Lure of the Lake: Recent Episodes
Robbie King
Lake Oconee, Georgia, located halfway between Augusta and Atlanta, is a man-made paradise with incredible beauty that makes it a great vacation destination for people of all ages. More than that, though, it's a community for those that are looking for a peaceful life filled with nature and beauty.
I, myself, am a member of that community. I moved to Reynolds in 2020 and started to hear the incredible stories of its residents. Join me, now, as we take a plunge into some fascinating stories of the many well-lived lives of our community and learn why they were Lured to the Lake.
Today, I have Pamela Smith, a super interesting and inspiring guest! Pamela is President of the Reynolds Ladies Club. If you’re not familiar with the organization, you are at the right place to learn! If you are, you may not be familiar with everything the group is doing, and now has well over 500 members!
We’ll talk about Pamela’s early years, growing up in Alabama, and her allegiance to University of Alabama football! Despite living in Georgia, and even Athens, for a number of years, we have not successfully converted her to a Dawg, but there’s still time! She’ll tell us about her professional career that included teaching fifth graders, including what she loved about teaching and the few things she did not.
We’ll get her take and ideas of what has happened in the field of education, since the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the possible long-term effects and some things that we need to do.
She will tell us about the Reynolds Ladies Club, or RLC, a little of its history and growth, how it was impacted by the pandemic and how she became involved, not only as a member, but as a leader of the organization! We’ll talk about its recent rapid expansion, some of the events and very importantly, how they live up to their mission of care, concern and kindness.
We will talk about how the organization is so much more than a social club and the ways they help build a stronger local community through support of a variety of causes and non-profits. This powerful group supports each other and the community in so many ways!
Of course, you will hear what "lured" her to the lake and we even take a few minutes to talk about her favorite travel destinations!
Guest - Pamela Smith
https://ladiesclub.reynoldslakeoconee.net/Reynolds_Ladies_Club
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
Have you wondered where all the good manners have gone? My guest and I are going to discuss that very question. We’ll be talking about etiquette, manners and customer service, plus a whole lot more!
Lucia Johnson was born in the small Alabama city of Anniston, which was much like a Norman Rockwell painting, with family dinners, no locked doors and of course, good manners!
Lucia will talk about what it was like growing up in a small, southern town, her college years and a long career in cytology. If you’re like me, and not sure what that is, you’ll learn something today! She’ll tell us about her life journey, and how she, after 40 years, reconnected with a high school friend from the past, Rick Johnson, got married and ultimately was lured to the lake! And, as a bonus, you’ll appreciate the football connection to this story.
We will talk about her interest in manners and etiquette, and how she was trained to teach this lost art, not only to individuals, but also to business organizations. You’ll hear about her and Rick’s connection to Truitt Cathy, yes THAT Truitt Cathy!
And, we will certainly discuss etiquette & customer service in today’s digital world, how and why it seems to be missing, some of our local businesses that still offer great customer service and so much more! Lucia will give us tips and pointers on some easy, yet effective ways to stand out in terms of manners and even how she is willing to work with local families and businesses on improvement in these areas.
You will enjoy hearing from Lucia and you know I will be on my best behavior!
Guest - Lucia Johnson
Email: luluatwinshape@yahoo.com
Phone: 706-346-6440
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
Welcome to today’s show! Neither of my guests today are new to the podcast. Both Bob Massey and Rob Mitchell have been on previously, but today we are bringing them both back together!
If you missed their earlier podcasts, where we talk about their life accomplishments, you can click on the links in the show notes and hear more about them.
When we first talked about the organization Neighbors Helping Neighbors, it received a lot of interest from our community of listeners. A lot of good things have happened since we first discussed it and I thought it would be interesting to bring these guys back for an update today.
If you’re new, or not familiar, with Neighbors Helping Neighbors, the guys will give a brief history, a glimpse into the various kinds of work they provide in the community, some updates and most importantly, give us real life examples of the life changing projects the organization has been providing. They will also explain a number of ways that the community can assist them with their mission, in providing a hand up, not a hand out to even more deserving neighbors in our area.
Guests - Bob Massey & Rob Mitchell
Website: https://www.nhnga.org/
Bob Massey Podcast Replay: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bob-massey-neighbors-helping-neighbors-a-helping/id1627579922?i=1000578200561
Rob Mitchell Podcast Replay: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rob-mitchell-what-does-kayaking-the-navy-olympics/id1627579922?i=1000581190546
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089584770959&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
Holy Cow, welcome to today’s episode of Lure of the Lake! No really. I am welcoming the owners of a very cool new store to the show today, Jennifer & Michael Woodcock. We will introduce you to a one of a kind, local leather shop named Holy Cow. And while the leather products are amazing, there is so much more.
We love introducing guests to the audience who not only have interesting lives & businesses, but who also have interesting stories of being “lured” to the lake. As you will hear, my guests today certainly have both!
Growing up in McDonough, Jennifer and Michael, or Mikey as Jennifer likes to call him, met early in life, got married and have been together for 27 years, though to look at them, you would never believe that. And to round the family out, they have four children and a grandchild on the way! We’ll talk about the successful careers both of them had prior to launching their business and we’ll talk about the business, its humble beginnings, rapid growth and how it got its interesting, unique name!
The fun really begins when they decided to make the move to the lake. The stars lined up as they made the decision to move, not only their business, but also their home AND their family all at the same time! It was a leap of faith!
We’ll spend some time introducing you to the store, the beautiful handmade leather items that you can often see being made, hand poured candles poured right in the store, handcrafted woodworking items that Michael makes himself and so much more. In fact, if you are looking for a gift for someone, (or yourself), you need go no further than Holy Cow, located right here in Eatonton! And believe me, when you walk in and take in the amazing leather smell, you know you are in the right place!
Guests - Michael & Jennifer Woodcock
Website: https://www.holycowleatherandgoods.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/HolyCowLeatherGoods/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holycowleather/
Phone: 470-410-3562
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
My guest today often has photos on Nextdoor of amazing, exotic animals from all over the world! And if you’re like me, you’ve wondered where in the world does she take those photos and how does she get them?
Leigh Lofgren is going to answer those questions for us on the show today. But what I didn’t know was the amazing life Leigh has led, before she even started taking those photo shots!
Growing up in Sydney Australia, Leigh had a love for swimming, or should I say competitive swimming. At 16, she was the second fastest female swimmer in the world, in the 400 and the 800-meter events!
Subsequently, she was drawn into television production, at a time when it was a male dominated field. She worked on some of the best-known live television shows in Australia, and later in England, becoming the first female director of Good Morning Britain! Leigh has met more celebrities than she can recall, including Richard Gere, Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas & Mick Jagger. We’ll talk about a few of those on the show. After moving to New York with her husband Bob, she directed shows on the Food Network and shares her memories, and a couple stories, of Emeril Lagasse, yes the “Bam” guy!
