Blount Partnership News & Events

 
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break.  Be sure to check out the latest edition of The Dialogue at the bottom of this email. This week we visit with Alan Baker of Crown Point Consultants. The Dialogue is a short feature to introduce new members of the Blount County Chamber.
 
HOW TO TALK ABOUT PHILANTHROPY WITH CLIENTS
The East Tennessee Foundation & Maryville College present a breakfast & seminar for professional advisers entitled "How to Talk About Philanthropy with Clients," presented by East Tennessee Foundation Vice President of Advancement Sherri DeCosta Alley, J.D.
 
The event is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 from 8-9 a.m. with breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Proffitt Dining Room located in Pearsons Hall on the Maryville College Campus, 502 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804.
 
Please RSVP to: Samantha Amick (865) 524-1223
 
*For attorneys seeking CLE Credit: Approval is pending for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit for this program. Upon approval, a $1 fee will be collected at the program for CLE credit reporting.
 
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
After a one-year hiatus due to construction, the Blount Partnership Christmas Open House is back for the 15th time on Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. The Partnership staff will be cooking and wearing their best ugly Christmas sweaters.
 
So please make plans to drop by and enjoy some outstanding food. Here's a brief sampling to whet your appetite: cheese and sausage casserole, French toast casserole, pecan praline french toast, sausage balls, sausage/egg/cheese casserole, cheesy ham and hash brown casserole and bacon/egg/hash brown casserole. I have to stop writing because I'm getting hungry.
 
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL
Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
 
Money spent at local businesses generates 3.5 times more wealth for the local economy compared to money spent at chain-owned businesses.
 
Find what you're looking for in the Chamber Directory.
 
CHAMBER BENEFIT OF THE WEEK
As a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Blount County is home to some of America's most spectacular views and breathtaking scenery, ranking high among Tennessee's 95 counties in tourism activity. If you are looking to locate or expand your business, you have found the ideal solution. The Blount Partnership--as a cooperative effort between three of the county's key development organizations: Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Board and the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority-promotes economic growth and stability, fosters community development and enhances the overall quality of life.
 
Use this free app to access news and to navigate the Blount Chamber economic development information, member business and upcoming area events for Blount County. The app also links you to the Blount Partnership websites and social pages.
 
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
In the middle of a six-week run atop the Billboard Music Chart this week in 1980 was "Lady," by Kenny Rogers. The song was written by Lionel Richie and is listed at No. 47 on Billboard's All-Time Top 100.

Events
November 30-December 6

 

 

December 7-13

 

 

Save the Date

 


You can access the entire calendar here to see other community events and submit your own.
Don't forget to check out the Hot Deals brought to you from other Chamber members. Add your Hot Deal by emailing Amy to get your login info.

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So here we go with our seventh installment visiting Alan Baker, Managing Principal at Crown Point Consultants, which is here to serve small business and government contractors while helping them sustain and growth revenues and profits.
 
Describe what you do. For small businesses we do business plans and pro forma financial statements, connections to capital, growth and organizational management, sales and marketing, SOPs, succession planning, etc. For government contractors we handle proposal management, technical writing, networking and teaming.
 
How did you get started in this business?
I set out in 2002 to apply career skills from the international process and environmental industries. I have 35 years of international business development, plant/process management and technology commercialization experience that I wanted to use to help others.
 
Who is your mentor or biggest supporter that has guided you through your career? I have two actually. Paul Keran from Australia taught me to make decisions based on facts not "feelings." Lowell Smith helped me transition from the "real world" to being an independent consultant.
 
Describe your customers. Early stage small businesses, regional manufacturers and government contractors serving the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of State and Department of Homeland Security
 
Name three things you wish you knew when you started or began working at the business. 1) How to balance work between the two major sectors served 2) Impact and timing of federal-level politics on agency funding 3) Inherent "feast or famine" nature of sole proprietor work
 
What do you enjoy about running or working at the business? 1) Independence: living by my own decisions 2) The variety of assignments and constant intellectual and learning challenges
 
Previous Profiles:
Shelbe 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