Real Estate in Pooler, 19 Townhomes Listed by Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty

• Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty Selected to List 19 Townhomes in Pooler; The Retreat at Forest Lakes in Godley Station
• www.celiadunnsir.com(SAVANNAH, GA.)  Nineteen townhomes in the upscale gated community of The Retreat at Forest Lakes have just become available. The townhomes are located in Godley Station in Pooler.Priced from $119,900 to $199,900, these low-maintenance townhomes feature villa-style duplexes or townhome-style homes with brick exteriors.
• “We at Liberty Homes are extremely excited about The Retreat – I am convinced that we have the best townhome community, the best team and the best home value in the Savannah area,” said Todd Houser, managing partner of Liberty Homes based in Charlotte, N.C.
  The townhomes have two to three bedrooms and two to three baths, and some have bonus rooms that could be used as an additional bedroom. The townhomes range from 1679 square feet to 2999 square feet, and all have the master bedroom on the main floor. Most have utility rooms, and all have two-car garages.

  The townhomes include all kitchen appliances, including a refrigerator, and feature pantries and quality wood cabinets. The townhomes have a range of finishes, such as stainless steel or black appliances, granite or Corian counters, recessed lighting in the kitchen, and wood floors, tile or carpet in the main living areas. Each unit is different. All include a one-year home warranty. Some of the townhomes have open porches or covered porches.

  Community amenities include a zero-entry pool, a large fitness facility, a clubhouse, tennis courts and a playground.

  Open Houses are scheduled for Feb. 12 and Feb. 19. SunTrust Bank mortgage lenders and First American home warranty representatives will be available to answer questions. Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty has been selected to list all 19. Lori Combs is the listing agent, along with Casey Schivera and Bob Dixon.

  For more information on the community, visit http://www.TheRetreatTownhomes.com.

  The neighborhood is located minutes from I-95 and I-16 as well as the airport exit and Pooler Parkway. It is also only minutes away from the South Carolina border and downtown Savannah.

  Known for its tradition of integrity, Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty specializes in residential and commercial properties in Savannah and the Low Country of Georgia and South Carolina. Founded in 1981, Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty is noted for outstanding service to its clients, thorough knowledge of Savannah and the South Carolina Low Country, and excellent staff, in addition to having one of the region’s top property management departments. The owners are natives of Savannah who have more than 60 years’ combined experience in real estate. The offices are located at 9, 13, and 17 West Charlton Street on Madison Square in Savannah and 336 Buck Island Road in Bluffton, S.C.

  For more information, call Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty at (912) 234-3323 or visit http://www.celiadunnsir.com. To contact the Bluffton office, call (843) 836-3900.
  –
  Best,
  Marjorie Young
  Carriage Trade Public Relations, Inc.
  marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
  www.carriagetradepr.com
  P: 912-844-9990
  P (202) 656-4314
  F: 413.228.5707
  SKYPE: CarriageTradePR

  Carriage Trade Public Relations, Inc. is a full service PR agency that creates and executes digital communication programs for visibility and reputation management in the community and globally online by positioning you as the AUTHORITY in your field. CarriageTradePR has been an award winning PR agency since 1995, receiving Entrepreneur of The Year in 2006.  CarriageTradePR’s office is located in Savannah’s Historic District on Telfair Square and in Augusta, GA at the Enterprise Mill. www.carriagetradepr.com. 912.844.9990

Independent Skills Instructor hired by Goodwill Savannah

(SAVANNAH, GA) SHERRI P. THOMAS named Independent Skills Instructor by Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire. She will provide independent living skills,  assessment and training to ADVANCE acquired brain injury program customers. She will re-teach skills necessary for independence such as cooking, laundry, cleaning, budgeting, banking etc., mobility training (which means learning to get around mostly by bus) and help consumers access community resources. She will also be in charge of teaching leisure skills such as arts and crafts. An acquired brain injury is brain damage caused by events during or after birth, rather than as a genetic or congenital disorder. Brain injury can result from injuries such as motor vehicle and other accidents, falls, assaults, stroke, brain tumors, infection and certain diseases. Problems resulting from a brain injury include cognitive impairments, personality issues, physical impediments, anxiety, depression and stress. Certification Department of Defense Dependant Schools Teaching Certificate, Fine Arts Education, K-12 & Family & Consumer Science, 6-12. EDUCATION BS, Home Economics and Business, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Va., 1983- 1988. 151 Sem. Hours, 2.98 GPA. MAT, Fine Arts Education, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Va., 1992- 1994. 45 Sem. Hours, 3.98 GPA. Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Inc. is dedicated to the mission of assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to live independently and become employed. The not-for-profit organization currently employs more than 500 employees locally and in 2010 provided services to 3,184 people in our community, among them homeless veterans, at-risk youth, new immigrants and the disabled. Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire serves 33 counties in Georgia and South Carolina and operates 12 retail locations in the region. In addition to the thrift shops, Goodwill accepts tax deductable car donations and operates an online store at shopgoodwill.com. For more information on Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, please call 912-354-6611, email info@goodwillsavannahga.org or visit www.goodwillsavannahga.org.   http://www.goodwillsavannahga.org

