The Chamber's A-Team

Pictured Left to Right: Connor McCarthy (Government Affairs Council Assistant), Paul Hamilton (Economic Development & Taxation Policy Committee), Myrna Ballard (Chamber President), John P. Page (GAC Chairman), Amanda Johnson (Labor, Education & Workforce), Gary Wisenbaker (Transportation), Allan Dear (Local Business, SORT)

Not Pictured: Ashley Corbett (Healthcare)

Local Business/ SORT Committee

Allan Dear, Committee Chair
Dear Real Estate
dear5@earthlink.net
The SORT Committee acts as a rapid response team to address issues in local business development regulations and  processes.  Composed of members of the development community and local government staff directly involved in the business development process, the Committee is able to “sort out” issues behind the scenes, resulting in a more
​business-friendly environment in our community.

Economic Development & Taxation Policy Committee

  • The Chamber advocates for increased access to capital and other incentives including tax based incentives that will promote economic development; we support a fully funded Invest Georgia.
  • We pursue reforms to state and federal legislation and regulations affecting industry.
  • We support immigration laws which take into account employers’ needs to have access to both skilled and unskilled labor.
  • We support The Arts as an economic development strategy.
  • We support continuation of the Sales Tax Holiday.
  • We support the development of a small business incubator in Downtown Valdosta.
  • We support the creation of a tax credit to encourage fixed broadband expansion in smaller metropolitan areas, rural areas, and in the military activity zones of the State.
  • We support the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority’s initiative to recruit an osteopathic medical college to be located in Valdosta.
  • We support enhancement of incentives to encourage investment in rehabilitation of historic landmarks.
  • We support legislation to protect local businesses by allowing Georgia to collect sales taxes on internet sales.
Paul Hamilton, Committee Chair
Law Office of Paul Hamilton
paul@paulwhamilton.com

Labor, Education & Workforce Policy Committee

  • The Chamber supports establishing one community wide vision for education excellence and workforce development resulting in a world class workforce that can compete with the best in the world.
  • We support strategies that link education and workforce development in a seamless manner, preparing a student for whatever future they might choose and ensuring the long-term viability of our local economy.
  • We support innovative ways of delivering quality educational services, including charter schools, career academies, early college academies, and school choice programs.
  • The Chamber supports measures relating to labor, workers’ compensation and unemployment laws and regulations that enhance the viability and profitability of business and industry.
  • We support protecting and strengthening Georgia’s right to work laws, safe and productive work environments and reforms to state and federal legislation and regulations adversely affecting business.
  • We support immigration laws which take into account employers’ needs to have access to both skilled and unskilled labor.
Amanda Johnson, Committee Chair
BridgeBuilder Education and Investment
Amanda.Johnson@iamabridgebuilder.us

Healthcare Policy Committee

Ashley Corbett
Radiology Associates
​acorbett@radiologyvaldosta.com
  • The Chamber supports legislative efforts to stabilize and enhance the trauma care network.
  • We support public and private funding options for safety net clinics that provide access to health care for the working uninsured to ensure that present and future needs are met.
  • We support monitoring and protecting the important legal and civil justice reforms that were adopted in 2005 including the requirement. to prove gross negligence with regard to emergency room liability, the elimination of joint and several liability and provisions to discourage frivolous litigation, and caps on non-economic damages.
  • We support the creation of insurance products and the development of health information technology that provide incentives to reward healthy lifestyles and a quality information system so consumers have full access to information with appropriate consideration for cost effectiveness.

Transportation Policy Committee

Gary Wisenbaker
Blackstone, LLC
Gary50155@gmail.com
  • The Chamber acknowledges that our local employers and employees depend on Georgia’s ports, highways, railroads, and airports to meet the needs of their customers, and that our local business community benefits as the regional business center for this portion of Georgia.
  • We support a multi-modal transportation network that is attractive for private business and employees locally, regionally, and statewide. The transportation system should create conditions that encourage business opportunities, growth and success.
  • We support increased, dedicated, and sustainable funding sources for transportation capital improvements, operations and maintenance that provide for local input and control in determining appropriate local and regional transportation needs.
  • The Chamber supports efforts to design, fund and build a by-pass route to divert truck traffic away from our Downtown area, and to increase efficiency and safety for the trucking industry.