President's Message: Goals are membership, education and advocate for local business

By AMY GEIGER
Chamber President

The Chamber has had a very busy beginning to 2012 as we continue to focus on our three top goals: membership, education and advocating for our business community.  
We are always proud to support our local businesses as they strive to weather this economy.  
On May 17 we had our annual Business Excellence Awards Banquet and recognized the following individuals and their businesses for being leaders in our community:  
The award winners were:
• Start-up Business of the Year – International Gold Gymnastics.
• Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Friends of the Wakulla County Library.
• Environmental Stewardship Award – Wildwood Resort.
• Wakulla Area Business of the Year – Callaway Auto and Truck Repair.
• Member of the Year – Gail Campbell.
• Business of the Year – Best Western Plus Wakulla Inn & Suites.

Special Recognition went to Noah Posey and Ronald Fred Crum for continuing to support the Chamber since the early 1970s. We thank them both for their passion and commitment to Wakulla County.  
Herb Donaldson was our speaker for the evening and did not disappoint. If you have not heard Herb speak, you are missing out.  
I would like to recognize the committee that put this event together lead by Jo Ann Palmer, with Courtney Peacock, Tammie Barfield, Sharol Brown, JoAnne Strickland and last but not least Petra Shuff.  In addition, Mary Harrison and her army of volunteers served a spectacular dinner for us at the Senior Center.  
A huge thank you goes out to CenturyLink and Waste Pro for being our primary sponsors. Events such as our banquet could not happen without our sponsors. Again, thank you!
One initiative I wanted to accomplish this year was to introduce a young professionals group and I’m proud to say it is happening.
It is with great pleasure that I introduce Focus Wakulla, a young professionals group designed to target Chamber members 45 and younger. Tara Kieser, membership committee chair, along with several others met in early April and began talking about the needs of the young professionals in Wakulla County.
Based on that information, the council quickly came up with a name and goals that will be the cornerstone of this group:
F – Foster and support economic development
O – Optimize networking opportunities
C – Create and cultivate future leaders
U – Understanding and awareness of government processes
S – Strengthen and enrich our community
Focus Wakulla will hold quarterly functions that will touch one of these five goals. Ideas for this group include inviting guest speakers to educate on how government works in Wakulla County, holding seminars on how to network and meet others to help you grow your business and professionally, having small intimate discussions on the importance of local businesses and supporting them.
We will encourage members to participate in regular Chamber events as well.
The first event is being held June 29 at Posey’s Dockside Café in Panacea beginning at 6 p.m. This event will lay out the purpose and initiatives of Focus Wakulla and we will announce the next exciting event.
So if you or the business you work for is a member of the Chamber, please join us for our inaugural event.
”Like” Focus Wakulla on Facebook www.facebook.com/FocusWakulla – the council will post information about the community and future events.
Please contact Tara Kieser at (850) 294-5955 or tarakieser@synovusmortgage.com or Courtney Peacock at (850) 926-6751 or peacock.courtney@ccbg.com to have your name and email address added to our distribution list.
As always, it is an honor and privilege to serve our business community.  Thank you for allowing me this opportunity.  
Yours in Service,

Amy Geiger, President.