Let's Talk Thomasville

🎙️ New Podcast Alert! 🏡👩‍🔧In our latest episode, we dive deep into a pressing issue that affects countless workers across the nation - "Affordable Housing" 🎧🏠 Affordable housing is not just a dream; it's a fundamental right. We explore the challenges faced by working individuals and families in securing a stable and affordable place to call home, and the implications this has on their lives.Share this episode with friends, colleagues, and anyone who's navigating the challenges of affordable housing. Let's work together to break down these barriers and build a better future! 💪🏡#AffordableHousing #WorkerBarriers #PodcastEpisode #HousingSolutions #CommunitySupport #ImagineThomasvilleGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

🎙️ Exciting News! 🎙️ Our latest podcast episode is live and it's a must-listen! 🚀🎓 Join us as we explore the critical topic of "Pipelines to Post-Secondary" as it relates to the current and future workforce in Thomasville-Thomas County 📚💼🎧 Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform.👆#Education #CareerDevelopment #Podcast #PostSecondary #WorkforceSuccess #ImagineThomasvilleGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

🎙️✨ Exciting News! Our latest podcast episode is here, and it's all about Communication and Relationship Building in Thomasville-Thomas County! 📣🤝In this episode, we delve into the art of effective communication and the power of building strong relationships within our community. We sit down with local experts, leaders, and residents to share their insights, stories, and tips on fostering meaningful connections.Tune in and discover how better communication can strengthen the bonds that make our community so special. 🤗🎧#ImagineThomasville #PodcastEpisode #CommunicationMatters #RelationshipBuilding #ThomasvilleThomasCounty #CommunityConnections #TuneInNow 📻🤗Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

🎧 New Episode Alert! 📚🎉 Dive into our latest podcast episode: "Literacy by 3rd Grade"! In this installment, we explore the importance of literacy by 3rd grade, as it pertains to our future workforce.Whether you're a parent, teacher, or business owner, this episode will inspire you to nurture a love for reading in our young learners. 📣👦👧Tune in now! 📣📚 #LiteracyBy3rdGrade #PodcastEpisode #StorytellingMagic #YoungReaders #EducationMatters #ImagineThomasvilleGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

Shelley and Andrea connect with Executive Director, Lisa Billups with the Thomasville Community Resource Center.  Together, Imagine Thomasville and Thomasville Community Resource Center engaged  Georgia Partnership in Excellence in Education (GPEE) to evaluate the community's birth to work pipeline.  Listen to this episode to hear about how early care and learning deserves a strong focus in our program of work.Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

Tune into Let's Talk Thomasville, a podcast produced by Imagine Thomasville and Summerhill Creative.Season 3 highlights the massive community collaborative, undertaking the birth to work pipeline challenges in Thomasville and Thomas County.In episode 1, Shelley Zorn, Executive Director of the Payroll Development Authority and Andrea Collins, Executive Director of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber, introduce how the workforce plan initiative was born.Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

Lindy Savelle is our guest on today's podcast, and she tells us all about Citrus Tree Day and what you have to look forward to when visiting JoNina Farm!Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

In this episode,  we sit down with Darlene Taylor, current Georgia State Representative and co-founder of Taylor Benefit Resource, who also served as our 2021 Woman of the Year, recognized at our Community Impact Awards. Darlene Taylor has an incredible story of a woman in business in a male dominated line of work. With many obstacles and events taking place in the world, she continued on her mission and now serves many roles in the Thomasville-Thomas County community and at a state level now. Tune in to hear about her business and learn more at:www.tbrtpa.comGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

We are BACK and excited to share this special episode on National Manufacturing Day!In this episode, Shelley Zorn and Andrea Collins sit down with Jessica Little, second generation family business owner of Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Georgia.Tune in to learn how this small farm operation turned into a large manufacturing facility and now national commodity of artisan cheese.Learn more about them at www.sweetgrassdairy.com#NationalManufacturingDay  #LetsTalkThomasville #Podcast #SweetGrassDairy Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

In this episode, we have special guest, Ucher Thomas Dent, Founder of No More Shackles Empowerment Mentoring Program Incorporated. No More Shackles is a non-profit with a sole mission: "To restore, empower and maximize the authentic potential of misguided/underserved girls (ages 8 -18) and their families through bible based life skills training, high-quality mentoring interactions,  cultural enrichment/educational activities, community outreach and the Arts."Ucher Thomas Dent was born and raised in the great City of Roses, Thomasville, Ga.  Ucher received a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Masters of Science Degree in Community Counseling from Thomas University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the State of Georgia.  Mrs. Dent is also a  graduate of Zion Christian Bible Institute and was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus. Ucher is also a Certified Christian Counselor. She is a positive community advocate who is  involved in several community projects but we specifically wanted to discuss her vibrant force in bringing Juneteenth Freedom Day celebrations to Thomasville, Georgia. Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States.  This event will be held in Thomasville as a free community-wide event includes live entertainment, food, a car show, vendors, and more. Dent tells us that this year, it is all about history, heritage and health - "It's a Family Reunion!" Learn more about No More Shackles here: https://www.nomoreshackles.org/Learn more about Juneteenth here: https://thomasvillega.com/attractions/events/juneteenth-celebrationGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

