Quarterly ReportQ2 2019

On May 3, the Chamber, in partnership with ABC Carolinas, hosted the 2nd Annual Build A Shed, a building competition for students and career-ready youth in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

This seven-hour competition is a life-changing experience, introducing students to not just a job, but a potential career in the high-demand, and lucrative, construction field. The Chamber’s most recent Talent Demand Study shows construction as one of the top four sectors facing talent supply gaps, or annual job openings surpassing the local graduate output. Construction is a prime opportunity for our youth.

Seven teams paired up with construction industry professionals to build an 8’ x 11’ shed using the same blueprint. The sheds were judged by industry professionals who scored the teams on technical, completeness and safety categories.

But Build A Shed went beyond just one day. Participating contractors trained the youth in preparation for the competition and each student gained an OSHA 10 certification, which teaches recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards in the workplace.

READY...SET...BUILD

While the Eckerd Connects team took home first place, everyone left proud and ready for the future. And most exciting… five of the six members of the winning team were offered full-time jobs with one of the contractors or roofers on site that day.

You may be wondering what we did with those seven sheds. Well, we auctioned them off with all proceeds going to support future talent initiatives like Build A Shed.

Learn more about our Talent Advancement efforts and how you can get involved at www.charlestonchamber.org/talent.

“ BUILD A SHED GIVES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND CAREER-READY YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD. THEY THEN UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A SKILL THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY TURN INTO A CAREER.”

Bobby TeacheyBrownstone Construction Group, LLC

BIYB TOURS WEST EDGE

Membership GOAL: To engage, attract and retain new members

In April, Business in your Backyard attendees got an exclusive tour of the almost completed WestEdge Development - Charleston’s newest urban, waterfront district.

Moderator:

Panelists:

Michael Maher WestEdge Foundation, Inc.

Janice BarnesWater Institute

Steve DudashThomas & Hutton

Jacob LindseyCity of Charleston

Highlights:

• Mitigating the impacts of sea level rise will require sustainability, resiliency, and collaboration.

• Sea level rise will affect our region. We should continue to learn lessons from other areas’ public and private efforts to develop partnerships that ensure equitable strategies for mitigation are implemented.

• WestEdge is creating a model to solve technical and financial challenges through resilient infrastructure and public-private partnerships.

SUMMER SOCIAL ABOARD THE CAROLINA QUEEN

SPOTLIGHT ON DOMINION ENERGY’S RODNEY BLEVINS

The sold-out Summer Social brought

aboard the Carolina Queen for an evening of networking on the Charleston Harbor.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Leadership Circle Spotlight on April 4 featured Dominion Energy South Carolina’s CEO, Rodney Blevins.

“ It was a privilege to interact with key business and community leaders to discuss issues of mutual importance. The work of the Chamber in promoting a healthy business environment is important to our company; nearly 40 percent of our electric customers live and work in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, as do nearly 700 of our employees.”

CMCC Quarterly Report 2019: Q2

CHAMBER ADVOCATES FOR DEFENSE IN D.C.

The Chamber led a tri-county delegation of elected, civic and business leaders to D.C. to support national defense and military installations in the Charleston region. Over the course of 36 hours, the group had meetings on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon and at Department of Homeland Security with Senator Graham and Congressman Cunningham, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein and Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Capability Rear Admiral Michael Ryan.

Increasing global threats demand a prepared, modern military. Force readiness and modernization are damaged when politics delay sufficient budgets. Military members need our voice advocating for sufficient and timely defense authorization and appropriation.

Key Takeaways:

17 straight years of overseas deployment and frequent moves put strain on military families. Professional credentialing delays that hurt military spouse employment just make things more difficult. Military members need local allies to lend a hand and cut red tape so military spouses can gain South Carolina certification.

Quality of life matters as much for military employees as private- sector employees. Quality education is the most important quality of life factor for military families. A new DOD formula will add empirical education system performance measures into the base decision equation.

GOAL: To give our region a collective voice

GOVERNMENTRELATIONS

Funding Certainty Education

Military Family Support

BUSINESS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE HOSTS REGIONAL LEADERS

2019 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OUTCOMES

Christie Rainwater, Mayor of Hanahan, was featured on a panel at the May Business Advocacy meeting alongside North Charleston Councilman, Michael Brown, and Summerville Town Administrator, Colin Martin.

Mayor Rainwater shared how the City of Hanahan is preparing for Lowcountry Rapid Transit, and discussed two major partnership projects identified through the Chamber’s Investment Opportunity Study.

While this legislative session was consumed with energy and education issues, there was progress of the Chamber’s top priorities.

TEACHER PAYSC Legislature voted to increase starting teachers’ salaries to $35,000 as well as a 4% across-the-board pay increase for teachers – moving teachers’ pay above the southeastern average.

ANGEL INVESTOR TAX CREDITCommitment has been made to pass the Angel Investor Tax Credit in early 2020, which will improve our entrepreneurial ecosystem by offering a tax credit to people willing to invest in early stage companies that don’t typically qualify for business loans.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDITA new bill introduced this year would create state tax credits for affordable housing similar to existing federal housing tax credits. This would help make more workforce housing construction financially viable.

New modification to SC’s formula better positions our region to compete for federal dollars to address our housing need.

MILITARY SERVICE OCCUPATION EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALING ACTThe act passed both chambers unanimously and there were only minor differences in the versions. The Senate named conferees but the House was unable to before time ran out. We expect the conference committee to work out differences in January.

This bill streamlines the licensure process for service members’ spouses, allowing them to enter South Carolina’s workforce more easily.

Creation of a city center

1.

Increased employment centers

2.

Christie RainwaterMayor of Hanahan

www.charlestonchamber.org

CHAMBER HIRES SUMMER INTERNS

Rising freshman who will be studying communications at Anderson University this fall.

