Blount Partnership News & Events

 
It's coffee club week. Join us Thursday, July 28 at 7:45 a.m. at Mane Support. Coffees are designed to offer our members the opportunity to build business relationships with other members and to gain exposure for their business or organization in an "open house" setting.
 
Join us Friday, July 29 at 8 a.m. as Twin City Dealership, First Tennessee Bank and CSX will host a local legislative briefing with Mayor Ed Mitchell.
 
The state of Tennessee's annual sales tax holiday is held every year, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the last Friday in July and ending at 11:59 p.m. the following Sunday night. During this weekend, certain goods may be purchased tax free. This year's tax-free holiday weekend begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 29 and ends Sunday, July 31 at 11:59 p.m. Find out what is tax free and a listing of exempt and taxable items.
 
Read our 32nd installment of The Dialogue at the bottom of this email where we visit with Randi Smith who works with Damsel In Defense self defense products. Smith works to inspire, educate, equip and empower others about the safety of themselves and their loved ones.
 
PIGS AND POLITICS LEGISLATIVE DAY IS TUESDAY
The fifth annual Pigs & Politics Legislative Day returns to Alumni Gym on the Maryville College campus Tuesday, July 26 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
 
This is a great opportunity for the public to visit with candidates and elected officials as they mingle in a summer pig roast setting with the community. There are no speeches; just a lot of Calhoun's BBQ, beer provided by Smoky Mountain Brewery. Elected officials will once again be serving BBQ while collecting "tips" for their respective non-profit organizations.
 
Tickets are on sale now for $25 for the public, $20 for Blount County Chamber members and $10 for children under 18. They available by calling 865.983.2241 and online.
 
BE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE AUGUST MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS
New offers are being posted weekly, so check out the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member promotions online. This Member-to-Member Promotional Program offers you and your company the opportunity to market your products and services to the membership.
 
Here's how it works:
1. Submit a PDF of a service, product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.
2. An email with all the promotions will be sent out on the final Monday of every month to our member database.
3. All promotions will be posted on www.BlountChamber.com
 
CYBER SECURITY SEMINAR COMING JULY 27
Cirrus IT Solutions and Regions Bank is hosting a free seminar Wednesday, July 27 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Blount Partnership on " 7 Critical IT Security Protections EVERY Business Must Have In Place NOW To Avoid Cyber Attacks, Data Breach Lawsuits, Bank Fraud and Compliance Penalties"
 
This is a great opportunity to discover risks of cloud computing and ways to protect your business. You can also find ways to better protect your valuable data and information. If you handle credit card, financial information or medical records, this is a must-attend seminar. Register here.
 
HOW TO USE POKEMON GO TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS
Pokémon Go has become an overnight sensation. This AR (augmented reality) game has more active users than Twitter and more engagement than Facebook. It has become the largest mobile game in US history in less than a week, passing the previous record holder, Candy Crush. Everyone is a part of the Pokémon Go craze and small business revenue has seen a dramatic increase because of the mechanics of the game. Your small business may see an increase too if you do these things. Read more here.
 
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!
 
Shopping locally give the economy tools to thrive.
 
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
"In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)," by the American pop-rock duo of Dennis Zager and Rick Evans, topped the Billboard Music Charts this week in 1969. It spent six week atop the chart in that summer. The overriding theme, of a world doomed by its passive acquiescence to and overdependence on its own overdone technologies, struck a resonant chord in millions of people around the world in the late 1960s.


Events

 

July 25-31

 

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So here we go with our 32nd installment visiting with Randi Smith who works with Damsel In Defense self defense products. Smith works to inspire, educate, equip and empower others about the safety of themselves and their loved ones.
 
What does Damsel In Defense offer? Damsel In Defense offers a collection of products that include emergency vehicle tools/kits, concealed carry bags, digital protection (identity theft, cyber bullying, computer support), personal protection items (pepper spray, alarms, stun guns) and newly released; our SAFE Hearts line geared at protecting our children against sexual abuse. We also offer the opportunity for others to join us in business as we work to spread awareness and the Damsel mission.
 
What insipred you about these products? I saw a need for women to feel empowered to protect themselves and felt that Damsel In Defense really filled a niche in the industry. Being a woman and mother of three daughters, I'm immediately aware of the fact that we (women/girls) are often viewed as 'prey'. So my natural instinct is to educate myself, and others, so that we're protected. Additionally, I've worked in sales my entire adult life so bringing the two together was an easy and natural fit.
 
What are the major influences in self defense? People are really taking hold and realizing how important it is to become and stay prepared. Gun laws are always changing - we offer a 'less than lethal' option for that are faced with those changes. Our products are affordable and non-intimidating to use. The technology and laws governing our products changes often and I'm proud to say that Damsel In Defense works diligently to stay current and in touch with what our customers need.
 
What do you enjoy most about this product line? Being able to share with others and to educate them about our products makes my heart smile EVERY TIME!
 
 
Previous Profiles:
Roy Shields, Smoky Mountain Self Defense
Michael & Lori Bishop, Mountain Top Retirement Planning
Cynthia Warner, Cynthia's Natural Market
Holly Sparks, Realty Trust Group
Amy McCarty and Tosha Wilhelmsen, The Artistic Bean Maryville
Dr. Drew Osborn, Foothills Pediatric Dentistry
Ray Clowers, Champion Physical Therapy
Jeffrey Jeter, OneSouth Financial Group
Josh Fincher, Thermocopy
Cory Blanton, Aerotek Scientific
David Anderson, Shelter Insurance
Nancy McBee, Tennessee Trane Energy Services
Joel Honeycutt, J&S Janitorial Solutions
Suzie Cutshaw, JB&B Capital
Tom Klein, InfoSystems
Clint 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