2. 8 Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
s a military spouse, tran-
sitioning from one city to
the next can be a taxing
process. Moving every two to four
years means having to start over per-
sonally and professionally, oftentimes
coming into a job market that is hesi-
tant to consider hiring a transitioning
military spouse. While there is valid-
ity to hiring managers’concerns over
short stints of employment, there are
many upsides to looking to this appli-
cant pool.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, wage and salary workers
stay at their place of employment an
average of 4.6 years. For Millennials
(those born between 1977-1997),
the expected tenure is about half of
that.* This translates into the average
Millennial holding between 15-20
jobs in their working lives.
With a strong percentage of military
spouses falling into the Millennial
applicant pool, these statistics make
their tenure no different than their
civilian peers. They are well-traveled,
valued members of their installations
as well as the communities in which
they live. Need more reasons to look
at hiring a military spouse?
CONSIDER THESE:
1) Cost Savings: While military
spouses can’t be paid less than civil-
ian employees, they often come at
a cost savings to employers. Things
like medical and dental insurance
are provided to military families at a
very low cost, one that your company
likely cannot match. Military spouses
also have more flexible schedules,
and may be available for part time
positions since major life expenses –
including insurance and housing – are
likely already worked into the family’s
budget.
2) Adaptable, Problem Solvers: A
life in constant transition is not for
everyone, but military spouses are
able to function and thrive in this
fast-paced, constantly changing
environment. The workplace is also
constantly changing, and you need
employees that are adaptable and
willing to take on new challenges
and problems. Whether it is
dealing with angry customers to
juggling multiple projects, military
spouses are able to get the job
done without getting too worked
up.
3) Networking: There is a lot of
support offered to military members
and their families and spouses are
part of an extensive network of
supporters. In addition to having
connections at the installation
they are living at, they likely have
connections from across the
country and globe. Military families
go out of their way for one
another. Let their networks work
for your company.
A
MARRIED TO THE MILITARY
The Chamber’s Kelly Naranja and her Air Force husband, Rogelio, who is a member of
the 38th Rescue Squadron.
Don’t let a fear of transition deter your organization from hiring
a military spouse.
The Chamber
loves military
spouses!
3. 9Summer 2015 ValdostaChamber.com
4) Strong, Educated Employees: You might just get
lucky and be able to hire a well-qualified, highly edu-
cated spouse looking for a position that will continue
their career on an upward trajectory. Studies done by the
Military Family Life Project show that approximately 10
percent of all military spouses have a professional degree,
which is right on track with the Census Bureau’s report of
all Americans. You just may end up with an applicant that
could take your business to the next level.
Want to support military members and their families
in the Valdosta area? Show your support by hiring a mil-
itary spouse, or by becoming a member of the Chamber’s
Certified Military Friendly Program.
Certified Military Friendly
Is Moody Air Force Base important
to your business?
We can bet that it is. Show your support of mili-
tary members in our community by joining the
Chamber’s Certified Military Friendly program.
Businesses affiliated with
the program will be rec-
ognized in our marketing
efforts that target military
personnel, including spe-
cial acknowledgement on
the Chamber website and
in MoodyLink magazine.
Participating businesses
also receive a Certified
Military Friendly decal to
display on the door of their
business.
Let military members and their families at Moody know
that your business is a great place for them to do business
by joining this wonderful program.
Learn more about this program and register your
business to become a member by visiting:
www.ValdostaChamber/CertifiedMilitaryFriendly.com
2015 Certified Military
Friendly Chamber Members:
*According to the Future Workplace
Multiple Generations @ Work survey
Adel Dental Associates
ADT Security Services, Inc.
Ameris Bank
Barnes Healthcare Services
Bush Wealth Management
Center for Personal & Family Growth, LLC
Citizens Community Bank
Coleman|Talley, LLP
Colony BankValdosta
Commercial Banking Company
Coombs Heating and Air Conditioning
ELead1One/Fresh Beginnings
Farmers Home Furniture Company
First Federal Savings of Valdosta
First State Bank and Trust Co.
Furniture Express/Beds for Less
Georgia Power
Heritage Bank of the South
Highland Christian Academy
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Kilby Family Dentistry
Liberty National Life Insurance-Cannington Agency
LiteracyVolunteer Program of South Georgia
Real Living Realty Advisors
Roto Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service
SAFT America, Inc.
SCANA Energy
South Georgia Medical Center
South Georgia Travel
Southeastern Credit Union
Southwest Georgia Bank
Tanner Investment Group
Teamtemps Personnel Staffing, Inc.
