This month’s issue of MyTown Magazine spotlights locally-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs in Middle Georgia.  Small businesses are vital to our local community, and the businesses spotlighted in this feature represent only a small segment of the total population of small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Middle Georgia community.  Get to know the people behind the business, and what got them started!  These businesses support our local communities, and we hope you too will support these businesses. 
 
Covenant Plumbing
 
Dennis and Deborah Smith made a life-changing decision in December 1999: to start a reliable and customer-focused plumbing company.  The choice seemed natural, since Dennis had years of experience in the industry.  “We opened with one thing in mind,” says Deborah, “to provide good service and be fair to people.”  Covenant Plumbing opened its doors in 2000 and has been growing steadily ever since.
 
The company was founded on providing the community with exceptional repair services for commercial, residential, and institutional facilities.  Covenant Plumbing is a family-owned and -operated business that focuses on getting the job done correctly.  “We’ll bend over backwards to do it right,” says Dennis, who is a certified and licensed master plumber in the state of Georgia, a certification many local plumbers lack.  “As a plumber, there are certain state codes that are needed and homeowners, if doing their own plumbing, are required to follow these same codes,” explains Dennis.
Homeowners need to be aware that hiring a plumber is as important as hiring someone to do electrical work or carpentry.  “In the long-run, [hiring a plumber] will actually save you money,” says Deborah.  Insurance Magazine states that according to a nationwide survey conducted by Safeco Insurance, one out of every 10 water-damage claims can be traced back to a malfunctioning hot water tank or washing machine that was installed incorrectly.  “Water can severely destroy a home more than anything else,” says Deborah.
 
As a local company, Covenant Plumbing considers the community a priority and provides good value for the money.  “People are opting not to buy new,” says Deborah.  “Instead, they are trying to buy their own parts.”  Experts recommend homeowners invest in hiring professionals to install plumbing parts.  “With plumbing, you have to be very careful,” explains Dennis.  “If you have a leak that you can’t see, it will cause all sorts of problems.  And in trying to fix it yourself, you have to consider safety and sanitary issues.” Indeed, the Safeco Insurance study found that of homeowners’ insurance claims for water damage, 62 percent were due to faulty plumbing systems, while only 8 percent were due to weather.
 
Covenant Plumbing is more than just your average plumbing company.  Most of the employees have been with the company for many years and understand the importance of good customer service.  At the end of the week, customers who received services during that week are provided with courtesy calls, inquiring whether there are any problems that need to be fixed and whether they are happy and satisfied.  “This [allows] customers to know you care about them,” says Dennis. “They’re not just a paid ticket - we want to make sure everything is done right.”  This weekly complimentary customer service has resonated well with Covenant Plumbing customers.
 
Call Covenant Plumbing today for all your repair needs!  For more information, call (478) 745-7436.
 
 
Lowe Lighting Center
 
Lowe Lighting Center is a division of Lowe Electric Supply Company, which was founded in 1903 by Henry Lowe Sr.  At the time Mr. Lowe wanted to provide great quality electrical products with exceptional service. Throughout the years, the business has continued to grow and currently has seven locations in Georgia and one in South Carolina.  “We are of one of the few original-family, locally-owned businesses remaining in town,” says Donny Guy, lighting sales manager.  “We pride ourselves in being a viable part of this community for over 100 years.”
 
Lowe Lighting Center features a newly renovated and impressive showroom, with a vast variety of lighting fixtures and fans.  The showroom also sells accessories, such as decorative mirrors, lamps, and intercom systems.  “During our 2008 remodel and business refocus, we concentrated on bringing in the higher-end designer lines that our local decorators had to go to Atlanta to find,” explains Guy.  “We try to have the right blend of fixtures to offer something for everyone.  We go to the Dallas market at least once a year to try to stay ahead of the changing trends.”  The latest technology in lighting is LEDs, and Lowe Lighting Center has several products available, from recessed cans and under- counter lights, to an LED adhesive tape, which can put a touch of light almost anywhere in the home.
 
