strander WHAT S INSIDE

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1 GRA RAND strander ISSUE 677 NOV THE O FFICIAL NEWSLETTER O F THE MYRTLE BEAC H AREA C HAMBER O F COMMERCEE FIVE STAR ANNUAL MEETING huge success The 71st annual membershi meeting brought together the leadershi and membershi of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the accomlishments of the ast year and launch new chamber initiatives. At the luncheon we also saluted area businesses individuals for community service, business excellence and customer relations. The five-star event, sonsored by WMBF News, Pace Communications, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Visit Media and RBC Bank, was held Oct. 29 at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel. The day included several educational sessions touching on social media, team building, communication and working with the local media. Dr. Donald Schunk, research economist with the BB&T Center for Economic and Community Develoment Your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is continuing its ShoOurMembers.com camaign over the holidays from Nov. 9-Dec. 20. Locals, visitors and chamber members are encouraged to kee their money in our community by suorting MBACC businesses during the holiday season. Watch & Listen As an added incentive to Sho Our Members, our media artners will be giving away $25 gi cards to send at our member businesses. It s easy to win. Just fli your at Coastal Carolina University, resented the Grand Strand economic forecast. Joe Scarborough, American cable news and talk radio host, author and former olitician, resented the keynote address. Scarborough is host of MSNBC s Morning Joe and The Joe Scarborough Show on ABC Radio Network. Steve Chaman, immediate ast chairman of the MBACC board of directors, and Brant Branham, board of directors chairman, looked at the chambers accomlishments and initiatives for the new year. For a look back at a few of your chamber s recent achievements, visit MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and view the annual membershi meeting video. Annual Meeting, See Page 8 TV channel or tune your radio to WBTW News 13, WMBF News, WPDE NewsChannel 15 and NextMedia Radio: Wave 104.1, Hot Talk WRNN 99.5, 96.1 WKZQ New Rock and Star Print & Cli Check out articiating Sho Our Members businesses at ShoOurMembers.com. To cash in on these great savings, simly rint and cli the handy couon list. Visit Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce businesses and start saving today! WHAT S INSIDE 3 Behind the Scenes New networking event gives an inside look at chamber businesses. 6 Legislative Luncheon Come out and meet your state reresentatives. CVB Insider On the Road Again CVB Grou Sales hits trade shows to sell the Grand Strand. 11 Pathway to Progress Priority request made for I-73.

2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board Brant Branham E. F. Hucks & Associates, Inc. Immediate Past Chairman Steve Chaman Island Vista Resort Advertising/Publicity Committee Chair Bob Barenberg Hilton Hotels Vice Chairs Nate Anderson Divine Dining Grou Billy Huggins WPDE NewsChannel 15 Business Ethics & Standards Committee Chair Frans Mustert Oceana Resorts Vice Chair Debbie Harwell Adobe Palm Communications Member Julie Alford A&I Restoration, Inc. Convention Bureau Committee Chair Charlie Bradshaw Alabama Theatre Finance Review Committee Chair/Treasurer Franklin Daniels Nexsen Pruet, LLC Fulfillment Committee Chair Phil Vassar Catain s Quarters Resort & Hotel Blue Vice Chair Nate Anderson Divine Dining Grou Legislative Policy Council Chair Buzz Freeman Conway National Bank Vice Chairs Richard Singleton Coldwell Banker Chicora Greg McCollum M. Greg McCollum, PA Membershi Committee Chair Sara Boling CENTURY 21 Boling & Associates, Inc. Vice Chair Wayne Morris The Printing Port North Strand Council Chair Bill McGonigal Best Western Ocean Sands Small Business Council Chair Wayne Morris The Printing Port Vice Chair Julie Alford A & I Fire and Water Restoration South Strand Council Chair Tommy Bouchette South Carolina Bank and Trust Vice Chair Bob Jewell Brookgreen Gardens Young Professionals Council Chair Shannon Cam The Jackson Comanies Marketing Council Chair Ryan Swaim Dunes Realty Vacation Rentals & Sales Vice Chair Woody Crosby Jordan Proerties GRAND RAND strander WHAT S ONLINE MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com CHAMBER EVENTS 4 1/2 QUESTIONS 4 1/2 Questions asks, Why become an ambassador? This month we checked in with Sue White with SendOutCards, who has been an ambassador for 2 years. MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES What s the secret to long-term success in the business community? Establishing lasting and ersonal relationshis with other rofessionals through membershi in the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. During November, 90 members will be celebrating their chamber anniversaries. Read the Grand Strander Online and discover which business has been a chamber member for 29 years. BENEFIT OF THE MONTH The MBACC business directory on MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com is the community s guide to chamber members and the roducts and services that they offer. Your listing in the chamber s online member directory is an automatic benefit of being a MBACC member. To to it off, your business receives five free listings in the directory with a link to your comany s Web site and address. To add new categories, Shannon.Haswell@ VisitMyrtleBeach.com. RIBBON CUTTING The Little White Dress recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Check out their hoto, along with several other ribbon-cutting ceremonies, in the Grand Strander Online. NEW MEMBER OF THE MONTH Palms Chiroractic 220 Ronnie Court, Ste. 3 Myrtle Beach, SC (Behind the Carolina Forest ost office) (843) PALMSCHIRO.com 30-Second Commercial Palms Chiroractic oened in July 2009 offering quality health care through the use of chiroractic and massage theraies. Dr. Matt Lentz and Search For quick access to all of the great features mentioned below, just go to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and click on Grand Strander at the to of the age. EDUCATION PROGRAMS Grand Strander Online MARKETING STRATEGIES MEMBER RESOURCES GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Dr. Steve Garlinger are both graduates of Palmer College of Chiroractic. Together, these doctors share over 30 years of exerience. Although chiroractic is o en associated with headaches, neck and back ain, you do not have to be in ain to benefit from chiroractic care. Chiroractic can hel better your balance, range of motion, flexibility, immune system function, disc health and much more. Call today and let our friendly exerienced staff start you on a ath to wellness. Have a healthy day! Business Goal To increase our atients health and overall quality of life by use of chiroractic, massage, sulementation and active care. BE A STAR This month, the Grand Strander talked with the owners and oerators of J&W Produce, Joshua Johnson and Richie Wheeler. To discover why customers urchase a share of J&W Produce s locally grown, fresh cros read the Grand Strander Online.

3 GRAND strander D iscove r mo re ne t wo rking eve nt s a t My r t le B e a c h A re a Cha mbe r.co m CHAMBER Events Nov m. CHAMBER ACCESS YOUR ALL ACCESS PASS TO THE CHAMBER MBACC Boardroom, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach Chamber Access offers new members, new emloyees of existing members and even longstanding members an oortunity to learn about the many benefits of chamber membershi. Member orientation will familiarize you with the roles of chamber staff and inform you of the best way to maximize the benefits and services of chamber membershi. Particiation is the key to making your membershi work for you. Learn how to take advantage of your MBACC membershi through Chamber Access Your All Access Pass to the Chamber. Free, value-added benefit of chamber membershi Register at ChamberAcademy.com Registration Deadline: Nov. 23 Questions? Call (843) A PEEK INTO MEMBER BUSINESSES Does your business have a unique rogram or secial way of doing business? Does your comany house a showroom or manufacturing area? If so, then your business would be erfect for Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce s newest networking event, Behind the Scenes. This new networking event combines making contacts while learning about unique businesses along the Grand Strand. Hosted by different MBACC businesses at their locations, members get a Behind the Scenes look at fellow member businesses all while enjoying small grou networking. Dec. 17 4:30-7.m. The Village at Queens Harbour 95 Loyola Ave., Myrtle Beach BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Come enjoy this fun-filled event featuring one of the hottest local bands, beer, wine and an old-fashioned BBQ. The Village at Queens Harbour is located 1/2 mile south of SC 544 on US 17 Byass. Bring lots of business cards for networking, and don t forget to dro one in the drawing for 1/4 age free advertisement in the Grand Strander. Free, value-added benefit of chamber membershi Register at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com All members must reregister online. Registration Deadline: Dec. 15 Blakely Jenkins, membershi & community rograms manager, at (843) or Blakely.Jenkins@VisitMyrtleBeach.com. How does a host location benefit from Behind the Scenes? The business will receive recognition on invitations and s sent to members, romotional items for distribution at chamber events, listing on MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com with businesses logo and short descrition of business, and a listing in chamber s monthly newsletter, Grand Strander. We are looking for businesses to host these events! To be considered as a host location, your comany must be able to show attendees a true behind the scenes look to your roducts or services. A host is encouraged to give tours, resentations, share a rare rogram, etc. and offer attendees an exerience that they could not get if they just walked in the door. The event lasts one hour, including networking and behind the scenes, so lease limit the resentation to 20 minutes. A business can fill out a Host Interest Form online at ChamberAcademy.com or contact Register today for these free ucoming Behind the Scenes events at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com (click on Chamber Events): Jan. 21 at Costco Wholesale Feb. 23 at Ocean Breeze Awnings March at WMBF News (Date TBD) Aril 6 at Fogo Do Brazil

