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R2017BUSINESS PLAN OF ACTIONChairman’s ColumnIt is an honor to serve as your Chairman of the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber Board of Governors for 2017. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside such a dedicated and experienced staff, successful members and the great volunteers of our business community.

I have to say that I love the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce. I am a better leader because the Chamber exists. Our employees are stronger leaders and our business is more successful as a result of all that the Chamber offers our community.

Our Chamber Mission statement includes these points:Provide Leadership • Promote Business • Enhance the quality of life for our community

The bottom line is, “We want your business to succeed.”

Last year, Earl Wise challenged us to tell our story. That is still a great idea. I thought about why the Chamber exists and I want to share with you why I am so passionate about being connected and involved in the Chamber of Commerce.

There is no other membership network that creates a more positive collective impact in such a broad way. Think about how many areas of opportunity there are through our Chamber. Three councils: Economic, Community and Member Services which together host over 25 different program areas. As members we have the opportunity to impact education, economic development, local and state government, promote new and existing businesses, as well as improve our own leadership skills. We connect local businesses with each other to share contacts, knowledge and resources.

Perhaps the most fulfilling is the opportunity for a positive impact in our community through giving back. We have so many incredible non-profits serving our community. Chamber networking is a great way to connect with all of them.

We want you to succeed. When you succeed, your business succeeds and our community succeeds. Together we have a greater collective impact. A voice for business and community success.

We could not do this without YOU, our members. It is not only your funding support that allows for great programs. YOU are the reason we succeed. We need your wisdom, insight and talent. We are volunteer driven. I urge you to get involved in an event or join a committee. I also urge you to join me celebrating the Superheroes of our economy…YOU!

Together let’s make a positive impact that will provide leadership, promote business and enhance the quality of life in our community. I am looking forward to serving with you in 2017!

Dee Barnes

Deanne “Dee” BarnesChair, 2017 Board of Governors

What’s InsideEconomic DevelopmentStimulating reasonable growth ................. 1

Community DevelopmentEnhancing our community through leadership, education and legislative initiatives ................................................ 2

Member ServicesProviding direct member benefits ............. 7

2016 Annual ReportChairman’s report to membership ............. 7

2 CONYERS-ROCKDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

community achievers. The Council will continue to strengthen education through Partners in Education initiatives. In 2017 the Community Development Council will: • Represent the needs of the business

community at the local, state and federal levels of government, and with all appropriate governmental organizations. Seek input from membership on major legislative issues.

• Develop a legislative platform consisting of issues affecting our business community and communicate the platform to our local and state officials.

• Strengthen public/private communication by: • Conducting political forums events • Ensure adequate representation

from all sectors on Governmental Affairs Committee

• Promote Rockdale County as a potential business destination through the distribution of our Quality of Life Magazine, providing relocation information for businesses and individuals.

• Promote (e)station Conyers -a business incubator and co-working station that seeks to support and nurture new business start-ups.

• Educate the community on the positive growth to our economy and environment through publication of the Chamber newsletter in the Rockdale Citizen.

• Expand and improve the curriculum of the Entrepreneurial Academy, which is designed to provide entrepreneurs the basic knowledge to begin their own business as well as provide existing business owners new insights to assist in solving business-related challenges. Graduates earn CEU credits from Georgia Piedmont Technical College.

• Enhance economic development activity by serving as a liaison with other economic-related organizations such as the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC), the Development Authority of Rockdale County, and City and County Governments.

• Develop a stronger public/private partnership with the City and County.

• In partnership with SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business), the Chamber will continue to provide in-depth no cost business counseling and mentoring to potential and current small business start-ups. Mentees learn many of the aspects of what it takes to start a business and how the Chamber can help them with programs it offers such as the Entrepreneurial Academy.

• Maximize efforts to attract visitors to our area by marketing Conyers and Rockdale County to potential visitors through print advertising, including joint promotional efforts with the City of Conyers CVB.

• Provide Chamber members the opportunity to list job openings on the chamber website.

• Promote Conyers and Rockdale County to potential visitors by distributing over 3,000 copies of the Chamber’s official street map. Also, promote the map on the Chamber’s website.