The GardensValdosta
Turner’s Fine Furniture
Valdosta Chiropractic & Rehab
Valdosta Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
Valdosta Properties-Property Management Co., LLC
Valdosta State University
W. P. Walker’sVACK, Inc.
Watson’s Pools & Patios, Inc.
Worthington Family Dentistry
4. 15Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com
hrough recessions and
hardships, expansions and
prosperity, the one thing
that remains consistent in a third gen-
eration business is family. Statistics
show that while more than 30 percent
of family-owned businesses survive
into the second generation, just 12
percent survive into the third.* For
those who have figured out a way to
make it work, we salute you.
In Metro Valdosta, third generation
businesses span industries from ac-
counting to funeral services. While
transitioning a business from one
generation to the next has the poten-
tial to break a family business, we are
fortunate that the businesses featured
here have survived and thrived.
Entrepreneurial activity is essential to
the growth and development of our
communities. The businesses repre-
sented on the pages that follow are
just a few of the entrepreneurs who
have continued the visions of their
predecessors, while forging their own
paths into the future.
In the following pages, you’ll learn
about the journeys of Carson McLane
Funeral & Cremation Services,
Tillman & Tillman, LLP, Waller
Heating & Air Conditioning Co.,
Music Funeral Services and Miller
Hardware Company.
Three generations deep, these com-
panies have proven that there is a
way to run a business, and there is a
way to run a business well. These
companies represent more than
numbers and figures, they represent a
history of this community.
Oscar Wilde once said,“After a good
dinner one can forgive anybody, even
one’s own relations.” While this has
not been confirmed, we imagine that
these families have enjoyed a good
dinner or two along the way.
*Source: Conway Center for
Family Business
The Next Generation Steps In
A tribute to Lowndes County businesses who are celebrating their
third generation of family ownership
Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
T
Miller Hardware’s Dutton Miller and sons, Richard Miller and Jonathan Miller.
5. Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com22
Music Funeral Services: Compassionate
Service For Three Generations
THIRD GENERATION
ounded by the late W.G.
“Glyndon”Sr. and Max-
ine Music in 1955, Music
Funeral Services has
been serving
South Georgia
families for 60
years.
Today,
Music
Funeral Services
remains a family
business, now being
run by the third generation of the
Music family.
Glyndon and Maxine Music
The company’s first location in Lake-
land was the birth home of Mrs.
Nell Roquemore. When Glyndon
and Maxine purchased the home,
they wanted to use it as a place that
served their community with trust,
compassion and love. They turned
the home into a business in 1955,
but treated their customers as family.
The values instilled by Glyndon and
Maxine are still being practiced by
the family today.
W. G.“Dub”Music, Jr.
Glyndon and Maxine ran the Lake-
land location for nearly twenty years
before turning it over to their son,
Dub Music grew up in the family
business, and began working for his
father at age 13. Ever since he was
a little boy, Dub planned to follow
in his father’s footsteps by taking
care of those in the community. He
started working full time for the
company in 1968, taking over the
business in
1974 after his
father’s retire-
ment. Dub and
his wife, Wilma,
have four
children, Casey,
Michael, Lee
and Kyle.
Casey, Michael
and Lee Music
Unlike his
father, Casey
didn’t imme-
diately know
that he had a
future in the
family busi-
ness. That all
changed when
Casey was attending college and
received a call from his father. There
had been a tragedy in the com-
munity, and Dub needed Casey’s
assistance. Casey put his trust in God
and following that event, he put his
heart into Music Funeral Services
and never looked back. He helped
open the Valdosta location in 2001
along with the Azalea Crematory. As
owner and funeral director at both
the Lakeland and Valdosta locations,
Casey knows that this is where he
was meant to be.
Caring for people in their time of
need is something that Dub passed
on to all of his children, and that
Casey hopes to pass on to his young
children, Kaytibeth and Aubrey,
as well. The young Music children
have plenty of leaders to look up
to in the family business, including
their grandfather; father; mother,
Brooke; and uncles, Michael and Lee,
who work as Apprentices for Music
Funeral Services.
Music Family
Across the generations, the Musics
have taken the time to care for every
family that they serve. Their cus-
tomer base stretches as far as Fargo
and Tifton because of their reputa-
tion for excellence in service. Trust
and love are two characteristics that
Glyndon and Maxine ran their busi-
ness on back in 1955.
