Page 18 - 2014 DCOC Annual Report

Chamber Initiatives #ThisIsMyDeKalb

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce’s successful Executive Speakers Series, which features
metro-Atlanta's top business leaders to discuss economic development, education, and public
policy with members continued in 2014. One of the events featured host Sam Zamarripa, former
Georgia State Senator and current President at Zamarripa Capital Incorporated as the keynote
speaker. The event was held in Chamblee, one of the most diverse cities in DeKalb County, with
nearly 60 percent Hispanic residents or business owners. The issue discussed was immigration and
the workforce and partners included, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Association
of Latino Elected Officials, Chamblee Chamber of Commerce, and The DeKalb Chamber Foundation.

There was also another Executive Speaker Series held in June that focused on the adoption and
implementation of the Common Core Performance Standards in Georgia Schools (CCGPS). This was
to address Georgia joining 44 other states, the District of Columbia (D.C.), and two territories, along
with the Department of Defense Education Activity, in formally adopting a set of core standards for
kindergarten through high school in English language arts, mathematics, and grades 6-12 literacy
in science, history/social studies, and technical subjects. Panelists included Ann Cramer, Senior
Consultant of Coxe Curry & Associates; Allene Magill, Ed.D. Executive Director of Professional
Association of Georgia Educators; Kathy S. Howe, Ph.D., deputy superintendent of Curriculum and
Instruction, DeKalb County School District; and Steve Dollinger, Ed. D., President of the Georgia
Partnership for Excellence in Education.

WOMEN EXECUTIVE LEADERS OF DEKALB
The Dekalb Chamber of Commerce established a women’s business leader affinity group in 2014
called Women Executive Leaders of DeKalb (WELD). The WELD initiative serves as a global
gateway of multicultural and multi-generational women in progressive and traditional business
industries. Our mission is to share and deliver innovative and sustainable solutions that impact
women executives, emerging leaders, and women business owners in metro Atlanta, through
Chamber programming and events.

In the spirit of fostering community and leadership, the Chick-fil-A Foundation sponsored a free
Community Leadership Speaker Series breakfast in April 2014 and invited WELD to participate in
this unique opportunity.

WELD also held its first Ladies Golf Clinic during the Chamber’s annual golf classic.

BUSINESS NOW
In 2014 the Chamber wanted to help address the cost of doing business for business owners.
In our efforts to continue to support small business, a constituency that makes up a significant
portion of our membership, we partnered with Now Account Inc to offer easy cashflow solutions
that help businesses stimulate growth.

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