The Chamber Ambassadors honored Farmers Home Furniture as the Leading Business of the Week for March 11, 2020.
 
Established in 1949 and serving the Valdosta community for 35 years, Farmers Home Furniture is passionate about providing the utmost customer service and home furnishings.
 
“We are the only ESOP-Employee Owned Home Furnishings retailer in the state of Georgia,” said Tim Carroll, store manager. “We are continuously working to improve the customer experience.  This year we will be employing a "mystery shopper" program to help identify areas we can improve on.”
 
Farmer Furniture encourages and supports their employees be active citizens in the Valdosta-Lowndes community.
 
Carroll stated, “I have been with the company for 35 years.  Farmers encourages and supports community involvement such as our Chamber of Commerce.  Through this I have had the opportunity to serve in the Chamber as a past Chairman of Board.  Plus, a number of civic projects and being an elected official on the Valdosta City Council.”
 
Farmers Furniture has been a proud member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce since 1987.
 
“The Chamber has helped in networking, exposure for my store and opening doors for our business to continue to thrive.” said Carroll. “It is THE voice for businesses here. The Chamber's focus on addressing business issues locally as well as the state and federal governments is unmatched.”
 
For more information, please visit 3135 N. Ashley Street or call 229-244-0928.
 
The Leading Business of the Week program is designed to recognize members who have partnered with the Chamber for at least five years. Marcotek Digital Office Solutions proudly sponsors the 2019 Leading Business of the Week program. For more information visit www.ValdostaChamber.com/Leading-Business-of-the-Week
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The Chamber Ambassadors honored the Greenleaf Center with Leading Business of the Week for March 2.
 
The Greenleaf Center is a behavioral health facility that specializes in psychiatric and substance abuse care for adolescents, ages 12-17, and adults 18 and older.
 
Starting small, the Greenleaf Center has since expanded. After being purchased by Acadia Healthcare Inc. in 2013, the business has more than doubled in size.
 
The growth was gradual and spanned over five years.
 
"At the time of purchase by Acadia, Greenleaf immediately launched major renovations to the interior and exterior of the hospital. By the summer of 2014, Greenleaf began operating at a 73-bed capacity," said Lance Wilcher, Director of Business Development.
 
As the need for more space arose, the center expanded yet again.
 
"In our commitment to meeting the needs for expanded mental health and substance abuse treatment, Greenleaf undertook the construction of a new 40-bed wing in early 2017. By January 2018 the expansion was completed and Greenleaf celebrated the opening of the new two-story addition bringing the total bed count to 113," said Wilcher.
 
The now 113-bed facility employs a staff of over 250 people.
 
With more patients, there was a demand for more services. Greenleaf Center is beginning a stand-alone women’s trauma program for those that have been impacted by traumatic events along with a long-term women’s recovery program.
 
Also, Greenleaf recently began yoga therapy for both in-patient and out-patient services and will soon begin pet therapy as an additional piece of programming.
 
The staff prides themselves on being present in the community and providing services that help their patients and encourage them to live healthier lives.
 
"One of the most rewarding things about working at Greenleaf is knowing that you have a small role in affecting the life of another human being," said Wilcher.
 
The Leading Business of the Week program is designed to recognize members who have partnered with the Chamber for at least five years. Marcotek Digital Office Solutions proudly sponsors the 2019 Leading Business of the Week program. For more information visit www.ValdostaChamber.com/Leading-Business-of-the-Week
 
For more information, visit Greenleaf Center at 2209 Pineview Drive or contact them at 1-800-247-2747.
 

On March 19, 2020 from 6-8:00PM at the Langdale College of Business, Pound Hall Auditorium,  13 student entrepreneurs will take the stage to present their business plans before a panel of local leaders of industry and a public audience. The students will be dressed as young professionals and ready to wow the crowd.
 
The students, representing 11 businesses from the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), will have five minutes to pitch their business plans to a panel of local business leaders of the community in “Shark Tank” style. Based on the appeal and merit of the students’ plans and presentations, the panel will determine the amount of funds to allocate to each business.
 
The judges will also select one business to advance to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Saunders Scholars Competition, where they will compete with students across the United States for college scholarships.
 
The pitch event is free and open to the public.  Interviews with young entrepreneurs or members of the judging panel can be arranged.
     
The Investor Panel will be comprised of prominent local businesspeople, including:

• Ryan Holmes, CEO, RISE
• Clinton Beeland, President, CJB Industries, Inc.
• Jonathan Miller, Owner, Miller Hardware Company
• Dr. Alex Alvarez, Director of STEM & Science curriculum, Valdosta City Schools
• Jason Van Nus, Lowndes County Schools
• A Representative of ENACTUS​

​Nearly 500 people gathered to see the greatest stars in Valdosta take the stage at the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner sponsored by First Commerce Credit Union.
 
