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Page 6 December 10, 2023 StarNews www.starnewsgaonline.com
NEWS RECAP -
from stories on StarNews Online
website at www.starnewsgaonline.com
CarMax to open reconditioning center
in Carrollton: 200 jobs by 2025
CarMax, Inc., retailer of used cars,
announces plans to open its first stand-alone
reconditioning center, which will be located in
Carrollton, Georgia. The purpose of the state-
of-the-art facility will be to recondition used
vehicles to be sold to customers at CarMax
stores in the Atlanta region, with the ability to
ship nationwide.
CarMax aims to hire up to 100 automotive
professionals by the location’s opening in
February 2024, and an additional 100 automo
tive professionals by early 2025. Open posi
tions at the center will include technicians,
detailers, painters, supply associates, and more.
There will be job opportunities for both new
and seasoned automotive professionals. Job
seekers may learn more and apply for open
positions online at careers.camiax.com.
The 70,000 square-foot reconditioning cen
ter will be located northwest of Carrollton’s
city center at 115 Battery Street.
www.careers.carmax.com
Chamber’s Women’s Business
Alliance awards “Woman of the Year”
to Jodie Goodman of Carroll County
Mental Health Advocates
The Carroll County
Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Business Alliance
hosted its annual “Woman of
the Year” Luncheon on
November 17, 2023, at the
Carroll County Schools
Performing Arts Center. This
signature event, dedicated to
honoring and celebrating
outstanding women business
leaders in Carroll County,
showcased the remarkable
achievements of this year’s award recipients.
The 2023 Woman of the Year is Jodie
Goodman of Carroll County Mental Health
Advocates.
The awards presented at the luncheon
include the Legacy Award, the Rising Star
Award, and the Woman of the Year Award.
These distinctions aim to honor women who
embody exemplary leadership qualities, influ
encing not only their own success but also con
tributing to the success of those around them.
Legacy Award Winners: Kim Jones of West
Georgia Community Foundation and Andrea
Stone of Milestone Investment Management
Rising Star Award Winner: Kiki McDaniel
of Chase the Victory
Rhyne Owenby, Senior Vice President of the
Carroll County Chamber of commerce,
expressed immense pride in this year’s award
recipients: “The Woman of the Year Luncheon
is a special occasion where we come together
to recognize the remarkable women who are
shaping the future of Carroll County. Each of
our award winners have demonstrated excep
tional leadership and dedication, and we are
honored to celebrate their accomplishments
and contributions.” www.carroll-ga.org
Carroll EMC’s Agribusiness Seminar
featured Stephanie Stuckey, chair of
Stuckey’s Corporation
Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative
(EMC) hosted its second and closing agribusi
ness seminar for the year on Monday, October
30, 2023, with Stephanie Stuckey, fomier CEO
and current Chair of Stuckey’s Corporation, as
keynote speaker. The agribusiness seminar,
marked by the opportunity it offers local farm
ers, business leaders and elected officials to
connect with one another, is held each spring
and fall with the motivating goal to promote
agriculture education among the cooperative’s
membership. Centering on the business side of
agriculture, Stephanie Stuckey gave a heart
warming presentation of her efforts to revive
her grandfather’s brand which could only start
with bringing the production of its sweet treats,
including the famous pecan log roll, back to
Georgia. An old household name dating back
to 1937, Stuckey’s had humble beginnings as a
roadside pecan stand in Eastman, GA, but
quickly rose to prominence as the place to stop
on a road trip through the early 70s, in part
because of the interstate highway system but
mostly because of the leadership of W.S.
Stuckey, Sr. However, when he passed away,
the company steadily declined until Stephanie
came into leadership.
“When I bought Stuckey’s in 2019, it was
six figures in the red,” said Stephanie. “The
candy plant and distribution center my grandfa
ther had were both long gone, and all the candy
was being outsourced.
“My very first day of buying the company, I
got us in the Georgia Grown program,” she
continued. “I got a government loan to buy a
manufacturing facility in Georgia and started
buying 100% from Georgia farmers. I said
we’re going to sell products again that we’re
making ourselves. We’re going to quit out
sourcing, and we’re going to provide jobs and
build a community.” Four years later,
Stephanie has completely turned the company
around. With more than a thousand retailers
selling Stuckey’s products along with owning
and operating a distribution center and a pecan
processing and candy-making plant, her grand
father’s legacy lives on because she adopted
his adaptability and concern for community.
Tanner’s President and CEO Loy
Howard among Georgia’s 500 most
Influential Leaders for second year
For the second straight
year, Tanner Health System
President and CEO Loy
Howard’s leadership in
health care as earned him a
place among Georgia’s top
leaders, according to busi
ness and industry publication
Georgia Trend. Howard is
featured in Georgia Trend
magazine’s “Georgia 500”
for 2023 including 500 of
the state’s most influential
leaders. The issue - now in its second year -
published this month. Georgia Trend also noted
that Howard has served as CEO of the non-
profit, community-based local health system
for almost 30 years, growing it into the five-
hospital health system that it is today serving
northwest Georgia and east Alabama.
Georgia Trend publisher Ben Young said the
periodical intentionally omitted elected offi
cials, instead focusing on leaders contributing
to the state’s economic and industrial develop
ment, directly creating opportunities for
Georgia residents. Other local leaders on the
list included Brenden Kelly, president of the
University of West Georgia; Julie Post, presi
dent of West Georgia Technical College; and
Rich Stinson, president and CEO of Southwire.
Along with twice placing on the Georgia
500, Howard was also recognized last year by
the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of metro
Atlanta’s “Most Admired CEOs.”
“These accolades aren’t just about vision and
leadership - they’re about our promise to our
community that the care they need will be here
when they need it,” said Howard. “We’re a
mission-focused organization; building the
infrastructure and attracting the talent to make
sure the care we need is here when we need it
is vital to our success as a health system and as
a region.”
Howard
770.456.8358
227 South Carroll Road Villa Rica
Tues & Wed: 9am-6pm*Thurs: 9am-8pm Fri. 9ara-5pm*Sat: 9am-3pm
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