Nexxtep develops IoT Hero Buttons 

VALDOSTA – Nexxtep Technology Services, Inc., recently launched a custom-designed IoT (Internet of Things) Hero Button. 

This cloud-connected device allows users to notify the Nexxtep support team with the click of a button, company officials said.

The Hero Button is an Amazon Web Services IoT button custom programmed by Nexxtep’s development team with a business’s contact information. 

When an IT disaster such as hardware failure or cyber-attack strikes, customers simply press the button and Nexxtep’s support team receives the business’s contact info by phone, email and its internal messaging system. 

“The Hero Button is designed to give business owners peace of mind and make it easier than ever to contact support in the event that IT issues arise,” company officials said.

“We’re always eager to show companies the level of support they should expect from an IT provider,” Stuart Avera, Nexxtep vice president and creator of the Hero Button, said. “The Hero Button takes IT support to the next level by making it simple to contact us while demonstrating how responsive our support team is.”

Any business with five or more work stations located in Georgia or Florida may request a Nexxtep Hero Button. Nexxtep will give Hero buttons to the first 30 organizations that request one, company officials said. Existing Nexxtep clients are excluded from the offer. There is a limit of one IoT button per business/organization.

Winnersville Elite named Small Business of the Month

VALDOSTA — The Valdsota-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and Renasant Bank, sponsor of the Small Business of the Month program, presented Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance with the January Small Business of the Month award.

Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance has provided service to the Valdosta-Lowndes County community since 2008, chamber officials said. WE offers competitive and recreational programs for cheerleading and dance to people of all ages.

Desiree Hagan, program director, and the staff are passionate about instilling strong morals in each of their students, chamber officials said.

“Our main goal is to teach our athletes that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve anything,” Hagan said. “We pride ourselves on always hiring well-trained staff to instruct the student and to carry out our mission.

“We truly do create a family environment that allows our athletes to grow both physically and mentally. This sets our program apart from all others.”

Each year, the recreational program teaches more than 150 students. 

The newest program established is Little Explorers. Little Explorers is for students ages 2-5 and focuses on developing gross motor skills while having fun with tumbling and dance, chamber officials said. 

The competitive programs at WE has received several championship awards during the year.

WE is a member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and an active business of in the community.

“Every year, Winnersville Elite participates in local events such as the Honey Bee Festival & Parade and the Greater Downtown Valdosta Christmas Parade,” Hagan said. “We are a community partner for the Lowndes and Valdosta school systems, participating in career days, STEM programs and other school events. We’ve also participated in the Moultrie 21st Century program dedicated to serving low-income schools by providing enrichment opportunities after school.”

Winnersville Elite Cheer & Dance is located at 1974 Business Parkway. More information: Call (229) 293-9323 or visit www.winnersvilleelite.com.

S&L Decorative Concrete cuts ribbon

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently honored S&L Decorative Concrete and Resurfacing with a ribbon cutting as part of its grand opening.

Offering an array of concrete surface options, S&L Decorative Concrete and Resurfacing specializes in concrete restoration and concrete design, chamber officials said. 

Susan Flanders, owner, along with her son, Lane Fletcher, opened their concrete-resurfacing business after several years in the business. 

“We are excited about being able to use our creativity and turn average concrete into a masterpiece,” Flanders said.

A new member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, S&L Decorative Concrete and Resurfacing plans to use the resources offered by the chamber, chamber officials said. 

“The chamber has given me the opportunity to advertise my business and to network with the other business owners,” Flanders said. “The ribbon cutting was a celebration and advertisement opportunity for my new business, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about offering our services to other Valdosta-Lowndes members.”

More information: Call (229) 507-9291 or email Flanders sflanders1962@gmail.com.

Realtors present service awards

VALDOSTA – The Valdosta Board of Realtors recently had its kick-off luncheon. 

It presented two service awards recognizing special Realtors who gave a little more in 2018, board members said. 

The first award was for Realtor Spirit. Misty Yeargan of Coldwell-Banker Premier Real Estate received this award due to her outstanding service as a volunteer to the Valdosta Board of Realtors and her professionalism which reaches above and beyond the norm, board members said. 

The second award was presented to Nathan Smith of The Herndon Company for the 2018 Realtor of the Year, board members said. 

The Realtor of the Year recipient exemplifies Realtor spirit, supports non-profit and civic organizations within the local community, has good business conduct, serves his clients well and is active with the board.

