CEO of Okabashi Brands coming to our next Women of Prosperity Lunch

Ladies, let's talk shoes!

Sara Irvani is CEO of Okabashi Brands, one of the remaining 1 percent of American footwear manufacturers. Irvani champions sustainable footwear and closed-loop recycling through three brands—Okabashi, Oka B and the newly launched Third Oak. Oka B is fondly known as “Shoes that Love You.”

Irvani will be the featured speaker at our Business Women's Network's next Women of Prosperity Lunch on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. The lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Newnan Country Club, 1356 Highway 29, Newnan.

Irvani started her career in venture capital and strategy consulting for Fortune 500 companies in New York City, San Francisco and Zurich. She speaks English, French, German and Farsi and is a "Global Shaper," part of a group of young leaders working with the World Economic Forum. Along the way, the 29-year-old executive earned a bachelor's degree with high distinction in philosophy from the University of Virginia, a Masters in Finance from University of Cambridge and an MBA from INSEAD.

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

Get to know the political candidates at our upcoming forums!

Do you know who you're voting for in Georgia's May 22 Primary Election? The primary will be here before you know it, and to help you make an informed decision before you vote, the Chamber has two candidate forums coming up where you can meet the candidates and find out where they stand on the issues. The forums are scheduled for candidates in contested primaries for party nomination for November’s General Election and for the nonpartisan Board of Education election in May. These forums include:

Monday, April 23, 2018, 6-8 p.m. — Coweta County Commission District 2 Primary — Republican;  Board of Education District 1 At-Large; Board of Education District 1; Board of Education District 3; Board of Education District 4.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 6-8 p.m. — Georgia House of Representatives District 71 Primary — Republican; Georgia House of Representatives District 72 Primary — Republican; U.S. Congress District 3 Primary — Democrat; U.S. Congress District 3 Primary — Republican.

The forum format will be a modified version of the League of Women Voters format. There will be a two-minute opening by each candidate followed by a series of questions vetted by the Chamber’s Voice of Business Committee to ensure fairness. The Chamber will not take a position for or against any candidate.

For more information or to submit a question for the candidates, call the Chamber at 770.253.2270 or email info@newnancowetachamber.org.

We salute our Coweta Manufacturing Companies!

In honor of Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week, our Chamber wants to say a huge "thank you" to the many great manufacturers who call Coweta County home! We remember how, just one year ago, we were celebrating with Grenzebach, above, as they were named Georgia Manufacturer of the Year in the category for companies with 150 employees or fewer!

Did you know that Grenzebach and some of our other great manufacturers are also among our Chamber's Enhanced Investors? These companies are among an elite group who have decided to make a significant investment in our Chamber, and they work to identify and drive solutions and innovations that will shape our economic progress and quality of life. These key stakeholders include Grenzebach, Yamaha, Kason, EGO, Cargill and Bonnell.

So to all of our great Coweta manufacturers, we salute you during this special week and thank you for all you do to help keep Coweta's economy growing and prosperous!