Issuu

JULY

STRATEGIC PLAN

2023 2025 TO DECEMBER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mission Vision

SWOT Analysis

Organizational Sustainability

Leadership

Workforce

Business to Business

Work Plan

09-11

Katie Chastain facilitated and created the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan in partnership with the team at Imagine Thomasville. The Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber's Board of Directors, along with Chamber staff, participated in the planning session. National and state Chamber trends were provided by the Georgia Association for Chamber of Commerce Executives, along with the US Chamber of Commerce.

TOGETHER, WE ARE

The convener of opportunity. Mission Together, the PDA and Chamber are dedicated to providing opportunities for connecting business and building community through perspectives of the past, value of today, and imagination for tomorrow. Vision To serve as the trusted catalyst for business in Thomasville and Thomas County.

SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Membership structure and "buy

501c6 structure limits revenue

in" from members and partners.

streams

Experienced leadership in

Small staff to run robust

Executive Director

program calendar

Engaged and well connected

Staff diversity

Board of Directors, representing key business areas Leadership Thomas program Workforce Plan engagement and leadership in community Podcast and Chamber Connects serve as real "connection point"

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

Go-to source for leadership

Connection with PDA's political

development.

structure can create instability in the

Leadership Alumni base to spur

Imagine Thomasville partnership

other programs.

National shift in relevance of

Chamber network to understand

Chamber of Commerce and other

best practices

civic organizations

Podcast as tool for growing status of

Low Generativity (propensity and

members

willingness to engage in acts that

Board members to grow

promote well-being of future

engagement

generations

Organizational Sustainability EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Having experienced leadership at both the Director position and Board level, Imagine Thomasville is in an ideal position to strategically map growth. The organization has successfully worked through COVID challenges and successfully developed a tiered membership structure. Over the past five years, the organization has tested and refined programming and is now ready to move from the Research and Development phase to Growth phase. Nationally, Chambers are creating 501c3 Foundations to help augment and support their programming. Under the leadership of Andrea Collins, the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber has shifted from being driven by networking events to programming to serve member needs, as well as a public good. Given the growth of the leadership and workforce development programs, particularly for under-served populations, there is opportunity to gain more grant funding with the creation of an affiliated foundation. The other goals are dependent upon the success of this initiative, so priority should be given to its successful creation and implementation. The support of Workforce Plan initiatives may help build buy-in and and understanding of the "why" behind the creation of another non-profit in Thomasville.

GOAL 1: BUILD SUSTAINABLE REVENUE STREAMS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS Use Chamber network to identify 2-3 appropriate grants to fund leadership or workforce development programs Write 1023 application to create adjacent 501c3 structure Create mission-aligned fundraiser through Chamber Travel program (Consider Domestic and Abroad)

GOAL 2: CREATE RIGHT-SIZED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Design ideal organizational and staffing structure Use industry standards to create budget to support a competitive staffing structure Identify/raise funds to support the structure Hire/develop internal capacity to meet structure needs (Workforce Director and Membership Manager)

GOAL 3: LEVERAGE BOARD STRENGTH FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS Use annual Board retreat to keep Board up-to-date with programs, review organizational performance, and set Board engagement goals Conduct Annual Performance Reviews of Executive Director. Consider incentive pay structure to meet performance goals Set Board engagement goals (i.e. host "patio talks" with Board Members' circles, ensure all members receive text messages, share FB posts/podcasts, Use LinkedIn)

Organizational Sustainability PROPOSED STRUCTURING GOAL

CHAMBER BOARD

FOUNDATION BOARD (TBD)

CHAMBER + FOUNDATION DIRECTOR

PROGRAMS + MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

OPERATIONS MANAGER

PDA BOARD

PDA DIRECTOR

WORKFORCE DIRECTOR (HIRED Q4 2024)

MEMBERSHIP MANAGER (HIRE AS ABLE)

Leadership EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: As the longest running program of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber, the Leadership Thomas program continues to be a keystone program for the organization. There has been an increase in applicants this year, as well as a more diverse participant pool. The Chamber's mission to "connect businesses and build community" is exemplified through this program and its alumni base can be used to build and support new and existing programs. Staff has already initiated building on the popular Emergenetics component to provide member businesses a high-level leadership development program. Custom corporate training modules like this should be developed as an additional revenue stream.

