Today’s pro-active Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is not your father’s chamber, that is, that it’s just a group of ribbon-cutting officials. “It’s the voice of the business member,” said Tammy Shepherd, President/CEO of the economic development organization.
 
While ribbon cuttings are certainly highlights and necessities in order to mark significant groundbreakings and grand openings, what they truly represent is the return on investment after a lot of hard work, said Shepherd, a Certified Professional graduate of the Institute for Organizational Management (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).
 
Whether it’s presenting white papers on critical issues or letters of support , while traveling to Washington, D.C., or Atlanta to meet with legislators and government officials, or using social media to keep members posted, she says that the Chamber acts as an advocate for the business community. On the other hand, the group does not endorse political candidates and does not have any political action committees.
 
Shepherd, a resident of the county since 1976 and a graduate of the local Evans High School, said that she and her staff are not just standing still waiting to meet and greet new businesses and entrepreneurs. She and the Chamber members continually take action to ensure that when opportunities do arise, the working population is ready. Through several innovative and diverse programs, the Chamber is making sure that when opportunities do arise, the workforce is ready to respond with:

• A skilled, tech-savvy workforce has been trained and educated
• Executives and managers have taken professional leadership courses
• Educators have been immersed in local businesses to understand career pathways
• Business personnel have sat and learned in school principals’ chairs
• Students have been invited to businesses to gain awareness of desired skill sets
• Speakers have highlighted monthly professional development luncheon meetings
 
More specifically, professionals can enroll in the Chamber’s Leadership Columbia County program, which spans 10 months, to learn what the overall community and region offers, how it functions and how they can engage with, and even enter into, public service or non-profit organizations. The various market segments, such as health care, law enforcement, public school system, the economic development department and the military from Ft. Gordon, all participate, both as learners and contributors.
 
Likewise, each year 28 outstanding youths of the county are invited to join a similar program at their level, lasting from August through April. The ultimate objective is to create leaders for tomorrow and have these students maintain their residences in the county and contribute to its future growth.
 
In addition to driving economic development, on an everyday level, the Columbia County Chamber offers advertising opportunities for its members on its website, plus runs a database for finding qualified people with skill sets to match their company, factory or retail needs. It provides many networking opportunities to bring business people together and regularly brings in experts to provide continuing education.
 
While Columbia County population continues to grow at a 6.1% rate versus 2.3% for other counties in Georgia, and is the 45th fastest growing in the U.S., challenges remain, admits Shepherd. “We can’t become stale or stagnate. We have to maintain the quality of life in order to keep the county attractive for commerce and residents alike.”
 
Fortunately, an approved transportation SPLOST referendum a couple of years ago will allow the road infrastructure to handle growth along the seven major corridors in the area. Also, each year a new school opens in the county. Consequently, the tax base and amenities need to expand, such as more major retailers, upscale restaurants and other services.
 
Shepherd’s college degree from Georgia Southern University happens to be in Hospitality Management and her business experience prior to the Chamber has been in that industry working for four hotel companies. Such a background not only helps her understand the needs of her current customers in the region, it also makes her position as President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce the ideal place and person to be a welcoming committee chairperson for newcomers to her community. And she truly enjoys that responsibility and opportunity.
 
For more information, visit the Columbia Chamber of Commerce web site at http://www.columbiacountychamber.com/#, or to reach Tammy Shepherd, you can email her at [email protected].

About John Tabellione

John Tabellione is an award-winning, professional business writer, complemented by over twenty-five years of strategic communication responsibilities as a Marketing, New Business Development and National Account Sales Executive in consumer goods and commercial industries. 

Experience with Fortune 500 companies, as well as with smaller firms and non-profits, encompassing a variety of products, including those of Georgia-Pacific, Kimberly-Clark and Stanley Works. 

John has a B.A. in English from Fairfield University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Hartford. In addition, he has studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute at Syracuse University, and Italian language and culture at Kennesaw State University.