The opening award made history as it was the first time there was a first-place tie for the Ambassador of the Year Award.
 
Scott and Lisa Register, better known as “Team Register” of Comfort Keepers took the win, as announced by the award’s sponsor, Biotest Plasma Center.
 
The Chamber Ambassadors are an iconic group sporting green blazers as a sign of prosperity in the business community. This award recognizes the Ambassador who volunteered the most hours in 2019.
 
Both individuals volunteered 94 hours in the year, which is a huge sacrifice for an employee, especially a business owner, but “it is absolutely worth it,” according to Scott Register.
 
“The Chamber is a huge part of our success and we hope to encourage other businesses to participate in all the Chamber offers,” Lisa Register added.
 
Wild Adventures Theme Park, sponsor of the Members’ Choice Award, served as a stellar example to the nominees.
 
“Nobody knows customer service like Wild Adventures,” shared Molly Deese, the award’s presenter.
 
This award is determined solely by Chamber members and recognizes a business who offers exemplary customer service.
 
With over 1,100 votes, Wilson Eye Center earned the title placing first out of 108 nominees.
 
“Customer service is our top priority,” said Heather Gaskins, Wilson Eye Center’s Operations Director. “It just means taking care of people using the old-fashioned approach and being hands on.”
 
The Most Valuable Employee Award sponsored by Teamtemps Personnel Staffing Inc. was highly anticipated as it offers a check to the deserving winner. Local employers were invited to nominate their top employee who shows initiative and dedication in the workplace the be in the running for this award.
 
Nominees and their employers went through a series of interviews before a group of finalists were selected.
 
Natisha Pizzaro of Comfort Keepers humbly accepted the award.
 
“I am truly shocked,” Pizarro expressed. “I don’t see it as work, it’s what you are supposed to do.”
 
Kristi Hill of The Valdosta Daily Times won the Young Professional of the Year Award Sponsored by Georgia Power Company. To qualify for this award, one must be an asset to their business, show promise for their future and be between the ages of 21 and 40.
 
“This award means the world. I’ve only been with this company for five years, so to go from a new hire to being nominated for young professional, in five years, is so humbling and exciting,” Hill shared.
Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance won the title of Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Renasant Bank.
 
The sponsor awards 12 winners, one per month, throughout the year who are then put in the running for the annual award. All 12 considerations have 20 employees or less and are active in the community.
Desiree Hagan, Program Director, accepted the award.
 
“It’s so overwhelming,” Hagan said. “It means everything to know that what we do to be a positive part of children’s lives is recognized by our community.”
SAFT America Inc. named The Children’s Advocacy Center of Lowndes County, Inc. the first-ever Nonprofit of the Year.
 
The Chamber and SAFT felt a need to highlight nonprofit Chamber members who have shown excellence in serving their organization’s mission.
 
“It’s just amazing to think that the community recognizes and support us year after year, and really it’s all about the kids and so knowing that they’ve supported the kids for so many years is just amazing,” expressed Ashley Lindsay, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lowndes County, Inc.
 
Looking at more businesses with a large impact, Miller Hardware announced this year’s BIG Thinker Award. Miller and his company won the award in 2019.
 
The Chamber presents the BIG Thinker Award to self-made visionary and successful entrepreneurs who give back to their community.
 
Barnes Drug Store, a community staple since 1909, earned the title.
 
“I think that my great grandfather would have been surprised yet proud that we are still moving forward, four generations later, all with his same name,” said Charlie Barnes IV of Barnes Drug Store. “The idea is to make a difference, a real difference in the community and the customers we serve, and you want to be doing things different, you want to be doing things new to make a bigger impact.”
 
Myrna Ballard, Chamber President, and the rest of the Chamber Staff closed the night by recognizing the winner of the prestigious A.L. Girardin Award.
 
This is the only award chosen by the Chamber staff.
 
The A.L. Girardin Award is presented to a member who has made extraordinary contributions to the Chamber and the local business community. It dates to 1975.
 
This year’s award was given to the Chamber Ambassadors.
 
This deserving group serves as the Chamber’s cheerleaders, always willing to welcome new businesses and celebrate the old. They can be spotted in their green blazers at ribbon cuttings, leading business ceremonies, ground breakings and more.
 
Amongst the 38 individuals, they volunteered over 1,000 of their time in 2019.
 
The staff selected Jerry Kozuch, the longest standing Ambassador, to accept the award on behalf of the entire program.
 
Kozuch has represented her business, South Georgia Vein Centers and the Chamber for 14 years.
 
“I was honored to accept this award on behalf of the Ambassadors. This group is made up of some of the best people I have ever met and we are proud to represent our Chamber in the business community,” said Kozuch.
Each ambassador was awarded a unique, gold pin that they will sport on their blazers.
 
