Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Archives - Page 10 of 13

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: Re-engaging Employees

May 21, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: Re-engaging Employees

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GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: Re-engaging Employees (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 38)

The pandemic-induced business environment has created a host of unique HR challenges, including managing work at home employees, interviewing and hiring virtually, and providing a safe environment for employees returning to the workplace. Five leading North Fulton-based HR professionals contributed to a GNFCC HR Forum panel discussion on these topics and much more. The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. Business RadioX is the Media Sponsor for this series of Economic Recovery Forums.

Moderator:

Misty Fernandez, Georgia Power

HR Professionals Featured in this Forum:

Michael Young
HR Site Head – JCM/JCD, R&D Quality & AVS
Alcon

Michael Young’s passion has been to connect with people by connecting to the hearts and minds of all those that he encounters. As a child Michael always knew he wanted to be an Educator, he chose the corporate route where he finds fulfillment in Human Resources by connecting people with opportunity. From his days in High School to now he has directed camp programs for Inner City Youth, served on boards for institutions that focus on education, and taught at Vacation Bible School.

In the corporate world, after developing talent in support of several departments across several industries, Michael began working with Alcon in 2016. Today Michael is the HR Site Head for John’s Creek where he continues to connect opportunity to Alcon’s vast talent pool to serve our patients to See Brilliantly.

Julie Weith Smith, MBA-HRM, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
President and CEO
Custom Human Resource Solutions (CHRS)

Custom Human Resource Solutions (CHRS) was founded in 2007 and provides HR strategy and practitioner services to small and medium sized business across the country. Julie Smith is the President and CEO of CHRS and has been practicing human resources for more than 30 years. She has earned a bachelor’s of science degree in business management and an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management, and holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR-practitioner) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR-strategist) designation which identifies depth and breadth of HR knowledge on a national level. Julie’s high-level HR competence is credited through the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) through her achievement of the SHRM-SCP designation (Senior Certified Professional).

Julie has been recognized for industry achievements throughout her career including such honors as being named Top HR Professional and recognized as a Business Rising Star and top Women in Business – San Fernando Valley Business Journal. She also provides industry commentary on multiple media channels such as CNN Online, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and NPR. Julie was featured in Voyage Atlanta Magazine in their Trending category for 2017 and in the Atlanta Journal Constitution for Best of Atlanta 2018.

Jim Cichanski
President and CEO
Flex HR, Inc.

Jim’s experience includes operational HR management knowledge globally in 32 countries and has merged or transitioned well over 350 companies.

Jim also spent 26 years in the Army National Guard achieving the rank of Colonel, was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, and received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit. Jim has served or is serving on several boards, was an inside board member of 17 companies and is an angel investor is start-up in several Atlanta firms.

Jim was recognized by the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce as the Small Businessperson of the year and was also listed in Catalyst Magazine as 1 of 18 Companies, CEO’s in Atlanta would like to own. Outsourcing Gazette magazine listed Flex HR as the “Top Most Promising HR & Staffing Service Vendors of 2015”. Inc. Magazine in September 2008, 2012 and 2013 recognized Flex HR, Inc. as an Inc 5000 “Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in America”. Jim is married to his wife for 47 years, has two daughters and 4 grandchildren.

In the past 2 months Jim conducted over 30 COVID-19 Zoom Webinars touching more then 5,000 small companies in helping direct the Human Capital aspects of this epidemic.

Sonya Buckley
Chief People Officer
Hire Dynamics

Sonya is a Staffing Industry Professional with over 20 years of experience in the Atlanta market. She brings a wealth of knowledge in Senior Executive leading Talent Acquisition, Leadership Development,Human Resources, retention strategies and building a best place to work culture. Sonya has a proven track record in professional recruitment, management, leadership development and succession planning.

Sonya specializes in “Top Grading” methodologies. She has built and transformed a talent acquisition organization resulting in an industry leading retention rate. She has built several innovative initiatives to build leadership depth and entry level apprentice programs. Sonya’s top human capital metric is attracting, engaging and retaining top talent.She has led leadership development and spearheadedEmerging, Growing and Transformation leadership programs to support the growth of Hire Dynamics.

With Hire Dynamics tripling in size over the past three years, she has been instrumental in building a best place to work culture in all the markets they serve.In addition, she works with clients to develop their leaders and culture.At Hire Dynamics, our believe is that “Every Experience Matters”. Her greatest success is building a workforce that delivers consistently a great experience for over 62,000 talent placed in 2019 and over1500 clients served. For the past 10 years, Hire Dynamics has been ranked in the top 2% in the staffing industry clearly rated net promoter program.

