Blount Partnership News and Events

COFFEE CLUB AT GLENSTONE GALLERIES

Wake up to new business contacts at coffee club held October 31 from 7:45-9 a.m. at Glenstone Galleries & Gifts (364 Lindsay St., Alcoa). 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. Coffees are open to anyone associated with a Chamber member business. Participation is not reserved to the representative(s) listed on the Chamber membership.

GRAINS AND GRITS TICKETS

On Saturday, November 2, we celebrate legendary distillers at our annual Grains and Grits Festival in Townsend. It is a festival of regional craft spirits and local gourmet cuisine, tucked into the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. We'll have craft brewers, Blount County Home Brewers, and Sevier County Home Brewers, onsite sampling beers, as well as a wine tasting by Cades Cove Winery. Along with a variety of seasonal gourmet foods, and the outstanding sounds from alternative rock/pop cover band out of Nashville, January Noise, there is something for everyone at the Grains and Grits Festival.

Join us at the Townsend Visitor Center from 6-9 p.m., for a unique fall tasting experience you can only find in the Great Smoky Mountains. All attendees must be 21 years or older. Tickets are $65 online, or $75 if purchased the day of the festival. Parking opens at 5 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, please check our website.

BEST OF BLOUNT AWARD TICKETS ON SALE

Former U.S. Army pilot and author Mike Durant, whose saga was chronicled in the 2002 Oscar Award winning movie Black Hawk Down, is the guest speaker for the Blount Partnership's Best of Blount Awards held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Clayton Center for the Arts.

Sponsored by Charter Spectrum, C2RL, Cherokee Millwright, DENSO, Blount Excavating and Massey Electric, tickets, which go on sale Sept. 9 at 10 a.m., are $35 (plus taxes and fees) and can be purchased from the Clayton Center ticket office at 865-981-8590 or online at www.claytonartscenter.com.

The Best of Blount Awards celebrates those individuals and businesses that give their time and resources to make this area an outstanding place to live and work.

Awards are given for Philanthropist of the Year, Community Impact Award, Bright Future Award, Large and Small Business of the Year, First Responder Award and the Tourism Award.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Ever have someone "drop the ball?" Ever have someone act more like a "victim" than a contributor? Most likely, you said, "Yes" to one of these questions. The question becomes "can we actually control the level of engagement of our teams?" Meaning, can we as managers help someone become engaged? The answer is not "motivation"! Motivation is the most over-rated and over-used concept in management. Make plans to attend our next seminar on Wednesday, November 6 at 8:30 a.m., as Jennifer Goodrich, with Crestcom, will clearly the factors that create or kill engagement. She will also show the three areas that build workforce engagement. RSVP HERE.

ETMAC LUNCHEON

The East Tennessee Military Affairs Council 37th Annual Veterans Appreciation and Awards Luncheon is slated for Friday, November 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Hotel Knoxville located at 501 Hill Ave SE, Knoxville, TN 37915. Individual tickets are $30 and tables of 10 are $300. All seats must be prepaid by November 3. Order tickets online.

STRATEGIC FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Join Propel Financial Advisors, DW Agosto Tax Planning and SW Lenski Law Group for a free seminar entitled Strategic Financial Planning for Small Business on November 13 from 8:30-10:30 and the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville). Learn effective tax planning, investing in yourself and your employees, organizing your books and contracts, estate plans and buy-sell agreements. RSVP Here.

GET PLACEMENT IN 2020 BASICALLY BLOUNT

The 2020 Basically Blount lifestyle magazine and membership directory is entering production once again. This annual, full-color lifestyle magazine and chamber membership directory is initially distributed to all Chamber members starting Feb. 2020, along with distribution four times throughout the year via area professional offices, newcomers, visitors, and new businesses all looking to relocate to Blount County.

We are pleased to offer a variety of advertising opportunities at cost effective rates through our media kit. We have contracted with Marcon Marketing Consultants, a local Chamber member, to handle production and ad sales.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Basically Blount, the importance of supporting the Chamber, and how to get your business involved, contact: Rick Ford of Marcon Marketing at 865-705-8580 or Vicki Hawkins of Marcon Marketing at 865-310-2963

CORMAC MCCARTHY LITERARY FESTIVAL

Celebrating authors preserving culture, sparking conversation and weaving tales in Appalachia. Please come and join us for this three day festival, November 1-3, featuring national, regional and local authors such as Ron Rash, Sharyn McCrumb, Amy Greene, Frank X. Walker, Lin Stepp and more! The festival will include celebration of local history and the Blount County Public Library's Centennial. Live Appalachian arts demonstrations, musical performances and fun activities for the whole family to engage with East Tennessee's unique literary history. The festival is named after Cormac McCarthy to highlight his time in Blount County and also a piece of public art he made in 1971 while living here.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS NOVEMBER 30

This November 30, the Blount Partnership wants to celebrate Small Business Saturday with you! It's a special holiday created so communities can show love for small local businesses. And it wouldn't be a celebration without businesses like you joining us!

The day was setup to help businesses with their most pressing need -- getting more customers. The day encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and more people are taking part than ever before.

If your small business is interested in participating, please email alawson@blountpartnership.com. We will help get the word out about shopping locally at the beginning of the holiday season.

