“It’s a great day for business in Aiken, South Carolina!”
History has shown that a healthy business environment translates into a strong, thriving community with a good quality of life. For the past 91 years, the Greater Aiken
Chamber of Commerce has represented business and been the catalyst leading to the flourishing, diverse community enjoyed by so many today.
The Chamber’s core strength comes from its leadership – diverse, talented business and community professionals – who serve as the officers of the Chamber’s board of directors.
These dedicated individuals add value to the organization through their business knowledge, experience, and strong commitment to the community.
The following officers work closely with the board of directors, the professional staff, and numerous volunteers to implement the Chamber’s 2009 program of work, which carries out the mission of the Chamber - to create opportunities for members to build successful businesses and to enhance the quality of life in the community.
JOE E. LEWIS – 2009 CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Joe Lewis is the Aiken market president for the Savannah River Banking Company. He serves on the Aiken Technical College Board of Commissioners and is a board member of the Aiken Corporation and the Savannah River Site Redevelopment Authority. He is a member of the Aiken Rotary Club and has served as board chair of the United Way of Aiken County, board member of Tri-Development Center of Aiken County, and co-chair of the Annexation Study Committee for the City of Aiken. He has also served with the American Cancer Society.
DR. LIZ STEWART – CHAIR-ELECT AND MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
A native of Florida, Dr. Liz Stewart founded Stewart and Associates, Inc. in 1985 to provide consulting and training services to help organizations function more effectively. She served 15 years with Xerox Corporation and retired as the regional vice president of Organizational Development and Strategic Planning Services. Dr. Stewart is the past president of the Aiken Rotary Club and president of the board of directors for SafeHomes of Augusta. She serves on the executive committee of the United Way of the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) board of directors. In addition, she serves on the board of directors of the Aiken Downtown Development Association and Hitchcock Healthcare, as well as on the City of Aiken Planning Commission.
CINDY T. MEARES – SECRETARY/TREASURER
Cindy T. Meares is a shareholder with Elliott Davis, LLC. She is a certified public accountant in South Carolina and has more than 24 years of experience in federal and state taxation. Prior to joining Elliott Davis, Meares was with Ernst and Young in Greenville. She is a board member of the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County and Community Care and Counseling of Aiken and a member of the Rotary Club of Aiken. She is a member of the Elliott Davis “Women in Leadership” Steering Committee and was vice chair of the Chamber’s Business and Community Development in 2008.
DR. DEIDRE MARTIN – VICE CHAIR OF BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Deidre Martin is the vice chancellor for University Advancement at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA). She has worked in a number of capacities with the
University since her arrival in Aiken in 1988 and continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Communications. She also serves as the advisor for the
Circle K Club on campus. Dr. Martin serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Aiken County and is vice president of the Aiken Branch of the American Association of University Women. She is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Aiken, serving as secretary, vice president, and president, respectively. Dr. Martin has served on the Chamber board since January 2008 and chaired the Transportation Council last year.
FRANK THOMAS – VICE CHAIR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
A native of Aiken, Frank Thomas is the executive vice president for Business Development at Security Federal Bank. He currently serves on the board of directors of Security Federal Corporation. Thomas has been in the Aiken banking business for more than 30 years and had his own real estate firm for five years. He actively participates in the community and currently serves on the board of directors of the Aiken Corporation and the Aiken Downtown Development Association, where he is a vice chair. He has also served as president of the Aiken Board of Realtors, as chair for the United Way, as a board member of the USCA Partnership, and as secretary/treasurer of the Aiken Chamber.
R. KEITH WOOD – IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
A native of Aiken County, Keith Wood is the director of Public Affairs for URS-Washington Division. In his position, Wood is responsible for internal and external communications, community relations, educational outreach, governmental affairs, and historic preservation for the Washington Savannah River Company (WSRC). He joined WSRC in 1989 and served in a number of Public Affairs positions prior to his current appointment with URS-Washington Division. Wood is active in the community, holding positions over the years on the executive committee for the Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness, the City of Aiken Election Commission, the North Augusta Chamber board of directors, and the Aiken County United Way board, where he served as the 2007 campaign chair.
J. DAVID JAMESON – PRESIDENT / CEO
A native South Carolinian, David Jameson is the President/CEO of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce. He returned to the Aiken area in February 2006 after serving as president of the Fayetteville (NC) Chamber of Commerce for ten years and the Greensboro (NC) Chamber for six years. A member of the Rotary Club of Aiken, Jameson currently serves on several boards, including the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO), Aiken Downtown Development Association, USCA Convocation Center Advisory Committee, USCA Partnership Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Friends of Hopelands. In addition, he has served as past president of the following associations: Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the South Carolina Community Development Association, and the South Carolina Economic Developers Association.
For more information about the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.aikenchamber.net or call 803-641-1111.
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