While a lot has changed since
then, trust and love remain at the
forefront of Music Funeral Services.
F
6. 26 Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.comSummer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
hile it may be South
Georgia’s largest inde-
pendent pest control company,
ASTRO Exterminating was established
as a family business. The company
has been serving South Georgia with
full service pest control for more than
four decades, offering today’s mod-
ern technology in pest and termite
control. Founded by Lamar Culbreth
and his wife, Margaret, the company
started small and has since expanded
to eleven locations and over 300
employees.
The Valdosta location is now run by
Culbreth’s daughter, Laura Perlman.
“When my dad started this business
in 1969, he said he wanted to have
the kind of business he would like to
work for,”Perlman said.
While pest control is traditionally
a high turnover business, Perlman
takes great pride in ASTRO’s ability
to attract and retain long standing
employees by honoring her father’s
commitment to taking care of his
staff and his community.
In my eyes, there are two big
things that really set us apart
here at ASTRO. One, it’s the
individuals that we have work-
ing with us and two, it’s our
service. The answer to our
customers is always‘YES.’
Laura Perlman
Perlman attests that she receives
compliments nearly every day from
satisfied customers, attributing that
success to both the employees and
her management team.“We focus
W
Stars still aligned for ASTRO Exterminating
View the back cover to see the services
ASTRO offers our community.
“
“
7. 27Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com 27
ASTRO IS BUILT
ON CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION!
Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
on the work at hand but also
the little things,”she said.
“Simple gestures like making
sure to wipe your feet before
entering someone’s home make
a big difference. We’re not per-
fect and we are always looking
for ways to improve, but keep-
ing that service mentality in
mind really goes a long way.”
The company has come a long
way since its early beginnings.
When Culbreth left his position
as vice president of a national
pest control company to branch
out on his own, he was the sole
technician. Today, the com-
pany spans thirteen locations
in South Georgia and South
Carolina.
“Even though we’ve evolved
into a larger company, we still
run on the basic principles that
my dad built,”Perlman said.
From monthly employee cook-
outs to support of local orga-
nizations like the Boys & Girls
Club, Culbreth’s vision is still
being practiced today.
“My dad used to say,‘Laura,
you can’t run a business with
your heart, but when you lose
heart, it’s time to get out,’”said
Perlman. “Because of the won-
derful staff that I have, I’ve been
able to both work and raise
my daughter. It’s truly a great
balance and I am very lucky.”
ASTRO was established in 1969,
the same year that man first
landed on the moon. Lamar and
Margaret had nearly everything
set to open their business apart
from its name. They had thought
long and hard when it dawned
on Margaret,“Well honey, if man
can land on the moon, we can
shoot for the stars.” And so the
name“ASTRO”and the shooting
star logo were born.
Laura (L) and Addy (R) Perlman outside of Valwood
School, where Addy attends.
In exchange for hard work and dedication, ASTRO
encourages its employees to find a balance between
their work lives and their personal lives
Forty-six years later, the
stars are still aligned.
ASTRO is a proud supporter of many local organizations including the
Boys & Girls Club. The family sits with children in front of the Culbreth
Aquatic Center in Valdosta.
Patio chair courtesy of Turner’s Fine Furniture.
8. 32 Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com
Chamber Choice Awards - Celebrating
Valdosta’s BEST!
Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
aldosta’s business com-
munity gathered in May for
the 6th Annual Chamber
Choice Awards spon-
sored by the State Farm Agents
of Valdosta. The event spotlights
the city’s best and brightest, with
awards given in five categories: Small
Business of the Year, Members’
Choice, Young Professional of the
Year, Ambassador of the
Year and the BIG
Thinker. Music for
the evening was
provided by the tal-
ented Backstreet Blazers,
and event services were
provided by EventPoint, The
Flower Gallery and Fusion
Creative Marketing.
Small Business of the Year: Bush
Wealth Management
This award recognizes a local business
with 100 or fewer employees that
exemplifies a high level of business
integrity and ethics, and is selected by
an independent panel of community
leaders. Bush Wealth Management,
established in August 2004, offers
a wide range of insurance, estate,
and wealth planning strategies.
They pride themselves on going
beyond the“sale”as they form
personal relationships with each
client. They are also involved in
the community, donating time
to projects like Habitat for Humanity,
and money to deserving stu-
dents through scholarship
programs.
This year,
the com-
pany broke
ground on
a new loca-
tion which
will open in
the fall of
2015.
