Maggie Milner: Building Bridges For A Thriving Community

Maggie Milner is a creative and seasoned non-profit professional dedicated to working with organizations and individuals who value and celebrate our diverse human experience. As the esteemed President of the Chamber, Maggie’s mission is clear: to unite the community and strengthen the bonds between people and businesses. 

Drawing from a valuable lesson she learned from her days at Habitat for Humanity, Maggie firmly believes that “people give to people.” This philosophy underscores her strong conviction in the power of relationships. Before making requests or addressing business needs, she prioritizes finding common ground among individuals. 

At the heart of Maggie’s approach lies a genuine intent to understand her peers, colleagues, and neighbors as unique individuals. By fostering trust and respect within the community, she strives to create an environment where collaboration and understanding thrive. In her role as President, she envisions a cohesive and supportive community that works together towards shared goals for a better tomorrow. Join us as we delve into Maggie Milner’s inspiring journey in bridging gaps and paving the way for a flourishing community. 

From College to Leadership 

Maggie’s journey in the nonprofit sector began during her sophomore year in college when she discovered a nonprofit management certification program, now called the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. This program offered valuable learning opportunities and real-world experience and was widely recognized across the nation. 

After finishing college, Maggie took up an internship with the Blue Ridge Institute, a conference focused on holistic professional development for community service executives. This opportunity came about through the recommendation of her college program advisor, who had a helpful network that also led her to work with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. 

Moving forward, Maggie transitioned into child advocacy by joining the local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) affiliate. After dedicating a few years to this cause, she decided to pursue her passion for the arts and relocated to Eatonton. In Eatonton, she took on the role of Development Director for the Plaza Arts Center, a prominent local performing arts venue. During her time there, she actively participated in the Chamber’s Leadership Putnam program. 

Within a year, the President of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce announced her retirement after an impressive 40-year tenure. It was then that Maggie was approached as a potential candidate for the position. Encouraged by the opportunity, she decided to go for it, and now she finds herself in the position she’s in today. 

Perspective in the Nonprofit Sector 

In the nonprofit sector, Maggie explains that there’s a common misconception about wearing multiple hats, and it’s particularly true in the Chamber world, where they already serve as a resource to the community in various capacities. This job requires flexibility and adaptability to cater to different individual needs and audiences, as they never know what to expect from incoming calls, visitors, or events. 

Maggie emphasizes that the main goal is to meet the community’s needs, so being prepared to find solutions at any moment is essential. Even when asked for things beyond their expertise or capabilities, she believes it’s crucial to have an answer. This could involve redirecting the conversation to the appropriate person or providing guidance in the right direction. Dealing with misunderstandings in such situations has taught her to have a lot of empathy. 

Despite the challenges, Maggie chooses to view them as opportunities for learning and improving her understanding of people and life. Each obstacle presents valuable lessons that help her grow and serve the community more effectively.  

Empowering Underrepresented Businesses 

The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting underrepresented businesses by recognizing the diversity of their community, including a significant number of minority or women-owned/operated businesses. A couple of years ago, they started collecting data on local businesses, which was a big surprise to Maggie, as it had never been done before. It became apparent that more than fifty percent of downtown businesses were owned and/or operated by women. 

To show their support, the Chamber organized a Women in Business luncheon, which turned out to be a great success. The event not only filled up the room but also encouraged participation from individuals who hadn’t been involved before, including members of different races and backgrounds. 

The Chamber actively fosters relationships with minority business owners by being accessible and attentive to their needs. They are also transparent about the diverse nature of the community, openly sharing this reality with everyone. As a result, their office has been praised for feeling welcoming and inclusive to all community members, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or religion. 

