The Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) was formally organized in July 2008, but the organization can trace its roots back to the Blythewood Business Coalition (BBC), founded as a Neighborhood Watch program in 1999.

At that time, Neysa Rimer and her late husband, Thomas, owners of Blythewood Feed & Hardware worked with Lt. Chris Cowan of the Richland County Sheriff's Department (and a Blythewood resident) to establish a Community Action Team (CAT) within Blythewood's business district.

This initiative, which gradually evolved into the BBC, served as a way for the sheriff's office and the business owners to communicate and share information and act as a crime watch program. This fundamental mission continues today as Richland County Sheriff's Department District 6 officers continue to keep the business community informed at the Chamber's monthly breakfast and through the District 6 newsletter.

Neysa Rimer and Fanny Ford of the Bank of Ridgeway served as the BBC's first co-chairs and Kellie Ballentine (Allstate Insurance) was secretary.

After a few years, the BBC began pulling the community together by organizing safety programs, toy and food drives, the community Christmas tree lighting and parade, and a scholarship program for deserving high school seniors living in the area. Many of these missions continue today under the auspices of the Chamber.

The BBC served as a very useful and valuable tool, but as the town of Blythewood and the surrounding community continued to grow and new businesses set up shop, under the leadership of Laura Kiser, President and Bill Plunkett, Vice President along with the business coalition decided it was time for that organization to evolve as well.

In late 2007, Laura Kiser organized and charged a committee to explore other options. This diverse committee was comprised of the current BBC board members and additional individuals. This dedicated, far-sighted group included board members Velvia Barbour, Martin Mobley (co-chairs), and Nancy Gregory; BBC members John Fantry, Tom Ledbetter, and David Thames; and the BBC executive board members (President Laura Kiser, Vice President Bill Plunkett, Treasurer Eddie Wingard).  A particularly valuable resource to the exploratory committee was Tom Ledbetter. As executive director of nearby Midlands Technical College's new Enterprise Campus, Ledbetter also was a member of several chambers of commerce - and this experience proved invaluable as the committee tackled its challenging mission.

In March 2008, this committee recommended that the organization could best serve its membership and the community at large as an independent chamber.

In May 2008, the full membership was asked to vote on the question, and by a large majority, approved the transition into the Great Blythewood Chamber of Commerce.

This transformation was made much easier by a partnership with the Town of Blythewood, Mayor Keith Bailey and council members Jim McLean, Katie Cauthen, Ed Garrison and Paul Moscati - who pledged both moral and financial support to help the Chamber achieve its mission.

The GBCC is proud to be one of the newest chambers in South Carolina in 2008. Founding board consisted of: Laura Kiser (Chairwoman/President), Velvia Barbour (Vice Chairwoman), Eddie Wingard (Treasurer), Nancy Gregory, Neysa Rimer, Mark Howard, Larry Sharpe, Martin Mobley, and Bill Plunkett. The GBCC would like to give special recognition to our founding charter members:

• Allstate-Kellie Ballentine Agency - Kellie Ballentine
• Allstate-Kevin Shealy Agency - Kevin Shealy
• American General Financial Services - Janice Stuckey-Young
• AQA International LLC - Chuck Howell
• BB&T Mortgage - Belinda Portnall
• Bear Creek Stables - Brenda Tiejen
• Bethel Hanberry Alumni Athletic Assoc - Larry "Griff" Griffen
• Blown Away Salon - Missy Clementi
• Blythewood Academy - Nancy Truman
• Blythewood Dentistry - Shelia Finkle
• Blythewood Feed and Hardware - Nesya Rimer
• Blythewood High School - Keith Price
• Blythewood Inc. - Joe Taylor
• The Blythewood Leader - Michelle Jackson
• Blythewood Middle School - Nancy Gregory
• Blythewood Oil - Larry Sharpe
• Blythewood Pharmacy & HME - David Thames
• Blythewood Realty - Jennie Sharpe
• Town of Blythewood - Mayor Keith Bailey & John Perry
• Broom Heating and Air Conditioning - Kevin Williamson
• Builders First Source - Charley Weir
• Carolina First Bank - Velvia Barbour
• Cautchen Law Firm LLC - Katie Cautchen
• Certified Appraisal Services - John W. Buckley, Jr.
• Certified Appraisal Services - Bill Plunkett
• Children Finding Success, LLC - Martha Jones
• Cobblestone Park - Kerry Feldstead
• Cobblestone Park - Tom Graber
• Colonial Life Insurance - Laura Kiser
• Columbia Country Club - Jill Philman
• T. Edward Cooper Co. - T. Edward Cooper
• The Country Chronicle - Martin Mobley
• DeTreville & Associates Inc - Paul DeTreville
• Richland County Council - Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson
• Enclave at Blythewood Crossing - Christy Chinn
• Fairfield Electric Cooperative Inc. - Bill Hart & Mark Howard
• First Citizens Bank - Eddie Wingard & Herbert Humphries
• City of Forest Acres - Robert Massa
• Foundation Mortgage - John Bloodworth
• Michael J. Grant Forestry Consultant - Michael J. Grant
• Byron Hanna Lawn and Tractor - Byron Hanna
• Identity Theft - Jamie Riley
• J&B Reality & Construction Co. - J. B. & M. L. Bishop
• J.M.R. Corp., Inc. - Mike Ross
• Jeep Rogers FamilyYMCA - MJ Peirce & Denise Dunn
• Edward Jones Investments - Chris Jewett
• K2 Communications - Chris Keefer
• Kalu Rental Co. - Daune Walker
• Kegley International Inc - Dr. Charles Kegley
• Kornegay & Moseley Funeral Home - Greg Moseley
• Kosta Photography - Michael Kosta
• Mary Kay - Sonja Howe
• Mass Mutual - Tim Dasinger
• SC Representative Joseph A. "Joe" McEachern - Dist. 77 Richland Co.
• Midlands Technical College - Tom Ledbetter
• Miles Engineering Associates, LLC - John Miles
• Nationwide-Chichester Insurance - Keith Chichester
• Nehemiah Communications - Kenneth Breivik
• Northwoods Lawn Services - Trey Miles
• Patterson Logistics - Nadia Coccaro
• Performa Metro Graphics - Tem McFadden
• Richland County Sheriff's Department Region 6 - Captain Roxana Meetze
• Russell Jeffcoat Realtors - Judy McPherson
• Samurai Karate - Chris Feldt
• Sharpe's Service Station - Joe Sharpe
• Kem R. Smith CPA - Kem Smith
• Southeast Insurance Group, Inc - Roc Swindler
• Springdale Outdoor Services Inc. - David Gantt
• Standard Electric - Butch Richardson
• State Farm - Sandy Khan
• Melvin Stepp
• Storage Express LLC - Dewayne Bohannon
• David Suggs Graphic Designs, Inc. - David Suggs
• Sycamore Development - Michael Letts & Carl Berry
• United Country/David Brown Realty - David Brown
• Joy J. Watkins, CFP, LLC - Joy Watkins
• Commissioner At-Large Swain Whitfield SC Public Service Commission
• US Congressman Joe Wilson 2nd District of SC