Chamber recognizes Ambassadors of the Quarter

Congratulations to Chamber Ambassadors Michelle Boyd, Mel Kendrick and Sparks Ramey, our Ambassadors of the Quarter for the first three quarters of 2014!

These Ambassadors are dedicated to the success of The Chamber, their fellow members and our community.

Above are, from left, First Quarter Ambassador of the Quarter Michelle Boyd of the Coweta Community Foundation; Second Quarter Ambassador of the Quarter Mel Kendrick of Encircle Roofing and Home Improvement; and Third Quarter Ambassador of the Quarter Sparks Ramey of Professional Consultants, Inc. We appreciate our Ambassadors and all they do for our Chamber!

Registration now open for February 5 annual meeting!

If you've already started marking dates in your 2015 calendar, be sure to note that our 67th Annual Chamber Meeting is coming up on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan.

Business and community leaders, economic development partners, and elected officials will attend this event, which is presented by Georgia Power Company. The annual celebration serves as an opportunity to honor Chamber members who have made significant contributions to enhance our community. The theme for this year's event will be "The Meaning of the Evening," and our special guest will be motivational speaker and humorist Jimmy Cusano, whom many of us got to know when he led our successful "It's Raining Members" membership campaign in the summer.

There will be Cocktails from 5:15–6:15 p.m., and the Dinner Program will be from 6–8 p.m. Register now through ChamberMaster by clicking here.

Chamber recognizes Volunteers of the Quarter

Congratulations to Chamber Volunteers Linda Edmonds, Mark Sprague and Garnet Reynolds, our Volunteers of the Quarter for the first three quarters of 2014! These Volunteers are dedicated to the success of The Chamber, their fellow members and our community. Coweta County's prosperity starts with them!

First Quarter Volunteer of the Quarter Linda Edmonds is with Precious Moments Portraits. Second Quarter Volunteer of the Quarter Mark Sprague, center, is with Snapshot Graphics, and Third Quarter Volunteer of the Quarter Garnet Reynolds, at right, is with BB&T.

A special thank-you goes to these Volunteers for all they do for our Chamber!

Watch the video from our Winter Wonderland Big Expo!

Have you seen the video from our Dec. 4 Winter Wonderland Big Expo? If not, take a look and you may just see yourself and a few of your friends!

Promote your business by offering a "Hot Deal" to Chamber members!

Are you looking for a way to promote your business for free? Then consider offering a "Hot Deal" on our Chamber website!

Hot Deals are discounted products and services offered by our Chamber members. Some current offers include a free one-hour QuickBooks review, a billboard advertising special for December and January, 10 percent off at a hair salon, and discounts on holiday transportation and veterinary services.

For more information on how to advertise your Hot Deal, simply send an e-mail to info@newnancowetachamber.org. And if you sign up for the Hot Deals eNewsletter, you'll receive an e-mail notification when new Hot Deals are added to our website. Click here to visit our website and sign up for the newsletter.

Come learn about our Germany trip at Jan. 27 meeting

If you've ever wanted to travel to Austria and Germany, plan now to attend our February 27 informational meeting about the Chamber's trip there next fall! The Newnan-Coweta Chamber, in partnership with the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE), has announced plans for A Taste of Tyrol-Innsbruck, Austria, featuring Oktoberfest, set for September 30 to October 8, 2015. The meeting at the Chamber to discuss plans for the trip will be January 27, 2015 at 4 p.m.

Our home for the seven nights will be Innsbruck, Austria. Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol, is located in the Alpine region of Austria, in the valley of the river Inn, at 1,000 feet above sea level. It is surrounded by mountain ranges and numerous peaks which reach an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet above sea level. The city has 140,000 inhabitants and hosts one of the oldest universities in Europe. Innsbruck is an excellent vacation destination and is best known for its rich cultural heritage and great location, as it is only a stone’s throw from Italy and Germany. Innsbruck has been the host for Olympic Winter Games twice, in 1964 and 1976. In the town, some 160 restaurants, cafes and bars, most of them in walking distance to the old town, offer traditional Tyrolean and Austrian specialties as well as international dishes.

For $2,999 per person, this trip includes:

• Roundtrip airfare from Atlanta
• Seven nights in Innsbruck, Austria, at a first-class hotel
• Seven (7) buffet breakfasts and four (4) dinners
• Sightseeing with admissions including a local guide. Tours to Munich & Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein Castle and a half-day tour of Innsbruck. Optional additional tours also available.
• Modern air-conditioned motor coaches for all transfers & tours
• Professional drivers and host/guides
• Baggage handling for one piece of luggage outside the secure area at the arrival airport

Final payment is due June 30, 2015. Reservations are first-come, first-served, so sign up early to reserve a space. For more information, email info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270. For an itinerary, click here.

The Southern Credit Union hosts tomorrow's BAH event!

Last Thursday, The Southern Credit Union’s Monica Millians and Michael Lear were greeting their fellow Chamber members and visitors at the Winter Wonderland Big Expo at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan. This Thursday, December 11, The Southern Credit Union in Newnan will be the site of our next Business-After-Hours networking event!

Business-After-Hours will run from 5:30–7 p.m. at 232 Bullsboro Drive in Newnan. All Chamber members are welcome to join us for this special holiday edition of BAH and enjoy great food, drink and hospitality.