Fostering Inclusivity 

According to Maggie, there are key factors that contribute to creating a vibrant and inclusive business environment: 

• Get to know your community: Understanding the community you serve is crucial. This includes knowing your neighbors, their interests, where they work, and the services they provide. Being intentional about doing business locally is a core value of the Chamber of Commerce. Building relationships with people in businesses is the foundation of this approach. 
• Teach the “share the love” concept: To promote a healthy and inclusive environment, the Chamber ensures that no single business monopolizes their needs. They actively engage multiple local businesses that offer similar products or services and rotate among them as needed. This way, they support various businesses and create a sense of equity. 
• Know your business community: It’s essential to have a clear understanding of the businesses in the community and accurately portray what the Chamber can offer. Being able to present a compelling and accurate story of the Chamber’s capabilities is vital for effective communication. 
• Understand the visitors: For a tourism-focused community like theirs, knowing the visitors is equally important. Having the Tourism department housed in the Chamber allows them to gather data on visitors and collaborate with a broader range of businesses, including those not part of the Chamber. This helps bridge the gap between businesses that cater to visitors’ interests and the local community. 

By focusing on these key factors, the Chamber aims to create a dynamic and inclusive business environment that benefits both the local community and visitors. 

Measuring Impact 

Maggie highlights that measuring impact and success involves considering two different aspects. Firstly, it’s essential to gauge the day-to-day interactions with local businesses and individuals. The key questions here are: Do they feel comfortable reaching out for help when needed? Do people feel welcomed to drop by just to have a friendly chat and check-in? These casual conversations during encounters around town reflect the atmosphere the organization creates and how others perceive its impact. 

Secondly, looking at the numbers is crucial. Keeping track of program and event attendance, social media engagement, retention rates, and overall organizational growth provides insights into whether the impact is only momentary, creating a positive feeling, or if it’s truly generating lasting results. 

By considering both these aspects, Maggie and her team can better assess the effectiveness of their efforts and make informed decisions to improve their impact within the community. 

Strategy for Effective Community Service 

Maggie heavily relies on her local network to effectively serve the community. She understands the importance of knowing community leaders, stakeholders, and gatekeepers, and she actively works to build and maintain strong relationships with them. This involvement includes participating in boards, committees, and project partnerships to stay connected. 

For the Chamber, having a solid relationship with the local Planning and Zoning staff is essential. It allows them to stay informed about new businesses and gather valuable data on business trends, identifying areas of strength and potential opportunities. 

Engaging with businesses is another critical aspect of Maggie’s approach. She actively speaks with attendees at events and programs to listen firsthand to their achievements and challenges. This direct communication helps the Chamber become a better resource for the community. 

In essence, active communication lies at the core of Maggie’s strategy, ensuring the Chamber remains connected, informed, and responsive to the needs of the community. 

Maggie’s Insightful Advice 

Maggie’s advice to aspiring nonprofit professionals is to keep an open mind and not limit themselves to a specific cause or passion when starting out. She encourages them to explore different roles and causes, whether through volunteering or program experiences, to gain a broader perspective on the many opportunities available to support altruistic passions and the community. 

While many individuals enter the nonprofit sector with a specific passion in mind, Maggie shares her personal experience of initially not knowing which cause motivated her. Instead, her passion lay in community engagement and organizational development. By following this desire and exploring different causes, she eventually found the perfect role for herself with the Chamber. 

In essence, Maggie advises young professionals to embrace diverse experiences and be open to exploring various paths. It is through this exploration that they may discover the ideal fit for their skills and passions within the nonprofit sector. 

Vision for the Chamber 

Maggie’s future goals and aspirations for the Chamber revolve around the continued building of the community through intentional engagement. She sees the Chamber, which also houses the Tourism arm or CVB, as a crucial community matchmaker. Being the go-to resource for information, both for residents and visitors, is a privilege, and she believes that a vibrant community requires the presence and involvement of both. 

To create a positive impact, Maggie emphasizes the importance of understanding people’s strengths and utilizing them effectively in the community. Collaboration is a key aspect of her vision, as she believes it is one of the most rewarding efforts someone can make for the betterment of the community. 

Ultimately, the Chamber’s primary focus is to support, promote, and honor the Eatonton-Putnam community, ensuring it continues to flourish and thrive through strong relationships, shared strengths, and active collaboration. 

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