Creating a robust economy takes the combined effort of multiple partners coming together around a common goal. Economic development is the responsibility of every person and organization that calls Aiken home. The City of Aiken, Aiken County, Economic Development Partnership and the Aiken Chamber of Commerce are just a few of the partners. The private sector is another partner.

At the Aiken Chamber's State of Our Community luncheon in August, Aiken County Chairman Gary Bunker responded to the question, How can the business community help Aiken County? He replied, "The important thing to remember between Aiken County and the business community is that Aiken County can do a lot to provide a good business friendly environment. Mainly a good solid tax structure that is not onerous, a reasonable regulatory structure, provide infrastructure, provide police support and industrial incentives, but the real work of growing the economy falls to the business community and the private sector so the investments, the job creation and the overall growth of our economy is going to be up to the private sector."

The Aiken Chamber of Commerce concurs with Chairman Bunker.

Aiken is a great place to live, work and play. Growing Aiken's economy does not fall only to the City and County but requires investment and partnerships among all stakeholders to be successful.

Pontoo

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Felicia Pontoo arrived in Aiken in 2016 and is currently thedirector of admissions and college counselor at Mead Hall Episcopal School.

Prior to this, she was the director of college guidance for 10 years at Montverde Academy, an international boarding school located in Montverde, Florida and before that she was the dean of multicultural affairs and an admissions officer at the Taft School, a boarding school in Watertown, Connecticut.

Pontoo holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Georgetown University, a master's degree in social work from the Atlanta University School of Social Work (Clark Atlanta University) and is currently working on a doctorate degree in education and human services at Nova Southeastern University.

Pontoo is an ambassador for the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, a board member for the Aiken Kiwanis Club, recording secretary of the Aiken Chapter of the Links, Inc., a board member for the Police Athletic League, and serves on the Counselor Advisory Board for Oglethorpe University.

She is happily married to Glenn Pontoo, an educator with Richmond County Board of Education and the proud mother of two daughters, Wendy, a recent graduate of Saint Leo University and Alex, a senior at the University of South Florida, St Petersburg. In her free time, Felicia enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and listening to jazz.

Frantz

Tim Frantz is the vice president of business operations for AECOM Nuclear & Environmental where he is responsible for managing and directing financial and business management resources including accounting, financial planning and reporting, and business management services. In addition, he is affiliated with several boards at AECOM and other non-profit organizations.

Frantz's career of more than 25 years consists of a unique blend of financial and operational experience having served roles with Fortune 500 companies, such as Motorola and IBM, to smaller, rapid growth ventures in the private sector. In his various roles, Frantz has managed growth initiatives, reduced costs and positioned ventures for profitable sale.

Frantz is a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance and has earned an Executive Master of Science in the management of technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science in management and international finance from the Kellogg Graduate School at Northwestern University. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Frantz resides in Aiken with his wife, Lela, 2 dogs, and 2 horses enjoying all that the Best Small Town in the South has to offer.