On this episode of Let's Talk Thomasville, we sit down with Cadence Kidwell, owner of Fuzzy Goat, as she shares her insight on life as a small business owner. Kidwell explains what brought her to Thomasville to open up a yarn shop and what steps every business owner should take before opening their own shop.Fuzzy Goat is a delightful and eclectic yarn shop located in Historic Downtown Thomasville – knitting together the community by putting consciously chosen yarns into the hands of both the new and experienced.  Learn more about her shop at www.fuzzygoatyarns.comGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

In this episode, Shelley Zorn and Andrea Collins sit down with Jackie Santoro of Check-Mate Industries to tell their story. Tune in to learn how Check-Mate Industries, a gun manufacturer from New York, ended up in Thomasville, Georgia. Learn more about them at www.checkmateindustries.comGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

On this episode, released on Small Business Week - we sit down with Jeff Lovett, owner of Summerhill Creative. Jeff is a very active partner of the Chamber and local entrepreneur, who has worked since he was 12 years old. He comes with years of knowledge and creative ideas for small business owners and entrepreneurs. You can learn more about Summerhill Creative on their website at summerhillcreative.comGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

On this episode of Let's Talk Thomasville, we sit down with Lauren Vann, owner of Adele Creative and partner of Imagine Thomasville.  Adele Creative was founded in 2013 and has grown year after year in marketing, website design, social media, branding, print design and creative direction. Headquartered in Downtown Thomasville, GA, Adele Creative serves a number of local market leaders as well as regional and national brands.Check out their website to learn more at www.adelecreative.comGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

On this episode, we interview Ben Huntzinger,  entrepreneur and founder of Spartan Wheel Chariots. His story is one that moves you to the core, so we hope you will tune in and get to know him a little better.Spartan Wheel Chariots is owned by a paraplegic outdoorsman who started building rugged all-terrain wheelchairs on the tailgate of his truck. Even the best wheelchairs are not designed for outdoor use. Founder Ben Huntzinger was determined to fix that. Ben researched the least expensive products that still maintain strong integrity for off-road use. That way, everyone could afford an all-terrain wheelchair. He partnered with Spinergy Wheels, the "Cadillac" of wheels to identify a strong and reliable wheel with the best price per wheel. We believe everybody worldwide needs access to living. Spartan Wheel Chariots are the answer.In 2019, Ben participated in the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's InVenture Prize Competition. He found an incredible community of support for his rugged all-terrain wheelchairs. Since then, our mission has been to partner with extraordinary people in providing an extraordinary product. We're changing lives, one wheelchair at a time.Learn More at https://www.spartanwheelchariots.com/Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

On this episode, we sit down with Jill and Brian Higgins, owners of 1861 Distillery. Tune in to hear the story of how the first distillery in Thomasville, Georgia began with a train and descendants of bootleg whiskey makers!Slow down. Enjoy. Experience 1861.Find out more about 1861 Distillery here:www.1861distillery.com​ ​Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

On this episode, we sit down with Southlife Supply Company owners, Heather and Kelly Abbott. Their story is one to remember in Thomasville in how their small business has grown into a very successful retail shop and wholesale brand that started as a simple gift exchanged between the husband and wife during a family Thanksgiving dinner.Over the past 10+ years, the family owned and operated company has received many awards and various recognitions across the state. Southlife Supply Co. and has been featured in the Ryman Auditorium, Bass Pro Shops, Grand Ole Opry and even spread to personalized items for Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and Little Big Town!Southlife Supply Company is one of the many makers in Thomasville, GA and we are glad to have them as members and friends! Learn More:https://southlifesupplyco.com/Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

On this episode, we interview Nathaniel H. Abrams, Jr., a successful small business owner and discuss how his business, that began with one man and a single truck for mobile shredding, has grown exponentially over the last twenty-two years.  Abrams Mobile Document Destruction Service, Inc. is now a National Association for Information Destruction (NAID®) AAA-certified secure document destruction company serving business and residential customers large and small throughout south Georgia and north Florida offering on-site and plant-based shredding services of paper documents, plant-based computer hard drive shredding and electronic recycling services. Abrams Mobile Document Destruction Service is a locally owned company that continues to provide a positive environmental impact and stimulus to our local economy.Learn More: https://www.abramsshredding.com/Phone: 229-226-1082Get social with Imagine Thomasville!

We are BACK for season 2! On this episode, Buffie Spencer shares her story on how she became a small business owner while working a full time job. Buffie comes from a family of business owners and has known that she wanted to start her own business since she was 14 years old. Despite obstacles, she has navigated her way to making that dream a reality and shares helpful insight for anyone that is interested in starting their own business in Thomasville. Learn more about Receptions for You:https://www.facebook.com/receptionsforuGet social with Imagine Thomasville!

Every fall Thomasville welcomes the arrival of world-renowned wildlife artists from near and far to Wildlife Arts Festival, now in its 26th year. A true celebration of Thomasville’s sporting culture during a long weekend in November, at the start of Georgia’s Quail season, through a Fine Art Show, experiences that celebrate the land, workshops led by artists and designers and family friendly events.  In this episode of Let’s Talk Thomasville, we discuss all of the exciting plans for this year’s event with Mariam Mirabzadeh, Festival Director at the Thomasville Center for the Arts.If you would like to learn more about the 26th Annual Wildlife Arts Festival, please contact them at (229) 226-0588 or visit their website at https://thomasvillearts.org/wildlife-arts-festival/ Get social with Imagine Thomasville!