August 2015 Newsletter - Athens Chamber of Commerce

ATHENS BUSINESS
AUGUST 2015
Volume 29
No. 8
THE
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER with
Shane Sewell
Greetings, fellow Chamber members! It is hard to believe I am writing our August newsletter and
the kids are back in school. I hope everyone had a great start to the new school year. Remember to
“Shop Local” as you purchase needed school supplies and clothes. On that note, I want to thank
our local United Way and the McMinn County Education Foundation for their help in organizing our
local Stuff the Bus campaign to gather school supplies in order to distribute them to our local
schools. This is always a great opportunity to Shop Local, help less fortunate children, and support
our local school systems!
On a somber note, our hearts are saddened by the recent shootings at the two military centers
in Chattanooga. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families and our neighboring city.
Many of us have asked the question, “How can we help?” One way is to make a contribution to the
Chattanooga Heroes Fund recently established by Peyton Manning in memory of those who lost
their lives and in honor of those wounded in the shootings. Funds donated will be used to support
the victims’ families. Your Chamber will be making a monetary contribution and I would encourage
you to consider contributing, as well. We will be sending an email out to our membership with
information regarding this fund. You may also visit the Community Foundation of Greater
Chattanooga’s website at www.cfgc.org for more information.
Our first joint “Rise and Learn” breakfast seminar with the Etowah Chamber of Commerce was a
tremendous success. I want to say a special thank you to Sandy Lambert and Durant Tullock with
the Etowah Chamber for their partnership and efforts to make this event a success. Thank you, as
well, to Brian Silber and the Etowah Community Center for hosting our first event. Plans are for the
Athens and Etowah Chambers to host at least one more “Rise and Learn” breakfast seminar this
year. We welcome your suggestions for potential topics. You may send suggestions to
[email protected] or [email protected].
We are excited to announce an upcoming “Lunch and Learn” seminar to be held Wednesday,
August 26th from 11:45a.m. to 1:00p.m. in the Glenn Lowe Room in Sherman Hall on the campus
of Tennessee Wesleyan College. The topic will be “Energy Conservation” and the presenter will be
Wayne Scarbrough, Assistant General Manager of Athens Utilities Board. Reserve your seat now
by contacting the Chamber office at 423.745.0334 or email [email protected]. This is no
charge for this seminar. Attendees will go through the cafeteria line and take their lunch to the
Glenn Lowe Room for the seminar.
The 2015 Summer Job Fair co-sponsored by Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, City of
Athens, McMinn County Economic Development Authority, Southeast Tennessee Development
District, Tennessee Career Center, and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Athens was
held July 30th and was a rousing success with over 450 people having an opportunity to talk with
local businesses and industries about job opportunities. This is another example of our
community’s focus on workforce development. We have been fortunate with the business
investment and job creation that have occurred over the past year. There are jobs available in the
Athens area and the Summer Job Fair is always a great way to connect people to those
opportunities. Thanks to all who worked to make this event a success.
I hope to see you at an upcoming Chamber meeting or event this month. In addition to the ones
already mentioned above, The Cash Mob will be shopping Thursday, August 13th at United
Wholesale Discount located at 12 South White Street in Athens and Business Before Hours will be
Thursday, August 20th at Brookdale Living located at 120 Keith Lane in Athens. The Cash Mob is a
great way to support local businesses and our local economy, and Business Before Hours is a
fantastic opportunity to network and meet other chamber members. For more information about the
Chamber or any upcoming meetings or events, please call 423.745.0334 or email
[email protected]. To learn how the Chamber can benefit you and your business, please
call 423.745.0334 or email Kay Simmons at [email protected].
A Publication
of the
Athens Area
Chamber
of Commerce
———————
423-745-0334
The August Spotlight is shining on...
Dear Athens Area Chamber of Commerce Members,
Are you looking for ways to showcase your business on the
internet? Let the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce help
you!
Through our partnership with CGI Communications we can film
a brief one minute video about your business and post it on the
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce’s website home page.
