Magnolia Musings: Season 1, Episode 4 featuring John D. Stephens, Founder of John D. Stephens, Inc.
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Welcome to today’s episode of Magnolia Musings podcast! A podcast focusing on the influences that shape everyday decisions in our journey through life, business and careers. Today, we are joined by John D. Stephens, Founder of John D. Stephens, Inc.
Welcome to today’s episode of That’s The Ticket! podcast! On this episode, Yoshi Domoto, Executive Director of Japan-America Society of Georgia, joins host Stan Hall to share the excitement around JapanFest 2026. Now in its 39th year, JapanFest welcomes around 23,000-25,000 visitors each year. Organized by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and the Japan-America Society of Georgia, and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, the festival fosters greater cultural understanding between the Japanese community and Americans in the Southeast.
That's The Ticket: Season 4, Episode 6. Good Neighbor Project
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Welcome to today’s episode of That’s The Ticket! podcast! Today, we’re shining a spotlight on three incredible organizations that were selected as this year’s Good Neighbor Project partners. The Good Neighbor Project is about more than financial support. It’s about building meaningful partnerships, sharing important stories, and helping connect our community with organizations that are making a difference every day. If you’d like to learn more about the initiative itself, be sure to check out our recent episode with Michelle Bryan.
Joining me today are Jen Young, Executive Director of Impact46, Britt Ramroop, CEO of the Gwinnett Police Foundation, and Claudia Keliher, CEO of StreetWise Georgia. Each of these organizations serves a unique need in our community, and I’m excited for our listeners to hear about their missions, the lives they’re impacting, and how all of us can play a role in supporting their work.
Magnolia Musings: Season 1, Episode 2 featuring Dr. Alex Estrella
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Welcome to today’s episode of Magnolia Musings podcast! A podcast focusing on the influences that shape everyday decisions in our journey through life, business and careers. Today, we are joined by Dr. Alex Estrella, Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Dr. Alexandra Estrella is an accomplished educational leader with more than 25 years of experience and a strong record of leading system-level change in large, complex urban school systems. She most recently served as Superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools in Connecticut, where she strengthened academic achievement, expanded student opportunities, and built a shared vision for success.
Prior to that, Dr. Estrella held leadership roles in New York City Public Schools, one of the nation’s largest and most complex school systems, serving more than 1 million students. In that role, she worked closely with the Chancellor and the senior leadership team to develop and implement strategies to better support multilingual learners and students receiving special education services across hundreds of schools.
That's The Ticket: Season 4, Episode 5. Laura Ballance, Executive Director of The Hudgens Center of Arts & Learning
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Stan Hall & Laura Ballance
Welcome to today’s episode of That’s The Ticket! podcast! Today, we are joined by someone who is deeply involved with the arts community. Laura Ballance, Executive Director of The Hudgens Center for Arts and Learning joins host Stan Hall to discuss the positive impacts the arts has on the community.
The Hudgens Center is a non-profit arts center offering unique and inspiring year-round exhibitions, workshops and classes. This beautiful space is perfect for your next meeting or special event. The award-winning Al Weeks Sculpture Garden offers a serene site, perfect for romantic weddings. With 2,800 sq. ft. of enclosed, private outdoor space, this beautiful setting features a koi pond with waterfalls for guests to enjoy. The Grand Hall, Classic Room, and Rowe Promenade offer 2,200 sq. ft. of space, with the capability of hosting a wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, corporate event or reception. Come by for a tour and see for yourself.
That's The Ticket: Season 4, Episode 4. Michelle Bryan, Senior Manager Community Relations joins host Stan Hall
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Stan Hall & Michelle Bryan
Welcome to today’s episode of That’s The Ticket! podcast! Today, we are joined by someone who is passionately involved with giving back to the community. Michelle Bryan, Senior Manager Community Relations for the Gas South District joins host Stan Hall to discuss forward thinking initiatives from the Gas South District.