4 CHAMBER Academy GRAND RAND strander Register for classes at ChamberAcademy.com Classes for the Chamber Academy are held in the boardroom (unless otherwise noted) at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach. Register at ChamberAcademy.com. Payment due at time of registration. No refunds or rescheduling. To learn more, contact Blakely Jenkins, membershi & community rograms manager, or (843) Discover more educational oortunities by signing u for the Education Udates e-newsletter at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, click on Sign u for enews SERIES TOPIC PRESENTED BY DATE/TIME COST SIGN UP BY Technology Series Intro to QuickBooks Horry-Georgetown Technical College Nov a.m.-4.m. $60 for members $100 for general ublic 11/09 DESCRIPTION: QuickBooks makes bookkeeing more efficient by comuterizing daily financial tasks: invoicing, managing ayroll, tracking sales, roducing balance sheets and reconciling accounts. Automatic udates ensure greater accuracy and eliminate the need for calculators and sreadsheets. QuickBooks can be customized to meet each business requirement, thereby knowledge of this versatile so ware is attractive to emloyers. In this one day class you will get a basic introduction to QuickBooks and gain some insight on how it can benefit you and your business. LOCATION: Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Grand Strand Camus, Myrtle Beach. From U.S. 17 Byass, turn into the backgate of the former Air Force Base and travel aroximately two miles. Turn right on Crabtree Lane and the Conference Center (Room 603) is the building on the le at the end of Crabtree SERIES TOPIC PRESENTED BY DATE/TIME COST SIGN UP BY LGS Alumni Association Educational Series Imrov Your Business Gina Trimarco, Carolina Imrov Co. Oct a.m. $10 LGS Alumni Association members $20 MBACC members $45 general ublic DESCRIPTION: It s not a tyo. We meant to say Imrov instead of Imrove. If you re tired of the same old, traditional training rograms, consider an imrov (imrovisation) training rogram that enhances your innate abilities to imrovise in a way that will imrove your business (and ersonal) skills. Based on imrov comedy, this tye of training is becoming more oular amongst comanies to hel emloyees in several areas, including team building, communication, listening, flexibility to change, innovation, roblem solving, quick thinking and overall roductivity. LOCATION: Fire station at th Ave. N. 11/ SERIES TOPIC PRESENTED BY DATE/TIME COST SIGN UP BY Business Breakfast Financial Choices That Matter Most Jeff Gronde, The Prudential Insurance Co. Nov. 19 7:45-9:45 a.m. $10 for members $45 for general ublic 11/18 DESCRIPTION: Enjoy our first Business Breakfast seminar. Life has many financial choices; family, home, education, retirement, caring for arents and others. In Financial Choices That Matter Most, we will hel you identify the choices that matter most to you. Some toics that will be covered include: How do you become wealthy? How does your money work for you? What is your biggest asset and how do you kee it? Is tax deferral good? How can you rotect your investments? How can you manage risks?

5 GRAND strander SERIES TOPIC PRESENTED BY DATE/TIME COST SIGN UP BY Technology Series Intermediate Excel Horry-Georgetown Technical College Dec. 1 9 a.m.-12.m. $25 for members $45 for general ublic 11/30 DESCRIPTION: In this intermediate Excel training you will learn absolutes, charts and grahs, advanced formulas and integrating Excel into other Microso rograms. You must have basic knowledge of Excel to attend this class. LOCATION: Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Grand Strand Camus, Myrtle Beach. From U.S. 17 Byass, turn into the backgate of the former Air Force Base and travel aroximately two miles. Turn right on Crabtree Lane and the Conference Center (Room 603) is the building on the le at the end of Crabtree. SHARE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT Join us for a communitywide holiday celebration featuring secial kids activities, festive holiday entertainment, and the official lighting of the city s Christmas tree! Christmas Towne, Horry County s free community holiday event, will take lace Dec. 13 from 1 to 7.m. at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center outdoor events laza. This year s event will be even more sectacular as Christmas Towne moves to Sunday with extended event hours. Bring the entire family and have a free hoto taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Sing along with our holiday choirs, browse Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce members booths featuring free children rojects, and enjoy comlimentary refreshments. Hel create holiday memories by setting u a vendor booth at this merry event. Purchase a 10-by-10 romotional sace for $50 without electricity or $75 with electricity. Due to sace limitations, only 25 booth saces will be available. All members need to do is agree to rovide a meaningful activity for children in their dislay area. Members are allowed to dislay signage or romotional material in their sace, but are not allowed to sell goods due to the free community nature of the event. This benefit is limited to select members that are aroved for articiation by an event committee. To articiate, go online to MyrtleBeachChristmasTowne.com, comlete the dislay sace alication and return by Nov. 20. Sonsorshis for Christmas Towne also are available for an affordable rice. With more than 8,000 in attendance last year and the extended hours this year, sonsoring Christmas Towne will rovide your business with valuable romotion and a substantial return on investment. Visit MyrtleBeachChristmasTowne.com for more information.

6 GRAND strander MBACC AMBASSADORS: Goodwill arm of the chamber The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce s ambassadors are members who volunteer their time to rovide a crucial link between the chamber and its members. They ensure that all members receive the maximum benefit from their investment. Ambassadors are in the center of business activity for the community. They enjoy the rewards of making new contacts, strengthening relationshis and accessing a wealth of information and resources. Their rimary resonsibilities are to hel in the retention of members and recruitment of new members. Why become a chamber ambassador? A s an ambas s ador, you w ill gain busine s s e x osure by being the first to meet chamber members REAL ESTATE LEGISLATION Join the Legislative Policy Council for an informative discussion on real estate legislation. The meeting will be held in MBACC s boardroom at 1200 N. Oak St. starting at 9 a.m. To register for this session, go to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com. Sace is limited, so register early. Nov. 6 from 9-10:30 a.m. Point of Sale Real Estate Legislation Guest Seaker: Steven Neeves, Government Affairs director, Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS and ut your comany s name in the forefront. By volunteering at chamber events and attending the monthly ambassador meetings, your business is ket current on what is going on within the chamber and community. As an added bonus, you and your comany are eligible for monthly and yearly award recognition. Join today If you are interested in becoming a chamber ambassador, visit MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and click on Member Resources, Ambassador Program. Or you can contact Pat Creed, membershi rograms manager, at (843) or Pat.Creed@VisitMyrtleBeach.com. Ambassadors of the Month Congratulations to Jenafor Braley with O3 World Weight Management, who earned Ambassador of the Month for Setember. Braley is serving her fi h year as an ambassador. Alause to David Powers with Ocean Breeze Awnings & More, who earned the second highest total oints for Setember. Powers is serving his second year as an ambassador. CHAMBER HOSTS ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON If you re eager to hear what state officials have to say about health care reform, the economy, transortation, taxes and other issues affecting your business, don t miss this year s Legislative Luncheon. Your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2009 Legislative Luncheon Dec. 9 from 11:45 a.m.-2.m. at the Marriott Resort and Sa at Grande Dunes (Oleander Ballroom), 8400 Costa Verde Dr., Myrtle Beach. The cost to attend is $35 for MBACC members or $45 for the general ublic (same rices as last year). Register at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, click on Chamber Events. Registration deadline is Dec. 7. As the Grand Strander went to ress, the following legislators were scheduled to attend: Sens. Ray Cleary, Dick Elliott and Luke Rankin; Res. Alan Clemmons, Nelson Hardwick, George Hearn, Tracy Edge, Liston Barfield, Vida Miller and Thad Viers. The 2009 Legislative Luncheon is hosted by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and sonsored by the Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS.

7 GRAND strander 10 REASONS to be thankful 2009 is almost over and what a year it s been. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it s a good time to take a moment to give thanks for some noteworthy accomlishments. In fact, here are Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce s to 10 reasons to be thankful this holiday season: 10. gsscene gsscene, MBACC s young rofessionals grou, celebrated its first anniversary. During the first year, the rogram had a membershi of 522 young rofessionals, hosted events that have raised more than $3,700 for local charities, and articiated in several community service rojects. 9. Additional Air Service Recently, we ve seen growth in airort traffic, while the rest of the nation exeriences staggering declines. During the first half of 2009, airort traffic was consistently down 10 ercent to 20 ercent. But in the most recent quarter, traffic to our airort grew by 4 ercent and by 10 ercent the month of Setember. Soon, we look forward to joining our artners at the airort and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday in announcing new air service. 8. Hurricane Free For the second year in a row, we enjoyed a summer of great weather with no direct hits from a hurricane. Let s hoe for a trile th Annual Canadian-American Days Festival, 56th Annual Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo, 58th Annual Sun Fun Festival and 4th Annual Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival Year a er year, thanks to loyal visitors and our locals too, these chamber-sonsored festivals continue to draw enthusiastic festival fans. 6. Priority Request Made for I-73 In Setember, the South Carolina Deartment of Transortation submitted a request to the United States Deartment of Transortation for $300 million to continue construction on I-73. This was SCDOT s only request for funding through the USDOT TIGER Discretionary Grant rogram, a $1.5 billion grant rogram funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (i.e., stimulus lan). SCDOT ledged $60 million of available funds to be aired with this grant, which would start construction of I-73 in the Pee Dee region. If fully funded this would allow for comletion of the I-95/I-73 interchange in Dillon County, as well as 10 miles of interstate highway. Clearly, this would be a huge ste forward for I-73. To learn more, turn to Page Sorts Market Thanks to the home run hits of CVB Grou Sales, the Myrtle Beach area is becoming a layer in the sorts market. USA Judo has selected Myrtle Beach as the site for its 2010 Senior National Chamionshis. The event will take lace FROM My Desk Aril 30, 2010, to May 2, Last month, the chamber announced the inaugural Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon Weekend October 2010, 2011 and And the USA Triathlon selected Myrtle Beach as the site for the 2010 USA Triathlon National Chamionshi Festival to be held Nov. 6, Five-Star Accreditation The United States Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce its five-star accreditation for sound olicies, effective organizational rocedures and ositive imact on the community. Of the 6,936 chambers in the United States, 260 (less than 4 ercent) of those are accredited and only 49 (19 ercent) have earned the five-star ranking. 3. 1% Tourism Fee Your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce successfully led the effort to ass and imlement historic legislation creating a tourism develoment fee, which will fund recurring tourism romotion, owner-occuied roerty taxes and tourism-related infrastructure. 2. Marketing Camaigns Boost Web Site Visits The summer and fall marketing camaigns, aid for by the enny sales tax increase, have heled to drive record traffic to the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau s tourism Web site, VisitMyrtleBeach.com. With 636,928 unique visitors in June 2009, the site tallied ercent more visits than in June Click-throughs from the Web site to CVB s tourism industry member sites also skyrocketed, with 973,668 in June 2009 vs. 762,952 during the same month in During the busiest hour on one of the busiest days of the year (June 15, 2009), 2,316 unique visitors checked out VisitMyrtleBeach.com. That s one unique visitor every 1.6 seconds. In addition, VisitMyrtleBeach.com was featured on the AOL.com home age generating more than 50,000 unique visits in eight hours; Myrtle Beach destination videos were viewed 46,120 times on YouTube.com; and Myrtle Beach gained featured destination of the week exosure in Travelzoo s 11.2 million subscriber base. 1. You While the national economic downturn has imacted our local economy, current members and new businesses still continue to see the benefits of chamber membershi. Today, we reresent nearly 3,000 businesses and 50,000 emloyees, the largest membershi in our 71-year history. The strength of the chamber comes from you, our members. While this year was filled with many challenges, the Grand Strand is well-ositioned for great things to come. On behalf of the staff and board of directors of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, thank you for your suort. Brad Dean President & CEO

