Chamber News

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is stepping into its next decade with its annual banquet. The chamber celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. Preceding the evening banquet will be a special afternoon reception tomorrow, introducing Heath Taylor, the new Chamber President and CEO.  “To celebrate the chamber and what we’ve done and really highlight Heath and welcoming him on board and letting people have an opportunity to come shake his hand and welcome him back to the community,” incoming Chamber Board President Helen Caldwell told ABD. Heath Taylor stepped

The public will have a chance later this week to weigh in on Columbia County’s vision for the future. A public hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 29 for the draft proposal of the Foundations for the Future Comprehensive Plan.  Georgia requires local governments to update their comprehensive plan every five years. The Columbia County Chamber is working on its five-year plan as well. Scott Sterling is working on the five-year plan for the Columbia County government.  He is the Planning Services Division Director and explained the process for ABD.

Chambers of Commerce are winding down the current year and preparing for 2026, with a changing of the guard on their boards of directors. The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s current board president is Neil Gwynne, owner of the Poolwerx Augusta franchise. Gwynne served as chair as the chamber prepared for its 20th anniversary. “Somebody recently said to me that chambers are all about planting trees that you never get to sit underneath and get the shade from. And if I can help this chamber, plant those trees, and continue

The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered in the Palmetto State. A major consolidation of two business-centric organizations will go into effect soon in South Carolina. Effective January 1, 2026, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) will combine into one entity. It will be called South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce (SCMC). “This merger represents far more than the joining of two entities. It represents a louder, stronger, and more forward-thinking voice for business and industry in South Carolina,” said Chamber Chairman Thomas Rhodes.

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and North Augusta Chamber are now accepting applications for upcoming leadership classes. Business and area leaders are encouraged to apply for the Columbia County Chamber program before the April 18th deadline. Leadership Columbia County (LCC) is designed to expose participants to the opportunities and challenges facing our community while promoting and fostering the development of leaders who are committed to shaping the future of our Region. The Class of 2026 will be led by program Chair Rhonda Banks (LCC ’10), Interim Associate Vice President at

Circa 2005, I vividly remember a meeting at the Sunrise Grille in Martinez with the first Columbia County Chamber President, Gordon Renshaw, and a few of his volunteers. Over scrambled eggs and home-fried potatoes, they talked with me about helping them sell memberships as a help to the community. Fast forward to the modern-day Chamber—there have been two full-time employees growing the membership! 20 years ago, the scrappy Columbia County Chamber was the stepchild in town to the well-established Augusta Metro Chamber. I even sensed some friction and a bit

The Georgia Chamber Foundation has published its annual report of where the state stands and what to anticipate in the future. Called the 2025 Economic Competitiveness Redbook, or Redbook for short, it breaks down every segment of Geogia, with demographics, business applications, international competitiveness, and transportation among the topics. “Our goal is to continue to provide valuable business intelligence and long-term forecasting for your business. Having access to high-quality data will enable strategic decision-making by Georgia business and elected leaders to sustain Georgia’s record-breaking economic success,” said Daniela Perry, Executive

Almost every leading business publication in America has written about the perks of coffee in the workplace, from improved creativity and communication to increased motivation and morale. From February 1 through the end of March, the focus will be “Go Green for Caffeine” a two-month initiative to encourage eco-conscious coffee consumption. Three local coffee shops are participating including Goat Kick Coffee Co., Harlem Java House, and Ubora Coffee. Each participating coffee shop has implemented unique sustainability initiatives, demonstrating their commitment to a greener future by: Utilizing reusable cups for product

The President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce traveled to Texas to present her 2025 State of American Business address. Suzanne Clark stepped away from the Chamber headquarters in Washington, D. C. to emphasize the fact that, in her words, all business is local. “Because the economic growth that powers people’s lives comes from cities and regions and states where private enterprise, supported by smart public policy, drives progress and creates opportunity,” said Clark. “And that kind of public-private partnership not only helps propel thriving communities but helps

The Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce (GABCC) is preparing to host an annual Resource Business Fair and is calling for vendors to participate. This marks the third year the Chamber is sponsoring the event. Shagraila Hammond, GABCC Program Manager, told ABD the first was December 2023 and the second in April 2024. They chose February this year, making it the kick-off to the Chamber’s yearly activities. “It is essentially something that was created through a program that we had running in 2023 where we wanted to put everything that

As 2024 begins to wind down, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is looking ahead to programs for 2025. One of the largest will be the Business Expo which will be held Jan. 9 at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. Russell Lahodny, President and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber, told ABD this inaugural event was prompted by a request from Columbia County. “Columbia County came to us and asked us, ‘Would you want to do a business expo and we said, ‘Why not?’” he explained. “With the way we

Even though several thousand residents remain without power, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is working towards a return to normal. The Chamber’s Political Action Committee is moving forward with its plans to host a Meet and Greet, featuring area candidates vying for crucial positions in the upcoming November election. Members of the community are invited to the event to be held this evening, Thursday, October 10th at Greenbrier High School at 6:00 PM. Doors to the auditorium will be open to the public free of charge at 5:30 PM.

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will host its Executive Luncheon Series, on Wednesday, August 7, at Savannah Rapids Pavilion from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Networking and lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the program will start at noon. The speaker will be Donny Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Workforce Officer of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. The highlight will be a discussion on how they are reimagining workforce development. Jones leads all workforce development efforts of the Chamber, serving as Executive Director of the Region 3 Workforce Development

Three area Chamber managers have recently completed the Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. W. James Allen, IOM Director of Member Engagement of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 credit hours of course instruction in non-profit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours towards the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified

Growth with a new mission coming to the Savannah River Site (SRS) will impact communities across the CSRA. That was information Dennis Carr, president and CEO of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), shared at the Nov. 9 Good Morning North Augusta breakfast, sponsored by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce. Carr began with an overview of recent operations and missions at the site. Currently, there are more than 25,500 people working on the site. That includes SRS employees, the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management, the National Nuclear Security Administration,

One local government is increasing taxes and salaries. North Augusta City Council members voted on Nov. 6 on a series of ordinances, including the final budget for FY 2024, the tax millage rate, and the water and wastewater fees. The city’s consolidated budget for 2024 is just over $54.5 million, an increase of 8.14% from this year’s almost $50.3 million spending package. Mayor Britton Williams said the budget is the outgrowth of a council retreat held earlier this year. Department heads were asked to submit growth expectations over the next

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will host its bi-annual Legislative Breakfast presented by AT&T on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. The Legislative Breakfast will feature a panel discussion with Columbia County State Senate and House Representatives moderated by WJBF News Channel 6 Anchor Brad Means. The state leaders scheduled to attend include Senator Max Burns, Senator Lee Anderson, Representative Barry Fleming, Representative Jodi Lott, Representative Mark Newton, and Representative Rob Leverett. The delegation will highlight key issues they plan to work

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce 2023 Grassroots tour rolled into Good Morning, North Augusta, the October 12 breakfast sponsored by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce. The members of the North Augusta business community had the chance to voice their opinions on the Palmetto State’s business needs. Bob Morgan, President and CEO of the state chamber said the purpose of the tour is to have local business leaders discuss issues that become part of the legislative process. “To give you the opportunity to be a voice of businesspeople from

This year’s Columbia County Chamber honoree has roots that run deep in the CSRA. Kate Sanders is a graduate of Lakeside High School and the University of Georgia. She is the Chief Marketing Strategist for Alison South Marketing Group. Sanders is also active with non-profit groups and currently the Board Chairman of the American Red Cross in Augusta. And, just nine days before being honored, she gave birth to her third child. “I couldn’t have done any of this without a whole lot of help, and a whole lot of

