Mark your calendar for our Feb. 1 Annual Meeting!

John Hall

Andy Miller

Our Annual Meeting, coming up February 1, 2018 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by Georgia Power, is always a fabulous time of celebration and welcoming the new year with Chamber friends old and new. We honor the achievements of the past year and look ahead to the achievements of the new one, and we'll also honor our 2017 Chamber Chairman, John Hall of United Bank, as he passes the gavel to Andy Miller of PrintSource, the 2018 Chamber Chairman.

Also, our Chamber will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2018! We'll be kicking off this special anniversary year at this year's Annual Meeting, which will be held at The Newnan Centre from 6-8pm on February 1, and you can save on your tickets by taking advantage of our Early Bird pricing. Tickets purchased before January 13 are $75 for individual seats and $700 for tables of 10. After January 13, tickets are $85 for individual seats and $800 for tables of 10. Sponsorship packages are available as well, and you may contact the Chamber at 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org for more information.

This is an event you won't want to miss. To RSVP now, click here.

Register for Client Attraction Boot Camp by Dec. 31 and save 30 percent!

Maria Hall

Business professionals who want to kick off 2018 with some great new ideas of how to attract more clients in the new year are encouraged to register for the Client Attraction Boot Camp, the premier marketing training and business connection event that the Newnan-Coweta Chamber is offering in collaboration with Ignite Business Coaching.

This event is set for January 18, 2018 at the Newnan Utilities Wahoo Creek Administration Building, 315 Millard Farmer Industrial Boulevard, Newnan. Registration and a light breakfast will be at 8:15 a.m., and the Boot Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Workshop presenter will be Maria C. Hall, Chief Empresaria of Ignite Business Coaching and leader of the Chamber's popular Six Figure Success Club Meetups launched this year. At the forefront of business leadership, Hall brings more than 30 years of vast business experience to entrepreneurs and sales professionals, helping them to successfully enhance their skills and zero in on building six-figure businesses.

Guest speaker for the Boot Camp will be Wendy Kinney of PowerCore, who helps transform audiences from groups of passive strangers to active individual participants learning new skills together. Kinney opened the Atlanta office of PowerCore in 1995 and continues to guide Atlanta's entrepreneurial community into the lucrative and exciting world of network and referral marketing.

Those attending the Boot Camp can expect to learn a step-by-step process to create their own unique "Magic Message" that attracts their ideal clients, the people they want to work with; the three-step system for consistently and easily attracting clients to a business; best practices to build a referral and business connection network; and the five hottest Marketing Magnets to attract clients with grace and ease, every time. Participants will also walk away with a blueprint on next steps to exponentially increase their income.

Tickets are limited, and only 60 seats are available. Registration by December 31, 2017 is $225 for Chamber members and $269 for nonmembers. Registration after December 31 is $329 for Chamber members and $329 for nonmembers. The workshop fee includes a workshop handbook; techniques and templates to grow a client base; light breakfast, snacks, beverages and networking lunch.

For more information, call the Chamber at 770-253-2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Chamber to celebrate 70th anniversary in 2018!

Our Annual Meeting is always a fabulous time of celebration and welcoming the new year with Chamber friends old and new. We honor the achievements of the past year and look ahead to the achievements of the new year! (Above are scenes from last year's Annual Meeting.)

Did you know that our Chamber will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2018? We'll be kicking off this special anniversary year on February 1, 2018, at our Annual Meeting at The Newnan Centre!

This is an event you won't want to miss. To RSVP now, click here.

Piedmont Newnan to host Business-After-Hours Dec. 19!

Mark your calendars now for our final Business-After-Hours of 2017! It will be held on December 19  and hosted by our friends at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, 745 Poplar Rd. in Newnan, from 5:30 - 7pm! We'll enter through the Radiology Waiting Room (past the visitor elevators).

Plan now to be a part of this fun celebration and make business connections with your fellow Chamber members while enjoying great food, drink and hospitality!

December's BAH is a great way to kick off your holiday season as a guest of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. Click here to RSVP now.

Friday is deadline for Citizen of the Year nominations

Maria Hall is speaker for Dec. 1 Meetup at The Chamber!

Maria C. Hall of Ignite Business Coaching will be the speaker for our last Six Figure Success Club Meetup of the year, scheduled for December 1 from 9:30-11:30am at The Chamber.

