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The Chamber Ambassadors honored Mercer Hughes Real Estate Group with a ribbon-cutting on November 7th to celebrate their grand opening and to further connect with the community and potential clients. MHREG is a full-service real estate firm that works with buyers and sellers on reaching their goals. They also have a property management side to the business that works to maintain positive relations between landlords and tenants. The business became established when owners Larry Mercer, Jerry Hughes and Dedra Hughes all worked as realtors at the same firm. Owing to their similar ambitions for the industry, the three of them decided to team up and start their own firm that placed an emphasis on exemplary service. “We want to create an atmosphere where agents and their clients will feel at home in Mercer Hughes.” Hughes said. “We offer unique social media services as well as a team approach to real estate. Many of our clients will have not one, but two agents helping them to ensure the best quality service.” MHREG is passionate about serving Valdosta due to their long-standing ties with the community. “Having served Lowndes County and the surrounding areas helping buyers and sellers for over 20 years as realtors, we never questioned our location. We love it here.” She said. MHREG is proud to be a member of the Chamber due to them helping the firm reach their two-year goals within six months. “Our goal is to become a part of the community in many ways possible. The Chamber has been giving us great exposure, and working with them has given us yet another avenue in the way of achieving our goals.” She said. For more information about Mercer Hughes Real Estate Group, Inc. , 3117 N Oak Street Extension Suite B, Valdosta, Ga 31602 call (229) 262-1388. 
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The Chamber Ambassadors honored Cass Burch Chrysler as the Leading Business of the Week for October 28, 2019. Cass Burch Chrysler is an automotive dealer that has been providing vehicles to the citizen of Valdosta and surrounding cities for over 20 years. Cass Burch Chrysler strives to live up to their motto “stack ‘em deep and sell ‘em cheap” by having one of the largest Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram inventories in South Georgia. They are also proud to be one of the leading Chrysler dealerships in the nation, winning numerous awards including: JD Power Customer First Award for 2018 & 2019, Best of South Georgia’s Best Place to Buy a New Truck nine times, and the prestigious Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram National Dealer of the Year Award for 2007. General manager Bobby Joseph said that Cass Burch makes it a priority to give back to Valdosta. “We partner with Moody AFB Housing to sponsor activities for active military families living in base housing. We partner with Valdosta and Lowndes High Schools to develop “Community Prayer” and “Teacher Appreciation” videos for each school system. We also sponsor Malcom Mitchell’s “Read with Malcolm Program” in area Title 1 schools,” Joseph said. Joseph made it clear that the business places high emphasis on employee satisfaction to ensure that Chrysler standards are met and that customers will have an easier time with purchasing a vehicle. “It’s a pleasure and extremely rewarding to be involved in an organization that believes in always doing the right thing regardless of the cost involved.” He said. Cass Burch Chrysler is a proud member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, citing their positive and “pro-business” influence on the community. “They have created an awareness in our community that encourages area residents to support and buy from local companies such as ourselves.” He said. For more information, visit Cass Burch Chrysler at 4164 N Valdosta Rd or call (229) 242-1540. 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  Hannah Hadley has been chosen to represent Wiregrass Georgia Technical College as the 2020 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Student of the Year. EAGLE is a statewide program that recognizes and rewards excellence among students enrolled in adult education programs. The award was announced on Monday, November 18th at the 23rd annual EAGLE reception sponsored by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and ERCO Worldwide. The EAGLE Award program is a vital component of the Certified Literate Community Program of Georgia, an umbrella organization that brings all sectors of a community together with literacy providers to map out the best use of resources already available. It also seeks to acquire the additional resources necessary to meet local literacy needs. Hadley will attend the Georgia EAGLE Leadership Institute March 9-11, 2020 in Atlanta. The Leadership Institute recognizes and honors students who have demonstrated superior achievement in adult education classes and programs. The Office of Adult Education (OAE) for the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) sponsors the annual EAGLE Leadership Institute. The finalists including the winner are Hannah Hadley (Brooks County) nominated by Toni Lewis, Charleston Lemon (Coffee County) nominated by Brianna Gillis and Johnathan McMillian (Lowndes County) nominated by Adann-Kennn Alexxandar.  The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors honored Chancy Drugs as the Leading Business of the Week for November 18, 2019. Chancy Drugs was established in 1966 by Hubert and Sue Chancy as a single location community pharmacy in their hometown, Hahira, Georgia. Now operating under the leadership of the Chancys' two sons, Hugh and Bert, Chancy Drugs remains a family-owned, locally operated, independent pharmacy business. Hugh Chancy, in particular, is excited about the direction of the pharmacy. "We take great pride in being an independent pharmacy. Over 50 years ago, our father founded this business on two principles," Chancy said. "One, maintaining the highest integrity in every area of business and two, treating every patient like they are a member of our family, and we remain focused on maintaining those two standards today." Chancy is always looking for new ways to make his customers' lives easier, so Chancy Drugs has recently developed a new program called "Chancy Drug ReadyMed". "For patients living