To make your reservation through ChamberMaster, click here, or you may also RSVP by e-mailing julia@newnancowetachamber.org or by calling 770-253-2270. We hope to see you tomorrow evening!

It's here! Time for Winter Wonderland Big Expo!

The day has arrived, and it's time for our Winter Wonderland Big Expo, Coweta's biggest and best business exposition of the year! Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the expo will be held at the Summit Family YMCA, 1765 E. Hwy. 34 in Newnan, today, December 4, from 1-7 p.m.

And it's not too late for you to help us get the word out to all your family and friends! Tell them there will be more than 80 vendors promoting our Chamber members' goods and services, and there's also the great new expo addition of our Jingle Bell Shop. Everyone can support local businesses and keep their shopping dollars local by making purchases at the expo and checking a few items off their Christmas list at the same time! Gift wrapping will be available, and there will be plenty of fun, festive activities for all ages to enjoy.

The Winter Wonderland Big Expo will also include visits from Santa and his elves, Cider and Santa networking, and sweet holiday treats for all to enjoy. Live Christmas trees and wreaths will be offered for sale, and the entire venue will be decorated to provide a "Santa's workshop" atmosphere. To download free tickets to the Winter Wonderland Big Expo for you and your guests, click here. For more information, visit newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

We're ready to "light up the holidays" at Winter Wonderland Big Expo!

It's almost here! The week has finally arrived for our Winter Wonderland Big Expo, and the Chamber's own "St. Nick," Nick Garrison of LifePlan Financial Advisors, is ready to "light up the holidays" and make sure all of Coweta County knows about Coweta's biggest and best business exposition of the year! Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the expo will be held at the Summit Family YMCA, 1765 E. Hwy. 34 in Newnan, on Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 1-7 p.m.

We'd love for you to help us get the word out to all your family and friends! Tell them there will be more than 80 vendors promoting our Chamber members' goods and services, and there's also the great new expo addition of our Jingle Bell Shop. Everyone can support local businesses and keep their shopping dollars local by making purchases at the expo and checking a few items off their Christmas list at the same time! Gift wrapping will be available, and there will be plenty of fun, festive activities for all ages to enjoy.

The Winter Wonderland Big Expo will also include visits from Santa and his elves, Cider and Santa networking, and sweet holiday treats for all to enjoy. Live Christmas trees and wreaths will be offered for sale, and the entire venue will be decorated to provide a "Santa's workshop" atmosphere.

To download free tickets to the Winter Wonderland Big Expo for you and your guests, click here. For more information, visit newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

Countdown to Winter Wonderland Big Expo!

A week from tomorrow we kick off our Winter Wonderland Big Expo at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan! We know you're probably busy getting ready for a big Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends. While you're all gathered 'round the table, why not tell everyone about the expo? Sponsored by Delta Community Credit Union, it's Coweta's most-anticipated business exposition of the year, and there will be something for everyone to enjoy: shopping for unique gifts in the Jingle Bell Shop, vendors promoting some of Coweta's great businesses and services, visits from Santa and the elves, gift wrapping, Christmas tree and wreath sales, holiday treats and much, much more. The event runs from 1-7 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at the Summit Family YMCA, 1765 E. Hwy. 34, Newnan.

Beginning Monday, we'll have a special Facebook post about the expo each day, and you can help spread the word simply by hitting the "Share" button to include the post on your personal and/or business page each day leading up to the expo. It's that easy!

Ready to download some free tickets for you and your guests now? Just click here. For more information, visit newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

"Signs" show Winter Wonderland Big Expo is coming!

You're going to be hearing a lot about our Winter Wonderland Big Expo in the days ahead as we focus our efforts on making sure all of Coweta County knows about Coweta's biggest and best business exposition of the year! Last week our colorful banner went up in front of the Newnan Municipal Building, and this week it moves to the Summit Family YMCA on Highway 34 in Newnan, where we'll be hosting the expo on Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 1-7 p.m.

We'd love for you to help us get the word out to all your family and friends! Tell them there will be more than 80 vendors promoting our Chamber members' goods and services, and one great new expo addition is our Jingle Bell Shop. Visitors can support local businesses and keep their shopping dollars local by making purchases at the expo and checking a few items off their Christmas list at the same time! Gift wrapping will be available, and there will be plenty of fun, festive activities for all ages to enjoy.

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, this expo will include visits from Santa and his elves, Cider and Santa networking, and sweet holiday treats for all to enjoy. Live Christmas trees and wreaths will be offered for sale, and the entire venue will be decorated to provide a "Santa's workshop" atmosphere.

To download free tickets to the Winter Wonderland Big Expo for you and your guests, click here. For more information, visit newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

Tickets to Winter Wonderland Big Expo are here!

They're here! We've got the tickets ready for the Winter Wonderland Big Expo on Thursday, December 4, 2014, and they're perfect for sharing with your clients, family and friends!

This event, set for December 4 from 1-7 p.m. at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan, is our most-anticipated event of the year! Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, this expo will spotlight more than 80 Chamber businesses and is expected to draw 1,500-plus visitors! Some vendors will have gifts and gift certificates for sale in our Jingle Bell Shop to help with your Christmas shopping, and the entire event will be packed with holiday cheer! Santa and his elves will visit, there will be Cider and Santa networking, you and your guests can enjoy sweet holiday treats, and there will be fun, festive crafts. The entire venue will be decorated to provide a "Santa's workshop" atmosphere, and you and your guests, clients and customers will be admitted for FREE.