8 Community Service Award Building Quality of Life is a hrase that has been reiterated by Burroughs & Chain Co. throughout the years. Whether it s a donation of the land where the Myrtle Beach State Park sits or a financial contribution to the Long Bay Symhony, this rivately held, family comany has been making an imact on our community for more than a century. Business Innovation Award Carolina Imrov Co. has turned nontraditional training techniques into a hot new coaching tool for businesses. This comany uses imrovisational theater techniques to imrove communication, develo team building skills and increase creativity. This year s winner wants you to think innovative and go against the grain to bring on ositive changes. Oerating Green Award Whether it s imroving the habitat for woodeckers or conserving the Longleaf Pines, GRAND RAND strander FIVE STAR SALUTE to chamber members this environmental-friendly reservation has been a haven for lant life and animals since Along with eco-friendly outdoor olicies, Brookgreen Gardens takes the three R s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to a whole new level with containers for cardboard, lastic, aluminum and glass. Small Business of the Year Award While this ast year, the economy has taken its toll on all kinds of businesses, this comany didn t sit back on its heels. Instead it attacked and carved out an entirely new business model. From full-fledged dinner service to an early bird menu, Croissants Bistro & Bakery realized it wasn t suer as usual. While it s still comfort food at a comforting rice, the evening is now a Euro-cool" gathering lace. Hositality Emloyee of the Year Michele Micki Sisson has been a front desk reresentative for Island Vista Resort for 10 years. She makes every guest feel as if they are the most imortant erson in the world. In fact, this year s winner took one guest s recyclables to a recycling center during her free time. Island Vista better watch out, Brookgreen Gardens may try to recruit this year s Hositality Emloyee of the Year. Young Professional of the Year Knowledgeable, recognizable and resected throughout the area sums u this year s winner. Jenifer Sweat, FSA- Full Steam Ahead Inc. Fire and Water Restoration, is not only an excellent liaison for her emloyer, she is a tremendous asset to the nonrofit community. Sweat is a founding member of gsscene. Ambassador of the Year Jenafor Braley with O3 World Weight Management, has served as an ambassador for 4 years. Braley earned Ambassador of the Month four times, made 600 telehone calls to members, attended 12 ambassador meetings, five Chamber Access new member orientation recetions, eight ribboncutting ceremonies and articiated in three Membershi Renewal Phone-a-Thons. Braley also volunteered eight hours at the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival and Christmas Towne. This is the second consecutive time Braley has been named Ambassador of the Year.

9 GRAND strander Our next two awards, the Pioneer and Citizen of the Year, will be formally resented at the President s Gala. The event will be held Nov. 12 at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes. Citizen of the Year Woody Crosby s unmatched leadershi and behind the scenes tenacity is a major reason that the Grand Strand has grown to the level it is today. This year s winner is a timeless worker for the chamber, Myrtle Beach Area Hositality Association and an overall ambassador for the Myrtle Beach area. Crosby, resident/ceo of Jordan Proerties, was a driving force behind the 1 ercent tourism tax and is a tireless advocate for airort redeveloment and air carrier exansion. Ashby Ward Pioneer of the Year A ioneer in the truest sense, this year s reciient has worked hard to build our community into a better lace. Although James Benton has been successful in his business (retired from C.L. Benton & Sons), as a quiet hilanthroist he has given back tenfold. A native of Myrtle Beach, one of the community issues Benton has always stressed is education and the need for excellence in academia. MBACC thanks volunteers The winners of the 2009 Volunteer of the Year award and Chairman s Choice award were announced during the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Celebration held Oct. 6 at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes. Close to 130 guests attended. During the Volunteer Celebration, the chamber aid tribute to a business that eitomizes the sirit of giving back in our community, and esecially to the chamber. This year, the Chairman s Choice award went to Santee Cooer, South Carolina s state-owned electric and water utility and the state s largest ower roducer. A chamion of conservation and energy efficiency for more than 40 years, Santee Cooer set an aggressive goal two years ago: To generate 40 ercent of its ower by 2020 from nongreenhouse gas emitting resources, biomass fuels, conservation and energy efficiency. In 2001 Santee Cooer oened the Horry County Landfill Generating Station, the state s first Green Power station, which converts naturally occurring methane gas from decomosing refuse into an electrical fuel source. Santee Cooer also has a solar energy avilion at Coastal Carolina University and, with Horry Electrical Cooerative, a Green Power Solar School demonstration roject at Aynor Middle School. Partnering with CCU, Santee Cooer is studying offshore wind energy, lacing the state among the nation s leaders in offshore wind energy research. This year Santee Cooer unveiled a new energy efficiency rogram aimed at annual energy savings of 209 gigawatt hours by Additional rograms are on ta later this year to make existing and new homes more energy efficient. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has more than 500 volunteers that serve on committees and hel at festivals, exos and networking events. One of these excetional volunteers is Julie Konicky, our 2009 Volunteer of the Year. Konicky has served on the board of regents for Leadershi Grand Strand since She is vice chair of the LGS board and will serve as chairerson for the 2010 term. Konicky also devotes herself to numerous LGS board subcommittees. As if Leadershi Grand Strand does not consume enough of her time, Konicky also is a founding member of gsscene, the chamber s young rofessional grou, and has been instrumental in growing this grou by serving on the events subcommittee. When not serving on the board of regents for LGS or involved in a gsscene roject, Konicky somehow fits into her busy schedule working full time as the marketing director for United Way of Horry County.

10 PR Hotsot GRAND strander HOSTING MEDIA AT YOUR BUSINESS, PART 2: Tis before, during and a er agreeing to host media by Kimberly Miles, ublic relations manager Hosting media at your business is an oortunity to get free media exosure. Quality travel articles ublished in magazines, newsaers, and online carry more credibility with consumers than aid advertisements. In last month s PR Hotsot, I exlained the dos and don ts of screening the media to make sure you have a legitimate journalist to host. Once a business accets a media hosting, here are a few tis to create ositive exeriences the media will want to ublish. When hosting any journalists at your business, make sure all staff is notified of their visit in advance. O en times, only senior management will know and additional staff will not. A front desk erson or hostess may be the first erson to greet the media and you want to make sure you are giving them the best ossible welcome. If you have a ress kit of your business or other materials that will hel the media know about your business, ut them together in advance and make sure to have it ready to give them when they arrive. For lodging roerties, a member of uer management should insect the hotel room. This includes looking behind doors and dressers, under beds and making sure everything in the room is in working order. A welcome gi to the journalist is certainly accetable to give, but kee in mind some news media are unable to accet gi s due to comany ethics rules. You don t need to go overboard to romote your business to the journalist once they arrive. Media like to exerience your business just the way other guests do. Certainly offer to answer any questions they may have, but also let them exerience things for themselves. Immediately a er the journalists visit, follow u if asked to suly additional information otherwise touch base within a week to make sure they have everything they need. Thank them for their visit and add them to your media distribution list for sending ress releases. It is not advised to hound the journalist continuously to ask when their story is to be ublished. As much as we would like them to, don t exect them to send you a coy of the article either a er it is written. Instead, do your own research and monitoring for the story. If you are unable to find anything on your own, a er a month or two, just send a quick to touch base on the story and offer any additional assistance. Ti: The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber/CVB uses a media monitoring service to find rint and online stories on travel and tourism in the Myrtle Beach area. You can always check with the CVB for assistance with your search. What would you like to learn or see in a future PR Hot Sot? Want to be involved in this area s ublic relations efforts? Have a PR related question? You can reach Kimberly Miles at (843) or Kimberly.Miles@VisitMyrtleBeach.com. Print and Online Publicity Values Setember 2009 Newsaer Articles 34 Nondaily Newsaer Articles 4 Consumer Magazine Articles 6 Trade Magazine Articles 10 Web Articles 105 Total Circulation 83,406,204 Publicity Value $1,104,996 Year-to-Date Ad Value for Myrtle Beach Travel News $19,963,550

