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The Chamber Ambassadors honored Best Western Plus Valdosta Hotel & Suites as the Leading Business of the Week for June 10, 2019. Located off Interstate 75 at Exit 22, Best Western Plus is locally owned by Gerald Evans, Sr. and Gerald Evans, Jr. The hotel's management team includes, Manager Jodi Brannen and Marketing Director Amber McCue. Both Brannen and McCue have been with the hotel since the beginning and helped with the construction. “A close family is an understatement when describing the Evans family, said Brannen. “In fact, those that know Mr. Evans, Sr. and Jr say “you never see one without the other”. The Best Western provides their guest with extra-large suites with full kitchens, free high-speed internet and a free hot breakfast each morning. “These features make the property perfect for extended stays,” said Brannen. Best Western Plus is pet friendly as well. “Our four-legged guests just love playing in the abundance of green space around the hotel,” said Brannen. Best Western Plus has received many honors and awards over the years. “Best Western Plus has been the number one rated hotel on TripAdvisor for the last seven years in a row for the Valdosta area, and it was just awarded the 2019 Certificate of Excellence award,” said Brannen.” Best Western Plus Valdosta has also been awarded the Best Western Directors Award.” Brannen is passionate about the people who choose to stay at Best Western Plus, and she enjoys her work relationships with the employees and owner. “Life is a story and every guest that walks through the door has a story to tell, and I love meeting our guest and listening to those stories,” said Brannen. “I also love working with our employees and owners, it’s like one big family.” Best Western Plus is a proud member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce. “Our Valdosta- Lowndes County Chamber is the driving force responsible for bringing businesses and customers to our area,” said Brannen. “We appreciate the Valdosta - Lowndes County Chamber very much because we know they are working hard every day to make our business community a success.” The Leading Business of the Week program is designed to recognize members who have partnered with the Chamber for at least five years. Marcotek Digital Office Solutions proudly sponsors the 2019 Leading Business of the Week program. For more information visit www.ValdostaChamber.com/Leading-Business-of-the-Week 
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The Chamber Ambassadors honored Rowan’s Children Boutique with a ribbon cutting on June 13, 2019. Rowan’s Children Boutique offers a large choice of new and gently used clothes ranging from newborn to size 10. They also have a variety of accessories, book, development toys and maternity items. “Rowan’s Children Boutique is Valdosta’s only consignment store dedicated to kids and parents,” said Brandi DiFrancesco, owner. DiFrancesco enjoys meeting and interacting with her returning customers as well as new customers. “I love Rowan’s because I get to meet other parents who often bring in their little ones,” said DiFrancesco. “We have a lot of returning customers who visit often and they really become close friends. Rowan’s is planning to offer shipping services in the near future. “As a military town, Rowan’s has a lot of loyal customers who eventually move,” said DiFrancesco. “An online shopping experience with Rowan’s could guarantee the same great experience even after the move.” Rowan’s is a proud member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. "The Chamber has proved to be a phenomenal networking device,” said DiFrancesco. “I’ve already met many great people who have voiced ideas and opinions and allowed me to keep my mind during this process!” DiFrancesco stated, “I want to keep a transparent relationship with our longtime customers and supporters and get to know each. In turn, I want our customers to know who I am when they walk through the doors.” Visit Rowan’s Children Boutique at 2910 N Ashley Street or call 229-531-9158 for more information.  Five Stars for a Five Star Chamber: Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber Retains Five Star Accreditation6/12/2019 The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce received a five-star accreditation once again this past March. The glittering accreditation is nothing short of an honor. Accreditation from the U.S Chamber of Commerce recognizes chambers of distinction that meet and exceed organizational standards and exemplify superior service. In order to receive accreditation, chambers must submit an extensive application through the U.S Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber staff reviews each application to ensure that the chamber meets or exceeds the minimum requirements. Chambers seeking accreditation are judged in nine areas: governance, finance, human resources and staff, government affairs, program development, technology, communication, facilities and benchmarking. The status of accreditation depends on the number of criteria points scored in each area of requirement. A chamber that receives a five-star accreditation meets 90 percent or more of criteria. Maintaining accreditation requires chambers to reapply every five years. The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce has maintained five-star accreditation for its 11th year, is one of only 125 five-star chambers in the country and is ranked in the top 1 percent of Chambers nationally. This five-star accreditation sets the Valdosta- Lowndes Chamber of Commerce apart as an organization that exceeds expectations and strives for excellence. The Chamber of Commerce supports hundreds of local businesses in Valdosta and is committed to being the voice of businesses in the community. Local business owners can attest to the enrichment and support the Valdosta- Lowndes Chamber of Commerce provides business in the area. Audrey King, vice chairman of Georgia Power Company, cites the chamber as a way to build one’s business as well as open the door to beneficial opportunities. “I chose to be a part of the Valdosta- Lowndes County