To download free tickets to the Winter Wonderland Big Expo for you and your guests, click here.

We're counting down the days 'til the Winter Wonderland Big Expo!

The Winter Wonderland Big Expo committee is hard at work making sure the event will be the biggest and best expo yet! We hope you’ve all got your calendars marked for Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 1-7 p.m. at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan. And if you’re available that day, we can always use more volunteers.

The expo is sponsored by Delta Community Credit Union and will feature more than 80 local businesses and an anticipated 1,500+ visitors. Everyone who attends can expect to be treated to all the sights, scents and sounds of the holidays, from magical Christmas decorations and hot chocolate and cider to caroling throughout the expo. Some of our local businesses will be selling gifts and gift certificates at our all-new Jingle Bell Shop, and you can even have your purchases giftwrapped on the spot. There will be visits by Santa and his Elves, cider and Santa networking, fun crafts, Christmas carols, sweet holiday treats and more. General admission is $5 or free to Chamber members.

Soon we’ll be letting you know how to spread the word about the Winter Wonderland Big Expo with your customers/clients, family and friends. We’ll also have free admittance e-tickets you can print or forward to those you want to invite. If you have questions or are ready to volunteer, e-mail julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call The Chamber at 770-253-2270.

Nov. 19 is RSVP deadline for next Women of Prosperity Luncheon

President and CEO Anne Meisner of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southeastern Regional Medical Center will be the speaker at our final Women of Prosperity Luncheon of the year on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the Newnan Country Club. Only 100 seats are available, and the RSVP deadline is November 19.

Meisner has been serving patients at CTCA for more than 20 years. Previously, she served as president and CEO of CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) for six years and oversaw growth in patient services and the highest patient loyalty scores in the nation. In her first year at Southeastern, Meisner steered accelerated growth of the hospital, including a major expansion project. At Midwestern she introduced numerous patient-centered programs in advanced radiation therapies, immunotherapies, cell therapies and Wisdom Medicine. She also originated the widely heralded Patient Empowered Care model, where all services cancer patients want are delivered in one location. She expanded Midwestern’s stem cell and cell therapy program; expanded its surgical services and tripled its surgical space; and opened a Quality of Life clinic. In 2013 and 2014, Meisner was recognized in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s "Who’s Who in Health Care" issue, which spotlights the top 100 leaders in the health care industry.

The Women of Prosperity luncheon, sponsored by LifePlan Financial Advisors as part of the Business Women's Network, will be Wednesday, December 3, 2014 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Newnan Country Club. The fee is $35 for Chamber members and $50 for general admission. Click here to register through ChamberMaster. For more information, e-mail valerie@newnancowetachamber.org or call The Chamber at 770-253-2270.

Deadline for Citizen of the Year nominations is Saturday

Saturday, November 15 is the deadline to nominate someone as Coweta County's Citizen of the Year for 2015, someone who has demonstrated exemplary vision, civic pride and a strong commitment to a better Coweta.

Here are the criteria for the award:

• The nominee should live in Coweta County and his/her activities should be centered in Coweta County and the surrounding area.

• Consideration will be given to those who demonstrate leadership and performance in multiple areas of community service over a period of years.

• The nominee may be an individual from any walk of life, and there are no requirements or restrictions relating to gender, age, race, religion, or ethnic background.

The Citizen of the Year program dates to 1992, and previous recipients include Bill Williams, Scott Wilson, Joe Crain Sr., Mike Barber, Lindsey Barron, Sally Bowen, Jim Hardin, Dennis McEntire, Don Phillips, Bill Loftin, Bernie Parks, Harold Barron, Gene Tyre, Bill Headley, Willie Boyd, Bobby Welch, Robin Tornow, Don Chapman, Annie Joe Berkowitz, Blake Bass, Steve Mader, Bette Hickman and 2014 recipient Frank Barron.

The deadline for nominations is November 15, and you can download the two-page application here. Applications are available for pickup at The Chamber and can also be e-mailed. For more information, call 770-253-2270 or e-mail valerie@newnancowetachamber.org.

Can you help with the Winter Wonderland Big Expo?

It's now less than a month until the Winter Wonderland Big Expo, set for Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 1-7 p.m. at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan. This is the day more than 100 businesses will be on hand to meet and greet an anticipated 1,500+ visitors, and we need your help. From shuttling exhibitors on Santa's Sleigh to "checking the list twice" throughout the day to creating holiday magic throughout the event space, we need you on our team!

The Winter Wonderland Big Expo is presented by Delta Community Credit Union and will spotlight the newest products and services in Coweta and metro Atlanta. New to the expo this year is our Jingle Bell Shop, where some Chamber members will be selling items at their booth or table. This will be a unique and exciting new shopping experience for our visitors, and we're promoting that fact in our publicity for the event. There will be festivities for the whole family, including visits by Santa and his Elves, cider and Santa networking, gift-wrapping, fun crafts, Christmas carols, sweet holiday treats and more. General admission is $5 or free to Chamber members.