This is a great opportunity for you to personally get the word
out about your business in a quick, fun, and creative way. How
do you take advantage of this membership benefit?
1. Call the Chamber to schedule a filming time with Rob
Preston or Kay Simmons - 423.745.0334.
2. Create a one minute promo for your business.
3. Film your video at your scheduled time.
We’ll do the rest!
Visit the Chamber’s website at www.athenschamber.org to
view some videos and then call the Chamber office and
schedule a time for Rob Preston or Kay Simmons to film your
video.
We appreciate your membership and support of the Athens
Area Chamber of Commerce and we look forward to helping
you promote your business with a GoCast video!
Helping to connect the community and build business,
Your Chamber Board of Directors and Staff
ATHENS CHAMBER BUSINESS PARTNERS & INVESTORS
Because members renew memberships at different times throughout the year, listings are provided on a
monthly basis. These members renewed their memberships during July 2015.
Ascension Life Church
Athens Auto Logic
Bobbye Billings
C & D Tire
C & E Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
Caldwell Paving & Grading
Camp Living Stones
Carolyn Foree
Cleveland Tent Company
Dave Kirk Chevrolet
Davidson Dental Center
Denso Manufacturing of Athens Tennessee
East Tennessee Auto Outlet
East Tennessee Construction Service, Inc.
East Tennessee Properties, LLC
Fairview Christian Academy
Foothills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
H2O Vape Shop
Hiwassee Utilities Commission
Hydratane of Athens
Jake Marshall, LLC
JimBob Contracting
J.M. Huber
Starr Regional Medical Center
U.S. Cellular
Willow Springs Self Storage
Whatever the occasion or need…
Please, consider shopping
with Chamber members first!
Advantage Resourcing
Faith Pike
907 Congress Parkway N
Athens, TN 37303
Employment Agency
Mayfield Academy
Diana Beverley
14 Congress Parkway S
Athens, TN 37303
Non-Profit Private School
Snip N Time
Jennifer Frederick
724B Congress Parkway S
Athens, TN 37303
Hair Salon
Country Mouse Yarns
Marie Bindrim
118 N Jackson Street
Athens, TN 37303
Yarn Shop / Knitting, Crochet, Weaving Classes
Pair A Dice Games
Eugene “Johnny” Johnson
2 E Washington Avenue
Athens, TN 37303
Retail Game Shop / Gaming Nights & Events
Valley Insurance Service
Louise Barnes
111 Walnut Street
Sweetwater, TN 37874
Insurance Agency
Silver Key Realty
Jeremy Cansler, Broker
213 Washington Avenue, Suite 102
Athens, TN 37303
Real Estate
The Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of citizens who invest their time and money in a community development program working together to improve the economic, civic and
cultural well being of our community.
Why I Should Belong to The Chamber of Commerce?
Active Membership in the Chamber of Commerce carries with it a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from the knowledge you are doing your share of an important job. Although
everyone in the community benefits from the work of the Chamber of Commerce, you can accept those benefits with a sense of pride only if you have had a part in bringing them about. Build your
business by building your community. Benefits of membership in the Chamber include a wealth of advertising and exposure through participation in various events, inclusion in the Chamber
website, newsletter, and networking opportunities.
For information about becoming a Chamber member,
please call (423) 745-0334.
Upcoming Chamber and Community Events
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
CASH MOB!
United Wholesale Discount
Date: Thursday, August 13th Time: 12:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.
Location: 12 South White Street, Athens
For more info: Call 423.745.0334 or www.athenschamber.org
Athens Area Council for the Arts
EVENING WITH THE STARS XII
Date: Friday, August 14th Time: 7:30p.m.
Location: The Arts Center 320 North White Street Athens
Tickets: $10 Adults $5 Students
For tickets or more info: Call 423.745.8781 or www.athensartscouncil.org
Sounds of Summer
HOT NIGHTS, COOL JAZZ
Date: Saturday, August 15th Time: 7:00p.m.
