MomentumMarch 2013

G R E AT E R R O M E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

PERIODICALSPOSTAGE

PAIDRome, GA

30161

The Green Edition:How the community that works together stays together* ServiceMaster by Twins Named Small Business of the Year* Missy Armstrong Named Ambassador of the Year

All content by:Blake Buford

Communications Coordinator

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of ContentsIn this Issue...Letter from the Chairman ...................................................4Upcoming Community Events .........................................4

Feature:Rome/Floyd Recycling Center .....................................6-7

Manufacturing Spotlight:Marglen Industries ...........................................................8-9

Small Business Spotlight:La Marie’s/Swift & Finch ........................................ 10-11

Feature:Floyd Medical Center ............................................. 12-13

Membership Report:New Members and Renewals .......................................17Launches/Relaunches ......................................................18Advertiser’s Index/Chamber Events ............................19A Survivor’s Story/Relay For Life......................... 20-21Chamber Happenings .....................................................22Visitor’s Guide .......................................................................23

For Advertising and Editorial Information:

706-291-7663

Published by:Greater Rome

Chamber of Commerce1 Riverside Parkway

Rome, Georgia 30161

March 2013 3

G R E AT E R R O M E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C EMomentum

March 2013

On the Cover:

All content by:Blake Buford

Communications Coordinator

Momentum (USPS 395-030)Published monthly by the Greater

Rome Chamber of Commerce, 1 Riverside Parkway, Rome, GA 30161.

Periodical Postage Paid - Rome, GA 30161. Subscription Rate $25 per year

in U.S.A.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MOMENTUM, 1 Riverside Parkway,

Rome, GA 30161

The four leaves of the clover are said to represent faith, hope, love and luck. We wish all the best to our Chamber Member Businesses in this spring season!

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

C h e c k t h e co m m u n i t y c a l e n d a r a t w w w. r o m e g a . co m fo r e ve nt d e t a i l s .

5Young Professionals of Romehosted by the Rome Area Council for the ArtsLocation: City Hall Auditorium, 601 Broad Street Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.Event Description: Join fellow young professionals for light hors d’oeuvres & beverages at the upstairs gallery in City Hall Auditorium.

7Moe’s Southwest Grill presents:“Open Mic Night”Location: 110 Shorter Avenue, NWTime: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.Event Description: Every Thursday for Five Weeks!Sign-up will start at 6:00 p.m. for all participating artists.All artists are welcome to perform! Solo Acts, Duos, Ensembles, Bands! It is a great way to get noticed and have fun in an alcohol free environment! Family-friendly music only!! 1st Place: $30 in Jr. Burrito Cards, 2nd Place: $20 in Jr. Burrito Cards, and 3rd Place: $10 in Jr. Burrito Cards.

Community Events March 2013

Dear Reader,

Exciting things are happening in Rome and Floyd County!2013 will be a great year and we are delighted to share our community with you. The Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce takes great pride in providing this publication to introduce you to our membership, manufacturers, small businesses and community.

This issue features the Rome/Floyd Recycling Center, Marglen Industries, La Marie’s at Magretta Hall, Swift & Finch Coffee Roasting Company and Cafe, and a spotlight on Floyd Medical Center. This edition also features this month’s New Members and Renewals. Don’t forget to take a look at the Community Calendar and experience the

vibrancy of Rome and Floyd County for yourself. As Chairman of the Chamber’s 2013 Board of Directors, I would like to extend an invitation for you to visit the Chamber of Commerce located at 1 Riverside Parkway and meet the Chamber staff. You will find an incredible group that is truly committed to the future of Rome and Floyd County.Sincerely,

Doc KiblerState Mutual Insurance Company2013 Chairman of the BoardGreater Rome Chamber of Commerce

16333 on Broad presents:“Dueling Pianos Comedy Show”Location: 333 Broad StreetTime: 9:00 p.m. Event Description: Join family and friends for a high energy, all request, sing-a-long, clap-a-long, rock n’ roll comedy show where the audience is just as much a part of the show as the entertainers! Free giveaways! Perfect for birthdays, bachelorette, and office parties!

