Chamber Awards to be featured on WVPT broadcast
“The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce 2011 Annual Awards” will air on WVPT-Virginia’s Public Television on Sunday, May 6, at 11:30 a.m.
The television show was produced for WVPT by Augusta Free Press, which produced a series of videos highlighting the winners at the March 20 Annual Awards Dinner that served as the basis for the half-hour TV broadcast. Read more
AFP, WVPT to partner on broadcast of 2011 Chamber of Commerce awards
Augusta Free Press will produce a 30-minute TV special for WVPT-Virginia’s Public Television highlighting the winners of the 2011 Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards.
AFP produced videos honoring the winners for the March 20 Chamber Annual Dinner. Awards were given to Chamber membersn for Industry of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneur Spirit and Citizen of the Year, among the 10 categories.
An air date has not yet been set for the broadcast.
Chamber offering journey to China
The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Boscov’s Travel to offer a tour and trade mission to China scheduled for April 20-28.
Area businesses are being invited to join Chamber members on this nine-day, seven-night journey featuring comprehensive tours of local attractions in Beijing, Chongqing, Wonzhou, and Shanghai. Highlights of this tour include admission to the International Chongqing Garden Expo, featuring Media Week in the Virginia Gardens and Wonzhou, Waynesboro’s Sister City. Read more
Updated: Company listed in Chamber release not doing business in Augusta area
UPDATE: Monday, Jan. 30, 2:05 p.m. A spokesman for the Utah-based Pinnacle Security said today that the company has no record of sales representatives doing business in the Greater Augusta region.
“I’m not really sure where these reports are coming from,” said Stuart Dean, the vice president of corporate communications at Pinnacle, which was the focus of a news release from the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce on Friday warning local consumers to be wary of the company.
The release detailed warnings from consumers in other states that have had bad experiences with Pinnacle Security.
Dean defended Pinnacle against the accusations in the release. The company uses licenses technicians to install security systems, Dean said, and offers repair services in areas where it maintains customers.
Dean also said Pinnacle Security is not affiliated with Platinum Security. The press release from the Chamber of Commerce had suggested that Pinnacle Security sales reps may be presenting themselves as being representatives of Platinum Security. The two companies are not one and the same. Read more
AFP produces TV spot for 2012 Business Showcase
Augusta Free Press produced the TV commercial spot for the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Showcase.
The spot will air on WHSV-TV3 and Comcast. The 2012 Business Showcase is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 9, from 1-5 p.m. at the Best Western Waynesboro Inn & Suites Conference Center. Read more
Chamber seeks input on name for new event
The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce is introducing a new international-themed festival to be held at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton Sept. 21-23, 2012. From the historical homes of England, Germany, Ireland, West Africa to America, the entire museum will come alive with demonstrations and tastings of food, beverages, art and entertainment as the public becomes a part of history.
Since the organizers of the Fortune/Williams Music Festival made the decision that 2011 would be their last festival, the Chamber will now be taking over their dates and plans on continuing with the same format of Songwriters in the Round event on Friday and another concert on Saturday evening.
“We want this Festival to be your community festival and would like suggestions as to what it we should name it,” Chamber president Linda Hershey said.
Suggested names that have already been submitted are:
- Frontier Roots Festival
- Cultural Fest
- Living Nations Festival
- Celebrate! a Cultural Festival
- Wine, Stein & Dine Festival
- Toasting the Past Festival
- Toasts, Tastes, & Traditions Fest
Email president@augustava.com with your choice from the above, or submit an entirely different name to consider prior to Dec. 5, 2011.
Chamber announces key staff addition
The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that Linda Winkler has joined the Chamber staff as the director of programs and special events.
Winkler will be responsible for managing Chamber and community programs, seminars, workshops, and developing public relations and media programs to promote growth and unique opportunities for our community.
She joins the Chamber team with more than 20 years of hospitality and special event business experience. As a special-event coordinator with the Richmond-based Aarrow Special Events, America’s largest event company, her eye for minute details was her trademark.
Winkler’s continuing experience afforded her the opportunity to be involved with such prestigious events as The Breeder’s Cup Championships Weekend, Tennis Championships including The Lipton March of Dimes International, The ATP Volvo Classic, The VCU Medical Center and Dan Marino Child NETT Celebrity Players Tour along with The PGA’s Pensacola Open and Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial Golf Tournament. She designed, produced, and coordinated numerous fundraising events for the president of the University of Virginia, the Virginia State University Inaugural Ball, and the Red Skelton YMCA fundraiser.
Winkler is particularly proud of the fundraising effort she initiated to save the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville. The theater had been closed for more than 30 years and has now been restored to its original glory, reopening Dec. 15, 2004, becoming the anchor for the regional performing arts center. A rare combination of producer, coordinator, and the tenacity to get the job done is the conduit for her success.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Chamber team,” Winkler said. “I am so looking forward to continuing my passion and applying my creativity to help the Chamber build on their stellar program of promoting and supporting the growth of business, industry and agriculture in the Greater Augusta region. I encourage everyone to become involved with the events and programs offered through the Chamber. Your suggestions or comments are welcomed.”
Linda Hershey, the Chamber president and CEO, said she believes Winkler ” will thrive in her new position, and I anticipate that she will exhibit her industry knowledge and expertise while making new advancements for the future mission of our organization.”
