RIBBON CUTTING AT SMART BANK

Join us September 20 at noon for a ribbon cutting at SmartBank-Maryville (214 Keller Lane, Maryville). Drinks and refreshments provided.

 

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. Nominations are open for the awards, so please submit the name of someone you think is deserving by logging on at www.blountchamber.com until Sept. 20.

 

VISIT THE DIALOGUE

Check out The Dialogue in this email where we visit with Christopher Dunlap, owner of Dunlap's lawn care and landscaping.

 

POWER CONNECT LUNCH

Join us for a midday networking lunch on September 17 at 11:30 a.m., at Smoky Mountain Brewery. Meet, Mingle, Lunch, Connect, Nibble, Engage and Network with other influential professionals.

While you (and the other guests) will have an opportunity to introduce your business, current areas of focus and/or anything you could use help with, all I ask is that everyone shows up with a focus on how they may be able to add value for the other attendees.

Open to ALL Blount County Chamber members, but you must RSVP online. This is a Dutch Treat lunch.

Event chair Tony Saddy of Get Fit Maryville will lead the event.

 

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS MEETING

Join us as we hear from Superintendents Brian Bell, Alcoa City Schools, Rob Britt, Blount County Schools and Mike Winstead, Maryville City Schools as they give us an update on what is happening in our local public education systems on September 20, 2019 from 8-9 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St.). RSVP ONLINE.

 

PARENT OPEN HOUSE AT DENSO

Career Exploration Showcase: Help Your Student Soar. Seats are limited, please register to get free tickets. Parents of high school juniors and seniors (age 16+) - join us to explore DENSO career pathways for your student! Topics to be covered include: - Advances in high tech manufacturing - Safety - Training - Non-college and college bound career opportunities - Benefits - & more! Students (age 16+) are welcome to attend, but not required. Long pants and closed toe shoes must be worn. Attendees will also have a chance to win a $50 restaurant gift card. Call Karen Armstrong at 865-982-7000 Ext. 2566

 

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.

 

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

 

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 Empowering and Motivating Employees on September 27. Empower employees and enable better performance. Learn strategies to help employees be the best they can be.

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.

 

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

 

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!

 

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 1974 was "I Shot the Sheriff" by Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton recorded a cover version of Bob Marley and the Wailers that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. It is the most successful version of the song. In 2003, Clapton's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.