April 19, 2021

Chamber Monday Memo

News from the Chamber

Chamber Welcomes New President

The Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce welcomes Melody Cowart as the new Chamber President. “I am thrilled, honored and very excited to be joining the Chamber team with big shoes to fill,” Cowart said. “I love people and our town, and I am excited to plan and be a part of our local events and watching Tifton continue to grow.” Cowart, a native of the Fitzgerald/Ocilla area, has worked in Tifton for more than 20 years and has been very involved in the community by serving of various boards and committees. She attended Irwin County High School

and Ben Hill Irwin Technical College, and while she lived in Adel for the past 24 years, she recently relocated to Tifton. Cowart brings a strong hospitality, business and marketing background to her new role, having most recently served as the Area Director for Sales for the Williams Hotel Group for 11 years and worked at The Tifton Gazette as an area sales executive and promotions manager for nine years. “I am honored to have worked with both of these companies for so many years,” she said. “They have given me so many opportunities and knowledge to move me into my roll as Chamber President and I greatly appreciate both of my past employers and so many in our community that have helped me throughout my career.” Cowart has also been heavily involved in the Chamber as a member, past Board member and Ambassador. She currently serves on the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Board and as treasurer for the Southwest Georgia Tourism Association. She is committed to remaining actively involved in many different organizations and events throughout the community.  Dereck Sumner, current Chamber Board Chairman, headed up the President search committee. “I have known Melody through her involvement in our community and Chamber and have witnessed first-hand that she has a passion for this type of service and dedication for a better Tifton and Tift County,” Sumner said. “I am confident with her history and service with the Chamber, her local connections with the business community, and her work ethic, that she will be a great fit and a tremendous asset to our organization.” “Melody will no doubt be an asset to the Chamber as well as our community by taking on her new role,” said upcoming Board Chair Jared Ross, who also participated in the interview process to fill the position. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from a successful career in the hospitality industry. Melody has also been an integral part of the Chamber for several years which, in conjunction with her background, make her a perfect fit for this role. She comes with many fresh ideas and new approaches which I look forward to seeing her implement and know that the Chamber as well as our community will benefit greatly.”

Congratulations to the GFWC Tifton Woman's Club!

The GFWC Tifton Woman's Club held a ribbon cutting at the Chamber in honor of their new name on April 13, 2021. Congratulations to the club!

Member News and Events

Barfield promoted to Coastal Plain CASA Program Coordinator

Coastal Plain CASA is thrilled to announce that Jana Barfield has been promoted to the newly created position of Program Coordinator at Coastal Plain CASA. Mrs. Barfield has been on the CASA staff since February of 2018. She has been instrumental in the monumental growth that the program has seen over the past few years. Mrs. Barfield is skilled in everything from volunteer and case management to social media and brand awareness efforts. CASA volunteers that are supervised by Mrs. Barfield constantly praise how great it is working with her. She is able to balance the need of being fun and friendly while also meeting court deadlines and making sure our children in foster care have their needs met. As Program Coordinator, Mrs. Barfield will manage all court deadlines, assure that all cases are being worked effectively, provided any assistance to Advocacy Coordinators to enable them to meet the needs of their volunteers, and manage all social media and events for the program.

This is a demanding position that requires dedication and focus. Mrs. Barfield is the perfect person to fill that role. Jana Barfield is from Tifton. She lives in Brookfield with her husband Eric and their two sons, Landon and Walker. Mrs. Barfield has a knack for photography, social media, and an obsession with all things Disney! Coastal Plain CASA staff, board members, and volunteers are excited about the positive changes that will come from Jana Barfield being named our new Program Coordinator. If you would like more information about volunteering or supporting Coastal Plain CASA, please visit www.cpcasa.org or contact Jana Barfield at jbarfield@cpcasa.org or (229) 386-9765.

Job Postings

Office Administrator- Position is with a local real estate company as an office administrator. The job details include working with real estate professionals, familiarity with QuickBooks, Excel, Office, etc. for accounting and bookkeeping, strong customer service skills for interaction with the public, maintenance of office inventory and real estate materials, overseeing and inputting to social media outlets, and coordinating activities between sales and rental departments. The right candidate will be a self starter/self motivated individual with creativity and ability to juggle several responsibilities at once. Real estate experience is a plus, but not a requirement. Office hours are M-F, 8:45 to 5:00. Salary based on experience and skill set. Please email resumes to Julie@GetAdvantageRealty.com.

The Bridge of Tiftarea The Bridge of Tiftarea is looking for a manager for The Bird's Nest Thrift Store. More details may be found at http://cca.tiftonchamber.org/JobListingMainSearch.aspx

Kelley Manufacturing Kelley Manufacturing is currently hiring for: Welders. Contact Tammy Partain at tpartain@kelleymfg.com

Refreshing careers for Tifton area CDL drivers and more. Click the link below to apply.   Tifton - CONA Services Jobs (cokeonena.com)

If you have a job listing that you would like posted in the Monday Memo, send the announcement to ebrechbiel@tiftonchamber.org. The deadline for inclusion is Friday at noon.

Got news to share? Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce 229-382-6200 ebrechbiel@tiftonchamber.org