Category Archives: News & Publications

Chamber State of Community hits on issues, insights

 

Media Contact:

Jay Houston

229-343-3667

jhouston@albanyga.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 24, 2023

 

 

 

Albany Area Chamber Hosts State of the Community: “Issues & Insights”

Event Provides Insights and Discussion on Vital Topics Impacting Area

Albany — The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s signature “State of the Community” Wednesday  featured dynamic panels of prominent leaders who engaged in a comprehensive dialogue about pressing topics shaping the Albany Area, including health care, housing, economic development education and transportation.

The State of the Community provides a platform for leaders from various sectors to delve into matters of utmost significance to the community. In a panel format, esteemed experts shared insights, vision and strategies on these topics. The 2023 State of the Community was presented by Synovus.

“A strong community is characterized by several key factors that contribute to its stability, growth and overall well-being. These factors interact with and influence each other, creating a complex ecosystem,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, president & CEO of the Albany Area Chamber and the Albany Area Chamber Foundation. “As one of Georgia’s hub communities, Albany is key to Georgia’s overall economic success. Wednesday’s State of the Community provided leaders insights on highly-relevant topics impacting community success.”

Two panels, moderated by Holmes, gave attendees vital information on the community’s state of affairs. The community panel was comprised of Jana Dyke, president & CEO of Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission; Shelley Spires, CEO of Albany Area Primary Health Care; Heather Corbett, director of Career, Technical & Agricultural Education at the Dougherty County School System; Dr. Frank Middleton, chairman of the Albany Aviation Commission; and RaShaunda L. Muldrow, broker/owner of The Real Estate Concierge.

Albany City Manager Steven Carter and Dougherty County Assistant County Administrator Barry Brooks shared with the audience projects completed through the transportation special-purpose local-option sales tax, better known as TSPLOST I. The pair provided insights into the project lists for TSPLOST II, which will be on the November 7 referendum and which is expected to generate $88 million in revenue for transportation infrastructure projects  such as road resurfacing, intersection improvements and sidewalks.  In November voters will be asked to extend the sales tax.

“TSPLOST empowers our community to shape its own transportation future by funding projects that enhance our daily lives and drive local progress,” Carter said, noting that one way or another, the projects would have to get done. Experts estimate about half of the TSPLOST revenue is generated by visitors to the community, reducing the tax burden on local citizens.

The school system’s Corbett, who led the district’s comprehensive realignment of student career pathways, said that “the Dougherty County School System is committed to ensuring students are future-ready and prepared to meet the community’s workforce needs. We are focused on engaging students in relevant and rigorous learning that emphasizes communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity which provides students with the required skills and credentials for employability in any career. We sincerely appreciate the partnerships of families and industry in the shared mission of student success.”

“Health care, especially here in our rural communities of Southwest Georgia, remains an important topic,” said Shelley Spires, CEO of Albany Area Primary Health Care, who spoke to COVID-19’s endemic status and to innovation, including the use of artificial intelligence, in the field. “Something that I continue to focus on is expanding patient services and recruiting new providers to the region.  As a community health center, our organization cares for the insured, uninsured and the underinsured, and the priority remains that everyone in Southwest Georgia deserves access to high quality health care.”

The event’s supporting sponsors were Albany Area Primary Health Care Molson Coors, SRJ Architects, Phoebe Putney Health System, Albany State University, Albany Technical College, Englewood Health Care, Turner’s Furniture and Wynfield Park Health & Rehabilitation.

The Albany Area Chamber is dedicated to fostering economic growth, advocating for businesses and enhancing the region’s quality of life. By practicing and promoting dialogue, collaboration and problem solving, the Albany Area Chamber serves as a catalyst for positive change and progress in the region.

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The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1910, is leading a multi-year strategic effort to advance economic opportunities and a thriving community. With a diverse business community in our corner, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce works diligently to serve area businesses, develop strategies that help our community prosper and design the path of Albany’s future. Learn more at www.albanyga.com.

The Albany Area Chamber Foundation, founded in 1991, leads talent, economic, innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives that provide impact beyond the business community’s normal reach. The Albany Area Chamber Foundation is the 501(c)3 affiliate of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at www.albanyga.com.

Chamber’s Albany Bank Security Roundtable focuses on fraud, solutions

The Albany Area Chamber-led Albany Bank Security Roundtable convened Monday for a stakeholder discussion on check fraud issues impacting commerce, citizens and communities and estimated to have a $24 billion national economic impact. The Albany conversation with financial institutions, law enforcement and prosecutors at the local, state and federal levels focused on mitigation and solutions.

