Meet Samantha Threadgill! Samantha is the director of development and communication at the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia and has been with HSNEGA for the past three years. She is a lifelong Hall County resident and says one reason she loves the area is because of Lake Lanier.
“I love the small town feel even though it’s grown into a very populated place,” she said. “I like being able to go places and know people not only because it’s nice to have familiar faces but also in business it’s very beneficial to have connections. I also love the lake and being able to go out on it with my friends.”
We want to thank Samantha for spending time with us and telling us more about her life and love of Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I grew up in Gainesville or really Oakwood and I went to Brenau University. I joined a sorority, Tri Delta, and became the philanthropy chair for Tri Delta. When I originally went to Brenau I was an interior design major…I decided to change my major to mass communications with a focus in digital media. This job is a dream come true.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “I would have to say Yellowfin because they have the best seafood in Hall County and I have never found that quality of seafood anywhere else here . The owner is amazing. Chris Richardson is a good friend and I love the atmosphere.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I have lived here my whole life, so 26 years. I have worked here at the Humane Society  for the past three years.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “I would say the most interesting and inspiring person I have met here is Bob Swoszowski. He is the owner of all the McDonald’s in Hall County. His story of how he got to where he was and he and his partners worked really hard to get their franchises in the beginning and it wasn’t easy for him. He really built up his career and his worth. I aspire to be like him one day.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “Croatia is where I would really love to go. I heard it is amazing and has beautiful scenery.”
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A:“‘Meet Joe Black’ because I love Anthony Hopkins in that movie he is kinda like the grandfather/ father figure and my dad was a very important person in my life.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Find something you love to do not just in a career whether it’s volunteering or things you do in your free time but being able to wake up every single day and love the job I come to is something I feel very fortunate to do because I am very passionate about the mission itself.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I really want to be able to say I have been everywhere in the world so I want to travel as much as I possibly can.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “Dave Matthews is my favorite band of all time, as well as Widespread Panic, and Dispatch.”
Q: What former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “ I think Mellow Mushroom because it is a place where a lot of people come together. I have had a lot of great memories there and every time you go in there you see someone you know.”
Q: Choosing anyone and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in Hall County would you have lunch?
A: “Sara Blakely, I would love to pick her brain at a lunch not only because we are sorority sisters but also because she has had such amazing success with her business and a really inspiring person.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The small town feel even though it’s grown into a very populated place.  I like being able to go places and know people not only because it’s nice to have familiar faces but also in business in;s very beneficial to have connections. I also love the lake and being able to go out on it with my friends.”  
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan. It was kind of a family past time. I grew up with it and I fall asleep with it. It’s just a comforting show for me. My dad and I watched it together and he is no longer with us so it’s a memory for that as well.”
Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Family, pets, and Gainesville.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.