sept 2012 hccc newsletter

in this issue

Chairman’s Message 2

Business Profile 3

Calendar 4

It’s Happening in Henry 5

SCTC 6

August Chamber Briefs 7

Welcome Race Fans 10

Business Boosters Luncheon 11

Business After Hours 12

Golf 13

Ribbon Cuttings 14

Edward Jones 15

The Henry County Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice for

the business community, provides quality services and programs that

meet the needs of its members, improves the economic environment

of the community and creates a legacy of leadership for the future.

A H E n R y C o u n T y C H A M B E R o F C o M M E R C E P u B L I C A T I o n y o u R B u S I n E S S I S o u R B u S I n E S S

H A M P T o n | L o C u S T G R o v E | M C D o n o u G H | S T o C k B R I D G E SEPTEMBER 2012

The HCCC/CVB is ready to pre-mier a series of videos that promote Henry County – all of which feature local residents. The “world premiere” of these videos will take place at the September 27 Toast to Tourism Busi-ness After Hours at Panola Mountain State Park. Bring family and friends to join the “stars” on the red carpet and be the first to sneak a peek at these segments before they are released! In addition to these “celebrities,” the Toast to Tourism will feature other local tourism “stars” who will have booths set up to share information about their organization and to sign your “autograph book” which can be exchanged for free ice cream, courtesy of Momentum Christian Church, and a chance at great prizes. There will be free popcorn to enhance the movie-going experience.

Prior to the premiere, enjoy a sampling of Panola Mountain State

Park’s offerings including archery, fly fishing demonstrations, geo-caching and tree climbing for ages 8 to adult. While planned events begin at 5:30, attendees are en-couraged to arrive early and enjoy a picnic with friends and family in this scenic and serene environment.

Activities are free, however there is a $5 per car parking fee. So pile in, carpool, and come out and have fun. There will be a jackpot drawing for Chamber members, along with door priz-es. Remember to bring plenty of business cards as you network with other Chamber members!

Panola Mountain State Park is off Hwy 155 N. From Hwy 155, turn right onto Alexander Lake Road and go all the way till it dead-ends into Flat Bridge Road. Take a left at the gate and turn right immediately into the bike trail parking lot.

Hosted by Henry CountyChamber of Commerce

Convention and Visitors Bureau

Thursday, September 275:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Panola Mountain State Park5089 Flat Bridge Road SW

Stockbridge

Oscar-Worthy, Red Carpet TreatmentGet ready to see stars – right here in Henry County!

Visit www.henrycounty.com!

Find a Business, Events or Job...See Current Chamber Information...

Get Interesting Facts about Henry County...Plan Fun Places to Visit...

HenryVisions_SEPT.indd 1 8/24/12 2:49 PM

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As I write this message, the 2012 Georgia Primary Election is over and the Metro Atlanta Transporta-tion Referendum has failed, new faces have emerged as Primary winners ready for the next round of vot-ing during the November General Election, we are less than one week away from a run-off election that will determine the Repub-lican candidate for Chair-man of the Henry County Board of Commissioners and another huge decision impacting all our lives will be on the General Election ballot – the Charter Schools referendum. If you are like me, you are struggling to find the time to keep up with all that is happening and be a good steward of your civic responsibilities while running a business, caring for family, and oc-casionally mowing your lawn! There are days when you just want to throw your hands up and say “enough already!”

It’s busy times like these that remind me how much better off we are as busi-ness owners and employ-ees to be working together through our Chamber of Commerce. Our collective voices are stronger and our ability to deliver on our civ-ic responsibility is greater.

I regret that the regional transportation referendum was defeated because I know it would have gone a long way toward reliev-ing our traffic congestion and creating new jobs, but I don’t regret the informed and impactful voice our Chamber gave this mea-sure in Henry County. I am grateful that the collec-tive voice of our members was significant in acquiring the new technical college soon to break ground in McDonough, and that our effort to rally the support of an entire community around the E2 strategies is yielding amazing results for our public school sys-tem. I was proud to see our Chamber of Commerce noted in the latest issue of Georgia County Govern-ment, the magazine of the Association of County Com-missioners of Georgia, as “the bridge fostering collab-oration among community decisionmakers.

At no point in history has leadership and the voice of the business com-munity been more essential to ensuring our competitive edge. Through its public policy efforts, the Henry County Chamber of Com-merce represents the inter-ests of the Henry business community at local, state,

and to the extent possible, federal levels. We study and research issues and then your Board of Directors takes well-thought-out po-sitions on tough issues. We provide educational forums to encourage informed dia-logue, we provide factual information via the writ-ten and spoken word for our members, the decision-makers and sometimes the community-at-large. We regularly communicate with our local, state and federal lawmakers on top-ics of importance to our members. In other words, we magnify your voice

where it needs to be heard! Look for opportunities

from your Chamber to get involved in our public pol-icy advocacy efforts. Join our Government Affairs or Education Committees, the Small Business or Exist-ing Industries Councils as these engaged leaders plan events and programs to keep you abreast of issues.

Your Chamber of Com-merce is a business-advoca-cy and service organization and with your support, we will continue to be a leader and at the forefront of im-portant public policy issues that impact your business.

Danny Brown and his wife, Patti, are owners of SERVPRO® of Henry, Spalding and Clayton Counties, as well as SERVPRO® of Decatur, all headquartered in McDonough. SERVPRO is the nation’s leader in fire & water damage cleanup and restoration.

Danny Brown

Magnify Your Voice…

Chairman’s Message


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About the Company In 1908 an informal partnership between Stephen F. Briggs (inven-tor) and Harold M. Stratton (investor) began. This informal partner-ship evolved into the Briggs & Stratton Corporation and is now over 100 years old and has prospered into a company that produces 4-cycle gasoline engines for a worldwide audience. Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group, LLC located in Mc-Donough, GA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI. The McDonough facil-ity, managed by Monty Ray, is North America’s number one manufac-turer of portable generators and pressure washers, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of stand-by generators, along with lawn and garden and turf care through its Simplicity®, Snap-per ®, Ferris®, and Murray® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. In addition to its engine business, the company is also a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of: engines; walk-behind lawn mowers; riding mowers and tractors; zero-turn mowers; snowthrowers; home generator systems; portable generators and pressure washers. The McDonough facility produces riding mowers and tractors, zero-turn mowers, snowthrowers and pressure washers. The McDonough plant has operated in the lawn and garden indus-

try since 1954. In 2004 Briggs & Stratton acquired Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc. The facility currently employs 574 full-time staff and 249 temporary personnel. Briggs & Stratton net sales for Engine and Product Divisions was $2,109,998 in 2011.