SAVANNAH COMMUNITY HEADLINES, JAN 30, 2012

(SAVANNAH, GA) COMMUNITY HEADLINES™ Distributed on the Local News Wire to the media

(GEORGIA) There were 902,694 small businesses in Georgia in 2009. Of these, 167,864 were employers and they accounted for 45 percent of private sector jobs in the state. Small firms made up 97.7 percent of the state’s employers. * READ STUDY * (SAVANNAH, GA) Downtown Business Association will hold their Annual Entreprenure of the Year Banquet on Feb 8, 2012. For tickets www.savannah.dba.com (RICHMOND HILL, GA)  John Reynolds, CEO of RPI Roofing in Richmond Hill was appointed President of the Richmond Hill-Bryan Co. Chamber of Commerce: http://www.bryancountynews.net/section/74/article/18264/ (SAVANNAH, GA) Wesley Community Centers of Savannah, Inc. hosts the annual fundraiser, The Love Walk, scheduled for Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 9:00am-noon.  Pre and post rallies, silent auction, door prizes, fellowship, food, and entertainment. 3.6 mile walk kicks off at 9:00am. Funds raised will support critical programs that directly impact women, children, and families who are struggling through poverty to find self-sufficiency. 1601 Drayton Street. (912) 236-4226. (SAVANNAH, GA) February Small Business Council / SMART Luncheon Tuesday, February 7, Adam Van Brimmer, Reporter with the Savannah Morning News, will present: “Relating to the Media: Do’s & Don’ts” Noon – Lunch & Program. RSVP IS REQUIRED 912.644.6459. (SAVANNAH, GA) Advance (Acquired Brain Injury Program): the only non-hospital based option for Georgia residents with a brain injury south of Atlanta. It assists patients in making the transition back into an active vital life that could include returning to school, work or learning to function independently. It includes comprehensive review of medical history, evaluation and collaborative intervention. http://goodwillsavannah.org/mission/advance-aquired-brain-injury-program/ (SAVANNAH, GA) The 2012 Savannah Book Festival will broadcast live on national TV by C-SPAN/Book TV this President’s Day Weekend.  Celebrating its fifth year with five days of literary events, this prestigious book festival will take place February 15-19, 2012 and remains free for all to attend. http://www.savannahbookfestival.org/ (SAVANNAH, GA) Looking for funding? Need investors? Have a great idea but don’t know what to do next? APPLY NOW to compete in this year’s FastPitch Competition powered by the ATDC Savannah, Creative Coast, and Georgia Southern University, http://fastpitchcompetition.com/ (SAVANNAH, GA) On March 8 from 8:30am – 12:30 pm – top executives from the Savannah business community, SCORE and The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center will be on hand to share tips and advice on growing a business at the SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE, which will be held at the Savannah Morning News:  $19.95 tickets include lunch. RSVP (SAVANNAH, GA) Lecture on 10 Proven Online PR Methods, Feb 9 at 5:30 PM, given online. Class sponsored by SCORE. REGISTER HERE FOR FREE CLASS (TYBEE ISLAND, GA) Kris Williams, director of the Caretta Research Project, will be the featured speaker at this month’s Ocean Plaza Beach Resort Coastal Ecology Dinner Lecture Series, Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at the hotel’s Dolphin Reef Oceanfront Restaurant. Williams will present a lecture entitled, “Why Is the Sea Turtle Population Dwindling?” The lecture will be preceded by a wine and cheese reception at 6 p.m. in the Dolphin Reef Bar, and dinner will be served in the Dolphin Reef main dining room at 6:30 p.m. The standard Dolphin Reef dinner menu will be offered. To RSVP, please call 912-786-7777. (SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS) Small Business Invited to Speed Mentoring Conference, March 8 http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2012-01-29/small-businesses-invited-speed-mentoring-conference (SAVANNAH, GA)  During this year’s five-day Savannah Book Festival from February 15-19,  the Festival’s community outreach program, SBF@School, is once again sending prominent authors into public and private high schools, colleges and universities to talk with students about their writing processes, their challenges and paths to publication. www.savannahbookfestival.org (SAVANNAH, GA) Rotary encourages everybody on the board including the incoming president to attend the Rotary Leadership Institute class on Saturday, March 3 at the Savannah Tech campus by the Airport – starts at 8:00 am – over at 3:30pm. There is more info on the web. Cost is $95  http://www.rlitraining.org/registration/ (SAVANNAH, GA) Help Waddie Welcome & the Beloved Community~Theatrical Production http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waddiewelcomeonstage/waddie-welcome-and-the-beloved-community-theatrica (SAVANNAH, GA) The Unchained Tour www.theunchainedtour.org is returning to Savannah on Friday, February 10 at 8:00. at the Savannah History Museum. 75 tickets remaininghttp://www.showclix.com/event/210498. (SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS) See who is supplying solar power to one local business. http://m.savannahnow.com/exchange/2012-01-29/solar-deal-challenges-georgia-power (SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Calendar (POOLER, GA) On February 2, 2012 Marjorie Young, CEO of Carriage Trade Public Relations will present: “How to Create a Yearly PR Plan.” She will be speaking to the Professional Network Connections organization.  For more info call 912.572.2362 (SAVANNAH, GA) Follow SAVANNAH COMMUNITY HEADLINES™ on TWITTER  http://twitter.com/carriagetradepr

