6 S G M A G A Z I N E | W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 8 WEBSITE: sgamag.com | FOLLOW: South Georgia Business + Culture Magazine FROM THE EDITOR: Thressea H. Boyd Continuing to Tell South Georgia’s Story! Welcome to the fourth issue of South Georgia Business + Culture Magazine. With each edition, the readership continues to grow. We also continue to receive positive comments on the importance of having a magazine that highlights South Georgia to a statewide audience. I want to thank our advertisers; it is their support that makes the production and distribution of the magazine possible. We consider our advertisers “business partners,” as they are helping promote the economic impact of industry and businesses, agriculture, tourism, and workforce development found throughout South Georgia. In this issue, the cover story is focused on the state’s dual enrollment program, which has provided more than 36,000 high school students with an opportunity to get a jumpstart on college. We also showcase the success of Georgia Christian School in developing an annual benefit dinner that has become one of the region’s premier events. Discover how Valdosta State University President Richard A. Carvajal has ignited the institution’s quest to become a catalyst for regional comprehensive progress. In similar fashion, Thomas University President James Andrew “Andy” Sheppard is continuing to transform the private university into an institution that attracts students from across Georgia and North Florida, as well as globally. Georgia’s growing agritourism market is receiving some assistance thanks to the Georgia Grown Trails, which originated in South Georgia. Take a day drive or make a weekend trip traveling through Georgia’s country roads, with stops along the way featuring working farms; wine tasting; local markets selling homemade jams, jellies, and sauces; or enjoy a meal at a farm-to-table restaurant. As the economic playing field becomes more competitive, local economic development teams are not only vying for new industries but also working to retain and expand existing businesses. During 2017, communities in South Georgia attracted new companies and assisted existing industries in their expansion efforts, which is producing hundreds of additional jobs in the region. Meet Matt and Roxie Seale, owners of The Shoppes at Fourth and Cherry in Ocilla who have made it their mission to become advocates for living in a small town. They have also created Southern Mercantile, an online store that shares Ocilla’s traditions and charm with others throughout the southeast, and eventually the country. Maricela Mendoza, a high school student at Echols County High School, has a dream of one day becoming a book illustrator. In the past, the artistically gifted student has had to teach herself basic art techniques; however, thanks to Debi Davis with the Turner Center for the Arts, Maricela and other students at Echols County High School are receiving art education classes. 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 or visiting our website at sgamag.com and share your ideas and thoughts. South Georgia is a great place to live and work. I invite you to join us as we continue to tell our story! “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” – Proverbs 4:13