On Monday, Nov. 12 at the 34th Annual City of Columbia Veterans Day Parade, Columbia was proclaimed the first Purple Heart City in South Carolina. The mission of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is to foster an environment of goodwill among the combat wounded veteran members and their families, promote patriotism, support legislative initiatives, and most importantly, make sure we never forget.
For more pictures from the parade, click here.
The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is pleased 
to kick off a new Regional Business Roundtable series with an event featuring Charlie Cook, one of the nation’s leading non-partisan political prognosticators. This first roundtable will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at the DoubleTree Hotel off Bush River Road at I-20. Just a week after the national election, Cook will talk about What happened on November 6? Why did it happen? Where do we go from here as a nation and business community?
Editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report and political analyst for National Journalmagazine and CongressDailyAM, Cook has been recognized by The New York Times as “..one of the best political handicappers of all time…” and is a frequent guest on NBC’s Meet the Press.
“With the recent election, it is important for our business leaders to come together and understand what the results mean not only for the nation but also for the Greater Columbia region over the next four years,” said Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce President Ike McLeese. “We look forward to hearing Charlie Cook’s insight.”
This will be the first of four business roundtables featuring well-known speakers on major and timely business topics. Other sponsoring Chambers include the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce, the Kershaw Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Chapin Chamber of Commerce, the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce, the Lake Murray Chamber of Commerce, and the Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Roundtables will be held quarterly.
Register for this event here.
For more information regarding sponsorship and attendance for this event contact Meredyth Boaz at 803.733.1116 or mboaz@columbiachamber.com.
Find our full Chamber calendar here.
Columbia, S.C. – Leadership Columbia, a program of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) have joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind effort to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. They are the first two S.C. non-profits to join in this endeavor.
Coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will inspire people to collaborate on improving their local communities by giving back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support. On Nov. 27, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national movement dedicated to giving during the holiday season.
Leadership Columbia Alumni Association will promote #GivingTuesday through a Leadership Extension Luncheon and by encouraging participation among its 1,700 alumni through social channels. Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) will show its support through its Nov. 27 Action Team Meetup, encouraging participation among its members and network.
“Everyday giving is the backbone of Leadership Columbia and COR,” said Katherine Swartz, executive director of both organizations. “We are proud to be leading the South Carolina charge toward a concerted focus and effort of giving during the holiday season and encourage all Columbians and South Carolinians to not only open their wallets, but also spread the message about the importance of #GivingTuesday.”
#GivingTuesday began as an effort led by the 92nd Street Y in New York City to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season and inspire action toward charitable giving. Each week, new organizations have joined the movement and are providing creative ways that people can embrace #GivingTuesday.
For more information about Leadership Columbia and COR participation in this initiative visit www.columbiachamber.com.
For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the website, like it on Facebook or follow #GivingTuesday on Twitter and use the #GivingTuesday.
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About Leadership Columbia
Leadership Columbia is an educational program offered through the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. The 10 month program provides existing and emerging leaders in the Midlands area with an opportunity to enhance their civic knowledge and network. For 40 years, Leadership Columbia has helped participants better understand the local community, while building relationships with the region’s current and future leaders.
For more information on Leadership Columbia, visit www.columbiachamber.com or contact Katherine Swartz at 803.733.1123.
About COR
COR | Columbia Opportunity Resource connects young, talented professionals in the greater Columbia area to diverse and meaningful networks for leadership, service and fun.
We believe:
-Vibrant networks attract, retain and motivate talented people;
-Motivated and talented people create exciting communities; and
-Exciting communities continually renew their talent pool.
Our vision is an innovative, energized and successful Columbia community that attracts, inspires, develops and retains the best talent in the world. COR is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization and a strategic partner of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Navigating from Good to Great Foundation and the City of Columbia.
For more information on COR, visit www.ourcor.org or contact Katherine Swartz at 803.733.1123.
About the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, membership-driven organization comprised of 1,500 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its members and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, social, cultural and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its members through networking, professional development, advocacy and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.
