Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1466725
46 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2022 "The Peyton Anderson Foundation is deeply invested in the impact of regional arts and culture on our community. It creates a sense of place, enhances community vibrancy and generates cultural tourism. When that impact is combined with access to music education and the global recognition that comes with Otis Redding's legacy, we have tremendous opportunity," said Karen Lambert, president of the Peyton Anderson Foundation. "The foundation grant will go to the construction of this visionary center, which will become the premier training ground for our continued music heritage." The Otis Redding Center for the Arts has an estimated budget of $5 million. The foundation continues fundraising efforts as well as the ongoing work to fund programs and scholarships for children. FEMALE-LED TEAM Of course, to build a dream center takes a team, and Redding-Andrews said she believes the foundation has a dream team to do it: Sheridan Construction and Stafford Builders & Consultants Inc. "Before we even closed on the property, a team from Sheridan and Stafford sat down with us and said they knew this would be challenging for us and then simply asked, 'What can we do to help? How can we make this dream come true?' People usually come in asking, 'How much money do you have? Here's what we can do.' But they asked, 'How can we help?' They wanted to be involved in everything from the fundraising to the actual building and realized what an impact it could have on kids, families and the whole community." Redding-Andrews said she and her mother considered the decision to hire the partnering companies "a no-brainer," especially knowing that doing so meant the effort would be led by women. Wykesia Stafford, president of Stafford Builders & Consultants, called it a fun collaboration. "It's great to be working on something that's going to impact the community in such a positive way," said Stafford. "Karla and the foundation will multiply the capacity of what they're already doing and remove limitations. That's the goal, but the fun part is it being women led. I think we bring a unique structure to the project and already I see we have an understanding of one another's strengths. We're extremely collaborative and less competitive. I think in some ways, women tend to give beyond what's required. After our business meetings, we hang around, talk with each other and don't just run out. It may seem frivolous, but I've seen it add to the project in a nurturing way. After all, that's what this project is about as we build a place where children from all parts of our community can grow and work together." Christy Kovac is president and CEO of Sheridan Construction. She said the company has brought in Stafford Construction as an industry partner on a number of major projects from the Northeast High School- Appling Middle School builds and renovations to historic ABOVE: OTIS REDDING FOUNDATION DREAM CHOIR AT MERCER MUSIC AT CAPRICORN STUDIOS GRAND OPENING.