In our community, in and around Aimee’s hometown of Snellville, her story hardly needs retelling. A beautiful young woman spends a spring day outdoors with her friends near Carrollton and cuts her leg in a fall from a zip line. Serious, to be sure, requiring 22 staples to close the wound, but seemingly manageable – especially from Aimee’s vantage point.

Fiercely independent, the University of West Georgia (UWG) graduate student tells her parents, “Don’t come get me.” Days later, necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria) begins to take hold. “I think I’m dying,” she tells the friend driving her to the ER.

Horrifyingly, she is right. In the days and weeks that follow, as doctors fight to save first her leg and then her life, Aimee goes into cardiac arrest twice. Her parents, Andy and Donna, and sister, Paige, pray for her life and ultimately, are told that a series of amputations is virtually the only chance she has. First, she loses her left leg, hip high, and then her other foot, below the knee, and both hands, below the elbows. We are told and begin to understand in some small measure that Aimee’s story is not just about a medical miracle, but is instead about unfathomable faith and courage, the sustaining nature of family love, and about a purpose-filled life that will not be denied.

Gwinnett Magazine’s Family of the Year
Gwinnett Magazine readers and editors annually select a Man and Woman of the Year, honoring individuals who both contribute and captivate, enabling us to share their stories.
This year, no one was on our hearts more than Aimee, her story initially brought to light by Andy’s blogs – heartfelt updates from a father leading his family through an inexplicable tragedy. Or so we thought, because the more we learned about Aimee, and Andy, Donna and Paige, the more we realized that the story they wished to tell was much more about triumph than heartbreak. So this year, we extend our honor to Family of the Year and continue our community’s conversation with the Copelands.

While Aimee and Andy, a financial planner, have been the focus of most of the media coverage, this is a tight-knit family of four. Donna works at Snellville Middle School, supporting the sixth grade special education team, and Paige, 25, is a restaurant manager in Gwinnett.

Conversation and communication are at the heart of this family. We’re talkers and we can be loud, admits Andy. The best times, say Donna, is having both her girls with her in the kitchen, at home or at their lake house in South Carolina. They love to cook and Aimee’s latest accomplishment is making a batch of Betty Crocker brownies by herself, with her initial prosthetic hooks in place. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I broke a sweat,” she says.

We met with Aimee, Donna and Andy at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center, known for serving patients with spinal cord and brain injuries, after six weeks of rehabilitation and treatment. “I have lots in common with spinal cord injury patients,” explains Aimee. “They can’t use their limbs and I don’t have any.”

Home was very much on all of their minds during our visit and was a just-days-away destination for Aimee. Home now includes Aimee’s Wing, a 1,956 square foot addition completely adapted for Aimee’s needs, donated and built by Pulte Homes, with major help from Home Depot and other local vendors. From all accounts, Aimee’s Wing defines the phrase ‘labor of love,’ and the Copelands are both overwhelmed and humbled by the gift. “People have just loved on us,” says Donna.

The design and all the features of the new addition were a surprise for Aimee upon her homecoming, although she had early input and provided her style and color preferences.
Now, home is not only a completely accessible refuge, but also a retreat for this family to live together for the first time in many years. “I haven’t lived at home in six years,” recalls Aimee. “Paige promised she’d drive whenever we need to break away.”

Finding Healing Outdoors
As inviting as Aimee’s Wing is, it will always be the outdoors that lures Aimee. Nature is where she finds comfort, healing and, as was always her plan, her career. Aimee earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in psychology and is now completing her master’s degree in humanistic psychology with a focus on eco-psychology at UWG. Translation, please?

“It’s a way of looking at how human psychology is embedded in nature. How we are inherently connected to the earth… how we are a part of the world… a facet of the earth. That’s the theory,” explains Aimee. “Practically speaking, eco-psychology is known as wilderness therapy. It’s using nature as a healer — for psychological, mental and emotional wellbeing.”

She practices what she someday plans to teach. “Every second that I get, I’m out of these doors. At first, it was just the secret garden here, but as I’ve been able to get out more and leave the hospital, I’ve been able to go to local parks.”