At Gas South District, Michelle leads the vision and execution of a community engagement platform designed to create meaningful, lasting impacts beyond their walls. She is the creator and driving force behind the Good Neighbor Project—a signature initiative built from the ground up to turn values into action. Through intentional partnerships, volunteer engagement, and strategic storytelling, the program connects people, platform, and partners to strengthen the communities we serve across Gwinnett County and beyond. Her work centers on building trusted relationships with nonprofits, schools, and community leaders—aligning resources in ways that create real outcomes, not just moments. She leads employee volunteer initiatives that empower her team to show up with purpose and make a tangible difference. Michelle is deeply committed to ensuring their impact is not only meaningful, but measurable, visible, and sustained over time. At the core of everything she does is a simple belief: when people come together with intention, we can build stronger communities and create something that truly lasts.
Season 4, Episode 1: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE GAS SOUTH DISTRICT CAMPUS
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Stan Hall & Bill Marriott
Welcome to today’s episode of That’s The Ticket! podcast! Today, we are joined by someone who plays a key role in building relationships and partnerships across our campus.
Bill Marriott serves as Vice President of Business Development for Gas South District and the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Since joining the organization in 2017, Bill has helped grow corporate partnerships, suite sales, and long-term relationships that support both our events and our community impact. With more than twenty years of experience in sponsorship, hospitality, and advertising sales, Bill brings a deep understanding of how strong partnerships are built and why they matter. Today, we will talk about what makes partnerships successful, how sponsorships have evolved, and what it takes to create value for both organizations and partners
You can watch the video of this podcast by CLICKING HERE.
The Gas South District’s “That’s The Ticket!” is the ultimate podcast exploring all things Gas South District, and a source for insights to events on campus and discussions on the wider entertainment and tourism industry. The series is hosted by Stan Hall, CEO of Gas South District and Explore Gwinnett.
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com. That’s the ticket!
Season 3, Episode 11: THE GUEST EXPERIENCE AT GAS SOUTH DISTRICT
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Marcia Powell and Stan Hall
That’s The Ticket! brings you the stories behind the action happening at Gas South District in Duluth, GA.
On this episode, host Stan Hall is joined by Marcia Powell, Director of Guest Experience at Gas South District. Marcia pays a huge role in shaping the experience of every guest who visits the Gas South District campus. From concerts and graduations, to trade shows and sporting events, there’s one common thread — how guests feel when they’re visiting.
Marcia has been part of the Gas South District family for many years, beginning in 2000, returning in 2016, and continuing to grow her impact ever since. She’s been a part of the story through many milestones, creating memorable moments for guests. The next time you’re at a concert, graduation, or event at the Gas South District, remember that there’s a whole team behind the scenes making sure your experience is a great one.
You can watch the video of this podcast by CLICKING HERE.
The Gas South District’s “That’s The Ticket!” is the ultimate podcast exploring all things Gas South District, and a source for insights to events on campus and discussions on the wider entertainment and tourism industry. The series is hosted by Stan Hall, CEO of Gas South District and Explore Gwinnett.
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com. That’s the ticket!
Season 3, Episode 10: THE RENOVATION OF GAS SOUTH ARENA
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Monte Ortel, Hannah Sechrist, Christina Nguyen, and Stan Hall
This epsiode dives into something that’s shaping the future of the campus — the upcoming renovation of Gas South Arena. This project represents years of planning, collaboration, and innovation, all with one goal in mind: to enhance the experience for every guest who walks through the doors.
This episode features three leaders who are playing key roles in bringing this vision to life — from design to construction to daily operations: Christina Nguyen, Senior Designer with architectual firm Perkins & Will; Hannah Sechrist, Director of Special Projects for Gas South District; and Monte Ortel, Chief Operating Officer for Gas South District.
The Gas South District’s “That’s The Ticket!” is the ultimate podcast exploring all things Gas South District, and a source for insights to events on campus and discussions on the wider entertainment and tourism industry. The series is hosted by Stan Hall, CEO of Gas South District and Explore Gwinnett.
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com. That’s the ticket!