11 Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau INSIDER PROMOTING AND MARKETING a world-class destination We ve used the hrase world class destination for the several years when describing the Myrtle Beach area. I ve written it many times in editorial and soken it even more when communicating with writers, grou lanners and event organizers. As a true believer in this statement, it s easy for me to say. But nothing hits home like overhearing that hrase, totally unsolicited, from a visitor that s just exerienced it firsthand. I was waiting at the Myrtle Beach airort last month for my dearting flight, taking care of some last minute s and minding my own business. There was a gentleman a few seats down seaking rather loudly on his cell hone, exlaining that he was in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a conference and hadn t visited the area in more than 15 years. I stayed at a world class hotel, right on the ocean. It was 85 degrees and sunny great tri, he said. I smiled and boarded my lane for another sales mission to romote our world class destination! Selling the Grand Strand as a grou destination is the main job for the Grou Sales Division of the Myrtle Beach Area CVB. One of the rimary tasks in doing so is to build awareness, both nationally and internationally, for the area and all that we offer for conventioneers, motorcoach travelers and sorts grous. The staff increases awareness by directing their marketing strategies through resentations, sonsorshis, advertising, ublic relations, media, and networking at trade shows and industry events by Danna Lilly, CMP, director of sales With cometition as tough as it is in the market today, it never hurts to offer creative ideas to get lanners to notice your roduct and more easily get the communications started. Below are a coule of our favorites from the ast few months that we wanted to share. Money Matters? In late August, we articiated in 2009 Connect Marketlace, a reverse trade show marketing to meeting and social lanners that book a minimum of 300 rooms or more er stay. This articular show offered two oortunities in one tri, re-scheduled aointments with lanners for two days and a sonsorshi oortunity that would allow us resentation time in front of 500 lanners and industry rofessionals. When CVB staff members Danna Lilly, CMP, director of sales, and Ursula Grant, association sales manager, realized that the event was scheduled for Las Vegas, they knew they needed to come u with an idea to not only make them stand out among cometing destinations but also to fit into the exciting aura of sin city. It only made sense to tie a destination marketing tool into the gambling theme, and so they did. At the oening session breakfast, sonsored by the Myrtle Beach CVB, Lilly and Grant laced money clis with the Visit Myrtle Beach logo at every lace setting. The money cli contained a cris November 2009 $1 bill wraed around a dollar sized card, which romoted a secial booking incentive secifically designed for Connect Marketlace attendees. We were overwhelmed with the attention this drew. Lilly noted, It conveniently tied into the oening seakers message and we have already received some great leads as a result of the incentive. In fact, the money clis were such a hit, that Connect magazine editor (an online and rint ublication directed at organizers of secialty meetings and events) and avid blogger, Christine Born blogged, Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau sonsored Bruce Turkel s session, Branding and Marketing Your Event, and stole the show with a great examle of marketing and integration. It was a memorable, creative attention-getter that amused and delighted attendees, acted as a conversation icebreaker as eole sat down, and earned more recognition for the sonsor when Turkel used it as an examle for one of his branding oints make an emotional connection. Attending this trade show allows us to showcase the Myrtle Beach area to meeting lanners who ut a lot of heads in beds. We met one-on-one World-Class, See CVB Insider Back Page VisitMyrtleBeach.com November 2009

12 $1,500,000 $1,125,000 $750,000 $375,000 30% -26.8% -4.5% 1.8% HORRY COUNTY ADMISSIONS TAX -30.6% -0.2% -18.4% -10.9% -3.5% -25.5% -15.3% 4.2% Percentages Shown Are Percent Change From Previous Year $0 Aug 08 Se 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09 Mar 09 Ar 09 May 09 Jun 09 Jul 09 $1,458,563 $556,258 $617,133 $621,607 $366,849 $300,112 $347,932 $678,792 $987,078 $675,239 $1,061,001 $1,455,540 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50, % -27.2% 4.5% 19.9% GEORGETOWN COUNTY ADMISSIONS TAX -15.1% -0.3% -25% -4.4% % -5.7% -8.8% 44% $0 Aug 08 Se 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09 Mar 09 Ar 09 May 09 Jun 09 Jul 09 $70,375 $61,920 $116,165 $76,208 $36,563 $46,605 $72,635 $116,329 $142,985 $110,496 $58,191 $63,695 Convention & Visitors Bureau HORRY COUNTY ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COLLECTION $4,000,000 $3,000, % -8.6% -14.6% $2,000, % -21.4% $1,000, % -7.3% -7.6% -24% -29.5% 3.5% -18.2% $0 Aug 08 Se 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09 Mar 09 Ar 09 May 09 Jun 09 Jul 09 $2,658,074 $933,300 $669,689 $456,076 $256,469 $269,683 $395,972 $662,891 $1,019,581 $1,149,159 $2,213,337 $3,056,237 GEORGETOWN COUNTY ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COLLECTION $400, % $300, % -12.8% $200, % $100, % 9.5% -1.7% 18.3% 110.2% -14.4% -18.2% -31.8% $0 Aug 08 Se 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09 Mar 09 Ar 09 May 09 Jun 09 Jul 09 $284,645 $91,491 $56,834 $40,974 $67,004 $17,539 $24,612 $37,800 $70,163 $99,400 $224,278 $344,034 Percentages Shown Are Percent Change From Previous Year HORRY COUNTY GROSS RETAIL SALES $1,100,000,000 $825,000,000 $550,000,000 $275,000, % -20.3% -11.3% -9.9% -16.2% -18.1% -10.5% -15.1% -19.6% -11.3% -14.1% -15.1% Percentages Shown Are Percent Change From Previous Year $0 Aug 08 Se 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09 Mar 09 Ar 09 May 09 Jun 09 Jul 09 $918,607,616 $672,118,686 $563,572,991 $540,606,805 $562,613,878 $422,772,834 $517,358,684 $584,583,550 $615,868,513 $668,172,831 $805,335,686 $929,354,884 GEORGETOWN COUNTY GROSS RETAIL SALES -2.6% $130,000, % % 1.9% -0.1% 1.0% -6.9% -7.1% -24.8% $97,500, % -17.4% $65,000,000 $32,500,000 $0 Aug 08 Se 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09 Mar 09 Ar 09 May 09 Jun 09 Jul 09 $124,347,100 $111,954,396 $97,503,863 $90,491,183 $93,967,746 $70,648,740 $82,686,714 $94,619,533 $91,775,263 $109,328,268 $120,329,093 $118,814,002 For more information regarding additional research conducted by the chamber, contact Wendy Bernstein at Wendy.Bernstein@VisitMyrtleBeach.com Sources: S.C. Deartments of PRT and Revenue November 2009 VisitMyrtleBeach.com

13 700, , ,000 UNIQUE User Sessions ,000, , ,000 ADVERTISER Referrals , ,000 $0 $0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Jan Feb Mar Ar May Jun Jan Feb Mar Ar May Jun % Change 23.95% 31.85% 39.09% 11.52% 2.32% 42.12% % Change 17.01% 28.37% 38.07% 3.88% 3.76% 27.62% , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,952 Jul Aug Set Oct Nov Dec Jul Aug Set Oct Nov Dec % Change 69.30% 72.76% 70.36% % Change 53.25% 44.36% 54.25% , , , , , , , , , , , ,706 For more information, contact: Bill.Rosenthal@VisitMyrtleBeach.com YEAR OVER YEAR YTD Referral Click % Change* Category % Change Lodging % Amusements +8.68% Theaters % Dining % Shoing % Watersorts % Weddings % Golf % Additional Services % * Jan. 1 - Set. 30 Convention & Visitors Bureau OCCUPANCY PERCENT PER ROOM WEEK* (August 30, 2009 October 3, 2009) 100% AVERAGE DAILY RATE PER ROOM WEEK* (August 30, 2009 October 3, 2009) $150 JULY AIRPORT ARRIVALS 80,000 75% $120 60,000 PERCENT 50% 25% 50.37% 53.59% $87.87 $90 $84.03 DOLLARS $60 $30 ARRIVALS 40,000 20,000 0% Jan Feb Mar Ar May Jun % 40.09% 49.82% 52.82% 50.13% 67.79% % 49.96% 55.21% 54.75% 45.91% 65.42% % 53.01% 64.18% 69.10% 60.85% 74.59% Jul Aug Set Oct Nov Dec % 65.31% % 73.73% 52.17% 55.87% 39.88% 25.22% % 75.78% 62.40% 54.25% 39.86% 24.74% $ Jan Feb Mar Ar May Jun 2009 $55.45 $67.68 $81.07 $97.33 $91.73 $ $58.54 $73.02 $82.28 $99.05 $89.34 $ $55.95 $71.90 $83.84 $98.29 $ $ Jul Aug Set Oct Nov Dec 2009 $ $ $ $ $83.14 $77.98 $69.80 $ $ $ $93.15 $76.80 $68.82 $ Change Arrivals 87,109 86, % *Dr. Taylor Damonte, Director Clay Brittain, Jr. Center for Resort Tourism Coastal Carolina University tdamonte@coastal.edu Source: Horry County Deartment of Airorts HELP US HELP YOU Provide data to CCU By sending in your weekly numbers, you will be roviding valuable data that hels us to kee udated information. For more information, lease contact Dr. Taylor Damonte, director of Clay Brittain, Jr. Center for Resort Tourism at Coastal Carolina University, tdamonte@coastal.edu. VisitMyrtleBeach.com November 2009