Sonya is active in the American Staffing Association (ASA) taking leadership roles inWomen in leadership and Staffing as a career. She served as President of the Georgia Staffing Association and was on the board for 5 years. She is a Penn State graduate.

Mark Bryan
Director, Field and Segment Marketing
Verizon

Mark Bryan is director – Field and Segment Marketing – Verizon Business Group for Verizon, the largest wireless provider with the nation’s largest 4G LTE network. In his role, Bryan is responsible for Marketing activities supporting the $12B Business Markets organization.

During his 14 years with Verizon, Bryan has held positions in the company’s Indirect Sales, Business Sales and Marketing channels as well as its Business Transformation organization. Bryan is a member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and is the Chairman of the Board for Haiti Outreach. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Mercer University and is a certified Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

North Fulton Mayor's Roundtable — Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

GNFCC North Fulton Real Estate Forum: Real Estate Market Outlook

May 14, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton Real Estate Forum: Real Estate Market Outlook

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North Fulton Real Estate Forum: Real Estate Market Outlook (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 37)

The outlook for North Fulton real estate, both commercial and residential, is much more uncertain today as the local economy absorbs the effect of the pandemic. As part of a series of GNFCC Economic Recovery Forums, Gregg Logan, Managing Director of RCLCO Real Estate Advisors, offered his view of North Fulton real estate as well as the broader economic environment. The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. Business RadioX is the Media Sponsor for this series of Economic Recovery Forums.

Gregg Logan, Managing Director, RCLCO Real Estate Advisors

Gregg Logan is an RCLCO Managing Director based out of the Orlando, Florida office. With over 35 years development and consulting experience, Gregg has worked with real estate developers, land owners, cities and counties, private investors, builders, and legal and accounting firms. Gregg’s consulting work has included market and financial evaluations, fiscal impact assessment, economic impact evaluations, economic development strategies, valuations, and litigation support for a wide range of real estate product types.Gregg has conducted and supervised real estate consulting assignments throughout the U.S. and abroad, including projects throughout Florida. His international work includes projects for clients in the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as Europe and the Middle East.

Gregg is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and a past Chairman of the Central Florida District Council. He has chaired several ULI district and product councils. He is a contributing author of several ULI books, including Transforming Business Districts and Housing for Niche Markets. He published a white paper for the U.S. EPA titled The Market for Smart Growth. Gregg participated as a market specialist to help create ULI’s Ten Principles for Developing Successful Town Centers. He served as a chair for the ULI Advisory Services Panel, Regional Cooperation for Florida’s Future.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

North Fulton Healthcare Leaders Forum: Managing Pandemic Change and Planning for Recovery

May 7, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

North Fulton Healthcare Leaders Forum: Managing Pandemic Change and Planning for Recovery

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North Fulton Healthcare Leaders Forum: Managing Pandemic Change and Planning for Recovery (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 36)

Three respected North Fulton healthcare leaders joined a forum organized by GNFCC to discuss the current state of Covid-19 care at their respective institutions. Jon-Paul Croom, Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Freda Hardage, Northside Hospital System, and Dr. Daniel Salinas, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, also offered recommendations to individuals and businesses as Georgia “reopens,” dispelled myths, and much more. The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. Business RadioX and John Ray sponsored and moderated this forum.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Dr. Daniel Salinas

Daniel Salinas, MD, is Chief Medical Officer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He provides executive oversight for quality and patient safety, medical staff services, and affiliations. In addition, Dr. Salinas has worked closely with community providers to develop The Children’s Care Network, one of the first pediatric, clinically integrated networks in the country, for which he also has executive oversight. He has also worked to advance Children’s Behavioral Health and primary care strategies. Dr. Salinas provides visionary leadership for the clinical delivery systems and draws on his skills as a relationship-builder and facilitator to forge strong relationships with physicians in Atlanta and across the state. A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Salinas currently serves on several boards and lives in Roswell.

Northside Hospital, Freda Hardage

Freda Hardage is the Director of Northside Alpharetta Medical Campus and Director, Foundation and Community Services for Northside System. Freda’s responsibilities include all daily operations of Alpharetta Medical Campus which consists of 3 medical office buildings, 100 + physicians from multiple specialties. Her foundation responsibilities include comprehensive oversight for all fundraising, donor giving, community activities and research grant writing for the hospital system.

