South Georgia Insider Thressea H. Boyd, Host

On this podcast, Deanna Smith, with the Investment Center at CBC Bank, and Kristin Hanna from the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta (BGV) discuss how a Leadership Lowndes (LL) class project created a successful workforce training program. 
In 2019, LL members met with representatives from the BGV to develop the Academy for Success (AFS), an eight-week program emphasizing the development of soft skills, a vital part of an employee's work performance. 
After modifying a purchased curriculum, LL members and the BGV staff created the AFS program focused on helping students get a job and retain a job.  
During the job-seeking portion, students learn how to complete an application, improve communication skills, and understand the importance of an excellent social media presence.
"The third class is a lot of fun--it's dressing for success," said Smith, which includes a "what not to wear" fashion show with local business leaders demonstrating inappropriate interview and work clothing. 
"This day is fun, and it changes the relationships so much," Hanna said. "These very professional, polished adults are suddenly walking in some pretty wacky clothes. I think it breaks down a lot of barriers."
The program also teaches some "lost art" skills, like the proper way to give a handshake. 
"We will stand in the corner of the room and have the kids come around and introduce themselves," Smith explained. "Then we give immediate feedback, and [the students] move to the next person. We try to solidify that feedback so they can improve each time." 
Smith said during the interview class, students practice answering common questions before participating in formal mock interviews, where local business leaders conduct five-minute mock interviews and provide feedback.
During the "retaining a job" portion, students learn valuable employability skills, from respecting authority to how to deal with workplace challenges. 
Smith said the program also teaches networking and conversation, along with basic etiquette, including table manners. 
"We are prepping them for the last week when we put it all together," said Smith, noting that the final class is a paparazzi-style event. 
The highlight of the class is the graduation ceremony. Students are transported to a local restaurant via limousine and walk the red carpet as government officials and business leaders cheer them on. 
Once inside, the students dine with government and business leaders and engage in conversations that build relationships while practicing their newly learned communication skills.
Each year, the AFS is offered in the spring or fall, and students apply to participate. 
Hanna said the program has been successful in helping BGV students find and keep employment.
Volunteers and corporate sponsors are needed to sustain the program's growth. Business leaders interested in participating can email Smith at dsmith@investwithtic.com or Hanna at khanna@bgcvaldosta.org.
Subscribe to South Georgia Insider (monthly e-newsletter) and follow South Georgia Business on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 

In this podcast, Joshua Whittington, assistant dean of Technical and Instructional Programs at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, explains Industry 4.0 and its impact on local manufacturing.
From the introduction of mechanization through water and steam power, the industrial revolution advanced to mass production and assembly lines, and then the adoption of computers and automation. Now industry 4.0 takes technology to new levels with autonomous systems and the use of more data.  
What you’ll learn in this podcast: 
· Discover the basics of Industry 4.0 and how it impacts manufacturing innovation.
· Wiregrass Tech introduces an Associate of Applied Science in Industry 4.0 Technology in spring 2023.  Find out how it will positively impact regional manufacturing production and create high-paying, high-demand jobs. 
· Learn how high school students can prepare for Industry 4.0 careers.
· Wiregrass Tech continues to develop innovative solutions for local industries. Find out how mechatronics students helped a local business solve a manufacturing problem and increase productivity. Read the full story in South Georgia Business Magazine.  
· What will the future manufacturing workforce look like? Discover the high-tech, high-demand jobs available for local students now and in the future. 

Email Joshua Whittington at joshua.whittington@wiregrass.edu.

Subscribe to South Georgia Insider (monthly e-newsletter) and follow South Georgia Business on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 
 
 

In this podcast, Georgia Senator Russ Goodman provides an overview of the 2022 legislative session and the agricultural industry. 
Representing Georgia’s 8th district—Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, and part of Ware counties—Goodman is a seventh-generation farmer and co-owner of Cogdell Berry Farm and the Great American Cobbler Company. He is passionate about saving family farms and understands the regional and global economic importance of farming and the struggles of being a small business owner. 
What you’ll learn in this podcast:
In 2020, Goodman and family members started the Great American Cobbler Company in Homerville, Georgia. Producing blueberry, blackberry, apple, and peach cobblers—(made with locally and regionally sourced products—the company quickly expanded to more than 7,000 grocery stores across the U.S.  During a busy 2022 legislative session, Goodman said key wins include: The FY23 budget included $900,000 to renovate the South Georgia Regional McMullen Southside Library.Georgia’s teachers received pay raises. Mental health funding received bipartisan support. The state’s multi-month gas tax suspension and income tax cuts provide financial assistance to Georgians. House Bill 1064 passed unanimously in the Senate and exempts up to $17,500 in military pension from state income tax for veterans under 62 years old.      Parent’s Bill of Rights (HB1178) gives parents fundamental rights to “direct the upbringing and education of their minor children.”House Bill 385 allows some (high need areas) retired Georgia teachers the ability to return to teaching full time and still collect their state pensions. The “Georgia Grown Farm to Food Bank Bill” (Senate Bill 396) assists food banks in buying directly from farmers. The “Freedom to Farm Act” protects farmers and property owners and expands agricultural education programs in elementary classrooms. Subscribe to South Georgia Insider (monthly e-newsletter) and follow South Georgia Business on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 
 
 
 
 
 

