The Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce held its quarterly luncheon and annual meeting on February 6th at the Clarence Brown Conference Center.
Cindy Williams, the chamber's CEO, touted the organization's success in 2023. She also talked about some of the things that are coming up for the chamber.
“This year, for the first time, we are hosting a workforce summit,” Williams said. “Having served as workforce development director for several years, we recognized and identified opportunity areas that we really felt needed to educate the business community.
“That's going to happen as early as next month. This will help with discussions about things like second-chance hiring and work-based learning, where we employ high school students in one of our high schools. We also have jobs ourselves. Base students currently working with us.”
The number of members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has increased in recent years. The chamber will have 967 members in 2023, up from 935 in 2022 and 894 in 2021. Additionally, the chamber's membership retention rate last year was 84%. Last year, the Chamber added 140 new members and many new members joined the organization.
She went on to list other items the Chamber is working on for 2024.
Williams announced its sponsorship as LGE Community Credit Union. LGE is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Cartersville location on March 26th.
“As a seventh-generation resident of Bartow County, it gives me great pleasure to establish the LGE Community Credit Union office here,” said Rodney Grizzle, LGE's chief lending officer. “He already has one as our division, GCB as well.”
The luncheon was attended by several LGE team members and staff.
“We have now grown to 15 counties,” Grizzle said. “In the old days, you had to be a Lockheed employee to be a member. That's not the case today. You have to live in our market, which basically covers all of northwest Georgia.”
In a heartfelt moment at the luncheon, Williams thanked her parents for their support.
“Eight years ago now, when I was considering coming to Cartersville to take on this role, the first event was the annual meeting,” Williams said. “I remember the three of us driving in together. I was young at the time and was nervous as I was preparing a short introductory speech. It's still a very fond memory.
“If you've had someone who has had such a profound and positive impact on your life, you understand where I'm coming from, and I hope everyone in this room does too. Masu.”
At the end of the meeting, Cartersville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Feuerbach, the Chamber's 2023 President, handed the gavel to Leslie Johnson, Dean of the Georgia Highlands University Cartersville Campus .
“I am delighted and honored to serve as Board Chair for 2024,” said Johnson.
Mr. Feuerbach also had kind words for Mr. Johnson.
“I've known Leslie for many years,” Feuerbach said. “I have always been impressed by her genuine kindness to all of us with whom she interacts. She offers great insight and ideas and has a huge heart for this community.”
Later in the meeting, the Chamber announced multiple awards. Georgia Century Bank's Cameron Ray won Volunteer of the Year Award, Patrick Lentz won Chairman of the Year Award, Nagel's Bagels won Small Business of the Year Award, and Toyo Tire won Manufacturer of the Year Award. received the award.
