A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR AMANDA BENFIELD, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE LAURENS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives has learned that Amanda Benfield will begin a  well-deserved retirement after years of exemplary service to Laurens County, the last of which have been as a distinguished and highly regarded leader of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce; and

 

Whereas, a native of Laurens County, she explored the outdoors in her formative years, protected by two white, fluffy security guards, the family dogs, Patty and Jake. Amanda was baptized and grew up attending Warrior Creek Baptist Church, where she still enjoys visiting and singing the hymns of old during the annual family reunion; and

 

Whereas, when she and her brother, Mason, moved into town with their mother, she attended Laurens District 55 High School, where she developed a passion for creative design and painting. Ms. Benfield expanded her creative and interpersonal skills after high school at Greenville Technical College where she earned an associate of arts degree and at the University of South Carolina Upstate where she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration; and

 

Whereas, in 2007, she began using her talents in the world of small business as owner and operator of

Pixie Dust Children's Boutique in downtown Laurens. She used her creativity in the retail world with the aid of her children, either in a carrier or dressed in the most appropriate Southern JohnJohn; and

 

Whereas, Ms. Benfield's work as an entrepreneur was recognized with the 2008 Inspiration Award Master Merchant of the Year presented by the Municipal Association of South Carolina; the 2008-2009 Master Merchant of the Year presented by Main Street Laurens; the 2009 Small Business of the Quarter, First Quarter, and the 2010 Robert M. Vance Small Business of the Year Award, both presented by Laurens County Chamber of Commerce; and

 

Whereas, in 2010, Ms. Benfield became the communications and marketing specialist for the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. Her work involved actively engaging over four hundred member businesses through marketing and events, developing a silent auction at the annual oyster roast, designing and implementing the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce store to sell shirts and other promotional items, and developing an innovative two-day retreat for the Leadership Laurens County program, of which she was a 2012 graduate; and

 

Whereas, in 2015, she was appointed executive director of United Way of Laurens County, where she was instrumental in increasing United Way pledges by twenty percent and increasing events revenue by sixty-eight percent. In 2017, she returned to the chamber world as its president and CEO, where she has successfully led it to its current state as a thriving entity; and

 

Whereas, Ms. Benfield has been honored with the 2017 Boy Scouts of America Blue Ridge Council Citizen of the Year, 2022 graduate of the South Carolina Economic Developers' Association Institute program, and 2024 graduate of the United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management program. She was a Rotarian and elder at First Presbyterian Church in Laurens; and

 

Whereas, she plans to spend many happy hours of retirement with her husband, Justin Benfield; two sons, Reese and Trent; and two stepdaughters, Maddie and Greyson. She wants to enjoy her passions of painting, hiking, biking, fishing, being a crime junkie, shopping, and traveling with them while continuing to make a positive and lasting impact on the Fountian Inn community. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Amanda Benfield, president and CEO of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, upon the occasion of her retirement after years of outstanding service, and wish her continued success and happiness in all her future endeavors.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Amanda Benfield.

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