A Celebration of 40 Years

Written By: Stephanie Edwards - Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce | Issue: December - 2022

Cashiers Chamber of Commerce Board Members and Staff: Robin Pickle, Thomas Taulbee, Oscar Alcantar, Sarah Jennings, Lec Hobbs, Glenn Ubertino, Garrett Taylor, Johannes Klapdohr, Brandy Letson, Stephanie Edwards, and Daniel Fletcher. Not pictured: Ben Harris, Ashton Harris and Susan Gregory.

New directors and officers of the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce were recently elected in a membership-wide vote of support. The Chamber is celebrating its 40th anniversary and recently surpassed more than 500 business, nonprofit and associate members from Cashiers, Glenville, Lake Toxaway, Sapphire and other Plateau communities.

Outgoing President Glenn Ubertino, of Zoller Hardware, will continue his board service as Past President while Ben Harris, of Harris Custom Builders and Silver Run Reserve, assumes the President title. Ashton Harris, of The County Club of Sapphire Valley, will move from Treasurer to President-Elect and Sarah Jennings, of Cashiers Valley Real Estate and Lonesome Valley, will take his former position. Chamber executive director Stephanie Edwards continues to serve as Board Secretary. Daniel Fletcher, of Hotel Cashiers, was reappointed Vice President/Jackson County Tourism Development Authority liaison. Returning directors include Oscar Alcantar of Alcantar Painting; Lec Hobbs of Highland Hiker and chair of the organization’s Retail Roundtable; Johannes Klapdohr of The Library Kitchen & Bar; Brandy Letson of Cashiers Valley Pharmacy; Robin Pickel of Historic Toxaway Market and Mountain Cafe; Garrett Taylor of Taylor’d Designs, and Dr. Don Tomas of Southwestern Community College. Glenville resident Susan Gregory, of Landmark Realty Group, will join the board as a Vice President/Leadership Cashiers liaison.

The 2023 officers and directors slate were previously recommended to the full membership after consideration of candidates’ business industry, location, length of residence, availability, and other civic involvement. The Nominations Committee and current Board of Directors made special efforts to ensure commitment and diversity among future leadership.

Directors help set priorities in support of the Chamber’s Core Purpose: To supply extraordinary Leadership in the Cashiers Area as an Advocate for business, Information Source for the community and Conduit for building destination awareness and responsible growth. They provide valuable strategic leadership for the organization’s programming, member services and benefits, and community and economic development initiatives.

In 2022, the Chamber contracted with the Urban Land Institute to conduct a fact-based growth management analysis of the Cashiers Area. It’s currently leading the newly-formed “Cashiers Community Collaborative,” a group of organizational stakeholders who will coordinate economic and community development as identified in the ULI Report (see CashiersAreaChamber.com) to leverage funding and other resources.

“Our Board members are dedicated and talented business owners who generously volunteer their time and energy to ensure the success of the Chamber and community,” said Edwards. “My associate Thomas Taulbee, who serves as Manager/Jackson County Cashiers Visitor Center and Director of Member/Community Relations, and I look forward to supporting their efforts in the coming year.” 

For more information on the Chamber, visit CashiersAreaChamber.com or email [email protected].