Contents

Chairman’s Message

Chamber Leadership

Elite Shareholders

Boats Mean Big Business

Lexington Tourism

Penny Sales Tax

Community Leader: Hugh Rogers

Get To Know: Elias Lykes

Ambassador of the Month

Leaving a Legacy of Leadership

Doris Burkett Scholarship

Business Over Breakfast

Morning Mix

Lexpo

Calendar

Spring Golf Tournament

Dining on the Dam

Governor’s Lunch

New Shareholders

Ribbon Cuttings

Member Directory

Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center

Volume 1 | Issue 2 | 2022

311 W. Main St., Lexington, SC 29072

(803) 359-6113 | lexingtonsc.org

This is a MetroMedia, A Town Square Publications

Company, publication created and produced for the Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center.

Copyright © 2022 MetroMedia, a company of

Town Square Publications, LLC. 14300 Kenneth Rd., Ste. 210 Leawood, KS 66224

913-951-8413 | www.MetroMediaPublishers.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The Chamber and MetroMedia assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Chamber and MetroMedia is prohibited.

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Pre-Production Manager | Stefanie Nugara

Editor | Bob Oswald

Sales | Tyler Busby

Design Project Manager | Katharene DeLorenzo

Chair’s Remarks

Shawn Stinson

2022-2023
Chairman of the Board

In July, I assumed the chairman’s position of the Lexington Chamber & Visitors Center and I am proud to serve you, our Lexington businesses.

I’ve lived in Lexington County since 1995 having grown up in Greensboro, NC and then moving to Durham, NC, and Baltimore, MD. I am proud to call this community my home. My wife, Carla, and I have been blessed to raise our four children here and to take advantage of our amazing school systems, great recreational offerings, and a thriving business community. Our church community has been central to our lives as well. 

I am excited to welcome you to our second edition of our new digital magazine, BusinessVIEW. This new publication is an innovative way to promote our shareholders, share business and community news, and market the Lexington area. 

In this issue you’ll see several articles and event recaps during the tenure of my predecessor, Chair Mike White of Splash Omnimedia. Under Mike’s leadership, we had a successful year. The Chamber held our largest event, Dining on the Dam, this past spring, and he launched new programming such as the Morning Mix and the Business Over Lunch featuring Governor Henry McMaster.

Please take time to review the magazine to learn about your fellow shareholders, patronize new businesses, and take advantage of the many shareholder benefits afforded to you.

Also, check out the calendar of events. The Chamber staff is working diligently to provide you with business development opportunities to advance your business. An added feature is the searchable member directory found on the back page. Building connections and, ultimately, gaining new clients is a key benefit of engaging with the Chamber and building your business.

If you’re not a shareholder of the Lexington Chamber, we invite you to join today and make an investment in your business.

I look forward to working with Angelle LaBorde and her staff at the Lexington Chamber & Visitors Center, as well as business leaders on our Board of Directors and across our community, as we focus on education and workforce development. Of course, an immediate opportunity is to bring attention and create support for the county’s capital project sales tax which will be on the ballot this fall; this is an important step in assuring funding for the transportation and infrastructure needed to support our recent and future growth.

I hope you enjoy BusinessView. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about our thriving community – and get involved!

Shawn Stinson, MD FACP
SVP, Healthcare Innovation and Improvement
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

Chamber Leadership

Executive Committee

Shawn Stinson,

Chairman of the Board

BlueCross BlueShield of SC

Royce Shannon,

Chair-Elect

Dominion Energy

Mike White,

Past Chair

Splash Omnimedia, LLC

Keith Dooley,

Treasurer

Dooley & Company, LLC

Misty Stathos,

Secretary

State Farm Insurance
Agency

Board Members

Tod Augsburger

Lexington Medical Center

Lisa Beebe

Hansen International

Graem Clark

Colonial Life & Accident Insurance

Ronnie Daves

Prisma Health - Parkridge Hospital

Gary Deese

Crescent Financial Group

Kelly Doriot

Michelin NA, Inc.

Alex Huggins

Movement Mortgage

Eli Lykes

Defender Firearms & Training

Austin McVay

United Community Bank

Angel Mendez

Herndon Chevrolet

Joe Mergo

Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp.

Pam Modica

Lazy Creek Pet Food Center

Konrad Orzechowski

Kay Plumbing Services

Trey Powell

Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray

Todd Sease

Jumper Carter Sease Architects

Ben Spearman

Comporium

Oneal Staples

Ameris Bank

Wally Steinhauser

Wingard’s Market

Shirley Towne

BNI of the Midlands

Christina Trainor

The SEFA Group

Kenny Workman

Sorinex Exercise Equipment

Ex-Officio Directors

Mike Gula

Columbia Metropolitan Airport

Tom Ledbetter

Midlands Technical College

Britt Poole

Town of Lexington

Gerrita Postlewait

Lexington County School District One

Lynn Sturkie

County of Lexington

Staff

Angelle LaBorde, CCE

President & CEO

(803) 359-6113,
ext. 105

angelle@lexingtonsc.org

Bree Burchfield

Communications Director

(803) 359-6113,
ext. 103

bree@lexingtonsc.org

Karen Johnston

Visitors Center Coordinator

(803) 359-6113,
ext. 100

karen@lexingtonsc.org

Leigh Lowery

Membership Director

(803) 359-6113,
ext. 104

leigh@lexingtonsc.org

Marla Ullrich

Chief Operating Officer

(803) 359-6113,
ext. 102

marla@lexingtonsc.org

Boats mean big business for two Lexington companies

By Robert Carter

Lake Murray attracts a lot of visitors to the water and to the Lexington area, so it’s no surprise that manufacturing boats for those people to enjoy has turned into a major industry in the region.