The moral was high as Chamber members cheered on one another as they were recognized for their achievements and dedication.

​The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber and First Commerce Credit Union presented Mink Chiropractic Center with the February Small Business of the Month Award.
 
Mink Chiropractic Center began in 1962 with only one part-time employee. They now have a total of 18 full-time employees.
 
Along with their increase in staff, they’ve had an increase in services offered. Available for all individuals of all ages and conditions, these services include but are not limited to, chiropractic care, sports injury recovery, auto injury recovery, lifestyle advice, corrective care, digital x-rays, corrective exercises, nutritional counseling and spinal/postural screening.
 
Members of the Mink Chiropractic team are hardworking and pride themselves on providing reliable services and getting the best results for their patients. If they can’t help, they have a list of reliable alternatives ready to go.
 
“The MCC team strives hard with each patient treated to address their specific issues with professionalism, love, and respect. Our goal after every patient visit is for that individual to function and feel better with a smile on their face,” says Pam Akins, Office Manager.
 
Mink Chiropractic Center also strives to keep a prominent presence in the community. They participate in various health fairs and keep an updated newsletter library. Open to the public, the newsletters cover topics such as healthy living, sleep, infertility, physical conditions, exercise tips and more.
 
Getting shining reviews from the patients the business has high hopes of continued prosperity.
 
For more information contact the center at 229-242-3042 or visit them at 409 Northside Drive.

PHOTO CAPTION: First Commerce Credit Union and the Chamber named Mink Chiropractic Center Small Business of the Month

The Chamber Ambassadors honored La Quinta Inn and Suites by naming them Leading Business of the Week on Monday, February 27.
 
La Quinta Inn and Suites has been a member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce for 33 years.
 
The business has bounced back from a large fire in 2016 and has made it their mission to be better than ever and provide a quality experience for all of their guests.
 
To do so, La Quinta Inn and Suites offers several amenities that include: a pool, free wi-fi, free breakfast, free parking, a gym area, an airport shuttle, and a new fenced-in dog park.
 
They have also made several updates to the facility that includes a brand-new lobby, "built from the ground up," according to Rick Olekers, General Manager, updated decor, and the first-ever two-story hotel elevator in Valdosta.
 
La Quinta Inn and Suites treats its employees like family, providing them with excellent medical benefits, courtesy of the Chamber's Spectrum Benefits program and a positive working environment.
 
"I have the best team that I have ever had in my hospitality career. We are like a family. Ownership treats each person as they deserve to be treated. Not many owners would have kept their entire staff on payroll for 21 months after the fire until we reopened," said Oelkers.
 
For more information about La Quinta Inn and Suites, contact them at 229-247-7755 or visit them at 1800 Clubhouse Drive.
 
The Leading Business of the Week program is designed to recognize members who have partnered with the Chamber for at least five years. Marcotek Digital Office Solutions proudly sponsors the 2019 Leading Business of the Week program. For more information visit www.ValdostaChamber.com/Leading-Business-of-the-Week
 

​PHOTO CAPTION: The Chamber Ambassadors named La Quinta Inn & Suites Leading Business of the Week

​The spirit of entrepreneurship filled the room on Thursday, February 13 during the YEA! CEO Roundtable event. At this event, students from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) at the Valdosta
 
Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce received personalized business and networking advice from four local CEOs, including:
 
Damian Grey, Owner, FilmStory
Molly Deese, Vice President & General Manager, Wild Adventures Theme Park
Kent Buescher, CEO, U.S. Press
Jason Bellflowers, Owner, Virtual World Technologies, Inc.
 
The CEOs volunteered one-on-one time with middle and high schoolers while answering their questions as they prepare to launch and run their own businesses as part of their YEA! class.
 
The students were interested in the speakers’ education backgrounds, early business plans, life lessons and more.
 
Buescher, a “life-long entrepreneur” was happy to share tips learned from his wide array of business ventures.
 
“The best lesson business can offer is to learn to accept change,” he shared.
 
He wanted to be sure that the students were not discouraged if the business they intended to begin was not what they ended up with.
 
“Change is necessary to keep up with the times and can lead to new lessons and success,” Buescher added.
 
Grey was also eager to share some of his learnings and victories.
 
“My biggest success was learning to love the process of starting a business,” said Grey. “You learn so much along the way and I am grateful I figured that out and can appreciate it” he added.
 
The CEOs answered with transparency and were willing to share both their success and failures to better the students.
 
“Some of my best clients are ones I initially made mistakes with,” Bellflowers revealed. “They’re not loyal to me because of what happened, but because of how I came back from it. The best advice I can give is to always take the extra step and make it right,” he said.
 
Deese reiterated the importance of customer service.
 
