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Discipline, passion for computers lands
job with bank
By
Lauren Anderson
Special to GwinnettForum.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., March 16, 2007 -- A passion for computers is
what landed Tibor Nagy a solid career with one of Atlanta's leading
financial institutions. But the road to career success wasn't necessarily
a direct one for this Romanian-born emigrant and graduate of Gwinnett
Tech.
Nagy |
Thirty-one-year-old Nagy first traveled to Atlanta from his homeland
of Romania as a college exchange student to work various jobs during
summer breaks. Three years into the program, Nagy was hired by a
bakery who took a liking to him and his credentials as a baker.
But his heart and soul weren't truly into the role. Throughout
his high school and college years in Romania, Nagy had pursued his
passion of computers. While working at the bakery, he learned about
Gwinnett Tech from a co-worker who sang the praises of the college.
Nagy enrolled at Gwinnett Tech and continued to work around the
clock as a baker to complete Gwinnett Tech's CIS program while also
learning English. Through the program Nagy was placed as an intern
with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta in its CCS (credit and
collateral services) department. The bank was so impressed with
Nagy's work that it asked for another intern to fill his role, and
hired Nagy permanently.
Tiffany Temple, credit and collateral products and reporting systems
analyst with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, says: "Right
off the bat it was evident that the work ethics and knowledge base
that Tibor gained at Gwinnett Tech was right in keeping with those
of the Bank. He showed us determination, ingenuity and quick-thinking...
skills and resources that we value on our team. He truly is an asset
to our organization."
In his current role, Nagy is responsible for data validation, business
intelligence reports and information security administration.
Nagy is impressed with the high level of technology and equipment
that Gwinnett Tech uses to train its students to enter their chosen
field. "Gwinnett Tech provided everything I needed to prepare
for a career in IT," said Nagy. He adds that every single course
he has taken at Gwinnett Tech has helped him directly in his job.
"The technical courses have helped me perform my job requirements,
while the general education and social courses have helped me with
my soft skills," he said. He also cites the inspiration, knowledge
and motivation that he received from his Gwinnett Tech instructors
as his catalyst to pursuing his career and goals.
Nagy's wife also enrolled in Gwinnett Tech and will graduate from
the radiologic technology program this year.
Lorri Christopher, one of Nagy's instructors and a director of
institutional advancement at GTC, said Nagy and his wife "are
a lovely young couple who have experienced the American Dream because
of their own hard work and determination and the support they received
from the instructors and staff at Gwinnett Tech who believed in
them."
Nagy plans to attend a four-year university to build on the education
he earned at Gwinnett Tech. "The transferable courses from
Gwinnett Tech will allow me to practically cut in half the time
and effort I will need to invest [in furthering my career],"
Nagy said.
Gwinnett Tech offers more than 20 degree, diploma and certificate
programs in Computer Information Systems, including CISCO CCNA Specialist,
Java Programmer, Cyber Crime Specialist and Information Security
Specialist.
To learn more about these programs - or any of the other more than
45 programs offered at Gwinnett Tech - call 770-962-7580 or visit
www.GwinnettTech.edu.
Rep. Richardson needs to know more about Gwinnett
traffic
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
MARCH 16, 2007 -- Let us charitably assume that the Speaker of
the Georgia House of Representatives is not aware of all the facts
surrounding commuting in Metro Atlanta.
Brack |
Rep. Glenn Richardson, who comes from the town of Hiram west of
Atlanta, called the proposed Brain Train from Atlanta to Athens
"a train from nowhere to nowhere." He added: "There's
no rhyme or reason in the 21st century to lay down pieces of steel
and move an object back and forth across it. That was really great
in the year 1807, maybe in 1907, but I don't think it exists in
2007."
The Republican speaker, who has a history of being against government
operated passenger rail service, feels that such a train is too
costly, and will not have enough riders to significantly impact
highway congestion or pollution.
