MARCH 2014
CHAMBER CONNECTION THE JACKSON CHAMBER'S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
INSIDE: Chamber Awards Local Businesses and Volunteers at Annual Celebration pg. 2 Also Inside | Coming Soon...”Teaming Up with the Chamber” Membership Event pg. 4
Chamber Awards Local Businesses and Volunteers at Annual Celebration
Around 320 people attended the Jackson Chamber’s Annual Celebration, where businesses, industries and non-profit organizations were honored on Thursday, March 6, at Union University’s Carl Grant Events Center. “The Celebration” also honored the chamber’s volunteers, and highlighted the businesses that have made an extra effort to achieve excellence through high standards, professional accomplishments and community contributions.
2014 Award Winners Emerging Business of the Year: Indoor ADvantages, Inc. Business of the Year: Robert’s Jewelers Emerging Business of the Year: Indoor ADvantages, Inc.
Industry of the Year: General Cable Corporation Non-Profit of the Year: Youth Town of Tennessee
Non-Profit of the Year: Youth Town of Tenn.
Volunteer of the Year: Chris Ramey, Jackson Christian School West Tennessee Healthcare Health and Wellness Award: TLM Associates, Inc. Architects + Engineers Volunteer of the Year: Chris Ramey, Jackson Christian School West Tennessee Healthcare Health & Wellness Award: TLM Associates, Inc. Architects + Engineers
Click here to see the videos featured at the 2014 Annual Celebration! Business of the Year: Robert’s Jewelers, Inc.
Industry of the Year: General Cable Corporation
“Thirty Business Professionals” continued on page 4...
JACKSON CHAMBER 22 2 JACKSON CHAMBER PG. PG. JACKSON CHAMBER PG.
Get Connected with the
WANT TO SEE UPCOMING EVENTS?
Jackson Chamber •
•Jackson Chamber Facebook Page
•Jackson Chamber Twitter •Jackson Chamber Economic Development Twitter •Jackson Chamber LinkedIN
•Jackson Chamber Flickr
Visit the calendar of events by clicking the computer graphic above!
•Jackson Chamber YouTube
Leadership Jackson Alumni Association Spotlight Jeffery Head, 2014 Leadership Jackson Alumni Association Board of Directors Company: BancorpSouth Job Title: Vice President of Commercial Lending Q: What are you looking forward to this year with the 2014 class? A: As always, I look forward to seeing the participants change during the experience. Most of the class members come to Leadership Jackson with an idea of leadership. I think most people have an idea that leadership is about a name plate, a plaque on the wall, or what your title is on your business card. The Leadership Jackson experience changes that and the participants learn what it means to be a servant leader. They learn what “towel and basin” leadership is. Q: What was the most important piece of information that you learned during your Leadership Jackson experience? A: Two things come to mind. First, I am constantly learning about Jackson-Madison County. Second, the program is not about leadership development, it is about leader development. When I went through in 2004, one of my classmates was County Commissioner Bill Walls. At the end of every meeting, Bill would tell us something new that he learned about Jackson-Madison County. This is very telling of the program because Bill had lived in Jackson for quite a few years. To have leadership, you must first have great leaders. All great leaders are servants. To develop leaders, you must show them how to engage as servants. They must have a servants
heart or they will never be a true leader. A lot of books have been written about the subject with lots of suggestions. It’s real simple to me, leader equals servant. Q: What advice would you give the upcoming 2014 class? A: Do not use Leadership Jackson to pencil whip your resume. If that is what your intentions are, then you are wasting everyone’s time. Do not go through this program and place it on a shelf. Use what you learn and make a difference everyday. Q: What was your favorite memory from Leadership Jackson? A: Probably my most memborable moment was during a police car ride along. Q: If you could describe Leadership Jackson in one word, what would it be? A: Educational
JACKSON CHAMBER
For more information on Leadership Jackson, visit its website at www.leadershipjackson.com. PG. 3
CHAMBER NEWS
Jackson, Tennessee Brings Technology Education to Local High Schools
