We're excited to connect with small businesses and restaurants owned by members of the Darlington Community through our Darlington Connects series. Today we’re thrilled to highlight small professional services businesses. We encourage our Darlington family, both near and far, to support each other!
Abernathy Pump Service
Abernathy Pump Service, owned by Tripp Bagby (’91), installs well pumps and water filtration systems. Tripp and his wife, Jennifer (Darlington’s assistant director of day admission for pre-K through fifth grade), are the parents of two Darlington students: eighth-grader Chandler and sophomore Will.
Andrea Kelley Photography
Andrea Riddle Kelley (’06) owns a portrait and wedding photography business, Andrea Kelly Photography. To learn more about her business, visit www.andreakelleyphoto.com.
BBM Coin Laundry Inc.
BBM Coin Laundry Inc. is owned by Brandy and Bo McKenzie, parents of Darlington junior Mason McKenzie. BBM Coin Laundry Inc. offers two self service locations in Rome. The BBM Coin Laundry Maple Rd. (900 Maple Rd. Rome, GA 30161) location has 10 Dexter washers ranging from 60 lb. to 20 lb. capacity and 14 pockets of 30 lb. dryers. BBM Coin Laundry North Broad (1904 North Broad St. Rome, GA 30161) location has 15 Dexter washers ranging from 60 lb. to 20 lb. capacity with six Speed Queen or Whirlpool top load washers and 22 pockets of 30 lb. dryers. To learn more about BBM Coin Laundry Inc., visit their website http://bbmcoinlaundry.findalaundry.org.
Behavior Management Consultants
Baker Wright (’94) owns and runs Behavior Management Consultants. They are providers of Applied Behavior Analysis services to individuals with learning needs and behavioral challenges. They work with individuals of all ages across a wide variety of abilities and diagnoses, all in the efforts of helping each person live a happier and more independent life. Behavior Management Consultants consult with school districts across the southeast, and they work with individuals, families, and residential settings across Georgia and Florida. To learn more about Baker’s business, visit their website at www.bmcsoutheast.com and on Facebook.
Business Water Solutions (BWS)
Business Water Solutions (BWS) is owned by Mike Barron (’98) and managed by Ryan Somerville (’03). BWS offers a high tech "touch-less" water cooler system that replaces the outdated jug water system for any size business. Their units connect directly to your water source and send water through thirteen stages of water purification equipped with reverse osmosis, with the final stage adding twenty vitamins, minerals and electrolytes to your glass of water. This process provides your facility with the purest water on the market. BWS offers ice machines, as well, for restaurants or any size business. Visit BWS online at www.businesswatersolutions.com, on Instagram @businesswatersolutions, and on Facebook.
CEVIAN Design Lab
Mark Cochran, father of third-grader Cooper and sixth-grader Logan, owns CEVIAN Design Lab is a licensed architecture and design firm located in Rome, Ga. They strive to strengthen the fabric of our community through innovative architectural design, founded in expertise and excellent craftsmanship. To learn more about CEVIAN Design Lab, visit their website www.ceviandesign.com.
Creative Foundry Limited
Creative Foundry Limited is an award-winning Advertising & Marketing Agency in Rome that works with brands across the country, as well as locally. They specialize in the creative development of digital, social, broadcast and integrated advertising/marketing campaigns. The company is owned by Kevin Thoem and Jenifer Thoem (an art teacher in Darlington's Pre-K to 8 division), parents of eighth-grader Ethan Thoem. Before moving back home to Rome, Kevin oversaw creative campaigns at the top advertising agencies in New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Richmond, Va. Kevin helped create the GEICO “Gecko” and “Caveman” campaigns as well as the UPS “What Can Brown Do For You?” campaigns. Perhaps you’ve heard of them. When not building icons of advertising, he has helped build other global brands like American Express, Marriott, Walmart, US Open Tennis, Oscar Mayer and more. Reach out to Kevin if you need help with a disruptive ad/marketing campaign or if you just want to hear some stories about the Gecko, Mr. T, or some other celebrity he’s worked with. To learn more about Creative Foundry Limited, visit their website www.creativefoundry.net.
