July Newsletter
Chamber Connections
Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce July Newsletter

BoardRichard Johnson Takes Over as Board Chairman
Richard Johnson
We are excited to have Richard Johnson pick up the gavel as our new Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has already been an incredible asset to the Chamber since joining our board in 2012. Johnson is an attorney at Phelps Dunbar LLP where he practices primarily in the areas of construction, real estate, tort and commercial litigation.

We also welcome several new members to the 2016/2017 Board of Directors as well as new members of the Executive Board. Ed Hammele with Capstone Bank will serve as Chairman Elect. Philip Cusa with EastPointe & BayPointe Hospitals & AltaPointe Health Systems will assume the duties of Past Chairman. Greg Strachan with Bryant Bank is the new Treasurer. Marcus Neto with Blue Fish Design Studio is the new Member Value Vice-Chairman. Eric Nager with Southern Capital Services is the Governmental Affairs Vice-Chairman. Chuck Cuff with Hilton Hotels of Daphne will continue to serve as the Tourism Vice-Chairman and Steven Carey with CertaPro Painters remains as the Workforce Development Vice-Chairman. 

The remaining Board of Directors include Deanna Auner with Homestead Village of Fairhope, Andru Bramlet with Southern Light LLC, Jennie Campbell with Stewart Lodges at Steelwood, Diane Douglas with In the Company of Angels, Gray Englebert with Jubilee Specialties, Abe Harper with Harper Technologies LLC, Joe Hocklander with Mobile Gas, Patty Hughston with Faulkner State Community College, Boyd Little with Oak Hollow Farm, Don Mecke with Browning Mecke & O'Neal LLC, Paige Moore with RE/MAX By The Bay, William Stitt with Old 27 Grill, Ormand Thompson with Infirmary Health, Scott Tripoli with the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Contina Woods with Regions Bank and Judith Wright with Segers Aero Corporation. 

Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood, Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant, Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan and Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey all serve as ex-officio members.

We would like to thank all of those serving on our board for their time and commitment to the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.

RBAHRegional Business After Hours was a Huge Success
Regional Business After Hours
Click here to see more pictures from the Regional Business After Hours on Facebook.
Click here to watch the photo slideshow from the Regional Business After Hours.

We had an amazing turnout for the 2016 Regional Business After Hours hosted by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 525 people showed up to network and enjoy some wonderful food.


CalendarCalendar of Events
Click here for a printable version of the Calendar of Events.

Ribbon Cutting & Open House: Southern View Media
Wednesday, July 6
4:30 p.m.
6384 Bayfront Park Drive
Suite B
Daphne
Members invited

Business After Hours
American Autism & Rehabilitation Center
Thursday, July 7
5-7 p.m.
8909 Rand Ave.
Daphne

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Merchants & Marine Bank
Friday, July 8
10 a.m.
325 Fairhope Ave.
Fairhope
Members Invited

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Bellator Real Estate
Friday, July 8
11 a.m.
29891 Woodrow Lane 
Suite 200
Daphne
Members invited to BBQ and grand opening
Please RSVP to 
by July 5



Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: OsteoStrong
Friday, July 8
4-7 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 p.m.
333 Green Rd. South Unit 2B
Fairhope
Members invited

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Mugshots Grill & Bar
Tuesday, July 12
9 a.m.
29740 Urgent Care Dr.
Daphne
Members invited

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
Tuesday, July 12
10 a.m.
1539 Hwy. 98
Daphne
Members Invited

Ribbon Cutting & Open House: The Tin Roof Restaurant
Wednesday, July 13
4:30 p.m.
10810 US Highway 31 Spanish Fort
Members Invited

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Roberts Brothers
Thursday, July 14
5 p.m.
29640 Hwy. 181 S, Suite 103
Daphne
Members Invited



Guaranteed Lending Workshop
Tuesday, July 19
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Eastern Shore Chamber
Overlook Office
29750 Larry Dee Cawyer Drive
Daphne
Space is Limited:
Call (251) 621-8222 to register

Morning Marketing Meeting
Thursday, July 21
8:00 a.m.
Dickey's BBQ 
6882 Hwy. 90, Suite G2
Daphne
Jubilee Square Shopping Center
Sponsor: Roberts Brothers Inc. Eastern Shore - Mark Martin

Ribbon Cutting & Open House: Warehouse Bakery
Thursday, July 14
4:30 p.m.
759 Nichols Ave.
Fairhope

