Greater Shelby Chamber presents 2015 chair, annual report

Bill Keller, the 2014 chair for the Greater Shelby Chamber, passed his gavel on to Lisa McMahon at the chamber luncheon Jan. 28.

Before doing so, however, he presented the chamber members with its annual report and some key moments that “moved the ball down the field” in 2014. He discussed the launch of a business support center, entrepreneur round tables and the 18 business networking opportunities the chamber was able to provide.

“We were excited last year with the progress that we had made with regard to business support and development and community workforce development,” Keller said. “I’m excited to report to you today that we have continued, in the last 12 months, that effort.”

One of the most impressive feats was the growth of the “Keeping it Real” program, which is held to give area 9th-graders real-world knowledge. In 2013, the program reached 984 students, and 2014 more than doubled that, reaching 2,376 students.

“I think once you review the annual report, you will see that we have worked together as a group to make your investment in ShelbyOne and the chamber of commerce a worthwhile investment,” Keller said.

The gavel was then given to McMahon of Warren Averett, LLC.

“As you know, 2014 was our second full year of our ShelbyOne initiative, and, under Bill’s leadership, your chamber has made tremendous progress in all four of the main areas of that plan and set the table for 2015 to be the best ever,” she said. “I look forward, as your 2015 chamber chair, to continue building on our past year’s achievements and will do that by working through the chamber’s 2015 business plan.”

The chamber staff and group leaders developed the 2015 Business Plan to provide the investors and partners in Shelby County with specific, measureable goals. McMahon also mentioned wanting to focus on such items as quarterly tours of area companies, the promotion chamber members and community events on social media, the continuation of the “Keeping it Real” program and the addition of a career fair for 10th graders.