Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Valdosta Daily Times · Valdosta, GA
Nearby: Valdosta, GAVALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Enay Coaching, LLC as its Leading Business of the Week, highlighting the company’s commitment to education, workforce development, and strengthening communities. Based in Valdosta since 2014, Enay Coaching is an education and workforce development consultancy that partners with thought leaders and organizations to develop and implement sustainable, evidence-based practices that help communities thrive, the chamber said in a press release. Its services include strategic planning, executive coaching, support for education and community mentoring programs, and education and workforce solutions for the foster care community across Georgia. Over the years, Enay Coaching has made a meaningful impact through several accomplishments. Most recently, the company provided workforce training to nearly 300 youth in foster care through the Georgia CREW program.
Valdosta Daily Times · Valdosta, GA
Nearby: Valdosta, GAVALDOSTA — Below are a list of organizations and businesses that will hold free Thanksgiving meals in our community: • Community Thanksgiving Meal, 12-4 p.m. Nov. 21, First Antioch Baptist Church, 517 N. Oak St. To donate or volunteer, contact: Angela Haddin (229) 269-9346 or Joyce Jeff (229) 548-3119. • 100 Black Men Thanksgiving Food Fest, 9 a.m. Nov. 21, Salvation Army, 320 Smithland Place. To donate or volunteer, contact: Lymas Johnson: (229) 251-1349. • Sam’s BBQ Annual Feeding the Community, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Nov. 26, Sam’s BBQ & Catering, 414 E. Hill Ave. To donate, contact: Sam Watts: (229) 237-2187.
Valdosta Daily Times · Valdosta, GA
Nearby: Valdosta, GAVALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce joined Coldwell Banker Premier Real Estate for a ribbon cutting at the company’s new storefront at 1616 Norman Drive, Suite E. The celebration gave community members a chance to meet Mark, Tara and Bryce Ocepek, whose family purchased the business in 2025. Coldwell Banker Premier first opened its doors in Valdosta in 1972. Today, its agents help clients buy and sell homes, commercial properties, multifamily properties, land and farms. The new office includes a dedicated space where agents can film videos to highlight local listings and answer questions from buyers and sellers. For the Ocepek family, serving veterans is personal. Mark is a U.S. Navy veteran, and the family established the Veterans Advantage program to connect veterans with a lender who can guide them through the homebuying process. Visit Coldwell Banker Premier Real Estate at 1616 Norman Drive, Suite E, Valdosta or call (904) 583-8415.
Thomasville Times Enterprise · Valdosta, GA
Nearby: Valdosta, GATHOMASVILLE — The John B. Gordon 383 UDC® chapter welcomed Renate Milner as its guest speaker during a recent meeting. Chapter President Sheila Tucker introduced Milner and shared highlights of her educational and professional background. Milner was born in Germany and moved to the United States in 1991 with her husband and children. She earned an associate degree from Georgia Military College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in history from Valdosta State University in 1998 and a master’s degree in 2000. While attending VSU, Milner interned at the Lowndes County Historical Society, where she conducted groundbreaking research on German prisoners of war held in Georgia during World War II. Following graduation, she joined the Historical Society’s staff. In 2007, Milner became a Georgia state archivist at the state archives in Morrow. In 2024, she returned to the Lowndes County Historical Society as executive director, a position she continues to hold.
