An Invasion of the positive

Go Go Sumter Pep Squad stops at local businesses

Robert Griffin

AMERICUS — Over the past two days you might have seen the red and black South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) van roaming up and down the streets of Americus. In the captain’s chair sits Wally Summers, vice president of economic development services at SGTC. Along for the ride are Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce President Angela Westra; Angie Hood-Singletary, director of the Downtown Development Authority, and Gaynor Cheokas from Georgia Southwestern State University.

The group, who called themselves the “Go Go Sumter Pep Squad,” was doing a follow-up with local businesses with the entrepreneur friendly community designation. “We are doing a follow-up with some of our entrepreneurs and small business owners as part of our entrepreneur friendly designation. The last part of our grant is designated to go to a rebranding campaign for Sumter County,” said Cheokas. The rebranding campaign will consist of ads and over 350 30-second spots on WISK Radio.

The group started the tour Wednesday afternoon with Summers picking up the group from Rees Park Economic Development Center and taking them around town to visit. Occupants of by-passing cars looked on in wonder and amazement as the red and black van passed, with Summers in the front waving at everyone. The group pulled into its first stop, Star Racing, where they had a chat with Jackie Bryce, who greeted them enthusiastically at the door. “We are getting ready to start or 30th year, in Americus where we started,” said Bryce. The main focus of the group’s questioning centered on why these homegrown companies chose Americus, why they decided to stay, and why they think prospective companies should open up shop in Americus.

Bryce told her story of why she and her husband chose to open their shop in Americus. “For our type of business, Americus was centrally located to the racing events that we were going to at the time, and we had a friend that lived here, and he told us it was a great place to come, so we did, and we have been here ever since. We have always been told ‘move away,’ but we love it hear.”

Bryce went on to say, “The main thing is that we have is a unique business that can be located anywhere, but we love Americus. It has a lot of the things that a larger town has, but without a lot of the headaches. The community and Chamber of Commerce do an excellent job for our business and Americus is a great place to live.”

With the interview and a tour of the shop completed, the group piled back onto the bus where they hit up their next stop, Gammage Print Shop where they spoke with Carla Cook and Earl Gammage. “We have been in business since 1923, and are on our fourth generation of family ownership,” said Gammage. Cook gave a brief summary of how the business has evolved in the time that she has been working at there. “When we first started here we had wooden type, and then we went to metal type, then to a copy graphic machine, and finally where we are now printing straight from the computer.”

Gammage described why he loves Americus, and what made him stay. “We love the town and the community. There are two great institutions here, and we love to be involved with everything going on. We work with the University to offer part time jobs to students, and in fact Mrs. Fennessy was one of our first Georgia Southwestern students that we employed and she will be turning 91 this year.” Cook added, “I was born and raised here, my children were all born here, my girls have been away and have come back. My son is in college now, and I hope that the community will be to where he can come back here. I feel that I have a vested interest in the town. I want the best for the community; we have so much to offer.”

With that the group hopped back on the bus again for a short drive to Accelerated Physical Therapy where they talked with co-owner and physical therapist Alex Saratsiotis. Saratsiotis said that he and his partner Tracey Law always knew after college that they would return to Americus and Sumter County. “This is where we were born and raised, and moving back here was a no-brainer,” Saratsiotis said.

Saratsiotis went on to say that the community support for his business has been outstanding, and he is looking forward to what the future brings for this area. “As for the future we are looking to add a new physical therapist, but until then we are status quo right now.” Saratsiotis went on to explain his love for the community. “Its a great community. Everyone in the community supports each other, and I think that was evident after the tornado, and we came out stronger.”

After the group had a replenishment of bottled waters and diet sodas, the group was re-energized and started the ride to their next business, Apollo Health Street, where they met with Joe DiValerio. DiValerio started off by giving a brief description of his company, and why they chose Sumter County. “In 200, after the crash of the dot-coms we were looking to take on an initiative to make our company more cost-efficient which we couldn’t do in Atlanta. We were looking at three locations, two in Georgia, and one in Scotland. We came down here and what attracted us to the area, was the area itself. When you look at the area from a business perspective, for what we do, the passion that we need from people to help our customers on the phone, we needed friendly phone voices, and Sumter County had those voices.”

