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.
You can watch the video of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/YSZWv_tNMWw
For further information about Explore Gwinnett and upcoming events, visit ExploreGwinnett.org
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.
You can watch the video of the podcast here https://youtu.be/SXLUwWeswjM
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com
That’s The Ticket!
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 Pastor Will Sheals, Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church.
Teacher, preacher and evangelist, Dr. William L. Sheals has been the Senior Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in Norcross, Georgia since 1980. He received a business degree from New York University and holds theological degrees from Florida Memorial Seminary and International Bible College.
Sheals’ experience in the business world includes acting as the former Vice President of the Mortgage Department of Carver Federal Savings and Loan Association in Harlem, New York. Subsequently, he managed the branch office of Beneficial Financial Company in the Bronx and worked as a disc jockey, a concert promoter and an actor and director off-Broadway. In Florida, he served as the Assistant Director of the Lakeland Housing Authority while pursuing his advanced studies there. He moved to Atlanta in 1979 to work as the Assistant Director of the Atlanta Housing Authority, but left the position after ten years to devote himself entirely to the rapidly-growing Hopewell Baptist Church, which was founded by former slaves after the Civil War.
Under Sheals’ direction since 1980, Hopewell has grown from a two-acre, one-building facility with 200 members to a thirty-acre campus called “The City of Hope,” with a membership of nearly 17,000, including over 60 ministries and auxiliaries. The City of Hope includes a senior citizens facility, a 500-member youth church, a child development center, a Christian Academy that teachers pre-school through eighth grade and a Bible College.
You can watch the video of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/x4VLCPKaTDI
For further information about Explore Gwinnett and upcoming events, visit ExploreGwinnett.org
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.
You can watch the video of the podcast here https://youtu.be/_IUQSNSJ1sY
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com
That’s the ticket!
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.
You can watch the video of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/e70Y0ENu8Y8
For further information about Explore Gwinnett and upcoming events, visit ExploreGwinnett.org
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.
You can watch the video of the podcast here https://youtu.be/jGdtUdP3owk
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com
That’s the ticket!
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.
You can watch the video of the podcast here https://youtu.be/m-nbXU2oBOQ
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com
That’s the ticket!
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 Bill Russell, founder of Russell Landscape Group, Inc. Not only a successful businessman but a person who helped shaped Gwinnett County.
In 1987, William “Bill” E. Russell started Russell Landscape Group, Inc. as a family-managed commercial landscape contract business. Headquartered in Sugar Hill, GA., the firm has grown to over 1,000 employees across 16 branches throughout the South under the guidance of owner and CEO Teddy Russell and founder Bill Russell.
Russell Landscape is the largest family-run Georgia-based commercial landscape firm.
You can watch the video of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/W_ALCfyiKxg
For further information about Explore Gwinnett and upcoming events, visit ExploreGwinnett.org
Welcome to today’s episode of That’s The Ticket! podcast! Today, we are joined by someone
who sits at the intersection of sports and entertainment and currently serves as President of the Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios.
Dawkins, who spent 17 years at Viacom (now ViacomCBS), was elevated to the position of Executive Vice President at Nickelodeon where he oversaw and grew some of that brand’s most beloved and successful networks. Dawkins also launched the Nickelodeon Sports initiative which saw him strike strategic partnerships with the likes of NFL, NASCAR, the PGA Tour, MLS, WWE, and a variety of pro athletes.
After his run at Nickelodeon, he went on to lead the internationally renowned junior golf nonprofit The First Tee, and was most recently Founder and CEO of Rock Hill Media Ventures. There, he forged partnerships with the National Basketball Players Association and Believe Entertainment, the developing studio of Dear Basketball – the Oscar® and Emmy® Award-winning short film from Kobe Bryant – and The LeBrons, an animated series from the mind of LeBron James.
“As we head toward a tremendous milestone, marking our 100th year, there’s never been a more exciting time for the Harlem Globetrotters,” said Herschend Enterprises CEO Andrew Wexler. “With ambitious plans in place for new content and branded media ventures, we know Keith will bring the perfect blend of expertise and drive needed to propel us to the next level.”
The Globetrotters content expansion into millions of homes worldwide is powered by its parent company’s in-house media arm, Herschend Entertainment Studios (HES), which develops and produces 360 franchises of wholesome entertainment worldwide for TV, film, publishing, licensing, and other media. Hit programming from HES includes the internationally syndicated animated series Chuggington and the PBS KIDS animated series Splash and Bubbles.
You can watch the video of the podcast here https://youtu.be/eD-Sj8orUes
For further information about Gas South District and upcoming events, visit GasSouthDistrict.com. That’s the ticket!