14 Convention & Visitors Bureau World-Class, Continued From Cover Page with aroximately 40 lanners and had oortunities to seak with many more during networking events, Grant noted. The one-on-one format makes it easy to talk about the secific needs of the lanners. The fact that our sonsored event was rior to the aointments gave us a great introduction to all the key decision makers, which was erfect timing! Rockin out in Washington, D.C. A er arriving back to Myrtle Beach, Grant acked her bags again and headed to the Hositality Sales and Marketing Association International s Affordable Meetings National and Event Technology Exo at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Nearly 1,400 attendees connected with more than 300 exhibitors, including Myrtle Beach Area CVB Grou Sales Division. Looking for quality resources and destinations to enhance their meetings and events, the two-day exo attracted lanners from all sectors of the industry: association lanners, conference managers, conference lanners, cororate lanners, government lanners, green lanners, indeendent lanners, religious lanners, secial event lanners and trade show managers. This show also offered extensive education seminars and networking oortunities for lanners and suliers. Joining the CVB were reresentatives from Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel, Myrtle Beach Convention Center, The Carolina Ory, Alabama Theatre, Crown Reef Resort, Hilton & Kingston Plantation Resorts, and Sringmaid Beach Resort. To ut in simly, trade shows are about standing in a booth and sharing the benefits of meeting in the Myrtle Beach area. And this held true at the Affordable Meetings exo. However, with 299 other exhibitors selling their destinations to the meeting lanners, the Grand Strand grou knew they had to create a booth that would draw curious sectators into their cubbyhole. With Wii, the latest game console, as a must-have toy on consumers lists, what a better way to draw folks in than to lay the oular Guitar Hero game. Those roviding qualified leads to the Myrtle Beach area also were entered into a drawing for a Wii console. Postcards saying, Wii want you to have a Rockstar meeting in Myrtle Beach! were mailed to the attendees before the exo enticing them to sto by the booth. The Wii concet was such a crowd-leaser that several hundred attendees stoed by the booth. And to to it off, the Grand Strand booth was named Best Booth Overall-Best Onsite Booth Promotion/Marketing for outstanding creation of an effective, attractive environment that communicates their message. We wanted to ique the interest of otential grou business, Grant exlained. The Wii and Rockstar theme drove them to our booth where we were able to market the Myrtle Beach area to hundreds of otential grou lanners. We also allowed attendees to lay the new Wii Resort Sorts, tying into the many resort sorts available in the area. Where in the world is the CVB? Nov Ontario Motorcoach London, Ontario Association Nov National Tour Association Reno, NV Nov USSSA San Diego, CA CVB Grou Sales is busy this month welcoming three grous with 235 attendees. Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Insider is ublished monthly by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC If you have story ideas or questions, lease contact Pat Creed, membershi rograms manager and CVB member liaison, at Pat.Creed@VisitMyrtleBeach.com or (843) Printed by Inlet Printing Co. November 2009 VisitMyrtleBeach.com

15 GRAND strander PRIORITY REQUEST made for I-73 by Brad Dean, MBACC resident & CEO In Setember, the South Carolina Deartment of Transortation (SCDOT) submitted a request to the United States Deartment of Transortation (USDOT) for $300 million to continue construction on I-73. This was SCDOT s only request for funding through the USDOT TIGER Discretionary Grant rogram, a $1.5 billion grant rogram funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (i.e., stimulus lan). SCDOT ledged $60 million of available funds to be aired with this grant, which would start construction of I-73 in the Pee Dee region. If fully funded this would allow for comletion of the I-95/I-73 interchange in Dillon County, as well as 10 miles of interstate highway. Clearly, this would be a huge ste forward for I-73. According to Dr. Don Schunk, the economic imact of this roject would exceed $600 million. Because the grant rogram seeks to create jobs in economically-deressed areas, it makes erfect sense to use TIGER funding for this roject, as the unemloyment rate in the Pee Dee is nearly twice the national average. It would also connect Highway 501 (near Latta) to I-95, which brings the Grand Strand even closer to having direct access to our national interstate system. This grant rogram is extremely cometitive, with hundreds of grant requests submitted, totaling far more than what is available. Because I-73 is a roject of national and regional significance, it will get attention. Because this roject will create hundreds of jobs in an area that deserately needs hel and delivers an economic multilier of nearly 2:1, I-73 should fare well in the cometitive analysis. CO OP CORNER The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce advertising co-os rovide an oortunity to take advantage of negotiated discounted rates in order to stretch ad budgets. The range of co-os available include a variety of online romotions, blasts, magazines and newsaer inserts. Also, the chamber will rovide online creative suort if needed by articiants. To learn more about these oortunities, contact Lynne Boykin, The Brandon Agency, at (843) or Lboykin@thebrandonagency.com. For a comlete list of co-os, go to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and click on Marketing Strategies. Sace is limited for each co-o and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure the discounted rates, each co-o must sell out in order for it to run. Our congressional delegation and their staff are to be commended for their suort of I-73. Congressman Henry Brown continues to advocate endlessly for this roject, and given his seniority on the transortation committee, we have no better advocate for I-73 than Henry Brown. Sen. Lindsey Graham has also given much suort to this roject and we areciate his leadershi. Congressman John Sratt and Majority Whi Jim Clyburn have both been very suortive of this roject and the TIGER grant request. And three other members of our congressional delegation Re. Gresham Barrett, Re. Bob Inglis and Re. Joe Wilson all signed a letter of suort for I-73, even though the roject does not enter their districts. SCDOT Commissioner Danny Issac, a former chamber chairman and local businessman, has worked tirelessly on this roject and was successful in convincing the City of Charleston to ass a resolution suorting I-73. NESA, led by Sen. Hugh Leatherman and Sen. Yancey McGill, was instrumental in heling move this roject request along. And we can be very areciative of the suort and leadershi offered by SCDOT Secretary Buck Limehouse and his team on this articular request. The SCDOT Commission made this their only request for TIGER grant funding, and the SCDOT team ut forth an imressive alication. Whether we get funding for I-73 on this grant request remains to be seen, but the cooerative effort invested at the local, state and federal levels to comete for this funding is a good sign. With this level of suort and commitment, I-73 will truly become a athway to rogress. Sooner rather than later. Note: In order to articiate, members must contribute $1 er rented room night for lodging members or a 1 ercent marketing fee or a nonarticiating advertising cost for activities and dining members. The Grou Travel Leader January 2010 Travel South Tour Planner The Grou Travel Leader is the only monthly newsaer ublished exclusively for the billion-dollar grou and ackage travel markets. The Travel South Tour Planner is a custom-ublished magazine that is mailed with The Grou Travel Leader newsaer. The lanner is overrinted for use at industry conferences and trade shows. Travel South USA uses thousands of overrints of the Travel South magazine for romotions in Canada and elsewhere. Circulation: 30,000 Sace Deadline: 11/20/2009 Ad Size: 1/4 age x5 Ad Cost: $1,170, sace limited to four advertisers

16 GRAND strander NATIONAL AND STATE economic udate The national recession that officially began in December 2007 before intensifying during the fall of 2008, is likely over, if only in a technical sense. Unfortunately, this technical end of the recession is rimarily of interest to economists, while the recession s effects on national, state and local labor markets are likely far from over. Several factors should work to cause a swing in real GDP from negative to ositive growth beginning with the third quarter of First, businesses across the United States have been working through a massive inventory cycle. Inventory levels were drawn down sharly through the first half of Rather than roduce new outut to meet demand, businesses simly burned through their stockiles. However, this inventory drawdown is likely nearing an end. As inventory levels begin to slowly recover, the massive drag of economic growth from the inventory drawdown will disaear. Also, there are more indications that many housing markets across the United States are bottoming out. The shar deterioration in housing over the last several years has been a tremendous drag on the economy. As the recent declines in residential investment fade, their negative contribution to real GDP growth will also disaear. Housing is not likely to drive economic growth in the shortterm, but it also won t continue to be the anchor weighing down the economy that it has been over the last few years. Overall, the U.S. economy is turning one imortant corner on the road to recovery: In a technical sense, the economy is likely beginning to grow again. However, this is not the develoment that most eole are waiting for. It will take imrovement in labor markets before there can be a substantial and sustained rebound in consumer confidence and consumer sending. These conditions could still be far in the future. Among the many headwinds facing consumer sending are trends towards more household saving and less household debt, couled with ongoing job losses and generally flat income growth. In addition, U.S. households are still osting rising debt delinquency rates, and we have seen a disturbing rise in mortgage delinquencies among rime borrowers. All of these factors suggest ongoing weakness for consumer sending. Because consumer sending accounts for roughly 70 ercent of the U.S. economy, a weak consumer translates into weak economic growth overall. Currently, it is exected that the U.S. economy will ost a decline in real GDP of about 2.6 ercent during 2009, before growing by about 1.5 ercent in While the return of ositive growth is clearly welcome, this growth is likely not fast enough to generate enough jobs to bring down the unemloyment rate. A er the recession of the early 2000s, it took South Carolina between 5 and 6 years to fully regain the number of jobs lost during the recession. It took the U.S. economy about 4 years to get back to the revious emloyment level. Looking across the landscae of South Carolina s economy, it seems quite likely that this scenario will reeat itself. The rimary drivers of job growth over the last decade in South Carolina have been construction, local government, leisure and hositality, and health care. With the excetion of health care, most of these sectors may well face continued ressure for erhas several years. Overall, the current forecast calls for South Carolina to ost an emloyment decline of 4.3 ercent for all of Job losses will begin to fade, but total emloyment may dro by another 1.7 ercent in 2010 before turning ositive DON SCHUNK is a research economist with the BB&T Center for Economic and Community Develoment at Coastal Carolina University. He develos and maintains a database of regional economic indicators and ublishes economic forecasts; serves as a liaison with the area business community and state and local governments; and writes a monthly column for the Grand Strander.