Lexington has two such companies, both of which chose to locate here not just because of the lake, but also due to a strong labor force that has experience in watercraft.

Bentley Pontoons has been in the recreational boat business since just after the turn of the century. In 2017, the company was purchased by business partners Dennis Marcott and Mike Scott. The firm has grown rapidly since then, with Dennis’ sons Ryan and Damon taking charge as president and vice president of operations, respectively.

Bentley has tripled its yearly production and doubled the number of workers from 75 to 150, said VP of Sales and Marketing Joe Antonneau. The growth hasn’t stopped there, though. Bentley recently announced an expansion worth more than $6 million, which will result in hiring an additional 50 workers or more.

“We have been treated very well by the state of South Carolina and in particular Lexington County,” Ryan Marcott said. “We are strong believers that people are a business’ biggest asset and the labor pool of people here in Lexington has been outstanding.”

Bentley offers four primary lines of boats, one of which is specifically geared toward recreational fishing.

Not far away, Tidewater Boats specializes in a different segment of watercraft — center-console models that are often found in saltwater boating, though plenty of Tidewater boats have a home in Lake Murray waters.

The company was founded in 2006 by Hutch Holseberg, Chris Martin and Jimmy Metz, three men with more than 50 years of experience in boating between them. Holseberg previously founded Key West Boats, another manufacturer which specializes in fishing boats; that company is located 85 miles away in Ridgeville.

Tami Cupp, controller at Tidewater, said they also have depended heavily on an existing labor pool with experience in manufacturing.

“The labor market is bigger and better here than where Key West is located — a particular skill set that makes them easier to train,” she said.

Though most of Tidewater’s product line is geared toward saltwater, having Lake Murray close by comes in handy when it’s time to give the boats a shakedown cruise. “It’s nice to be able to run up the road and test them,” Cupp said.

Tidewater is also experiencing strong growth as well, as people shake off being stuck at home during the pandemic and take to the water. The company has about 200 workers at the moment, with plans to increase to near 250 — back to their levels before COVID hit.

“We are booming,” Cupp said. “We have sold boats through 2023 and we can’t even keep up. We need those people here.”

Study shows tremendous opportunity for Lexington tourism — next Is plan for action

By Marc Sheforgen

A new market research study shows that the average travel party to Lexington spends $843 on a typical three-night stay. The key now is to attract more of those visitors and the dollars that come with them.

The Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center, under the direction of President and CEO Angelle LaBorde, has embarked on a plan to increase local tourism. The first step — conducting research to establish a baseline — has been completed. Next comes the development of an action plan, with funding for the plan recently approved by the Town of Lexington.

The Chamber contracted with Young Strategies, Inc., a market research firm based in Charlotte, N.C. Resulting was a report that identifies Lexington as something of a sleeping giant, a community ripe to reap the economic benefits of significant increases in tourism.

“There’s huge potential,” said Berkeley Young, President of Young Strategies, Inc.

The report indicates that visitors highly value Lexington as an appealing destination, citing lodging, dining, shopping and evening activities as noteworthy community attributes. Right now, more than 60% of visitors to Lexington are regular or repeat tourists. The Young report notes that, “although repeat visitation is good, it is also advantageous to have more first-time visitors since research shows they tend to stay longer and spend more. Increasing outreach and advertising is needed to drive increased first-time visitation.”

LaBorde said the Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center is excited to enact a plan beginning this summer.

“With so much investment in our downtown area, a focused action plan can allow us to showcase our strengths and also identify new product areas for growth.,” LaBorde said. “We’re excited to launch a tourism development strategic plan to assist us in attracting more visitors and to offer them the highest quality travel experience.”

The Young report did indicate that to tap into the most potential in terms of growing things like dining, shopping and lodging, Lexington would need to be willing to promote significant attractions like the zoo and lake that are immediately beyond the Lexington limits. By promoting those non-Lexington features, Lexington stands to gain as those tourists look for places to eat, stay and shop.

Lexington residents, the study shows, identify as a lake community, with 66% choosing “a lake destination for water recreation” as the words they would use to describe Lexington to a friend or relative.

“Lexington looks every bit like a lakefront destination,” Young said. “And when you’ve got water, you’ve got tourism.”

With funding for the action plan now approved, LaBorde said she and her team are ready to meet with the community to begin producing results.

“The Chamber will engage key stakeholders and work with Young Strategies, who will facilitate the process,” she said.

Penny sales tax would fund eight years of road improvements

By Dave Gathman

A lot has changed in Lexington County since many of its roads were paved — or in some cases even laid out unpaved. As the thriving Columbia area expanded westward, the county population has more than tripled since 1970. The number of people zoomed from 216,000 to 293,900 in just the past 20 years. Most of those newcomers have brought along cars and trucks.

