January 6th, 2020
Greetings!
Happy New Year! 2020 is a year for clear vision. And when you have clear vision your reason for existence is stronger and your passion burns brighter. Get ready for your best year ever!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Platinum :
Silver:
LUNCHEON
This Thursday!!!
Chamber Survey
Finalist for our Community Contributor Awards:
Ron Bishop
Ann Vaphiades
John Schoen
Finalist for our Chamber Champion Award:
Susan Clark
Senior Center in Irondale
Susan always invites people to the chamber luncheon and we have had the most new members because of her.
Susan Meadows
Bates, Roberts, Fowlkes & Jackson Insurance
Susan is THE most involved person in Irondale. I see her at all the Irondale events. She has been a huge cheerleader for the chamber and never misses a ribbon cutting. She is dependable and always uplifts.
Guro Midtsund
EXP Realty
Guro is a wiz when it comes to marketing and has lended a hand with feedback, making name tags, events that the Chamber is having, helps with videos. She brings the pro to professional.
EVENTS
Swap Meet Time
Calling all sales people, business developers, and owners!
Come learn how to be specific in your ask for referrals to actually have other people's mind flood with people you should connect to.
January 24th from 8am-9am at the Irondale Library.
Email Director to save yourself a seat.
MEMBERSHIP
It is a new year and new things are being added to sponsorship options and a new membership level.
If you would like to contribute more to the chamber outside of membership, I am sure there is a place that you can contribute. Please see the attached Member and Sponsorship Guide.
GOOD NEWS
Symbol of Success
A big congratulations goes out to Scott Powers, Franchisee of Eastwood Village Chick-fil-A.
In 2019, the team achieved a YOY increase of 18% - Symbol of Success Award!
What a feat!
In the Greater Birmingham Area there are 17 Chick-fil-A stores.
8 out of the 17 achieved the Symbol of Success award this year.
Scott started working at Chick-fil-A at 18 years old, 2 weeks before starting college.
He has been a franchisee operator for 22 years.

So what contributed to achieving this great accomplishment?
Scott leads a team of 4 managers that had their sights set on hitting this goal.
"My role as the operator is to remove obstacles and provide support to my people. The key to our success was the alignment of our leaders toward a common goal."
 
Fun Facts about the Eastwood Village Chick-fil-A:
- Every chicken sandwich breast is hand split and breaded before cooking and being gobbled up.
- During peak hours the drive-thru is usually the fastest out of the 17 in the area.
- Using the Mobile App on Mondays will get you a treat.
MEMBER NEWS
Thank you to all the business owners that participated in the Business Blitz.
The community participants loved the interaction and going to visit the different businesses.


A labama Technology Network (ATN) is currently offering the following courses at no charge to companies and/or participants located in these counties: Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Fayette, Hale, Jefferson, Pickens, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa and Walker: 
Root Cause Failure Analysis and Problem Solving for Maintenance Training ¨ January 21, 2020 and February 4, 2020
This one-day workshop is designed for maintenance personnel. It will give participants a chance to develop and implement permanent solutions to persistent machine failures and problems. The class will help maintenance personnel more quickly discover the true causes, not the symptom, of failures.
Root Cause Analysis and Problem Solving Training ¨ January 23, 2020 and February 6, 2020
The course is an introduction to problem solving tools and a formal method for determining the root cause of a problem. This training includes several class exercises using catapults to practice the techniques learned in class.
Click to Register.  Hurry, seating is limited.
Please contact Cassandra Spencer, 205-616-1966 if you have questions. 
Habitat for Humanity is doing great work with their sponsors. #2homes2weeks.
BUSINESS HEADLINES
Hooray for the Auto Industry!
A decade ago, there was a decline in the auto industry. But just ending December, Honda's Lincoln plant produced its 5 millionth vehicle and engine since opening in 2001, the first of Alabama’s automakers to reach this milestone.
Alabama has largest unemployment drop in the nation
In November, Forbes named Birmingham as one of the top 10 most promising job markets in the U.S., with a  net employment outlook of 21 percent  for first quarter of 2020. Read full article
SOCIAL MEDIA
We are on Instagram!
Looking to DOUBLE our followers
....we only have 2 now. :)
Check us out on Instagram. "Irondalechamber"

January 9th Chamber Luncheon
January 16th Ribbon Cutting for Whitney Mork - State Farm
January 24th Swap Meet for Leads
Chamber You Tube :
"End of Day Routine"
CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER
Check us out on Facebook.
Every Wednesday we spotlight a member.