Professional lighting consultants, Kim Bryan and Dawn Moore, offer customers free on-site design consultations, or “Clients bring in their plans, have a seat, and let us make lighting selection a stress-free part of home building,” says Bryan.   Lowe Lighting Center also offers landscape lighting design and works with selected contractors for a professional installation.  A comprehensive personal web store is available online where customers can shop for lamps, wall fixtures, outdoor lighting, ceiling fixtures, fans, home décor items, and much more.  The web store has over 21,000 items and is constantly updated.  The convenience of shopping online is very popular with busy customers in search of lighting fixtures.  “They can call Kim and she’ll walk through what they want in their home,” says Guy.  “Decorators and builders can [also] get on there and select items.”
 
The professionals at Lowe Lighting Center have 116 years of combined experience.  Their expertise comes from their dedication to providing exceptional customer service.  “We do pride ourselves on the experience of our staff, “says Guy. “Coming from the commercial side of the business, I can assist homeowners with the technical aspect of the lighting layout, assist with dimming systems, layouts and loads, while the ladies help customers with the decorating touches of just the right fixture.”
 
The company provides a good balance of styles and colors that meets customers’ tastes and needs – from traditional to contemporary, which can be seen and experienced in the showroom.
 
Lowe Lighting Center is located at 1525 Forsyth Street in Macon.  For more information, call (478) 743-8661 or visit www.lowelightingcenter.com.
 
 
The Frame Game & Gregory Gallery
 
The Frame Game has been one of North Macon’s premier framing businesses for 27 years.  Artist Melissa Gregory bought the business in 1987 and says she has enjoyed providing creative custom framing services to the community.  In 2005 The Frame Game moved from the Rivoli Crossing Shopping Center to the Prado Shopping Center on Forsyth Road and changed the name to Gregory Gallery.  Melissa and her husband, Randall, decided to open a second location on Zebulon Road.
 
This summer Randall and Melissa decided to combine The Frame Game and Gregory Gallery into one location.  “It’s crazy for Melissa to spend all her time at the Gallery when her art is selling so well and she stays booked with commission work,” says Randall. 

Melissa has been an artist for over 30 years.  “This whole business is built around Melissa,” says Randall.  The new Heart Center of Central Georgia purchased Melissa’s paintings that hang in the lobby.  She has also been featured in the Tour of Homes and has been commissioned to work on many projects in the community.  Interior Designer, Shauna Davis says she has been working with Melissa for a couple of years now on several parade homes, as well as her clients. “I gave Melissa the sizes and the spaces,” says Davis. “I gave Melissa full freedom to be creative with her paintings and she completed my vision. On a particular home I won Best Interior of the Parade of Homes.”
 
Both The Frame Game and Gregory Gallery are local businesses that preserve and promote artistic work.  Along with Melissa’s paintings, Gregory Gallery features art by several other local artists, which provides more variety for customers. “Our vision is to promote within the community,” says Melissa. “Because small businesses are what make everything work.  So if I help my fellow artist that also helps the community.”
Randall explains that combining the two stores seems to be a natural evolution.  “Customers can now find excellent local artwork and receive the best, most creative framing in the area,” says Randall. “Our store offers a wide array of services.  We are one of the few in the Middle Georgia area that handles dielectric mirrors for flat screen TVs.”  A dielectric mirror is a glass that is placed over a flat screen television and functions as a mirror until the television is turned on. Custom bathroom mirrors are offered and people come from as far as North Carolina for Melissa to design and create their shadowboxes.
 
The Frame Game represents two of the largest custom moulding companies in the world, Larson-Juhl and Roma Moulding (and Roma Photo frames), offering the largest and finest selection of frame samples outside of Atlanta.  The store also offers a budget line of custom framing to meet the needs of all their customers.
 
The Frame Game and Gregory Gallery are located at 5940 Zebulon Road (Kroger Shopping Center).  For more information, call (478) 405-0012.
 
