b'THERE HAVE BEEN THORNY ISSUESTHE CHAMBER HAS PERSEVERED AS A PERSUASIVE ADVOCATERJ: The preservationists didnt want SC Ports to have a cruiseLH: The bond referendum for schools was a turning point for the terminal. We looked at it from the business side and asked, how is itChamber in terms of its leadership in the community. It wouldnt have that someone can tell the Port who their customer can be? We tookpassed without our support. And if not for the Chamber, Joint Base some heat from longtime residents and some folks in business. TheseCharleston (the Air Force Base in North Charleston) wouldnt be what it things have come up all along, but we have remained relevant and trueis today. Weve worked very hard to strengthen our military ties.to our goal to advocate and be the voice for business in the region.The Chamber and Charleston community received the Abilene Trophy in 2016 from the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command and the Military Affairs Committee of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in Abilene, Texas, for outstanding support of the military. It was the third time in five years.The annual economic impact of the military community on South Carolina is $34.3 billion, which translates to 254,095 jobs that are supported, either directly or indirectly, by the military community. In ranking of nine SC regions by total volume of military-related activity, Charleston is #1 based on $12.7 billion in economic impact, 78,414 jobs supported and $5.2 billion in labor income generated. The largest military presence in South Carolina, the Charleston region includes Joint Base Charleston, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston, the Army Corps of Engineers, DoD contractors, military retirees and Veterans, portions of the South Carolina National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. 7PB: Passing the bond referendum was one of the Chambers greatestLH: The global gateway terminal controversythat was a crazy time successes ever. That transformed the entire region. You reachin my leadership. I said,its not going to be good for my business these moments of crisis where you know youll lose (or miss out on)and its not going to be good for your business.we were supporting an entire industry if you dont do somethingif you dont decisivelyexpansion of the Port, but it was not the right path.step in and show you care. (Bryant points to things like recovery from Hurricane Hugo, the burgeoning impact of technology and the foundingRJ: Researching diversitynothing was off the table as we asked, of ThinkTec by the Chamber to give emerging knowledge-basedcan we make a difference here? Development of the diversity, equity companies an incubator space and support of the military.) and inclusion platform was our best accomplishment during the years I was in leadership. Changing our bylaws to ensure equal representation RJ: In 2011, Tridents president, Dr. Mary Thornley, Anita Zuckeron our board because we believed we needed to reflect what the and I traveled to Tennessee to understand how their local chamber,community looks likeit was a major focus of my leadership time, and newspaper and technical college, on the heels of losing the communitysIm very proud of our work. largest employer, came together to pay for anyone who wanted to go to technical college to learn new skills. Fast forward several years,LV: Deciding where the Chambers next headquarters would be was we were giving out scholarships to young people in families wherea wild horse. All the tri-county mayors were involved, and it struck me no one had ever been to college. We had a national signing day. Thethat the Chamber is so important to the region, each wanted it. grandmother of one of the kids signing a letter of intent for one of the spots said to me, I never thought Id see this day. The room was full of people watching who never thought their kids would go to college.LV: Deepening the harborthat was huge, and it was on top of the cruise ship controversy going on at the same time. We have one of the best ports on the East Coast because of that initiative, because we supported SC Ports in doing that.22 CHAMBER RETROSPECTIVE250 YEARS'