Our banquet was a night to remember!  The stars were out for our event “Dining with the Stars”.  Who were the stars on hand for the  award winning night?  Why, it was the business owners and employees that came out to join us. 

We had beautiful music provided by Satchie Deese to get the night started.  Watermelon Idol winner, Danny Gilmore also entertained us as we enjoyed a meal prepared by Mickey’s Restaurant.   Next up, Jerome Davis delivered a motivating talk on being involved and making a difference.  He is the owner of five McDonald’s restaurants including our Pageland location.  He encouraged us to wake up believing each day will be SUPER FANTASTIC.  That alone will put you in a terrific frame of mind and ready to face the day.

Chamber President, Tony Nolan then informed those present about the events the Chamber sponsored over the past year.  He encouraged members to take a part in as many events as they can, so that we can continue them.  The Watermelon Festival is always looking for volunteers and the Chamber announced big plans for the mony raised through that effort.  Over the next five years the Chamber of Commerce in Pageland has pledged $5000 per year toward Economic Development.  This total of $25,000 will come exclusively from Festival funds.  Membership fees are strickly used for the day to day operations of the office.  With this commitment, the board will be seeking  volunteers to help us with the festival - continuing to grow it and profit from it.

We swiftly moved on to the awards portion of our program.  We are fortunate to have many people to acknowledge each year and a list of accomplishments is below:

5 years in Business:  Goody’s (Peebles) Department Store

10 years in Business:  Priority Health Care Equipment and M & M Leisure Travel

15 years in Business:  Benton Sanitation

20 years in Business:  Bladez Hair Salon, H & R Block, Hospice of Chesterfield County, Marathon Convenience Store and Paul Burch Judge for the State of SC

25 years in Business:  Brock Enterprises

30 years in Business:  Dr. Charles Powell, Jr DMD and Chesco Services

35 years in Business:  Pageland Chiropractic – Ralph Picolet

40 years in Business:  First Citizens Bank, First Palmetto Savings Bank, Merle Norman Studios – Darlene Miles

45 Years in Business:  Pageland Farm Equipment

50 Years in Business:  Gwen’s Salon of Beauty, Inc.

60 Years in Business:  Sandhill Telephone Cooperative, Inc.

70 Years in Business:  Pageland Furniture Company

100 Years in Business:  Pageland Progressive Journal

Business Improvement Awards:  A+ Computers, Pageland Paint, 4K Grill, Ralph Picolet (Sunshine Shop building), National Finance Company, New Creations Embriodery, Pageland Floral & Gift, Adam Foard Law, Tommy Agerton (Nationwide Insurance building), Pageland Pride Partnership Group

Community Improvements Award:  Mack Nicholson

Business Expansion Award:  Screwmatics of South Carolina, Inc., C.M. Tucker Lumber Companies, LLC and Douglas Machine Shop, Inc.

Friend of the Festival Award:  Gerald Miller

Chamber Service Volunteer Award:  Charles & Anita Powell

Chamber Event Service Awards:  Michael Kee – Tour of Homes and Steve Kirchin – Golf Tournament

Community Service Award – High Point Volunteer Fire Department

Community Spirit Award – Luther Benson – (trees, etc in Petersburg), Central High School Girls 2A Softball State Champs, Conbraco (new flag)

Non-Profit of the Year Award:  Chesterfield County First Steps

Corporate Citizen of the Year Award:  Screwmatics of South Carolina, Inc.

Our table decoration winner:  Douglas Machine Shop

32″ Flat Screen TV winner:  Robyn Horne

Chamber President Tony Nolan presents award to Kim and Tom Hogge

2011 Corporate Citizen of the Year

Screwmatics of South Carolina, Inc.

Tom and Kim Hogge of Screwmatics were the grand winners of the evening – taking home the 2011 Corporate Citizen of the Year Award. 

