Oconee State Bank Archives - Page 2 of 4

Mark Prior with M1 Strategic Capital

August 17, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Mark Prior with M1 Strategic Capital

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“Beyond the Cupola” allows invited customers, community, and team members of Oconee State Bank to have an opportunity to share their stories of success and inspiration, and/or how the Remarkable culture of Oconee State Bank has inspired them to mark lives in their own right.

Mark Prior/M1 Strategic Capital

Mark B. Prior is the founder and Managing Partner of M1. Mr. Prior has over twenty-five years of experience in fund management, alternative asset analytics, enterprise level senior management, and strategy formulation/implementation. He is also the founder of a financial technology SaaS company. Additionally, he was a co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of a mortgage fund where he developed and actively managed a national real estate debt investment fund that produced a high return on investment and managed a portfolio of both collateralized commercial/residential debt and real property. Before co-founding the fund in 2004, Mark spent more than a decade in the Fortune 100 manufacturing and forest product sectors which culminated in profit and loss responsibility for a $600 million business unit. He also has extensive experience managing projects in Asia, Europe and South America. Mr. Prior earned advanced degrees from Duke University (Master of Environmental Management) and Pepperdine University (Master of Business Administration).

Brian Brodrick with Jackson Spalding

August 9, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Brian Brodrick with Jackson Spalding

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Brian Brodrick/Jackson Spalding – Athens

In the summer of 1995, eight like-minded people decided there had to be a better way to structure an agency, serve clients, advance the community, and have fun doing it. The result was Jackson Spalding, an agency that, in their clients’ words, “just feels different.” Since the beginning, they’ve never aimed to be the biggest, flashiest or most highly-decorated – just the most trusted and respected marketing communications agency. They stay humble. They remain hungry. They embrace thoughtful questions above quick answers. They choose to work with people, clients and brands that inspire them. Jackson Spalding is driven to make the world more excellent for today and generations to come.

Lucas Acosta, Founder & CEO of Foojee

August 2, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Lucas Acosta, Founder & CEO of Foojee

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Lucas Acosta/Foojee

Foojee prides themselves on building rock-solid solutions created to serve by helping you achieve your goals through your Apple technology. Here are five things you should know about Foojee:

Foojee was born out of a calling to serve. They combined that calling with their enthusiasm of Apple products and created a company.
They’re in it to win it. Foojee doesn’t outsource their talent. All of their team members are W-2 employees with benefits, and each one adds their own spice to the Foojee brand.
Why the name Foojee? Well, the Fuji apple is their founder’s favorite type of apple. Simple as that.
Since Foojee opened shop, they’ve grown on referrals alone.
Foojee creates monthly Apple-centric videos filled with tips, news, advice, and the occasional joke. It’s how they like to keep in touch with their clients.

Tom Wilson/Oconee State Bank

In the early 1900s, there were banks in all the small towns of Oconee County… Bishop, Bogart, Eastville, Farmington and Watkinsville. When the Depression came along in 1929, all the banks went broke and Oconee County was without a bank for the next 30 years. Farmers and small merchants had to travel to Athens for their banking needs.

In 1958, a group of community leaders recognized the need for a bank in Oconee County and started a process of getting the necessary approval for a state chartered community bank. In 1959, the FDIC approved a community bank and Oconee State Bank opened its doors for business on February 1, 1960 with 3 employees and a small corner office on Main Street in downtown Watkinsville.

Today, Oconee State Bank has 3 full-service financial centers located in Oconee County, GA as well as a website which serves as an “Internet Branch.” The vision of the founders continues today. Oconee State Bank is proud to provide an unparalleled commitment to personalized service, value-added products, and a deep sense of responsibility to the communities they serve.

Larry Campbell & Caleb Stevens with Corners Outreach

July 26, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Larry Campbell & Caleb Stevens with Corners Outreach

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Larry Campbell & Caleb Stevens/Corners Outreach

Corners Outreach is a 501c3 that strives to increase high school graduation rates and improve career opportunities for families.

A study from Northeastern University found that high school dropouts cost taxpayers $292,000 over the course of their lives. In the communities where Corners Outreach focuses, the Board of Education in DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties states that High School graduation rates are 70% Caucasians, 64% African American, 55% Hispanics, and 35% ESOL.

A recent study shows that students who do not read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma than proficient readers. Corners Outreach can be most effective in decreasing the dropout rate by tutoring elementary age students and showing parents the value of education.

In 2012, Corners Outreach partnered with Berkeley Lake Elementary to begin an education focused program, Corners Academy, which provides after school tutoring as well as a summer camp in Norcross, GA. Soon after they partnered with two other elementary schools, Hightower Elementary and Beaver Ridge Elementary. In 2017 Corners added Norcross Elementary and Kingsley Elementary.

While building relationships with the parents of their students, they found that many had more than two jobs. In 2017, they started Corners Industries, a career initiative which exists to break cycles of poverty.