 

Contact: Jay Houston
(229) 343- 3667
jhouston@albanyga.com

Chamber-led Albany Bank Security Roundtable focuses on fraud challenges, solutions

The roundtable featured stakeholders including financial institutions and local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutors

Albany – The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Monday hosted a roundtable discussion with financial institutions and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors on the check fraud security challenges that impact commerce and citizens and which in 2023 are estimated to have a $24 billion national economic impact. Locally, losses are estimated to be in the millions.

According to the Financial Crime Enforcement Network, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department, reports of check fraud filed by banks nearly doubled to 680,000, from 350,000 in 2021. This compares to 96,786 suspicious activity check fraud cases reported in 2014.

“The banking sector is crucial to the modern economy. As the primary supplier of credit, banks support business development through access to capital; facilitate personal growth through smart lending; and are a key partner in community development initiatives,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, president & CEO of the Albany Area Chamber and its 501©3 affiliate, the Albany Area Chamber Foundation. “The fraud and security challenges faced today by financial institutions touch every segment of commerce, every organization and every citizen; these are not victimless crimes. The Albany Area Chamber is committed to working with banks, law enforcement, prosecutors and policy makers to elevate the conversation, educate the public and advance solutions.”

Monday’s Albany Bank Security Roundtable included Chamber-member financial institutions, the Georgia Bankers Association and the Community Bankers Association along with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Attorney General for the Middle District of Georgia; the United States Postal Inspector Service; the Office of the Georgia Attorney General; and the Albany Police Department.

“Today marks a significant stride forward as the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, local banks and law enforcement join forces to tackle the growing specter of check and mail fraud. Our Albany Area Chamber, representing the backbone of our local economy, recognizes our challenges require innovative and unified solutions and fostering partnerships based on trust and resilience,” said Perry Revell, chairman of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and CEO of AB&T. “Today’s collaborative gathering holds a promise that extends beyond mitigation, encompassing prevention, economic stability and advocacy. I thank each participant for their willingness to engage and be part of the solution.”

Among other challenges, the increase in suspected fraud cases is creating many check fraud processing challenges such as backlogs in check warranty claims, availability of funds and the average check value doubling over the last decade. Further, reports indicate that mail theft has been on the rise since 2017. A recent survey of Chamber-member financial institutions revealed that mail-related check fraud is their number one security concern, followed by general check fraud and physical security.

“Albany’s bank leaders shared fraud losses estimated to be in the millions annually, a disturbing trend seen nationwide. Bank fraud is not a victimless crime; far from it,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia, who participated in Monday’s roundtable. “These losses are rarely recouped, and these criminals steal legitimate opportunities for positive investment in the community, costing citizens new home mortgages and businesses the means for new development. Law enforcement at every level is dedicated to effectively combating these scams that harm the entire community.”

According to the Association for Financial Professionals, 42 percent of all business2business transactions are still paper.

“Check fraud is old fashioned, but it is what is causing so many problems in our community. It’s affecting young people, senior citizens, merchants, the banking industry and beyond,” noted Joe Brannen, CEO of Georgia Banker’s Association. “Finding ways to solve that is going to be complicated but we won’t ever be able to do that if we don’t work together through organizations like the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce at discussions like this one.”

In February, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the post office, issued an alert on the matter. The service said it received more than 299,000 complaints of mail theft from March 2020 through February 2021, a 161 percent increase from a year earlier.

Justin Warner with the United States Postal Service Inspection Service said, “This community roundtable is a great example of partnerships between multiple agencies which includes banks, law enforcement, local organizations and prosecutors that have come together for vital

information sharing for investigations and provide resources to local citizens. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to ensure public trust in the mail and postal inspectors will aggressively investigate individuals that seek to take advantage of our customers. We also work with the Postal Service to harden security measures against criminal attacks.”

Monday’s discussion provided an opportunity for local banking institutions to share best practices and to share their challenges with law enforcement at all levels. Participants also noted the need for increased merchant and consumer education.