• Continue efforts with the Conyers-Rockdale Leadership Collaborative made up of community stakeholders to work on optimizing assets, sustaining focus, promoting trust, and setting and monitoring goals and progress for our community. 

• Improve economic and community development by partnering with the Council for Quality Growth and Rockdale County to host the annual State of the County event. This program is designed to educate and inform our members on current issues and trends in Rockdale County. In addition, it provides networking opportunities with elected and appointed officials for members and nonmembers alike.

• Work with business owners, home owners and land owners in the Salem Road Corridor area to assist in efforts to strengthen and revitalize the area.

Strengthening our business community translates to a better economy and quality of life for the Conyers-Rockdale area. The Community Development Council will work to build and maintain productive relationships between your Chamber and local, state, and federal governments and their various agencies. The Council will also continue to provide strong programs for future community leaders and recognize

(see COMMUNITY Page 3)

Community Development Council

Your Chamber’s goal is to address the various needs of the Conyers-Rockdale community. To accomplish this, your Chamber focuses its efforts in three councils:

1. Economic Development Council 2. Community Development Council 3. Member Services Council

Each is composed of committees and task forces to accomplish the goals outlined in this publication.

Our Council System

EconomicDevelopment CouncilA strong business community means a healthy economy and better quality of life. The Chamber’s Economic Development Council addresses this goal by bringing more businesses to our area and strengthening the economy for existing businesses and new entrepreneurs. Goals for the Economic Development Council include:

CONYERS-ROCKDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 3

• Increase the awareness of crime to businesses by continuing to partner with City of Conyers Police Department and Rockdale County Sheriff ’s Office through our “Business Crime Watch” program.

• Show support and appreciation of our local law enforcement agencies and first responders by partnering with businesses and other community groups to host events in their honor during the weeks they are recognized nationally.

• Continue to provide the Leadership Rockdale program which identifies and inspires potential community leaders who are willing to become involved and help solve community concerns and to acquaint these leaders with major community issues and the complexity involved in finding solutions for ongoing challenges.

• Continue to grow & support Rockdale Young Professional Leaders whose primary focus is on Leadership Development, Philanthropy/Community Involvement and Networking.

• Continue to support the efforts of the Leadership Rockdale class with the annual Leadership Legacy community service project.

• Recognize the volunteers and leadership that made the 2016 programs successful at the Chamber’s 63rd Annual Meeting.

• Maintain a working relationship with NAACP by co-sponsoring the annual MLK Breakfast.

• Support and endorse Hands Across Rockdale community day of service.

(COMMUNITY from page 2)

The Member Services Council is charged with ensuring your Chamber grows in the numbers and dollars necessary to best support the programs that serve our community. It is also responsible for

developing networking opportunities and services to members. This year the Council will:

• Provide quality member-to-member contact through monthly “Network Luncheons”, “Business After Hours”, “Chamber After Hours”, “Business Builder Luncheons” and quarterly “Jump Start Your Morning” events.

• Promote member businesses by producing an on-line “Member Business Directory” which lists all members at no charge and provides an opportunity for additional promotion through advertisements.

• Educate our new members on how Chamber programs benefit their business, how to use those benefits to their fullest advantage, and the importance of becoming involved through “New Member Receptions.”

• Communicate your Chamber’s accomplishments, positions on important issues, and benefits of membership through professional monthly newsletters, emails, and other social media outlets.

• Market your Chamber and maximize acquisition of new members using volunteer referral program and staff resources.

• Continue to develop new programs that bring more value to employers and their employees for their membership investment paid to your Chamber.

• Provide two-way communication between members and chamber leadership to discuss community and business concerns through monthly “Twelve at Twelve Luncheons.”

• Provide quality travel opportunities at discounted rates to help fund Chamber programs.

• Reduce high shrinkage rate of membership in our Chamber through the “Member Action Program” (MAP) which concentrates on two aspects of membership: (1) The activation and/or education of a new member (2) Retention of the year old member.

• Provide extensive exposure to member companies at no cost and attract new customers to their business through our member-to-member discount program called “Hot Deals.”

• Increase business leads for chamber members through “business leads exchange groups.” These are business referral networks that help businesses interact and increase sales.