with complicated chronic conditions, it can be difficult to understand or remember medication instructions." Chancy said. “To help ensure every patient is properly taking the correct medication at the right time every day, Chancy Drugs offers medication synchronization and adherence packaging through the company's VIP program called Chancy Drugs ReadyMed." Chancy Drugs ReadyMed uses a medication synchronization program designed to help patients save time and eliminate multiple trips to the pharmacy by having all prescriptions filled at the same time every month. These innovations have led Chancy Drugs to receive numerous accolades, such as winning Best Pharmacy for five years in a row since 2015 at the Best of South Georgia Awards. Pharmacist Beth Rountree, who works at the location in Hahira, has nothing but glowing reviews for the company. "Being a member of the Chancy Drugs family for the past 23 years has been a true blessing. The company's core values--caring, committed, and community--embody every reason I wanted to become a pharmacist." Chancy Drugs is a proud member of the Chamber giving them credit for their lasting success. "Chancy Drugs has been a member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce for many years," said Chancy. "The Chamber has been instrumental in helping locally owned businesses, like ours, to prosper. They offer many key networking opportunities and resources that promote small businesses in our community, and we are grateful for the support they provide." For more information about Chancy Drugs visit their main location at 205 E Main Street in Hahira or call (229) 245-9922.  The Chamber Ambassadors honored Gatlin Mortuary with a ribbon-cutting on November 15, 2019 to celebrate becoming members of the Valdosta Chamber and their grand opening in Valdosta. James Gatlin, the owner, is passionate about helping families get through one of their most difficult times. “Our business serves families before and after their loss. I love doing what I do because it allows families to trust me with their most precious loved one.” Gatlin said. Gatlin stated that Valdosta has a special place in his heart. “I located my business here because I was born and raised in Valdosta. I feel I must give back to my community through funeral service.” He went on to say that what sets Gatlin Mortuary from other funeral homes is that the staff is built on teamwork and love. “We are down to earth people that want to help families at their worst times. We display love here at all times.” Gatlin Mortuary is a proud member of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce. Gatlin appreciates the Chamber assisting him with the business’s grand opening. For more information, please call (229) 247-4141 or visit them at 500 E Alden Ave.  The Chamber Ambassadors honored Southern Eggs with a ribbon cutting on November 8, 2019 to celebrate their rebranding and the beginning of a new era. Once known as The Egg and I, Southern Eggs is a place where lovely dining and southern hospitality meet. “It’s a place that brings families together around an amazing experience to keep them coming back again and again,” said Owner and General Manager Sara Leff. “I personally love what I do because I get to know the community that makes all of this possible. I love creating experiences for individuals or families that make them leave with a smile.” Southern Eggs is passionate about providing their guest with a great experience and one that will keep the guest happy. Leff stated, “Our business offers an upscale breakfast and lunch experience that isn’t necessarily available elsewhere. We focus on guests first and our priority is always making our guests happy.” Southern Eggs is a proud the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber. “The Chamber has done wonders for helping us maintain who we are as a business – supporting us in different endeavors, helping us become a “new” restaurant, and let people know what we’re all about,” said Leff. According to Leff, Southern Eggs is planning to involve their guests by asking their opinions on menu items or seasonal favorites. For more information about Southern Eggs, visit 2953 A N. Ashley Street or call (229) 253-1210.  The Chamber Ambassadors honored The Valdosta Daily Times as the Leading Business of the Week for November 4, 2019. The Valdosta Daily Times has been serving the community for 150 years. They are proud to deliver local, community news along with sports, entertainment and lifestyles. Through the years, The VDT has made it a priority to keep up with the times. Aside from their daily, printed paper, they produce a variety of magazines, have a fully digital paper and are active on social media. Their website is constantly updated with the most recent stories, podcasts, videos, photos and more. With their presence in both printed and digital platforms, The VDT is able to appeal to all kinds. “Our print and online platforms reach 83% of our core market,” reports Jeff Masters, Publisher of the Valdosta Daily Times. The newspaper works diligently to be transparent with the community on how they do business. They live stream story planning and editorial board meetings and provide looks behind scenes of their stories they publish. “This is part of our approach to invite the community to be a part of their community newspaper,” Masters added. The VDT is a vital part of the community serving as a watchdog, encourager, informer and many more roles. While there are many challenges to maintain a local newspaper, these roles and ever changing needs outweigh them. The Valdosta Daily Times has been a member of the Chamber since 1957 and maintains a close relationship that is mutually beneficial. “The impact of what the Chamber does for us directly by being a business partner, offering referrals, providing information as well as a multitude of opportunities to participate in community events is unsurpassed. We know if we need something we can reach out and the Chamber is ready to assist,” Masters explains. 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. For more information on the Valdosta Daily Times, call them at 229-244-3400.  