Pencils & Glue for Bingo & Brews
School Supplies Fundraiser for the Rotary Youth Club
Thursday, July 28
5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Fairhope Brewing Company
Admission: $10 donation or a bag of school supplies
Sponsored by: The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and United Way of Baldwin County Young Leaders Society

Like us on Facebook
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Help us Spread the Word
Click to open each of these events in Facebook, RSVP that you're going and Invite your friends.
Business After Hours Event Link
Pencils _ Glue Event Page
Business After Hours at the American Autism & Rehabilitation Center
The American Autism and Rehabilitation Center has a wonderful night planned for Thursday, July 7. They have Naman's Catering taking care of the food ( Click here to see the menu), Fairhope Brewing Company bringing an Amber and Pale Ale. There will also be live music from  Jeff Farrow. You definitely do not want to miss this event. Click the image above to open in facebook, RSVP and invite a fellow Chamber member to join you!
Pencils & Glue for Bingo & Brews
The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals are teaming up with the United Way of Baldwin County Young Leaders Society to hold a school supply drive to benefit the Rotary Youth Club. It's going to be a fun evening and you are invited! It's Thursday, July 28 from 5:30-8 p.m. at The Fairhope Brewing Company. The celebrity callers will be Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant, Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood, Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan, Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey and Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott. Click here to RSVP that you're going and invite your friends.
didyouknowDid you know?
Many of you have already found us on Facebook, but did you know the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce is on Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.

Follow us on Twitter Our twitter account offers daily business tips, information about community events and tourist spots you can't miss.

View on Instagram Our Instagram page is constantly sending out beautiful pictures from the Eastern Shore you're welcome to share with your friends to entice them to come visit.

Find us on Pinterest Our Pinterest page showcases those one of a kind spots here on the Eastern Shore, where you can find a great place to eat and #ExploreEasternShore day trip ideas for visitors and locals.

kantFairhope's Mayor Kant Talks Building Codes in DC
Mayor Cant at White House Conf. on Resiliant Building Codes
by D. Fran Morley
Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant was one of a small group invited to take part in a White House conference this spring on how to pass more resilient building codes. The conference was organized by the White House Intergovernmental Affairs office.

"I was in D.C. in March, and visited with the Intergovernmental Affairs office then where they were talking about FEMA, concerns about rebuilding homes after disasters, and the waste of energy and money when homes have to be rebuilt over and over again. Some time after that visit, they invited me to be part of a panel to talk about building codes because Fairhope has a very strong building code that encourages the building of wind-fortified homes. 


Community Events

Glow in the Park Summer Movie Series
July 7 - Minions
August 4 - Inside Out
8 PM - 10 PM
Fairhopers Community Park
Church Street, Fairhope
Fairhope Historic Sites Bus Tours
Saturday, July 16
9 a.m., 11a.m., 1p.m., & 3p.m. 
Advance reservations are required 
Tickets avail. at Fairhope Museum of History 
$20 per person

Connecting Communities Luncheon
Prodisee Pantry 
9315 Spanish Fort Blvd
Spanish Fort, AL 36527
Thursday, August 4th at 11:30 a.m.



Fish Fry
Benefiting the Baldwin County Veterans Court
June 16, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
American Legion Post 199
Tickets - $25 (available at the door)
More information


annualmtg92nd Annual Meeting
We had an extraordinary evening June 16th as we celebrated our members at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, held at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope. We recognized our 2016 award winners and Richard Johnson, of Phelps Dunbar LLP was introduced as the incoming Chairman of the Board. Our award winners are below.

Sara Alter

B.A. Fogerty

Brenda Carpenter

Kerry O_Connor

Sara Alter
The Blake at Malbis
Ambassador
of the Year
B.A. Fogerty
Bryant Bank
Young Professional
of the Year
Brenda Carpenter
Family Security Credit Union
Bulldog Award
Kerry O'Connor
BancorpSouth
Service Award
Deann Servos

Watershed

Community Bank


Deann Servos
Prodisee Pantry
Community Leader
of the Year
Watershed

Environmental Award
Community Bank

Small Business
of the Year
Click here to see more pictures from the 92nd Annual Meeting.

blogBlog Post: Shopping and the Outdoors are Both Available on the Eastern Shore
Visit Coastal Alabama Blog by D. Fran Morley
On the Eastern Shore, we love spending time outdoors, and that usually means being on the water: creeks, back bays, marshes, and the wide waters of Mobile Bay are all just waiting to be explored. But there's another outdoor activity that's equally enjoyed by all along the Eastern Shore-shopping!