GOAL 1: CREATE QUALITY "EXTENSIONS" TO EXISTING TO LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS Find a 2nd Year program option for iLEAD graduates wanting to continue in program (consider running program locally one year and through program partner in year two). See 21CL for potential program partner. Consider LT Scouts program for 4-day domestic travel to "sister cities" to learn how other cities approach identified challenges (Blueprint 2028 "Competitive Council" goal) Leverage social media to maintain network of engaged alumni (LT Alumni FB page, Linked In Badges?)

GOAL 2: DEVELOP EMERGE PROGRAM AS ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAM Get two staff trained in Emergenetics or similar program Secure quarterly corporate leadership training customers Create custom Emerge programs for bridging local government groups (City Council and County Commissioners, City and County School Board)

emerge LEADERSHIP for TEAMS

Workforce EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: By leading the engagement with Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Imagine Thomasville elevated its status as the connector of school and business and a thought leader in Workforce Development. This is the primary area Chambers are growing their "service," however its continued development will rely on additional revenue streams, as well as strong relationships with Education Providers. The development of program pieces in this area (School to Business, Project Purpose, Innovation Day) will either require additional staffing or strong partner reliance.

GOAL 1: USE WORKFORCE PLAN TO GUIDE COMMUNITY ACTION AROUND INITIATIVES Use Longest Table event to raise awareness and build solution-oriented engagement around "pinch points. Identify funding to create dynamic, editable web page for Workforce Plan communication and goal tracking (Consider a trade) Implement online goal measurement system

GOAL 2: CREATE STAFFING STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT ROBUST WORKFORCE PROGRAMS Hire Summer Intern to annually update Workforce Plan resources and KPIs Fund full-time Workforce Director position, responsible for grant writing and running Workforce programs

GOAL 3: DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT SCHOOL AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES Grow engagement in School to Business Summit Continue to increase quality and quantity of participation and programming in Project Purpose (to include Shadow Day, Career Awareness Videos, etc) Promote partnership with SRTC Innovation Director to support Innovation Day and FLEX Entrepreneurship program

school business SUMMIT

THE

WORKFORCE PLAN

Business Development EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Business Development programs serve as a primary "ROI" benefit for members. Current programs have been recently redesigned to serve current business needs and have seen a tremendous bounce back since COVID drops. As in other areas, current programs have been thoughtfully and responsively designed and should just continue to be refined. Adding additional programs will require new staff and revenue.

GOAL 1: LEVERAGE PODCAST TO HIGHLIGHT MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS AND INNOVATIONS Invest in developing staff capacity to record and promote podcasts across platforms (Consider trade with someone) Ensure podcasts are relevant, timely, and optimized for sharing Include podcast in social media calendar and update Board during monthly meeting of upcoming episodes to listen and share

GOAL 2: INVEST IN HIGH QUALITY MARKETING OF CURRENT PROGRAMS Continue use of video and high quality photography to commemorate Ribbon Cuttings, CIA, Chamber Connects, etc and create "shareable" value to members Use Board and Alumni networks to develop programs and generate interest

GOAL 3: PROMOTE FACILITY USE AS A PHYSICAL CONNECTION POINT FOR BUSINESS LEADERS Encourage Board and LT Alumni to use their membership perk of facility usage to bring people together to host informal events Share event on social channels (let people think this is the place where business ideas come together)

chamber

CONNECTS

Work Plan

GROWTH IS NEVER BY MERE CHANCE; IT IS THE RESULT OF FORCES WORKING TOGETHER. -James Cash Penney