“You have to build relationships; it makes a difference” she preached. “In my business, it is all about the people.”
 
YEA! teaches kids ages 11 to 18 how to identify their passions, develop a business idea, write a business plan, pitch investors for funding, and obtain all the necessary components to create a fully, formed and functioning business or social movement by the end of the 26-week class.
 
For more information on YEA! contact Betty Morgan at the Chamber at 229-247-8100 ext 234.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured Jason Bellflowers (Virtual World Technologies, Inc.), Kent Buescher (US Press), Molly Deese (Wild Adventures Theme Park and Damian Gray (FilmStory) spoke to local students at the YEA! CEO Roundtable Event. 

​The Chamber Ambassadors honored The Aesthetic Center, a sector of Plastic Surgery Associates, with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, February 13th to celebrate their grand opening and rebranding.
 
Having created a business within a business, the center separately brands their services from their branch head, Plastic Surgery Associates, to reach more of the community and better communicate what they can offer.
 
The Aesthetic Center is a fully functional MedSpa that provides both surgical and non-surgical treatments to their patients.
 
“We are separately branding our MedSpa since we provide much more than surgical procedures,” said Dr. Sonya Merriman, owner. “Non-surgical procedures have become more and more effective in helping people accomplish their goals. This combo enables us to provide full-spectrum options that can be tailored to the patient’s needs."
 
The Aesthetic Center's services include but are not limited to injectables, microblading, laser hair removal, laser skin rejuvenation, skincare regimens, sclerotherapy and much more.
 
The Aesthetic Center’s team prides themselves on being honest with their patients and tailoring every procedure plan in a way that provides exceptional service and happy clients.
 
“We provide an exceptional patient experience with exceptional outcomes and we are honest about what we can accomplish for our patients,” Dr. Merriman added.
 
No matter what service The Aesthetic Center is providing, it is always top priority to use safe, ethically proven products and procedures that help their patients feel confident and leave with a smile on their face.
 
To learn more information about The Aesthetic Center visit them at 230 Northside drive or call their facility at 229-242-3002.
 

PHOTO CAPTION: The Chamber Ambassadors honored the Aesthetic Center with a ribbon cutting to celebrate their grand opening and rebranding. 
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​A recession in 2020 is unlikely, according to three top economists addressing nearly 200 top business leaders at the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber’s Business Outlook Breakfast, sponsored for the seventh consecutive year by Southeastern Credit Union on February 11 at Rainwater Conference Center.
 
Economic experts assessed expected performance on the national, state and local levels. Dr. Roger Tutterow, Director of the Econometric Center at Kennesaw State University, Dr. Jeffery Humphreys, Director of Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, and Dr. Cynthia Tori, a professor of economics at Valdosta State University were in agreement that overall, the future looks bright for the U.S., the State of Georgia and Lowndes County.
 
“As a credit union, we have an obligation to serve the community and we can’t think of a better way than to support the Chamber,” said Mike Gudely, president of Southeastern Credit Union. “This breakfast is relevant to everyone in our community. Understanding the economy is incredibly important for all and we are delighted to help bring this opportunity.”
 
Tutterow noted that while an 11-year trend of growth is unusual, it does not necessarily indicate that a national recession is imminent. While Tutterow feels that the odds of a recession in 2020 are less than 30%, he noted that the Cornonavirus and possible the impacts of future tariffs can impact future growth.
 
Humphreys was likewise confident that a Georgia recession in 2020 is unlikely. Consumer spending, stability in Federal Reserve support, home building, increased development, higher defense spending, and continued population growth are the economic ingredients that will fuel future growth.
 
Trade deals and tariffs, he said, are the wild card. "Georgia is the 11th largest export state and 7th largest import state in agricultural goods,” Humphreys said. Trade wars have hit rural Georgia harder than other areas of the state and could lead to a mild recession for the rural areas in 2020 if expanded.
 
After reiterating what Tutterow and Humphreys said about economic growth, trade, and the Coronavirus, Tori went on to talk about the Chamber’s proposed Valdosta Area Business Incubator. “Business who get their start in a small business incubator have an 87% success rate,” said Tori. The failure rate for non-incubated startup businesses is about 80%.
 
Tori noted that the Lowndes housing market has stabilized and begun to improve, although we have yet to regain the pre-recession value of Lowndes County homes.
 
Tori touched on the structural changes happening in the retail market, economic headwinds that will affect the local area, and the strengths of the local labor force generated by VSU and Wiregrass Tech.
 
For more information on the Business Outlook Breakfast and future events, contact Betty Morgan at the Chamber at 229-247-8100 extension 234
 

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PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Cynthia Tori, professor of economics at Valdosta State University speaks on the economic outlook of Valdosta at the Chamber’s Business Outlook Breakfast.