Anderson’s goal for Chamber: To improve community relations

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Allen Anderson, incoming president of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, said improved community relations and involvement will be top priorities during 2008 as he leads the chamber. Anderson will be installed as president January 25 during the chamber’s annual installation banquet at The Center for Rural Development. Bill Mardis photo

January 21, 2008

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By BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus The Commonwealth Journal Mon Jan 21, 2008, 07:40 AM EST

The incoming president of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce wants to set in motion a plan to improve community relations.

“We need to come together as a community so we can best utilize the many resources we have here,” said Allen Anderson, president and CEO of South Kentucky RECC. Anderson will assume leadership of the chamber January 25 during the annual installation banquet at The Center for Rural Development.

“I want to make a contribution (while president of the chamber) to create a better relationship ... everybody working together in the community, no matter what happens.” Anderson said.

Alluding to the pipeline of funds into this community from Congressman Hal Rogers, Anderson encouraged maximum utilization of the resources the 5th District congressman has made available.

“At some point in time ... and I hope it’s a long time ... we won’t be able to rely on these funds,” Anderson said, adding: “And we need to be able to survive without these blessings.”

Anderson plans to focus on industry during his year as chamber president. He said the chamber has among its members many from the industrial segment, but there is not the participation he wants.

“We need to visit our industries and learn their impact on our community,” said Anderson. He expressed a desire to have a focus on industries similar to the focus on education, a current highlight of the chamber’s monthly membership meetings.

“Finally, we’re wanting to step up to a different level with our guest speakers,” Anderson revealed. “We’d like to bring in top speakers. When we have subjects of great interest to the community, schedule a speaker in these areas.”

Anderson suggested that with cooperation from businesses and industries, training seminars can be held near the date of the monthly chamber meetings and topnotch speakers could evolve from these sessions.

“We might get businesses and industries to pay fees for employees to attend the training sessions and (chamber) speakers could be paid from resources around the training seminars,” he said.

The incoming president wants to get all facets of the community involved in the chamber, specifically those among the overflow crowds at the monthly membership meetings.

Also, Anderson said an effort will be made to keep the chamber luncheons on schedule. “We’ll try to concentrate on a good solid hour and get out on time.” Anderson noted a tendency to allow chamber meetings to extend past 1 p.m., possibly creating a problem for business people who attend the chamber meeting during their lunch hour.

Anderson said he would like to regularly meet with officials of city and county governments to determine their goals and work with them to attain these goals.

A gavel, symbolic of chamber leadership, will be presented to Anderson by outgoing president Jack Wilhelm during the installation banquet. Also to be installed are Chuck Coldiron, general manager of Hyundai of Somerset, as first vice president of the chamber, and Cathy Epperson, chief executive officer of The Adanta Group, will be installed as second vice president.

Coldiron is scheduled to assume the presidency of the chamber in 2009. He will succeed Anderson. Epperson, according to the line of succession, will be elevated to first vice president in 2009 and become president in 2010.

New members of the chamber’s board of directors elected for three-year terms are John Gillum and Geeta Rodrigues. Don Haney was re-elected.

Chamber board members and the segment of business they represent are:

Health -- Jeff Seraphine

Real Estate -- Julie Hamilton

Banking -- Doug Parkey

Education -- Tim Eaton

Non-profit -- Larry Combs

Retirees -- Marion Price

At Large -- Jack McNeely

Service Industry -- Jeff Adams

At Large -- John Gillum

Industry -- Mike Chandler

Agriculture -- Don Haney

At Large -- Tony Honeycut

At Large -- Geeta Rodriques

Retail -- Leah Taylor

Chamber staff members include Jack Keeney, executive director; Janet Haynes, administrative assistant; and Roger Gover, financial officer.

Tickets for the banquet, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. January 25, are available at the chamber office. Telephone 679-7323. Individual tickets are $25 and a table of eight is available for $175.

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