If you or someone you know is looking for a job, please check out
www.BlountAreaJobs.com. Additionally, if you need employees, please utilize the job board to advertise your open positions. Click
here to get started.
Be sure to check out our 70th installment of The Dialogue at the bottom of this email where we visit with Tiffany Fulmer Ott, president of TLF Executive Services (404-312-0524) which manages four chamber of commerce professional associations.
STATE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING & SPEAKER HARWELL VISIT
 Join us Friday, Feb. 24 at 8 a.m. for a
state legislative briefing with Sen. Doug Overbey and Reps. Art Swann and Bob Ramsey. Sponsored by Twin City Dealerships and First Tennessee Bank, it will be held at the Blount Partnership, 201 S. Washington St., Maryville, Tenn. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Twin City Dealerships and First Tennessee Bank also presents a visit from Tennessee Speaker of the House of Representatives Beth Harwell on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St.) for a legislative update.
RSVP to Claire if you wish to attend.
Harwell last visited the Partnership in January 2012 at its annual meeting celebration.
SMALL BUSINESS FUNDAMENTALS WITH GROWTH WHEEL
 The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is holding its next free session on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville).
Register here.
The start-up of a small business does not have to be stressful. Explore your new business idea by applying GrowthWheel and expanding into the big picture. With the help of certified business counselors learn about the necessities of a small business. Topics will include the forms of business organization, tax requirements, business licenses, business planning, and financial options along with loan qualification criteria and opportunities. You do not have to start a business alone because we are here to help.
PARTICIPATE IN OPERATION THANK YOU
 It's not too late to sign up to participate in the Chamber's 19th annual "Operation Thank You" set for February 21-23, 2017. This is your opportunity 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
email Amy Lawson or call 865.983.2241.
SIGN UP FOR NEXT SOFT SKILLS CLASS
 Registrations are currently being accepted for a free soft skills session set for Feb. 24 entitled, "Hiring Good Employees." Finding the best candidate for the job isn't always easy. Bad hiring choices can cost you time, money, and bottom-line results. Join us to learn effective strategies for finding, hiring, and onboarding quality staff.
All classes are conducted in the Blount County Library's learning lab located at 508 N. Cusick in Maryville and limited to 50 participants. Those interested must register online at
www.blountchamber.com/community/soft-skills. 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.
The other classes offered include Managing People & Personalities, Tips for Public Speaking, Hiring Good Employees, Motivation and Burnout, Time Management and Managing Change in the Workplace.
GET YOUR SMALL BUSINESS MOVING
 SCORE is a non-profit association dedicated to helping new and existing small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.
Greater Knoxville SCORE's 40-plus volunteers have a wide range of business experience and education and provide One on One mentoring for free and workshops for small business and non-profits for no charge or at very low cost.
SCORE is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA),
To request assistance, or to meet with a SCORE representative in Blount County visit us at
greaterknoxville.score.org or phone 865-692-0716.
FEBRUARY MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS
 Take a look at the February Member-to-Member promotions. With nearly 50 merchants participating, there's something for you. Check out the
member-to-member promotions. New offers are being posted almost daily, so check out the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member promotions online. This Member-to-Member Promotional Program offers you and your company the opportunity to market your products and services to the membership.
Here's how it works:
1. Submit a PDF of a service, product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to
jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.
2. An email with all the promotions will be sent out on the final Monday of every month to our member database.
3. All promotions will be posted on
www.BlountChamber.com
WHAT KIDS CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
 Being the wise, experienced adults that we are, we tend to discount the imaginative, if not impractical visions of the children in our life. But in so many ways, we're really missing this unfiltered perspective in regards to our careers. Small business owners- I'm here to tell you that kids can open up a world of budding information, which you can apply to your business. Here's seven business (or life) lessons children instinctively know, but adults have somehow forgotten:
Read more
Learn more about marketing your small business in a digital world, ask questions about social media, and take the time to discuss future campaign ideas. What are you waiting for? It's free with your chamber membership.
Schedule your FREE session today.
If you have any questions regarding your free digital marketing member benefit (
Save Local Now), your digital platform, or online marketing in general please reach out the Blount Chamber's
Rachel Coffman.
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL
 Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
They create vibrant, local shopping areas that are attractive to home buyers and can raise property values.
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, please email
Ashlee so she can post it on
www.SmokyMountains.org.
Also, please
send us any news releases or good news about your business. We'd love to share it with the community.
REMEMBER WHEN
"Opposites Attract," featured on Paula Abdul's debut album
Forever Your Girl topped the Billboard Top 100 this week in 1991. The idea of MC Skat Kat came from the Gene Kelly film
Anchors Aweigh, where Kelly dances with Jerry Mouse from the
Tom and Jerry cartoon series.
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