GHCC NEWS RELEASE:
Thirty years ago, Gainesville and Hall County leaders had the insight and boldness to invest in a groundbreaking community and economic development initiative called HALLTogether, now called HALLmark. The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) has been growing community prosperity ever since. The focus of HALLmark is to develop a collective vision for the continued success of our community by working in partnership with business, government, education and private citizens.
The Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation has continued its legacy of service to Gainesville-Hall County with a $300,000 investment in the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s HALLmark 2025–2030 initiative. Since its founding in 2011, the Ivester Foundation has focused its philanthropy on expanding educational opportunities in Hall County — supporting Brenau University, Lanier Technical College, the Hall County School System, the University of North Georgia, and the University of Georgia.
The Foundation’s contribution — a cornerstone investment of the HALLmark 2025-30 campaign — has helped move total commitments to $2.2 million toward the $2.9 million goal. This investment will strengthen key Chamber programs in leadership development, education, workforce development, Vision 2030, and economic development.
The Greater Hall Chamber’s leadership portfolio includes Leadership Hall County, which prepares adults for high-level community engagement, and Youth Leadership Hall which equips high school juniors and seniors with leadership skills and career exposure.
Workforce Development efforts are expanding through the Chamber’s new Workforce Development Council, designed to coordinate strategies among employers, educators, training partners, and workforce agencies throughout the region. This will better position the Chamber’s efforts to continue to support career path fairs for 8th graders, apprenticeships, Work-Based Learning, job fairs and career-training.
The HALLmark initiative also supports Vision 2030, the Chamber’s long-term community development program focused on advancing bold, transformative ideas that enhance quality of life, innovation, place making, arts, greenspace, and future-oriented community planning.
Additionally, the Chamber’s economic development efforts span county-wide business recruitment, retention, and expansion while also supporting entrepreneurship, education for small businesses and health & wellness initiatives that strengthen workforce vitality and community well-being.
“The Greater Hall Chamber’s leadership, workforce, and community development programs are essential to ensuring that Gainesville and Hall County prosper for generations to come,” said Doug Ivester. “We are delighted that our Foundation is supporting the Chamber’s work, these initiatives, and the people who strive every day to make our community stronger.”
“We are grateful that the Ivester Foundation chose to invest in HALLmark 2025-2030 and in the educational and charitable programs that shape the long-term success of our community,” said Tim Evans, President & CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.
Doug Ivester is the former chairman and CEO of The Coca- Cola Company. He and his wife, Kay, are natives of Hall County and attended New Holland Elementary School, where they met in the third grade.