October 5, 2021
Chamber Monday Memo
Chamber Calendar
Friday, Oct. 8: Southern Pickers 10th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting, 11 a.m. at 309 Main Street.

Wednesday, Oct. 13: Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce Cancer Awareness Blood Drive, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Cato Knight Parking Lot.

Thursday, Oct. 21: October Membership Meeting, noon at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture.
News from the Chamber
28th Annual Chamber Golf Classic
The 28th Annual Chamber Golf Classic was a resounding success! It was also a record-breaking year, with 41 teams playing throughout the day and 17 major sponsors! The Chamber staff wants to thank those sponsors: ADAMA, American Textile, Asahi Express, Astro Exterminating, AT&T, Carr Riggs & Ingram, CooperCraft Communications, Crown Group, Georgia Power, Heatcraft, The Howard Center, Mohawk, Southwell, Stafford, Superior Sauce, Tifton Coca Cola and Vista Clinical. We also want to thank Spring Hill Country Club for hosting the event.

Congratulations to all of our winners!
1st Place: Skip Hill and Associates Team (Tyler Wall, Courtney Howell, Jay Funderbuk, Rusty Smith)
2nd Place: Ameris Bank Team (Jelks Warren, David Monk, Jason Shivers, Josh Bowen)
3rd Place: Colony Bank Team (Wes Ehlner, Jason Morris, Mike Davis, Terry Marshall)
4th Place: Prince Team (Austin Stripling, Austin Anderson, Zach Forshee, Joseph Spinks)
Closest to the Pin Winners: Hole 2 - Jelks Warren, Hole 5 - Austin Anderson, Hole 14 - Doug Smith, Hole 11 - Darrell Wilkerson.
Longest Drive: Hole 6 - Tyler Wall, Hole 18: Brock Young.
2021 Legislative Breakfast
Our Annual Legislative Breakfast was this morning, and it was a fantastic opportunity for our members to hear directly from legislators about important issues they are working on! Carden Summers (State Senate District 13) and Clay Pirkle (State Representative District 155) gave us a great update on reapportionment and redistricting, rural broadband, and rural transportation, and Charles White with Rep. Austin Scott's office gave an update on behalf of our Representative in D.C. Thank you Rep. Pirkle, Sen. Summers and Mr. White for taking the time to meet with us this morning! Thank you to Georgia Chamber of Commerce Tifton Office for hosting the event and to Southern Caterers for the great breakfast spread!
October Business of the Month
Congratulations to the October Business of the Month: Astro Exterminating! Astro Exterminating is a full service pest control company, offering today's modern technology in pest and termite control.They have more than 200 employees in 11 locations throughout the southeast. The Tifton office is located at 103 12th Street East.
Business Spotlight of the Week
Congratulations to last week's Business Spotlight of the Week: Legacy Village of Tifton! They are an assisted living community located at 1934 Whiddon Mill Road in Tifton.
Member News and Events

October

Thursday, Oct. 7: Domestic Violence Awareness Month Candlelight Vigil, 5:30 p.m. at Southern Regional Technical College.

October 8-9: Tift County Scrap Tire Event, 8-5 on Friday and 8-noon on Saturday, at Tift County Public Works (2011 Whiddon Mill Road). Passenger, tractor trailer, front and rear farm tractor tires accepted. Proof of Tift County residency must be provided. No heavy equipment tires, tires with rims, or tires from retail tire dealers, or tires from commercial scrap tire generators will be accepted.

Saturday, Oct. 9: Rhythm and Ribs BBQ Festival, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at Fulwood Park. Vendor and team applications open. For more information or to register, visit www.tiftonribsfest.com or call 229-386-0216.

Thursday, Oct. 14: Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, 5:30 p.m. at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Saturday, Oct. 16: Tifton Walk to End Alzheimer's, 9 a.m. at ABAC. Register at www.alz.org/walk

Tuesday, Oct. 19: Georgia Kids Count Data Use Virtual Workshop, 9:30-11 a.m. Registration required. Contact the Tift County Commission on Children and Youth to register at 229-388-1000 or tc3y@friendlycity.net.

Wednesday, Oct. 20: Go Light Up Your World Event. Contact Tift County Commission on Children and Youth to sign up at tc4y@friendlycity.net or 229-388-1000.

