And the Award Goes to…524 Creative
Cobb Chamber member 524 Creative, a full-service marketing firm located in Marietta, is gaining much deserved recognition for their innovation throughout Cobb County. Their hard work and originality has captured four Communicator awards and the title of one of the Chamber’s Top 25 Small Business of the Year for 2012. For nearly eight years, 524 Creative has been offering fresh and successful strategies to a growing list of clientele, including the Cobb Chamber.
Earlier this year, 524 Creative unveiled the Cobb Chamber’s new brand concept, logo and tagline. “524 Creative [did] an incredible job telling the Chamber’s story in a visual way,” said David Connell, the Cobb Chamber’s president and CEO. “The new brand concept balances the excitement and new direction we’re headed in with the acclaimed track record of this successful Chamber.”
Most recently, the Communicator Awards, a leading international program honoring creative excellence, recognized 524 Creative for its work with the Marietta Visitors Bureau’s rebrand Taste of Marietta’s 2012 logo and Must Ministries’ calendar design.
The marketing firm was honored with the following awards:
- 2012 Gold Award of Excellence: Cobb Chamber Rebranding (highest honor)
- 2012 Gold Award of Excellence: Marietta Visitors Bureau Logo (highest honor)
- 2012 Silver Award of Distinction: Taste of Marietta 2012 Logo
- 2012 Silver Award of Distinction: Transforming Lives Calendar for Must Ministries
Scott Wright, of 524 Creative, emphasizes his firm’s belief that listening to client needs, understanding who they are, and knowing the marketplace ensures successful results.
“Branding is all about effectively telling the client’s story,“ Wright said. “Their brand has to communicate who and what they are at a glance for it to be successful. That’s where we excel, for every client, on every project, every time. We are excited and honored to receive recognition on an international stage.”
To learn more, call 770.419.0524 or visit their website at www.524Creative.com.
On May 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Department of Community Affairs will educate small businesses on how to work with their banks to utilize the Georgia State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The initiative was created by the Small Business Job Act of 2010. Join the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs for the informational luncheon presented by the Council for Quality Growth. Find out how these monies can benefit your businesses.
Topics will be:
- What is the Georgia SSBCI?
- How will the Georgia SSBCI utilize its $48 million in federal funding?
- How does the Georgia SSBCI benefit lenders?
- How does the Georgia SSBCI benefit small business?
The event will be held at Atlanta Marriott Northwest on 200 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. The cost for admission is $45 for Council for Quality Growth and Cobb Chamber members. The admission for non- members is $65. For more information, contact Jennifer Head at jh@councilforqualitygrowth.org or phone 770-813-3387.
Participate in the Atlanta Fed Small Business Owners Survey
As a business owner in the Southeast, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta would like to hear about your experiences and opinions about business conditions and the credit environment. The information gathered by this survey is shared at Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) meetings in Washington, D.C. The FOMC makes decisions about changes to the nation’s money supply, which impacts the availability of credit and the level of interest rates that businesses and consumers pay and, in turn, influences the nation’s economic growth and employment. The results are also shared with policy makers and lenders throughout the Southeast to inform state and local decisions about small business assistance.
Click here to take the survey.
As a survey participant you will also receive survey results to see how your experiences compare to other small businesses in the Southeast. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Leone de Nie, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, at karen.leonedenie@atl.frb.org.
If you have problems with the link above, please copy and paste the following URL into a new browser window: https://frbatlanta.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_42TcriO7BOAUmeU
Alliances Can Win Procurement Contracts for Small Businesses
Small businesses shouldn’t be limited when competing for procurement contracts. Teaming arrangements can improve your chances of winning contracts and overcoming limited resources. Creating a key alliance with another company gives you access to additional personnel, expertise, equipment, and capital, making it possible to successfully compete for contracts in commercial and government arenas.