“My goal is to really get out, go camping, eventually go kayaking, and eventually go hiking. I met with the outdoors specialist here (at Shepherd) and looked at some of the adaptive equipment that I can get. They actually have kayaking hands. I’ve already transferred out of my wheelchair into a kayak and then back into the wheelchair,” she adds.

Aimee plans to finish her master’s thesis next May, and it will likely be a guidepost for her – if not an actual business plan. “Before this happened, I wanted to write my thesis on wilderness therapy. And my professors kept saying that I needed to narrow it. ‘What’s your population?’ I’d say I’d like to work with youth. ‘Not narrow enough. You’re going to end up with a 1,500-page thesis.’ So when this happened, it was obvious – wilderness therapy for amputees.”

One drawback with the topic though. “It’s so narrow, in fact, that we all just keep finding the same one article.”

Aimee is rather resolute about her timeline. After all, she needs to finish the first master’s in time to start the second one in August 2013. The additional degree will be a master’s in social work necessary to earn the credential of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), required for a counseling practice… and more.

“Then, I can start my wilderness therapy practice, which is my ultimate goal. I want to create an environment that’s safe for people with disabilities to go out into the wilderness. Often, when you have an injury, there’s a lot of emotional turmoil that comes with a traumatic experience. I think that nature is a great place for people to heal, rather than inside some sterile hospital. My idea is to create a space where people with disabilities are safe in the wilderness. I’d like to buy some land… where we can create paths and trails of different levels. One for people in wheelchairs, another for those with some other type of adaptive device, another for those using walkers. They’d be different lengths with campsites every few miles, so we can go out for longer times,” she plans.

A World for People with Fingers
There’s no doubt that Aimee has made remarkable progress adapting to her “new normal” in a very short time. When we visited, she was feeding herself — sans hooks, she says it’s easier that way — and enjoying the gift of Amy’s Kitchen organic meals sent by the founder herself, who learned that this nature-lover favors organic. She put on her own make-up (totally unnecessary), but “pulling my hair back is pretty much impossible.”

“Turns out,” she says, “the simple things in life really aren’t all that simple. The world is created by and for people who have fingers and can use them.” The hardest thing to do with her prosthetics is brushing her teeth. One false move and it’s a “toothpaste tornado.”

She considers herself “in the best shape of my life,” due to a very rigorous physical therapy regime. “My PT says I have Rock Star abs!” Credit 250 crunches in seven minutes for that. Fitting on her prosthetics continues, testing sockets on a foot and on her hooks. “We’re still doing some fittings, but we’re getting really close. I’ll be getting a whole new set of arms.”

The world of prosthetics, adaptive devices, self engineered help gadgets, and even iPad and iPhone apps that can help her with daily life occupy her mind and energy. “My mind goes a mile a minute. I want to see what I haven’t thought of in terms of what I need to adapt,” and she pauses, “but no…I’m pretty sure I’ve thought of everything.”

Emphasizing Independence
Not surprisingly to her parents, family and friends, Aimee’s desire to be independent hasn’t waned since the accident. It’s a value her team at the Shepherd Center fosters, and one that her parents struggle a bit to accept.

When Aimee was preparing to go out for the first time in public, Andy was more than a little nervous. “Her doctors even told me… man, you’ve got to calm down.” He was also chided a bit by his daughter: “Dad, you’ve got to let me live.”

Lesson learned, he says. “Experience has taught us that Aimee is usually right.”
At Shepherd, Aimee says, if you ask them to do something, you have to ask two or three times. “They emphasize independence. They want you to try on your own.”

“But, as a momma,” says Donna, “it’s hard to do. Aimee gets mad at me all the time.”
“I do tell them — you have to back away and let me try to take care of myself. I need to do it on my own. What about the day when you’re not here? What am I going to do then? Every day when I try really hard to do these things, I’m closer to overcoming these struggles,” counters Aimee.

The distinction between being a disabled person versus a person with a disability is a vital one. “The word handicapped is a label… having a disability is a fact. My daughter is a human being who can overcome disabilities,” says Andy.

“And a human being who may have extra abilities that others don’t have,” says Aimee. “I say I am handi-able or handi-capable. (Love that, says Dad!) I may not have hands, I may not have feet, but I think I have a lot. I have a very powerful brain. I would never call myself handicapped, because that implies I have issues where I can’t function. I can do anything you can do… and probably more.”