Community Support Briggs & Stratton fosters the belief that everyone has an im-mense power within to create change and to make a difference in the lives of others. It is because of this tenet that their phil-anthropic efforts focus not only on charitable giving, but also on assisting the people in their community in creating a brighter fu-ture for themselves and others. The company sets the tone in the following areas: Education – Education is the foundation of a strong commu-nity and an essential component of Briggs & Stratton’s mission to help construct healthy and vibrant places to live and work. The com-pany champions this belief by promoting internships/co-op programs for college students and by participating in local career fairs. Non-profit support – The company and/or its employees partici-pate in a variety of community charitable events such as Relay for Life as well as donating to Southern Crescent Technical College and to other community initiatives. Employees donate via the company’s “Power of Giving” contribution program. Environmental/Relief efforts – An important part of building a community is maintaining its environment. Whether it is disaster re-lief or planting a tree, Briggs & Stratton has maintained an active ap-proach to environmental commitment as an effective way to weather the storm by supporting the following groups: American Red Cross; Briggs & Stratton’s Rapid Response Team; and Adopt-a-Highway. In 2012, Briggs & Stratton Corporation and the American Red Cross partnered to deliver nearly $1 million worth of donated generators and pressure washers to 183 American Red Cross chapters nation-wide to prepare areas prone to hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe

weather – before disasters hit. “We are proud to partner with the Ameri-can Red Cross and its incredible team of 650,000 volunteers to provide them with outdoor power equipment that will be quickly accessible to help people in the event of severe weather,” said Todd Teske, Chairman, President & CEO, Briggs & Strat-ton Corporation.

Chamber Involvement Briggs & Stratton has been an active Chamber participant since January 2003 and is one of the county’s flagship local busi-nesses. Just as the company understands the importance of being involved in the community, the company appreciates the value of Chamber membership.

“As a member of the Chamber, we are able to stay abreast of business and public issues that are important to the sustained

growth and development of Henry County.”Christina Kabalen, Briggs & Stratton Human Resources

Business ProfileBriggs & Stratton Power Products Group, LLC

Heather Chaney, Program Coordinator, Clayton State University Small Business Development Center Education is the key to wealth, and small business-es exist to make a profit and create personal wealth.

Business owners need to have a love of learning to succeed in today’s market: things are rapidly chang-ing, from social media marketing to new laws and regulations. A business owner will need to stay not only on top but ahead of these trends or risk becoming a has-been. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) teaches residents how to become successful business owners at its Starting a Business workshop. The three-hour workshop covers the traits of successful entre-preneurs (effective salesperson, fearless negotiator, re-sponsible money manager), estimating start-up costs and financing needs, and business planning. Lack of planning is the number one reason businesses fail; writing a business plan can help evaluate the feasibil-ity of the concept and provide an operating plan for a

company. Incorrect pricing can also cause a business to fail when there is not enough money in the sale of a product/service to cover the overhead and make a profit. Learning how to legally start and operate a business is essential for all aspiring entrepreneurs. The SBDC also assists existing entrepreneurs with extensive workshops covering all aspects of business management, including marketing, financing, and certifying a small business. In just a few hours a business owner can learn from experienced industry professionals. In addition to these workshops, SBDC consultants offer one-on-one complimentary con-fidential consulting to Henry County’s aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. GrowSmart™ is the SBDC’s new premier program for small business owners seeking to grow profession-

ally and personally. Too many owners are busy work-ing in their business to work on it, which can hinder future growth. This program helps business owners analyze and manage their business like a seasoned CEO. GrowSmart™ is intended for business owners/managers with $200,000+ in annual revenues and successful operation for 2+ years, and provides an op-portunity to make lasting business contacts. Small for-profit business owners seeking edu-cation and consulting services should contact their local SBDC office or visit www.georgiasbdc.org. They can also visit a local SCORE office or www.score.org for a list of SCORE’s classes and mentorship opportunities. The next SBDC “Starting A Business” class at the Chamber will be Tuesday, December 4, 5-8 PM.

Educating the small business community is good for business

Monty Ray, GM


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ChaMBER STaFFkay Pippin, PresidentLaura Luker, Director of TourismDiane Ide, Director of CommunicationsGary Sparrow, Membership DirectorPhyllis Reeves, Information Specialist

2012 BoaRd oF diRECToRS

ExECuTivE CoMMiTTEEDanny Brown, Chairman, SERvPRo® of Henry, Spalding & Clayton Counties & DecaturEddie Ausband, Chair-Elect, The Ausband Agency, Inc.Leonard Moreland, Secretary/Treasurer, Heritage BankTaylor Rice, Immediate Past Chair

Brad Thomas, vice Chair for Economic & Cultural Development, Snapping Shoals EMCCharlie Scott, vice Chair for Chamber Development, Piedmont Henry HospitalJune Wood, vice Chair for Government & Education, Georgia PowerJulie Hoover-Ernst, CvB Chair, Henry County Board of Commissionerskay Pippin, Henry County Chamber of Commerce President

CLaSS oF 2012Herschel Arant, Central Georgia EMCDanny Brown, SERvPRo of Henry & Spalding CountiesSteve Moore, Moore Bass Consulting, Inc. John newman, Classic Landscapes, Inc. Laura Turner, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta June Wood, Georgia Power

CLaSS oF 2013Eddie Ausband, The Ausband AgencyGreg Cannon, Cannon-Cleveland Funeral DirectorsSteve nail, nail Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Shane Persaud, Building Design Partnership, LLCRhonda SegersDenise Sowell, Capitol Street Financial Services

CLaSS oF 2014James Chafin, Judge, Henry County State CourtLisa Hunter, owner/Editor, So. Journal MagazineLeonard Moreland, President & CEo, Heritage BankDavid Pittman, CFo, Bennett International GroupWilliam Strickland, President, Bellamy-Strickland ChevroletBrad Thomas, President/CEo, Snapping Shoals EMC

Ex oFFiCio MEMBERSChairman Elizabeth “B.J.” Mathis, HC Board of CommissionersMayor R.W. Coley, City of HamptonMayor Robert Price, City of Locust GroveMayor Billy Copeland, City of McDonoughMayor Lee Stuart, City of StockbridgeEthan Hildreth, Superintendent, Henry County SchoolsCharlie Scott, CEo, Piedmont Henry Hospitalvickie Loper, Chairman, Henry County Development AuthorityRoderick Burch, Henry County Water and Sewerage AuthorityMichelle nunnally, Leadership HenryJake Carter, Chair AppointeePeto Fallas, Chair AppointeeGerald Hudgins, Chair Appointee

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ADVOCARE 500at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Chamber Closedfor Labor Day

