State Farm Agent Austin Wilson Holds Ribbon Cutting

Austin Wilson State Farm on Second Loop Road in Florence held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the agency’s opening and membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, October 20th. Celebrating with Wilson and his staff were Chamber staff and ambassadors.  Wilson said he worked at State Farm for about five years before opening his office at 1625 Second Loop Road in 2020.  “I have been open here about a year,” Wilson said.  Wilson is a native of Florence and graduate of South Florence High School and Francis Marion University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He said State Farm makes it easy to convince customers of its value. He said it has a good reputation.

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Tawanda’s Mobile Notary Services Hosts Ribbon Cutting

Tawanda Hanna held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, October 18th for her new business, Tawanda’s Notary Services and Accessories LLC. The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce participated in the ribbon cutting in the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. Chamber ambassadors joined in the celebration, along with family and friends. Hanna has been in business since February. Hanna works out of her home and car, taking her business to her clients. She also performs small weddings and is a notary license signing agent. Services provided include loan documents, power of attorney, bill of sale, bank forms and more.

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The Legacy Agency’s Grand Opening Includes Ribbon Cutting

Jennifer C. Dunleavy is carrying on a legacy as she starts the next chapter of an Allstate agency in Florence. The Legacy Allstate Insurance Group on Cherokee Road is celebrating its grand opening this week. A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, September 29th with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce at the agency location at 1801 Cherokee Road in Florence. Rufus Brown opened the agency in 1967, after having worked for Allstate in the old Sears building downtown. It was his vision to start a neighborhood agency, Dunleavy said. Dunleavy said Brown moved to the current location in the ‘90s. His son-in-law, Richard Liles, eventually took over the business when Brown retired. Liles was nearing retirement age, Dunleavy said, when she came across information about the business. She was ready to return to her Pee Dee roots. She grew up in Hartsville and moved when she was 15 years old with her parents when her father was transferred with CP&L to Raleigh, North Carolina. Dunleavy said she attended Hartsville High School but graduated in Raleigh and attended Western Carolina in North Carolina. “I wanted to come home. I have been here since January,” Dunleavy said. Dunleavy acquired the Allstate agency in May.

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Florence’s Hope Village Celebrates Opening with a Chamber Ribbon Cutting

With a few words, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew, a prayer, an admonition about the sharpness the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon cutting shears and then a quick slice of those shears, Hope Village was officially opened for business Thursday, September 30th. Of course, though, it wasn’t that easy. There were several years of work to get the village of 240-square-foot homes to the ribbon-cutting stage with the whole project paid for at completion. “This project began as a vision of one, Bryan Braddock, our Executive Director, spread to a vision of the House of Hope leadership team, then as a vision to the House of Hope board then ultimately as a vision toward our community,” said Dick Powell, Secretary for the House of Hope Board of Directors. “Hope Village is an example of this community’s generosity, their prayers and their hands to accomplish something unique in this region,” Powell said. “To those who gave generously, prayed fervently and worked diligently we want to, as a board, say thank you to you.”

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A Ribbon Cutting Celebrates the Opening of Jersey Mike’s in Florence

Jersey Mike’s joins the lineup of Florence restaurants this summer. On Wednesday, September 15th a ribbon cutting was held to celebrate its opening and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Joining in the celebration were Chamber staff and ambassadors.  The sub-style restaurant opened on June 2.  “It has been busy,” said Michael Kelly, Franchise Owner. “We have been blessed to be here.”  Kelly said this is his first time as a franchise owner. He moved to Florence in May from Charleston, where he attended Charleston Southern, majoring in political science.  The restaurant is located at 110 Woody Jones Blvd. in Florence. Jersey Mike’s offers hot and cold subs from Mike’s Famous Philly to the Big Kahuna Cheese Steak to The Veggie or the Original Italian.

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SpotOn Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Chamber Membership

SpotOn Transact celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, September 28th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office.  Celebrating with SpotOn Account Executive Sam Thompson were Chamber staff and ambassadors.  SpotOn Transact is a payments and software company redefining the merchant services industry to help them work “more efficiently, more strategically and more economically”.  Its mission, according to its website, is “to give your businesses a fighting chance by providing you with innovative software and payment solutions, supported by local and personal service, and delivered at a fair price. We are determined to help you compete and win.”

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Florence Breakfast Rotary Club Holds Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate Chamber Membership

The Florence Breakfast Rotary Club is the first Rotary Club in Florence to join the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday, September 22nd at the Florence Country Club. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined the Rotary Club for the ribbon cutting and the breakfast meeting following. The club meets weekly at the Florence Country Club, 450 Country Club Boulevard, at 7:30 a.m.

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DaFactory Hosts Ribbon Cutting at New Location

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday, September 27th at DaFactory on West Evans Street to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.  Owner Zack Alleyne was joined by his staff and others, Chamber staff and ambassadors for the occasion.  DaFactory is located at 392 W. Evans St. and specializes in printing, graphics and electronic repair work.  Alleyne and his staff of Lakeisha McCullum and Nyasia Mobley do T-shirt printing, graphic design, logo designs, eye-catching business cards, websites, flyers, electronic repairs and other services.  Alleyne said he has been in business for about four years but moved into the West Evans location about five months ago.

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Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Hosts Ribbon Cutting with Chamber

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

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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