October 21: Wear Purple Day for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

October 22-23: City of Tifton Tire Amnesty and Electronics Recycling Event, 8:30 a.m.-noon at the Cato Knight Parking Lot. City residents can drop off up to 10 tires up to 22 inches and will have to unload their own tires. No TVs or CRT computer monitors will be accepted

Saturday, Oct. 30: ABAC Run for the Nurses

November

Tuesday, Nov. 2: Municipal, General, and Special Elections
COLQUITT EMC CELEBRATES 85 YEARS OF SERVICE

2021 marks Colquitt EMC’s 85th anniversary of providing power. The cooperative has seen tremendous growth over the years.
The Colquitt County Rural Electric Company was chartered September 28, 1936, and the company signed a $275,000 contract authorizing the construction of 270 miles of line that would bring power to 1,040 customers. On October 23, 1936, the contract was signed, and permanent board officers were elected – Cliff Jenkins, President; W.M. Tillman, Vice President; W.W. King, Secretary-Treasurer. Van T. Crosby and John Suber were named as directors.
On July 10, 1937, President Jenkins flipped a switch energizing the first unit of the Colquitt County REA system, which was a 15-mile stretch from Moultrie to Berlin serving 36 customers. It has been said that some customers “burned every light in the house well past midnight.” Following the commissioning of the Moultrie-Berlin line, the line to Ellenton was completed.
In 1939, Colquitt County REA separated from commissioner sponsorship and directors were selected from other counties being served. By 1940, there were 2,573 members and 1,165 miles of line, and by 1945, the cooperative had 3,988 customers and 1,183 miles of line.
Colquitt County REA moved into its headquarters building at 15 Rowland Drive in 1950. This building served Colquitt EMC until October 1, 2019 when a new, state-of-the-art headquarters building was commissioned across the street from the original headquarters building. In 1969, the cooperative opened the Valdosta district office, and by 1976, the Tifton district office was opened, and branch offices were opened in Adel, Nashville and Quitman.
In October 1976, members voted to change the name of the company to Colquitt Electric Membership Corporation. Colquitt EMC’s 173 employees currently serve over 47,150 members with over 70,000 meters and 9,100 miles of line within a seven-county service area, including: Brooks, Berrien, Cook, Colquitt, Lowndes, Tift and Worth.
Colquitt EMC strives for innovation and growth that will benefit the membership. The cooperative offers members the modern conveniences of account management through their automated phone line, new website and mobile app. Members can also stay in the know through the cooperative’s social media accounts and with the live power outage map that was released in 2020.
The cooperative prides itself on community involvement, and is involved in many local and state organizations, such as the local chambers of commerce and economic development authorities. Through Colquitt EMC’s Unclaimed Capital Credit Fund, over $3.4 million dollars in scholarships for students and $127,000 in Bright Ideas Grants for Teachers have been awarded. Colquitt EMC has also sponsored delegates for the NRECA Washington Youth Tour since 2006.
Since the beginning, Colquitt EMC has welcomed the opportunity to educate others on electrical safety and energy conservation. The cooperative regularly presents programs at various local school presentations and youth and civic organizations.
In 2020, Colquitt EMC began a partnership with Windstream to bring fiber broadband service to the membership. This partnership will expand Windstream’s fiber optic broadband network and bring internet speeds of up to 1 Gig to Colquitt EMC members over the next several years. This partnership was the first of its kind in the state of Georgia.
Colquitt EMC is proud to have served South Georgia for 85 years. The cooperative’s success and growth would not be possible without the support of the members and board of directors.
Spread the Love with Peanut Butter
Help South Georgia Banking Company “Spread the Hope” as a part of Georgia Peanut Bank week by donating a jar of peanut butter! The collected jars will be given to local food banks in our service area, including Tift, Colquitt, Turner, Crisp, Dooly, and Worth counties. You may drop off your jar at any SGBC branch from October 1 – 29 and we’ll deliver the boxes of peanut jars to the food banks. [If possible, please donate plastic jars].
 
