South County Chamber Welcomes Clint Klenke as Best of South County Community Champion

ST. LOUIS, MO — October 11, 2026 — The South County Chamber is pleased to announce that Clint Klenke has joined its leadership efforts as the Best of South County Community Champion, helping lead an ambitious initiative designed to celebrate local businesses, encourage community engagement, and recognize the people and places that make South County special.

Best of South County is a 52-week community recognition program featuring a different category each week. Residents are invited to vote for their favorite businesses, establishments, and experiences throughout South County, creating ongoing opportunities to discover, support, and celebrate the local business community.

Klenke brings more than three decades of community involvement, beginning at approximately ten years old through Youth in Action, a local community service organization. His early volunteer work included providing lawn care assistance to elderly residents.

During his younger years, Klenke also contributed to the St. Louis Variety Club Telethon, working behind the scenes to collect funds and process telephone donations supporting children with disabilities.

Throughout adulthood, his commitment to service expanded to include community outreach, financial and emotional assistance, and helping individuals navigate challenging circumstances.

As a former business owner, Klenke understands firsthand the difficulties entrepreneurs face. His own experiences have strengthened his commitment to helping others overcome obstacles and avoid some of the hardships he encountered.

“Clint is somebody who understands that community service isn’t about getting recognition. It’s about showing up and doing something that matters,” said Jim Shelvy, founder of the South County Chamber. “He’s spent more than 30 years helping people in different ways, and he understands the challenges that small business owners face. That’s exactly the kind of experience and commitment we want helping lead Best of South County.”

Celebrating South County, One Week at a Time

Launched in October 2026, Best of South County provides a yearlong platform for recognizing businesses throughout the community.

As Community Champion, Klenke will help expand awareness of the initiative, encourage business participation, strengthen community relationships, and promote opportunities for residents to support local establishments.

“Best of South County is about more than identifying winners,” Shelvy added. “It’s about bringing attention to businesses that serve our community every day. It’s about helping people discover places they may have never visited and giving local businesses an opportunity to be recognized for what they contribute.”

Klenke’s appointment reflects the South County Chamber’s broader commitment to community-driven leadership, bringing together individuals who share a desire to strengthen South County through meaningful involvement and collaboration.

A Lifetime of Community Involvement

For Klenke, becoming involved with Best of South County represents a continuation of a commitment that began in childhood.

From organized volunteer work through Youth in Action to supporting charitable fundraising efforts and assisting individuals and businesses through difficult circumstances, his involvement has evolved alongside the needs of the people around him.

That experience provides a foundation for his new role, where he will help connect businesses, residents, and community organizations through a shared commitment to celebrating South County.

About Best of South County

Best of South County is a community recognition initiative of the South County Chamber featuring 52 consecutive weeks of voting across categories highlighting local businesses, restaurants, services, and community experiences.

The program serves South County communities within ZIP codes 63123, 63125, 63126, 63127, 63128, 63129, and the St. Louis County portion of 63026.

About the South County Chamber

The South County Chamber is a community-focused social enterprise dedicated to strengthening businesses, building relationships, and advancing community development throughout South St. Louis County.

Through initiatives including Best of South County, SOCO Spotlight, Discover SOCO, Shop SOCO, and SOCO Cares, the Chamber works to create meaningful opportunities for businesses and residents to connect, collaborate, and contribute to a stronger community.

The South County Chamber — We Are Here to Raise the Standard.