East Cobb Citizen of the Year

Mitch Rhoden named 2020 East Cobb Citizen of the Year

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East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Mitch Rhoden
Mitch Rhoden (second from right) with his family at the Indian Hills Country Club Tuesday morning, including his father Jim Rhoden, also a previous East Cobb Citizen of the Year.

Submitted information and photo from the Cobb Chamber of Commerce:

The East Cobb Area Council has selected small business owner and entrepreneur Mitch Rhoden as its 2020 East Cobb Citizen of the Year. The Citizen of the Year Awards, created by Cobb County Rotary clubs and co-sponsored by the Cobb Chamber Area Councils and Cobb County business associations, have been presented to extraordinary individuals for the work they have done in Cobb County. And through a continued partnership with Cobb County civic and business organizations and the Cobb Chamber Area Councils, the Citizen of the Year Awards continue to recognize outstanding, service-minded individuals who have exceptionally impacted one of several areas of Cobb County.

“Mitch Rhoden has been an outstanding leader for our community for more than 20 years,” said Sharon Mason, President and CEO of the Cobb Chamber. “In addition to leading a small business and chairing many key initiatives and organizations over the years, for 2020 in particular, Mitch has been a champion for helping our non-profits and small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic with spearheading the launch of Operation Meal Plan, a program that raised funds to source meals for local non-profit organizations and keep local restaurant workers employed. Also this year, he volunteered many hours of his time to lead the critical Cobb SPLOST renewal campaign, and it passed by a wide margin. He is much deserving of this recognition and is a role model for our community.”

Mitch Rhoden

Mitch Rhoden, President & CEO of Futren Hospitality, has been named East Cobb Citizen of the Year for his years of community service and stepping up to support his community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, Rhoden spearheaded Operation Meal Plan, a small business and non-profit support initiative created to provide food to those in need, help local restaurants keep their workers employed, and provide a vehicle for citizens to help each other. Supported through a community-backed fund, local restaurants received orders in increments of 25 meals, which they delivered to non-profit organizations around Cobb who serve meals as part of their missions. The restaurants were paid at unit cost from Operation Meal Plan.

Since March, 21 participating restaurants provided over 11,000 meals to 23 non-profits. Through Operation Meal Plan, restaurants were able to keep their workers employed and Cobb’s local non-profits were able to provide food to those in need.

In his professional capacities, Rhoden is responsible for the management and operations of Futren Hospitality, Indian Hills Country Club, The Orchard Golf & Country Club, Woodland Hills Golf Club, the National Alliance of Private Clubs, and Highground Land and Hardscapes, as well as other corporate interests.

Since starting his professional career in 2001, Rhoden has been involved in many efforts to improve life for others. He is devoted to his family and spends a lot of time setting an example for his three young sons as a scout leader, and further gives back to that organization through board service. Rhoden has also been a leader within the Cobb Chamber, and has served in almost every possible volunteer role, including East Cobb Area Council Chairman; Membership Campaign Chairman; Marketing Chairman; Member & Community Programs Chairman; and Board of Directors Chairman in 2019.

Recently, he served as Chairman of the 2020 Cobb County SPLOST Renewal committee, working to ensure renewal of the special purpose local option sales tax that will ensure future funding for Cobb’s parks, libraries, roads and other quality of life initiatives.

In addition to his volunteer service at the Cobb Chamber, Rhoden has devoted himself to several local non-profits. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Atlanta Area Council for the Boy Scouts of America, is an advocate for and supporter of Shepherd’s Men; is Past President of the Rotary Club of Marietta, and has served on the Board of MUST Ministries.

If there is an initiative underway in Cobb County with a mission to better the community, increase opportunities for businesses and residents, and to make Cobb the best it can be, Rhoden is likely to be involved, generously volunteering his time and talents.

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East Cobb Citizen of the Year is Brenda Rhodes, Simple Needs GA founder

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East Cobb Citizen of the Year, Barbara Rhodes
Brenda Rhodes receives the East Cobb Citizen of the Year plaque from Johnny Johnson of Edward-Johns Jewelers. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

The East Cobb Citizen of the Year for 2018 has an expansive background in community service, but she noticed some seemingly small things from her primary volunteering effort that led to larger action.

Volunteering at MUST Ministries inspired Brenda Rhodes to do something more for the homeless and low-income people who relied upon the non-profit agency for shelter, food and other basic assistance.