Her topic will be "It's all About the Money," and she will address the importance of building a follow-through system for maintaining a strong financial relationship with your clients.

Please join her following the Six Figure Success Club Meetup for a Holiday Pachanga/Ribbon Cutting/Giveaway at her new office at 15 Perry Street!

The purpose of the monthly Six Figure Success Club Meetups is to showcase, motivate, educate, inspire, and support entrepreneurs in Coweta, Fayette, and Carroll counties and to provide an opportunity for Newnan-Coweta Chamber members to be presenters at the monthly meetings. Topics include: Business Planning, Pricing & Packaging, Business Bookkeeping, Branding & Marketing, Creating Websites, WordPress, Writing Great Copy, Time Management & Productivity, Client Attraction Techniques, Networking Skills, Speaking to Sell, Presenting Skills and Social Media.

For more information, email info@newnancowetachamber.org or call 770.253.2270. Make plans now to participate in this great program!

Last Member Connect of 2017 is November 29!

Our final Member Connect of the year is coming up on November 29, 2017. This quarterly lunch program helps Chamber members explore and discover opportunities for involvement and ROI while connecting to Chamber benefits and advantages that help you grow your business and prosper. Why should you attend a Member Connect Lunch?

• Meet the Chamber Staff, Board Members and Committee Chairs.

• Connect with Other Members.

• Promote Your Business.

• Discover programs to help grow your business and learn how to use Chamber benefits to increase your bottom line.

• Engage with the Chamber through committee service.

You'll also receive a free pass to the Next NuLink Early Bird Forum!

The next Member Connect Lunch will be November 29, 2017 from 11:30am to 1pm at the Chamber, and there is no charge to attend. You can reserve your space now through ChamberMaster by clicking here.

Shop Small, Y'all!

Downtown Newnan Merchants encourage everyone to "Shop Small, Y'all."

It's time to "Shop Small, Y'all!" Small Business Saturday will be celebrated on Saturday, November 25, 2017 in downtown Newnan, according to Main Street Newnan. Small Business Saturday is an annual shopping tradition dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country. Founded by American Express in 2010, this event is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to support the local economy and promote our community.

Main Street Newnan Manager Courtney Harcourt said, “Join us in Downtown Newnan on Small Business Saturday to celebrate our small business owners, who are the heart and soul of our district!”

Free parking will be available along downtown streets and in the City of Newnan’s public parking lots, which are located at 13 Lagrange Street, 25 Lagrange Street, 22 Spring Street, 6 First Avenue, 50 East Broad Street, 65 East Broad Street, 41 East Washington Street, and 22 East Broad Street.

Dec. 1 is deadline for Citizen of the Year nominations

Our Chamber is honored to assist with the Citizen of the Year program, and nominations for the 2018 Citizen of the Year are now being accepted. The winner will be named when the Kiwanis Clubs of Coweta host the Citizen of the Year dinner on January 25, 2018 at The Newnan Centre. This award is designed to honor an individual with outstanding leadership and citizenship within our community, someone who has demonstrated exemplary vision, civic pride, and a strong commitment to a better Coweta through volunteerism and community involvement.

To nominate someone for Coweta's 2018 Citizen of the Year, simply complete the application form by clicking here.

Nomination packets are due to the Chamber office by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2017. For more information, please call 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Future Foundation's Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim is speaker for Dec. 6 Women of Prosperity Lunch

Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, the CEO of the Future Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers Atlanta's youth, will be the guest speaker at our next Coweta's Women of Prosperity Lunch. This lunch will be Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Newnan Country Club, 1356 Highway 29, Newnan.

Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim is a status-quo disruptor. The Atlanta native, one of Georgia Trend's 2017 40 under 40, attended the University of California, Berkeley and realized local schools had not prepared her for college. She earned her degree in social work, then a master's from the University of California San Francisco, before returning to Atlanta to help kids like her. Transforming a small after-school program into a phenomenon spanning nonprofit, business, and government sectors, Abdur-Rahim quadrupled the Foundation's revenue while earning an MBA at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. The results speak for themselves: Future Foundation participants have a 100% high school graduation rate, compared to a 60% average across community high schools. Under her leadership, the Future Foundation recently won a five-year, $4.4-million federal grant to create an intensive model that gives children in poverty a "second family" of resources.

The cost for the lunch, which is sponsored by Progressive Heating and Air Conditioning and Carrier, is $35 for Chamber Members and $50 for General Admission. To RSVP now, click here.