We’ll talk about how they were ultimately lured to the lake and how unexpected health circumstances drew her to photography and how a passion that was always there, finally came to life!
You will be amazed, as I was, with the life of this remarkable lady and her incredible accomplishments!
Guest - Leigh Lofgren
Website: https://www.leighlofgren.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeighLofgrenPhotography/
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
My guest today often has photos on Nextdoor of amazing, exotic animals from all over the world! And if you’re like me, you’ve wondered where in the world does she take those photos and how does she get them?
Leigh Lofgren is going to answer those questions for us on the show today. But what I didn’t know was the amazing life Leigh has led, before she even started taking those photo shots!
Growing up in Sydney Australia, Leigh had a love for swimming, or should I say competitive swimming. At 16, she was the second fastest female swimmer in the world, in the 400 and the 800-meter events!
Subsequently, she was drawn into television production, at a time when it was a male dominated field. She worked on some of the best-known live television shows in Australia, and later in England, becoming the first female director of Good Morning Britain! Leigh has met more celebrities than she can recall, including Richard Gere, Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas & Mick Jagger. We’ll talk about a few of those on the show. After moving to New York with her husband Bob, she directed shows on the Food Network and shares her memories, and a couple stories, of Emeril Lagasse, yes the “Bam” guy!
We’ll talk about how they were ultimately lured to the lake and how unexpected health circumstances drew her to photography and how a passion that was always there, finally came to life!
You will be amazed, as I was, with the life of this remarkable lady and her incredible accomplishments!
Guest - Leigh Lofgren
Website: https://www.leighlofgren.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeighLofgrenPhotography/
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
I love talking to business owners who start a business that aligns perfectly with their interests, lifestyle and passion, all while providing a great product & service to their customers. And that is exactly what today’s guest has done! Laurel Cayton-Seheult is the owner of the brand new "Ride Oconee". We’ll be talking about this super cool business that is built on having fun! We’ve always heard that “it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the ride.” Well, that is absolutely the case with Ride Oconee! And they cover it all, land and water!
Laurel will tell us about growing up in the Camelot-like environment of Yorktown, Virginia, near Williamsburg. There she began her love of outdoors, enjoying the water and just being in nature.
Laurel spent her career in marketing and has an extensive knowledge of how it has changed over the years. She will share a few ideas of the best and, not so best, ways of leveraging a marketing budget in today’s environment.
We’ll talk about how she was lured from being part-time, mostly weekend, to full-time, all-in resident of the lake! And we’ll discuss what has inspired her to open Ride Oconee, and some of the surprise challenges she experienced in opening a business!
And we’ll talk about the rides at Ride Oconee! Everything is electric and everything is fun! From the James Bond inspired Moke, chopper-styled motorbikes, electric bikes, scooters and even jet boards, everything is stylish and great for getting around the lake or simply having fun. We’ll talk about all of the various land rides and water rides. Did I mention they have great range and they are FAST! And they’re really easy to ride.
Guest - Laurel Cayton-Seheult
Website: https://www.rideoconee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rideoconee
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
Our podcast this week will be a little different than usual, well, actually, I guess, a LOT different! We love to travel and one thing I’ve noticed is that so many of my guests, and other folks that I talk to, have traveled to some really interesting places and had some great experiences!
We’re thinking it would be fun and serve all of us well, to share some of these adventures and perhaps give us some ideas that we haven’t considered in our own, upcoming travel plans.
So, if you or someone you know has had a fun, interesting travel adventure, please reach out to me directly and we’ll chat about having you share them with our listeners. I envision that, in some cases, we can simply combine some shorter stories into one, or more, travel related podcasts. If you are interested, let me know, and even if you don’t have any personal stories to share, but think that hearing some of our neighbor’s travel stories would be fun & educational, let me know that too!
In the spirit of kicking off the idea, I have an interview I did a couple of years ago, with King Lewey, owner & proprietor of King Lewey’s Island. This place is a hidden gem, a tiny private island about 12 miles off the coast of Belize! It is one of the most remarkable places Marsha & I have ever visited!
Accessible exclusively by boat, this picturesque resort spans only about an acre, but promises an extraordinary experience that will leave you refreshed, relaxed and enchanted! From the moment you arrive, the dedicated team is devoted to anticipating your every need and ensuring your stay is both magnificent and memorable!
If you recall the television show Fantasy Island, it has THAT kind of feel on arrival! You are greeted with smiles, cool eucalyptus towels and delicious island drinks! You are then taken to your private, built over the water, cabana, and given a quick tour of everything you need to know. From there, it’s up to you. You can do as much, or as little as you like!
King Lewey’s Island is a place where time slows down, where the worries of life dissolve into the horizon. You can unwind & rejuvenate in a truly extraordinary, one of a kind, destination. I woke up early every morning to a couple of the islands full time residents, two beautiful parrots named Kiki & Rio, always carrying on a conversation, in which I was occasionally included! And there is no need to worry about what to eat; the finest chefs in Belize are there, crafting incredible, delectable dishes, immersing you with fresh, delicious, healthy cuisine, every day. Often, local fishermen bring their catch to the island and you select your dinner, right there! And since there are only a handful of other guests on the island at any given time, you always receive individualized attention and hospitality. There are plenty of activities to keep you “busy”, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing and endless photo opportunities!
For reasons I wasn’t sure of, but now so glad I did, I sat down with King Lewey one morning and recorded a short interview under a palm tree! King Lewey is the quintessential island host, carefully observing every detail. And though he isn’t there all the time, we were fortunate in that he was there our entire stay! King Lewey has the look and presence of King Neptune! You’ll enjoy hearing his thoughts and what led him from Washington State, where he still resides, to purchasing a remote island off the coast of Belize and up fitting it, so that it is, yes “Fit for a King!”
Enjoy the conversation, and you can click on the link for more information about the island. And you are always welcome to reach out to me with questions, or ideas! Bon voyage!!
Guest - King Lewey
https://www.kingleweysislandresort.com/
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
My guest today is no stranger to many of you and certainly not a stranger to our Lure of the Lake podcast. Gary Sofen is returning to bring us up to date on the restaurant industry in general, and specifically what has been happening at Lake Oconee Bistro, since we last spoke about a year ago!
Gary will tell us about the current employment situation, what has happened with the supply chain issues and give us some great insight on what it is like to be in the tough restaurant business. And the challenges and rewards of owning and operating not just one restaurant, but soon to be four of them!
We’ll talk about how he is able to maintain a management team and a staff that allows them to be open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, year-round, when so many other restaurants are struggling just to stay open.
