Blount Partnership News and Events

 
Check out the latest edition of The Dialogue in this email. This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 130th installment visiting with Zo McCullough, general manager of D1 MV Sports Training.
 
ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING
Join us February 6 at 8:30 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville) as the Blount County Sheriff's Office Training Academy Instructors will provide participants with strategies that can be used to prepare and respond to an active shooter event or other life-threatening incident. Participants will be presented with several steps to take to help the law enforcement response and to limit the number of potential victims. Register online.
 
REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST TICKETS ON SALE
Join local business leaders and elected officials to hear about pending state legislative issues that could impact the business community as well as the legislative agenda developed by policy leaders at the Blount Partnership, Knoxville Chamber and the Oak Ridge Chamber. The event is February 1, 2019 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Clayton Center for the Arts (502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville). Tickets are $30 and are available online only.
 
SOFT SKILLS ARE BACK FOR 2019
soft skills It's Your Career! That's the focus of a free soft skills session offered in partnership by the Blount County Public Library, the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.

Registrations are currently being accepted online at www.blountchamber.com for a class entitled Personal Professional Development Planning on February 22. All participants will earn .5 CEUs per session for participating. They will also receive an email survey two months after workshop participation to assess application of new ideas.

All classes are conducted in the Blount County Library's learning lab located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 50 participants. 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.
 
OPERATION THANK YOU
Promote your business during "Operation Thank You" by sending 1400 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 through the ABC theory - Always Buy Chamber. We do ask that your enclosure piece not to exceed 8 ½" x 11". These inserts should be delivered to the Chamber no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, February 7.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Amy Lawson at alawson@blountpartnership.com or call 865.983.2241. There is a fee of $250 for insert enclosure.

Participate in the Chamber's 21st annual "Operation Thank You" set for February 19-21, 2019 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. 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 at alawson@blountpartnership.com or call 865.983.2241.
 
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
Take advantage of your Blount Chamber discount and protect you, your family and employees by enrolling in IDShield. IDShield monitors identity from every angle and alerts you to status changes immediately. It can also help restore your identity if it has been compromised. LEARN MORE
 
DISCOVER LEADERSHIP BLOUNT
Did you RESOLVE to get more INVOLVED in 2019? Join Leadership Blount for the Spring 2019 session of Discover Blount! This fun, social, engaging introduction to Blount County will help you Discover all the great things about Blount County and identify ways to get involved. Discover Blount meets on six Tuesday afternoons this Spring and will highlight government, history, industry, tourism, education, health, and community service. Grab some friends and jump on the bus! For more information and to register go to www.leadershipblount.com/Discover.
 
LYNDA AT THE LIBRARY
Businesses need to take advantage of the Blount County Library's subscription to Lynda.com. Using your library card, get access to Lynda.com, a LinkedIn Company, with thousands of courses in software, creative and business skills to develop your staff skills and meet learning needs at your own convenience. Learn More.
 
YOU CAN POST YOUR OWN MEMBER-TO-MEMBER DEALS
Blount Chamber members can now post their own Member-to-Member deals on this page at no charge. Simply login to your account, Click on the "New Coupon" button, fill out the form and click save. It's that easy.

Click here if you need access to your login information.

Of course, we will be happy to add your coupon. Just email information about the product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.

View the latest deals.
 
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL
Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
 
Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do.
 
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 or any good news about your business, please send it to us. We'd love to share it with the community.
 
REMEMBER WHEN
Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week in 1960 was "Running Bear" by Johnny Preston. Written by The Big Bopper, the song tells the story of Running Bear, a "young Indian brave," and Little White Dove, an "Indian maid." The two are in love but are separated by two factors: Their tribes' hatred of each other and a raging river. The two, longing to be together, despite the obstacles and the risks posed by the river, dive into the raging river to unite. After sharing a passionate kiss, they are pulled down by the swift current and drown.

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 130th installment visiting with Zo McCullough, general manager of D1 MV Sports Training which provides world-class training to the Knoxville area and we want to make our training more convenient for the Blount County area.
 
Describe what D1 does. The mission of D1 MV Sports Training is to provide all clients with a best-in-class athletic training experience reflecting that which top-tier collegiate and professional athletes receive on a daily basis; to help identify, motivate and assist athletes to reach their goals; to establish D1 as THE premium athlete training brand; and to foster an environment of character development and excellence.
 
How did you get started? After interning and working in multiple fitness environments in the area, I came to realize that no training center comes close to the level of commitment and quality of training that D1 Sports Training offers. I wanted to establish D1 MV because we realized that there is a need for athletic-based training in the area.
 
What is your background? My background includes both undergraduate and masters degrees in Exercise Science. My internship work has allowed me to work with the University of Tennessee and University of Edinburgh teams, as well as meeting and working with multiple collegiate and professional athletes throughout my coaching experience. I've learned invaluable advice from all of the coaches that I've worked alongside throughout the years.
 
Who is your mentor? My biggest career mentor is definitely our owner, Devin Driscoll. While I have gained my sports science background from other educational resources, he has taught me more about the private sector of fitness training than I could have ever ask for. After working with him in multiple gym environments, no one has continually invested in my future and been there for advice like he has. I can't ever repay him for all of his help over the years.
 
Describe your customers. One of our philosophies is that 'Every Body Needs Training'. We focus on providing athlete-based training to all who can be dedicated to their training and want an encouraging environment to push them towards their fitness goals.
 
What environments impact your business? A lot of factors can negatively impact the performance training business environment unless we stay on top of them. While socially, health and wellness are becoming more important to most, being committed to understanding socio-cultural trends is key to providing quality training that is 'worth it' in any economic environment. Technological and political environments are constantly changing. It is our responsibility to make sure we know what could impact the fitness realm with beneficial technological changes and/or political changes and trends.
 
Name three things you wish you knew when you started. My marathon training and business development overlap: 1. Business is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on long-term goals instead of a short-term payoff. Organization is vital to its success. 2. There are no shortcuts or secrets that take away from the fact that you must put in the work to see the results that you want. 3. When you reach the finish line, know that you gave it everything that you had. Regrets of not doing enough hurt more than the sacrifices during the race.
 
What do you enjoy about the business? I enjoy providing an environment to help clients reach their fitness goals, employees reach their business goals and the community benefits from our involvement in the area.
 
Any additional comments? If you have thought-provoking questions about fitness, feel free to contact us! Your question may be posted on social media and could help you and others in the process! Community involvement is important to us! Don't hesitate to contact us if we can help out with an event! Look forward to hearing from you soon!
 
Events
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