To become a member or to learn more about the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, as well as its events, programs and initiatives, visit www.columbiachamber.com.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott officially endorsed the Transportation Penny Plan on Tuesday at a Unity Rally to demonstrate the strong and broad base of support for the countywide plan to improve roadways in the Midlands and save the area’s vital bus system.
“Passage of the penny will help protect public safety in Richland County,” Lott said in his endorsement of The Penny. “The penny will provide infrastructure that can be life-saving. It will pave hundreds of dirt roads across the country. This is about far more than convenience. When sheriff’s deputies and ambulances can’t get down a dirt road because it’s turned to mud, people can die.”
Other local leaders, including Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin joined Lott at the Rally, which was held at the Clarion Townhouse in downtown Columbia exactly one week before the crucial Nov. 6 vote on The Penny.
“Those who oppose this initiative say it costs too much. But it’s a no vote that costs too much,” said Benjamin. “It would mean the loss of over 16,500 new jobs and billions in new investments. It would mean continuing to pay the terrible cost of having the second most dangerous roads in the state. It would cost our community millions in federal matching funds for transforming our bus system. It would lead to fees that would cost our families twice as much as The Penny. It would put the entire burden of transportation costs on Richland County residents, rather than letting folks from outside share the load.”
The event represented a diverse cross-section of individuals, including business, community and faith leaders, elected officials and various activist organizations.
Others on hand at the rally included members of the Richland County Legislative Delegation, Columbia City Council and Richland County Council, representatives from the United Way of the Midlands, Sustainable Midlands, Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire Community Council, River Alliance, League of Women Voters, Conservation Voters of South Carolina and the Midlands Business Leadership Group, and additional neighborhood, faith and community leaders.
“Today our answer is a resounding YES – YES we want more jobs, YES we want local control, YES we want a first class public transit system and YES we want safer roads,” said Bunnie Ward of the United Way of the Midlands. ”By investing today and saying YES, we will ensure a successful future for our community for generations to come.”
The Penny is on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot as two separate “Sales and Use Tax” questions. If approved by voters, it would add one cent to the Richland County sales tax for a period of 22 years to raise funds for vital roadway improvements and to provide long-term support for the local bus system.
The grand opening of Columbia’s newest hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites at 201 East Exchange Boulevard, will take place next Wednesday, November 7, from 5 – 8 p.m. There will be live music, hor’s de vours and a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Chamber.
Through a partnership with the Columbia area Harvest Hope Food Bank, there will also be donation boxes at the hotel to help families in need this holiday season. Please bring non-perishable food items to donate!
The City of Columbia in partnership with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking nominations for the re-launch of the Business Spotlight Program. The goal of this program is to highlight and commemorate the accomplishments of exceptional local businesses. Each quarter a Spotlight honoree will be selected for their achievements in growth of sales or employees, longevity, diversity, community contributions, innovations in products/services or a combination of these categories.
Businesses who are selected for the award will receive a variety of marketing and public relations opportunities including:
Businesses eligible for recognition through the Business Spotlight Program should be located within the City of Columbia. In addition, applicants should also be privately owned with a minimum of two consecutive years of operation. All applicants should be in good standing with the Secretary of State’s Office, the Better Business Bureau, and be current on their City/County taxes, business license and water/sewer fees.
Voting for the next quarter’s honoree will begin in two weeks so interested businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To nominate a business please contact Ryan Coleman at 803 734 2732, email rtcoleman@columbiasc.net or visit www.columbiasc.net
Find more information here.
Navigating from Good to Great, the regional economic/community development initiative, launched a $4-million capital campaign Friday for its next five years under the theme “Setting a New Direction.”
Nephron Pharmaceuticals CEO Lou Kennedy delivered the kick-off address to business leaders at a luncheon at the DoubleTree hotel. Nephron is investing more than $331milllion to establish a new pharmaceutical manufacturing campus and offices in Lexington County that will create about 700 jobs. Kennedy is a University of South Carolina graduate.
Based on the success of the original five-year program, launched in 2007, the board of directors of the Navigating from Good to Great Foundation, decided to renew the initiative for another five years. The initial campaign raised about $3.2 million.