On Apr. 18 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cobb Chamber, Karen Mills of Mills Law Associates, LLC and Jone Debhnam of Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center will present the key objectives and benefits of teaming arrangements, critical issues to address before establishing a teaming agreement, and legal considerations of teaming agreements. The seminar serves to demystify building alliances in order to benefit small businesses competing for contracts.
The cost of the seminar is $20 online for Cobb Chamber members and $40 for general admission. Chairman’s Club and Executive Club Representatives are complimentary. To register, click here. Please contact Tya Dawson at 770-859-2341 if you have any questions.
Full Metal Football: The Atlanta Xplosion
The Atlanta Xplosion is a full contact women’s tackle football team that plays in the Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) and proud new member of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. The team entered the IWFL as an exhibition team in 2003 and finished its first season with a 9-1 record before becoming a fully licensed team in 2004. Since becoming Georgia’s top female football team the Atlanta Xplosion has maintained an impressive record with 77 wins and just 15 losses in its seven year history. Last year, the team went 11 and 0 to go on to win the IWFL World Championship beating the California Quake 24 to 2.
This season, The Xplosions are poised to have another record breaking run at the Mid-South Division Title, and ultimately, another World Championship Title. “I’m very excited for the new Xplosion team it’s truly a rebuilding year, I see this event as a trend for interacting with our fans.” says Mashonda Gilmore Co-Owner of the Atlanta Xplosion.
The IWFL was founded in 2000 by a group of women dedicated to making the sport a household name. The IWFL currently has over 1600 women playing the sport for 51 teams across North America from Southern California to Montreal and Washington to Florida with consistent expansion into to new markets.
The Xplosions play at Campbell High School in Smyrna, GA with their season opener kicking off this Saturday, April 14, at 6 p.m. against the Carolina Phoenix. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for just $12 per person or can be ordered by phone at 404-376-9922, or through e-mail at Manager@atlantaxplosion.com
Stop Traffic and Sell Your Brand
Join Bonnie Buckner Reavis, Founder and CEO of Zenith Design Group, Inc. and owner of The Brickyard at Marietta Station for Stop Traffic and Sell Your Brand on April 11 from 8 to 10 a.m.
In the brief moment that a person passes by your booth, will they be intrigued enough to stop? Does your 30-second elevator speech stick with people or does it go in one ear and out the other? Attendees will learn tips to enhance sales. Some of the topics discussed will be:
- What to do prior to an event.
- How to effectively display your business, service or product on site.
- How to select and prepare your staff at the booth.
- Ideas for networking effectively on-site.
- How to grab the attention of attendees and make a memorable impression
- Ways to make your booth inviting and interesting
- Learn how to stop the “trinket grab and run” and “brochure stroll and grab.”
- How to follow up after the event – and with whom.
General Admission: $40
Chamber Members: $20 online; $25 at the door
Special Business to Business Expo Exhibitor Rate: $5 online and at the door. Register.
A Donation That Could Save a Life
Cobb Chamber member LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is hosting two Cobb-area blood drives.
Most people think that “blood is always there when we need it” but that’s not always the case. Not enough people give of themselves and donate so there is always a need for blood, especially in emergency situations.
Clayton County Deputy Amy Kemper was severely injured two weeks ago when she was involved in a terrible accident. She was struck head-on while riding her motorcycle by an alleged drunk driver, and still remains in the ICU at Atlanta Medical Center. Cobb Chamber member LifeSouth Community Blood Centers—the sole provider of blood and blood products to Atlanta Medical Center—was able to provide the technicians and equipment to handle two benefit blood drives on Amy’s behalf after the accident. The willing and selfless donors contributed enough blood to make a difference in the lives of more than 200 people, including Amy.
The LifeSouth team is committed to making sure the blood is there when you or your family is in need. The blood donated here will stay in our community for local patient transfusions. Only if our local supply is met will LifeSouth share our blood resources with other communities.