18Shorter University presents:“Juried Student Art Exhibit”Location: 315 Shorter Avenue Time: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Event Description: An Exhibition of Artwork by Shorter University Art Majors and Minors, featuring artwork of a variety of media completed during coursework and selected for the exhibition by a Guest Art Professional.

GREENE’S Jewelers, inc.328 BROAD ST. • Phone 706-291-7236

Rome’s Oldest Jeweler Family Owned For Over 60 Years

WE MAKE IT WORKLOGICAL SYSTEMS IS HERE FOR

ALL OF YOUR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS.AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.

• Computer Support • IT Consulting • Voice and Data Networks • Network Security • Wireless Computing • Custom

Multi-Media • Off-Site Backups

(706) 234-9896www.logsysinc.com

March 2013 5

HONORING GODwith excellence!

Dual accreDitation

www.acsi.orgwww.sacs.org

•Pre-K 3 through 12th grades•College Preparatory•Biblical Worldview•Athletic Program

2960 New Calhoun Hwy NE • Rome, GAwww.unitychristianschool.org • (706) 292-0700

unity christian school

The weather’s cold.... The market’s HOT!!Buying or Selling I’ll work for you!Cindy Green (706) 409-1793cindy@callromehome.com

March 2013 6

The Rome/ Floyd Recycling

CenterHow One Man’s

Trash Can1 Become a Community’s

Treasure

“Re Re”, the Rome/Floyd Recycling Center mascot, is used as an educational tool

for children.

Mark Skeggs, the director of the Rome/Floyd Recycling

Center, smiles for the camera.

Tom Benefield, the assistant manager and corrections

officer, pauses near one of the plastic piles.

In 1992 the Rome/Floyd Recycling Center opened, funded by the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). An eagerly awaited addition to Rome, for 11 years the recycling center has offered a free option for community members to keep their materials out of landfills, rivers and streams and recycle them instead! Mark Skeggs, director of the Rome/Floyd Recycling Center, praised the success of the SPLOST and the necessity for recycling in every community. “It’s so important for all of us to be kind to the earth. One recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to power the average TV for three hours!” Skeggs noted that around 20% of Rome citizens recycle, a number he would like to see increase, but that increase would also require some changes for the center. “Right now we are almost at the max of what we can carry; we will eventually need to add a second shift, more space, more equipment and additional upgrades.” Currently the center has eight employees, five corrections officers, two route truck drivers, one administrative assistant and around 40 Floyd County Prison inmates who work at the center. “We are truly proud of the inmates who work here. They don’t earn a salary but they earn valuable skills.” Skeggs said their assistance also saves the center thousands of dollars. “Multiply 40 hours a week by minimum wage to understand the substantial amount of money saved.” Inmates must pass security criteria that are determined by a classification committee. The criteria include offenses — past and current — and their current job skills. The committee then has to unanimously decide if an inmate can work outside of the prison. Assistant Manager and Corrections Officer Tom Benefield said, “People would be surprised by the everyday trash they can recycle. We take everything from books to x-ray film, televisions to refrigerators,” said Benefield. “One thing we are very happy about is being able to work with Marglen Industries. When we put our plastics up for bid, 9 out of 10 times they are the ones to buy them.” Once the recycling center has enough material to sell, they look at the buying/selling rates for the particular material and decide whether to sell. They then place the material for “auction” allowing different companies to bid.Find out more information on the Rome/Floyd Recycling Center in the Chamber’s business directory located at www.romega.com.

