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
•
•
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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
•
•
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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
•
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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.”