It was his kids that brought him south, but after one visit to Newberry Ted Smith fell in love with the area. That love affair has led to his current post, encouraging business in the area.

Newly-hired Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ted Smith said his first impression of South Carolina was not entirely favorable, as his first time in the state was after joining the Army. Smith spent a week at Fort Jackson before being sent onto Fort Gordon for his basic training. But Smith did remember his travels through the state from that week long ago.

For 40 years, Smith lived in Coolville, Ohio and worked at Dupont in West Virginia.

But with a son living in Aiken and a daughter moving to the South, Smith and his wife knew they wanted to be close to their kids and grandchildren; “not live next door, but close.“

Smith had also seen an episode of City Confidential that told about the 1994 murder of Vickie Lander Beckham and as he watched he thought Newberry was a “pretty town.“

So as the Smiths began their search for a new hometown, they stopped in Newberry.

As the couple drove, they found a house on Harrington Street they liked and called the realtor’s office.

Local realtor Glen Whitesides quickly told them he was on his way to show them the house. The showing led to a tour of Newberry, and the couple fell in love with the area and chose Newberry as their new home.

Smith then was hired as the planning coordinator with the City of Newberry’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department and was in that job for two years. His duties included promoting the city, coordinating city events and working with city merchants.

His duties included assisting with Spring Fling, Pork in the Park and Oktoberfest, as well as the annual Christmas lighting ceremonies and the Christmas decorations in downtown Newberry.

But with the new year, Smith has a new job heading up the chamber, and he is already making changes.

First, the chamber will be open on Saturdays until early afternoon to answer visitor questions.

Smith is working with Newberry College and Piedmont Technical College to recruit students to help with the longer hours.

Smith adds that the chamber office has been busy signing up new and returning members.

“With the new leadership comes our new mission at the chamber,” Smith says. “for all of the chamber employees to work as a team and be an effective voice to our elected officials as to the needs of our local chamber members.”

“As a chamber member, your voice will be heard on the state level as well as in Washington. Our staff, as well as each board member, will recruit new members but will still work diligently to retain our current members,“ he said, adding one of the first opportunities to meet with the legislative delegation will be at the chamber’s Feb. 2 legislative breakfast.

The revamped chamber will focus on tourism for all of Newberry county, local issues important to businesses and the community and establishing stronger relations with all area Chambers of Commerce, representatives say.

“This is a fresh start for our Chamber to focus on some real issues that are important to Newberry businesses and the Newberry community,“ Smith said.