Freda has volunteered for many organizations and also serves as the first MARTA Chair from North Fulton, President Emeritus and Board Member of The Drake House and Former Chair and Board Emeritus for GNFCC. She has served with distinction on the North Fulton Poverty Task Force, Johns Creek Community Association, YMCA High Harbour Board and Windward Rotary.

Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Jon-Paul Croom

**Jon-Paul Croom, Wellstar North Fulton Hospital**

Jon-Paul Croom is the President of Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, a 202-bed facility located in Roswell, GA. Croom joined Wellstar in April of 2017. Wellstar North Fulton Hospital is one of Georgia’s only Level Il Trauma Centers and delivers services including cardiovascular services, women’s services, Pain & Spine Center, Wound Care & Hyperbarics, and inpatient rehabilitation. North Fulton Hospital is a Primary Stroke Center arid an accredited Chest Pain Center.

Croom previously served as CEO for the 429-bed Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. and opened the only burn center in Mississippi and increased the availability of inpatient psychiatric services at the facility. Croom also lives in Roswell where he serves his community.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

care for patients diagnosed with Covid-19
common myths surrounding Covid-19
collaboration between these organizations
North Fulton community support and best ways to further support
PPE (personal protection equipment) and other safety measures
social distancing
time sensitive and elective surgeries
expected future Covid-19 case loads
safety advice for individuals
guidance for businesses to safeguard employees and customers

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: North Fulton Mayors Roundtable on COVID-19 Recovery Plans and Policy Changes

April 24, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: North Fulton Mayors Roundtable on COVID-19 Recovery Plans and Policy Changes

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“The GNFCC 400 Insider” Episode 35, North Fulton Mayors Round Table

On this special edition of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” we were joined by five North Fulton mayors for a roundtable offering updates on Covid-19 crisis management, recovery plans and potential policy changes. Mayor Jim Gilvin of the City of Alpharetta, Mayor Joe Lockwood of Milton, Mayor Jim Still of the City of Mountain Park, Mayor Lori Henry of the City of Roswell, and Mayor Pro Tempore John Paulson of the City of Sandy Springs all joined the call and answered questions on how they are leading their cities during this crisis and recovery. The panel moderator was Trey Ragsdale, co-chair of the GNFCC Government Affairs Committee

The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Resources for Business Owners in Uncertain Times – Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

March 18, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Resources for Business Owners in Uncertain Times – Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

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**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

Resources for Business Owners in Uncertain Times – Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

Business owners are hurting due to the challenging environment created by the coronavirus pandemic. Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, joined the “GNFCC 400 Insider” to discuss what GNFCC has done to distill resources for business owners in uncertain times.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

The “GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Milton Business Council – An Interview with Sarah LaDart, City of Milton, and John Herbert, Herbert Legal Group and Milton Business Council Chair

March 9, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Milton Business Council – An Interview with Sarah LaDart, City of Milton, and John Herbert, Herbert Legal Group and Milton Business Council Chair

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“The GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 34, Milton Business Council: An Interview with Sarah LaDart, City of Milton, and John Herbert, Herbert Legal Group and Milton Business Council Chair

On this edition of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” City of Milton Economic Development Manager Sarah LaDart and Milton Business Council Chair John Herbert discuss the Milton Business Council, formed with the merger of the Milton Business Alliance into the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Milton Business Council

The Milton Business Alliance (MBA) was formed in 2009 and run by volunteers since its inception. The MBA board spent the last year investigating options to further support Milton businesses and discovered nearly half of their members are also currently members of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC). The MBA Board believed moving to a council model with the GNFCC provided the most benefit to Milton area businesses. Consequently, the MBA Board voted to merge MBA with GNFCC to create the Milton Business Council.

For more information, go to miltonbusinesscouncil.com

Sarah LaDart, Economic Development Manager, City of Milton

Sarah LaDart joined the City of Milton as economic development manager in December 2014. In her position, LaDart acts as a link between the city’s business community and its government.

Prior to joining Milton, LaDart spent five years doing economic development for North Fulton at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Progress Partners of North Fulton Atlanta. In that time, some of the more notable projects she was involved with were: GM bringing 1,000 jobs to Roswell; the Opportunity Zones in Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta; and the Avalon development in Alpharetta.

LaDart serves as the Co-Chair for North Fulton Hospital’s Women’s Advisory Board, sits on ARC’s Millennial Advisory Committee, and volunteers with Saint Joseph’s Hospital’s Angels of Mercy. She is also a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute (2012) and Leadership North Fulton (2010).