In the coming days, we'll be offering tips to let you know how to spread the word about the Winter Wonderland Big Expo with your customers/clients, family and friends. We’ll also have free admittance e-tickets you can print or forward to those you want to invite. If you have questions or are ready to volunteer, e-mail julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call The Chamber at 770-253-2270.

Next Leadership Skills Workshop is Nov. 12

If you’re a businesswoman who wants to improve your communication skills, be sure to sign up for our November Leadership Skills Workshop, set for Wednesday, November 12, 2014 from 8:30-10 a.m. at The Chamber.

“Strategic Thinking” will be the topic of this month’s workshop, to be taught by Business Coach Rita McMaken, and the fee is $35. Sponsor of the program is LifePlan Financial Advisors, Inc.

Limited seats are available, and you can register through ChamberMaster by clicking here. For more information, email julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

It's not too late to sign up for the Winter Wonderland Big Expo!

If you haven't signed up yet, it's still not too late to register for the Winter Wonderland Big Expo, set for Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 1-7 p.m. at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan. This expo is a perfect place to showcase your business because there will be more than 100 fellow businesses participating along with an anticipated 1,500+ visitors. At a recent committee meeting for the event are, from left, Chamber President and CEO Candace Boothby, Sharon Rogers of GNC and Phil Aaron of State Farm Insurance.

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo will spotlight the newest products and services in Coweta and metro Atlanta. New to the expo this year is our Jingle Bell Shop, where you can make money by selling items at your booth or table. This will be a unique and exciting new shopping experience for our visitors, and we're promoting that fact in our publicity for the event. There will be festivities for the whole family, including visits by Santa and his Elves, cider and Santa networking, gift-wrapping, fun crafts, Christmas carols, sweet holiday treats and more. General admission is $5 or free to Chamber members.

In the coming days, we'll be offering tips to let you know how to spread the word about the Winter Wonderland Big Expo with your customers/clients, family and friends. We’ll also have free admittance e-tickets you can print or forward to those you want to invite. To download a flyer with all the information on corporate sponsorships and booth and table registration, click here. Ready to register through ChamberMaster? Then click here. If you have questions, e-mail julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call The Chamber at 770-253-2270.

Nov. 15 is deadline for Citizen of the Year nominations

Do you know someone who deserves to be named Coweta County's Citizen of the Year, someone who has demonstrated exemplary vision, civic pride and a strong commitment to a better Coweta?

Here are the criteria for the award:

• The nominee should live in Coweta County and his/her activities should be centered in Coweta County and the surrounding area.

• Consideration will be given to those who demonstrate leadership and performance in multiple areas of community service over a period of years.

• The nominee may be an individual from any walk of life, and there are no requirements or restrictions relating to gender, age, race, religion, or ethnic background.

The Citizen of the Year program dates to 1992, and previous recipients include Bill Williams, Scott Wilson, Joe Crain Sr., Mike Barber, Lindsey Barron, Sally Bowen, Jim Hardin, Dennis McEntire, Don Phillips, Bill Loftin, Bernie Parks, Harold Barron, Gene Tyre, Bill Headley, Willie Boyd, Bobby Welch, Robin Tornow, Don Chapman, Annie Joe Berkowitz, Blake Bass, Steve Mader, Bette Hickman and 2014 recipient Frank Barron.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to November 15, and you can download the two-page application here. Applications are available for pickup at The Chamber and can also be e-mailed. For more information, call 770-253-2270 or e-mail valerie@newnancowetachamber.org.

Register early to save $50 off Winter Wonderland Big Expo registration!

Our Chamber members are hard at work on the 2014 Winter Wonderland Big Expo, including Nick Garrison of LifePlan Financial Advisors, above, shown at a recent expo committee meeting.

Are you planning to exhibit at the expo, set for December 4 at the Summit Family YMCA in Newnan? If so, you have until Friday, October 31, to save $50 off the cost of registration. Why should you be at this event?

• To showcase your business, because there will be 100+ businesses and 1,500+ visitors.

• To participate in the Jingle Bell Shop. You can make money by selling items at your booth or table.

• To invite your customers/clients, family and friends. We’ll have free admittance e-tickets you can print or forward to those you want to invite.

To download a flyer with all the information on corporate sponsorships and booth and table registration, click here. Ready to register through ChamberMaster? Then click here. If you have questions, e-mail julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call The Chamber at 770-253-2270.

Friday is deadline to register for Nonprofit Board Training

Because of the increased scrutiny on tax-exempt organizations today, it’s more important than ever that those who work with non-profit organizations understand the importance of serving on the board of a non-profit. On Tuesday, October 28, The Chamber is joining forces with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and the Coweta Community Foundation to host a Nonprofit Board Training at the Newnan Centre.

Friday, October 24, is the last day to register for the workshop, which is designed for anyone who serves on a board, works with boards, or works with a nonprofit organization. This event will be held at the Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the session running from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Topics covered will include the Importance of Nonprofits; Good Governance and Board Roles; Setting Strategic Direction; Committee Dynamics; and Risk Management. Those attending will learn the importance of serving on a board, understanding duties and developing high performance leadership that can advance the mission and goals of the organization. This workshop is perfect for nonprofit staff members and volunteer leaders seeking to learn about developing strategic direction, roles and responsibilities of the Directors (fiduciary, mission, finances) and the increased scrutiny on Exempt Organizations.