Computer programming is a universal language. For those who learn to speak it, it opens up a world of opportunity. The Jackson Chamber has teamed with Jackson-Madison County Schools to offer this opportunity to high school students in Madison County. “CO:de Academy” is an extracurricular activity in which students learn various aspects of computer programming, including website design and development, mobile app development, database programming and user experience. Students in the academy are increasing their competency in a growing field. This project is the brainchild of William Donnell and Ben Ferguson, two local businessmen with a passion for improving tech education in West Tennessee. Ben Ferguson, President of Personnel Placements, attended the Southland conference in Nashville when he first learned of Treehouse software and wanted to find a way to bring technology education to Jackson. Through Treehouse’s learning tools, Donnell and Ferguson developed CO:de Academy. “Jackson’s CO:de Academy lets us grow our own tech community right here and capitalize on this incredible opportunity putting us in the forefront of the technology race,” said Donnell, founder of website development and user experience firm Sodium Halogen. “CO:de Academy is a perfect fit for Jackson. In the next 20-30 years, the most important second language one can learn is programming. Because of Jackson’s fiber network, we have a faster connection to the internet than my clients in Silicon Valley!” Jackson has one of the nation’s largest, most advanced fiber optic broadband networks and has twice been recognized as the best in the nation. To fully realize their goals for CO:de Academy, Donnell and Ferguson partnered with the Jackson Chamber to fund the project. “The Jackson Chamber felt compelled to support CO:de Academy as a differentiating asset for the Jackson-Madison County School System,” said Kyle Spurgeon, President/CEO, Jackson Chamber. “The program is a great tool to help the students build specific computer related skill sets and create an even brighter future for themselves. The pool of coding talent that will become available in Jackson will also be a workforce asset not available in the majority of communities our size.” About eighty students signed up for the club in four of the five high schools in the Jackson-Madison County School District. Participating high schools in the school district are: Liberty Technology Magnet School, Madison Academic, North Side and South Side. Jackson-Madison County Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin says administrators are thrilled with the results of the CO:de Academy program. “The excitement expressed by our students participating in the Coding classes has been refreshing,” she says. “As superintendent, when you hear about students staying up late or rising early to work on a project, you know your students have connected with something that appeals to their interests which makes learning relevant.” The CO:de Academy program utilizes Treehouse, an interactive, online learning experience which allows students to learn to code at any level, and at their own pace. Through video tutorials, quizzes and coding challenges created by expert teachers, students learn to code in languages like Objective-C, HTML, CSS, PHP, Ruby, JavaScript, SQL and more. Ryan Carson, Co-Founder & CEO of Treehouse, said “Treehouse is all about bringing affordable technology education to people everywhere to help them achieve their dreams and change the world, and empowering students to code is a huge part of that. We’re very excited to be partnering with Jackson Chamber and can’t wait to see how the students progress.” After a successful start, school administrators are now seeking to make the extracurricular CO:de Academy a full course in the next school year. “I am reminded of the quote by Leonardo DaVinci that learning never exhausts the mind,” Ruffin said. “If you could see the students’ engagement, then you could appreciate this quote. They were not exhausted.”
Coming Soon...the 2014 “Teaming Up with the Chamber” Membership Event Want to see more from the head coach visits? Click here to see a video teaser for the 2014 “Teaming Up with the Chamber” Membership Event!
To kick off the 2014 “Teaming Up With the Chamber” Membership Event, Kyle Spurgeon, President/CEO, Jackson Chamber, and members of the chamber’s staff donned cheerleader outfits and sports gear as they dropped into area businesses on Wednesday, February 19 and Thursday, February 20 to sign up “head coaches” for the drive. The 2014 Membership Event will be held on Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30.
Thanks to our 2014 Head Coaches!
