Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 726 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 7 In January, THBoyd Communications won the Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition. The business plan presentation was based on publishing the South Georgia Business + Culture Magazine. This magazine would not be possible without the support of my partners at Southwest Georgia Bank, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University. While developing the magazine, I received a lot of advice and guidance from various business leaders, mentors, and friends. The greatest support I received was from my family; they were my cheerleaders and advocates throughout the past nine months as the magazine was brought to the point of publication. For me, the most enjoyable part of creating a magazine is the amazing people I meet and the incredible stories I have had the opportunity to discover in South Georgia. In this first issue, you will read about Clinton and Jeana Beeland and the story of their partnership in building a successful chemical production and chemical packaging business in Lowndes County. Wildcat, Bulldog, and Patriot, please meet Malcolm Mitchell. When I had the opportunity to interview Malcolm, I was impressed with his desire to help children find their passion for reading. As a young entrepreneur, he has created the Share the Magic Foundation, which has already made it possible for thousands of young children in Georgia to enjoy a magical reading experience. This first issue has articles highlighting agriculture, education, health care, manufacturing, the arts, and much more. The editorial content of the magazine is focused on creating an awareness and synergy about South Georgia’s economic impact, business opportunities, entrepreneurship, and research, as well as the vibrant cultural growth in the region. I want to especially thank the advertisers for supporting the FROM THE EDITOR: Thressea H. Boyd production and distribution of the South Georgia Business + Culture Magazine. The magazine presents a regional message to a statewide audience. Complimentary copies of the magazine are distributed to business leaders, governmental representatives, and key influencers throughout Georgia. Visit the magazine’s website at sgamag.com to read expanded coverage from this issue, along with the latest business and industry news, awards, and advice from guest bloggers. Most importantly, we want to hear from our readers. Do you have a suggestion for an interesting topic for a future issue? Let us know by sending an email to editor@sgamag.com. South Georgia is a great place to live and work! I invite you to join us as we begin to tell our story! “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” –Psalm 37:3-4 T H E Journey Begins WEBSITE: sgamag.com | FOLLOW: South Georgia Business + Culture Magazine Banking products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast. Synovus has been in the business of growing businesses for a while now. We know a good idea when we see it. So, whether it’s helping with your day-to-day cash flow or planning for expansion, we have all the Business Banking products, services and expertise you will ever need. Talk to us today and discover how our input can help your output. We’re proud to serve you locally as First State Bank. 229.242.5725 fsbtc.com Synovus has been in the business of growing businesses for a while From a little sketch to a big success.