8:30 AM Education Foundation, Bd Rm

8:30 AM Golf Comm, TR

8:30 RegistrationAnnual HCCC Golf Classic

@Heron Bay

8 AM Leadership Henry, Bd Rm

Noon Existing Industries Council, HR

7:30 AM HCCC BOD, Bd Rm

Noon Ambassadors Luncheon

11:30 AM Government Affairs Comm, HR

10 AM Small Business Council, Bd Rm

11 AM Business Boosters Luncheon, HR

5:30 PM Toast to Tourism, Panola Mountain

State Park

8 AM Youth Leadership Henry, Bd Rm

8 AM CVB BOD10 AM Membership

Comm, Bd Rm11:30 AM Executive

Comm, Bd Rm3 PM Education Comm,

Bd Rm3:30 PM Media Relations

Comm, Toppan Rm


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it’s happening in henry

FrankensteinPresented by the henry Playersaugust 30-31; Sept. 6-8 – 7:30 pm & Sept. 9 – 2:30 pmhenry County Performing arts CenterThe Henry Players present the classic telling of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. For more information visit www.henryplayers.com.

atlanta Brews Cruise Paddy Wagonaugust 30-31 – 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.Atlanta Motor Speedway to JailHouse Brewing Co. The Atlanta Brews Cruise Paddy Wagon will run continuously from three pick-up locations around Atlanta Motor Speedway to the JailHouse Brewing Company for tours and tastings. Call 404-384-6006 for additional information.

2012 Clay/Bow Shootaugust 31Cherokee Rose Gun Club and Sporting Resort - GriffinSpeedway Children’s Charities will host its annual Clay and Bow Shoot at Cherokee Rose Gun Club and Sporting Resort in Griffin to benefit the Atlanta chapter of SCC. For more information, contact Ginger Moats at (770) 946-3980 or email [email protected]

Governor’s Breakfastaugust 31atlanta Motor Speedway Speedway Children’s Charities will host a Governor’s Breakfast at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday, Aug. 31, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The event will feature special guest Governor Nathan Deal, as well as NASCAR drivers and Georgia natives David Ragan and Reed Sorenson, plus other NASCAR personalities. All monies raised will benefit the Atlanta chapter of SCC. For more information, contact Ginger Moats at (770) 946-3980 or email [email protected]

hampton Friday Marketaugust 31 – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm2 West Main StreetShop for fresh produce while being entertained by Monte Dutton who will be playing guitar and singing original songs.

Book Signing august 31 – 1:00 pm – 2:30 pmSpeak Easy Book StoreMusician Monte Dutton will be signing his latest book, Audacity of Dope, at Speak Easy Book Store (5 East Main Street, Hampton).

Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200 Camping World Truck Series Raceaugust 31atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR’s top stars return to the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway for three evenings of NASCAR night racing. The Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will hit the high banks for 200 miles of racing under the lights on Friday, Aug. 31. Adult tickets start at $25. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult ticket in General Admission seating. Call (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com

Labor day Weekend Saleaugust 31- September 3Tanger outlet Center – Locust GroveShop Tanger Outlets during the BIG Labor Day Weekend Sale. Find extra savings in your favorite name brand outlet stores during our 4-day sale! Visit tangeroutlet.com/coupons for the latest sales and coupon information.

nRa american Warrior 300 naSCaR nationwide Series Race and Sprint Cup Series QualifyingSeptember 1atlanta Motor SpeedwayNASCAR’s top stars return to the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second of three evenings of NASCAR night racing. Saturday’s action will include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying to set the field for Sunday’s AdvoCare 500, followed by 300 miles of high-speed havoc as Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Elliott Sadler, Austin Dillon and other NASCAR stars slam doors in the NRA American Warrior 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Adult tickets start at $30. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult ticket in General Admission seating. Call (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com

advoCare 500 naSCaR Sprint Cup Series Race and Fast Cars & Guitars Pre-Race Concert Featuring Montgomery Gentry September 2atlanta Motor SpeedwayThe superstars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series return to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the track’s third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race on Labor Day weekend. Watch the sparks fly as the world’s best drivers – Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – battle to the checkered flag for much needed points entering the postseason, while Atlanta Motor Speedway once again hosts the biggest Labor Day party in the USA. In addition to the racing action, Sunday

includes a pre-race concert with Montgomery Gentry. Adult tickets start at $39 and student tickets start at $19. Call (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com

Track Walk, Memorabilia auction, Ride of a Lifetime September 2atlanta Motor SpeedwaySpeedway Children’s Charities brings the opportunity for fans to walk the track on race morning with the Track Walk. Fans are also encouraged to attend the memorabilia auction where authentic racing items will be auctioned off. Also bid on the opportunity for a Ride of a Lifetime, where fans can ride with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver during driver introductions prior to the AdvoCare 500. All monies raised will benefit the Atlanta chapter of SCC. For more information, contact Ginger Moats at (770) 946-3980 or email [email protected].

Laps for Charity September 3atlanta Motor SpeedwayFans can drive their own vehicles on the same high-banks that their favorite NASCAR stars did battle on just hours prior on Monday, Sept. 3. All monies raised will benefit the Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. For more information, contact Ginger Moats at (770) 946-3980 or email [email protected].

henry County Parks & Recreation youth Basketball RegistrationSeptember 4-28various Locations Registration for girls and boys youth basketball (ages 5 – 17) is open from September 4-28 at Heritage Park, Moseley Recreation Center, Locust Grove Recreation Center and Fairview Recreation Center as well as online at www.hcprd.org.

Music in Mayors’ Walk ParkSeptember 7 -7:00PM-9:00PMMayors’ Walk Park – downtown Locust GroveBring blankets, chairs and your favorite snacks or plan dinner at the park. “Good Ole Hotdog” cart will be on hand for great hotdogs and drinks. Come early for some shopping or dinner at The French Market.

Richard Petty driving ExperienceSeptember 7-9atlanta Motor SpeedwayFor more information visit www.drivepetty.com or call (800) BE-PETTY.

Behind the Gates 5K/10KSeptember 8 – 9:00 amEagles Landing Country ClubProceeds benefit Shining Light Ministries, Inc. which is the first zoned recovery center in Henry County. They work closely with the McDonough Probation officers, Henry County Jail, IDTC Committee and countless others to ensure that they continue to help women of Henry County that desperately need treatment. www.shininglighthouse.com.

Patrick henry academy 2nd annual “Eat & Greet” September 13 – 5:30 pm – 7:30 pmPatrick henry academy - 109 South Lee Street, StockbridgeMembers of the local business community are invited to set up a display table for students to learn about the many different careers that are available in our local community. Dinner will be provided. Interested businesses should email or call Don Dunlap at [email protected] or 770.507.6414.

