Mary Graham is the Chamber's Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Regional Advancement.  The Public Policy and Regional Advancement Division works to maintain an active and positive dialogue with community leaders and public officials on the local, state and federal levels.  Areas of focus include state and federal legislation, military base retention, transportation, regional planning and other issues impacting the business climate in the region.

Graham has been with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce since 1989 working in Public Policy and the Center for Business Research.  Prior to joining the Charleston Metro Chamber she worked with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the SC Department of Commerce.

She is past chair (twice) of the Council for Community and Economic Research. Formed in 1961, the Council for Community and Economic Research is a national membership organization of organizations concerned about understanding and improving regional economies.  Members include representatives from state and local development organizations, chambers of commerce, local governments, federal agencies, applied academic research centers, and many other types of institutions. 

Graham is one of 25 Certified Community Researchers in the country.   The CCR designation is from the Council of Community and Economic Research.

In 2006, Graham was awarded the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.  The CCE is the only national certification for Chamber professionals.  Graham is the only Chamber professional to hold the CCR and CCE designation.

Graham is a graduate of Converse College in Spartanburg SC with a degree in Economics.

A native of Sumter, SC, Graham has one son - Graham who is 12 years old.  They reside in Mt. Pleasant S.C.

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What are you looking for?

That is the question that has been on my mind the past couple of weeks.

Over the last couple of years we have had a Planning Meeting open to all association members in December to help the Association plan its activities for the following year. Several great initiatives have been put in place as a direct result of the feedback we received in these meetings.

For example: The introduction of the Networking Contest. The Networking Contest has been a great success. One of our members wrote, "The networking contest is a GREAT idea.  I probably won't ever win a 'prize,' but the framework has certainly made it easier to call up another member and schedule a meeting.  LOVE IT!".

We added the Members Spotlight in our newsletter as a door prize for attending our monthly luncheons. The spotlight has proven a great venue to showcase our members business and/or profession allowing us to get to know you better.

We implemented Monthly Members-Only Happy Hours. This has proven to be a great success as well. Our Happy Hours give our members the opportunity to network and get to know each other without a busy agenda.

Even the Town of Mount Pleasant is getting into the energy surrounding the Association by partnering with MPBA on our first of what we hope will become the premier networking event in the Lowcounty, the Mount Pleasant Entrepreneur & Business Expo.

Starting this month, the Town of Mount Pleasant will partner with MPBA to host a quarterly Happy Hour with the Mayor and members of Town Council. This Happy Hour event will be open to all Mount Pleasant business and members of MPBA. This will not only help to showcase MPBA, but will allow our members the opportunity to interact with our Town officials.

Although we have had a lot of excitement and energy surrounding the Association this year, I am always looking for opportunities and ideas that will help improve our benefit to our members. So I ask you this question: "Why did you join the Mount Pleasant Business Association?" Whether you are an active member, past member or thinking about joining, I would love to hear your ideas on what benefits you would like to see the Association offer. After all, the association exists for the benefit of its members!!

I look forward to seeing you at Thursday's meeting!

Cheers to all!
Shawna Garris
MPBA President
Assistant Vice President for Tidelands Bank

Thur., April 21 - 12 p.m. - MPBA Meeting, Holiday Inn 

** Wed., April 27 - 5:30 - 8 p.m.**

MPBA Happy Hour in conjunction with the Town of Mount Pleasant Economic Development Office

-- drop in for some off-hours social time with other members at the Coleman Public House, located on Coleman Blvd., near Shem Creek.  Mayor Billy Swails will be in attendance, as will various members of Town Council.  Open to everyone.  No RSVP required. 

Tues., May 3 - 11:30 a.m. - MPBA Board meeting (Tidelands Bank) 

Fri., May 27 - 5:30 a.m. - MPBA Members-Only Cruise
aboard the Osprey.  Details coming soon. 

 MPBA Scholarship deadline is close
 
The deadline for applications for the 2011 MPBA Scholarship in memory of Joe Brinson is April 29th. Applications are available on our website at MyMPBA.com.  These can also be completed directly online or can be downloaded and mailed in. 

We hope that many East Cooper resident seniors will apply for this award. If you know of one who could use some help with expenses in college this Fall, pass on the information!

If there are any questions, you can reach MPBA Vice President Jason Biggs at  843-475-9652 or  e-mail address him at jason.biggs@regions.com.

Got a bit of news to share with the membership?   Keep it short and to the point and we'll be happy to include it in the next newsletter.

Town of Mount Pleasant on Twitter

Get real-time information on business events (i.e., grand openings, and what's "coming soon"), meeting notifications, and relevant project updates. Follow @mtpleasantbiz for updates on all things business & everything Mount Pleasant.

Follow @mtpleasantbiz on Twitter for information & updates, and for direct questions, contact: Quin Stinchfield, Business Development Coordinator, via @ mpbiz@townofmountpleasant.com or 843.377.5365


Southcoast Community Bank to hold social

Southcoast Community Bank, a longtime MPBA member, is hosting an After Hours Networking Social on Wed., April 27th at the Coleman Blvd. branch.  The social is from 5-7 p.m. and is an opportunity for business leaders to promote their businesses, products and services with one another. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lynda Boals at 971-6542 or email her at lboals@southcoastbank.com.

 MPBA's 2011 Networking Contest
 
While we may know many of our fellow members, do we know anything about them other than the name of their company? Do we know what their business does and all the products or services they have?  That's what the MPBA Networking Contest hopes to address. 

If you take time and meet other members for coffee or lunch and talk to each other about what your company does we truly believe your business will increase. You may not need that person's product or service, but chances are, somewhere along the way someone you know will. You've then increased your value to that person. Chances are, the person you took the time to get to know will know someone that will need your product or service, even if they don't need it themselves.

That is what networking is all about. It's not about selling anything. It all about relationship! Create your network of professionals so that you can be seen by your family, friend and clients as the person to go to when they have a need.

Meanwhile, you earn points every time you network with another member and could win a free membership for next year!

If you have any questions about the contest please contact Lynne Klosik or David Seay.

Click on this link to learn more about the rules and start earning points.

For those of you who have become involved with the hottest social networks out there - Facebook and Twitter- you can now join the MPBA Facebook group and follow us on Twitter. We intend to develop these as an adjunct to our website as methods to share information and communicate with one another.

Because it has been asked, be aware that joining our Facebook group does not automatically make other MPBA Facebook members your friends. It's simply a way to keep up with the MPBA.

Please join our Facebook group to network and follow us on Twitter to stay informed and further extend the wonderful connections you've made at the meetings. Click the link below to go to our new page and contribute:

Click Here To Go To The MPBA Facebook Page

Click Here To Find Us On Twitter  (@MPBizAssoc)

Have you checked out the new Association website at:

www.MyMPBA.com

(The old link - mpbpa.com - will also lead to this new site.)

Of particular note is the searchable Membership Directory.  You can search by business name, business type, or member first or last name.  Likewise, you can see all members in a single list.  There are links with each profile that will allow you to email the member or visit their website.

If you are a member and have not done so, please take a moment and look up your listing in the directory.  If you are not there, if you need some information changed, if you'd like to add a photo or change your photo, please email Diane Pauldine by clicking here.  She will collect updates from members and then make them on a monthly or semi-monthly basis.  (So if your submitted change doesn't happen immediately, please be patient.  We will get to it asap.)

Coming soon to this new website will also be the ability to pay luncheon, event or membership fees via Paypal.  Also, we will launch on online forum that will allow members to communicate with one another on a wide variety of topics.

We welcome you to check out the new website and offer feedback.