The Legacy Agency’s Grand Opening Includes Ribbon Cutting

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Jennifer C. Dunleavy is carrying on a legacy as she starts the next chapter of an Allstate agency in Florence. The Legacy Allstate Insurance Group on Cherokee Road is celebrating its grand opening this week. A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, September 29th with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce at the agency location at 1801 Cherokee Road in Florence. Rufus Brown opened the agency in 1967, after having worked for Allstate in the old Sears building downtown. It was his vision to start a neighborhood agency, Dunleavy said. Dunleavy said Brown moved to the current location in the ‘90s. His son-in-law, Richard Liles, eventually took over the business when Brown retired. Liles was nearing retirement age, Dunleavy said, when she came across information about the business. She was ready to return to her Pee Dee roots. She grew up in Hartsville and moved when she was 15 years old with her parents when her father was transferred with CP&L to Raleigh, North Carolina. Dunleavy said she attended Hartsville High School but graduated in Raleigh and attended Western Carolina in North Carolina. “I wanted to come home. I have been here since January,” Dunleavy said. Dunleavy acquired the Allstate agency in May.

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Florence’s Hope Village Celebrates Opening with a Chamber Ribbon Cutting

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With a few words, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew, a prayer, an admonition about the sharpness the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon cutting shears and then a quick slice of those shears, Hope Village was officially opened for business Thursday, September 30th. Of course, though, it wasn’t that easy. There were several years of work to get the village of 240-square-foot homes to the ribbon-cutting stage with the whole project paid for at completion. “This project began as a vision of one, Bryan Braddock, our Executive Director, spread to a vision of the House of Hope leadership team, then as a vision to the House of Hope board then ultimately as a vision toward our community,” said Dick Powell, Secretary for the House of Hope Board of Directors. “Hope Village is an example of this community’s generosity, their prayers and their hands to accomplish something unique in this region,” Powell said. “To those who gave generously, prayed fervently and worked diligently we want to, as a board, say thank you to you.”

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A Ribbon Cutting Celebrates the Opening of Jersey Mike’s in Florence

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Jersey Mike’s joins the lineup of Florence restaurants this summer. On Wednesday, September 15th a ribbon cutting was held to celebrate its opening and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Joining in the celebration were Chamber staff and ambassadors.  The sub-style restaurant opened on June 2.  “It has been busy,” said Michael Kelly, Franchise Owner. “We have been blessed to be here.”  Kelly said this is his first time as a franchise owner. He moved to Florence in May from Charleston, where he attended Charleston Southern, majoring in political science.  The restaurant is located at 110 Woody Jones Blvd. in Florence. Jersey Mike’s offers hot and cold subs from Mike’s Famous Philly to the Big Kahuna Cheese Steak to The Veggie or the Original Italian.

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SpotOn Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Chamber Membership

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SpotOn Transact celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, September 28th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office.  Celebrating with SpotOn Account Executive Sam Thompson were Chamber staff and ambassadors.  SpotOn Transact is a payments and software company redefining the merchant services industry to help them work “more efficiently, more strategically and more economically”.  Its mission, according to its website, is “to give your businesses a fighting chance by providing you with innovative software and payment solutions, supported by local and personal service, and delivered at a fair price. We are determined to help you compete and win.”

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Florence Breakfast Rotary Club Holds Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate Chamber Membership

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The Florence Breakfast Rotary Club is the first Rotary Club in Florence to join the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday, September 22nd at the Florence Country Club. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined the Rotary Club for the ribbon cutting and the breakfast meeting following. The club meets weekly at the Florence Country Club, 450 Country Club Boulevard, at 7:30 a.m.

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DaFactory Hosts Ribbon Cutting at New Location

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday, September 27th at DaFactory on West Evans Street to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.  Owner Zack Alleyne was joined by his staff and others, Chamber staff and ambassadors for the occasion.  DaFactory is located at 392 W. Evans St. and specializes in printing, graphics and electronic repair work.  Alleyne and his staff of Lakeisha McCullum and Nyasia Mobley do T-shirt printing, graphic design, logo designs, eye-catching business cards, websites, flyers, electronic repairs and other services.  Alleyne said he has been in business for about four years but moved into the West Evans location about five months ago.

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Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Hosts Ribbon Cutting with Chamber

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday, September 21st at Spherion Staffing and Recruiting at 519 W. Evans St. Formerly AccuStaff of Florence, the temporary staffing service is co-owned by Doris and Nathaniel Lockhart and has recently undergone not only a name change but a rebranding. They celebrated the milestone with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce staff and ambassadors. Spherion is a national recruiting and staffing enterprise. The Lockharts have two locations. In addition to the Florence office, they have one in Conway. Lockhart said their job is to match clients with successful businesses who are helping Florence grow and prosper. She said they started in business in 1986.

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Southwestern Coaching Hosts Ribbon Cutting With Chamber

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Egi Oakman-Black with Southwestern Coaching held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, September 20th at the Florence-Darlington Technical College Manufacturing and Business Incubator, celebrating her membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Chamber staff and ambassadors joined Oakman-Black for the celebration. Oakman-Black is an independent consultant for sales professionals and in professional development. She said Southwestern Coach has been in existence for more than 160 years. “I have been a coach for about a year and half,” she said. “I’ve been in sales and sales leadership for more than 25 years.” Her experience is primarily within the advertising and recruitment marketing industries.

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Lauren Piner with eXp Realty Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

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Lauren Piner, a Realtor with eXp Realty, celebrated the opening of her business and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, September 14th with a ribbon cutting at the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. She was joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors. Piner started in July with eXp Realty and works from her home. She specializes in residential properties. Piner moved to Florence in May from Colorado. “It is a big change,” she said. “I am looking forward to the fall.” Piner said she chose real estate because she likes helping people see the potential in a house, especially older homes. She said it is like a painting that you keep painting over to create a new piece of artwork, where you build on what is already there and put your own stamp on it.

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Pee Dee State Farmers Market Hosts Chamber’s Business After Hours

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As the first day of fall approaches on Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Pee Dee State Farmers Market begins preparing for its annual fall plant and flower festival, but on Thursday, September 16th, it welcomed members of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce to the market for Business After Hours. Bob Sager of the Pee Dee State Farmers Market welcomed the guests. Guests who ventured into the Farmers Market were greeted by pumpkins, fall flowers and fruits and vegetables. A few of the booths remained open for their browsing. Business After Hours is a networking event of the Chamber where members gather to socialize and enjoy food and beverages. The Annual Fall Plant and Flower Festival at the Farmers Market is Oct. 1-3. The Pee Dee Farmers Market is at 2513 W. Lucas St. in Florence.

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