Perseverance, hard work, and customer service were the common theme of three CSRA business leaders honored as Trailblazers at the 114th annual Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce meeting on Feb. 23. The Chamber hosted a panel discussion of three entrepreneurs who started iconic CSRA businesses: Larry Jones, founder of Universal Plumbing; Vera Stewart, founder of the Very Vera cooking empire; and Ray Carnes, founder of recteq grills. WJBF News Channel 6 anchor, Brad Means moderated the discussion about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Jones went from growing

You may not know exactly what imposter syndrome is, but you’re probably familiar with its symptoms, which include feelings of unworthiness that plague you, despite the praise you receive from others. That was the topic of this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Program, which took place yesterday. The guest speaker was Triyoko Boatwright, senior talent management and diversity, inclusion, and belonging specialist with Textron Specialized Vehicles, who discussed “Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace.” Boatwright defines imposter syndrome as “chronic feelings of fraudulence, self-doubt, and inadequacy.” She

As an entrepreneur, Alex Myers understands the value of preparation in running a business. Myers co-owns two local IHOP franchise locations: one on Peach Orchard Road in south Augusta, and the other on Washington Road in Evans. “You can never be too prepared for the inevitable things that happen in business,” he said. Yesterday, Myers was one of several CSRA business leaders who attended this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Third Thursday Business Builder event. The speaker was Ed Enoch, an attorney with the Enoch Tarver Law Firm in

Any business owner would agree that organization, keeping detailed records, consistency, and providing great service are keys to building a business. So is networking. LinkedIn, a social media network for professionals, describes networking as the best way to produce opportunities. Their advice is to think of networking as a way to find client leads, partnerships, and more. The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce is scheduling a series of Master Classes to help grow area businesses. The first is Networking scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If you want to learn, grow, and thrive in your business, mark your calendar for the North Augusta Chamber event that can help you score in those categories. The SE Regional Vice President of SCORE, Catherine Walton, is heading to the CSRA from Memphis on Thursday, February 9, as the keynote speaker for the Chamber’s Learn, Grown, Thrive, and SCORE for the Life of your Business event. Walton has served in her position with the SCORE nonprofit for 17 years. She has also run a successful midsouth business since 2007

Small business owners face a host of challenges every day, but the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce wants to help. The Chamber will host its monthly Small Business Roundtable Discussion tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at its office located at 406 West Ave. The free event is held the fourth Wednesday of each month and is open to all small business owners, not just those in North Augusta, according to the Chamber’s President and CEO, Terra Carroll. Carroll said previous topics have included time management, business taxes, and

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is giving you the opportunity to meet business leaders and learn more about their achievements. The Chamber will celebrate its 18th Annual Banquet on Thursday, Feb. 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown. The event will include a business showcase, an awards presentation, and a guest speaker, Mike Goodwin, the Bowtie Comedian. “Elevate is the theme for the Chamber’s Annual Banquet,” said President and CEO, Russell Lahodny. “This is a great opportunity to get to know

It’s been a tough couple of years for many businesses. Period. Maybe it’s time for a laugh or three. Mike Goodwin, the Bowtie Comedian can probably deliver. What’s more, he knows your leadership pain. The Camden, SC native will make you laugh, and he is also in business. Goodwin holds a master’s degree in Education from the University of South Carolina, is a veteran of the U.S. Army, and is a former primary and secondary education professional. He infuses his varied life experiences into his act, making him relatable to

Kimberly Barker believes in taking risks and thinking outside the box. Barker, Director of Marketing for Hull Barrett Attorneys in Augusta, attended this month’s Women in Business Program hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce yesterday. For this event, the Chamber partnered with the U.S.-Japan Council for Regional Women in Leadership to present a panel discussion called “Womenomics Across Cultures.” “We get so caught up in our own routine, we lose sight of the fact that there’s a big world out there,” she said. Nozomi Morgan, CEO of Michiki

Retired U.S. Army Major Gen., Jennifer Napper had the privilege of learning about many other cultures in her 35 years of service. Napper, who now serves as one of the vice presidents for Peraton, a national IT and cybersecurity firm, will serve as one of five panelists for the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s January Women in Business Program, which will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. The event’s title is “Womenomics Across Cultures,” and the other panelists will be Universal