Hal Crocker, Crocker Construction; Ben Ferguson, Personnel Placements; Jim Ferrell, Jackson Energy Authority; Mayor Jerry Gist, City of Jackson; Mayor Jimmy Harris, Madison County; Roy Heatherly, The Jackson Sun; Steve/Brad Little, ING Financial Partners, LLC; Randy McKinnon, TLM Associates, Inc., Architects + Engineers; James Ross, West Tennessee Healthcare; Doug Roth, BancorpSouth Bank; Gary Taylor, Gary A. Taylor Investment Co.; Tim Wehner, Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell; Dr. Jerry Woods, Lane College; Sharon Younger, Younger Associates
with the
chamber
INDUSTRIAL NEWS
GENERAL CABLE’S JACKSON PLANT RECEIVES BEST PLANT AWARD
General Cable’s Jackson, Tennessee, manufacturing facility, which produces a complete line of GenSPEED® Brand data communications cables, has been selected by Penton Media’s INDUSTRYWEEK magazine, the leading publication among senior manufacturing executives, as one of the Best Plants in North America. INDUSTRYWEEK’S Best Plants Award Program, which started 24 years ago, is an annual salute to outstanding manufacturing facilities across all industries that are on the leading-edge of efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction, and create stimulating and rewarding work environments. INDUSTRYWEEK’S annual Best Plants competition evaluates manufacturing facilities in multiple management practice and plant performance categories, including: quality, customer and supplier relations, employee involvement, productivity, cost containment, manufacturing flexibility and responsiveness, inventory management, environmental and safety performance, and market results. The selected manufacturers demonstrate excellence in these categories and are chosen due to the fact that they strive for perfection and never ease up on their efforts to improve. To read more about the award, click here.
JACKSON CHAMBER
PG. 4
Member Spotlight:
WLJT-DT
Company name: WLJT-DT Address: 210 Hurt St. Clement Hall, Martin, TN 38238 Phone Number: 731-881-7561 About WLJT-DT: WLJT-DT is your local PBS station serving more than 18 counties with. They have more than 30,000 households tuning in weekly. They are known for its outstanding programming, interactive websites that are equally educational and entertaining for adults and children, video on demand and engaging programming that is unique to its station. They are also known for its high quality series that take viewers places they would never be able to go in person, to cultural events that are not affordable to the average individual and back in history to experience life as it was at that particular point in time. Website: www.wljt.org Chamber Connection: What’s helped your organization become successful in our community? WLJT: We have become successful because we listen to our viewers and give them services other television stations cannot. We are really in to great entertainment experiences for all ages and we feel it is our honor and privilege to give viewers the best of the best in television programming, outreach services and special events. Chamber Connection: What does your organization do that most people don’t know about? WLJT: Most people don’t know that we are an individual PBS station part of a larger network of stations that form PBS. We are owned locally by our Board of Directors and not by PBS. Donations to WLJT help pay for station expenses and for PBS programming. Most people do not know WLJT pays PBS for the programs it broadcasts, not the other way around. Also, most people don’t realize that we have an outreach department that works with schools, parents, childcare providers, and Head Starts. We distribute thousands of books each year to low-income children and provide workshops to help adults support children’s learning by using fun and educational PBS resources. Chamber Connection: What are some recent successes your organization has experienced? WLJT: More local productions, more outreach events, better collaborations with preschools and head starts. Bottom line, we are successful by making our viewers delighted to have a local PBS station in their community. Chamber Connection: What’s new with your organization? WLJT: Masterpiece Classic’s Downton Abbey is one of our biggest success stories. It has become a world-wide sensation that appeals to almost everyone. For our young viewers, Peg + Cat, a fun new math program, has captured their hearts and imagination and has become a favorite choice for television viewing. Chamber Connection: What’s the biggest community project you’re working on right now? WLJT: We are always engaged in several community projects. We are currently in the middle of our PBS KIDS Writers Contest. The contest is for students in grades K – 3. Youngsters write and illustrate their own original stories and submit them to WLJT. The contest is aligned to State Common Core Standards. The first and second place winners from each grade win prizes, are invited to the WLJT studios where they are taped reading their