In 2010, the East Cobb resident started Small Needs GA, a non-profit that helps those in need with a little more—like bringing tents to those living in the woods, or duffel bags with toiletries and other household items.Barbara Rhodes, 2018 East Cobb Citizen of the Year

It’s grown to much more than that, but her philosophy has remained the same.

“I just happened to see some needs that were being unmet,” Rhodes said Thursday as she was honored by the East Cobb Area Council of the Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast at Indian Hills Country Club.

“So I thought that I should do something about it.”

That was in 2010. Since then, Simple Needs GA has helped hundreds of clients, many of them single mothers with children, often fleeing domestic violence and abuse. Among the items delivered are birthday and Christmas presents, shoes, furniture, bedding and mattresses and school uniforms.

Last year, Simple Needs GA provided birthday gifts and other items to more than 200 homeless children in Cobb through the My Birthday Matters and Spirit of Christmas programs.

Rhodes, who holds down a corporate job as a business analyst at Genesys, says she spends 20-30 hours a week with Simple Needs GA, and even drives delivery trucks.

“It’s actually fun to drive a big truck,” she said.

“Our goal is to meet the needs that aren’t being met” by other agencies. “We’re trying to fill the gap.”

Simple Needs GA accepts donations of money and other items on its website. More about its programs and community partnerships can be found here.

Rhodes has served in many capacities as a community volunteer. In addition to MUST, she has helped with Good Mews Animal Foundation, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Hands On Atlanta, WellStar Foundation and The Center for Family Resources.

She contributes to local missions teams, sings in the choir at First United Methodist Church of Marietta and belongs to the Georgia Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

Rhodes is a two-time recipient of the National Points of Light Award and was Hands On Atlanta’s Premier Volunteer in 2004.

She is a graduate of the 2016 class of Leadership Cobb and the winner of the 2016 W. Wyman Pilcher Jr. Memorial Grant for community service from the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association.

The East Cobb Area Council chooses the Citizen of the Year from nominations made by members of various community service organizations, including the East Cobb Lions Club, Rotary Club of East Cobb, the East Cobb Civitans Club, the East Cobb Business Association and others.

 

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U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson named East Cobb Citizen of the Year

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Sen. Johnny Isakson, East Cobb Citizen of the Year
Kevin Isakson and Dianne Isakson, the son and wife of Sen. Johnny Isakson. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

A public official synonymous with the evolution of East Cobb over the last half-century has been named the East Cobb Citizen of the Year.

Johnny Isakson launched a successful real estate agency in the East Cobb area as it began growing in the 1960s and later served in the Georgia legislature and Congress.

But to those who know him best in his East Cobb community, he’s much more than Georgia’s senior senator in Washington. He’s also been a results-oriented public servant, faithful civic advocate, accessible citizen and Sunday School teacher at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.

Among many other things.

“If you looked up a definition of a statesman and a public servant, you’ll see a picture of Johnny Isakson,” said Cobb Chamber of Commerce CEO David Connell Thursday morning at Indian Hills Country Club.

That’s where the Chamber’s East Cobb Area Council held its quarterly breakfast and gave out the Citizen of the Year honor.

Isakson, 72, was unable to attend, being in Washington as Congress is dealing with major tax reform legislation. His son, Kevin Isakson, and wife, Dianne Isakson, accepted the honor on his behalf.

Connell, an East Cobb resident who’s stepping down from his post at the end of the, gushed with praise about Isakson’s dedication to public service, and several legislative accomplishments this year “in the most dysfunctional Congress we’ve ever had.”

Connell cited Isakson’s service on veterans committees, and after years of working with him and maintaining a longtime friendship, noted how Isakson remains the same person he’s known for all those years, including his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease disclosed in 2015.

“There are people in high office who are untouchable,” Connell said. Isakson is “the most humble individual you could ever find.”

It was during his time as founder and president of Northside Realty that Isakson was drawn to public service.

At a ribbon-cutting for the new Walton High School this summer, Isakson recalled how he was asked by Cobb school officials in the early 1970s to help scout land for desperately-needed schools, especially in East Cobb.

Isakson helped them spot true bargains on Bill Murdock Road, properties that now house Walton and Dodgen Middle School, for a grand total of $4,500.

In addition to being the first Georgian to serve in the state house and senate and the U.S. house and senate, Isakson also was chairman of the Georgia Board of Education.

“If there was a Citizen of the Year for the last four decades, it would be him,” said Johnny Johnson, owner of Edward-Johns Jewelers in East Cobb and a former Citizen of the Year recipient who chairs the East Cobb Area Council.

 

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