Turning "trash" into clean sustainable fiber and resin

March 2013 8

Ben McElrath, President of Marglen Industries

March 2013 9

Trivia. What’s 57 acres, has two buildings over 550,000 square feet, employs approximately 180 people and turns your trash into clean sustainable fiber and resin? If you said Marglen Industries you would be correct. Marglen Industries, 1748 Ward Mountain Road, has become a leader in recycling post-consumer soda bottles and using environmentally friendly and economically stable solutions for manufacturing since 1991. It was in ’91 when Marglen Industries installed their first polyester extrusion line that used ground up recycled plastic bottles as raw material. Marglen gets their recycled plastic from all over the world including the Rome/Floyd Recycling Center. President of Marglen, Ben McElrath, said the plastic they purchase from the center is great but there needs to be way more recycling in the community. “If more people recycled, the Rome/Floyd Recycling Center would have more recycled goods to sell to us which would allow us to produce more fiber products and ultimately expand/hire more people.” Marglen takes the recycled plastic and runs it through several machines that remove the labels from the bottles, clean and sanitize the bottle before it is sent to another machine to be ground up and melted/or spun into whatever they need. Since 2009 Marglen has been taking the recycled plastic bottles and sending them through a decontamination process, producing a 100% recycled food grade pellet that can then be used to produce a new bottle or other PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) food package. Originally focusing on carpet, Marglen now creates fiber used in fiber fill, stuffing, furniture filling and other non woven products. In 2010 Marglen installed solar panels to the roof of its recycling building. Georgia Power helps by buying the electricity that Marglen generates at a higher rate than they charge the plant for the power it consumes. With all the good Marglen is doing, what is president Ben McElrath most proud of? “We have some of the best employees in the region, and have very low turnover. We have workers regularly celebrating 15+ years.” The Marglen plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and uses about 2.5 billion PET recycled bottles each year. Find out more information on Marglen Industries in the Chamber’s business directory located at www.romega.com.

March 2013 10

Formerly a bank in the late 1800’s and most of the 1900’s, 201 Broad Street is now the home of Marie Brinson’s

restaurant La Marie’s. In December 2011, Ms. Brinson opened the doors with a hope of bringing a fine dining

establishment to the area. “The atmosphere and quality of food is so important but we’ve loosened our ties a bit from

inception and serve everything from wings to wellington,” said Brinson. “We have a full bistro, we serve lamb,

duck, the best filet in town, we have a baker on staff who makes amazing desserts and a specialty

drink we call the ‘Board of Directors’. We really wanted to pay homage to the great history of

this building while giving the community a great dining experience.” Something La Marie’s also serves is coffee and what’s their best selling brand? The roast made by Broad Street’s own Swift & Finch! “Our barista Mark McLucas is an amazing young and talented guy. The basement was full of treasure when we acquired the building and Mark dusted off this vintage double-pump Astoria Fiore espresso machine from Italy. Mark

refurbished it and tried a couple different brands with the machine. None tasted as good as a bag he got from Swift & Finch. We have been using their coffee ever since and it has been a restaurant favorite.” Born in Rome, Brinson’s lifelong dream was to own a business on Broad Street. “I truly think Broad Street is the most amazing

downtown in Georgia. There really is no place like home! I am so blessed to be the owner/operator

of La Marie’s and The Vault!” Find out more information on La Marie’s

in the Chamber’s business directory located at www.romega.com.

Co-owner of Swift & Finch, Ellie Mahon’s passion for coffee can be felt from a mile away. A recent transplant to Rome, Mahon wanted to create a “third place” for downtown Rome with co-owner Abby Broadrick. “A third place is that spot that isn’t your home and it isn’t your work; it’s a place you can go to get inspiration and new ideas.” Creating that atmosphere required an almost complete remodel. “We basically gutted the place! We kept the metal walls, stripped the tile and then focused on lighting and creating the mood.” Mahon said she was really happy with how the bar turned out upon completion. “The bar is a great area where our employees can interact with customers, learn names, learn orders and facilitate conversation. We’re also thankful for the parking lot we have. Space is so important downtown and our parking lot allows people to stay for a while.” Swift & Finch gets their green unroasted coffee beans from coffee farms and then roasts the beans in-house which creates the deep brown coffee bean most consumers have come to know. “Our coffee ranges from Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania to New Guinea. We find out what the customers love and work to make them love it even more!” said Mahon. To pair with the drinks, Swift & Finch sells an assortment of pastries. “We bake scones, muffins, cookies, pies, bagels and even have a trail mix bar.” Mahon likes the assortment currently available and plans to expand the dessert and breakfast menu. “We would love it if people would eat lunch/dinner at one of the great Chamber Member restaurants and then come to Swift & Finch to get their coffee and sweets!” Find out more information on Swift & Finch in the Chamber’s business directory located at www.romega.com.