“Check fraud is very rampant in our banks right now,” said Kelly Wilson, Anti-Money Laundering Fraud Officer with Colony Bank. “We are needing to do a lot more communication with our customers about how important it is to not mail checks so that we can avoid the risk of them being stolen. We also want to provide more scam education. Not only that, we want to make sure that we are working with our law enforcement. I feel like this is the new way that people are making money illegally and it’s important that we make sure that our lines of communication with law enforcement are open so that we can work together to stop this.”

Detective Darryl Jones with the Albany Police Department said that “conversations like this are important because we get to connect with people from different fields. It’s imperative that we have banks, law enforcement, prosecutors and more all in one room so that there can be a collaborative effort on how to combat fraud in our city. Conversations like [Monday’s] allow us to have questions answered that we would not have the opportunity to anywhere else. It’s great to get to come together and think of ways to resolve this problem.”

Experts emphasized the urgency of citizens and businesses reporting suspected fraud to their banking institutions as soon as possible to potentially stop a fraudulent payment and prevent theft. Beyond curbing the initial crime, rapid reporting is the fastest way to make a dent in these significant loss numbers, they said.

The Albany Area Chamber will continue working with these partners on the alarming issue.

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The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1910, is leading a multi-year strategic effort to advance economic opportunities and a thriving community. With a diverse business community in our corner, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce works diligently to serve area businesses, develop strategies that help our community prosper and design the path of Albany’s future. Learn more at www.albanyga.com.

The Albany Area Chamber Foundation, founded in 1991, leads talent, economic, innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives that provide impact beyond the business community’s normal reach. The Albany Area Chamber Foundation is the 501(c)3 affiliate of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at www.albanyga.com.

Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Biz Expo 2023

We are thrilled to announce the much-anticipated Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Biz Expo 2023! Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 28, as the Albany Civic Center once again becomes the hub of dynamic business interaction.

Prepare to supercharge your networking efforts and elevate your business success! Engage in valuable business-to-business and business-to-consumer connections and drive your overall business outcomes to new heights.

With a history of more than 500 people in attendance, our booth packages offer incredible value, starting at just $395 for a standard-sized booth. And here’s the icing on the cake…Albany Area Chamber of Commerce members enjoy exclusive special pricing! For businesses aiming for an even greater impact, we also have a limited number of enhanced booth spaces.

For more information, please reach out to Mary Bickerstaff at mbickerstaff@albanyga.com or call (229) 434-8700.

Seize this golden opportunity to showcase your business, forge meaningful partnerships, and tap into a world of possibilities. Ready to make your mark? Register here: https://bit.ly/BizEXPO2023

Albany Area Chamber’s Barbara Rivera Holmes Graduates from Institute for Organization Management

Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce Barbara Rivera Holmes, IOM, president & CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 credit hours of course instruction in non-profit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours towards the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE), certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.  

“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”  

Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.  

The ARC of Southwest Georgia presents Meals with a Mission

 

The ARC of Southwest Georgia will be hosting its first ever local, celebrity chef cook-off fundraiser, Meals with a Mission, on August 31. Meals with a Mission attendees will get to sample an entrée and dessert from each chef, while also enjoying a live band, cash bar, and silent auction. Attendees will get to vote for their favorite chef at the end of the night. In the weeks leading up to Meals with a Mission, we’ll be giving sneak peaks on who our chef competitors are, as well as the items that will be up for grabs during our auction, on our social media channels. All event proceeds will go to supporting Southwest Georgians with disabilities.

Roll up your sleeves and join a talent strategy implementation team

Talent is the driving force for business location and a critical component of business success. Albany is a strong, innovative and leading community in which people want to live and businesses want to invest. It’s a community in which small businesses emerge and grow and global industries thrive. The Albany – Dougherty County Works! Talent Development Strategy 2.0 leverages Albany’s assets, spirit, and community resources to enhance prosperity and maximize impact an opportunity for our citizens and its businesses.

We are actively implementing these strategies now and need your help! To JOIN the Talent 2.0 team via these committees, please fill out the form below and a member of our team will reach out with more details: https://bit.ly/AlbanyDoughertyTalentTeam

Talent 2.0 represents a two-year roadmap to strengthen build a modern and adaptive work force. The 2023 effort, launched by the Albany Area Chamber Foundation, advances and amplifies impact by building on the successes and opportunities of the 2020 strategy. The work centers around three key priority areas: Community Connection and Coordination; Youth Pipeline Development; and Continued Adult Preparation. Each priority has a committee to reach their individual growth goals.

