Five questions with David Jameson

David Jameson is president of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce.

1. How did you first get involved in chamber work?

This month, 34 years ago, I became the first employee of the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce in Ridgeland, S.C., my hometown. I was 21 years old and had just graduated from college. My parent's neighbor was chairman of the selection committee and asked me to be a candidate. It proves that you never know who's watching, as many of the local business and civic leaders had been observing my potential while I was a youth involved in civic and church activities.

2. How has your time as president of the Aiken Chamber been?

I've been at the Aiken chamber now for two years and believe I'm the luckiest chamber president in the country. We have a strong business community that provides amazing volunteers and a dedicated professional staff. Folks love Aiken, and that's a powerful emotion that drives a community to greatness. Everybody in Aiken knows that if you're lucky enough to live in Aiken, you're lucky enough.

3. In your experience working at other chambers, how does Aiken compare to other cities?

Aiken has a strong sense of community, is very welcoming to new folks, is progressive, and cherishes its charm and personality. My wife and I moved back to Aiken after living here before and being away for 16 years. Aiken is our little piece of heaven, and we're thrilled to be home.

4. How did you come to be president of the Aiken chamber?

We were ready to come home to South Carolina and, at the same time, the Aiken chamber was looking for a new president. Aiken is 10 times smaller than where we lived but it had always been the benchmark that we measured other cities by, and we had left part of our heart in Aiken. The job was open, I applied, they interviewed, they offered, I accepted, and the rest is history that is still being written.

5. Why is it important for citizens and businesses to get involved with their local chamber?

The chamber often involves strength in numbers to solve community issues. An organization our size -- with over 1,000 business members -- can draw from a tremendous pool of resources and brainpower. Additionally, members who are interested in growing their business can benefit from business-to-business networking, skills development via chamber-sponsored seminars, and a wealth of information that keeps them well-informed.