On Nov. 8, the county’s voters will be asked whether they want to pay an extra penny-per-dollar sales tax for eight years to finance an estimated $536 million in road improvements.

This past spring, the Lexington County Council appointed a Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) Commission to determine which roads should be included in the plan. Alliance Consulting Engineers was selected by the council to assist the commission in gathering and organizing the road projects. The council rejected the initial list of proposed projects and urged the commission to only consider those impacting roads and infrastructure. A list of more than 120 projects was ultimately accepted by the council. The council held its third and final reading on July 26 to place the referendum before voters this November. An additional list of projects could also be completed if the penny tax ends up producing more funds than currently estimated by the SC Department of Revenue.

If the CPST is approved by voters in November, the estimated $536 million would be used as follows:

•  $382,195,140 for road improvement, repaving, resurfacing, and related stormwater drainage projects

•  $69,497,052 for intersection improvement projects

•  $76,327,808 for paving of dirt road projects

•  $7,980,000 for bridge projects

In 2014 the county also held a referendum asking to raise the sales tax by a penny to pay for various needs, including some of the same road work being eyed now. Voters said “no” by a 2-1 margin. As traffic kept getting worse, the council considered holding another referendum in 2020. But that was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opponents of the 2014 referendum complained that, besides roadwork, that tax increase would have paid for things like walking paths, sports fields, civic centers and parks. The new penny tax would be devoted strictly to roads and infrastructure improvements.

The board of directors of the Lexington Chamber voted to support the referendum and leaders spoke in favor of the initiative at the county’s public hearing.

“This initiative offers projects throughout the County and is an investment in our future,” Chamber President Angelle LaBorde said. “Additionally, if the referendum passes it would create a source of matching funds to allow Lexington to compete for state and federal grant monies. Should the voters choose to reject the measure, it would signal that roads are not a top priority. If not now, when? Costs will continue to escalate.”

If the new tax raises more money than expected, there would be additional projects to include paving over some dirt roads.The county typically receives approximately $7 million per year in state and federal funding for road improvements. The penny tax would raise some 70 times that much over the eight year period.

The Lexington Chamber plans to work with other business groups and supporters to share the merits of the proposal with voters.

For more information about the CPST, including a list of projects by type, district and priority, visit www.lexingtoncountycpst.com.

The top 20 projects on the
final list include:

•  Widening and repaving Longs Pond Road

•  Lexington County’s top eight repaving group

•  Intersection improvements at Fish Hatchery Road and Pine Ridge Drive in Pine Ridge

•  Corridor improvements on Meeting Street in West Columbia, including sidewalks, landscaping and parking

•  Improvements to Hope Ferry Road and Sunset Boulevard in Lexington

•  Realigning Mineral Springs Road connector to Hope Ferry Road in Lexington

•  Resurfacing Fish Hatchery Road from U.S. 321 to Friendship Court

•  Intersection improvements at U.S. 321 and Mack Street in Gaston

•  Improvements to Woodrow Street at Lake Murray Boulevard in Irmo

•  Intersection improvements to S.C. 23 and Mitchell Street, Batesburg-Leesville

•  U.S. 378 corridor improvements in West Columbia

•  Signal improvements at South Lake Drive and Interstate 20 in Lexington

•  Street improvements in Gilbert

Community leader

Hugh Rogers, 91, part of Lexington’s rich history

By Robert Carter

Hugh Rogers has not only seen a lot of history in Lexington, but he’s also been a big part of it.

Rogers, an attorney who still practices at the age of 91, is one of several people who founded the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 1959. He was later elected mayor twice.

Rogers said the Chamber was started shortly after the closure of the Red Bank cotton mill, a major local employer.

“That closing was disastrous to our town. We realized we needed to do something to attract new business to town,” Rogers said. “We really focused on recruiting industry, and we had some success in that.”

Recruiting efforts brought Litton Industries’ Monroe Division to Lexington, then Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing — better known to most rural Americans for their famous orange tractors and farm equipment — built a factory for its Terra Tiger six-wheeled amphibious ATV.

Since then, numerous other industries have moved into Lexington County and agriculture has given way to expanded housing and businesses.

The growth in Lexington since Hughes’ days as mayor has been phenomenal. Over the last 50 years, the population has grown more than twenty-fold. Retail and hospitality businesses have boomed, due in large part to the arrival of Interstates 20 and 26 plus the proximity of Lake Murray.

“Young parents want their children in good schools, and we have them [with] Lexington School District One,” Hughes said. “And if you can get a lot on Lake Murray, you’re fortunate…. I think people like that it’s by and large a peaceful, friendly place where everything is available within five miles.”

Lexington has changed much over the years, but Hugh — not so much.

“He likes to refer to himself as Lexington’s country lawyer,” said Daisy Harman of Caughman Harman Funeral Home, who’s a longtime friend of Rogers. “There’s nothing pretentious about him. I love his seersucker Southern suits he wears in the summertime. … He has a little club that I call ‘Hugh’s Club’ that meets every Friday at some local spot — no special time, just whenever he decides to get it together.”

