Laurens County Chamber

News Archive 2007


  • Business Invitation: ACTIVATE 2008 Have you been considering a weight-loss program or a nutrition campaign to help improve your employees' health? Would you like to partner with an effective community-wide health program that will do the organization and program implementation for you? Did you know this opportunity is coming your way soon? More


  • Hospice of Laurens County is compiling a cookbook of your favorite recipes. They have received a handful of recipes, but still need many more to have a successful cookbook. If you would be interested in supporting this fundraiser, please submit recipes for your favorite recipes for the following categories: Appetizer, Soup/Salad, Main Dish, Casserole, Dessert, Misc. Also send them your favorite decorating/entertaining tips and your favorite family traditions.

    Please include your full name, address and phone number should they need to contact you. They plan to your first name, last initial, city and state in the cookbook. If you would prefer to submit anonymously, please let them know.

    Please send your recipes to: Hospice of Laurens County Cookbook, Attn: Abby Robertson, PO BOX 178, Clinton, SC 29325 or email: abby_hospice@yahoo.com.


  • 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. More


  • PC brings $35 million and 480 jobs to Laurens county every year According to a recent study, PC has a $35 million economic impact on Laurens county and is responsible for 480 jobs every year. The study takes into account money generated from faculty, staff, and student spending, as well as college expenditures. PC alum Megan Kocis, now a financial analyst with Markel Valuation in Greenville, completed the research this past spring. More


    • Tiger Enterprises Ribbon Cutting
  • New Industry Welcomed The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce and the Laurens County Development Corporation joined together on November 1 to welcome Tiger Enterprises & Trading, Inc. to Laurens County. Tiger Enterprises, an aircraft materials support company, recently relocated their corporate headquarters from Connecticut to a million dollar state-of-the art distribution facility in Woodfield Industrial Park in Fountain Inn. Chamber president and CEO Rob Clapper welcomed the large crowd of community leaders who later heard from the Tiger Enterprises leadership team. The event concluded with tours of the facility and a catered lunch. "Tiger Enterprises and Trading is a very unique company and we are very pleased they chose Laurens County for their new facility. It has been a pleasure working with Dwight Clark and John Gleason," said Marvin Moss of the county’s development corporation.

  • Heat Wave MotorsNew Chamber Member The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the opening of Heat Wave Motors with a ribbon cutting on November 2. Heat Wave Motors, located at 22420 Highway 76 East between Clinton and Laurens, is the Chamber’s 496th member. The Chamber is excited at the prospect of signing up their 500th member before the start of the organization’s 30th anniversary celebration year in January.


  • Notice of Laurens County Chamber Board of Directors Nominations: Pursuant to Article V Section One of the Chamber’s Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has recommended the following individuals as Board of Directors Members for the Class of 2010.

    Mr. Mundy Woodruff– Fatz Café
    Mrs. Deb Conrad – A Pane in The Glass & BB&T CIC
    Dr. Seth Reynolds – Reynold’s Family Dentistry
    Dr. Karen Pollock – Piedmont Pediatrics
    Hon. Jeff Duncan – J. Duncan & Associates

    At the regular December Meeting of the Board held Monday, December 10, 2007 at 12:00 P.M. additional nominations can be made from the floor by Directors or Chamber Members present. If there are no additional nominations or contested election, the slate of Directors will be deemed elected by acclimation of the membership without any further action.


  • Community Education Offers Holiday TripLaurens County Lifelong Learning has a new program! The name of this program is Community Education, and we will be offering a variety of services to the entire population of Laurens County including Barksdale, Clinton, Cross Hill, Gray Court, Hickory Tavern, Joanna, Kinards, Lanford, Laurens, Mountville, Ora, Owings, Princeton, Waterloo, and Watts Mills. More


  • County Council Levels Playing Field Laurens County Council voted to suspend Sunday work prohibitions during the upcoming holiday season, from November 25, 2007 – December 30, 2007. The vote was taken during their regular meeting on October 23, 2007. More


  • Woods Edge Gifts Celebrates New Ownership Building on the success of others never hurt anyone. Industries do it. Schools do it. And Woods Edge Gifts on the historic court house square in Laurens is doing it. Founded more than fifty years ago by Mary Collins, Woods Edge Gifts has grown into a Laurens County institution, drawing customers from surrounding counties as well as locally. Two years ago, under the leadership of Collins’ granddaughter, Mary Shannon Bohman, the business moved from its long-time residential setting to the heart of the downtown business district. More