March 2013 11

Since first opening its doors in 1942, Floyd Medical Center has grown steadily to become a highly respected Regional Referral Center, Floyd County’s largest employer, destination medical center, Level II Trauma Center, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care provider, and community health care provider. President and CEO Kurt Stuenkel, who has led Floyd since 1996, says the hospital’s successes are built around a strategy that focuses on people-patients, but also their families, physicians, and the 2,700 employees who work at Floyd. “We try to create an environment where caregivers are allowed to do what they were called to do. Creating that positive environment is how we create a great patient-staff relationship,” said Stuenkel. “We mean what we say when we talk about having patient and employee satisfaction. When a

patient walks in the door, they are greeted with a smile. We train our staff to escort people instead of just pointing. We strive to improve more and more each day.” The hospital’s friendly and relaxing physical environment reflects the organization’s commitment to patient-centered excellence. Everything from the landscape to the lobbies, to the paintings and fountains are designed with creating a comfortable, easily accessible patient experience, he said. Stuenkel has personally witnessed the commitment, dedication and effort that have helped Floyd to become a leading health care provider. A Rome native, he came to Floyd in 1981, working his way up from Projects Officerto his current role. Under his leadership, Floyd has been recognized twice as Georgia’s Large Hospital of the Year, a Modern Healthcare Great Place to Work, and routinely is ranked as the top hospital in the state for employee satisfaction. In the past year Floyd received the Quality and Patient Safety Award from the Partnership for Health and Accountability, recognition by The Joint Commission’s Center for Transforming Healthcare, VHA recognition for its diabetes program and partnered with Presbyterian Hospital in Jeon Ju, South Korea to replicate the hospital’s renown breast health program. Stuenkel, who, in February, was installed as Chairman of the Georgia Hospital Association, said he loves watching the Floyd team excel. “It can be like a coach watching his players on the field as they win a game. Every time a project comes to completion orI see a patient leave happy it’s tremendously rewarding.”Find out more information on Floyd Medical Center in the Chamber’s business directory located at www.romega.com.

The Secret to Success is a Focus on People

March 2013 12

The Floyd Medical Center Lobby

March 2013 13

“When a patient walks in the door they are greeted with a smile. Customer service should always be a top priority.”- Kurt Stuenkel,President and CEOofFloyd Medical Center

March 2013 14

ServiceMaster by Twins Named Small Business of the Year!

Larry and Barry Alford accept the Small Business of the Year award from Lamante Attaud and Doc Kibler.

Congratulations to ServiceMaster by Twins! The company was awarded the Small Business of the Year award at the 2013 Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. Scoring was based on a variety of criteria including growth and success, community involvement, impact on the economy, obstacles overcome, Chamber involvement and creative approach to business. Larry Alford, co-owner of ServiceMaster by Twins, said he felt overwhelmed when he heard his company’s name announced. “I truly think the Small Business of the Year award is one of the most prestigious awards in Rome/Floyd County, we couldn’t help but to feel really excited to receive that honor.” Larry Alford, who previously worked as an EMT, and Barry Alford, who worked in shipping/receiving, made a weekend decision to purchase ServiceMaster years ago. The company has been an active Chamber Member since 1993, something Larry Alford said happens organically

for them. “We’ve always participated in the different Chamber expos and tried to attend the Business Before/After Hours. So many of our referrals have come through Chamber involvement. We also think it’s important to help others. We love to meet with small businesses and offer advice when we can. ServiceMaster has rapidly expanded over the past few years now operating in seven additional locations outside of Rome. They have 35 Rome employees and 67 across multiple states. Find out more information on ServiceMaster by Twins in the Chamber’s business directory located at www.romega.com.

