Melissa Roden, outgoing chair for the Walker County Chamber of Commerce, passes the gavel to newly inducted Chairman PR Cook.Get involved
The Chamber’s next monthly membership luncheon is Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Walker County Civic Center.
In 2015, the Walker County Chamber of Commerce had approximately 281 members, 26 of whom were new members. Approximately 55,644 searches were done using the Chamber’s business directory last year, with 936 views of job postings and 21,207 views of the community events calendar.
Newly inducted 2016 Chairman PR Cook wants to grow those numbers.
“Some of the things we will try to work on is to try to grow the membership of the Chamber,” said Cook, who started his role on the Chamber board in 2010. “Our theme this year is ‘It’s Time.’ I want everyone to know ‘it’s time’ to get involved. We want to encourage everyone to get involved with the Chamber.”
In addition to focusing on an existing initiative aimed at helping the community in general – the One Walker meetings which the Chamber spearheads – he also has a few new programs in mind.
“I hope to get the students at LaFayette High School and Ridgeland High School involved in a Junior Chamber of Commerce and get those kids to come into meetings in the Chamber for a shadowing day,” said Cook. “I would like to get students to attend a City Council meeting for their city and to try to get students involved in things in their city.”
He said he is looking forward to leading the group through the upcoming year.
“This year we hope not to have so many changes. Two years ago we had to change the chairman three months into the term and last year we changed the president,” he said.
Cook has served as the president of ShopRite since 2010. He joined the staff of ShopRite in 1987.