Wikipedia defines an entrepreneur as an individual who builds capital through risk and/or initiative. This includes launching new business ventures and accepting responsibility for the outcome. It's a definition that fits Alan and Cindy Akins of Suwanee very well. The couple has been innovating for over 20 years to keep their local business running.   Their journey started in 1980. Alan began work in the printing industry doing estimating and pricing. Soon after, he finished with a degree in physics from Georgia State University and married Cindy, who held a degree in Accounting.  After …

Jeff Covert joined the Marine Corps in December 1982 and served 22 years before retiring. To say he is well traveled is an understatement by any account. During his years of service, Covert spent time in 32 different countries.  Now he’s helping others to travel as a cruise consultant with Expedia  CruiseShipCenters.When Covert, a Suwanee resident, retired from the Marines, he wanted to continue traveling because it was something he enjoyed. He also went back to school and worked on a Bachelor of Information Technology and a Masters of Business Administration. While he was taking a marketing …

Nancy Wallace of Suwanee, owner of Wallace Gardens, is living testament to entrepreneurial persistence and using digital media to connect with customers. Many business owners are challenged to determine how social media can positively impact their business. They struggle with questions about the return on investment for social media and how to connect with customers to generate sales. Wallace has made the connection linking technology to business. She is reaching customers on multiple social platforms using vivid imagery to show her work in gardening and horticulture. What makes the story …

The Facebook page reads, “Pursue your spouse with passion!” For Stan and Patty Stokes of Suwanee, that tag line exemplifies their own marriage, and it describes a lifelong process they hope to inspire in other couples. The Stokes couple operate a nonprofit ministry named PassionateSpouse through which they provide teaching, mentoring, couples conferences, and the annual Marriage Prom event.  “Marriage mentoring is another couple coming beside you and telling you how they got through tough situations. It's not about knowing all the answers, but being able to share experiences and provide …

Giving massages may not be your ideal job, but for Karen Krotz of Suwanee, it has become a way of life. Massage therapy has always been known to help people relax and unwind from stress. But the benefits cover more areas than many people know, and massage is now considered by many as a component of an overall wellness program.Krotz will tell you that massages help with a variety of health conditions including: Stress (number one reason for massages) Anxiety Low back pain Headaches and migraines Carpal tunnel pain General muscle aches Shoulder pain Arthritis Tendinitis On her website, Krotz …

Many people are, or will be soon, making age-related decisions for themselves or an aging family member. Outside of health concerns, housing is often the most challenging consideration.  John Hoppa, Jason Roberts, and Lee Rider are three Gwinnett County residents who recently started a HandyPro franchise that specializes in home modifications for seniors, and serves Suwanee. Roberts and Rider are also residential real-estate appraisers. Accessibility and safety issues can quickly become a concern for those who are ill or disabled. Many seniors may feel that home modifications are too …

Cleaning houses may seem like a dirty business. But for Scott and Cyndi Auer of Suwanee, it has become a life mission. The Auers opened a Molly Maid franchise in July 2010 covering Suwanee and surrounding areas. The business is off to a great start as evidenced by their recent recognition at the Molly Maid annual convention. They received the prestigious Rookie All Stars award for outstanding performance in the first year of business operation. Meeting the Auers is like meeting a bundle of energy and passion wrapped with a pink bow. The color pink is used distinctively in the company branding…

How fun would it be to turn something you love and are passionate about into a second career? Jeff Nalley is one Suwanee entrepreneur that did just that. Nalley is the owner of Suwanee Creek Bicycles, located on Buford Highway across from the Suwanee Creek Greenway trail-head. It is a full service bicycle shop that includes sales and repairs. If you visit, chances are you’ll find Nalley servicing a bike or helping a customer find the right equipment. Nalley says the shop provides repair and assembly on any brand of bicycle and sells five different bike lines, including Scott and Fuji brands. …

Creating art has always been about self-expression, passion, and feeling. But for most people, creating art is intimidating and it is not something they're likely to try on their own. With this in mind, Krista Goodrich created Masterpiece Mixers. It's a paint and party studio that helps participants capture a little of their own passion as they create a piece of art. Located in Suwanee Town Center across from City Hall, Masterpiece Mixers has the tagline “It's fun art, not fine art!” There is something here for aspiring artists, seasoned artists, or those just looking to get away from the …

(Author's note: Describing a trampoline park in print and even photographs is a difficult task. There is a accompanying video to this article that provides a tour of the park. I encourage you to watch the video to gain a better understanding of the experience.) Jumping on a trampoline is a special event in childhood. It's one you don't forget. If your childhood was fortunate enough to include a trampoline or you were able to use one in the neighborhood, you know the feeling. It was a BIG deal to jump. Jeff Cole has brought the dream of trampoline jumping to Suwanee and his version is pretty …