• Promote new members and support current members through our Ambassador program. Ambassadors serve a very important function of the chamber by visiting members and representing your Chamber at Ribbon Cuttings and Grand Openings.

• Host the annual Golf tournament which helps fund Chamber programs.

• Conduct a personal visitation program called Operation Thank You to express the Chamber’s appreciation to our business members.

• Enhance small business owners’ knowledge and productivity by conducting business seminars.

• Explore additional fund raising opportunities.

Member Services Council

• Work with the Rockdale County Public Schools to enhance the Partners-In- Education program. Specifically,

• Promote internship and apprenticeship opportunities

• Recruit businesses to partner with the schools

• Build relationships with existing partners

• Continue to award the Annual “Partner of the Year” at the Annual Meeting

• Partner with RCPS to support the Rockdale Youth Leadership program and Teen Leadership Summit.

CHAMBER MISSION STATEMENT

We strive to provide leadership and be the catalyst for promoting and maintaining a pro-business environment, and to continue

enhancing the quality of life for our community.

4 CONYERS-ROCKDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ChairDee BarnesEvans Tool & Die

Chair-ElectTim BakerEdward Jones

Chair, Community DevelopmentScot WardScot Ward Funeral Services

TreasurerDarlene HotchkissHedrick & Dodson Family Dentistry

Chair, Economic DevelopmentThua G. BarlayBarlay Law Group, LLC

Chair, Member ServicesFaye PhillipsCorner Market

Past-ChairEarl WiseBank of North Georgia

General Counsel/SecretaryTerry MasseyMassey Law Firm, LLC

President/CEOFred J. Boscarino,GCCEConyers-RockdaleChamber of Commerce

2017 Board of GovernorsYour Board of Governors is responsible for assuring the programs the members have determined to be important

are carried out successfully. The Board is comprised of an 8 member Executive Committee and 24 Board Members.

Constance Abbott Kaiser Permanente

Rich Autry, Superintendent Rockdale County Public Schools

Katie Beam Rockdale Medical Center

Stephen Boyle, Chairman Rockdale County Development Authority

Tremese Davis Atlanta Gas Light

Vince Evans, Councilman City of Conyers

Ken Gaylord BB&T

Alan George Rockdale Medical Center

Scott Hartsell imijit.net Technology Solutions

Greg Hlozek Pratt Industries, Inc.

Craig Johnson Kumon of Conyers

Marty Jones Conyers Rockdale Economic

Development Council

John Kelley Georgia Power

Jason Korzan Evans Tool & Die

Jim McBrayer, Chairman Rockdale County Board of Education

Mayor Randy Mills City of Conyers

Todd Mooney Snapping Shoals EMC

Oz Nesbitt, Chairman Rockdale County Commission

Jody Porter United Community Bank

David Roper Corner Market

Sarah Teach Rockdale Medical Center

Toya Washington Conyers Housing Authority

Willie Washington LegalShield

Ruth Wilson Rockdale County Clerk of Courts

2017 Executive Committee

CONYERS-ROCKDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 5

Your Chamber’s ultimate responsibility is to you, our members, since the Chamber is comprised of, and mostly financed by, the membership.

The organizational structure, shown below, graphically illustrates how this occurs. Starting at the top of the chart, we show the general membership who serves four main functions:

1) You determine what programs the Chamber will undertake.

2) You finance these programs through your dues investment.

3) You staff the committees and task forces that work to accomplish the goals and objectives.

The graph shows that the committees are comprised of and draw from the general membership. The areas of responsibility are divided into three basic councils. Each committee has a chairperson who reports to the chair of the council. The chairs are members of the Executive Committee, which is responsible to the Board of Governors, who are ultimately responsible to the membership.

The President/CEO, who is responsible to the Board of Governors, leads the professional staff. The staff assists the volunteers in carrying out their duties.