Charles Pace & Shelly Schwerzler with the Gwinnett County Public Library

July 12, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Charles Pace & Shelly Schwerzler with the Gwinnett County Public Library

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Charles Pace, Shelly Schwerzler, Josh Osborne

Charles Pace & Shelly Schwerzler/Gwinnett County Public Library

The Gwinnett County Public Library is a free provider of education and information. Located in metro Atlanta, the library has 15 branches that offer free access to computers and Wi-Fi, classes, materials, and programming for people of all ages.

Dr. Bruce Carter and Dr. Tina Herington with Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures

June 28, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Dr. Bruce Carter and Dr. Tina Herington with Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures

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Dr. Bruce Carter, Dr. Tina Herington, Mike Fulton

Dr. Bruce Carter/Transforming Smiles

Dr. Bruce E. Carter of Transforming Smiles has been practicing dentistry since 1985 and has extensive experience and training. He’s developed a reputation as a cosmetic and restorative dentist who gives every patient one-on-one attention and thorough caring dental treatment.

Dr. Carter graduated from the University Of Florida College Of Dentistry and completed the Cosmetic Dentistry Continuum Level II at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry. He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, where he has accumulated over 1000 hours of continuing education and passed the fellowship examination. Dr. Carter has also taken numerous courses on advanced dental restorative procedures, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry, as well as hands-on courses concerning removable partial dentures and full dentures (including implant retained dentures).

Dr. Carter has also finished level six of the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education and is an alumnus of the institute. The Pankey Institute has given him an in-depth knowledge of the restoration of complex dental problems. Dr. Carter is currently studying at the Kois Center in Seattle, WA where he is furthering his education in complex treatment planning and gingival plastic surgery.

Tina Herington/Suwanee Family Dentistry

Dr. Tina Herington of Suwanee Family Dentistry is a Georgia native who received her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1996. She obtained her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in 2001 and started Suwanee Family Dentistry that same year. Since dental research is constantly evolving, Dr. Herington averages more than five times the minimum number of continuing education courses each year.

Dr. Herington became a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry in July 2008, and a Master in the Academy in June 2014. The Mastership program required 5 years to complete and required peer-reviewed case presentations in all areas of dentistry. Fewer than 1% of dentists ever achieve Mastership in the AGD.

Dr. Herington also has a Commercial Pilot Certificate, Flight Instructor Certificate, and has been a part-time flight instructor since 1996. She is also a member of the Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2007-08, and participates in the Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures Campaign to raise money to support the fight against breast cancer.

Clint Watson with Creed Fitness

June 21, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Clint Watson with Creed Fitness

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“Beyond the Cupola” allows invited customers, community, and team members of Oconee State Bank to have an opportunity to share their stories of success and inspiration, and/or how the Remarkable culture of Oconee State Bank has inspired them to mark lives in their own right.

Clint Watson/Creed Fitness

Clint Watson was born and raised in Athens, GA and graduated from UGA in 2006 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He has held the most respected certification in the fitness industry since then.

In 2009, after many frustrating years training in gyms that cared more about profit than people, Clint decided to “right the wrongs” in the industry by starting his own fitness business. Since then, Clint and his talented team members at Creed Fitness have changed the lives of hundreds of men and women in the Athens area.

A skinny kid growing up, Clint made a decision at age 5 after seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger for the first time that he wanted to have big muscles. His fire for fitness was fueled in middle school when his football coaches introduced him to the weight room. While the other players moaned and complained about the workouts, Clint found himself enjoying the workouts more than he enjoyed football.

After a short-lived plan to pursue medicine at UGA, Clint eventually came to his senses and began pursuing his passion rather than pursuing a big pay check. Clint has a burning desire to help people achieve more than they ever dreamed they could. He believes anyone can be successful by consistently practicing the basics of exercise and nutrition.

Caleb Stevens, co-author of “Collegiate”

June 14, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Caleb Stevens, co-author of "Collegiate"

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“Beyond the Cupola” allows invited customers, community, and team members of Oconee State Bank to have an opportunity to share their stories of success and inspiration, and/or how the Remarkable culture of Oconee State Bank has inspired them to mark lives in their own right.

Caleb Stevens/Collegiate

Caleb Stevens is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia where he studied Business Management and Personal & Organizational Leadership. During college, Caleb started a podcast show for the business school, helped launch a faith & work conference, and was the student commencement speaker at graduation. He currently lives in Atlanta and blogs at calebstevens.com.

Damien Godfrey with Lydia’s Place

June 7, 2018 by Mike

Beyond The Cupola

Damien Godfrey with Lydia's Place

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Damien Godfrey/Lydia’s Place

Lydia’s Place serves young adults from ages 14 to 26 who have experienced foster care or homelessness. Built on Christian principles, they seek to demonstrate God’s love by providing basic needs during the transition to independent living.

Lydia’s Place is currently working to fund an on-campus apartment at the University of Georgia to be used for emergency housing. Students in need of housing will be given a place to stay for up to two weeks while a more permanent housing plan is being established.

Their next step is to build or renovate a larger facility in order to provide housing to needful students from UGA as well as surrounding schools such as Athens Technical College, Piedmont College and University of North Georgia.