CHAMBER UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- With a growing membership nearing the 700 mark and climbing daily, the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce recetnly unveiled a new and improved Web site, which makes finding vital information easier. The new Web site is www.lincolnchambernc.org.

The man behind the new design is Richard Stevenson, president and CEO of Cobblesoft International.

Stevenson said his company started out of necessity.

"I became involved in Web site design because I was helping a friend with a Web site," said Stevenson.

The Chamber's new Web site recently went live and Stevenson said the project was much larger than the projects he's used to working with.

"There were quite a few 12 hour days involved," said Stevenson. "I'd estimate there were a couple hundred hours invested in the project."

The biggest challenge in designing the Web site is working with the software that was in place. Stevenson said the overall look and feel of the new site is better.

"Besides being user-friendly, the site is much faster to navigate now," said Stevenson.

Besides speeding up the site, Stevenson said he resized the graphics, maximizing Web space.

In early 2008, the Chamber called on local Web site companies to provide ideas and insight into what the look and feel of a new Web site would be. Stevenson was the only Web designer that answered the call.

While Stevenson was the muscle behind the new Web site, the idea to redesign the site came from the Chamber's member services representative, Lori Montgomery.

Montgomery said the idea began forming out of a Chamber retreat in 2006 before her time at the Chamber.

"I saw it could be a good project," said Montgomery. "When I came to the Chamber in February, I saw this as one of the needs. It became a project and a challenge."

Montgomery said the purpose of the site is two fold.

"First, the site promotes Chamber members to the public," said Montgomery. "People can look at our members for various needs."

Besides promoting Chamber membership, the site also focuses on the Chamber of Commerce itself.

"That includes the staff, strategic plan and the vision of the Chamber," said Montgomery. "It educates the public on what we're all about at the Chamber."

Some features of the Web site include promoting life in Lincoln County; a "hot links" section, giving links to Lincoln-based organizations; and links to things like a member directory, how to become a Chamber member and an events calendar.

Montgomery said Stevenson deserves all the credit for the Web site.

"Without Richard, we couldn't accomplish this," said Montgomery. "This Web site is the key to helping get our goals accomplished."