GBJ Staff

Lilburn resident a top McDonald’s manager

Jenny Menes accepting the 2011 Ray Kroc Award from Karen King, president of McDonald’s U.S. East Division and Jim Johannesen, executive V.P., C.O.O., McDonald’s U.S.

Lilburn is home to one of the nation’s top McDonald’s restaurant managers.

Jenny Menes recently received the Ray Kroc Award, an annual performance-based honor recognizing the top performing McDonald’s restaurant managers in the country.  Named after McDonald’s Corporation founder Ray Kroc, the award was established in 1999 to honor hardworking restaurant managers – those who make Ray Kroc’s vision of excellence come to life in restaurants and for customers each day.

A select 142 managers nationwide were chosen this year to receive the Ray Kroc Award, an honor that comes with a cash prize, a Ray Kroc Award trophy and a trip to Chicago for an awards gala hosted by McDonald’s USA President, Jan Fields.

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
GBJ Staff

Bidding farewell to Barbara King

Barbara King

March 28, 2012, the Gwinnett community and Primerica Financial Services lost a very special person and colleague, Barbara King.

Barbara began her career at Primerica in 1980 when she joined A.L. Williams to build a communications and corporate relations division. Management, Inc. and ALW-TV, which at the time of its creation in 1986, was the largest privately-owned business satellite TV network in the U.S. Barbara was an Executive Vice President and Planning Group Member when she retired for health reasons in 2009.

In addition to her corporate role, Barbara had a very visible civic and community role for Primerica. She served on the Boards of countless non-profits and civic organizations and was the force behind many community initiatives. She was awarded numerous honors for her work, most recently the United Way Women’s Legacy Award.

 
  •  
  •  
 
Kim Marks

Re-education makes sense for Corey Gibson

Corey Gibson

As owner of a small construction business in Colorado, Corey Gibson built vacation homes for more than 17 years. In 2009, he moved his family to Georgia to be near his aging mother. He found that Gwinnett is flooded with good construction workers just like him who have, “all the experience and skill sets, but not the education.”

Wanting to be more than a little fish in a big pond, Gibson enrolled in the Commercial Construction Management program at Gwinnett Technical College and is on track to complete his degree in the fall.

“Going back to school as a 40-year-old was very intimidating,” he admits. “My biggest fear was being the old guy at school.”

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
GBJ Staff

Educating professionals for niche needs

Special Focus:
Executive/Continuing Education

Ten years ago, Congregational Nurse Linda Bailey, of Duluth, took a specialized course at Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC). Today, she’s saving lives. Bailey conducts blood pressure screenings as least twice a month at Duluth First United Methodist.

This faith-based course that Bailey benefited from is the only one of its kind offered in Georgia to provide nurses with the vital tools to heal mind, body and spirit. GMC’s Congregational Health Ministry will again host its Nurse Preparation Course. The March and April sessions are in the medical center’s Lawrenceville campus Community Room/Chapel. This six-day, intensive education program is approved by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center and focuses on the core issues and challenges facing nurses practicing in faith communities.

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
GBJ Staff

A UGA education is closer than you think

Special Focus:
Executive/Continuing Education

The University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus offers working professionals, in the greater metro Atlanta area, opportunities to further their careers by earning advanced degrees or seeking certifications and training for professional development.

Students love attending classes closer to home and work while pursuing a UGA education. As well, being in class with professional peers adds value to students’ experiences and helps them build a network.

“This is the adult student’s dream place,” comments Dr. Ruth Bettandorff, UGA Gwinnett Campus director and assistant vice president for Academic Affairs. “We cater to the non-traditional students who cannot attend during the day.” Classes are held at night and on weekends.

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
GBJ Staff

National title for GCPS art teacher

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) teacher Debi West is the 2012 Outstanding National Art Honor Society Sponsor of the Year. She will be honored at a National Art Education Association (NAEA) event in New York City.

“There is no greater testament of your exemplary contributions to the field of visual arts education than being chosen for this prestigious award,” expresses Kathy Duse, the organization’s executive services, convention and programs manager. When notifying Ms. West of her recognition she wrote, “Your colleagues throughout the United States and abroad join the NAEA Board of Directors in applauding your leadership, commitment, and service to the profession.”

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
GBJ Staff

People on the move in Gwinnett

AIADA President Cody Lusk honors Gwinnett auto dealers Rita & Rick Case.

Have you reached the pinnacle? Newly promoted? Taking on a different role or changing companies?

Send details to newsroom@gbj.com and the Gwinnett Business Journal will help spread the word.

Meet these Gwinnett professionals on the move in March.

 

 

March 2012: People on the Move in Gwinnett

Buford Allstate agency owner Sherry Dovin received the 2012 Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Award and a $1,000 grant for the Talk About Curing Autism in Georgia, where she volunteers.

Jeff Campione

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
GBJ Staff

Gwinnett celebrates International Women’s Day

(L-R) Nick Masino, senior vice president Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett at Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, pictured here with leaders from Habif, Arogeti & Wynne LLP, Susan O’Dwyer, director of business development, Richard Kopelman, managing partner-elect and Yelena Epova, partner in charge of HA&W’s international practice.

Women throughout the world took time on March 8 to celebrate achievements by female leaders in the political, economic and social realms. Closer to home, Gwinnett County business leaders joined festivities at an International Gala to show support for this significant cultural day of recognition.

Hosted by accounting firm Habif, Arogeti & Wynne LLP (HA&W), the gracious environs of historic Flint Hill in Norcross welcomed more than 100 international business people, international chambers of commerce and consulate generals from across Georgia. The guests represented 23 countries.

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
Kim Marks

Gwinnett UPS drivers honored for safety record

Ten Gwinnett residents are among 1,235 worldwide United Parcel Service (UPS) 2011 Circle of Honor inductees. Honored for driving 25 years or more without an accident, this raises to 5,842 the total number of UPS drivers who have reached this safe driving pinnacle. In all, 48 Georgians are in the 2011 class.

Each Gwinnett driver’s home base is the UPS Pleasantdale Hub in Doraville. These drivers are: Mark Warner of Dacula; Robert Day and Suzanne Sidwell of Duluth; David Eve, Arthur Fischer, Kelvin Harris, Todd Pirlot and Larry Wilson of Lawrenceville; Gary Williams of Snellville; and Kelvin Standifer of Stone Mountain.

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •  
 
GBJ Staff

Gwinnett CAN Challenge tops 31 tons

Boy Scout Troop 509 of Lilburn, Ga., accepts the Gwinnett CAN Challenge champion award from the drive sponsor Holtkamp Heating & Air ConditioningHoltkamp Heating & Air Conditioning in Suwanee, Ga., recently concluded its first-annual Gwinnett CAN Challenge. The company collected an astounding 31 tons of food, far surpassing its original goal of 10 tons. Lilburn’s Boy Scout Troop 509 is the first CAN Challenge winner, donating more than 10,000 items to the drive. All food that was collected has been donated to 10 food co-ops across Gwinnett County.

“We are thrilled that we were able to collect such a large amount of food and that so many individuals, non profits and businesses participated,” said Suzanne Holtkamp, vice president of marketing and operations. “We started the CAN Challenge to help raise awareness about our community’s crucial food needs. Our food banks struggle to stay stocked all year because people tend to think about donating during the holidays and forget food is needed year round.”

Continue reading →

 
  •  
  •