17 GR in In terms of unemloyment, while the state has seen some leveling off in the last few months, there will likely be additional uward ressure on the unemloyment rate through mid ECONOMIC Indicators RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PERMITS JULY 2009 LOCATION Myrtle Beach Unincororated North Myrtle Beach Surfside Beach Georgetown County Single Family Units Single Family Units Cost $1,451,141 $12,741,220 $2,783,593 $208,110 $3,839,851 Multi-Family Bldgs Multi-Family Units Multi-Family Bldgs. Cost $0 $0 $2,005,896 $0 $0 RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PERMITS JULY 2008 LOCATION Myrtle Beach Unincororated North Myrtle Beach Surfside Beach Georgetown County Single Family Units Single Family Units Cost $2,221,537 $17,921,461 $3,393,285 $532,005 $5,464,905 Multi-Family Bldgs Multi-Family Units Multi-Family Bldgs. Cost $113,192,315 $588,500 $8,246,462 $0 $421,429 ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC INDICATORS Monthly statistics for the following economic indicators can be found in the CVB Insider secial section of the Grand Strander: Accommodations Tax Collections Admissions Tax Airort Activity Gross Retail Sales Sources: Bureau of the Census, S.C. Emloyment Commission

18 New Members GRAND RAND strander 803 Labs Photograhy Keith Jacobs 1614 Executive Ave. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) labs.com AA Pest Management, LLC Pest Control-Pest Management Isaac McBride 3681 Renee Dr., Ste. 359 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Atlantic Advanced Cosmetic Surgery, PA Physicians & Surgeons-MD L. Shayne Webb th Ave. N., Ste. 101 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) atlanticadvanced.com Benjamin s Bakery/Surfside Subs Restaurant-Bakery Lee Zulanch 810 3rd Ave. S. Surfside Beach, SC (843) Coastal Commercial Roofing Comany, Inc. Contractors-Roofing Tonya Rabon 4355 Adrian Hwy. Conway, SC (843) coastalcommercialroofing.com Cooer Law Firm Attorneys Joe Martin 981-C Hackler St. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) a Hositality r t n e r s h i Crown Screening Drug and Alcohol Testing/Education Counseling Tommy King 3415 E. Ash St., Ste. A Goldsboro, NC (919) (800) CrownScreening.com DC Develoment, Inc. Commercial Construction Denise Triece 9680 Glen Ellen Way Myrtle Beach, SC (843) DM Painting and Waterroofing Painting-Contractors/Dealers Dean Mitchell 1796 Hwy. 544 Conway, SC (843) DeanMitchellPainting.com Grand Central Station Restaurant in Patricia Grand Restaurant Restaurant-Full Menu Leisa Cannon 2710 N. Ocean Blvd. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) PatriciaGrandOnline.com Grand Strand Candyland Candy-Confectionary Marty Keene 3820 S. Kings Hwy. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Horry County School Adult Education Organizations/Clubs Virginia Simmons 3101 Oak St. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) edtheturtle.com a Hositality r t n e r s h i Hyman Vineyards Winery-Vineyards Greg Hyman 2980 Hwy. 378 Conway, SC (843) (800) HymanVineyards.com J & F Manufacturing South, Inc. Manufacturers Bibi Ali 370 Allied Dr. Conway, SC (843) jfmfg.com J & W Produce (Naturally & Locally Grown) Food-Delivery Joshua Johnson th Ave. Aynor, SC (843) JWProduce.com Lindsey Wireless Cellular Telehone Systems Audra Smathers Hwy. 17 Byass, Unit C Murrells Inlet, SC (843) Massage Envy Sa Massage Theray Steve Green nd Pkwy., A-2 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) MassageEnvy.com Maury Covington Personal Members Maury Covington 551 Pelican Key Atlantic Beach, FL (904) a Hositality r t n e r s h i Myrtle Beach Dining Grou Restaurant Management Mark Rebolini 1901 N. Kings Hwy. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) MyrtleBeachDining.sc Platinum Home Theater Sound Systems Richard Zajac 960 Ciriana Dr., Unit B-3 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) (800) latinumhometheater.tv Rivertown Bistro Restaurant-Fine Dining Darren Smith 1111 Third Ave. Conway, SC (843) RivertownBistro.com Rivoli Theatre Grous, Inc. Organizations/Clubs Dale Vivirito 2101 N. Oak St. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) rivolitheatre.com Screenvision Direct Advertising-General Gene Sanderfield 6821 Southoint Dr. N., Ste. 133 Jacksonville, FL (877) screenvision.com Sud s Restaurant-Bar/Pub Seth Williams 4123 Hwy. 17 Business S. Murrells Inlet, SC (843) sudsdining.com a a a r t Hositality r t Hositality n e n e r s h Hositality r t n e r s h r s h i i i

19 GRAND G A D GRAND strander Business Bulletin Temle Emanu-El Synagogues Jennifer Muldoon th Ave. N. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) mbsynagogue.org The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro Restaurant-Fine Dining Eric Masson 4269 Luck Ave. Little River, SC (843) TheBrentwoodRestaurant.com The Connect and Reconnect Grou (TCRG) Seakers-Keynote/Seminars/ Consultants Samuel Horner 4423 Mandi Ave. Little River, SC (843) ConnectandReconnect.com The Italian Village Restaurant-Italian Katy Adimari 207 George Bisho Pkwy. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Town Square Aartments Aartments Keith Toler 1211 Pridgen Rd., #I-7 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Town-Square-Aartments.com We R Home Services, LLC Real Estate-Home Insections Eddie Richardson 1505 Heathridge Court Myrtle Beach, SC (843) insecthost.com/werhomeservices a a Hositality r t n e r s h Hositality r t n e r s h i i INSIDE TRACKS Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union announced that Keli Jordan was recently romoted to the osition of head teller at the 21st Avenue location in Myrtle Beach. Carolina Trust also welcomed Sarah Huntley, Erica Thra and Lasheena Vaught to teller ositions at the 21st Avenue branch. Carolina Trust s Conway location reorted that René Smith was romoted to the osition of member service reresentative; Sheila Swedo was recently romoted to full-time teller; and Stehanie Thore was romoted to head teller. CENTURY 21 Thomas welcomed Mark Dayvault as their new sales manager. Carolina Forest office of Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate welcomed Katherine Orr to its team. Habitat for Humanity of Horry County welcomes three new AmeriCors members onto the staff; Rachelle Ybarbo (Habitat ReStore), Kyle Shamorian (construction crew leader) and Lucas Cline (deconstruction rogram). The Raub Grou announced the addition of Cindy McLaughlin as vice resident of sales & marketing. Watermark Real Estate Grou announced that Ginger Grand has joined the firm as a sales associate. ON THE WEB Coalesce was selected by Coastal Carolina University to develo CCU s athenaeum newsletter web site. The newsletter serves the faculty and staff of the university by giving them u-to-date information regarding CCU. The Myrtle Beach Region Economic Develoment Cor. chose Coalesce to handle its search engine otimization efforts. Habitat for Humanity of Horry County announced the grand oening of Habitat ReStore at ShoHFH.com. APPLAUSE Canaan Sewell with Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate has been awarded the National Association of REALTORS Green Designation, the only green real estate rofessional designation recognized by NAR. GRAND OPENING South Atlantic Bank has announced the long-awaited comletion of its newest office building in Murrells Inlet. at Tournament Blvd. The new building is a 10,000 square foot, twostory facility with the bank occuying the first floor and leasing sace to a tenant on the second floor. SHARE YOUR NEWS Send in your comany s news for the monthly Business Bulletin. This section recognizes new emloyees, staff romotions, relocations and exansions, awards, class and convention attendance, new Web sites, and yearend accomlishments for to real estate roducers/sales. Send udates (under 75 words) by the 5th of each month to Kori.Hie@VisitMyrtleBeach.com, fax (843) Due to limited sace, the Business Bulletin does not include emloyee anniversaries, hotos or nonrofit fundraising activities. ADVERTISE IN GRAND STRANDER Send a little, reach a lot... Advertising in the Grand Strander allows you to reach businesses and individuals that traditional marketing can t because it s available exclusively to chamber members. There s a rice ($200-$800) and an ad size (1/4 age to full age) for all members. To reserve your lacement, contact Scott Head, advertising sales manager, (843) or Scott.Head@ VisitMyrtleBeach.com.

20 CHAMBER ACCESS CHAMBER ACCESS Key to member benefits GRAND Chamber Access gains you entry to all your member benefits it s the total access ass. This informative orientation rogram is for new chamber members, new emloyees at member businesses, and longstanding members that would like an udate on their benefits. Here s your chance to meet chamber staff, introduce your business/organization, and familiarize yourself with chamber benefits. Join us at the Nov. 24 gathering (See Page 3) and discover the key to getting the most out of chamber membershi. Register for the November session at ChamberAcademy.com. RAND strander GrandStrandGoodNews.com is a lace where you can find news to brighten your day and make you smile. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has artnered with NextMedia Grou to launch GrandStrandGoodNews.com. Geared to li sirits and insire lives, the Web site is a clearinghouse for the gathering and disseminating of ositive news stories from around the Myrtle Beach area. It s not a site to romote your business but rather a age where businesses, nonrofit organizations, schools, civic and religious grous and other community-oriented grous can ost news about honors, romotions and other accomlishments. It s about celebrating the good things going on in the Grand Strand. Everybody needs a little bit of good news to brighten u their lives each day. So hel us make others smile by sending in your good news stories at GrandStrandGoodNews.com. WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY ABOUT MBACC The following members attended the Setember member orientation recetion: (Back: Le to Right) Back: Ryan Hart, Golfer s Guide Marketing Solutions; Terry Strong, Bellacino s Pizza & Grinders; Adam Paskanik, Crescent Bank; Barclay Scott, Myrtle Beach State Park; Paul Passey, Counter Tos & More; Dr. Matt Lentz, Palms Chiroractic. (Front: Le to Right) Stefanie Pfeilly, American Hositality Academy; A on Graham, American Hositality Academy; Conall O Brien, Mainscae Landscae Maintenance Services. Thanks to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina for roviding refreshments for the recetion. Two things that strike me about the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: 1) the level of rofessionalism and caring from the staff, 2) the fun and diversity of the a er hours gatherings. I have gotten my money s worth. Ed Cerny Encouragement Coach 148 Citadel Dr. Conway, SC (843) coached.com

