Spartanburg chamber names recovery task force members.

During Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce's Bringing Back the Burg Business Recovery Task Force meeting on Wednesday, business and local government leaders discussed pre-COVID-19 economic figures to set benchmarks for recovery.

Local and statewide business surveys, also used to determine task force goals, noted that statewide, 40% of businesses have laid off or furloughed workers but 90% intend to reel back half of these employees within three months, according to the survey. Additionally, 43% of the workforce transitioned to a home office during the pandemic, while four out of five businesses plan to heighten their focus on employee hygiene, social distancing and cleaning measures in the months to come.

The task force separated members into five committees: Benchmark; Hospitality, Food and Beverage; Resources; Marketing, Education and Promotion; and Back the Burg Fund. Teams and will reconvene on May 28.

David Britt, vice president and general manager of S.C.-based division and the Tindall Corp., and Dr. Kay Woodward, president of J.W. Woodward Funeral Home Inc., will both chair the task force, with additional guidance from Spartanburg County Administrator Chris Story; Wes Lehrer, S.C. commercial real estate manager at Truist Bank; Avi Lawrence, president of Contec; and Allen Smith, president and CEO of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber's chief economic development officer, Katherine O'Neill; chief business affairs officer, John Kimbrell; director of special projects, Carter Smith; director of business engagement, Jalitha Moore; and director of administration, Shauna Axelrod, will staff the task force alongside the city of Greenville's former economic development executive director, Nancy Whitworth.

Task force members include:

Karen Knuckles, president and owner, Express Employment Professionals

Bill Barnet, CEO, Barnet Development Corporation

Alex Powell, commercial real estate manager, John Development Associates Inc.

Halsey Cook, president and CEO, Milliken & Co.

Natasha Pitts, minority business development coordinator, city of Spartanburg

Ann Angermeier, executive director, Upstate Workforce Board

Charlita Atchison, director of financial affairs, Atchison Transportation Services Inc.

Derham Cole, interim chancellor, USC Upstate

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