What the Speaker doesn't allow for, however, is that no one proposal
will solve Atlanta traffic congestion. It's going to take a myriad
of alternatives to automobiles to solve the problem. The Brain Train
will make its contribution. The Gwinnett, or Cobb, Transit Systems
will each make their contribution, as will other means of transportation.
Since Rep. Richardson lives on the west side of Atlanta, perhaps
he is not aware of the enormousness of the traffic situation. We
presume Rep. Richardson takes Interstate 20 east into Atlanta. Traffic
count in Cobb County at the Douglas County line was 125,680 in 2006.
Traffic on Interstate 85, at the DeKalb County line, was 261,680
in 2006, a considerable difference!
As for his comments about Atlanta and Athens, the two ends of the
Brain Train route that he calls "nowhere," we'll not dignify
his views with additional comments other than realize perhaps they
came from a "nobody."
For years, highway experts have suggested that no one solution
will solve Atlanta's traffic woes. Innovative suggestions, such
as the Brain Train, need to be considered if Atlanta's traffic ever
is to emerge from its morass.
* * * * *
With traffic the major problem in Gwinnett, an announcement from
the Department of Transportation recently will warm the hearts of
many in the county.
The Department has indicated it will re-instate a project to create
a modern interchange at Highway 316 and both Georgia Highway 20
and Collins Hill Road. The DOT spokesman said that traffic "shuts
down in the peak hours" on Route 316.
Anyone who has routinely traveled that road knows that often during
the day, traffic creeps near the two intersections. The signals
at these two roads crossing Route 316 impede the traffic, with the
back-up sometimes a mile or more. The growing student body at Georgia
Gwinnett College will only add to the congestion.
Highway 316, from the last interchange at Georgia Highway 120 all
the way to the intersection at Dacula, has been a nightmare since
this portion of the road was opened in the 1970s. A mini-recession
in 1974-75 caused DOT to drop plans for four bridgings of Route
316, which is the focus of the problems today.
While DOT has announced two of the bridgings are being reinstated,
there is no funding, or timetable, for the project completion. By
the time the interchanges are built, the congestion may not be just
during rush hours and at college class changes. The congestion may
be virtually all day.
We urge the DOT to speed up completion of these two interchanges.
Not only Gwinnett, but all those traveling from Atlanta to Athens
on Route 316 will be ecstatic.
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's featured sponsor is The
Gwinnett Center, which is home to three distinct facilities
in Duluth. The Convention Center offers the opportunity to host
or attend a wide variety of events; from corporate meetings to trade
shows, to social occasions. The Performing Arts Center has an intimate
capacity of 700 guests, which is home to many local events, family
shows and even the occasional comedic performer. The Arena now celebrating
its fourth year has seen great success with a nomination for the
2005 Pollstar Arena of The Year Award. It is ranked No. 56 in the
top 100 arenas according to Pollstar, a leading industry indicator.
Visit the newly redesigned website, www.gwinnettcenter.com
for updates on events for all three facilities.
Smile. Cameras are
everywhere!
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
Finds closing rest
stop means clogged trucks elsewhere
Editor, the Forum:
Congratulations are due to our county and state government officials
for their decision to close down the rest stop on Interstate 85,
just north of Lawrenceville Suwanee Road. It seems that enforcement
of laws prohibiting homosexual activities, prostitution, and illegal
drugs was just too much effort.
Now the trucks are parked along I-85 northbound at Georgia Highway
20, at Hamilton Mill interchanges, and at the new Wal-Mart on Hamilton
Mill Road. Congratulations for moving the problem to another location!
-- Wayne Buchheit, Dacula
More on the number
of people who are named Gwinnett
Editor, the Forum:
After reading "Not many people have 'Gwinnett' in their real
names," I looked up "Gwinnett" on the genealogy site
Ancestry.com. The 1930 Census had three people with "Gwinnett"
as a first or middle name and one M. Gwinnett Everson, a lad of
10 in 1930, lived in the Rockbridge area of Gwinnett County!