CarriageTrade Public Relations, Inc. COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS Reputation Management PR Coaching Full Service PR Agency Positions you as the Authority in your industry Creates digital content that drives traffic to your website 912.844.9990 Established 1995

TOP SAVANNAH EXECUTIVES MENTOR MARCH 8, SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah area small business owners are invited to attend a SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE on Thursday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Savannah Morning News Auditorium, 1375 Chatham Parkway.

The conference is an invaluable opportunity for small business owners to learn about a variety of topics, ask questions and network with top executive who have decades of experience in the small business field.

Among the topics covered during the SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE are Finding the Money, the Power of Social Media, Finding Your Niche, When to Outsource, HR Headaches, Cash Flow–Business Lifeblood, Pricing for Profit, Understanding Financial Reports, Preparing a Budget, and Which Product or Service to Keep and Creating Ads that Sell.

Participants will have 25 minutes to meet with their mentors about each subject. Members of the Savannah chapter of SCORE and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, along with top executives from area businesses, will be on hand to facilitate the Speed Mentoring process.

The event will also include lunch and a presentation by Dr. Timothy Mescon, president of Columbus State University. Dr. Mescon, who served as the dean at the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta prior to becoming Columbus State’s fourth president in 2008, is the author of more than 200 articles and cases and has co-authored four books, including Entrepreneurship: Venture Initiation, Management and Development. Dr. Mescon has written extensively about retail banking, bank marketing and innovation and creativity in the financial services industry. He was the featured speaker at the AMEX/SCORE Speed Mentoring Conference in Atlanta.
“This is an excellent opportunity for members of the Savannah small business community to interact with and learn from high-level business professionals,” said Marjorie Young, president of the Savannah chapter of SCORE.

The cost of registration is $19.95 per person and $9.95 for additional parties from the same organization and includes the mentoring sessions, lunch and Dr. Mescon’s presentation. Participants will also have the opportunity to schedule a follow-up appointment.

The Savannah Morning News and Comcast are the event’s media sponsor.

Registration for the SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE begins at 8 a.m. with coffee and refreshments, and the program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information or to register, please call SCORE at 912-652-4335, email
info@scoresav.org or visit http://www.savannah.score.org.

LEARN IT LIVE: 10 PROVEN ONLINE PR METHODS

(ONLINE FREE WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL MEDIA) Marjorie Young, President of SCORE Savannah will give a free workshop for SCORE on Feb. 9, 2012 at 5:30pm EST on “Ten Proven Online PR Methods”. In her presentation she will talk about; how to position you as the AUTHORITY in your field, how to get your articles, press releases and videos to rank in Google,  the importance of blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Wikipedia, RadioBlogs, Skype and traditional media outlets. You will learn how to increase your visibility and credibility online. The free workshop will be livestreamed at this link. http://www.learnitlive.com/class/1421/Ten-Proven-Online-PR-Methods-vs-Traditional-PR

Small firms made up 97.7 percent of the state’s employers –

Office of Advocacy Releases Small Business Profiles
for All 50 States

–Small Businesses Play a Vital Role in Georgia’s Economy–

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of Advocacy today released the annual Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories. This is the 16th year Advocacy has published a state-by-state profile of American small business for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The profiles are an invaluable resource for small businesses, legislators, academics, government officials, and policymakers in each state.

