Douglas County Chamber Highlights Business Community’s Impact at 78th Annual Meeting 

Douglas County Chamber Highlights Business Community’s Impact at 78th Annual Meeting 

Douglasville, GA (December 14, 2023)– Douglas County business and civic leaders gathered today for the Douglas County Chamber’s 78th Annual Meeting, an event that showcased the organization’s 2023 business community’s impact across four strategic imperatives – economic and workforce development, advocacy, leadership development, and investor engagement. Douglas County Chamber (DCC) leadership also highlighted priorities for 2024 and reaffirmed their focus to attract, grow, and advocate for businesses. 

“Our north star is to promote an inclusive business community that collaboratively drives economic growth, sustainability, and innovation for a lasting, positive impact,” said Sara Ray, DCC’s President and CEO. “This year, more than ever before, we leaned into our strengths – convening, collaborating and connecting – to better empower businesses across the Douglas region.” 

Ray shared the stage with 2023 DCC Board Chairwoman Nadia Faucette who spoke to the evolution of small business support within the Chamber, elevated advocacy efforts, amplified leadership development programming, and exceptional investor engagement.  

Following Faucette’s reflection on the successes of 2023, incoming 2024 Board Chair, Trent North, joined Ray on stage as they discussed priorities to come in 2024 with attendees. North previewed a focus on global and regional impact including a dynamic new event for businesses in Douglas, designed to connect businesses with a wealth of opportunities and empower your business to thrive. This event will provide unparalleled access to an array of procurement opportunities with leading regional companies. 

“We want to create opportunities for our Douglas County businesses to do business not only in Douglas, but the Metro Atlanta region as well. Our proximity to so many global companies is an opportunity for us to lean into and offer opportunities for our businesses to explore those possibilities,” added Ray. 

DCC’ leadership also detailed this year’s collaborative work to ensure the long-term growth and development of the region’s talent supply, including:  

• elevating the work being done to support those businesses by hiring a full-time Director of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, a first for the organization;  
• a strategic partnership with United Way of Greater Atlanta that cultivated a sustainable approach to empowers businesses of all sizes to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as integral facets of their operations; and  
• developing unique plans to engage with local, state and federal elected officials including meetings with over 25 local and regional partners and stakeholders to dig deep into the legislative priorities that shape our community. 

In addition, DCC thanked its outgoing Board of Directors members; Douglasville-Douglas County Water & Sewer Authority Executive Director, Gil Shearouse; Pioneer Land Group Managing Partner, Kyle Gable; and Hudson’s Hickory House CEO, Elena Hudson. 

“Our primary focus at the Douglas County Chamber is always and will always be to be member and investor focused; providing the resources and training that are relevant and essential to our businesses,” said Faucette. “This is Douglas, truly a place where partnerships and businesses THRIVE.” 

This event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, Amazon, GreyStone Power Corporation and AT&T as well as our investors in the Douglas County Chamber. To learn more about the DCC or to view the 2023 Annual Report, visit DouglasCountyGeorgia.com.