Leading the Board Training will be Robert C. Harris, CAE, a nationally acclaimed speaker and expert on boards of directors and association management. Believing that nonprofits should be as efficient as any commercial business, Harris has studied thousands of them, authored books on association management, and traveled the world to help organizations in countries like Japan and Ukraine. Having received multiple awards throughout his career and dubbed the "Martha Stewart of association management," Harris is actively promoting the impact of nonprofits in America and sharing his tips for success.

Registration fee for the Board Training is $15 per person or a flat fee of $225 per group for nonprofits. Deadline to register is Friday, October 24, 2014.

Register online by clicking here. For more information call 770-253-2270 or emailinfo@newnancowetachamber.org.

Are you using the power of the holidays?

The holidays are a great time for branding or showcasing your business to the public, and one of the best places to do so is our Winter Wonderland Big Expo coming up Dec. 4, 2014 from 1-7 p.m. at Summit Family YMCA in Newnan! Have you made your reservation yet?

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo will include shopping featuring the newest products and services in Coweta and metro Atlanta; more than 100 exhibitors; an anticipated 1,500 attendees; the opportunity to meet potential clients, network with peers and generate quality business leads; and festivities for the whole family, including Santa and his Elves, a tour of Santa's workshop, cider and Santa networking, gift-wrapping, fun crafts, Christmas carols, sweet holiday treats, a Jingle Bell Shop and more. General admission is $5 or free to Chamber members.

If you haven't yet registered for what is expected to be a sell-out event, the Early Bird Deadline is October 31 and you can save $50 off registration. To download an exhibitor registration form, click here. For ChamberMaster registration, click here. For more information, email julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.

Have you reserved your spot for the Winter Wonderland Big Expo?

It's the most wonderful time of the year … and this year, The Chamber will help kick off the holidays with the 2014 Winter Wonderland Big Expo, Coweta's biggest and most influential business exposition!

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo is set for Thursday, December 4, 2014, from 1-7 p.m. at Summit Family YMCA in Newnan. General admission is $5 or free to Chamber members.

Features will include:

• A competitive shopping experience featuring the newest products and services in Coweta and the metro Atlanta business market

• More than 100 exhibitors

• Almost 1,500 attendees

• A great opportunity to meet potential clients, network with peers and generate quality business leads

• Festivities for the whole family, including Santa and his Elves, a tour of Santa's workshop, cider and Santa networking, gift-wrapping, fun crafts, Christmas carols, sweet holiday treats, a Jingle Bell Shop and more

If you haven't yet registered for what is expected to be a sell-out event, the Early Bird Deadline is October 31 and you can save $50 off registration. To download an exhibitor registration form, click here. For more information, email julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.

Mark your calendars for Thursday's Political HobNob!

Last week we hosted a Candidate Forum at CEC, and this week you can find out even more about our local candidates for office at the 2014 Meet the Candidates Political HobNob on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan.

Sponsored by Batson-Cook Construction, the Political HobNob gives businesses, citizens and candidates the opportunity to mix and mingle just in time for the Nov. 4, 2014 election. Coweta candidates running for office this year include Georgia Senate District 28, Cynthia Bennett (D) and Mike Crane (R); Georgia House District 70, Lynn Smith (R); Georgia House District 71, David Stover (R); Georgia House District 72, Matt Ramsey (R); Georgia House District 132, Gene King (R) and Bob Trammell (D); County Commission District 2, Tim Lassetter (R); and County Commission District 3, Bob Blackburn (R). The HobNob begins from 5-5:30 p.m. with a VIP Meet & Greet for Sponsors, Enhanced Investors and the Board of Directors. General Admission will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. A Straw Poll will be held during the Political HobNob as well. Everyone attending will be issued a ballot, and beginning at 5 p.m. you may vote in the straw poll. There will be only one vote per person per race. Voting closes at 6:30 p.m., and winners will be announced at 6:50 p.m.

While you mix and mingle, you'll enjoy great barbecue and beer provided by Business-After-Hours Sponsor Shane’s Rib Shack and Beverage Sponsor Georgia Beer Wholesalers. General admission tickets are $20 each, and Chamber member admission is free. Tickets include food, drinks, access to candidates and networking with attendees. Tickets are available at The Chamber and from event sponsors. For more information, contact The Chamber at info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

Robert Harris to lead Nonprofit Board Training

Have you heard about our Nonprofit Board Training coming up Tuesday, October 28 at the Newnan Centre? We're joining forces with the Coweta Community Foundation and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce to host this special workshop with Bob Harris, a nationally-acclaimed speaker and expert on boards of directors and association management. This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to learn about the importance of serving on a board as well as the duties and leadership roles of board members.

Registration for this workshop is $15 per person or a flat fee of $225 per group for nonprofits. Registration is at 8 a.m., and the program will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan.

To download a registration brochure, click here. To learn more about Harris’s valuable nonprofit resources, click here.

Mark your calendar for Thursday's Candidate Forum!

Election Day will be here before you know it, and to help you make an informed decision in the November 4 election, The Chamber has two events coming up where you can meet the candidates and find out where they stand on the issues. This Thursday, October 9, there will be a Candidate Forum from 6-8 p.m. at Central Educational Center, 160 Martin Luther King Drive in Newnan. This forum is sponsored by The Chamber as well as the Coweta County Democratic Party and the Coweta County Republican Party. Candidates for Georgia House District 132, Bob Trammell (D) and Gene King (R), are running to succeed retiring Representative Carl Von Epps. The candidates for Georgia Senate District 28 are incumbent Mike Crane (R) and challenger Cynthia Bennett (D). The public is invited. 

