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...

🎙️ 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 #ImagineThomasvil...

🎙️✨ 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...

🎧 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...

🎙️ It's here!   Dive into the heart of local politics with our latest podcast episode featuring exclusive interviews with your city council candidates representing District 1 and District 2 in Thomasville, Georgia!  🗳️ Get to know the voices vying to make a difference in our community. Listen now and be an informed voter!  *Imagine Thomasville is a non-partisan voice for business.  *  #CityCo...

In this episode of the Workforce Plan,  Shelley and Andrea continue discussing the first pinch point in the community's birth the work pipeline, early care and learning.   Hear from guest speaker, Tina Herring, Assistant Director of Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment at Georgia Department of Economic Development for Region 10.  Tina explains how Georgia offers credits to businesses th...

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 o...

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 Coun...

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 miss...

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 abo...

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...

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 Thomas...

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.com Get 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 summerhillcreat...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 i...

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 event...

On this episode of Let's Talk Thomasville, we sat down with Nancy Tinker of Thomasville Landmarks! Thomasville Landmarks is a non-profit historic preservation organization, dedicated to enriching the quality of life in Thomas County through programs and initiatives that preserve, promote, and protect the architecture, history, and heritage of our region. Landmarks protects the historic charac...

Imagine Thomasville, a partnership between the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber and Thomasville Payroll Development Authority, will be encouraging citizens and businesses to exercise their right to vote by participating in the local election.  In this series of episodes Candidates for Council, we have interviewed Terry Scott , Scott Chastain , David Hufstetler , and Todd Mobley . Each candidate r...

Imagine Thomasville, a partnership between the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber and Thomasville Payroll Development Authority, will be encouraging citizens and businesses to exercise their right to vote by participating in the local election.  In this series of episodes Candidates for Council, we have interviewed Terry Scott , Scott Chastain , David Hufstetler , and Todd Mobley . Each candidate r...