Successes include (click for video):
The purpose of Navigating from good to Great 2012-2017 is to continue to create and implement an economic/community development model through unification and collaboration across the entire region. The primary tools employed by the Foundation are coordination, collaboration and education with the objective of aligning and focusing diverse efforts into a unity of purpose.
The 2012-2017 initiatives include:
The Navigating from Good to Great Foundation is a 501 (c)3 non-profit founded in 2007 for the specific purpose of advancing the Midlands. The Good to Great Foundation works in cooperation with and is housed in the same facility as the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Foundation funding is entirely separate from Columbia Chamber funding.
About Navigating from Good to Great
Navigating from Good to Great is an economic/community development initiative designed to transition the Midlands from good to Great. The Navigating from Good to Great Foundation is a private, non-profit, focused on creating and facilitating a region that is balanced, globally competitive, workforce advantaged, and not based on a singular market segment. The Foundation seeks to provide residents with a rich cultural infrastructure that is safe and supports a wide range of tastes through the effective involvement of the region’s diverse population and resources.
To learn more about Navigating from Good to Great, its funding, programs and initiatives, visit www.navigatetogreat.com.
It’s not too late to register for USC Career Center’s Opportunity Knocks Part-time Job Fair! This event will be held Aug. 21 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom. There will be no cost to participating employers. More than 100 employers have attended the Part-Time Job Fair over the past three years to fill open positions at their organizations.
This year, the Part-Time Job Fair will be held in conjunction with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Typically about 800 USC students participate in this exciting event, providing them with the opportunity to find both non-work-study and work-study positions in the area that are appropriate for their skill sets.
For more information or to register go to www.sc.edu/career. If you have any questions about this event, contact Erica Lake at erlake@mailbox.sc.edu or 803/777.3969.
Move your organization forward with USC talent.
The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will host their largest community outreach event, Spirit of America, at the Colonial Life Arena on Friday, September 21 at 10:30 am and 7:30 pm as well as Saturday, September 22 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. This free event will tell the history of our nation through the eyes of the American Soldier by both traditional military review and large-scale theatrical production.
This show celebrates the spirit, strength and history of our nation and tells the true story of men and women who have left friends and families behind to protect and defend the United States of America. Soldiers in period uniforms will act out key moments in our military history, covering everything from the Revolutionary War to current operations. More than 300 active duty Soldiers will perform in this event.
The show features the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army. Elements of The Old Guard include the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the Caisson Platoon, the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, the Continental Color Guard, and the U.S. Army Drill Team.
Support this event with your own attendance, as well as by sharing it with your friends and family!
More information can be found at the Spirit of America Facebook page.
Even though admission is free, tickets are required due to limited space. Get your tickets here!
The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce Information Technology Council (ITC) has announced the finalists for the 2012 Palmetto Pillar Awards (PPA), which honor the best and brightest of the Midlands Technology Community.
The winners in each of eight categories will be recognized at an awards banquet to be held on August 21 at The Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium. There will be a welcome reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and awards at 7:30 p.m.
Click here for more information on the ITC and here for more information on the PPA.
Finalists listed below represent technology leaders and IT executives who have shown outstanding leadership, support, innovation and vision over the past year.
2012 PPA Finalists:
Leadership in Technology Award
Terry Floyd, TM Floyd
Terris Riley, NewVenue Technologies
Jeff Salters, Lexington County School District 1
Public Service Through IT Award
Phil Yanov
Richland Country Government
Richland County School District 2
IT Infrastructure Services Award
A3 Communications
AgFirst
Richland County School District 2
Custom Application Development Award
Capital Software
SCANA
Start-Up Venture Award
52Apps
Carolina Technology Conference
One to Watch
Anthony Cooper, NewVenueTechnologies
IT-oLogy
Student Achievement Award
Chris Richardson
Nicholas Stiffler
Cloud Computing
Dovetail
VC3
About the Information Technology Council
The Columbia Information Technology Council is a membership-based advocacy IT organization in the Greater Columbia region. In that capacity, we reach out to, acknowledge and embrace all who are involved in the IT community. Our programs are designed to create awareness, to provide professional development and networking opportunities and to recognize the achievement of those in the IT community. To learn more, visit www.columbiachamber.com/PPA.htm.
