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In This Issue
- Chamber Events
- TRC Kickoff
- March Eye Opener Breakfast
- YP Lunch
- Leadership Columbus
- YP Cocktails & Company
- Congressman Westmoreland Visit
- Ribbon Cuttings
- Business News
- Excide Technologies
- T-SPLOST
- BCBS Discounted Insurance
- 2012 Employment Law Series
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Our Mission Is To Promote Business Success By Being The Leader In Economic And Community Development In The Region
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Enhanced Investors
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of our members for their support of the Chamber and especially, to our Enhanced Investors, some of whom are included below:
Silver Investors:
Ben Carter Companies; Flournoy Development Company; Jordan, Jones & Goulding; MeadWestvaco Mahrt Operations; TIC Federal Credit Union, Warr Grading Contractor, Snyder's-Lance; Columbus State University; The Jordan Company; KPMG LLP, Precision Components International, Kellogg's Snacks, IBM, Boral Bricks, AT&T GA; Mid-Georgia Ambulance
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THANK YOU to our Continuous Sponsors for your support.
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JOIN A CHAMBER COMMITTEE
Joining one of the many committees of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce is a great way to expand your business network by building contacts throughout the business community.
Click here to sign up for a committee today!
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2011 ANNUAL REPORT
View the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce 2011 Annual Report online. This annual printed publication is also available at the Chamber Depot and at Chamber events.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Small Business Week 2012
SAVE THE DATE!
 May 21-25th
Sponsored by:
New Member Orientation
April 18th
8 am
Columbus Chamber Depot
All new members are invited to attend and learn more about thier benefits and how to get involved in the Chamber. Contact Ashley Chism at 706-327-1566 or achism@columbusgachamber.com for more information.
Longhorn Steakhouse Ribbon Cutting
Monday, March 26th
3:30 pm
5435 Whittlesey Boulevard
Columbus, Georgia
(706) 576-2141
www.longhornsteakhouse.com
Seaboard Advisors Ribbon Cutting
Friday, March 29th
11 am
233 12th Strett, Suite 718
Columbus, Georgia
www.seaboardadvisors.com
Troy University Ground Breaking
Phenix City Riverfront Campus
Friday, April 6th
4 pm
Phenix City, Alabama
www.troy.edu
University of Phoenix Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, April 10th
5 pm
7200 Northlake Drive
Columbus, Georgia
www.phoenix.edu
Twin Cedars - Dorothy Wells Knight Community Counseling Center Ribbon Cutting
Friday, April 20th
10 am
1025 First Avenue
Columbus, Georgia
www.twincedars.org
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Get treated like a "Rock Star" in 2012 at Chamber Networking Events with your ALL ACCESS VIP PASS!
Purchase your ultimate networking event package for only $150.00 This pass saves you 30% off of networking event prices! No reservations or waiting in line
with your
ALL ACCESS PASS!
Contact Tabetha Getz at tgetz@columbusgachamber.com or 706-257-1183 for more information.
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Welcome New Chamber Members - Chill Yogurt Cafe
- Foxworth Paint Contractors
- Indoor Solutions
- Sweet Frog
- Lade-Danlar, Inc.
- Longhorn Steakhouse - Columbus Park Crossing
- TMX Finance (Title Max)
- Pools by Design
- Zootsky, LLC
- US Calvary
- Sub 7
- Southern Bullion Coin & Jewelry
- Shep Mullin
- Coldwell Banker/ PHH Mortgage
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 Quick Links |
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Chamber Events |
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The Chamber has Disco Fever!
The Total Resource Campaign Kickoff was held March 19 at CSU's Cunningham Center. The theme for this year's campaign is Disco Fever. More than 90 volunteers attended the breakfast and many came dressed in thier best disco costume. The guest speaker was Mayor Teresa Tomlinson who shared her leadership journey with the volunteers. Jason Cooper of GEC, Inc. was the winner of the costume contest and was awarded a $1,000 sponsorship for his team, JC & the Sunshine Band. Thank you to Alexander Electic for sponsoring the Campaing Kickoff event. The TRC runs through June 5 and provides an opportunity for members to purchase sponsorship opportunities of Chamber events and publications. Please contact Ashley Chism at achism@columbusgachamber.com for more information.
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TRC volunteers at the Kickoff event |
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March Eye Opener Breakfast
Thank you to Flowers, Lewis & Associates for sponsoring the March Eye Opener Breakfast. The Eye Opener offered attendants a great opportunity to network with fellow Chamber members and get information on topics important to small business. A special thank you to our friends at Naartjie and Wesley Ker-Fox for presenting tips on how Facebook can benefit your business. Congratulations to Master Kleen for being named the March 2012 Small Business Giant.
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Congratulations Master Kleen, March 2012 Small Business Giant Award winner |
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Young Professionals Lunch with U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson
On Monday, March 19 United States Senator Johnny Isakson visited the Young Professionals for a lunch sponsored by Park Properties and the Chamber's Military Affairs Committee. Isakson addressed an audience of 75 people including special guests, Mayor Tomlinson, MCSD Board Chair, Cathy Williams and military representatives from Fort Benning's Career Captain's Training Course.
