);
Connect with us

Business

Lisa Anders Promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Explore Gwinnett

Published

on

Professional headshot of a brown-haired woman wearing a blue top

Explore Gwinnett, the destination marketing organization for Gwinnett County, has announced the promotion of Lisa Anders from executive director to chief operating officer (COO). Since joining the organization in 1996, Anders has demonstrated outstanding leadership and has established a track record of developing partnerships essential to leading and expanding the evolving destination marketing organization. The creation and oversight of both the Gwinnett Film Commission and Gwinnett Creativity Fund are just two of her achievements.

“I am honored to step into the role of chief operating officer at Explore Gwinnett,” said Anders. “Over the past 13 years as executive director, I have had the privilege of witnessing remarkable growth for our destination. I am eager to enter this new chapter, and I’m looking forward to continuing to see how we expand.”

As COO, Anders will take on the additional responsibility of overseeing the Gwinnett Sports Commission. This division is dedicated to driving economic development through sports, managing a variety of events for youth, collegiate, amateur and professional athletic organizations. Ander’s innovative approach and extensive network of local and national connections will further support the commission’s overall mission to establish Gwinnett County as a premier sports destination.

“The Gwinnett Sports Commission team has excelled in attracting and managing a diverse array of sporting events over the past several years,” Anders added. “I look forward to working closely with this talented team to support their ongoing efforts and foster economic development for our community.”

For more information, visit exploregwinnett.org.

Continue Reading

Business

Peachtree Corners Resident Receives Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

Published

on

man in black shirt, arms crossed in front of him, looking at camera

Leroy Hite, founder of Cutting Edge Firewood, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Berry College in August

Berry College recently awarded its annual Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit to Leroy Hite, founder of Cutting Edge Firewood (and Berry College graduate, class of 2008). The annual award recognizes and honors alumni who have demonstrated a range of positive entrepreneurial skills — including a commitment to turning a dream into a reality, the vision to create an enterprise, the courage to assume risks and the ability to make changes and take advantage of new opportunities. 

“This award holds a special place in my heart, maybe more than any other I’ve ever received,” said Hite. “Being recognized by my alma mater is incredibly meaningful to me. 
My entrepreneurial journey began at Berry College. It’s where that initial spark was ignited, and honestly, I’m not sure I’d be where I am today without it. Berry nurtured my curiosity, drive and resilience — the key ingredients to entrepreneurship.”

Innovative entrepreneurship

Berry College professor and leader of the school’s Entrepreneurship Program, Dr. Paula Englis, said that Hite took every class she offered. And when those ran out, he did directed studies with her.

man in cap sitting in front of a fireplace
photo courtesy of The PR Studio and Cooper & Co. Photography

“He always knew he wanted to run his own business, and the growth and success of his firewood enterprise has been a wonder to watch,” she said.

Hite was nominated by Berry alumni Alison Ritter, class of 1994. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also supported Hite’s nomination.

“As a small business owner myself, I have strong appreciation for and recognize the perseverance it takes to build a business from the ground up,” said Kemp. “Leroy’s innovative approach to the firewood industry, focusing on product quality and customer service, mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit that has long driven Georgia’s economic success.” 

man standing next to firewood delivery truck
Photo courtesy of The PR Studio and Cooper & Co. Photography

The company

When Hite founded Cutting Edge Firewood in 2013, he created the world’s first luxury firewood and cooking wood company. He reinvented everything about the firewood industry, from how firewood is dried and stored to how it’s packaged, shipped and delivered. When the company began, it was just Leroy with a one truck and a trailer. Now Cutting Edge Firewood employs 40, stocks enough inventory to fill its 40,000-square-foot Peachtree Corners warehouse and ships wood to all 50 states. 

The wide variety of wood from Cutting Edge undergoes a special drying process to ensure that it’s free from unwanted pests, mold or fungus and provides an unmatched clean and bright burn with pleasant aroma. Their focus on process and the use of hardwoods such as oak, hickory, cherry, apple, pecan and maple ensures their customers receive the highest quality firewood, cooking wood and pizza wood possible.