March 2013 15

Missy Armstrong, Emergency Dry Clean Restoration, Named

Ambassador of the Year!

Five years ago the Floyd County College and Career Academy began a robotics program where students designed and engineered robots for class assignments. In 2012, under the leadership of Instructor Greg Smith, the class built two robots for a state-wide competition. “We placed 5th and 6th,” said Greg Smith. “There were 74 robots competing in the Jekyll Island tournament; we were thrilled by our success.” The competition required the students to operate a robot and guide it to pick up as many scattered bean bags in an allotted time frame. Enemy robots are allowed to knock bags out of the opponents trough and place them in their own. Smith says that the competitions are fun, but he is really proud of what

the students take away. “We’ve talked to people from Georgia Power, Kellogg, F & P Georgia and many other manufacturers, and with that we’ve designed a curriculum to help make the students employable. In return the local businesses know what kind of excellence they can expect from our graduates.” Looking to the future, Smith says he hopes to see an even greater level of interaction between the schools and local businesses. “I hope we can build this into a community project where high school students, colleges and local businesses all interlink and work with one another.”

Left to Right: Instructor Greg Smith with mechatronic students Shin Casahara and Nick Williams

Missy Armstrong, Emergency Dry Clean Restoration, received the 2012 Ambassador of the Year award at the 2012 Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. Armstrong is an active member of the Chamber and a fixture at Chamber Member ribbon cuttings. Armstrong was the winner of the 2012 membership campaign, an Ambassador Chair and a member of the EXPO committee. “I just love being involved,” said Armstrong. “Working with the Chamber provides a lot of opportunity to network and meet new people.” Armstrong said she was excited to win the award and hopes to continue her involvement with the Chamber. “I’m excited for the new opportunities and Chamber events planned for 2013.” Congratulations, Missy!

Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy has Strong Showing at Robotics Competition!

Reese & AssociatesMr. Hollis Reese

401 Broad St., Ste. 304Rome, GA 30161(706) 290-1111

www.reeseandassociatesllc.com

March 2013 16

The Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce thanks their Partners in Prosperity Major Investors:

New Members - Welcome!

A & L Shielding Inc. Advanced Sleep Concepts Alarm Systems, Inc. Allen Murphy Appliance Center, Inc. Aramark - Berry College Auto Collision Co., Inc. Auto Parts Company Barron, W. Frank, Jr. Bekaert Corporation Berry College Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson & Davis, LLP Caldwell Printing Co. Carroll EMC Charles Williams R.E.I.C. Citizens First Bank City of Rome Conrad Disability Specialists, LLC Cook’s Pest Control, Inc. Coosa Country Club Coosa River Basin Initiative, Inc. Coosa Valley Fair Association Daniel’s Funeral Home Darlington School Days Inn of Rome Dismuke, William F., Jr., DDS, PC Eastland Court Apartments Ehrlich Pest Control First United Methodist Church Floyd County Schools Board of Education Floyd Healthcare Foundation Ford, Gittings & Kane Jewelers Garner & Glover Co. Georgia Highlands College Georgia Northwestern Technical College Georgia Power Georgia Power Northwest Federal Credit Union Georgia Power Plant Hammond