Business-After-Hours is Nov. 9 at Dogwood Veterinary Hospital & Laser Center!

Members always look forward to our monthly Business-After-Hours networking events, and the November B-A-H will be hosted by our 2016 Overall Small Business of the Year Winner, Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center!

Dogwood hosts our November Business-After-Hours on Nov. 9 from 5:30-7pm at 24 Hospital Road in Newnan. Fall is finally here, and that means cooler days, warm drinks and fun with friends! 

So why not enjoy this valuable and fun event? You can make some new contacts while enjoying great food and beverages and networking with your fellow Chamber members!

Learn more about SPLOST and vote "Yes" on November 7!

CEC's Mark Whitlock recently interviewed community leader Steve Swope about SPLOST, the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax coming up for a vote on Tuesday, November 7. If you know others who still need to be persuaded to vote "Yes," please share this video with them!

Also, the Chamber has sent this postcard to all of our members briefly highlighting the reasons our Chamber is in favor of SPLOST. Please share this postcard with your friends to encourage them to vote "Yes" to SPLOST on November 7!

Volunteers still needed for Thursday's Winter Wonderland Big Expo!

Our 2017 Winter Wonderland Big Expo is now just days away! This year's event is coming up on Thursday, November 2, 2017 from 3-7pm at our new location, The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan, and this year's Expo promises to be the best yet. And we could use a few more volunteers!

Are you available on Thursday? There are still a number of shifts needing volunteers throughout the day, and morning, afternoon, and late afternoon/early evening shifts are available. This is a great way to meet other members, network, visit exhibitors and be jolly! So if you're available, please give us a call at 770.253.2270 and we'll tell you how you can help!

And be sure to tell your friends to come enjoy mixing and mingling with Chamber member businesses while they enjoy holiday treats, hear holiday carols, visit with Frosty the Snowman, and even make a few purchases to get a head start on Christmas shopping while keeping those dollars local.

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo is the biggest, most influential business exposition in Coweta County, and it has been used to promote Coweta's business community for 23 years now! For more information about the Expo, call 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

RSVP now for the Young Professionals' Holiday Party on Dec. 1!

The Young Professionals are busy making plans for their Third Annual Holiday Party on Friday, December 1, 2017 from 4-6:30pm at The Cellar, 20 Jefferson St. in Newnan. Fees/Admission are $40 per person and $100 for a Business Sponsor.

Those attending this event will enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer, and a holiday cocktail, fun games, team building exercises, fun activities and prizes.

You can RSVP now by emailing info@newnancowetachamber.org or calling 770.253.2270. Click here to register now through ChamberMaster.

"Hooray for Hollywood" is theme of our Oct. 31 NuLink Early Bird Forum!

Do you know the story of how Georgia's booming movie industry really began? At our next NuLink Early Bird Forum, you will hear the inspiring story of what happens when you cast a vision and no one cares who gets the credit! Many may not even be aware that Georgia's successful movie industry all started from a vision of a few right here in Coweta County. Coweta has a great story to tell about the vision of just a few people that grew into a multi-billion dollar industry for the state.

This breakfast meeting will feature a panel discussion with three movie-industry insiders, including Mitch Seabaugh, former State Senator and former Senate Majority Whip; Scott Tigchelaar, President of Senoia Enterprises, Inc. and Nic & Norman’s, Inc.; and Greg Torre, Deputy Commissioner of Marketing & Communications, Georgia Department of Economic Development. They’ll be seated in directors’ chairs on stage as our Chamber President and CEO Candace Boothby conducts an interview about how a unique vision became a reality, turning Georgia into a movie mecca.

“Most folks don’t know that the booming movie industry in Georgia actually began with a collaborative effort between Paul Lombardi, former owner of Riverwood/Raleigh Studios, and former State Senator Mitch Seabaugh,” Boothby said. “It all began in the early 2000s when Mitch was the Senate Majority Whip and he championed the movie industry tax incentive legislation in partnership with Paul, who also owns a hugely successful special effects company in Hollywood.” Boothby noted that thanks to the Coweta collaborators, the state today enjoys many movie benefits, such as the state’s 16 full-production movie studios, the “Film Friendly GA” designation for communities, and new legislation covering movie-related industries such as music postproduction and digital gaming. “Without the efforts of Mitch and Paul, who cast a vision and didn’t care who got the credit, would this industry be where it is today in our state?” Boothby asked.

