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2025 GNFCC Nonprofit Award Winners Making a Lasting Impact: Chattahoochee Nature Center and RUMC Job Networking

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2025 GNFCC Nonprofit Award Winners Making a Lasting Impact: Chattahoochee Nature Center and RUMC Job Networking (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 108)

In this special episode of the GNFCC 400 Insider podcast, host Rebekah Anderson sits down with the 2025 Nonprofit Award Winners to explore the remarkable impact of two standout organizations: RUMC Job Networking Ministry and the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

Jay Litton shares how the job ministry at Roswell United Methodist Church has helped over 90,000 job seekers find meaningful work, combining practical support with faith and community. David Miles of the Chattahoochee Nature Center discusses how the center’s environmental education, volunteer-driven gardens, and legacy partnerships serve over 150,000 visitors each year—fostering stewardship for the Chattahoochee River and beyond.

Whether you’re passionate about workforce development, environmental education, or volunteerism, this episode celebrates the power of nonprofit leadership to create lasting change.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Helping People Find Work is Helping Them Find Themselves – RUMC’s job networking ministry has supported over 90,000 individuals, helping restore identity, confidence, and community.

Nature and Nourishment Go Hand in Hand – CNC’s Unity Garden delivers 10,000 pounds of fresh produce annually to North Fulton Community Charities—all maintained by volunteers.

Legacy Built on Generosity and Longevity – With nearly 50 years of service, both nonprofits continue to innovate and expand—through tech tools like AI at RUMC Job Networking and major capital investment at CNC.

Volunteers Make the Mission Possible – Both organizations thrive because of their dedicated volunteers, many of whom are former beneficiaries of their services.

Education is Everywhere – CNC impacts 52,000+ students annually and offers immersive learning—from canoeing to conservation—on-site and in schools.

The River Connects Us All – The Chattahoochee River, source of 70% of Atlanta’s drinking water, is a vital thread in CNC’s mission to educate, protect, and connect.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction to GNFCC 400 Insider
00:55 Meet the Nonprofit Award Winners
01:30 RUMC Job Networking Overview
03:53 Chattahoochee Nature Center Insights
05:15 Impact and Community Involvement
07:25 Volunteer Contributions and Sustainability
16:02 Getting Involved with Roswell UMC Job Networking
17:27 Navigating the Job Networking Ministry
18:08 Employer Engagement and Job Fairs
19:15 Volunteer Opportunities at the Nature Center
21:37 Success Stories from Job Networking
24:25 Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Achievements
27:48 Future Plans and AI Integration
31:39 The Importance of the Chattahoochee River
33:58 Getting Involved and Final Thoughts

The Chattahoochee Nature Center

**David Mills, Senior Director of Resource Development**

The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a private, non-profit environmental education facility located on 127 acres of forest, wetland, and river habitat adjacent to the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, Georgia. Its mission is to connect people with nature through immersive experiences, educational programs, and hands-on exhibits focused on the local ecosystem and the Chattahoochee River watershed.

Visitors can explore well-marked walking trails, a river boardwalk, beautiful butterfly gardens, and native plant displays, while observing rehabilitated birds of prey and other wildlife up close. The center features a Discovery Center with interactive exhibits, a high-definition theater, and a Nature Exchange for educational trading. Additional highlights include a wildlife rehabilitation clinic, sustainable community gardening in the Unity Garden, and popular seasonal camps for children. The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a destination for families, nature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in learning about Georgia’s native plants, animals, and conservation efforts

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RUMC Job Networking

RUMC Job Networking is a volunteer ministry at Roswell United Methodist Church in Roswell, Georgia, offering support to individuals navigating job transitions or seeking employment. Established over 35 years ago, the ministry brings together job seekers, industry professionals, and volunteers for regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, excluding major holidays. Participants benefit from workshops on resume writing, interviewing, LinkedIn optimization, and other job search strategies, as well as one-on-one resume reviews with experienced recruiters and HR professionals.

