Traci Bledsoe/Peace Place
Peace Place is a domestic violence agency providing emergency safe shelter and supportive services to adults and children fleeing abusive homes in Jackson, Banks, and Barrow Counties.
Mike & Jennifer Dollander/Alumni Cookie Dough
Childhood fantasies become a reality at Alumni Cookie Dough, Athens’ first Cookie Dough Café! The first location opened in January 2019 in downtown Athens at 480 North Thomas Street. This Georgia-Bulldog-loving establishment is promised to satisfy all of your sweet dreams. That’s right, you can now enjoy delicious cookie dough by the scoop and no longer worry about the possibility of getting sick. All of the ingredients are of the highest quality and 100% safe to eat raw. However, if you are somehow not able to finish your serving of cookie dough, you can take it home and bake cookies! I mean, how perfect can this possibly get?
There are also options to make a sundae, or their unique “Dream Crème (cookie dough infused ice cream) with your favorite cookie dough and ice cream, cookie dough milkshakes, and of course melt-in-your-mouth cookie dough pretzel bites, and snickerdoodle bites.
Alumni Cookie Dough is the creation of Mike and Jennifer Dollander. Jennifer had always been a closet cookie dough eater, so the idea of actually being able to safely consume this creamy concoction in public is a dream come true! Mike and Jennifer are both graduates of The University of Georgia, so the idea of opening a business in the city they love so much is beyond exciting.
With the success of the Athens location, franchising was finalized a couple weeks before Covid. Since then, they have sold four locations. East Cobb, Milton, Acworth and Augusta. The wholesale division has exploded with over 100 accounts. Be on the lookout for Alumni Cookie Dough cafés opening up near you!
Life’s short… eat the dough!
Mark Valentine/Mark Valentine Financial Coaching
Mark Valentine is a Dave Ramsey Certified Master Financial Coach. Mark works with individuals and couples that find themselves experiencing stress and anxiety resulting from their financial situation, debt, and related troubles. The typical process is to (1) understand the situation, (2) help develop a plan, and (3) work the plan together. As a coach, Mark’s focus is on injecting hope and encouragement, providing motivation, knowledge, and accountability. Coaching sessions can take place in person or via zoom.
Charmaine Augustin/Ameris Bank
Ameris Bank was established in 1971 in order to bring peace of mind to their customers and communities. Today, they are a financial partner to businesses and consumers at over 200 locations across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic and nationwide through their digital banking and on-line lending options.
Shana Shoden/MedLink Georgia
MedLink Georgia is a Non-Profit Community Health Center with 26 locations in Northeast Georgia. They provide access to high quality, affordable, comprehensive primary and preventive medical, dental, and mental healthcare. Experience quality, patient-centered care to everyone, regardless of financial situation with MedLink Georgia! Visit them online for a location nearest you.
Andy Crawford/Piedmont Judicial Court
Andy Crawford is a career prosecutor who has litigated over a thousand cases in Barrow, Banks, and Jackson Counties. He has secured jury trial convictions for murder, special victims crimes, domestic violence, major thefts, and drug trafficking.
Andy is a graduate of Jackson County High School, the University of Georgia, and Mercer University. Upon graduating from law school, he returned to the area with his wife, Allison, who has worked in special education in the Jackson County School System for 13 years. They have three daughters who will attend Gum Springs Elementary School.
Andy has served on the staff of the Piedmont Drug and Mental Health Courts, chaired the Jackson County Child Fatality Review Board, was appointed Solicitor for Jefferson Municipal Court, coached mock trial at Jefferson High School, and spoken at numerous career days in the Barrow, Jackson, and Jefferson school systems. Recently, he was elected to serve as President of the Piedmont Bar Association for 2023.
Nicole McGiboney/Gibb Grows
Gibb Grows is a small business located in Jefferson, GA with a lineup of products from seed to plate by assisting the inspiration of growing your own food. Gibb Grows works with schools, restaurants, communities and families.
Rebecca Armstrong/City of Jefferson
The City of Jefferson, a 200 year old community, is located in Northeast Georgia about an hour north of Atlanta along Interstate 85. Jefferson has a population of 10,195 and is the county seat of Jackson County with a population of 61,257 (2015 U. S. Census Bureau Estimates).
Jefferson, the county seat of Jackson County, is named for President Thomas Jefferson. It is a picturesque community set among the gently rolling hills in the piedmont region of Northeast Georgia. The landscape is still dotted with small farms and lakes. Jefferson like many small towns in the south has gradually made the transition from primarily agriculture, to a balance of commercial and industrial businesses. The City’s leadership is working to maintain Jefferson’s small town character while strongly encouraging the development of a diverse economy that employs the growing local workforce.
Most people move to Jefferson for economic opportunity, its small town atmosphere, acceptance of newcomers and wholesome environment for raising a family. The Jefferson City School System is highly ranked, year after year, in terms of student achievement and SAT scores. The City offers a broad range of extra curricular activities including community theater and an award winning recreation department for adults and children of all ages.
Hart Fandrich/Piedmont Injury Massage
Piedmont Injury Massage offers an unique experience that combines relaxation and recovery. Their advanced education in massage helps to reduce pain from fibromyalgia, pre and post surgeries, as well as soft tissue damage! Piedmont Injury Massage also performs cosmetic spa facials.
David Butler/Lanier Technical College Adult Education Department
Lanier Technical College is a member of the Technical College System of Georgia. Lanier covers seven counties in the region: Jackson, Barrow, Banks, Hall, Forsyth, Dawson, and Lumpkin. Lanier’s adult education department is tops in the state in GED graduates and very near the top in other metrics as well, such as total ESL and GED enrollment and attainment of goals. Lanier’s adult education department is serious about it’s graduates entering the workforce directly or through training and education provided by the College. They provide career counseling and transition to college assistance.
