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Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce
907 North Main St. Suite 200
Anderson, SC 29621

Zoom Zone Conferences to Highlight Cutting Edge Research and Development.

Conference sessions at the 3rd annual Zoom Zone Showcase will highlight current technologies coming out of Clemson University and how they impact the marketplace. Professors from the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory and Computer Technologies will deliver presentations on trends in specific industry sectors and how businesses can utilize this cutting edge research. Scheduled to speak at the event are:

Dr. Joe Kolis – Executive Director for the Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF)

Dr. John Ballato – Director for the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET)

Dr. D.E. (Steve) Stevenson – Director for the Institute for Modeling and Simulation Applications

Dr. Sebastien Goasguen – Professor for Computing and Information Technology

Dr. Christian Pzirembel – Clemson University Vice President for Research

Dr. Thomas Kurfess – BMW Endowed Chair to ICAR and Director of the Campbell Graduate Engineering Center

George Fletcher – Executive Director for SC’s Council on Competitiveness.

Bill Mahoney – President and CEO of SCRA

Additional sessions will include presenters from BMW Manufacturing Purchasing, the Small Business Office of Naval Research, Technology Director for SC Launch!, and People Kaizen – Lean Processes.

Tickets for single day sessions can be purchased for $85 and include a luncheon or reception or the complete 2 day conference package can be purchased for $155 and includes all sessions, luncheons and VIP receptions.

For the complete conference schedule or to register online, visit the Zoom Zone website.

For additional information on the Zoom Zone Showcase, contact Walker Bowen at the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce at 864.226.3454.

Black & White Ball - A Night to Remember

What a night! This year's Annual Celebration still has members talking. The event was held September 20, 2007 at the Anderson Civic Center. Through the evening, close to 450 members had a chance to try out their dancing shoes, take a dip for a ¾ carat diamond, and network with other business professionals. The night was kicked off with a Champagne Reception and followed by a Cocktail Reception and at 7:30 the crowd entered the main ballroom which was a transformed civic center. Jazz and Big Band music set the tone as all the guests found their tables and enjoyed a four course gourmet meal and a full night of dancing.

We would like to specifically thank all our sponsors and the Annual Celebration Committee without your support this year's Annual Celebration would not be the success it was. Until Next Year!

DIAMOND DIP SPONSORS

Turner's Jewelers

Anderson County Fair and Expo Center

 DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH SPONSORS

Blue Ridge Security Systems

Kravet, Inc.

The Calhoun Historic Lofts

Tucker's Restaurant

United Investigations, LLC

MARQUIS SPONSORS

Anderson County

Anderson Independent-Mail

AnMed Health

Bank of America

BellSouth

Budweiser of Greenville

Duke Energy

Martin Advertising

McNair Law Firm, PA

Sullivan-King Mortuary

SunTrust Bank

EMERALD SPONSORS

Anderson University

Atkinson Construction & Development, LLC

Bank of Anderson, NA

Bonitz Flooring Group, Inc.

CapitalBank

Carolina First Bank

City of Anderson

Coldwell Banker Caine

Elliott Davis, LLC

Greene and Company, LLP

HMR Advantage Health Systems

Hospice of the Upstate

Michelin, NA

Piedmont Natural Gas

Ralph Hayes Motors

Regions Bank

Santee Cooper

SENIOR Solutions

Techtronic Industries-North America

The McDougald Funeral Home

Tri-County Technical College

Wachovia Bank - Anderson County

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Anderson Chamber Participates in Cost of Living Index

Among the 290 urban areas participating in the second quarter 2007 ACCRA Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) NY to over 20 percent below the national average in Joplin MO. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index is compiled and published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 50,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing a measurable difference.

The composite index is based on six components – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.

Where’s the most expensive pizza?

Each quarter, C2ER collects more than 50,000 prices from communities across the US for the COLI. This quarter, C2ER features the communities with the most and least expensive pizza. C2ER collected data on 11’’ to 12’’ thin crust cheese pizza from Pizza Hut or Pizza Inn.

 A Closer Look at Manchester NH

Manchester is a new urban area that participated in the index. The overall cost of living is 15% above the national average. Here’s a snapshot of prices for five selected items:

The quarterly ACCRA Cost of Living Index is available by subscription for $140 per year (print or PDF version) or $250 per year (electronic version). Send check, payable to C2ER, P.O. Box 100127, Arlington VA 22210-0407, or subscribe on the Internet at www.coli.org. If you need additional information on the Cost of Living Index, please contact Erol Yildirim at ey@c2er.org or by phone (703) 522-4980.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBER !!!

