2008 Business Plan
Walter Hobgood ( Express Personnel Services),
Chairman of the Board
| CHAMBER ADMINISTRATION
- Finance Committee will ensure fiscal responsibility
- U. S. Chamber Reaccreditation Task Force will strive for 5-Star status
- IMPACT 2012 Oversight Committee will ensure fiscal and program accountability
- Chamber CEO and staff will oversee high standards in office administration and technology management
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Business Expansion Division- Jeff Hanson
(Park Avenue Bank), Vice Chairman
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Targeted Business Expansion Committee (Chairman: Bill DeCoudres, Guardian Bank)
Support the development of 1,000 new jobs for college and university graduates by 2012 in the following targeted business clusters:
Information Technology (Co-Chairmen: Guy McDonald, CISCO Systems/Bernie Napier, Doctors Lab)
Environmental Technology (Co-Chairmen: Trey Fausett, RCS/Marshall Conner, Georgia Power)
Medical Services & Support (Co-Chairmen: Ralph Allen, VSU/Jack Edwards, SGMC)
Promote an attractive and viable community for young professionals through MetroOne (Co-Chairmen: Anne-Marie Wolff, City of Valdosta/Gala Jackson, VSU)
Partnership for Regional Development (Chairman: Jodi Doss, Jodi’s Accessories)
Coordinate quarterly lunch meetings with a speaker focusing on economic development for business and government leaders in a 6-county South Georgia Region
VALET (Valdosta And Lowndes Expansion Team) (Chairman: Jodi Doss, Jodi’s Accessories)
Coordinate semi-annual meetings of economic and business development professionals serving Lowndes County
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Member Services Division - David Newbern
(U.S. Press Direct), Vice Chairman
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Increase Chamber membership from 1,519 to 1,550
Increase membership retention rate from 84% to 86%
Improve membership marketing materials and incentive package
Survey membership quarterly
Identify resources needed by new members to help their new businesses be successful
Improve monthly ‘New Member Wake-Up Calls’
Marketing Committee (Chairman: Phyllis Royal, Full Circle Marketing)
Maximize impact of new Chamber brand and logo
Utilize in-kind media investments in IMPACT 2012 as effectively as possible
Expand coverage of programs and activities through press releases, media advisories and ‘Friday Story Ideas’
Update and upgrade Chamber Web site
Upgrade all Chamber publications with new brand and logo
Ambassadors Committee (Chairman: Carol Kimbrough, Bill Kimbrough New York Life)
Conduct 120 Ribbon Cuttings and Ground Breakings
Host four Early Bird Breakfasts, with an average of 200 in attendance
Salute to Minority-Owned Businesses
Salute to Small Businesses
Salute to World Class Employees
Salute to Manufacturers
Host 9 Business After Hours
Host Mid-Year Membership Meeting with 150 in attendance
Host Business<2>Business Showcase with 85 vendors and 700 visitors
Host Moody Appreciation Fun Fair with 75 vendors and 3,000 visitors
Existing Industry Committee (Chairman: Darrell Wilder, Georgia Power)
Conduct 14th annual BREP survey
Coordinate Salute to Manufacturers Early Bird Breakfast
Organize 3 industry tours
Assist manufacturers with labor availability and quality issues
Plant Managers Network (Chairman: Ken Ellington, Shaw Industries)
Coordinate quarterly meetings to discuss and address common challenges and opportunities
Member Services
Coordinate 6 Power Networking events with average participation of 20
Expand participation in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance Program to 80 members
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Economic Development Division - Terri Lupo
(Georgia Power), Vice Chairman
Home Grown Entrepreneurs Program Advisory Board (Chairman: Terri Lupo, Georgia Power)
Identify 10 ‘second-stage’ growth companies and determine needed resources
Identify needed steps to create an Angel Investor Network
Coordinate annual BIG Thinker Award
Coordinate Entrepreneurs In Action Resource Fair with 25 vendors and 200 visitors
Develop an RFP for a business incubator feasibility study
Coordinate Business Outlook 2008 with 125 in attendance
S.E.E.D.S. Center of South Georgia
Provide service to 500 clients in the 7-county service area
Assist 40 entrepreneurs in successfully starting a new business
Improve database, tracking system and communication with entrepreneurs
Professional Consultants Program (Chairman: Greg Reid, Edward Jones)
Provide 75 hours of free consultation to entrepreneurs and small businesses
Recruit 10 new Consultants
Business Plan Competition
Recruit 30 contestants for the 2009 award
Enhance prize package
Corporate Coaches
Create 5 new Coach/Entrepreneur pairings
Small Business Owners Network (Chairman: Jane Shelton, South Georgia Travel)
Coordinate monthly meetings of owners of small businesses (i.e., 15 or fewer employees) to discuss common challenges and opportunities
Leads Groups (Chairmen: Ed Dean, Enterprise Rent-A-Car/Greg Reid, Edward Jones)
Expand North Valdosta Leads Group and Monday Lunch Bunch to add 8 new sales generators to each group
Triple Crown Hometowns
Attract and relocate 80 retiree households
Host 3 retiree newcomer/Investor receptions
Update and upgrade the TCH Web site
Expand community awareness of TCH
Task Force to Study the Impacts of School System Organization on Economic Development in Our Community (Chairman: Rusty Griffin, Griffin Corp.)