  • Leadership Class Members Rub Elbows With State's Top Educator Participation in Leadership Laurens County has its advantages as members of Class 16 of the leadership training program found out recently when they met with Dr. Jim Rex, state Superintendent of Education. Dr. Rex, just nine months into his four year term, was elected in the closest statewide election in South Carolina history edging out his Republican challenger by just 451 votes out of the 1.1 million cast. More


  • Anderson GroundbreakingAt the groundbreaking for a 100,000 square feet expansion at Anderson Hardwood Floors manufacturing facilities on Torrington Road in Clinton. The expansion will add 100 jobs at the plant. (left to right) Randy Merritt, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing for Shaw Industries, Inc.; Janice McCord, representing Congressman Gresham Barrett of the Third Congressional District; Jim Coleman, Chairman of Laurens County Council and Laurens County Development Corporation; Senator Danny Verdin of District 9; Don Finkell, President and CEO of Anderson Hardwood Floors; Vance Bell, President of Shaw Industries, Inc.; Bryan Boggs, VP of Manufacturing for Anderson Hardwood Floors; Hal Long, CFO of Shaw Industries


  • The Wall that Heals Visits PC The Wall that Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial, visited Presbyterian College on September 27th - 30th, 2007 at Bailey Memorial Stadium. We'd like to thank Roy Tanner, a Thornwell resident and senior at Clinton High School for the beautiful photos below.

    Wall That HealsWall That Heals
    Wall That HealsWall That Heals

    Chamber Award
    Pictured L to R are: Mick Fleming, President & CEO of ACCE, Marlene Owings (Laurens County Chamber Business Manager, Rob Clapper (President & CEO of the Laurens County Chamber, and 2006-07 ACCE Chairman Mark V’Soske.
  • Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Named as one of the Nation’s Elite Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Named as one of the Nation’s Elite The American Chamber of Commerce Executives is pleased to announce that the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce is one of the top Chambers of Commerce’s in the nation for 2007. The nation’s only award recognizing the dual role chambers have in creating both leading businesses and communities. More



  • Wal-Mart GrantSupporting Tourism Laurens County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Rob Clapper, far left, recently accepted a $1,000 grant from Dorsey Thomas, manager of the Laurens Wal-Mart Store. The Wal-Mart Corporation donation will support the Chamber’s tourism projects. Jim Firmin (far right), co-chairman of the Chamber’s tourism committee, participated in the check presentation. More


  • Second Quarter AwardsSmall Business Honored Jim Adair of Adair’s Men Shop in Clinton was honored as the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Quarter for the second quarter during the August 27 meeting of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Adair’s Men Shop has been a fixture in downtown Clinton for 70 years and has been a supporting member of the Chamber since it was founded 30 years ago. Jim is pictured at left accepting his award from Chamber president and CEO Rob Clapper.

  • Second Quarter AwardsAmbassador Honored Deb Conrad of BB&T CIC was honored recently as the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Quarter for the second quarter. Board member Sue Tinney praised Conrad for her dedicated volunteer service to the Chamber including faithful attendance at Chamber events as well as new member recruitment. Conrad is pictured at center with Chamber Board members Rhonda Cruickshanks and Sue Tinney and Chamber president and CEO Rob Clapper.

  • Congressional LuncheonRecord Attendance A record crowd of nearly 200 Chamber members attended the fifth annual Congressional Luncheon on August 28 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center in Laurens. US Rep. Gresham Barrett, who represents Laurens County in Congress as part of South Carolina’s Third Congressional District, brought an update from Washington, DC and fielded questions from the audience. Congressman Barrett is pictured above talking with Chamber members following the conclusion of the luncheon.