Also, Gwinnett Geer, a lass of four, lived in Ohio, and a fellow
named Gwinnett Drayton, lived in South Carolina.
There are two others first or middle named Gwinnett people in each
of the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses for a total of nine folks with
that name between 1900 and 1930.
Looking up last named "Gwinnett" folks, there were 26
in 1930: five in California, 10 in New Jersey, and 11 in Washington
state, and none, not one, in Georgia. Present day, it looks like
there are less than 20 households nationwide with Gwinnett as a
last name.
Census records are not available to the public until 72 years after
they are conducted, but these days it's not unusual to find people
that were children in the 1930 Census that are still living.
About three years ago, using Ancestry's census records, I was able
to prove that my grandparents were first cousins, which, up until
I let the cat out of the bag, was considered a family secret kept
only by the 'womenfolk' of the family!
-- Tom Fort, Grayson
Dear Tom: Good research, and very interesting.
You know, all these new Gwinnett parents seeking distinctive names
for their about-to-be-born children might find the name of Gwinnett
an attractive one. Of course, if they really wanted a distinctive
name, they could use their last name with "Button Gwinnett"
in front! -eeb
Seniors'
Lifestyle Showcase moves to Gwinnett Tech location
The seventh annual Gwinnett Lifestyle Showcase, a one-stop shop
for seniors living in Gwinnett, gets a new venue this year when
it takes place on Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon
at the Busbee Center on the campus of Gwinnett Technical College.
Formerly known as Senior Day Out, the free event will feature a
Showcase Marketplace with more than 50 vendors, entertainment and
door prizes. This year's event will be able to house the entire
show in one large, high-tech convention space. Sponsors of this
year's event include Gwinnett Technical College, Community Council
of Gwinnett, Gwinnett Senior Services and Gwinnett County Parks
and Recreation.
The Gwinnett Lifestyle Showcase will provide information on everything
from recreation to housing for seniors, and promises to be a hit
with the 50-plus market. Caregivers for aging parents and active
baby boomers alike will discover all the many services and opportunities
available to them in and around Gwinnett County. Booths and vendors
will spotlight recreational and educational opportunities, county
services, travel, relocation services, home repairs, investments,
insurance and more.
For more information about the Gwinnett Lifestyle Showcase call
770-564-4680 or 770-982-2358.
Snellville hosts free
customer service workshop March 22
A free workshop on customer service skills will be held at Snellville
City Hall on March 22. There will be two sessions from 9 a.m. until
noon and from 1 to 4 p.m To reserve your seat for this one time
only workshop, please contact Alison Starnes at (770) 985-3515 or
by email: astarnes@snellville.org.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis...so call today!
The workshop will be facilitated by Gene Bishop of People and Solutions,
Inc.
Hopewell Baptist plans
awareness march about AIDS March 31
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church announces its plan to lead a
march of more than 1,000 members, community activists and politicians
to call attention to the HIV/Aids fight. The march is scheduled
to begin Saturday, March 31 at the church's 32 acre Norcross campus,
182 Hunter Street, at 9 a.m. Marchers will assemble at 8 a.m. and
walk one mile to Cemetery Field on Mitchell Street in downtown Norcross
for a 10 a.m. rally.
Dr. William Sheals, Hopewell's senior pastor, says: "Prevention
and education is the key to the eradication of this deadly plague.
Hopewell continues to work closely with AIDS Gwinnett to develop
a strategy for educating the African American community on prevention
and testing. We are aware that HIV/AIDS is not just a disease affecting
the African American community, but the numbers in our community
are rising at an astounding rate."
The facts include:
- While African Americans make up 13 percent of the American population,
we are almost 49 percent of all new HIV/AIDS cases in 33 states.
- Of the estimated 141 infants perinatally infected with HIV,
65 percent are African American (CDC, HIV/AIDS reporting systems,
unpublished data, December 2006).
- The rate of AIDS diagnoses for African American women was nearly
24 times the rate for white women.