Friday night drags & Show-n-Shine Fall StampedeSeptember 14 & 21atlanta Motor SpeedwayCompeting nearly every Friday night from April through August, as well as two weeks in September, local competitors power up for weekly drag racing among several divisions. Everything from full-blown dragsters to grandma’s grocery-getter will compete in side-by-side, heads-up drag racing along the speedway’s pit road eighth-mile drag strip. The Show-N-Shine Car Show offers fans a chance to show off their rides in the comforts of the NASCAR garage. Participating Show-N-Shine vehicles will be displayed on the frontstretch prior to the start of opening ceremonies, allowing fans an opportunity to walk on the track and look at the show cars up close. Admission is only $8 and children five and under are free. Visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com for more information or call (770) 946-4211.

Koss Motorsports drifting & Car Show September 15atlanta Motor SpeedwayKoss Motorsports’ Drifting Championship Series makes a stop at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The event will feature Dyno Horsepower Wars, a Kutie Contest, food, vendors, a wing-eating contest, live music and DJ, car show and much more. For more information, visit www.kossmotorsports.com

Mud Crusade September 15atlanta Motor SpeedwayAre you in search of some good, clean, dirty fun? Test your mental and physical limits on the intense 5K mud and obstacle course that will challenge yourself, either individually or through the camaraderie of teamwork. After finishing, food, beer, swag, music, games and vendors will be on-hand to celebrate your accomplishment. For more information, visit www.mudcrusade.com

off-Season Legends Race and Legends invitational September 15atlanta Motor SpeedwayNASCAR’s stars of tomorrow battle for short-track supremacy on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “Thunder Ring,” the facility’s frontstretch quarter-mile oval track. Each event features multiple classes of Legends and Bandolero racing. Fans can purchase infield passes at the Security Command building near the speedway’s main entrance. Infield access costs just $12 for adults, $5 for children ages six through 11 and admission is free for children ages five and younger. Cost to race is just $25. Minors and their

guardians are required to complete a minor waiver before children ages 17 and younger can enter the infield; the waiver and instructions can be found at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. For more information, visit www.legendsofga.com or www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

open house and Ground-BreakingSeptember 20Eagle’s Landing Country Club Tennis CenterELCC is pleased to break ground on a new tennis center and welcomes the community to join us for an Open House featuring food, drinks, music and more. RSVP to attend: 770-389-2000 x 112 or [email protected]

The Cole Brothers Circus September 21-23atlanta Motor SpeedwayThe Cole Brothers Circus will return to the Atlanta Motor Speedway again in 2012. The circus will provide guests with the “Big Top Experience”, filled with daring and breathe taking performances. The circus will include intercontinental animal attractions, Angels in the Air, aerial ballet, and a freestyle motorcycle show. For more information, visit www.colebroscircus.com.

Fast Track high Performance driving SchoolSeptember 22 • Atlanta Motor SpeedwayFor more information visit www.fasttrackracing.com or call (704) 455-1700.

Southern Belle Farm – Fall SeasonSeptember 22 - november 4Southern Belle FarmSouthern Belle Farm welcomes you for another fall season where you will enjoy an old-fashioned country hayride tour of the 200-acre farm, wonder through the 7-acre corn maze, shoot the corn cannon, ride the cow train and pedal carts, jump on the jumping pillow and much more! Don’t worry – you won’t go hungry, there are lots of tasty treats at MiMi’s Kitchen, cooked right on the farm.

inaugural Black Tie Event September 22The inaugural Black Tie event with the Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, where all monies raised will benefit the Atlanta chapter of SCC. For more information, contact Ginger Moats at (770) 946-3980 or email [email protected].

Basic archerySeptember 22 – 3:00 pm – 5:00 pmPanola Mountain State Park Take aim and hit the bull’s eye! Join a certified instructor to learn archery basics. Meet at the Archery Range. All equipment provided. If you have your own equipment, cost includes an all-day archery range pass. Ages 9 and up. $10. $5 parking. 770-389-7801.

SCCa autocrosse September 23atlanta Motor SpeedwaySince 1944, SCCA has championed one mission: To bring motorsports to the masses of American men

and women who are passionate about automobiles, speed and competition. Racing will take place in the Champions and Winners parking area. For more information, visit www.soloatlanta.com

GunRunner Gun & Knife Show September 28-30atlanta Motor Speedway GunRunner Shows was founded in 1988 and has successfully sponsored, promoted and produced over 400 high quality Consumer Trade Shows. Among them include Gun and Knife Shows, Guitar Shows and Motorcycle Expos. Over 250 tables will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway for this event. For more information, visit www.gunrunnershows.com

naSCaR Racing ExperienceSeptember 28-30atlanta Motor SpeedwayFor more information visit www.nascarracingexperience.com or call (877) RACE-LAP.

Bear Creek Festival September 29-30 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pmMcBrayer ParkDuring this weekend Bear Creek Festival will host antique dealers, food vendors, Downtown Development Authority train rides, many arts & craft vendors and a kid’s area. Live Music will be a great treat throughout the day in this massive oak tree shaded city park. On Saturday the parade begins at 9:00 am and on Sunday there will be a car show. For more information: www.bearcreekfestival.com. This is a Hampton Business and Merchants Association event.

your State Parks day - native Wildflower Planting at PanolaSeptember 29 – 9:00 am – noonPanola Mountain State Park Join park staff and volunteers planting a variety of local wildflowers in the “Power of Flight” grassland habitat restoration area. Restoring wildlife habitat is an essential part of saving our public lands. All ages and interests can have fun, plant one plant or stay the whole time, and learn why grasslands are such important habitats for wildlife. Meet at the Alexander’s Lake parking area. Bring your own snacks and soft drinks, bug repellant and comfortable work clothes. Sponsored by Friends of Georgia State Parks. 770-389-7801.