The Georgia profile uses the most recent data available to provide details about the state’s small business employment; business starts and closings; bank lending; business ownership by minorities, women, and veterans; and firm and employment change by major industry and firm size.

“Small businesses are the foundation of economic growth in Georgia and in our nation” said Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “By supporting policies that promote innovation and entrepreneurship, we help small businesses tackle these challenging economic times. These statistics are a resource for a path to economic growth.”

Here are some highlights from Georgia’s small business profile:

•   There were 902,694 small businesses in Georgia in 2009. Of these, 167,864 were employers and they accounted for 45 percent of private sector jobs in the state. Small firms made up 97.7 percent of the state’s employers.

•   Throughout 2010, the number of opening establishments was lower than closing establishments and the net employment change from this turnover was negative.

•   Georgia’s real gross state product decreased 1.6 percent and private-sector employment decreased 1.4 percent percent in 2010. By comparison, real GDP in the United States decreased 1.3 percent and private sector employment declined by 0.8 percent.

•   Self-employment in Georgia surged over the last decade. Veteran self-employment fared the best compared with other demographic groups during the decade.

State profiles from previous years are available at http://archive.sba.gov/advo/research/profiles; these provide a historical perspective of each state economy.

For more information and a complete copy of the current state and territory small business profiles, visit the Office of Advocacy website at http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/848/41391

The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. The presidentially appointed Chief Counsel for Advocacy advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policymakers. Regional advocates and an office in Washington, D.C., support the Chief Counsel’s efforts. For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/advocacy, or call (202) 205-6533.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS® TRADEMARK RENEWED

OPEN FOR BUSINESS®

 

 

(SAVANNAH, GA) Carriage Trade Public Relations, Inc. announces that their OPEN FOR BUSINESS® trademark, which has been registered with the United State Patent & Trademark Office since 2002 was renewed successfully in January 2012. With the Trademark Office’s acceptance of the renewal application, OPEN FOR BUSINESS®  remains an officially recognized trademark with nationwide protection.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS® is an online Livestreaming Channel where lectures of area CEOs share their tips and advice about business.  OPEN FOR BUSINESS® was launched in 2000 as a local TV Show on Comcast.

Carriage Trade Public Relations, Inc. is a full service PR agency that creates and executes digital communication programs for visibility and reputation management in the community and globally online by positioning you as the AUTHORITY in your field. CarriageTradePR has been an award winning PR agency since 1995, receiving Entrepreneur of The Year in 2006.  CarriageTradePR’s office is located in Savannah’s Historic District on Telfair Square and in Augusta, GA at the Enterprise Mill. www.carriagetradepr.com. 912.844.9990

SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE WITH TOP EXECUTIVES • MARCH 8 • SCORE SAVANNAH

(SAVANNAH, GA) Small business owners are invited to attend the SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE March 8 from 8:30AM to 12:30PM. Top executives will share their tips on SEO, Social Media, Marketing, Business Plans, HR, Finding the Money, How to Price your Products and more. Tickets are $19.95; includes lunch. The keynote speaker is Dr. Mescon, the author of more than 200 articles and four books. He will speak about Entrepreneurship. Sponsored by SCORE, University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, Savannah Morning News and Comcast. RSVP at http://www.savannah.score.org

SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE WITH TOP EXECUTIVES, MARCH 8

(SAVANNAH, GA) COMMUNiTY HEADLiNES, Jan 23, 2012

(SAVANNAH, GA) Looking for funding? Need investors? Have a great idea but don’t know what to do next? APPLY NOW to compete in this year’s FastPitch Competition powered by the Creative Coast, Georgia Southern University, and http://fastpitchcompetition.com/

(SAVANNAH, GA)  Each year, more than 250 Chamber members and local elected leaders travel to Atlanta to meet with our state elected officials. Meetings will be held at the State Capitol at 2 P.M., January 26 with the annual Seafood Festival taking place at the Georgia Railroad Depot starting at 5 p.m. www.savannahchamber.com