Organizational Structure

MEMBERS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

CHAIR-ELECT

PRESIDENT/CEO

VICE PRESIDENT STAFF

EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON OFTHE BOARD

ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

• Entrepreneurial Academy

• Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC)

• Camera Ready Designation

• SCORE

• Leadership Collaborative

• Salem Road Corridor Area Council

COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

• Partners in Education

• Leadership Rockdale

• Governmental Affairs Committee

• MLK Breakfast

• Business Crime Watch

• Rockdale Young Professional Leaders

MEMBERSERVICES COUNCIL

• Ambassadors

• Business After Hours

• Jump Start Your Mornings

• Business Leads Exchange Group

• Member to Member Discount Program

• Golf Tournament

• Network Luncheon

• 12@12 Luncheon

• Operation Thank You

• Business Seminars

• Group Travel

• Chamber After Hours

• Business Builder Luncheon

6 CONYERS-ROCKDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCILThua G. Barlay, Chair Barlay Law Group, LLC

Entrepreneurial Academy

• Julian F. Harwell, Co-Chair Julian F. Harwell, CLU, ChFC

• Brian Howe, Co-Chair ThinkTank Coaching

MEMBER SERVICES COUNCILFaye Phillips, Chair Corner Market

Network Luncheon & Jump Start Your Morning

• Katie Beam, Chair Rockdale Medical Center

Ambassadors Committee

• Darlene Godwin, Chair Bank of North Georgia

2017 Committee Chairs

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCILScot Ward, Chair Scot Ward Funeral Services

Leadership Rockdale

• Claire Cline, Co-Chair

• Susan Paul Smith, Co-Chair Rockdale County Public Schools

• Scot Ward, Chair Scot Ward Funeral Services

Governmental Affairs Committee

• Darlene Hotchkiss, Chair Hedrick & Dodson Family Dentistry

Education Committee

• Willie Washington, Chair LegalShield

Rockdale Young Professional Leaders

• Jason Korzan, Chair Evans Tool & Die

Would you like to serve on a Committee?

Complete the enclosed Chamber Involvement Card and return to the chamber.

STAFF DIRECTORYFred J. Boscarino, GCCEPresident/CEO

Katy Zahradnik, IOMVice President

Stephanie Layson, IOMMembership Services Coordinator

Cheryl YoungMembership Account Executive

Carmenza WhitleyAdministrative Assistant

770-483-7049 | www.conyers-rockdale.com

Past Chamber ChairsJack Turner 1954-1959A.R. Barksdale 1959-1971James Culpepper 1972F.W. Waldrop 1973R.L. Montgomery 1974T.O. Morgan 1975Leonard Epstein 1977Dr. William A. Weaver 1978Harold Breazeale 1979Ron Simpson 1980Paul Christenbury 1981Ed Holcomb 1982Larry Mauldin 1983Rick Ramsey 1984Wayne Ingle 1985Dan L. Hill 1986T.A. Schmidt 1987William Pridgen 1988Archer R. Rose 1989Robert W. Maddox 1990E.A. Thomas, Jr. 1991Samuel F. Wishon 1992Michael P. Jones 1993John T. Abbot 1994Kim S. Hubbard 1995Paul Mills Herndon 1996Robert G. Coston 1996John T. Higginbottom 1996Fred R. Vick 1997Suzanne E. Chappell 1998Guy M. Dabbs, III 1999Nelson E. Toebbe 2000Larry D. Miller 2001C. Dean Alford 2002Chris M. Ingle 2003J. Nelson Geter 2004Danny Stone 2005Betty Straw Brown 2006Mike Hilleboe 2007Don Cannon 2008John Kelley 2009Bill Daniel 2010Mo Talley 2011Lorraine Harrison 2012Thua G. Barlay 2013T. Pat Cavanaugh 2014Deborah Armstrong 2015Earl Wise 2016

CONYERS-ROCKDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 7

Serving as your Chamber’s Chairman of the Board for 2016 was rewarding. Your personal involvement and financial support of your Chamber are instrumental in making the accomplishments listed below a reality.

Please take a moment and review your accomplishments.• Enhanced member relations by challenging

members to tell the story of the Chamber and refer new members. Forty-six new members were the result of this effort through our referral program.

• Grew Pacesetter program to 48, which is fundamental to providing successful Chamber programs.

• Partnered to bring Leadercast and Live2Lead events to our community, providing attendees with a value-packed day of great inspiration and tools for leadership development.

