The importance of human interaction has now more than ever been illustrated to us. Yes, we can survive without human interaction, but it is difficult and certainly not how Aiken is accustomed to doing business.
Recently the Aiken Chamber surveyed its membership and asked, “What are the most important actions the Aiken Chamber of Commerce can take to help your business survive, grow and thrive between today and the end of the year?”
Overwhelmingly, the most common response was return to in-person events. The board of directors and professional staff agrees and has developed plans to hold three in-person events in September.
“Great care and concern for the safety of attendees has been integral to this planning. We are looking forward to seeing everyone’s smiling eyes above their masks,” said Chamber President/CEO J. David Jameson.
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First Friday Means Business – September 4
The future of healthcare after COVID-19
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Jim O’Loughlin, CEO of Aiken Regional Medical Centers will discuss the seismic shifts taking place in the healthcare industry after COVID-19 and how Aiken Regional Medical Centers is adapting to this new, everchanging landscape.
Attendees will also receive valuable information and updates during “County Talk” with Chairman Gary Bunker, “City Talk” with Mayor Rick Osbon, and “Sponsor Talk” with SRP Federal Credit Union.
The monthly breakfast will occur Friday, Sept. 4 at Newberry Hall from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Seating is limited, and social distancing and masks are required. Members that wish to attend must register in advance as we are unable to accommodate walk-ins. Further COVID precautions will be emailed to all attendees before the event.
The September First Friday Means Business is sponsored by SRP Federal Credit Union.
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Women in Business – September 15
Navigating the Mental Health Roller Coaster of 2020
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The threats to our health, economy, and relationships caused by coronavirus, race relations and politics are unprecedented. 2020 has elicited a roller coaster of emotions for us all.
Terry Lee, founder and director of Overflow Foundation, will be the keynote speaker at the Women in Business luncheon Navigating the Mental Health Roller Coaster of 2020.
Lee will cover:
- Why your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
- Emotions that 2020 may have brought on and how to deal with them.
- How to help others in your sphere of influence.
- Tips for staying calm during uncontrollable times.
The luncheon will be held Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Newberry Hall. Seating is limited, and social distancing and masks are required. Individuals that wish to attend must register in advance as we are unable to accommodate walk-ins. Further COVID precautions will be emailed to all attendees before the event. The cost of the program and lunch is $35.
The Women in Business program is sponsored by Aiken Regional Medical Centers and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC.
Meet Terry Lee
Terry is a pastor’s wife, nurse, and mother of five children. After graduating from Clemson University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, Terry has acquired over thirty-five years of experience in clinical bedside nursing, as well as quality outcomes management and regulatory compliance preparedness. She was awarded “Excellence in the Practice of Hospital Nursing” by the South Carolina Hospital Association and was recognized for “Best Practice” in the conduction of clinical case review as a root cause analyst. Her passion in nursing is service excellence and quality improvement in the overall delivery of holistic compassionate care, striving to address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient.
Terry founded the Overflow Foundation in 2019 after the death of her oldest son. The mission of Overflow Foundation is to pour hope into life by promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention, as well as providing mental health education.
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Blastin’ for Business – September 18
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The Aiken Chamber will be firing off its fifth Blastin’ for Business clay shoot at Palmetto Shooting Complex, a premier shooting destination operated by the National Wild Turkey Federation.
The event will be held Sept.18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All activities are outdoors and social distancing is easy in the many acres available at this world-class facility. All skill levels are welcome to join this fun and exciting day of distance networking and team building.
Trophies and cash prices will be awarded to the top teams during the BBQ lunch held under the spacious 9,300 square foot pavilion at the conclusion of the day.
The cost for a team of five is $625. The package includes golf carts, ammo, 100 targets, BBQ lunch and prizes.
Blastin’ for Business Sponsors
Title Sponsor: H. G. Reynolds Company, Inc.
Breakfast Sponsor: Emerson
Buckshot Sponsors:
Alfred Benesch & Company
Bechtel
Cranston Engineering Group
Edward Jones Investments, Jason Crane
Gillam & Associates, Inc.
Lori Comshaw's Personal Training
Matthews Motors
Pipeworks of Aiken, Inc.
TD Bank
United Rentals – Aiken
United Rentals – Augusta
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It's time to plan your business marketing for 2021, and the Aiken Chamber encourages you to look closely at advertising in the 2021 Welcome Aiken community guide.
The award-winning publication is used by residents, realtors, homeowner associations, employers recruiting new employees, newcomers to Aiken, and those considering a move to our wonderful community.
