BUFORD
Jamieson Equipment holds open house at company's new facility
Jamieson Equipment Company (JEC), a leader in the concrete and dry bulk material handling industries, held an Open House event in their new facility in September. Focusing on customer appreciation and customer education, the event included industry classes, manufacturer demonstrations and tours of the facility.
A variety of classes were held on plant, including operations, troubleshooting, maintenance, project management, plant design and plant automation.
Established in 1982 by Ted Jamieson, JEC provides customer service, quality products, systems and support to the dry bulk material handling industry. One year later in 1983, Ted's son Michael joined the business specializing in supplying complete solutions to the ready mix, precast, pre-stressed, block and pipe industries. JEC also employs a sales and project management staff with more than 100 years industry experience.
Buford Allstate agency hosts Shred Day event
More than 3,000 pounds of paper were collected for destruction last month at an Identity Theft Shred Day event held at the offices of Allstate Agent Brent Rippy on Hamilton Mill Road in Buford.
More than 50 people brought cancelled checks, banking statements, old bills and other unwanted paperwork to the event for free destruction by Shredderman Document Destruction Service, Inc., of Alpharetta.
Mark Ray of Shredderman, Brent Rippy and members of The Rippy Group staff collected the documents for safe removal to Shredderman's destruction facility in Cumming, where they were destroyed. Members of The Rippy Group also provided tips on protecting your identity and discussed Allstate's Identity Restoration Product and its features during the four-hour event.
DULUTH
Gwinnett Place CID installs new signage system
A first-of-its-kind signage and way finding system is now taking shape throughout greater Gwinnett Place. Workers with Jones Signs crews are currently in the Gwinnett Place area, installing the new signs for the benefit of area drivers.
The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District – in partnership with Gwinnett County and the Gwinnett Department of Transportation – is installing illuminated street name signs, directional signs and gateway monuments throughout the district.
Primerica Receives 2008 Metropolitan Partnership in Aging Award
Primerica received the Metropolitan Partnership in Aging (MPIA) 2008 Business & Aging Award in the large business category last month. The MPIA is a consortium of 10 county-based aging programs and the Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta's Area Agency on Aging.
Primerica employees have demonstrated their commitment by delivering more than1,100 meals to homebound seniors for 28 years, four days a week without fail, according to Maureen Kelly of ARC. The staff has also volunteered to spend quality time with the seniors and entertain them at the Norcross Senior Center. The value of volunteer service to GCSS has exceeded $250,000 over many years.
Company grants have led to the purchase of furniture, exercise equipment and electronics to benefit seniors attending one of the three centers in Gwinnett County.
"Primerica continues to improve the quality of life of our seniors," says Cathie Berger, chief of the Aging Services Division of ARC. Gwinnett County has the second largest senior population in Georgia.
Wegener unveils new digital encoder at SATCON 200
Last month at SATCON 2008, the Wegener Corporation announced the release of its new Nielsen SpoTTrac Digital encoder product, which supports Nielsen Tracking Services.
SpoTTrac Digital encoder is an encoding and watermarking solution that Wegener manufactures for The Nielsen Company, the industry leader in TV ratings, to enable the automated broadcast verification and commercial tracking services offered through its Nielsen Tracking Services division. SpoTTrac Digital enables Nielsen's customers – including broadcasters, advertisers and producers – to verify that their high definition and standard definition commercials, public service announcements, promos, and other media content air on television, and to track audience exposure to those messages.
"We're delighted that we've reached another important milestone in our long-standing partnership with The Nielsen Company," says Ned L. Mountain, president and COO of Wegener. "Wegner and The Nielsen Company have enjoyed a strong, mutually beneficial business relationship for several years."
LAWRENCEVILLE
Wings Air announces T-gate arrivals
Wings Air announced Oct. 14 that it has reached an agreement with American Airlines allowing the Lawrenceville-based shuttle service to handle its ground operations at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Beginning Nov. 1, Wings Air's Athens and Macon flights will arrive at and depart from the T-Gates in Atlanta. "Our customers will now be able to clear TSA security in these smaller, faster markets and go directly to their connecting flight in Atlanta without having to clear security at Hartsfield," says Wings Air CEO Charlie Mintz.
Both markets have lost their Essential Air Service carriers and Wings Air will be the only airline capable of providing this connecting service. Along with the benefits of free close-in airport parking and flying over Atlanta traffic instead of through it, travel times from these markets are drastically reduced.
While currently accepting only carry-on baggage, Wings Air is working on potentialcode-share agreements with other carriers in order to offer full baggage handling in the near future.
"While a majority of our customers have learned to pack for several days in carry-on size luggage as well as work within the associated TSA guidelines, we are working to offer the most complete service possible," Mintz says.
GGC Grizzly makes its debut
Georgia Gwinnett College debuted its official mascot, the Grizzly Bear, at the first annual Rock ‘n Rib Fest on Saturday in downtown Lawrenceville. GGC students chose the Grizzly Bear as its mascot earlier this year, but this was the first time the Grizzly was seen by its fans.
IMPACT! celebrates 15 years of service
The IMPACT! Group's 15th Anniversary Celebration will be celebrated Nov. 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Gwinnett Center. The celebration with include food, drinks, a silent auction, a raffle and the presentation of the first IMPACT! Award. Tickets will cost $75 per person.
ImagineAir reports record third quarter
ImagineAir's third quarter report for 2008 confirmed continual growth; record numbers for flight demand and revenue, the airline says.