 
Suttles Hardwood Floors Inc.
 
Suttles Hardwood Floors Inc.  has been a staple in the community for many years. It began with Furman Suttles, a man who wanted to provide families with the best flooring possible.  He opened the doors of the business in 1958. Today, the family-owned and -operated business is overseen by Furman Suttles’ son, Todd Suttles.  Todd has been running the business since the early 1990s, when his father retired.  The business offers customers installation, sanding, and finish on all types of hardwood floors.  Pre-finished floors and laminate flooring are also offered at Suttles.
 
“My dad’s focus was always the carpet side of the flooring business.  I was here every summer working on carpet trucks, installing carpet all over middle Georgia,”
says Todd. “In the early 1980s we saw the trend in flooring moving back to hardwood floors. My Dad had some old machines that we reworked and I began learning from some of the older employees how to sand and refinish hardwood floors.  I loved it and began moving our company away from the carpet business towards the new trend of hardwood flooring.  I think it is so important to love what you do as your career.  In a small business, you better love it because many hours of your life will be dedicated to it.” Todd enjoys meeting with customers and seeing their reaction to their new floors.  Today, hardwood floors are also a welcome relief to many who suffer with allergies.
 
“We know that one of the biggest objections to sanding and refinishing hardwood floors is dust,” says Todd.  “So, we have invested in new equipment over the past year and a half, where we’re trying to eliminate dust altogether.”  It equates to a vacuum which is hooked up to the sanding equipment, and suctions the dust while the floors are being sanded.  Todd says customers have seen a tremendous decrease in the amount of dust generated by the sanding process.
 
Suttles’ top priority is to perform jobs in the best way possible.  “We are a true small family business,” says Todd.  “My mom, sister, and now grandchildren all work at the company.  Our name and reputation is on every job we do and we do not take that lightly.  My dad has instilled in us the goal to make it as right as you can, and try to exceed expectations.”
 
A client’s home is usually the biggest purchases he or she will ever make.  “It is an honor to be invited into their home to do a project,” says Todd.  “The real reward is when they invite you back, because the first experience was a great one for them.”
Customers can opt from a variety of floors, colors, and sizes.  Floors can be matched to kitchen cabinets or wall colors.  Credit cards are accepted and financial options are available. 
 
Suttles Hardwood Floors Inc. is located at 3013 Vineville Avenue in Macon. For more information, call (478) 743-5667.
 
 
Sound and Video  Solutions
 
Are you looking for the ultimate system with customer service that goes beyond the call of duty?  Sound and Video Solutions is a company that has enjoyed an impeccable reputation for offering clients superior products with remarkable service. “When we started out, we decided our main priority was to offer great services, and as we did, we gained the trust of our people,” explains Jeff Smith, co-owner and founder of Sound and Video Solutions.  “We try to drive that message home: being trustworthy with a great product.  People need a person to trust.”  When it comes to your dream system, the sky is the limit, Jeff explains.  A lot of times, this entails listening and meeting what a customer wants and needs.
 
Sound and Video Solutions has been in business since 2003 and recently opened a
showroom on Forsyth Road in the Rivoli Crossing Shopping Center.  “We wanted to open the showroom to demonstrate what we do,” explains Jeff, who works with his brother, Ron Smith and his nephew, Stephen Smith.  Jeff worked as a technical engineer for many years and says toying with electronics has been a favorite pastime for many years.  According to Jeff, one of the most important aspects of owning a local business is to be consistent in providing good service.  “You cannot over-promise a customer and under-deliver,” he says.
 
The showroom at Sound and Video Solutions is set up to reflect what your home would look like with a sound system.  The company offers home theater systems, surround sound, whole house audio or music distributed throughout the home, surveillance systems, and complete installation. Customers are guaranteed a turn-key service from concept to reality.  “We specialize in sound and video,” says Jeff. Sound and Video Solutions has been a member of the Better Business Bureau and has enjoyed an impeccable record with no complaints in the six years they have been
open.  “We strive to take care of our customers,” says Jeff.  “There’s no job too small or too large for us.”
 