What many of you may not know is that before the restaurant business, Gary was a professional equity trader! He spent many years “in the pits” trading stocks and commodities. We’re going to talk about his take on what is happening in the economy, the markets, investing in general, and the many factors that are impacting the market today.
You’ll enjoy our frank and straight talking conversation and his thoughts on the economy, interest rates, inflation and what he thinks that investors, young and old, should be considering in these challenging times!
Connect with Gary & hear our first recording!
- https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lure-of-the-lake/id1627579922?i=1000571578453
This show is made possible by Lake Oconee Bistro, Tim Broyles State Farm, Farmers & Merchants Bank
My guest today is no stranger to many of you and certainly not a stranger to our Lure of the Lake podcast. Gary Sofen is returning to bring us up to date on the restaurant industry in general, and specifically what has been happening at Lake Oconee Bistro, since we last spoke about a year ago!
Gary will tell us about the current employment situation, what has happened with the supply chain issues and give us some great insight on what it is like to be in the tough restaurant business. And the challenges and rewards of owning and operating not just one restaurant, but soon to be four of them!
We’ll talk about how he is able to maintain a management team and a staff that allows them to be open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, year-round, when so many other restaurants are struggling just to stay open.
What many of you may not know is that before the restaurant business, Gary was a professional equity trader! He spent many years “in the pits” trading stocks and commodities. We’re going to talk about his take on what is happening in the economy, the markets, investing in general, and the many factors that are impacting the market today.
You’ll enjoy our frank and straight talking conversation and his thoughts on the economy, interest rates, inflation and what he thinks that investors, young and old, should be considering in these challenging times!
Guest - Gary Sofen
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lure-of-the-lake/id1627579922?i=1000571578453
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
My guest today is such an interesting guy and I can’t wait for you to meet my friend, Lou Benjamin. Lou grew up in Cincinnati and spent his younger years there. He had a unique plan for college and beyond that, as often happens, changed course. But during that time, he realized he had a knack for sales, which took him in a different direction.
Lou will tell us about a visit to Atlanta that actually never ended! He never left, moved there, established a career in recruiting AND ultimately his own business, where he discovered a niche that served him well his entire career. His career took him to major companies and clients all over the world!
Lou is one of those rare, early adopter property buyers of Reynolds, when it was very young. In fact, he tells us at that time, when you came to look at property, you stayed at the sales managers home while you were visiting! He and his wife Paula also bought a weekend home, a golf cottage in Great Waters, before there was a world-class golf course there! He’ll tell us stories about the excitement of watching the course come out of the ground and explains one of the unique reasons it IS the course we know and love today!
One of the things you will love about Lou is his easygoing humor, but unmistakable wisdom. He used that knowledge and served on the Reynolds Board of Governors, not once but twice. The first time was before he was a full time resident and the second, which he served as Chair, was during one of the most critical times, during the transition of ownership of the property to Met Life. He’ll tell us about what did happen and even more interesting, what could have happened, if the stars had not lined up properly.
Lou seems to find himself serving his community at times when they really need him most. It happened when Eatonton and Putnam County found themselves in some dire economic circumstances when one of those worst case scenarios come to pass. Lou was part of a private community think tank and instrumental in discovering a viable economic solution. They accomplished this by establishing Eatonton as a tourism destination by creating visual and literary art venues. You will know these today as the Artisans Village and the Georgia Writers Museum. Lou was instrumental in establishing these hidden gems, and is still active in the organizations today!
I look forward to talking to Lou about what’s next for the area, and telling us about the past, present and future. We even have a discussion about AI (Artificial Intelligence) and where we think that may he rapidly heading!
You’ll still find Lou actively supporting the causes he believes in, while he enjoys golf, traveling and a bit of acting!
Guest - Lou Benjamin
https://lakecountryarts.org/
https://www.georgiawritersmuseum.org/
https://theartisansvillage.org/
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
Some people do so much good work for others, you have to wonder how they find the time, volunteering just comes so easy. Then some people take it to a whole new level! Tina Fischlin is definitely one of those rare people who do so much and still make it look easy! We are going to talk about a couple of the organizations she is an integral part of today: Alliance for Smiles & Rotary International.
Tina grew up in Reidsville, GA, which is right in the middle of Vidalia onion country! Her parents owned property at Lake Sinclair, so the family spent a lot of time in the area. Loving the lake area, she and her husband bought property here in the early 90’s and built their first home in 1995, just before the Atlanta Olympics in 96. She has lived here full, or part time, ever since. Having a long-term perspective, she gives us some fun insight into what it was like here BEFORE all the growth occurred.
Tina serves on the Board of Alliance for Smiles, an incredible organization that provides hope and a new life for people, a lot of them children, born with a cleft lip or pallet. She is in the trenches, leading missions all over the world! She’ll tell us about what they do, the challenges they face and the enormous rewards from performing these operations. And she’ll give us a couple of real life stories that will touch your heart!
We will also talk about Rotary, from an international perspective, with over 1.4 million members worldwide, continually serving in nearly every country, as well as from a local level, and the work that happens right here in the Lake Area. Even though you are probably aware of Rotary, you may not know the extent of the work that they do, locally and around the world. This amazing organization led the effort for decades to eradicate polio, which for the most part, has been accomplished. At the same time, locally Rotary makes an impact assisting the community with everything from helping to feed local people to building handicap ramps for someone who may not otherwise have that option.
Tina has served Rotary locally for many years, including President, but also at the District Level, serving as District Governor!
Tina is a “get it done” person and if you need something done, you want her on your team!
Guest - Tina Fischlin
Alliance for Smiles: https://www.allianceforsmiles.org/
Rotary Club of Green & Putnam County: http://www.greeneputnamrotary.org/
Rotary International: https://www.rotary.org/en
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
Some people do so much good work for others, you have to wonder how they find the time, volunteering just comes so easy. Then some people take it to a whole new level! Tina Fischlin is definitely one of those rare people who do so much and still make it look easy! We are going to talk about a couple of the organizations she is an integral part of today: Alliance for Smiles & Rotary International.
Tina grew up in Reidsville, GA, which is right in the middle of Vidalia onion country! Her parents owned property at Lake Sinclair, so the family spent a lot of time in the area. Loving the lake area, she and her husband bought property here in the early 90’s and built their first home in 1995, just before the Atlanta Olympics in 96. She has lived here full, or part time, ever since. Having a long-term perspective, she gives us some fun insight into what it was like here BEFORE all the growth occurred.
Tina serves on the Board of Alliance for Smiles, an incredible organization that provides hope and a new life for people, a lot of them children, born with a cleft lip or pallet. She is in the trenches, leading missions all over the world! She’ll tell us about what they do, the challenges they face and the enormous rewards from performing these operations. And she’ll give us a couple of real life stories that will touch your heart!
