The Shelby County Chamber Business Connections April 2023

The Shelby County Chamber

April ‘23 Chamber Events

“Washington Update Luncheon” featuring U. S. Congressman Gary Palmer

6th CD

On Thursday, April 13, U. S. Congressman Gary Palmer will join with several chambers of commerce for a “Washington Update Luncheon” event from 11:30AM-1:00PM at the The Grand Bohemian.

Congressman Palmer -- first elected to represent Alabama’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 -- will provide attendees with a Washington update.

The luncheon event is co-hosted by the Homewood Chamber, Hoover Area Chamber, Mountain Brook Chamber, Shelby County Chamber and Vestavia Hills Chamber.

The investment, which includes lunch is $35 per person for investors / members with the host organizations..

Reservations are required no later than noon on Tuesday, April 11, so please contact The Shelby County Chamber via e-mail at info@shelbychamber.org or by phone at 205-663-4542 or register online to secure your place.

April 6 Connection Luncheon

The April Connections Luncheon will feature the Shelby County District Attorney, Matt Casey. The event will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2023 in the Grand Hall at Old Mill Square, 104 West College Street, Columbiana, AL 35051. The investment for Chamber investors is $20

per person and $30 for “Future” investors.

Reservations are requested by no later than noon, Tuesday, April 4 to assist in preparation. To register via email info@ shelbychamber.org by phone at 205-6634542 or online at shelbychamber.org.

The Shelby County Chamber’s Program “11th Annual Student & Educator of the Year”

The Shelby County Chamber is pleased to announce its “Annual Student and Educator of the Year” recognition program. Educators play a vital role in the lives of Shelby County children, impact our communities every day and help develop the workforce which our Shelby County businesses and organizations will need in the years ahead. As such, the Chamber has launched this recognition program to celebrate excellence in the teaching profession and inform our community of the exceptional quality of instruction delivered throughout Shelby County. All nominees will be recognized, and

three recipients (elementary, middle, and high school educators) will receive a one-time financial investment to assist their continuing development.

Shelby County students are our potential business and community leaders and will comprise a significant portion of our workforce in the future. As such, the Chamber has launched this recognition program

to celebrate student excellence in the classroom throughout Shelby County. All nominees will be recognized and five recipients (academic leader stand-out (2) and career pathway stand-out (2), Future Leader) will receive a one-time financial investment to assist their continuing development.

The Chamber will recognize all of the nominations and announce the

Chamber’s “CoffeeNET” Heads To Valley Bank on 280

Be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 18 and join The Shelby County Chamber for a CoffeeNET event at Valley Bank 280 Branch located at 1100 Corporate Parkway.

This morning meeting, held from 8:30AM – 9:30AM, is designed for investors to enjoy networking, coffee and light refreshments -- all before heading to the office.

CoffeeNET events are a great way to make new business contacts so bring plenty of business cards.

There is no cost to attend however reservations are requested by NOON on Monday, April 17 to assist in preparation. Please contact The Shelby County Chamber by phone at 205-663-4542 or register at jordan@shelbychamber. org.

Chelsea Business Alliance April Luncheon

On April 5, the Chelsea Business Alliance will host their monthly luncheon at the Chelsea Community Center featuring Dr. Lynn Carroll, Deputy Superintendent for Shelby County schools, who will share an

update on Shelby County schools. In addition, bring plenty of business cards for some business networking prior to and after Dr. Carroll’s comments. Doors open at 11:30AM for business networking

with the luncheon starting at Noon. To allow for proper planning, reservations are requested by no later than April 3. Reservations can be made by contacting Kirk Mancer at kirk@shelbychamber.org, by tele- phone at 205-663-4542.

recipients at the April 26, program presented by America’s First Federal Credit Union.

Presenting Sponsor

Co-Sponsors

Ambassador of the Month

Summer Rhea is the Business Development Manager at Express Employment Professionals, a locally owned workforce management and staffing agency that specializes in Professional, Office Services, Skilled Trade, and Light Industrial staffing. She attended college at the University of North Alabama and has held sales and marketing roles in the Medical Device and Real Estate Investment industries before joining the Express Employment team. In addition to being an Ambassador, she also serves in the Career Readiness work group for the Chamber. She is an active member of the Junior League of Birmingham and serves on the Young Professionals Board of Directors for the Alabama Wildlife Center, as well as the

Business Management Advisory Board for Pelham City Schools and the Women in Leadership Advisory Board for UNA. When she’s not helping her clients navigate an unprecedented labor market, you can find her on the nearest body of water or cheering (loudly) for the Tennessee Volunteers.