(SAVANNAH, GA) On March 8 from 8:30am – 12:30 pm – top executives from the Savannah business community, SCORE and The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center will be on hand to share tips and advice on growing a business at the SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE, which will be held at the Savannah Morning News:  $19.95 tickets include lunch. RSVP

(SAVANNAH, GA) Goodwill Open Doors provides services to homeless veterans with the goal of assisting them to re-integrate into their community. It provides assistance with finding housing, employment & training services, placement assistance, 9 months of follow-up services http://www.goodwillsavannahga.org/

(SAVANNAH, GA) Lecture on 10 Proven Online PR Methods, Feb 9 at 5:30 PM, given online. Class sponsored by SCORE.
REGISTER HERE FOR FREE CLASS

(SAVANNAH, GA) Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty presents 206 E Gaston Street,  a 1868 four story townhouse with many original details. 912-234-3323 http://www.celiadunnsir.com/listings_detail.asp?listingID=1591

(SAVANNAH, GA) Team In Training Information Meetings – Learn more about completing a triathlon,  full or half marathon while benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Thursday, January 26th at Fleet Feet at 6:00 pm.  www.teamintraining.org/ga or Jennie.Brewster@LLS.org 912-484-2582 for more information.

(SAVANNAH, GA) During the Savannah Book Festival on Saturday, February 18, 2012, four top crime and thriller authors will capture Telfair Square podiums along with over 40 writers representing diverse genres.  But, within the theme of “Books and Crooks,” it will be Jeffrey Deaver, Craig Johnson, Spencer Quinn and Brad Thor who will discuss how they create the novels that keep us thrilled, chilled and bone-tired reading late into the night.  These four authors’ books run the gamut from deadly malfeasance to crime with quirky protagonists and wry humor. www.savannahbookfestival.org.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Calendar

(SAVANNAH, GA) Follow SAVANNAH COMMUNITY HEADLINES™ on TWITTER  http://twitter.com/carriagetradepr
 

 

CarriageTrade Public Relations, Inc.
COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS

Reputation Management
PR Coaching
Full Service PR Agency
Positions you as the Authority in your industry
Creates digital content that drives traffic to your website

Established 1995

MARK CUTLER BECOMES CHAIRPERSON OF GREATER HARTFORD SCORE

Email:contactus@hartfordscore.org

MARK CUTLER BECOMES CHAIRPERSON OF
GREATER HARTFORD SCORE

Hartford, CT – Mark Cutler, an experienced international business developer and management consultant
has recently become Chairperson of the Greater Hartford Chapter of SCORE, the SBA sponsored provider of
counseling to small businesses.

Mr. Cutler worked for 32 years for The Gillette Company, a consumer goods company based in Boston
Massachusetts. Mark spent half of his 32 years with Gillette outside the United States when he lived and worked in
Panama, Peru, Spain and England. When he retired from Gillette in 2002, Mark was a Vice President for the
International Group.

Mr. Cutler has been an international business developer and a management consultant to scientists from the
Former Soviet Union since 2002. He has developed business plans, provided commercialization support, helped
attract investment and trained scientists in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Iraq and
Libya. In executing these tasks, Mark has volunteered his time to several non-profit organizations as well as to the
United States Government (State Department).

In addition to the work in the Former Soviet Union, Iraq and Libya, Mark has been active in volunteer work
for SCORE, being incoming Chairman of Score’s Greater Hartford chapter, a nonprofit association dedicated to
entrepreneurial education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide, as well as in CDC
Development Solutions, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization based in Washington DC providing innovative
and market-driven solutions that empower individuals, businesses, and governments in emerging markets. Mark is
also on the Board of Directors of SMS Audio.

In 2004, was recognized by President Bush with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. In addition, was
featured in a Time Magazine article in December 2003 on volunteerism in America and has received awards from
CRDF and US State Department for volunteerism.

Bernie Sweeney, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, commented: “We are
delighted to have Mark as the new Chairperson of our chapter and are looking forward to using his leadership
and teaching skills in our workshops and seminars. We are particularly pleased to have another counselor who
is currently involved in international business as his presence in the chapter will help to insure that we stay
abreast of current issues confronting businesses.

According to Mr. Cutler, his interest in joining SCORE stemmed from his desire to share his entrepreneurial
drive with current and prospective small businesses owners. He also thinks that “… it is important to increase
the involvement of entrepreneurs in counseling and mentoring organization like SCORE because it helps to
insure that the organization and its volunteers accurately reflect the current business environment.”