Each candidate will get to make an opening and closing statement and will be presented a series of questions vetted by the sponsoring organizations, including questions submitted before the event and from the audience. Moderating will be Dean Jackson, Public Information Officer for the Coweta County School System and The Chamber's Vice Chair for Advocacy.

The Candidate Forum is being offered by the three co-hosting organizations as a public service for Coweta citizens, to help them make an informed choice in the November 4, 2014 election. There is no charge to attend, and seating will be on a first come, first seated basis. For more information, contact The Chamber at info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.

Just one week later, on October 16, The Chamber will host a Political Hobnob at the Newnan Centre on Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan. This event will feature Coweta's Georgia House and Senate candidates as well as candidates for the Coweta County Commission. General Admission tickets are $20, and Chamber Member Admission is free. Click here to learn more about the Political Hobnob.

Pinewood Atlanta Studios developer featured at NuLink Early Bird Forum

Jim Pace, lead developer for the Pinewood Atlanta Studios project, is welcomed by NuLink Early Bird Forum emcee Danny Beck of Beck Janitorial.

The theme was “Lights. Camera. Action.” at the Newnan Centre on Tuesday as Chamber members attended the NuLink Early Bird Forum to hear from Jim Pace, lead developer of the massive Pinewood Atlanta Studios film production facility in Fayette County.

Pace explained how the project landed in Fayette County and discussed the economic impact of Pinewood on Fayette, Coweta and surrounding areas. The parcel that includes Pinewood Atlanta Studios is part of an 800-acre development that will include commercial, retail and a residential section described by Pace as “like Seaside on steroids,” referring to the hugely successful Florida panhandle development fronting the Gulf of Mexico between Destin and Panama City.

Businesses that support the film industry, including one that produces high-tech fabrics used to create special effects, have opened to support Pinewood. Pace said film industry professionals and their families are moving to Fayette and Coweta in great numbers as they anticipate major growth in local film production. Pace said Georgia is now the third most popular state in the US in film production behind only New York and California, but warned those present that, “We have to keep those (film production) tax credits to keep them coming here.”

He said new jobs are being created almost daily, and most new employees are learning about employment opportunities from the Experience Coweta-Fayette-Spalding Facebook page. He advised anyone seeking a film industry job to “check it out.”

Join The Chamber for a trip to Germany and Austria!

How would you like to be traveling Austria and Germany this week a year from now? You can! The Newnan-Coweta Chamber, in partnership with the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE), has announced plans for A Taste of Tyrol-Innsbruck, Austria, featuring Oktoberfest, set for September 30 to October 8, 2015.

Our home for the seven nights will be Innsbruck, Austria. Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol, is located in the Alpine region of Austria, in the valley of the river Inn, at 1,000 feet above sea level. It is surrounded by mountain ranges and numerous peaks which reach an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet above sea level. The city has 140,000 inhabitants and hosts one of the oldest universities in Europe. Innsbruck is an excellent vacation destination and is best known for its rich cultural heritage and great location, as it is only a stone’s throw from Italy and Germany. Innsbruck has been the host for Olympic Winter Games twice, in 1964 and 1976. In the town, some 160 restaurants, cafes and bars, most of them in walking distance to the old town, offer traditional Tyrolean and Austrian specialties as well as international dishes.

For $2,999 per person, this trip includes:

• Roundtrip airfare from Atlanta, GA

• Seven nights in Innsbruck, Austria, at a first-class hotel

• Seven (7) buffet breakfasts and four (4) dinners

• Sightseeing with admissions including a local guide. Tours to Munich & Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein Castle and a half-day tour of Innsbruck. Optional additional tours also available.

• Modern air-conditioned motor coaches for all transfers & tours

• Professional drivers and host/guides

• Baggage handling for one piece of luggage outside the secure area at the arrival airport

Final payment is due June 30, 2015. Reservations are first-come, first-served, so sign up early to reserve a space. For more information, email info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270. For an itinerary, click here.

Register now for our Oct. 8 Leadership Skills Workshop

Registration is now open for our October Leadership Skills Workshop of the Business Women’s Network. “Taking Your Seat at the Table” is the topic of this workshop, which will be Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 8:30-10 a.m. at The Chamber. The fee is $35, and the workshop will be taught by Business Coach Rita McMaken.

Sponsor for this event is LifePlan Financial Advisors, Inc.

Limited seats are available, so contact us early to reserve your seat by e-mailing julia@newnancowetachamber.org or calling 770-253-2270. Click here to download our Business Women’s Network brochure.

Sept. 30 Early Bird Forum spotlights Pinewood Atlanta Studios

Our next NuLink Early Bird Forum is Tuesday, Sept. 30, and our speaker will be Jim Pace, Managing Director and Lead Developer of Pinewood Atlanta Studios.

Jim's business background spans 40 years and includes management positions in accounting, financial planning, operations, customer service, sales and marketing. His entire business career has focused on real estate, construction and development, and he has worked with clients, architects, engineers and major developers nationwide. Most recently Jim worked with Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A to establish Rivers Rock LLC, which developed Pinewood Atlanta Studios. Jim serves as Rivers Rock manager and lead developer for Pinewood Atlanta Studios.