Comfortably South

of Atlanta


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Southern Crescent Technical College, a unit of the Techni-cal College System of Georgia, will soon have a physical presence in Henry County. About to go out to bid, the facility will consist initially of one two-story building, of approximately 35,000 square feet. Housed in the new building will be a variety of classrooms, offices, and laboratory spaces, which will host a wide-ranging assortment of classes. Although many of the programs offered at Southern Crescent’s Griffin campus will still require students to attend a portion of their educational time on the Griffin campus, many students will not only be able to begin their education in Henry County at the new center, but some will be able to finish their entire programs locally. The Henry County business and education communities have long been supporters of SCTC, and in fact, a number of courses are already offered at the Academy for Advanced Studies on the Henry County High School campus. Up till now, however, Henry County has been the only Georgia County of its size which has not been host to a technical college facility of some kind. This will change with the addition of the new building. To be located immediately east of Henry County high school, the facility will be built on land donated to Southern Crescent by the Henry County School Board. Additionally, the City of McDonough has been instrumental in providing access to infrastructure to make the implementation of the new building a much lower operating cost than originally conceived. The college has been working on the

plan for over a year, contributing $2.5 million of college funds, and securing over $6 million of state funds to complete the building project. This first building, one of eight in current planning, will include parking areas, a main roadway into the site, and facilities to provide both student support services as well as academic instruction to students of Henry County. Future facilities include several buildings which will create an entire Henry County Campus for Southern Crescent. Included in the plan for the initial building are general purpose classrooms, which will host sev-eral general education courses such as math and English, a CISCO networking lab and classroom, which will host a CISCO networking academy pro-gram, computer classrooms, life science labs, and a unique MRI simulator which will be used for advanced education for graduates already holding Radiography certifications. The Henry County facility has been designed with sustainability in mind. The building has been designed with a holistic approach to con-servation of resources such as water and power when compared to a typical classroom facility. The design has targeted a 60% reduction in power consumption over the national average

for similar univer-sity buildings, and the intent of the design is to be a LEED certified sil-ver building. In summary, the new facility of South-ern Crescent Technical College will be a major addition to the educa-tional infrastructure of Henry County, and will bring technical educa-tion within range of every resident of Henry County.

Southern Crescent Technical College Facility Coming Soon to Henry County

Entry Elevation

Entry Lobby

HeritageBank?

Pick up or new ad?


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Ed Clark, President & General Manager, Atlanta Motor Speedway, on be-ing named “Who’s Who” in Atlanta’s Hospital-ity industry by the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Hos-pitality Quarterly July 13-19, 2012.

Whaley, Hammonds, Tomasello on the re-cent merger between Robinson, Whaley, Hammonds & Allison in McDonough and Tomasello, Plageman & Associates, LLC who had offices in Forest Park, Stockbridge and Hampton.

Eagle’s Landing Country Club on the ground-breaking of a new tennis center September 20. The new center is expected to open by early 2013.

Hari Madichetty, M.D. has been named the new medical director of the Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Piedmont Henry Hospital. He has been practicing pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine for ap-

proximately seven years. He has served on performance improvement committees at several area hospitals in-cluding Piedmont Henry Hospital, where he currently is chairman of the Quality Assurance committee.

William A. “Tony” Moye for being selected by the Georgia Phar-macy Association as the recipient of the 2012 Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding commu-nity service. This award

recognizes pharmacists who possess outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities, and encourages pharmacists to take active roles in the af-fairs of the respective communities, and is considered one of the profession’s most prestigious awards.

The Greater Henry Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on be-ing awarded the Gold EXCEL Award for its scope of work in 2011 which aligned with SHRM’s overall objectives, strategic focus and initiatives as well as promoting the HR profession at the local level.

Consolidated Copier Services on their 25th anniversary! The company opened on August 20, 1985 and now has two locations: Conyers, Decatur and will be opening a site in Henry County.

august Chamber Briefs ... Congratulations to:

august Chamber Briefs ... Congratulations to:

Strawn & Co.Insurance

Pick up or new ad?


HenryCounty.Com 9

R. W. ColeyMayor

P.O. Box 400 City Hall: 770.946.430617 East Main Street South Fax: 770.946. 4356Hampton, Georgia 30228

City ofHampton Eddie Ausband,

CFP

4920 N. Henry Blvd Stockbridge, GA 30281Phone: 770-507-401K770-389-9060 x 102 [email protected]

Henry County Chamber ofCommerce

Convention & Visitors Bureau1709 Highway 20 West

Westridge Business CenterMcDonough, GA 30253

770-957-5786

Henry County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Proudly Serving Henry County

PuBlication of Henrycounty.com is maDe PossiBle in Part By tHe suPPort of tHe BoarD memBers of tHe Henry county cHamBer of commerce. Thank You!

Ethan HildrethSuperintendent

770-957-6601770-914-6178 FAX

[email protected]

22 N. Zack Hinton ParkwayMcDonough, Georgia 30253

770-957-3915

City of McDonough

Billy Copeland, Mayor

8

McDonough865 Hwy.20/81 West

McDonough, GA 30253770-898-1988

StockbriDge850 Eagles Lndg. Pkwy.Stockbridge, GA 30281770-507-5855

LocuSt grove4870 Bill Gardner Pkwy.Locust Grove, HA 30248770-288-3500

SnappingShoals EMC?

There is no ticketfor this ad

CannonCleveland?


SouthernJournal Magazine?


CannonCleveland?


CentralGeorgia EMC?


ServPro?There is no ticket

for this ad

GeorgiaPower?


City ofStockbridge?



HenryCounty.Com10

The Leadership Henry Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of the Leadership Henry Class of 2013. In August these leaders began participating in a se-ries of monthly programs that develop their understanding of areas such as public safety, healthcare, education, eco-nomic development, government, and community service through interaction with local practitioners in each area. The class culminates in April 2013 with the planning and

execution of Leadership Henry’s annual Hands On Henry project, enabling class members to give back to the com-munity while reinforcing leadership skills in working with volunteers on multiple service projects selected to improve the beauty of Henry County and to benefit many of the county’s non-profit organizations. We are proud to share the names of those selected to participate in this rigorous and rewarding program:

David Carlyle, Southern Company

Grant Carter, State Farm Insurance

Dr. Pamela Carter, Communities In Schools of Henry County

Holly Duffey, Tanger Outlets

Tarji Dunn, Azone Realty

Sherry Dye, Henry County Tax Commissioner

Dr. Stephanie Gordon, The Women’s Center

Tashuna Gray, D & D Kustoms

Chuck Griggers, Central Georgia EMC

Gregory Guy, Goodyear Aviation

Debbie Hibben, Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta

Josette Hutton-Evans, Metamorphosis Powerhouse Company

Diane Ide, Henry County Chamber of Commerce

Lorrie Imes, Family Medical of McDonough & Locust Grove

Brad Johnson, Henry County Fire Department

James Johnson, Patriot Fire Protection, Inc.

Diane Miller, Saige Ways

Suesan Miller, Suesan A. Miller, P.C.

Brian Mock, United Hospice

Russell Murtha, Georgia Power Company

Helen Ponce, Laura S. Crumbley, CPA

Donna Sanford, Piedmont Henry Hospital

Dawn Sorrow, Henry County Fuller Center for Housing

Lee Stuart, City of Stockbridge

Kyla Tammaro, The Original Shane’s Rib Shack

Janet Teknipp, Piedmont Henry Hospital

Taqua Thrasher, City of College Park

Hector Tirado, Snapping Shoals EMC

Kimberly Underdue, Underdue Social Services, Inc.

