Greater Hall Chamber Chairman of the Board John Vardeman is principal owner/president of Gainesville-based Morton Vardeman & Carlson, a full-service advertising and public relations firm. A former journalist with the Atlanta Constitution, Vardeman has served on numerous Chamber committees since moving back to his native Gainesville in 1988 and has served as vice chairman of the Chamber’s marketing division.
“I am proud to be part of this leadership team and of one of the most dynamic chambers in the state of Georgia. The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce staff, led by President/CEO Kit Dunlap, is unsurpassed anywhere, in my opinion,” said Chamber Chairman John Vardeman. “It is truly amazing how much work is done by this organization, not only benefiting our Chamber members but the entire community,” said Vardeman.
A graduate of Leadership Hall County, Vardeman was selected in 1996 to participate in the Leadership Georgia program, eventually joining that organization’s board of trustees for three years. In the community, Vardeman has served as president of the Gainesville Rotary Club and as a board member with Eagle Ranch, the Family Relations Program and the Gainesville Ballet. He was recognized as Gainesville/Hall County Young Man of the Year in 1995 and received the Eagle Award for service to Eagle Ranch.
He noted, “This year, we continue many ongoing initiatives and programs, but will primarily focus on our community visioning project. We are truly excited about this project and look forward to engaging all sectors of our community in a forward-thinking round of discussions that will bring us together with a common vision for the brightest future imaginable.”
Gainesville native and businessman Jimmy Adams will work with John, Kit and the Chamber Executive Committee as Chairman-Elect. Jimmy is Executive Vice President of Adams Transfer and Storage Company, a fourth generation family owned-and-operated business founded in 1903 and one of Georgia’s largest moving companies.
He is founder/president of Adams Data Management, a division of The Adams Companies, and during his tenure, the company has grown to be the largest independent records management company in Atlanta. As well, the company has diversified into warehousing, property management and industrial development.
Throughout his career, Jimmy has been active in improving his community. He is past Chairman of the Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council; President of the Northeast Georgia Traffic Association; a State Host for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Red Carpet Tour; Chairman of Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism Regional Advisory Council and the Gainesville-Hall County Development Authority; and on the boards of Regions Bank, NEGA Health Systems Advisory Board, Chattahoochee Country Club, Gainesville Rotary Club, Gainesville Jaycees, March of Dimes, and the American Cancer Society. The Gainesville Jaycees recognized Jimmy as the 1994 Young Man of the Year. He was a member of the 1992 class of Leadership Georgia and the 1989 class of Leadership Hall County.
President and CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce since1998, Kit Dunlap has overseen two multi-million dollar community/economic development initiatives – HALLTOGETHER and HALLMARK – along with four SPLOST referendums for education and infrastructure, a new office building, staff and division restructuring and program expansions. During Kit’s tenure, the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce stands as solid as ever in a new 10,500 square foot, state-of the art facility, with a professional staff of 12 and some 2,500 members.
A native of Jasper, Alabama and a Brenau College graduate, Kit is currently serving as board member for the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, the German-American Chamber of Commerce-South, and SunTrust Bank Northeast Georgia. Kit serves as Chairman of the Metro North Georgia Water Planning District and was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees at Brenau University.
She also served on the Metro Atlanta Quality Growth Task Force with 60 metro Atlanta business, government, environmental leaders and private citizens. Kit was chosen by Georgia Trend magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians, January 2005.