FOR RELEASE: January 4, 2012

Tybee Island: *Dr. George Sedberry Featured Speaker at Jan. 19 Ocean Plaza Beach Resort Coastal Ecology Dinner Lecture Series*

*Dr. George Sedberry Featured Speaker at Jan. 19 Ocean Plaza Beach Resort Coastal Ecology Dinner Lecture Series*

 

George Sedberry PhD

(TYBEE ISLAND, GA) Dr. George Sedberry, Superintendant of the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, will be the featured speaker at this month’s Ocean Plaza Beach Resort Coastal Ecology Dinner Lecture Series, Thursday, January 19th at 7 p.m. at the hotel’s Dolphin Reef Oceanfront Restaurant. Dr. Sedberry will present a lecture entitled, “Coral Habitats off Georgia and Adjacent States: Exploration, Fisheries and Conservation.“ The lecture will be preceded by a wine and cheese reception at 6 p.m. in the Dolphin Reef Bar, and dinner will be served in the Dolphin Reef main dining room at 6:30 p.m. The standard Dolphin Reef dinner menu will be offered.  Dr. Sedberry’s lecture will also be livestreamed at http://www.learnitlive.com/event/1626/%93Coral-Habitats-off-Georgia-and-Adjacent-States-Exploration-Fisheries-and-Conservation-%93

During his presentation, Dr. Sedberry will discuss the coral habitats off Georgia, from shallow banks like Gray’s Reef at 60 feet to deep-sea coral formations at depths up to 3,000 feet. Dr. Sedberry will explain how reef fishes and deep-sea fishes are vulnerable to overfishing, show how traditional management tools like quotas and size limits have failed and describe the new measures that have been proposed to restore populations.

Ocean Plaza Resort’s monthly Coastal Ecology Dinner Lectures take place at the Dolphin Reef Oceanfront Restaurant at the same time every month and feature topics affecting coastal ecology. The lectures are given by distinguished experts in the field but presented in terminology everyone can understand.

Whether it’s for weddings, business and association meetings, or family vacations, the Ocean Plaza Beach Resort is the perfect venue and offers a variety of packages and specials to choose from. Ocean Plaza’s award-winning restaurant, the Dolphin Reef Oceanfront Restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There has been a resort hotel continuously operating on the Ocean Plaza Resort property for more than 120 years. The property is located on Tybee Island at 15th Street and oceanfront, about 20 minutes east of historic downtown Savannah. For more information on the Ocean Plaza Beach Resort, call (912) 786-7777, email info@oceanplaza.com or visit www.oceanplaza.com.

COMMUNITY HEADLINES FOR Savannah, GA • Jan 9, 2012

(SAVANNAH, GA) Follow SAVANNAH COMMUNITY HEADLINES™ on TWITTER http://twitter.com/carriagetradepr

(SAVANNAH , GA) Small Business Council January SMART Lunch: ‘How Customer Service Brands a Business’ by Diana Morrison of Advertising Specialty Services.
Tuesday, January 10,  Noon. Lunch & Program at the Savannah Morning News Auditorium. Cost: $11 for Chamber members. RSVP 912.644.6459

(SAVANNAH, GA) Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty celebrates 30 years in Business. http://mysavannah.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/celia-dunn-celebrates-30-years-in-business/

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah Black Heritage Festival to hold DANCING THROUGH THE DECADES FUNDRAISER, January 20 at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront. Individuals, couples and groups are invited to show off their best dance moves. Prizes will be awarded to the best dancers, those in the best period costumes and others. Tickets are $25 for one and $45 for two and include light hors d’oeuvres. MORE INFO

(SAVANNAH, GA) Lecture on 10 Proven Online PR Methods, Feb 9 at 5:30 PM, given online by Marjorie Young.
http://www.learnitlive.com/class/1421/Ten-Proven-Online-PR-Methods-vs-Traditional-PR

(SAVANNAH, GA)  Each year, more than 250 Chamber members and local elected leaders travel to Atlanta to meet with our state elected officials. Meetings will be held at the State Capitol at 2 P.M., January 26 with the annual Seafood Festival taking place at the Georgia Railroad Depot starting at 5 p.m. www.savannahchamber.com

(INC) Which Federal Agency helps businesses start up and grow? .http://www.inc.com/video/201112/pravina-raghavan-how-to-get-a-loan-from-the-small-business-administration.html?nav=vid