Samuel Valme, Walden University

Gary Wargo, Mid Georgia Financial Group, LLC

Tara Washington, Robinson, Whaley, Hammonds & Allison

Debra Wells, Hands of Hope Clinic

MeSheryl Wimberly, Henry County Tax Commissioner

Robert Young, Snapping Shoals EMC

Just like flowers blooming indicate the start of Spring, bright yellow buses on the road signify the start of school for nearly 40,000 students in Henry County Schools. With a population of student riders near 23,000, the roads of Henry County will be full of students making their way to learn at one of the best school systems in the state. In order to ensure that all students make it to and from school in a safe manner, motorists should pay particularly close attention during their morning and afternoon com-mute. A bus does not have to be in sight for a potential safety issue to arise. Kids are waiting near roadways for buses each morning with distractions of conversations, electronic equipment, or wor-ries of that big test. It is up to vehicle operators to minimize their own distractions to help prevent accidents and look out for students waiting for their ride to school. Motorists should also be aware of common signals on a bus when one is close by. Yellow lights flashing at the top of a bus indicate that it is in the process of approaching a desig-nated stop or crossing hazard. Red lights flashing at the top of a bus indicate that the passenger door is open and ready to pick up or drop off students, or stopping at a potential crossing hazard. Students can board or leave the bus to head home from the same side of the road as the bus, or they could be making their way to or from the bus on the opposite side of the street. It is imperative that motorists adhere to the signals and DO NOT pass a bus when its yellow or red lights are flashing. A child’s safety is at risk when motorists ignore the signals in

an effort to minimize their own travel time. With the help of local law enforcement, city and county government authorities, and SmartBus Camera technology, motorists passing a bus will have their license plate photo-graphed and a $300 ticket will be issued to their registered home address. Motorists should also know that violators caught passing a bus will see an increase to their auto insurance the equiva-lent of receiving a DUI. Buses follow the same route and times each and ev-ery day with minimal changes in their routine. If you find yourself always behind a bus that might interfere with your morning or afternoon commute, try adjusting your schedule if possible to avoid delays. We encourage everyone to ‘Yield to Yellow and Respect the Red’ when it comes to school buses on the road. Kids trust their transportation to and from school each day, and motorists on the road are a part of ensuring that trust is not broken or harmed.

Sitting on 877 acres, Atlanta Motor Speed-way represents the largest sports venue in the southeast and is Henry County’s largest taxpay-er. In addition to its property tax contribution, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s facility is in use 200 days per year, stimulating millions of dollars in tourist spending. A 2011 HCCC/CVB survey found that during NASCAR race week/week-end, fans spent an average of $165 at Henry County businesses and with average weekend attendance surpassing 135,000 this translates into more than $22 million pouring into Henry County’s economy each September. As these fans begin to arrive later this month, the Henry County Chamber of Commerce/Con-vention and Visitors Bureau encourages busi-nesses to roll out the red carpet, or in this case, the checkered flags, to make fans feel welcome. The HCCC/CVB has a limited number of com-

memorative t-shirts encouraging race fans and residents to “Race to Henry.” Businesses wanting to display their racing spirit can buy t-shirts for $5 each or pick-up free “We Love Race Fans” buttons at the Chamber for their staff to wear during the weeks leading up to the race.What Else Can Your Business Do to Welcome Race Fans?•Add“WelcomeRaceFans”messagestodigi-tal marquees and signs•Displaycheckeredflags•Offer discounts to race fans holding validrace tickets (and advertise these discounts via CVB website)•ParticipateintheCVB’stextmessagemarket-ing campaign to send specials and discounts to race fans •Provide coupons to be distributed at theHCCC/CVB booth at Atlanta Motor Speedway

during race weekend•Remind race fans who make purchases atyour business to save their receipts and redeem them for prizes at the CVB’s booth•BUYATICKETANDATTENDTHERACE!For more information about how your business can help welcome race fans and potentially draw business to your door step, contact Laura Luker at [email protected].

Why We Welcome Race Fans

Leadership Henry Class of 2013 Yield to Yellow and Respect the Red

DottieWiseMetro

Brokers?There is no ticket

for this adHenryVisions_SEPT.indd 9 8/24/12 2:50 PM

businessBoosters luncheonbusinessBoosters luncheon

HenryCounty.Com 11

The Henry County Chamber of Commerce partners with Collette Vacations to offer both Chamber members and others some very interesting, affordable travel opportunities. Join us September 20 as Collette representative Jennifer Gyroffy presents six exciting travel opportunities planned for 2013 and early 2014. Plans include three exotic destinations – Africa, Australia, China.

Plans include three European Options including London, Scotland, France and other sitesAttend the luncheon and get all the details. The first 40 Chamber members to register will receive complimentary lunch. Non-Chamber members are welcome to participate. The cost is $12 for Chamber members not receiving the complimentary lunch and $20 for non-members. Reservations are required and can be made (and paid) online by Chamber members at www.henrycounty.com under “Events” – simply find the event on September 20. Guests and non-members can call (770)957-5786 or email [email protected] to make a reservation for this luncheon meeting.

September Business Boosters Luncheon

Facilitated by Jennifer Gyroffy ... Collette Vacations

September 20, 2012 • HCCC Hudgins Room • 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

“See the World……Affordably” Attendees at the August 16 Business Boosters Luncheon gained valuable insights into this confusing topic as presented by Holly Bates Snow, Chief Public Policy Officer & Vice President, Government & External Affairs with Piedmont Healthcare. In March 2010, Congress passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will have the most sweeping impact on the U.S. health systems since Medicare’s inception in 1965. And, just this past June, the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of several core provisions of the new law, paving the way for federal agencies, state legislators, and private industry to prepare for its implementation. The most important and controversial requirement of the ACA is that all Americans purchase health insurance. Although the bulk of the law goes live January 2014, CMS and many states are making preparations to implement the cornerstone of the ACA, which is the development and operation of Insurance Exchanges. So what does this mean to Georgia businesses, providers, insurers, and patients? Let’s rewind to passage of the 2,400 plus page bill. The premise of the ACA is to provide healthcare insurance to “all” uninsured Americans, which translates into covering 94 percent of the U.S. population, or 32 million people. This 94 percent includes the expansion of Medicaid to persons with an annual income up to 138 percent of poverty or $32,000 for a family of four. (Medicaid is a state/federal insurance program for certain categories of low income residents.) In Georgia, it is estimated that 650,000 new persons would qualify for Medicaid. To sweeten the pot, the ACA says it will pick up the tab for 100 percent of the Medicaid cost for several years and then gradually shift 10 percent onto states. On its surface, this is a pretty good deal for states. The remaining 6 percent includes illegal aliens, disenfranchised residents, or Americans who choose