“With so many exceptional small busi-
nesses in the Valdosta community,
we are humbled that Bush Wealth
Management was recognized as the
Small Business of the Year. Without our
clients, this would not be possible. We
are so appreciative of the trust that
they have placed in us. We do not take
it lightly.”
Stacy Bush
V
9. 33Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.comSummer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
Members’ Choice Award: South
Georgia Medical Center
This award
recognizes
a business
that excels
in custom-
er service
as voted
upon by
Chamber
member
businesses.
This year,
75 local businesses were nominated
for the award, nearly 800 votes were
cast and South Georgia Medical
Center rose to the top. The growing
healthcare enterprise, SGMC, consists
of four hospitals that serve a large,
diverse population. The healthcare
enterprise is recognized locally, state
and national level for exceptional
patient care.
“On behalf of the Hospital Authority of
Valdosta and Lowndes County, its medi-
cal staff, employees and volunteers, we
are pleased to be named the recipient
of this year’s Chamber Members’ Choice
Award for 2015. This truly is an honor
to be recognized in this manner by our
fellow Chamber members which dem-
onstrates support and trust they have in
South Georgia Medical Center. For that
we are all truly humble and thankful.”
Randy Sauls
Young
Professional
of the
Year: Cindy
Romero, Wild
Adventures
Theme Park
This award
recognizes a
young leader
who has
shown a quantifiable improvement to
the bottom line of his/her employer.
Voted on by a panel of business
leaders, Cindy Romero, Operations
Manager at Wild Adventures Theme
Park, was recognized as the 2015 win-
ner. Cindy oversees more than 175
employees across multiple operat-
ing divisions at Wild Adventures. She
developed a benchmark that retains
and rewards Wild Adventures’high
potential employees that was so suc-
cessful, it was implemented at other
park departments and divisions. She
created Wild Adventures’successful
“Stay & Play”program and consistent-
ly evaluates operations, finding ways
to do more with less.
“I am very honored and humbled to be
named Young Professional of the Year.
It is most certainly an achievement that
will remain very special to me. It is an
honor I would like to see more young
professionals in our community work
toward and achieve.”
Cindy Romero
Ambassador of the Year: Jerry
Kozuch, South Georgia Vein Center
This award
recognizes
the Chamber
Ambassador
who has
earned the
highest num-
ber of points
attributed to
ribbon cut-
tings, ground
breakings,
Leading Business of the Week presen-
tations and other Chamber volunteer
functions. Jerry Kozuch sets stan-
dards high for what it means to be a
Chamber Ambassador. Jerry has vol-
unteered and assisted with more than
50 events in 2014. Twice named the
Ambassador of the Quarter in 2014,
Jerry is always a team player, making
her a wonderful asset to the team of
Ambassadors and the Chamber.
“I am so appreciative of being recog-
nized as the Ambassador of the Year,
and thankful that Dr. Greg Martin
allows me to participate as a Chamber
Ambassador. I enjoy any chance to
celebrate in the company of my family
and friends, and this recognition was a
fun one for me. I accept it on behalf of
all of my fellow Ambassadors who work
hard in this community.”
Jerry Kozuch
BIG Thinker Award: Quillian Powell,
Quillian Powell Construction
Company Inc.
This award recognizes an outstand-
ing community member who has
established
his/her own
business
from the
start of the
venture and
has made
significant
contribu-
tions to the
community
in the way
of time,
monetary donations, in-kind services,
job creation, sales tax production or
economic development initiatives. A
leader in the community and a past
chairman of the Chamber board,
Quillian Powell is committed to mak-
ing this community better. Powell
started his career in construction
when he was 20 and worked for 22
years before he branched out on his
own. Quillian Powell Construction
Company, Inc., was established in
1987.
“I began my career in construction
working as a laborer by day and stu-
dent by night. I’ve just always had a
desire to be good at what I do and keep
honesty and integrity at the heart of
my business and personal life. I don’t
seek out recognition, but this award
from the Chamber really holds a special
place for me. I feel truly blessed to be
recognized as the 2015 BIG Thinker.”
Quillian Powell
Congratulations!
10. 34 Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com
ogether with sponsors
First State Bank & Trust
Co, Fresh Beginnings and
ELEAD1ONE, the Chamber
hosted another successful Winners
in the Workplace breakfast in May.
The event focuses on excellence in
the workplace, recognizing four out-
standing employees with a $1500
recognition check for their efforts.
Keynote speaker, Bob Ganzak, with
the Dale Carnegie Institute of North
Florida delivered
a strong keynote
address about
making a differ-
ence.
