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Check out The Dialogue at the bottom of this email where we feature a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So here we go with our 98th installment visiting with Lonnie Hostin, senior manager of
DWC Construction,
STATE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING SET FOR FEB. 23
The first
state legislative briefing presented by First Tennessee Bank and Twin City Dealerships is set for Friday, February 23 from 8-9 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville). Join Sen. Art Swann and Reps. Jerome Moon and Bob Ramsey as they discuss the happenings in Nashville during the current legislative session.
DIGITAL MARKETING TRENDS FOR 2018
 The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is presenting a workshop on digital marketing trends for 2018 given by Chad Rogers of Old Number Eleven, February 15 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Blount Partnership, 201 S. Washington St., Maryville.
Learn how you can adjust your marketing strategy for a more successful 2018. Topics include: SEO (Search Engine Optimization), SMM (Social Media Marketing), PPC (Pay Per Click) and Content Marketing.
Register here.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BUILDING YOUR MARKETING PLAN
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is presenting a workshop that will help you draft your own marketing Plan for 2018 and beyond on February 22 from 9:30 a.m.-noon at the Blount County Public Library, 508 N. Cusick St., Maryville. Victory Harbin of Tech Nav and Chad Rogers of Old Number Eleven will lead the discussion.
Conversation will include: 1. Keyword Strategy, 2. Search Engine Optimization Strategy, 3. Paid Online Advertising Strategy, 4. Social Media Strategy. Leave the workshop with your first draft marketing plan.
Register here.
 FINANCING YOUR BUSINESS THE SBA WAY
Join Jacqueline Merritt from the Small Business Administration for a free workshop on
how to finance your business the SBA Way on March 2 from 9-10 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville).
Whether you are an existing entrepreneur or have given thought to starting a business, this seminar will put you ahead of the game in government guaranteed lending. This workshop covers SBA loan options and other offerings. RSVP to
Jacqueline by email or phone at 615-736-7465.
JOB FAIR SPONSORSHIP AND PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY
PARTICIPATE IN OPERATION THANK YOU
 Participate in the Chamber's 20th annual "Operation Thank You" set for February 20-22, 2018 and 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 contact Amy Lawson at
alawson@blountpartnership.com or call 865.983.2241.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION FOR FEBRUARY
 It's Your Career! That's the focus of eight free soft skills sessions offered in partnership by the Blount County Public Library, the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce that are scheduled over the next 11 months.
Registrations are currently being accepted online at
www.blountchamber.com for the second class entitled Building a Team set for Feb. 23.
This course qualifies for .2 CEU's awarded by Pellissippi State.
The other classes offered include Managing People and Personalities, Free Resources for Professional Development, How to Run an Effective Meeting, Improving Your Presentation Style - Speaking, Improving Your Presentation Style - Strategies for Engaging Presentations, Making Your Social Media Look Good and Creating Infographics for Promoting Your Business.
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.
FEBRUARY MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS ARE HERE
 Member-to-member promotions are needed for February. Check out the new offer from Pellissippi State, Realty Executives RELOCATION, AAA, Knoxville Zoo, Swagtown and Cell Phone Repair (FYI, they do more than phones). See this and other promotions at
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
REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL
 Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
Local businesses tend to buy and sell with other local businesses.
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 1983 was "Down Under," by Australian rock band Men at Work. "Down Under" is perceived as a patriotic song in Australia; it remains popular and is often played at sporting events.
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Sponsorships and participation are available for the annual Blount County job fair slated for Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 2-6 p.m. at the Second Harvest Food Bank facility.