You can hear the Pinewood Atlanta Studios story at our Early Bird Forum on Sept. 30 from 7:30-9 a.m. at The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan. Registration is $20 for Chamber Members and $50 for general admission. There will be a Continental breakfast with pastries and fruit, a hot breakfast buffet with french toast, cheddar grits and breakfast burritos, and a made-to-order omelette station. Registration is now open, and you can RSVP by Sept. 26 by e-mailing info@newnancowetachamber.org or calling 770-253-2270.

Chamber members welcome new WGTC president

Yesterday The Chamber hosted a Welcome Reception for the new president of West Georgia Technical College, Steve Daniel. Daniel previously served as provost of the Flint River Campus of Southern Crescent Technical College, and before that he worked in the Technical College System of Georgia’s Quick Start division, serving as director of project operations for the Kia Project to develop assessments and training for the opening of the Kia Motors plant in West Point. He has also worked in the private sector, including work in the aerospace industry. Candace Boothby, Chamber President and CEO, noted that with his background, Daniel is "a perfect fit" to lead West Georgia Technical College as it focuses on workforce development in the college's service area. Above are Daniel, Boothby, and Dennis McEntire of Newnan Utilities.

Dennis McEntire, General Manager of Newnan Utilities, welcomes the Chamber members and guests who stopped by to meet Daniel.

Here Daniel, at right, speaks with Mark Whitlock, CEO of Central Educational Center in Newnan. In his remarks at The Chamber, Daniel spoke of Whitlock's work at CEC and said how fortunate we are "to have a person like that" serving here in Coweta. "I'm really excited about that," he said. He said that at West Georgia Technical College, "We're not just pure academics. Workforce development is our main focus." He also noted that "at the end of the day, that's what we have to do to be successful."

Chamber to welcome WGTC's Steve Daniel tomorrow

Tomorrow, Sept. 17, The Chamber will host a Welcome Reception for new West Georgia Technical College President Steve Daniel from 4-6 p.m. at The Chamber's office at 23 Bullsboro Dr. in Newnan.

Daniel officially became the president of WGTC on June 1 and said he looks forward to working with WGTC stakeholders to support workforce advancement initiatives throughout WGTC's service delivery area. “There are great examples of economic growth in the West Georgia Technical College service area. I’m excited by the opportunity to further advance the college’s partnerships with business and industry and strengthen the role of technical education in those efforts," Daniel said. 

According to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Daniel served as provost of the Flint River Campus of Southern Crescent Technical College since 2011. Before that, he worked in the TCSG’s Quick Start division, serving as the director of project operations for the Kia Project, working closely with Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia to develop the pre-hire assessments and post-hire employee training that supported the opening of the Kia Motors plant in West Point. From 2007 through 2011, he managed the Kia Georgia Training Center adjacent to the Kia facility, helping Kia Motors hire and train more than 3,000 team members.

Daniel has also served as vice president for economic development at Flint River Technical College in Thomaston and has leadership experience in the private sector as well. He has served as the director of human resources for Talla-Com Industries in Tallahassee, Florida; director of administration for Alliance Aerospace in Macon; senior manager of human resources for TRW/Lucas Aerospace in Macon; and manager of human resources for Boeing in Macon.

Daniel has a Master’s of Science in Human Resource Management from Troy University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia, and is currently pursuing his doctorate in education leadership at Valdosta State University. He is also involved in a number of civic and professional associations and committees related to education, economic development and human resources.

"Lean In" Growth Circles kick off next week!

Oprah Winfrey called it "honest and brave."

The New York Times called it "a landmark manifesto."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called it "superb, witty, candid, and meaningful."

The praise poured in for Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's 2013 bestseller Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, and you can get in on the conversation when our "Lean In" Growth Circles kick off next week. Led by Coach Rebecca Prien, Esq., the Growth Circles will meet September 18, October 16 and November 20. There will be two groups, meeting from either 10:30 a.m. to noon or 1-2:30 p.m. at The Chamber. Cost is $50 per month, and to sign up you may email julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270.

Are you using your free Tools for Business Success?

Whether you're looking to start a business, grow a business or protect your business, The Chamber has free resources that can help! Our website offers over 600 free and low-cost resources to help local businesses and entrepreneurs be successful. Here are a few of the things you will find:

• LOCAL resources including info on the economic impact of dollars spent locally, how to make sure you are found locally, and local business and tax incentives for locating in Coweta County.

• START A BUSINESS resources including how to evaluate your business idea, forms needed to start a business, and where to get free help for creating a business plan.

• GROW MY BUSINESS resources such as marketing help for small business, improved selling skills for small business, and tips for selling on the Internet for small business. To discover this information and many, many other resources for your small business toolkit, visit coweta.toolsforbusiness.info.

Michele M. Molden promotes women's affinity groups

At The Chamber’s Sept. 3 Women of Prosperity Luncheon, Michele M. Molden, Chief Strategy Officer of Piedmont Healthcare, said she is a great believer in the power of women’s affinity groups and believes they are “so important."