Robbie King has a passion for mentoring the next generation of local business leaders. King, the founder of Lead Augusta, helps to guide young professionals participating in Young Men on the Move, a 10-month program offered by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. The program, which is designed for men between the ages of 23 and 30, teaches valuable personal and professional skills, such as networking. “It demonstrates the importance of mentoring, networking, building relationships, and giving back to the community,” he said. “Often, these relationships are created and last

Jon Jackson has found a way to turn his pain into a purpose of helping others. Jackson, a retired U.S. Army Ranger, sustained a traumatic brain injury in combat and now struggles with PTSD. In 2014, he founded STAG VETS Inc., a non-profit organization that uses farming to help rehabilitate and reintegrate veterans dealing with those same issues. The program offers veterans a variety of services, including treatment and agricultural job training. Jackson established Comfort Farms in Milledgeville, which was named after his friend, Capt. Kyle Comfort, who was killed

Next year, Nick Dickinson’s company will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Yesterday, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce celebrated Dickinson’s professional accomplishments by honoring him as its 2022 Augusta’s Entrepreneur. Dickinson, CEO of Dickinson Architects, won one of three Best in Business awards at the Chamber’s Member Economic Luncheon. His father, Nick Dickinson Sr., founded the company in 1983. Over the last four decades, Dickinson Architects has designed several well-known buildings throughout the CSRA, including Augusta Sportswear, Savannah Rapids Pavilion, Frog & The Hen and Farmhaus’s Martinez location, as well as

It’s not every day you get to network with business professionals from all over Augusta’s River Region. But the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce wants to give you that opportunity. On Thursday, Nov. 3, the Chamber will host a Mega Mixer event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Palmetto Terrace Ballroom at the North Augusta Municipal Building located at 100 Georgia Ave. Members from nine local Chambers, including the Augusta Metro, Columbia County, Aiken, and Midland Valley Area, as well as the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce,

Many parents struggle to work while ensuring their children receive proper care. Some parents are forced to quit their jobs because they don’t have access to reliable, affordable childcare, according to Russell Lahodny. That was one of the issues Lahodny, President and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, discussed with elected officials in Washington, D.C. during the 2022 DC Fly-In on Sept. 13-15. Lahodny was one of 24 representatives from the Columbia County, Augusta Metro, North Augusta, and Aiken chambers making the annual trip. Participants met with several

As entrepreneurs, it’s important to stay informed on topics that affect your business, home, and family. The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is giving you the opportunity to hear updates from community leaders and network with other business owners. The Chamber will host its annual State of the Community on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 4 -8 p.m. at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center. The event will include a business expo and presentations from Fort Gordon Garrison Commander, Col. Reggie Evans; Columbia County School District Superintendent, Dr. Steven Flynt; and

You may have hired another company to build and maintain your business website, but you’re still responsible for ensuring the site complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Rick Donaldson. Donaldson, CEO of the M3 Agency, a local marketing firm, will discuss that topic at this month’s Third Thursday Business Builder hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber Conference Room. He will be joined by two other presenters: M3 Digital Strategist, Mike Parsons and

In 2020, Shanteka Glover was selected as one of the Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch and Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 under 40 award recipient. Glover, senior IT technical and business analyst for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, attended this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Member Economic Luncheon yesterday. She has a passion for helping the next generation of business leaders. “If our youth can see, they can be it,” Glover said. “We must allow them to stand on our shoulders to reach greater achievements.” The luncheon honored

Angie Lienert has held many jobs throughout her nearly 30-year career: Arabic linguist in the U.S. Air Force, program manager, and government contractor, just to name a few. Now she’s helping young women enter the STEM field. Lienert currently serves as President and CEO of IntelliGenesis, LLC, a company she founded in 2007 that offers a variety of services, including cyber operations, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity training courses. She will serve as the keynote speaker for this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Program on Tuesday, June