“Didn’t we tell her that as a child?” Andy asks Donna. Turning to Aimee, he asks, “What was the one thing that we always told ya’ll?” “Can’t never could,” all three recite in unison, laughing.

‘Blessed to Have This Opportunity’
As arresting as Aimee’s positive attitude is, she makes another statement that will likely surprise. “I feel blessed that I’ve been given an opportunity that most people don’t get,” she believes.

“I’m blessed to have this opportunity to have a change of perspective. Most people live their whole lives on one street. If you never leave that street, you never really know what any of the other streets look like and you never really understand the people who live on the other streets. So having this experience has given me a perspective from the other side. Not only do I understand what it’s like to have all your limbs, but I can also empathize with people who have a disability.”

“This is me now. I’ve accepted it really well. It’s surprising, even to myself,” says Aimee. “You would think that something like this would just destroy your life, and I feel like my life has just been so enhanced.”

To have a hope of understanding her belief, you must understand the depth of her faith – and that of her family. “Nothing about this is me. I thank God, my parents and my friends. This is a huge God thing. I’ve been so supported. I think if I had been in a different situation, with no belief in a higher power, no belief in something larger than me, I might have curled up and died. But in my position, because I do see the beauty in the world, I do see this spiritual side of the world, I do see so much love in the world — it wouldn’t be possible to do that.”

“Everything about this felt God-led,” echoes Andy. “People were put in our path when we needed them. We are still overwhelmed by how much the community has done for us. That doesn’t just happen by coincidence. We felt like we were living in a prayer bubble.”
That bubble that started very small, but grew exponentially. In the early days, I just asked my Facebook friends to pray, says Andy. “And I had about 90 friends.” (That draws an eye-roll from Aimee.) But then the word spread and people starting “friending” him. “If you’re praying for my daughter, you’re my friend.” His page had about 3,000 friends a month ago; there’s no time to check it now.

‘I Pray for Wisdom’
If some of life’s daily to-do’s have been overlooked as the Copelands care for Aimee, prepare to bring their daughter home and transition to life on this “new street,” continued prayer is never forgotten.

“I pray that she’ll have wisdom,” says Andy. “That she’ll be attentive to God’s leadership in her life. I pray for guidance. I pray that God will continue to heal her. That God will protect her. I pray for her friends to understand her needs… I pray for her to have discernment in her life. I pray she’ll be able to remove the obstacles in her way so that she’ll have a life that produces fruit.“

And from Aimee: “I pray for wisdom especially, and I pray for others. I see so many others who need our prayers, but you don’t hear about them. My peers here (at Shepherd)… I’m close to all these people, and I pray for them constantly.”

The role of the healthcare professionals who’ve treated her, in Carrollton, in Augusta and at Shepherd is never far from Aimee’s mind and they are never without her gratitude. Her peers on the fourth floor with her at Shepherd hold a special place. “I learned so much from my peers here…about life and love and overcoming challenges. I’ve seen people who came in here who couldn’t move anything, and they’re up walking.”

As Andy can now testify, “Life is about a lot more than just our physical condition. That can change. It’s spiritual, emotional and psychological things that make us who we are.”

“My friends tell me that I’m exactly the same person,” says Aimee. “I totally agree with that. This is just an outer shell.”

“I still feel like a whole person. It’s not my body that makes me whole. It’s my spirit. It’s my practice. It’s prayer and meditation and love. That’s what makes me whole.”

The People to Know issue is a yearly snapshot highlighting many incredible business, civic and community leaders who make Gwinnett a wonderful place to live, work and play. With each edition, we are increasingly impressed by the caliber of those we already know and the new people we meet.

Get to know the following interesting individuals that make Gwinnett great!