This “breakfast with the insiders” will be Tuesday, October 31, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd. in Newnan. Held quarterly, the popular NuLink Early Bird Forums provide exclusive information and a great opportunity to connect with Coweta’s business and community leaders. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and their guests and $50 for general admission. Click here to register now through ChamberMaster, and for more information, call the Chamber at 770-253-2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Winter Wonderland is just two weeks away!

Our 2017 Winter Wonderland Big Expo is only two weeks away! This year's event will be Thursday, November 2, 2017 from 3-7pm at a new location, The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan, and this year's Expo promises to be the best yet!

Come enjoy mixing and mingling with fellow Chamber member businesses while you enjoy holiday treats, hear holiday carols, visit with Frosty the Snowman, and even make a few purchases to get a head start on Christmas shopping while keeping those dollars local.

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo is the biggest, most influential business exposition in Coweta County, and it has been used to promote Coweta's business community for 23 years now! For more information about the Expo, call 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

2018 Citizen of the Year nominations are now being accepted

Our Chamber is honored to assist with the Citizen of the Year program, and nominations for the 2018 Citizen of the Year are now being accepted. The winner will be named when the Kiwanis Clubs of Coweta host the Citizen of the Year dinner next year. This award is designed to honor an individual with outstanding leadership and citizenship within our community, someone who has demonstrated exemplary vision, civic pride, and a strong commitment to a better Coweta through volunteerism and community involvement.

To nominate someone for Coweta's 2018 Citizen of the Year, simply complete the application form by clicking here.

Nomination packets are due to the Chamber office by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2017. For more information, please call 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Jay Jones to present Emergency Awareness training

Jay Jones, director of Coweta County's Emergency Management Agency, will conduct Emergency Awareness training at the October 17 meeting of the Coweta County Safety Council.

The Coweta County Safety Council was formed under the leadership of the Chamber, and its purpose is to provide guidance and training to businesses in Coweta County. Its membership includes safety professionals who desire to share their collective knowledge to help local industry comply with OSHA regulations and ultimately keep the Coweta County workforce healthy and safe.

The next Coweta County Safety Council meeting will be Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at 3pm, and the meeting will be held at The Summit in Newnan. There is no cost to attend. For more information, contact CCSC Chair Ken Pinkerton at Ken.Pinkerton@grenzebach.com or call the Newnan-Coweta Chamber at 770.253.2270.

Winter Wonderland: The countdown is on!

Our 2017 Winter Wonderland Big Expo is less than a month away! This year's event will be Thursday, November 2, 2017 from 3-7pm at a new location, The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan.

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo is the biggest, most influential business exposition in Coweta County, and it has been used to promote Coweta's business community for 23 years now!

If you'd like to participate, please give us a call as soon as possible to discuss availability of space. You may call 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Click here to download a registration brochure.

Small Business of the Year Finalist: Stirling Promotions

Today we conclude our series of blog posts featuring our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Stirling Innis of Stirling Promotions!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: Our membership philosophy is about business and community. We seek to foster long-lasting relationships with our community and businesses. We want to share experiences, best practices and trade services when possible. In the past year, we held our ribbon cutting ceremony and open house event. We attended several "meet and greet" Chamber events, and we participated as an exhibitor in the 2016 Winter Wonderland Big Expo and sponsored the Golf Expo on the Tee. We attended three ribbon cutting ceremonies to support other businesses, and Eddie Emeric, our Sales and Marketing Manager, has been chosen to lead the 2017 Winter Wonderland Big Expo.

Community Involvement: We sponsored the Purple Run 5K in downtown Newnan, and we are the primary sponsor for the LOTUS Project. This organization provides a monthly hour of crafts and fun for the children and families currently hospitalized at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta—Egleston. We also donate and/or provide products and services to schools, civic groups and charities free of charge or at a minimal cost. We also are big sponsors of our military and first responders, offering substantial discounts to these organizations.

