The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce hosted their Annual Meeting Brunch Thursday at the Colonnade. Brunch was prepared by Chamber Member, Catering by Alan.
The morning began with a welcome from the 2022 Board of Directors Chair Wil Stiles with Flegal Insurance. Bobby Fleck with Hearth Hospice gave the invocation and led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Stiles returned to the stage to thank and recognize the following retiring Board Members:
Ian O’Shea, 2021 Board Chair, Real Agents Realty Company
Lisa Elrod, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union
Jonathan Connell, MedSTAT Supplies
Marcy Kernea, Ringgold Telephone Company
Jonathan VanderHart, Edward Jones Investments
Mr. Stiles gave the 2022 Chamber Review, highlighting the Chamber’s many accomplishments in 2022, including record numbers at the Celebrate Catoosa Gala and Casino Night and the Catoosa Golf Classic and the 2nd Annual Catoosa County Run, White & Blue 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run.
Chamber Membership increased by 76 businesses.
The 2023 Chamber Board Chair Mike Key presented an honorary crystal gavel to 2022 Board Chair Mr. Stiles. Catoosa County Probate Judge Jeff Hullender installed Mr. Key, owner of Mike Key Entertainment and Photography and Director of Sales at The Canopy at Boynton Ridge, and then Mr. Key proceeded to install the Chamber Board of Directors for 2023.
The other 2023 Chamber Board Officers include Chair-Elect Ben Friberg - Heritage Funeral Home, Vice Chair Angie Stiggins - CHI Memorial, Treasurer Marissa Brower - Catoosa County Public Schools, Secretary Brent Williams - Shaw, Industries, Member at Large Matt Farmer - North Georgia EMC, Past Chair Wil Stiles - Flegal Insurance, and Chamber President and CEO Amy Jackson.
The Board of Directors includes: Lacey Cummings - Cadence Bank, Natalie Hunt - SmartBank, Mark Collins - Metro Boiler Tube, Jeff Dedmon - Keller Williams Realty Downtown, Darlene Cutler - North River Graphics, Steven Henry - SMH Construction, Penny Mahon - Communities in Schools, Geo Mejia - Edward Jones. Chamber ex-officio board members are: Chuck Harris – Catoosa County Commissioner, Earl Gray – City of Fort Oglethorpe, Mayor, Sara Clark – City of Ringgold, Council Member, and Rick Partain – Catoosa County Economic Development Authority Board Chair.
Playing off of his name, Mr. Key ended the event by presenting the 2023 Chamber Outlook and encouraged Chamber members to “share the KEY to successful business relationships with their community business contacts by encouraging them to join the Catoosa County Chamber as it has the goal of reaching 500 active members in 2023.