Program of Work
2015 gps goals, plans & strategies greater greer chamber of commerce Business/Community Development Vice Chair: Mikelle Porter, Greenville Technical College Chamber Leads Group • Strengthen the Leads Group by growing the number and quality of referrals shared while also hosting venues centered on successful sales strategies PULSE • It is my honor to accept the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce Chairmanship for the year of 2015. As a small business owner, I represent 85% of our members, but as a leader, I hope to represent 100% of you. A resounding thank you goes to all who worked hard to determine our goals, plans, and strategies for the coming year. I truly believe that if each of these goals is reached by the end of 2015, then not only our member businesses but also our entire community will be better for it. How can we accomplish these goals? By holding true to the values at our core. Enhance relationship with PULSE and continue to utilize the partnership to market the Greer product to the young professional demographic Keep the Green in Greater Greer • • Grow the program by $50,000 in 2015, bringing the total economic impact of the program to $260,000 Develop new initiatives to support local spending and local economic growth Business Recognition Series • Continue the small business recognition series by honoring a small business of the quarter and a small business of the year Public Safety Appreciation Dinner • Honor the City of Greer public safety professionals who work so diligently to provide a safe and secure place to live, work and play As we develop our businesses and our community, we will strive to increase their effectiveness and usefulness to others. As we work towards membership excellence, we need to become even more zealous and enthusiastic about our Chamber. In our leadership development, we want to build our integrity and see even greater success. In our legislative affairs, we must ensure justice and fairness. And in our events, we should emphasize our families and our community values. Minority Business Outreach and Support In closing, I would like to remind you as your chairman, and on behalf of all the board members, that we are here to serve you. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call on us. • Sincerely, • • Workforce Development Greer Day In... A new initiative to showcase valuable and unique assets of our community such as “Greer Day at the Inland Port.” This program will be a partnership with the Greer Development Corporation and the City of Greer Business Roundtables/Trainings/Resources • • Mark King 2015 Chairman of the Board Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce Work with the leaders of the minority community to provide additional offerings to meet the specific needs of the minority business community Partner with the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to offer the Empowerment Series taught in Spanish Continue to offer timely information on topics of interest to the business community Enhance First Friday luncheon continue to offer educational and informative programs Workforce Education Outreach • Partner with local schools to bring Workforce education and showcase different careers to the students Economic Development • • • Partner with Greer Development Corporation and any other local economic development entities to compliment their efforts and fill in economic development gaps as appropriate Awards Committee to evaluate and nominate deserving businesses for various awards and recognition Develop specific surveys to best understand the needs of our members and business community Communications • Develop a community communications committee with the goal of creating a community-wide marketing plan Membership Excellence Vice Chair: Chris Crist, Owens Insurance Member Recruitment and Retention • • • • • • Maintain an 84% membership retention rate Update and improve retention plan emphasizing membership engagement Ensure maximum return on investment by continually evaluating the member benefits Demonstrate value of sponsorship by presenting a “Marketing Impressions Report” to every major sponsor Develop a volunteer led membership engagement program Grow the Chamber by adding businesses/organizations to serve existing members Niche Networking • • Engage potential and current members through the Pelham Power Breakfasts, Handshakes and Hash Browns and Tailored for Taylors initiatives Utilize these initiatives to foster and build meaningful business relationships Chamber 101 • Provide members a brief and informative session on how to maximize the return on their membership investment by explaining member programs, services, benefits and events Membership Engagement • Continue the pace of 100+ networking events per year. Continually monitor all offerings to make sure each and every member need is met • Track membership engagement to enhance the member experience and ensure