Local Dignitaries and Business Leaders Represent Community for Stephens County Day at The Capitol

Your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce had the privilege to rally our local dignitaries and business leadership to spend a day at the State Capitol in Atlanta last week, to celebrate Stephens County Day at the Capitol! It was a powerful opportunity to connect with our elected officials and lawmakers, ensuring that our community's voice is heard during this legislative session.

Our group was recognized in both the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives as our Senator Bo Hatchett and Rep. Chris Erwin spoke quite favorably about our community encouraging their colleagues to visit our beautiful town. They also made sure to point out our breathtaking Toccoa Falls on the cover of the 2025 Georgia Travel Guide, the State’s number one marketing tool promoting tourism in Georgia.

This trip to the Capitol has become an annual tradition for us. Every year, we take a locally made gift to showcase a piece of our community, and this year was no exception! We were honored to present each House Representative and State Senator, with a bag of Living Room Roasters coffee beans. A huge thank you to our downtown merchants Hayli and Allen Brewer, owners of Living Room Roasters, for choosing to open a business and invest in our community. We were thrilled to support and promote their small business in the ATL.

A special highlight of the day—four Stephens County students served in the Page Program for our House of Representatives. The Page program offers students a first-hand opportunity to visit the Capitol to observe and participate in the legislative process during the General Assembly’s 40-day legislative session. Our students served for Rep. Chris Erwin, working inside the House of Representatives. We thank Laurie Erwin for leading this program and making our students feel

so welcomed. They certainly gained an up-close look at the legislative process, making for an unforgettable learning experience in civic engagement. We may have some future politicians in the making from Stephens County.

Our group included Sheriff Rusty Fulbright, County Commission Chair Tara Simmons, County Commissioner Craig Oglesby, County Administrator Christian Hamilton, and Stephens County Clerk Samantha Turner. Also in attendance were City of Toccoa Mayor Terry Cater, City Commissioner Ron Matheson, and City Commissioner Gail Fry, City Manager Fredda Wheeler, Police Chief Bruce Carlisle and Main Street Manager Phoenix Carroll. Stephens County Hospital CEO Van Loskoski was with us as well as Stephens County Development Authority President and CEO Brittany Ivey and her Assistant Ellen Spencer, along with the SCDA Board Chair Brian Akin (North Georgia Credit Union). From our Stephens County School System was Superintendent Connie Franklin, Assistant Superintendent John Stith and April James, School and Community Engagement. Jordie Chanthavong our Field Rep of our U.S. Congressman Andrew Clyde was also able to join us for the day. Representing the Chamber of Commerce was Board Chair Lisa Lawson (Woodmen Life), Vice-Chair Cassandra Wilkins (Patterson Pump), Past-Chair Savonda Turner (NGTC). Also, from our Chamber Board of Directors Mary Lovett Anderson (NGPG), Michelle Oglesby (NGTC) and Shantelle Grant (T-SC Library). Chamber staff included President Julie Paysen, Director of Community Relations Brittany Schenck and Office Administrator Rachel Washburn. Student Page Representatives included Madilyn Turner (9th grade), Eli Brooks (8th grade), Bo Blasingame (8th grade) and Eli Paysen (8th grade).

During our lunch break, sponsored by North Georgia Credit Union, we had two special guest speakers who joined us. Anna Adams, Chief Government Relations Officer for the Georgia Hospital Association and Joshua Stephens, Director of Policy & Government Affairs for the Georgia Department of Economic Development both spoke with us about how they work on our behalf and with our local leaders to help us at the State level. Anna was sure to brag on our Stephens County Hospital and its strong leadership now ranked the #1 Small Hospital in Georgia. We also spent valuable time with our State Representative Chris Erwin hearing more about the issues he is facing and the success stories he anticipates before the end of the legislative session, as we wrapped up our Stephens County Day at the Capitol.

We are grateful for the opportunity to have such a strong presence at the Capitol, advocating for the issues that impact on our community. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Senator Bo Hatchett, Representative Chris Erwin, and Laurie Erwin for their service, hospitality and support!