Chamber Hosts Fall JCC Leadership Conference, Luncheon with Rotary


JCC members signing up to volunteer to help at Poultry Festival events.

September 15, 2023 - The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce hosted the Fall Leadership Conference and Orientation for Junior Chamber of Commerce students on Tuesday, September 12th at the Civic Center. Approximately 150 JCC students were able to attend the Conference. Thank you to Mrs. Alease Copelin and Ms. Kaylin Burleson, JCC Committee Chairs, who organized the Conference. 

Last year, JCC students identified problems in their schools and developed programs to address the issues. Each campus presented their project to the group, following Orientation. Projects included care closets, reading programs, working with the younger classes in the district and school dances with money raised going to a local foundation. The students then spent time with their respective campus groups to plan for this coming year. 

The students joined Center Rotary Club for lunch. Rotary President, Steve Waters, welcomed the students and their Sponsors. He talked about Rotary and shared good leadership advice.

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the Junior Chamber of Commerce Program.

  • Presenting Sponsor: JML Management
  • Gold Sponsor: Deb’s Boutique and J. Lout, Inc.
  • Silver Sponsors: LaGrone Air Conditioning, Payne & Payne Home N’Suchlike, and Viatrac Fertilizer
  • Friends of the Junior Chamber of Commerce: Automotive Collision Repair Specialist, Center Glass, Mathews Real Estate, Panola College, Mr. and Mrs. Rayford Copelin, and Shelby County Today.

Thank you to the Campus Sponsors: Rene Bridges with Center Christian Academy; Jennifer Fausett with Center High School; Jay Hill with Center Middle School; Keli Chandler with Excelsior ISD; Dominique Roland with Shelbyville High School; Mia Cloudy with Tenaha ISD; Kelly Bruister and Lynn Kaluza with Timpson Middle School and Charlotte Metcalf with Timpson High School.

The Shelby County Junior Chamber of Commerce and Young Ambassadors program was established in 1996 with around 85 students. Today, there are over 200 students from public and private schools in Shelby County from grades 8-12 that meet the academic, volunteer and character criteria.

The purpose of the JCC program is to develop leadership skills as well as assist the Ambassadors in various projects and opportunities of hospitality and service.