Justin Abernathy
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP

Burke Allen, Ben Ortlip, Jeff Gray and Ken Colemen
NovoLogic

Laurie Attaway
Aqua Terra Bistro

Beauty Baldwin
Hopewell Christian Academy

Sharon Bartels
Gwinnett Technical College

Alan Bier, MD, FCCP, CPE
Gwinnett Medical Center – Lawrenceville

Kevin Blair, DDS, MAGD, ABGD
Princeton Dental

John and Maria-Elena Bové
ABove Physical Therapy

Shawn Bratton
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP

Cathie Brazell
Gwinnett Medical Center – Lawrenceville

Dannella Burnett
Oakwood Occasions

Stacy Carter and Steve Scott
Carter Land Surveyors & Planners

Frank M. Circelli, G.G.
Gem Shopping Network

Mayor Johnny Crist
City of Lilburn

Grace Seoyoung Cruz
Gwinnett Medical Center – Duluth

Alissa L. Cummo
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP

Wendell Dallas
Gwinnett Technical College, Board Chair
Atlanta Gas Light & Chattanooga Gas

Judy Young Doering
Parc at Duluth 


Jennifer Dunn
Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year,
Pharr Elementary School

Mary Ellen Fulkus
Keep Georgia Safe

David and Kelly Greer
Tillman Allen Greer

Joseph Gunther IV
Gunther Volkswagen Mall of Georgia  

David Gussio
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP

Lori Hackney
Gwinnett County Voter Registration and Elections

Derek Hays
Gary Martin Hays and Associates

Gary Martin Hays
Gary Martin Hays and Associates

Timothy S. Helton, DMD
Princeton Dental

Kellie Henson
Gary Martin Hays and Associates

Briauna Howard
Gwinnett Technical College 2012 GOAL winner

Sid Howard
Parc at Duluth

Demetrius Jordan
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta – Gwinnett County

Jay and Kimberly Kalke
Kaltech International Corporation

Cynthia Kaye
Logical Choice Technologies

Christine Koehler
Koehler and Riddick, LLC

Durance Lowendick
Lowendick Law Office  

Austen Mabe
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP

Lisa Macy and Jennifer Baxter
Coldwell Banker RMR

Jim Maran
Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce

William Martin, MD
Hope Clinic

Craig McCoy
Emory Johns Creek Hospital

J. Michael McGarity
The McGarity Group

Maria Mendillo
FarraTech

Jason Mosteller
Gary Martin Hays and Associates

Kari Neal
Buford City Schools Teacher of the Year, Buford Elementary

Marla Peoples and Jennifer Sewell
Bella Fiore Salon

Donny Phillips
Atlanta Flooring Design Center

Kim Phillips
Gwinnett Children’s Shelter

Diana Potts
Gwinnett Medical Center – Duluth

Rod Reilly
Reilly Arts and Letters, Inc.


Jan Robbs
Parc at Duluth 


Michelle Rothmeier
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP

Spencer Rozin, MD
Rozin Internal Medicine

Holly Sanders
Gwinnett Technical College 2012 Rick Perkins Award Winner

Stephen A. Schulte, CP, LP, FAAOP
ProCare Prosthetic Care, Inc.

President David Seago and Board Members Kelly Herndon, Fran Forehand, Lanier Levett, Warren McClellan and Aaron Lupuloff
Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund

Al Simon and Brandy Swanson
Simon, Inc.     

Andrew D. Stancil
Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP

Rick Strawn
Paradigm Security Services, Inc.   

Jennifer Thilo
Delmar Gardens

Henderson Vanderpool
Buford Sports and Fitness


Chuck Warbington
Gwinnett Village CID

Margaret Gettle Washburn
Margaret Gettle Washburn P.C. Attorney at Law

Michelle Watkins
Gwinnett Children’s Shelter

BB Webb
Carl House

Jonathan and Brittney Maloney are Finding Their Missing Peace

It’s easy to think Jonathan and Brittney Maloney were meant for each other from day one. They met during their Dacula High School days, where from afar Jonathan always had a crush on Brittney Jackson. “I remember seeing her for the first time and thinking, that’s my soulmate. I thought she was the prettiest girl in our entire high school,” he recalls.

After being introduced by a mutual friend, they both got to know each other throughout high school and built a friendship that later blossomed into a romantic relationship in college. Jonathan proposed to Brittney on a fall evening in October 2008, and the couple was married the following year in November.

A shared desire to start a family was apparent to them early, and a few months into their marriage they began to try for a child. “We tried for two years, even going as far as exploring fertility options to help us conceive,” Brittney says.

After their attempts to conceive were unsuccessful, the couple struggled to find their missing peace. Eventually, the possibility of adoption took root. “Jonathan and I had already shared with each other about our passion for adoption, but the plan had always been to try for a biological child first. But, after the first year of trying, I felt like my heart was already on adoption. I knew I wanted to provide a home for a child that needed one,” she says.

