News & Events
Popularity of annual Business During Lunch continues to grow, showcases successes
It's become a fixture on the fall calendar, an event that members of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce look forward to. This year’s Business During Lunch hosted by the staff of Laurens County School-to-Work and Lifelong Learning didn’t disappoint the faithful.
For a number of years now, the staff has hosted this annual networking luncheon with various theme menus that have delighted attendees. Now that Lifelong Learning is housed in part at the Laurens County Higher Education Center, it also presents the opportunity to showcase one of the finest additions to education the county has experienced in recent memory.
But the annual event is much more than a chance to enjoy a meal with friends and business associates.
"The luncheon provides the chance to meet fellow Chamber members and let them know what you do and how you can work together in the future," said Rob Clapper, president and CEO of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. "It is always better to do business with people you know, who know you, and together we can support our business community."
And Lifelong Learning is doing its part to support the local business community.
A long standing partner with education and economic development forces in Laurens County, School-to-Work and Lifelong Learning has many programs in place to address the high dropout rate among local students. A recent study stated the most pressing problem facing South Carolina was its low graduation rate.
Laurens County School-to-Work and Lifelong Learning is a vital link between the local educational system and the community. Its programs not only address the needs of adults returning to school for their diploma or GED, but encourage current students to remain in school through career awareness programs that stimulate the imagination of children to explore future job opportunities that require them to graduate high school.
"The district's K-12 students of all academic levels are graduating with problem-solving skills that are so crucial in today’s workplace. Adult students are gaining the credentials and knowledge that strengthen both their positions in the job market and the workforce of Laurens County as a whole,”"said program director John Topping.
And networking events like the annual luncheon are providing organizations the opportunity to market their programs to the Chamber membership as well as the general public.
"To be successful, you need to move outside your comfort zone," Clapper added. "We need to take an interest in what is going on around us. Lifelong Learning is helping many local students move out of their own comfort zones and onto the path to a successful future. They are proving the importance of partnerships that move us all forward."
For more information on hosting a Chamber networking event, please call 864-833-2716.