Chamber because I witnessed firsthand the powerful impact on the community,” King said. “The Chamber connects with the business community and delivers an experience, not just a membership. Members are provided access to multiple resources that further promote their business, build their brand and connect them to economic opportunities.” Thressea Boyd, CEO of THBoyd Communications, insist that active participation from Chamber members helps make the Chamber the unwavering buttress for business in the community that it is today. “Getting the best value from a Chamber membership is not about what you get but what you give,” Boyd said. “With any organization, active participation from all members is the key to success. Being part of the Valdosta- Lowndes Chamber allows for networking opportunities, as well as gaining valuable professional development skills through the wide variety of classes that are offered.” Both Boyd and King agree that becoming a member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce has exceeded their expectations. “The Valdosta- Lowndes Chamber of Commerce was my first stop when I started my business,” Boyd said “Today, I not only value my membership but consider it an essential part of the success of my business.” King cites the penchant for leading local businesses to success as one of the many reasons the Valdosta- Lowndes Chamber of Commerce both meets and exceeds her expectations. “They deliver with professionalism, quality engagement and focus continuously on the roadmap for business success, while serving as a brand ambassador for other Chambers,” King said. At a five-star chamber, members receive nothing less than five-star service.  The Chamber Ambassadors honored Tall Tree Apartments as the Leading Business of the Week for June 3, 2019. Since 1972, Tall Tree Apartments has been a prominent place to live in the Valdosta-Lowndes County Community. “Tall Tree Apartments is a Grand Old Lady with a beautiful community amazing local owners, Joan & Allan Dear,” said Trina Waller, General Manager. “They both believe that the care of the property comes above all else.” The Dears are passionate about their staff and residents of Tall Tree Apartments. “They put the property, residents and employees first and that’s hard to find in this industry,” said Waller. “I have worked with them for 18 years and our staff is all longtime employees.” According to Waller, Tall Tree Apartments has completed major renovations while still maintaining affordable market rents for the area. Tall Tree Apartments hosts monthly events for the residents which involve various food trucks and businesses in the Valdosta. “This helps their business and it also an exciting event for residents.” Said Waller. Tall Tree Apartments is a proud member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber helps to get the word out about our business by their outreach programs, especially with newcomers to Moody AFB and VSU,” said Waller. Waller stated, “Our Chamber has a wonderful reputation in South Georgia for standing up for the community, initiating a lot of improvements and continuing to grow the community.” The Leading Business of the Week program is designed to recognize members who have partnered with the Chamber for at least five years. Marcotek Digital Office Solutions proudly sponsors the 2019 Leading Business of the Week program. For more information visit www.ValdostaChamber.com/Leading-Business-of-the-Week  At The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), today’s dreamers are tomorrow’s leaders. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) seeks to mold middle school and high school students into bright, confident entrepreneurs. The program, founded in 2004, partners with Saunders College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology to give students hands-on business experience at an early age. The 26 week program allows students ages 11 to 18 to pursue business endeavors, conduct research and formulate business plans. Students attend after-school classes geared towards learning the ropes of running a business, giving them an edge on future competitors who have yet to become familiar with the world of business until their collegiate years. YEA! is available to students in more than 168 communities across America as well as international chapters in India and China. Towards the end of the program, students must pitch their business ideas before an investor’s panel in hopes of receiving a fund to start their business. The competition starts at a local level with winners proceeding to the national competition. Judges are allotted $6,000 to divide between competitors, adjusting the awards to meet the needs of each student’s business. The Valdosta- Lowndes chapter’s first- place winner of the 2019 YEA! Investor Panel Pitch Event was 13- year old Caleb Hunter. Hunter received a stipend of $850 to fund his business Estate Xpsoures which provides local businesses with aerial photos of their estate through the use of drone technology. Hunter advanced to the 11th annual YEA! Saunders Scholars national competition in Rochester, New York to compete with students from across the nation, India and China for a chance to win $30,000 scholarship, a trip to attend the U.S Chamber of Commerce 2019 Small Business Summit in Washington D.C, and the title of America’s Next Top Entrepreneur. YEA! Seeks to help young entrepreneurs develop culture and character while providing them with entrepreneurial skills that are guaranteed to help them thrive in the real world. YEA! is a great way for students to pursue their dreams and utilize their creativity while building the confidence needed to run a business. The Valdosta- Lowndes Chamber of Commerce proudly participates in YEA for a third year. Applications are available through Sept 8th. Students in the Valdosta- Lowndes area and from surrounding counties are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information and access to the application visit yeausa.org or contact Betty Morgan, vice president of Business Development at bmorgan@valdostachamber.com.  |
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