DRIVING THE COMMUNITY issue 2 SPRING|SUMMER 2019 AMANDA CLEMENTS DRAKE 2019 BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR INSIDE STATE OF THE COMMUNITY | RIBBON CUTS | BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | LEADERSHIP COLUMBIA COUNTY 2019 BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR Amanda Clements Drake, C&C Automotive The Columbia County Automotive Service Consultant Chamber of Commerce named Certification from the Automo- Amanda Clements Drake the tive Service Excellence National 2019 Business Woman of the Institute. Year at its June 5 Executive Along with professional Luncheon, presented by Augus- accomplishments and civic ta University. Awarded for the involvement, Drake has volun- ninth time, the Business teered in various capacities Woman of the Year award is with the Columbia County given annually to recognize a Chamber of Commerce’s woman in the workplace for Ambassador Committee and her hard work, dedication, and Events Advisory Committee, her passion both professionally company holds blood drives and personally. Each year and toy drives on an annual nominations are opened to the basis and volunteers on the membership, the nominators Augusta Technical Institute fill out a profile sheet and then Automotive Repair Advisory those profiles are presented to Board. Also, Drake ran for the Columbia County Chamber Woman of the Year for the Board of Directors and they Leukemia and Lymphoma select a winner. The award was Society campaign five years sponsored by Hardwood Floors ago and raised over $10,000 and More. for the cause. Amanda Clements Drake opened C & C Automotive West in 2011 with her father 2019 Business Woman of the Year Nominees and managed staff of ten people for eight years. She Heather Backus, Salazar Certified Public Accountant opened C & C Automotive in Beatrice Sanders, Concerned Women Martinez, Georgia in 2018, Rachel Romero, T-Mobile and currently manages both Virginia Atkins, Gerald Jones Auto Group locations. Amanda now serves as Vice Amanda Clements Drake, C&C Automotive President on the Automotive Anna Kay Duckworth, Savannah River Dermatology Service Association Georgia Erin Armstrong, Dickinson Architects Board for over five years. She Aubrey Nesbitt, Zaxby’s also serves as Secretary/Trea- Angela Maskey, Jim Hudson Lexus surer of Augusta Elite Power Networkers BNI chapter for Beth Pence, AlphaGraphics three years. Carey Miller, Blanchard & Calhoun Real Estate Co. Drake continues to strive Jenifer Davis, Premier Networx for excellence in her company Ashlee Duren, Augusta Magazine by receiving an accredited Rhonda True, Honey Baked Ham Automotive Manager certifica- tion from the Automotive Man- Susie Ferrara, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions agement Institute and an Barbara Crenshaw, Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners 2 MAGAZINE OF THE COLUMBIA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JUNE EXECUTIVE LUNCHEON SERIES The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce hosted the second installment of its 2019 Executive Luncheon Series on June 5 at Savan nah Rapids Pavillion. Representatives Jodi Lott, Dis trict 122 and Gloria Frazier, District 126, spoke on “Empowering Women- to Lead the Future.” Politics were put aside in this - discussion and the women gave their testimonial of their journey to the Georgia Capitol General Assembly Floor. Lott and Frazier discussed their life experiences and gave advice to the future women leaders in the room. Lott had never been to the Georgia Capitol until 2015 and after that visit she says that she knew she could make a difference. Frazier had to be a little more convinced, she recalled that she did not want to run but was convinced by her peers. Fourteen years and 7 terms later, she AD found her niche during session. ISSUE 1: SPRING|SUMMER 2019 3 CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE DIAMOND LEVEL PLATINUM LEVEL GOLD LEVEL AT WES T LAKE A PREMI ER R ETIREMENT COMMUNITY SILVER LEVEL SOUTHEASTERN D EVEL OPMENT • BROKERAGE • CONSUL TING BRONZE LEVEL Alfred Benesch & Company • Bio-Life Plasma Services • Bojangles • Brandon Wilde Lifecare Community • Camelia Walk • Carter Koenig Photography • Cintas • Classic Collision • Convergent Outsourcing • Duckworth Development, LLC • EDTS Cyber • F&M Bank • First Community Bank • FLSmidth- AFT Operations • Fulcher Hagler LLP • Grand Oaks at Crane Creek • Harlem Family Dental • IntelliGenesis • JANUS Research Group, Inc. • Maner Building Supply Co • Marshall Pines Alzheimers Care • Metova • Mulherin Lumber• Papa John’s • PlanDwell, Inc./ Stone & Story, LLC • Perfect Health • Premier Networx • Pruitt Health Hospice •Reeves Construction Company • Security Onion Solutions, LLC • Sonic Drive-In • Sherman & Hemstreet • Sonic Drive-In • Southern Beverage • Sparkle Express Car Wash • SunTrust Bank • Total Comfort Soluitons • US Battery • Yancey Rents • Zaxbys 4 MAGAZINE OF THE