How Stirling Promotions differs from competitors: Customer service is a major part of what differentiates us from our competitors. Stirling, our president, was a customer service manager for many years and has applied this to our Stirling Promotions philosophy. We take real pride in how our customers perceive our business. We have perfect reviews on Facebook, Yelp and Google. Another big differentiation from our competitors is our ability to do our apparel decorating in house. We control everything. Most competitors outsource their production to other companies. We pride ourselves on controlling every step in the process, from embroidery to screen printing to engraving to printing stickers and decals. And because we are family-owned and operated, we pay more attention to detail, timeliness and accuracy than large companies.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Small Business of the Year Finalist: Senoia Law Office

We’re continuing to introduce our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Crystal Boudreaux of Senoia Law Office!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: I joined the Chamber in the 2016 membership drive. I joined because I believe the Chamber to be a group of business owners who want to better their companies and the community. I have had some previous contact with the Chamber through my Coweta Community Foundation Board membership and have continued to meet people in our business community. Involvement is investment in our community, which is a role I continue in Coweta County.

Community Involvement: I remain treasurer of the Senoia Downtown Development Association and work on the board to improve Senoia's growing downtown. We focus on community events, beautification of the town, cultural art events, economic growth and overall community appeal in the downtown area of Senoia. We recently had a Chamber event in Senoia that was a huge hit! I also serve as Board member and Fundraising Committee member on the Coweta Community Foundation. We work through fundraising, volunteering and community giving to help improve local nonprofits in our community. This is close to my heart, as I see the work of our nonprofits daily in my job as an attorney representing children and families in Coweta County. We have had tremendous success at our events and our philanthropy in the county in the last couple of years. We are growing and celebrating with the help we have provided in the county. I also work with my children's school to donate my time and skills as an attorney to donate Will and Power of Attorney preparations at school events throughout the year to aid the school in fundraising and to help families prepare their estates. For the last three years, I have been involved at Eastside Elementary School to help teachers and administrators improve their classrooms and programs. I have worked with the principal to make sure teachers know of programs in the community to earn money for classrooms or for special projects and how to apply for those programs.

How Senoia Law Office differs from competitors: I believe it to be important to have clients come in my office and feel comfortable. I deal with very serious and far-reching legal issues, mostly affecting people's homes and families. For this reason, I want people to come in and sit with me and feel open to discuss their issues. I believe my office is different in that I try to have an inviting and open-door policy as much as is possible. I tell my clients that I will be their greatest advocate, but I also owe them the truth, and sometimes that may not be exactly what they want to hear. I also have designed my practice to be a small-town attorney's office where people can call and have an ally to find a solution to their question or problem. I make it a point to tell people that while I cannot possibly practice all areas of law, I can help them find a lawyer who does what they need. I also sponsor self-defense and firearms training classes with licensed instructors to enhance my business within the community. It began as a hobby of mine, and then I found the need to empower people and clients to know they are safe and strong on their own. As a former prosecutor, I understand the importance of being able to defend yourself and the threats we face today in our society. The personal self-defense classes have helped many of my clients work through issues of fear and self-doubt and have allowed professionals to further arm themselves in businesses which can expose them to different threats, such as in home nursing and real estate. I recently spoke with a client who told me that I was different to her because I cared. I believe it is important to treat cases as more than a number. So many times my work involves many more issues than just legal issues, and I believe it is so valuable to address the person as well as the law.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Small Business Finalist of the Year: Peachtree City Obstetrics and Gynecology, PC

We’re continuing to introduce our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Peachtree City Obstetrics and Gynecology, PC!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: Peachtree City Ob/Gyn has always believed that being vital participants in the community we serve medically is important and necessary. This philosophy was established by our founder, Dr. Rose Marie Schultz, in 1984.  

Community Involvement: Many of the providers volunteer on several hospital committees/task forces as well as church groups, sororities, clinical forums and Walk With A Doc.

How Peachtree City Ob/Gyn differs from competitors: As a full-service GYN-only medical practice, we can give our patients personalized care, often providing same-day appointments. We also have on-site digital mammography and ultrasonography in one of our offices, making comprehensive gynecology care more convenient.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Small Business of the Year Finalist: Benton House of Newnan

We’re continuing to introduce our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Benton House of Newnan!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: Benton House of Newnan truly believes that the Chamber can help us grow our business through opportunities and ideas.

Community Involvement: Benton House is involved with various groups in the area including the Southside Senior Networking Group and other senior related groups. Our residents and team look for opportunities to get involved with the community through support groups, such as the Parkinson’s Support group. We look for groups that we can be involved with so that we can use these sources for our residents and also families that we serve.

