2014
Major Accomplishments
TALENT Talent Demand Analysis Completed and unveiled a Talent Demand Analysis examining the region’s ability to fulfill the employee pipeline to support current and future workforce readiness. Apprenticeships In partnership with Trident Technical College and the SC Youth Apprenticeship Program, awarded 11 industrial maintenance apprenticeships to high school juniors enabling them to receive on the job training, dual credit (high school and college), hourly pay and industrial certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. Career Academies Expanded Career Academies, Academy Partners and Academy Students, making the Charleston region the largest Career Academy initiative in the country.
MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT New Digital Sites and Tools Launched new, fully responsive websites for both Chamber and CYP allowing easy navigation and quick access to relevant information, resulting in significant increases in traffic, page views, referral sources and more. Designed and launched new e-newsletters (e-Planner. BOA Bulletin, Cutting Edge) and redesigned existing newsletters (e-Update, The Pulse).
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP Catalyst Center Constructed and opened a resource center for entrepreneurs – the Catalyst Center – located at the Charleston Metro Chamber, to fuel high-impact start-up companies and drive future Chamber membership.
LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS
Degrees of Change Initiated and conducted a successful communications Export Training campaign to bring Initiated an Export Training program providing intensive visibility to the need for a preparation, knowledge and training to company executives research university in the entering the global marketplace. Two training sessions were held, Lowcountry. Campaign graduating 11 companies with custom export plans and support. included multi-media and grassroots activities to LEADERSHIP produce legislative action supporting the designation of the University of Charleston CYP Membership as an R1 school, granting them the authority to offer Experienced exponential growth in Charleston Young targeted doctoral degrees. Professionals membership, which had 750 members at the start of the year and reached over 1100 by year’s end.
Metro Leadership Visit Planned and executed third successful Metro Leadership Visit attracting 30 professionals who traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to experience best practices in education, entrepreneurship and transportation. Fifty percent were first time participants who gave high marks for the impactful time spent with other members and business leaders while exploring possible new developments for future Charleston assets.
Yes4SchoolsCHS Successfully led the voter campaign supporting the Charleston County School Tax Referendum, bringing visibility and education to the needed funding for capital improvements throughout the school district. The referendum passed with 67% of the vote.
Partnership for Responsible Growth Formed the Partnership for Responsible Growth in collaboration with 150 local organizations, advocating choice, balance and stewardship as tenets of our region’s growth plans.
2015
Top priorities
TALENT • Develop a Career Awareness Initiative & Strategic Plan to implement recommendations from the Talent Demand Analysis, including: -C areer Headlight – an education microsite for offerings and careers available in the region - Internship Database • Work with the new IT Advisory Board to include a new IT curriculum for Career Academies.
MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT • Develop alternative programming allowing members to access Chamber resources and knowledge opportunities around the clock. Services such as webinars and podcasts will provide increased value for small businesses who wish to access opportunities at times most convenient to them. • Increase new member sales revenue by 25%. • Increase number of top investors by 12%.
• Aggressively increase successful Career Academies to 40 with 13,000 students enrolled and 200 Academy Partners. • Grant 25 new AGC Scholarships; an increase of 208%. • Provide a total of 50 apprenticeships across six industries.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP • Develop a robust, multi-level Small Business Platform allowing members access to knowledge and resources in physical and digital formats including webinars, workshops and an online Small Business Resource Center. • Conduct a cyber business study and analysis. Develop a cyber asset map to position the metro area as a major cyber community with world class assets that attract business.
LEADERSHIP
LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS
• Increase membership in Charleston Young Professionals by 15%. Enhance membership benefits and engagement levels to drive increased participation of young professionals in both CYP and Chamber initiatives.
• Initiate statewide campaign for an increase of 25 cents in the Motor Fuel User Fee.
• Conduct Vision Labs to continue the work among leaders of both the Chamber and Charleston Young Professionals. Infrastructure lab work will continue, and a Vision Lab on Housing Affordability will be held in early 2015.
• Endorse successful candidates for 2015 local elections. Actively involve the membership and business community in the election of the first new Mayor of the City of Charleston in 40 years.
• Advocate for additional critical infrastructure improvements including harbor deepening to 52 feet and completion of I-526.
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