To learn more about the work of our divisions and how to get involved, please contact the Chamber at chamber@sumtercountychamber.com to get involved.

Agriculture Division

Kimberly Horne Folmar
Agriculture Division Co-Chair
Horne Farms

Lauren Minor
Agriculture Division Co-Chair
Minor Farms

Members of the Agriculture Division act as a liaison between the agriculture and business communities. Their goal is to foster a better understanding and appreciation of agriculture in Sumter County and to encourage individuals in the agriculture community to do business in Sumter County.

Their annual signature event includes:

State of Agriculture – Featuring the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, USDA State Director, and more growers, producers, cattlemen, and community leaders hearing briefings and updates on resources for the agriculture community.

Business Education Division

Jackie Holmes
Business Education Division Chair
Jackie's Little Tooty Tots & Tooty Tots Too

The purpose of the Business Education Division is coordinate the delivery of a dynamic series of continuing educational workshops to Chamber members and the community for practical application in the growth and prosperity of their businesses, and organizations.

Business Development Division

Kylon Harris
Business Development Division Chair
Nolyk Consulting 

The purpose of the Business Development Division is to establish a platform for innovative thinking and policy education to support entrepreneurial and business growth; and to provide increased exposure and opportunity through training, mentoring and networking.

The Chamber wants to help our businesses thrive and offer business development workshops, seminars and training opportunities based on needs expressed by our members.  These programs vary by topic, recently organized were Customer Service Training and Technology, Marketing, and Quick Book training.  These programs are promoted to chamber members and the business community at large.

To learn more about the Business Development division and its program of work, as well as our five other divisions, please contact the Chamber at chamber@sumtercountychamber.com to get involved.

Governmental Affairs Division

Kathryn Fowler Moore
Governmental Affairs Division Chair
Gatewood, Skipper, Rambo & Moore, P.C.

The Governmental Affairs Division proactively serves as the “Voice for Business” to Sumter County local, state, and federal governments, as well as other related agencies and partners. 

This Division engages in policy decisions, education, awareness, and advocating for issues of critical importance to business, industry, and community vitality.  A Presentation of the Chamber’s Federal and State Updates  is presented each year to State and Federal officials.  The Updates reports on County and Regional concerns that will make an impact for our county and region. 

• Enhancing relationships with all our local, state, and federal officials and promoting the growth and influence of Sumter County is another responsibility of the Governmental Affairs Division.
   
• The Governmental Affairs Division facilitates open dialogue around issues of mutual interest and concerns to the business community and our governmental partners.
   
• Day at the Dome –  Georgia State Capitol prorgram with state legislators and state governmental agencies to discuss matters of importance to the growth and prosperity of business and industry . Attendees include Platinum Trustees and community leadership for the Sumter County Delegation.
   
• Washington Fly-In –   Join fellow top business leaders from our community to advocate for Sumter’s interests during the Washington Fly-In every other year.  The Fly-In is vital for discussing Sumter’s important business issues with Sumter’s Congressional delegation and other federal officials.
   
•  Legislative Wrap-Up Luncheon – The legislative Wrap-Up Luncheon is hosted annually to recap the highlights of the State Legislative Session to the Business Community and citizens of Sumter County.
   
• “Candidate’s Forums” – These public forums are organized by the Division to inform citizens and businesses by having the opportunity to meet and hear candidates’ platforms running for local office.  Other meet and greet opportunities are organized to meet State and Federal candidates as well.
   
• State Legislative Listening Day – This effort involves a briefing with State Officials, to hear from the Sumter County elected officials and Chamber to prior to the next State Legislative Session to present topics of concerns.
• Local Leaders Listening Day – This effort involves a briefing with Local Elected Officials and their senior staff members to share updates on projects and initiatives positively benefiting the community. Part II focuses on updates from the business leaders and community partners.  

Leadership Division

Chief Mark Scott
Leadership Division Chair
Americus Police Department 

MeriBeth McNeill
Leadership Division Co-Chair
Chick-Fil-A Americus

Chamber Champions

Chamber Champions is a youth leadership development program that informs, motivates, and increases the awareness of selected high school juniors through interaction with community leaders.  The program is an investment in the community’s future leadership.  These students must be nominated by their teachers and principals and approval must come from school administration and each student’s parents.  Students are selected based on a genuine interest in learning leadership skills, working together as a team, and showing leadership in school and community activities.  It is important to have a cultural balance with students from diverse backgrounds to build individual leadership skills, foster positive group dynamics and increase civic and community involvement while creating youth development and youth leadership. 

Since the first graduating class in 2015, more than 175 students have successfully completed the program.  Chamber Champions Youth Leadership program is an initiative targeting juniors.  Participants are chosen based on a list of criteria set forth by the Leadership Development Division.  The youth initiative keeps a similar focus as the chamber, which is private sector support, growth, and jobs and preparing students for the private sector.  The program supplies educational and firsthand experience to expose students to these realms.

Through a series of sessions combining lectures and tours, students learn about such topics as: Area business men and women are involved and help host and/or teach the modules which include: Understanding Leadership, Communicating Effectively, Appreciating Differences, Building Teams, Managing Conflict, Setting Goals and Making Decisions, Mapping Your Community, Exercising Leadership.  Chamber Champions is a collaboration between the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, and   curriculum-based leadership skills training utilizing materials from the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development.