Sept. 14 B-A-H celebrates 25th anniversary of Contemporary Catering!

Our September Business-After-Hours networking event celebrates the silver anniversary of a longtime Chamber member, Contemporary Catering! We hope you'll join us at Contemporary Catering for this very special evening.

Our next B-A-H event will be September 14, 2017 from 5:30-7pm at Contemporary Catering, which is located at 25 Herring Road in Newnan. We'll enjoy great food and drink as well as great music by the DJ Professionals!

Come enjoy great food and beverages and catch up with fellow Chamber members as we celebrate with Contemporary Catering! RSVP now through ChamberMaster by clicking here.

Branding and marketing are topics of Sept. 8 Meet Up

How do you build a brand and market it? What is a good balance? Does one media work better than the others? BRANDING 360 will be presented by Ken Hammock of Joy FM 93.3 at the September 8 Meet Up at the Chamber.

The internet era has created more complexity in already challenging circumstances for entrepreneurs. How important should marketing be within your business model? Come and learn about the importance of having a multimedia approach to marketing your business no matter how small your budget.

Ken Hammock, Underwriting Consultant for Joy FM 93.3, is setting a strong ethical standard, doing what is right, and helping others move forward. Marketing has experienced dramatic changes over the past decade, but basic concepts are the same. All businesses and organizations have a story. Hammock says that his job is to help tell that story in an effective manner with a results-based approach. His core specialization is helping small businesses understand and implement practical marketing solutions. Criteria for effectiveness is attained through brand building, maintenance of top-of-mind awareness, and maximizing return-on-investment potential with realistic expectations.

Ken says that "1980 was the year radio broadcasting was injected into my blood. It has been a passion and a profession off and on since then. Now, with nearly 30 years of experience in sales, management, business ownership, and training, my goal is to help others succeed and grow."

The next Six Figure Success Club Meet Up will be September 8 from 9:30-11:30am at the Newnan-Coweta Chamber, 23 Bullsboro Dr., Newnan. There is no charge to attend, and you can RSVP now to reserve a spot.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is topic of Aug. 29 NuLink Early Bird Forum

Danny Branch, chief information officer for the Atlanta Falcons, will be in Newnan next Tuesday, August 29, to speak at our NuLink Early Bird Forum. He will speak on “The Journey to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.”

Branch is beginning his 13th year as chief information officer for AMB Sports & Entertainment and boasts more than 30 years of experience in systems development, deployment and support. As vice president of IT operations, he is responsible for all information technology–related activities for the Falcons and all other enterprises in the Blank Family of Businesses. Highlights from Branch’s tenure at AMBSE include leading the creation and launch of the Atlanta Falcons’ first official mobile app, Falcons Mobile, directing the launch of the Falcons’ first retail operations and Team Store, and leading the creation and launch of the official e-commerce site for the PGA TOUR Superstore. Branch and his wife, Claire, live in Senoia with their daughter Chloe, 23, and son Alex, 20.

Held quarterly, our popular NuLink Early Bird Forums provide exclusive information and a great opportunity to connect with Coweta’s business and community leaders. Breakfast takes place at The Newnan Centre from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and their guests and $50 for general admission. For more information, call the Chamber at 770-253-2270 or click here to register now through ChamberMaster.

Cynthia Day to speak at Sept. 20 Women of Prosperity Luncheon!

Our next Coweta's Women of Prosperity Lunch will be Wednesday, September 20, 2017 from 11:15am - 1pm at the Newnan Country Club, 1356 Highway 29, Newnan, and the speaker will be Cynthia Day, president and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank.

Named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians of 2017, Cynthia Day joined Citizens Trust Bank, the largest African-American owned bank in Georgia, in 2003 as executive vice president of management services. Nine years later she assumed the position of president and CEO. During her tenure, the bank has achieved record earnings levels and has grown through acquisitions to an asset level of approximately $400 million. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Day has been recognized for her leadership and mentorship in various community and professional organizations, including being named one of “Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence” by the Atlanta Business League and one of Atlanta Tribune’s “Wonder Women.” A native of Fayette, Alabama, and a graduate of The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Day received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting.

The cost for the lunch, which is sponsored by Progressive Heating and Air Conditioning, is $35 for Chamber Members and $50 for General Admission. Click here to register now through ChamberMaster. For more information, email info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.

Saturday's RiverFest to benefit new bike trail fund

The Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park have launched a new Trail Fund to create 40 miles of mountain bike trails at the park. These trails will include the West Zone, a five-mile beginner to intermediate trail highlighting the Chattahoochee River Basin; the Central Zone, a five- to eight-mile gateway trail for beginners and families new to mountain biking; the North Zone, eight to 12 miles of intermediate trails with a “back country” feel; and the East Zone, 15 to 18 miles of advanced trails with boulder and rock formations.

This weekend, the Friends are sponsoring RiverFest in downtown Newnan as a benefit for this new trail fund. Chattahoochee Bend State Park RiverFest is set for Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 at the Greenville Street Park from noon to 4 p.m.