From charming downtown Fairhope, to quaint shops in Olde Towne Daphne, to major brand name stores at Jubilee Square, Eastern Shore Center, and Spanish Fort Town Center, you will fill your shopping bag with great finds on the Eastern Shore.


workshopGuaranteed Lending Workshop

Howard Wills, Director of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) in Alabama, will join Brent McMahan, Senior Area Manager with the US Small Business Administration (SBA), to present important information on the Guaranteed Loan Programs for Small Business.  The programs have proven to be an important part in furnishing credit to small business borrowers. Individual owners who attend can set up follow-up one-on-one appointments as needed.

Free Guaranteed Lending Workshop
July 19,  11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Eastern Shore Chamber  Overlook Office
29750 Larry Dee Cawyer Drive
Daphne

Space is limited.
Call (251) 621-8222 to register

ribbonsRibbon Cuttings

Army Nat. Guard Ribbon Cutting
Daphne Gazebos
Army National Guard
The Army National Guard held a ribbon cutting and grand opening for their new recruiting office in the Eastern Shore Shopping Center in Spanish Fort.
 


Jason Will Real Estate
Jason Will Real Estate has opened its new office at 154 N. Section Street in Downtown Fairhope. Visit
 them online by clicking here

Daphne Gazebos
The City of Daphne dedicated three new   gazebos  at Joe Louis Patrick Park, The Park City Park and Daphne Central Park in Lake Forest. What a wonderful addition for Eastern Shore residents! 
 
Rosie_s Grill Crabcake crabcakesCrab Cakes with the Chamber at Rosie's Grill

by Frank Shepard
Just south of 64 on the west side of Highway 98 is Rosie's Grill; home to the June edition of Best Crab Cakes on the Eastern Shore.  Locally owned by Harry and Alissa Johnson, Rosie's Grill is named after a mother-daughter team, Mama Rosie Garza and daughter Rosalinda Lopez that worked for Harry almost 20 years at their first three restaurants.  Rosie's offers a cheerful, casual dining experience with a recently enclosed patio for year-round dining and private parties.  

We were seated in the patio area, and once our guests had arrived and ordered drinks and their dinner selections, Chef Michael Garza introduced himself and the crab cake dish we would be sampling that evening.  The crab cake was sitting in a pool of red pepper cream sauce and was topped with a fried shrimp.  The crab cake itself was made with lump and sweet backfin crab meat, very little binder, fresh herbs, and was broiled to order.  The end result is a light, flaky crab cake that is full of flavor; add in the red pepper cream sauce and your taste buds experience euphoria!  My dinner selection was the Grouper Jubilee YAYA; blackened grouper served with seafood gumbo (which is currently nominated for the Best Gumbo Nappie Award), Cajun rice, and remoulade.  The blackened grouper was perfectly prepared and the gumbo was some of the best I've had in Baldwin County.  

We would like to thank Harry, Alissa, Michael, and all of the Rosie's staff that treated us to a wonderful evening.  Be sure to try Rosie's crab cakes for yourself, and find out why they are currently nominated for Nappie Awards for Best Brunch and Best Eastern Shore Lunch Spot.

headlinesMaking Headlines

Mobile Bay Magazine released its Summer 2016 Bucket List and several of our favorite Eastern Shore spots made the list. #12 Ride an Airboat with Airboat Express. #13 Watch movies outside like "Glow in the Park." 

Mobile Bay Magazine pointed out several great Eastern Shore stops in their   "Back Roads to the Beach" article including the organic berry farm at Weeks Bay Plantation, an education stop at Weeks Bay Reserve and lunch at Old 27 Grill. 





Member News

Councilman John Lake has received his accreditation as a 2016 Emeritus Certified Municipal Official.


Before and After Gallery's exhibit " Scenes of the Eastern Shore " features several local artists throughout the month of July.

Congratulations to  Back on the Rack Upscale Resale Fairhope on their one year anniversary!




Digital Marketing Firm BIS Designs is offering a complimentary educational luncheon titled "How to Develop and Implement a Successful Digital Marketing Plan to Increase Company Revenue."


Women's Business Alliance Presents Their 2nd Annual WBA Women's Forum


Is your company making headlines? We want to hear about it so we can share it with other members. Email Denise Curtis at dcurtis@eschamber.com with your good news.

photosPhoto Gallery
Click the photos to see more pictures from each event posted to our facebook page.