Debbie Hayes Coaching
Debbie Hayes, owner of Debbie Hayes Coaching, offers personal training, online training and fitness programming. She is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and she serves as a StrongFirst Team Leader, certified in teaching kettlebells, barbell, and bodyweight exercises. Debbie is the mother of Darlington sophomore Briant and alum Brighley Powell (’20). Learn more about Debbie Hayes Coaching online at by clicking here or find them on Facebook.
Elevation House
Halei Cox Scuvotti ('92) and her husband, Don, are the founders of Elevation House, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission of ending economic and social isolation for adults living with serious mental illness in Rome and Floyd County, Ga. Halei shared, “We are in the business of changing and shaping lives! We do this through our unique clubhouse in Rome where membership is free (funded by private donations and grants) and we walk alongside our members who live with serious mental illness.” Elevation House provides members with opportunities for employment, housing, education and community and help them to live successfully in recovery. Halei said, “This social and economic inclusion reverses the alarming trend of higher poverty, suicide, hospitalization and incarceration rates associated with mental illness.” To learn more about Elevation House, visit their website www.elevationhouse.org or Facebook page.
FTM Travel & Fairy TripMother and Coosa Valley Signs
Christy and Brad Shadday(’83), parents of Darlington alumni Tanner (’17) and Spencer (’20), are both owners of small businesses. Christy is the owner of FTM Travel & Fairy TripMother, a travel agency and specialized services for Disney destinations/Universal. To learn more about Christy’s business, visit https://ftmtravel.com/, on Facebook, and Instagram @ftm_travel. Brad is the owner of Coosa Valley Signs, a sign installation, maintenance and repair business. To learn more about Brad’s business, visit http://coosavalleysigns.com/ or on Facebook.
G II Solutions
George Fletcher, Jr. (’62) is the owner of G II Solutions, a small manufacturing business that makes a line of mechanical products utilized by other manufacturers, located in Central, S.C. To learn more about G II Solutions, visit www.giisolutions.com.
Knight's Car Store & Garage
Knight's Car Store & Garage, located in Rome, is owned and operated by Jack Knight (’79) and Ford Knight (’05, LD ’18). They have a passion for helping customers find the right vehicle at the right time. They pride themselves on stocking an impressive inventory lineup of quality used cars, trucks and SUVs. To learn more about Knight's Car Store & Garage, visit them online at www.knightscarstore.com or in person 1321 Martha Berry Blvd., Rome.
Etowah Employment
Etowah Employment is a full-service staffing, payroll, executive placement, and HR consulting business serving the North Georgia and Northeast Alabama areas. Etowah Employment, and its subsidiary companies (Employment Innovations, Employment Alliances, Hire Transport, and Workforce Holdings), employ thousands of people each year. The company is owned by Darlington alumnus and current parent Layton Roberts ('82, LD ’15). His daughter, Caroline, is in eighth grade at Darlington. To learn more about Etowah Employment, visit their website at www.etowahemployment.com and on Facebook.
Latitude 34 Construction, LLC
Jeff Cramer (’90) is a custom home builder and the owner of Latitude 34 Construction, LLC in South Carolina. To learn more about Jeff’s business, visit his website www.latitude34construction.com or Instagram @lat34homes.
Legacy Properties
Legacy Properties is a real estate office and property management company in Rome. The company is owned by Shelley and Allen Womack, parents of Darlington alum Jake Womack (’17). To learn more about Legacy Properties, visit their website at Legacypropertiesga.com and on Facebook.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes
Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes are known as “Rome’s Locally Owned Funeral Homes.” They have three locations in Rome. Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes is owned and operated by parents of alumni Nancy and Barry Henderson and their two sons, Garrett (’08) and Wes (’06, LD ’15). Barry volunteered for many years as a community coach for the Darlington baseball team, and Wes (’06) served as a member of the Alumni Council. For more information on Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes, visit their website at www.hendersonandsons.com.
Heritage Sleep Concepts
Heritage Sleep Concepts is a family owned and operated mattress manufacturing company located in Rome, Ga. The business is owned by Kristi and Frankie Beck, parents of Jordan (’14) and Jamie (’16). Heritage Sleep Concepts make mattresses as an Eclipse licensee, which makes them a Top 20 Bedding Producer-Furniture Today. Their mattresses can be found in hundreds of stores across the Southeastern region of the United States, as well as some of the leading online mattress companies. You can also find their mattresses in three of the Top 50 Furniture Stores in the United States -- Macy's, The Dump and Farmers Home Furniture. Their family has been in the mattress industry for over 100 years, and with Jordan working there, their family has five generations in the industry. To learn more about Heritage Sleep Concepts, visit their website https://www.heritagesleepconcepts.com/ or on Instagram @heritagesleepconcepts.
