Annual Impact Report
2019
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WELCOME An open message from the Board of Directors: Serving as the Chair of the Columbia Chamber Board of Directors requires a commitment to helping advance the Chamber’s mission to be the unified voice of our regional business community and to promote an environment where businesses can flourish. Bringing that mission to life involves an intricate and deliberate approach in which the Chamber must think differently in order to create effective solutions to help Partners achieve success.
This year, the greater Columbia region earned the “Great American Defense Community Award” given by the American Defense Community Association. This is a highly competitive process. Receiving the award was a moment of pride for us and it has great meaning for service members and their families. The military is deeply interwoven in the fabric of our community and we provide a great value for military service men and women and their families.
We all want the greater Midlands area to become a destination region and one where businesses thrive. The “we” being defined as businesses, elected officials, colleges and universities, government, and residents. Naturally, success for each entity may be defined differently. However, it is through the Chamber’s continued efforts and the Forward, Together strategic initiative, that we continue to work to improve the business ecosystem in the region so we all realize measurable accomplishments.
The information contained in this Annual Report provides a brief look at the successes of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, as well as a look at 2020. We invite you to join us as we move our community, our city and our region to the next level.
Kim Wilkerson Chair, Board of Directors
David Lockwood Immediate Past Chair
POWER PARTNERS Pinnacle Level
The Columbia Chamber’s Power Partners are a group of businesses in the Midlands who are dedicated to improving the business climate. These Partners provide an additional leadership base for the Chamber’s Board of Directors, committees, and programs.
Visionary Level
Chairman Level
Ambassador Level Partners: 6AM City, LLC Aflac AT&T CMC Steel South Carolina Colonial Life
Founders Federal Credit Union Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. McNair Law Firm, P.A. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP Palmetto GBA
Providence Health Southeastern Freight Lines The State Media Company Walmart
Executive Level: AECOM AgFirst Farm Credit Bank AllSouth Federal Credit Union Amazon Baker & Baker, Real Estate Developers, LLC Belk Bridgestone/Firestone Complete Auto Care Chernoff Newman Coldwell Banker United, Realtors Columbia Marriott Correct Care of SC, LLC Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers EDENS Elliott Davis Decosimo, LLC Enterprise Leasing Company First Community Bank
Fisher & Phillips, LLP FN America Johnson Food Services Lexington Medical Center Lowe’s LTC Health Solutions MasterCard Metso Minerals MidlandsBiz Profiles, LLC Mungo Homes NAI Avant, LLC Nephron Pharmaceuticals Nexsen Pruet, LLC Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Palmetto SolarPros Panera Bread Pruitt Health of Blythewood
Publix Super Markets, Inc. PurePOWER Technologies, LLC Rogers Townsend Schneider Electric Seibels Shaw Industries, Inc. South Carolina Federal Credit Union South State Bank Southern First Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, L.L.C. Terminix Service, Inc. Trane – Columbia Center of Excellence Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney, P.A. University of South Carolina Virginia College Waste Management of South Carolina
2019-2020 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
GENERAL COUNSEL
CHAIR - ELECT
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN
PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
PARTNER RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Kim Wilkerson Bank of America, U.S. Trust
Tim Arnold Colonial Life
David Lockwood Colliers International
John Griggs Synovus
Frederick Crawford Richardson Plowden Attorneys at Law
Ashleigh Wilson Bowman and Brooke
Mark James Cypress Development Partners, LLC
Chris Zimmer BB&T
Members: Mike Brenan – BB&T Holt Chetwood – Wells Fargo Andy Folsom – BlueCross BlueShield Of South Carolina John Folsom – Midlands Business Leadership Group Jean Cecil Frick – NP Strategy Felicia Howard – Dominion Energy Scott McClelland – Elliott David, LLC Heather Mitchell – Boudreaux Group, Inc.
