Defining tomorrow, today.
Quarterly Report Q2 2018
STATE DELEGATION APPRECIATION CELEBRATES
SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The Charleston Metro Chamber is driving solutions for a thriving community. How? By giving the region a collective voice, growing a talent pipeline and cultivating leadership within the region. The first half of the year has seen incredible impact, and that all starts with the support of our members. Most notably, we saw the culmination of the 2018 legislative session, well sort of. While the session officially ended in June, there are several critical issues that will bring legislators back to Columbia throughout the remainder of the year. At the top of those critical issues was the VC Summer nuclear project, which created a lot of uncertainty surrounding the productivity of this year’s session. However, we are extremely pleased with the efforts of our legislators and their ability to tackle four priority items for the business community in our region and our state. While one of those items, the high impact incentive package, was vetoed by Governor McMaster (fingers crossed for a veto-override in September), the session ended with three major victories!
LEGISLATIVE WINS: The Nuisance Bill protects existing manufacturing and industrial operations from expensive, frivolous lawsuits from encroaching development.
The Automatic Stay legislation means quicker completion timelines for major road, bridge and development projects in South Carolina, and is particularly important to us here in the Lowcountry.
The Expungement Bill helps address our state’s workforce shortage by allowing one-time, non-violent offenders who’ve paid their debt to society a chance to clear their criminal record, creating a larger workforce for employers.
CHAMPIONS OF BUSINESS RECIPIENTS VOTED AT LEAST 75% FOR CHAMBER PRIORITY ISSUES THIS YEAR.
To thank our legislators for their tremendous work and ongoing support of our region’s business community, the Chamber recognized 22 of our state legislators who represent Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties with the 2018 Champion of Business Award at our State Delegation Appreciation on June 26. More than 120 of our members also showed up to show their gratitude.
REPRESENTATIVES
SENATORS
THANK YOU LEGISLATORS!
Senator
Senator
Senator
Senator
Senator
Senator
Sean Bennett
Paul Campbell
Chip Campsen
Stephen Goldfinch
Larry Grooms
Sandy Senn
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Representative
Katie Arrington
Lee Hewitt
Lin Bennett
Joe Jefferson
Chris Murphy
Bill Crosby
Patsy Knight
Samuel Rivers
Joe Danning
Nancy Mace
Mike Sottile
Sylleste Davis
David Mack
Leon Stavrinakis
Wendell Gilliard
Peter McCoy
Membership
GOAL:
To engage, attract and retain new members
BUSINESS IN YOUR BACKYARD TACKLES MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
LOCAL AREA CHAMBERS
60+ Featured speakers: Amy Barrett Executive Director ULI
attendees gained insight on what density really means for our region and how other historic cities have made it work.
Dan Doyle Senior Vice President of Development The Beach Company
If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you’ll continue to get cars and traffic. To change that, you must plan cities for people and places.
In the first half of 2018, Local Area Chamber programs have been attended by over 1,570 members, representing 493 different companies. 1,600
Q2
Q2
1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200
Highlights: • Density is just a number The same density can look different, depending on how it’s done.
• Land is a precious, shared resource, not a commodity.
0
2017
2018
That is 130 attendees more than the same time last year.
www.charlestonchamber.org
TAKES THE GOLD The Chamber welcomes Benefitfocus as a new Gold Leadership Circle member.
“ Benefitfocus’ membership in the Charleston Metro Chamber is an extension of our community commitment across the region. We are thrilled to work alongside the Chamber’s leadership and member base to further strengthen Charleston’s thriving economy.” Jonathon Dussault
Chief Financial Officer Benefitfocus
Chamber members attended the Chamber Connect at Taco Boy Downtown on May 23.
321
Members have attended a Chamber Connect event since the begining of this year.
32%
Increase from Chamber Connect event attendance during the first half of 2017.
CMCC Quarterly Report 2018: Q2
120+
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
GOAL:
To give our region a collective voice
PAC ENDORSED CANDIDATES WIN PRIMARIES Won Nomination:
The Process:
George Bailey Dorchester County Council District 3
Candidates complete written questionnaire
Jay Byars Dorchester County Council District 7
David Chinnis Dorchester County Council District 2
Jenny Costa Honeycutt Charleston County Council District 9
PAC Board interviews each candidate
Supported candidates align with our legislative priorities
“ A top success of this legislative session was the passage of the Nuisance Bill, meaning stability to BP and manufacturers like us. It gives us confidence to continue to operate and invest in the area. This is 40 years of BP at Cooper River, with the confidence that this bill gives us, we are looking forward to another 40 years and beyond.� Nick Gill
Operations Manager BP, Cooper River Plant
Regional Council or Commission Meetings Attended Meetings with Local Elected Officials Meetings with City and/or County Staff
57 32 37
www.charlestonchamber.org
THE LIFE OF THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM
Ian Scott Senior Vice President of Government Relations
George Ramsey Business Lobbyist
STATE Days in Columbia Committee Meetings Attended
Meetings with Executive Branch
Scott Barhight Associate Director of Government Relations
CMCC Quarterly Report 2018: Q2
Meetings with Legislators or Staff
53 82 68 12
Erica Wright Regional Government Relations Director
Talent
GOAL:
To grow our region’s talent pipeline
BUILD A SHED...BUILD A CAREER
64
Volunteers
322
Job Training Hours
On April 27, seven teams from seven local high schools teamed up with construction industry professionals to compete in a race to build an 8’ x 11’ shed in just seven hours.