We will also talk about Rotary, from an international perspective, with over 1.4 million members worldwide, continually serving in nearly every country, as well as from a local level, and the work that happens right here in the Lake Area. Even though you are probably aware of Rotary, you may not know the extent of the work that they do, locally and around the world. This amazing organization led the effort for decades to eradicate polio, which for the most part, has been accomplished. At the same time, locally Rotary makes an impact assisting the community with everything from helping to feed local people to building handicap ramps for someone who may not otherwise have that option.
Tina has served Rotary locally for many years, including President, but also at the District Level, serving as District Governor!
Tina is a “get it done” person and if you need something done, you want her on your team!
Guest - Tina Fischlin
Alliance for Smiles: https://www.allianceforsmiles.org/
Rotary Club of Green & Putnam County: http://www.greeneputnamrotary.org/
Rotary International: https://www.rotary.org/en
Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank; Lake Oconee Bistro; Tim Broyles State Farm Insurance
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
https://www.mydowntownagency.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tbprotectincome
https://ibankfmb.com/
Today's guest is an individual who always brings a smile to your face when he enters a room, with his positive force, uplifting spirit and sincere love for people! Rev. Tony Cross & I will talk about an organization that almost everyone is familiar with, but probably few know all the good work that it does, not only in our community but also in so many others. Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA , for most people, brings to mind the organization that you can donate items to and probably the stores where you can get great prices on nice stuff. But it is so much more!
We'll talk about the organization's beginnings, its amazing growth and how Goodwill has made a difference in so many lives. With a mission of offering everyone an opportunity to fully develop their potential, Goodwill supports education and workforce development programs in our communities.
We'll discuss growth plans for the Lake Area that will mirror those already established in Augusta & Macon, which includes providing education & training with a local Helms College Campus in the areas of hospitality, culinary arts and health care, three areas where we desperately need good, well-trained employees.
We'll talk about Rev. Cross' role as the Spiritual Leader of our Goodwill organization and the important role he plays in the "whole person approach" to overall development and education. We'll talk about some real life success stories that Goodwill has been instrumental in, changing lives by giving people a chance, or in some cases, a second chance! You'll get a preview of what is coming to our area and how you can be a part of it!
Guest - Goodwill Industries - Rev. Tony Cross
Website: https://www.goodwillworks.org/
Strategic Plan -https://goodwillworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2025-Strategic-Plan.pdf
Sponsor - Lake Oconee Bistro
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
Lake Oconee Youth Alliance, or LOYA, is an amazing organization serving Greene & Putnam County students. From modest beginnings, the 501c3 organization has grown into a formidable group of community volunteers who uniquely fill a widening gap, for our local students, by providing mentoring and financial assistance, before & during, their post secondary education journey.
Denine Hagen & Jonathon Meister both serve on the Board of Directors and are my guests on the show today. Of course, we will talk about each of their personal stories of what "lured" them to the lake from the west coast. But we will focus mainly on this wonderful organization as they will explain the work it does and the gaps it fills for these students.
They tell us about the two main areas the Alliance works in: mentoring students to assist them with everything they need to know and understand in their journey toward college & financial assistance in terms of scholarship awards. With costs of both college & living rapidly increasing, it has become challenging for many students in our area to attend college, which is exactly what LOYA assists with!
We will talk about what success looks like for the organization and some actual examples of accomplishments. Having now served over 500 students and awarded 42 four-year scholarships, they ARE making a huge difference! You will be amazed at the inspiring 93% college retention rates they are experiencing with the students they assist!
They will also tell us what the community can do to assist, there are many opportunities to join or support the efforts and would love to talk to you about how you might contribute. LOYA is another beautiful example of work being done right here in the community that will impact & change lives, not just for these students, but for generations to come!
Guest: Lake Oconee Youth Alliance (LOYA)
https://www.lakeoconeeyouthalliance.com/
Denine Hagen - hagendenine@gmail.com
Jonathon Meister - jmeister55@gmail.com
Sponsor - Lake Oconee Bistro
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
Asher Miller is a remarkable young man! Being a young medical student already sets him apart, but Asher has taken it to a whole new level! At a young age, he not only knows what he wants, he already knows he loves giving back, and is actively doing so!
Growing us with parents who are both veterinarians and having a younger sister who has required extensive medical treatment, Asher was exposed to more medical observation than most kids. But it was there that he developed a keen interest in pediatric medicine and a heart to help those who so desperately need it.
Asher has taken action toward his dreams & goals, graduating pre-med from the University of Georgia and planning to attend medical school next year. While that is a notable achievement, he has accomplished so much more. He has been making lengthy mission trips to the Dominican Republic every year since 2014! There, he has aided many of the local people and Haitian refugees by helping to run medical clinics and provide much needed care. And most recently, he completed a mission trip to India, where he immersed himself in the culture, taught English and devotional studies in "slum" schools in Delhi. From there, Asher made his way deep into many of the most remote villages in the country, helping provide mobile medical care for people who rarely, if ever, receive any care. The stories are both heartwarming & heartbreaking, at the same time.
This impressive young man has also been working with Dr. Chronos and Lake Country Medical Group, while attending school and has gained valuable hands-on experience in a variety of areas. He has assisted with clinical research that helps provide the best health care possible. He tells us about some of the work he has performed there and what he is working on next.
Don't miss this inspiring young man's story and how he plans to change the world, for good!
Guest: Asher Miller
ashermiller421@gmail.com - (Please reach out if you would like to learn more or become involved with helping provide healthcare in this region.)
Sponsor - Lake Oconee Bistro
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
706-452-4400
There are people who talk about solving world problems and there are people who actually do solve world problems. Then there are people like Dave Thillen who take it to a whole new level! My amazing guest today is remarkable in many ways. Not only did he escape a life of extreme poverty, with hard work and massive action, but he wants to make sure that the students of Greene County High School don't just succeed, but excel in school and life!
Dave was born into poverty in inner city Chicago. He decided at an early age his life was going to be different, to be special. He worked his way into college, graduating with a degree in mathematics. He quickly landed a job at IBM, where his determination served him well. His career path did lead him into the army, where he was assigned to teach & coach athletics at West Point Military Academy. Additionally, his math & computer talents were utilized in a special project at the Academy. After leaving the Army, he returned to IBM, where he enjoyed a long, successful career and retired at the ripe, young age of 53!
When he and his wife Eileen moved to Lake Oconee 20 years ago, life got interesting! Having a passion for community service, Dave started working with Habitat for Humanity. He gave each home a little extra touch, by providing a computer in each Habitat home. From there, a program evolved where he started working with the Habitat students to develop goals and career paths. As the program grew, something amazing happened! We will talk about how the program grew into what is now a unique coaching program that every single high school freshman is assigned a coach who works with them on life, education and career goals throughout their high school years! This audacious goal is now resulting in amazing statistics of graduation, college, career and life success and they are just getting started! Find out more about this incredible program and the impact on the kids and the community.
