2018 Annual Report - Columbia County Chamber of Commerce

2018 Annual Report

FROM THE 2018 CHAIRMAN Dear Members, Serving as your Chairman for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce in 2018 was a tremendous experience. I would like to thank the Board of Directors for electing me to represent them. It is a humbling honor that I did not take lightly. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Chamber staff, as well as all committee members and volunteers for their work to provide our members with one of the best chambers in the nation.

We are definitely blessed to live and work in a region with a growing business sector, excellent schools, wonderful healthcare, as well as a strong arts and leisure community, and the best military installation in the country. Your Columbia County Chamber certainly plays a role in this, but we are not alone. Therefore, I would like to also thank our community partners for the collaboration and synergy that helps us accomplish our mission.

This includes, but is not limited to, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, the Development Authority of Columbia County, the Columbia County Board of Education, the Columbia County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Fort Gordon, as well as other chambers in our region. We all serve under the premise that what is good for one is good for all, and I am honored to be a part of that.

As I reflect back on 2018 accomplishments, I am proud to report that your Columbia County Chamber created a Political Action Committee, held a record number of ribbon cuts for our members, and began work on a Career and College Expo that will identify and help provide local employers with a qualified workforce.

Throughout the year, as I communicated with members, I was often asked about the time commitment that the Chairman role requires. I was always truthful and replied that it is a significant time commitment, but I do believe you make time for the things in life that are important to you. I say that simply to say that you, as the membership, are important to me and I hope that was evident in my time in leadership. Although it may have been long hours, we did manage to squeeze in a little fun along the way!

In closing, I would also like to congratulate Ed Burr with University Health Care System on being elected to serve as the 2019 Chairman, and I’m confident he’ll make decisions that are in the best interests of our business community.

Sincerely, Robbie Moore 2018 Chairman, Board of Directors

2018 OUR NUMBERS STRATEGIC PILLARS Goal 1: Operational Excellence Goal 2: Membership Development Goal 3: Government Affairs and Advocacy Goal 4: Leadership and Talent Development Chamber Achievements

Total Membership: 954 New Members: 140 New Total Ribbon Cuts: 85 Chairman’s Circle Members: 96 (for $151,900.00 total) Satisfied Participants at Events: 3944 Leadership Columbia County 2018 Graduates: 28 Alumni: 342 graduates and 161 active

■ Hosted a membership appreciation event, Under the Stars, at the Augusta Symphony Concert Youth Leadership Graduates: 30 ■ Improved Ambassador Committee to strengthen retention efforts Women on the Way (WOW) Graduates: ■ Developed a branding strategy focused on Driving Business ■ Promotion of Shop Small and Small Business Saturday Committee Volunteers: 173 ■ The Chairman’s 12 @ 12 membership focus group ■ Strengthen collaborative partnerships for community development ■ Hosted Candidates Forum for Columbia County Commission and Education Races ■ Positions on major legislation HB 843: Supported Tax credits for census tract adjacent to military or industrial park HB 181 & SB 371: Supported the Transparency on Sales Tax Information HR 993: Creation of a State Wide Business Court SB 315: Opposed, Computer Crimes of unauthorized access

Member Demographic

Chamber Foundation & Workforce and Education Accomplishments ■ Strengthen Board of Directors ■ Increased revenue through Grants ■ Added “Top Columbia County School Administrations” to Teachers In Business program ■ Developed strong relationship between business members and schools at Principal for a Day ■ Announced the Career and College Expo Event for 2019

Chamber PAC Accomplishments ■ Creation of the Chamber Political Action Committee in September 2018 ■ Led the passage of the County’s Redevelopment Powers Referendum on the November 2018 ballot

60%

within Columbia County

40% outside the county

12

2018 Board of Directors Executive Board

Robbie Moore Chair, Blanchard and Calhoun Insurance

Ed Burr Chair-Elect, University Health Care System

Shawn Vincent Immediate Past Chair, Augusta University

Beth McLeod Secretary, Fulcher Hagler, LLC

Reagan Williams Treasurer, Meybohm Real Estate

Robert Amos At-Large, Cartridge World

Rick Logsdail At-Large, Nutritional Resources, Inc./Healthwise

Board of Directors

Bill Bates Savannah River National Laboratory

Elizabeth Lamb Doctors Hospital

Kerry Bridges Georgia Power Company

Marty Matfess SIG Management

Pat Brown John Deere Commercial Products

Pat Goodwin Blanchard and Calhoun Realtor

Yvonne Meeks SRP Federal Credit Union

Mike Oates WRDW-TV Ch. 12 & 26

Adam Harris Queensborough National Bank & Trust

Jordan Pierce First Community Bank

Mark Herbert Herbert Homes, Inc.

Robert Kelly Augusta Staffing Associates

Bob Kendra Kendra Financial Group/New York Life

Brian King Perfect Health

Samantha Stough Costco Wholesale

Joe Todd PlanDwell, Inc./Stone & Story, LLC

Janeabeth Wells Columbia County Board of Commissioners

Adam Williams Cleveland Group CPAs

Chamber Professionals Tammy Shepherd, President/CEO Tiffany Heitzman, Vice President Sabrina Griffin, Events & Programs Manager Joey Warren, Communications Manager Darrell Butler, Member Relations Manager Olivia Reich, Member Services Specialist Kelly Starkey, Administrative Assistant

Sarah Hare, Bookkeeper Beth Frits, Leadership Programs Coordinator Robbie King, Membership Sales Representative Paige Allen, Membership Sales Representative Nicole Khayyam, Work-Based Learning Student June Glisson, Senior Volunteer

MISSION We are a member driven and business focused organization advocating economic growth in the Greater Augusta region.

VISION STATEMENT We work to ensure and promote the beneficial growth of our community. The economic well-being of our business community is the guiding force in the planning and development of programs, services and initiatives. We look forward to a future filled with significant growth and economic prosperity for all current and potential residents. This success is achieved through building strong partnerships with our community leaders and the organizations they represent.

1000 Business Boulevard, Evans, GA 30809

ColumbiaCountyChamber.com

706-651-0018 (Phone)

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706-651-0023 (Fax)