LaDart earned her MBA from Kennesaw State University and her bachelor’s from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

John Herbert, Herbert Legal Group and Milton Business Council Chair

John Herbert is the Founder and Owner of Herbert Legal Group. John is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, was a Board Member of the Milton Business Alliance, and serves as the first Chairman of the newly-formed Milton Business Council.

Herbert Legal Group believes that legal services are essential for every business. They believe that quality legal solutions can be efficiently delivered to businesses of all sizes. They believe that their time is no more important than your time. They believe that with efficiency and transparency, legal solutions can protect your brand, your income and your future while meeting your cash flow. Herbert Legal Group is off the clock and on your side.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Leadership North Fulton and Emerging Leaders – An Interview with Dr. Joe Hutto, Gwinnett Technical College, and Chris Miller, Law Offices of J. Christopher Miller

February 19, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Leadership North Fulton and Emerging Leaders - An Interview with Dr. Joe Hutto, Gwinnett Technical College, and Chris Miller, Law Offices of J. Christopher Miller

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“The GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 33, GNFCC Leadership Programs: An Interview with Dr. Joe Hutto, Gwinnett Technical College and Leadership North Fulton, and Chris Miller, Law Offices of J. Christopher Miller and the Emerging Leaders Program

Leadership North Fulton and the Emerging Leaders Program are arguably the region’s most established, in-depth leadership programs. On this edition of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” LNF Committee Chair Dr. Joe Hutto and ELP Committee Chair Chris Miller join host Kali Boatright to discuss these programs and enrichment opportunities each offers to their participants. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Joe Hutto, Gwinnett Technical College and Leadership North Fulton Chair

Dr. Joe Hutto is the Director of Student Affairs at Gwinnett Tech. Gwinnett Tech, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public two-year college which serves the communities of Gwinnett and North Fulton.

In his role overseeing Student Affairs, Joe has responsibility for the departments of Enrollment Management, Recruitment, Testing and Assessment, Veteran’s Affairs and Customer Service.

Joe chairs the Leadership North Fulton committee at GNFCC. Leadership North Fulton (LNF), has been the region’s signature leadership development program for more than 30 years. Each year, graduating participants join the ranks of more than 500 LNF alumni and continue to invest in our communities through their time and talent. Pillars of the program include promoting community awareness, instilling civic responsibility, and building relationships. Participants engage civic leaders through program class days, and many alumni have gone on to serve in government or community-based organization staff roles and as elected officials. The relationships that are forged through participation and investment in LNF by business and nonprofit partners continue to affirm the program’s foundational role in community leadership development. LNF projects continue to impact the region in a lasting way, most notably, through the founding of The Drake House in 2004, founding of the Emerging Leaders Youth Program in 2009, and establishment of The Drake House Young Professionals Advisory Council in 2017.

.For more information on Leadership North Fulton, follow this link.

Chris Miller, Law Offices of J. Christopher Miller and Emerging Leaders Program Chair

Chris Miller owns and operates the Law Offices of J. Christopher Miller, PC. His team of lawyers and legal staff guide their clients through difficult times when a loved one passes away. They also work with clients to plan for the future with Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Directives. Chris has experience in forming and working with Special Needs Trusts. His over two decades of practice in Alpharetta have taught him how to walk clients through and around probate in Georgia.

Chris chairs the Emerging Leaders Program Committee at GNFCC, which offers a unique opportunity for area high schoolers who wish to develop leadership skills, identify and address community issues and interact with local leaders. This is accomplished through a combination of interactive lectures, discussions, site visits, community service, and networking opportunities.

Each class focuses on topics such as public safety, government, interviewing skills, personal finance, nonprofits, and leadership skills.

The mission of Emerging Leaders is to provide students with an understanding of the concept of leadership, and provide skills and knowledge to become effective leaders in our communities.

.For more information on the Emerging Leaders Program, follow this link.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Experts on North Fulton Development Trends, An Interview with Josh Barnes, Orkin & Associates and Dean Collins, Axis Companies

January 21, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Experts on North Fulton Development Trends, An Interview with Josh Barnes, Orkin & Associates and Dean Collins, Axis Companies

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“The GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 32, Experts on North Fulton Development Trends: An Interview with Josh Barnes, Orkin & Associates and Dean Collins, Axis Companies

A discussion of North Fulton development trends was on the table on the latest “GNFCC 400 Insider,” including insight into developments of the Crabapple Market in Milton and Six Bridges Brewing in Johns Creek, Host Kali Boatright welcomed Josh Barnes, Vice President of Real Estate Investments at Orkin & Associates, and Dean Collins, Founder and President of Axis Companies. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Josh Barnes, Orkin & Associates

Josh Barnes is the Vice President of Real Estate Investments at Orkin & Associates, in Milton, GA. He is responsible for asset management activities of Orkin’s real estate portfolio including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and development.