You will be amazed, inspired and looking for ways to help this wonderful organization, with the ultimate goal of ending generational poverty in Greene County. I can't wait for you to "meet" Dave!
Guest: Dave Thillen
https://www.thilleneducationfoundation.com/
Dave Thillen - 706-347-0572
https://www.greene.k12.ga.us/Page/15
Sponsor - Lake Oconee Bistro
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
My delightful guest today is Maggie Milner, the CEO of the Eatonton-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. Maggie is young, energetic, creative and loves her role in leading the organization & creating new vision for the growing downtown Eatonton and Putnam County. We'll talk about some of the projects taking place now and in the future!
We'll hear about her early years, growing up in Noonan, GA, attending school in Milledgeville and discovering her strong interest in non-profits. We'll trace her career from Habitat for Humanity to CASA, to the Plaza Arts Center and now, leading the Chamber of Commerce, but not without a diversion or two along the way!
We'll discuss Maggie's thoughts on the future of Eatonton, especially the progress of downtown revitalization, of Putnam County and the lake area in general. She'll tell us the challenges, and the advantages, of being a young Chamber CEO and we'll talk about the amazing "art scene" available here, very impressive for a small community!
Maggie tells us about the many programs & initiatives the Chamber is offering to support the growth of business in Putnam County, the benefits of being involved in the Chamber. and some of the upcoming events the Chamber is offering, not just for members, but to the community as well! And we'll learn a lot more about Maggie and what "keeps" her at the lake!
Guest: Maggie Milner - CEO Eatonton-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce
Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
108 W. Marion Street
Eatonton, GA 31024
706-485-7701
https://www.facebook.com/epchamber/
Plaza Arts Center
https://plazacenter.org/
Sponsor - Lake Oconee Bistro
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
Dr. Nicolas Chronos is a well known medical doctor here in the Lake Country. But most people don't know the interesting journey that brought him here! Dr. Chronos was born in England, with parents of Scottish & Greek descent. He grew up in England, and attended medical school in London, with a specialty in cardiology.
About 30 years ago, he came to the United States, where he attended Emory University for recertification and stayed there for several years, overseeing much of the cardiology intervention group. He later moved over to St. Joe's, where he headed up a large cardiology research institute and was part of Atlanta Cardiology Group, the largest in Atlanta.
You'll hear what ultimately lured him to the lake, where he has resided for the last 10 years. He founded Lake Country Medical Group, a premier, multi-specialty team with a world-class facility. He and his team focus on each patient individually and patients feel more like family than patients!
We discuss some of the exciting advances in medical treatment, how we need to focus on prevention vs. treatment and how he and his staff, not only worked through the pandemic, but became the calm, rational voice as information was changing and evolving rapidly.
He gives us the top three things we can all do to live a healthier life, things that we can all easily do on a regular basis!
Dr. Chronos also shares with us his heart for the folks in Ukraine and what he and many people in the lake area are doing to help alleviate their suffering.
And we will talk about Lake Country Medical Concierge, and how he and his team are working to bring "big city" services to our beautiful, but rural, community, through cutting edge medical concierge services.
Guest: Dr. Nicolas Chronos
https://lakecountrymedicalgroup.com/
https://lakecountrymedicalconcierge.com/
https://www.lakecountryaid.org/
Sponsor - Lake Oconee Bistro
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
Bob Delaney has lived an extraordinary life! From undercover police work to infiltrate the New Jersey mafia crime families, to becoming an NBA referee for over 25 years, then a published author of multiple books and an expert & advocate on the effects & treatments of trauma, only begins to scratch the surface of this interesting man! We'll talk about how his law enforcement career began with the New Jersey State Police and led to the undercover operation where he became immersed in the Mafia. The stress of living every day knowing a single mistake would cost him his life is what led him to a passion to understand what happens to us under extreme trauma, and how to create awareness of this dangerous condition and most importantly, how to heal from it. Bob is internationally recognized for his deep understanding of PTS and its often unrecognized toll.
Of course, we also talk about how Bob, after retiring from law enforcement, turned his love of basketball into a second career as an NBA referee! For 25 years, Bob became one of the most respected referees in the sport! We'll talk about what it is like to take on the stares & wrath of Michael Jordan, Shaq, Bryant, Bird, just to name a few, when they didn't like the call! Those guys didn't have a chance to intimidate him after living undercover with the mafia all those years! Oh, the stories he can tell!
And we'll discuss his strong passion and his latest book, "Hero's Are Human: Lessons In Resilience, Courage and Wisdom From The Front Lines." Here, Bob honors the front line health care workers, with powerful stories and struggles through the pandemic. The book is currently available wherever books are sold, and there is an event at the Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton, where he will dedicate the book to the front line hospital workers. Bob, in his typical spirit of giving, has worked out with his support team, for every hospital worker in the Lake Country to receive a free copy of the book!
Guest: Bob Delaney
https://www.delaneyconsultants.com/books/
https://www.georgiawritersmuseum.org/special-meet-the-author-bob-delaney-heroes-are-human/
https://www.perfectretort.blogspot.com
Sponsor: Lake Oconee Bistro
https://www.lakeoconeebistro.com/
706-452-4400
1130 Lake Oconee Parkway; Eatonton, GA
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and my wonderful guest today is a breast cancer survivor. Beth Mappes has an amazing story with a happy ending, but the journey was anything but smooth, it was long and difficult. But she shows us that there is always hope for a better tomorrow, especially when you have the right attitude, good support around you, strong faith in God and trusting in His plans.
Beth is a native Georgian, born in South Dekalb County, and her family moved several times in her early years trying to "escape" from the massive growth and congestion in the Greater Atlanta area! She is an elementary school teacher by profession and you just know how much she loves teaching young children when you hear her talk about it!
Then she received an unexpected and frightening medical diagnosis that changed everything. We talk about how that came about, and the excruciatingly long time it took to find out her prognosis. We talk about treatment and the importance of her faith, as well as the incredible support of her "sisterhood" of other women who had also experienced living and dealing with this cruel disease.
We talk about how an event like this changes your perspective and about life after cancer. Today Beth is teaching kindergarten at Gatewood School and has started a new drama & musical program called Gatewood Players. She loves life and appreciates every minute of it!
My delightful guest today and I have a great time discussing her journey into entrepreneurship and how she became a "driving force" in the community! Nelley Walker opened her transportation business, Nelley's Car Service, about four years ago. She has built her company from the ground up.
We talk about how she has expanded her service from primarily taking people to dinner to now multiple daily trips to the Atlanta airport, sporting events, entertainment venues and even for folks who need to need a ride to a doctors appointment or run a few errands.
