Blount Partnership News & Events

 
It's coffee club week, so please join us this Thursday, April 28 at 7:45 a.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott (141 Furrow Way, Alcoa). The coffee club is being hosted by Express Employment Professionals.
 
Please help us get the word out about the Blount County Job Fair by printing and displaying this flyer at your business.

Anyone looking for summer jobs, part or full-time employment needs to be at the Blount County Job Fair presented by the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, DENSO, Newell Rubbermaid, Staffing Solutions, the Blount County Library, Tennessee Career Center and The Daily Times on Friday, April 29 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee building located at 136 Harvest Lane in Maryville. Click here for a list of participating businesses.
 
A state legislative briefing will be held Friday, April 29 at 8 a.m., with Senator Doug Overbey and Representatives Bob Ramsey and Art Swann at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville).
 
 
Be sure to join us, Thursday, May 5, as Tennessee Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer will deliver an overview of the state and East Tennessee region transportation issues and projects at the Blount Partnership at 3 p.m.
 
Don't forget to take the Chamber's Annual Member Satisfaction Survey by Friday, April 29. Please take five minutes to complete it. Click here to access the online form.
 
Check out our 21st installment of The Dialogue where we visit with David Anderson, agent/owner of Shelter Insurance, which sells insurance while providing excellent customer service before, during and after the sale.
 
REGISTER TODAY FOR BUSINESS-BUILDING WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY DEX MEDIA
Hear from local experts on how to succeed in your local business. Attend this FREE business event presented by Dex Media on Tuesday, April 26 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Blount Partnership. Free lunch begins at 11:15 a.m. You'll learn business-building strategies, tips and techniques from your community leaders, all geared toward increasing your productivity and business success. RSVP to Debbie Laugherty - 865.705.1762
 
UNDERSTANDING THE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT
Certain parts of the Affordable Care Cat (ACA) are in effect. As a business owner, you will want to know how this healthcare policy impacts your business. If you are confused about the changes, costs, or your role, you should attend this workshop directed at explaining the business provisions of Health Care Reform and the Affordable Care Act. Join us for this free seminar presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Thursday, April 28 from 11 a.m.-noon at the Blount Partnership. RSVP here.
 
FINANCING YOUR BUSINESS THE SBA WAY
The Blount Partnership is hosting a Financing Your Business the SBA Way seminar on Thursday, April 28 from 9-10 a.m. This presentation is designed to show potential borrowers the eligibliity criteria and benefits of SBA guaranteed loans. Whether you are an existing entrepreneur or have given thought to starting a business, this seminar will put you ahead of the game in government guaranteed lending. RSVP here.
 
FINAL SOFT SKILLS CLASS OFFERED IN MAY
It's Your Career! That's the focus of the final 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:
May 20 - Mentoring
 
AMPLIFY YOUR BUSINESS WITH SAVE LOCAL NOW
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!
 
At the most basic level, when you buy local more money stays in the community.
 
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
"Come On Eileen," a one-hit wonder by Dexys Midnight Runners spent a week atop the Billboard Music Chart this week in 1983. It won Best British Single at the 1983 Brit Awards and in 2015 the song was voted by the British public as the nation's sixth favorite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.


Events

 

April 25-May 1

 

April 25-30 -- Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop "Pie It Forward" benefits New Hope - Blount County Children's Advocacy Center
April 25 -- Stewards of Children (Child abuse prevention training) by Blount County Children's Advocacy Center
April 26 -- Business-Building workshop presented by Dex Media
April 27 -- GAINS Computer Class-Microsoft Powerpoint (Registration Required)
April 27 -- Focus On Seniors: Medication Management @ Blount County Library
April 27 -- Rookies Class - Intro to Internet Searching @ Blount County Library
April 27 -- Mountain Challenge's Camp 4 at Maryville College
April 28 -- Coffee Club sponsored by Express Employment Professionals
April 28 -- Financing Your Business the SBA Way
April 28 -- Understanding the Affordable Care Act
April 28 -- Google Better: Internet Searching Beyond the Basics @ Blount County Library
April 29 -- State Legislative Briefing
April 29 -- Blount County Job Fair
April 29 -- State Legislative Briefing
April 29 -- Y12 Federal Credit Union - Ribbon Cutting - Grand Re-Opening
April 29 -- Connecting Hands, Hearts, Horses and Healing @ Mane Support
April 29 -- Recovery Revolution at RIO Revolution
April 30 -- Alcoa Kiwanis Annual Pancake Breakfast

 

May 2-8

 

 

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 21st installment visiting with David Anderson, agent/owner of Shelter Insurance, which sells insurance while providing excellent customer service before, during and after the sale.
 
How did you get started in the insurance business? "I needed a career that provided me with the flexibility to be more involved with my ever growing and always on the go family. With five kids, someone always needed to be somewhere. That initially happened when an agent with another insurance company solicited my business. I became an insured with that company, then shortly after, went to work for them. I am so thankful for that opportunity and that three-year experience has made it possible for me now to be my own boss, something I never thought I would do."
 
How did you gain the necessary skills? "I have always enjoyed talking to people and felt comfortable in many different settings. I try to engage in what people are doing and saying and I think that creates a comfort level that allows the sale to take care of itself. I have never wanted to be a "sales person" as many people typically think of sales people. I also have had many years of experience in supervising/managing people and different other responsibilities giving me the comfort and confidence to make sound decisions."
 
Who has been your greatest influence? "My wife Shelly. We will celebrate 20 years of marriage in May and she has supported me and encouraged me every step of the way especially now as a business owner. I was a little apprehensive to take the leap and kept asking "what if I fail?" She finally looked at me and said, "what if you don't!" That really helped solidify the decision to take a risk on myself."
 
Describe your customers. "People who want to be helped and listened to. People who have kids, and cars, and a house and toys who want to know I am going to help walk them through the process of making sure they have the coverage they need and the value they deserve. Many of them are local folks I have known for many years."
 
What do you enjoy about running your business? "I enjoy the flexibility of running the business. I enjoy seeing and talking to my customers. They know when they come in or call, they will get to sit down and talk to me. I also enjoy being able to bring my family to help around the office. Sometimes, in emergencies, my kids have been able to come to work with me when there was no other option. I also like knowing I have helped someone and them trusting me to give them accurate and honest information."
 
Previous Profiles:
Nancy McBee, Tennessee Trane Energy Services
Joel Honeycutt, J&S Janitorial Solutions
Suzie Cutshaw, JB&B Capital
Tom Klein, InfoSystems
Chris Woodfin, Spicer Rudstrom, PLLC
Rebecca Kiger, Home Instead Senior Care
Ben Hazel, Pree's Tree Specialists
Larry Parker, Auto Collision Experts
Jamie Weiss Photography
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