Being a former tool and die instructor at Florence/Darlington Technical College, a machinist for a large manufacturing company, and a member of management at a large valve manufacturing company, Tom had cutting fluid in his blood.  Kim was employed by a small accounting firm and had one child at the time, Matthew.  In 1988, Tom and Kim Hogge took the plunge and started up a company of their own.  Truly, from the ground up!  Kim was pregnant with their second child, Billy  – she manned the phones, handled the office work, made pick up and deliveries, as well as ran a drill press or two.  Affectionately becoming known as Boss Hogge, Tom – was busy setting up and running machines. 

Fast forward to 2011 – Screwmatics now employees over 100 full and part time employees.  They’ve achieved this by being fortunate enough to employ several of Tom’s former associates with extensive machining and quality backgrounds.  Along with continuous improvement, training, and by investing in modern state-of-the-art equipment, they are poised to serve diverse machining requirements. 

Screwmatics supplies millions of parts to more than 30 industries.  One of their top customers allows them to manufacture advanced components for the medical industry.  Producing several high end components used in devices including Insulin pens, epi-pens, liver and pancreas biopsy tools as well as dental tool components. They also make parts for other fields including welding, power transmissions, distribution, industrial switch components and valve industries.

Screwmatics, Inc. has expanded many times over the years.  They continues to be in a growth stage, building and renovating several times in the past few years.  Right now, their manufacturing buildings  cover around 100,000 square feet – with most areas climate controlled.   Most recently they have added a state of the art 2,400 square foot office building.  The building houses four executive offices as well as a large conference room and training room.

Their company name has been used in a play on words, media game recently when Governor Mark Sanford made a visit and tour of the facility.  One paper in particular wondered why a governor with such a colorful history made it a point to visit a company named Screwmatics.  Well, just so you know (if you’ve been wondering about that name too), it was named because of their association in the manufacturing industry as being specialists in screw-machine, cam and computer numeric controlled machines.

We are very proud of our 2011 Corporate Citizen of the Year – Tom and Kim Hogge of Screwmatics of South Carolina, Inc.  We hope you will take a moment over the next few days to tell them congratulations on the great job they are doing for our community!

Listing in the Chamber Business Directory

Member-only referral service

Business Rise and Shine, Power Lunches, and After Hours events throughout the year

Listing on our Chamber of Commerce Website

Links to your business website and information from our website

Pageland Chamber of Commerce Facebook page connection

Help with establishing Facebook and other social media connections

Opportunities to serve on committees and with Special Events

Connection to the South Carolina Small Business Assocation for assistance

Unique ways to advertise for FREE

We are proud of our 2011 accomplishments.  We held many annual events such as the Annual Banquet and Awards, 2011 Women in Business Luncheon, 2011 Pageland Watermelon Festival, Annual Golf Tournament and the 2011 Christmas Parade of Lights.  We also enjoyed sponsoring  Art at the Center and the Holiday Tour of Homes.  We hosted the Watermelon Idol Contest, which drew great numbers to the park area for several nights.

During our events, we saw a need at the park for additional steps and lighting.  Along with the Town of Pageland, we took those ideas and turned them into a reality.  Now the park is much easier to access and is has better lighting.  We continue to support the Pageland Pride board and the efforts to rennovate the business district.  We assist them with the yearly Pageland Pride Week events that include painting, washing, repairing and landscape cleanup.

We have some additional goodies in the planning process for next year, including ways to help you in your business life.  Please consider a membership with us.  Bring the Pride to Pageland that we can do as a team!

Stop by our office to pick up an application or download one here: 2012 Application Brochure-Joining the Chamber

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 10th.  Thanks to all who participated in making this years parade a success.  It always helps get us in the Christmas spirit!  We also had a special visitor in town that afternoon.  Santa stopped by Freeman’s Video and Winter Wonderland area to talk with the children.  Here are a few more photos for you to enjoy.