NAI Global opens new office

VALDOSTA – Jay Olshonsky, SIOR, FRICS, and President of NAI Global, a leading global commercial real estate brokerage firm, announced a new office with Commercial Realty Advisors serving the South Georgia communities of Valdosta, Tifton, Thomasville, Albany, Moultrie and Douglas. 

Formerly known as Commercial Real Estate Advisors, LLC, NAI Commercial Realty Advisors offers a full range of brokerage services for retail, office, industrial, multi-unit, land and investment properties, company officials said. 

Services include acquisition, disposition, investment analysis, 1031 exchange, landlord representation, tenant representation, development and property management.

NAI Commercial Realty Advisors has served the South Georgia commercial real estate industry for more than 30 years. NAI Commercial Realty Advisors has two certified commercial investment members on staff and the six full-time agents have more than 100 years of combined real estate experience. 

Principals are Ron Borders, Tammy Borders and Clay Browning. 

“We are thrilled to become part of NAI Global and believe that our tertiary market fills an important void for the company in the Southeast, particularly with our connections to Atlanta and Savannah, the Carolinas and proximity to NAI offices in Northern Florida,” Browning said.

NAI Global has full service commercial real estate offices in Atlanta – NAI Brannen Goddard and in Savannah – NAI Savannah. The offices in Orlando and Ocala are NAI RealVest and NAI Heritage, respectively. 

NAI offices in South Carolina include NAI Charleston, NAI Earle Furman (Greenville) and NAI Avant (Columbia). In North Carolina, the NAI offices are NAI Southern Real Estate (Charlotte), NAI Piedmont Triad (Greensboro) and NAI Carolantic Realty Inc. (Raleigh). 

Georgia was recently ranked No. 1 by Site Selection Magazine for the best business climate in the U.S. It was the sixth consecutive year Georgia was ranked first, company representatives said.

To learn more, visit www.naiglobal.com or www.naiglobalnewslink.com

Gillard joins Herndon Company 

VALDOSTA — Rebecca Gillard has joined The Herndon Company.

She is originally from California, Mo. She worked at her family’s auto-related business for almost 10 years and attended Columbia College. 

Gillard and her family relocated to Valdosta with her husband’s (Jason Gillard) job and have absolutely fallen in love with the community, company representatives said.

She is a member of CrossPointe Church and serves as children’s coordinator for the K-5th graders. She is also an active volunteer for her children’s school serving as a room parent each and every year.

Gillard is a member of the Valdosta Board of Realtors, Georgia Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and South Georgia MLS, Inc. 

She may be reached at (229) 244-1992 Ext. 131 or cell: (573) 424-9279.

Weatherspoon receives nursing award

VALDOSTA – Zakiyyah Weatherspoon has been named recipient of the 2019 American Association of Nurse Practitioners Georgia State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence. 

The prestigious award is given annually to a dedicated nurse practitioner and NP advocate in each state. Recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception held during the AANP 2019 National Conference, June 18-23, in Indianapolis.

The State Award for NP Excellence, founded in 1991, recognizes an NP in each state who demonstrates excellence in practice. In 1993, the State Award for NP Advocate Excellence was added to recognize the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of the NP role.

Weatherspoon, FNP-BC is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of the ANA, AANP, Sigma Theta Tau and UAPRN. 

Born and raised in Valdosta, she graduated from Valdosta High School in 2001. She attended Georgia Southern University where she received a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2005. 

She worked as an ER nurse for six years and part time at a nonprofit inpatient hospice facility and volunteered her time as a sexual assault nurse examiner all while she pursued her master of science in nursing with an emphasis in family practice. 

She obtained her MSN degree in 2011. She was employed at Valdosta Family Medicine from January 2012-December 2017. She is now full time with Legacy Behavioral Health Services and works as needed in South Georgia Medical Center Youth Care Department and Youth care. 

She is also currently pursuing a doctor of nursing practice with a psychiatric-mental health cognate from Georgia Southern University. She is currently working on her doctor of nursing practice degree with a psychiatric-mental health co-certificate which she is also obtaining from Georgia Southern University. 

She was recently named Georgia’s state representative for AANP’s nurse practitioner of the year for 2019 for her community service involvement here in the community. 

She currently serves as South Georgia Association of Nurse Practitioners vice president. She is a member of Lowndes-Metropolitan Section of National Council of Negro Women where she said she enjoys serving her community.