2023 Shelby County Small Business Of The Year Nomiinations Now Being Accepted

Calera Main Street, Chelsea Business Alliance, Columbiana Main Street, Montevallo Main Street, Montevallo Chamber of Commerce and The Shelby County Chamber are once again collaborating on a joint Small Business of the Year program. The Small Business Awards program in five categories is part of this year’s annual Small Business Celebration presented in 2023 by Regions Bank. Completed nomination

2023 Presenting Sponsor

Year are:

Category I (1-5 Employees; Open 1 Year or More),

Category II (6-10 Employees; Open 1 Year or More),

Category III (11-20 Employees; Open 1 Year or More),

Whether you’ve started your own business – or are thinking about it -- April’s Go & Grow Workshop offers attendees valuable information they can use!

A panel of successful entrepreneurs / small business owners will share tips for how to start and grow a successful business. Topics discussed will be:

packets in five categories are due to The Shelby County Chamber by no later than Friday, April 14.

The five categories which will be recognized for the 2023 Shelby County Small Business of the

Category IV (21+ Employees; Open More Than 1 Year) and

Category V (Open Less Than One Year, Less Than 25 Total Employees).

All 2023 nominees, and the

April 25 Go & Grow

2023 Presenting Sponsor

* Finding people

* Finding mentors

…and much, much more!

recipients in each category, will be recognized and announced at the Shelby County Small Business of the Year Awards’ program scheduled for May 24. Nomination packets are available on-line at www.shelbychamber.org, or by contacting any of the host organizations. For additional questions, please call The Shelby County Chamber by phone at 205-6634542, or via e-mail at info@shelbychamber.org.

* Marketing & Selling your idea / product

* Finding funding

The workshop -- facilitated by Michael Smith of The Great, The Good and The Gone -- will be on Tuesday, April 25 from 11:30AM - 1:00PM at the Chamber. There is no cost to attend, but lunch is available for $10 per person for

Chamber investors ($20 for “Future” investors).

To ensure we have a proper headcount, please make reservations by noon on Monday, April 24 for this workshop by contacting Kirk Mancer via e-mail at kirk@shelbychamber.org or by calling 205-663-4542, or register online.

2023 TSCC Offi cers and Board of Directors

(as of 12/02/22)

OFFICERS (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE)

Chamber Chair

Mechelle Wilder ARC Realty

Chair-Elect

April Harry Warren, Averett, LLC

Vice Chair, Business Development & Support

Rux Bentley Rux Carter Insurance

Vice Chair, Communications & Marketing

Jeff Purvis A. C. Legg, Inc.

Vice Chair, Community & Career Development

Amiee Mellon University of Montevallo

Vice Chair, Finance & Administration

Kevin Morris America’s First Federal Credit Union

Vice Chair, Governmental Affairs

Lee Dorrill Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

Vice Chair, Investor Relations

Keith Brown Jefferson State Community College

Vice Chair, Tourism & Recreation

John Collier Progress Bank

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Massey

Ascension St. Vincent’s DIRECTORS

Melissa Dixon

CDI Janitorial Services

Alec Etheridge Shelby County Newspapers, Inc.

Khiari McAlpin Vinehouse Nursery

Maurice Mercer KATs Delivery

Kyle Mims Edward Jones Investments – Kyle Mims Agency

Steven Smith Specification Rubber Products

Traci Fox T Fox SalonSpa

Kimberly L. Jackson Alabama Power Company

William Norwood PNC

Benji Sawyer Sawyer Solutions, LLC

Chad Scroggins Shelby County

Teresa Vick Regions

Holly Dean BBH / Shelby Baptist Medical Center

Meribeth Gilbert McLeod Software

Bruce Gouin Express Employment Professionals

Nedra Moore Creations Galore and Moore

Chris Stricklin Dunn Companies

Chris Wilder Sealing Equipment Products Company

Tampia Anderson The Arc of Shelby County

Clotele Brantley The Hardy Law Firm, LLC

Jessie Chestnut Alabama Department of Mental Health

Bill Keller Renasant Bank

Judy Tramble Shelby County Schools Education Foundation

The Hon. Brian Puckett (Ex-Officio, SCMA) City of Helena

Amy Sturdivant (ExOfficio) 58 INC

January 14 – February 10

- Responded to 103 requests for business & community information.

- Promoting Chamber investors as well as Chamber & Community events through the following Social Media outlets:

-Chamber Facebook: 45 “new follows,” 1832 “photo views,” 13,930 “post reaches” and 6.6k “total followers”

- Twitter: 15 “tweets”, 698 “tweet impressions”, 87 “profile visits”, 3,002 “followers”

- Instagram: 1,590 “followers”

- LinkedIn: 847 (14 new) “followers”, 316 “search appearances,” 31 “unique visitors”, 2.1K “post impressions”

- WBC Facebook: 817 “followers,” 130 “views” and 2753 “post reaches”

- Featured 13 Investors in Business Spotlight February Theme Fitness