Walters, Whalen honored

GAINESVILLE - The newest members of the Northeast Georgia Business Hall of Fame were inducted Thursday night at a banquet in their honor at Chattahoochee Country Club.

Jim Walters is president and CEO of Gainesville-based Walters Management Company and is a member of the boards of directors of the state Department of Natural Resources, Elachee Nature Science Center and the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Foundation.

Gus Whalen was president of Warren Featherbone Company and is founder of the Featherbone Communiversity at the site of the now-closed plant on Chestnut Street.

Both men spoke highly of Junior Achievement of Georgia, which benefited from the Thursday night event.

"Well, our future, no kidding, is in the hands of children," said Whalen. "Junior Achievement is the best way I know that the next generation will have an appreciation for the economic system."

Walters echoed the comments of his fellow inductee.

"I think it's one of the few things left in our society where we teach kids, you know, how to be successful at an early age, and that's what it's all about," said Walters.

In addition to inducting Walters and Whalen into the Northeast Georgia Business Hall of Fame, organizers of the event honored the following:

~Kimberly Cobb of Regions Bank as Volunteer of the Year.

~Wendy Fuschetti,3rd grade teacher at Banks County Elementary School, as Teacher of the Year.

~Habersham County Rotary and Piedmont College with Level Grove Elementary School as Business and School Partnersip of the Year.