Masterbuilt expansion in Columbus expected to create new jobs

John McLemore, president and CEO Masterbuilt announces their $2.5 million expansion and growth in Columbus.

Masterbuilt President and CEO John McLemore announced this morning that the company is acquiring a 67,000 square-foot warehouse and office building off of Milgen Road in Columbus. The move into the larger facility will allow for the creation of an estimated 40 new jobs as well as triple the size of the company over the next five years.

Masterbuilt designs and markets products including: grills, smokers, gas fryers, automotive cargo carriers, bike racks and accessories. Masterbuilt's emphasis on product innovation has led to two industry firsts; the first and only Electric Turkey Fryer and the HITCH-HAUL® cargo carrier.

In part, the anticipated growth of the Masterbuilt brand will come from the company's new Direct Response Division that will take product orders during 30-minute infomercials airing this fall. Masterbuilt is also building strong relationships in the industry with names like Kingsford, Realtree, Crisco and Butterball, co-promoting quality innovative products.

(L-R)Dawson McLemore founder of Masterbuilt, Mayor Jim Wetherington, John McLemore president and CEO of Masterbuilt Stella Shulman, chair of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Mike Gaymon, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce cut ribbon on their new location Oct. 24.

"I'm pleased to announce that through our relationship with Butterball, the popular holiday-time Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, for the first time, will provide callers to 1-800-BUTTERBALL with tips and answers to questions on frying turkeys, said Don McLemore, Vice President & COO. "This is part of our focus on growing the business though relationships with national brands like Crisco and Butterball. It is exciting to see Masterbuilt continuing to gain national exposure."

In 1973, Dawson McLemore founded Masterbuilt with his sons as a manufacturer of baker's racks, fern stands and ornamental ironwork in their backyard. Today his sons John and Don own and operate the company, which recently celebrated its 34th anniversary. They continue to design and market products to various retail trades; which are sold throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as parts of Japan, Central, South America and China.

Masterbuilt demonstrated their products by cooking lunch for the guests attending the economic development announcement.

14th Annual Inter City Leadership Conference visited Tampa, FL

One of the relaxing events on the Inter City Leadership Conference to Tampa was a dinner cruse around the bay were leaders could exchange ideas from the days meetings.

More then 90 regional leaders traveled Tampa, FL on the 14th Annual Inter City Leadership Conference (ICLC) for a three day trip.

The annual Inter City Leadership Conference is designed to look at what Tampa, Fla is doing well, what didn't work and how they would have done things differently to help the Columbus Region grow. It provides our leader's great opportunities to learn from the processes that each city used that were successful, said Mike Gaymon, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

One of the morning sessions focused on public art.

Some of the highlights of this year's topics include: Downtown Revitalization, Public Art, Enterprise Village, Academy Prep Presentation, BayCare Health System United by a Common Mission (How Nine Hospitals Joined Together, Sharing Services Such as human resources, purchasing and financial services, improved quality, better access and greater efficiencies using the Six-Sigma Process and Building a Convention Hotel

Many of the participants on the Inter City Leadership Conference came back talking about Enterprise Village, were students learned about the business world.

Tampa is the second-largest MSA in the Southeast and one of the fastest growing areas of the United States. Metropolitan Statistical Area Population is 2.5 million (Includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties)

The Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce organized the first ICLC trip in 1994 to Charlotte, NC followed by visits to Greenville, SC, Jacksonville, FL, Memphis, TN, Nashville, TN, Austin, TX, Richmond, VA, Louisville, KY, Kansas City, MO, Indianapolis, IN, San Antonio, TX., St. Louis, MO, and last year, Baltimore, MD. By design, the cities visited are much larger than Columbus so that participants stretch their visions and aspirations for the region.

What are some of the accomplishments have these trips generated/encouraged?