The family-owned and -operated company understands the needs of their consumers. Sound and Video Solutions is Middle Georgia’s only certified Bose dealer.  The staff is fully trained to not only carry Bose products, but to learn how these products can enhance a customers’ needs.  Bose products deliver enhanced performance with lasting rewards.  The wide variety of systems includes speakers, microphones, digital mixers and amplifiers, and so much more. Sound and Video Solutions also carry Panasonic, Toshiba, Samsung, Denon, Onkyo, and others.
 
This local company began with a dream to provide remarkable service and, since 2003 when it opened, has succeeded in providing that service to the community.  “Customer satisfaction, that’s what makes us successful,” says Jeff.
 
Sound and Video Solutions is located at 4357 Forsyth Road in the shopping center at Rivoli Crossing.  For more information, call (478) 474-1840.
 
 
The Speech Path
 
When Jessica Niederkorn and Kay Hancock decided to start a business in Middle Georgia, their main goal was to provide speech pathology services that were greatly needed.

Hancock had spent years living in Nashville, Tennessee and Niederkorn had spent time living in Houston, Texas.  Both made the decision to return to Middle Georgia, where they grew up, to raise their families.  “Kay and I both met, while we were working together at a hospital; we were young moms trying to figure out that balance,” explained Niederkorn.  “We both lived in bigger cities and experienced what was being offered and realized there were some things missing and services that were desperately needed.”  Providing a local business service was extremely important to The Speech Path duo.
 
So in 2005, Niederkorn and Hancock started The Speech Path.  The business has grown extensively over the past few years and currently has offices in Macon, Perry, and Cordele.  The Speech Path provides services to pediatrics and adults.
 
Specialized therapists work with stroke victims, head and neck cancer patients, people who have sustained brain injuries, voice injuries, people with eating and swallowing problems and patients who have neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease. “We can help them through the stages because it’s a process; you may go into remission for a while and not have some of those issues,” explains Hancock, “and then suddenly you may have a decline in status.” Therapists work with patients to find the right kind of strategy that will address their unique needs.  This may be figured out when utilizing F.E.E.S. (Fiber optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing).  This is a specific swallowing evaluation that “The Speech Path introduced F.E.E.S. with much popularity to Middle Georgia in long-term care facilities and E.N.T. offices,” says Niederkorn.
 
Children with language impairments, speech impairments, stuttering problems, feeding and swallowing issues and children who are autistic or have difficulty communicating their needs verbally are serviced at The Speech Path.  “We can help them acquire a communication device that is voice-generated, which is really neat,” explains Hancock.  “Feeding therapy is also offered to children who have feeding aversions, muscle weakness, feeding tubes, or other types of feeding or swallowing difficulties,” said Niederkorn.  These kids may present as healthy kids who have the same weight and height as their same-age peers.  However, they have very limited diets and are extremely picky eaters.
 
The Speech Path has about 20 Speech Pathologists.  The therapists are highly specialized in a variety of skills and offer unique services.  Other special programs include: social skills groups, book clubs, and hearing, vision, speech and language screenings.   “We do Mommy and Me book clubs,” explains Hancock.  “We can also offer all of these specialized services within daycares and preschools.”
 
For more information on The Speech Path, call (478) 477-0601 or visit www.thespeechpath.com.
 
 
Signature Salon & Spa
 
“We’re celebrating being opened one year this October,” says Nichole Mitchell, owner and founder of Signature Salon and Spa in Macon.  When Mitchell decided to start her own salon, she wanted something modern and chic, with a comfortable feel.  The result has produced an inviting atmosphere where customers can fully enjoy their service.  Signature Salon and Spa stays on top of the latest trends and styles with hair.  Later this year, Mitchell and members of her staff will be visiting the sophisticated Beverly Hills salon owned by Juan Juan.  “We are hoping to come back with some trendy looks,” says Mitchell, who also takes her staff to the yearly hair show in Orlando, Florida, where seminars, classes, and demonstrations take place.
 
