The Chester County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors held the first of several meetings away from the Chamber office at Great Falls Middle/High School this week. Rotating Chamber board meetings around the county was a goal for chair Abby Brunson, “The meetings are open to the public, so I thought what better way to reach out to some of our Chamber members who are outside of the Chester City limits,” Brunson said. “Then I thought why not invite some of our 12th grade students who are interested in careers held by our board members.” Mrs. Brunson, who works for the Chester County School District as a Global Career Development Facilitator, leads a grant program funded by the Springs-Close Foundation called Lunch with Leaders. Students are invited to have lunch with Community Leaders and get advice about their particular career interests. “All of the Chamber Board agreed to come early for their regularly scheduled meeting and have lunch with the students. I told the Board to think back to when they were getting ready to graduate from high school and tell the students some advice they wish someone had told them.” “It was a perfect time to hold a Lunch with Leaders with such a wealth of knowledge all in one place at one time.” Students were able to learn about careers such as Manufacturing, International Business, Higher Education, Finance, Marketing, Public Relations, Hospitality and Tourism, and Medical Health Science. Student Matthew Trent stated that he really enjoyed talking with Chris Winters from Sun Fiber. Matthew is planning to pursue a degree in Business, perhaps International Business from the University of SC and he had no idea that Sun Fiber was an International Business right here in Chester County. Another student, T’Onia Hobson plans to go into Accounting and enjoyed learning tips on soft skills from Chamber Office Administrator Angela Cook.
The students were also invited to stay after lunch concluded to watch Mrs. Brunson lead the Chamber Board meeting and learn how businesses work together to promote responsible business development, tourism and growth for the citizens of Chester County.
Superintendent Dr. Angela Bain and the Springs Close Foundation's Bobby Holcolmbe were also special guests. Chamber Members in the Great Falls area were invited to attend the meeting; member Sally Hudson from Gladden Hudson Reality offered her advice to several students and stated she enjoyed seeing the new board members in action and appreciates all the board does and to “Keep Up the Good Work”.
Pictured is Stacy Scott, Director of York Technical College Chester Center (left) speaking with senior Hayva Trotter (right) about higher education as Chris Winters of Sun Fiber (back right) talks with student leaders about international business. Other Chamber board members in attendance included Chet Tucker with the YMCA, Clay Barbour with Founders Federal Credit Union Richburg, Earl Moore with WGCD Radio, Albertha Woodard with Chester Regional Medical Center, Matt McMrorey with Spratt Savings & Loan Great Falls and Chamber President Brooke Clinton.
