Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Archives - Page 11 of 13

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

July 19, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: All Things Roswell, An Interview with Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

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**Steve Stroud, Kali Boatright, and Andy Williams**

Episode 26, All Things Roswell

What makes the City of Roswell so attractive to millennials, families, and empty-nesters? Why is Roswell such an attractive location for business? What are some of the signature events which draw visitors to Roswell? Join Host Kali Boatright as she poses these questions and more to Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, and Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc. The “GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau

**Andy Williams, Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau**

Andy Williams is the Executive Director of Visit Roswell, the Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit Roswell and the Roswell Visitors Center is the place for “All Things Roswell.” It is a convenient place to start your excursion whether you are looking for historic attractions, trails to hike, nature, entertainment, breweries, or Roswell’s extensive culinary scene.

Knowledgeable staff can assist with arrangements for a fun filled day, overnight stay, or a several day trip. The Roswell Visitors Center is located at the intersection of Hwy. 9 and Sloan Street in Roswell’s Historic District (just across the street from the Historic Town Square.) at 617 Atlanta Street; Roswell, GA 30075.

You can email info@visitroswellga.com, or call 770-640-3253 or 800-776-7935. The Visit Roswell website can be found at http://www.visitroswellga.com/.

Steve Stroud, Roswell Inc.

Steve Stroud is the Executive Director for Economic Development with Roswell Inc.

As the economic development and business advocacy organization for the City of Roswell, Roswell Inc. serves as a catalyst for a sustainable, innovative and vibrant business community in the city.

Their vision is for Roswell to be the best place in the region for innovative, community-minded businesses and entrepreneurs, and they accomplish this through four main areas of work—business attraction and recruitment, business retention and expansion, industry support programs, and business development.

As a 501(c)6 nonprofit, Roswell Inc. has worked with the City of Roswell through a public-private partnership since 2012 by serving as an advocate for business and economic growth.

For more information, go to https://roswellinc.org/ or call 678-823-4004.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

“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.

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Millennials in the Workplace, An Interview with Hilary Lew, City of Alpharetta, and Sophia Niemeyer, Smile Doctors Braces

June 19, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The GNFCC 400 Insider: Millennials in the Workplace, An Interview with Hilary Lew, City of Alpharetta, and Sophia Niemeyer, Smile Doctors Braces

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**Hilary Lew, Tori Kerlin, and Sophia Niemeyer**

Episode 25, Millennials in the Workplace

There’s been a lot of conversation about the defining characteristics of millennials, particularly about their impact on the workplace. So why don’t we hear from millennials themselves and get their perspectives? That’s exactly what this edition of the “GNFCC 400 Insider” features, as GNFCC Communications Coordinator Tori Kerlin interviews Hilary Lew, City of Alpharetta, and Sophia Niemeyer, Smile Doctors Braces.

Hilary Lew, Special Events Coordinator, City of Alpharetta

Hilary Lew is a millennial living in Georgia, originally from Honolulu, Hawaii. A graduate of Georgia Tech, she currently works with the City of Alpharetta’s special events division to produce annual food, music, and art festivals for one of the fastest growing cities in the state. She lends her experience in event planning to other nonprofit organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta International Night Market and on Concrete Jungle’s event planning committee. Committed to seeking dynamic social environments, she also works part-time at Ameris Bank Amphitheater, her first job out of high school. You can find Hilary on Instagram @hillabalew.

Sophia Niemeyer, Local Marketing Liaison, Smile Doctors Braces

Sophia Niemeyer is a 2012 graduate of Milton High School in Milton, GA and a graduate of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Communication Studies and a minor in History. After graduating college, Sophia returned to North Fulton to begin her career having gained experience in both nonprofit and the private sector. Currently, Sophia is a Local Marketing Liaison for Smile Doctors Braces and helps with local marketing efforts in twelve states, including three clinics in North Fulton. Sophia is a regular at Pro Alliance and other chamber events and firmly believes in the power of community involvement. Outside of the office, Sophia is a 200 Hour certified yoga teacher and practices at Lift Yoga in Alpharetta, GA.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Tori Kerlin, Communications Coordinator, GNFCC**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” (formerly “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”) is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC). The host for this episode is Tori Kerlin, Communications Coordinator for 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.

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: North Fulton Education Leaders Allison Townsend, 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year, and Dr. Doannie Tran, Fulton County Schools

May 23, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: North Fulton Education Leaders Allison Townsend, 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year, and Dr. Doannie Tran, Fulton County Schools

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**Dr. Doannie Tran, Kali Boatright, and Allison Townsend**

Allison Townsend, 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Barnwell Elementary School

As the 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Allison Townsend passionately believes each child should have a voice in his or her learning. She is dedicated to helping teachers create transparent classroom environments where, together with their students, they can make connections and have an impact beyond the four walls of their classrooms.