LifeSouth is hosting two upcoming mobile blood drives in Cobb County:
Defense Contract Management Agency
2300 Lake Park Drive SE Smyrna, GA 30080
April 3 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Wal-Mart
1785 Cobb Pkwy South Marietta, GA 30060
April 4 from 3 to 7 p.m.
Chamber members and others can also donate blood or blood platelets (Apheresis) at our LifeSouth Community Blood Center in Dunwoody (4891 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, just north of Perimeter Mall near Mount Vernon Road) or by checking for a local blood Bloodmobile drive near you online at www.lifesouth.org.
Bank of North Georgia to host 5th Annual ‘Spread the Love’ Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive
Bank of North Georgia and Bank of Coweta, two divisions of Synovus Bank, will host the 5th Annual ‘Spread the Love’ Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive to benefit 36 local food pantries that are located in the communities they serve.
Dates: Monday, April 2 – Monday, April 30, 2012 during normal banking hours. April 2 just happens to be ‘National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day’!
Drop off Locations: All 40 Bank of North Georgia and 6 Bank of Coweta branches in Alpharetta (2), Atlanta (2), Bremen, Bowdon, Buford, Canton, Carrollton (3), Conyers (2), Covington (2), Cumming, Douglasville (2), Dunwoody, Fayetteville, Hiram, Jasper, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Marietta (2), McDonough, Newnan (5), Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Senoia, Stockbridge, Suwanee, Tallapoosa, Temple, Tucker, Tyrone, Villa Rica and Woodstock. For more information about these locations and branch hours, visit www.bankofnorthgeorgia.com or www.bankofcoweta.com.
Local Food Bank Partners: Food Banks/Pantries were selected based on their proximity to the local Bank of North Georgia and Bank of Coweta branches. Partners include Atlanta Union Mission, Bowdon Area United Christian Ministries, Breaking Down Walls Ministry (Lilburn), Care Pointe Food Pantry (Duluth), Carroll County Boys and Girls Club (Carrollton), Carroll County Emergency Shelter Center for Domestic Violence (Carrollton), Carroll County Soup Kitchen (Carrollton), Community Action Center (Atlanta), Community Assistance Resources & Emergency Services (Jasper), Community Food Pantry (Covington), Coweta Community Food Pantry (Newnan), Gwinnett Children’s Shelter (Buford), Haralson County Health Department (Buchanan), Haralson County Ministries (Bremen), Hearts to Nourish Hope, Inc. (Riverdale), Helping Hands of Paulding, Inc. (Dallas), Helping in His Name Ministries (Stockbridge), Hightower Baptist Church Food Bank (Cumming), Lifeline Mission (Villa Rica), MUST Ministries (Marietta and Canton), NETworks (Tucker), North Fulton Community Charities (Roswell), Norcross Cooperative Ministry, North Gwinnett Cooperative (Buford), One Roof (Newnan), Rockdale Emergency Relief (Conyers), Salvation Army (Canton and Covington), Sonlight Vision Ministries, Inc. (Jasper), Sow Good Center (Senoia), Temple Area Christian United Ministries, The Center for Family Resources (Marietta), The Pantry (Douglasville), The Real Life Crisis Center (Tyrone), and Whitesburg Care Fund and Food Bank.
Purpose: Bank of North Georgia and Bank of Coweta are very much at the heart of community life in metro Atlanta, supporting those organizations and programs that make our local communities desirable places to live and work. Recognizing that there is an urgent need for food that offers good nutrition to children, these two divisions of Synovus are once again focusing on a staple lunchtime classic – peanut butter and jelly.
Since 2008, Bank of North Georgia and Bank of Coweta have collected more than 10 tons of peanut butter and jelly through this meaningful community relations effort. In 2011, they partnered with 17 local schools and collected 5,899 jars at 7,997 pounds, which is 4 tons of PB&J. That is enough to make more than 63,978 sandwiches for children in metro Atlanta (with approximately two ounces of PB&J spread on each sandwich). Creamy peanut butter was the clear winner over crunchy and the bank received more grape jelly than any other flavor.
