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Insurance Coverage and Your Bottom Line
Insurance is the one thing a business needs
to have that it hopes never to have to use.
Many businesses go years without having
to call on their insurers to perform and a
lucky few may never have a claim. However,
when a claim or lawsuit arises, you need your
insurer to perform and to handle the claim
promptly and professionally. Although many
insurers act professionally, many also deny
coverage for claims when the only thing
standing between a business and financial
ruin is the insurance policy. Often, the
reasons for denying claims are questionable,
if not clearly wrong. John L. Watkins,
Partner, Barnes &Thornburg, LLP, offers
a few things you can do to make sure your
insurance company will be there if you need
it. To view these tips, visit the Chamber’s
blog at .
blogspot.com.
Jackson EMC ranked highest in customer
satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates
In a study just released by J.D. Power and
Associates, Jackson Electric Membership
Corporation (EMC) ranked highest in
customer satisfaction among midsize
utilities in the South. This marked
the fourth year that Jackson EMC had
been included in the study, the second
consecutive award and the third time
the cooperative has received the honor.
“Jackson EMC is extremely pleased to
receive this honor again,” said Randall
Pugh, the cooperative’s president/CEO.
“This award recognizes every aspect of our
organization, from system reliability to
community involvement. Our employees
have an incredibly strong commitment to
and pride in the service they provide our
members, and this award demonstrates
that commitment. I am so very proud to
work with people like these folks, who
demonstrate their dedication each and
every day.”
Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures to
Benefit Gwinnett Medical Center’s Gwinnett
Breast Future
Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures is a
teeth whitening program in which a patient
makes a donation in lieu of paying for dental
services. Gwinnett county volunteer dentists
then provide a selected service, usually tooth
whitening, for the patient. The dentists
do not receive any compensation for the
services provided for Brighter Smiles, instead
100 percent of the patient’s donation goes to
the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation.
The 2011 Campaign is under way with a
goal of $80,000 to go towards the new breast
health center at Gwinnett Medical Center.
Please call one of our participating dentists
to participate! Now in its eleventh year, the
Brighter Smiles program has
raised almost one million
dollars to support cancer
diagnosis and treament.
The $200 donation is tax-
deductible. The current
campaign will run through
the end of January 2012.
For more information, visit
or
call Beverly O’Toole with
the GMC Foundation at
678-312-8500.
Future Security’s David Post Offers Business
Tips on Handling Workplace Violence
Security is not just about uniformed
guards and alarm systems. Most often the
liabilities frommishandling employee
situations are more costly than employee
theft or any burglary. A frequent problem
is dealing “properly” with violence in the
workplace issues, whether it involves existing
employees, former employees, or someone
visiting an employee. There has to be a plan,
and those charged with responding to those
situations must be properly schooled on
how to handle those situations, less there
be negligence on the part of the company.
“You see, the law allows for mistakes to a
certain degree, but negligence makes the
cash register ring loud, and a good attorney
worth his or her salt will make sure it rings
loudly,” says David Post, President, Future
Security. “The astute business person will put
these issues closer to the top of the priority
pile. As the economy goes, generally goes the
attitudes and frustrations of the workforce.
Make sure a plan is in place and some training
has taken place...it’s only good business.”
HeadLines
In Business for You in 2012
It is with great anticipation that the
Gwinnett Chamber looks ahead to a
strong 2012 in membership. As we
work diligently in this
last quarter of 2011 to
close out the year strong
and build solid plans for
execution in the New
Year, your leadership as a
Chairman’s Club member
will play a huge role in our
collective success.
Membership in the
Gwinnett Chamber at the
VIP level is more than just
having the added benefits
and perks that come with
paying for greater access. It comes with
the privilege of being able to effectively
lead, educate and mentor the next
generation of business in Gwinnett. We
consider you to be our greatest product
offering, our most tangible resource and
our hugest success story.
We look forward to working with
you once again in 2012 and thank you
for your continued leadership of our
business community.
Sincerely,
Vince DeSilva
Sr. VP, Membership Services
THE EXECUTIVE – FALL 2011
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