Since graduating from Clemson University in 2012, Allison Townsend has been a teacher in Fulton County Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. She has taught pre-k, 3rd, and 4th grades at Shakerag and Barnwell Elementary Schools. She inspires her students to grow beyond “engagement” to “ownership” by empowering them with a co-planning learning model she has created. She is also an advocate for transparency in education by inviting parents, teachers, and community members into her classroom, coaching teachers at her school, presenting at conferences, and using Twitter as a window into her classroom. Her mission is to inspire students and teachers to take risks, connect with people from around the world, and smile along the way!

In her role as 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Townsend is traveling the state as an advocate for students and teachers and spreading her message of student ownership, transparency in education, and the power of human connection.

Dr. Doannie Tran, Fulton County Schools

Dr. Doannie Tran is the Assistant Superintendent for Innovative Programs for Fulton County Schools. He is also overseeing the launch of FCS’s two innovative STEM schools, including the North Fulton STEM High School located in Alpharetta and to be opened in Fall 2020.

Doannie gradated from North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, GA and earned a Chemistry degree from the University of Georgia before joining Teach For America where he taught middle school science in Oakland, California. After moving to Boston, Doannie taught high school science in Boston before joining the staff of Teach For America to launch the Massachusetts region in 2009. Doannie was responsible for professional development for all new TFA teachers in Massachusetts. He built up their partnership with Boston University, where he has also served on faculty. During that time, the Massachusetts region was in the top 10% of all regions in terms of effectiveness, satisfaction and retention of teachers. The 2014 NCTQ/US News and World Report study of teacher preparation programs gave the program Doannie designed and executed the only high rating given to an alternative certification program.

Doannie received his doctorate in education leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As a graduate student, he trained extensively in design thinking and Lean Startup methodologies and was sponsored as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at NewSchools Venture Fund. As an entrepreneur, he used design thinking and Lean principles to launch an education company called the Teaching Genome that provided teachers with insight into their teaching styles and used that knowledge to better support coaching and professional learning communities.

Doannie left his startup to join the leadership team of Boston Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent for Academics and Professional Learning. In that role, he focused on ensuring that every educator had high-quality curricular options and were competent in evidence-based instructional practices. He led a team of twenty-two teachers and over seventy central office experts to collaboratively develop the Essentials for Instructional Equity, Boston Public School’s vision for instruction that closes opportunity gaps. He led the collaboration of central office departments and dozens of teacher leaders to develop learning experiences that align to the Essentials, and to date, thousands of teachers have engaged in these courses.

Doannie is married to Holly Gooding, also a UGA alum and adolescent medicine physician at Emory and has two small children, Elliot (7) and Louise (5).

About GNFCC and “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”

“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.

**Dr. Doannie Tran and Allison Townsend**

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: GNFCC Women In Business Award Winners Lindsey Petrini, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and Staci Hutto, Troy University

April 17, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: GNFCC Women In Business Award Winners Lindsey Petrini, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and Staci Hutto, Troy University

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**Staci Hutto, Kali Boatright, and Lindsey Petrini**

Show Summary

This edition of “North Atlanta’s Bizlink” features two GNFCC Women in Business Award Winners for 2019. Lindsey Petrini, Chief Operating Officer of WellStar North Fulton Hospital is the 2019 JenLan Rising Star Award Winner, and Staci Hutto, Atlanta Area Coordinator for Troy University, is the Runner-up for the JenLan Rising Star Award. These exceptional leaders were interviewed by Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Host of “North Atlanta’s Bizlink.”

The award is named for Jennifer Lan, a young professional and GNFCC member who passed away in 2013, the first year of the Women in Business luncheon. Each year, GNFCC honors young professionals who demonstrate the qualities of a born leader, are relentless in reaching their professional goals; and triumphs over obstacles with the Jen Lan Rising Star Award.

Lindsey Petrini, Chief Operating Officer, WellStar North Fulton Hospital

**Lindsey Petrini, Chief Operating Office, WellStar North Fulton Hospital**

Lindsey Petrini is the Chief Operating Officer of WellStar North Fulton Hospital. WellStar North Fulton Hospital is a 202-bed facility located in Roswell, Georgia. The hospital is recognized for its accredited cancer program, trauma and primary stroke center designations, and for providing a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, pain management, cardiology, women’s services, rehabilitation, surgical services and oncology. For more information click here.

