Practical Purpose Solutions Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Kendra Robinson, owner of Practical Purpose Solutions for weight loss, vitamin and hydration solutions, was the Florence Chamber’s guest this past weekend talking about eliminating harmful toxins from the body and repairing damaged cells and tissues.   We encourage you to tune-in every Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.

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

You can review past ChamberLink Radio Show interviews by clicking https://www.flochamber.com/events-programs/podcasts/

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital Celebrates Nearly 40 years Of Service

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The Florence Chamber witnessed local officials and staff at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital celebrate its grand reopening providing nearly 40 years of service last Wednesday.

More than 33,000 patients have been served at the facility, which now includes 38 private rooms, therapy gym and in-house dialysis suite.

Encompass Health’s first hospital helped patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. Patients receive a minimum of three hours of intensive therapy for five days each week along with frequent physician visits and 24-hour nursing care on the road to recovery. The hospital also features a therapy courtyard, dining room, education room, in-house pharmacy and dayroom areas.

To read the full story, click here.

Emerging Leaders Summer Institute Holds Graduation

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held a graduation ceremony for the 2024 Emerging Leaders Summer Institute on August 27th at the Chamber.

Keynote speaker was Claudia Kropf, Deputy Administrator, Florence County.

Congratulations to the 2024 Emerging Leaders Class: Cindy Averitt – HopeHealth, Janet Belew – McLeod Health, Diane Davis – HopeHealth, Jernasia Gaskins – McLeod Health, Christian Reason – Lighthouse Ministries, Charlee Rhodes – HopeHealth and Melinda Robinson – PSRC Educators

To see more photos, click here.

Blitz45 Fitness Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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Danny Horne and Vanessa Jones, owners of Blitz45 Fitness, along with staff, family, friends and Chamber Ambassadors cut their ribbon joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

At Blitz45 Fitness, their primary goal is to empower their members to reach their full potential, both physically and mentally. They strive to create an inclusive environment where individuals of all fitness levels can challenge themselves, break through barriers, and achieve their personal health and wellness goals. Their vision extends beyond just high-impact workouts; they are committed to becoming an all-encompassing wellness center that begins with fitness and evolves to incorporate a wide range of services to meet their members’ diverse needs. By offering expert coaching, innovative fitness technology, and eventually expanding into areas such as nutrition, recovery, and holistic wellness, they aim to support every aspect of their members’ journeys to healthier, more balanced lives.

Blitz45 Fitness delivers dynamic, high-intensity workouts that are both effective and engaging. Their classes are designed to provide a full-body workout that combines strength training, cardio, and functional movements. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just starting your journey, their workouts are scalable to meet all fitness levels, making it possible for everyone to achieve their personal goals.

To read the full story, click here.

Did You Know September 1 Was National Hotel Employee Day?

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On September 1, we celebrated National Hotel Employee Day and honored the over 123,000 employees who work in S.C’s hotel industry. Every day in communities across state, hotel employees play a key role in some of Americans’ most important life events – from wedding receptions to family reunions and vacations. Hotel employees keep guests safe, give back to their communities, and are critical to keeping our nation’s travel and tourism industry running smoothly. In 2023 alone, American hotels supported nearly 1 in 25 U.S. jobs and directly generated $743.8 million in state, and local tax revenue. Florence SC. is no stranger to the hotel business being famous for all our lodging availability located on Interstate 95 and across the county. A big salute to our hotel employees.

To read the full story, click here.

2024-2025 Fellows in Education Kicks Off New Season

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The 2024-2025 Fellows in Education class started the new program season with a visit to West Florence High School.

The WF High School Principal, Matthew Dowdell, opened the luncheon session sharing his vision and goals for the year and reviewing the schools’ accomplishments over the last few years. Participants in the Fellows class had the opportunity to visit four different classrooms and participate in various creative projects and learning exercises.

The class of 30 local civic and business leaders will visit 8 different Florence 1 Schools over the next 8 months to share firsthand what is occurring in the district each day as we educate our children.

Fellows In Education is a joint program between Florence 1 Schools, the School Foundation and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to photographer Steve Camlin for the photos.

To see more photos from the day, click here.

The School Foundation to Honor Tonya Frazier McNair at Annual Gala On September 24

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Tonya Frazier McNair will be honored as The School Foundation’s Distinguished Graduate at the 24th annual School Foundation Celebration Gala to be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, foundation officials announced recently.

McNair is a 1986 graduate of Wilson High School.  She is the deputy associate administrator for management and a key senior advisor to NASA’s associate administrator for the Space Operations Missions Directorate.  The organization serves as the heart of the agency’s space exploration efforts, enabling Artemis, commercial space, science, and other missions through communication, astronaut support, launch services, and research capabilities.  She has more than thirty years of combined experience in the federal government, including strategic planning for NASA systems, and program management and systems engineering for the Department of the Navy.

The program will be held in the auditorium at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT).  The reception will begin at 5:30pm and will be held in the lobby.  Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served.  The program will begin at 7:00pm and will end promptly at 9:00pm.  Florence 1 Employees ($75) and individuals ($100) will be assigned row seating.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or by e-mailing dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org.  You can also purchase tickets on the foundation’s website.

Citizens Police Academy Begins October 1

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Interested in learning more about the Florence Police Department?

Join the City of Florence Police Department Citizens Police Academy starting October 1st! Classes run every Tuesday night for 6 weeks from 6:00 pm – 8:00pm.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get an inside look at law enforcement!

For more information, click here.

Downtown Florence Restaurant Week Set For September 7 – 15

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Our tables are set for Downtown Florence Restaurant Week! Gather and savor delicious dishes from Sept. 7th to 15th! Don’t miss out!

For more information, click here.

McLeod Health Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Octavia Williams-Blake, VP & Chief Human Resources Officer and Charity Gerald, Director of Recruiting & Workforce Development with McLeod Health, were the Florence Chamber’s guests this past weekend talking about growing the workforce at the middle school and high school level.   We encourage you to tune-in every Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.

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

You can review past ChamberLink Radio Show interviews by clicking https://www.flochamber.com/events-programs/podcasts/