GeoSolve Consulting, Inc. Gerber Collision & Glass Glass Doctor Harbin Clinic L.L.C. Harbor House Hardy Realty & Development Haynes & Moore, LLC Heritage Automotive Group Holloway Credit Bureau Co., LLC International Paper J Supply Company Kellogg Company King & Queen Salon Kiwanis Club of Rome Knight’s Jewelers La Marie’s at Magretta Hall Lamar Advertising Marglen Industries, Inc. Martin’s Real Estate & Development Company MasterStreamTV.com McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning, LLP Melissa Eldridge State Farm Insurance Agency Mike Ford’s Auto Service, Inc. Morgan & Hunt Oil Company My Supplies N.L. Smithworks, Inc. National Alliance on Mental Illness of Rome New Horizons Treatment Center, LLC NIFAST Corporation North Georgia Equipment Co. Northwest Georgia Credit Union Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Open Door Children’s Home Pinson’s, Inc. Pridemore Orthodontics Profile Extrusion Company

Reese & AssociatesMr. Hollis Reese

401 Broad St., Ste. 304Rome, GA 30161(706) 290-1111

www.reeseandassociatesllc.com

March 2013 17

Providence Prepatory Academy Redmond Regional Medical Center Reese & Associates Renaissance Marquis River City Bank Rocky Mountain Hydroelectric Plant Roman Chemical Corp. Rome Cleaners Rome Electric Motor Works, Inc. Rome Paper Company Rome/Floyd Parks & Recreation Authority Rome-Floyd Communities In Schools, Inc. S.I. Storey Lumber Co. Shorter University Southeastern Mills St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Starr-Mathews Insurance Agency State Mutual Insurance Stephens & Fisher, PC Suhner Manufacturing, Inc. SunTrust Bank, Northwest Georgia Terry Simmons Insurance Agency The 8th Regiment Band L.T.D. The Car Store The Fairbanks Company The Guest House Apartments The Lewis Chemical Company Three Rivers Specialty Co. Toles, Temple & Wright TSB Loss Control United Community Bank Village Theatres Wal Mart #658 Ware Mechanical, Inc. Williams, Sweitzer & Barnum, Inc. Winthrop Court Woods Brokerage Co.

Renewals

MasterStreamTV.comMr. James Simmons8 Westwood Circle, SW

Rome, GA 30165(706) 266-2203

www.MasterStreamTV.com

Conrad Disability Specialists, LLCMr. Steve Conrad

PO Box 876Rome, GA 30162(706) 802-9299

Car StoreMr. Jack Knight

1321 Martha Berry Blvd., NWRome, GA 30165(706) 291-1002

Launches/Relaunches

Melissa Eldridge State Farm Agency

Redmond Regional Medical Center Surgical Services

Doll

Kroger Store Expansion

Ms. Jennifer Baxter celebrates the opening of her Doll clothing boutique located at

315 Riverside Pkwy., NE, Ste. 120.

Redmond Regional Medical Center unveils their surgical services 4th floor remodel

at 501 Redmond Rd., NW.

Melissa Eldridge cuts the ribbon for her 415 Shorter Avenue, NW location.

Kroger celebrates the successful expansion of their store. The expansion improved the deli/bakery and created a larger produce

and natural food section at their 1476 Turner McCall Blvd., SW location.

March 2013 18

page 2Harbin Clinic

1825 Martha Berry Highwaywww.harbinclinic.com

706-295-5331

page 5Greene’s Jewelers

328 Broad Street www.greenesjewelers.com

706-291-7236

Logical Systems, Inc.605 E. First Street

www.logsysinc.com706-234-9896

Cindy Green Toles Temple & Wright

611 Turner McCall Blvd.www.callromehome.com

706-409-1793

Unity Christian School2960 New Calhoun Highwaywww.unitychristianschool.org

706-292-0700

page 16Georgia Northwestern

Technical Collegewww.gntc.edu

1 Maurice CulbersonDrive, SW

706-295-6963

Advertiser’s Index

5Young Professionals of Rome hosted by the Rome Area Council for the ArtsLocation: City Hall Auditorium 601 Broad Street 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.Event Description: Join fellow young professionals for light hors d’oeuvres & beverages at the upstairs gallery in City Hall Auditorium.

