<em>Photo above: As students around the Lowcountry ushered in their first days of classes, a select group of 21 adults also entered into a new classroom: The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. Selected for the class of 2016-17 are, from back row left,  Kent Eddy, Atlantic States Management; William Cubbage, Energy One America; Diego Mahecha, Hargray Communications; Eddie Mayers, GW Services; Ryan Stefonick, Collins Group Realty; Susan Maddaloni, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry; John Carroll, Nexsen Pruet; Nancy Sulek, Volunteers In Medicine; Chris Haro, Keller Williams Realty; Benji Threatt, Coastal Carolina Medical Associates; Tracey Leaver-Williams, Hilton Head OB/GYN Partners; Mike Allen, Broad Creek PSD; Terry Davis, Palmetto Dunes Resort; James Ellis, Jones Brothers Tree Surgeons; Ali Cadmus, Technical College of the Lowcountry; (seated, from left) Sara Manesiotis, Palmetto Dunes Property Owners Association; Gwen Taylor-Chambers, Bluffton Self Help; Jordan Treadaway, J Banks Design Group; Jill Dawson, Attorney; Jamie Kinnear, Sun City Hilton Head; Kayla Boyter, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.</em>

<b>Bluffton chamber to h</b><b>old networking event</b>

The Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce will hold a Coffee Networking Event from 8:30-10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the Garden Gate Nursery in the Promenade in downtown Bluffton. The Garden Gate Nursery Shop has a carefully curated selection of accessories and décor items. The speaker will be Alicia Taylor, director of the Port Royal Sound Foundation. For more information, visit www.blufftonchamberofcommerce.org.

<b>First Friday event </b><b>being held Sept. 2</b>

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring First Friday After Five on Friday, Sept. 2. Downtown merchants stay open until 8 p.m. and there will be live music and more.

<b>Businesses can get help with social media</b>

The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is offering businesses the opportunity to maximize their social media marketing. The chamber is holding one-on-one sessions to help businesses take social platforms to the next level, set up accounts, understand engagement and help grow online presence through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. These sessions are held on the last Wednesday of each month. RSVP in advance with Hannah Horne at hhorne@hiltonheadisland.org for a 15-or 30-minute, one-on-one session. The next sessions will be held from 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28.