  • Flight of the Dove Brings Hundreds of Cyclists to County for Annual Event The 2nd annual Flight of the Dove, a bicycling event to benefit Hospice of Laurens County, will take place on Saturday August 25th. All rides will leave from the Hospice of Laurens County Thrift Store on Hwy 76 in Clinton. Rides begin at 8AM and there are 3 options this year: Metric Century (60 miles), 30 miles, or Leisure ride. More


  • Santa Fe Ribbon CuttingRibbon Cutting Celebration Members of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, as well as Chamber staff, volunteers and Ambassadors joined David Roman and the staff of the Santa Fe Mexican Grill in Laurens on August 20 for the official ribbon cutting of the new restaurant. Located at 345 East Main Street in Laurens, the restaurant offers scenic views of Little River along with authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant is the newest member of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce.


  • Hospice of Laurens County Thrift Store to Open Second Location Hospice of Laurens County will open a Thrift Store in Laurens this summer. The store will be located in the former Eckerd building in the Winn-Dixie shopping center. Hospice is recruiting volunteers to help set up the store. They will need persons to sort and price items, help with picking up items for sale and to help arrange the store. This is a great opportunity to clean out those closets, basements and attics. Hospice of Laurens County has a delivery truck and volunteers to pick up large items or large load of items. If you are interested in volunteering, donating items, etc., please contact Emily Terrell at the Clinton store, 864-833-1314.


  • Local Bed & Breakfast Offers Fall Classes Chef Janet Henley of The Farmhouse at Bush River Bed and Breakfast has earned a culinary degree from the University of South Carolina’s Culinary Institute. She is a member of The American Culinary Federation and is certified by ServSafe. The Farmhouse at Bush River will begin hosting classes and events of interest to the community. More


  • Pixie DustBusiness Celebration Members of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce joined city leaders, family and friends to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Pixie Dust on the historic court house square in Laurens on August 15. New business owner Amanda Munyan, pictured at center, marked the special occasion with a ribbon cutting to launch a weekend of anniversary specials.


  • United Way Organizes School Supplies Collection Effort For the second year, United Way of Laurens County will give community residents an opportunity to help area schools provide much needed school supplies to the county’s underprivileged children just in time for back to school. More


  • District 55 to Offer Daycare Services Beginning August 6, Laurens County School District No. 55 will offer full-time child care services for children six weeks of age and older. Services will also be available for half-day and after-school care. The program will be Montessori-based with care providers and instructors trained especially for this purpose. These programs will be implemented at Laurens Elementary School and in the Pleasant View facility. The hours of operation will be 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This program will operate on a year-round basis. For additional information, contact the district office at 864-984-3568.


  • CNNGA, PRTC, and LEC to sponsor The 2007 Lakeland’s Chamber Challenge According to the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, this year’s chamber tournament will be unlike any other. Expectations are even higher with no shortage of partnerships. In this inaugural event, The Laurens County Chamber is partnering with the Greenwood Area Chamber in effort to promote regionalism and business development. More


  • Chamber Receives National Award for Member Retention The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce has been presented with a 2006 Membership Achievement Award by its governing professional organization, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). More


  • The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce Congratulates All-Dry of the Carolinas, Inc. for achieving the Better Business Bureau Gold Star! The Gold Star is given on a yearly basis to bureau members that have had no complaints in a three-year reporting period. We applaud All-Dry of the Carolinas for their outstanding customer service!


  • Easter to Serve on Dairy Farmers of America Board At the 2007 Annual Meeting of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) held recently in Kansas City, Missouri, twenty members were reelected to the cooperative’s 51-member Board of Directors. This year, four new members were elected to DFA’s board including Glenn Easter of Eastglen Farm in Laurens. More


  • Chamber CEO selected for the 2008 Leadership - South Carolina Class Leadership South Carolina, the state’s oldest and most respected leadership development program, has announced that Rob Clapper, President and CEO of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, has been named to its Class of 2008. More


  • New Leadership Gregg and Nancy Varner, center, met a number of local business and government leaders during the June 7th Laurens County and Fountain Inn Chambers of Commerce Business After Hours at Musgrove Mill Golf Club in Clinton. Mr. Varner will begin his duties as the new Clinton city manager on June 30, replacing Sam Bennett who resigned earlier this year to take a position in North Augusta. The Charleston native has served as Charleston County’s director of solid waste since 1993. Pictured above, from the left, are Rob Clapper, president and CEO of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Josh Kay, Clinton’s assistant city manager, Mrs. Varner, Varner, and Ernie Segars, Laurens County Administrator.