6Transportation Committee MeetingLocation: Chamber Boardroom 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

12First Choice Restoration Ribbon Cutting for Grand OpeningLocation: 10 Commerce Court, SE Rome, GA 3016111:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

13 Washington D.C. Issues and Opportunities Trip Date: 3/13/2013 to 3/15/2013 Event Description: Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Annual Issues and Opportunities Trip to Washington, DC Dates: March 13-15, 2013

13Small Business Action Council Committee MeetingLocation: Chamber Boardroom 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

27Executive Committee MeetingLocation: Chamber Boardroom 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Chamber EventsMarch 2013

back coverFord, Gittings & Kane

Jewelers312 Broad Street

www.fgkjewelers.com706-291-8811

March 2013 19

Special thanks to our advertisers! Find out more information about membership & advertising by visiting the chamber’s website www.romega.com.

Find light in the darknessHow a local cancer survivor finds strength in

family and her community “I had cancer for the first time in 1997 and had a double mastectomy/radiation in 2011, five months after my little sister passed from breast cancer I found out my cancer had come back. All of my doctors have been so wonderful in helping me cope with the news. Eventually with more treatments the tumors shrank but then came back in my bones and lungs. I will be starting a new treatment soon that I will probably remain on for the rest of my life. I’m just so thankful that I have the greatest support system, my daughter, my family (9 brothers and sister who were all at my house the night I found out I had cancer), my church family and my co-workers at Floyd. I was blessed, I didn’t get sick the entire time I was enduring chemotherapy. I got involved with Relay for Life because of my little sister. She fought cancer twice until the third time it had spread everywhere. With her in prayer we got involved with the relay because we want our daughters, daughters-in-law and granddaughters to not have to worry about breast cancer. Ultimately cancer doesn’t discriminate, so many lives are affected, almost everyone knows someone affected by it. We all have to get involved and help find a cure so our future generations don’t have to deal with this terrible disease.” May 22, 2013, marks the American Cancer Society’s 100th birthday. As the “official sponsor of birthdays,” ACS believes this year provides a unique opportunity for the organization to: 1) increase the public’s knowledge of ACS’s incredible accomplishments and contributions during the past 100 years, 2) to re-energize valued volunteers, staff, and collaborative

partners across the country who have helped ACS achieve lifesaving progress, and 3) to raise funds to finish the fight moving forward. Finally, ACS believes it provides an especially unique opportunity to rally Relay For Life supporters to make even more progress in achieving our mission to create a world with more birthdays and less cancer. What is Relay For Life? Relay For Life is the largest fundraiser in the world. It began in 1985 by oncologist Dr. Gordy Klatt. It is important to remember that the largest fundraiser in the world was begun by one man, dedicated to finding a better way to raise money for cancer research. Relay For Life supporters are some of the most passionate and giving volunteers around, more than 4 million people worldwide will come together to participate in Relay For Life this year. With Relay generating the majority of funds, ACS is the largest private, not for profit, non-governmental funder of cancer research in the US and has had a hand in nearly every major cancer research breakthrough in recent history. Relay for Life of Floyd County will be held Friday, April 26, 2013 at Ridge Ferry Park. This year’s theme is “Birthday Party.” Bring your friends and family and celebrate with us as we fight to find a cure! There will be games, entertainment, and most importantly the Survivor Walk and Luminaria Service. If there is anyone interested in participating as an honorary chair or in the survivor walk, please contact Stephanie Nichols at nicholss95@yahoo.com. For general information regarding this year’s Relay event, please contact either Sonya Blankenship or Jennifer Selman at River City Bank in Rome.

March 2013 20

From Left to Right: Michelle Baird, Charlee Baird and Alicia Baird.

March 2013 21

2

4

Chamber Happenings

March 2013 22

<< Rome City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden listens intently during the education breakout session.

>> Confluence Keynote Speaker Chris Anderson signs his book after his presentation.