Our Awards Banquet will be Tuesday, January 10th at 6:30 pm.  The Community Center will come alive with businesses displaying their talents.  Awards are given out for several categories.  The night also features entertainment, a motivational speaker and dinner buffet.  Members receive two complimentary tickets.  Additional Tickets can be purchased for $12.  RSVP requested by 01/06/11.  Come join us for “Dining with the Stars”.  Below are pictures from the past couple of years of some tables that the business owners adopted.

Santa was busy on Saturday!  He listened to a lot of request from boys and girls who promised that they had been very good this year.  Here are just some of the kids that came out to Freeman’s Video and Winter Wonderland for a picture.  Click on the picture to expand and enlarge it.

The Pageland Chamber of Commerce welcomes Hidden Treasures Used Furniture and Home Decor to our membership.  Owner Doug Hinson and fiancé Aieral Joyner offer a wide variety of items in this historic building on the corner of Pearl and McGregor Streets.

Doug began as a delivery man, taking purchased items to homes for his grandfather Richard Carnes.  He liked the family atmosphere and loved the job.  Little did he know how his life would change.  Richard passed away suddenly in October leaving a store full of items and a broken hearted grandson.  Doug then decided to take on the challenge of business ownership and filling some big shoes.   They reopened the doors two weeks later.   ”Doug’s grandfather would be so proud and we’re so glad we could carry on in Richard’s footsteps in the heart of Pageland,” Aieral commented.

Are you looking for a specific item?  Just let them know.  They will keep an eye out for you.  You can find pre-owned furniture, small appliances, dishware and many decorative items.  And not only that, but Aieral is very creative and crafty.  She makes many items herself, for instance holiday wreaths.

Recently, the store has had a face lift.  Doug and Aieral have painted the inside, added curtains and some personal touches.  The landlord, Mack Nicholson has added a beautiful awning around the perimeter.  All of these improvements have certainly made this one of the most beautiful locations in town.

Check out these pictures!  Click on the image to expand and enlarge it.

The Pageland Chamber of Commerce will host two events in December.  The Holiday Tour of Homes will be held on Friday, December 9th from 6 – 9 pm.  This will feature four beautiful Pageland homes, a church and a business location.  Refreshments will be served.  Tickets will go on sale soon at a cost of $12.

The Christmas Parade of Lights will be on Saturday, December 10th at 6 pm.  The parade route will begin at the Elementary School and end at Chesco Services (all located on McGregor Street).  You can safely decorate your entry in the parking lot of the Pageland Community Center during the day.  The line up will be around 5:15-5:30.

Santa will be at Freeman’s video for pictures from 3:00 – 5:00 pm.  Bring your own camera and your little ones for a quick photo opportunity!

We hope you have a safe and merry holiday season, and remember to shop local!

The Pageland Chamber of Commerce recently held the 4th quarter teaching seminar.  This last session for the 2011 year was held at lunch time and titled “Power Hour Lunch”.  And boy, did it live up to its name.  It was a packed and powerful hour of information!

Beth’s Country Kitchen at 12:30 on a Tuesday afternoon is a busy place.  Beth and her staff went all out to accommodate us, reserving a spacious area in the back room for our event.  The lunch buffet was excellent and proved to be a good way to “lunch and learn” in a short amount of time. 

With close to 40 in attendance, Board member Glenda Lee welcomed everyone and introduced our speakers.  Training Officer Troy Timney from the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Department spoke first about safety at home and at the business location.  He suggested that owners step back and take a look at their location from the outside.  Make sure you have a safe and secure environment.  He followed up with several suggestions on how to deter crime at those locations.  Next up, Captain Clarence Francis with the Pageland Police Department spoke about concealed weapons permits, tasers, and pepper spray.  Officer Francis teaches the permit class around the state and offers them in Pageland.

Our group meeting concluded with several questions from the audience and informative answers from the police officers in attendance.  If you would like more information on the Concealed Weapons Permit class, please call the Pageland Police Department at 843-672-2535.