(SAVANNAH, GA) On March 8 from 8:30am – 12:30 pm – top executives from the Savannah business community, SCORE and The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center will be on hand to share tips and advice on growing a business at the SPEED MENTORING CONFERENCE, which will be held at the Savannah Morning News:  $19.95 tickets include lunch. RSVP

(USA) Last year SCORE mentored over 70 thousand businesses, which created over 19 BILLION in revenue. www.score.org

(SAVANNAH, GA) Experience the historic atmosphere of the Davenport House while learning about and tasting a unique and flavorful wine. Patrons are oriented to the long and rich tradition of Madeira (wine) as it relates to the history of Savannah and then they will participate in a Madeira party.  Friday and Saturday evenings in February 2012. Admission: $20. www.davenporthousemuseum.org, info@davenporthousemuseum.org, 912/236-8097

(SAVANNAH, GA) Valentine’s Day Weddings in the Davenport House Garden, Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 5 to 7 p.m. Get married in the museum’s beautiful courtyard garden and make it a Valentine’s Day to remember. Ceremonies will be offered every 10 minutes. A local judge will officiate. $100 donation to the museum. Call 912/236-8097 for additional information. Confirmed reservations are highly recommended as the event tends to sell out. www.davenporthousemuseum.org

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Savannah Tree Foundation will kick off 2012 with a CommuniTREES tree planting event at Tybee Island’s River’s End Campground on January 14th at 10 a.m. 25 Volunteers are needed to help plant 15 canopy trees, and mulch existing trees at Tybee Island’s River’s End Campground, at 5 Fort Avenue at Polk Street. Volunteers should bring gloves, hard-tined rakes and shovels if possible. Refreshments will be provided, and community service hours are available. This is a rain or shine event. RSVP to Savannah Tree Foundation at 912-233-8733(TREE) or info@savannahtree.com

(SAVANNAH, GA) Bard Way, VP of Finance at Goodwill Industries will speak about the Goodwill Services at the Garden City Christian Men’s Association, Jan 26, 2012.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Calendar

 

 

CarriageTrade Public Relations, Inc.
COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS

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Celia Dunn celebrates 30 years in business

Celia DunnCelia Dunn celebrates 30 years in business

 

Celia Dunn celebrates 30 years in business

Despite the boys’ club that was prevalent in the 1970s and 80s business community, real estate expert Celia Dunn of Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty became an acknowledged business and community leader. She’s served on numerous civic boards such as Savannah Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Savannah, Savannah Technical Foundation, Historic Savannah Foundation, Savannah Music Festival, and many more. She has been inducted into the Junior Achievement Savannah Business Hall of Fame, has received recognition for being in the Distinguished Sales Society of the Savannah Area Board of Realtors for the past 31 years, and has been featured on the BBC and HGTV.

We sat down with Celia to talk about Savannah, secret weapons and the importance of avoiding shortcuts.

How did you start in business?

Celia:  My father, Bernard Williams, had a tremendous work ethic, so he set a great example. He started working as a teenager, supporting his mother and four sisters, and he worked in his insurance agency until he was 92. My father encouraged my working, and at 15 I took typing and shorthand.  That summer, I worked for Kurt Appel at Town & Country. I worked in my father’s insurance company for five summers, and worked there full-time seven years after college.

But when my family had business meetings, I never was included, ever. They felt the men in the family did the business, would run the company. I saw that early on after I’d been working there seven or so years and my brothers started coming back. Subsequently, I taught in the public schools for two years after the insurance business and found it extremely rewarding.

When did you first see yourself as a leader?

Celia:  I never saw myself as head of a company. Being president of (the philanthropic non-profit) Junior League of Savannah gave me confidence. I had been chairman on several committees, so I felt I had a good knowledge of our community and could work well with people. If it weren’t for the Junior League, I wouldn’t have known I had the abilities. And I wouldn’t have known half of what was going on in the community.

You and your husband, Larry, were pioneers in revitalizing downtown. What was downtown like?  

Celia:  We moved downtown as a young married couple in the 1960s and knew it was such a special, special place. But it was filled with abandoned buildings, and everyone was moving to other areas of town.

We knew that in order to save downtown, people needed to move into these special historic homes and fix them up into the beautiful architectural gems we see today.

We told everyone we knew about how wonderful it could be to live downtown.  We put together several people with properties without compensation, before Larry and I got into real estate professionally, because we wanted downtown to come back to life.

It could have easily gone a different direction. We in Savannah are so lucky that there have been so many people who have worked hard and been committed to making downtown the vibrant treasure that we all enjoy today.

Who was your mentor or influenced you to go into real estate?
Celia:  Esther Wynne was an outstanding residential broker in Savannah. She lived downtown and had her office downtown. She would come by my father’s insurance office and say, “Celia, when are you going to come sell real estate with me?” She had a tremendous work ethic as well.

She was more aggressive than I. I’ve always been hesitant to ask for business. She said, “Celia, if you want the business, go ask for it. Don’t be afraid to ask for business. The only negative thing they can do is say no.”  Also, she was big on ethical behavior and treating people with respect.

My mother has always been such an inspiration to me. My mother is one of those steel magnolias – sweet, loving, gracious to all. She loves people and is a genuinely good person. From both my parents, I got my love of people.

A supreme compliment that was paid me by a realtor for whom I have great respect was when David Byck was inducted into the Junior Achievement Savannah Business Hall of Fame and he chose me, of all the realtors in Savannah, to speak on the video on his behalf.

What’s your secret weapon?

Celia:  My husband, Larry, who has a background in mortgages and banking, has handled all the financial aspects of the company. He’s very careful with the finances. That has been very important in keeping us moving forward.

What suggestions do you have to make Savannah a better place?

Celia:  Cooperation and coordination. Have the powers that be and the people who live here work together for the betterment of the community. Instead of everyone tooting their own horn, let’s toot the horn of the whole community. Everyone needs to focus on what’s best for the community, not just promoting their own interests. If we could work together instead of attacking, it would be much more productive. And we should coordinate the work that is being done for the community.

We should focus on better and better education for everyone. If we could get the under-educated educated and have them learn productive skills, it would really benefit the community. We would be a much stronger community. Education is the key. We should always be learning.

What makes Savannah unique?  What are the top three reasons people want to move here?

Celia:  The history of Savannah is so interesting, from its founding right up through today. The architecture is amazing, and the trees are beautiful. We have a community of good people. And the many cultural opportunities that are available to everyone are very important. The arts bring beauty into your life and soften the edges.

What advice do you have for people starting out in real estate?

Celia:  Be willing to work seven days a week, many hours every day. Follow through on all of your endeavors. Perseverance is very important. You need a detail person if you’re not. Surround yourself with people who are bright, hardworking, loyal to you, and high on integrity. Integrity is of utmost importance.

Be honest in all your dealings, even though you think you see a shortcut. Let the shortcut go and follow through with the honorable method of doing something, even though there may be people out there who do not. For long-term success, you should always follow the honorable path.

Savannah PR: Speaking Schedule for Marjorie Young 2012 – Savannah, GA

JANUARY 10 • SMART LUNCH •12-1PM •  BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SCORE

JANUARY 31 • KIWANIS CLUB MEETING • 1-2PM • PIRATES HOUSE: TOPIC: SCORE

FEB 2, 2011 (POOLER, GA) On February 2, 2012 Marjorie Young, CEO of Carriage Trade Public Relations will present: How to Create a Yearly PR Plan. She will be speaking to the Professional Network Connections organization. Many small business owners don’t realize that they can send in a press release to the media announcing a new hire, a  business anniversary or a new website. She will teach you to identify your good news that could end up in the local paper. Every participant will create a basic yearly PR plan. For more info call 912.572.2362

FEB 8, 2011 (SAVANNAH, GA) On February 8, 2012 Marjorie Young, CEO of Carriage Trade Public Relations will present: How to Create a Yearly PR Plan. She will be speaking to the Professional Network Connections organization. Many small business owners don’t realize that they can send in a press release to the media announcing a new hire, a  business anniversary or a new website. She will teach you to identify your good news that could end up in the local paper. Every participant will create a basic yearly PR plan. Location: EXCHANGE ON WATERS AVE. For more info call 912.572.236

FEBRUARY 9 • BRUNSWICK SCORE CHAPTER • 5-7pm • TOPIC: 10 PROVEN ONLINE PR METHODS • EVENT IS FREE AND WILL BE LIVESTREAMED AT: http://www.learnitlive.com/class/1421/Ten-Proven-Online-PR-Methods-vs-Traditional-PR

FEBRUARY 17 • SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY • 10AM • MEDIA DAY SRPI

FEBRUARY 22 • YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF SAVANNAH • 6-7 PM • TOPIC: SCORE

MARCH 8 • SPEED MENTORING • TOP EXECUTIVE SHARE TIPS AND ADVICE TO BUSINESS OWNERS • 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM:

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