not to be covered and pay a tax penalty. Health Insurance Exchanges will operate like a “Travelocity” model in which individuals and small groups (employers with up to 50 employees) can easily shop, sign up, and monitor their insurance coverage. Likewise, large businesses (defined as 50 or more employees) must continue to provide coverage or pay a tax penalty. With the exception of the requirement that states expand Medicaid coverage to all persons up to 138 percent of poverty, the Supreme Court waived the green flag for ACA full implementation. Several states, including Georgia, have stated they will wait until after the November elections to make a determination of whether to move forward with a state or federal health exchange. (Their hope is the Republicans will capture the White House and Senate and then move to repeal the entire act.) So, when asked if the ACA/Healthcare Reform/Obama-Care is a good thing or not, my response is “it depends.” • It’sagoodthingifyouarecurrentlyuninsured. (Depending on family income, uninsured residents and businesses could qualify for federal subsidies and tax credits to provide coverage for Americans up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.)• It’sagoodthingifyou’reunabletoobtain coverage due to a pre-existing condition or you have maxed out on your lifetime limit. (These practices

are prohibited after Jan. 1, 2014.) • It’s not so good if you own abusiness that has about 50 employees with seasonal or a lot of part time employees. (These businesses may face penalties of $2,000 per employee if they don’t offer coverage to their employees.) • It’sagreatthingifyouareasmallbusiness and want to provide coverage to low income employees but have had difficulty in finding affordable, comparable coverage. • It probably won’tmatter to largeemployers as many plans were grandfathered in the new law or are already providing insurance to employees. • It’s not so good if some largeemployers elect to pay the $2,000 per employee penalty and drop coverage versus paying for the average health insurance plan at a rate of $10,000 per family. This will add to the bad debt costs absorbed by hospitals and physicians. • It’s horrible for hospitals if stateschoose not to expand Medicaid coverage for all residents under 138 percent of poverty as the industry agreed to a $155 billion reduction in Medicare and Medicaid payments in exchange for achieving a 94 percent insured population. No doubt, there will be thousands upon thousands of new rules and regulations to clarify the ACA’s intent and unintended consequences as imposed by the new law. Stayed tuned!

August BBL – Learning About The Affordable Healthcare Act


businessAFter hours

October Businessafter hours

Hosted by

North Tower Lobby1133 Eagle’s Landing Parkway

Stockbridge678-604-1000

Thursday, October 25 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Are you man enough to wear pink or are you a woman who wears pink every day? This is the event for you. Piedmont Henry’s Real Men Wear Pink Campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness runs during the month of October, Join us Thursday, October 25 for a fabulous Pink Party. Listen to the beautiful sounds of Latitudes Steel Drum band. Pink prizes galore! Be sure to wear pink and bring plenty of business cards as you network with fellow Chamber members and guests and for a chance at the door prizes. There will be a drawing for the Chamber jackpot - and you must be present to win.

Be sure to bring plenty of business cards to network with other Chamber members

and for the door prize drawings.

HenryCounty.Com12

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) has long been known in the metro area for its excellence in treat-ing children and youth, and Henry County is pleased to have their presence in our community. The new 8,000 square foot facility located on at 1510 Hudson Bridge Road will not only serve immediate care needs of patients, but will also provide access to specialized pediatric care to a larger number of families from Henry, Clayton, Spalding, Butts Fayette and surrounding counties. CHOA-Hudson Bridge opened its doors to allow residents and Chamber members to tour the facilities and hear about the types of patient care offered in the weeks just prior to opening on August 1. The Chamber participated in CHOA’s opening ceremonies, held a ribbon cutting and facilitated a Business After Hours on July 26. CHOA officials provided tours of the facilities, highlighting the careful planning that went into the layout that serves to prevent the spread of illnesses, facilitates specialized injury care, radiography, and promotes efficiency in the movement of patients. Numerous door prizes were given away (thanks to our generous members who donate door prizes), in-cluding a family fun pack worth $200 donated by CHOA. Names drawn for the Chamber’s $200 jackpot were: Brenda Rayburn with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity; Allen Greer with The Greer Agency; and Loren Pierce with Moye’s Pharmacy. Since none of these potential winners were present, the jackpot increases to $250 for the August Business After Hours.

Chamber Members welcomed Children’s

Healthcare of Atlanta–Hudson Bridge to Henry County

at July’s Business After Hours!Real Men Wear Pink Party

Bellamy-Strickland?There is no ticket for this ad.


HenryCounty.Com 13

HCCC 12th Annual Golf Classic – Time is Running Out

This year’s HCCC Golf Classic is quickly ap-proaching. The event will be held at Heron Bay Golf & Country Club on Monday September, 24. Sponsorship opportunities are still avail-able, but you must hurry in order to participate in this prestigious event. This year’s tourna-ment will feature cash prizes for first, second and third place teams, the putting green con-test winner, as well as three hole-in-one con-tests: two for an automobile and one for an all-expenses- paid trip to the 2013 Masters for your entire team. There will also be a perfor-mance by trick shot artist Rocky Shipes. Sponsorships are available for as little as $100 and a team of four is only $750 if you want to participate in all the festivities. As always, there will be lunch on the course, dinner provided by Outback, and beverages throughout the day. Make your plans now for this fun event before time runs out.

Available sponsorships are at the following levels:

Platinum $5,000 Gold $2,500Silver $1,500Team Only $750 (Limited availability after sponsorships)Tent Sponsor $350Hole Sponsor $100

For more information about sponsoring the

12th Annual Golf Classic or to register

a team, contact Gary Sparrow at 770-957-5786 or

[email protected]

Save the DateThe Chamber’s 2nd Annual

Membership Appreciation LunchWednesday, October 31 – Halloween

Drop by any time between 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Enjoy a free lunch (member’s only) catered by

On the Chamber groundsCostumes are encouraged, but not necessary

This event was so much fun that we just had to repeat it! It was interesting to see who participated and who came in costume!

Hats off to Shane’s for providing wonderful food for all! Here’s a peek at those who participated in 2011:

Delta PlumbingPick up or new ad?


HenryCounty.Com14

July 18De Wafelbakkers108 Declaration Drive

McDonough, ga 30253Contact: Mark Coolican

(501) 370-1169 www.dewaffelbakkers.com

July 25Children’s Health of

Atlanta – Hudson Bridge1510 hudson Bridge roadstockbridge, ga 30281 Contact: Laura turner

(404) 201-0822www.choa.org

August 15Run Fit Sports, Inc.