• From Charlotte, NC came the idea for creating the Valley Partnership Joint Development Authority and the idea for the city's purchase of downtown property which subsequently became the uptown campus of TSYS.
• From Greenville, SC came the development of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, uptown development and marketing the city for tourism.
• From Jacksonville, FL came the idea for the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS), the Columbus Civic Center reorganization and focused riverfront development.
• From Nashville, TN came the development of a $50 million public library with full online capabilities and community meeting rooms. Also, there came more general economic development and specific uptown development. The discussion of an umbrella organization was developed and more focus on our existing Sports Council developed. Branding of the city began to be discussed.
• From Memphis TN came the creation of the uptown Heritage Park commemorating the region's connection to manufacturing and the establishment of an Environmental Court to address special community issues. Also, a new appreciation for our existing National Infantry Museum was developed that resulted in a fund-raising campaign to build new facility. A Columbus Housing Initiative was formed. Uptown and riverfront development of more than 300 loft apartments have taken place.
• From Austin, TX came the idea for a Community Action Network Plan and the development of a high-tech incubator which materialized as the Information Technology Innovation Center which is housed the state-of-the-art facility at Columbus State University. Columbus successfully competed for a major computer chip manufacturing site. The community formed an Industry Cluster Strategy for the future recruitment efforts to target the technology cluster as one of six clusters. Focus on major support of the arts was enacted.
• From Richmond, VA came more focus on the art galleries and arts establishments and active dialogue on the Columbus workforce plan. The idea of the skate park also began in Richmond.
• From Louisville, KY came the further development of the idea to relocate the rail yard from downtown. Loft apartment developments and further discussion of branding came as well.
• From the trip to Kansas City, MO several initiatives are underway: the Liberty Memorial fund-raising campaign and the Chamber's brick walk of recognition, bi-state and regional opportunistic projects, tax increment financing, philanthropy plans for a community, performing arts high school programs and healthcare research initiatives. A lot of focus was also placed on planning.
• From the trip to Indianapolis, IN came an understanding of their new branding effort, their performing arts magnet program not only in the public high school system but also in its middle school and elementary school systems and housing renovation initiatives.
• From the trip to San Antonio, TX the San Antonio River Walk area is providing ideas for our area, BRAC initiatives, the Downtown Alliance provided ideas for UpTown, healthcare collaborations helped to develop the Chamber's Healthcare Committee, the Alamo Workforce helped the Valley Promise successfully implement their program and the Sports Foundation helped the creation of "Kids in Motion" by the Greater Columbus Sports and Events Council.
• From the trip to St. Louis, MO came discussions on Bi-State Regionalism, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Planning & Urban Design, Academia and Technical Pathways, Regional Arts Commission and Healthcare.
• From the trip to Baltimore, MD Baltimore Arts and Promotion, Leadership & Diversity, Healthcare Collaboration for Minority Businesses/Bridging the, Smart Codes, Reusing Old Buildings for New Purposes resulting in the International Codes being developed, Managing for Success: An Audit of Five Cities, BRAC - Maryland's Perspective, Mayor's Program for the Arts & Public Art, Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation and Research & Strategic Planning, Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan.

Kenney Realty Services opened Cougar Village Oct. 25 with a ribbon cutting during business after hours. Cougar Village is located within 2 miles of the Columbus State campus. Cougar Village offers unique apartment homes to Columbus students.

(L-R) Stephen Kenney, of the Kenney Companies, Mayor Jim Wetherington and Mike Gaymon, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce open Cougar Village on Milgen road Oct. 25 at Business After Hours.

It also brings innovative lease options that will allow students to hold individual leases. By allowing students to pay by the bedroom, students can not only choose their roommates, but also eliminate the conflict and added stress that can often come from joint leases. Cougar Village offers a roommate matching program if a student does not have a roommate when they apply. Recent expansions at local colleges and universities have created the need for additional off-campus student housing within the Columbus region. Increases in student enrollment and the added desire to move off campus have rendered Columbus in need of new and improved student housing options.

Conveniently located off of Milgen Road, students will be able to get to their classes in about five minutes. Residents at Cougar Village will enjoy one, two, three or four bedroom floor plan options with individual private bathrooms, fully furnished apartments with washers and dryers in every apartment, overhead lights, microwave, dishwasher, range, double sinks, refrigerator and icemaker. In addition, all apartments will have pre-wired security systems, central heat and AC, access to the swimming pool and sun deck, state-of-the-art fitness center, clubhouse, game room, and volleyball and basketball courts. Kenney Realty Services, LLC provides Leasing (Retail and Office), Brokerage, Predevelopment Market Analysis, and Multifamily and Commercial Property Management throughout the Southeast.

A large crowd attended the 2007 Legislative Express Oct. 18 at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce Train Depot. Since the early 1990's the Chamber has annually thanked elected officials for their dedication and service.

A large crowd attended the 2007 Legislative Express Oct. 18 held in the lobby and Saunders Boardroom of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

"Columbus has become a model around the state for public private partnership," said Mike Gaymon, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. "This is one way for our business community to say thank you to our elected officials for all they do for our region on the federal, state and local levels. When you think of the successes our community has achieved it was because everyone was working together for the improvement of our region."

2007 Legislative Express stared the evening off with a VIP reception in the Saunders Boardroom with elected officials, sponsors and VIPs.

This event pulled elected officials or their representatives from the federal, state and city together with the business community to relax and have fun. The event is designed to allow elected officials and community leaders for a mix and mingle and dinner after a short program. The theme for this year's event is "Maneuvering toward a Stronger Region" through the Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) which will have a major impact on the region for the next decade.

The Leadership Development Committee is proud to announce the 2007-2008 Youth Leadership Columbus (YLC) class. Youth Leadership Columbus' mission is to expose high school juniors to career opportunities and provide an opportunity to communicate with local leaders. The 9-month program exposes students to various aspects of leadership ranging from goal setting to exercising community leadership. The class kicked off this year's program earlier this month. Keith Paul and Amy Ourso are co-chairing this year's program.

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