“With much deliberation, discussion and prayer, on January 1, 2012, we decided we were going to adopt – putting the fertility treatments and stress behind us and focusing solely on adoption,” Jonathan says. ìIt definitely took a leap of faith.î

As Jonathan and Brittney began exploring adoption, they both felt they were being called to one particular part of the world – Africa. “When I was researching adoption, I was always drawn to blogs about people adopting children from Africa,” says Brittney. Their empathy and compassion for Africa grew when they discovered Ethiopia’s adoption requirements fit them perfectly. “We like to say Ethiopia chose us,” Jonathan says. The Maloneys decided they wanted to bring home an Ethiopian baby, and with their two weenie dogs, Noah and Eisley, the couple officially began their two-year adoption journey.

After finding an agency that offered an Ethiopian adoption program, for the first six months of 2012 Jonathan and Brittney were charged with completing a large packet of documents called a dossier. This included medical exams, home study findings, background checks, and financial information. Once they mailed their completed packet off in May, it became a waiting game. “We got placed on a waiting list for a baby boy or girl. A couple of children get referred to the agency each month, and eventually we’ll be the first in line to receive a referral,” she says.

When adopting, it can take years before the adoptive parents are able to take a new son or daughter home. With all this building anticipation about becoming parents, how is the couple keeping their cool during their long wait?

“As a child, you look forward to Christmas – the day that you’re so thrilled about, you just cannot wait. Sometimes, we have to not think about our adoption because we’re so excited and we don’t want to drive ourselves nuts. At the end of the day, the time could change to receive our child,” Jonathan explains. “We try not to get caught up in how long it’s going to take,” Brittney says.

To help them cope, the couple goes to an adoption support group every month with people who have experienced, or are currently going through, the adoption process. “It’s really exciting to meet families who have adopted and have children from Ethiopia. We feel that connection with them that we don’t always get to feel. It’s amazing to hear their adoption stories and get their advice on parenting,” says Jonathan.

Brittney’s enthusiasm to be a mom has also kept her strong during this time. “Once we have our child home, I’ll be able to be a mom, and we can start to focus on our own little family,” she exclaims. Jonathan believes his wife is going to be an amazing mom. “She’s naturally motherly. She always puts other people before herself and wants to take care of everyone she loves.”

As a couple, they have begun to learn more about the Ethiopian culture together. “We want our child to know that we respect and love where he or she came from. We don’t want it to be taboo. We want our child to know we took the time to learn about their culture because we respect his or her birthplace,” says Jonathan. It’s important for the Maloneys to integrate their little one’s culture into their lives, not just for themselves, but also for their future baby boy or girl.

“We’ve been so eager to learn more about Ethiopia since we first made the decision to adopt. We have so much respect and appreciation for the people and culture,” says Brittney.

The couple decided to embrace the culture by trying Ethiopian cuisine. The Maloneys recently visited an Atlanta Ethiopian restaurant. Brittney explains their first-time experience. “It truly felt amazing to be in an environment that reminded us of our future child. It made everything we’ve been through seem worth it. Literally within seconds of being there, we were both fighting back tears. The people, food, music, and accents all made the experience special.”

To complement the Maloneys love of reading, they have bought a children’s book during every big milestone in their adoption journey. Jonathan and Brittney hope to incorporate these books into the nursery, and to someday be able to share their adoption story with their son or daughter.

Brittney also has revealed their story on the couple’s blog, OurMissingPeace.com, chronicling the ups and downs, the triumphs and joys, for others who are looking to adopt. The couple also uses the blog to help raise money to pay for the adoption. With the cost of adopting reaching up to $40,000, adoptive parents often are faced with initial costs that can seem challenging.

The couple has dreamed up some other interesting ways to raise money for their adoption, including a T-shirt that’s sold on their site with most of the money going directly to the adoption process. Brittney Maloney explains the concept behind their ‘Do For One’
T-Shirt campaign. “We’ve all heard how important it is to do for one even when you can’t do for all. There are 147 million orphans worldwide and if everyone chose to do for one, what a difference it would make! Doing For One is different for everyone. For us, it has evolved into adopting a baby from Ethiopia. This is where we pulled the inspiration for the T-shirt design in hopes that it would inspire you to Do For One by supporting our adoption.”