Use your Chamber membership to take advantage
of these money saving programs.

Member2Member

For more information about these programs, visit our website at
www.andersonscchamber.com or call the Chamber at 864-226-3454.

Chamber Recognizes Ambassadors of the Month

The Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Ambassadors of the Month for July, August and September 2007. This honor is awarded to Ambassador committee members who accrue the highest total of “Ambassador Points” for the month. Points are earned for their volunteer efforts in contacting existing Chamber members, volunteering at Chamber events, and playing host to the new member orientations and receptions.

Shelley Fritsch-Sainato with Klingman Williams received this honor for July 2007 with a total of 15 “Ambassador Points”. Shelley serves as the General Manager and Vice President of Klingman Williams, a company that provides commercial interior furnishings and related services. She has 16 years of experience in the architectural finishes industry and has been a supportive member of both the Anderson Area and Greater Greenville chambers of commerce. Shelley is originally from Atlanta and is a graduate of Furman University. She recently moved from Maryland to return to her southern roots where she is excited to be back near her family and friends, as well as enjoys becoming a part of the progressive Anderson community. In addition to her volunteer service with the Ambassadors, Shelley has also served on the chamber’s Annual Celebration committee and is a current participant in Leadership Anderson Class 24. She has also worked with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Heart Association. In addition to her volunteer efforts, Shelley and her husband, Vic, are currently managing a full restoration of their Hartwell home. To learn more about the services of Klingman Williams, please call 864-241-0564 or visit www.klingmanwilliams.com.

Dr. Nathaniel “Chip” Oncken with Hanner Wellness Center has been awarded Ambassador of the Month for August 2007 by earning a total of 27 “Ambassador Points”. Dr. Oncken is a chiropractor at Hanner Wellness Center, which has been helping people in the Anderson area for the past 12 years. Their main focus is vertebral subluxation correction, which occurs when one or more of the vertebrae of the spine misaligns and puts pressure on the nerves. This can impair communication between the brain and the body, which causes a decrease in the body’s ability to function as intended. Dr. Oncken is a native of Greenwood and moved to Anderson six months ago. He is married to Stacey and they have two children. In addition to his volunteer service with the Ambassadors, he is an active member of the Foothills Sertoma Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club and the Pendleton Youth Council. For more information about Hanner Wellness Center, please call 864-225-8431 or visit www.hannerwellness.com.

Carol Kreson with Hospice of the Upstate has been honored as Ambassador of the Month for September 2007 with 43 “Ambassador Points”. Carol serves as Vice President of Development where she is primarily responsible for major gifts and planned giving. Prior to her position at Hospice, she lived in Atlanta for 5 years and served as an Interim Executive Director for Girl Scouts of the USA, and also spent 9 years as Girl Scout Executive Director in Northwest Indiana. She and her husband, Dennis, are originally from Pennsylvania and have two children. Hospice of the Upstate serves five counties in South Carolina, and Hart County, Georgia. The organization provides end of life care for terminally ill patients and support for their families. Support is offered through a personalized plan of care to ease the many different types of pain facing patients and families during such a difficult period of time. To learn more about Hospice of the Upstate, please call 862-224-3358 or visit www.hospicehouse.net.

The Ambassadors are a select group of dedicated volunteers who serve as the public relations arm of the Anderson Area Chamber. They assist the Chamber staff in welcoming new members into the Chamber, obtaining feedback from its existing members, hosting ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremonies, and offering volunteer support to Chamber events. For more information on the Ambassador program, please contact Cindy Hopkins at 864-226-3454.

New Horizons e-Advertising

The Anderson Chamber's e-newsletter, New Horizons, is distributed monthly via email to over 1200 member business representatives and is posted on our website. In addition, your ad will have an active link to your company's website. Take advantage of this great advertising opportunity, available ONLY to Chamber members.

All ads must be submitted to the Chamber in JPEG (.jpg) format before the 21st of each month to be included in the upcoming issues. To reserve your advertising space for our New Horizons e-newsletter or if you have questions, contact Kimberly Loftis at the Chamber at (864) 226-3454.