Every Chamber member receives a copy, and 8,000 copies will be distributed next year. The reach is far and wide in print and on the Chamber's heavily visited website. This is a great way to sell your business and to help us sell Aiken.
New for 2021 - We have partnered with Aiken's best professional photographers to bring you a new upscale design of the traditional company profile page. The "Faces of Aiken" will be a section you do not want to miss being a part of next year.
Perks of the NEW Faces of Aiken pages:
- Work with a professional photographer and writer to tell your company's story and create a one-of-a-kind marketing piece
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Prominently displayed on the Chamber's homepage. Check out the Faces preview at www.aikenchamber.net
- Individually featured in Jan/Feb and again in July/Aug on the Chamber's social media accounts
- Includes premium Pop to the Top category placement on www.aikenhasit.com
- Receive 100 tear sheets to use
To learn more about marketing your business in the Welcome Aiken community guide, contact Membership Account Executive Sherri Siler at [email protected] or (803) 645-3578.
Together, we will tell the Aiken story that we all believe to be true. If you're lucky enough to live in Aiken ... you're lucky enough.
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Protections for virus liability needed
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As of last week, all of South Carolina’s neighboring states have passed a liability protections bill – Georgia’s governor signed their bill in early August, Tennessee passed a bill last week, and North Carolina has now passed two bills since May. In total, six Southeastern states have passed some type of liability protection legislation: Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Three other Southeastern state Governors have issued at least one executive order: Alabama, Arkansas, and Virginia.
That leaves only South Carolina, Florida, and West Virginia as the only Southeastern states who have yet to pass or enact some form of protection.
Last week, the South Carolina Chamber sent two letters, one to House Speaker Jay Lucas and one to Senate President Harvey Peeler calling for the House and the Senate to take a state liability protection bill to the floor for a vote when the General Assembly returns for session on September 15th. The S.C. Chamber reiterated to Speaker Lucas we are fully supportive of the current House Bill (H.5527) and that is the version we would like to see move forward. Visit www.scstatehouse.gov to send an email to your legislator.
The S.C. Chamber has also launched an advocacy campaign to include a social media video and a grassroots tool: text “SCLiability “ to (833) 709-0965 to learn how you can help on both the federal and state level. In addition, individuals and businesses are encouraged to use the S.C. Chamber liability protection website at https://sc-safe-harbor.mmp2.org/, which allows individuals to submit letters directly to their state senator and representatives.
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It’s not too late to respond to the 2020 Census
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The 2020 Census has been underway since earlier this year, but if you have not responded yet, it is not too late to respond and shape your future.
You can still complete the questionnaire yourself online at www.2020census.gov, by calling 844-330-2020, or by returning the paper form you received in the mail. Respond using the address where you were living on April 1, 2020 and include anyone who was living with you at the time.
The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location.
If you respond on your own now, it is less likely that a census taker will visit you in person. However, if someone from the Census Bureau does visit you, please cooperate with them. You will know they are a Census Bureau employee by their identification badge, which will have their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. All census takers have been trained on social distancing protocols, will be issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and will follow local guidelines for its use.
The once-a-decade population count is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Responses to the census inform planning and funding decisions for emergency and disaster response, healthcare and hospitals, schools and education, roads and bridges, and other vital community resources.
Census responses shape the future for everyone, whether you live in a city or a small town, a rural area, on a boat, or in an RV. It impacts children, college students, and adults of all ages.
Everyone should respond and be counted.
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With over 4 dozen independent vendors, 16,000 square feet of consignment warehouse and the garden including concrete bird baths and assorted yard ornamentation, we have something special for everyone.
640 E Pine Log Road
Aiken, SC 29803
Contact: June Watkins
Phone: (803) 644-1060
City Electric Supply – Electrical Wholesale
Family owned electrical wholesale business dedicated to providing personalized service and support to customers in the residential, commercial and industrial market place.
106 Bolton Court
Aiken, SC 29803
Contact: Sammie Thomas
Phone: (803) 644-8124
GGI Generators – Generator Contractor, Electrical Contractor
Committed to providing the best services and products, installed by highly trained and certified technicians with more than 20 years combined experience in the field.
5535 Rose Bank Court
Lexington, SC 29073
Contact: Amy Mathis
Phone: (803) 648-9898
Internal Medicine Associates – Aiken – Physician (Internal Medicine)
Providing comprehensive and compassionate medical care. Treating all patients as individuals realizing that similar illnesses may affect each patient differently. We are dedicated to helping those who are ill and to educating our patients in helpful practices, lifestyles, and preventive measures to ensure optimal health.
