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September Chamberlink

Blount Chamberlink is brought to you each month by the Blount County Chamber of Commerce to keep you informed of the latest Chamber benefits, services, news and events.

Included in this issue:

Please Take Quick Chamber Member Survey
14th Annual Job Fair
Chamber Board Nominated
Tips for Making Your Workplace Green
IRS Increases Standard Mileage Rate
September New Members

14th Annual Job Fair

The Blount Chamber will host the 14th Annual Job Fair on October 21, 2008 at Foothills Mall from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Booth costs for Chamber Members are: before October 10th $150 after October 10th $175. For non-chamber members before October 10th $250 after October 10th $275.

Your registration fee includes: 8' skirted table, two chairs, signage and refreshments. Set up times for your booth will begin at 10:00 a.m. The show will begin at noon and ends at 5:00 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone searching for a job.

Businesses looking for potential employees should reserve booth space by contacting Vicky Jones at vjones@blountchamber.com or call 983-2241.

Chamber Board Nominated

Below is a slate of officers that have been nominated to serve on the Chamber Board of Directors in 2009. The current Chamber Board will vote on these individuals at the October board meeting. Nominations are based on broad representation of the Chamber membership, board positions available, size of business, candidate’s areas of expertise and involvement in the community. These officers will formulate and carry out the Chamber mission and program of work for 2009.

Chair – Bill Marrison, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
Chair-Elect (2010): Doug Horn, Preservation Plaza

Council Vice-Chairs:
Membership – Virginia Hardwick, StaffingSolutions
Communications – Sherri Gardner Howell, Blount Today
Community Development – Bob Booker, DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc.
Business & Economic Development – Tom Ballard, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Governmental – Joe Tipton, Twin City Buick
Tourism/Travel – Byron Begley, Little River Outfitters

Board Member-at-Large: (3-year term)
Boyce Smith, Wal-Mart
Tom Jensen, National Safe Skies Alliance
Gaynell Lawson, CBBC
Kirk Huddleston, Blaine Construction Corporation

Division Directors: (3 year term)
Finance, Greg Wilson, First Tennessee
Professional, James Tomicezk, VISION Engineering and Development
Individuals/Nonprofits, Trudy Hughes, Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center
Construction, Building Trades & Suppliers, Leah Flynn, Massey Electric Company

One Year Directors: (new & returning)
Col. Tommy Cauthen, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base
Allan Cox, Denark Smith
Michelle Hankes, United Way of Blount County
Don Heinemann, Blount Memorial Hospital
Kevin Kragenbrink, Estrada Strategies
Adriel McCord, SunTrust Bank
Christy Newman, Alcoa, Inc.
Dr. Jane Qualls, Individual Member
Tim Self, Waste Connections of Tennessee
Donald Talbott, Coulter & Justus, P.C.

Tips for Making Your Workplace Green

Everybody is going green. How can you?
Check out our Members Only section and find out how to make your workplace green. Misplaced your username and password? Contact Amy Lawson at alawson@blountchamber.com.

IRS Increases Standard Mileage Rate

"Rising gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. Given the increase in prices, the IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the real cost of operating an automobile," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "We want the reimbursement rate to be fair to taxpayers. Read more on the IRS Increases Standard Mileage Rate in our News section.

September New Chamber Members

Congratulations to the thirteen businesses that joined the Chamber in September. These businesses now join the 1,350 plus businesses affiliated with the Blount Chamber. Check out the online Membership Directory for all of our members.

Adams Telecom Systems, LLC
Lea Ann Miles & William Sawalhah
983-5697
Communications

Ardis Healing Center
Dr. Kate Sheldon, D.C.
681-4111
Chiropractors

Designing Women, Inc.
Kathleen Johnson & Debbie Caracci
681-6700
Beauty Salons

East Tennessee Rewards
Ashley Schwartz
238-0108
Advertising/Marketing

Grand Vista Hotel & Suites
Jean Eubanks
423-884-6200
Hotels/Motels

Ivens Realtors
Kay Lamuno
983-8000
Real Estate Sales/Property Management

KaSaRa, LLC
W. Thomas Howard
983-5585
Real Estate Investment

Maryville Church of Christ
P.J. Hicks
983-0370
Churches

Modern Woodmen of America
William Ford
233-2058
Insurance & Investments

Nature’s Gifts, Inc.
Daniel Cap, Rosemary Cap & Dennis Landfather
690-3183
Manufacturers

NorthShore Capital Advisors
Tommy Stafford
862-4942
Financial Services

Safe Haven Center
Holly Fuquay
558-9040
Organizations