In the end, it’s all about the day they get to bring their baby home, and the excitement for that moment trumps any of the challenges the couple may face. “You could find millions of reasons why you shouldn’t adopt but there’s one amazing reason to adopt – a child that needs a family to call its own. It’s a big decision, but at the end of the day, it’s completely worth everything,” Jonathan says.

The couple asks that you keep them, their future child, his or her birth parents, and all the orphans who deserve a family in your thoughts and prayers.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

On August 25 at the Gwinnett Place Marriott, United Way Women’s Leadership Council honored four extraordinary women in the Gwinnett community for their work in realizing the changes they want to see. The recipients of the 9th Annual United Way Legacy Awards are Davida Baker for time; Connie Wiggins for talent; Karen Fine Saltiel for treasure; and Ethel Andersen for legacy. These women devoted their time, their talent, and shared their treasures through their leadership, fundraising, and advocacy for the needy.

Ethel Andersen – Legacy
Ethel Andersen has helped launch some of Gwinnett County’s best-known community organizations. Ethel is a “quiet leader” who never seeks public recognition but encourages others from the background, allowing them to be the faces of her causes. Ethel is a former state assistant attorney general and administrative law judge. In the past, she has used these credentials to serve as volunteer coordinator for the Gwinnett Board Association’s Truancy Prevention Project. In addition, as an estate planner, she routinely encourages her clients to consider philanthropy as a means of leaving their own legacy.

Connie Wiggins – Talent
Connie Wiggins, executive director of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, has played an important role in the beautification of Gwinnett County by making the county a national innovator in recycling and litter prevention. Connie hopes to instill a respect for the environment in Gwinnett’s next generation of leaders by teaching thousands of children, educators, and parents the importance of environmental stewardship. In addition to working for a sales tax campaign that funded road improvement and implemented green space in Gwinnett, Connie has played a major role in bringing Georgia Gwinnett College to the county.

Karen Fine Saltiel – Treasure
Karen is a respected leading advocate for non-profit funding in Gwinnett County.
Described as a woman of “great intelligence, humor, and compassion,” she funnels her experience in finance, human resources, and law into helping others by serving on a number of non-profit organizations. As chairman and president of The Primerica
Foundation, Karen has overseen the awarding of more than $600,000 to 26 nonprofit agencies, most of which are in Gwinnett County. Though Karen’s personal generosity is substantial, she prefers to give anonymously to causes that will make a brighter community future.

Davida Baker – Time
Davida Baker works tirelessly to effect the change she wants to see, starting with Gwinnett County. Her love for children in particular has greatly benefited some of Gwinnett County’s youngest citizens. Davida’s passion took shape several years ago when, with her church’s support, she developed Project Kids Eat, a program that addresses one of the most basic of human needs—nutritious meals. Every weekday during June, July and August, Davida works with the Campus Church of Christ in
Norcross to deliver breakfast, lunch, and dinner to children living in extended-stay motels.

Both Founder and Chairman, Circelli is credited for being a pioneer of selling colored gemstones on television. “Gemstones with Frank” was the first and original gemstone show on an honest shopping channel, which educated the public on the world of gemology. “It’s important for me to showcase rare and exclusive gemstones and unique jewelry pieces not typically available from your local jeweler,” says Circelli.

The foundation of the Gem Shopping Network is based on a brand promise of education, integrity and honesty. Reaching close to 40 million households nationwide, each televised program is geared to entertain while educating viewers. Gem Shopping Network’s on-air hosts use their knowledge to guide customers in learning the history and unique qualities of the featured jewelry. The in-house master gemstone cutters and jewelry manufacturing artisans craft world-class, custom masterpieces. “The Chairman is a firm believer in education and was a very early adopter of the television medium to reach an audience that appreciates beautiful gemstones and jewelry,” says CEO PJ Lynch.

