2023 Engagement Guide

ENGAGEMENT GUIDE

WHO WE ARE:

2023 marks our Chamber’s 250th anniversary! We are a membership organization, 1600 members strong, serving as a collective voice to drive solutions for our thriving community and we work each day for our members, their employees and our entire community. We will continue to honor and learn from our last 250 years, while proactively focusing on our mission of initiating, advocating and empowering our region to advance a prosperous business environment.

WHAT WE DO:

The Chamber advances our region through our work in government relations and community advancement, creating a business community where our members can thrive. We offer a variety of exclusive opportunities to keep our members informed and engaged, along with the ability to showcase their business.

We tackle the toughest regional challenges like housing attainability, infrastructure and bridging the talent gap, while creating exclusive access, networking and leadership opportunities to grow your business and your employees.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT:

We work alongside our membership, representing over 160,000 professionals, to identify critical issues to our community and businesses. Through our government relations, community advancement and membership platforms, we advocate for critical legislation, develop our future workforce, cultivate leaders and help your business thrive. We can tackle the tough issues because of the strength and dedication of our members and volunteer leaders.

We bring the Chamber to wherever our members are – providing opportunities for you to listen, learn and gain valuable takeaways to use within your organization and in the community.

CHAMBERTies

Small moments lead to big impacts

charlestonchamber.org/chamberties

MEMBERSHIP

WHY WE DO IT

The Chamber is a diverse community of professionals from a variety of industries and, as a member, you are positioning yourself among the leading businesses driving our region forward. We value the opportunity to partner, develop your business and identify ways to build your network, save money and showcase what makes your organization unique.

HOW WE DO IT

• Your Chamber representative will collaborate with you to identify programs and engagement opportunities to build your network and gain visibility for your business.

• We are dedicated to providing our members with access to information and engagement strategies that will impact your business.

• Small businesses are an important part of our community and represent over 80% of our membership. We have developed Small Business Resources and programming to help navigate your specific needs.

OUR WORK Member Perks

Take advantage of significant member perks around health insurance plans, virtual healthcare, office supplies, certificates of origin and more!

charlestonchamber.org/memberperks

Small Business Resources

With 80% of our members being small businesses, we understand the value of resources to support your business growth. The Chamber is focused on providing our members access to connections and resources through our small business resource page.

charlestonchamber.org/smallbusiness

Catalyst Center

The Chamber’s Catalyst Center can accommodate a variety of meeting sizes and arrangements and is available for Chamber members to use.

charlestonchamber.org/membership

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

WHY WE DO IT

We are the region’s collective voice – advocating for a thriving community. Our Government Relations team is focused on keeping our membership informed, creating access to our elected officials and advocating on behalf of our business community at the federal, state and local levels.

HOW WE DO IT

• Advocate for our state legislative priorities, centered around talent, education and workforce; criminal justice reform; military retention and expansion; business climate; economic development; and state fiscal health.

• Convene members through the Business Advocacy and Regional Policy Committees to inform and guide our legislative priorities.

• Support candidates that contribute to a positive business climate in our region through the Chamber’s Political Action Committee.

• Collaborate with regional partners and municipalities to move our top regional priorities forward, including the One Region Roadmap, Mark Clark Extension, Lowcountry Rapid Transit, attainable housing and development processes.

• Build collaborative partnerships with our local governments on shared priorities.

charlestonchamber.org/governmentrelations

OUR WORK ACCESS: Legislative Series

Conversations featuring local elected officials from across the region to keep you up-to-date on local government relations topics. ACCESS also includes our annual Legislative Reception, which kicks off the year networking with local, state and federal elected officials and fellow business leaders.

Regional Housing Coalition

The Regional Housing Coalition is a grassroots organization that advocates for attainable housing in our region.

Civic Leaders Academy

The Civic Leaders Academy will initiate leaders to pursue elected office by identifying, cultivating and developing business and civic leaders who understand and lean into our region’s greatest challenges and opportunities.

DC Fly In

A tri-county delegation of elected, civic and business leaders travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for policies and investments that advance a healthy business environment.

State of the Military Series

A three-part series that provides access to Joint Base Charleston and critical information regarding the military mission in the Charleston region along with a briefing of the region’s Coast Guard installation.

COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT

WHY WE DO IT

We work to cultivate leaders to step into our community’s greatest challenges and work alongside our region’s employers and educators to build and develop our workforce. Our goal is to ensure economic mobility for all.

HOW WE DO IT

Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, leadership development, informative programs and talent initiatives, we are fueling leaders with the information, access and resources they need to advance our region.

OUR WORK Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

While we continue to weave diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within our organization, we are also proud to serve as a catalyst and convener for regional businesses, providing the tools, resources and information you need to drive your own DE&I initiatives.

charlestonchamber.org/dei

Leadership Development

The Chamber offers leadership development opportunities for any stage of your career. Whether you are a young professional or seasoned executive, our programs will provide you with the information and resources to take your career to the next level. Through community awareness, education and hands-on experience, the Chamber provides an ongoing source of leaders that are prepared to serve as catalysts of positive change in our community.

charlestonchamber.org/leadership

Charleston Young Professionals

Charleston Young Professionals (CYP) is an arm of the Chamber to attract, retain and develop young professionals in the Charleston region. CYP, 1000+ members-strong, is widely recognized as an actionoriented powerhouse of the region’s up and coming young leaders.

charlestonchamber.org/charleston-young-professionals

Talent

The Chamber serves as a thought leader in bringing our members the latest trends, resources and data to inform your talent decisions and serves as a regional convener, creating business and education partnerships through collaborative and equitable initiatives.

charlestonchamber.org/talent

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

square SIGNATURE EVENTS

Legislative Reception

Our annual Legislative Reception is the best occasion to make meaningful connections with elected officials and fellow business leaders to kick off the year’s legislative session.

