Jefferey Helms/Georgia Youth Challenge Program
Through training, discipline, and mentoring, the Georgia National Guard Youth Challenge Program provides the education, leadership, character development, and life coping skills to Georgia’s youth so they may become successful members of society.
Jennifer Harrison/City of Hoschton City Manager
The City of Hoschton is a small community and a wonderful place to call home. It is located just off Interstate 85 in Jackson County in north Georgia, about 35 miles northeast of the Atlanta perimeter. Jackson County is included in the 10 fastest growing counties in the country yet offers an abundance of open spaces and unspoiled views of the state’s Piedmont Region – just south of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our climate is moderate, pleasant, and enjoyable for a wide variety of outdoor activities.
Our city mixes the advantage of small town living and the convenience of being less than 45 minutes from urban areas such as Athens, Gainesville and metro Atlanta for shopping, dining and entertainment. On behalf of all of our citizens, please visit our community and make yourself at home!
Lisa Paez/Jackson County Certified Literate Community Program
Jackson County Certified Literate Community Program is a non profit established by the State of Georgia in the 1990s to address critically low literacy rates. The mission of the JCCLCP is to mobilize local agencies & volunteers in a literacy campaign resulting in credentialed, civic-minded adults, training for high-wage, high- demand jobs in Jackson County.
The State of Georgia launched the Certified Literacy Community Program (CLCP) in 1990 as a means of addressing low adult literacy rates across the state. Improved literacy rates help the state attract new businesses (jobs) and increase self-sufficiency among all residents. To qualify as a participant in the CLCP program, Jackson County is required to set a goal of reducing its functional illiteracy rate by 50% within ten years. As a CLCP member organization, JCCLCP is responsible for securing local community support and sources of funding, implementing a variety of literacy programs, and executing successful strategies to help residents achieve educational and employment goals.
Traci Bledsoe/Peace Place
Peace Place is a domestic violence agency providing emergency safe shelter and supportive services to adults and children fleeing abusive homes in Jackson, Banks, and Barrow Counties.
Mike & Jennifer Dollander/Alumni Cookie Dough
Childhood fantasies become a reality at Alumni Cookie Dough, Athens’ first Cookie Dough Café! The first location opened in January 2019 in downtown Athens at 480 North Thomas Street. This Georgia-Bulldog-loving establishment is promised to satisfy all of your sweet dreams. That’s right, you can now enjoy delicious cookie dough by the scoop and no longer worry about the possibility of getting sick. All of the ingredients are of the highest quality and 100% safe to eat raw. However, if you are somehow not able to finish your serving of cookie dough, you can take it home and bake cookies! I mean, how perfect can this possibly get?
There are also options to make a sundae, or their unique “Dream Crème (cookie dough infused ice cream) with your favorite cookie dough and ice cream, cookie dough milkshakes, and of course melt-in-your-mouth cookie dough pretzel bites, and snickerdoodle bites.
Alumni Cookie Dough is the creation of Mike and Jennifer Dollander. Jennifer had always been a closet cookie dough eater, so the idea of actually being able to safely consume this creamy concoction in public is a dream come true! Mike and Jennifer are both graduates of The University of Georgia, so the idea of opening a business in the city they love so much is beyond exciting.
With the success of the Athens location, franchising was finalized a couple weeks before Covid. Since then, they have sold four locations. East Cobb, Milton, Acworth and Augusta. The wholesale division has exploded with over 100 accounts. Be on the lookout for Alumni Cookie Dough cafés opening up near you!
Life’s short… eat the dough!
Mark Valentine/Mark Valentine Financial Coaching
Mark Valentine is a Dave Ramsey Certified Master Financial Coach. Mark works with individuals and couples that find themselves experiencing stress and anxiety resulting from their financial situation, debt, and related troubles. The typical process is to (1) understand the situation, (2) help develop a plan, and (3) work the plan together. As a coach, Mark’s focus is on injecting hope and encouragement, providing motivation, knowledge, and accountability. Coaching sessions can take place in person or via zoom.
Charmaine Augustin/Ameris Bank
Ameris Bank was established in 1971 in order to bring peace of mind to their customers and communities. Today, they are a financial partner to businesses and consumers at over 200 locations across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic and nationwide through their digital banking and on-line lending options.
Shana Shoden/MedLink Georgia
MedLink Georgia is a Non-Profit Community Health Center with 26 locations in Northeast Georgia. They provide access to high quality, affordable, comprehensive primary and preventive medical, dental, and mental healthcare. Experience quality, patient-centered care to everyone, regardless of financial situation with MedLink Georgia! Visit them online for a location nearest you.
Andy Crawford/Piedmont Judicial Court
Andy Crawford is a career prosecutor who has litigated over a thousand cases in Barrow, Banks, and Jackson Counties. He has secured jury trial convictions for murder, special victims crimes, domestic violence, major thefts, and drug trafficking.
Andy is a graduate of Jackson County High School, the University of Georgia, and Mercer University. Upon graduating from law school, he returned to the area with his wife, Allison, who has worked in special education in the Jackson County School System for 13 years. They have three daughters who will attend Gum Springs Elementary School.
Andy has served on the staff of the Piedmont Drug and Mental Health Courts, chaired the Jackson County Child Fatality Review Board, was appointed Solicitor for Jefferson Municipal Court, coached mock trial at Jefferson High School, and spoken at numerous career days in the Barrow, Jackson, and Jefferson school systems. Recently, he was elected to serve as President of the Piedmont Bar Association for 2023.