For more information about Cutting Edge Firewood, visit cuttingedgefirewood.com.

To learn more about the Entrepreneurship Program at Berry College, visit berry.edu/academics/majors/entrepreneurship.

Continue Reading

Business

Cornerstone Christian Academy Named One of Atlanta’s Top Workplaces 2024

Published

on

image with Cornerstone Christian Academy logo and Top Work Places 2024 banner

Cornerstone Christian Academy was recently awarded a Top Workplaces 2024 honor by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Recipients of this annual award are chosen solely from employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures multiple culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution and connection.

In addition to their place on the 2024 list, Cornerstone was also ranked number one among small businesses and won a special award for company “Communication.”

Three people on stage in front of an audience at an awards show honoring the #1 small business winner 2024

“We were extremely humbled to hear that we were not only named on the list, but ranked first among small companies,” shared Colin Creel, headmaster at Cornerstone. “I am very thankful our staff has received this public validation of the amazing work that occurs here at Cornerstone. Our staff deserves all of the accolades they are receiving; Cornerstone is a very special place because of them.”

2024 marks the 14th year the AJC has recognized metro Atlanta businesses with the Top Workplaces award. And it’s the third time that Cornerstone has been named to the top spot in their category. This year’s recipients were selected from over 9,000 nominated companies and honored at an awards ceremony held at the Georgia Aquarium on August 14.

For more information about Cornerstone Christian Academy, visit cornerstonecougars.org.

To learn more about Top Workplaces, visit topworkplaces.com.

Continue Reading

Business

New Start Entrepreneurship Winners Awarded Start Up Money

Published

on

Two women receiving entrepreneurship awards

The Gwinnett County Public Library, through its foundation, awarded a total of $3,000 to two recent graduates of the New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator program.

The New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator (NSEI) provides business education for formerly incarcerated individuals through in-person classes, online coursework and a robust network of mentors and community partners. NSEI is specifically geared towards the reentry population, which, in Georgia, is disproportionately minority populations and people of color.

The program’s culmination occurs at Launchpad, an event where the budding entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to community business leaders. They are judged on several criteria, and the strongest pitches win.

Award Recipients

Johanna Ortiz, CEO and founder of America’s Choice Roofing was awarded the $2,000 Outstanding Business Pitch, First Place honor.

After working for a roofing company and becoming the top sales rep within a year, Johanna started noticing things she thought should be done differently. With a small amount of funding and a big passion, she started America’s Choice Roofing in December of 2023.

Johanna says her inspiration is her mother, who brought them to the United States when Johanna was very young. They arrived with nothing more than a suitcase and a blanket, but her mother worked incredibly hard to make sure they never went to bed hungry. Johanna says the best lesson her mother taught her is that if you put in the effort, nothing is impossible.

Juliette Sims-Owens, founder of CleverGirl Virtual Assistant Service was awarded the $1,000 Outstanding Business Pitch, Second Place honor.

Juliette worked in administrative support for more than 25 years, before deciding to start her own company. With a passion for organization and efficiency, she helps businesses streamline their operations and achieve their goals. CleverGirl Virtual Assistant Service offers project-based work solutions tailored to the unique needs of the gig economy.

As the demand for freelance and subcontract work continues to grow, so does the need for support for those providing it. CleverGirl provides scheduling and calendar management, precise data entry, transcription, crafted communication, website content oversight and email handling.

Continue Reading

Read the Digital Edition

Subscribe

Peachtree Corners Life

Topics and Categories

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Mighty Rockets LLC, powered by WordPress.

Get Weekly Updates!

Get Weekly Updates!

Don't miss out on the latest news, updates, and stories about Peachtree Corners.

Check out our podcasts: Peachtree Corners Life, Capitalist Sage and the Ed Hour

You have Successfully Subscribed!