21 GRAND strander gsscene CLEANING UP THE BEACH by Michael Smith, editor, Carolina Forest Chronicle Horry County beaches were quite crowded this Saturday, but not with sunbathers. Teams of volunteers including a cadre of Grand Strand young rofessionals scoured the shores in search of litter for the annual Beach Swee trash cleanu. Dozens of members from gsscene, the Grand Strand s largest social networking grou for young rofessionals, joined scores of other volunteers at Myrtle Beach State Park on Saturday. About a ton of trash, including four bins of recyclables and 20,000 cigarette butts, were collected. An old tire, a bra cu and an unoened six-ack of Mike s Hard Lemonade were among the oddball assortment of items volunteers removed from the shores, sand dunes and forests. It s a really fun event and everybody in the grou sees the ositive imact of it, said Kevin Cox, chairman of gsscene s community service committee. This event has a direct imact. It has instant gratification on the community and on the condition of the ecosystem. Saturday marked the second year gsscene has lent assistance to Beach Swee, a Grand Strand event now in its 21st year. In an economy heavily deendent on tourism, keeing the industry s key resource the beach clean is vital, said Blakely Jenkins, membershi and community rograms manager for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and chamber liaison to gsscene. In some way shae or form, we all have jobs at the beach. Tourists come to Myrtle Beach because of the beach, Jenkins said. To kee it clean hels eole to continue to come here so we can kee our jobs. In coming months, gsscene has several other community service events lined u benefiting the Myrtle Beach Community Kitchen, Angel Food Ministries, Habitat for Humanity and Myrtle Beach Beer Fest. gsscene really realizes that to be a better art of the community, you need to assist the community, Cox said. You re doing something to hel your fellow man. It gives you a sense of ride that you re making strides in the community by doing this. Editor s Note: Article courtesy of Carolina Forest Chronicle. UPCOMING gsscene EVENTS (Register at gsscene.com) Nov. 12 ~ 5:30-7:30.m. Wine Tasting WineStyles, Myrtle Beach Learn how to taste wine, flavors you should taste, and some details about each region. Cost: $5 er erson, including wines and aetizers. Each tasting session will be limited to the first 20 eole that sign u. The $5 cost will be refunded with any urchase of the featured wines. gsscene members only event. Nov. 21 ~ 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Community Service Angel Food Ministries Timberlake Batist Church, Myrtle Beach For the second year, the community service committee has voted to volunteer with Angel Food Ministries. gsscene members can volunteer for one of two shi s: 9-10:30 a.m. Truck Unloading and Boxing of Foods (need 15 volunteers) OR 11 a.m.-2.m. Food Distribution (need 15 volunteers to box food, carry to cars, direct traffic, check-in, take orders, etc.) Dec. 3 ~ 7-9.m. Christmas Cocktail Party Kono Asian Grill, Myrtle Beach Don t miss the holiday event of the year! This year celebrate the holidays with Christmas Cocktail Party at Kono Asian Grill. Wear your holiday best and enjoy sushi, beverages, networking and Christmas cheer. gsscene also is artnering with Toys for Tots again. Last year we collected dozens of toys and are asking for your hel again! Bring an unwraed toy to the arty and receive an extra drink ticket. Thanks to our generous gsscene sonsors: Boling & Associates, Inc.

22 HOSPITALITY Partnershi GRAND RAND strander a Hositality r t n e r s h i FOLLOW MBACC Do you Tweet? Follow Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce on Twitter for live udates on chamber networking events, educational classes, member benefits, area information and much more. Tweet us at Twitter.com/MBAChamber. Myrtle Beach Area Hositality Association New Member Exo & Membershi Meeting Nov. 18 3:30.m. Bay Watch Resort The Myrtle Beach Area Hositality Association resents Economic Recovery and an Early Look at Tourism in 2010 Guest Seaker Dr. Donald Schunk Research Economist BB&T Center for Economic & Community Develoment Coastal Carolina University Following the rogram, members will have the oortunity to network with new member businesses during the New Member Exo Networking and Social. For more information and to register, contact Madeleine Winstead at (843) or madeleine.winstead@mbhositality.org Join our Facebook Fan Club If you re on Facebook, o in and visit your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Become a fan and receive udates on chamber networking events, educational classes, member benefits, area information and much more. Write on our Wall, share hotos and videos, start a discussion, or simly ut in an aearance. See you on Facebook.com. United States Postal Service Statement of Ownershi, Management and Circulation Publication Title: Grand Strander Publication Number: Number of Issues Published Annually: 32,400 Annual Subscrition Price: Free Extent and Nature of Circulation Total Number of Coies (Net Press Run) Paid Subscritions Stated on Form 3541 Average No. Coies Each Issue Preceding 12 Months 2,700 2,700 2,200 2,200 Total Distribution 2,200 2,200 Coies not Distributed Total 2,700 2,700 No. Coies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date

23 GRAND strander Date Time Event Learn More Nov 3 11 a.m.-12.m. Long Term Recovery Task Force Meeting Kathy Richardson, Nov 5 5:30-7.m. Holiday Mixer at Costco Wholesale MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com* Nov :30 a.m. Legislative Policy Council: Point of Sale Real Estate Legislation MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com* Nov 10 8 a.m. Myrtle Beach Ambassadors Pat Creed, Nov 10 9 a.m.-4.m. Chamber Academy: Intro to QuickBooks ChamberAcademy.com* Nov 10 9:30 a.m. Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo Committee Julie Sluss, Nov 11 7:45-9 a.m. gsscene: Morning Rush Small Networking Grou gsscene.com* Nov 11 8 a.m. South Strand Ambassadors Pat Creed, Nov 11 8 a.m.-12.m. Tourism Marketing Summit Kema Faulk, * Nov a.m. LGS Alumni Educational Series: Imrov Your Business ChamberAcademy.com* Nov 11 3:30.m. Membershi Committee Shannon Haswell, Nov 12 5:30-7:30.m. gsscene: Wine Tasting gsscene.com* Nov m. President s Gala Kema Faulk, Nov 17 2:30.m. Finance Review Committee Shirley Landry, Nov 17 3:30.m. Board of Directors Kathy Richardson, Nov 18 3:30.m. Hositality Partnershi: New Member Exo & Membershi Meeting Madeleine Winstead, Nov 19 7:45-9:45 a.m. Chamber Academy: Business Breakfast Financial Choices That Matter Most ChamberAcademy.com* Nov a.m. gsscene: Community Service Angel Food Ministries gsscene.com* Nov 24 3.m. Chamber Access MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com* Dec 1 9 a.m.-12.m. Chamber Academy: Intermediate Excel ChamberAcademy.com* Dec 1 2:30.m. CVB - Grou Sales Committee Michelle Schollmeyer, Dec 2 3:30-5:30.m. MBAHA and MBACC Holiday Mixer Kema Faulk, Dec m. gsscene: Christmas Cocktail Party gsscene.com* Dec :30 a.m. Legislative Policy Council Kathy Richardson, Dec 4 TBD Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo Awards Banquet Julie Sluss, Dec 8 8 a.m. Myrtle Beach Ambassadors Pat Creed, Dec 8 9 a.m. Small Business Council Shannon Haswell, Dec 8 9:30 a.m. Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo Committee Julie Sluss, Dec 8 12.m. Board of Directors Kathy Richardson, Dec 9 8 a.m. South Strand Ambassadors Pat Creed, Dec 9 11:45 a.m.-2.m. Legislative Luncheon MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com* Dec 10 4.m. North Strand Council/Member Holiday Dro-In Shannon Haswell, TBD TBD South Strand Council/Member Holiday Dro-In Faye Creel, Dec m. Christmas Towne MyrtleBeachChristmasTowne.com Dec 15 2:30.m. Finance Review Committee Shirley Landry, Dec 17 4:30-7.m. Business A er Hours at The Village at Queens Harbour MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com* GRAND STRANDER Kori Hie Member Communications Manager Kori.Hie@VisitMyrtleBeach.com Diana Greene Executive Vice President Membershi Programs & Services Grand Strander Issue 673 July 2009 (ISSN ) is ublished 12 times a year by Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC Periodical ostage aid at Myrtle Beach, SC POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Membershi Division, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 2115, Myrtle Beach, SC Check us out on the Web For more information about member benefits, ucoming events and business udates, visit us online at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com. Follow MBACC on Twitter and Facebook. Advertising Inquiries Reach more than 2,500 business leaders by advertising in the Grand Strander. Scott Head advertising sales manager (843) or Scott.Head@VisitMyrtleBeach.com Member Services Area Code: (843) General Information: Membershi Sales: or 7234 Advertising Sales: Public Relations: Marketing: Research: Festivals & Events: Executive: CVB-Grou Sales: gsscene: Leadershi Grand Strand: Hositality Partnershi: Grand Strander is rinted by Inlet Printing Co.

