U.S. Chamber Recognizes T-SC Chamber at Meeting

A United States Chamber of Commerce representative was present at the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Board meeting on Tuesday.

Clark Jackson, representing the Southeast Region for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, congratulated the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce on the 5-Star Accreditation. “Accreditation is a volunteer program and the leadership of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce has made the decision to tackle the long, laborious, albeit we believe very valuable process. Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber is one of only 15 accredited chamber of commerce’s in the state of Georgia and one of only 129 accredited chambers across the country which is even more meaningful considering there are over 7,000 chambers in the United States which places the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber as one of the top three percent of the chambers across the country.”

District 28 Representative Chris Erwin added that the accreditation is something to be celebrated. “This is a classic example of great leadership in the community and what is going on within this community. I want to push the importance of celebrating this. We are one of the top level at the U.S Chamber of Commerce. I’m so proud of the leadership and the accomplishments of our chamber and look forward to the future.”

The TSC-Chamber Board (sitting in front L-R Clark Jackson, Julie Paysen, Board Chair Savonda Turner, Rep. Chris Erwin)

 

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Julie Paysen says it has been a goal to reach this accreditation. “It has been a long time coming. We are finally at a place were we can celebrate this. We have been at 4-Star Accreditation with the U.S. Chamber because there are certain levels of achievement that you have to obtain in order to qualify. This accreditation is every five years so when it came back around we enjoyed the opportunity to tell our story.”

Paysen says it takes the entire community to make this recognition happen. “Only ten other chambers in our state have five star accreditation with the U.S. Chamber and only 129 in the country out of 7,000 chambers. So it is quite an honor, but is certainly the story of a lot of hard work, a lot of board members, ambassadors, and volunteers that have poured into our chamber over the last five years. So it is an honor to have that recognition for our chamber of commerce.”

To find out more about the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce call 706-886-2132, visit on the web at toccoagachamber.com or on Facebook at Visit Toccoa.