Blount Partnership News and Events

The email subject line quote is from Lysander, Act 1, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's " A Midsummer Night's Dream."

RIBBON CUTTING FRIDAY

The Craig Sutter State Farm Insurance Agency (718 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Marvyille) is holding its ribbon cutting and grand opening on July 19 at 11 a.m. Please stop by and welcome Craig and his staff to the community.

CAN I BE BLOUNT?

If you host events, corporate retreats, meetings, company family days, family reunions or whatever, mark your calendar for August 3 from 6-10 p.m. as Simply Greater Design and Events is hosting a launch party for its new business.

You are invited to join Simply Greater as it brings together Blount County-only vendors who are working to provide businesses and individuals with all the resources they need. The Chamber has a limited number of tickets to give out, so please email Jessica Hahn ( jhahn@blountpartnership.com) if you are interested in attending.

This event, presented by Becca and Sonya Kagley, includes music, food and door prizes, while featuring a discussion on ways to keep business local. A sample of the vendors include Amici, Artistic Pops, The Casual Pint, Schriver's Boutique, Single Barrel Events, Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, Tickled Orange Photo Booth, Butler Farm & Wedding Event Center and Vienna Coffee House among others.

VINTAGE CAR SHOW

Fans of vintage automobiles can view a special collection of classic cars at the RT 73 Car Collector's Show at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center (123 Cromwell Dr., Townsend) on July 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The car show is free with admission to the museum being $5.

Presented by the East Tennessee Region Antique Automobile Club of America and sponsored by West Chevrolet, Twin City Buick/GMC and the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority, the event features food, door prizes and a viewing of classic car films throughout the day.

More than 50 cars will be featured, including a 1917 Overland Touring Car, a 1966 Corvair Convertible, a 1956 Ford Parklane Station Wagon, a 1948 Buick Super Sedan, a 1959 Rambler Rebel V8, a 1940 Plymouth Sedan, a 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe (Moonshine Car), a 1954 Buick Skylark and a 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible.

NEW MEMBER PROFILED IN THE DIALOGUE

Here we go with our 139th installment of The Dialogue at the bottom of this email. We visit with new Blount County Chamber member Sandra Heim, owner/operator of Sassy Sisters Boutique.

ETPA'S ANNUAL BUSINESS MATCHING & TRADESHOW

The 14th Annual ETPA Business Matching & Tradeshow Event will be held July 18 at Rothchild Catering & Conference Center (8807 Kingston Pike, Knoxville) from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (followed by a lunch for governmental attendees and tradeshow vendors). This premier event showcases East Tennessee and northeast Georgia area businesses, large and small. It's an opportunity for businesses to meet with governmental agencies, create relationships to build future business opportunities, learn about "doing business" with the entities and to meet with private sector vendors. Get registered today.

CITY OF TOWNSEND OPEN HOUSE

The City of Townsend is excited to announce an open house and dedication ceremony for the new Community Center and City Hall on July 19 from 3-6 p.m. at 123 Tiger Dr., in Townsend. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come by.

The open house starts at 3 p.m. with the dedication ceremony beginning at 4:30 p.m. with words from the Townsend Mayor and other local officials.

For questions, information, or directions, please call 865-448-6886 Mon-Fri between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

COMMISSIONER MCCORD VISIT

Dr. Jeff McCord, Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will present a briefing about the workforce efforts from the state on July 31 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville).

Before joining the Department, Commissioner McCord spent seven years at Northeast State Community College in Kingsport where he was Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development. RSVP ONLINE.

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET

When you roll out the red carpet for your customers, they run out and tell everyone they know. In today's marketplace, customers have more choices and louder voices than ever before. That's why focusing on excellent customer service is the new marketing! Your customers can be your best source of advertising - if you engage your team to up their game in terms of the experience they create!