Congratulations to the 1st place winner: Fort Dorchester High School
7
Schools
In partnership with ABC Carolinas, the Chamber hosted Build A Shed to introduce students to not just a job, but a potential career in the high-demand, and lucrative, construction field.
www.charlestonchamber.org
TEALS brings volunteers in the computer science industry into the classroom, through Career Academies, to help train teachers and build computer science capacity in area high schools
19
Computer Science professionals
5,300+ volunteer hours for the school year
5
local area high schools
“ Blackbaud is deeply rooted in Charleston and I can’t think of a better way to invest in our future than to bring computer science to our local schools in hopes of sparking their interest and hopefully seeing how they can change the world with technology. That is why we have committed 13 volunteers to the TEALS program.” Chris Mitchell
Senior Director of Engineering Blackbaud
SCHOLARSHIP SIGNING DAY
25
$483K
invested in students through the Scholarship
Scholarship recipients receive $1,000 per semester (or $2,000 per year) to Trident Technical College for up to two years to obtain a degree in one of our region’s high-demand career sectors.
152
total number of scholarships since 2014
The scholarship provides funds to students graduating from regional Career Academies with a GPA of 2.0 to 2.9 who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue higher education.
CMCC Quarterly Report 2018: Q2
students were awarded scholarships on April 17
Leadership
GOAL:
To cultivate leadership within the region
HOUSING ATTAINABILITY AFFECTS US ALL With the demand for housing continuing to grow, more and more professionals are finding it difficult to afford to live in our region. Everyone needs to share their voice on this critical issue. On May 31, YP Wake Up enlightened and inspired 75+ Charleston Young Professionals on the affects of our region’s housing attainability. Keynote speaker Antonn Gunn, the Chief Diversity Officer and Executive Director of Community Health for the Medical University of South Carolina, shared with the YP’s in attendance ways that they can personally make an impact: • Share your story • Contact your elected officials • Vote in local elections • Join the Chamber’s Champion Advocates
Mission:
32 GRADUATES JUNE 12, 2018
HiGHLIGHTS: • Participated in an innovative, team-based experience • Learned from experienced executives in the Charleston region • Completed a personalized DISC leadership profile assessment • Attended a 3-course business etiquette dinner
Facilitate the development of emergent business and community leaders by learning from experienced regional leaders and building strong peer relationships, community connections and valuable leadership understanding.
“ Leadership Discovery has allowed me the opportunity to network across industries and gain inspiration from proven leaders within our own community.” Kevin Braitsch Director of Billa Banquets Kiawah Island Golf Resort
www.charlestonchamber.org
55 GRADUATES JUNE 14, 2018
“ One of my favorite things about Leadership Charleston was the CARTA ride, which was an eye opening experience for me with our public transportation system. The other part I enjoyed was the incredible new contacts and friendships that I made. In the future, I hope to be an advocate for the community and a voice in our region to improve the area in which we live and work.” Kaneshi Hart, Team Manager InterContinental Hotels Group
HiGHLIGHTS:
Identify and motivate emerging leaders by developing their leadership potential through sessions that introduce them to the realities, opportunities and challenges of our civic and business communities.
• Attended 450+ public meetings • Participated in Day of Caring • Rode CARTA to experience public transit • Completed a police ride along •T oured Lieber Correctional Institute
CMCC Quarterly Report 2018: Q2
Mission:
Organization
GOAL:
To operate with excellence as a Chamber
THIS PIECE YOU ARE READING...IT’S AWARD WINNING! Quarterly Report Wins Communications Excellence Grand Award
2018 AWARDS FOR COMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE GRAND AWARD: PUBLICATIONS
JULY 2018 DES MOINES, IOWA
ACCE’s Awards for Communications Excellence program showcases the top communications and marketing work of chambers across the nation
www.charlestonchamber.org
The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) awarded Justin Lee a 2018 Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award at this years ACCE awards ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa on August 17. This award is presented to individuals who have achieved sales of $750,000 in chamber memberships throughout their careers.
Justin Lee
Director of Membership Engagement
JUSTIN LEE RECIEVES LIFETIME SALES ACHIEVEMENT
ROBIN WILLIS ACCEPTED TO TALENT FELLOWSHIP
Leaders from 20 chambers across the United States have been selected to participate in the 5th cohort of the ACCE’s Fellowship for Education and Talent Development. CMCC Quarterly Report 2018: Q2
Robin Willis
Associate Vice President of Talent Pipeline Strategies
The Fellowship is a year-long development program that provides participants with education, peer connections and tools to improve education and workforce development outcomes in the communities they serve.
Celebration Sponsor:
Entertainment Sponsor:
The Honors Presenting Sponsor:
Presented by:
The Honors Champagne Sponsor:
Experience Sponsors:
LIVE LOCAL MUSIC INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES CHEF TASTINGS
November 8, 2018 The Gibbes Museum of Art | Cost: $35 6 - 9 p.m.
#MemberBration
www.charlestonchamber.org/member-bration
NEW LEADERSHIP CIRCLE MEMBERS
(April 1 - June 30)
Gold
Silver
Bronze
4500 Leeds Avenue, Suite 100 N. Charleston, SC 29405 843.577.2510 mail@charlestonchamber.org
www.charlestonchamber.org