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If you ever wanted to be more comfortable in networking situations, check out the
networking training class conducted by Raeus Cannon on Sept. 15 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Blount Chamber boardroom. The seminar is free and shows you how to quit making cold calls and drive more prospects to you.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR BEST OF BLOUNT AWARDS
 The
Best of Blount Awards is coming up on Nov. 12 at the Clayton Center for the Arts and we need you to nominate businesses and people who have made an impact in the community over the past year. Submit nominations until Sept. 23.
The Best of Blount, which focuses on the Blount County community as a whole rather than only on the business sector, celebrates those individuals and businesses that give their time and resources to make this area an outstanding place to live and work. Awards will be given for Philanthropist of the Year, Community Impact Award, Bright Future Award, Business of the Year and the Tourism Award.
Tickets to the awards program featuring comedian, actor and impressionist
Frank Caliendo are on sale now. Chamber members can get their discounted tickets for $25 until Oct. 26 by calling the Chamber at 865.983.2241 or
click here. General public tickets are also available at the Clayton Center for $30.
The event is sponsored by Blount Excavating, C2RL Engineering, DENSO, First Tennessee Foundation, The Massey Group, WNOX-FM, WATE and The Daily Times.
BE PART OF A COMMUNITY ICON IN BASICALLY BLOUNT
 Basically Blount 2016 lifestyle magazine and membership directory is entering production once again. This annual, full-color lifestyle magazine and chamber membership directory is initially distributed to all Chamber members starting Feb. 2016, along with distribution four times throughout the year via area professional offices, newcomers, visitors, and new businesses all looking to relocate to Blount County.
In addition to intriguing stories and area photography that highlight the best of Blount County, Basically Blount also includes a finger-indexed, color-coded directory and buyer's guide of all Chamber members. Chamber members consistently tell us that they keep Basically Blount on hand throughout the year in order to find business products and services when they need them. In addition to 5,000 lifestyle magazines, we will have a complete online version on both the chamber and economic development websites.
We are pleased to
offer a variety of advertising opportunities at cost effective rates. We have contracted with Marcon Marketing Consultants, a local Chamber member, to handle production and ad sales. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Basically Blount, the importance of supporting the Chamber, and how to get your business involved contact
Rick Ford of Marcon Marketing at (865) 705-8580.
ARE YOU PART OF OUR SAVE LOCAL NOW PROGRAM?
 Digital marketing has dominated small business budgets for years. It's our job to level the digital playing field. Contact Blount Chamber's membership representative
Rachel Coffman for complete access to
SLN. It's a FREE digital marketing member benefit made exclusively for Chamber members.
For each and every member: An easy-to-use digital platform built to maximize online exposure.
Included in your SLN platform:
Content creation + publishing
Email marketing
Social sharing
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SLN empowers members to create content and share that content where it really matters: online, on social, and through email marketing. Take a few minutes to watch this
member intro video and learn more about what SLN can do for your business.
FINAL CALL TO REGISTER FOR FIRST SOFT SKILLS SEMINAR; TWO MORE CLASSES UPCOMING
 It's Your Career! That's the focus of eight 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 nine 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. 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 the first three classes with the inaugural class entitled "Time Management Techniques to Improve Your Productivity at Work" set for Sept. 18. This class aims to help people gain techniques and tools to help them manage their time effectively and increase their overall productivity.
The other classes with open registration are "Can You Have It All? Achieving Work-Life Balance for Business and Personal Success" and "Working Smarter: Keys to Career Success," are set for Oct. 16 and Nov. 20, respectively.
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL
 Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
Local businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes.
CHAMBER BENEFIT OF THE WEEK
 Group Transportation Services (GTS) is the one stop source for all of your transportation needs over 150 pounds. The modes we manage include less-than-truckload, truckload, air, international, parcel and expedite. Our extensive carrier network gives us the bargaining power to provide custom, cost-efficient transportation solutions. We only contract with the most reliable and financially stable carriers. Blount Partnership Members save an average of 10-35% on shipping annually. For additional information contact Craig Estep at (800)689-6255 x209 or visit
GTS on the web.
FREE BUSINESS OPERATION WORKSHOPS
 The Blount County Chamber of Commerce and the Blount County Library have partnered with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center to present free business operation workshops on Google, social media, business marketing and planning, starting a business and government contracting for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Workshops are held at the Blount County Chamber, 201 S. Washington St., Maryville, TN, and at the Blount County Library, 508 North Cusick Street, Maryville, TN. Participants are free to bring their own lunch.
For more information or to attend any of the following workshops, participants are asked to register by clicking on the Training tab at
www.tsbdc.org.
| Location |
Date |
Seminar Topic |
Time |
| Chamber |
Sept. 24 |
Starting a Business |
9 a.m.-Noon Register Here |
| Library |
Sept. 29 |
Email Marketing |
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Register Here |
| Chamber |
Oct. 8 |
Google + |
11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Register Here |
| Library |
Oct. 22 |
Growth Wheel - Ownership & Management |
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Register Here |
| Chamber |
Nov. 12 |
Business Planning |
9 a.m.-Noon |
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
Tina Turner topped the Billboard Music Chart this week in 1984 with her only U.S. number one hit, "What's Love Got To Do With It?" The song spent three weeks on top after knocking off "Ghostbusters." Turner was 44 when the song hit number one, at the time making her the oldest female solo artist to place a number-one single on the US Hot 100.
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| What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner |
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