Staci Hutto, Area Coordinator, Troy University

**Staci Hutto, Atlanta Area Coordinator, Troy University**

Staci Hutto currently serves as the Area Coordinator for Troy University in Atlanta, Georgia. Staci is a two-time graduate of Troy University. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Masters in Public Administration. Staci works each day with students from all walks of life to ensure their enrollment process at TROY is unmatched and unrivaled by any other institution of higher learning.

Mrs. Hutto also oversees the TROY Partnership program, which offers businesses and organizations an opportunity to further their employee’s educational opportunities through TROY. Staci has served in various capacities and functions in higher education for nearly 9 years now. Recently, Mrs. Hutto was the catalyst in moving TROY’s Atlanta office to the North Fulton economic powerhouse. The new location boasts a state of the art facility that encourages creative learning and networking amongst students.

Staci and her husband have two sons and reside in Atlanta Metro area.

About GNFCC and “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”

North Atlanta’s Bizlink is produced 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.

Essie Escobedo, Office Angels

March 21, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Essie Escobedo, Office Angels

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Essie Escobedo, Founder and “Chief Executive Angel” of Office Angels

The mission of Office Angels is to restore joy to the life of small business owners, enabling them to focus on what they do best. At the same time, Office Angels honors and supports at-home experts who wish to continue working on an as-needed basis.

Not a temp firm or a placement service, Office Angels matches a business owner’s support needs with professionals who have the skills and experience necessary to handle work that is essential to creating and maintaining a successful small business.

For over seventeen years, Office Angels has been helping small business owners, associations, and non-profits with administrative tasks, bookkeeping, marketing support, presentation preparation, speaking engagements, business development, document formatting, database management, research, writing services, HR services, and much more.

Essie Escobedo launched Office Angels in 2000 after a 25-year career as a successful small business owner. In 2018, Essie was named a Business Person of Excellence by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. She was an inaugural winner of the Business Builder Award given by the Professional Women’s Information Network (ProWIN), and also a nominee for the Turknett Leadership Character Award.

For more information on Office Angels, go to https://officeangels.us or call 770-442-9246.

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: GNFCC’s Tech400 Committee with Winford Williams, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and Ralph Pasquariello, Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

March 19, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: GNFCC's Tech400 Committee with Winford Williams, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and Ralph Pasquariello, Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

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**Winford Williams, Kali Boatright, and Ralph Pasquariello**

Show Summary

What’s the purpose of the Tech400 Committee of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce? How do technology companies connect through the activities of this committee? What’s the latest on key technology sectors in North Fulton? This podcast answers these questions and more, as Kali Boatright, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Host of “North Atlanta’s Bizlink,” interviews Winford Williams and Ralph Pasquariello, Co-Chairs of the Tech400 Committee of GNFCC.

Winford Williams, Senior Director – Software Engineering, LexisNexis, Risk Solutions Division

Winford Williams is a Senior Director within the Risk Solutions Division of LexisNexis Risk Solutions. His experience extends developing information products that service the personal auto and property insurance markets domestically and internationally. A 1985 graduate of DeVry University (Atlanta), Winford began his career in the insurance industry, as a software developer at Policy Management Systems in Columbia, South Carolina.

For the past 30 years, Winford has contributed to the phenomenal growth of the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Division. He has led the construction of technology solutions that facilitate the underwriting experience for insurance carriers and large data warehousing applications domestically and internationally.

Currently, Winford is the co-chair of the Tech 400 Committee at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce to help solve the supply and demand gap that exists between corporations and higher learning institutions relative to filling technology jobs.

Ralph Pasquariello, Snellings Walters

Ralph Pasquariello of Snellings Walters is dedicated to many things and Cyber Liability Insurance is one of them. Ralph hosts, moderates and speaks at conferences on Cyber Liability & Data Breach Risk Management. Ralph is the Co-Chairman for Tech 400, Chairman of the annual Cyber Symposium, an advisor to the Georgia Tech Research Institute, and also a member of various organizations including the GNFCC, Technology Association of Georgia, and several special interest groups. Ralph also is an associate member of the GA Electronic Crimes Task Force, under the office of the US Secret Service.

Ralph graduated from Villanova University and is active on the Atlanta Villanova Alumni Chapter Board.