24 Be a Star J & W Produce (Naturally & Locally Grown) Joshua Johnson and Richie Wheeler Owners and Oerators th Ave. Aynor, SC (843) JWProduce.com Chamber Member Since: October 2009 GRAND strander J&W Produce is located near Aynor, S.C. Their mission to rovide shareholders locally grown, fresh and safe agricultural roducts. Josh Johnson and Richie Wheeler have both been involved in agriculture their entire life. They met at Clemson University where both received degrees in Agricultural fields. With the ever changing economy and the constant food contamination scares, the two wanted to rovide this community with quality locally grow roduce at a fair rice through a community suorted agriculture rogram. Johnson and Wheeler invite you to urchase a share of their cro, watch it grow and enjoy the fresh goodness that J&W Produce can rovide to you and your family. Five Reason to Buy Farm Products Local Fresh-Nutritious & Delicious (Less than 48 hours from field to delivery.) Preserve Farmland & Family Businesses Buying Direct Eliminates Middleman (This is a cost advantage lus a iece of mind about where food is coming from.) Money Stays in Community (The money you send will hel several local business.) Hels to Reduce Carbon Footrint (Products are not shied across the country reducing fuel inuts to get roduct to consumer.) customer for the season. This rovides the farm with a secure market for all our growing efforts. The farm, in turn, commits to roviding you with an abundant, diverse and quality array of vegetables. Produce Being Grown Beans Egg Plant Radishes Beets Green Onions Rutabaga Broccoli Lettuce Yellow Squash Butter Beans Mixed Leafy Greens Sweet Corn Cabbage Okra Tomatoes Cantaloues Green Peanuts Turnis Carrots Peas Watermelons Cauliflower Potatoes Zucchini Squash Cucumbers Community Suorted Agriculture How a CSA works: Based on the seasonal commitment, community members re-ay for shares of the seasons' harvest. Members then receive weekly, a box of fresh vegetables. This method assures a variety of roducts icked at the eak of rieness and flavor and delivered to a convenient location in your neighborhood. With a re-season ayment, you urchase a share of the farms summer and or fall harvest. You then receive a weekly box of fresh roduce through the 12 week summer harvest cycle, mid-aril through mid-july and with the urchase of a fall share you will receive your share from mid-august through mid-november. In signing u, you dedicate yourself to being their

25 GRAND strander RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONIES Your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce conducts ribbon-cutting ceremonies as a value-added benefi t included in your membershi investment. We bring the camera, oversized scissors and, of course, the ribbon. A grand oening, an exansion, an anniversary or a move to a new facility is made more secial with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Plus, it s a great way to introduce your business to the community and fellow chamber members. If you re a home-based business, give us a call and we ll hold a secial ceremony here at the chamber just for you. Your event can be as simle, informal, extravagant or ceremonious as you want it to be. It's your event and should refl ect your comany's values and ersonality. Ribbon-cutting announcements are included in the Grand Strander, which is mailed to our 2,700 lus members, and hotos aear in the online edition of the oular newsletter. The chamber s ambassadors attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies on behalf of the members. Having ambassadors at the ceremony rovides an excellent networking and ublicity oortunity. Kickoff a grand oening of your business by contacting Pat Creed, membershi rograms manager, at (843) or by at Pat.Creed@VisitMyrtleBeach.com Grand Strand Candyland 3820 S. Kings Hwy. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) grandstrandcandyland.com Ribbon Cutting, See Page 22

26 Ribbon Cutting, Continued From Page 21 GRAND RAND strander The Little White Dress 5001 N. Kings Hwy., Ste. 111 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) thelittlewhitedress.net Lindsey Wireless Hwy. 17 Byass, Unit C Murrells Inlet, SC (843)

27 GRAND strander CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS CELEBRATING MYRTLE BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARIES IN NOVEMBER 29 Years Puckett, Scheetz, Hogan 28 Years Surfside Realty Co., Inc. 25 Years M. Timothy Hucks, CPA, PA Ready Mixed Concrete Comany 24 Years Jeffcoat Law Firm, LLC 23 Years Hadwin-White Pontiac-Buick-GMC, Inc. 21 Years Bed Man, Inc. - Murrells Inlet Breakers Boutique North Tower 20 Years The Prudential - Burroughs & Chain Realty, Inc N. Kings Hwy. Wild Water & Wheels 18 Years Garden City Pancake House Monster Couon Book Serendiity Inn 17 Years Alabama Theatre Wedding Chael By The Sea 15 Years Myrtle Beach Flea Market 14 Years American Exress Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream The Bowery Docusystems, Inc. The Palace Resort 13 Years Dragon's Lair Fantasy Golf House of Blues 12 Years Camer Country Hamton Inn Pawleys Island/Litchfield Lindsay & Evans, LLC 11 Years Adams Outdoor Advertising of SC Beachwalk Motel First Palmetto Savings Bank - NMB Inlet Printing Comany-MI North Myrtle Beach Times Sring House Family Restaurant - MI 10 Years First Federal Dick Pond Rd. 9 Years Garden City Storage-Waters, Inc. Myrtle Beach Marathon, Inc. Newby, Sarti, Masel & Caser, LLC 8 Years The Grand Strand Miracle League, Inc. Two Men And A Truck 7 Years Coach Kings Rd. Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate - Georgetown Hamton Inn - West Kitchen Tune-U Lee's Inlet Aothecary & Gi s Miller Direct, Inc. MROZ Marketing Ocean Villas Beach & Racquet Club 6 Years Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach Paychex, Inc. 5 Years A Dog's Way Inn Adobe Palm Communications Atlantic Coast Mortgage Grou, Inc. Great American Riverboat Co. 4 Years Crocodile Rocks Dueling Pianos Norandex Reynolds R.L. Causey, Inc. Revolutions 3 Years Agae Senior of the Grand Strand All Ways Grahics Canine Command Center, Inc. Commercial Audio, Inc. Marvin's Myrtle Beach Housing Authority Nature's Gardens Flowers & Gi s Anniversaries, See Page 24

28 Anniversaries, Continued From Page 23 3 Years, Continued Nightmare Haunted House Parker, Poe, Adams and Bernstein, LLC R Salon and Sa WWMB - TV 21 2 Years Chili's Grill & Bar - MB Chili's Grill & Bar - Hwy. 501 Dead Dog Saloon - Murrells Inlet Dogwood Estates at Island Green Domino's Pizza A S. Kings Hwy. Domino's Pizza B N. Kings Hwy. Domino's Pizza D N. Kings Hwy. Domino's Pizza Hwy. 17 S. Dr. Piercing & Dr. Tattoo The Market Common Myrtle Beach Marsh Walk Marketing Grou Ragtos & Roadsters RE/MAX Southern Lifestyles Resort Photograhy & Design ThyssenKru Elevator Wok Exress 1 Year A er Hours Heating Cooling & Refrigeration, Inc. Horry-Georgetown Technical College Foundation McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC Re/Max Town & Country - Barbara Heller, Realtor U N I Elegant Jazz & Blues Waccamaw Regional Educational Center Willcox, Buyck & Williams, PA GRAND strander AMBASSADORS Ambassadors are a grou of dedicated volunteers from various businesses throughout the Grand Strand community. Their mission is to welcome current members and recruit new chamber members. Ambassadors serve as goodwill reresentatives at various chamber functions and aid in the suort of members. This month, the Grand Strander took a moment to check in with Sue White, an ambassador with the chamber for 2 years, to find out why she enjoys being an ambassador. To learn more about becoming a chamber ambassador, visit MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and click on Member Resources/Ambassador or contact Pat Creed, membershi rograms manager, at (843) or Pat.Creed@VisitMyrtleBeach.com. Sue White SendOutCards Owner How long have you been an ambassador? 2 years Q. What romted you to volunteer as a chamber ambassador? A. Great way to get to know local businesses and romote my business. Q. What do you like most about being a chamber ambassador? A. Knowing what is haening in the area ribbon cuttings, new members, etc. Q. How has the investment of time as a chamber ambassador advanced your career or business? A. It has given me the oortunity to form relationshis with businesses that I would not otherwise have contacted. Q. What is your best advice for making the most of chamber membershi? A. Be involved. Take advantage of business events. Get to know and romote local businesses. Q. Give us your 30 second elevator seech about your business. A. We assist sales rofessionals and small businesses increase their referrals by taking advantage of social media marketing and ersonal card camaigns.

29 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Membershi Division Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 2115, Myrtle Beach, SC PERIODICALS U.S. Postage PAID Myrtle Beach, SC USPS - IT S NEVER TOO LATE TO CELEBRATE CVB Grou Sales can ease the stress of holiday arty lanning Does your business need hel finding a location to hold your holiday arty? Are you looking for a secial holiday menu and overnight room rates? Do you want a rivate dining room in a restaurant? Or are you searching for a grand ballroom with a dance floor? There are numerous members of the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce that will deck their halls for you this season. For hel in finding the erfect location, let the elves at the CVB Grou Sales go to work for you. Michelle Schollmeyer, administrative assistant, at Michelle.Schollmeyer@VisitMyrtleBeach.com or call (843) GRANDSTRANDEVENTS.COM Nonrofit organizations, civic grous and businesses are encouraged to use GrandStrandEvents.com to romote fundraisers, theater erformances and other community activities, articularly during the holiday season. Event information can be submitted directly through the Web site, which is a roduct of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. The site has an RSS feed that users can add to their RSS readers and the ability to share events through social media. As a bonus, the MBACC comiles a list of submitted events, which is distributed at the chamber s three welcome centers: 1200 N. Oak St. in Myrtle Beach (main office), Myrtle Beach International Airort and 3401 U.S. 17 Business S. in Murrells Inlet (South Strand office). The MBACC reminds members that the welcome centers are a great resource not only for visitors but also for the community. The welcome centers rovide information on education, real estate and other services and roducts, including street mas and hone books. PASS GS along! o Administration o General Manager o Human Resources o Marketing o President o Sales Share GS with o o o