Last week Columbia lost a community leader, Rhett Jackson. You can read about his tremendous contributions to our state here.
Rhett was a friend who was a founding member of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce back in 2000. He was the epitome of a small business owner. His willingness to step up to help launch our organization was extremely important at a time when many other established business groups opposed the effort.
Three years ago the Small Business Chamber lost another founding Board member, Gordon Zuber. Gordon was a very successful businessman who founded Li’l Cricket Food Stores based in Spartanburg. Gordon was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of our chamber and one not unaccustomed to pursuing controversial efforts.
It is because of Rhett, Gordon and the other original Board members who were there over 16 years ago that the Small Business Chamber has been so successful in advocating for small businesses. Their roll might be an unforgotten footnote in the business history of South Carolina, but I and the small businesses of this state owe them a great deal of gratitude.