Metro Leadership Visit

This highly sought-after leadership experience takes a delegation of top business, civic and elected leaders to visit peer cities throughout the nation to explore challenges and solutions to issues facing our region.

Member-Bration

The Charleston Metro Chamber is commemorating our 250th anniversary and celebrating our 1,600 members with a night filled with entertainment and celebrating companies and individuals who have provided exceptional advancements to the Charleston region.

Economic Outlook Conference

This annual event reviews the current year’s economic activity as well as national, global and regional projections for the next 12 to 18 months and features a presentation targeted to the local economy.

square DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION PROGRAMS

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Conference

This conference will inspire attendees to lean into creating a community that embraces differences, casting a vision for what our region must do to create a more inclusive, diverse and equitable workforce. Through thoughtful discussion, forward-leaning dialogue and strategic tools, this conference equips attendees to be active leaders in the future of our region.

Diversity Dialogues

The Chamber will leverage national and local leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion to advance our region’s understanding of the importance of intentional strategies to advance a thriving community. This high-impact series is designed to provide information, education and insight into the broader business community.

Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator

The Accelerator is committed to accelerating the development and growth of high-potential minority-owned businesses, strengthening our region’s minority entrepreneurial community and advancing our region.

View upcoming events at charlestonchamber.org/events

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Diversity Leaders Certificate Program

Through the Diversity Leaders Certificate Program, participants will gain a better understanding of how they can lead as an equity-centered leader and make a larger impact on their business, employees and the community.

Minority Board Training

In order to increase the diversity of Board leadership positions in our region, the Minority Board Training Program prepares individuals for volunteer leadership positions.

Thrive: Professional Women’s Series

Thrive, a dynamic group of professional women leading our business community, is centered on creating connections, providing information and inspiring action. Thrive connects female business leaders and rising female professionals for the advancement of their careers and the region.

square LEADERSHIP CIRCLE EVENTS

Coffee with the President

Sit down over coffee with Bryan Derreberry, Charleston Metro Chamber President and CEO, and a small group of fellow investors.

Leadership Circle Social

Unwind and connect with fellow business executives while meeting new Leadership Circle investors.

Leadership Circle Experience

Connect with fellow lead investors and gain access to an exclusive experience as you tour, go behind the scenes and/or get information that you could not get anywhere else.

square CHARLESTON YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

CYP Connection Events

Networking events allow you to interact with a diverse group of business leaders and young professionals from a variety of industry sectors.

View upcoming events at charlestonchamber.org/events

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

CYP Professional Development Events

Professional development opportunities allow our members to build their careers and better themselves.

CYP Policy Events

Young professionals need to have access to the information and resources that drive policy in our region and the state.

CYP Service Events

Serving and making an impact in our community is an important way to give back and discover what passions you have for volunteering.

square GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

ACCESS: Legislative Series

Conversations featuring local elected officials from across the region to keep you up-to-date on local government relations topics. ACCESS also includes our annual Legislative Reception, which kicks off the year networking with local, state and federal elected officials and fellow business leaders.

Civic Leaders Academy

The Civic Leaders Academy will initiate leaders to pursue elected office by identifying, cultivating and developing business and civic leaders who understand and lean in to our region’s greatest challenges and opportunities.

Housing Summit

The Housing Summit features powerful and inspirational speakers, valuable resources and knowledge around our region’s housing attainability crisis.

square LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

Charleston Insight

This program invites senior executives who are new to Charleston or new to their position, along with their spouse or partner, to join us for thematic sessions and networking opportunities with peers to fast-track the participant’s connectivity to our region.

Leadership Charleston

Leadership Charleston is a year-long intensive leadership training and civic participation program. Class topics include infrastructure, law enforcement, workforce development, military, economic development, local and state government and education.

View upcoming events at charlestonchamber.org/events

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Leadership Discovery

Participants will explore and develop their leadership style by learning from established regional leaders, curated leadership assessments and workshops and peer discussions in this unique mentor-based 3-month program.

State of the Military

State of the Military gives insight into our region’s military landscape and provides attendees exclusive access to military leaders.

State of the Region

Great things are happening in our region! State of the Region features topics around our region’s greatest assets and what makes our community unique.

square MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS

Chamber 360

Designed for all members, Chamber 360 offers a quick, effective how-to guide for making the most of your membership. Grow your network and discover ways to maximize your Chamber membership. Chamber 360 provides an overview of the Chamber and an in-depth look at our work in government relations, talent advancement, leadership development and membership engagement.

Chamber Connect

Meet new people and discover new places at connection events hosted throughout the region.

Coffee Connect

Connect with fellow members over coffee before your work day gets started.

View upcoming events at charlestonchamber.org/events

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

square TALENT PROGRAMS

Hack-a-Thon

Middle school students join cyber experts to build a secure website from scratch including lessons in Integrated Development Environment, HTML, CSS, Javascript and Cybersecurity.

Talent Summit

Attendees learn insights and solutions from education and training partners, are able to review labor market information and connect with individuals and companies working to make a difference in our region’s talent landscape.

HR Network

Join fellow HR leaders to share ideas, offer new insight and work diligently to close our region’s talent gap.

Tri-County Career Fair & Hiring Event

Employers have the opportunity to help high school and middle school students discover job opportunities available to them upon graduation and students can learn how their skills can be put to good use!

Build a Shed

The Build A Shed Competition includes a oneday building competition of an 8’ x 11’ shed. Teams will be competing to complete the shed using the same blueprint and being mentored by volunteer construction industry professionals in safety, quality, planning, scheduling and communication. All participants will finish the competition with an OSHA 10 Certification.