How Benton House differs from competitors: We consider ourselves the expert in the senior living field. We serve families with senior resources regardless of if they move into our community or not. We want to help anyone that calls or comes to our door.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Small Business of the Year Finalist: Monster Tree Service

We’re continuing to introduce our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Monster Tree Service!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: We absolutely recognize the value the Chamber brings to our business. In fact, just this year, Monster Tree Service has added resources specifically to become more involved in the Chamber. The Chamber not only helps us grow our customer base but also helps us connect with the customers that we are most looking to gain. In our service-based business, word of mouth and referrals are absolutely key as we try to establish a working relationship with customers who trust us to deliver a high quality of service for life. We have been active sponsors and participants in the Chamber tournament and also attended a number of events throughout the last two years that we have been in business. We have seen great value in the relationships and comradery with other local business owners and have enjoyed reciprocating the support they have shown us thus far.

Community Involvement: Monster Tree Service, while looking to grow this area, is already involved in the community. The company has donated several tree jobs such as pruning around the Angel House in Newnan and the Boy Scouts. Monster Tree works very closely with the Carolyn Barron Montessori School, donating tree work, equipment, supplies and time to help improve that community. The owners are both active members of Newnan First United Methodist Church.

How Monster Tree Service differs from competitors: We have tried to differentiate our business from our competition in many ways. Here are a few ways we feel set us apart. We practice Arboriculture, not just tree removal. We offer full service tree care including a full service Plant Health Care division which treats diseased, sick or dying trees. We follow the standards set forth by ANSI, OSHA, TCIA and ISA. We do not “spike” trees.  We do not subcontract. All work is performed by Monster Tree Service, all staff are full-time employees, and we do not use temp labor or day labor. All employees are drug free and E-Verified.  We carry proper insurance coverage. This may seem obvious, but a large percentage of our competition does not carry the proper insurance to be in the business, putting customers and employees at risk. We are held to a much higher standard than competitors with quarterly franchise audits that evaluate our performance as compared to our peers. These audits encompass all areas of the business, but safety is a big part. We have followed the model that the franchise set with small modifications to meet the needs of our local market. We don’t play pricing games. We give the customer a detailed, written quote at the time of the estimate. We have adapted technology to streamline accounting and billing, and our consistent marketing message and branding really seem to work well with the customers. The most important and best way we differ is simply doing what we say we will. Setting proper expectations, showing up on time, and leaving the job site clean goes a very long way.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Small Business of the Year Finalist: Sherri Davis of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts

We’re continuing to introduce our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Sherri Davis of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts in Peachtree City and Newnan!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: I have a strong philosophy of the Chamber’s involvement in the growth and care of our community, and I believe the Chamber’s mission can be a catalyst for change and advocacy. I believe the Chamber can promote business growth while at the same time considering a well-balanced community. My involvement in Chamber committees and avenues of involvement are: I sit on the Board of Directors of Fayette Chamber of Commerce. I sit on the Government Affairs Committee. I was one of three lead speakers for Fayette Visioning Yearly Summit Report with a subject of promoting the arts and arts education in our community. In addition, I offered suggestions of how to implement a broader scale of community support for the arts and ideas for an events center. Sitting on the Chamber’s Nominating Committee, I have brought on board the following effective community leaders such as Rob Parker – CEO/Pinewood Forrest and
Ken Takekawa – VP/TDK Components.

Community Involvement: I am the Founder and President of the nonprofit company Georgia Dance Theatre, which provides over $165,000 in scholarship funds to serious artists in our community and beyond. In addition, I am the founder of Arts Gives, which provides support to various programs and community groups such as Community Welcome House, Vet-Tix, Christian City, AVPride, and Life Enrichment Center to name a few. I have developed the program Dance Without Limits, a dance program designed for children with special needs. This program is free to all children who live with mental and physical challenges. In 2017, the Georgia Council of the Arts invited our artistic staff to sit on the grant review panel for community awards from the GCA. We have been recognized by the GCA as providing the highest level of artistic standards and training. I have been commended for my professional experience in the arts. In addition, we have been recognized by our quality of work with choreography.

How Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts differs from competitors: Training youth for the arts can be challenging as a balance of training the recreational versus the serious dancer can be difficult. But we have found that training the recreational dancer as if they have the same goals as a pre-professional dancer is best. Challenge them always is our motto. We never underestimate a child’s ability to become a serious student. I believe this has set us apart from our competitors.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Small Business of the Year Finalist: Cecelia Hilton of Fine Lines Art and Framing

We’re delighted to continue introducing our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Cecelia Hilton of Fine Lines Art and Framing!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: My philosophy of the Chamber is to connect its members while contributing to their business success. This, in turn, helps improve the economic quality of life in the community. I have appreciated and enjoyed the networking opportunities - especially several different luncheons presented by the Chamber and Early Bird breakfasts, as well as the informative meetings. I look forward to more in the future.

