Amberle Godfrey, a “non-traditional, traditional” student at Reinhardt University, has been named President/CEO of the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce.
“From a highly skilled and experienced pool of applicants, the committee realized that without question Amberle has the skills, the knowledge of our culture and recent progress and the passion to take our chamber to the next level,” said Chamber chair Sonny Proctor, M.D. – a longtime orthopedic surgeon, chief medical officer at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital and a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Reinhardt.
Godfrey, a Pickens County native, raised three sons in the community she has always called “home,” and some 30 years after graduating from Pickens County High School returned to the classroom as a student at Reinhardt University.
On a challenge from her partner, Robert Keller, Godfrey started her college career at Reinhardt.
“During my short time in the college classroom, I have come to truly understand how important the opportunity for education has become, and it is incumbent on Pickens Countians to make a college education more affordable for every student,” said Godfrey.
In 2018, when Reinhardt decided to expand its highly successful scholarship program for Cherokee County students into Pickens County, the University turned to Godfrey to lead the charge.
Under the leadership of Godfrey, the “Pickens Scholars” program – a program focused on securing annual scholarship funds for students from Pickens County students attending Reinhardt – raised $37,840, which was 89 percent more than the goal of $20,000.
“Amberle Godfrey, together with our own Dale Morrissey, director of development & external relations – a Pickens County native herself, raised the bar for Pickens County students and we couldn’t be prouder of their work,” said Tim Norton, vice president for advancement & marketing.