  • New Restaurant in Laurens Laurens County Chamber of Commerce staff, board members, Ambassadors and community leaders joined the Zou family for a ribbon cutting at China Star in Laurens on May 30. The restaurant is part of a new development on the site of the former Oaks Cinema on North Harper Street.


  • RV Park Opens Under New Management RV Park Opens Under New Ownership – The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at Magnolia RV Park and Campground in Kinards on May 24. The nineteen acre park has 44 sites that accommodate RVs, campers and tents.

  • Presbyterian College featured in Princeton Review's 2008 edition of America's Best Value Colleges Presbyterian College is one of the nation’s best value undergraduate institutions, according to the Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company has featured PC in the new 2008 edition of its book, America's Best Value Colleges. More


  • Chamber Awards Small Business and Ambassador of the Quarter Awards An eating institution and a volunteer leader in historic Laurens County were recognized with honors of distinction. At this month’s Laurens County Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Ernie and Gail Whiteford of Whiteford’s Giant Burger in Laurens and Melinda Gray of Palmetto Heritage Reality were presented with the chamber's Small Business of the Quarter Award and the Ambassador of the Quarter Award. More
  • Grand Opening Steve Gamble, center, cuts the ribbon during a recent ribbon cutting ceremony held at Complete Exteriors in Laurens. Gamble is surrounded by family, Laurens County Chamber of Commerce supporters, and friends. Complete Exteriors offers gutters, garage doors, vinyl siding and replacement windows. They are located at 1212 Greenwood Road.

  • Thornwell's Board of Visitors Recognizes Vance Family Generosity The Thornwell Board of Visitors recognized the Robert M. Vance Family of Clinton as Distinguished Benefactors at their annual banquet on April 26, 2007. More


  • Thornwell Recognizes Dover Thornwell’s Board of Visitors recognized Norman Dover with their Distinguished Service Award on April 26, 2007. Dover has been an educator at Thornwell for 23 years. More


  • Chamber Selected as Finalist for Chamber of the Year The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce was recently selected as a Finalist in the Association of Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber of the Year award. “We are overwhelmed and excited about being selected as a potential chamber of the year. More


  • Congressman Gresham Barrett and Chamber of Commerce host Small Business Leader Forum The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce was proud to host Congressman Gresham Barrett and members of the Heritage Foundation for a lunch forum aimed at Small Business initiatives for Laurens County. The luncheon was designed to offer a way for the 3rd Congressional leader to hear the issues facing Laurens County business owners. More


  • Supporting the Military Laurens County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Rob Clapper, center, is surrounded by representatives from the military, local leaders and members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors at the signing Monday (March 26) of a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). This agreement strengthens cooperative efforts to protect the jobs and benefits of National Guard and Reserve service members when they return from duty. “Our nation must never forget that veterans are the reason why we enjoy the freedoms we have today. I am especially proud to salute the hundreds of veterans, Reservists and National Guard members working throughout Laurens County,” Clapper said during the signing.

  • Five in a Row The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce honored the Bell Street Science Olympiad team at the March meeting of the board of directors with a resolution proclaiming March 26, 2007 as Bell Street Science Olympiad Team Day. The team from Laurens County School District 56 won their fifth consecutive South Carolina Science Olympiad competition in late February. As state champions, they will represent South Carolina at the National Science Olympiad in Wichita, Kansas in May. “Every member of the team and their coaches deserves credit and commendation for their commitment to excellence, and, more importantly, for demonstrating the kind of character that will serve them well in their future endeavors,” said Chamber president and CEO Rob Clapper in the prepared resolution. Pictured from the left are, Dr. David O’Shields, Maureen Tiller (Bell Street principal), Mitchell Meadors (team member), Joanne Hoppenhauer (Team Coach), and Rob Clapper of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce.

  • Chamber Members Enjoy New Downtown Bookstore More than 140 members of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce enjoyed an evening at The Depot, Presbyterian College’s new community bookstore, in downtown Clinton during a Business After Hours event co-hosted by the College and Sodexho Campus Services on March 15. More


  • The Dance Shop Ribbon Cutting Rob Clapper, center, president and CEO of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, is flanked by The Dance Shop owners Connie Farhan, left, and Susan Keitt at the March 16 ribbon cutting at the studio’s new location at 216-A Fleming Street in Laurens. The trio was joined by members of the Chamber’s board of directors, Chamber Ambassadors, as well as parents and students. Guests were treated to refreshments and dance demonstrations during the celebration. The Dance Shop and Laurens County Civic Ballet will host a Chamber Business After Hours in August to showcase their many talented students.