Although such groups began as mostly a social environment for women, that purpose has changed over time, she said, and today they’re all about leadership development. Molden noted that 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies today have women’s affinity groups. “I can’t imagine that’s by accident,” she said, adding that “most of those companies have a business purpose.” She told the women at the luncheon, “You are so blessed to have this environment” that supports women in business. Here Molden visits with Vicki Kaiser, Director of Clinical Innovation & Cancer Program Development at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Next week The Chamber will offer some new opportunities for women through our own Business Women’s Network, including Leadership Skills Workshops, Coaching for Business Owners, and Growth Circles based on the book “Lean In” by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. To download a flyer about these opportunities, click here. Above are some of those attending the Women of Prosperity Luncheon, including Samantha Brazie of Progressive Heating & Air, Kim Melhouse-Guerra of Comcast Spotlight, State Representative Lynn Smith, and Chamber President and CEO Candace Boothby.

Marketing lessons from the Ice Bucket Challenge

SouthTowne Motors did it. So did Piedmont Newnan Hospital and the Hampton Inn/Newnan. These are just a few of the Coweta businesses that have participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, the viral phenomenon in which people dump buckets of ice and water over their heads to raise money to fight ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Why is this particular fundraiser such a hit? The Ice Bucket Challenge is now being studied by businesses and marketing professionals who want to know what made this fundraising effort so successful. Inc. magazine says it helps that “anyone can participate,” and people are already used to posting pictures and videos of themselves on Facebook. To read Inc.'s "8 Game-Changing Marketing Lessons from the ALS 'Ice Bucket Challenge,'" click here.

Entrepreneur magazine notes that the Ice Bucket Challenge is fun and easy, and “keeping things lighthearted lets people connect with an organization on a human level and can encourage further engagement in an authentic way.” That’s just one of the six viral-marketing lessons the magazine says can be learned from the Ice Bucket Challenge. Find the others here. And if you have found another lesson from the Ice Bucket Challenge yourself, feel free to share it!

Chamber hosts Google Analytics 101 Webinar

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, The Chamber hosted a Google Analytics 101 Webinar presented by Tim Zach, the Interactive Marketing Director at Red Clay Interactive. The webinar covered an introduction to Google Analytics as well as a “deep dive” into Google Analytics reports that can help businesses meet their goals.

Among those attending the webinar was Tina Bralley, accountant, of Balanced Accountant.

Mark Sprague, owner of Snapshot Graphics, also attended the webinar.

Another of those attending was Judy Peeler, SPHR, Marketing, of Paul Peeler Leadership Development. The webinar was held in conjunction with Chamber University, the Training and Development arm of The Chamber.

Chamber members know the value of networking

One of the many ways The Chamber benefits its members is by regularly hosting great networking events where you can meet other members and help build your business. Last week, The Chamber followed up its Small Business Awards Lunch and B2B Small Business Showcase with a Business-After-Hours networking event hosted by Progressive Heating and Air. At this networking event are, from left, Mike Meyer of Something Special, Sandy Lee of Hampton Inn/Newnan and Gary DeGeorge Jr. of Atlanta Range & Ordnance.

If you’re skilled at networking that’s great, and even if you’re an introvert, that quality may give you an advantage as well. How? According to a recent article in Inc. magazine, introverts may make even better networkers because, among other reasons, they’re selective about whom they talk to, they get to the point, and they give others time to share. To read the full Inc. magazine article, click here.

Whatever your networking style, make it a point to check out The Chamber’s monthly networking events. The next Business-After-Hours event is set for Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at SouthCrest Bank's office on the Court Square in Newnan, and we hope to see you there!

Newnan GNC named Small Business of the Year!

More than 100 small businesses entered The Chamber and SouthTowne Motors' 2014 Small Business of the Year competition, and Newnan GNC was named the overall winner at a luncheon at The Newnan Centre on Aug. 21, 2014. “We were surprised,” said Sharon Rogers of Newnan GNC. “There are a lot of really, really good companies in this county.” Here are GNC's newest hire, Rebecca Neely (GNC's “Morph Greeter” at the afternoon's B2B Small Business Showcase), Lynn Butterfield, Sharon Rogers and Sonya Denny.

Rogers, shown here at right with GNC staff accepting the award, said Newnan GNC has been involved with The Chamber since the Newnan store first opened 18 years ago.

Here are Steve Mader of SouthTowne Motors and Candace Boothby, Chamber President and CEO. As Steve said, “We’re all small businesses. This really is the backbone of our economy.” For this year's award, there were the Top 10 Finalists as well as six Honorable Mentions. The Top 10 Finalists were 85 South Out and About Magazine; Air Power Hydraulics, Inc.; Higgins and Smith, CPAs; Key Promotions; My Kidz Dentist, PC; My Rent Source, LLC; Newnan GNC; PrintSource; Something Special Events Facility; and UNIGLOBE Travel Partners. The Honorable Mention winners were Balanced Family Wellness; Bubbles and Brushes Art Studio; Keith Ross, Country Financial; Meineke Car Care Center; Shine 'n Drive Car Wash; and Southern Crescent Solutions. Category Recipients at this year's awards presentation were: Entrepreneur Category (1-5 employees), Sally Anderson of Key Promotions; Growth Category (6-19 employees), Andy Miller of PrintSource; and in the Employer Category (20-99 employees), Mitchell Hicks of UNIGLOBE Travel Partners.

Congratulations to Newnan GNC and all of this year's winners!