Troy Simpson, vice president of member relations for Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, calls himself a “long-term fan” of Rogers.

“His enthusiasm and his commitment to our community is so contagious,” Simpson said. “His whole take on leadership is, if there’s something that needs to be done, let’s go do it. … He still cares deeply for what has been a lifelong work of serving our community.”

Get to Know

Elias (Eli) Lykes

Owner, Defender Firearms & Training

Chamber member for four years

A few questions for Elias …

Q What is your background?

A  I was born and raised in Columbia S.C. and I’m a graduate of Eau Claire High School. I spent 21 years in the United State Army, and I’m a retired Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) with combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Today I focus my attention on teaching the community to protect themselves here at home against the numerous threats we face everyday.

Q Describe Defender Firearms & Training.

A Defender Firearms & Training is more than just a local gun store. We strive to be pillars in the community and lead the way on firearms safety and self-defense. Our goals are not only to train individuals but also to train businesses and organizations on Situational Awareness and Active Shooter Response/Survival.

Q Describe a unique feature of one of your products or services.

A At Defender we want every customer to know and understand they have a friend in the firearms business. We are here to help in any way we can.

Q How did you get started in this line of work?

A I started this line of work in the military while training soldiers on marksmanship and firearm safety. When the opportunity came along for me to do it as a retiree, I didn’t hesitate at all. I enjoy giving something of myself back to the community.

Q How do you define business success?

A Business success for me is not just making a profit, but to also make a positive difference for as many people as possible.

Q What do you like most about firearms training?

A What I enjoy the most about firearms training is the ability to make an impact on the people.

Q What is the biggest misconception of your business?

A The biggest misconception is that we only do concealed weapons permit classes, when in fact we do everything from basic firearm instructions up to advanced marksmanship training. We also provide training to businesses and organizations.

Q What is the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you started in business?

A Business is a never ending journey, so seek a few mentors for the ride.

Q What would people be surprised to learn about you?

A I was afraid of dogs until age 43, when I got my first one.

Q What have you always wanted to do but never have?

A Take a hot air balloon ride.

Q What is your favorite place to visit/vacation?

A The beach

Q Beverage of choice?

A Scotch

Q Your favorite meal?

A Steak

Q Why is the Lexington Chamber important for the community?

A Lexington Chamber is a very important glue that holds the community together. It brings the voices and ideas of the citizens, businesses and the government together for the common goal of progress and improvement of the community.

Ambassador of
the Month

The Ambassadors are the “heart and soul” of the Lexington Chamber & Visitors Center and actively serve as a communication link to cultivate and promote a positive relationship between shareholder companies and the Chamber.

They are actively engaged as mentors and liaisons for new and existing shareholders, serve as event greeters and participate in ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremonies, and assist the staff in promoting shareholder engagement and obtaining valuable shareholder feedback.

Each month, an outstanding Ambassador is recognized during the Chamber’s Business Over Breakfast program.

Note: Ambassadors are recruited annually through an application and selection process.
For more information, contact Leigh Lowery, Membership Director, at Leigh@lexingtonsc.org.

January 2022

Whitnei Jeffcoat

American Cancer Society

February 2022

Joel Merrill

Flagship Signs

March 2022

Manning Kolb

Brand Buzz

April 2022

Madison McCarty

Veritas Health Group

May 2022

David Hayth

Lake Murray Lifestyle Magazine

June 2022

Cindy Powell

Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray

Welcome New Ambassadors!

The Chamber welcomed five new ambassadors this Spring.

Chris Harmon

Auditor

Lexington County Auditor

Rachel Jackson

Assistant Branch Manager

Security Federal Bank

Sonia Mendez, RENE, SRS, PSA, MRP, SRES®

Realtor

Lake Homes Realty – Sonia Mendez

Erica Smith

Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager

United Community Bank

Meredith Perry Sox

COO, Operations & Sales

Perry Insurance Group

Leaving a Legacy of Leadership

The Chamber lost a dedicated public servant and leader on April 28, 2022. Thomas “Tommy” Cecil Harman passed away after a battle with cancer. Harman was the only Chamber leader who served the Lexington Chamber as both the Chief Volunteer Officer/Chairman of the Board (1985-1986) and as the Chamber’s Chief Executive & CEO (1995-1999).

“Tommy’s enthusiasm and energy were contagious! He just loved Lexington. He not only welcomed me to the community, but took time to share his Chamber memories and achievements with me,” Chamber CEO Angelle LaBorde said.

Tommy was born on Dec. 6, 1950. He attended Lexington One schools and then Clemson University where he graduated in 1973 with a degree in Financial Management. He was employed by the Lexington State Bank from 1973-1995 where he was vice-president, loan officer, and in human resources. He was then President and CEO of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce from 1995-1999 and later head of public relations for Pond Branch Telephone Company (PBT Telecom), which later became Comporium, until his retirement in 2015.

Tommy tirelessly served his family, community and church. He has been a member of Lexington Baptist Church for 50 years where he served terms as a deacon, served on the kindergarten and stewardship committees, was a former church treasurer, former children’s Sunday school teacher, and a faithful servant in many other ways.

