Wake up to new business contacts at our February Coffee Club this Thursday, Feb. 25 beginning at 7:45 a.m. at Kingdom Design Ministries (1162 Topside Road, Louisville, TN). Coffees are designed to offer you the opportunity to build business relationships with other members and to gain exposure for your business or organization in an "open house" setting.

 

Coffees are open to anyone associated with a Chamber member business. Participation is not reserved to the representative(s) listed on the Chamber membership.

 

We'd also like for you to join us for the Maryville College Career Center ribbon cutting on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.  in the newly renovated Bartlett Hall.    

 

Just a reminder that a letter was faxed out about the Blount County map project the Blount Chamber and Target Marketing are doing for distribution this summer. If you have didn't receive one, you can review it here. If you have questions, please contact the Chamber at 865.983.2241.

 

REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION

Join us March 2, from 4-6 p.m. CT at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown for a Regional Legislative Reception. Local business leaders, elected officials, state representatives and commissioners will gather to hear about pending state legislative issues that could impact the regional business community as well as the legislative agenda developed by policy leaders at the Blount County Chamber, Knoxville Chamber and the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

 

RSVP to Claire Carter or 865.983.2241

 

GANG AWARENESS IN BLOUNT COUNTY

The Blount Partnership is holding an information session regarding gang awareness in Blount County on Friday, March 18, 2016, from 8:30-9:30 a.m., in its boardroom. RSVP to Amy.

Knox County Sheriff detective Thomas Walker will lead the presentation which is free and open to the public. The main focus is on what business owners should know about gangs in the area.

 

THE POWER OF THE IN BOX

What is the first impression you give when they see you in their email inbox? And when they see you there, what do they do?

Join us for this free  powerful seminar takes you step-by-step through the keys to effective email marketing. From revealing why regular email doesn't work, to insider tips and techniques like automated list building tools and the design elements that work (and those that don't!), this seminar will give you the keys to the most effective marketing you can do: email marketing.

Join us at the Blount Partnership on Wednesday, March 23 from 9-11 a.m. Register Here.

 

NETWORKING TRAINING CLASS

Renowned collaborative networking and relationship authority Raeus Jae Cannon is holding a free networking training class at the Blount Partnership on Tuesday, March 8 from 3-4:30 p.m.

 

Cannon shows you how to quit making cold calls and drive more prospects your way. Come learn common sense tips and techniques you can use immediately. Please RSVP to Amy if you are interested in attending.

 

EARLY VOTING FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ENDS TUESDAY

Early voting for the presidential primary, Blount County primary and Rockford City elections has begun and ends Tuesday, Feb. 23. The primary election is Tuesday, March 1. Get all your voting information here.

 

COMMUNITY WELLNESS RECOGNITION PROGRAM

This recognition award, sponsored by Blount BEneFITs, was established in 2009 to recognize the efforts of Blount County schools and businesses that are taking steps within their organizations to promote and embrace healthy living through creative programs that encourage good nutrition and increased physical activity. Previous winners include weight loss challenges, running clubs and other exercise programs, some of which were long-standing programs and others that were start-ups.

 

Ready, Set, Move Award Application for Businesses/Organizations & Schools that made efforts in 2015 to promote healthy living within their organizations is available now.

 

Please pass this around to others or feel free to actually nominate an organization and gather the necessary info for the award submission that is due by no later than April 22. It's an honor to award those that are trying to promote healthy living in this community, and we hope to see many applications this year!

 

SOFT SKILLS CLASSES OFFERED THIS SPRING

It's Your Career! That's the focus of three free soft skills sessions offered in partnership by the Blount County Public Library, the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce that are scheduled over the next five months.

 

With more and more millennials entering the workforce, employers have noticed many workers in a variety of professions are lacking in several areas, including problem solving, conflict resolution and critical observation. But, even though they possess the hard skills to get an interview, it's the important soft skills that will land the job and help them keep it.

 

All classes are conducted at the library located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 30 participants. Those interested must register online at www.blountchamber.com/community/soft-skills. A complete class description is located on the registration site. All classes run from 8-10 a.m. with networking beginning at 7:30 a.m.

 

Registrations are currently being accepted for:
March 18 - Team Building
April 15 - Conflict Management
May 20 - Mentoring

 

SAVE LOCAL NOW: THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVANTAGE

As a small business owner, you have many advantages over large corporations in your ability to be agile, make quick decisions and pivot. You're not constrained by the bureaucracy that plagues larger corporations. You can review the data, make inferences on the trends and shift directions when you choose to do so.

You also have the distinct ability to build close relationships with your customers. Your customers are people that you care about and often know by name. They know they're not a number to you because you work diligently to provide the high level of quality and customer service that they've come to expect from you.

It's your ability to make personal connections that set you apart from your behemoth counterparts. Like 72 percent of small businesses, you use customer referrals as a way to generate new business offline. You personally follow up with customers to the best of your ability with phone calls, direct mail or emails.

 

If you have any questions regarding your free digital marketing member benefit ( Save Local Now), your digital platform, or online marketing in general please reach out the Blount Chamber's Rachel Coffman. She is here to help you in the year ahead and will keep you on track as you fulfill your resolutions in 2016.

 

REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!

 

Local business owners often sell local products, which helps preserve the community's distinction and creates more jobs locally, as well.

 

Find what you're looking for in the Chamber Directory.

 

GOT AN EVENT OR NEWS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT

Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event, please email Ashlee so she can post it on www.SmokyMountains.org.

 

Also, please send us any news releases or good news about your business. We'd love to share it with the community.

 

REMEMBER WHEN

Topping the Billboard Music Charts this week in 1962 was "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler. This song was a 2002 inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It has also been selected by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.