stories for broadcast on WLJT and then their stories are featured on the WLJT website for a full year. This year, in partnership with The Discovery Park of America in Union City, we have extended the contest to fourth & fifth graders. This is a local contest with both winners and their schools receiving prizes provided by Discovery Park. Entry forms and rules for both contests are available on the WLJT website. We are also sponsoring a series of “Coffee Talks” to gather feedback from the public on WLJT services. Held in coffee shops and other venues across the West Tennessee area, people join us for a free cup of coffee and get a travel mug for stopping and chatting with us. We’re taking their suggestions and incorporating them into our daily operations. After all, as a PBS Station, we’re here to serve the public and “Coffee Talk” is a great way to reach our viewers on a one to one basis. Chamber Connection: Is there anything we didn’t ask that you would like to share? WLJT: WLJT is a member of the West Tennessee community. We serve everyone whether they are a member of the station or not. We offer educational programming that is the most used and respected programming in schools across the nation. Our series are extremely entertaining, serve a wide segment of the public, and are fun to watch. From cooking shows, to music, to how to remodel your house, WLJT has it all. WLJT brings you amazing programming 24/7 on three distinctive channels and it reaches the vast majority of residents in the West Tennessee area. And, there are no commercials.
JACKSON CHAMBER
PG. 5
NEW MEMBERS: FEB. 2014 Absher Farm-Bed, Barn & Breakfast and Event Center Beverly Absher 203 Gadsden Rd. Humboldt, TN 38343 (731) 618-6188 www.absherfarm.com Category: Wedding &/or Event Venue
Young-Hughes Insurance Cy Young 25 N. Bells St. Alamo, TN 38001 (731) 696-5480 www.younghughesinsurance.com Category: Insurance
BHFB Group Inc. dba Baudo’s Restaurant Jack Baudo 559 Wiley Parker Rd. Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 668-1447 www.baudos.com Category: Restaurants
DID YOU KNOW?...
Chickasaw Chalet Tony Altman 115 Chalet Lane Henderson, TN 38340 (731) 983-6000 www.chickasawchalet.com Category: Hotels/Motels
+ 97 percent of your chamber
dues are tax deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense.
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Now David W. Hickey 327 N. Parkway Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 664-2362 www.davidwhickey.com Category: Real Estate
+ 6,865 Number of direct manufacturing, distribution, and call center jobs created in Madison County by chamber economic development initiatives in the last ten years.
CORT Business Services Tiffany Collum 3777 Winchester Rd. Memphis, TN 38118 (901) 365-2560 www.cort.com Category: Office Furniture
+ More than One Billion
Number of dollars invested by new and expanding industries in Madison County in the last ten years as a resultof efforts by the chamber’s economic development department and its affiliation with Team Madison County.
Rob Caldwell 19M Northstar Dr. Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 446-7887 Category: Individuals Solace Skin and Laser Caroline Antique, M.D. 1081 Vann Dr., Ste. 115 Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 300-0808 www.solaceskinandlaser.com Category: Medical Cosmetic Therapy Tennessee Safari Park Claude Conley, II 637 Conley Rd. Alamo, TN 38001 (731) 696-4423 www.tennesseesafaripark.com Category: Tourist Attractions
JACKSON CHAMBER
PG. 6
RENEWING MEMBERS: FEB. 2014 AccuLab Environmental Services, Inc. Aeneas Internet & Telephone Aid & Assist at Home, LLC All Star Realty/Property Management Co. American Cancer Society American Cellular, Inc. ARJ Manufacturing Art in the Village AT&T Baihui Acupuncture, LLC Bemis Gin & Warehouse Co. Benefit Consulting Services, Inc. Bent Tree Golf Club BLT Associates Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Tennessee Cancer Care Center Canteen Vending Service Coldwell Banker Real Estate Now-Peggy Graves Comfort Suites Community Anti-Drug Coalition of Jackson-Madison Co. Craig Orthopedic Clinic, Inc. Deaton’s Carpet One Inc. Dental Associates, Inc. Donuts ‘N More, LLC Edward Jones Investments Edward Jones Investments ExecuStay-Memphis Eye Clinic, P.C. First Tennessee Bank FirstBank Ford Construction Company Frankie Plunk Travel Service, Inc. Freed Hardeman University FSB Insurance Gold’s Gym Greg Jackson, C.P.A IAC Electrial Equipment & Supplies Intrepid USA J.R. Wauford & Co. Consulting Engineers Inc. Jackson Civitan Club Jackson Construction Jackson Generals Baseball Club Jackson Wilbert Burial Vault Jaxtech Solutions Johnny Mullens, CPA Johnny Shaw, State Representative Kenny Pipe and Supply, Inc. Kustom Machining & Mfg. Lakeland Spring Water Co. Laurelwood Health Care Center LIFELINE Blood Services Manpower Professional Marilyn Jackson’s Gifts Martin Industrial Supply MasterFit Medical Supply McAlister’s Deli Merrill Lynch Mid-South Color Labs, Inc.