Tommy was the charter president of the Lexington Sertoma Club, where he remained a member and leader for 45 continuous years. He led many fundraising projects including his idea of celebrating “Big Thursday” with Carolina and Clemson fans each October. The club has been able to provide funding for speech and hearing projects and help the community of Lexington through this event.

Tommy headed up the Lexington Community Committee “Power Up Lunch” for businesses from 2003 to 2013. He served several terms on the Board of Directors for the Batesburg-Leesville and Lexington Chambers of Commerce. He was a former member of the Batesburg-Leesville Rotary Club and the Gilbert Ruritan Club. He was also a 1997 Leadership Lexington graduate.

Because of his community work, Tommy received numerous awards. Among these were the 2015 State of South Carolina Order of the Silver Crescent, the A. L. Harman award by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and the Lexington Sertoma Club’s Achievement Award.

Tommy was the loving husband of Bobbie Sue Harman with whom he celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Jan. 1, 2022. He was the father of Andrea Harman Duncan (Mark) and Jason Thomas Harman (Christina) and the proud grandfather to six grandchildren.

Doris Burkett Scholarship awarded to Pelion High School graduate

The Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center awarded Pelion High School graduate Taire Garcia Ruiz with a $5,000 scholarship at its May Business Over Breakfast program.

For more than 25 years, the Chamber has provided over $135,000 in scholarship funds to deserving students in memory of Doris Burkett. Burkett served as the Executive Director of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce from 1982 to 1994 and was a graduate of Gilbert High School. A scholarship fund was established in her memory by her family and has been administered by the Chamber since 1995.

About Taire Garcia Ruiz

Taire worked tirelessly to complete high school in three years while also maintaining a part-time job. She took several health sciences classes and also completed a Health Sciences Internship at Lexington Medical Center. This summer she will participate in the hospital’s Partners Program.

She plans to pursue a nursing career and would like to become a neonatal nurse. She has been accepted into Lander University and Midlands Technical College.

She plans to continue her education after college by applying to medical school to become a pediatrician and to take care of premature babies — her dream since she was 9 years old.

She not only excelled in school but was active in cheerleading, her church, and she held multiple after school jobs.

One of her teachers commented, “she is persistently cheerful, patient, outgoing, kind and considerate.”

Business Over Breakfast continues to attract 125 to 150 Chamber shareholders each month at 7:30 a.m. at the Radius Church on the second Tuesday of each month.

Mark Your Calendar for these upcoming dates:

Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13.

Special Thanks to the following corporate sponsors and guest speakers:

January 2022

Dominion Energy’s South Carolina CEO W. Kellar Kissam

Speaker Video: https://vimeo.com/splashomnimedia/download/664922757/a9de68080a

Sponsor: Wells Fargo

February 2022

SC Hospital Association’s CEO Thornton Kirby

Speaker Video: https://vimeo.com/splashomnimedia/download/674989032/9644378cd6

Sponsor: Prisma Health

March 2022

Town of Lexington’s Administrator Britt Poole

Speaker Video: https://vimeo.com/splashomnimedia/download/685982809/09e308b77e

Sponsor: Lexington Medical Center

April 2022

South Carolina’s Treasurer Curtis Loftis

Speaker Video: https://vimeo.com/splashomnimedia/download/698634331/cbc6a9fca8

Sponsor: Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative

May 2022

Todd Realty Partners’ Todd Carnes

Speaker Video: May – Todd Carnes: https://studio.youtube.com/video/oOV1gOiApCE/edit

Sponsor: Splash Omnimedia, LLC

June 2022

Lexington County’s Administrator Lynn Sturkie

Speaker Video: https://youtu.be/g41iIMw8qJQ

Sponsor: Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company

Since its inception in March, the Chamber’s “Morning Mix” program has been brewing up some business at the popular morning gathering for Chamber shareholders. “Shareholders are engaging and connecting with others in a welcoming venue and this promotes business development,” said Leigh Lowery, Membership Director. “The atmosphere promotes casual conversation and new relationships,” she said. On average, approximately 40 – 50 shareholders regularly attend.

Special thanks to the following companies who have hosted the event:

Crescent Financial Group, LLC

Flight Deck

Herndon Chevrolet

O’Hara’s Bakery Café

O’Hara Public House

The Blood Connection

The Legacy of Lexington

Future Dates:

Event dates are held on Fridays from 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. Dates include September 9, October 21, and November 18th. No Morning Mix will be held in December because of the annual Jingle & Mingle holiday mixer.

Want to be a Sponsor?

The Chamber is seeking sponsors to host and underwrite a continental breakfast.
If you are interested, contact Leigh Lowery
at (803) 359-6113, ext. 104 or leigh@lexingtonsc.org

New Venue Attracts 90+ Exhibitors To Lexpo

LEXPO, the Lexington Chamber’s annual business trade show, brought together more than 90 businesses, of all sizes, and local restaurants under one roof, to connect with consumers and network with each other.

As the largest business expo in Lexington County, LEXPO helps drive businesses to connect with one another and with the public. The event saw a few changes – a new venue, the Barr Road Sports Complex and a new time – inviting people to attend later in the afternoon and after work. More than 450 people attended the event.