“We want to stay an honest and humble company. My employees say they’re my biggest fans, but I couldn’t be prouder of our staff – I’m truly their biggest fan,” said Circelli.
Circelli also supports the continuing education of his employees, teaching many of them personally. Quality Control Specialist Lori Goodrich, G.G., one of the first company employees, credits the Chairman for helping her develop professionally. “I utilize the Chairman’s teachings in everything I do as well as when I educate others on gemstones. He’s the best teacher a person could ever want.”

Vice President of Gemological and Jewelry Division Claude Markarian, G.G. echoes Goodrich’s sentiments, “The way we do our job is the way we were taught with trust, honesty and integrity – making sure every customer receives the best product we can offer at the best deal.” The company continues to invest in employee education including graduate gemologist certifications in their Gemology & Jewelry Division and colored gemstone courses across a large portion of the company including their television hosts, sales representatives and customer service specialists.

Gem Shopping Network sells quality items, typically having just one of each. The network purchases, creates and sells fine jewelry made of 14 karat to 22 karat gold, accent diamonds and colored gemstones. They source their gems from across the globe, including Africa, the Far East, South America, Australia and the United States. “We’re proud to say that we sell, inspect and ship all our merchandise from one location as well as provide on-air customer service to guarantee satisfactory purchases,” says Circelli.

With the business boasting incredible success, Circelli with his wife, the recently appointed state court judge Emily Brantley Circelli, have shifted their focus to support a wide range of local and national charities. Among these are Rainbow Village, the Salvation Army, Hi Hope Village, Peachtree Christian Hospice, Living Water for Girls, United Way, SPCA and many more. “Charitable giving is a passion Emily and I hold dear,” Circelli says.

Today with appointed CEO PJ Lynch at the helm for his second year, the company is looking to continue last year’s phenomenal success and expand their reach. “We look to continue to broaden our client base to a wider audience, using alternate distribution including social media, applications, and streaming,” says Lynch.

View the Gem Shopping Network on DirecTV, Dish Network, Charter, Comcast, Time Warner, via live streaming online or on a smartphone at gemshopping.com.

Justin Abernathy

For Justin Abernathy, real estate is the family business. “My father develops real estate.  I have always admired him and his work.” Because of this admiration, Abernathy’s first job out of law school was not with a law firm, but with real estate developer Brand Partners.

“Because of Justin’s experience in real estate development, He can quickly grasp the economics driving a deal. Our clients have been impressed with the results that flow from his ability to integrate those economics into a legal transaction,” says MPT partner Jeff Mahaffey.

NovoLogic


NovoLogic is a team of cultural architects, working at the leadership level within companies to help them achieve various outcomes: higher performance, better engagement, sharper innovation, or market resilience. Their background as shapers of technology at places like IBM enables them to deliver innovative, flawless platforms for learning, development, and marketing. Through their Blendcasting™ model, NovoLogic utilizes different channels of communication to drive audience interactivity through relevance and frequency. The team provides global industry leaders innovative solutions to streamline technology.

Laurie Attaway

With a love of people and great food as inspiration, Laurie opened Aqua Terra Bistro in 1999 and her fans still can’t get enough! This fine dining restaurant is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Buford and features a menu of traditional classics inspired by influences from world cuisine.

Beauty P. Baldwin

Beauty Baldwin was the first African-American female school superintendent in the state of Georgia. Today, she serves as head administrator at Hopewell Christian Academy.

One of the unique things about Baldwin is her willingness to devote time to community service. “I really do believe that our main goal on this earth is to serve.”

Sharon Bartels

“At Gwinnett Tech, we can honestly say that we help people change their lives,” says President Sharon Bartels. “How many people can say that when they go to work each day?”

Bartels has been at the helm of GTC since 1996, leading the college through tremendous growth in enrollment, program offerings and campus facilities. With a clear mission of workforce development, Bartels and her team work in concert with business and industry on future hiring needs, delivering programs that are tied to growing careers and emerging industries.

“I’ve always loved the combination of higher education and business. That should be a very symbiotic partnership in every community,” she says. “I think the technical college system is the perfect niche of higher education to accomplish that aim.”

Being the matchmaker between employers and employees is personally rewarding. “Strategically bringing entities together for the greater good is a large part of what makes me tick. I love walking the halls and peering into our classrooms, because that’s where it all happens for our students.”

Expanding offerings in North Fulton County is the next priority for Bartels and Gwinnett Tech, with a campus site selection expected early in 2013.