Phil Olaleye runs an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides mentoring and exposure to post-secondary educational opportunities and careers for high school students. Olaleye will serve as the keynote speaker for this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Member Economic Luncheon, which will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza in North Augusta. His topic will be “Creating a Culture of Opportunity.” The event will also recognize 2022 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. Much of his speech will come from his own story,

Susan See was a local attorney, a career she loved, for more than 25 years until a friend told her about a franchise opportunity that piqued her interest – and she was recently awarded for her role in running that franchise. See and her husband, James, own Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise locations in both Evans and Aiken. Last week, she was selected as the 2022 Business Woman of the Year, presented by Bank of America, at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Executive Luncheon Series. “I was really surprised,” See

Growing up in Augusta, Charles Jimenez thought there were few opportunities to succeed in this city. Jimenez, now Senior Mortgage Advisor and branch manager of New American Funding, is one of 10 young professionals selected by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Augusta Magazine for their 2022 list of the Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. “I just wasn’t exposed to professional success,” he said. “Being selected to receive this recognition validates the journey I have taken to get to this point.” Since 2009, the Chamber and

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will be choosing its 2022 Businesswoman of the Year soon, but the deadline for nominations for the award are due by Friday, May 13. Taylor Williams, Director of Programs and Events, said the Chamber has already received several nominations for the award. The recipient of the 2022 award will be announced at the Executive Luncheon on June 8 at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Recent winners of the award were Angi Brock of The Cleveland Group in 2021 and JoAnn Herbert of Herbert Homes in

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce has announced its 2022 classes of Young Women on the Way (YWOW) and Young Men on the Move (YMOM) mentoring Classes of 2022. YWOW & YMOM are both 10-month programs geared towards mentoring young professional men and women. As many as five top executives will mentor each of the young professionals (23- to 30-years-old) during a monthly luncheon, focused on key topics that aim to spur personal and professional development. This year’s YWOW mentors include Michelle Piper, Queensborough National Bank; JoAnn Herbert, Herbert Homes

The next Columbia County leaders could be people from right inside your company – if they have the right training. The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce announced that it is accepting applications for its Leadership Columbia County program. Leadership Columbia County, presented by TaxSlayer, is designed to expose business and area leaders to the community’s opportunities and challenges. It also promotes and fosters the development of leaders who are committed to shaping the future of the CSRA. During the 10-month program, class members develop a high level of community awareness

Best-selling author and inspirational speaker, Jon Acuff has helped such renowned companies as FedEx, Nissan, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Chick-fil-A, Nokia and Comedy Central. Now he’s coming to Augusta to offer his insights at the Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting. Acuff, author of seven books, will be the keynote speaker at the Chamber’s 113th Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 3 in the Olmstead Exhibit Hall at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. His presentation is called “Turning

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will host its 3rd Annual Career and College Expo, presented by Georgia Power, on Tuesday, March 8 at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown. This event runs 4-7:30 p.m. The purpose of the event is to expose parents and students to career opportunities for the future. The initiative will align the educational, technical, and trade sectors with the businesses, showing parents and students the pathways to obtain a future quality career. Any business interested in hosting a booth should contact Taylor Williams, the chamber’s Director of Programs and Events,

The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce wants to help local companies properly dispose of their electronic waste. That will be the topic of this month’s Third Thursday Business Builder on Thursday, Feb. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Chamber conference room. The speaker will be Richard Green, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Tech 4 Success, LLC, a local electronics recycling company. Founded in 2018, Tech 4 Success collects and disposes of old electronic equipment. According to the Chamber website, Green’s company recycled 150,000 pounds of this

Do you know a young, rising star within an organization? Each year, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Augusta Magazine honor a select group of successful young professionals in the CSRA. Since 2009, the Chamber and magazine have compiled their list of Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. These professionals, who are all between the ages of 25 and 35, represent a variety of professions and include attorneys, bankers, educators, and business owners. Applications for the 2022 Top 10 in 10 are now being accepted. The selection