“Our team members are passionate about making a difference in the local communities we serve. The challenging economy has caused more and more families to reach out to local food banks for assistance and we felt compelled to take action. Our team has a genuine soft-spot for kids and we want to be sure they have the nutritious food they need to get through the day energized and excited to learn,” said Don Howard, Regional CEO of Synovus in the Atlanta Market.
“Last year, our 17 school partners collected approximately 42% of our overall collection of PB&J. We are excited that 23 schools have agreed to partner with our local branches to host a food drive at their school in April, 2012. The Kiwanis Club in Covington, Georgia, is also joining the effort. The impact will be tremendous,” Howard said.
2012 PB&J Partner Schools: Bowdon Elementary School, Carrollton Middle School (Carrollton), Central Elementary School (Carrollton), Central Middle School (Carrollton), Chrysalis Experiential Academy (Roswell), Coweta Charter Academy (Senoia), Crabapple Elementary School (Peachtree City), Eastside Elementary School (Senoia), Evans Middle School (Newnan), Flat Rock Middle School (Tyrone), Lillian C. Poole Elementary School (Dallas), Livsey Elementary School (Tucker), Marietta Middle School, McGarity Elementary School (Hiram), Mt. Bethel Elementary School (Marietta), North Springs Charter High School (Sandy Springs), Porterdale Elementary School (Covington), Sandy Creek High School (Tyrone), Sharp Creek Elementary School (Carrollton), Teasley Elementary School (Smyrna), The Atlanta Academy (Roswell), Tyrone Elementary School, and Woodstock Middle School.
Local residents, customers and friends of Bank of North Georgia and Bank of Coweta are encouraged to visit any of the 46 branches and drop off as much peanut butter and jelly as they can carry and to watch for details being shared through the local schools. “We would love to see both creamy and crunchy varieties of peanut butter and every imaginable flavor of jelly to appeal to every child in metro Atlanta,” Howard concluded.
For more information visit www.bankofnorthgeorgia.com and www.bankofcoweta.com.
Please join us in congratulating the Jack Cooper Transport Company in being the recent recipient of the 2011 General Motors Supplier of the Year for Vehicle Haulaway and Yard Management Services. This award is considered on a global level, and Jack Cooper Transport’s recognition is a genuine honor.
2011 was a pivotal year for GM; their global market share increase of 0.4 percentage points allowed them to reinvest in affiliated companies like Jack Cooper Transport. This reinvestment allowed Jack Cooper to reinvigorate their business plan and to focus on their overall economic goal. We know this award would not have come without the hard work, leadership, dedication, and the whole team of talented employees at Jack Cooper Transport. We at the Chamber are thrilled to help them celebrate this milestone and hope you will join us in our sentiments!
On Thursday, March 8 business leaders and fellow educators from Lockheed Martin, The American Society of Civil Engineers, The Bentley Group and Southern Polytechnic State University joined Dr. John Barge, Georgia’s State Superintendent, to congratulate the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics on becoming Georgia’s first STEM certified school. The STEM (standing for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)program has been made a national educational priority; a way for schools to teach science and math to their students with problems based in engineering and design. Cobb’s MCAA will now be at the forefront of this new program.
The morning began with an introductory breakfast and meet-and-greet in the school’s media center which allowed Chamber members and educators to further their ideas for Cobb’s educational system.
The ceremonies then moved into the school’s gymnasium, where students and faculty eagerly awaited the STEM certification.
MCAA Principal Jennifer Hernandez (holding top-left of banner) stood alongside some of Cobb’s Partners in Education such as Katie Aguilar of The Bentley Group, Shan Cooper of Lockheed Martin, and Cobb Chamber CEO David Connell after the signing of the STEM certification.
Please join the Chamber in congratulating the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics in their new found endeavor as one of Georgia’s flagship schools!
