Blount Partnership News &amp;amp; Events

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.

Other classes coming to the Chamber from the TSBDC include:
Business Planning with GrowthWheel on March 16 and Startup with Growth Wheel on April 20.

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.

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, 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.

	Events

	Feb. 13-19 February 13 -- Father John McNerney book presentation at Maryville College February 13-19 -- WonderWorks Local Appreciation Days February 13-17 -- AARP Tax Preparation Assistance at Blount County Public Library February 13 -- Dr. Bob Proffitt: A Family Physician's Journey at Blount County Public Library February 14 -- Haven House Valentine's Gala February 14 -- Celebrate Recovery at RIO Revolution February 17-19 -- Maryville Alcoa Home Builders Association Home & Remodeling Show February 18 -- Tennessee Winter Beer Fest @ The Carriage House Feb. 20-26 February 20-26 -- WonderWorks Local Appreciation Days February 21 -- Celebrate Recovery at RIO Revolution February 22 -- Elder Care Legal Issues @ Blount County Public Library February 22 -- Intro to Facebook at Blount County Public Library February 22-23 -- Digitization of WWI Artifacts and Documents at Blount County Public Library February 23 -- Coffee Club sponsored by Blount Memorial held at The Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Springbrook February 24 -- Soft Skills Training - Hiring Good Employees February 24 -- State Legislative Briefing February 24 -- United Way of Blount County Board Development Workshop February 25 -- Porter Elementary 2nd Annual Blue and Gold Affair Save the Date February 21-23 -- Operation Thank You February 23 -- Coffee Club sponsored by Blount Memorial held at The Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Springbrook February 24 -- State Legislative Briefing You can access the entire calendar here to see other community events and submit your own.

The Dialogue

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So here we go with our 70th installment visiting with Tiffany Fulmer Ott, president of TLF Executive Services (404-312-0524) which manages four chamber of commerce professional associations.

Describe what TLF Executive Services does. I handle all association management functions for four chamber professional development organizations (the Association of State Chamber Professionals (ASCP), the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE), the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE), and the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals), which includes conferences, newsletters, financials, websites, etc. I make sure the chamber professionals within those organizations have what they need to be successful in their positions.

How did you get started? My first job was with the Metro Atlanta Chamber in Atlanta in its membership department back in the mid-90's. I then worked with a company that taught chambers of commerce how to run membership campaigns. From that, I started working with the professional development organizations associated with chambers.

How did you get the background? Just by working at a chamber of commerce and staying in the industry. It's a great profession, and not one you really go to school to get into.

Who is your mentor? That would be my Mother - Susan Fulmer. She provided an incredible example of work ethic and how to really listen to people. It's about helping people find solutions to their problems.

What do you enjoy about running your own business? I like being able to work from home and setting my own schedule. I do travel quite a bit, but that's fun, too!

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