Elizabeth Trenbeath, franchise president of Snelling Personnel services has exhibited at LEXPO the last six years. “LEXPO is a great opportunity for businesses in the community to be gathered in one place. This gives the public and other businesses fast access to many great companies in the area. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s a solid financial investment for networking.”

First time exhibitor, Krystina Pellerano, owner of Mingos Cookies, said she had a great experience. “I really enjoyed the LEXPO event. This was the first event that we have done since we opened. I do believe that a lot of business owners and community members learned about us or were able to try our cookies for the first time. This was definitely an investment in our business, and I was happy to make so many connections with local business owners. We look forward to doing this event every year.”

The Chamber will continue to explore ways to create more business networking and opportunities for future events like LEXPO.

Calendar of Events

Sept. 5

Lexington Chamber’s Office is Closed in observance of Labor Day

Sept. 7

Mind Your Business Seminar

Topic: Five Fails in B2B Sales

Speaker: Walker McKay, Principal, No BS Sales

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Lexington Chamber, 311 W. Main Street

Free to Shareholders

Sept. 9

Morning Mix Networking Coffee

8:00 – 9:15 a.m.

O’Hara’s Public House,
131 E. Main St., Lexington

Complimentary Admission; RSVP requested.

Sponsored by Crescent Financial Group, LLC

Sept. 13

Business Over Breakfast

Speaker: Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, City of Columbia

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Radius Church, 300 W. Main St.

Shareholders - $15; Non-Shareholders - $25

RSVP Requested by Sept. 9 at Noon

Sponsored by Healthmarkets Insurance Agency
– Jeff Howle

Sept. 19

Business Over Lunch

Speaker: Harry M. Lightsey, III

Secretary, SC Dept. of Commerce

Reception – 11:15 a.m.; Lunch – 12 Noon

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel

2100 Bush River Road, Columbia

Shareholder Tickets - $45/Table of 8 - $320

Half & Full Sponsor Tables Available

Sept. 20

Newcomers Club

New to Lexington? If so, join us for lunch!

Speakers: Tim Kehoe & Chris Sharpe

11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lexington Chamber, 311 W. Main Street

Cost: $15.50/person

Pre-Registration requested; call (864) 909-2864 to register

Sept. 26

HR Café – Lunch & Learn

Guest Speaker: Joanie Winters, Winters Law Firm

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

North Lake Community Learning Center

702 N. Lake Drive, Lexington

Shareholders - $10

RSVP Requested

Sept. 27

SC Chamber’s Grassroots & Listening Tour

Make your voice heard as the SC Chamber prepares its legislative agenda for the upcoming session in Columbia.

Guest Speaker: Bob Morgan, CEO, SC Chamber

8:15 – 9:15 a.m.

Stone River, 121 Alexander Rd., West Columbia

Complimentary Admission | Continental Breakfast

Hosted by Lexington, CWC, and Columbia Chambers of Commerce

SAVE THE DATES

October 11 – Business Over Breakfast

October 17 –  Fall Golf Classic at Golden Hills Country Club

November 2 – Shareholder Appreciation Luncheon

November 8 – Business Over Breakfast

December 7 – Jingle & Mingle

December 13 – Business Over Breakfast

Advance Registrations are appreciated.
To view the full list of Chamber events, Visit Chamber Events | Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center (lexingtonsc.org)

Spring
Golf
Tournament

The Lexington Chamber hosted its 32nd annual Spring Golf Tournament in May at the Country Club of Lexington. As the most popular Chamber event, with two flights, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, more than 220 golfers participated. Additionally, all 18 tee and holes were sponsored by local businesses.

Chamber Board Chair Mike White stated, “It’s been rewarding to watch the growth and popularity of our Chamber’s Spring Golf Tournament over the past several years. We’ve sold out each year and we continue to receive fantastic support from our corporate sponsors, hole and tee sponsors, Chamber ambassadors and the team at the Country Club of Lexington. Despite a little bit of rain this year, I believe it was a wonderful golf experience for everyone.”

CEO Angelle LaBorde commented, “Our Platinum and Gold Elite Shareholders, coupled with significant sponsor growth at all levels, have allowed for steady financial growth – enabling the Chamber to push those dollars into program expansion and member benefits. We are truly grateful to all that have made this event so successful in recent years and look forward to another Golf Tournament this fall at Golden Hills Country Club on Monday, Oct. 17.”

Congratulations to the following Spring Golf Tournament award winners

MORNING ROUND

First Place:

Custom Cloud Solutions

James Berry, Tyler Berry, Don Layden, David Snyder

Second Place:

Grow Financial Federal Credit Union

Patrick Able, Jamie Coleman, John Paul,
Russell Roberts

Third Place:

Synovus Bank

Sam Baxter, Marcus Crosswell, Connor Fitzpatrick,
Grant Scurry

AFTERNOON ROUND

First Place:

SC Homebuilders Self Insurers Fund

Brian D’Amico, Brandon Gunter, John Price, Rusty Shealy

Second Place:

Dooley & Company, LLP

Manning Crapps, Rod Dooley, Brent Herring,
Matt Klosterman

Third Place:

United Community Bank

Austin McVay, Eric Schelble, Jonathan Strauss,
Jessica Takach

In addition to our Platinum & Gold Sponsors, we appreciate the following Hole Sponsors:

• 803 Realty

• Allstate Agency – Amy Kelley

• Bentley Pontoons

• Binswanger Glass

• Carolina Gold Construction

• Caughman Harman Funeral Home

• Cayce Exterminating Co., Inc.

