Thursday, February 26, 2015

Travel lovers, join our Chamber trip to Germany this fall!


This fall, the Newnan-Coweta Chamber, in partnership with the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE), will travel to Germany 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
• 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.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Feb. 25 is exhibitor deadline for Prime Time March Madness!

Are you ready for some March Madness? It's time to get ready for The Chamber’s Prime Time March Madness, a fun Prime Time New Member Spotlight Event that is coming Tuesday, March 10, 2015, from 5:07 to 7:17 p.m. at The Newnan Centre! Remember our highly successful "It's Raining Members" membership campaign last summer? Prime Time is a follow-up event to the membership campaign and provides a tradeshow setting for the new members who joined The Chamber at that time. Best of all, these new members are invited to participate for FREE!

We hope you’ll meet us at the court for this event, sponsored by Coweta-Fayette EMC, which will be a slam dunk with an estimated 300 Chamber members and community leaders attending. There will be a festive March Madness atmosphere complete with VIP All Star Team, balloons, lights, music, themed food, door prizes and cocktails. If you’re a new Chamber member and would like to register for this event, contact julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270 right away to register and get confirmation. The registration deadline for new Chamber member exhibitors is February 25.

Business executives from throughout the community and ALL Chamber members are invited to attend this event at no charge! Click here for information on sponsorship opportunities.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

NuLink Early Bird Forum is Tuesday, February 24!

The first NuLink Early Bird Forum of 2015 will be Tuesday, February 24, 2015, featuring Nick Lakha of Paramount Hospitality Management. Nikunj ("Nick") Lakha grew up in the hotel industry. His experiences as a young man performing all the day-to-day activities of a hotel—from cleaning rooms, to manning the front desk, to managing accounts—have afforded him an intimate understanding of hotel operations. This operational expertise, together with an education in management and a professional background in finance and consulting, has guided Nick's acquisition/development decisions and allowed him to create a portfolio of financially successful, award-winning properties.

Nick is a graduate of Auburn University, where he received his B.S. in Business Administration in 1997. He began his professional career as a consultant for companies such as Pannel Kerr Forster Consulting, Horwath Landauer and Atlantic Hospitality Advisors. In 2001, Nick launched Paramount Hospitality Management and has grown the company ever since. Today, Nick works with a team of talented professionals to manage Paramount Hospitality Management's assets while exploring prospective hotel development and acquisition opportunities to expand the company's portfolio. His Coweta properties include the Hampton Inn/Newnan and the newly-opened TownePlace Suites Marriott/Newnan. In addition, Nick contributes to his industry and community through membership in a number of professional and charitable organizations. Nick lives in Sandy Springs with his wife, Priti, and two children.

The NuLink Early Bird Forum will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2015 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Newnan Centre at 1515 Lower Fayetteville Road. The exciting menu will include something for everyone, with a Continental breakfast with pastries and fruit as well as a hot breakfast buffet with French toast, cheddar grits, breakfast burritos and a made-to-order omelette station.

Registration is $20 for Chamber members and $50 for the general public. To register through ChamberMaster, click here. For more information, e-mail info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Are you ready for March Madness?


Are you ready for March Madness? It's time to get ready for The Chamber’s March Madness event, a fun Prime Time New Member Spotlight Event that is coming Tuesday, March 10, 2015, from 5:07 to 7:17 p.m. at The Newnan Centre!

Prime Time provides a tradeshow setting for the new members who joined The Chamber during the July 2014 membership event, and these new members are invited to participate for free! We hope you’ll meet us at the court for this event, sponsored by Coweta-Fayette EMC, which will be a slam dunk with an estimated 300 Chamber members and community leaders attending. There will be a festive March Madness atmosphere complete with VIP referees, balloons, lights, music, themed food, door prizes and cocktails.

If you’re a new Chamber member and would like to register for this event, contact julia@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770-253-2270 right away to register and get confirmation. The registration deadline for new Chamber member exhibitors is February 25.

Business executives from throughout the community and ALL Chamber members are invited to attend this event at no charge! Click here for information on sponsorship opportunities.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Young Professionals to kick off their year with Cocktails and Connections!


The Young Professionals Advisory Council met last week to finalize plans for the first Cocktails and Connections of the year, set for Friday, February 13, 2015 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Ten East Washington in Newnan. From left are Samantha Brazie of Progressive Heating and Air, Matt Renner of Canongate Golf Clubs, Thomas Watkins of PetSmart Distribution Center and Jason Smith of Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

The Young Professionals, or YPs, are planning an exciting year of events and programs, and the group is open to those 21-45 as well as anyone who is young at heart!

Those planning to attend Cocktails and Connections are asked to bring business cards and get ready for a night of networking, appetizers and drinks. Admission is $10, and you can register through ChamberMaster by clicking here. Please help us spread the word to all your friends who should be in our Young Professionals!

Monday, February 9, 2015

Chamber members invited to South Metro Development Outlook conference

Chamber members are invited to attend the 13th annual South Metro Development Outlook (SMDO) Conference on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. South Metro Development Outlook 2015 will feature some of the hottest topics in the industry today, including the new Clayton County MARTA partnership, the film industry, BeltLine West, South Metro economic forecasting and more.

Chamber of Commerce leaders throughout the seven-county region are being invited to the conference and will receive a special acknowledgment during the Lunch Session, which will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Additionally, there will be a presentation by General Manager Miguel Southwell regarding new developments planned for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport including the 24-Hour City and its economic impact.

Special pricing is available to those who register early, and details are available by clicking here.

For more information, visit the South Metro Development Outlook website at www.smdoconference.com.


Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Young Professionals to host Cocktails & Connections on Feb. 13!


Have you heard that the Young Professionals are about to kick off their Cocktails & Connections networking events for the year? Open to those 21-45 and anyone who is young at heart, the first Cocktails & Connections will be Friday, February 13, 2015 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at 10 East Washington in Newnan.

Everyone is asked to bring their business cards and get ready for a night of networking, appetizers and drinks! Cost to attend is $10, and you may click here to RSVP and register through ChamberMaster.

Cocktails & Connections is sponsored by Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Congrats to Walt Gutierrez, Coweta's Citizen of the Year!


Walt Gutierrez of Toyota of Newnan was named Coweta's 2015 Citizen of the Year Thursday night. Sponsored by the local Kiwanis Clubs, the award was presented at an awards banquet at the Coweta County Fairgrounds, and we are so proud of Walt, a longtime Chamber member as well as an enthusiastic supporter of many great programs here in Coweta County.


Danny Beck, incoming Chamber Chair, made remarks on behalf of The Chamber prior to the awards presentation.


The other nominees for Citizen of the Year this year included Elizabeth Beers, known for her work with the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. Elizabeth was also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in helping to preserve local history. At left is emcee Nancy Walden, and at right is 2014 Citizen of the Year Frank Barron.


Our own Chamber President and CEO, Candace Boothby, was nominated for her many accomplishments, which include her leadership that led to our Chamber receiving the elite 5-Star Accreditation designation.


COTY nominee Don Gangell is board president of Meals on Wheels and also works with many other community organizations.


Jan Bowyer and Carolyn Turner, co-nominees, were recognized for their work with the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society Sesquicentennial Committee's 2014 Civil War reenactment.


Gary Welden of Welden Financial was recognized for his work helping the disadvantaged in the community and for his extensive community involvement. We congratulate all of these nominees and appreciate what they do for Coweta County!