Learn more about the goals & objectives of this missive >> https://bit.ly/AlbanyDoughertyWorks2023

We a grateful to the dedicated community members who have so graciously volunteered their time to champion this mission in each of our three priorities:

Priority 1:

Community Connection and Coordination:

Jessica Castle (Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital)

Chris Hatcher  (Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission chairman)

Priority 2:

Youth Pipeline Development:

Jodi Collins (Mars Wrigley Confectionary)

Angie Gardner (Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy)

Priority 3:

Continued Adult Preparation:

Nathaniel Cooper (Turner Job Corps)

Gabe Lord (Lord Solutions)

2023 Albany Area Chamber Business Award nominations are OPEN!

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 11, 2023

 

Contact:

Jay Houston

(229) 434-8700

jhouston@albanyga.com

 

Nominations open for Albany Area Chamber’s Business Awards

 

Albany – Nominations are open for the Albany Area Chamber Business Awards, a prestigious annual event which celebrates businesses and organizations in the region that have demonstrated a unique vision, innovation and best business practices.

“The Albany Area Chamber Business Awards celebrates excellence and shines the spotlight on member organizations that are innovating, growing and finding new ways to make a difference,” said Barbara Rivera Holmes, president & CEO of the Albany Area Chamber, the region’s leading business organization. “Through the awards we tell the stories of success, innovation, talent and impact. This year we’re excited to amplify this storytelling by expending our award categories to include recognition of veteran-owned businesses.”

The 2023 Albany Area Chamber Business Awards recognize organizations in the following categories: small business of the year; nonprofit of the year; “Uniquely Albany” award; women-owned business; and veteran-owned business.

Organizations may self-nominate or be nominated by peers via this online form. Businesses may be nominated in multiple categories. Nominations close Friday, July 28, at 5 p.m. Eligible organizations will be notified of their nomination and encouraged to apply.

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Albany Area Chamber names new 2023 Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 10, 2023

Media Contact: Jay Houston

(229) 434-8700

jhouston@albanyga.com

Albany Area Chamber appoints AB&T CEO Perry Revell as chairman of the board

Albany, Ga. — The  Board of Directors of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Monday appointed Perry Revell, CEO of AB&T, to serve as 2023 chairman of the board. The move follows the unexpected death in late June of Chandu Kuntawala, who took helm of the board January 1.

The organization’s chair-elect, Jeretha Peters, Wells Fargo Advisors branch manager, will assume the role of board chair on January 1, 2024. Don Gray, facilities manager for the city of Albany, will continue in his role as immediate past chair of the board.

“With a devout belief in the transformative power of our Chamber’s work, fueled by our collective commitment to #ImpactABY2023, I’m honored to assume this role. While circumstances render heavy hearts, I’ll approach this term with the honor it deserves; as a champion of our collective vision,” said Revell. “With respect for Chandu’s legacy of service, I pledge to continue advancing our future-focused strategic plan, propelling us to meaningful community outcomes.

“Our Chamber staff is elite, and our Board is a force for good,” he said, “and together, we’ll lift the mission while solidifying the foundation for Jeretha’s 2024 term as chair.”

Revell served as the 2020 chair of the board, providing extraordinary leadership during the pandemic, one of the most challenging times in recent history.

“Perry is a trusted and gifted leader who empowers and inspires,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, president & CEO of the Albany Area Chamber and the Albany Area Chamber Foundation. “We are grateful for Perry’s service and for his long-standing commitment to the Albany Area Chamber as a purpose-driven force for connection, engagement, leadership and impact.”

Prior to his role as chairman, Kuntawala served the Albany Area Chamber for many years, leading its education division and bringing forth innovative programs including the popular Go See! Tour, which welcomes Chamber members to monthly visits at schools throughout Dougherty County thereby strengthening the connection between the business community, students and educators.

“Chandu was a model servant leader,” said Holmes. “The vision and enthusiasm with which he led and served helped build a stronger Albany and a stronger Albany Area Chamber, and we are forever indebted.”

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The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1910, is leading a multi-year strategic effort to advance economic opportunities and a thriving community. With a diverse business community in our corner, the Albany Area Chamber works diligently to serve area businesses, develops strategies that help our community prosper and designs the path of Albany’s future. Learn more at www.albanyga.com.

The Albany Area Chamber Foundation, founded in 1991, leads talent, economic, innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives that provide impact beyond the business community’s normal reach. The Albany Area Chamber Foundation is the 501(c)3 affiliate of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at albanyga.com.