Defend Named to Chamber Board

The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce has appointed Mike Defend, President and CEO of Crossroads Bank, as a new Board member. Defend replaces Marv Phillips of Cromwell Radio Group, who has retired.

In other Chamber news, the Workforce Readiness Committee is preparing studies to collect data on the unfilled jobs currently available in our local market, to identify and build training around workforce readiness skills and to survey local residents to find out why people work, live, locate and stay in Effingham County. Development of the Effingham Regional Career Academy is moving forward with creation of the Academy Board of Directors and establishment of goals to identify two incumbent worker programs by August 2016 and two shared high school vocational training programs by the Fall of 2017. Effingham County Manufacturing Day has been set for Thursday, October 6.

A Chamber Speakers Bureau is being established to offer Chamber members and community groups expertise and insight on a variety of topics. A registration form for speakers will be available on the Chamber website. Efforts are also underway to address the lack of business consulting services available to local entrepreneurs and start-up businesses through the use of volunteer and professional consultants. This effort will launch in September.

Other upcoming activities include a Wake up to the Issues breakfast on July 19 on the new Department of Labor Overtime Rules, Kickoff to Education Breakfast on August 3 and Tech Tuesday Lunch and Learn sessions. New Tech Tuesday education sessions will begin in August and will be held monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

For additional information or to register for upcoming events, please visit www.effinghamcountychamber.com or contact the Chamber at 217-342-4147 or chamber@effinghamcountychamber.com.