Minuteman Press Moss, Benton & Wallis, PLLC Murray Guard Inc. Nordstar Medical Skincare & Laser Center Norwood Family Eye Care, LLC Park Place Barbers Rapid Response Restoration, Inc. Refreshments, Inc. Regional Hospital of Jackson Ridgecrest Cellars Wine & Spirits Robert Rainey, DDS ScorePlus Academics Sensational Scents & Gifts Signs First of Madison County Sonny Hardee Southwest Human Resource Agency Sowell’s Diesel Repair Sparky’s Pizzeria & Grill Stanley Steemer of Jackson State Farm Insurance-Wes Harris Steel Fab, Inc. TBDN TENNESSEE COMPANY The Allison Insurance Group, Inc. The Conservatory at Dutch Garden Center The Riechman Crosby Hays Co., Inc. (RCH) The University of Tennessee at Martin, Jackson Center The Wallace - Harris Company Tom Lawlers, Inc. Touching Hearts at Home U.S. Silica Company Umphy’s University of Tennessee/Tennessee State University Extension-Madison County Wal Mart #335 Watlington Brothers, Inc. Wesley Jackson Highlands West Tennessee Business College West Tennessee Pest Control West Tennessee State Fair WLJT-DT Woman’s Clinic, P.A. Wood Heat Specialists, Inc.
JACKSON CHAMBER
PG. 7
RIBBON CUTTINGS: FEB. 2014
Ambassadors with Perfect Attendance, February 2014: Karen Ashley, Allegra Print & Imaging Kathy Canovan, Rodan & Fields Joyce Corley, FirstBank Amanda Davenport, Complete Restoration, Inc.
Alan Brown – State Farm Agency 15 Jackson Walk Plaza Jackson, TN 38301 731-300-4444 www.downtownalanbrown.com Category: Insurance
Goodwill Industries Store, Donation Center and Career Solutions Center – South Location 1320 S. Highland Jackson, TN 38301 www.giveit2goodwill.org Category: Thrift Store
Bruce Dorris, Jackson Energy Authority Gidget Egner, Jack Morris Auto Glass Sarah Estes, The Jackson Sun Andrea Goldsmith, Northwestern Mutual Michele Jackson, Jackson Transit Authority Delita Johnson, Crime Stoppers Wendi Johnson, Baymont Inn & Suites Kristie Lancaster, Bethel University
Patterson Physical Therapy 176-E West University Parkway Jackson, TN 38305 731-300-4950 www.bethpattersonpt.com Category: Health & Wellness
Regetta Nelson, Madison County Mayor’s Office Heath Williams, George A. Smith & Sons
Chamber Ambassador Recognized for Hours of Service in 2013 Wendi Johnson, Baymont Inn & Suites and the new Chairman of the Ambassador, gave Heath Williams, George A. Smith and Sons and former Chairman of the Ambassdors, his plaque of appreciation as outgoing Chairman of the Ambassadors during the Ambassador Breakfast in February 2014. Williams was also recognized for his perfect attendance during 2013-2014, which required more than 100 hours of volunteer time.
