Kemper Health Joins Chamber and Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

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Kemper Health celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Monday, September 13th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. Celebrating with Kemper Health Agent David Wall were Chamber staff and ambassadors. Wall is the Kemper Health agent for the Florence, Darlington and Myrtle Beach area. He has been with Kemper Health in the Florence area for approximately two years and works out of his home. The home office for South Carolina is in Lexington. He said they have agents in all parts of the state. The company started in 1956 in Oklahoma City for cattlemen and rangers. “We have a niche,” Wall said. “We work mostly with small businesses. We provide affordable health care and insurance along with Medicare supplement plans for seniors.” Wall said many of their clients are self-employed, independent contractors and small businesses.

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Emerging Leaders Summer Institute Holds Graduation

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held its 6th annual graduation ceremony for the Emerging Leaders Summer Institute on Wednesday, September 1st at the Chamber. Nicole Echols, Executive Director of Harvest Hope Pee Dee, was the guest speaker. “Participants in the program had an opportunity to meet and visit a number of local businesses, nonprofits and leaders from the city and county,” said Les Echols, Director of Community and Minority Enterprise with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

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Junior Leadership Florence County Holds Retreat

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The Junior Leadership Class held their opening retreat August 12, 2021 at Lynches River.  Freddricka Pressley, 4-H Agent with Clemson Extension, led the retreat with a Welcoming Ceremony. The students engaged with 3-Minute “Get to know me bags”, leadership and ice-breaking games, personality assessment tests and writing goals for the year. Thank you to Chick-Fil-A West Florence for providing lunch and Lynches River for hosting the group. The students will have their next session on Friday, September 17,2021 traveling to McLeod and MUSC for Healthcare Day.

Leadership Florence Presents Checks to Area Non-Profits

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As a part of their efforts to assist the Greater Florence community, The Leadership Florence Class of 2021 presented checks to HopeHealth, Manna House and the United Way of Florence County.   The checks were the proceeds of the Leadership Florence “Helping Florence Bounce Back” class project and raffle. Along with the checks, the class also donated over 200 hygiene kits to each of the three agencies.  “We were thrilled to be able to assist”, said Taylor Hucks, vice president of the class. “The funds will help these agencies to continue being great assets to our community”.

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Jim Brown Is Named Florence Chamber Business Person of the Year

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Jim Brown was named the Business Person of the Year on Thursday, September 9th at the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Luncheon. Brown is a founding partner of Synergi Partners Inc. and ERS, both in downtown Florence. The award is sponsored by Wells Fargo, and making the presentation was John Bankson, Senior Vice President and National Director of Closely Held Asset Management for Wells Fargo and a member of the Florence Chamber board. Brown said he doesn’t seek the spotlight but he thanked the Chamber and award sponsor Wells Fargo for the recognition. He also thanked his family for their support in what is often a 24/7 job. “I am very lucky to have great partners,” Brown said. “Florence is a special place. It is a great place to raise a family and to start a business.”

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David Beasley Addresses Crowd at Chamber’s Annual Membership Luncheon

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Membership Luncheon on Thursday, September 9th. Former Gov. David Beasley presented to the group about his efforts to fight world hunger as Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program.  “People say congratulations on the Nobel Peace Prize,” Beasley said. “I say well, I got those values from Florence, Darlington, Lamar, Society Hill, home.”  Beasley shared statistics about the organization’s work.  “We feed about 120 million people on any given day, week or month,” Beasley said.  He said more than 270 million people worldwide don’t know where their next meal will come from. 41 million are approaching famine. He said those numbers have risen in recent years due in part to COVID-19 and climate extremes.  “We’re out there and we see more drought, more flooding,” Beasley said. “It’s changing out there and poor people cannot wait.”

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Ribbon Cutting Held at Empathy Care at Home

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Empathy Care at Home LLC held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, August 31st to celebrate its opening and membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Owner Shaquanah McClam cut the ribbon and was joined in the celebration by her husband, Marcus McClam Sr., their two sons, Marcus McClam Jr. and Landon McClam, family, friends, Mayor of Quinby Ashby Gregg, Chamber staff and ambassadors. McClam opened her non-medical health care provider business in July at 633 E. Ashby Road in Quinby.  McClam said she worked in hospice care for 11 years and is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

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The Learning Ladder Hosts Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting

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The Learning Ladder celebrated its grand opening and joining of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, August 18th with a ribbon cutting. Family, friends and staff were joined by Chamber staff and ambassador for the event. Owner of The Learning Ladder, Nikki Haffner, opened the childcare center on July 13. She offers childcare for ages six weeks to 12 years of age. There is full daycare and afterschool care available. “The purpose is to provide an environment so that parents feel safe to leave their children here,” Haffner said. She also wants to create a place where her staff can grow and blossom. She said there will be lots of learning opportunities for all.

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Greyfeather Group Holds Ribbon Cutting

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The Greyfeather Group eXp Realty celebrated Friday, August 27th with a ribbon cutting for the opening of its new office space in downtown Florence and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Greyfeather is at 150 N. Dargan St. in Florence.  Co-founders Cameron Michael and Andrew Savage cut the ribbon, joined by members of the Greyfeather team, and Chamber staff and ambassadors.  The new office has been open for about four months, Michael said.  Together the owners have a combined 17 years of real estate experience.

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Pinnacle Storage in Florence Holds Ribbon Cutting

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A ribbon cutting was held at Pinnacle Storage in Florence on Thursday, August 26th, celebrating its membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Sharing in the celebration were Chamber staff and ambassadors. The storage business opened at 3438 Pine Needles Road in Florence on Aug. 3rd. The privately owned company has been in business since 1989. Owner Robert M. High of Wilmington, North Carolina, said he has 17 locations in North Carolina and South Carolina, including in Myrtle Beach, Little River, Greenville, Longs, and Boiling Springs, Calabash, Pinehurst, Morehead City and several locations in Wilmington. One location is scheduled to open today. High said he hopes to open locations in Virginia next year. High said the company provides climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled storage units, RV and boat storage, U-Haul rental, and moving supplies. It has unit sizes from 5×5 to 15×50.

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