maximum return on investment Leadership Development Vice Chair: Donny Kauffman, cultivate Leadership Greer • • • Offer professional/leadership development enrichment above and beyond traditional leadership program offerings Instill a sense of community pride and a commitment to service and volunteerism within each participant Continue to seek out high quality facilitators to offer participants high quality leadership and professional development Junior Leadership Greer • Select and graduate emerging leaders within area high schools and stimulate awareness of the community’s needs. • Instill a sense of community pride and commitment to service and volunteerism within each participant Community Challenge • Leadership Greer and Junior Leadership Greer will compete to see which leadership program can generate more volunteerism and community service Ensuring Futures Committee • Identify emerging leaders in the community and dedicate discussions to relevant topics and create a continued leadership pipeline pipeline Legislative Affairs Vice Chair: Donna smith, Berkshire hathaway c. dan joyner realtors • • • Utilize the resources of the business community, the Chamber and the Upstate Chamber Coalition to advance the Chamber’s 2015 Legislative Agenda Report on the agenda’s accomplishments at the conclusion of the session Communicate business legislative issues of concern to the Greer business community • • • • • Provide access to elected officials through various forums and events Receive routine updates (electronically and in person) from the Chamber’s lobbying team Support “Greer Day” in Columbia – a one day trip to Columbia, SC to learn about the legislative process and to communicate business needs to state legislators and officials Maintain contacts in Washington, DC to communicate the Chamber’s federal legislative issues of concern Partner with various organizations to advance the legislative interests of Chamber members and the Greer community as a whole Greer Events Vice Chair: Rudy Painter, Countybanc Insurance • • • Utilize the Greer Family Festival and the Greer Station Oktoberfest, in conjunction with the Greer Station Association, to market Greer as a destination point to visitors and promote tourism Provide a sizeable local economic impact by bringing thousands of “customers” to the Greer area Conduct an Economic Impact Study to provide valuable data for the importance of the Greer Family Fest and Greer Station Oktoberfest executive BOARD Chairman of the Board Mark King King Consulting Vice Chair-Business/Community Development Mikelle Porter Greenville Technical College Chair-Elect Rosylin Weston GSP International Airport Vice Chair-Community Events Rudy Painter Countybanc Insurance, Inc. Vice Chair-Finance William Marcus The Palmetto Bank Vice Chair-Legislative Affairs Donna Smith Berkshire Hathaway - C. Dan Joyner Realtors Vice Chair-Membership Excellence Chris Crist Owens Insurance Agency Vice Chair-Leadership Donny Kauffman Cultivate General Counsel Brian Martin Brian A. Martin, Attorney at Law Director Ann Angermeier Upstate Workforce Investment Board Immediate Past Chairman Ken Harper Countybank Director April Staggs Greer State Bank Partnership for Tomorrow Chairman Larry Wilson Community Leader Director John Mansure Greer Memorial Hospital Director Tony Kouskolekas Pelham Medical Center board of ADVISORS Russell Ashmore Ashmore Brothers Roy Z. Chamlee Michelin North America, Inc. Ed Driggers City of Greer Melanie Bargar Greer Middle College Charter High School Mayor Rick Danner City of Greer Dave Edwards GSP International Airport Skip Davenport D&D Motors David Eill Leadership Greer President Church at Greer Station Wayne Bobo Century 3, Inc. Margaret Burch Greater Greer Education Foundation George Burdette Greer State Bank Reno Deaton Greer Development Corporation Rob DeHollander DeHollander and Janse Financial Group William Grady Grady’s Cleaning Services Rose Marchek Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Inc. Dean Hybl Ten at the Top Mike Pennington Pulse Chair Rhino Concessions Adele Langford Langford Electric, Inc. Roberta Evans BMW Manufacturing Co. Chuck Langston Langston Black Real Estate Lisa Garland Stomping Grounds Coffee & Wine Bar Anna Locke A.T. Locke Jeffrey M. Tuttle Greer Commission of Public Works All Past Chairmen All Executive Board Members chamber staff Debbie Bateman Director of Accounting Patty Cornelius Director of Administration Nikki Crabtree Director of Membership Engagement Jodi Fortenberry Director of Membership Development Mark Owens President/CEO Lynn Pascazio Director of Leadership Development Katie Witherspoon Director of Communications & Events 111 Trade Street • Greer, SC 29651 • Phone (864)877-3131 • Fax (864) 877.0961 • www.greerchamber.com “The Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to champion economic prosperity for our members and the Greater Greer community.”
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