Norcross
builder to head Atlanta home builders group
David Clough has been named president of the Greater Atlanta Home
Builders Association. Founder of Waterford Homes, based in Norcross,
Clough has been in the residential construction business for 32
years.
Clough |
A graduate of Princeton University in 1975, Clough immediately
entered the homebuilding business, as he worked for several national
home builders. He founded Waterford Homes in 1991.Waterford Homes
is a major builder in the Atlanta housing market, closing 2,100
homes since the creation of the company in 1991.
Waterford Homes has built a number of communities across metro
Atlanta
ranging in price from the high $200,000s to more than $1 million
in Cobb,
Forsyth, Gwinnett, North Fulton, Cherokee and DeKalb. Present communities
include Ashleigh Walk, MorningBrooke and Trilogy Park in Gwinnett
County.
The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) is a 4,100-member,
not-for-profit trade association affiliated with the Home Builders
Association of Georgia and the National Association of Home Builders.
The
HBA is the second largest local homebuilders association in the
nation.
Chamber names Hopkins
director of Partnership Gwinnett
Hopkins |
Stephanie L. Hopkins has been named director of Partnership Gwinnett
at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. She will focus on administering
Partnership Gwinnett's five-year community and economic development
initiative. This initiative will result in a net increase of more
than 65,400 new jobs and $5.8 billion in net new wealth for Gwinnett
alone over the next five years. Hopkins has served as the Manager
of Economic Development Resources for the Gwinnett Chamber since
2004. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University.
Mockingbird in the Moonlight
Former Gwinnett Resident Jackie White has a new book out, a mystery
set in Macon, Mockingbird in the Moonlight. This is Jackie's
first suspense novel. Before, her previous books were on true crime.
She easily spins a exciting story, set amid the downtown of Macon
that is familiar to me, since I grew up there. It was easy to identify
with her twists and turns in Macon, during its Cherry Blossom Festival,
with Jackie never making a wrong move, either on the streets, or
in the plot of the book. The plot revolves around people the heroine
knows well, and in the long run, she finds herself involved in a
murder much more than she wants to be. A former policewoman, Jackie
White effortlessly guide the reader through crime scenes, giving
clues here and there that eventually pay off for the reader. It's
a fast read with good characterizations. You'll enjoy it. --eeb
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
Coastal
Plain Experiment Station aims at improving crops
The Coastal
Plain Experiment Station, located in Tifton, is south Georgia's
agricultural and environmental laboratory. Scientists with the University
of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences use
the station's land and facilities to study, learn, and teach the
most effective and profitable ways to protect natural resources,
raise livestock, and farm crops in this area. The station is located
in the hub of Georgia's row crop agricultural region.
Coastal Plain
Experiment Station |
At the beginning of the 20th century more and more south Georgians
began to till the soil and raise livestock in the Coastal Plain.
They quickly learned that profitable agriculture in this area was
a challenge. The long growing season, hot summers, and sandy, loamy
soils required different crops and farming practices from those
used in central and north Georgia.
In 1918 the Georgia Land Owners Association, led by Captain Henry
Tift and William Stillwell, successfully lobbied the state legislature
to create an agricultural experiment station in this area, to be
affiliated with the state's land-grant College of Agriculture at
the University of Georgia in Athens. In 1919 the station began operating
on a 206-acre tract of land donated by Tift. Research at the station
focused mainly on such cash and feed crops as cotton, tobacco, peanuts,
corn, forage grasses, and wheat. The station remains dedicated to
the crops that were dominant when it was founded, but it also has
grown along with south Georgia agriculture.
The station has evolved into the Tifton campus of the University
of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which
includes Extension Service and teaching programs. methods to safeguard
natural resources.
Old men send the youth
to fight their wars over and over
"I hate those men who would send into war youth to fight and
die for them; the pride and cowardice of those old men, making their
wars that boys must die."
-- Pittsburgh Novelist Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1957).
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Forum for future publication.
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
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