Congratulations to the Campaign Co-Chairs Rebecca Johnston and Skip Spears on the successful public kickoff of the History in the Making Campaign; as well as Historical Society Board President Lisa Tressler, and Executive Director Stefanie Joyner! As announced to 100+ business and community leaders at the public kickoff event on Tuesday, the Historical Society has raised $1.8 million towards the $2.8 million campaign goal during the “quiet phase.”
Attendees had an opportunity to learn about the new Cherokee County History Center, which will serve as a state-of-the-art, regional tourist destination as well as a headquarters from which the Society will lead local historic preservation efforts. When fully operational, the History Center will welcome an estimated 20,000 visitors a year who will engage with new museum exhibits, experience a wider offering of quality programming and utilize its high-quality research resources.
The project includes three mutually supporting goals:
• GOAL 1: An Exceptional Cultural Asset
• GOAL 2: A Dynamic Education Resource
• GOAL 3: An Economic Development Driver
In addition to remarks from campaign leaders, Canton Mayor Pro Tem JoEllen Wilson spoke about Cherokee County’s historic highpoints and luminaries. She was followed by Cherokee County Commission Chair Harry Johnston, who spoke about the future vision for Cherokee County and the importance of preserving the County’s history as the community continues to grow and thrive. The evening was capped off by an emotional debut of “Cherokee County”, an original song written and performed by Canton native Kurt Lee Wheeler.
Development Director Kevin Donovan, Executive Vice President Amity Farrar, and the rest of our team at POWER 10 are pleased to have worked with the aforementioned and other key Cherokee County leaders, and we look forward to a successful conclusion to the campaign in the coming months!
Click here to read the Cherokee Tribune’s coverage of the event.
Kickoff attendees Judy Bishop, Trey Ragsdale (Kaiser Permanente), Kevin Williams (Chick-fil-A), Harry Johnston (Cherokee County Commission Chair), Jerry Cooper (County Manager), and Janet Read (CHOA)
Campaign Co-Chairs Skip Spears and Rebecca Johnston address the crowd.
Left to right: Kevin Donovan (POWER 10), Cindy Pope, Stefanie Joyner (CCHS Executive Director), Rebecca Johnston (CCHS Board Member and Campaign Co-Chair) and Lisa Tressler (CCHS President)
Investors Kevin Williams (Chick-fil-A) and Carla Barnes (Caire, Inc., and the CCHS Secretary)
Investors David Leggett and Representative Michael Caldwell (both of Black Airplane) and Jeff Butterworth (Georgia Power).
Spencer Nix, Reformation Brewery, host, investor and CCHS board member
Pam Carnes (President & CEO, Cherokee Chamber of Commerce), Phil Eberly, (President, Lead Edge Design), Stefanie Joyner, Reg Weaver (Vice President, Lead Edge Design).