102 Summerwood Way
Aiken, SC 29803
Contact: Elena Bradford
Phone: (803) 649-5300
Twin Systems – Plumber
We take pride in offering plumbing systems on a commercial and residential level. With over 40-years of experience we are family owned and operated with licenses in SC and GA.
168 Green Hill Road
Aiken, SC 29801
Contact: Gary Goodwin
Phone: (803) 270-1986
Deirdre Stoker Vallencourt – Real Estate
Whether you are a fellow equestrian, a snowbird looking for a golfing villa, an executive relocating or an investor eager to diversify and acquire land, your first call should be to Deirdre. She not only finds you a home, she makes you feel AT HOME.
140 Laurens Street, NW
Aiken, SC 29801
Contact: Deirdre Stoker Vallencourt
Phone: (803) 640-4591
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Always learning with SCORE
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SCORE is proud to have the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. They help thousands of entrepreneurs start and grow their small businesses every year. SCORE volunteers give back to their communities and pass on their knowledge to the next generation of entrepreneurs.
SCORE hosts free, live webinars every week on small business tips and strategies. Register at https://www.score.org/live-webinars or view recorded webinars and other offerings at the site.
September 8: Lessons Learned About a Business Journey - The Story of a Minority Entrepreneur
Live Webinar @ 1p.m.
Opening a business is like enrolling in a school program where you will never graduate. It’s like adding another child to your family. It takes perseverance, stamina and there is absolutely no substitute for hard work.
Nilson Goes, the founder of Infinite Energy Construction, knows this all too well and will share his riveting story of the journey he traveled to start and grow his highly successful business as a minority entrepreneur. This story will inspire, educate, and motivate anyone struggling to start and grow a business.
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, SCORE is excited to share Nilson’s story with you and help propel you forward on your own business journey.
September 10: Starting an Online Business for Next to No Money
Live Webinar @ 1p.m.
There has never been a better time to start a business online than right now.
Steve Strauss, USA TODAY columnist and bestselling startup author, will show you the steps needed to start an e-business, even without a big budget.
Find out everything you need to know to launch the dream, including:
- The Shoestring process
- The different types of online businesses you can start
- Finding the money
- Making money
- Business nuts-and-bolts
- And more!
If you are looking to create a side hustle or main hustle with an online business, then this is the webinar for you.
September 17: Overcoming Cybersecurity Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Live Webinar @ 1p.m.
Cybercrimes have spiked during the COVID pandemic. In April 2020, the FBI reported an almost 300% increase in cybercrime cases. We are also seeing a huge increase of COVID-19 related phishing and business email compromise (BEC) attempts.
Unfortunately, small businesses are the most vulnerable cybercrime targets. Unlike large enterprises, small businesses may not have adequate resources to protect themselves.
In this webinar, cybersecurity experts Jon Clay, Mitchel Chang and Kristin Judge will help you gain some awareness and will provide high-level recommendations on cybercrime defense.
The key areas discussed will include:
- A threat landscape update with an emphasis on what has changed since the COVID pandemic
- Threat protection for small businesses focusing on phishing, smishing, business email compromise (BEC) and general cybersecurity hygiene for working and schooling from home
- A cybercrime and fraud/scam update since the COVID pandemic
September 22: Get Your Business Online in a Blink- Stress Free Ways to Find the Right Software
Live Webinar @ 1p.m.
Do you need technology that helps you adapt to our new online world and meet demand after disruption strikes? Are you trying to digitize your business quickly but don't know where to start?
Taylor Short and Sam Bonanno from Software Advice will walk you through easy and stress-free ways to help you find the right software to get your business online fast.
They’ll answer 3 critical questions you should think about as you adopt the right software for your business:
- What problem do I need to solve with software?
- How do I choose the right software for my business?
- How can I purchase software efficiently?
You’ll get actionable tips for identifying the biggest challenges with current software, what to look for when evaluating multiple products, and how to accurately calculate the total cost of adopting new technology.
September 29: Concrete Strategies to Boost Your Sleep & Double Your Business Impact
Live Webinar @ 1p.m.
When we don't feel rested and energized, it directly impacts our life and our business. If you want to ramp up your impact today, it starts by getting sleep.
The World Health Organization has declared sleep loss as an epidemic across all industrialized nations with staggering statistics.
Join this life-altering presentation with Success Coach and Speaker Holly Jean Jackson, and walk away with:
- Sleep facts & a clear understanding of why sleep is crucial to you and your business
- The 3 biggest sleep challenges
- Concrete strategies to boost your sleep & double your business impact
If you find yourself feeling exhausted all the time and lacking the energy you need to build your dream life and business, this is the webinar for you.
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