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YP Lunch with Senator Isakson |
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Leadership Columbus Arts & Culture Day
The Leadership Columbus class explored the arts with Day Chair, Besty Covington this past Tuesday. Participants began with a first class theatre experience at the Springer Opera House where they learned improvisation techniques. In the midst of Columbus' inaugural Artbeat, participants celebrated the arts in the community with the Historic Columbus Foundation, the Columbus Museum, the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, UPtown, the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley and Columbus State University. The day was a success thanks to day sponsor, Columbus State University and program sponsor TSYS.
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Leadership Columbus at the Springer Theater Academy |
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YP Cocktails & Company
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson spoke to 50 Young Professionals at Cocktails and Company Thursday sponsored by Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison, & Norwood Attorneys at Law. Esteemed guests included Mike Gaymon-Chamber President & CEO and Jay Alexander, Chamber Chair. Mayor Tomlinson spoke about her journey as an attorney prior to her roles with Midtown Inc and the City of Columbus. In her address, she expressed her excitement for the "new Columbus". She described Columbus as "bubbling with culture". Part of that culture included the dynamic of the Young Professionals Program, which Tomlinson highlighted as one of the 10 most exciting things about Columbus, Georgia. The Greater Columbus Georgia Young Professionals is a program of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about this program, visit www.ypcolumbusga.com.
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Young Professionals with Mayor Tomlinson at Cocktails & Company event |
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Congressman Westmoreland visits Healthcare Committee
On Wednesday, March 14, Congressman Westmoreland addressed the Chamber's Healthcare Committee. The Congressman provided an update to the current administration's healthcare law. Some of the issues that the Congressman stated that he has heard from his constituents are many of the small business owners have said they would rather pay the penalties associated with not providing health coverage for their employees because it was cheaper to do so. In addition, some companies are not hiring because there is uncertainty with knowing what the costs are going to be for their companies going forward. A flow chart was distributed to the participants providing information on how a small business can navigate the small business tax credit.
Congressman Westmoreland did provide some good news regarding legislation that has been introduced to increase the amount a person can contribute to a flexible health savings plans. The committee hopes to have Congressman Westmoreland return later in the year for another update.
 | | Congressman Westmoreland addresses the Healthcare Committee |
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Ribbon Cuttings & Grand Openings |
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Easter Seals - Megan's House
Easter Seals celebrated the ribbon cutting of Megan's House at the new facility on Fortson Road on March 16. Megan's House is a respite care home for children ages 2 through 17 with disabilities. Respite care provides a much needed rest for families. The Columbus-area Megan's House will be the fourth Megan's House in the state. There are also locations in Valdosta, Albany and Waycross. Megan's House is now open in Columbus, contact Sharon Borger at (706) 660-1144 for more details.
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Carol Holoman, mother of Megan, cuts the ribbon on the Columbus Megan's House |
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Business News |
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Exide Technologies Launches Advanced Technology Battery Geared Toward Longer Life
Launch brings new jobs, expanded operations in Columbus
Exide Technologies (NASDAQ: XIDE), a global leader in stored electrical energy, unveiled its newest battery technology and a state-of-the-art manufacturing operation at its Columbus, Ga facility. The facility anticipates employing approximately 250 people when it reaches full production early in 2013. Already, 60 new jobs have been added to Exide's Columbus payroll, which currently totals 145 employees.
ExideŽ Edge™ Absorbed Glass Mat batteries feature SureLife™ Graphite Technology Designed to maximize available energy capacity - helping batteries perform at
higher levels longer. At 2x longer life versus conventional flooded batteries, Exide Edge provides more protection against battery failure, helping vehicles stay strong
and perform like new. Exide Edge will begin shipping to aftermarket retailers March19 for use in today's cars, trucks, and SUVs.
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An Excide Edge AGM Battery |
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Transportation Sales Tax
A new sales tax to fund transportation projects, called the T-SPLOST, is up for a vote in the July 31st primary. The projects are expected to create 16,000 jobs from more than $594 million in revenue. Some of the projects in our region include widening Veterans Parkway from the are around Northside High School into Harris County and solving the traffic congestion along Buena Vista Road, commonly known as the spider web. Our Chamber is leading the campaign to pass the sales tax and will provide our members information as to why a "yes" vote will create jobs, relieve congestion and build transportation infrastructure for our future. Stay tuned! |
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Health Care Solutions for Chamber Members
Looking for ways to save money in a tough economy?
Here's an idea............
Most small businesses are looking for ways to positively impact their bottom line while retaining quality employees. One of the many programs afforded to you as a member of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce is a cost effective health insurance and benefit solutions package for your business.
Your program, MemberCare Alliance of Columbus, is part of a statewide network of over 140 Chambers and was developed especially for small and medium-sized Chamber-member businesses. It uses large-group buying power to make insurance coverage more affordable through a variety of health insurance products.
This program, which is exclusive to Chamber members, will save you 3-5% on your health insurance premiums, depending on the size of your business. Other employee benefits receive as much as a 10% discount. Why pay more for employee benefits than you have to?
To learn more about money saving ideas, please contact the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, your local insurance agent, or David Adams of Purchasing Alliance Solutions, Inc., (the employee benefits firm that developed MemberCare Alliance of Columbus program) at 800-782-8254, ext. 3014.
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The 2012 Employment Law Certificate Series
The Employment Law Certificate Series dates are April 12 - Oct. 19. This seminar series is designed to help increase your personal knowledge of these important issues and to help make sure your workplace is not subject to attack from the government
or plaintiffs' attorneys. You will also receive guidance on how to promote a positive work environment and become an employer of choice.
Find out more about the series and access the registration form today!
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