The Chamber Ambassadors honored Valdosta Premier Counseling LLC with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 1, 2019. Valdosta Premier Counseling LLC is a therapy clinic committed to empowering their clients so that they cope with the stresses of everyday life. Aside from therapeutic services, VPC also offers EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) treatment, a certified trauma assessor, perinatal mental health counseling and couples counseling. The clinic has 4 main practitioners, Regina Wisenbaker, LCSW, Paris Shields, LCSW, Holly Wingate, LPC and Ashley Shapiro, LCSW. They are all certified in either social work or professional counseling. According to office manager Katie Bridges, they are all passionate about helping the citizen of Valdosta. “We love knowing that we are helping someone during a difficult time in their life and knowing we have made a positive impact that will improve their quality of life.” Bridges said. Bridges also shared that the unique experiences of the staff helps them to treat a variety of clients, and the company decided to hold the ribbon cutting to spread the word about all they offer. “With our diverse therapist and staff, we have firsthand experience with a range of areas such as cultural, ethnic, adoption, fertility issues and different family dynamics. We are even owned by a disabled veteran and have a current military spouse in our office.” She said. Valdosta Premier Counseling is a proud member of the Chamber. “Since joining the Chamber, we have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and make some great contacts to help us achieve our goal of being involved business for the community.” She said. For more information about Valdosta Premier Counseling, visit 3316 Bemiss Rd or call (229) 262-7333.  The Chamber’s primary purpose is to advocate for local business, help them build strong foundations and provide networking opportunities. To accomplish this, the Chamber has reached into the heart of the community and hired three part-time employees who are students at Valdosta State University. All current part-time employees are not just students at VSU, but are deeply invested in their campus. Their campus and community involvement drew them to the Chamber. Tyler Tucker is a former community service coordinator at VSU who has been employed part-time by the Chamber as its Government Affairs Assistant for five months. “Throughout my daily activities, I am tasked with managing and enhancing the VoterVoice database functionality used by Chamber members, monitoring critical pieces of business-related legislation, and assisting the Chamber President with activities associated with the Government Affairs Council.” Tucker said. Additionally, Tucker also helps to coordinate trips and programs such as the annual Legislative Lunch, Meet the Candidates, Members to be Heard sessions, GAC meetings and Washington, D.C. trips. “Working at the Chamber has given me the perspective of working as a legislative assistant, project manager, researcher, event coordinator, graphic designer, and much more,” Tucker added. Tucker is not the only part-time help at the Chamber; Bryan Tillman has been a Communications and Administrative Assistant for the Chamber for over a year while balancing his classes and being the assistant cheerleading coach for VSU. “I coordinate for the Leading Business of the Week spotlights and Ribbon Cuttings. I am also responsible for writing the press releases for events, and I assist with the administration and operations for the Chamber,” Tillman said. Tillman hopes his presence is a helpful one at the Chamber. “The best part of the job is interacting with the public and being able to make someone smile. I hope to inform others with knowledge of the Chamber and how they can benefit from our exceptional resources,” Tillman added. Another VSU student who is contributing to the success of the Chamber is Chandler Davis, the Business Development Assistant. His focus is split between advising local business interested in the Valdosta area and coordinating the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). “I deal with all the demographic and infographic information for business owners that want to discover income ratio, the market and things of that nature. As for YEA!, I help kids ages 11-18, start their own business. By the end of the program, they’re business owners!” Davis said. Davis hopes to acquire the skill set necessary to take his talents to the corporate sector. The Chamber could not complete their daily tasks near as efficiently without these three. They are grateful for this connection with VSU.   The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber kicked off its third year of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) on October 15th with a record breaking 17 students! These students, ages 11 to 18, have a keen drive to launch and run their own, real business and represent Valdosta City Schools, Lowndes County Schools, Open Bible Christian School, Valwood School and Cook County High School. Throughout the year, students will work in close cooperation with local business leaders, community leaders and educators. These individuals use their personal experiences to demonstrate how to develop business ideas and objectives, write a business plan, pitch to investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies, establish e-commerce and a web presence. By the end of the academic year, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be continued after their graduation from the program. “The Chamber is so excited to offer this forward-thinking program,” expressed Betty Morgan, YEA! Program Director. “We believe in providing the means to encourage these young students to embrace their creativity and passions and hope that empowering them at such a young age will inspire them to do even greater things in the future.” Classes are held every Tuesday from 5-8pm at Valdosta State University’s Langdale College of Business and instructed by Vicki Layne. The YEA! students will continue their classes through the spring and finish the year with a “Shark Tank”-style pitch in front of an investors panel and compete for real start-up money. None of this could be accomplished without the support of local businesses. Local businesses have embraced this program, providing all 17 students with scholarships. For more information on the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, contact Betty Morgan at 229-247-8100 ext 234.  |
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