Orkin is a third-generation, family-owned company that was founded in 1964. The company’s culture extends back to the late 1800s when Otto Orkin began what evolved into the world’s largest pest control company, Orkin Pest Control. Otto and his children operated the business until selling it to Rollins Inc. in September, 1964. At that time, his fourth child, William, established Orkin & Associates. In the years since, Orkin has grown from a raw land investment business to a multi-faceted company holding a diversified portfolio of real estate and other assets.

Josh, a native of the Atlanta area is a licensed real estate agent. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Georgia State University. He and his wife Whitney reside in Woodstock, GA with their two children.

For more information go to the Orkin & Associates website, or call Josh, 678.297.2700.

Dean Collins, Axis Companies

Dean Collins is Founder and President of Axis Companies. Axis offers a unique blend of services in land development, design, project management and construction management services. This Development Suite paired with significant industry experience, allows for services to reside under one professional management team. Clients have the flexibility to choose either individual services to supplement in-house staff, or turnkey services to manage an entire project or program. All projects from site selection and purchase/lease negotiations to general contractor bidding and construction project management are performed in-house.

In the early 1990s, Dean led the transportation design group for FRA Engineering where he prepared traffic studies, development plans, and roadway plans for McDonald’s, Rite Aid, CVS, Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and several large shopping center developers around the country. In addition, he worked on single-family and multi-family residential complexes, office parks, and institutional and manufacturing facilities. In 2007, when FRA was acquired by international consulting firm T.Y. Lin International, Dean became Director for Facilities with responsibilities for all vertical planning, design and construction-related services throughout the Americas, China and Southeast Asia.

For more information go to the Axis Companies website, or call Dean, 678-395-4920.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: The Greater North Fulton Chamber Year in Review: An Interview with outgoing Chairman Bill Bland, and Chairman-Elect Alan Najjar

December 20, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: The Greater North Fulton Chamber Year in Review: An Interview with outgoing Chairman Bill Bland, and Chairman-Elect Alan Najjar

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Alan Najjar and Bill Bland — **Alan Najjar, Kali Boatright, and Bill Bland**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 31, The North Fulton Chamber 2019 Year in Review: An Interview with Chairman Bill Bland and Chairman-Elect Alan Najjar

2019 was a record-breaking year for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and 2020 promises to be a year of continued growth and activity. On this edition of “GNFCC 400 Insider,” host Kali Boatright speaks with outgoing GNFCC Chairman Bill Bland and Chairman-Elect Alan Najjar. “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Bland, 2019 Chairman, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

Bill Bland is Senior Vice President with Choate Construction. Bill’s primary responsibility for Choate is to originate and implement a marketing and sales strategy; focusing on procuring projects which fit the company’s experience and qualifications. On select projects, he works with the preconstruction team to review plans, and offer input into the program and schedule. Bill has been with Choate for 25 years where he was a project manager before joining the executive management of the company.

Prior to joining Choate, Bill was a principal and project manager for Wood, Morris & Bland where he was involved in the design and construction of numerous healthcare-related projects across the country. Bill earned a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Southern University and he is also a graduate of Georgia College and State University, where he received his Masters in Business Administration.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bill is active in several civic and professional associations. He has served as past President of CoreNet Global and Real Estate Group of Atlanta (REGA), and he is an active member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He is also an executive board member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce where he serves as chair for the annual golf tournament and the 2019 Chairman of The Board.

Alan Najjar, Chairman-Elect, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

Alan Najjar is the 2020 Chairman for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Alan has overseen the business development efforts of Smith & Howard since 2011.

A veteran of the Atlanta banking and business community, Alan has held executive level leadership positions at SunTrust Bank and other Georgia financial institutions. Prior to joining Smith & Howard, he was the EVP and Chief Operating Officer of an Atlanta-based financial services company.

Alan is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He is a veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Alan serves on the Board of Directors for The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and is a trustee emeritus for Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation and Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. He is active in numerous civic, social and academic organizations. Alan and his wife, Donna, are long-time residents of Gwinnett County and when away from the office, Alan most enjoys sunrises on the lake and time with his family.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.