Blount Partnership News & Events

 
Have you ever wanted to go to Cuba? Now's your chance with a Blount Chamber sponsored trip in November. Click here to find out more.
 
Be sure to check out this week's edition of The Dialogue featuring a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member, Jamie Weiss of Jamie Weiss Photography. Scroll down this email to read more about her and her business.
 
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.
 
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 96TH CHAMBER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Tickets for the 96th Blount Chamber Anniversary Celebration sponsored by AMI, LawlerWood, Blount Excavating, TVA, Unified AV Systems, C2RL, Inc., CSX, Hickory Construction, Pinnacle Financial Partners, S&ME and Spectrum Business, with a James Bond Casino Royale theme are on sale now. So get dressed up and join the celebration on Friday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Airport Hilton. It will be an evening of live music with Jessie's Girls, a national party band, food and networking with Blount County business professionals. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online or by calling 865.983.2241.
 
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS...PARTICIPATE IN "OPERATION THANK YOU"
Participate in the Chamber's 18th annual "Operation Thank You" set for February 16-18 and meet other business people on a one-on-one basis. During this three-day event, Chamber members, the Chamber staff and Board of Directors will personally deliver Chamber member information packets for 2016. We invite you to join us in this three-day effort. You can agree to call on as many or as few members as your schedule permits. If you, someone (or several people) from your business, organization or group is interested in participating, please contact Amy Lawson or call 865.983.2241.
 
Promote your business during "Operation Thank You" by sending 1250 gift certificates, brochures or business promotional pieces to us and we will distribute them during "Operation Thank You." Your Chamber constantly looks for ways to help you promote your business and the ABC theory - Always Buy Chamber. We do ask that your enclosure piece be a 4x9" brochure or a size not to exceed 8 ½x11" and be no more than 1 page or sheet. These inserts should be delivered to the Chamber no later than 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 4. Please contact Amy Lawson or call 865.983.2241. There is a small charge of $175 for insert enclosure.
 
SMOKY MOUNTAIN SNOWDOWN
The Smoky Mountain Snowdown: A Winter Festival is being held in Townsend, Jan. 29-31. It's a great time to get out an enjoy nearly 50 events in and around the Smokies. Be sure to join us at the opening reception on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 28 from 4-7 p.m. at Mountain Trax. Click here for a complete listing of events.
 
 
SOFT SKILLS CLASSES OFFERED THIS SPRING
It's Your Career! That's the focus of four 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:
Feb. 9 - Information Management
March 18 - Team Building
April 15 - Conflict Management
May 20 - Mentoring
 
JOIN OUR SAVE LOCAL NOW PROGRAM
Save Local Now, a FREE chamber member benefit, is here to help small business drive consumer traffic. Now more than ever we see the value in supporting local business. At the most basic level, buying local ensures that more money stays in the community. In fact, for every $100 spent at a locally owned store, $45 remains in the local economy. By shopping at the local "mom and pop" style store, consumers can rest assured knowing that they're doing their part of keeping their communities unique and thriving.
 
Save Local Now gives endless amounts of support to small businesses; more specifically the marketing tools they need to better promote their business. We know how busy the small business owner is; we know how little time there is for email marketing, social media, etc. The tools we give small business owners, such as free SEO services, deal and event publishing, email marketing, real-time analytics, etc. is so crucial to helping their bottom line. Essentially, Save Local Now created an easy way for small business to be everywhere consumers are today.
 
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 food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or countries. Local farmers can offer produce varieties bred for taste and freshness rather than for shipping and long shelf life.
 
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
"Knock Three Times" is a popular song credited to Tony Orlando and Dawn. The actual singers were Tony Orlando, Toni Wine, and Linda November, prior to the creation of "Dawn." The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 this week in 1971 and eventually sold six million copies.

Events
January 25-31

 

 

February 1-7

 

 

Save the Date

 


You can access the entire calendar here to see other community events and submit your own.

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So here we go with our 12th installment visiting with Jamie Weiss at Jamie Weiss Photography which photographs weddings, portraits and special events. It also offers a photo booth service for proms, parties, fundraisers and carnivals.
 
What do you strive for when taking pictures? I capture memories and create heirloom art for my clients
 
How did you get started taking photos? I began photographing professionally in 2002 as I was looking for a career change after the birth of my first child.
 
Did you study photography or learn on your own? I first attended Berry College as a business marketing major and later completed my study in photography through New York Institute of Photography.
 
What do you enjoy about photography business? I love people and really enjoy helping our clients in anyway I can. I also love getting to see so many special events take place and visit many new places both near and far! It also never gets boring... One day I'm at a wedding and the next I'm photographing a high school senior and the day after that I get to cuddle a newborn baby!
 
Previous Profiles:
Jeff Jones, LC Fence
Steve White, White Enterprise Holding
Aundrea Scholem and Jennifer Madaj, Foothills Adult Care Enrichment Services
Wade McLemore, Paychex
Alan Baker, Crown Point Consultants
Shelby Avery, Avery Wealth Management
Kate Schriver, Schriver's
Elizabeth Ross, ECS Central, PLLC
Tony Saddy, Get Fit Maryville
Renee Taylor, CBI
Christy Simmers, Christy's Creative Cafe
Premier and Presidential Partners