Identify the degree to which having two separate school systems affects business recruitment, local development patterns, and employee recruitment
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Public Affairs Division - Tom Gooding
(Elliott, Blackburn, Barnes & Gooding), Vice Chairman
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Government Affairs Council (Chairman: Mark Wilson, Langdale Industries)
Federal Legislative Committee (Chairman: James McGahee, SGMC)
State Legislative Committee (Chairman: Mike Flynn, GPM)
Local Legislative Committee (Chairman: Brian Stadsvold, Chamber)
Identify Federal, State and Local legislative issues that impact the local business community, and aggressively promote those issues with elected officials
Coordinate activities such as the Washington, D.C. Trip, Legislative Eye-Opener Breakfast, and Legislative Overview Lunch to make members aware of business development issues
Co-host Lowndes County Bird Supper with Lowndes County and City of Valdosta
Co-host Legislative Forum with AAUW and others
Chamber Forum for Economic Development (Co-Chairmen: Walter Hobgood, Express Personnel Services/Tom Gooding, Elliott, Blackburn, Barnes & Gooding)
Host 2-4 lunch meetings to bring elected officials, business leaders, education leaders, and other economic development partners together to discuss business development issues in the community
Military Affairs Committee (Chairman: Brian Geary, ACE Electric)
Host 4 Red Carpet Parties to welcome Moody’s leadership to the community
Represent the business community at all Right Start Programs
Participate in Sports Day
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Workforce Development Division - Tim Jones
Ameris Bank), Vice Chairman
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B.E.S.T. (Business/Education Support Team) (Chairman: David Newbern, U.S. Press Direct)
Maintain current membership of 52 in ‘Make Education Work’
Co-sponsor the annual Literacy Fair
Coordinate the Business/Education Roundtable Discussion
Coordinate Executive Partnership with school administrators and business executives
Present CHOICES to 1,200 students
Workforce Development Committee (Chairman: Greg Justice, Regal Marine)
Expand and improve ‘Helping Your Child Succeed” for presentation to 400 parents in the workplace, and 375 TANF parents
Promote Work Ready program to businesses
Expand and improve ‘Boot Camp for First Time Supervisors,’ and create ‘Boot Camp for Experienced Supervisors’ and present to 100 supervisors
World Class Employee Recognition Program (Chairman: Jim Hickman, Langdale Forest Products)
Recruit 35 nominations
Present 4 $1,500 awards to employees with outstanding work ethics
Expand program to include special awards for all nominees
Coordinate Salute to World Class Employees Early Bird Breakfast
Develop criteria for 2009 awards for World Class Employers (Small, Medium and Large)
DRUGS DON’T WORK in South Georgia Program (Chairman: Katinka Hicks, American Drill Bushings)
Increase membership to 275
Enhance the prestige of the DDW Partner of the Year Award, with goal of 12 nominees
Conduct annual membership satisfaction survey, with goal of 20% response
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