  • Laurens County Explores Regionalism In many respects, Laurens County is ahead of the curve when it comes to thinking and acting like a region. For a number of years now, the county has been part of the Upstate Alliance-a ten-county coalition that markets the region to industrial prospects. The same holds true for tourism with the Old 96 Tourism Commission promoting attractions across a five-county region. But what about retail and small business? The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce took the first step in a regional partnership last week with the grand opening of Ballentine Toyota in Greenwood, an event that brought together members of the Laurens County, Greenwood and Abbeville chambers of commerce. More
    Rob Clapper, far right, poses with the speakers featured during the State of Laurens County Address including, from the left, County Council Chairman Jim Coleman, Senator Danny Verdin, Clinton Mayor Randy Randall, Representative Adam Taylor, Laurens Mayor Sharon Brownlee, and Representative Jeff Duncan.
  • State of Laurens County Draws Large Crowd The State of Laurens County, a newly formatted legislative forum of the Laurens County Chamber Commerce and sponsored by CNNGA, drew a large crowd Friday for its first ever offering. More than 160 Chamber members filled the First Baptist Church Family Life Center in Laurens, breaking previous attendance records for a legislative event by nearly twenty percent. More



  • DedicationClinton Dedication Officials from the City of Clinton dedicated the M. S. Bailey Municipal Center, located at 209 North Broad Street, with a ribbon cutting and open house on February 26. Government leaders were joined by representatives from the Bailey family, the Bailey Foundation, and Carolina First Bank. The municipal center was originally constructed as the headquarters of the M. S. Bailey Bank that later became Carolina First Bank. Carolina First is constructing a new branch office on South Broad Street and will soon vacate the North Broad location. With the generosity of the Bailey family and foundation, the City of Clinton was able to secure the bank building for use as a new municipal center.


  • Wal-Mart GrantChamber Awarded Wal-Mart Community Grant Dorsey Thomas, right, manager of the Wal-Mart store in Laurens, presented a $500 community grant to the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce during the organization’s monthly board member on February 19. The grant will help fund a new flat screen television to be installed in the Chamber’s lobby. A new ten-minute video entitled, "Laurens County: A Special Place", recently produced by the Chamber, will air in the lobby as well as local news and events. This is the second Wal-Mart community grant awarded to the Chamber in the past year. An earlier grant was used to buy new digital cameras for the Chamber as well as the Laurens County Development Corporation. Pictured accepting the grant is Rob Clapper, president and CEO of the Chamber.


  • Laser Center Ribbon CuttingThe Surgery & Laser Center Ribbon Cutting The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 19 at The Surgery & Laser Center at Professional Park in Clinton. The state of the art facility has been open to patients for approximately six weeks. Read More Here > >


  • Comedian, Economist Ben Stein to Headline 2007 Arnold Symposium A national icon and a true jack-of-all-trades will take the stage in March as Ben Stein headlines Presbyterian College's annual Arnold Symposium. Read More Here > >


    • A large crowd along with a number of community leaders attended the annual 100 Club luncheon to hear guest speaker Bob Geolas of CU-ICAR.
  • Chamber Welcomes Three New Interns Mark Owens, Elizabeth Bagwell, and Gail Atkinson have joined the Chamber as the new Special Events, Marketing, and Membership support Interns. More > >


  • Chamber Celebrates 29 Years of Excellence The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner January 18 at the Mabry-Smith-Yonce Center on the campus of Presbyterian College, celebrating twenty-nine years of service to the county. A record attendance of more than 360 members attended the gala event. More > >


  • Review the 2007 Award Winners


  • Chamber Unveils New Web Site The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce recently announced the unveiling of the new and revamped Chamber website, located at www.laurenscounty.org. The site now features a clean new look with easier access to key information, including news & events, legislative updates and advocacy tools. More > >


  • Expert Busts Myths on Immigration in South Carolina An expert on Latino immigration in South Carolina discussed some of the myths about immigrants during Presbyterian College's annual Project Understanding program. More > >