11 business owners are ready to take their businesses to the next level, thanks to a generous bank sponsorship and the guidance from The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Level Up Business Academy launched its six-month course for small business owners on January 26th. To qualify, owners had to operate a healthy business for at least three years and show desire to take their business to the next level. The program is designed to accelerate growth opportunities through education, counseling and resources. Multiple guest experts will provide entrepreneurial strategy and

A local organization that connects professionals between the ages of 22 and 40 just held its inaugural event under its new name. ABD previously brought you a story about Connect Aiken, which used to be referred to as Aiken Young Professionals. It’s similar to Young Professionals of Augusta. Supported by the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, the organization kicked off the new year by hosting a drop in to Connect Aiken (see photo above taken from Facebook) at Sheffield’s at Rose Hill on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The event was designed to

Tis’ the season for annual awards. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce gave out a few awards to entrepreneurs and companies. Our Neil Gordon has the visual proof!

As part of ABD’s podcast series, we partner with the team at Alison South/Augusta Podcasts to share other videos they are producing. Since today is our “Marketing Day” with Don MacNeil’s column and a look at TaxSlayer marketing, we are airing a “Southie Session Podcast” to talk marketing with Alison South and a client—the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Every year, nonprofits, such as churches and colleges, solicit donations for Giving Tuesday, but this year, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Foundation wants to raise funds to address the local labor shortage. “We will be accepting Giving Tuesday donations until the end of the week (Friday, Dec. 3),” says Olivia Reich, the Chamber’s Communications Manager. “We are at $2,250, and our goal is $5,000.” That was the total at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Donations will be used to fund various initiatives designed to connect Columbia County

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mark Douglass knows how to light up a room with “war stories” and a lifetime of lessons learned in just a short time taking his barbecue sauce to market. He thought he’d start with the original barbecue sauce. “There are four different flavors and the hot and spicy won’t overwhelm you. There is hickory, mesquite and the original.” He joked, “the people who make it love this. They are very happy we went from one to four. They make more money!” Columbia County Chamber President Russell Lahodney

You may score a free lunch and good information today, if you are an Augusta Chamber of Commerce member, or pay just $15 for lunch and the workshop to help your company automate its’ business practices. Dennis O’keefe, Director of Sales for Workful, will lead the presentation from 12-1, with lunch served at 11:30 at the Chamber Headquarters at One Tenth Street across from the Augusta Marriott. Workful was developed by local tech firm TaxSlayer in 2017 and is a cloud-based payroll and employee management suite made for small businesses

David Jameson, long-time President of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce is photographed at the event here with United Way of Aiken Sharon Rodgers during the sold-out event. (Photo provided by Aiken Chamber of Commerce) David Jameson, president of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, was enthusiastic about the turnout for the group’s “Buy Local” expo at the Exhibit Hall at the Western Carolina State Fair Grounds last Thursday, June 17. But then, does anybody remember when David wasn’t enthusiastic about having a good day in Aiken? A few days before the

(Photo by Josh Heath) About 10 local business leaders, along with several virtual participants, watched the presentation. There are already about 2,000 local jobs posted on the site. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce has developed a new platform called Talent 2 Work to address the local labor shortage, and it has already received tremendous support from the CSRA business community. Chamber President Sue Parr says 2,000 area jobs have already been posted to the site, which officially launched on Wednesday, May 19. This includes Georgia Power, Savannah River Nuclear

Terry Childers Jr. knows what it’s like to deal with the pain of addiction—at work and with family. At one time, his life spiraled out of control due to addictions to both alcohol and prescription pain medicine. Now, Childers strives to help others battling addictions through his work as an Area Recovery Representative with Bluff Plantation, a local drug and alcohol treatment center. He speaks to area groups and reaches out to individuals and businesses in the CSRA to promote the center’s services. Previously, Childers worked for another local treatment center,