Rising senior at Stratford High School who plans to study

mechanical engineering in college.

As part of the 2019 Mayor’s Youth Employment Challenge, the Chamber has hired two local students as interns. The Challenge encourages local businesses to hire and mentor at least two youth during the summer months, providing them jobs where they can learn, earn a reasonable wage and work at least 12 hours per week.

Talent GOAL: To grow our region’s talent pipeline

Maddie Carter Nathan gergick

HACKATHON TEACHES STUDENTS CYBERSECURITY

The Chamber hosted a day long Hackathon with Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic on April 26.

Purpose: Provide beginner and seasoned students the opportunity to learn about cybersecurity from Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic professionals.

23 students + 2 teachers

ANITA ZUCKER PRESENTS 21ST CENTURY LEARNING

Anita Zucker, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The InterTech Group Inc., was the featured speaker at this year’s All Academy Debrief.

The All Academy Debrief is a gathering of Career Academy teachers, education leaders and business partners who debrief on the school year’s activities while looking to next year.

Anita discussed the importance of being a blended digital professional with workplace skills of critical thinking and communication skills, along with excellent digital skills. Needed skills are constantly changing because of technology advancements.

www.charlestonchamber.org

Did you know… Young professionals employed by Chamber member organizations can join CYP for free! Learn more at

Charleston-yp.com

CYP has updated their tagline, mission and vision statements to better reflect the organization and represent the incredible work that young professionals can accomplish together.

Vision:Be the primary resource in the Charleston region where young leaders can grow professionally and personally through networking, ongoing learning, mentorship and opportunities to form lasting connections.

Mission:Engage young leaders through professional and personal development, empowering them to grow as individuals and strengthen the Charleston region.

Tagline: Where Emerging Leaders Connect

Leadership GOAL: To cultivate leadership within the region

GRADUATIONS

58

May 16, 2019 JUNE 11, 2019

• Attended 170+ public meetings• Boarded a C-17 Static

at Joint Base Charleston• Rode CARTA to experience

public transit• Completed a police ride along• Toured Career Academies

in regional high schools

• Heard from experienced executives in the Charleston region

• Completed personalized DiSC Leadership Profile Assessment

• Attended a 3-course business etiquette dinner

31

“ The Leadership Discovery mentors’ messages of passion, energy and drive for innovation and improvement were inspiring.”Elizabeth Hills Charleston Branch Pilots Association

“ Leadership Charleston highlighted important industries and issues in our region, and armed me with tools to be a more effective and mindful leader.” Chelsea Ex-Lubeskie MUSC Foundation for Research Development

MISSIONS

DATES

Graduates

HIGHLIGHTS

TESTIMONIALS

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.

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.

www.charlestonchamber.orgCMCC Quarterly Report 2019: Q2

OrganizationGOAL: To operate with excellence as a Chamber

CAIN ELECTED TO ACCE’S BOARD OF DIRECTORSServing a three-year term, Adrian Cain’s role is designed to assist chambers from across the country to develop, train and deepen their membership capacity.

“ I am pleased to welcome Adrian Cain as a member of ACCE’s Board of Directors beginning July 2019. In this role, Adrian will serve as chair-elect of our Membership Development Division. As Chief

Development Officer of the Charleston Metro Chamber, he

brings a wealth of experience that will strengthen ACCE’s

professional development and programming efforts.

As a member of our national board, we look forward to

his guidance, talent and expertise as we serve and advance the chamber of commerce profession.”

Sheree Anne Kelly President & CEOACCE

The South Carolina Department of Education presented Suzi Raiford with the 2019 Regional Career Specialist of the Year at the Education and Business Summit on June 26.

This award recognizes an outstanding Regional Career Specialist who exemplifies delivery of an outstanding career guidance program to enhance the level of student career guidance and placement, academic and career planning, work-based learning partnerships, college and career readiness, work-based learning data collection and reporting, career and technology education support, and delivery of career development and contextual methodology training.

CITIES BENCHMARK AGAINST CHARLESTON REGION

Recently, the Chamber has participated in several cities exploring our region’s successes. Just as we do through our Metro Leadership Visit, each of these cities are benchmarking against our efforts and are looking for smart ideas they can adapt in their community.

Visiting cities included:• Seattle, WA • Albuquerque, NM • Columbus, GA • Savannah, GA

www.charlestonchamber.orgCMCC Quarterly Report 2019: Q2

AIMING OUR CHAMBER INTO THE FUTURE

Four years from now our chamber will celebrate its 250th consecutive year of operating. Come summer of 2020, we will be preparing for that future in a brand-new building in the GARCo Park that honors our great past and embraces our promising tomorrow.

The Chamber chose this location with our over 1,600 members, volunteer leaders and staff in mind, and believe it will be the perfect centralized place to connect, collaborate and inspire.

The Chamber will be housed on the first and second floor of the building. The Park will also include Ingevity’s new headquarters and the renovated GARCo Mill Building. The three buildings will share a landscaped park, complementing the lively community of retail shops, restaurants and entertainment.

“ I am tremendously excited about this new location as it is a great fit for the Charleston Metro Chamber. We have members throughout our tri-county region and having this central location is key. It also underscores our efforts to reduce commute times and traffic congestion. Chamber staff will have the ability to walk to services needed during the work day and it is close to the planned Lowcountry Rapid Transit line, providing an alternate mode of transportation.”

Melonie Hammond-Trace, 2019 Chairman Charleston Metro Chamber Board

NEW LEADERSHIP CIRCLE MEMBERS

Silver

Bronze

(April 1 - June 30)

4500 Leeds Avenue, Suite 100N. Charleston, SC 29405

843.577.2510mail@charlestonchamber.org

www.charlestonchamber.org