Faces of Hall County: Frank Norton, Jr.

“My job is to make the people and community better, it’s a part of my DNA,” says Frank Norton, Jr., CEO of The Norton Agency. Frank and his brother, Bob Norton, together run The Norton Agency, a family owned and operated local company since its inception in 1928.
If you don’t know Frank Norton through real estate or insurance or his community involvement; you may know him through his love of collecting or creating art. He is a well known local artist who started humbly. His first shining works were literally thrown away daily; his chicken art work began as creative drawings on his children’s brown paper lunch bags that they took to school each day. His more recent works are displayed across this region and in art galleries in six different states.
We thank Frank for his time in meeting with us to answer our questions.
Question: How long have you lived in Hall County?
Answer: “Since the beginning of time.”
Q: How would you describe your business today?
A: “I am in the business to help make people and our community better. I am having more fun and am more relaxed today than ever before. Our business is great, and we see our business now as a foundation for building into the future. Our foundations allow my brother, Bob, and I to be more creative as we grow.”
Q: What inspired you or led you to your career?
A: “I grew up with real estate at the dinner table. After graduating from Georgia Tech, I went to work for a national real estate company. With this national company, I was about to be promoted to a new role which would have included a lot of travel. I remember coming home one night and playing in the floor with our 18 month old daughter, Teddy. I decided at that moment that I did not want to travel four nights a week throughout the country while missing my family. I resigned from my job and had a conversation with my father. I started work at The Norton Agency that next Monday.”
Q: What was one of the first things you remember doing on the job at The Norton Agency?
A: “On Wednesday afternoon of my first week on the job I joined my parents in a meeting with Gordon Sawyer. They had scheduled a meeting with Gordan Sawyer’s advertising company to design a brochure. The meeting turned from brochure design to branding our company. During that meeting we condensed the name of our company from The W.L. Norton Agency to The Norton Agency, we simplified our company logo and we changed the company logo color from burnt orange to yellow. That meeting went from simple brochure design to a $10,000 branding change.”
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world who would it be and why?  Where would you have this lunch?
A: “Teddy Roosevelt. Because he was a Renaissance man, the great white hunter, an environmentalist, was incredibly strong and determined, and he was able to appeal to a wide range of socioeconomic classes. I have always been interested in his life and works and I would love having lunch with Teddy Roosevelt on the outside patio of 2 Dog Cafe.”
Q: What do you see yourself doing in 5 or 10 years?
A: “I hope and expect to be doing the exact same thing with the same energy and passion.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people do not know about you?
A: “I grew up wanting to be a dentist. Because of Robert Jennings, I thought being a dentist would be very cool but I don’t like the sight of blood, so I changed my mind.”
Q: If you could give a piece of advice to a crowd of people, what would you say?
A: “You don’t have to be the smartest or the best looking to be successful. The essence to being successful is to be energetic.”
Q: What is one of your favorite places in Hall County?
A: “Tower Hill is in the middle of Glade Farm, a privately held tract of property. This hill is one of the highest points in Hall County with incredible 360 degree views.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “My favorite things about Hall County are the broadness and mixture of people here, the styles of our buildings, the amazing things to do so close by, new people that are moving here, and the dynamics of the community as a whole.”