COLUMBIA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! (April 2019 through June 2019) Southern Land Surveyors Fifth Third Bank Garnto Southern Construction Web: southernlandsurveyors.com Web: garntosouthern.com Chicken Salad Chick Grovetown Kings Crown Barber Shop Southern Georgia Insurance Services, LLC Web: chickensaladchick.com Talent Poole Solutions Evans Gynecology, LLC Print It! Web: TPS-Talent.com Web: evansgynecology.com Web: weprintga.com Harlem Family Dental Salon Indigo/Spa Indigo Triple M Site Work, LLC Evans Lifestyle Magazine Sitel Web: sitel.com Brittany Boutique Web: shopbrittany.net Augusta Endodontic Center Tropical Smoothie- Fort Gordon Web: augustaendo.com Web: tropicalsmoothie.com Kamo Total Janitorial Solutions & Supplies Web: kamo.com Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Care Partners @ Home of Augusta Web: northropgrumman.com Web: carepartnersathome.org Southern Vanity Web: southernvanity.us Pollock Moore Academy Artist Lane Creative Web: pollockmooreacademy.org Web: artistlanecreative.com MJ Real Estate Professionals- Tiffani Landers Web: tiffanilanders.com Platinum Marine Blanchard & Calhoun- Andrea Bryant Web: platinummarine.com Web: blanchardandcalhoun.com SharedSpace Web: sharedspace.work Premier Barber Lounge and Salon SUITE 10 Restaurant & Bar Web: thepremierbarberlounge.com MJ Real Estate Professionals Murphy Auto Group Web: columbiacountyhomesbymj.com Magnolia Chiropractic Web:bobrichardstogota.com Web: magnoliachirocsra.com John Harris Body Shops, LLC Grovetown Goody Two Shoes Augusta, INC Web: jhbodyshops.com American Journeyman LLC Web: goodytwoshoesaugusta.com Web: americanjourneyman.com Pinot Palette Web: pinotspalette.com Augusta Endodonctic Center Web: augustaendo.com MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISE WITH US: The Chamber is currently looking for sponsors for its E-News and quarterly newsletter publications. If you’re interested in promoting your company or business, contact Olivia Reich, Communications Coordinator, at 706-651-0018. Act Now! SHARING IS CARING: Got an important announcement, or an upcoming event? Maybe you just want to toot your own horn a little bit? Share Your Company News with us! Let us know what you’ve got going on and we’ll share it with our 1000+ business members. Learn more at columbiacountychamber.com/Share-your-Company-News ISSUE 1: SPRING|SUMMER 2019 5 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LEADERSHIP CLASS OF 2019 Congratulations to our Leadership Columbia County Class of 2019! Leadership Columbia County is designed to expose business and area leaders to the opportunities and challenges facing our community as well as to promote and foster the development of leadership. The program educates and prepares community leaders who are committed to shaping Columbia County’s future, and allows class members to experience a high level of community awareness. SPONSORED BY: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CLASS OF 2019 Congratulations to our Youth Leadership Columbia County Class of 2019! The Chamber’s Youth Leadership Program is designed to educate through experience and motivate young leaders and enable them to take an active role in their community. Students are allowed interaction with community leaders and decision makers and are exposed to community needs, issues and resources. Throughout the nine-month program students focus on different aspects of our community including law enforcement, government, business and industry, technology, media, marketing and healthcare. SPONSORED BY: 6 MAGAZINE OF THE COLUMBIA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOIN US ON JULY 11TH AT FIRST COMMUNITY BANK’S NEW LOCATION IN EVANS! 1200 TOWN PARK LANE- EVANS, GA 5:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS ONLY EVENT 2019 Post Legislative Breakfast the state of Georgia, getting broadband network into the rural corners of the state and the future of healthcare for Georgians. The Post-Legislative Breakfast also featured a panel discussion with State Senate and House Representatives from Columbia County. The state leaders atteneded included: Senator Jesse Stone, Senator Lee Anderson, Representative Barry Fleming, Representative Jodi Lott and Representative Mark Newton. The Columbia County Chamber hosted its annual Post Legislative Breakfast on May 8 at Savannah Rapids Pavillion. Geoff Duncan, the State of Georgia’s 12th Lieu- tenant Governor, gave the keynote address. A former professional baseball player and successful entrepreneur, Duncan was elected as Lieutenant Governor in Novem- ber of 2018. Originally elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2012, Duncan is the second Republican Lieutenant Governor in the state’s history. He was inaugu- rated on January 14, 2019. Some of the key topics that Lt. Governor Duncan highlighted included the $3,000 pay raise for teachers in 7 MAGAZINE OF THE COLUMBIACOLUMBIA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCEMMERCE