Page 3 - 2013 FINAL DCOC Annual Report

DeKalb Chamber President’s Letter

Leonardo McClarty
President

Dear Chamber Members and Friends:
Other highlights include the formative development of a
Another year has come and gone and for your DeKalb countywide economic development strategic plan.
Chamber quite a year it was. During the past year, The Chamber along with partners like the Development
DeKalb County was beset with various community Authority of DeKalb County and other community partners
challenges, yet the DeKalb Chamber proved to be a rock also began examining County operational procedures in
of stability. In addition, the DeKalb Chamber celebrated hopes of making DeKalb County even more attractive to
75 years of service to DeKalb County. Throughout our business and industry.
illustrious 75 year history, the DeKalb Chamber has always
provided community leadership when it was needed most Not to just be locally focused, we participated with regional
and the same can be said for 2013. The Chamber began development agencies on an economic development
the year with a theme centered on collaboration and competitiveness strategy that when completed will make
partnership and in that spirit we worked with DeKalb County the metro Atlanta region more competitive in job creation
Government and the DeKalb County School District during and workforce development.
periods of extreme difficulty. I am proud of the
support extended to Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May and We supported our future workforce by awarding scholarships
Superintendent Michael Thurmond. In the midst of to graduating DeKalb County seniors. We demonstrated
uncertainty, we all laid the groundwork for triumph our commitment to professional development as we raised
and prosperity. additional funds to send members of DeKalb School District
leadership to Harvard University for a week.
The Chamber began to work closer with our municipalities.
We added two city representatives to our board of directors The DeKalb Chamber was afforded many successes in the
and made a conscious effort to host events and programs past year but none of it would have been possible without our
in many of our cities. The Chamber continued to exhibit board of directors, members, and community stakeholders.
our dedication to our members by evaluating and enhancing I thank you for a great 75th anniversary year and look
our programs and services. We launched a new and forward to many outstanding accomplishments in the
improve Executive Speaker Series and Young Professionals days ahead.
program. We also became further involved in the DeKalb
County community by building a Habitat for Humanity
house and hosting a day of service for the Salvation Army
Boys & Girls Club.

03
2013 ANNUAL REPORT