The Lunch Circuit Connects Entrepreneurs With Business Leaders

WOODSTOCK, GA – Fresh Start Cherokee, an initiative of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, has launched a program designed to bring local business operatives together around food, community and stories of Cherokee entrepreneurship.

The Lunch Circuit is an exclusive program that will feature an entrepreneur who shares his or her's wins, losses and lessons learned followed by audience question-and-answer session. The initiative provides attendees up-close-and-personal access to the ins and outs of what it means to be an entrepreneur.

The featured entrepreneur for July was Mark Caldwell, "serial entrepreneur" and father of State Rep. Michael Caldwell of Woodstock.

Caldwell is a successful serial entrepreneur who has started, scaled and sold multiple startups toward big exits. Mark was the former CEO of Python Safety, a Woodstock-based manufacturer of safety products that make work environments safer and more productive. In 2015, Python Safety was bought by Capital Safety, Inc., which was later acquired by 3M. Caldwell has nearly 30 years of executive management experience in sales, marketing and business development.

After only three sessions, The Lunch Circuit is off to a great start and has garnered rave reviews from those attending. Previous events have featured Lauren and Cody Bolden from Pie Bar in Woodstock and Russ Sanders from FactoryMation in Canton. The COED team has already received valuable feedback about what attendees enjoyed the most:

• "I enjoyed the complete honesty and transparency."
• "Being inspired and knowing I’m not alone."
• "Discussing problems and solutions."
• "Talking with other entrepreneurs."

The next installment of The Lunch Circuit will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16 with Canton restaurateur Zach Kell. Kell has mapped out a successful career with four restaurants: Downtown Kitchen in Canton; Goin’ Coastal, which has two locations in Canton and Virginia-Highland; and Queenie's Southern Restaurant also in downtown Canton.

Like Caldwell and those before him, Kell's story will surely inspire and encourage this community of entrepreneurs to launch or grow their business right here in Cherokee County. If you are an existing entrepreneur ready to grow your business, an aspiring entrepreneur ready to launch your startup, or an innovator in need of inspiration and support join this community.

The Lunch Circuit is a monthly event held at the Circuit in Woodstock. More information can be found on the Cherokee Office of Economic Development website. You can also e-mail the office at info@cherokeega.org for additional questions.

Image via Cherokee Office of Economic Development