April Bragg- Life long Middle Georgian shares passion for community

President and CEO of the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce, April Bragg, was born with a passion to help communities grow to their fullest potential. Being the daughter of a small business owner she said that was what first ignited the flame.

“I am a life long Middle Georgian,” said Bragg. “I was born and raised in Dublin, GA. My family owned and operated Garden Gate Flowers and Wedding Shop in Dublin for 30 years. I grew up in the backroom of the flower shop helping with arrangements and sweeping floors. It was there that I learned from a very young age that small business meant hard work, and it meant that everybody pitched in. Those are some life lessons that have stuck with me a long time.”

As Bragg became a teenager she shifted over to the wedding shop side of her family’s business and started to dresses. There she said she learned about the sale cycle, inventory process, etc. After high school graduation Bragg moved to Milledgeville to attend Georgia College on a voice and academic scholarships.

“At that time I really thought that I would move back home and run the family business,” said Bragg. “Well God had another plan, while I was there I was very involved with a number of activities on campus. As a result of that I became involved in a number of programs in the community. I fell in love with Milledgeville so much so that I didn’t want to leave.”

Bragg walked across the stage at her college graduation with a job in her back pocket. She said her first job was an advertising sales rep for the “Union Recorder” the hometown newspaper of Milledgeville.

“I don’t think I realized at the time how valuable that experience was,” said Bragg. I worked in that role for two years. Back tracking a little (said laughing) I not only fell in love with the city, but I fell in love with the middle school band director, and we decided to stay and make Milledgeville our home. We have two beautiful kids Abby 9 years old and Drew 7 years old.”

“I learned early on through being an advertising sales rep that it was about establishing relationships,” said Bragg. “I knew that from the days of my daddy’s flower shop. I couldn’t just walk in and be done after one sale no I was there for the long haul. I wanted to their business to grow. Then I worked my way into corporate training role and marketing manager for the paper. I also maintained national accounts such as BBT bank. One day I was making my annual presentation to the bank, and the president stopped me in the middle and asked if I like to work for them.”

Bragg was hesitant at first, but four and a half weeks later she took on the role as the mortgage-lending officer. At that time she said mortgage was marketing, sales, relationships, and open houses; skills she already had and succeeded in.

“I was in that role for five years,” said Bragg. “During that time I had both of my children. The industry had also changed and I was losing myself.”

Along Bragg’s professional history she also served on the Milledgeville Mainstreet Downtown Development Authority for 12 years.

“I watched that town go from 30 to 40 percent boarded up with no development to the Great American Mainstreet Award recipient of 2014,” said Bragg. “It was a tremendous opportunity. About the same time I was dissatisfied in my professional life, and have this volunteer experience under my belt, the position of president for the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce opened up. This was in 2008 where jobs like my marketing positions were falling at the wayside. So I put myself out there and applied.”

Once Bragg was hired she said she never looked back. Chamber became her niche. Bragg spent three years with the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce until (her current position) the position of president for Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce opened up.

“Almost two years ago the position in Warner Robins opened up,” said Bragg. “I had a lot of my colleagues encouraging me to apply for it along with Chris Clark from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce encouraging me. To be honest I was very unsure at first if I’d fit the bill for what they were looking for. This is a lot bigger role than I held in Milledgeville because of the size differential in the community, size differential in membership, and the military component.”

Bragg said Houston County was always a big bright shiny object for her family. Her husband Terry worked for Oak Hill Middle School for number of years as the band director under the principal/leadership of Mark Scott, who is currently the Superintendent of Houston County schools.

“We knew as parents Houston County was the best education and school system around,” said Bragg. “Well I advanced through the process and became a top finalist for the Warner Robins chamber position. About 10 days before my final interview my husband received a call from Dr. Scott informing him about the band director’s position at Northside Middle School was soon to be open. God truly blessed us, we are loving every single moment of it, and we finally feel like we are home.”

When Bragg and her husband arrived in Warner Robins she said it was overwhelming at first with the welcoming of the community.

“Still to this day everyone has been so great,” said Bragg. “It has been very easy to establish meaningful relationships her. Working with the people here at the chamber and leadership in the community there has been a true emabrace and true sense of partnership; whether it’s Chairman Stalnaker or Mayor Toms or any number of my board members or business members. Its great how I can pick up the phone, and automatically have their buy in, input, and insight that I may not have thought about to help this community grow and succeed.”

“I have a big vision for Warner Robins and Houston County,” said Bragg. “I think this community has so much potential. Already in the growth of development all the signs are there that people want to be here. There is value in what’s being offered, and I think we just have an opportunity to shine the penny.”

HHJ News