'Vision continues' with Swain Morris

It has been 12 years since 65 North Augusta area leaders got together to establish a community foundation that could help address certain projects directed at improving the quality of life in the city. North Augusta 2000 was the result, and its initial strategic plan included 32 initiatives directed in four areas - economic development, education, recreation and quality of life.

In 2005, the group embarked on a second phase of projects with a new strategic plan, entitled "Continuing the Vision," and a second campaign for investors. At that time, a consultant was hired to lead the charge in garnering local support for the second phase of North Augusta 2000's initiatives.

Now the organization has taken a slightly different approach to getting local folks on board with investing in the many projects North Augusta 2000 has pushed forward.

For the upcoming campaign, the board of directors has chosen Swain Morris as the director of investor relations for North Augusta 2000. Well-known on the national level for his success in sales, Swain Morris admitted his strength is in calling on people, and that's exactly what he will be doing for NA 2000. He said what North Augusta 2000 is asking him to do "matches up with what I have been trained to do all my life." He will share the community foundation's story - including past successes and future plans - and invite investors to participate in the ongoing efforts the foundation has become well-known for - for example, Real Life 101, a practical course at North Augusta High School which enlists volunteer speakers on a variety of topics; Reading Readiness, which puts books in the hands of every preschooler in the North Augusta area; economic development, including participating in plans toward to real town center; etc.

Morris has entered a multi-year agreement with North Augusta 2000. He will join board members in visiting possible investors in the North Augusta 2000 effort, inviting them to participate as "The Vision Continues," the theme for this third phase of North Augusta 2000's initiatives.

As Morris takes on his task, North Augusta 2000 is in the process of upgrading its strategic plan and moving forward with a third phase of projects. Morris will use the new strategic plan to entice local individuals and businesses to become or continue as investors in order to carry out those projects.

An online survey was conducted to see what local folks envision as the priorities for such a charitable organization. That survey will serve as the foundation of the 2012 strategic plan.

Morris is familiar with the work of North Augusta 2000, since he has been involved in one of the foundation's premier initiatives from its beginning. He is a charter member of Real Life 101, having taught students "How to Sell Yourself First" during each semester the class has been in existence.

Morris said his biggest challenge is learning about all the things North Augusta 2000 has done over the last 12 years and then share that story.

"Y'all have done a great job," he said at his initial meeting with the board of directors of North Augusta 2000.

He acknowledged the foundation members have a plan already formulated. "We just have to execute it," he said.

Board member Kelly Zier said he thought the plan to work with Morris was "the best arrangement for this community yet."

North Augusta 2000 chair Tom Greene agreed, "We are very happy to have Swain Morris as our Director of Investor Relations. He is well qualified, an active member of the North Augusta Community and should be well received by the North Augusta 2000 investors. We look forward to a very successful campaign in 2012."

A resident of North Augusta for 35 years, Morris grew up in Louisville, Ga., where he attended Louisville Academy. He was a member of the Georgia all-state football team and state championship track team while there.

He attended Georgia Southern, graduating with a B.S. in education. Following that, he taught and coached football in Bacon County before moving to Augusta to sell real estate for Trotter Realty.

In 1982, he joined Sherwin Williams Paint Company. While there, he became the national account manager in 1987 - responsible for generating sales to the company's largest customers through 3,500 stores.

Throughout his career, Morris has presented seminars on selling skills in 31 metro cities and won numerous sales achievement awards, including being named sales manager of the year in 1993 and having the highest national account sales in the company in 1999 and 2004.

Morris is a member of First Baptist Church, North Augusta, where he taught Sunday School for 15 years before being named Sunday school director. He is an active deacon and member of the finance team.

At the same time, Morris has been umpiring girls' high school fast pitch softball in Georgia and South Carolina for the last three years.

He and his wife, Jean, have been married 35 years. They have five children and 11 grandchildren.