Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Launches Community Empowerment Series

DECATUR, Ga.–Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is hosting a series of events designed to foster economic development in DeKalb County.

The series will begin with “The Conversation: Wealth & Empowerment,” Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, from 10 a.m. to noon, at AEI Start-Up Factory, 7310 Stonecrest Concourse, Stonecrest, GA 30038.

This dynamic event will feature three of the most successful and prolific entrepreneurs and business owners in metro Atlanta for a candid panel discussion designed to educate, enlighten and encourage small business ownership with the intent to foster community improvement and personal wealth.

“I’m excited to begin the implementation of my platform,” said Commissioner Cochran-Johnson. “I’d like to encourage DeKalb residents to become business owners as a way to change the landscape of our communities. It is my intent to bridge people with resources, education, and information that empowers them to change their lives. My network gives me access to great people who have been successful in business. It is rare you are given access to such dynamic business minds, so I hope the community will come out and take advantage of the opportunity to learn from business legends.”

Featured speakers include the following:

• Mack Wilbourn, owner and President of Mack II Inc., a fast food management company with franchises including Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits, Checkers Hamburgers, and Edy’s Ice Cream, all located in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Wilbourn’s two Popeye’s Chicken locations are the top sales performers in the Popeye’s system worldwide, ranking No. 1 and or No. 2 since 1996. His Checkers Hamburger location has ranked No. 1 in sales in the Checkers/Rally system worldwide since 2005.
• Sterling Coleman, president and CEO of SJAC Food Groups, doing business as Zaxby’s, with a growing portfolio that expands from North Carolina to Georgia and Oklahoma as well as a joint venture partner with SSP America in the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. SJAC manages several national fast casual concepts along with three international brands boasting annual revenues over $7 million. Coleman is an established businessman with over 20 years of experience in operations, relationship building, sales, customer service and business negotiations.
• Yolanda Owens, president and CEO of Iwi Fresh, a nationally acclaimed Atlanta-based, full-service day spa featuring a professional-grade line of gourmet skincare products complete with a fresh market carrying an assortment of quality, hand-crafted body recipes. Iwi Fresh caters to everyone from celebrity clientele to working women.

Following the panel discussion, event attendees will complete business interest forms that disclose their needs and will be paired with financial resources, franchise opportunities, credit repair or whatever is needed to help them move forward progressively. To that end, we are excited to have Operation HOPE representatives present to assist with pulling credit profiles.

Developed as a precursor to the main event, the panel discussion will be followed on April 6, 2019, with DeKalb’s largest franchise expo at Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center.

“I have worked alongside industry experts to assemble franchise and business opportunities requiring investments as little as $10,000 up to $2 million,” said Commissioner Cochran-Johnson. “Attendees only need to come with an open mind and a desire to become a business owner and we will help them. I am convinced the lack of development within south and unincorporated DeKalb is not by chance – it is by design. Businesses have chosen consciously not to locate within certain areas of DeKalb, so if we want to change the landscape of the businesses within our communities we will need to own more service-oriented businesses and franchises.”

Space is limited; RSVP at https://franchisebusinessdevpt1.eventbrite.com.

For media coverage or to schedule interviews with Commissioner Cochran-Johnson, call 404-371-3681. Constituents and interested parties are encouraged to visit www.CommissionerLorraineCochranJohnson.com to register for community updates and notification of future events.

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