Kenny Fuquea, Vice President of Business Development for Santek Waste Services, will be installed as the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board during the 53rd Annual Banquet on Thursday, January 31, 2013. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the conference center at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

David Repp, Controller for Mohawk Home, will be installed as Vice-Chair and Raina Sanford, Director of Radiology at Gordon Hospital, will be sworn in as Secretary-Treasurer.

Fuquea is expected to make announcements regarding an aggressive membership drive, naming that project as one of his primary focuses for the coming year. Fuquea and the Board of Directors have charged the Ambassadors Committee, led by Chair Frank Sullivan and Vice-Chair Michael Wilson, with planning and implementation of the campaign. Kim Gallman, the Chamber’s Membership Director, will be the primary staff contact, although other Chamber employees will also support the drive.

“One of my main goals is to lead the Chamber through a year that promises many changes, with the retirement of Jimmy Phillips, who has served as Chamber President for 16 years,” said Fuquea. “Increasing our membership numbers will not only bolster the budget but will position the Chamber to accomplish even more work for the benefit of Gordon County than it currently does. I am excited to see what we can accomplish.”

The guest speaker for the Annual Banquet will be Chris Clark, President of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Chris Clark was named President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber in November 2010. Since that time, he has led the Chamber through one of the most business-friendly legislative sessions in the state’s history, refocused its attention on investor services and economic development, and developed a plan for the future that will help to ensure the competitiveness of businesses throughout the state for decades to come.

Gold Sponsors are Fox Systems, Georgia Bank and Trust, Gordon Hospital, Mohawk Industries, NorthSide Bank of Calhoun and Santek Waste Services of Georgia. Silver sponsors are DRO Management, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Mannington Mills, North Georgia National Bank, Shaw Industries, Starr-Mathews Agency and Winter and Scoggins, CPAs.