We will discuss the excitement & challenges of starting a business, the scary downturn during Covid lockdowns, and the recent resurgence and growth she has experienced with all of the new people moving to the area!
She now spends a lot more time managing her business and all the logistics of moving people from Point A to Point B, but her passion is still with the people she drives! You'll enjoy hearing what she loves most about driving her clients and also, a couple of crazy, not so fun, experiences she has had!
And we answer the question, with a last name like Walter and a family that has been in the area a very long time, could she be related to a famous local writer? Listen and find out...
To contact Nelly's Car Service, just give her a call! (706) 707-6532
For info on the Lead the Lake Think Tank: (706) 799-9301
Rob Mitchell can be described by many adjectives...interesting, fascinating, inspiring, compelling, giving, sharing, humble, just for a start! Rob grew up in small town Louisiana, but completed high school in Indiana, at Culver Academy, a difficult decision he and his parents made that changed the trajectory of his life. There, he excelled academically, as well as in sports, including swimming, wrestling, soccer, gymnastics, canoeing and kayaking. Following graduation, he attended Georgia Tech, and joined ROTC, which led him into the Navy. The Navy allowed him to continue training in competitive kayaking, where he earned his place on the the 1972 US Olympics Team, where he represented his country at the Munich Olympics. You'll hear how he witnessed, first-hand, the tragic event that forever marked those Olympic games.
We discuss, when, after the Navy, Rob took on a major role with the Walt Disney Company, where, for 21 years, as Director of Engineering, he oversaw the expansion & construction of Disney World into the incredible entertainment complex it is today!
You'll hear how his impressive journey continues after his tenure with Disney, when he and some of his colleagues formed a new company, Celebration Associates. They were recruited by Mercer & Jamie Reynolds to lead the design and construction of the Ritz Carton Lodge and to develop the Reynolds community master plan. Subsequently, he was hired by the Reynolds family to serve as President of Reynolds Plantation, and then as CEO of Reynolds Communities.
We will talk about how Rob loves to give back to his community, to those who desperately need it. He shares his time & gifts with Atlas Ministries, Greene College & Career Academy, Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Greensboro First United Methodist Church. But even though he stays busy, he loves spending most of his time with his wife Karen and with their 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Connect & Keep Up with Rob:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
- https://www.nhnga.org
- pres@nhnga.org
Atlas Ministries
https://www.atlasministry.org/
Join me as I have a lively conversation with Pastor Jeff Birch, lead pastor of Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church. We'll talk about what led Jeff into the ministry, even though early in his life, that seemed an unlikely destination, yet some 30 years later, he still loves what he does! We discuss the reasons why, despite all of the advances in physical & mental health, we seem to be moving in the wrong direction.
We'll talk about the direction of the modern church, what is going well and also what could be done better. And, a very important conversation on how to get the attention of our young people (and even not so young people), in a time when so many do not have any church affiliation.
We discuss why, no matter what happens, there is always hope for a better tomorrow, provided we have a personal relationship with God. You'll learn about some of the good work that Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church is doing in the local community and some future plans.
Want to know Jeff's favorite Bible verse? Or his favorite book, other than the obvious? You'll have to listen to the show! Of course, we'll also hear what "lured" Pastor Jeff and his wife Evie, to the lake!
Want to connect with Jeff?
- Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church - https://www.lopc-pca.org/
- English as a Second Language - https://www.lopc-pca.org/events/event/91/esl-classes/2022-09-11
This Episode is sponsored by the Freedom Boat Club of Lake Oconee: https://www.freedomboatclub.com/franchises/luv-2-boat-inc/lake-oconee-ga.html
This Episode is also sponsored by Lead the Lake: https://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/robbieking
Today's show features a delightful guest with an interesting life story! Adriana Velez is the founder of an incredibly successful business, Global-Tec Enterprises, Inc. While she enjoys success today, her journey was anything but easy and she will tell us the story and what led her there. With her warm personality, passion for people, attention to detail and uncompromising dedication to excellence, you will understand why she is such a business success!
Adriana was born in New York, then grew up in Puerto Rico, before returning to the States. She had some interesting early jobs, including working on large dinner boats, where the staff was not only responsible for food & beverage service, but also as singers and entertainers, many of whom went on to become famous on Broadway and beyond!
Ultimately, some life events took her in a different direction and led Adriana to her initial career in the business of dental materials manufacturing! After growing the company from nearly startup to $4 million in annual revenue, she was fired, without any reason or explanation. This became her springboard to success, as she used her superpower of building strong, trusting relationships with customers to launch Global-Tec!
We'll talk about her company's expanded product lines, with some cutting edge technology designed to LITERALLY save lives! And we'll talk about a brand new company she has formed, which will help busy people on the go, stay healthier!
And, of course, we'll hear her own fun story of what lured her to the lake!
Connect with her!
- https://global-tecinc.com/
- https://www.buydechoker.com/
- https://www.adahealthyvending.com/
Today's show features a life-long resident of Putnam County, who has witnessed, first-hand, the many changes in the area over the years, including the construction of the lake itself! Terri Beth Fuller was born and raised in Eatonton, growing up in the "Dairy Capital of the World!" She has seen the many changes, watching the lake creation, the land turn from cattle grazing to commercial & home construction and the resulting unprecedented growth in the lake area!
Her education took her into a career in nursing, and she returned to the area where she was born, with a passion & desire to serve the people she had known all of her life. After many years of serving her community in that capacity, a sad experience led her into the next phase of her career, hospice care. We will discuss some of the misconceptions about hospice care and learn some new things about this wonderful organization that many people simply do not know, but definitely need to.
Terri Beth has a caring and compassionate heart, you will hear it in her words and feel it in her voice! We are fortunate to have such a caring individual serving the needs of the residents!
Email: terri.fuller@agapecaregroup.comhttps://agapecaregroup.com/
Point of Interest (referenced on show)
Uncle Remus Museum
http://www.uncleremusmuseum.org/
Sponsor
Sponsor - Lead The Lake/Mind Body Spirit 2022
http://mindbodyspirit.company
While today's show features my friend Bob Massey, who is a very interesting guest. At his request, we are going to focus primarily on the organization he represents and not on his own, well-lived life. However, we will highlight a few of the impressive milestones he has achieved, one of which is completing his career as a partner in a Big 4 Accounting firm, without ever actually being an accountant! And wait until you hear the list of places he has lived, up until about 18 years ago, when he and his wife relocated here to the lake and love every minute of it!
The organization he represents, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, is doing amazing work in our local community. Though only slightly over two years old, this group is identifying and taking care of so many individuals and families in the area. They are providing badly needed home repairs, vehicle repairs/replacements and even providing beds & bedding for kids to ensure they can get a good nights sleep and be ready for their day at school! He gives us an idea of some of the many projects they have completed with beautiful stories that will touch your heart!
