We are in our fifth month of Leadership Rockdale and each session we are challenged, moved, lifted up, and ignited with passion! There are 29 unique individuals that create the positive atmosphere within our niche of business professionals including educators, government employees, CEOs, retirees, entrepreneurs, and the list continues. It’s like Forrest Gump said, “You don’t ever know what you are going to get.” I think that is what makes this specific program so special.

Our monthly sessions are compiled by past class participants who stand behind Leadership Rockdale and understand the value of collaboration and exploration. This month Tim Baker (Class of 1998), Elaine Davis-Nickens (Class of 2015), Jason Korzan (Class of 2015), and Lynn Killman (Class of 2015) prepared a day full of valuable information, interaction, and exploration.

We started our day at Acuity Brands Lighting where Bill Ballweg not only opened our eyes to all state-of-the-art light fixtures, gadgets, and future ideas, he charmed us with comedic analog and his lack of knowledge about how to find eggs. Really, he’s working on an app to make it through the supermarket.

Kameron Kelly and Keish Moran of the 2016 class continued to find things they should not touch while on the tour. I seriously thought Ballweg was going to put them in time out!

“Extra, extra, cut, break, and that’s a wrap!” Gina Hartsell with Economic Development shared with us the newest trends in the film industry along with how competitive the State of Georgia is while working to maintain our Hollywood of the South. Gina works daily with the fast-paced environment of directors, location scouts, producers, set, and crews. She spends countless hours reassuring the film industry that Conyers is the place to create their film, sitcom, tv series, and more.  Rockdale County has experienced phenomenal economic growth due to the influx and recurring business from everyone involved with each piece. What an awesome opportunity and how exciting for our town to be a hub for Hollywood’s greats!

We then headed over to Pratt Recycling Center and were hosted by Kyle Johnson. We knew we were in for a great time when he brought out the orange vests, hard hats, and safety goggles. Kyle shared with us a typical day at Pratt, the different cycles of recycling, and the importance of recycling. I can remember as a fifth grader at Sims Elementary School planting seeds for Earth Day along with the recycling campaign “Make the World a Better Place”. It is quite impressive how 20 years later Pratt is using cutting edge equipment and processes to keep the cycle going.

Did I mention that we walk, talk, and eat a lot on these days? Amici Conyers Café hosted us for lunch with a delicious spread of salads and specialty pizza. Amici’s CEO, Mike Torino, gave a wonderful presentation of the company and why they are where they are today. We had a fabulous panel of small business owners who opened up about their successes, failures, and heart’s passions for their community, Rockdale. Thua Barlay moderated the panel of Dr. Shawna Woodruff, DC, Conyers Holistic Chiropractic & Nutrition; Dr. Gaines White, Conyers Animal Hospital; and Aundrea Dumas, Shirley Cutie Cakes. They each had a wonderful story that we were able to relate to and take from.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time we had. Through this process we are able to make connections with so many professional individuals and begin lifelong friendships.

Our last stop of the day was at Evans Tool and Die located on Salem Road. Teri Haler, Tourism Specialist with City of Conyers, shared some light on the economic impact of tourism in 2015 and where the city hopes to grow in the next year. She offered new insight to public attraction facilities the city is discussing and what values they could add. Our host Jason Korzan, 2015 Leadership Rockdale graduate, gave us a great overview of the equipment and tour of the 60,000 sq. ft. facility. We spent two hours learning about their industry, process, tools, customer base, and who they are as a company. Dee Barnes, CEO and third generation operator, has a dynamic passion for her staff and our community. Her grandfather founded this company with strong Christian morals and convictions along with being debt free. I personally felt like I was at an adult Legoland and I didn’t have enough time to explore. They offer apprenticeship programs, so who knows – it’s never too late!

A huge thank you to Acuity Brands Lighting, Amici’s Conyers, and Evans Tool and Die for a fantastic Business and Industry Day!