**We would like to give a special thanks to Confluence Committee Chair Tricia Seifert, SAI Digital. Thank you for all your hard work!

<< Steve Devine, Petz Enterprises, listens to a question during a Rome-Floyd 20/20 Steering Committee meeting.

>>Daniel Groce (far left) is selected as the GOAL winner for Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

<< 2013 Chairman of the Board Doc Kibler presents Big Time Products gloves to Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp.

>> Holly McHagge, The Claremont House, talks with Ryan Simmons, Brand RED Studios, at Young Professionsals of Rome hosted by River City Antique Mall.

Broad Street

2nd Avenue

W. 1st St

W. 3rd St

E. 1st St

E. 2nd St

E. 3rd St

5th Avenue 1

US 27

2

4

3

10

6

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11

5

12

9

8

3rd Ave

4th Ave

6th Ave

8th Ave

Riverside Parkway

GA-101US-27

GA-20

GA-293

US 27

GA-100

GA -156

GA-53

13 14

33

1617

18

19

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21

22

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24

2526

27

2829

30

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US-411

GA-20 15

GA -1

Visitor’s GuideDowntown Rome

Floyd County

Points of Interest1 Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce2 Rome and Floyd County Library3 City Hall4 Clocktower5 Historic DeSoto Theatre6 Old Courthouse7 Myrtle Hill Cemetery8 Heritage Park9 Tennis Complex Barron Stadium10 The Forum11 Rome Area History Museum12 Harbin Clinic Tony E. Warren Cancer Center

Points of Interest13 Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum14 Chieftain’s Museum15 Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau and Rome Visitors Center16 Ridge Ferry Park17 Shorter University18 Mt. Berry Square Mall19 Cave Spring20 Lock & Dam Park21 Coosa Valley Fairgrounds22 Stonebridge Golf Course23 Berry College24 Floyd Medical Center25 Harbin Clinic26 Redmond Regional Medical Center27 Darlington Lower School28 Darlington Upper School29 Georgia Northwestern Technical College30 Unity Christian School31 State Mutual Stadium32 Saint Mary’s Catholic School33 Georgia Highlands College34 Richard B. Russell Regional Airport35 Georgia School for the Deaf

March 2013 23

312 Broad Street, Downtown Romewww.fgkjewelers.com 706.291.8811

This is a story about a local jeweler and two of their forever customers. No, not one

of those jewelry stores that have catchy jingles on the radio, or fancy buildings all

over the country, or the kind that tell you how cheap their diamonds really are. This

is the kind of jeweler that’s involved in and cares about their community and the

people in it -- and particularly those who stop in for a visit that quickly becomes a

lasting relationship.

This is a story about a girl with an eye for all things that sparkle and a guy who had

absolutely no idea what he was doing. This guy was crazy for this girl and thought

that if he asked her to marry him, she just might say yes. What this guy knew for

sure, though, was that this girl deserved the best of the best -- and that he needed

help to give her that.

This is a story about a staff member of the jewelry store named Jan, who could

have very easily sold this young guy a run-of-the-mill stone and setting just to

make a dollar. But no, Jan was better than that, and took time out of many days

-- sometimes for hours on end -- to work with this guy to find the right color and the

right cut and the right clarity of the right stone to put in the right band for the right

price...for the right girl.

This is a story about one engagement band and three wedding bands -- two for this

girl, one for this guy -- whose symbol of eternity not only reflects a partnership in

marriage but also the extent to which the customer/business relationship will last.

And yes, the story continues. Now, almost two years after this girl and this guy

became one, they still stroll down Broad Street and pop in to visit Jan and her

staff. This girl still browses the displays adding endless pieces to her wish list while

this guy just stands back and smiles. They catch up on life and love with the staff

members who know them by name -- and the complimentary ring cleanings are

surely not to be forgotten!

We are Jimmy and Candace Story, married March 26, 2011, and this is our Ford,

Gittings and Kane story.

C JS

Forever Begins Here“

”