Despite the fact that his organization has done so many projects, there is still so much to be done. With over 7500 people living below the poverty level in Greene & Putnam Counties, Bob will tell us some of the groups future plans and how the community can help change the lives of some of the folks.
To learn more and support Neighbors Helping Neighbors:
- Email: pres@nhn.org
- Website: https://www.nhnga.org/
Sponsored by Lead the Lake & Mind Body Spirt: https://www.mindbodyspirit.company
Today's show features Pam Wolf, an incredibly interesting, multi-faceted entrepreneur, who,
though bound for law school, found herself the owner of a pest control business, due to a tragic family event. We will talk about how she built the company into a hugely successful enterprise, through perseverance and the power of putting together the right leadership team. She'll tell us the challenges of being a female CEO in a male dominated industry.
You'll love Pam's success story of ultimately making the decision to sell the company to a large, national corporation and then figuring out "the next thing." She took the valuable lessons she learned, listened to her calling and made a brand new career mentoring & coaching other entrepreneurs to success.
We will talk about the project she and her husband Tom, collaborated on together called "Identity & Destiny: 7 Steps To A Purpose-Filled Life." This Christian workbook and study course is still available today, through the Nehemiah Community Project and is offered in many countries around the world for those looking to find God's purpose for them.
She and Tom now enjoy their life at the lake, meeting new friends, having time to travel, and hosting family visits!
If you want to conenct with Pam: https://nehemiahecommunity.com/identity-and-destiny/
To learn more about Lead the Lake and the upcoming Mind Body Spirit Event: https://MindBodySpirit.company
You can't have lived around the lake too long without visiting, or at least hearing of, Crowe Marine! This business is a great story, a multi-generational local business that has been around since the 1950's. Keith Phillips is the General Manager and we'll talk about the fascinating history of the business, its unlikely start from a sign shop in East Point, GA, and its growth into one of the best known and well respected dealers around! We talk about their concerns as the pandemic and lockdown began, and how that actually turned into a huge opportunity for growth, but not without its share of unforeseen problems!
We also dive into Keith's interesting life, growing up in a small town, loving sports and cars, and how gymnastics took his family from small town life to the big city life in Watkinsville!
You'll hear about his twin daughters, both extremely talented gymnasts, how they became the family's "north star" guiding their lives and careers into gymnastics. And then finally, the story of Keith's opportunity at Crowe Marine and how they were ultimately "lured" to the lake!
Connect with Crowe Marine at CroweMarine.com
Have you ever wondered what actuaries really do? And where they retire? Either way, you will want to join me today with, not one, but TWO interesting guests! John Stenson & Barbara Gniewek are a newlywed couple, recently located to the lake and both spent their careers in the health insurance industry. We will learn a lot about the industry, the big changes in the last few years and the challenges of keeping it going, particularly in terms of Medicare sustainability. We talk about the increase in longevity and what keeps health care administrators up at night, trying to figure out how to keep it going.
And, of course, since John is an actuary by profession, we'll talk about the role of an actuary, what they really do and who they do it for! And how they can be so accurate? We even talk about why it's a good sign that several actuaries choose to live here at Lake Oconee!
Finally, the story of what "lured" this couple to the lake is a sweet journey, you don't want to miss it! These stories are what makes our "Lure of the Lake" podcast so much fun!
If you're interested in the content in this episode and want to connect with them:
- John Stenson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stenson-0255813/
- Barbara Gniewek - https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-gniewek-1137258/
Join me as I talk with Scott Randolph, a native Georgian who grew up with a love, and talent, for golf! He attended the University of Alabama, where he played on the golf team. After graduation, he continued in the business of golf. Ultimately, he moved into the financial industry, where he spent the majority of his career. Scott has worked in various areas of the industry, and gained great experience & overall perspective.
That experience has led him to follow his passion to teach financial literacy to young people, and also to "not so young" people! We'll talk about changes he has seen in the industry, the challenges we face with the increases in life expectancy and what people can do to prepare for longer lives, particularly in terms of retirement.
Scott and his family have been living at the lake for over 25 years, so we discuss the changes they've experienced over the years, with the rapid growth in the community. And, of course, we find out what "lured" them to the lake, all those years ago!
Connect with Scott & Learn About Finance:
- HowMoneyWorks.com/ScottRandolph
- WealthWave.com/ScottRandolph
Have you ever driven over the Highway 44 Bridge and noticed the beautiful property and building that is home to Lake Oconee Bistro and wondered who owns it? Then today's show is for you, as I introduce you to Gary Sofen, creator and owner of Lake Oconee Bistro!
Gary is such an interesting guest, from the moment you hear his authentic NY accent (though he has been away from NY for over 20 years!), you know you are in for a treat! We will talk about growing up in NY, working in the city, a pretty scary encounter on 911 and what prompted him to get into the restaurant business.
What you may not know is that Gary owns two other beautiful restaurants in Florida and we will talk about the challenges of being in the restaurant business before, during and after Covid. You will love hearing the history of the property, formerly known as The Magnolia House, the major renovation and the challenges of making the Bistro what it is today!
Connect with Gary and check out the Bistro!
- LakeOconeeBistro.com
- Address:1130 Lake Oconee Parkway; Eatonton, GA 31024
Today's show features Mary Zimmerman, who has been working as an ICU nurse the past few years. A stressful job under any circumstances, the level of stress was multiplied during Covid, for her and all of the primary caregivers of Covid patients. Often, she became the only link between her patients and their families. She'll tell us why she chose to become a nurse, and why an ICU nurse in particular.
We'll also talk about how practicing yoga helped her deal with the stress of the job, as well as the stresses of our modern world. Listen as she explains for us what yoga is (and isn't!), about an immersive yoga training she took on in Peru and how she plans to now share the practice with others!
Mary will discuss her interest in natural healing and how she believes holistic medicine, combined with modern medicine, can bring extraordinary results to the healing process. She'll tell us one thing that we can do every day that can dramatically improve our overall health!
Find her on Twitter: @marflo_zim
Join me as I talk to Daryl Chandler, known to his friends as simply "Chandler;" we talk about his career in the Army and his multiple tours in the Middle East. We talk about going from a college music major to the Army, where he served in various roles, including time as a Army Recruiter and much more!
We'll discuss highlights of his service (the good, bad and ugly!) and what ultimately brought him, his wife Cathi, and his two sons to the lake area, where they now live on 38 acres and have established the Chandler Family Farm! From that farm, they enjoy growing their own food, in a very organic and scientific way! You'll enjoy "meeting" his family and learning more about their adventures!