Madison Financial and Associates
Rob Day (’96, LD ’19) is the owner of Madison Financial and Associates, a comprehensive financial planning and retirement planning firm. They are Private Wealth Managers for all of Georgia. Robert is the father of Darlington sophomore Jake and alum Madison (’19). To learn more about Robert and Madison Financial, visit www.madisonfa.com or Madison Financial on Facebook.
Murphy Construction
Murphy Construction, owned by Ryan Murphy (’92), is a residential and commercial general contracting firm. Their services include ground up and remodel projects. Darlington alumni Al Barron (’91) and Jason Payne (’92) work at Murphy Construction. Ryan and his wife, Natalie (’94), are the parents of Darlington kindergartener Collier. To learn more about Murphy Construction, visit Linkedin.
Patrick Cash Homes and Silo Storage
Patrick Cash (’91), father of kindergartner Betsy and third-grader Patrick Cash, is the owner of two small businesses in Rome. Patrick Cash Homes is a residential development and construction business. Learn more by visiting them on Facebook. Silo Storage is a storage facility located in Rome. Learn more by visiting their website http://silostoragecenter.com/ and on Facebook.
Signature Golf
Signature Golf is a luxury UK-based golf travel provider. They cater to high end golf clubs and individuals. Matthew Barnes (’82) can help provide a first-class experience, with five-star accommodation and access to the best golf in the world. All accommodations are automatically upgraded and each trip is a custom trip hosted by one or more of the Signature Golf employees. All vehicles used for transport are owned by Signature Golf. They can help create memories and take the planning out of the hands of the traveler. To learn more about how Matthew and Signature Golf can help you, visit their website www.SignatureGolf.com.
The Storage Hound
The Storage Hound is the area’s largest self-storage facility. The business is owned by Michelle & Mark Cochran, parents of third-grader Cooper and sixth-grader Logan. They are a brand new facility with climate controlled, non-climate controlled spaces, as well as covered, and uncovered, boat and RV parking. To learn more about The Storage Hound, visit their website www.thestoragehound.com.
Suntima Consulting
Tiffany Hundertmark Lyon (’92) is the owner of Suntima Consulting, a career professional development coaching company. To learn more about Suntima Consulting, visit https://www.suntimaconsulting.com/.
Three Rivers Counseling of Rome
Julie Allen is the owner of Three Rivers Counseling of Rome, a private therapy practice for adults and adolescents as young as 12. Julie is the wife of Chris Allen, Upper School counselor, and the mother of Amelia (’19) and Ellie (’22). To learn more about her practice, click here.
Totally Tiff Organized
Totally Tiff Organized, owned and operated by Tiffany (Payne) Horton (’02), is an in-home organizing business. She shared, “I am all about small changes in your home that are big wins! Everything has a home and I can help with finding that home!” Other seasonal services offered are wrapping gifts, decorating, addressing and mailing Christmas cards, and the list goes on. Tiffany’s son, Sam, is a second-grader at Darlington. To learn more about how Totally Tiff Organized can help you, visit her on Facebook or on Instagram @totallytifforganized.
Trees Unlimited
Trees Unlimited is a family business owned by Laura and Wendell Hicks, parents of Sawyer ('15) and Gibson ('19). They have been in operation for over 30 years. They employ about 100 men and women, along with three certified arborists on staff. One of their arborists is a "Master Arborist," one of only 300 in the world! Trees Unlimited specializes in the practice of the cultivation, management and study of individual trees. To learn more, visit their website at www.treesunlimitedco.com and on Facebook.
Richard L. Muller Jr., DDS, PC Family Dentistry
Richard L. Muller Jr., DDS, PC Family Dentistry is located in Rome. Dr. Muller is the father of Lauren Muller Stone (’02) and Grant Muller (’04) and the grandfather of kindergartner Jack Stone. To learn more about Dr. Muller’s business, visit his website www.richardlmullerjrdds.com.
If you own a small business or restaurant owner and would like to be included in a spotlight and website, please email connect@darlingtonschool.org with your business information.