• Partnered with the NAACP to host a candidate forum for the citizens of Rockdale County.

• Hosted 5 trips with 45 travelers, which enabled the Chamber to fund much needed programs.

• Strengthened the Chamber’s membership base by bringing in over 117 new members.

• Encouraged business relocation and expansion by distributing the Conyers-Rockdale street map and producing the Conyers-Rockdale Quality of Life magazine.

• Worked with Rockdale County Public Schools to develop a Partners in Education website that hosts a variety of opportunities for involvement with and support of schools in Rockdale County.

• Reached our goal of 600+ members and held event to celebrate the achievement with our members, Board and staff.

• Honored civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., by co-sponsoring the 12th annual breakfast in his honor.

• Published 12 issues of our Chamber’s newsletter in the Rockdale Citizen, communicating the chamber’s accomplishments, positions on important issues, and benefits of membership.

• Maintained communication with all other state chamber executives through participation in the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.

• Provided expert instruction for individuals seeking to go into business for themselves through Entrepreneurial Academy. Forty-seven graduated in 2016.

• Held monthly Twelve at Twelve Luncheons, where participants met with Chamber, City, County and School leadership for an informal luncheon to express their community and business concerns.

• Promoted Conyers-Rockdale County and its tourist attractions to 1,000,000 visitors and residents through the Georgia on My Mind magazine.

• Responded to business relocation inquiries, providing professional commercial and real estate assistance.

• Maintained the Chamber website design by keeping members, visitors and community up to date with Chamber news and other helpful information.

• Graduated 30 from the Leadership Rockdale program. Exposure gained from the program allowed class members the opportunity to begin serving in leadership positions in various capacities throughout the community.

• Hosted 130 golfers at the Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament, our largest to date.

• Ensured the chamber offers the best possible services to members through continuing education, including annual staff retreat.

• Ensured entrepreneurial success by offering free small business counseling sessions in conjunction with SCORE, reaching hundreds of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

• Provided business contacts by promoting member-to-member networking at two Business After Hours.

• Assisted business’ start-up by producing the “Starting a Business in Rockdale County” informational booklet.

• Maintained a strong working relationship with the City of Conyers, Rockdale County Board of Commissioners, Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council and the Rockdale County Public School System.

• Offered member-to-member discounts through “Hot Deals” program.

• Ensured Rockdale County’s representation throughout the area and state by Chamber President’s participation on the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Rockdale Rotary, and United Way of Rockdale County.

• Promoted members’ businesses and services by providing an online Membership Business Directory.

• Governmental Affairs Committee hosted Post-Legislative Breakfast, giving our members the opportunity to hear from our state delegation. The committee also kept the membership updated on key issues and happenings during the 2016 Legislative Session via weekly emails.

• Continued efforts with the “Business Crime Watch” program with City of Conyers Police Department and Rockdale County Sheriff ’s Office.

• Visited 400+ chamber members in one day through the “Operation Thank You” program. Chamber volunteers personally visited chamber members to gain input for our program development and to say “thank you” for their support.

• Awarded Eastside Internal Medicine as Partner of the Year, recognizing the importance of business support of our schools.

• Held a series of business seminars on various topics of interest to small business.

• Continued discussions with the Conyers-Rockdale Leadership Collaborative made up of community stakeholders to work on optimizing assets, sustaining focus, promoting trust, and setting and monitoring goals and progress for our community.

• Grew membership with the Rockdale Young Professional Leaders program to provide opportunities for networking, leadership training, professional development and service to the community.

• Co-sponsored event to show support of our local law enforcement and first responders.

• Partnered with Council for Quality Growth and Rockdale County to host the State of the County address, which serves to educate businesses and community members on important issues and trends in Rockdale County.

Congratulations on a great year!

2016 Annual Report

Earl Wise

DO BusinessWith A Chamber

Member First!For a list of Chamber

members, visit our website atwww.conyers-rockdale.com

8 CONYERS-ROCKDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

is contagious, pass it on– Albert Einstein

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Conyers, Georgia 30094

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CHAMBER 2017 BUSINESS PLAN OF ACTION