1387 hwy 20 WestMcDonough, ga 30253 Contact: perry slaugher

(478) 477-7577www.runfitsports.com

ChaMBER MEMBERShiPThank you to our REnEWinG Members

Patrice & AssociatesMarcell Ausborn

200 Candice CourtHampton, GA 30228

(770)897-2050

New Sole RunningDavid Johnson

1315 McDonough PkwyMcDonough, GA 30253

(678) 432-1244

Sheet Metal Workers Local 85Randy Beall

1838 Metropolitan PkwyAtlanta, GA 30315

(404) 803-0294

Premier Wireless Solutions, IncNeil McLeod

1010 Premiere WayMcDonough, GA 30252

(770)305-9229

Woodlawn Park ApartmentsPhyllis Banks

100 Woodlawn Park Dr.McDonough, GA 30253

(770) 957-2578

American Family Insurance - Jessica D. SmithApex Controls, Inc.

Arthritis Research and Treatment CenterBank of the Ozarks

Bethany Baptist ChurchBetter Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Ann Francis

CapSouth PartnersChapman Insurance Group / Nationwide Insurance

Charter BusinessChristian Brothers Automotive

Clean Slate Services, LLCConsolidated Copier Servcices

Eagle Point Accounting & Tax, Inc.Eagle’s Brooke Apartments, LLC

Eagles Landing Christian Counseling Center, Inc.Express Employment Professionals

Family Support Circle, Inc.Grace Management Enterprises, Inc.

Hampton InnHenry Arts Alliance

Henry County Board of CommissionersJailhouse Brewing Company

Kauffman TireLogic Technologies, Inc.McDonough Lions Club

Mercer University - Regional Academic CenterPumpkin Patch at Yule Forest (The ) Hwy. 155

Rapid Enhanced Active Development, Inc.RoLanka International, Inc.

SERVPRO of Henry & Spalding CountiesSign-A-Rama

Skyline Pest Solutions, Inc.Snider-Killingsworth Insurance & Risk Management

Speedway DonutsSoar Hospitality

State Farm Insurance - Shannon TillTanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

UniVirtual Solutions, Inc.Victory Trophies

Wal-Mart - Willow LaneWelcome Home Real Estate GroupWhaley Hammonds Tomasello, P.C.

Woodmen of the World

ChaMBER MEMBERShiPWelcome to our nEW Members

Nail Heating & AirAd is out

for approvalHenryVisions_SEPT.indd 13 8/24/12 2:50 PM

HenryCounty.Com 15

FinanCiaL FOCUsshould you take a pension buyout? Consider these key issues Have you recently received a pension buyout offer? If so, you need to decide if you should take the buyout, which could provide you with a potentially large lump sum, or continue accepting your regular pension payments for the rest of your life. It’s a big decision. Clearly, there’s no one-size fits all answer. Your choice needs to be based on your individual cir-cumstances. So, as you weigh your options, you’ll need to consider a variety of key issues, including the following:• Estate considerations: Yourpension payments generally end when you and/or your spouse dies, which means your children will get none of the money. But if you were to roll the lump sum into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), and you don’t exhaust it in your lifetime, you could still have something to leave to your family members.

•Taxes:Ifyoutakethelumpsumand roll the funds into your IRA, you control how much you’ll be taxed and when, based on the amounts you choose to withdraw and the date you begin taking withdrawals. (Keep in mind, though, that you must start taking a designated minimum amount of withdrawals from a traditional IRA when you reach age 70½. Withdrawals taken before age 59½ are subject to taxes and penalties.) But if you take a pension, you may have less control over your income taxes, which will be based on your monthly payments.• Inflation: You could easilyspend two or three decades in re-tirement, and during that time, inflation can really add up. To cite just one example, the aver-age cost of a new car was $7,983 in 1982; 30 years later, that figure is $30,748, according to True-Car.com. If your pension checks

aren’t indexed for inflation, they will lose purchasing power over time. If you rolled over your lump sum into an IRA, however, you could put the money into invest-ments offering growth potential, keeping in mind, of course, that there are no guarantees.•Cashflow:Ifyou’realreadyre-ceiving a monthly pension, and you’re spending every dollar you receive just to meet your living expenses, you may be better off by keeping your pension payments intact. If you took the lump sum and converted it into an IRA, you can withdraw whatever amount you want (as long as you meet the required minimum distributions), but you’ll have to avoid withdraw-ing so much that you’ll eventually run out of money.• Confidence in future pensionpayments: From time to time, companies are forced to reduce their pension obligations due to

unforeseen circumstances. You may want to take this into account as you decide whether to continue taking your monthly pension pay-ments, but it’s an issue over which you have no control. On the other hand, once your lump sum is in an IRA, you have control over both the quality and diversification of your investment dollars. However, the trade-off is that investing is subject to various risks, including loss of principal. Before selecting either the lump sum or the monthly pen-sion payments, weigh all the fac-tors carefully to make sure your decision fits into your overall financial strategy. With a choice of this importance, you will prob-ably want to consult with your financial and tax advisors. Ul-timately, you may find that this type of offer presents you with a great opportunity, so take the time to consider your options.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Member SIPC

www.edwardjones.com

SmartMoney June 2012Edward Jones was named the No. 1 full-service brokerage firm in the June 2012 edition of SmartMoney magazine. The magazine lauded the firm for its reputation for excellent client service. The firm consis-tently has been ranked highly in the SmartMoney survey as No. 1 in 2005, 2007 and 2010, and No. 2 in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

J.D. Power and Associates May 2012 Edward Jones ranked “Highest in Investor Satisfaction with Full Service Brokerage Firms”according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Full Service Investor Satisfaction StudySM.1

1 Edward Jones received the highest numerical score among full service brokerage firms in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Full Service Investor Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on responses from 4,401 investors measuring 16 investment firms and measures opinions of investors who used full-service investment institutions. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in February 2012. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

Financial AdvisorJohn H. Dorminy190 Turner Street

McDonough, GA 30253(770) 957-0250

Financial AdvisorLin Watts

305 Olde Towne WayMcDonough, GA 30252

(678) 583-1325

Something Worth SharingWe’re proud of the news coverage we’ve received, and we hope to build upon these accomplishments. We know that our success is your success. Thank you.

Call today to start taking steps toward your financial independence

Carefully consider the key issues before making your final decision about a pension buyout offer.


HenryCounty.Com16

Piedmont HospitalPick up or new ad?


sept 2012 hccc newsletter

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