New Dublin-Laurens Chamber president excited to help businesses grow

The new Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO wants to see the business community here thrive and grow.

Members from the community had a chance to meet Jennifer Jarvis during a reception held in the McGrath Keen Sr. Conference Center on Thursday. Jarvis, who is originally from Moultrie, has spent the last five years in Cairo in the same position.

In Dublin, Jarvis saw not only the chance for her to grow but also that the Dublin area was growing as well.

“The people here are so welcoming, and there are some great opportunities,” Jarvis said. “Our workforce initiatives our very strong, and I’m excited to dive into that and get involved. I want to really serve our members in whatever capacity it looks like for them. We have a lot of opportunities for growth. I want to dive in and dig in.”

Chamber chairman O.J. Hall said he is excited to have Jarvis, who is replacing long-time chamber leader Heath Taylor who left to take a similar job at the Columbia County Chamber last January. Hall thanked Marcia Dixon for stepping in and serving as the chamber’s interim president since Taylor’s departure.

“She was a grand slam,” Hall said about Dixon’s role as interim. “Typically, you have an interim come, and the goal is just to hold it in the middle of the road. Her job went beyond doing that, and she has done some things to take us even further. We have thrived and excelled. We’ve gotten better under her leadership.” 

And Dixon will remain with the chamber for a little while to make sure the transition is smooth. Being an interim was a new role for her.

“I had been active in the chamber all the years I was in manufacturing,” she said. “I was the chairperson for the chamber for several years, so it was an easy transition to move into this role. I have really enjoyed being connected with the community again.” 

It did not take Jarvis long to realize that she has a good team at the chamber. Everyone has stepped up to help her and to navigate through what is happening in Dublin and Laurens County. Some people have dropped by the chamber to welcome her.

“I think we have found the right fit for Dublin-Laurens County,” Dixon said. “She was so connected with the community in Cairo. She will be out in the community, making connections and making people understand that the chamber has something to offer to them. She is going to make a difference in our community. Jennifer Jarvis is going to come in here and do a great job.” 

The importance of having a thriving chamber means a lot.

“We are the hub and the bridge,” Hall said. “We are the one that educational entities can come to, small businesses can come to, big businesses can come to, and we’re also the bridge that connects all of those different entities that I talked about. They can come to the chamber and connect.” 

Jarvis said she is an open book. She looks forward to answering questions about any concerns that may arise. 

“I’m excited to be here, and I look forward to serving the community and serving our businesses while building relationships so that our business community can thrive,” Jarvis said.