Location: Market Park Pavilion Downtown Athens
Admission: FREE - Bring your own lawn chair or blanket
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS
Hosted by Brookdale Living Athens
Date: Thursday, August 20th Time: 8:00a.m. to 9:00a.m.
Location: 120 Keith Lane Athens (formerly Wellington Place of Athens)
For more info: Call 423.745.0334 or www.athenschamber.org
Sounds of Summer
PACK OF WOLVES
Date: Saturday, August 22nd Time: 7:00p.m.
Location: Market Park Pavilion Downtown Athens
Admission: FREE - Bring your own lawn chair or blanket
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
LUNCH & LEARN SEMINAR
Topic: Energy Conservation
Presented by: Wayne Scarbrough, Assistant General Mgr., AUB
Date: Tuesday, August 25th Time: 11:45a.m. to 1:00p.m.
Location: Glenn Lowe Room in Sherman Hall at Tennessee Wesleyan College
(Attendees will go through the cafeteria line to purchase lunch)
To reserve a seat: Call 423.745.0334 or email [email protected]
Small Business Development Center
IS YOUR BUSINESS GOOGLE-IZED?
Join us and get your business Google-ized
Date: Wednesday, August 26th Time: 11:30a.m. to 3:00p.m.
Location: Cleveland State Community College Athens Campus, Room 122
Registration is required: Call 423.478.6247 or www.sbdcempowers.org in Special
Events section on the home page
BB&T
FREE COMMUNITY SHRED EVENT
Date: Saturday, August 29th Time: 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.
Location: Athens Plaza Branch 1604 Decatur Pike Athens
For more info: Call 423.745.3476
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
7th Annual Community Concert
presents
2012 Grammy
Award Winner
for
Best
Contemporary
Christian Song
“Blessings”
Friday,
October
23rd
7:00PM
Winner of Four
Dove Awards
Athens
City
Middle
School
Composer of
2004
#1 Worship Hit
“Indescribable”
Tickets: $10 Adults $8 Students
VIP Tickets Available: $50
(includes Meet & Greet & Priority Seating)
To order: Call 423.745.0334 or
online wwwathenschamber.org
LUNCH
& LEARN
Join us and learn about
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Presented by
Wayne Scarbrough,
Assistant General Manager
Athens Utilities Board
Tuesday, August 25th 11:45a.m. to 1:00p.m.
Glenn Lowe Room
It’s a
WIN / WIN
to
SHOP McMINN!
(go through cafeteria line and purchase lunch)
Tennessee Wesleyan College
Reserve a seat - 423.745.0334 or
[email protected]
This seminar is free and open to the public.
Please plan to join us for
Business Before Hours
at
ATHENS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
13 North Jackson Street, Athens, TN 37303
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.athenschamber.org
2015 OFFICERS
Chairman
Chairman Elect
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Immediate Past Chairman
Shane Sewell
Jackie Newman
Moises Contreras
Brandy Cooper
Becky Wattenbarger
2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
120 Keith Lane, Athens
Becky Wattenbarger
Moises Contreras
Randy Nelson
Rhonda Elkins
Patty Weaver
Thursday, August 20th 8:00a.m. to 9:00a.m.
Enjoy coffee, morning refreshments, the
opportunity to network with other Chamber
members, and enter the door prize drawings.
Make sure you bring business cards
to exchange.
Shane Sewell
Brandy Cooper
Gus Jaibat
Scott Cass
Todd Harris
Jackie Newman
Will Estes
Pam Perdue
Skylar Dean
Shayne Whaley
EX-OFFICIO
Anthony Casteel, Community Development Director, City of Athens
John Gentry, Mayor, McMinn County
Kathy Knight, McMinn County Economic Development Authority
Dana Ferguson, Diplomat Corps Chairman
Rob Preston
Kay Simmons
Lisa Dotson
STAFF
President/CEO
Membership Services Director
Program Director
ATHENS BUSINESS is a monthly publication for the members of the
Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.