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE

The annual meeting of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is set for Nov. 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Blount Partnership office located at 201 S. Washington St., Maryville, Tenn. There are currently no items on the agenda for the annual meeting other than the regular report made by President/CEO Bryan Daniels. RSVP to Brenda at bfarner@blountpartnership.com

SIGN UP FOR THE NOVEMBER 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 Building Success by Developing Leadership on November 22. Learn the difference between management and leadership. Explore the characteristics, qualities and attributes of proven leaders, and see how you can develop these traits within yourself and others.

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 1964 was "Do Wah Diddy" by Manfred Mann. It stayed atop the charts for two weeks.

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 148th installment visiting with Brooke Heinsohn, digital marketing manager for White Oak Construction & Restoration, which specializes in custom mountain construction and takes a client-centered approach to home builds, remodeling, renovation, and restoration.

How did you get started? As a family owned business, White Oak Construction & Restoration, LLC has been a part of my life since the day I was born. I began my career with White Oak as a Marketing and Media Intern before transitioning into the full-time role of Digital Marketing Manager. My father, Richard "Gil" Heinsohn Jr., began his career as a contractor before developing White Oak's first mountain community, Laurel Valley, in Townsend, TN. He is a skilled businessman and master craftsman who has built White Oak on the core values of Excellence, Integrity, and Trust.

What is your background? I graduated from the University of Tennessee with a major in advertising and a minor in business administration. Having served in leadership positions, such as community service chair for an organization of over 200 women, I believe that constant self-betterment stands as a key aspect of communal success. Throughout my time at UT, I developed a deep appreciation for strategic communication, branding, and content creation. My background as a photographer, copywriter, and marketing strategist has provided the skills necessary to build up White Oak as a legacy brand functioning in a digital world.

Who is your mentor? My father, Richard "Gil" Heinsohn Jr., has been the guiding voice throughout my career. As president of White Oak Construction & Restoration, LLC, Gil has invested his energy, intelligence, and life experience into the fabrication of my professional development. Not only has he been a supportive and inspiring father, he has been an invaluable mentor. He has taught me the meaning of hard work, following through with my word, and that a rising tide lifts all boats. Much like the thousands of homes that White Oak has built, he has laid a strong foundation within me to seek the good in others and produce good in return.

Describe your customers. Our clients are the masterminds behind White Oak's custom construction projects- they are the reason we do what we do. Since 1986, White Oak has been built upon client referrals, often forming loyal, lifelong relationships with our clientele. Custom construction requires constant communication & trust, which is why we are often rehired by past clients for remodels, home improvements, and new builds.

What environments impact your business? The social environment has little impact on the home construction market- we are a prejudice free work space that builds homes for clientele with vastly different backgrounds. On the other hand, economic factors play a huge part in White Oak's business environment. When the economy is doing well, more people are inclined to began new custom construction projects &/or place money into enhancing old structures.

What do you enjoy about running the business? I constantly feel rewarded for growing a legacy company that has helped shaped East TN. I love reaching out to past clients and hearing their praise over White Oak's work and the Master Craftsmen who create such interpersonal experiences for each custom build. I enjoy developing White Oak's strategic marketing plan and reaping the success of new client leads. Furthermore, I am grateful to work for a company that strives for excellence and holds community betterment at the root of everything we do. Specifically, I am humbled to see the lives changed by our involvement with True Purpose Ministries.

View previous Profiles

	Events

	October 28-November 3 October 28-29 -- Corinne Coley and Bill Saltz at the Townsend Visitors Center October 28 -- BNI Knoxville Monster Bash October 29 -- Presentation Skills Workshop at Pellissippi State October 29 -- Sky City Happy Hour Networking Event October 30-31 -- Audrey Cordle at the Townsend Visitors Center October 31 -- Coffee Club sponsored by Glenstone Galleries & Gifts October 31 -- The Spirits Within at the Historic Ramsey House November 1-3 -- Larry Burton at the Townsend Visitors Center November 1 -- Cormac McCarthy Literary Festival November 1 -- Titanic Honors Veterans! November 2 -- Townsend Grains and Grits Festival November 4-10 November 4 -- Jan Kitelynn at the Townsend Visitors Center November 6 -- Employee Engagement November 6 -- Townsend/Sunshine Covered Bridge - Ribbon Cutting November 7 -- Spirit of Good Neighbors Awards Banquet November 7-8 -- Audrey Cordle at the Townsend Visitors Center November 8 -- Apple Valley & Thunder Roads present Loop the Link November 8 -- Titanic Christmas & Winter Celebration November 8 -- ETMAC Veterans Appreciation Luncheon November 9 -- Theresa Godfrey at the Townsend Visitors Center November 9 -- 2019 Foothills Holiday Market November 9 -- 27th Annual JDRF Dream Gala Save the Date November 12 -- Power Connect Lunch November 18 -- Women in Business November 21 -- Coffee Club sponsored by Quinn Appliance LLC November 30 -- Small Business Saturday December 3 -- Chamber Social sponsored by Airport Hilton You can access the Blount County Chamber events calendar here or the community calendar here.

	Chairman's Club, Champion's Club, President's Circle