Registration Open For Emerging Leaders Summer Institute

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The Emerging Leaders Summer Institute is a program designed to generate professional training and development, mentorship, community engagement and recruitment opportunities.

The purpose is to identify, develop and empower “Emerging Leaders”, specifically minorities, small business owners and innovative professionals poised to move into the next level of community and business leadership.

Program Strategies

  • Communicate with community leaders and businesses
  • Professional and personal leadership development and civic engagement
  • Extensive networking with a diverse group of peers
  • Discovering your strengths and how to apply them as a leader

For more information, click here.

Chamber Outlook Luncheon Scheduled For March 20

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The keynote speaker for the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce annual Outlook Luncheon on Wednesday, March 20, will be Howard Coker, President, and CEO of Sonoco in Hartsville, SC. Mr. Coker’s role at Sonoco has global leadership, sales and operating responsibility for all of the Company’s diversified consumer, industrial and protective packaging businesses.

We expect to hear Mr. Coker talk about the growth of his company, product innovation and the general economic outlook here in South Carolina, along with some conversation about international business.

The program will include the announcement of the Small Business Person of the Year, which is sponsored by Dedicated Community Bank, and the Public Servant of the Year, which is sponsored by Francis Marion University.

The Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year will also be recognized.

The luncheon will be held at the Florence Center with doors opening at 11:30am and the program to begin at 12 noon. Individual registration is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Special reserved tables of 8 are available at $475.

To register online, click here.

Adams Arms Homecare Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Melissa Adams, Owner of Adams Arms Homecare, was the Chamber’s radio guest on ChamberLink Radio this past weekend.

You can catch the conversation each Sunday from 12:00 – 12:30 pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.

This radio program is brought to you by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Building Bridges Diversity & Leadership Summit Set For March 18

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The 2024 Building Bridges Leadership and Diversity Summit takes place on Monday, March 18th from 9:00 am-3:00 pm. The event will be held at the Florence Center and will feature multiple breakout sessions.

More information will be coming soon! To register online, click here.

Raines Takes Growth To Next Level After 35 Years Of Operating

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You can’t succeed and thrive for 35 years and multiple generations without learning to pivot and adapt to change, and Raines has certainly done that. But for the longtime hospitality company, there has been one constant, and that is putting people first.

It’s that philosophy that has been a core tenet of the integrated Florence, South Carolina-based development, management, and investment company and has helped it steadily expand its portfolio of Southeastern properties. Grey Raines, managing partner, Raines—who is the son of founder Mark Raines and first joined the company in 2003 as general manager of the Springhill Suites by Marriott in Florence—acknowledged some of the changes that have occurred. “It’s been an evolution from where we started in hospitality to where we are now. We started with one hotel in Florence and grew to some 40-plus hotels spread throughout the Southeast. It’s really kind of a crazy adventure that we’ve been on with a lot of rapid growth,” he said.

To read the full story, click here.

12th Edition South Carolina Chamber Music Festival

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The Balkan Quartet will be featured in a live recording session of a new piece by FMU faculty Dr. Brandon Goff on February 28th. The next day, they will present the closing concert of this year’s festival, featuring an exciting selection of music from Serbia and the Balkans.

The recital on February 29th will be hosted in a very special venue: the Steven F. Gately Gallery located at 142 N. Dargan Street. A cash bar will be available, and the audience will have the opportunity to also visit the current exhibit. Don’t miss the fantastic event of Art at 360 degrees!

For more information, click here.

Leadership Florence Participates In Education Day Session

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Leadership Florence had its February session (Education Day) on Tuesday, February 13th. The group visited Florence-Darlington Technical College and Francis Marion University.

The class also got to hear from many of the educational institutions in our community. The day included presentations from: TKA, Florence County Adult Education, Trinity Collegiate, Florence One Schools, SCSU 1890 Extension, Palmetto Project, Jr Leadership Florence, Florence Montessori, and the Department of Employment and Workforce.

An additional thank you goes to Florence-Darlington Technical College and Francis Marion University for providing breakfast and lunch for the group.

To see more photos from the day, click here.

Outflare Marketing Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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Linzie Batchelor, Outflare Marketing, along with family, friends and Chamber Ambassadors cuts her ribbon joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Outflare Marketing is a full-service, creative, contemporary, and affordable marketing agency that specializes in providing marketing services for small businesses. Twelve years ago, owner Linzie Batchelor realized the increasing need for a marketing agency able to provide a way for small businesses to outsource their marketing without sacrificing quality. While working as marketing director for an independent pharmacy for several years, Batchelor noticed many small business owners understood the importance of a clear marketing strategy and execution, but lacked the time to do it themselves, or the budget to hire a professional marketer. As social media platforms rose in popularity, many business owners began scrambling to manage building accounts and posting on their own, hiring inexperienced friends or family members, or ignoring social media completely. Hiring a full-term marketer is cost-prohibitive for many small businesses, and very few experienced marketers are willing to work part-time. Just as a small business can outsource their bookkeeping, Outflare allows business owners to outsource their marketing to a local agency that understands their company, their market, and their budget.

To read the full story, click here.

Green Leaf Café Holds Ribbon Cutting

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Jamel Lyde owner of Green Leaf Café along with friends and the Chamber Ambassadors cuts his ribbon joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

The mission of Green Leaf Cafe is to provide a welcoming, eco-friendly dining experience that promotes healthy, sustainable living. They strive to serve delicious, plant-based cuisine made from locally sourced, organic ingredients. Their goal is to create a serene and vibrant environment that fosters community, encourages conscious consumption, and educates about the benefits of a green lifestyle. Green Leaf Cafe aims to prioritize local and organic suppliers to minimize our environmental impact, support local farmers, and provide the freshest ingredients for our dishes.

Green Leaf Café’s goal is to offer a diverse menu that focuses on delicious and nutritious plant-based options. By promoting plant-based eating, they strive to reduce carbon footprint, contribute to the well-being of their customers and the planet to operate with a low environmental impact. We believe in the power of education to inspire change.

To read the full story, click here.

Chamber Participates In 15th Annual World Read Aloud Day

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The Chamber’s Elizabeth Messier joined the students at Delmae Elementary School last week to celebrate the 15th annual World Read Aloud Day. The day promotes literacy and remembering the art of storytelling. Each of these students has a bright future ahead of them thanks to Florence County teachers and a community that cares.