• Club Pilates Lexington

• Dooley and Company, LLC

• First Citizens Bank

• H. Hugh Rogers, Attorney

• ISI Elite Training

• Kinetic by Windstream

• Lake Murray Lifestyle

• Lesesne Industries

• McLeod Home Care

• Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative

• Midlands Media Group

• Molina Healthcare of SC

• My Pharmacy & Optical

• Reliable Technology Solutions, LLC

• Resource Realty Group

• Saluda Law, LLC

• SERVPRO of Lexington

• Simplified Office Systems

• Southern First Bank

• Spectrum Business

• Synovus Bank

• The Legacy of Lexington

• Tidewater Boats

• US Foods

• Veritas Health Group

• Wellmore of Lexington

• Wingard’s Market, Inc.

ELITE SPONSORS:

EAGLE SPONSORS:

BEVERAGE CART SPONSORS:

LUNCH SPONSORS:

BREAKFAST SPONSOR:

Kay Plumbing Services

ICE CREAM SPONSOR:

Blue Bell Creameries

BLOODY MARY SPONSOR:

DoubleTree by Hilton

New Shareholders

In Good Company

Please welcome the Chamber’s newest shareholders (November 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022). Thank you for supporting the Lexington business community.

1 I C Investigations LLC

John Amat

(803) 567-0532

1icinvestigations.com

Investigators

Advanced Business Consultants

Rick Cruz

(803) 490-4944

advancedbusinessconsultants.org

Consulting

AdvantaClean

Kyle Edmondson

(877) 800-2382

advantaclean.com

Janitorial and Cleaning Equipment

Akira Enterprise LLC, Akira Lash Studio

Akira Johnson

(803) 312-3609

www.akiralashstudio.com

Hair and Nail

Allstate Insurance - Amy Kelley

Amy Kelley

(803) 704-7085

allstate.com/amykelley

Insurance

Allure Medical

Angela Heitman

(803) 393-8756

alluremedical.com

Cosmetics / Specialists

Another Printer

Monty Cherup

(803) 798-1380

anotherprinterinc.com

Printing

AOS Specialty Contractors, Inc

Reed Rogers

(803) 798-6831

aossc.org/

Contractors

Bentley Pontoons

Walter Tyler

(803) 391-3000

bentleypontoons.com

Manufacturers / Outdoor Recreation

Big Rig Friendly RV Resort

Bill McLeod

(803) 708-5122

bigrigfriendly.com

RV Parks and Camping

Calico Photography

Helen Tackett

(803)272-8302

calico-photography.com

Photographers

CapCenter

Mason Brown

(864) 237-1959

www.capcenter.com

Realtors

Capitol Design

Karen Hieb

(803) 808-1600

sandblastedsigns.com

Signs

Carolina Fabricators, Inc.

