GREENBRIER: Chamber group meets to discuss city’s growth

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — The Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce is making changes.

Amie Regester, who has been the full-time Chamber director since December, is working to improve the Chamber, which she said previously functioned as a civic-minded support group.

Regester is focused on making improvements to the Chamber and to Greenbrier itself. She would like to see the Chamber become a supportive organization for local business, as well as a means for economic development, driving new businesses to Greenbrier.

So far, Regester said, she loves her job.

“I’ve never felt more used, and I mean that in a good way,” Regester said.

“I feel like all the talents that God’s given me in communication and vision and planning - I’m finally able to use those here.”

Regester’s newest initiative is a series of roundtable discussions with Chamber members to find out what they need from their chamber.

Members gathered at the Greenbrier City Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 17, to meet and share concerns.

Counselors from SCORE, a Little Rock-based business counseling service, were also on hand to offer support and advice.

The discussion covered many topics, including how to drive new businesses to the area.

With Conway growing because of Hewlett-Packard’s relocation and other new business opportunities, Greenbrier doesn’t want to be left behind.

“Conway is Conway. Greenbrier is Greenbrier,” said Christopher Rister of Farmer’s Insurance. “We need to focus on Greenbrier and what we do well.”

Business owners agreed that one thing Greenbrier does well is education.

“The majority of people who move to Greenbrier move here for the schools,” said Rhonda Rowlett, of Rowlett Realty in Greenbrier, “but we don’t do a very good job promoting that.”

Regester is working on promoting the Chamber and the city online through the Chamber’s Web site, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. She sends out a weekly newsletter with news and information about upcoming events related to business and economic development.

“If you notice another chamber or community Website you really like, e-mail me that link,” she told Chamber members.

Regester has extensively researched how chambers of commerce throughout the state function. She admitted that Conway is doing well and would like to establish leads groups similar to the Conway Chamber’s.

These small groups of Greenbrier Chamber members would meet regularly to share referrals and business information.

“If there is an interest, I would love to look at that,” Regester said.

Regester said that the meeting was a success and that she is looking forward to implementing the ideas that were discussed.

“I think what this meeting told me is that people are excited about the Chamber,” Regester said. “I saw people wanting to get involved. That’s going to build a stronger Chamber.” - czilk@ arkansasonline.com

River Valley Ozark, Pages 63 on 02/25/2010

Print Headline: GREENBRIER Chamber group meets to discuss city’s growth