Riverfest will feature a Tug-O-War Pool, Bicycle Pump Track, mountain bike demos, a presentation on the effort to build mountain bike trails by Sorba Atlanta, live music from Triple Shot, food trucks, a rock climbing wall, vendors and more. For more information, please visit bendfriend.org.

Meeting with UWG's Dr. Kyle Marrero is Aug. 16

Wondering what's in store for the local campus of the University of West Georgia? Chamber members are invited to attend a special meeting with Dr. Kyle Marrero, president of the University of West Georgia, on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, where Dr. Marrero will be discussing the vision for UWG Newnan.

The meeting will be held August 16 from 3:30-5 pm at the University of West Georgia Newnan Campus, 80 Jackson St., Room 186.

For more information, call 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Chamber, Community Foundation team up for YPs in Philanthropy

Matt Swope and John Herbert Cranford Jr. look over a presentation for the Young Professionals in Philanthropy, a new organization they are leading for the Newnan-Coweta Chamber and the Coweta Community Foundation.

Coweta County’s philanthropic and business communities are teaming up to help grow the next generation of givers in Coweta through a new group, the Young Professionals in Philanthropy. A partnership of the Coweta Community Foundation and the Newnan-Coweta Chamber, the YPs in Philanthropy will hold its first quarterly meeting on August 15, 2017 at the University of West Georgia in Newnan.

Two Coweta attorneys, John Herbert Cranford Jr. and Matt Swope, are leading the new group. Cranford is an assistant district attorney who sits on the board of the Coweta Community Foundation. Swope, a former legal advisor to the Chamber and a board member of both the Newnan/Coweta Boys and Girls Club and Communities In Schools, is an assistant solicitor at the Coweta County Solicitor General’s Office. The two hope to tap a reservoir of young professionals—those under age 45—who are eager to serve in Coweta County but don’t know how to get plugged in.

The goal of the YPs in Philanthropy is simple, “to engage and educate young professionals in volunteer community service and philanthropy.” Cranford and Swope said they plan to accomplish this with short, productive quarterly meetings. In fact, the two said they are committed to having only 30-minute meetings. The YPs in Philanthropy will learn about an array of local nonprofit agencies, and they will have the opportunity to gain practical experience, perhaps by attending a board meeting or committee meeting or even helping set up at an event. Various opportunities will be offered, and once the participant checks off a certain number of these items, he or she will be connected to a nonprofit agency for further service.

Cynthia Bennett of the Chamber said the new group shows some of the many ways that Chamber membership and support of the Foundation benefit the community. She said, “The Newnan-Coweta Chamber Young Professionals program was seeking a way to positively impact Coweta County, and the Coweta Community Foundation was hearing of a need for volunteers to serve on local nonprofit boards and committees. The discussion moved quickly into a commitment for collaboration, and rather than create two separate outreach mechanisms, the YPs in Philanthropy were born.”

The next meeting of the Young Professionals in Philanthropy will be August 15, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the University of West Georgia Newnan Campus, Room 140, at 80 Jackson Street. The topic will be “Conducting due diligence on the nonprofit agency.” For more information, contact John Herbert Cranford Jr. at jherbertcranford@gmail.com or Matt Swope at msswope@gmail.com.

Business-After-Hours is Thursday at West Georgia Tech!

Now that school is back in session, we're gearing up for a busy fall and kicking off the new season at the August 10 Business-After-Hours networking event! On Thursday, we hope you'll join us at West Georgia Technical College and wear your favorite college team colors as you join us for a Back-to-College Bash!

The B-A-H event will be August 10, 2017 from 5:30-7pm at West Georgia Technical College,
200 Campus Drive, Building A, Newnan.

Come enjoy great food and beverages and catch up with fellow Chamber members as we prepare for an exciting fall! Register now through ChamberMaster by clicking here!

Bowling Adventure at Junction Lanes just two weeks away!

With school starting back soon and fall activities about to kick off, we're getting ready for a fabulous fall at the Newnan-Coweta Chamber! And all Chamber members are invited to join us at Junction Lanes on Thursday, August 17 for some first-class team building and business development on the lanes! It's an old-fashioned Chamber pep rally and tailgate party where you can show your spirit by wearing your favorite sports team shirt. There's no time to "spare," so you're encouraged to sign up today!

And if you're looking for more exposure for your business, then you'll want to take advantage of one of the great branding opportunities coming up at our Bowling Adventure. A variety of sponsorship packages have been designed, including:

Lucky Strike Sponsors — $600. Get your five-person bowling team plus your company logo branded on all event collateral, both before and after the tournament. Your company will also be highlighted throughout the day of the event.

Buy a Bowling Sweep — $300. Promote your business for an entire year to more than 338,000 people who visit Junction Lanes!

Get the Combo Deal — For $750, it's the best advertising deal in town. Take advantage of the Lucky Strike Sponsor and the Sweep benefits for the combined, low investment of just $750.

Businesses wishing to participate are encouraged to act fast, as these sponsorships have limited availability. To sign up for your spot, call 770.253.2270or email ashley@newnancowetachamber.org.

You can also click here to download registration and sponsorship information.