Since the first quarter of 2008 ImagineAir has experienced growth in flight demand of 23 percent and an increase in revenue of 64 percent.
"The decreasing airline service to smaller, regional airports such as Tallahassee, Charleston, Columbia, Valdosta and Dothan, combined with higher last minute fares to these locations have been significant contributors to our growth" says Benjamin Hamilton, president of ImagineAir. "ImagineAir has been able to maintain flights to these cities and provide direct routes without the hassles associated with large commercial hubs."
LILBURN
Gwinnett charities net $62,500 in Jackson EMC Foundation grants
Five charitable organizations serving Gwinnett County residents have been awarded a total of $62,500 in grants by the Jackson EMC Foundation, funded by the electric cooperative's members through the Operation Round Up program.
Lawrenceville's Hope Clinic, a non-profit internal medicine clinic founded in 2002 to provide primary health care to the county's uninsured working poor, has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Jackson EMC Foundation.
Signs & Wonders, Inc., a Lawrenceville non-profit that provides assistance to the homeless and needy in Gwinnett County, has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Jackson EMC Foundation.
Rainbow Village, a Norcross non-profit providing transitional housing for the homeless, has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Jackson EMC Foundation.
The Lilburn Cooperative Ministry will use a $10,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation to assist needy families who are behind in their rent or mortgage.
Creative Enterprises, a Lawrenceville agency serving individuals with disabilities, has been awarded a $7,500 grant by the Jackson EMC Foundation to help purchase a mini-van that can transport small groups of clients to community activities.
Grants are made possible by Jackson EMC members' contributions to the Operation Round Up program, which rounds up electric bills of participating members to the next dollar amount and uses the spare change to do charitable work. The foundation has awarded more than $2.8 million to date through 250 grants to organizations and 110 grants to individuals.
Any individual or charitable organization in the ten counties served by Jackson EMC (Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe) may apply for foundation funding by completing a grant application, available online at www.jacksonemc.com/Guidelines-for-Funding.106.0.html or at local Jackson EMC offices. Applicants need not be a member of Jackson EMC.
TerraSol Partners with Gwin Oaks Elementary
This month parents of students at Gwin Oaks Elementary School will be bringing their tools, rolling up their sleeves and continuing the work that Vesmont, LC began on the Gwin Oaks outdoor classroom.
TerraSol, developer of the new, eco-friendly lifestyle community TerraSol in Gwinnett County, and Highlight Homes, one of the builders for that subdivision, established roots in the community by entering into a professional learning partnership with Gwin Oaks Elementary School. The companies pledged funds and labor to restore the Gwin Oaks Nature Preserve and outdoor classroom.
SNELLVILLE
Emory Eastside hosts diabetes expo
Emory Eastside Medical Center will present its 2008 Diabetic Expo featuring endocrinologist Dr. Naland Shenoy. The expo will be held Nov. 11.
The theme of the 2008 Diabetic Expo is "Find The Sugar In You." This expo is sponsored by Emory Eastside Medical Center's certified Diabetes Education Center and the h2u (health, happiness, you) adult health program. Shenoy will be the keynote speaker giving the latest updates in treatment, prevention and medical advances.
In addition to being part of the medical staff at Emory Eastside Medical Center, Shenoy is a regional speaker for pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Aventis, traveling throughout the southeast, speaking to primary care physicians and other endocrinologists about diabetes care and the challenges facing diabetics in the 21st century.
The expo will kick off with a vendor show featuring a variety of exhibitors to assist patients with diabetic needs. The vendor booths will open at 4:30 p.m. followed by a free boxed dinner at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required for this free community event, however space is limited.
YSS Athletics uniforms featured in BET Hip-Hop Awards
YSS Athletics of Snellville has produced original costumes for ladies appearing in the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards show shot last month in Atlanta.
YSS crafted 12 cheerleader uniforms for those accompanying the main presenter throughout the event, which was broadcasted late last month on the BET network.
"We were personally contacted by those connected with the awards program, and we couldn't have been happier to participate," says Torey Rose, owner and president of YSS Athletics. "We are honored that they recognized our unique dedication to exceeding our clients' expectations. We think the quality will shine through when you see the outfits on BET."
YSS Athletics is a leading provider of modern and stylish uniforms for a variety of athletic activities. While many YSS clients represent leading competition gyms, custom-manufactured uniforms are produced for some of the state's largest schools and recreational systems.
YSS was founded 15 years ago by Rose, a long-time high school home economics and physical education instructor.
SUWANEE
Big T' Do raises $80k for North Gwinnett schools
The annual Big T' Do, a dinner and auction event, raised more than $80,000 for the eight schools in the North Gwinnett cluster. Approximately 400 people attended the Oct. 4 event hosted by the North Gwinnett Schools Foundation at Bear's Best Golf Club in Suwanee.
An academic booster club established in 2002, the North Gwinnett Schools Foundation (NGSF) funds academic programs and equipment that are not otherwise funded by the Gwinnett County School System. Over the past six years, NGSF has provided $158,558 for classroom support and more than $25,000 in scholarships for North Gwinnett seniors. Other funds have been used to establish an endowment for the foundation.
Award winners at this year's Big T' Do included La Ti Da, a new Suwanee business, for best table decoration and the Vegas tables, hosted by Chris and Jodi Nevels, for best costumes. Suwanee area resident Heather Thomas was chairperson for this year's event.
