SPEAKER THIS WEEK: Michael J. Coles
Co-founder of Great American Cookie Company and former CEO of Caribou Coffee, Michael J. Coles is a business expert, serial entrepreneur, education advocate, and well-known public speaker. From starting three businesses, setting transcontinental world cycling records, making two bids for U.S. Congress, and writing legislation for Georgia film tax credit that changed an industry, Coles’ story is one of true grit and perseverance. In his recently-released memoir, Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business in Life, Coles’ reflects on his notable life and shares a wealth of knowledge and tips that he has gathered over the years as a business leader. In the memoir, he recounts the failures and successes that led him from poverty and a near-fatal motorcycle accident to founding a $100-million company and becoming the namesake of the business school at Georgia’s third largest university—despite never having attended college himself.
After almost two decades in the clothing business, he co-founded Great American Cookies in Atlanta in 1977 and grew it into the largest cookie store franchise in the United States.
Coles’ story of personal perseverance is as impressive as his business acumen. Following a near-fatal motorcycle accident six weeks after founding the cookie company, he recovered through a self-designed rehabilitation program and went on to set world records in three coast-to-coast bicycle races. Coles’ commitment to community service led him to run for the House of Representatives against Newt Gingrich in 1996 and for the U.S. Senate against Paul Coverdell in 1998, the same year he sold Great American Cookies. For the next four years he chaired the Georgia Film Commission and served on the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents, the Kennesaw State University Foundation board, and the Walker School board.
In 2003 he took the helm at Caribou Coffee, where he more than doubled the size of the company, opened a commercial sales division and an international market, and took the company public on Nasdaq under the symbol CBOU in 2005. Today, he serves as chairman of Brand Holding Company and BrandBank and actively lectures about business, giving more than seventy-five talks a year at universities and corporate events nationwide.
DEKALB ROTARY COUNCIL
Congratulations to Jack T. Sparks
Something to the effect of:
Volunteers needed!! We need additional volunteers to help with Rotary Youth Exchange to help with both inbound and outbound students. The requirements are simple: (1) simple application; (2) background check; (3) on-line training; and (4) 2 people who will write a short personal reference (it is a fill-in-the-blank form that takes only about 3 minutes). We would love your help for areas such as liaison with Dunwoody HS for outbound recruiting, recruitment and assistance with host families for next year's inbound student, and general assistance with Rotary Youth exchange students. If you have questions, please ask Deb Cameron, Dottie Toney, Jennie Stipick, Tania Lopez, Luis Cazares or Mike Parks.
Networking opportunity with fellow Rotarians
Networking opportunity to share your business with fellow Rotarians. Empowering you! Appetizers will be provided for the early birds. Cash Bar.
Why not have successful leaders as your customers who will refer your business to others and use your services and pay you what you are worth?
Atlanta Rotary Networking meetings are held monthly on the last Tuesday at 6:30 pm MARCH 26, 2019 at McKinnon's Louisianne .
3209 Maple Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
Plenty of parking just off Peachtree St
Check out this monthly gathering for 9 cross-club Rotarians and Rotarian guests.
For more information: Russ Hiner russ@ibuyga.com; 404-660-4289
Ally Wingate, allywingate3@gmail.com, 404-955-0131
FROM THE DESK OF THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Send your Newsletter submission to:
Our Club's Weekly Newsletter typically consists of:
·Speaker bio
·New Member Name(s)
·Featured article(s) (regarding events, service projects, or on-going topics general club administrative items, etc..).
·Foundation initiatives or other topics of interest to Members and with value for our Club archives.
·Announcements (seeking volunteers, advertising service projects, etc.)
·For Your Calendar (Club and other activities we encourage members and/or their spouses to attend, including Family of Rotary events
·Member News (birthdays, anniversaries, accomplishments, Caring Hands)
Please keep in mind key components to include with your submission:
·Title of your article
·Description of the activity
·Dates, Time, Location, deadline, etc... (especially for upcoming events)
·Key Points of Contact Information and/or a link to reference website for details
·Names and/or headcount of Rotarians (and others) participating,
·The reaction of those benefiting and the numbers of those benefiting.
·Picture(s)
Please also tell me the number of weeks would you like the article published.
Finally, the deadline for articles to run in the current week are Mondays by 5 p.m.
If you have any questions feel free to ask me!
Thank you!
Tania López
rotary_tls@outlook.com