About GNFCC and “North Atlanta’s Bizlink”

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

Julie Haley, Edge Solutions and Taylor Gray, Roam Innovative Workplace

February 5, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Julie Haley, Edge Solutions and Taylor Gray, Roam Innovative Workplace

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**John Ray, Julie Haley, and Taylor Gray**

Julie Haley, Edge Solutions, LLC

Julie Haley is the Founder and CEO of Edge Solutions. Julie’s invaluable 20-year career as a business and commercial litigation attorney, with a focus on driving public sector initiatives, drives the success of Edge Solutions. Julie uses her intimate knowledge of the community and greater southeast region to establish and maintain relationships with key customers, as well as set goals and direction for the overall organization. In addition to serving as Edge CEO, Julie continues to donate her time in service to the community. Currently, Julie sits on the Board of Governors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Executive Board of Directors, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Alpharetta Technology Commission, Board Member for Gwinnett Technical College, and serves on the Board of Councilors for The Carter Center. Julie was named as the North Fulton Small Business Person of the Year in 2011, CRN’s Top 100 Women of the Channel in 2011 through 2017, and Georgia’s Women in Technology’s Woman of the Year in 2015.

Edge customizes data center/cloud services & products to solve our clients’ business problems, specializing in hyperconverged infrastructure that simplify IT environments & cut costs so that clients’ IT budgets can be focused on innovation and disruption. For more information, visit https://edge-solutions.com/.

Taylor Gray, Roam Innovative Workplace

Taylor Gray is a General Manager of Roam Innovative Workplace. Roam is an all-inclusive meeting destination that also provides collaborative coworking space that accommodates an ecosystem of businesses. Roam’s spaces are intentionally designed to stimulate creativity, energy and collaboration. Their spaces allow its members to connect with others, work productively and grow their businesses. Roam’s service-oriented meeting experience provides everything from technology to catering to business class WiFi to coffee; their aim is to serve you so that you can get your best work done. For more information, visit https://meetatroam.com/.

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jennifer Finkelstein Hall with MatchKey Consulting and Bonnie Mauldin with The Mauldin Group

January 15, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jennifer Finkelstein Hall with MatchKey Consulting and Bonnie Mauldin with The Mauldin Group

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Jennifer Finkelstein Hall, Kali Boatright, and Bonnie Mauldin

Jennifer Hall with Matchkey Consulting

After spending 22 years with SunTrust Bank and over 4 with Atlantic Capital Bank, both in Atlanta, Jennifer Finkelstein Hall started MatchKey Consulting in June 2017. MatchKey Consulting is a professional development consulting firm that works with business owners to develop their internal teams and external networks. Internal development happens when team members feel empowered, equipped and educated. External development is the result of connecting with the best resources to accomplish corporate goals and objectives. The right MATCH is KEY.

During Jennifer’s career, she has been a commercial relationship manager, credit administrator, sales director, training program developer, premium finance company sales leader, sales process trainer and curriculum designer. She has developed new lines of business, corporate referral programs and new business client portfolios from scratch on several occasions. She has never met a stranger.

Bonnie Mauldin with The Mauldin Group

Bonnie Mauldin is the Founder and CEO of The Mauldin Group. The Mauldin Group is an award winning 5-star rated internet marketing and public relations agency focused on helping small businesses generate new leads online and getting positive media exposure in the local community. Bonnie and her team have helped many small businesses grow and be profitable.

North Atlanta’s Bizlink is produced 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. Our 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. We 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.

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jeff Petrea with Georgia Power and Bill Bland with Choate Construction

December 4, 2018 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

NORTH ATLANTA’S BIZLINK: Jeff Petrea with Georgia Power and Bill Bland with Choate Construction

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Bill Bland, Kali Boatright, and Jeff Petrea

Jeff Petrea/Georgia Power

Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, GA. It was established as the Georgia Railway and Power Company and began operations in 1902 running streetcars in Atlanta as a successor to the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company.

Georgia Power is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company. Georgia Power is an investor-owned, tax-paying public utility that serves more than 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. It employs approximately 7,500 workers throughout the state.

Bill Bland/Choate Construction

Choate Construction Company is one of the largest general contractors in the Southeast specializing in Preconstruction, Design-Build, LEED Programming / Implementation, and Construction Management services for multiple market sectors. Choate is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to hold an 85% rate of repeat clients. Due to financial strength and depth of expertise Choate’s annual volume has continued to grow, topping $1.2 billion in 2017. Additionally, Choate has received many notable distinctions including being named the 2017 Southeast Contractor of the Year by ENR magazine. Choate’s employees are members of various professional and personal organizations with a strong backbone of charitable involvement. Choate is continually recognized as one of the top corporate fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation having raised over $3 million to date.

North Atlanta’s Bizlink is produced 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. Our 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.