Ribbon Cut for New McClenaghan Administrative Annex

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Alumni from McClenaghan High School gathered with City officials and Florence One Schools’ leadership on Thursday, September 16th  to cut the ribbon, and make official the reopening of the building, on the school’s system new administrative annex and adult education facility on South Dargan Street. “This means a lot. It has been a long time coming. I’m very, very happy to be here tonight,” said Porter Stewart, Florence One Schools Board of Trustees Chairman as he stood in the third-floor auditorium, swing music playing on the sound system and McClenaghan memorabilia on display throughout. Also in attendance was NFL Hall of Fame member and McClenaghan alumnus Harry Carson – Class of 72.

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Leadership Florence Class Holds Retreat in Myrtle Beach

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held a two day retreat for the 34-member Leadership Florence Class of 2022 Retreat on Sept. 13, 2021 at the Avista Resort.  Gina Trimarco of Pivot 10 Results facilitated a wide-ranging discussion of leadership principles and strategies on Monday, followed by dinner and a reception.  Tuesday September 14th, the class participated in a scavenger hunt/team building exercise at Wonderworks in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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AROHA Celebrates Opening Its New Studio in Downtown Florence With Ribbon Cutting

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AROHA Afro Latin Dance celebrated the opening of its new studio Thursday, September 9th on Dargan Street in downtown Florence. The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce shared in the celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Owner Adalia Ellis offers partners Afro Latin Dance classes in Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba.  She offers group and individual lessons, business events, school educational programs, team building and wedding dance choreography.  Ellis has been teaching teaching dance
in Florence for four years. She moved into her new space at 167 N.Dargan St. in November 2020.
“I love the energy in this space,”Ellis said.  Ellis said she is thrilled to be in downtown Florence.  “We were still in the pandemic, and I didn’t start offering classes until this week,”Ellis said.  Ellis said the partner dances she teaches can all be traced back to African-rooted music and movement.  “I’ve been teaching dance for about 15 years,”she said. “I traveled the world in my 20s and 30s, and I knew if I ever came home, I wanted to open my own space here. This is a dream come true for me.”

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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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