino gambling. Charlie Harper of Peach Pundit writes that supporters of HR 807 and HB 677 tout a potential payoff of 10,000 construction jobs, 10,000 permanent jobs, and – perhaps most importantly – $250 Million dollars added to HOPE’s dwindling coffers every year.

  • SGMC and LifeLink Raise Organ Donor Awareness

    March 25, 2015

    This April, during the federally sanctioned National Donate Life Month, LifeLink of Georgia and South Georgia Medical Center honor the spirit of those individuals who make transplants possible—organ, tissue, and eye donors. We celebrate the lives of those who received their second chance - and finally, we call attention to the more than 123,000 - over 4,800 of whom are local men, women and children - who still wait across the United States.

  • Tips On Effective Ways to Market to Millennials

    March 23, 2015

    The millennial generation has grown to be one of the largest populations in the United States, even outnumbering the baby boomer generation. And now, not only are they the largest group in America, but they are also the most financially influential group, representing more than $1.3 trillion in consumer spending power, according to the Hartman Group. Communicorp's Amanda Bass gives us some tips on marketing to this growing generation.

  • Herschend Enterprises CEO Joel Manby to Lead SeaWorld Entertainment

    March 20, 2015

    SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a leading theme park and entertainment company, announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Joel Manby as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 7, 2015. At that time, Manby, 55, will also join the Company's Board of Directors. Manby has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Herschend Enterprises, Wild Adventures' Parent Company.

  • Ed Farley: What Do Your Customers Think?

    March 20, 2015

    How many times do you hear companies brag that they are…world-class ….have top-rated products! How often do we hear the claims of an incredible sales force! The best customer service! Are these claims true? How do they know? How do you know?

  • Curt Fowler on Meetings That Drive Results

    March 19, 2015

    Meetings that drive results? I thought that most meetings were just a colossal waste of time. After many years of research, I still do – at least for most organizations. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Having the right meetings, done the right way can and will drive the performance of your organization, Curt Fowler explains.

  • VSU’s Invest. Ignite. Inspire. Campaign Raises $30 Million in Eight Months

    March 18, 2015

    President William J. McKinney announced Monday that the University Advancement team has already raised $30,184,902.55 through Valdosta State’s first-ever comprehensive capital campaign — Invest. Ignite. Inspire. The Campaign for Valdosta State University.

  • Lowndes County GOP Elects New State of Officers

    March 16, 2015

    The Lowndes County Republican Party held its biennial county convention Saturday morning and elected its executive officers for the next two years. Outgoing Chairman Sondra Supp officiated at the meeting held at Austin’s Cattle Company which was attended by over 40 delegates.

  • SGMC's Bob Foster Receives Hospital IT Executive of the Year Award

    March 13, 2015

    Health Connect Partners, Inc., a healthcare education firm, recently announced that Bob Foster is the recipient of the company’s 2015 Hospital Information Technology Executive of the Year Award.

  • Jim Blanchard on Changing the Leadership Culture

    March 12, 2015

    When former Chairman & CEO of Synovus Jim Blanchard retired, his agenda didn’t fill with days dedicated to front-porch sitting. He desired to perpetuate and expand the influence of what he calls “servant leadership.” He proposed the concept of a leadership forum to his successor, who, understanding the value, eagerly agreed to sponsor the program. That was 10 years ago. The 10th annual Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum will roll out later this year in August.

  • Stacy Bush on Your Estate Management Checklist

    March 11, 2015

    Valdosta's Stacy Bush of Bush Wealth Management goes through the essential estate management checklist.

  • Turner Furniture Company Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary

    March 10, 2015

    Turner Furniture started out as a hardware store in Pelham, Georgia in 1915. It began with M.W. Turner, Sr. and a business partner not related to the Turner family. However, in 1929 the partnership was dissolved and M.W. Turner and his son M.W. Turner, Jr. opened a new hardware store across the street as competitors. It was during World War II that Turner’s began selling used furniture.

  • Locate South Georgia Takes Economic Development to a New Regional Level

    March 09, 2015

    Leaders of Locate South Georgia, a newly formed regional economic development group representing 21 counties, were in Atlanta last week to promote the group to state economic development officials. Launched at the beginning of 2015, Locate South Georgia combines the efforts of two previous groups – an older version of Locate South Georgia and the Southwest Georgia Chamber Council.

  • How to Get Your Management Team to Buy Into Marketing Strategy

    March 06, 2015

    Have you ever had your management team agree on something unanimously? If I were a betting man, I’d say probably not. That’s why facing a challenge like implementing a new marketing strategy can be so tiring. Not only do you have to develop the strategy – which will definitely take up a fair amount of time and resources – you also have to get your management team to support the plan.

  • From The Floor Up – Georgia's Shaw Industries Invests In People

    March 05, 2015

    Vance Bell, CEO of Shaw Industries, headquartered in Dalton, maintains that there are few businesses for which people aren’t the company’s greatest asset. That is why Shaw’s mission —“Great People. Great Products. Great Service. Always.”—begins with people.

  • Nominations Open for 2015 Winners in the Workplace

    March 04, 2015

    Nominations are now open for the 2015 Winners in the Workplace awards hosted by the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber, First State Bank & Trust Co. and Fresh Beginnings/ELead1one. Employers are encouraged to nominate those employees who have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty in the workplace.

  • VLCDA's Andrea Schruijer Named One of North America's Top 50 Economic Developers

    March 03, 2015

    Consultant Connect, a consulting agency that bridges the gap between economic developers and site consultants, named Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director of Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers.

  • Image Advertising Specialties Expands to Valdosta

    March 02, 2015

    Image Advertising Specialties recently joined with Chamber Ambassadors as they hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their new Valdosta Regional Office.