“There’s no deny-
ing that employee
recognition is
worth the time and money spent on
it,”said Bill Cowart, president of First
State Bank and Trust Co.“Employee
recognition is a tool that predictably
makes employees not only feel good
about the place that they work, but
gives meaning to the job that they’re
doing.”
Statistics from CareerBuilder.com
show that organizations that offer at
least one recognition program have
a low turnover rate (0-5%), which
leads to an increase in productivity,
workplace knowledge, profits and
employee attitudes. CareerBuilder.
com also reported that the presence
of a corporate incentive program
motivated 66 percent of employees
to stay at their job.
“It’s so important – especially in
today’s fast paced world – to take the
time to recognize our community’s
most valuable assets, our employees,”
said Judy Hathcock, owner of Fresh
Beginnings/ELEAD1ONE and co-
sponsor of the event.“We know that
employee recognition is critical to the
strength, reputation, and growth of
any successful business.”
2015 WINNERS:
Small Business Employee:
Rene Carl, The Haven
Small Business Supervisor:
Marilyn Orr, LODAC
Large Business Employee:
Anthony Foster, South Georgia
Medical Center
Large Business Supervisor:
Susan Bowden, Hospice of South
Georgia and the Langdale Hospice
House
T
WINNERS IN THE WORKPLACE
RECOGNIZED
Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
Rene Carl
The Haven
Marilyn Orr
LODAC
Anthony Foster
South Georgia
Medical Center
Susan Bowden
Hospice of South
Georgia and the
Langdale Hospice
House
2015 Sponsors:
11. 35Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
E.R. BARBER
HOUSE!
he Valdosta-Lowndes
Chamber has made the E.R.
Barber House its home since
1981, welcoming more than 2,800 visi-
tors, Chamber members and citizens
through its doors each year. This year,
the house celebrates its 100th birth-
day.
The house was built in 1915 by E.R.
Barber, a respected entrepreneur and
inventor who was very involved in
the local community. After he died in
1965, he left the house to his daugh-
ter, Ola Barber Pittman, who occu-
pied the property until her death in
1977. In her will, Pittman bequeathed
the Barber House to the“citizens of
Valdosta”with detailed instructions
for the house to be a safe haven and
place of security, relaxation and reflec-
tion.
The home was placed on the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places in
1980 following a two-year building
renovation sparked by the Southwest
Georgia Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects. The renovation
effort was made possible through the
generous efforts of local craftsmen
and architects – including Richard
Hill, Mac Tillman and Troy Snipes –
who offered their services at little or
no charge. Following the restoration,
the Chamber moved into the Barber
House with a 75-year lease for $1 per
year, where it has remained for the
past 34 years.
“The Barber House is not only home
to the Chamber,”said Ron Borders
(Real Living Realty Advisors), chairman
of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber
Board of Directors. “Over the years,
the Barber House has been home to a
number of essential organizations in
our community – organizations which
were developed by this Chamber and
have grown even stronger on their
own.”
Such initiatives, including Leader-
ship Lowndes, the Valdosta-
Lowndes Development Authority,
the Valdosta-Lowndes County
Conference Center & Tourism
Authority, the Red Carpet Committee
and the Lowndes County Bird Supper,
continue to flourish and remain
positive and integral parts of the
community.
“We continue to incubate new initia-
tives at the Chamber,”continued
Borders. “We need to ensure that
programs such as the SEEDS Center
and our small business incubator have
the resources needed to be success-
ful. With strong community support,
we can grow our local economy and
invest for the next century.”
Investing for the next century is exactly
what the Chamber is looking to do
with an ambitious capital campaign.
The Barber House is much more
than just a beautiful old building.
It represents the past, present and
future of this community, and serves
as the front door and first impression
many newcomers and visitors will
have of Valdosta. And you only get
one chance to make a legendary first
impression.
Learn more about the history of the
Barber House and how you can help
restore this Valdosta treasure by
visiting www.ValdostaChamber.com.
E.R. Barber House
Celebrates 100th
Birthday
Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
INVESTING FOR THE NEXT CENTURY:
T
Don Pettigrew painting of the E.R. Barber House done in 1980.
12. 38 Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com
The Chamber works hard to promote your business, and our community.
PROMOTE “We offer extensive opportunities
to expand your brand recognition.
It’s marketing made easy!”
Our dedicated Chamber
Ambassadors support local
businesses by attending
ribbon cuttings, ground
breakings and renovation
celebrations as pictured
here.