DiValerio also mentioned how his company is able to draw new employees from a range of 65 miles around the area, and also the help that SGTC has provided for the company. “I always tell prospective companies, that if something happens, we can be back up and running at the Pope Center in 30 minutes,” DiValerio said.

The last stop for the day for the Go Go Sumter group was a drop-in at Rick and Mary Katherine Davis’ new retirement community, Southland Ridge. The Davises sat down with the group in the community clubhouse, where they discussed why they decided to stay in Americus. “Just a few years ago, we were considering moving,” said Rick, “but we decided to stay because of the people of Sumter County. This is such a great place to live. Everyone is really community minded.”

Rick also took time at the end of the discussion to talk about why he loves this community so much. “The largest myth about small communities is that you give up so much to move and live in a small community. When you sit down and talk to local residents, and look at where we are, you find out what makes it a special place. We are two and a half hours from an international airport, three hours from mountains, two hours from beaches. Our climate is ideal. Our town is safe. Looking at all that it is something that you can’t put a price on.”

With the 5 p.m. hour coming, the group called it a day, and were ready to have another day of cheering local businesses.

The morning sun was shining bright as the group met again at Rees Park and climbed back on board the bus. The first stop of that morning was a needed one, at local coffee roasters Cafe Campesino. The group sat down with co-owner Tripp Pomeroy, who explained why he and his partners chose to locate their business in Americus. “Cafe Campesino was started 10 years ago by an Americus native, Bill Harris, who had traveled to Guatemala to work on one of Habitat for Humanity’s global village programs, and he came back and started this place, which is Georgia’s first and only 100 percent fair trade organic coffee company. We’re not just a coffee company; we’re also a coffee roaster who exports its coffee all across the United States.”

Pomeroy also stated why he chose to come back to Americus to help with the Cafe. “There is just a charm about the city. When you talk about the people it’s not just a vague, ‘people are nice’. The people here talk to each other, and create networks the old fashioned way. Also, I have time to have a life here. Instead of sitting in traffic most of my day, I have time to spend with my family.” Pomeroy finished his statements by saying “The nice thing about Americus and Sumter County is you have the space, and you have the time. You don’t have the crushing costs of living, and the crushing costs of operating a business. You actually have a place that encourages you to be an entrepreneur.”

Pomeroy’s sentiments were almost mirrored by the next few stops on the tour. At George’s Tailor Shop, owner George Saratsiotis recalled the story of his arrival in Americus from Greece and the people who helped him start his business, and keep it going all of this time. At Barnett’s Computers, the group talked to Mike Barnett, who is originally from Virginia by way of Ohio and was brought to Americus through Collins & Aikman. “When I came here,” said Barnett, “I knew it was going to be a short-term situation and I was looking to retire and start a second career.” Barnett said he wanted to stay here because of the small community, and southern charm that the town possesses.

The group also stopped by Southland Branch Family Care, where they spoke to Dr. Clint Weldon, who opened his business in September 2008. Weldon echoed the sentiments of all those interviewed by the group saying that the quality of life offered in Americus is second to none. “The community has been really supportive, and we are very thankful to all our patients,” said Weldon.

Along with the more established businesses, the group visited two of the newest in town: 13th Colony Distillers, where they chatted with master distiller Gil Klemann, and Flaming Grill, owned by Eddie and Kim Dunn. At 13th Colony, Klemann discussed how Americus greeted his new business with open arms. “Our welcome in Americus has been such a refreshing change of pace. It really is nice to discover that your building is zoned for light industry, and we are considered heavy industry, to be able to go before your planning and zoning commission, planning for a long dog and pony show, and five minutes into what would have been a 30-minute speech, they ask if they can go ahead and vote and approve us.”

At Flaming Grill, Eddie Dunn mentioned how opening a new business becomes an easier task in Americus, other than in a larger city. “In Americus you don’t have the higher cost of living and operating a business that you would have in a big city like Atlanta.” Dunn also mentioned how the community’s support was great for his business when it opened. “The first week was hectic, but I think people are just excited to have something on this side of town, and be able to have a bite to eat and relax.”

So for now, the Go Go Sumter Pep squads pom poms are put away, but the group plans to start hitting businesses again in November.

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