Business Friday: Rome’s Brooks Mathis is in the major leagues. New dean for Berry’s business school? More Krispy hints. A plush pitch for your business.

#hometownbusiness

Rome’s Brooks Mathis playing in the major leagues: Rome area native Brooks Mathis, a Shorter graduate who took his local business connections to Cobb County some years ago, continues to make his family and mentors here proud. Mathis, who joined us on Hometown Headlines Radio Edition on WRGA 98.7 FM on Thursday, had a huge role in the decision to bring the Atlanta Braves to the bustling intersection of I-285 and I-75. (Click the above image to hear that interview). Mathis and his Cobb colleagues did it again just weeks ago when luring Arthur Blank’s Atlanta United soccer complex to the Marietta area. At the close our the chat, we asked Mathis about whether the Atlanta Hawks’ NBA franchise might be the next to join the metro area’s new sports hub. “They are — they’re looking around the region,” he replied with little hesitation. We were asking in jest as we’ve read about the Hawks scouting some options. Indeed, maybe one of those options is in Cobb County.

Changes coming to Berry’s Campbell School of Business: A web ad this morning popped up in our email box, confirming reports that John Grout will soon step aside as deal of Berry’s Campbell School of Business. We’ll have additional detalis later today. That ad, in part, reads: “Berry College invites applications for an innovative, visionary, and strong leader to serve as the Dean of the Campbell School of Business beginning summer 2016.” Additional update

Just a little bit closer on Krispy Kreme: We still don’t have an official date on the opening of Rome’s Krispy Kreme doughnut shop on Turner McCall but we do have an update: Rome, Ga., is now the last listing under the heading “upcoming worldwide openings.” Of course, so are stores in Auburn and Decatur, Ala., as well as Greensboro, N.C. So far, no reports on hiring, either. No openings appear on the corporate career site or any of the job websites.

Clever way to make a pitch: Give the folks at Berry College Student Enterprises a well done. To help promote the Christmas in November sale 2-7 p.m. today afternoon and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Oak Hill, they’ve hidden a plush Viking in a Facebook video from General Manager Chase Swayze, who tells his story and hypes the sale. What’s in it for you? “Keep an eye out for the plush viking in the video! If you find it, or if you SHARE this video, you’ll win a FREE gourmet coffee at our upcoming sale: Christmas in November!” Keep your eyes open; it took us three replays to catch this blurry image (right). Smart idea; see the video here.

Terminus takes a time out: The folks at Terminus Wake Park in Emerson are among the more hardy folks you’ll meet when it comes to wake boarding in less-than-balmy conditions. But they’ve announced a rare week off, beginning this Sunday and extending beyond Thanksgiving. Good time by them: We’ll have subfreezing lows Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights with Sunday’s high: 47.

Goodwill Job Fair set for Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Goodwill Career Center at 154 Hicks Drive seeks employers for its next job fair, set for Dec. 9. The event is free for all. There will be space available for up to 15 employers/agencies. Employers are welcome to bring supplemental signage, displays, application material, supplies, and other items you may require at your station. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you as needed and candidates with their resume and online application. Participating employers will be provided one six-foot table along with two chairs. Lunch will be served immediately following the Job Fair. If you wish to participate, contact Richard Lee, [email protected] or call 404-797-4523.

Label it a good news/bad news week for Mohawk: On the plus side, the Calhoun-based flooring giant’s staff development efforts earned a spot in Training magazine’s annual Top 125 rankings, the learning industry’s premiere awards program. The numerical rankings will be formally announced Feb.15 at a black-tie gala during the Training 2016 Conference & Expo in Orlando. An alphabetical listing of the 2016 Top 125 organizations is available at TrainingMag.com. But on the minus side, the company earned a 15 score in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual assessment of how big companies treat the LGBT community. Called the Corporate Equality Index, the low score saw a little salt sprinkled on the wound when the Atlanta Business Chronicle took a “local” look at the findings. Of the 24 Georgia major companies and law firms companies ranked, “13 earned 100 percent, three earned 90 percent or above, and one earned 80 percent or above.” At the bottom: Mohawk, at 15. Click