For more information about
our Ambassadors program
visit ValdostaChamber.com/
ambassadors.
Each year volunteers deliver more than 1200 packets to
Chamber member busineses as part of Operation Thank
You. This year’s sponsor was Colson Printing.
38 Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
Each week, Chamber Ambassadors along with sponsor, South
Georgia Vein Center, recognize a Leading Business of the Week
in our community.
13. 39Summer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com
Our young professionals discussed the advantages of internships
to students at Valdosta State University, explaining how experience
provides a competitive edge for prospective job-seekers.
CHECK OUT
THE NEXT PAGES:
PROMOTING OUR MEMBERS!
State Farm Agents
of Valdosta go
on air with Scott
James to promote
the 2015 Chamber
Choice Awards.
Whether it’s print, online or in
person, the Chamber works hard
to promote your business in this
community.
Media Cares sponsors like Fusion
Creative Marketing help get our
members in front of the camera.
For more information about
our Media Cares program please
contact Kelly Naranja at 229-247-
8100 ext. 231 or visit online at
ValdostaChamber.com/mediacares.
39Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
14. 41
MetroOne’s 4 Under 40
Honoring Our Young Leaders
Summer 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
etroOne’s 4 Under 40
program originally began
as Emerging Leaders
back in 2009 as a way to recognize
young leaders in the community who
excelled both in and out of the work-
place. Now known as MetroOne’s 4
Under 40 program, the recognition
highlights young professionals (aged
21-40) who represent the best and
brightest in business, government,
nonprofits, education, politics, media,
healthcare and the arts.
The ideal candidate for the 4 Under
40 award is someone who is suc-
cessful in his or her profession and
involved in the community beyond
his or her job duties. This year’s win-
ners were selected by the Greenville-
Pitt Chamber of Commerce in
Greenville, North Carolina and recog-
nized at the 4 Under 40 event held at
the Annette Howell Turner Center
for the Arts in May.
THE WINNERS ARE:
Gerrell Aldridge: Gerrell has been
described by his colleagues as the
“team captain”of New Hire Solutions.
He motivates and develops the talent
and skill of each member of his team
to drive their personal and profes-
sional growth. Gerrell has been with
New Hire Solutions since 2007, and
has become an integral member of the
organization’s leadership team. He vol-
unteers in the community and proudly
represents his company through his
work as a Valdosta-Lowndes County
Chamber Ambassador. He is a leader
that exudes a passion for people and
life that is difficult to replicate.
Victoria Copeland: As Valdosta/
Lowndes County’s 2014 Woman of
the Year, Victoria continues to inspire
women to step out on faith to reach
their goals. She has helped inspire
countless individuals both person-
ally and professionally, and is the
proud owner of her own business,
ValdostaSOLD Real Estate Services.
She has gone back to school sev-
eral times to pursue her dreams. She
serves as a volunteer at local schools
and recently participated in the City’s
Government 101 program, where she
learned advocacy skills.
Ashleigh Kenny: Ashleigh is known
as a bridge builder, knowing how
to network and build relationships
with key people and organizations
in our community that are mutually
beneficial. Outside of her work as a
teacher at Hahira Middle School, she
actively volunteers with the Children’s
Advocacy Center and LAMP and is a
graduate of Leadership Lowndes. She
co-founded an organization called
Y-LEAD - one of her proudest achieve-
ments - geared at molding students
into strong, positive leaders. She is
passionate about students and her
community, and has raised thousands
of dollars in our community to benefit
children and people in need.
Justin Purvis: Justin’s dedication to
excellence expands beyond his day
job as an attorney at Young, Thagard,
Hoffman, Smith, Lawrence, Shenton
LLP. He currently serves as the
Valdosta Bar Treasurer, volunteers
with Habitat for Humanity and Relay
for Life, and assists each year with the
high school mock trial competition.
He also is serving his second year
as the State Attorney General’s City
Representative for the Georgia Legal
Food Frenzy, all while taking on a new
role this year as a father. He attests
that true leaders should be able to set
examples both personally and profes-
sionally, and in both circles, he is rec-
ognized as a man of integrity.
For more information visit
metroonevaldosta.com
M
Pictured (L-R): Gerrell Aldridge (New Hire Solutions); Ashleigh Kenny (Hahira Middle
School); Justin Purvis (Young, Thagard, Hoffman, Smith, Lawrence, Shenton, LLP); and
Victoria Copeland (ValdostaSOLD Real Estate Services).