Georgia Peanut Bank Week celebrates the significant contributions peanut farmers and peanuts make to our local and state economies. According to the UGA Cooperative Extension Service, Georgia is the number one producer of peanuts in the United States, and Georgia peanut farmers provide more than 45 percent of the U.S. peanut crop each year.
 
For SGBC locations, visit to www.SGBConline.com
Learning and Education
Job Postings
Hood Packaging is hiring for the following positions:
  • Converting Associate/ Tuber Shafter
  • Converting Assistant/ Pinch Bottomer Stacker
  • Converting Assistant/ Tuber Stacker
  • Converting Associate/ Tail End Press/Make Ready
  • Converting Operator
  • Maintenance Tech II
  • Printing Associate
  • Printing Operator
ADAMA Agricultural Solutions is hiring for People Coordinator for the Ocilla, GA location.
They are looking for an experienced People Coordinator primarily supporting people initiatives in the Ocilla location and also supporting the Tifton location. They are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic team player that con respond with agility in an fast-paced environment. Visit www.adama.com to apply.
Ruth's Cottage is hiring for: Sexual Assault Advocate (part-time with weekend shifts, some overnight), Shelter Advocate (part-time with weekend shifts, some overnight), and a Legal Advocate (full-time, primarily M-F 8-5).
Screenings (including background, medical, and drug checks), job training and other job readiness is provided by RCPCH.
Applicants must apply on the website www.StopTheHurtGA.org. Do not call or contact staff directly.
Short and Paulk Supply Company is searching for a Human Resources Manager. We are looking for an individual that can help recruit, train, develop and retain the best employees in the industry.
The Human Resources Manager provides strategic leadership and day-to-day operations of all human resource functions to manage all aspects of the employment lifecycle. This position is responsible for the development, administration, coordination and evaluation of all company human resource policies and procedures.
 This position is housed at the corporate administrative office in Tifton and works under the direction of the CFO. This position will work closely with the Executive, Leadership and Branch Management teams. Some travel required.
The Salvation Army Tifton is hiring a part-time store clerk/warehouse worker AND a part-time accounting clerk/social services person. Apply on Indeed.com or in the store, locates at 1205 US-82 East.
The Big Store, located in Downtown Tifton, is seeking two full time employees. They are looking for motivated individuals for both the men's and women's departments. Salary competitive based on experience. Plesae send resume to thebigstore@friendlycity.net or in person at 346 Main Street, Tifton.
Kids Advocacy Coalition is hiring for Executive Director.
Full time position with $42,000 salary. Requirements: Certified school teacher or early childhood education, prior experience working directly with children or in related field with minimum 3 years experience.
For more information call 229-382-9919 or email kac@friendlycity.net or visit at www.kactift.org. Mail applications to P.O. Box 243, Tifton, GA 31793 by Aug. 27.
Williams Hotel Group is hiring: Front Desk Agents, Housekeepers, Maintenance. Apply in person or visit www.williamshotelgroup.com.
Heatcraft is hiring. Starting salaries begin at $14.75-$18.25 per hour with additional pay increases after 90 days based on job performance boosting pay to $15-20.10 per hour. 2nd shift starts at additional $3 per hour, 3rd shift starts at at additional $3.50 per hour to base starting pay. Apply at www.heatcraftrpd.com/tiftonjobs
Quality Employment Service is hiring! Current openings include: CDL Drivers, Delivery Drivers, Heavy Assemblers, Order Pickers, Welders, Production Workers, Lube Tech, Landscapers, Machine Operators, Wrap Installer, Plumber Helper. Contact QES at 229-386-8689 or visit at www.qualityemploymentservice.com
Ambassador is hiring. Current openings include: Administrative, Janitorial, Assembly, Production, Clerical, Sales, Forklift, Warehouse, General Labor, Welders, etc. paying $8-20 per hour. For more information: 229-387-8055 or www.teamambassador.com.



Labor Finders is now hiring. Open positions include: Warehouse Workers, Janitorial, Cooks and Servers, Batchers and Packers, Day Labor, Landscaping. Apply at 806 N. Central Ave or call 229-387-9962.
If you have a job listing that you would like posted in the Monday Memo, send the announcement to ebrechbiel@tiftonchamber.org. The deadline for inclusion is Friday at noon.
Got news to share?
Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce
229-382-6200