Connect with us no matter where you are. Visit
jacksontn.com on your mobile device!
JACKSON CHAMBER
PG. 8
ECONOMIC INDICATORS: FEB. 2014 Total Labor Force
Jan. ’14
Jan. ‘13
Madison County 46,980 49,570 Jackson MSA 54,930 58,040 (Madison & Chester Counties) Tennessee 3,019,400 3,106,800
Rate Change
United States 154,381,000 154,794,000
Unemployment
Jan. ’14
Jan. ‘13
Madison County 7.3% 8.4% Jackson MSA 7.4% 8.7% (Madison & Chester Counties) Tennessee 7.2% 8.5% United States 7.0% 8.5%
Sales Tax Collected
Dec. ’12
Rate Change
-5.2%
48,080
48,940
-1.8%
-5.4%
56,090
57,180
-1.9%
-2.8%
3,025,300
3,129,800
-3.3%
-0.3%
154,408,000
154,904,000
-0.3%
Dec. ’13
Dec. ’12
-1.1%
7.5%
8.0%
-0.5%
-1.3%
7.4%
8.0%
-0.6%
-1.3%
7.3%
7.6%
-0.3%
-1.5%
6.5%
7.6%
-1.1%
Rate Change
March ‘14
March ‘13
Rate Change
$3,321,360
$3,296,612
Madison County $3,554,948
$3,564,131
City of Jackson
Dec. ’13
Feb. ‘14
Feb. ‘13
Rate Change
0.8%
$3,321,360
$5,390,611
-38.4%
-0.3%
$5,715,208
$5,727,356
-0.2%
Building Permits
Residential
Number Issued Permit Value
Feb. ‘14
Feb. ‘13
Jan. '14
10 $2,175,000
13 $3,156,000
9 $1,396,530
12 $2,594,037
11 $3,023,782
15 $2,798,765
Jan. '13 16 $3,054,800
Commercial
Number Issued Permit Value
JACKSON CHAMBER
Rate Change
PG. 9
14 $1,436,569
Jackson Chamber Staff Directory
Kyle Spurgeon, President/CEO kspurgeon@jacksontn.com
Ryan Porter, Chief Operating Officer/General Counsel rporter@jacksontn.com
Kingsley Brock, Executive Director, Jackson Regional Partnership kbrock@jacksontn.com
Russell Cook, Manager of Accounting rcook@jacksontn.com
Lisa Cothran, Vice President, Membership Development lcothran@jacksontn.com
Kristy Dew, Receptionist kdew@jacksontn.com
Joel Newman, Director, West TN Business Resource Center s.jnewman@gmail.com
Shirley Jones, Sr. Vice President, Public Affairs sajones@jacksontn.com
Lori Nunnery, Executive Director, Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau lnunnery@jacksontn.com
Beth Parnell, Manager of Events bparnell@jacksontn.com
Judy Renshaw, Executive Director, Leadership Jackson jrenshaw@jacksontn.com
Megan Seals, Communications Coordinator mseals@jacksontn.com
Brandy Stutsman, Program Coordinator bstutsman@jacksontn.com
Carolyn Vaughan, Membership Development Coordinator cvaughan@jacksontn.com
Joyce Welch, Executive Assistant jwelch@jacksontn.com
Mandy White, Sr. Vice President, Economic Development mwhite@jacksontn.com
CONNECT WITH US! jacksontn.com
JACKSON CHAMBER
PG. 10
For decades, Jackson has connected businesses to success. Today, we are connected by more than roads, rail and runways – we connect people at the speed of light. Jackson is looking ahead as a sustainable city with a growing focus on wellness. Our hundreds of doctors, specialty centers and pioneering robotics have captured national attention. The surprising variety of arts, sports and music is kept vibrant by a growing number of students and professionals. The Jackson Chamber invites you to Connect Here.
JACKSON CHAMBER
PG. 11