2019-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board Members: Diplomat Link Chair: Davis Bryant – Richland County Leadership Columbia Advisory Board Chair: Rachel Popkowski – Livingston Insurance Company Leadership Columbia Alumni Association Advisory Board Chair: Henry Simons – City of Columbia Military Affairs Chair: Scot Fischer – FN America, LLC Small Business Council Chair: Jared Clary – Splash Omnimedia Members: John Boyd -Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. – USC – President’s Office Ted Creech- J. Ted Creech Enterprises, LLC Hilary Dyer Brannon – USC – Department of Student Life Brett Edwards – Enterprise Holdings Bill Ellen – Midlands Authority for Convention, Sports, & Tourism Benjamin Green – Insurance Advantage Michael Gula – Columbia Metropolitan Airport Ron Harvey – Global Core Strategies & 08 Consulting
Will Holmes – PNC Financial Services Group Matt Kennell – City Center Partnership, Inc David Kirkpatrick – South State Bank Bill Kirkland – USC – Office of Economic Engagement JT McLawhorn – Columbia Urban League Brian Morris – Fulcrum Risk Solutions Dr. Ronald Rhames – Midlands Tech College John Welsh – First Citizens Bank
MEET THE CHAMBER TEAM
Carl Blackstone
Henri Baskins
Ashleigh Pair Conner
Rose Dangerfield
President & CEO
Executive Vice President
Vice President of Development
Vice President of Communications & Marketing
Susan Vaughan McPherson
Chelsey Allen
Michael Driggers
Partner Relations Coordinator
Director of Public Policy & Military Affairs
Director of Talent Development & Partner Relations Coordinator
Anna Peterson
Communications Specialist
Partner Development Representative
Hilary Bell
Events Coordinator
Audra Hawisher
Signed the second class of student apprentices for Midlands Youth Apprenticeship Program with three businesses participating
111 new Partners joined the Chamber
CONNECT: We provide opportunities for growth through networking and education
Conducted 17 ribbon cuttings and business celebrations
62 graduates of Leadership Columbia in the 46th class
Partner Engagements average attendance grew to 82 people
social
unite
partners
relate
contact
ally
networking
network
join
CONNECT
bridge
links
ENGAGE: We share a vision for the future, while attracting, retaining, and expanding business
Largest Small Business Week press conference yet with 40+ businesses in attendance
Introduced Northeast Connection with 71 in attendance at kick-off
Chamber’s Facebook account followers exceeded 5,000
Military Outreach Group meetings grew to over 100+ in attendance
1,000 people visited Fort Jackson each week supporting area businesses
expand enlist relate
appoint
share
acknowledge
captivate
involve
retain
utilize share
invite
ENGAGE employ
IMPACT: We create an environment for sustained prosperity and future success through public policy and advocacy
Five community Partners were instrumental in helping earn the “Most Military Friendly Community Award” given by the American Defense Community. Those Partners include WIS-TV Year of the Veteran program; University of South Carolina Veterans Program; USO SC, and Fort Jackson’s Spousal Support Program and the Education Program with Richland School District One
Over 120 organizations actively supported the work of the Chamber’s Military Outreach Group
influence
decision
IMPACT
The Leadership Columbia Alumni Association Women’s Leadership Luncheon was sold out with more than 100 attendees
prosperity
payoff results
fruition
outcome
development
The Chamber, along with the Building Industry of Central South Carolina, South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association and Central Carolina REALTORSÂŽ Association endorsed five candidates in local elections and three of them won
TRANSFORM: We enrich our community and build a world-class region
The Chamber hosted 10 Issues Forums on topics ranging from economic development, local school district updates and school board elections, and updates on the Saluda River walk
reconstruc t
translate remodel
renew
convert
revolutionize
transparency
t r a n s fi g u re
revamp
Monthly Partner retention rates averaged over 80%, which is higher than the national average
TRANSFORM
EVENTS MONTHLY
ANNUAL
Chamber Issues Forum First Tuesday of the Month Richland Library
Public Policy Reception January 9, 2020 5:00 – 7:00 PM Columbia Museum of Art
Partner Engagement Second Thursday of the Month Visit columbiachamber.com for locations Small Business Breakout Fourth Friday of the Month Columbia Chamber Northeast Connection Second Tuesday of the Month Visit columbiachamber.com for locations
QUARTERLY Partner Orientation February 5, April 22, August 26, and October 28, 2020 Columbia Chamber Military Outreach Group February 25, May 26, August 25, and November 17, 2020 Rosewood Building, SC State Fairgrounds
Palmetto Business Expo January 16, 2020 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Cantey Building - State Fairgrounds CIA Awards February 20, 2020 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Columbia Marriott 35th Annual Golf Tournament April 30, 2020 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fort Jackson Golf Club Small Business Week May 3 - 9, 2020 118th Annual Gala October 1, 2020 Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center