The full-service salon offers a number of services for both male and female clients. Customers can choose to have color, highlights, cuts, and styling done.  Signature also offers a hair smoothing process that straightens the hair without the use of heavy chemicals.  “There’s lots of people that love it,” says Mitchell.  Perms are also offered at the salon, as well as corrective color and deep conditioning treatments for dry or damaged hair. 
 
Signature Salon and Spa offers more than hair services.  Customers can opt for manicures, pedicures, massage therapy, facials, and make-up application.  The salon focuses on encouraging customers to enjoy a holistic experience in relaxation and well-being.  Massage therapist, Melissa Hamlin, specializes in sports medicine and injury massages.  She also provides post-operative preventive care for customers.  Mitchell says massages and facials are popular services at the salon.  “People are into skin care and relaxation,” she says.  This month, Signature Salon and Spa will be providing free services at the Pampering Preview held by the Junior League of Macon.  Consultations, massage demonstrations, eyebrow waxing, and make-up are some of
the services that will be offered.
 
“Servicing clients is important,” explains Mitchell.  “The quality of products we use is great.”  Brands such as Pureology, Redken, Morroccanoil, Schwartzkopf, Bio Silk, and make-up line MiraBella are some of the products used.  Signature Salon and Spa is the only salon in Macon that carries MiraBella, which also has a mineral make-up line.  The staff also uses Redken products for hair color, along with Bio Silk and Schwartzkopf.
 
Customers are offered the opportunity to leave the salon feeling refreshed with a brand new look.  Now that fall is here, book an appointment with the professionals at Signature Salon and Spa, for an unforgettable experience! 
 
The salon is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Appointments and walk-ins are welcome.
 
Signature Salon and Spa is located at 4524 Forsyth Road in Macon.  For more information, call (478) 474-4856.
 
 
Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc., and Subsidiaries
 
 “We invest in health, auto and home insurance, why not invest in a life events legal plan?” asks Independent Associate for Pre-Paid Legal, Jackie McLear. “Do you know according to studies done statistically, we more than twice as likely to be in court, than in hospital?   Yet most of us have health insurance, but don’t have a legal plan.  Have you ever purchased a home?  Needed a contract reviewed?  Or needed a will prepared?  Those are each legal issues.  With legal fees of possibly $200 plus an hour, we can’t afford attorneys.”  However, Pre-Paid Legal has a solution to everyday problems by providing families, business owners, and employees with affordable access to quality law firms.
 
Pre-Paid Legal, a 37-year-old nationwide company, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  You can have access to attorneys and the Identity Theft Shield for less than a dollar a day.  “Whatever legal concerns you may have, you can be sure that your legal rights are protected,” explains McLear.  “Say if you take your blouse to the cleaners and it’s damaged when you pick it up, and they deny responsibility, what are you going to do about it?  You’re not going to call a $200 an hour attorney to talk about a $25 blouse.  With a Pre-Paid Legal Service Plan, you can now call your law firm.”
 
According to the Federal Trade Commission in their document “When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name” (September 2002):  “People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years – and thousands of dollars – cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit report.”  The FTC states, in the last five years, 27.3 million people have been victims of identity theft.  What if this happens to you?  A professional thief can assume your identity in just a few hours, but it can take years for you to restore your credit standing and identity.  According to the FTC, victims spend an average of $1,200 to restore their name.  Is this a chance you are willing to take? 
 
It’s no secret that identity theft is a major problem in America.  Think you’re not at risk?  Unfortunately, you are.  Do you hand your credit cards to servers at restaurants?  Do you sign your credit cards?  Do you supply personal information over the internet?  Do you leave your mail at your home or business for the postal carrier to collect?  Do you shred unwanted mail with personal information?  Thankfully, the Pre-Paid Legal Identity Theft Shield can help lessen your exposure and give you easy access to the resources you need to understand your credit ratings.  It will also help you fight back if an identity thief threatens your financial standings.  “Don’t leave your name and credit rating to chance,” says McLear.
 
For more information about Pre-Paid Legal, contact Jackie McLear at
(478) 213-4310 or visit www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/amclear.
 
 
Craig Johnson  Insurance
 
Macon native Craig Johnson has been providing insurance services to Middle Georgia for many years. His agency, which specializes in auto, home, business and life insurance, is affiliated with Nationwide Insurance, a national company that offers numerous insurance options for individuals, families, and businesses. Currently, there are three Johnson Agency offices: one in Macon, one in Warner Robins, and one in Forsyth.  “We take your calls and handle everything out of these three offices,” says Johnson.  “I think the personal service we provide is important and is much better than having calls routed through a voice-mail service.”
 
Craig Johnson and his team of professionals have more than 60 years of combined insurance experience.  Linda Robertson, who works in the Macon office, has more than 20 years experience, while Jim Boyett and Kathy Courington, bring their expertise to the Warner Robins office.  Bob Puryear, who heads the Forsyth office, has 30 years of experience and Craig Johnson has been working in insurance for 18 years.  “We have a very experienced and knowledgeable staff at each location,” says Johnson.  “We emphasize customer service from the very first time someone contacts us, whether they walk through the door or call us on the phone.”
 
Having proper insurance coverage is important for everyone.  According to The Life Insurance Direct Marketing Association, approximately 3.6 million households with dependent children do not have life insurance.  “Many customers don’t realize that if something happens to them… if their family loses that person’s income, it’s going to be very difficult to survive, much less thrive, with that loss,” says Johnson. “Funeral expenses alone are very expensive.”  Johnson adds that now is a good time to discuss your life insurance needs.
 
Johnson, who has been with Nationwide for almost a decade, says the company provides numerous options for auto insurance, as well as home and business.  Clients can opt for car insurance coverage to protect themselves and others, liability coverage, rental car reimbursement, and much more. Nationwide also offers “On Your Side” rewards, which includes accident forgiveness, diminishing deductibles, and roadside assistance.  In today’s housing market, it is equally important to have good home insurance.  Nationwide offers home insurance that protects homeowners from damage and theft.  Homeowners also can opt for additional coverage including extended replacement costs on contents and much more.
 
With so much information available about auto, home, business, and life insurance, it’s nice to know that the Johnson Agency’s experienced and friendly staff can help with your insurance needs while keeping your best interests at heart.  To review your current policies or to get a free quote, contact any of the Johnson Agency staff at the office nearest you.  Craig, Linda, Jim, Kathy, or Bob are simply one phone call away from providing you with the protection and information you need.
 
For more information, visit www.nationwide.com or call the Macon office at (478) 742-3400.
 
 
Sarah Care
 
SarahCare is an adult day care center that strives to provide services tailored to fit one’s unique needs. The center will provide nursing, administering medications, one meal a day with two snacks, a men’s club, a salon, monitoring vital signs monthly, therapy, music, and other scheduled activities.
 
“We will work very closely with the doctors and the families,” says Assistant Program Director, Petrissa Spears.  “It’s a case-by- case, because each participant is different. We want to work with their specific needs.” Spears says regardless of a participant’s medical condition, whether they need speech therapy, suffer with Alzheimer’s, or require specialized services due to a stroke or hip replacement, the center can accommodate their needs.
 
Activities such as movie days and field trips will also be a part of SarahCare’s services.  A nurse will be on duty from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily along with CNAs.  “We will be able to accept Medicaid within 6 months after opening, and work very closely with the VA,” says Spears.  “We accept insurance that has long-term care and is willing to pay for services, also.”
 
The center will be able to accommodate up to 60 participants per day, and will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The facility will be ADA-accessible with parking, bathrooms and hand rails. 
 
SarahCare already has two locations in the state of Georgia.  It began in Ohio and later branched out into other states.  The goal of the center is to provide support services to seniors and families to keep families together.  Programs are designed to encourage seniors to lead the healthy and active lifestyle of their choosing.
 
Owner and Executive Director, Celena Adams-Locke decided to pursue opening an adult day center in Warner Robins after discussing the possibility with her father. When Adams-Locke’s father passed away, she and her husband, SFC Paul Locke, who is serving in Afghanistan, continued their research and found SarahCare.  “With the baby boomers retiring and myself having my father who was not that old, but had several medical issues, I knew I didn’t want to put him in a nursing home,” explains Adams-Locke.  “I wanted a different option. So, adult day was perfect!” Adams-Locke is also a nurse, who previously worked at a rehabilitation center.  During her time at the center, she spoke with numerous families, who expressed their desire to have a place where their parents could spend the day, versus permanent placement.
 
SarahCare is currently accepting applications.  “It is a home away from home,” explains Adams-Locke.  “We are about trying to keep families together…this can keep them at home and still give the adult child ability to work and not have to worry about mom and dad during the day.” SarahCare is a place where participants can enjoy fabulous meals, meet friends, and bake cookies.
 
SarahCare is located at 1533 Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins.  For more information, call (478) 922-5811 or visit www.sarahcare.com.
 
 
Georgia Environmental Group
 
Casey Bullington has over 6 years of experience in the demolition industry and loves every aspect of his job.  “I been tearing things up since I was a kid,” says Bullington, who is the owner and founder of Georgia Environmental Group.  Before working in the demolition services industry,  he worked with his parents at Bullington Lift Trucks Inc., a business his family has owned and operated since 1969.  While attending high school and a few years after graduation, Bullington worked in the sales and service departments.
 
Bullington started Georgia Environmental Group and began offering services to the community at the end of 2007.  Since then, the business has continued to grow. Bullington made the decision to start his own company, in order to offer environmentally friendly demolition services in the state of Georgia.
Providing environmentally friendly demolition
 
services is important to the environment and one the company takes very seriously.  “Our goal is to consistently meet or exceed our client’s expectations and to provide the highest level of service and satisfaction through our commitment, quality, and excellence,” explains Bullington.
 
Georgia Environmental Group specializes in all aspects of demolition for all types of commercial and residential structures. Demolition services extend to both exterior and interior projects.  Other services include dismantling, land and lot clearing, debris removal, and hauling and disposal.
 
“We work with different companies around town on several projects,” explains Bullington.  Currently, Georgia Environmental Group has a partnership with Allegiance Realty and is working on the SunTrust Bank Building.  The project involves selective demolition such as removing interior walls, carpet, ceilings, and bathrooms.  The company has completed several projects in the last few years providing selective demolition services to Northeast High School, YKK, and Georgia Public Broadcasting facilities, among others.
 
Georgia Environmental Company also provides a full line of erosion control services, including grading, seeding and strawing, silt fence installation, and installation of single- sided straw matting.  “One of the most recent erosion projects we did, was we graded, seeded, and strawed numerous lots at the Highlands subdivision, off Montford Road in North Macon,” says Bullington.
Today, Bullington is excited to be providing demolition services, and says supporting the Middle Georgia community is important.  “I live in Macon and help provide jobs within the community, which is really important in these economic times,” says Bullington.
 
Georgia Environmental Group assures customers zero accidents and zero safety violations are part of the company’s policy. The company is a member of the National Demolition Association and attends all safety conferences and summits available through the association.
 
Bullington also owns and operates Cascade Investments LLC., which provides local housing investment opportunities.
 
For more information on Georgia Environmental Group, call (478) 257-6812
or visit www.gaenvironmentalgroup.com.  For information on Cascade Investments,  call (478) 954-4660.