Jarvis to lead Chamber

The Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce volunteer leaders have announced the organization will have a new executive director beginning next month. Jennifer Jarvis comes from the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce where she has worked since 2018 as program services director.

“The board of directors is pleased to announce that we have hired Jennifer Jarvis. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in chamber operations to the Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce and we’re happy to have her come on board,” says Seth Stanaland, immediate past chairman of the chamber who oversaw the hiring process.

Jarvis, whose first day will be April 1, says, “I am humbled and honored to have been selected to serve the local businesses and community of Grady County. Along with new excitement and perspective, I look forward to the opportunity to lead the chamber in an effort to help enhance the workforce and community. Locally owned businesses are such a vital part of a community and Grady County has been blessed with great business owners that I look forward to partnering with to promote community growth.”

A 1992 graduate of Colquitt County High School who also attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, 2014-2018, Jarvis began her professional career in 2009 as a ProjectSEARCH Job Coach for Colquitt County Schools helping students with learning disabilities transition from high school into the workforce. Jarvis held that position until 2014 when she joined Easter Seals of Southwest Georgia as a vocational specialist in Albany assisting individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment. Jarvis remained in that job until 2016, and in 2018 she joined the chamber of commerce in Moultrie.

In her position as program services director, Jarvis says some of her responsibilities included planning all chamber events such as the annual banquet, a chamber summit and monthly committee meetings. In addition, she facilitated and oversaw the progress of all chamber committees, assisted in the development of the annual chamber budget, coordinated political forums as needed for local and state elections, and coordinated the chamber’s county leadership program and various chamber fund raisers.

Jarvis says she also has worked as a volunteer for community functions, such as serving as a worship leader on a weekly basis, and coordinating 25 volunteers working with a girls ministry for 125-150 students weekly.

Jarvis and her husband, Donnie, have two children, Alexis and son-in-law Arturo, and Nicholas. The family currently lives in Colquitt County, but Stanaland says the understanding is that she will move to Grady County shortly after the graduation of her son from high school.

Courtney King, who has worked as interim executive director of the chamber since last April’s resignation of Trey Gainous as director, has announced she is resigning from the chamber as of April 1, according to Stanaland.

The chamber began advertising the position in January, and held interviews in February before announcing their decision this week. Barbara Darus is the current chamber chair.