Community Involvement: We’re a Newnan-Coweta Chamber Top 10 Small Business of the Year for 2016 and have attended multiple meetings, luncheons and sessions. A framing discount is given to any Chamber members. We have donated time to design and hang board pictures at The Chamber. Also, owner Cecelia Hilton is a member of 100 Women Who Care in Coweta County, a group whose members raise $10,000 a quarter to give back to community nonprofits, and she is also a supporter of such programs and organizations as the Newnan Artist in Residence Program, the Newnan-Coweta Art Association, Children's Connect, the Boys & Girls Club, Communities In Schools, Angel's House, Coweta Pregnancy Services, the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, the Coweta County public schools, the Don Nixon Centre, and Main Street Newnan. She has offered discounted framing for many local businesses and organizations that support the community.

How Fine Lines Art and Framing differs from competitors: My area competitors are Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, both of which are big box and not truly comparable to Fine Lines, as we are a specialty custom frame shop. We specialize in using all archival and conservation materials and techniques. My staff is trained in the proper handling of any item or project no matter how complex or detailed. Customer service is of the utmost priority, and every order is guaranteed to the customer’s satisfaction. We offer personalized services such as frame repairs and restoration, art restoration services, and an art gallery of original works of the finest artists locally. Knowing there is a percentage of people that will go to Michael’s or Hobby Lobby for their framing needs, I have frequented the frame departments at both of these big box stores. I have introduced myself and made the department manager and staff aware that we can complete most projects, if requested, within 24-48 hours. This is especially helpful during the holidays when people need last-minute gifts framed, and they have sent customers to us. Several of my customers have said they were referred to us by Michael's and Hobby Lobby.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Small Business of the Year Finalist: Doug Bates of CMIT Solutions of Fayette/Coweta!

We’re delighted to continue introducing our finalists for this year's Small Business of the Year Awards, to be presented on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at The Newnan Centre and sponsored by SouthTowne Motors and UBS Financial Services. Today, meet Doug Bates of CMIT Solutions of Fayette/Coweta!

Chamber membership philosophy and involvement: I am proud to be a productive contributor for the Chamber and participate in the functions and events to support membership and continued growth for Coweta County businesses. I continue to participate in numerous Business After Hours, March Madness (in 2015), the Annual Golf Classic, Power Networking Lunches, and NuLink Early Bird Forums.

Community involvement: I am on the board of Woodland Christian Camp, on the CTE Advisory Committee for FCBOE, and we provide free IT services for Community Welcome House, Promise Place, The Healing Bridge, and the Fayette CARE Clinic. CMIT Solutions is also a Charter Member of Experience Coweta, Fayette, Spalding. I am also a member of a faith-based CEO peer group of other Coweta County small business owners.

How CMIT Solutions differs from competitors: We utilize a CRM system to track all of our competition, both local and Atlanta based. In our 8+ years of operation I have identified over 100 competitors in the IT Support market space. We perform an annual SWOT analysis for our market and ourselves to ensure that we are continually in touch with our target market. The IT market is constantly changing, and we have to move with it. We also continually tweak our web presence to stay current with our marketing needs. We are HIPAA compliant (medical), FINRA compliant (financial), PCI certified (consumer), and we are just now starting to offer a cyber liability to our qualified clients. We have a 98%+ retention rate over 8 years, with the industry average turnover rate of 10% annually being deemed acceptable.

If you haven't yet registered for the Small Business Awards and Celebration, click here to do so now!

Make plans now to join us for the Nov. 2 Winter Wonderland!

Our 2017 Winter Wonderland Big Expo will be here before you know it! This year's event will be Thursday, November 2, 2017 from 3-7pm at The Newnan Centre, 1515 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan.

Presented by Delta Community Credit Union, the Winter Wonderland Big Expo is the biggest, most influential business exposition in Coweta County, and it has been used to promote Coweta's business community for 23 years now!

If you'd like to participate, please give us a call as soon as possible to discuss availability of space. You may call 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

Click here to download a registration brochure.