SC Chamber Names Emerson Gower Business Leader of the Year
September 10, 2009
SOUTH CAROLINA – September 10, 2009 – The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its 2009 Business Leader of the Year is Emerson Gower, who retired July 1 from Progress Energy in Florence with 38 years of service. Gower will be honored November 12 at the South Carolina Chamber’s 30th Annual Summit, South Carolina Business: Leading the Economic Evolution.
In 1970, Gower began his career in residential and commercial sales at Carolina Power and Light Company, now known as Progress Energy. From there, he held various management positions with Progress Energy in North Carolina before moving to South Carolina. Here, he made his home and was appointed to vice president – Southern Region in 1993. His responsibilities included operations and public relations for 325,000 Progress Energy customers in South Carolina and central North Carolina.
Gower made a significant impact on South Carolina over the years, serving as chairman of the South Carolina Chamber and as a member of the Palmetto Business Forum. Heavily involved in educating the state’s future workforce, Gower served as president of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Math Foundation and as chairman of Coker College’s Board of Trustees. Gower was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Francis Marion University in 2007. He has been honored as the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Business Person of the Year and received the Distinguished Citizens Award from the Pee Dee Council Boy Scouts of America.
“Emerson Gower has served many years in faithful dedication to improving South Carolina’s business climate,” said Otis B. Rawl Jr., president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. “Emerson’s work at Progress Energy and with numerous organizations across this state has made a huge impact on the business community and ultimately in the lives of South Carolinians.”
The Chamber’s Business Leader of the Year Award is chosen based on leadership in South Carolina and the embodiment of personal success. Other criteria include a business record based on ethical conduct and corporate responsibility, public service, contributions to the preservation of South Carolina’s government and commitment to creating a positive business climate to increase wealth and improve the state’s economy.
The Chamber’s 30th Annual Summit, South Carolina Business: Leading the Economic Evolution, will bring together more than 250 of the state’s most powerful business leaders to discuss future goals to increase South Carolina’s global competitiveness. Annual Summit sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information about sponsoring or attending this year’s festivities, please visit www.scchamber.net, or call Tish Anderson at 800-799-4601.
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s first state chamber Accredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber, is the state’s largest statewide broad-based business and industry trade association representing more than 6,500 member companies and more than 600,000 member employees, with 90 percent of membership comprised of small businesses. As the unified voice for business and industry, the Chamber is a catalyst for increasing per capita income and enhancing the state’s global competitiveness in order to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians. www.scchamber.net.
