Helen F. Willis
President
Helen "Frankie" Willis, is credited for leading much of the resurrection of The Village at Indian Springs, although she prefers to think of herself as the "Chief Village Idiot"! With a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from Appalachian State University and a Master's of International Management in Finance, she spent the first six years of her career in banking. In 1990, she joined her current business partner who each purchased a 50 percent interest in Trucks, Inc., a truckload carrier operation headquartered in Jackson, Ga. Today the Company has more than 300 workers in five terminals in Georgia and Florida, and includes more than 150 trucks and 800 trailers. The company primarily hauls freight in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina.
But Willis is not just focused on her trucking business, as The Village at Indian Springs and her charitable activities keep her extra busy. She is a founding member of the Friends of Indian Springs State Park, a group working to improve the facilities, events and visitation of the oldest state park in the Nation. She serves as President of the Butts County Historical Society, which rooted her interest in The Village. She served as Restoration Director of the last phase of a $1 million government-funded restoration project of the County's 1823 Indian Spring Hotel which is now a Museum and Historic Site. She states, "the hard work had been completed by previous Historical Society members and volunteers - the historic research, the architectural drawings, and the grant writing - I just came in for the last year and a half and had the honor of putting the icing on the cake." Following the project's completion, she began the private development campaign to save and restore 20 surrounding historic buildings at the encouragement of leaders from Georgia's Department of Economic Development, Tourism Division, Fay Trip and Bruce Green. In just 3 years, the previously blight-filled area became known as The Village at Indian Springs, a restored historic district including shops, galleries, gardens, bike and hiking trails, campsites and luxury rental cottages. She, along with the other Society members, spear-headed the marketing campaign to join the other venues - Indian Springs State Park, Dauset Trails, and Indian Springs Holiness Campground - to become a true "week-end destination".
Willis credits the solid character of the people who were living in Indian Springs when she came there, who supported her efforts and joined in the process, as well as all of Butts Countians for the revitalization efforts. Now a melting pot of locals, a few new comers, and lots of visitors, most days are filled with smiles, waves and hugs as everyone enjoys the history and the hopes of what is to come next.
As an outlet for her hospitality interests, she hosts weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, reunions, birthday parties, and any other special request at the ten venue sites in The Village at Indian Springs.
Willis enjoys traveling and has visited 104 countries and spends her free time on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Contact: frankie@trucksinc.net
Heather R. Hutchins
Accounting Director
Heather R. Hutchins, a native of Jackson, Georgia is the backbone of The Village. When all else fails, everyone calls Heather. Heather is a 1998 graduate of Jackson High School and Clayton State University with a Bachelors in Accounting, and is currently sitting for the Certified Public Accounting Certification. Paying attention to detail, Heather strives daily to ensure The Village accounting and procedural functions are on the planned strategic path. Not only does she handle all government relations, she does the ever so important function of Human Resources and payroll! Heather always brings a big helpful smile, which is only surpassed by her work ethic and knowledge. Heather is truely a wonderful asset to The Village.
Contact: heatherh@trucksinc.net
Trevor Hutchins
Facilities Maintenance and Landscape Director
Trevor Hutchins, a native of Jackson, GA is the go-to-guy for all the maintenance and landscaping needs for over 20 buildings and their grounds. Trevor received his associates degree in Enviromental Horticulture from Southern Crescent Technical College in 2010. From sun-up to sun-down, Trevor is busy keeping The Village at its finest. With over 40 acres of grass and gardens to maintain, it's easy to understand why you always see him on the go. Families and children enjoy the wonderful array of annual flower beds he changes twice a year and the amazing perennials which attract hundreds of butterflies in The Village. Trevor's job duties seem to expand daily as anything unusual seems to strick up his name as one that can probably solve your problem.
Thank you Trevor and his wonderful assistant, Salvadore Lopez, for keeping The Village so green!