Brad Hughes

(803) 794-4906

carolinafab.com

Fabricators

Charleston Southern University

Shelley Zeigler

(843) 863-7050

charlestonsouthern.edu

Education/University

Cinnamon Hill Kitchen LLC

Andy Marchant

(803) 719-0908

Catering

City - Connect Air Center

Mark Oelhafen

(803) 828-5518

city-connectaircenter.com

Airport

City of West Columbia

Anna Huffman

(803) 791-1880

westcolumbiasc.gov

Government

Clean Sun Energy

Rously Michel

(803) 357-3644

cleansunenergysolutions.com

Solar

Clifton Construction

Rob Clifton

(706) 306-7787

sdclifton.com

Contractors

CMC Wealth Management

Charles ‘’Chuck’’ Crouch

(803) 606-2218

cmcwealthmanagement.com

Financial Planning

Cornerstone Properties Valet Trash Services

Jackson O’Reilly

(803) 760-4519

cornerstonepropertiesinfo.com

Janitorial and Cleaning Equipment

Craft Axe Throwing

Joseph Rempe

(803) 756-3117

craftaxethrowing.com/us/sc/lexington

Axe Throwing

Delta Plumbing, LLC

Megan Stevens

(803) 834-9483

deltaplumbingllc.com

Plumbing

Douglass Financial, LLC

Frank Douglass

(803) 399-1790

douglassfinancial.net

Financial Planning

Edward Jones - Chris Raedels

Chris Raedels

(803) 399-7496

Edwardjones.com

Financial Planning

Eunoia Soul, LLC

Quan Jenkins

(803) 360-0086

eunoiasoul.com

Gifts and Specialty

Fourteen Mile Tap House

Dan Scheel

(803) 520-7222

fourteenmiletaphouse.com

Bars and Restaurants

Future Fuels

Alex Bowers

(803) 476-7595

futurefuels.energy

Electrical / Consulting

Gardner, Bud

Dallas ‘’Bud’’ Gardner

(803) 404-1301

Individual

Gayle H. Wenzel CPA, LLC

Gayle Wenzel

(803) 359-1380

gaylewenzelcpa.com

Accounting

Grace Physician Services

Brooke Dorroh

(803) 719-3214

gracegps.com

Family and Pediatric Physicians
Health and Nutrition

Guerrilla Graphix

Caleb Chastain

(803) 345-5137

ggrfx.com

Printing

Harvest Hope Food Bank

Mia Thomas

(803) 254-4432

harvesthope.org

Non-Profits and Charities

Hazelwood Brewery

Matt Rodgers

(803) 785-3947

hazelwoodbeerco.com/

Brewery / Bars

Holston Gases

Kit Williams

(803) 520-5000

holstongases.com

Propane Distributors

Homestead Hospice & Palliative Care

Brandi Riddle

(803) 509-4472

homesteadhospice.net

Home Health Care / Senior Services

House of Raeford

Chuck Underhill

(803) 794-8440

houseofraeford.com

Manufacturers

ISI Elite Training

John Scarborough

(803) 934-9009

isielitetraining.com

Personal Training and Health Coaching

JAN-PRO of Columbia

Daphne Freeman

(803) 520-5230

jan-pro.com/columbia

Janitorial

Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission

Jay Nicholson

(803) 359-8373

www.lcjmwsc.com

Public Utilities, Industrial & Environmental

Keg Cowboy

Brian Nelson

(803) 957-2337

Bars & Restaurants / Catering

Lamar Advertising

Liam Ball

(803) 647-9122

lamar.com/columbia

Advertising

Lexington Army Career Center

Staff Sergeant Darcy Solomon

(803) 830-3033

goarmy.com

Government

Lexington County Library - Main

Kate Barry

(803) 785-2600

lexcolibrary.com/

Entertainment

Magnolia Mill House & Studio Ltd. Co.

Daniel Smith

(814) 734-7427

magnoliamillhouse.com

Photographers / Event Venues

Make-A-Wish South Carolina

Mary Silverberg

(864) 250-0702

www.sc.wish.org

Non-Profits and Charities

Midlands Electrical

James Bowers

(803) 996-3300

Electrical Contractors

Midlands Gaming Coalition

Drew Coston

(803) 261-2451

midlandsgaming.org

Non-Profits and Charities

Movement Mortgage

Alex Huggins

(803) 250-5626

movement.com

Mortgage Services

MUSC Health

Karlin Ferguson

(803) 256-5300

muschealth.org/

Family and Pediatric Physicians / Specialists
Hospitals and Urgent Care Facilities

Paboys LLC d/b/a The King’s Kitchen

Demonte Coleman

(803) 386-1235

paboysllc.com

Catering

PACE

Georgia Williams

(803) 497-8525

Non-Profits and Charities

Parker Family Agency

Adam Parker

(908) 489-6858

Allstate | Car Insurance in Lexington, SC - Parker Family Agency

Insurance

Pelican’s SnoBalls

Erin Chinners

(803) 608-5647

pelicanssnoballs.com

Bars and Restaurants

Precious Jewels Medical & Health Services LLC

Simiko Roberts

(803) 830-9095

preciousjewelsmedical.net

Home Health Care

Professional Placements LLC

Melissa Miller

(803) 409-8647

Staffing Services

Pure Air System/Rainbow

Lynn Smith

(803) 307-0354

pureairsystem.net

Appliances and Repair

Real Estate School of SC

Melissa Sprouse Browne

(803) 791-3800

realestateschoolofsc.com

Realtors /Schools

Realty ONE Group Reside

Wade Gilley

(803) 298-0544

JoinROGReside.com

Realtors

Ronald Blue Trust

Jared Simmons

(719) 310-7372

ronblue.com

Financial Planning

SC Council on Economic Education

Jim Morris

(803) 777-8677

sceconomics.org

Non-Profits and Charities

SC Division Office of Mutual of Omaha Advisors

Bill Hall

(803) 750-2898

agents.mutualofomaha.com/district-offices/sc/columbia/250-berryhill-rd?utm_campaign=do-listing&utm_medium=yext&utm_source=google

Insurance / Financial Planning

Sharpe Designs

Sonja Sharpe

(803) 201-8114

sharpedesigns101.com

Graphics and Web Design

Stoneridge Builders

Jason Asbill

(803) 730-6260

homesbystoneridge.com

Builders

Talus Pay

Mark Coggins

(803) 730-6356

taluspay.com

Credit Card Processing

The Art of Real Estate

Allison Hedrick

(803) 767-3515

theartteam.net/about/Allison-Hedrick

Realtors

The Gatlic Group

Steven Morris

(917) 981-9940

thegatlicgroup.com

Credit Card Processing

The Holliday Company DBA Bar-B-Clean

Aiysha Holliday

(803) 339-0345

bar-b-clean.com

Appliances and Repair

The Legacy of Lexington

Tracy Devaughn

(803) 957-3600

legacyoflexington.com

Senior Services / Retirement Facilities

The Scott Agency - Allstate

Daniel Scott

(803) 520-3199

allstate.com/danielscott

Insurance

Tuschen Marketing, LLC dba Cutco Cutlery

Matt Tuschen

(706) 831-1732

myknifeguymatt.com

Gifts and Specialty

Williams, Stitely & Brink PC

Anna Williams

(803) 359-9000

wsblegal.com

Attorneys