For more than a century, Georgia Christian School (GCS) has provided a Christian-based and rigorous academic curriculum in Dasher, Georgia, located just minutes from the Florida border.
In this podcast, Dr. Brad Lawson, GCS president, talks about how the school's recognition has risen over the past decade, primarily due to the growing popularity of the annual Georgia Christian Benefit Dinner.
 What you'll learn in this podcast:
 Starting in 1914 as Dasher Bible College, for more than a century, GCS has recruited students from across the U.S. and internationally.  GCS closed during the 1993-1994 academic year after falling on hard financial times. The following year, thanks to the fundraising efforts of its board and alumni, the school's debt was paid, and it reopened.With a Christian-based mission, GCS offers a challenging curriculum and graduates are often accepted at top-ranked colleges and universities. GCS also provides career prep course options for students wanting to attend a technical college or go straight into the workforce.While COVID-19 halted classroom instruction at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, GCS students were already using Chrome books, providing a manageable switch to a virtual format. Pre-COVID, the school's enrollment was approximately 300 and has jumped to 363 students in k3-12 grade. The 2022 GCS Benefit Dinner is Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Valdosta State University Student Union Ballroom. This year's dinner will feature Archie Manning, an All-American quarterback and legendary NFL player, in a Q&A format. Sponsorships are available and individual tickets will go on sale in early October at the GCS website at https://www.georgiachristian.org/Subscribe to South Georgia Insider (monthly e-newsletter) and follow South Georgia Business on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 
 
 
 
 

On this podcast, Dave DiSalvo, executive director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Tourism Authority, shares why Valdosta is more than a convenient I-75 stop for gas, food, and an overnight stay. 

A native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, DiSalvo arrived in Valdosta in 2021 and was pleased to find a community that shares his passion for tourism.
With Georgia on their minds, last year, more than 159 million domestic and international people visited and spent $34.4 billion in the Peach State. In addition, Georgia’s tourism and travel industry generated a total economic impact of $64.5 billion and supported more than 422,600 jobs. 
Located on the Georgia-Florida border, Lowndes County received an economic boost from the state's tourism boom with a $389.4 million economic impact, up from $350.3 million in 2019.

Where did visitors spend their money in Lowndes County?
Food Beverage: $122.5 million 
Lodging: $77.9 million
Retail: $66 million
Recreation: $63.4 million
Transportation: $59.6 million
Looking at South Georgia’s bigger tourism picture, DiSalvo shared economic data from the 2021 Georgia Day Travel USA Visitor Profile produced by Longwoods International. 
The in-depth report examines state and regional numbers for domestic visitors and profile data that includes expenditures, trip purpose, seasonality, origins, activities, and demographics.
While the visitor profile numbers represent the entire South Georgia region, DiSalvo said part of Visit Valdosta's marketing strategy will include a deeper dive into specific Lowndes County numbers.
"We talk about tourism in Lowndes County and Valdosta and are very fortunate. Not only do we have downtown [Valdosta], but we have Hahira downtown, and quite frankly, we need to look at the regional opportunities," he said. "If someone goes shopping and spends the day
in Thomasville, as long as they come back and have dinner and spend the night in Valdosta, that's a win for all of us. It creates that regional reach we would love to have as part of tourism."  
Focused on the thousands of visitors that come annually to Wild Adventures Theme Park, DiSalvo said the goal is to get people to spend a second night in Valdosta.
Along with the hub activity in Downtown Valdosta, including the new Unity Park Amphitheater, DeSalvo said Valdosta has a lot of “tourism drivers” like family fun at Recoil Trampoline Park, historical sites, arts and entertainment, golfing, tennis, and wakeboarding.   
The Valdosta Tourism Authority recently announced the launch of its "Valdosta ahhh" campaign, which DiSalvo said is about "the experience, excitement, relaxation, anything you want it to be that 'ahhh' moment."
A city with plenty of hidden treasures, Valdosta has lots of 'ahhh' experiences, from roller coasters to dining and shopping, historical sites, outdoor recreational activities, and more. 
The campaign launched in August and will feature people sharing their "Valdosta ahhh" moments on social media. 
"What better way to help sell it than to have someone who has already experienced it," he said. "We have great opportunities to create those moments and unique experiences." 
Find out more at Visit Valdosta.

Subscribe to South Georgia Insider (monthly e-newsletter) and follow South Georgia Business on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 
 
 
 
 

With more than 200 million people with intellectual disabilities worldwide, the Special Olympics has remained a vital movement to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people.
Meredith Elizabeth Crum, senior program manager for Special Olympics in Georgia,  talks about the organization’s growth and upcoming State Fall Games, Oct. 7-8, 2022, in Valdosta.

Special Olympics is the first, and still the only, organization to offer training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities.
In 1970, 500 athletes gathered in Atlanta for the first track and field event under the Special Olympics Georgia banner. Today, the organization has grown exponentially and has helped thousands of children and adults in the process. The number of active athletes has grown to 26,620 participating in 26 sports. While the number of athletes has decreased because of COVID-19, Crum said participation is returning. 
Crum encourages individuals and families to attend the opening ceremony from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7, at Freedom Park. The free event will feature f entertainment and activities, including Lee Snow, a popular Tiktok comedian and preacher from Columbus, Georgia.
More than 1,200 athletes, including 200 plus from Valdosta, are expected to participate in team and individual sports like bocce, golf, softball, and cycling.
Presenting sponsors for the State Fall Game include Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) and Berry Global. In addition, Lovell Engineering Associates and Knights of Columbus are sponsoring the opening ceremony. 
Crum said additional sponsorship levels are available. Volunteers are also needed to serve as unified partners or buddies, where they are paired with an athlete.
Having worked for Special Olympics Georgia for four years, Crum said the most enjoyable part is seeing the lifelong friendships formed between the athletes and volunteers. 
Businesses and individuals interested in volunteering and sponsorship can contact Crum a mec@specialolympicsga.org or call 229-834-8277.
Subscribe to South Georgia Insider (monthly e-newsletter) and follow South Georgia Business on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.