May 2015 Features

  • 2016 Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition is in Full Swing, Applicants Welcome

    May 26, 2015

    The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber is calling all qualified small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to apply for the 2016 Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition.

  • Q&A With GDEcD Deputy Commissioner of Tourism Kevin Langston

    May 22, 2015

    In the second of our series with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, deputy commissioner for tourism division Kevin Langston discusses growing agritourism, the film industry in the state, traveler demographics, and his love of economic development.

  • Citizens Graduate from Valdosta Government 101 Citizens Orientation

    May 20, 2015

    Twenty-six local citizens graduated from the 6th annual Valdosta Government 101 Citizens Orientation, at a ceremony on May 11th. The six-week program, an initiative of the Valdosta Mayor and City Council, attracted one high school student and her mother, a few married couples and college students, educators, bankers, clergy and citizens from other walks of life who wanted to learn more about the programs and services of their city government.

  • VSU, Southern Crescent Tech Form Pathways Program Partnership

    May 19, 2015

    Valdosta State University signed articulation agreements with Southern Crescent Technical College on Monday, simplifying student transition between the two institutions of higher education.

  • Wiregrass Foundation Hosted Fifth Annual Corks and Forks Fundraiser

    May 14, 2015

    April came to a close with the fifth annual Corks and Forks fundraiser for Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. In partnership with the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, over 100 guests enjoyed the food and wine pairing along with the Spring into Art exhibition.

  • DCA Visits Valdosta for Board Meeting & Community Tour

    May 13, 2015

    The Georgia Department of Community Affairs will visit the City of Valdosta on May 13-14 to hold their quarterly board meeting. The two-day visit will bring in approximately 31 community-building board members and staff professionals to conduct the business of the board.

  • Leadership Training vs Leadership Development - Is There a Difference?

    May 13, 2015

    In the past 10 years, The Leadership Institute at Columbus State has worked with more than 80 organizations and thousands of individuals in leadership development/training. Along the way, we found something important that we really weren’t looking for; we discovered an important distinction between leadership training and leadership development. Rather than being a semantic debate, this distinction is a paradigm changer.

  • Chamber Choice Awards Puts Spotlight on Community Leaders, Businesses

    May 11, 2015

    Valdosta business community gathered for the 6th Annual Chamber Choice Awards Thursdaynight at the Rainwater Conference Center. The event spotlights the city’s best and brightest, with awards given in five categories: Small Business of the Year, Members’ Choice, Young Professional of the Year, Ambassador of the Year and the BIG Thinker.

  • Ed Farley: Do You Have The Right Customers?

    May 08, 2015

    The phrase…”the customer is always right” may be wrong. One of the biggest challenges for business is to determine who their customers should be. Too often we do not realize that may of our customers cost us profit.

  • Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series Returns

    May 07, 2015

    The popular lunch-time concert series is back! The Main Street Office will host the Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series in Downtown Valdosta, Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15.

  • Nexxtep Awards Second Second Annual Scholarship to VSU CIS Student

    May 06, 2015

    Nexxtep and Valdosta State University recently partnered to recognize senior Christopher Rich as this year’s recipient of the Nexxtep Scholarship for Outstanding Student in Computer Information Systems.

  • Georgia's Tourism Industry Generated Record Impact of $57.1B

    May 05, 2015

    The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism division announced that the state’s tourism industry generated $57.1 billion in business sales including direct, indirect and induced impact in 2014, up 6.7 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. The tourism industry supports employment across many industry sectors, employing an estimated 425,000 Georgians statewide.

  • Winners in the Workplace Breakfast Promises to Ignite Your Morning

    May 01, 2015

    A free breakfast is always good, but a free breakfast with a motivational message is even better. The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber along with sponsors First State Bank and Trust, Fresh Beginnings and ELEAD1ONE are hosting the Winners in the Workplace breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5th at the Rainwater Conference Center.