  We don't typically think of operating vending machines as a high tech business. But Todd and Seden Harrison, owners of The Smart Source Vending Company, have found that electronic monitoring devices attached to vending machines allow them to focus on better customer service and operating efficiency. It has becoming a winning combination for the entrepreneurs as they grow a client list that already includes Collins Hill (Suwanee) and Lanier (Sugar Hill) high schools. The Harrisons use remote monitoring on vending machines to gather intra-day data on sales and inventory. Each machine reports …

Marco's Pizza, across from Suwanee Town Center, opened just two days before the 2011 Taste of Suwanee event. It's a good thing for Suwanee, as the Pizzeria won third place in the taste contest. Owner Dharmesh (DJ) Patel is not new to the pizza business. He spent 23 years with Pizza Hut before moving his career to the Marco's Pizza brand. DJ is business partners with ViPul Patel (no relation) and they are the company's assigned area developers for the Atlanta area. The Suwanee Town Center location is their third store in Suwanee. The other two are off Old Peachtree and Mathis Airport Road. DJ …

Picking a gift for a friend or family member to celebrate a special occasion can be difficult. We've all been there. What do you buy your mom on her birthday, or what should you give your spouse on your anniversary? You want the gift to be special but just can't think of the right one. Becky Vickery and her mother, Margie Wood, created La Ti Da for this very purpose. The gift shop is in the heart of Suwanee just across from Town Center on Buford Highway. The brand tagline is “Celebrating life's special occasions” and the store contents are set up to help customers do just that. Vickery and …

Suwanee Academy of the Arts is located in the heart of Suwanee. Owners Bernie Davis and Patty Etherton wouldn't have it any other way. The academy is their heart-gift to the city and community, and the two entrepreneurs continue to give back to the community with their life work. The arts are in their soul; it's truly a work of passion for them. Etherton discovered her love of music as a child. She sang her first solo before an audience in middle school and went on to major in music education in college. Davis discovered dance with childhood dreams to be a ballerina. Her parents enrolled her …

The 2011-12 American Pet Products Association (APPA) national pet owners survey reports that 62% of U.S. households own a pet. That's about 73 million homes. The APPA also expects consumer pet industry spending to surpass $50 billion in 2011 despite the economic conditions affecting other industries. At the heart of all these big numbers are service providers like Brianna Brown, founder and owner of Spoiled Paws of Suwanee. She serves pet owners on an individual basis to help them provide a warm home for their pets.  Spoiled Paws is a full-service, in-home pet-sitting business. Many pet …

Mike and Vivian Hernandez are joined together by more than marriage; they're business partners in a growing business that now includes five McDonald's franchises. To have a conversation with them is to know them. They're warm, inviting, and down-to-earth people who have a unique story that anyone would admire.  Their connections to Suwanee and Duluth are as owner-operators of familiar locations: Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and McGinnis Ferry Road in Suwanee; Old Peachtree and Buford Highway in Duluth; Peachtree Industrial and Pleasant Hill in Duluth; Hwy 120 at I-85 in Duluth; and …

Carol Guest of Carol Guest Interiors provides services to help homeowners who want to give their existing spaces a new look. That's a popular choice for many homeowners when houses are tough to sell. Despite low mortgage rates, sales of existing homes remain at a low level. According to Realtor.org, existing home sales were 8.8% lower in June 2011 compared to June 2010. Yet to best understand and appreciate the service offering from Carol Guest Interiors, one needs to view the entire breadth of the service offering. It's not just another interior design firm. The services also include a …

Robin Burns' inspiration to start her own business came from a friend's experience with a house purchase. Her friend purchased a furnished house because the selling owner didn't want to take the furniture to her new home. Burns reasoned that there were many other homeowners that would sell their furniture if they had a proper outlet. Turns out, her judgement was sound. For the past four years, Burns has owned and operated The Perfect Piece. It's a furniture consignment shop located off Peachtree Industrial between the Moore Road and McGinnis Ferry intersections.Burns sells mid- to high-end …

A traditional coffee shop it is not. You can still get a great cup of coffee there, and find a comfortable setting for a meet-up or Internet browsing. But Caffenergy offers much more than coffee and an experience. It is a new concept for liquid energy drinks that President and Owner Ron Sciortino believes will benefit people looking for healthy alternatives. Sciortino created Caffenergy to sell espressos, juices and smoothies. The juices and smoothies are enhanced by a hydraulic pressing method to get the fruit juice. It’s a formula that encompasses all-natural organic products that are rich …

Nik Makarenko, of Groth and Makarenko Attorneys at Law, didn’t originally think about pursuing an entrepreneurial path with his career. But he definitely considers himself one now, after launching a law practice with Paul Groth in July 2007.Groth and Makarenko specialize in civil litigation but spend the majority of their time working insurance defense.  In this type of law, insurance companies hire defense attorneys to represent a client of the insurance company that is sued. The defense attorneys will represent the insured in areas such as medical, personal injury, liability, and damages. …