During this 1/2 day, interactive workshop we will discuss what it takes to build a culture of service where your team members are excited and ready to roll out the red carpet for your customers. Walk away with actionable ideas for:

- Taking your customer experience up to the next great level.
- Improving the 3 areas of the customer experience, including the WOW Factor
- Enhance customer and team member interactions
- Use 5 steps to building a culture of service excellence

So, join presenter Donna Cutting of Red Carpet Learning Systems on August 7 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville). The fee is $40 for Chamber members (book included) and $50 for non-members (book included). REGISTER ONLINE.

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST SOFT SKILLS CLASS

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 Communicating and Listening Effectively on August 30. 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.

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!

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 1989 was "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Simply Red. This version won the Grammy Award for the Best R&B Song of 1989. The song was originally recorded by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes and peaked at No. 3 in September 1972.

Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 139th installment visiting with Sandra Heim, owner/operator of Sassy Sisters Boutique, which is a retail women's clothing and accessories boutique, specializing in up-to-date fashion apparel for regular to plus sizes.

Tell me a bit about Sassy Sisters Boutique. At Sassy Sisters Boutique, we believe all woman of all sizes, should look and fell amazing. We offer a variety of women's fashions and accessories to fit the desires of every women's needs.

How did you get started? I personally have a "not so normal" or maybe just a little funky style. For some time I have had the desire to open a Boutique for women, such as myself, who seek unique, stylish, apparel and jewelry that is sometimes difficult to find at typical department stores. I also have a strong belief in small community supported businesses. A friend and local business owner presented me with the location available, and freedom to make this vision become a reality, and with support of family and friends, I started my venture!

What is your background? For 20 plus years my family has owned and operated a restaurant here in Blount Co. This has allowed me the opportunity to learn about the importance of hard work, and dedication, along with extensive communication and customer service skills. I learned how to search out new ideas and listen to what people are looking for, or options that aren't currently offered.

Who is your mentor? My husband is my mentor, and has taught me how to "look outside the box". He has helped me extend my boundaries and realize that life isn't about the destination, it's about the path we take, and differences we make along the way of the journey.

Describe your customers. We have a wide variety of customers, primarily women, all sizes, with their own specific style, and we try to offer something for everyone.

What environments impact your business? It is very important to be involved in the social activities of the local community. Small business owners that are supporting of each other set up the environment for positive experiences for consumers, which helps stimulate a better economics, and offers our local community a stable political standing.

Name three things you wish you knew when you started. The current technological skills needed to operate a business at its most efficient capabilities. The impact Social media now has on businesses, and how to effectively manage it to best benefit the business. More advanced administrative and marketing skills.

What do you enjoy about running the business? Meeting new people. Seeing the look on a customers face when they find that special item that completes their style or brings a particular outfit to the perfect point.

View previous Profiles

	Events

	July 15-21 July 15 -- Women in Business July 15 -- Summer Movie: Close Encounters of the Third Kind July 15 -- Genealogy Research: Finding Your Ancestors July 16 -- Southern Appalachian Studies Series: Bluegrass Music Club July 16 -- Savvy Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need to Know to Maximize Retirement Income July 18 -- Lauren Napier and Vic Ruggiero at The Townsend Abbey July 19-20 -- Volkswagen Car Show July 19 -- State Farm - Craig Sutter Agency - Ribbon Cutting July 19-23 -- Fred Weiser at the Townsend Visitors Center July 20 -- Karen Reynolds at The Townsend Abbey July 22-28 July 23 -- Dunkin' Donuts Ribbon Cutting July 25 -- Coffee Club sponsored by Y-12 Federal Credit Union July 25-30 -- Cathy Coulter at the Townsend Visitors Center July 27 -- Regency Tea at Historic Ramsey House Save the Date July 31 -- Labor and Workforce Commissioner Jeff McCord Visit August 7 -- Roll Out the Red Carpet: Engage Your Team to Deliver Excellent Customer Service August 9 -- Blount County Briefing August 13 -- ORNL Federal Credit Union - Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening August 13 -- Networking 101: Connect, Create and Cultivate Relationships You can access the Bount County Chamber events calendar here or the community calendar here.

	Premier and Presidential Partners