Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Hosts Ribbon Cutting with Chamber

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday, September 21st at Spherion Staffing and Recruiting at 519 W. Evans St. Formerly AccuStaff of Florence, the temporary staffing service is co-owned by Doris and Nathaniel Lockhart and has recently undergone not only a name change but a rebranding. They celebrated the milestone with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce staff and ambassadors. Spherion is a national recruiting and staffing enterprise. The Lockharts have two locations. In addition to the Florence office, they have one in Conway. Lockhart said their job is to match clients with successful businesses who are helping Florence grow and prosper. She said they started in business in 1986.

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Southwestern Coaching Hosts Ribbon Cutting With Chamber

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Egi Oakman-Black with Southwestern Coaching held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, September 20th at the Florence-Darlington Technical College Manufacturing and Business Incubator, celebrating her membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Chamber staff and ambassadors joined Oakman-Black for the celebration. Oakman-Black is an independent consultant for sales professionals and in professional development. She said Southwestern Coach has been in existence for more than 160 years. “I have been a coach for about a year and half,” she said. “I’ve been in sales and sales leadership for more than 25 years.” Her experience is primarily within the advertising and recruitment marketing industries.

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Lauren Piner with eXp Realty Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

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Lauren Piner, a Realtor with eXp Realty, celebrated the opening of her business and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, September 14th with a ribbon cutting at the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. She was joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors. Piner started in July with eXp Realty and works from her home. She specializes in residential properties. Piner moved to Florence in May from Colorado. “It is a big change,” she said. “I am looking forward to the fall.” Piner said she chose real estate because she likes helping people see the potential in a house, especially older homes. She said it is like a painting that you keep painting over to create a new piece of artwork, where you build on what is already there and put your own stamp on it.

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Pee Dee State Farmers Market Hosts Chamber’s Business After Hours

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As the first day of fall approaches on Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Pee Dee State Farmers Market begins preparing for its annual fall plant and flower festival, but on Thursday, September 16th, it welcomed members of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce to the market for Business After Hours. Bob Sager of the Pee Dee State Farmers Market welcomed the guests. Guests who ventured into the Farmers Market were greeted by pumpkins, fall flowers and fruits and vegetables. A few of the booths remained open for their browsing. Business After Hours is a networking event of the Chamber where members gather to socialize and enjoy food and beverages. The Annual Fall Plant and Flower Festival at the Farmers Market is Oct. 1-3. The Pee Dee Farmers Market is at 2513 W. Lucas St. in Florence.

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Ribbon Cut for New McClenaghan Administrative Annex

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Alumni from McClenaghan High School gathered with City officials and Florence One Schools’ leadership on Thursday, September 16th  to cut the ribbon, and make official the reopening of the building, on the school’s system new administrative annex and adult education facility on South Dargan Street. “This means a lot. It has been a long time coming. I’m very, very happy to be here tonight,” said Porter Stewart, Florence One Schools Board of Trustees Chairman as he stood in the third-floor auditorium, swing music playing on the sound system and McClenaghan memorabilia on display throughout. Also in attendance was NFL Hall of Fame member and McClenaghan alumnus Harry Carson – Class of 72.

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Leadership Florence Class Holds Retreat in Myrtle Beach

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held a two day retreat for the 34-member Leadership Florence Class of 2022 Retreat on Sept. 13, 2021 at the Avista Resort.  Gina Trimarco of Pivot 10 Results facilitated a wide-ranging discussion of leadership principles and strategies on Monday, followed by dinner and a reception.  Tuesday September 14th, the class participated in a scavenger hunt/team building exercise at Wonderworks in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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AROHA Celebrates Opening Its New Studio in Downtown Florence With Ribbon Cutting

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AROHA Afro Latin Dance celebrated the opening of its new studio Thursday, September 9th on Dargan Street in downtown Florence. The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce shared in the celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Owner Adalia Ellis offers partners Afro Latin Dance classes in Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba.  She offers group and individual lessons, business events, school educational programs, team building and wedding dance choreography.  Ellis has been teaching teaching dance
in Florence for four years. She moved into her new space at 167 N.Dargan St. in November 2020.
“I love the energy in this space,”Ellis said.  Ellis said she is thrilled to be in downtown Florence.  “We were still in the pandemic, and I didn’t start offering classes until this week,”Ellis said.  Ellis said the partner dances she teaches can all be traced back to African-rooted music and movement.  “I’ve been teaching dance for about 15 years,”she said. “I traveled the world in my 20s and 30s, and I knew if I ever came home, I wanted to open my own space here. This is a dream come true for me.”

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Kemper Health Joins Chamber and Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

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Kemper Health celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Monday, September 13th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. Celebrating with Kemper Health Agent David Wall were Chamber staff and ambassadors. Wall is the Kemper Health agent for the Florence, Darlington and Myrtle Beach area. He has been with Kemper Health in the Florence area for approximately two years and works out of his home. The home office for South Carolina is in Lexington. He said they have agents in all parts of the state. The company started in 1956 in Oklahoma City for cattlemen and rangers. “We have a niche,” Wall said. “We work mostly with small businesses. We provide affordable health care and insurance along with Medicare supplement plans for seniors.” Wall said many of their clients are self-employed, independent contractors and small businesses.

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Emerging Leaders Summer Institute Holds Graduation

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held its 6th annual graduation ceremony for the Emerging Leaders Summer Institute on Wednesday, September 1st at the Chamber. Nicole Echols, Executive Director of Harvest Hope Pee Dee, was the guest speaker. “Participants in the program had an opportunity to meet and visit a number of local businesses, nonprofits and leaders from the city and county,” said Les Echols, Director of Community and Minority Enterprise with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

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Junior Leadership Florence County Holds Retreat

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The Junior Leadership Class held their opening retreat August 12, 2021 at Lynches River.  Freddricka Pressley, 4-H Agent with Clemson Extension, led the retreat with a Welcoming Ceremony. The students engaged with 3-Minute “Get to know me bags”, leadership and ice-breaking games, personality assessment tests and writing goals for the year. Thank you to Chick-Fil-A West Florence for providing lunch and Lynches River for hosting the group. The students will have their next session on Friday, September 17,2021 traveling to McLeod and MUSC for Healthcare Day.