The program is known for its welcoming and collaborative environment, providing both practical resources and emotional encouragement. Through initiatives like the Industry Guides, job seekers can connect with volunteers from various fields for targeted networking. Supported by a large network of volunteers and community sponsors, RUMC Job Networking also maintains an active online presence for sharing job leads and networking opportunities, helping participants stay motivated and connected throughout their job search journey.

Website

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast

Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) — **Kali Boatright, President and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), and the host of the show is 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 1,400 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.

As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.

GNFCC promotes the interests of their 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 more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.

John Ray, Business RadioX, and Lizen Hayes, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

North Fulton Business Radio

History, Nature, and Community Impact at the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, with Lizen Hayes, Executive Director

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History, Nature, and Community Impact at the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, with Lizen Hayes, Executive Director (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 784)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray interviews Lizen Hayes, the Executive Director of Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek. They discuss the history of the preserve, its unique blend of nature conservation and historical preservation, and the various programs and activities offered to the community. Lizen shares her personal journey from volunteer to executive director and highlights the preserve’s mission to connect the community with the land through education and engagement. The episode also explores the significant partnerships with local businesses and the role of volunteers in maintaining the preserve’s beauty and functionality.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Lizen Hayes, Executive Director, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

**Lizen Hayes, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve**

Lizen Hayes is a hands-on leader passionate about her work at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and is always actively learning and engaging with the community. Lizen is also a resident of Johns Creek and North Fulton County.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Lizen gained experience and understanding of the struggles of the indigenous community in the Pacific Northwest and the Americas. She has a bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State College, with an emphasis in Museum Studies. She worked alongside the Squaxin Island Tribe on a joint-led archeology dig for several summers and in their Museum and Research library, leading her to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Cultural Resources Center.

Lizen has continued to use these experiences throughout her work at a children’s museum, a science museum, and now a nature preserve to connect local indigenous communities to institutions and organizations in equal partnerships to tell their own stories and foster relationships that may not have otherwise been offered.

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center is a 46-acre nature preserve and historical site located in Johns Creek, Georgia. The organization’s mission is to create a destination and educational resource that inspires exploration, appreciation, and preservation of the natural environment and local history.

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve encompasses several key features. The natural areas include 2 miles of walking trails, woodlands, wetlands, and Sal’s Creek. The preserve is home to 28 species of native trees, 58 species of native plants, and 110 native wildlife species. The Heritage Village showcases 400 years of local history through a collection of historic buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The center offers various educational programs, including homeschool programs, guided tours, and exhibits on local history and nature. Animal enthusiasts can enjoy live exhibitions of insects, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as rabbits, chickens, and ducks. The preserve also houses collections of artifacts related to early 20th-century farm life, Native American history, and local commerce.

The center serves as a haven for both humans and animals, offering a respite from the busy metro-suburban area north of Atlanta.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:24 Meet Lizen Hayes: Executive Director of Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
02:25 Lizen’s Journey to Autrey Mill
07:13 History and Operations of Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
14:35 Nature and Environmental Programs
18:43 Community Engagement and Events
26:59 Visitor Experiences and Testimonials
29:22 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts
35:29 Closing Remarks and Sponsor Messages

Renasant Bank and Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant support North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Casa Nuova is a proud family-owned and operated restaurant, serving classic, authentic and traditional Italian cuisine and top tier hospitality since 1998.

Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen, serving traditional fare including pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus daily specials. They are a farm-to-table establishment, meaning that in the summertime, they cultivate their own vegetables in their garden, steps away from the restaurant, including tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, sunflowers and more!

Celebrating more than 25 years, Casa Nuova has become a true staple in the Alpharetta area, serving more than three generations of families, including friends old and new, visiting near and far from all over the metro Atlanta area and beyond.

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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 770 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show welcomes a wide variety of business, non-profit, and community leaders to get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

John Ray, Business RadioX - North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, Business RadioX – North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.