The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce has announced that Ryan Thompson of Thomas & Hutton will serve as chairman of its board of directors for 2020-2021.

Thompson, a principal and landscape architecture department manager, has served on the chamber’s board since 2017 and as vice-chairman since July 2019.

Thompson joined Thomas & Hutton’s Savannah’s office in 2002 and provides clients with unique, sustainable and innovative landscape, hardscape design and planning solutions.

He has lived in Effingham County with his wife and daughters since 2005.

Fran Baker-Witt, CEO of Effingham Health System, was elected vice-chairman for 2020-2021. Brett Bennett, principal of Laurel Street Consulting, was chosen to be secretary/treasurer.

Joe Marchese of Joe Marchese Construction was chairman for 2019-2020. He and the chairman he replaced, Ed Vance of Ardry Trading Co., will remain on the board as directors.

They are joined by Troy Allen of Southern Oak Advisory, James Carlson of Carlson’s Premier Events, Toni Hardigree of Platinum Properties, Brandt Herndon of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, Kimberly Iler of Coldwell Banker Commercial Platinum Partners, Freddy Long of Long Builders, Swann Seiler of Georgia Power Co. and Carrie Thompson of Georgia-Pacific.

Chamber and COVID-19

Meanwhile, the board has decided not to hold any in-person public gatherings until further notice, due to the coronavirus.

The chamber will explore virtual options for its annual awards ceremony, previously scheduled for Aug. 28 at the Local on Laurel in Springfield.

The organization will recognize its John Adam Treutlen Award recipient, Small Business of the Year and other honorees with small, in-person presentations recorded and presented on social media.

And online alternatives are being explored for its annual job fair, previously scheduled for Aug. 28.