We also talk about his very smart service dog, (who you may have seen at the Farmers Market) and Healing4Heros, an organization that provides rescue/service dogs to veterans, for healing and bonding. And you don't want to miss our conversation on Forged Brotherhood, a Christian Motorcycle Club, and the amazing work they do glorifying God and building spiritual relationships through motorcycle club traditions.
Chandler is an incredible, caring, multi-faceted individual, who lives life by the 4 C's...be sure to listen to the show to find out more about those!
Connect with Daryl & Support His Efforts:
- healing4heros.org
- forgedbrotherhoodmc.com
Join me as I talk to my special guest, Rear Admiral Dick Ginman (retired), about his very interesting life as a career Naval officer before his second career with the Department of Defense, where he held some very high responsibility positions, overseeing billions of dollars in spending! He is impressive to me not only for his accomplishments, but for how he found a passion for business early and was able to integrate that into his military career.
If you've ever wondered what it was like to spend weeks or months aboard a submarine, then you definitely want to listen in. You may be surprised like I was at what we learn!
Mixed in that interesting career journey is Dick's amazing family, a lifetime love of golf, which continues today...Dick plays golf 6-7 days a week! Learn about his travels to so many interesting places, a pretty good knowledge of bourbon, crossword puzzles and a heart for the National Institute for the Blind, where he currently serves on the Board. All together, we have quite an interesting show today!
Today's show features a very interesting guest with an even more interesting career! Pete Luster had an important, fulfilling and exciting career as an Air Force jet fighter pilot! But that's not where the excitement ends! After a couple of corporate & demo pilot engagements, Pete "landed" one of the most enviable positions possible, as the private pilot for Arnold Palmer, yes, as in Arnold the professional golfer! Join us as we talk about where Pete's early years where his love of flying started, his career in the Air Force, the path to flying Arnold all over the world and, of course, what lured him, and his wife Mary, to the lake!
Today's show features the most interesting Bill Sharp, whose name you probably recognize as a Putnam County Commissioner. He recently won the primary election to serve as Commission Chair next term. Today, we learn a lot more about Bill's life journey and what ultimately 'lured' him to the lake.
Bill Sharp was born & raised in Kentucky, but after college, has lived, worked and traveled in many interesting places all over the world. He spent his career working for companies both well known (DuPont) and not so well known, building their presence domestically and abroad.
After retiring to Lake Oconee, Bill realized he still had more to offer the community he loved. He decided to serve the community through local government, both in appointed and elected positions, including Planning & Zoning, County Commission and will ultimately serve as Chairman of the County Commission.
When he is not taking care of County business, he enjoys collecting fine wine and spending quality time with his wife, family and friends.
Today on the show, I have an interesting conversation with Tom Wolf, a lifetime entrepreneur with a passion for helping people find their God-given purpose and living a life of passion and meaning.
Tom spent his career as an extremely successful entrepreneur who had to overcome obstacles with drive and determination. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, he quickly discovered what he didn't like to do, and made a pivot to do what he loved! He has created, managed and sold several successful businesses, including a business that helps entrepreneurs succeed.
A few years ago, he and his wife Pam Wolf answered a calling to publish a book and create a course called "Identity & Destiny: 7 Steps To A Purpose-Filled Life." After living in Tampa for many years, they made a decision to move to Lake Oconee, where they love the amazing community and the many recreational opportunities available. Tom is an avid golfer who loves to travel.
If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a rating or review wherever you're listening, and even better, tell a friend or neighbor!
Keep ip with Tom at: https://nehemiahecommunity.com/identity-and-destiny/
Fun conversation about the life and career of Bob Coleman, who most of you will know as the "Eagle Photographer", who posts incredible action photos of Eagles and other birds, on the NextDoor app.
Though most of you know Mr. Bob Coleman as the guy who takes all the great pictures of eagles (and other beautiful birds) around the Lake, Bob spent his career in the Air Force, as a jet fighter pilot! Coming from an Air Force pilot family, Bob spent his career in the Air Force, piloting fighter jets, with his share of combat time! He has been a long time resident of Lake Oconee and seen a lot of changes since his time here. Shortly after moving here, he noticed the eagles flying around regularly when he was on his dock. He began taking photos of them, and realizing there were so many wildlife opportunities, he began his "second career" as an eagle/bird photographer. We hope he never stops!
If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a rating or review wheverer you're listening, or, even better, tell a friend!
This is a conversation with long time Lake Oconee Veterinarian, Dr. Scott Gibson, his education, career and what gave him a love of animals and the drive to care for them.
Dr. Scott Gibson was born in a small town near the coast of North Carolina, but his family moved often with his dad being a Naval nuclear engineer on submarines, then a nuclear plant engineer after retiring from the Navy. Dr. Scott did spend the majority of his youth growing up in Roswell, GA, near Atlanta. Attending undergraduate school at the University of NC, then veterinary school at the University of Georgia, Dr. Gibson did post graduate work in Montana, before moving back to Georgia to work at an animal hospital in Savannah, GA while enjoying surfing in his spare time! He moved to the Lake area in 2006, becoming a partner in a new veterinary hospital, before starting his current practice, The Veterinarian at Lake Oconee, a beautiful, modern facility on Old Phoenix Road just off Highway 44. He has a great bedside manner with his patients (and their "parents") and strongly believes in preventive veterinary practice. He is very thorough with his patients, looking to solve small problems before they become big problems. Dr. Gibson is married to Vonda and they attend Lake Point Community Church.
More information: www.thevetlo.com or 706-623-2440
This is a conversation about the life of Do Jerman, an amazing 96 year old lady, who has lived fully, played golf all over the world and still enjoys a round now and again!
Do Jerman has lived life to the fullest and still makes the most of every day! Growing up in a small town in New York, the daughter of avid golfers, they introduced her to the game as a young girl. She has been playing golf for nearly 90 years! Do has made an impressive number of holes-in-one, played courses all over the world and enjoyed living in a number of beautiful places, including over 50 years in California. She has seen her share of changes in the country, in California and is now enjoying living at Lake Oconee at The Glen near her family. She is a remarkable lady who has lived a most interesting life!
Deano and his family moved to Lake Oconee, from the Atlanta area, in 2012 with a goal of increasing their quality of life. While the lake was obviously a big attraction, what made the decision easy was Lake Oconee Academy. With children in school, education was a factor in making a decision to move to the area. It was a few years after moving here that Deano and his wife Heather, decided to "take the plunge" into business ownership and opening the Freedom Boat Club of Lake Oconee, a relatively new concept of boat ownership. Not having been a "boat guy", the decision and journey into the business has been both interesting and challenging. It has been a great, if unconventional ride, for them and the Boat Club is very well known in the Lake area. They have some interesting plans for the future of the Club as the area continues to grow rapidly and more residents are looking for boat ownership options.
More information: www.freedomboatclub.com